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 26
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" Diffidence in an officer is a good mark, because he will always endeavor to bring himself up to what he conceives to be the full line of his duty ; but, I think I may tell you without flattery, that I know of no man better qualified than you to con- duct a brigade. You have activity and industry, and as you very well know the duty of a colonel, you know how to exact that duty from others."-Alden's Coll. vol. iii. .
" Hon. Elbridge Gerry, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was born in Marblehead, July 17, 1744, and from his first election as representative of his native town in the legis- lature, he continued in public life, almost without intermission, fil- ling the most important offices, such as that of a member of con- gress, ambassador to France, governor of the commonwealth, and vice president of the United States, till his decease. His spirit was nourished by close communion with the Adamses, Hancock, Warren, &c. On the night preceding the battle of Lexington, he narrowly escaped capture as one of the "rebel' committee of the provincial congress. In 1813, as he was proceeding to the senate chamber at Washington, 'a sudden extravasation of blood took place upon the lungs, and terminated his life within twenty minutes, almost without a struggle, and apparently without pain.'"' -Essex Memorial.
The following inscriptions are from monuments in this place :
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METHUEN.
In memory of the rev. JOHN BARNARD, a faithful pastor of the first church in Mar- blehead. He was a learned divine, a judicious and profitable preacher, who has left excellent performances to his and their posterity. He exhibited a bright example of piety and christian virtue, was a promoter of peace and friendship, an ornament to the church and town, and after a long life spent in the service of Christ and souls, on the 24th of Jan. 1770, in the 54 year of his ministry, and the 89 of his age, fell asleep in Jesus.
Memoria sacrum rev. domini JOHANNIS BARNARD, primæ Christi ecclesia apud Mar- blehead pastoris fidelis. Theologus erat vere eruditus, concionator admodum sapiens utilisque. Suis non solum quin et posteris monita reliquit. Exemplum pietatis ac christianæ virtutis insigne, amicitiæ et pacis cultor, ecclesia et oppidi decus multos post labores Christi et animarum causa peractos hac vita, Januarii 24, 1770, et minis- terii 54 ætatis que 89, placide decessit.
Under this stone lies the body of the Rev. PETER BOURS, once minister of this church, which office, for the space of nine years, he discharged with faithfulness, teaching the doctrines of the gospel with plainness and fervency, illustrating the truth and reality of what he taught, by his own life, the goodness of which, joined with great candor, and unbounded benevolence of mind, obtained for him not only the most sincere love of his own people, but also the love of virtuous men of every persuasion. He died 24 Feb- ruary, 1762, aged 36 years. To his memory his people have erected this monument in testimony of his great worth and their sincere regards.
Persuasion draws, example leads the mind ; Their double force compels, when meetly joined.
METHUEN.
THE eastern part of this town was formerly a part of Haverhill. It was incorporated as a town in 1725. The soil near the Merri- mac, which is the south-western boundary of the town, is not so good as that in the more northern part. The surface of the town- ship is broken into a variety of hills and valleys, and the soil may be in general considered as good. Spicket or Spiggot river, in its course from New Hampshire, centrally intersects and falls into the Merrimac. This little river has a fall of about thirty feet down a rocky precipice, and affords a plentiful supply of water for manu- facturing purposes. This has been improved, and there is now a flourishing village at this place, containing about 1,000 inhabitants, 3 churches, 1 Baptist, 1 Congregational, and 1 Universalist. Me- thuen Falls village is situated about one mile south of the New Hampshire line. The engraving shows the appearance of the vil- lage as seen from the eastward. The Congregational church ap- pears on elevated ground in the distance on the extreme right ; the Baptist church, the largest in the village, is the nearest ; the Uni- versalist church is seen beyond in the distance ; the large factory, built of brick, is seen on the extreme left, standing by the falls. Distance, 9 miles from Lowell, 9 from Haverhill, 5 from Andover, and 25 from Boston. A cotton factory was commenced here about 1812, by Stephen Minot, Esq. of Haverhill. This was burnt in 1818, but was rebuilt soon after. A newspaper, the "Methuen Falls Gazette," was commenced here in Jan. 1835. A paper-mill was erected in this town in 1826. The following, relative to this town, is from the Statistical Tables, published by the state in 1837. Cot- ton mills, 2; cotton spindles, 4,400; cotton consumed, 527,899 lbs. ; .
