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 21
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Beverly is 11 miles from Ipswich, 17 north-east of Boston, and 14 south-west of Gloucester. Its greatest length is six and two thirds and width three and a half miles. It is divided into two territoral parishes; the westerly called the Precinct of Salem and Beverly, and the easterly called the First Parish. "This last contains two thirds of the territory, and five sixths of the popula- tion." Part of Wenham Pond lies within the limits of this town. There are several conspicuous hills in the town; that called Brown's Folly is the highest. From the hill the observer has a view of a large portion of the bay, the towns of Salem, Danvers, and Marblehead, with the surrounding country.
There is raised in this town about 1,550 tons of hay, 14,000 bush- els of grain, and 1,100 head of cattle are pastured. The orchards yield an abundant supply of apples. Considerable quantities of butter and cheese are made, but of the last, not enough for home consumption. There are about 12,000 bushels of Indian corn pro- duced annually. The whole quantity of grain raised is about equal to half of the consumption of bread stuffs; of other vega- table food the quantity produced exceeds the consumption. The great extent of sea-coast furnishes an abundant supply of sea manure for improving the soil. The amount of capital employed in the cod fishery is greater than that of any other business. There are fifty vessels, making an aggregate of 3,500 tons ; valued, includ- ing the stores and outfits, at $100,000; manned by 400 men and boys. The income of this fishery may be estimated at $150,000.
* The author would here mention that he is deeply indebted to this valuable and interesting work for much historical information respecting the various towns in Essex county. The work is entitled " The Essex Memorial for 1836, embracing a Regis- ter for the County, by James R. Newhall."
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BEVERLY.
There are employed in the manufacture of shoes about 300 males and 200 females. The value of boots and shoes manufactured in 1837 was $60,000. Population of the town, 4,609.
South -west view of Beverly.
The above is a view of the southern part of Beverly village, as it is seen from near the bridge connecting it with Salem. The act for incorporating the proprietors of this bridge passed in 1787. It is 1,484 feet long and 34 wide. It is built on 93 wooden piers of bak timber, driven into the mud. It has a draw for vessels. The first pier was driven in May, 1788. The proprietors are authorized to receive toll seventy years from this date, after which the bridge reverts to the commonwealth. This is a large village, mostly built on a single street. There are 4 churches, 3 Congregational, 1 of which is Unitarian, and 1 Baptist. There is an academy, and a bank, "The Beverly Bank." There are two Congregational churches in the upper parish, and a Baptist at the Farms. The lamented Capt. Lathrop, and a number of his men, who fell in an ambuscade of the Indians at Bloody Brook, at Deerfield, were from this place.
The first church was organized in 1667, and the Rev. John Hale, the first pastor, was ordained at the formation of the church. The duties of the sexton of the church, about this period, as they appear on the town book, were " to ring the bell at nine o'clock every night a sufficient space of time as is usual in other places," and " keep and turn the glass." An hourglass was kept near the pulpit, in view of the minister. He was expected to close his sermon in the course of an hour, and if he went over or fell short of the time it was a sufficient cause for complaint. Mr. Hale died in 1700. His successor was the Rev. Thomas Blowers, who was ordained in 1701, and died 1729. Rev. Joseph Champney succeeded Mr. Blowers, was ordained 1729, and died in 1773. His successor was Rev. Joseph Willard, who was ordained 1772, and dismissed in 1781, he having been elected president of Harvard University.
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BOXFORD.
He was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph McKeen, who was ordained in 1785, and dismissed by mutual consent in 1802. In 1803 Rev. Abiel Abbot was installed, and died 1828. The second Congre- gational church was organized, and the first minister, the Rev. John Chipman, ordained, in 1715. The first Baptist church was organized in 1801. The third Congregational church was organ- ized in 1802. The society was incorporated in 1803. The second Baptist was of the Christian denomination, and was formed in 1828. The Rev. Benjamin Knight was ordained in 1829. He has been dismissed, and the church have changed to the Calvinistic Baptist.
BOXFORD.
BOXFORD was taken from Rowley in 1685, and incorporated as a separate town. For the last thirty years, the population has re- mained nearly stationary : in 1800 it was 852, in 1830 957, and in 1837 it was 964. The fertility of the soil is not very great; but the inhabitants by their industry have overcome many natural deficiencies. The main business of the inhabitants is agriculture. There is a cotton factory in the place, which does some business in the preparation of batting. Shoemaking is also carried on to a considerable extent. The value of shoes manufactured in 1837 was $52,975. This place is 10 miles from Ipswich, 13 from Newburyport, and 24 from Boston. It contains 2 postoffices, one' in the east, the other in the west parish.
