USA > Massachusetts > Historical collections, being a general collection of interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c., relating to the history and antiquities of every town in Massachusetts, with geographical descriptions > Part 20
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South-east vien of Mills Village, in Salisbury and Amesbury.
One of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Josiah Bartlett, was a native of this town, and many of his kindred still live in the place. He studied medicine in his native place, and removed to New Hampshire, of which state he held the office of governor for a number of years. He died in 1795.
The first church organized was located at the Ferry. The first pastor, settled in 1672, was Thomas Wells, who died 1734, aged 87. The second pastor was the Rev. Edmund March, of New- bury, who was settled here in 1728. He was succeeded by Rev. Elisha Odin, of Exeter, N. H., who was settled in 1744, and died in 1752. His successor was Thomas Hibbert, of Rowley, who was settled in 1754, and died in 1793. The fifth pastor was Ben- jamin Bell, settled in 1784, and resigned in 1790; was succeeded by Stephen Hull in 1799, who resigned in 1811. The second Con- gregational church, located in the west parish, was organized in 1726. The Congregational society of Amesbury and Salisbury was organized in 1831. The Friends have a meeting-house at the Mills village. In Mr. Newhall's Essex Memorial, it is stated, " Most of the people of Amesbury belong to the productive class ; very few are raised above the necessity for personal exertion. All are active and industrious, readily find employment, and com- mand good wages. They have been distinguished for their zeal in the cause of temperance. There has not been, for several years, and is not now, a single licensed grocer in town." According to the Statistical Tables published by the state in 1837, there were in the limits of this town 3 woollen mills, having 27 sets of machi-
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nery ; 1,100,000 yards of flannel were manufactured, and 150,000 yards of satinet; value of woollen goods, $425,000; males em- ployed, 118; females, 125; capital invested, $250,000. In the manufacture of chaises, &c., 128 hands were employed, and in the manufacture of shoes and boots, 84 persons.
ANDOVER.
THE exact time of the first settlement of Cochichewick, now Ando- ver, or when the town was first purchased of the Indians, does not distinctly appear. The land was bought of Cutshamache, the sagamore of Massachusetts, by Mr. Woodbridge, in behalf of. the inhabitants of Cochichewick. The amount paid was £6 and a coat.
Mr. Edmund Faulkner might have assisted Mr. Wood- bridge, as there is a tradition that he purchased the town for the settlers. In 1646, the court confirmed this purchase and grant, and the town was incorporated by the name of Andover, from the fact that some of the planters came from Andover, in Hampshire, England. The settlers bought the land of the town, and they were received as commoners or proprietors; and, according to a vote of the town, all householders were considered as proprietors and voters. The first divisions were small lots, few exceeding ten acres. The farms were rendered inconvenient, from the fact that plough land was granted at a distance, in small parcels, on the plains; the same also with swamps and meadow-land, wood- and, &c. Much of this inconvenience is felt to this day. There s much obscurity about certain transactions, in consequence of he early records having been destroyed by the Indians. The land was first settled near Cochichewick brook, and upon the Shawshin. Various parts of the town were soon occupied by settlers. The chief settlement was for many years in the neighborhood of the meeting-house and Cochichewick brook, and was called the town.
Most of the first settlers were from England; the names of the following were taken from the town records. They were written n an ancient hand, without date, but probably most of the first settlers were living when they were written. "The names of all he householders in order as they came to town : Mr. Bradstreet, John Osgood, Joseph Parker, Richard Barker, John Stevens, Nicholas Holt, Benjamin Woodbridge, John Frye, Edmund Faulk- her, Robert Barnard, Daniel Poor, Nathan Parker, Henry Jaques, John Aslett, Richard Blake, William Ballard, John Lovejoy, Tho- nas Poor, George Abbot, John Russ, Andrew Allen, Andrew Fos- er, Thomas Chandler." Part of these brought families with them. The rest were young unmarried men. It is probable that all of these and others were in Andover before 1644. Many followed them in the course of a few years.