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MIDDLETON.
Eastern viem of Methuen Falls Village.
cotton goods manufactured, 1,019,903 yards; value of the same, $190,000 ; males employed, 55; females, 225; capital invested, $180,000 ; sperm oil used by the manufacturers, 2,750 gallons. Shoes manufactured, 211,300 pairs; value of the same, $159,225; males employed, 190; females, 167. Manufactories of hats, 5; hats manufactured, 48,000 ; value of hats, $23,000; males employ- ed, 36 ; females, 9. Paper-mills, 2; stock manufactured, 195 tons ; value of paper, $32,500. Value of piano forte frames, $10,000.
The first church in this town was formed in 1729, and Rev. Christopher Sergeant was ordained the same year. He died in 1790. Rev. Simon F. Williams, a colleague with Mr. Sergeant, was dismissed in 1791. Rev. Humphrey C. Perley, his successor, was ordained in 1795, and dismissed in 1815. Rev. Jacob W. Eastman, the next pastor, was settled in 1815, and retired in 1828. A second church was formed in 1766, and Rev. Eliphaz Chapman was or- dained in 1772. The second pastor was John H. Stephens, the third Josiah Hill. (The first and second churches were united from 1817 to 1830.) The Baptist church was formed in 1815, and Rev. Charles O. Kimball was ordained pastor the next year. The Universalist society was organized in 1824. A small Episcopal society was formed here in 1833. Population, 2.463.
MIDDLETON.
THIS town was incorporated in 1728. It was formed of the uni- ted corners of several adjoining towns. The first church was gathered here in 1729, and Rev. Andrew Peters, the first pastor, was settled the same year. The second pastor, Rev. Elias Smith, was settled in 1759. He died in 1792, and was succeeded by Rev. Solomon Adams in 1793. Rev. Ebenezer Hubbard, the next pastor, was settled in 1816; his successor, Rev. Forrest Jefferds, was set-
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NEWBURY.
tled in 1832. There is another society in this town, called the United Society.
The surface of the township is uneven, and the soil requires good management and great industry to render it productive. The inhabitants live scattered over the town, there being no village of importance. In 1837, there were 300 pairs of boots and 500 pairs of shoes manufactured, valued at $1,500; and one paper-mill, which manufactured 100 tons of stock ; value of paper, $35,000. Population, 671. Distance, 7 miles N. W. of Salem, 18 from New- buryport, and 20 N. of Boston.
NEWBURY.
NEWBURY was originally one of the largest as well as one of the oldest towns in Massachusetts. "In 1633, arrived a number of people in the ship Hector, who settled at Quafcacanquen. In May, 1634, arrived Mr. Thomas Parker and Mr. James Noyes. Mr. Parker, and about a hundred who came over with him, sat down at Ipswich, where he continued about a year, while Mr. Noyes preached at Medford. In May, 1635, some of the principal people of Ipswich petitioned the general court for liberty to remove to Quafcacanquen, which was granted, and the place incorporated by the name of Newbury. This was the tenth church gathered in the colony. Mr. Noyes was chosen teacher, and Mr. Parker pas- tor of the church." The first settlement was made on the banks of Parker river, which is about 8 miles north of Ipswich, and about 4 south of the middle of Newburyport, on Merrimac river. Thence the settlements were soon extended westward up the river Parker about 4 or 5 miles to the falls, and northward to the Merrimac and the lands adjacent.
The territorial limits of this town have been greatly reduced, and its wealth more than proportionably diminished, by the formation of the towns of Newburyport and West Newbury. Those parts of the town most compactly settled join on to Newburyport. That portion which lies on the south-east side contains about 1,100 peo- ple in a compact settlement, who are generally engaged in the fish- eries. There are 4 churches within the present limits of the town, and a cotton factory. In five years preceding 1837, there were built 57 vessels, the tonnage of which was 11,907; valued at $721,610; hands employed in ship-building, 136. Population, 3,771. Distance from Boston, 31 miles. Plum Island, the greater part of which lies in this town, is mostly composed of sand. It is, however, esteemed a salutary resort for invalids in the summer season ; it is also a favorite haunt for pleasure parties. One cause of attraction is from the copious supply of beach plums which are found on the island in the autumn.
