USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Peabody > History Of Peabody Massachusetts > Part 16
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The familiarity of intercourse in those early times, and the comparatively slight differences of social rank in the community, encouraged a sort of practical joking, which was as harmless as practical joking ever is, and more than usually original and witty in its methods. Many were the individuals who un- wittingly made sport for these practical jokers, but it was rarely that any ill will grew out of their doings. The exhibition to friends for their criticism (some- times adverse), of a portrait of Mr. Poole really made up by the subject's inserting his living head into a place cut in the canvas; orders given to new recruits in the militia to parade at novel seasons, and with surprising equipments; half the town induced to visit the scene of a remarkable chasm formed in the Square on April-fools' day-such were some of the odd fancies which furnished amusement for the town's people. One of the most characteristic and successful of these practical jokes was carried out by Mr. Poole in later life. In the early days of the Pea- body Institute lectures, Professor Hitchcock, the eminent geologist, delivered a course of lectures on geology, and while in town he was entertained by Mr. Poole, and a large number of the people of the town were invited to meet him. When the time for refreshments arrived, the company was ushered into a well supplied supper room, and just at that mo- ment the host was called away for a moment, and ex- cused himself with a cordial invitation to his guests to help themselves to the good things before them. After the first descent upon the table a strange em- barrassment stole over those who endeavored to dis- pense the refreshments. One would take off the cov- er from a dish, and hastily replace it; another found the oysters of surprising weight and texture; the cake could scarcely be lifted; the ice creams and cus- tards could be carried about bodily by the spoons in- serted in them; each new dish was more puzzling than the last. At length it dawned upon the bright- er spirits, that here was truly a geological feast, and the laugh began. The oysters were pudding-stone; the cake was brick, frosted with plaster of Paris; custards and creams were of plaster colored, and moulded; sugar, cream, every detail of the banquet was of mineral origin, of plaster, or stone, or clay. When the fun began to subside, another door was thrown open, and a more edible repast was spread before the guests.
His intimate knowledge of the early history of his native place, and his facility in imitating the ancient style of writing, enabled him to reproduce more vividly than any other writer of his class the peculiar
life and color of those early times, with all its quaint- ness of diction and spelling, and its apparently un- conscious humor of expression. Several of his poems and sketches, relating to the witchcraft times, are of unusual merit, particularly a ballad, widely circu- lated, entitled "Giles Corey and Goodwyfe Corey," which is an admirable reproduction of the old ballad style. Another well-known poem is that which was written for the centennial celebration at Danvers, " Giles Corey's Dream," which attained a wide celeb- rity, both for its poetical merits and the keen and thoughtful humor which pervades it. Mr. Poole's enjoyment of an innocent hoax induced him occa- sionally to introduce his old time sketches under the guise of veritable antiquities. One of the most re- markable of his efforts in this direction was brought out at the time of taking down the old South Meet- ing-house, in 1836, when a communication was re- ceived by a Salem paper, purporting to contain a copy of an old letter written by one Lawrence Conant, which described the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Pres- cott at the new meeting-house in the middle precinct of Salem in 1713, as seen by the writer. So perfect was the reproduction of the quaint language and spelling of the time, and so admirable the color of the composition and the apparent truthfulness of the details, describing personages prominent in the prov- ince, that it at first passed everywhere as genuine, and it was not till some acute antiquary detected a discrepancy of dates in the document that the de- ception was detected ; and even long afterward the letter of Lawrence Conant was occasionally referred to as genuine. The paper is full of delightful touches of humor, and was only intended as a facetious jeu d'esprit, and was promptly and publicly acknowledged as such by Mr. Poole ; but no amount of explanation has ever been able to destroy the authenticity of the document. About the same time he wrote a poem in the Scotch dialect called " Lament of the Bats inhab- iting the old South Church," which has been greatly admired.
He was an ardent Whig, and afterwards a strong Republican, deeply interested in the anti-slavery movement, and always progressive in his ideas.