The first violence done by the Indians took place April, 19, 1676. They were first discovered by Mr. Ephraim Stevens, not far from
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Bodwell's Ferry. He escaped upon his horse and gave the alarm. The Indians pursued their way along the main road, without doing any mischief, till they arrived at the south part of the town; there they killed Joseph Abbot, and took Timothy Abbot, both sons of George Abbot, sen. Joseph was strong and bold, and the tradition is that he killed one or more of them before he was slain: he was in his 24th year. Timothy was in his 13th year: after being kept seve- ral months, he was brought back by a squaw who was friendly to the family. At the same time, they burnt Mr. Faulkner's house, wounded Roger Marks, and killed his horse. They killed some cattle, but only had time to cut out their tongues, as they were fired upon by the people in the garrison. A few months after, a party of the enemy surprised and captured Mr. Haggett and two of his sons. The 10th of July, 1671, John Parker, James Parker, John Phelps, and Daniel Blackhead, were surprised and slain at Black Point, in Scarborough. Another war with the Indians com- menced in 1688. Andover suffered more in this than in the pre- ceding war. In August, 1689, John and Andrew Peters were killed by the Indians. The same year, Lieut. John Stevens, Ben- jamin Lovejoy, Eleazer Streaton, and Robert Russell, died in the war at the eastward. In August, 1696, two others were slain.
The greatest distress which the Andover people ever suffered from the Indians was on the fifth of March, 1698. A company of 30 or 40 Indians surprised the town, slew 5 persons, burnt 2 houses and 2 barns, with the cattle in them, with other damage. The names of the persons killed were Simon Wade, Nathaniel Brown, Penelope Johnson, Capt. Pascoe Chubb, and Hannah his wife, daughter of Edmund Faulkner. Two years before, Chubb had been captain at Pemaquid fort, when he treacherously murdered two chiefs of the Indians, which had greatly enraged them. His death caused them as much joy as the taking of the whole town. Col. Dudley Bradstreet and his family they took, and carried them about 50 rods from his house ; they then halted and dismissed their prisoners, without offering them the least injury. The tradition is, that one Waternummon, an Indian who lived at Newbury, having a particular regard for Col. Bradstreet, offered to conduct the Indians to his house, on condition that they should not kill nor capture any of the family. They took Abiel Stevens, a lad, who pretended to be lame, and kept behind. The Indians hurried, expecting to be pur- sued. He turned back, and made his escape, though fired upon by the Indian who took him. In consequence of the snow being deep, the inhabitants having no snow-shoes, the Indians were not pursued. Assacumbuit, their principal chief, had distinguished himself in this war by his cruelties, which rendered their conduct in releasing the captives the more extraordinary. No assault after this has been made upon Andover, but the towns near suffered much many years afterward.
Andover is the largest township in Essex county ; it contain's 35,738 acres. The soil is excellent, and it is well cultivated. The river Merrimac runs along the north-west side; Cochiche-
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wick Brook issues from Great Pond, in the north-east, and empties into the Merrimac. The river Shawshin rises in Lexington, and, passing through Billerica, Wilmington, Tewksbury, and Andover, empties into the Merrimac. Great Pond, in the north-east part of the town, is a fine place for fish and feathered game. It covers about 450 acres. Haggett's Pond is in the west parish, and is a place of frequent resort in the summer for parties of pleasure. It covers about 220 acres.
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Western vien of the Theological Seminary at Andover.
The south parish, in which the Theological Institution is situated, has a considerable village, extending northward of the institution, easterly to some extent, and westerly near the factories. The houses generally are well built, and present a fine appearance. A large portion of them has been erected within thirty years. There are in the village a printing-office; the "Andover Bank," incorpo- rated in 1826, capital $200,000; the Merrimac Mutual Fire Insu- rance Company, incorporated in 1828, and a savings bank, recently instituted. There are 5 churches in the village: 1 Congregational, 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, 1 Universalist, and 1 Methodist. This place is 10 miles E. of Lowell, 16 from Salem, and 20 from Bos- ton. The Andover and Wilmington railroad passes through the village. Population of the town, 4,878. In 1837, there were 8 woollen mills, 26 sets of machinery ; wool consumed, 524,000 lbs .; cioth manufactured, 1,294,000 yards; value of woollen goods, $520,000; males employed, 140; females, 192; capital invested, $270,000; value of boots and shoes manufactured, $46,500. There were two manufactories of machinery, employing 50 hands.
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The above is a western view of the three principal buildings of the Theological Institution. They stand on elevated ground, having a commanding, variegated, and beautiful prospect. The buildings of the institution consist of a dwelling-house for each of the professors; Phillips Hall, of brick, 90 feet by 40, four stories, con-
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taining 32 rooms for students, built in 1808; Bartlet Chapel, an ele- gant brick building, 94 feet by 40, containing a chapel, library, and three lecture rooms, built in 1818; and Bartlet Hall, an elegant brick building, 104 feet by 40, containing 32 suits of rooms, fur- nished, presented by Mr. Bartlet in 1821.