Dummer Academy, in the limits of this town, is located in Byfield parish, and is the oldest institution of the kind in New England,
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being founded by Lieut. Gov. Dummer, in 1756; it was not, how- ever, incorporated till Oct. 1782, which was subsequent to the in- corporation of Phillips Academy at Andover. It is richly endowed, and its location is retired, pleasant, and remarkably healthy.
The following, relative to the ancient manner of building church- es, is from the appendix to Rev. J. S. Popkins' Sermon, 1806.
" October 5, 1698, the vote was passed to build the former meeting-house. April 22, 1700, Sergeant Stephen Jaques, the builder, was ordered to hang the bell in the new turret. October 18, Col. Daniel Pierce, Esq. and Tristram Coffin, Esq. were impower- ed to procure a bell for the new meeting-house, of about 400 pounds weight. Decem- ber 16, 1700, the place of each man and woman was assigned, by a committee. The number of men placed was about 176. This appears to have been the time of occupy- ing the meeting-house. The body of the house was filled with long seats. Contiguous to the wall were twenty pews. The spaces for the pews were granted to particular persons who appear to have been principals. Before the pulpit and deacons' seat was a large pew containing a table, where sat the chiefs of the fathers. The young people sat in the upper gallery, and the children on a seat in the alley fixed to the outside of the pews. The floor measured 60 and 50 feet. The roof was constructed with four gable ends or projections, one on each side, each containing a large window, which gave light to the upper galleries. The turret was on the center. The space within was open to the roof, where was visible plenty of timber, with great needles and little needles point- ing downwards, which served at once for strength and ornament. There were many ornaments of antique sculpture and wainscot. It was a stately building in the day of it, but it was not my lot to see it in all its ancient glory. Long ago a wall was spread overhead, which was dropping down, and the floor was occupied by pews. The roof made plain, the four very steep sides terminating in a platform, which supported a steeple "
The following inscriptions are from monuments in this town :-
A Resurrection to immortality-is here expected-for what was mortal-of the Rev- erend Mr. JOHN RICHARDSON, (once Fellow of Harvard Colledge, afterwards Teacher to the church at Newbury,) putt off Apr. 27, 1696, in the fiftieth year of his age. 1
When Preachers dy the Rules the pulpit gave to live well, are still preached from the grave, The Faith and Life, which your dead Pastor taught in one grave now with him, Syrs bury not.
Abi, viator ; A mortuo disce vivere ut moriturus, E. Terrio disce cogitare de Cœlis .*
Here lyes the Body of the Rev. Mr. CHRISTOPHER TAPPAN, master of Arts, fourth Pastor of the First church in Newbury ; a gentleman of good Learning, conspicuous Pi- ety and virtue, shining both by his Doctrine and Life, skilled and greatly improv'd in the Practice of Physic and Surgery, who deceas'd July 23d, 1747, in the 76th year of his Age and the 51st year of his Pastoral office.
Beneath are the remains of Rev. JOHN TUCKER D. D. Pastor of the first Church and Congregation in this town, who died March 22d, 1792, Etat. 73. Blessed with strong mental Powers, a liberal education, and an uncommon mildness of Temper, all directed and improved by that faith which purifies the heart, rendered Him dearly beloved in every relation in which he was placed, and more especially made him conspicuously useful as a minister of the Gospel when meeting with peculiar Difficulties. He emi- nently complied with that direction of his Master to the first Preachers of his Gospel, Be ye wise as serpents and harmless as doves. As he lived a life of piety, he met with death with Serenety. By his doctrine and example he taught the humility and meekness, and at his death he exhibited the dignity and triumph, of the real Christian.
* Which may be plainly translated : Go, traveller ; from the dead learn to live, as one that must die ; from the earth learn to think of the heavens.
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NEWBURYPORT.
NEWBURYPORT.
THIS town is the smallest in its territorial limits of any in the commonwealth, containing but about six hundred and forty-seven acres. It was formerly the port of the town of Newbury, and was incorporated as a distinct town in 1764. Previous to the Revolu- tion, Newburyport was quite a commercial place, and the commerce with the French West Indies was constant and profitable. During the period of the Revolution "the people of this town signalized their patriotism and love of independence by consenting to the non- importation agreement, declaring their abhorrence of the stamp-act, and other arbitrary measures of the ministry, preparing the means of defence and warfare, resolving to support the Declaration of In- dependence with their lives and fortunes, and nobly keeping this resolution inviolate. Few parts of the country sacrificed more in proportion for the sake of freedom, than did Newburyport, in sub- mitting to have its staple business of ship-building broken up, in- curring large debts for the defence of the harbor, weakening its population for the supply of the continental armies, and undergo- ing many other privations and embarrassments attendant on a state of protracted warfare. The citizens gained a little, and but a lit- tle, by privateering; and in other respects the town stood almost still during the war, and until peace restored its commercial advan- tages."
