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 24
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The following historical items were principally obtained from the records of the town :
The first bell was purchased in 1748. Before that time there was a singular sub- stitute, as appears by a vote passed in 1650 : "That Abraham Tyler blow his horn half an hour before meeting, on the Lord's day, and on lecture days, and receive one pound of pork annually for his services from each family."
In 1650, a vote was passed " that the freeholders attend town meeting within half an hour after the time notified, and continue in town meeting till sunset, unless the same is sooner closed, on penalty of paying half a bushel of corn."
Johnson, in his account of this town, says, "The people are wholly bent to improve their labour by tilling the earth and keeping of cattel, whose yearly increase incou- rages them to spend their days in those remote parts." So wholly bent were they upon husbandry, as to suffer for the want of mechanics. There is in the town records a contract signed by Mr. Ward, the minister, and nineteen others, dated February 6, 1658, in which they agree to pay their proportion of 20 pounds for the purchase of a house and land for Mr. Jewett, provided he live here seven years, following the trade of a blacksmith in doing the town's work ; " also the said Jewett doth promise to refuse to work for any that refuse to pay towards this purchase, until they bring under the selectmen's hands that they will pay."
The first meeting-house for the first church stood in front of the grave-yard, half a
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HAVERHILL.
mile below the bridge. In this vicinity the settlement began. In 1666, John Hutch ings had "liberty to build a gallarie at the west end of the meeting-house, provided he give notice to the town at the next training day whether he will or noe, so that any inhabitant of the town that has a mind to join with him may give in his name." In 1681, it was voted "to enlarge the room in the east end of it by making a gallerie therein for the women." The second house was built in 1699, and, after a great con. tention whether it should be built where the first stood, a majority voted to erect it about fifty feet in front of where the third church was built in 1766.
Col. Nath. Saltonstall, one of the assistants of the colony, was the clerk or recorder - of the town from 1668 to 1700, and his records are in a very superior style, although he took the liberty occasionally of adding his own comments. In 1689, the town passed a vote "to pay Mr. Ward his full salary for the next year, provided that he, upon his own cost, do for the next ensuing year board Mr. Rolfe." The record begins, "The town then (Mr. Ward and his son Salstonstall being absent) voted, &c. The mar- ginal reference is £20 taken from Mr. Ward for Mr. Rolfe's diet, in '90, without his consent." Three lines, which probably contained some severe remark are blotted out, and the marginal note says it was " blotted out by order of the town."
Mr. Rolfe, the second minister, began to preach in Haverhill in 1689, and was ordained in January, 1693-4. Mr. Ward, the first minister, who died in 1693, agreed to abate all his salary except £20, half in merchantable wheat, Indian, &c, and half in money, and fifty cords of wood annually, upon condition that the town should pay all arrearages of his salary, and appoint a committee " to attend at his house upon a sett day to receive and take account of what shall be brought in, and sett the price thereof if it be not merchantable, that so it come not in by pitiful driblets as former- ly." Mr. Rolfe's salary was £60, half in corn and other articles. He was graduated at Cambridge in 1684. This worthy minis- ter was killed in what since has been called the " great descent" of the Indians upon Haverhill. The following is the inscription on his monument :
CLAUDITUR HOC TUMULO CORPUS REVERENDI PII DOCTIQUE VIRI D. BENIAMIN ROLFE, ECCLESSIE CHRISTI QUE EST IN HAUERHILL PASTORIS FIDELISSIMI; QUI DOMI SUÆE AB HOSTIBUS BARBARE TRUCIDATUS. A LABORIBUS SUIS REQUIEUIT MANE DIEI SACRÆE QUIETIS, AUG. XXIX., ANNO DOMINI MDCCVIII., ÆTATIS SUE XLVI.
(Inclosed in this tomb is the body of the reverend, pious, and learned Benjamin Rolfe, the faithful pastor of the Church of Christ in Haverhill; who was barbarously slain in his own house by the enemy. He rested from his labors early on the day of sacred rest, Aug. 29, 1708, in the 46th year of his age.)
The following is the inscription on the monument of Dr. Smith, the first Baptist minister in this place.
In memory of the Rev. HEZEKIAH SMITH, D. D., who was born at Long Island, state of New York, 21 April, A. D. 1737, graduated at Princeton College, A. D. 1758. He was ordained as an evangelist, in Charleston, South Carolina, and was the first pastor of the Baptist church in Haverhill, and took charge of the flock 12 November, A. D. 1766. He departed this life 24 January, A. D. 1805, after forty years faithfully per- forming the pastoral duties. He was laborious and successful in his preaching, and an able defender of the christian faith. His discourses were delivered with fervency and a becoming solemnity. He was a vigilant watchman in the various stations of his office. In his social circle he shone conspicuously. His deportment through life exhibited the humble christian and faithful minister of Jesus Christ.