This institution was founded in 1807, and richly endowed by the donations of William Bartlet, Esq., and Moses Brown, Esq., of Newburyport; Widow Phoebe Phillips, John Phillips, Esq., and Samuel Abbot, Esq., of Andover, and John Norris, Esq., and his widow, of Salem. The library of the seminary contains between twelve and thirteen thousand volumes. Besides this, there are two other libraries : one, of the Porter Rhetorical Society, contain- ing from two to three thousand volumes; the other, belonging to the Society of Enquiry respecting Missions, containing from one to two thousand volumes. There is an Athenaeum and news-room, supported by the students. Annexed to the institution is a com- modious mechanic's shop, where the students can exercise them- selves in carpentering or cabinet work. There is a musical society, the president of which is paid by the trustees for his services as teacher of sacred music. The term is three years. The principal study for the first year is the Bible in its original tongues. The second year is occupied in the study of systematic theology. The third year is chiefly devoted to the study of ecclesiastical history, and the composition of sermons. There is also a Teachers' Semi- nary near the Institution, which will accommodate 200 students.
Western view of Phillips Academy at Andover.
The above is a western view of Phillips Academy, which is situated a few rods south of the Theological Seminary. It is built of brick, and is 80 feet in length and 40 in width, and was erected in 1819. This academy was founded April 21, 1778, by the Hon. Samuel Phillips, Andover, and Hon. John Phillips, Exeter, sons of the Rev. Samuel Phillips. It was incorporated Oct. 4, 1780, and is one of the first institutions of the kind in the country. Its funds are about $50,000. The first object of the institution is declared
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to be the promotion of true piety and virtue. The principal studies are the English, Latin, and Greek languages, together with writing, arithmetic, music, and the art of speaking: also, practi- cal geometry, logic, and geography, with such other liberal arts and sciences or languages as opportunity and ability may admit, or as the trustees shall direct. Other schools, of a high class, exist in this town, for the reception of male and female pupils. The average number of those attending private schools and academies is about five hundred.
The first church, located in the north parish, was founded Octo- ber, 1645. The first pastor was Rev. John Woodbridge, who was settled when the church was formed. He resigned in 1647, and went to England, where he preached until ejected under Charles II. He returned and lived at Newbury, where he died, March, 1695. The second pastor was Rev. Francis Dane, who was set- tled 1648. The third, the Rev. Thomas Barnard, was settled 1682. He was succeeded by Rev. John Barnard, in 1719. The fifth was the Rev. William Symmes, who was settled 1758. The sixth pastor, Rev. Bailey Loring, was settled here in 1810. The second Congregational church is situated in the south parish, and was organized 1711. The west parish Congregational church was gathered Dec. 5, 1826, and Rev. Samuel C. Jackson settled here in 1827. The Baptist church, located in south parish, was organ- ized 1832.
During the excitement in 1692, on the subject of witchcraft, the people of Andover suffered their share of the alarm and distress which it occasioned. More than fifty in this town were complained of, for afflicting their neighbors and others. Dudley Bradstreet, Esq., having granted thirty or forty warrants for commitments, at length refused to grant any more. He and his wife were imme- diately accused; he was said to have killed nine persons by witch- craft. He found it necessary for his safety to make his escape. Three persons who belonged to Andover were hung for witchcraft, viz. Martha Carryer, Samuel Wardell, and Mary Parker. The following is from Abbot's History of Andover, published at Ando- ver, by Flagg and Gould, in 1829. It is inserted here as a matter of curiosity, and also as a document which will serve to illustrate the history of the times.
The Indictment of Martha Carryer.
Essex ss. Anno Regni Regis et Regina Wilielm et Mariæ, nunc Angliæ, etc. quarto.
The Jurors for our sovereign lord and lady the king and queen, present, that Martha Carryer, wife of Thomas Carryer, of Andover, in the county of Essex, husbandman, the thirty-first day of May, in the fourth year of the reign of our sovereign lord and lady, William and Mary, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ire- land, king and queen, defenders of the faith, &c. And divers other days and times, as well before as after, certain detestable arts, called witchcrafts, and sorceries, wick- edly and feloniously hath used, practised and exercised, at and within the township of Salem, in the county of Essex aforesaid, in, upon, and against one Mary Wolcott, of Salem Village, single woman, in the county of Essex aforesaid; by which said wicked arts the said Mary Wolcott, the thirty-first day of May, in the fourth year aforesaid, and at divers other days and times, as well before as after, was, and is tortured, afflicted, pined, consumed, wasted and tormented; against the peace of our sovereign
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lord and lady, William and Mary, king and queen of England; their crown and dig. nity, and against the form of the statute, in that case made and provided.