Some of his political papers were pointed and effec- tive productions. During the Mexican War he wrote a series of articles for a Salem paper entitled "The Trial of James K. Polk for Murder." These were collected and printed in a pamphlet as a pleasant sa- tire ; a copy found its way to Mexico, where it was translated and circulated as a genuine historical doc- ument. Another political satire was his parody on " John Gilpin's Ride," written as the Carrier's Ad- dress of the Salem Register in 1852, beginning,-
" George Boutwell was a citizen Of credit and renown."
He was frequently induced to favor the carrier boys by writing their annual address, which was sure to be sold if signed or known to be written by him. One
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of these addresses was a poem of witchcraft times, entitled, "Witch-Dance and Banquet on Gallows Hill."
In 1859 he became the editor of a weekly paper in South Danvers called The Wizard, in whose columns appeared many of his best productions and most char- acteristic bits of humor, in which passing events were depicted with a spirit and wit which made the paper widely known.
In 1856 Mr. Poole was appointed librarian of the Peabody Institute Library in South Danvers, a posi- tion eminently congenial to his taste, and in which he won universal respect and esteem for his helpful- ness and unfailing courtesy. He continued in this position during the remainder of his life.
His extremely modest and retiring disposition pre- vented him from making the use of his literary powers which others possessing abilities far less strik ing and unique might have made of them. He never attempted any large literary work, nor even collected such of his scattered pieces as might surely have won popular favor if they had been published in book form. He was happiest in his loved home, the old family homestead in which he was born and lived through all his three-score and ten years, and in which he died; among his friends, or quietly watching the effect of his writings on the small audience of his town's people. He cared little for public office, but his interest in education made him for many years a valued and progressive member of the school commit- tee of the town ; he represented Danvers in the Gen- eral Court in 1841 and 1842, and was for a short time post master of Peabody under President Lincoln.
He died after a short illness on the 19th of August, 1873. It is to be hoped that some competent hand may undertake to collect his writings and gather the materials for an adequate memorial of his life, which would illustrate much that is deeply interesting of the life and growth of his native town.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION .- The principal sources from which the writer has attained the facts for this sketch, are the History of the Town of Danvers, by J. W. Hanson, 1848; Salem Witchcraft, by Charles W. Upham, 1867, from which some passages have been taken directly ; Annals of Salem, by Joseph B. Felt, 1849; "The Town of Peabody," a newspaper published March 25, 1873, by Albert Gould, pastor of the Methodist Church; the notes to the new edi- tion of the Acts and Resolves of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, by A. C. Goodell, Jr .; the Life of George Peabody, by Phebe A. Hanaford, 1870; The Danvers Centennial Celebration, 1852; The Life of Daniel P. King, by C. W. Upham; and many his- tori cal sketches by Fitch Poole.
The original records of the Salem Book of Grants and of the Town of Salem, and the records of the South Parish, have been carefully examined; and by the courtesy of Mr. Nathan H. Poor, the efficient town clerk of Peabody, the records of the town have
been examined for various data, and especially the war records. The files of the Wizard, during the civil war, furnished much valuable information.
The writer also desires to express his acknowledg- ments to Dr. Henry Wheatland for much kindly assist- ance; to Mr. William P. Upham and Mr. A. C. Goodell, Jr., the President of the Historico-Genea- logical Society, for valuable information and sug- gestions ; to Mr. J. P. Fernald for the use of articles on the Methodist and Catholic Churches; to Mr. Edgar W. Upton, who furnished the sketch of St. Paul's Mission; to Rev. J. W. Colwell, for full information relative to the South and West Peabody Churches; to Amos Merrill, Esq., for information relative to war records, and for an article on the Universalist Church; to Mr. J. Warren Upton, the Librarian of the Peabody Institute in Peabody, Mr. William H. Little, Mr. Arthur F. Poole, Mr. George F. Osborne, Mr. Nathan A. Bushby, and Mr. A. P. White, the historian of Danvers in this volume; and to the pastors and officers of the various churches, who readily furnished information in their power.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
EBENEZER SUTTON.