During the difficulties with the French directory, Newburyport presented an uncommon example of patriotism by building a twenty-gun ship by the subscription of some of the principal in- habitants of the town, and offered it to the government, and asked for the final reimbursement of the net cost "at the convenience of the government." This offer, when our navy was small, and the means of the government limited, was felt to be valuable. The commercial prosperity of Newburyport was at one period almost unexampled in a town of its size. But commercial restrictions ; the fire of 1811; and the war of 1812, bore heavily upon a mer- cantile and ship-building population, and the town has not entirely recovered its former prosperity. The sand bar at the mouth of the Merrimac, which, in prosperous times, would have afforded no great obstacle to trade, became, under disastrous circumstances, a source of despondence.
The following description of Newburyport is extracted from Newhall's Essex Memorial, published in 1836.
" The situation of the town is indeed uncommonly beautiful. The populous part stands upon a slope, gently declining to the river, so that a summer rain can at any time completely wash the streets. ' By whatever avenue it is approached, its appearance never fails to impress the mind of the visiter with pleasurable sen- sations. The compact settlement of the town of Newbury enclosing it upon two sides along the bank of the river, as you approach it upon the eastern road or from the sea, it presents the aspect of a considerable city, extending to the distance of nearly three miles.
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NEWBURYPORT.
The town is laid out with an unusual degree of regularity. A lower street, upon which the wharves and docks open, follows the course of the river ; and parallel with this an upper or High street extends the whole length of the town. Various avenues pass through its center, and a sufficient number of generally wide and spacious streets, at regular intervals, intersect these at right angles, and connect the upper with the lower street. The main post road from Boston enters Newburyport nearly at the central point of High street, and passes in a direct line through the town to a very large and convenient market-place, which is surrounded by brick stores, and is in the immediate vicinity of the principal wharves and docks. The dwelling-houses and other buildings are general- ly kept in good repair and condition, and present a neat and often elegant appearance. Some of the principal houses are extremely handsome; and there are few of any condition which do not pos- sess a considerable garden spot, which gives a very open and airy aspect to the town, at the same time that it promotes that general health for which this place has always been highly distinguished. Indeed, a great deal of attention has been paid here, of late years, to ornamental as well as common gardening.
" The Newburyport bridge crosses the Merrimac from the north part of the town. It was built in 1827. Abutments with stone walls, filled in with sods, gravel, &c., project from either shore. That on the Newburyport side is 240, and that on the Salisbury side is 187 yards long. The bridge rests on these abutments and on four piers built of stone from high-water mark, and is further supported by chains passing over the tops of. pyramids erected on the piers and under the centers of the arches. The span of the center arch is 83 yards. The bridge is built in two distinct longi- tudinal parts, so that, in case of accident to one; the passage of the river will not be interrupted. Whole length, three sevenths of a mile. Cost, $70,000. There has been a rapid and steady increase of travel over this bridge. The tolls taken in 1835 amounted to nearly double those of 1827.
" A breakwater was constructed by the United States, in 1830, near the mouth of the harbor, for the purpose of improving the same, at an expense exceeding $30,000. It has as yet been pro- ductive of but little if any advantage. A pier has since been erect- ed on Salisbury side, covering Badger's rocks, which affords a convenient harbor for vessels when prevented from coming up to town. The Newburyport turnpike to Boston commences at the head of State street, and is continued in a direct course to Malden bridge. It was finished in 1806, at an expense of $420,000, but is now little travelled:
" A custom-house has just been completed, situated on Water street. It is built of rough granite, with hammered stone pilasters, entablature, cornice and portico. The roof is covered with zinc. With the exception of the windows and window-frames, it is built entirely of stone and brick. The style of architecture is the Gre- cian Doric, and the cost of the building $25,000. There are eight
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NEWBURYPORT.
churches, a stone jail and a keeper's house, an almshouse, an ele- gant brick court-house, on Bartlett's mall, High street. There is also a brick market-house, containing a town hall, and rooms for municipal officers. The Newburyport Academy, though situ- ated within the bounds of Newbury, was built, as its name implies, by persons in Newburyport. It is a handsome brick building, situated on High street. A private school is now kept in it. The Newburyport Lyceum occupy the hall in the second story, which is a very handsome and convenient room, and was fitted for them at an expense of $1,200."