Witnesses-MARY WOLCOTT, ELIZABETH HUBBARD, ANN PUTNAM.
There was also a second indictment for afflicting Elizabeth Hubbard by witchcraft. Witnesses-ELIZABETH HUBBARD, MARY WOLCOTT, ANN PUTNAM, MARY WARRIN.
The trial of Martha Carryer, August 2, 1692, as stated by Dr. Cotton Mather.
Martha Carryer was indicted for the bewitching of certain persons, according to the form usual in such cases: Pleading not guilty to her indictment, there were first brought in a considerable number of the bewitched persons; who not only made the court sensible of an horrid witchcraft committed upon them, but also deposed, that it was Martha Carryer, or her shape, that grievously tormented them by biting, pricking, pinching and choking them. It was further deposed that while this Carryer was on her examination before the magistrates, the poor people were so tortured that every one expected their death on the very spot; but that upon the binding of Carryer they were eased. Moreover, the looks of Carryer, then laid the afflicted people for dead, and her touch, if her eyes were at the same time off them, raised them again. Which things were also now seen upon her trial. And it was testified, that upon the mention of some having their necks twisted almost round by the shape of this Carryer, she replied, It's no matter, though their necks had been twisted quite off.
2. Before the trial of this prisoner, several of her own children had frankly and fully confessed, not only that they were witches themselves, but that their mother had made them so, This confession they made with great shows of repentance, and with much demonstration of truth. They related place, time, occasion; they gave an account of journeys, meetings, and mischiefs by them performed; and were very credible in what they said. Nevertheless, this evidence was not produced against the prisoner at the bar, inasmuch as there was other evidence, enough to proceed upon.
3. Benjamin Abbot gave in his testimony, that last March was a twelvemonth, this Carryer was very angry with him, upon laying out some land near her husband's. Her expressions in this anger were, that she would stick as close to Abbot, as the bark stuck to the tree; and that he should repent of it before seven years came to an end, so as Dr. Prescot should never cure him. These words were heard by others besides Abbot himself, who also heard her say, she would hold his nose as close to the grind- stone as ever it was held since his name was Abbot. Presently after this he was taken with a swelling in his foot, and then with a pain in his side, and exceedingly tor- mented. It bred a sore, which was lanced by Dr. Prescot, and several gallons of cor- ruption ran out of it. For six weeks it continued very bad; and then another sore bred in his groin, which was also lanced by Dr. Prescot. Another sore bred in his groin, which was likewise cut, and put him to very great misery. He was brought to death's door, and so remained until Carryer was taken, and carried away by the con- stable. From which very day he began to mend, and so grew better every day, and is well ever since.
Sarah Abbot, his wife, also testified that her husband was not only all this while afflicted in his body; but also that strange, extraordinary and unaccountable calami- ties befel his cattle; their death being such as they could guess no natural reason for.
4. Allin Toothaker testified that Richard, the son of Martha Carryer, having some difference with him, pulled him down by the hair of the head; when he rose again, he was going to strike at Richard Carryer, but fell down flat on his back to the ground, and had not power to stir hand or foot, until he told Carryer he yielded; and then he saw the shape of Martha Carryer go off his breast.
This Toothaker had received a wound in the wars, and he now testified, that Martha Carryer told him, he should never be cured. Just before the apprehending of Carryer, he could thrust a knitting needle into his wound four inches deep, but presently after her being seized, he was thoroughly healed. 4
He further testified that when Carryer and he sometimes were at variance, she would clap her hands at him, and say, he should get nothing by it. Whereupon he several. times lost his cattle by strange deaths, whereof no natural causes could be given.
5. John Roger also testified that upon the threatening words of this malicious Carryer his cattle would be strangely bewitched; as was more particularly then described.
6. Samuel Preston testified that about two years ago, having some difference with Martha Carryer, he lost a cow in a strange, preternatural, unusual manner ; and about a month after this, the said Carryer, having again some difference with him, she told him he had lately lost a cow, and it should not be long before he lost another! which accordingly came to pass; for he had a thriving and well-kept cow, which, without any known cause, quickly fell down and died.
