History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 167

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1538

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 167

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1861-62 .- REV. AUSTIN F. HERRICK. Mr. Her- rick was born in Otis, June 17, 1824. He entered Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., in 1849; but left before graduation, and entered the Biblical Institute, Concord, N. H. (now the Theological School of Boston University), graduating in 1852. He joined the conference, at the session with this church, April 27, 1853. He came here as pastor on that memorable April 19, 1861. In two or three months, Ipswich's first company for the war, in full military dress, on the Sabbath before marching, wor- shipped with his church. Those were years of thrilling events, and of general prosperity to this . church; some twenty were received on trial.

1863 .- REV. JOSEPH CHAPMAN CROMACK. This clergyman was born in Boston, May 11, 1812, to Joseph and Judith Millett Cromack, who were some- time of Amesbury. He was educated at Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, and was licensed to preach in 1835.

1864-65 .- REV. I. J. P. COLLYER. This pastor was in the ministry twenty-eight years. While stationed here, twenty persons were received on trial. He died May 7, 1872.

603

IPSWICH.

1866-68 .- REV. JESSE WAGNER. Mr. Waguer was born in Williamsburg, Pa., August 14, 1835. He graduated at the Methodist Biblical Institute, Con- cord, N. H., in 1861, and entered the ministry the following year. While here, by his personal efforts, an organ was bought at an expense of two thousand dollars, and twenty probationers were received.

1869-70. - REV. CHARLES ATWOOD MERRILL. This pastor is a native of Woodstock, Me. He grad- uated at the Biblical Institute, Concord, N. H. While located here, twenty persons were received on proba- tion.

1871-72 .- REV. CHARLES H. HANAFORD, Mr. Hanaford was born at Northfield, N. H. He was educated at the New Hampshire Conference Semi- nary, without gradnation. He entered the ministry in 1858, and joined the New England Conference in April, 1859. The semi-centennial of the establish- ment of the church was celebrated in this pastorate, when money enough was raised to liquidate the debt of the society, and also a large part of the cost of the present parsonage. Twenty-eight persons were re- ceived on probation the first year.

1873-75 .- REV. E. A. SMITH. Mr. Smith is a native of Howard, Pa. He fitted for the Junior Class of Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport. He afterwards taught three years there, filling the chair of natural sciences one year. In 1858 he joined the New Hamp- shire Conference, and gradnated at the Biblical Insti- tute, Concord, in June, 1859. He preached in the chief cities in the State, built the Main Street Metho- dist Episcopal Church, at Nashua, had extensive re- vivals in many of the churches, and bought and built several parsonages. He entered the New England Conference in 1873, and while stationed here, the society built and furnished a parsonage, at an ex- pense of nearly six thousand dollars; and, in Decem- ber, 1873, a great revival began, which continued nearly a year. More than three hundred persons knelt at the altar, and persons of all ages, from seven to eighty-five, were among the converts.

1876-77 .- REV. FREDERICK WOODS, D.D. Dr. Woods is a native of St. John's, Newfoundland. He studied in Sackville Academy, N. B., Genesee Col- lege, Lima, N. Y., and graduated in 1859, at Wes- leyan University, Middletown, Conn., where he re- ceived the Master's degree in 1862. He joined the New England Conference in 1859, and has done very efficient pulpit service. He has published several sermons and addresses. He preached the baccalaure- ate sermon at Mount Alleston University, Sackville, N. B., 1886, and received the doctorate. His service in this pulpit was efficient and progressive.

1878 .- REV. GEORGE WHITAKER. This pastor was born in Boston, May 14, 1836. His father was a government official, son of Rev. Jonathan Whitaker, of Sharon and New Bedford, and nephew of Rev. David T. Kimball, of the First Church. George pre- pared for college at the Wesleyan Academy, Wilbra-

ham, graduated at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., in 1861, and entered the ministry the same year. He was presiding elder of the Springfield Dis- trict, 1874-77. His pastorate here was very satisfac- tory. The church was repainted, frescoed and gener- ally improved; the society debt of about three thons- aud three hundred dollars was canceled; and a gracious revival blessed the church.

1879-80 .- REV. P. M. VINTON.