There's a hast'ning hour, it comes, it comes, To rouse the sleeping dead, to burst the tombs, And place the saints in view.
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IPSWICH.
IPSWICH.
THE Indian name of Ipswich was Agawam, a word, it is said, which denoted a place where fish of passage resorted : it was ap- plied to several places in Massachusetts. This is said to have been the first place in Essex county known to have been visited by Europeans. In 1611, Capt. Edward Hardie and Nicholas Hobson sailed for North Virginia; they touched at this place and were kindly received. In 1614, Capt. John Smith, in his descrip- tion of North Virginia, or New England, thus speaks of Agawam : " Here are many rising hills, and on their tops and descents are many corne fields and delightfull groues. On the east is an isle of two or three leagues in length, the one halfe plaine marish ground, fit for pasture, or salt ponds, with many faire high groues of mul- berry trees. There are also okes, pines, walnuts, and other wood, to make this place an excellent habitation." The first permanent settlement was commenced in March, 1633, by Mr. John Winthrop jr. and twelve others, among whom were Mr. William Clerk, Ro- bert Coles, Thomas Howlet, John Biggs, John Gage, Thomas Hardy, William Perkins, Mr. John Thorndike, and William Ser- jeant. The next year (1634) Agawam was incorporated by the name of Ipswich.
Johnson remarks of Ipswich dwellings about 1646, " their houses are many of them very faire built, with pleasant gardens." In 1638, Masconnoment, the sagamore of Agawam, sold his right to Ipswich for £20. This chief appears to have died about 1658. He lived to see his people become almost extinct. He was buried on Sagamore Hill, now within the bounds of Hamilton. As late as 1726, there were three families, each having a wigwam back of Wigwam Hill, at the Hamlet. It is probable that not long after this year the tribe became entirely extinct.
Ipswich is one of the three shire towns in Essex county. The principal village is compactly built on both sides of Ipswich river, a large mill stream. A substantial stone bridge was built over this stream in 1764, having two arches. It was built at an expense of £1000, and named Choate Bridge, from the Hon. John Choate, one of the committee intrusted with its erection. There are three Congregational churches, one of which is Unitarian, and one Methodist. There is in the village a court-house, jail, a bank, incorporated in 1833, with a capital of $100,000, and the Ipswich Female Seminary, incorporated in 1828.
The central part of the village is uneven and rocky. The engraving shows the appearance of the Congregational church, court-house, and part of the Female Seminary, as seen from a building on the western side of open ground, or common, in the central part of the place.
The manufacture of thread and silk lace was formerly carried on here to a great extent. As early as 1790, about 42,000 yards were made annually. The Boston and Ipswich Lace Factory was in- corporated in 1824, and the "New England Lace Factory" in
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IPSWICH.
South-west vien in Ipswich, (central part.)
1833; both have ceased operation, and the business has declined. There is a cotton factory in the village, with 3000 spindles. Value of cotton goods manufactured in 1837, $50,000. The value of boots and shoes manufactured in 1837 was $46,000. Population of the town, 2,855. Distance, 12 miles from Salem, 10 from New- buryport, and 27 from Boston.
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The following, extracted from the town records of Ipswich, and other sources, is taken from Mr. Felt's History of Ipswich, published in 1834.
1642. " Whosoever kills a wolf is to have ---- and the skin, if he nail the head up at the meeting-house, and give notice to the constables. Also for the better destroying or fraying away wolves from the town, it is ordered, that 1st day of 7th mo., every householder whose estate is rated £500, and upward, shall keep a sufficient mastive dog; or £100 to £500, shall provide a sufficient hound or beagle, to the intent that they be in readiness to hunt and be employed for the ends aforesaid."
1648. "The heads of wolves, in order to receive the premiums, must be brought to the constable and buried." Josselyn informs us, 1663, how such animals are taken. " Four mackerel hooks are bound with a brown thread, and then some wool is wrapped round them and they are dipped into melted tallow, till they be big and round as an egg. This thing, thus prepared, is laid by some dead carcass which toles the wolves. It is swallowed by them, and is the means of their being taken." Down to 1757, it was a common thing to hear them commence their howl soon after sunset ; when it was very dangerous to go near the woods.