Ebenezer Sutton was born in Danvers, September 11, 1803. In 1855 Danvers was divided into two towns, North and South Danvers, and in 1868 the name of South Danvers was changed to Peabody. It was in that part of Danvers which is now Peabody that Mr. Sutton was born. The father of Mr. Sutton, William Sutton, married April 14, 1799, Elizabeth Treadwell, and had William, who was the late Gen- eral Sutton, July 26, 1800, and Ebenezer, the subject of this sketch, as above stated, September 11, 1803. William Sutton, the father of William and Ebenezer, was a leather-dresser by trade, but during many years before his death carried on, aside from his legitimate trade, extensive woolen mills at North Andover. He was at one time representative to the State Legislature, and was for some years president of the Danvers Bank. He died at Danvers, February 26, 1832.
The father of William Sutton was Richard, who was born in Ipswich, December 12, 1736. His trade also was that of a leather-dresser, and he lived and died in Ipswich. He married in 1758 Elizabeth, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Foster, of Ips- wich, and had the following children: Elizabeth, 1759; Susanna, 1761; Mary, 1763; Catherine, 1764; Catherine, 1765; Catherine, again, 1766; Mary, again, 1770; William, February 15, 1773; Sarah, 1775; Richard, 1777, and Richard again, 1780. He mar- ried, second, October 25, 1807, Rebecca, daughter of
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William and Elizabeth Foster, and had no children. He died December 12, 1825.
The father of Richard was William Sutton, who was born at Ipswich, October 5, 1699. He married in 1725 Susanna, daughter of Moses and Susanna Kimball, and had the following children : Ebenezer, baptized December 29, 1728; Richard, December 12, 1736; Susanna, July 20, 1740, who married Thomas Kimball, and died September 16, 1828. The father, William Sutton, died at Cape Breton in 1745.
The father of the last William was Richard Sutton, who was born in Reading, August 5, 1674, and re- moved to Ipswich before February, 1695-96. In the records he is called both shoemaker and farmer. By a wife Susanna he had Richard, born in Ipswich, February 9, 1696-97, who became a leather-dresser; William, born in Ipswich, October 5, 1699, and per- haps others. He died in Ipswich April 23, 1702.
The father of the last Richard was Richard Sutton, who was born, perhaps, in Roxbury about the year 1650. He removed to Reading about 1673, where he bought an estate, which he sold January 8, 1679, to Nathaniel Goodwin and Thomas Nichols. He served while in Reading in King Philip's War, and after the sale of his estate removed to Charlestown. The name of his wife was Katharine.
The father of the last Richard was Richard Sutton, an early settler in Roxbury. Various records in England disclose the name of Richard Sutton; but the English family, to which the American ancestors belonged, has never been precisely defined. Nor is the date of his arrival in New England known. He is spoken of without date in the ancient book of rec- ords of houses and lands in Roxbury as having six- teen acres of land more or less, lately the land of Henry Farnum. On the 7th of October, 1650, as shown by the Suffolk Deeds, Book I., page 128, he conveyed, for the consideration of two oxen, six acres of land in Roxbury to Governor Thomas Dudley. In 1656 he was a surveyor of highways. On the 10th of March, 1658, he bought of Simon and Ann Brad- street, of Andover, a dwelling-house in Andover, with an orchard and land, including about eight acres, and is called in the deeds husbandman and weaver. He probably removed to Andover about 1658, and remained there until he sold his estate, February 6, 1664, to George Abbot. The signatures to the deed are Richard Sutton and Rachael Sutton, thus disclosing the name of his wife. On the 14th of May, 1670, he bought of Samuel Hutchinson, of Reading, for the consideration of three hundred pounds, a house with lands in Reading, and removed to that town about 1673. Between 1670 and 1673 his wife died, and there are indications in the records that he was married a second time. Nothing is known of him after the last date, except that he served in King Philip's War with his son, and there is no record of the place and date of his death.