7. Phebe Chandler testified that about a fortnight before the apprehension of Martha
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Carryer, on a Lord's day, while the psalm was singing in the church, this Carryer then took her by the shoulder, and, shaking her, asked her where she lived. She made her no answer, although as Carryer, who lived next door to her father's house, could not in reason but know who she was. Quickly after this, as she was at several times crossing the fields, she heard a voice that she took to be Martha Carryer's, and it seemed as if it were over her head. The voice told her, she should within two or three days be poisoned. Accordingly, within such a little time, one half of her right hand became greatly swollen and very painful; as also part of her face; whereof she can give no account how it came. It continued very bad for some days; and several times since she has had a great pain in her breast; and been so seized on her legs that she has hardly been able to go. She added, that lately going well to the house of God, Richard, the son of Martha Carryer, looked very earnestly upon her, and immediately her hand which had formerly been poisoned, as is above said, began to pain her greatly, and she had a strange burning at her stomach; but was then struck deaf, so that she could not hear any of the prayer, or singing, till the two or three last words of the psalm.
8. One Foster, who confessed her own share in the witchcraft, for which the prisoner stood indicted, affirmed, that she had seen the prisoner at some of their witch-meetings, and that it was this Carryer, who persuaded her to be a witch. She confessed that the devil carried them on a pole to a witch-meeting, but the pole broke, and she hanging about .Carryer's neck, they both fell down, and she then received an hurt by the fall, whereof she was not at this very time recovered.
9. One Lacy, who likewise confessed her share in this witchcraft, now testified that she and the prisoner were once bodily present, at a witch-meeting in Salem Village, and that she knew the prisoner to be a witch, and to have been at a diabolical sacra- ment, and that the prisoner was the undoing of her and her children, by enticing them into the snare of the devil.
10. Another Lacy, who also confessed her share in this witchcraft, now testified that the prisoner was at the witch-meeting in Salem Village, where they had bread and wine administered to them.
11. In the time of this prisoner's trial, one Susanna Shelden, in open court, had her hands unaccountably tied together with a wheel-band, so fast, that without cutting, it could not be loosened. It was done by a spectre; and the sufferer affirmed it was the prisoner's.
BEVERLY.
BEVERLY was formerly a part of Salem, and was first settled about the year 1630, by the removal of John and William Wood- bury, with others of the companions of Roger Conant, from the south to the north side of Bass river. John Balch and Conant, with others, soon came after. In 1649 the settlers became numer- ous enough to desire of the church of Salem that " some course be taken for the means of grace amongst themselves, because of the tediousness and difficulties over the water, and other inconve- niences." A meeting-house was built in 1656, and a branch of the church of Salem established. The town was incorporated by the name of Beverly on the 14th Oct., 1668. The act of incorpora- tion ran thus : "The court, on perusal of this return, (on notice to Salem,) judge it meet to grant that Bass River be henceforth a township of themselves, referring it to Salem to accommodate them with lands and bounds suitable for them, and that it be called Beverly." The first town meeting was held on the 23d of November, 1668. Conant was not satisfied with the name given by the court; in 1671 he petitioned to have it changed to Budleigh, the name of the town in England from which he came. The fol-
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lowing, from Newhall's Essex Memorial,* 1836, is an extract from the petition :-
" Now my umble suit and request is unto this honorable Court onlie that the name of our town or plantation may be altered or changed from Beverly, and be called Bud- leigh. I have two reasons that have moved me unto this request: the first is, the great dislike and discontent of many of our people for this name of Beverly, because (wee being but a small place) it hath caused on us the constant nick-name of beggarly, being in the mouths of many, and no order was given, or consent by the people, to their agent, for any name untill they were shure of being a towne granted in the first place. Secondly, I being the first that had house in Salem, (and neither had any hand in nameing either that or any other towne,) and myself, with those that were with me, being all from the western part of England, desire this western name of Budleigh, a market towne in Devonshire, and neere unto the sea, as wee are heere in this place, and where myself was borne. Now, in regard of our firstnesse and antiquity in this soe famous a collony, we should umblie request this small prevaledg, with your favour and consent, to give this name abovesaid unto our towne. I never yet made sute or request unto the Generall Court for the least matter, tho I think I might as well have done, as many others have, who have obtained much without hazard of life, or preferring the public good before their own interest, which I praise God I have done. If this my sute may find acceptation with your worships, I shall rest umbly thankfull, and my praiers shall not cease unto the throne of grace for God's guidance and his blessing to be on all your waightie proceedings, and that iustice and righteousness may be eve- rie where administered, and sound doctrine, truth, and holiness everie where taught and practised throughout this wilderness to all posterity, which God grant. Amen." This petition was signed by thirty-three or four other names. But it appears that the petition was not granted.
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