1642. The " Seven men" are to see that children, neglected by their parents, are employed, learned to read and "understand the principles of religion and the capital laws of this country," and, if necessary, be bound out to service.
1661. As an inhabitant of Ipswich, living at a distance, absented himself with his wife from public worship, the General Court empower the seven men to sell his farm, so that they may live nearer the sanctuary and be able more conveniently to attend on its religious services. Individuals are appointed to keep order in the meeting-house.
1670. Constables are instructed to prevent young persons from being out late in the evening, especially Sabbath, lecture, and training-day evenings. 1672. Laborers are forbidden to have intoxicating liquors. 1678. All persons in town are required to have some employment. 1681. Single persons, who are under no government, are ordered to put themselves under the care of some head of a family. Daniel Weldron is required to return to his wife according to law. An inhabitant is complained of by a tything man because he had a servant many years and had not taught him to read.
1667. A man of this place is prosecuted for digging up the bones of the Sagamore, and for carrying his scull on a pole.
LYNN. 193
The first Congregational church was organized in 1634, the same year the town was incorporated. The first regular pastor was Rev. Nathaniel Ward, who was born at Ipswich, England, and was a preacher near London. Having expressed himself against the " Book of Sports," and against some of the ceremonies of the church of England, he was suspended and required to make a public recantation. Rather than comply, he forsook his country and came to this. He arrived in 1634, and soon took charge of the Ipswich church. He appears to have possessed much legal knowledge, and aided the legislature of Massachusetts colony in forming their laws. He returned to England, where he died, 1653, aged 83. In 1647 he published the " Simple Cobbler of Agawam," a satirical and witty performance. Besides this he published a number of other works. Nathaniel Rogers and John Norton were the next ministers. Mr. Rogers was a descendant of the mar- tyr ; he came to New England in 1636, and died in 1655. Mr. Norton and Mr. Rogers were settled in 1638. Mr. Norton was an able writer and a man of great influence in the colony. He died in 1663, aged about fifty-seven. Rev. William Hubbard was settled here in 1656; he was born in England. In 1677 his first historical work received the approbation of the colonial licensers, and was soon published in Boston. It contained " Narrative of the Troubles with the Indians in New England in 1676 and 1677, with a Supplement concerning the War with the Pequods in 1637, and a Table and Postscript; also, a Narrative of the Troubles with the Indians from Piscataqua to Pemaquid." The same book was licensed in London, and was printed there under the title, " Present State of New England." What he thus gave to the public was after- wards thrown into the present form of his "Indian Wars." This history was long under the supervision of an intelligent com- mittee appointed by the general court. In 1682 the legislature voted him £50 for his History of New England, and the next year they order half this sum to be paid himn now if "he procure a fayre coppie to be written, that it be fitted for the presse." Such a copy was obtained, and was amended by his own hand. The Massachusetts Historical Society, aided by a liberal donation from the general court, had it printed in a volume distinct from those of their Collections, which contain it, in 1815. Mr. Hubbard died in 1704, aged 83.
LYNN.
THE town of Lynn, formerly Saugust, received its present name in 1637. The name was given in respect to Mr. Whiting, who came from the town of Lynn Regis, or King's Lynn, in Norfolk, England. The record of the court on this occasion consists of only four words, "Saugust is called Lin." "The Indian name of the river which forms part of the western boundary of the town is Saugus. The eastern extremity was called Swampscot, which
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name it still retains. Nahant, an Indian word signifying an island, is the original name of the peninsula which has become so celebrated. Lynn is the oldest town excepting Salem' in Essex county, and since its settlement, in 1629, nine other towns have been settled from it, viz. Saugus, Lynnfield, Reading, South Read- ing, Sandwich, and Yarmouth; Hampton and Amherst in New Hampshire; and Southampton on Long Island. The first white inhabitants of the town were Edmund Ingalls and his brother, Francis Ingalls. Edmund Ingalls came from Lincolnshire, in Eng- land, to Lynn in 1629. He was a farmer, and settled in the east- ern part of the town, near a small pond, in Fayette street. The spot where he resided is still pointed out by his descendants. The brother of Edmund was a tanner, and lived at Swampscot. He built his tannery on Humfrey's brook, where it is crossed by a stone bridge. The vats were filled up in 1825. This was the first tannery in New England. The emigrants found the place inhabited by a tribe of Indians of a great nation, called Aberginians. Their settlements extended from Charles river to the Merrimac. The name of the sachem who formerly governed them was Nane- pashemet, or the New Moon, who was killed about 1619. The government was continued by his queen, called "Squaw Sachem." Most of the tribes in Massachusetts were subject to her. She had a second husband in 1635, whose name was Wappacowet. Mon- towampate, son of Nanepashemet, sachem of the Saugus Indians, lived near the eastern end of the beach on Sagamore Hill, and had the government of Lynn and Marblehead. The proprietor of Na- hant was an Indian chief called by the English " Duke William," more commonly "Black Will." He was killed by some of the whites in 1633. The following is taken from Mr. Lewis' History of Lynn, published in 1829; a well-written work, full of interest- ing details respecting the history of this town.