Ebenezer Sutton, the subject of this sketch, was a
man of marked and positive characteristics. Entirely independent in thought and action, he pursued his own methods quietly and unostentatiously, but with a constantly pushing vigor, which measured and overleaped every obstacle in the way of success. Like all men of that stamp, he formed accurate esti- mates of character, and in accordance with those estimates he was drawn irresistibly towards some and away from others; and persuasion and argument failed to change either his estimates or treatment of the men whom his unerring judgment had meas- ured.
He was liberal and generous in the truest sense. He did not give of the large wealth he had accumu- lated because gifts were asked, or because he was ex- pected to give, or because refusal would be likely to affect his popularity. There is too much of such generosity in the world,-indeed, so much that it is impossible to decide where it is genuine and where it is false. The generosity of Mr. Sutton followed his heart, and where that went his hand went also.
Aside from his regular business, he had avocations in which he felt an earnest interest. He was a di- rector in the Eastern Railroad, the colonel at one time of the Essex Regiment, and generally interested in the affairs of his native town. He married, April 4, 1829, Eliza, daughter of Jonathan Dusten, of Dan- vers, and had two sons,-Ebenezer, who died August 24, 1839, and Ebenezer Dale, who was born February 7, 1848, and died November 13, 1862. Thus, when Mr. Sutton died, December 11, 1864, he died child- less, leaving a widow, who is still living in a serene old age, passing the summer months at her summer residence at Centre Harbor in New Hampshire, and the remainder of the year in Peabody.
ELIJAH UPTON.
Elijah Upton is a descendant of John Upton, the ancestor of all the name in this country as far as known. Tradition (apparently well supported) re- lates that he came from Scotland, and that he was one of the Scottish prisoners taken by Cromwell, either at the battle of Dunbar, September 3, 1650, or at the battle of Worcester, twelve months later. Tra- dition also reports that his wife's name was Eleanor Stuart, a woman of Scottish birth, and a strong ad- herent of the unfortunate royal house of Stuart. We are told that she had anticipated his coming, and was here upon his arrival, in about 1652. It would seem probable that all of their children were born in Sa- lem Village (now Peabody). We first find his name on the records at Salem December 26, 1658. It is pretty certain he was not a member of any Congre- gational Church, for, though a man of large means and good character, he was not admitted a freeman of the colony until April 18, 1691, after the revolu- tion in England, and after some modifications had been made in the freeman's oath in Massachusetts.
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About 1678 John moved to Reading, Mass., where he had previously built a large and substantial house, which in his will he called "the homestead." It is still in a good state of preservation, and is owned by some of his descendants. Elijah Upton, the chief subject of this sketch, was a son of Benjamin and Re- becca (Putnam) Upton, born in North Reading, Mass., August 4, 1785 ; married, first, July 2, 1809, Phebe Wood, born in what is now Peabody March 23, 1787, and died there July 12, 1821 ; married, second, November 9, 1821, Ruth (Harrington) Downing, who died June 1, 1842. Elijah came to what is now Pea- body in his youth, and served his apprenticeship as a tanner with Captain Dennison Wallis. He was at different times in partnership with Joseph Tufts and Caleb L. Frost. Mr. Upton was the first man in this town to manufacture glue, and by his sagacity and enterprise built up an extensive business in this article. He was a large owner and operator in real estate, and this town is more indebted to him than any other man for erecting dwellings, for opening streets and avenues, levelling hills and raising val- leys, to make elligible sites for buildings. He was much interested in missionary and denominational enterprises, the abolition of slavery and the temper- ance reform, being a liberal donor to objects which commended themselves to his regard. He was a man of extensive reading and sound judgment. He died at Brattleboro', Vermont, March 25, 1860. His only child, Elijah Wood, was born February 24, 1811.