At the commencement of the Revolution, the inhabitants dis- played much ardor in the cause of freedom. At the battle of Bunker Hill, eight persons from the town were killed. The Hon. Aaron Wood, a native resident of this town, at his death, which took place in 1791, left a legacy of 2,061 dollars for the support of Latin and Greek grammar-schools.
The town enjoys some useful water privileges, derived from seve- ral ponds, which form the head waters of Rowley and Parker rivers, and the source of a branch of Ipswich river. In 1680 the manufacture of iron was commenced here, but the business was soon discontinued.
The first Congregational church was organized in 1702. The Rev. Thomas Symmes was the first pastor ; he was settled in 1702, and resigned 1708. The Rev. John Rogers was second pastor; he was settled in 1709, and left about 1743, and resided with his son at Leominster till his death, which took place 1775. His successor was the Rev. Elizur Holyoke, who was settled in 1759, preached until 1793, and died 1806. He was succeeded by the Rev. Isaac Briggs, who was installed in 1808, resigned Dec. 3, 1833. The second Congregational church was organized in 1736. The Rev. John Cushing was the first pastor. He was settled in 1736, and died 1772. His successor was Rev. Moses Hale, who was settled in 1774, and died 1786. The next pastor was Dr. Eaton, settled here in 1789.
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BRADFORD.
BRADFORD.
THIS town was taken from Rowley. Its first name was called Merrimac. After that it was known by the name of Rowley Vil- lage. In 1673 it was incorporated by its present name. The lands of this town were granted by the general court to Rev. Ezekiel Rogers, first minister of Rowley, and others. In 1658, a commit- tee of Rowley laid out tracts of land for the Rev. Samuel Phillips, John and Robert Haseltine, widow Mighill, widow Hobson, Thomas Kimball. Joseph Jewett, Joseph Chaplin, John Simmons, Abraham Foster, Jonathan Hopkinson, John Eastman, James Dickinson, and Maximilian Jewett, had lands granted them. These divided the lands in various proportions in 1671, and were most of them the first settlers of the town. Bradford is very plea- santly located on the south bank of the Merrimac. The length of the town is about six miles, and from one to two and a half miles in breadth. It contains about 10,000 acres of land. The surface is uneven and the soil varied. Much of it is of the first quality, especially the upland, which is verdant amidst the droughts of summer. Many of the hills are considerably elevated, from which are fine views of rural scenery. There are extensive forests of oak, walnut, pine and maple, with beds of peat, that afford a supply of fuel for the inhabitants. The ponds in the town are well stocked with pickerel and perch. Salmon in small quantities are yet taken. Shad and alewives are taken in great abundance from the river. A handsome bridge of three arches connects this town with Haverhill. The width of the river is about 800 feet at the lower part of the town, but narrower at the upper part. The depth of water at low tide is from four to five feet. There are serious impediments to navigation, resulting from the short turn in the river and the shoals between the chain ferry and Haverhill ; but hulls of vessels built at Bradford and Haverhill, of the burthen of 400 tons, have passed down, while those of 90 or 100 tons have come up loaded. The scenery on the banks of the Merrimac, be- tween this town and Haverhill, is exceedingly beautiful. Ship-' building is now almost totally abandoned, as easier labor and more profit is derived from the manufacturing of boots and shoes, of which it is estimated that about 360,000 pairs are made annually. The village in Bradford, on the opposite side the Merrimac from Haverhill, contains about 30 dwelling-houses and a church. Brad- ford is 30 miles N. of Boston. Population, 2,275.
Bradford Academy, in the west parish, was established in 1803. Its location is on an elevated site, and commands a delightful view of the surrounding country, comprising the entire villages of Brad- ford and Haverhill. The names of Mrs. Judson and Harriet New- ell, who were pupils in this school, will not soon be forgotten by the Christian world. This academy is extensively known, and has been generally attended by a large number of pupils. Merri- mac Academy is located in the east parish, and was established in 1821, and is in successful operation.
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BRADFORD.