The first settlers of Lynn were principally farmers, and possessed a large stock of horned cattle, sheep, and goats. For several years, before the land was divided and the fields fenced, the cattle were fed in one drove, and guarded by a man, who, from his employment, was called a hayward. The sheep, goats, and swine were kept on Nahant, where they were tended by a shepherd. Nahant seems to have been sold several times, to different individuals, by Black William, who also gave it to the plan- tation for a sheep pasture. A fence of rails, put near together, was made across the reach near Nahant, to keep out the wolves, as it is said those animals do not climb. When the people were about building this fence, Captain Turner said, "Let us make haste, lest the country should take it from us." In autumn the swine were let loose in the woods, that they might fatten themselves on nuts and acorns. The people of Lynn, for some years, seem to have lived in the most perfect democracy. They had town meetings every three months, for the regulation of their public affairs. They cut their wood in common, and drew lots for the grass in the meadows and marshes. These proved very serviceable to the farmers, in furnishing them with sustenance for their cattle, which was probably the reason why there were more farmers at Lynn than in any other of the early settlements. Mr. Johnson says, "The chiefest corn they planted, before they had Plowes, was Indian grain .- And let no man make a jest at Pumpkins, for with this food the Lord was pleased to feed his people to their good content, till Corne and Cattell were increased." Their corn at the first was pounded with a wooden or stone pestle, in a mortar made of a large log, hollowed out at one end. They also cultivated large fields of barley and wheat. Much of the for- mer was made into malt for beer, which they drank instead of ardent spirit. They raised considerable quantities of flax, which was rotted in one of the ponds, thence
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LYNN.
called the Flax Pond. Their first houses were rude structures, with steep roofs, covered with thatch, or small bundles of sedge or straw, laid one over another. The fire- places were made of rough stones, and the chimneys of boards, or short sticks, cross- ing each other, and plastered inside with clay. Beside the haste and necessity which prevented the construction of more elegant habitations, the people who had wealth were advised to abstain from all superfluous expense, and to reserve their money for the public use. Even the deputy governor, Mr. Dudley, was censured for wainscot- ting his house. In a few years, houses of a better order began to appear. They were built with two stories in front, and sloped down to one in the rear. The windows were small, and opened outward on hinges. They consisted of very small diamond panes, set in sashes of lead. The fire-places were large enough to admit a four-foot log, and the children might sit in the corners and look up at the stars. On whichever side of the road the houses were placed, they uniformly faced the south, that the sun at noon might "shine square." Thus each house formed a domestic sun-dial, by which the good matron, in the absence of the clock, could tell, in fair weather, when to call her husband and sons from the field-for the industrious people of Lynn, then as well as now, always dined exactly at twelve. It was the custom of the first settlers to wear long beards, and it is said that " some had their overgrown beards so frozen together, that they could not get their strong water bottells into their mouths." In very hot weather, " servants were priviledged to rest from their labours, from ten of the clocke till two." The common address of men and women was Goodman and Goodwife; none but those who sustained some office of dignity, or belonged to some respectable family, were complimented with the title of Master. In writing they seem to have had no capital F, and thus in the early records we find two small ones used instead; and one m with a dash over it stood for two. The following song, which appears to have been written about this time, exhibits some of the peculiar customs and modes of thinking among the early settlers.
The place where we live is a wilderness wood, Where grass is much wanting that's fruitful and good .; Our mountains and hills, and our valleys below, Being commonly covered with ice and with snow.
And when the north-west wind with violence blows, Then every man pulls his cap over his nose ; But if any is hardy and will it withstand, He forfeits a finger, a foot, or a hand.
But when the spring opens we then take the hoe, And make the ground ready to plant and to sow ; Our corn being planted, and seed being sown, The worms destroy much before it is grown.
And while it is growing some spoil there is made By birds, and by squirrels, that pluck up the blade; And when it is come to full corn in the ear, It is often destroyed by raccoon and'by deer.