1881-82 .- REV. CHARLES NELSON SMITH. Mr. Smith was born in Brookfield, Vt., December 14, 1816. He studied at Newbury Seminary, entered college, but did not graduate. In 1865 he received the Master's degree from Wesleyan University, Mid- dletown. He joined the conference July, 1842, was presiding elder in New Hampshire one year, and in Massachusetts one year; he has had nine two-year pastorates, four three-year pastorates, and was a mem- ber of the General Conference in 1856. He has built and repaired several churches, and by the blessing of Heaven has had bis full share of success. He re- ported his full membership to be two hundred and sixty-one.

1883-84 .- REV. CHARLES T. JOHNSON. He was born in Lynn-now Nabant-October 16, 1838. His father was a grocer there nearly fifty years, and was postmaster thirty-two years. He studied at Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, and graduated at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., in 1863, and entered the ministry the same year. His pastorate here was blessed, the society prospered, several united with the . church. The membership reported was two hundred and seventy-eight full members and thirty-two proba- tioners.

1885 .- REV. JOHN GALBRAITH, PH. D. Dr. Gal- braith is a graduate of Wesleyan University, Middle- town, Conn., whence he received the Master's degree in 1882. He is also a graduate of Boston University, whence he received the degree of Doctor of Philoso- phy in 1886. The present church membership is two hundred and thirty-six full members and forty-two probationers.

THE UNITARIAN SOCIETY.

A society of this belief was formed in 1830, the several churches contributing to the membership. Their services were held in the court-house till, at a cost of three thousand dollars or more, they built a church edifice, which was dedicated October 23, 1833. They continued a worshiping congregation some six or seven years, and then formally dissolved. A few years later-1843-they sold their house of worship to the town for a town-house, at a price not exceeding two thousand dollars. The house, with alterations and additions, is the present town-house, and the pews are those of the Linebrook Church.

ST. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC SOCIETY.

This is a mission society. At first it belonged to Rev. Father Teeling's parish in Newburyport, but in

604

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

1871 was transferred to Rev. William H. Ryan's par- ish in Beverly. They have a very pretty church edi- fice, which was completed in 1872. The society con- sists of about five hundred and fifty worshipers.

Conclusion -The proportion of service, by the vari- ous denominations, is about as follows: The First Church, by its double pastorates and colleagues, 355 years; the South, 140 years; the Linebrook, 138 years; the Methodist, 65 years; the Episcopal, 26 years ; the Catholic, about 20 years ; the Baptist, 17 years; and the Unitarian, 7 years, making a total of more than 750 years for one man, which is equivalent to three pastorates for the actual time. The several pastors and assistants have been, almost to a man, liberally educated. They have brought an apparent zeal to their work, and a good conception of their duty therein. They have been watchful, diligent, la- borious, prayerful. A good proportion of them have been dignified, trusty, efficient leaders. They have been able to read the signs of the times, to under- stand the needs of their people, and to utilize circum- stances, as well as actual means. They have watched the ripening grain in their respective fields of labor, and gathered their gracious harvests ; their doctrines have been a leaven that has permeated the whole mass of the populace; that has endowed the legisla- tor, the justice, the mariner, the mechanic, the manu- facturer, the farmer; that has impeded crime and corrected the erring ; that has superinduced a nobler, truer, more earnest and more effective manhood ; and has first, last and midst, been our people's enlighten- ment and guide. Such is our hope of the future.

CHAPTER XLIV. IPSWICH-(Continued).

EDUCATIONAL.

Initial Status .- It has been said that the Plymouth Colony had only one University man, the Elder Brewster, while the Massachusetts Bay Colony was noted for its men of wealth, social position and edu- cation. Ipswich, in this respect, was a representative town-not a whit behind the metropolis in mental and educational influence and ability. She under- stood and appreciated the value of a varied learning practical and polite, of a thorough knowledge of home arts and social culture, and of the acquisition of ancient history, literature and tongues; and to this end she was willing to contribute, even to a sacrifice, to obtain them.