At the time of the Indian wars the people were much alarmed for their safety, and fortified three houses; but they were not much molested by the savages. The following is from a discourse de- livered by Gardner B. Perry in 1820. He says :
" I have found but one record of any violence experienced from them. This is con- tained in a note attached to one of the town books, by Shubal Walker, who was the town- clerk. He observes in this note that Thomas Kimball was shot by an Indian, the third of May, 1676, and his wife and five children, Joannah Thomas, Joseph, Prescilla and John, were carried captives. These, however, he observes in another note, re- turned home again the 13th of June, the same year. The house in which Mr. Kim- ball lived, stood on the road leading to Boxford, the cellar of which may still be seen. " It is traditionally reported," continues Mr. Perry, "that the Indians who committed this violence set out from their homes near Dracut with the intention of killing some one in Rowley who they supposed had injured them, but finding the night too far spent, they did not dare to proceed farther, and so revenged themselves on Mr. Kimball. There was also a Mr. Nehemiah Carlton shot from across the river, at the time of the attack upon Haverhill; and it is said, further, that one of the workmen employed in felling timber on the Haverhill side of the river was also shot. Besides these I have heard of no particular injury received from them.'
The first burial in the east parish burying-place was in 1723, Mrs. Martha Hale. The following is taken from the foot-stone :
" If you will look it will appear She was the first buried here."7
The most remarkable occurrence ever witnessed here was a great freshet in 1818. The snow had been melted by a violent rain, which rushed down the valley of the Merrimac with great fury, tearing up the ice, which was nearly two feet thick, with the noise and convulsions of an earthquake ; driven into immense dams, it rolled and flew about in every possible direction on its way to the ocean. The river was raised 21 feet above common high-water mark. The country around was inundated, and in many houses the water was from two inches to five feet in depth. The ice was driven far upon the land, and pyramids of fragments were thrown up above the level of the flood. Buildings were removed and destroyed, cattle and sheep were drowned, and ruin spread on all sides.
Mr. Penny says, in his historical discourse, "that the eels go up the river the beginning of May in a ribband or stream of about a foot wide upon the average, and three or four inches in depth, and every year in the same course. They are from two to six inches in length, move with considerable velocity, and continue to pass along without interruption for about four days. Almost an incon- ceivable number must pass during this time." They are said to be from the ocean, and are said to pass into the ponds and brooks connected with the river.
The first Congregational church, located in the west parish, was organized in 1682. The first pastor was Rev. Zachariah Symmes, who was settled in 1682, died 1707. He was succeeded by his son, the Rev. Thomas Symmes, in 1708, who died in 1725. The Rev. Joseph Parsons succeeded Mr. Symmes, and was settled in 1726, and died in 1765. The next was the Rev. Samuel Williams, who was settled in 1765, and resigned in 1780. His successor was
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DANVERS.
Rev. Jonathan Allen, who was settled in 1781. The sixth pastor was the Rev. Ira Ingraham, who settled here in 1824, resigned in 1830. The seventh pastor was the Rev. Loammi J. Hoadly, who was settled in 1830, resigned January, 1833. His successor was the Rev. Moses C. Searle, who was settled in 1833, and resigned in 1834.
The second Congregational church, in the east parish, was formed in 1728. The Methodist society was established in 1832.
DANVERS.
DANVERS was formerly a part of Salem, known by the name of Salem village. It was settled by Gov. Endicott and his associates in 1628. The settlement was incorporated as a district in 1752, and as a town June 16, 1757. Tradition says it received its name from Earl D'Anvers, a nobleman in the north of England, but why his name was adopted does not appear .* The population of the town in 1837 was 4,804. There are seven houses of public wor- ship, viz., 2 Congregational, 2 Universalist, 1 Unitarian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist. The principal village in Danvers is large and thickly settled ; its principal street joins the main street in Salem, forming but one continuous settlement. The New Mills village, situated at the head of navigation on Porter river, in the north- eastern part of the township, was settled in 1754. During the revolutionary war, four 20 gun ships, and eight or ten privateers, were built here. In 1837, there were manufactured in this town 14,000 pairs of boots, 615,000 pairs of shoes; the value of boots and shoes was $435,900; males employed, 666; females, 411. There were 28 tanneries; hides tanned, 66,200; value of the lea- ther tanned and curried, $264,400; hands employed, 110; capital invested, $203,700. There were 3 manufactories of morocco; skins manufactured, 98,000, valued at $39,400; hands employed, 35; capital invested, $30,000. Nails, chocolate, bricks and various other articles are manufactured here. The center of the princi- pal village is about two miles distant from the central part of Salem, and about 15 from Boston. There are two banks, the Danvers Bank, incorporated in 1825, capital $150,000; the War- ren Bank, incorporated in 1832, capital $120,000; and an insu- rance company, incorporated in 1829.