And now our old garments begin to grow thin, And wool is much wanted to card and to spin ; If we can get a garment to cover without, Our other in-garments are clout upon clout.
Our clothes we brought with us are apt to be torn, They need to be clouted soon after they're worn ; But clouting our garments, they hinder us nothing, Clouts double are warmer than single whole clothing.
If fresh meat be wanting to fill up our dish, We have carrots, and, pumpkins, and turnips, and fish ;
And if there's a mind for a delicate dish, We haste to the clam banks, and there we catch fish.
'Stead of pottage, and puddings, and custards, and pies,
Our turnips and parsnips are common supplies ; We have pumpkins at morning, and pumpkins at noon,
If it was not for pumpkins we should be undone.
If barley be wanting to make into malt, We must then be contented, and think it no fault ; For we can make liquor; to sweeten our lips, Of pumpkins, and parsnips, and walnut tree chips.
Now while some are going, let others be coming, For while liquor's boiling. it must have a scumming ; But I will not blame them, for birds of a feather, By seeking their fellows, are flocking together.
Then you whom the Lord intends hither to bring, Forsake not the honey for fear of the sting ; But bring both a quiet and contented mind, And all needful blessings you surely will find.
The following are the names of some of the persons who appear to have been inhabitants of Lynn in 1630.
Joseph Armitage, Allen Breed, Wm. Ballard, Nicholas Brown, Edward Baker, Samuel Bennet, Nicholas Brown, Thomas Coldam, Clement Coldam, Thomas Chadwell,
William Cowdrey, Henry Collins, Thomas Dexter, William Dixey, Robert Driver, George Farr, Jeremy Fitch, Edmund Farrington, Thomas Newhall,
Adam Hawkes, Edward Holyoke,
Edward Howe, Licut. Danl. Howe, Ephraim Howe, William Hathorne, Thomas Hudson, Christopher Hussey, Christopher Lyndsey, John White,
Robert Potter, John Ramsdell,
John Taylor, Capt. Ed. Tomlins, Timothy Tomlins, Capt. Nath. Turner, Capt. Rich. Walker Thomas Willis,
William Witter, John Wood, William Wood.
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LYNN.
The following persons were also at Lynn as early as 1637. .
Abraham Belknap,
Richard Sadler,
William Hewes,
Jarett Spenser,
Edmund Bridges,
William Andrews,
Jeremy Howe,
Jenkin Davis,
Richard Brooks,
John Hudson,
Michael Spenser, Josias Stanbury,
Joseph Floyd,
Goodman Cox,
Samuel Hutchinson,
George Taylor,
Christopher Foster,
Goodman Crosse,
Thomas Hutchinson, William Thorn,
George Fraile,
John Deacon,
Philip Kneeland, Thomas Paine,
Mr. Wathin,
Thomas Ivory,
William George,
Robert Parsons,
Richard Wells,
Richard Johnson,
Francis Godson,
Edward West,
Thomas Keysar,
Henry Gaines,
Thomas Parker, Joseph Pell,
Thomas Wheeler,
Thomas Laighton,
John Gillow,
Nicholas Poor,
Nathanl. Whiteridge,
Richard Longley,
Thomas Halsye,
Wm. Partridge,
John Humfrey,
John Pierson,
James Hewes,
Thomas Read,
Edward Howe.
Richard Roolton,
Robert Hewes,
Isaac Robinson,
Nathaniel Handforth, John Elderkin,
George Welbye,
Lynn in its present limits extends nearly six miles on the sea- coast, on the northern shore of Massachusetts Bay, and extends
Western entrance of the central part of Lynn.
about four miles into the woods. From the center of the southern side a beach of sand projects into the sea nearly two miles, and terminates in a peninsula, called Nahant. The whole town con- tains 9,360 acres. The south-eastern part is a tract of excellent salt marsh ; and the northern part is a range of wood-land and pasture. The inhabited part of the town is an extensive plain, gently undulating toward the extremities into graceful elevations, skirted on the south by the sea, and defended on the north by a range of rocky hills. A considerable degree of attention is given to agriculture. The farmers have much improved their lands by cultivation, and by procuring sea weed and rock weed from the beaches for manure. These substances have been freely mingled with the soil, and since their use the crops of English grass have been increased in nearly a tenfold proportion. The other princi- pal products are Indian corn, barley, and the common vegetable productions. The cold and damp sea breezes, which frequently prevail, have an unfavorable effect, and the soil appears to be uncongenial to the finer sorts of grain.
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