ELIJAH WOOD UPTON.
Elijah Wood Upton, only child of Elijah and Phebe (Wood) Upton, was born February 24, 1811. He received as a youth more educational advantages than was usual at that time. He was three years in Hopkinton, N. H., at Mr. John O. Ballard's school, where he made many life-long friends. He after- wards, for several years, attended a private school in Salem, Mass.
When quite a young man, he took an active inter- est in the business enterprises of his father, and at the early age of twenty years became a partner in the glue business, and later, after the retirement of his father, he assumed the entire charge of what has since been known as the Essex Glue Company. In 1847 he formed a partnership with Theophilus W. and Nathaniel Walker, and they further increased the business until it has been an important branch of the business enterprises of Peabody. About the same time the firm built and established the Danvers Bleachery, which has always done an extensive busi- ness. It remained under the control of this firm until about twenty years ago, and then was made into a stock company.
Mr. Upton, from his early connection with his father's tannery, was always interested in that branch of industry in this town. He was not largely en-
gaged in public affairs, preferring a business life, which was congenial to him. He was, however, sent for two years as representative to the General Court of Massachusetts, and was director and for a consider- able time President of the Warren National Bank,of Danvers. He was also, for many years, a director in the National Bank of Redemption in Boston. He visited Europe several times, his first visit being in 1851, at the time of the First International Exhibi- tion, in which he was much interested. He was the person consulted by George Peabody in London in regard to the first donation made by him to the South Danvers Public Library, and also concerning the building erected for its accommodation.
He was a man of public spirit, of generous im pulses and of refined manners. Mr. Upton died Oc- tober 6, 1881,
JOSEPH POOR.
Joseph Poor was born July 7, 1805, in Danvers. That part of Danvers in which he lived was incor- porated May 18, 1855, as South Danvers, and its name was changed to Peabody by an Act of the General Court passed April 13, 1868. His father, Joseph Poor, carried on the business of a tanner, and he was brought up to the same trade, attending the schools of his native town, and, when old enough to be of service, working a part of the time in the tannery of his father. At the age of eighteen his time was given to him, and from that time he earned his own sup- port.
After his father's death he carried on the tanner's business alone, and from that time until his death his business career was one of uninterrupted success.
Mr. Poor married Eliza Munroe, of Danvers, and had eleven children. These were Sally, born in 1830; Warren Augustus, in 1832, who married Har- riet Waterman ; Mary E., in 1834; Ellen, in 1835, who married James W. Kelley ; Leverett, in 1838, who married Jennie Emerson ; Lizzie, in 1840; Lu- cinda, in 1842 ; George H., in 1844, who married Susie R. Bond; Albert F., in 1846, who married Sarah F. Weed; Joseph H., in1848, who married Maggie Line- han, and Martha H., in 1850.
His sound business traits were often called into the service of his fellow-citizens, and for many years he was Chairman of the Board of Selectmen of South Danvers and Peabody. He was also a Director of the Warren Five Cents Savings Bank of Peabody, and one of the original trustees of the Peabody Institute. No better estimate of his character can be given than that of one of his fellow-citizens who, during more than forty years enjoyed his acquaintance and friend- ship, and had the best opportunities for forming it. He says: "Many were the valuable traits of char- acter possessed by Mr. Poor that might be dwelt upon with interest. I knew him from my youth, was when a boy of twelve years of age employed by him, and was intimate with him until his death. As he ad-
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vanced in age he became a strong advocate of moral reform in all its branches, an earnest Abolitionist, a warm-hearted, sincere Temperance man, always car- rying out his opinions at the ballot-box, even if he stood alone. He never shrank from saying and doing, as a politician, what he believed to beright, and calmly and sternly moved forward towards the accomplish- ment of his aim. As a business man, he did not exhibit that headlong activity and bustle which are so often mistaken for business capacity, but moved slowly on, seeing his way clear as he went, and keeping himself safe in all business transactions,
He was a thoroughly religious man, always con- tributing liberally to purposes of benevolence and charity, and when the feebleness of advancing age compelled him to relinquish business, he felt even a deeper interest than before in those higher pursuits which chasten and ennoble life."