The inhabitants of Danvers have always been distinguished for their patriotism, and its citizens bore their full share in the great contest of the Revolution. Gen. Israel Putnam, so celebrated for his courage and his important services in the French, Indian, and Revolutionary wars, was a native of Danvers. Col. Hutchinson, another commander in the revolutionary army from this town, re- ceived the marked approbation of Washington for his services at the crossing of the Delaware. He also commanded a company at
* The author is indebted to Mr. Poole for a number of particulars respecting the his- tory of this town.
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DANVERS.
the siege and capture of Quebec by Gen. Wolfe, and was at Lake George, and at the defeat of Ticonderoga, with Gen. Abercrombie. At the battle of Lexington he commanded a company of minute men. Jeremiah Page, another hero from this town, commanded a company at Lexington, and afterwards became a colonel in the army. Capt. Samuel Page also fought at Lexington, and com- manded a company in the revolutionary army. Gen. Gideon Fos- ter, another commander at the battle of Lexington, still survives, at the age of 90 years.
Southern view of the Collins House, Danvers.
As early as June 5th, 1774, General Gage, the royal governor, came here from Boston with two companies of the king's troops, from Castle William, belonging to the 64th regiment, and had his head-quarters at the mansion of Hon. R. Hooper, since the pro- perty of the late Judge Collins, of which the above cut is a repre- sentation. The troops were encamped about the house; but they had been there scarcely three months before the rebellious spirit of the people became so manifest that a large part of this force was kept under arms every night, to prevent a surprise, and on the 10th of September Gov. Gage marched back to Boston.
It was in the vicinity of this house that the witchcraft excitement of 1692 first manifested itself. In Felt's Annals of Salem, it is thus noticed : [Feb.] "25th. Tituba, an Indian servant of Rev. S. Parris, is complained of for witchcraft. Before this, John, her husband, another Indian servant of Mr. P., had been persuaded by Mary Sibley to make a superstitious experiment for discovering persons, who, they supposed, secretly afflicted Mr. P.'s daughter, Elizabeth, Æ. 9, and his niece Abigail Williams, JE. 11, and Ann Putnam, a girl of the neighborhood. March 1st. Sarah Osborn, Sarah and Dorothy Good, Tituba, servant of Mr. Parris, Martha Cory, Rebecca Nurse, Sarah Cloyce, John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth, all of Salem village, are committed to Boston jail, on charge of witchcraft. 11th. Mr. Parris and other ministers observe a Fast at Salem village because witchcraft had appeared there .---
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DANVERS.
Mary Sibley, having confessed that she innocently councilled John, the Indian, to attempt a discovery of witches, is permitted to com- mune with Mr. P.'s church. She had been previously disciplined for such council and appeared well."
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The following statement is from the records of the first church, where it appears in Mr. Parris' own hand-writing.
"27th March, Sab. 1692. Sacrament Day.
"After the common auditory were dismissed, and before the church communion of the Lord's table, the following Testimony against the Error of our sister Mary Sibley who had given direction to my Indian man in an unwarrantable way to find out witches, was read by the Pastor. It is altogether undenyable that our great and blessed God hath suffered many persons, in several Families of this little village, to be grievously vexed and tortured in body, and to be deeply tempted, to the endanger- ing of the destruction of their souls, and all these amazing facts (well known to many of us) to be done by Witchcraft and Diabolical Operations. It is also well known that when these calamities first began, which was in my own family, the affliction was several weeks before such hellish operations as Witchcraft was suspected. Nay it never brake forth to any considerable light until diabolical means was used by the making of a cake by my Indian man, who had his directions, from this our sister Mary Sibley, since which apparitions have been plenty, and exceeding much mischief hath followed .. But by this means it seems the Devil hath been raized amongst us, and his rage is vehement and terrible, and when he shall be silenced the Lord only knows."