Why Latin ?- It may be asked why our forefathers so valued a knowledge of the ancient languages, es- pecially the Latin, as to give them immediate at- tention. Doubtless they studied them for the same reasons we do to-day, but we apprehend that they did

then chiefly because they were intensely English ; and on that ground anything that did not conflict with or savor of religious tenets must be intensely English also. The Latin language, at that time, was in its old age, ouly dead in the sense that it had passed the period of its growth, It may be said to have been the language of the time, the English tongue sharply vying with it for the supremacy. It embodied the laws of the realm and Biblical ex- egesis, and scientific essays and important documents were presented in it. The learned addressed their compeers in public assemblies, and statecraft was orally discussed in its elegant phrases. Queen Eliza- beth spoke it, and Lord Bacon, "the great glory of literature," composed most of his writings in it. The devotion, benefactions and labors of our emigrant ancestors in the matter of schools excites not our wonder so much as our gratitude. The kind and de- gree of learning at their native homes must be the kind and degree here, so far as practicable; and while the exigences of the occasion made the family a school in the rudiments, and the mother the teacher, a grammar school, in the English sense, was early es- tablished for preparing young men for college.

The Grammar School .- According to the records, a grammar school was "set up" in 1636, and Lionel Chute appears to have been the teacher. The record further states that the school did "not succeed." It began some two years after the incorporation of the town, and the young town doubtless made no appro- priation for its support. Its success would have been phenomenal. Mr. Chute died in 1644 or '45.

The School Endowed .- This attempt of Master Chute was followed by "several overtures and en- deavors among the inhabitants for settling a Grammar School," which failed to realize their object, as did he. The spirit of education, however, had taken pos- session of the public mind, and when about 1649, Robert Paine, the leading spirit in the endeavor, offered to " erect an edifice for the purpose, provided the town or any particular inhabitant of the town would devote, sett apart or give any land or other annuity for the yearly maintenance of such one as should be fitt to keep a Grammar School." The town accordingly, January 11, 1650, granted to Robert Paine, Mr. William Paine, Major Denison and Mr. Bartholomew in trust " for the use of schools all that neck beyond Chebacco River and the rest of the ground (up to Gloucester line) adjoining to it." Soon after this the land was leased to John Cogswell, his heirs and assigns, for the space of one thousand years, at an annual rental of fourteen pounds. The tenants began to build upon the land as early as 1723, and a part of the village of Essex now occupies a large portion of it, and the rent continues to be paid.

The citizens are now fully awake to the occasion, and give body, shape and purpose to the enterprise by ordaining, January 26, 1651, the following :

605

IPSWICH.

" The Fcoffees .- For the better ordering of the school and the affairs thereof, Mr. Simonds, Mr. Roggers, Mr. Norton, Maj. Denison, Mr. Rob- ert Paine, Mr. William Paine, Mr. Hubbard, Dea. Whipple, Mr. Bar- tholomew were chosen a committee to receive all such sums of money as have or shall be given toward the building or nmaintaining of a Gram- mar School and school-master, and to disburse and dispose such sums as are given to provide a school-house and school-master's house either in building or purchasing the said house with all convenient speed. And such sums of money, parcels of land, rents or annuities as are or shall be given towards to the maintenance of a school-master they shall re- ceive and dispose of to the school-master that they shall call or choose to that office from time to time to his maintenance, which they have power to enlarge by appointing from year to year what each scholar shall yearly or quarterly pay or proportionately ; whe shall also have full power to regulate all matters concerning the school-master and scholars, as in their wisdom they think meet from time to time ; who shall also consider the best way to make provisions for teaching to write and cast accounts."

In 1652 Mr. Robert Paine purchased a house, with two acres of land belonging to it, for the use of the school-master, and in 1653, at his own expense, as per agreement, erected an edifice upon the land for the grammar school, and October 4, 1683, he and his wife gave the house and land to the town for the school's use. About the same time Mr. Williau Hubbard gave about au acre of land adjoining the school-master's house. In 1650 Mr. John Cross "se- cured " on his farm near Rowley a perpetual annuity of teu shillings towards a free school in the town. In 1696 the town grants ten acres of marsh at Castle Neck. These gifts were sold by order of the General Court in 1836, and netted the fcoffees about three thousand two hundred dollars. In 1660 Mr. William Paine gave the land near the mouth of the river called Little Neck. In 1661 "the barn erected by Ezekiel Cheever and the orchard planted by him were, after his removal to Charlestown, bought by the feoffees," as the trustees were theu and have since been called, and presented by them for the school-master's use or for rent.

We can hardly say too much in praise of the exer- tions, devotion, benefactions and leading spirit of the original donor of this school, MR. ROBERT PAINE. He was timely, efficient, provident, public-spirited, noble, wealthy, generous. Of a hundred and fifty- five subscriptions "to encourage Major Denison in his military helpfulness," Mr. Paine's was the largest, to be paid annually. He was a ruling elder iu the church, ranking next to the minister. He was repre- sentative three years. He was county treasurer from 1665 till his resignation in 1683, the year before he died, at the age of eighty-three years.