Mr. Poor died in Peabody, August 24, 1884.
JAMES PUTNAM KING.
James Putnam King was born in that part of Danvers which is now Peabody, November 8, 1817. His father, Samuel King, and his grandfather, Zacha- riah King, were hard-working successful farmers.
The subject of this sketch was one of five brothers, three of whom were farmers, all located in the same neighborhood, which, by reason of the large and valuable land-holdings of the King family, for more than, a hundred years, has by common consent been given the name of " The Kingdom."
James attended the district school until sixteen years of age, then worked on his father's farm until his marriage, at the age of twenty-two, to Wealthy M. Ferrin, of Madison, N. H., by whom he had two sons.
At the time of his marriage he commenced his career as a farmer on his own account by working on shares, a most excellent farm in the neighborhood. By his great physical powers, temperate habits, industry and prudence he became one of the most successful farmers in the county, and his life has answered emphatically in the affirmative, that ques- tion so often asked by agricultural writers and speakers, "Does farming pay?' He followed Salem Market for twenty-five years, selling his own veget- able products.
Mr. King early took an earnest interest in the Abolition cause, was a Whig in politics, and has been a strong Republican since the formation of that party.
He was a member of the Legislature of 1854, has been overseer of the poor for thirty-three consecutive years, and a trustee or vice-president of the Essex Agricultural Society for more than twenty years.
Mr. King is a forcible and effective speaker, and his long practical experience enables him to add much interest to the discussions at Farmer's Institutes,
and being a strictly temperate man in principle and practice, he renders efficent aid to the temperance cause.
His judgment of farm property is valued so highly that his services are in frequent demand in appraisals. Late in life he married for a second wife, Mrs. Eliz- abeth A. Bancroft, who was a sister of his first wife.
He is known and respected throughout the county as few men are, and now, at seventy years of age, is in the full vigor of life and presents a living example of what may be accomplished by a temperate, indus- trious, prudent farm life in Essex County.
CHAPTER LXX VI.
MARBLEHEAD.
BY SAMUEL ROADS, JR.
Indian History-Nanepashemet the King -- Relics found in Marblehead.
THE exceedingly unique and interesting peninsula which forms the subject of this sketch, is situated at the south-eastern corner of Essex County, Massachu- setts, sixteen miles north-east of Boston. The town- ship comprises three thousand seven hundred acres, and is about four miles in length, from north-east to south-west, being from one and one-half to two miles in breadth. The surface is to a great extent irregular and rocky, and considerably elevated above the land of the surrounding country. Connected by a narrow isthmus with the mainland is a smaller peninsula, rather more than a mile in length and about half a mile wide, containing about three hundred acres. This peninsula, from the earliest settlement of the town, has been known as the " Great Neck."
Between the "Neck " jutting out so boldly into the Atlantic Ocean and the rocky coast of the main land, is a beautiful sheet of water, a mile and a half long, and a half a mile wide, forming one of the most ex- cellent harbors on the New England Coast.
At the time of the landing of our fathers upon a coast so barren and uninviting, as it must have ap- peared to them, they found the entire section of Eastern Massachusetts inhabited by a race of men, the remnants of what but a few years before the com- ing of the white man had been a large and powerful tribe of Indians. They were of the tribe of Naum- keags, then under the jurisdiction of the Squaw Sachem of Saugus, the widow of the great Nane- pashemet, who, in his lifetime, had been a chief whose power and authority no neighboring tribe dared question. But war and pestilence, those two dread enemies of the human race, had made sad havoc among the Naumkeags; and however desirous they
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