The First Congregational church was located in the north parish, and organized 1671. Rev. James Bailey was the first pastor ; he was settled in 1671, and resigned 1680. His successor was the Rev. George Burroughs, who was settled 1680, and re- signed 1683, and on the 19th August, 1692, was executed for witchcraft on "Gallows Hill," Salem. He was succeeded by the Rev. Deodab Lawson in 1683, who resigned in 1688. The next in order was Rev. Samuel Parris, who was settled in 1689, and resigned in 1696. It was in Mr. Parris' family that witch- craft excitement first made its appearance. His successor was the Rev. Joseph Green, who was settled in 1698, and died 1715. The Rev. Peter Clark succeeded him in 1717, and died in 1768. His successor, Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth, was settled 1772, and died 1826.
The Second. Congregational church, located in the south parish, was organized in 1713. The Baptist society was organized 1793, located at New Mills. The Unitarian society was incorporated in 1825. The Rev. Mr. Sewall was settled in 1827. This church is located at south parish. The First Universalist church, located at New Mills, organized in 1829. Pastor, Rev. William Henry Knapp, installed 1834. Second Universalist, located in south parish. The Methodist society was recently organized.
The public acts of the inhabitants of Danvers in those fearful times immediately preceding the open rupture with the mother country, as shown by their town records, display an ardor and de- termination in view of the great struggle before them, unsurpassed in any other part of the country. These acts were followed by prompt personal effort and the sacrifice of the best blood of her sons. Of those who fell at the battle of Lexington one sixth part
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were inhabitants of this town. A monument to their memory was laid in 1835, on the 60th anniversary of the battle, by Gen. Gideon Foster, one of the survivors, and captain of a company of minute men from this town, which fought on that day. Gen. Foster then addressed the multitude assembled to witness the ceremony, among which were nineteen survivors of the revolutionary army; after which religious services were performed, and an address delivered by Danl. P. King, Esq., in that ancient church where sixty years before religious services were had over the remains of the slain.
"The occasion will long be remembered,-as calculated to deepen our feelings of veneration for the events commemorated- for the exercise of generous feelings in the discharge of an honor due to the glorious dead,-and the ceremonies of the day will re- mind us of our obligations to those who spilled their blood in the first offering at the shrine of liberty."
Monument and Bell Tavern, Danvers.
The above is a view of the monument, which is built of hewn sienite, is 22 feet in height and 7 feet broad at the base. It was completed in 1837, at an expense somewhat exceeding $1,000. The following inscriptions, carved in Italian marble, appear on two sides of the monument.
[On the east.]
Battle of Lexington, April 19th, 1775. Samuel Cook, aged 33 years ; Benj. Daland, 25 ; George Southwick, 25; Jotham Webb, 22; Henry Jacobs, 22; Ebenr. Gold- thwait, 22 ; Perley Putnam, 21; Citizens of Danvers, fell on that day.
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.
[On the reverse.] Erected by Citizens of Danvers on the 60th Anniversary, 1835.
In the back-ground is a view, of an ancient building which was formerly much celebrated as the Old Bell Tavern, for many years kept by a Mr. Francis Symonds, who, besides being the landlord, claimed the honor of being the poet laureate of the village. A
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wooden representation of a bell hung from his sign-post, on which he caused to be inscribed,
" I'll toll you in if you have need And feed you well and bid you speed."
To the business of publican he united that of chocolate dealer, and on a sign projecting from the post below the bell, was the fol- lowing couplet :
" Francis Symonds makes and sells The best of Chocolate, also Shells."
This house was formerly a place of much resort, it being on the great thoroughfare from the east and north to Boston. It was here that the Salem regiment, under the late Col. Timo. Pickering, halted for refreshment on their march to Bunker Hill on the 17th of June, 1775.
It may not be uninteresting to state that this ancient building was once the temporary residence of Elizabeth Whitman, whose singular history in fictitious narrative, and under the fictitious name of Eliza Wharton, has excited so much interest with read- ers of romance. It was here she lived a transient visiter, a mys- tery to all, and here, among strangers, she died. She is described by those who saw her as a lady of agreeable manners and con- versation, of strong mind, intelligent and accomplished. In form she was above the common height, and had considerable personal beauty. Her fate appears to have excited much sympathy in the village, and her remains were followed by a large number of the inhabitants to the village burial-ground, where the mutilated head- stone of her grave still remains. The foot-stone has long since been entirely demolished by the depredations of visiters, who make their pilgrimages to the spot and carry away some portion as a relic, and, unless some measures are taken to prevent it, the re- maining stone will also soon disappear. These monuments to her memory are made from a reddish freestone, and were placed at her grave by some unknown friends of the deceased. The head-stone bears the following inscription, which differs from that recorded in the book purporting to be her history, only in the name.
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