There are 3 banks-the Mechanics, incorporated 1812, capital $200,000; the Merchants, incorporated 1831, capital $300,000; and the Ocean, incorporated in 1833, capital $200,000. There is an institution for savings, and 3 insurance companies. Two newspapers are published, one semi-weekly the other semi- monthly. In 1837 there were 128 vessels employed in the cod and mackerel fishery from Newburyport and Newbury; tonnage, 6,628; cod-fish caught, 11,400 quintals; value of the same, $34,200; mackerel caught, 20,500 barrels; value of the same, $143,500; hands employed, one thousand. Four vessels were employed in the whale fishery; tonnage, 1,440; sperm oil import- ed, 148,480 gallons; whale oil, 80,650 gallons; hands employed, 120. The value of boots and shoes manufactured, $113,173; males employed, 206; females, 114. The population of New- buryport in 1790 was 4,837; in 1800, 5,946; in 1810, 7,634; in 1820, 6,789; in 1830, 6,388; and in 1837, 6,741. Distance, 20 miles N. of Salem, 24 southerly from Portsmouth, and 38 from Boston, on the main post road.
The following account of the great fire in this place is from Cushing's History of Newburyport, published in 1826.
But in addition to the evils arising to us from the cupidity of the European belli- gerents, and the restrictive and retaliatory measures into which this country was con- sequently driven, Newburyport was doomed to suffer by a peculiar misfortune. This was the great fire of 1811, which desolated the busiest portion of the town, by its destructive ravages ; and whose effects still meet the eye, in the depopulation of streets formerly filled with dwelling-houses and shops.
This conflagration commenced in a stable in Mechanic Row, near the Market Square, and of course in the center of the portion of the town devoted to trade and business. The stable was at the time unoccupied, and when the fire was discovered was found to be completely enveloped in flames. This was at half past nine o'clock in the even- ing of the thirty-first day of May, 1811. The fire quickly extended to Market Square on the one hand, and to State street on the other, and soon spread in various directions, with a degree of celerity and fury which baffled all exertions to stop its progress. The fire continued to rage until about two o'clock in the morning, soon after which its vio- lence diminished ; and by sunrise it had in a great measure subsided, after having swept away everything on a tract of land of sixteen and a half acres, leaving there only a mass of deplorable ruins. No part of the town was more compactly built than this ; none contained so large a proportion of valuable buildings, merchandise, and other property. Indeed, the compactness of the buildings, which were chiefly construct- ed of wood, served constantly to feed the flames with combustible materials, so that for a time the destruction of the whole town was seriously apprehended. It was esti- mated that nearly 250 buildings were consumed, most of which were stores and dwell- ing-houses. This number included nearly all the shops in town for the sale of dry goods; four printing-offices ; the custom-house ; the post-office ; two insurance offices ;
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Drawn by J. W. Barber-Engraved by S. E. Brown, Boston. NORTHERN VIEW OF NEWBURYPORT.
The above shows the appearance of Newburyport as seen from the northern bank of the Merrimac. The chain suspension bridge crossing Merrimac river is seen on the right.
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NEWBURYPORT.
four bookstores ; and one meeting-house ; and the dwellings of more than ninety families.
The scene presented by this conflagration was truly terrible. It is described by an eye-witness in the ensuing words ;
" At the commencement of the fire, it was a bright moonlight night, and the evening was cool and pleasant. But the moon gradually became obscured, and at length disap- peared in the thick cloud of smoke which shrouded the atmosphere. The glare of light throughout the town was intense, and the heat that of a sultry summer noon. The streets were thronged with those whose dwellings were consumed, conveying the remains of their property to places of safety. The incessant crash of falling buildings, the roaring of chimneys like distant thunder, the flames ascending in curling volumes from a vast extent of ruins, the air filled with a shower of fire, and the feathered throng fluttering over their wonted retreats and dropping into the flames, the lowing of the cows, and the confused noise of exertion and distress, united to impress the mind with the most awful sensations."
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