WILLIAM PAINE, brother of the above, seems to have been wealthy and active for the public good. He removed to Boston about 1656, where he died October 10, 1660. He was buried in the Granary Cemetery, and his tombstone forms a part of the basement wall of the Athenaeum. Besides his liberal bequest to our Grammar School, he gave twenty pounds to Harvard College.

MR. WILLIAM HUBBARD, another original bene- factor of the school, came with the elder Winthrop to

Boston in 1630, and settled in this town in 1635. He was representative six years between 1638 and 1646. In 1651 he was commissioned to solemnize marriages, clergymen at that time being denied such authority. He removed to Boston in 1662, where he died in 1670. He left a large estate. Two of his children, Richard and William, the historian and colleague of Rev. Mr. Norton in our pulpit, were professors of the school.

The Board of Feoffees consisted originally of nine members; in 1662 the town voted that the number be "increased to nine." In 1664 the number was ten, but after the death of Robert Paine, Jr., the number never appears greater thau nine. The town by vote, April 7, 1687, ordered the selectmen to obtain deeds of all the school lands, that they may know the power the feoffees have to order the schools; and May 19th, of the same year, voted that the former feoffees now living (Rev. William Hubbard, Robert Paine and Elder aud Captain John Appleton) with the select- men shall manage the schools till further action by the town. If this vote was inoperative or effective we know not. Vacancies in the board seem to have been filled by the remaining members without reference to any action of the town. Their history for the colo- nial period seems to have been ouly the routine work of the school.

The First Master .- The first master of the school was Ezekiel Cheever. He kept it ten years. He then removed to Charlestown and afterwards to Boston, where he was master of the Boston Latin School. He was born in London, England, January 25, 1615, and died in Boston August 25, 1708, at the great age of ninety-three years and seven months, after seventy years of tedious labor as school-master.

In six years from the opening of the school this town had six students in Harvard College. They were Robert Paine, son of the founder of the school ; Johu Emerson, son of Thomas, and afterwards minis- ter of Gloucester; Nathaniel Saltonstall, son of Rich- ard, and afterwards minister of Haverhill ; Ezekiel, Rogers, son of Rev. Nathaniel; Samuel Cheever, son of the master ; Samuel Belcher, son of Jeremy, min- ister of the Isle of Shoals and later of Newbury. Other pupils of Master Cheever's, who were students in Harvard, were William Wittingham, son of John; Samuel Cobbett, son of Rev. Thomas; and Samuel Symonds, son of the deputy-governor.

Mr. Cheever's successor was THOMAS ANDREWS, who began August 1, 1660, and kept it twenty-three years. During this time Ipswich sent to Harvard College Samuel Bishop; Samuel and Daniel Epes, sons of Daniel ; John Norton, son of William aud nephew of Rev. John ; John Rogers, son of President John of Harvard; John Denison, son of John and grandson of General Daniel, and pastor-elect of this church; Francis Wainwright; and Daniel Rogers, another son of the president, and many years 'master of the school. Mr. Andrews died July 10, 1683, and

606

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

left a considerable property to his relatives, probably never having married.

MR. NOADIAH RUSSELL, of Cambridge, succeeded Mr. Andrews, and took charge of the school October 31, 1683. He was a graduate of Harvard in 1681. He continued master of the school till his resignation February 23, 1686-87, when he was succeeded by MR. DANIEL ROGERS.

Mr. Rogers' mastership completed the colonial pe- riod and began the provincial, probably from 1687 to 1715. It was during his service, also, that the old school-house was abandoned, having been the subject of extensive repairs several times, and the new rooms in the court and town-house occupied, which change was made about 1704.

From Mr. Rogers' tuition fifteen pupils entered Harvard College, among whom were John Wade, son of Colonel Thomas; Francis Goodhue, son of Deacon William; Jeremiah and Henry Wise, sons of Rev. John; John Perkins, son of Abraham; Willianı Burnham, who became a minister ; Benjamin Choate, son of John; Francis and John Wainwright; John Denison, son of Rev. John ; Nathaniel Appleton, son of Colonel John, and afterwards minister of Cam- bridge; and Francis Cogswell, son of Jonathan.

Made a Free School .- The town and feoffees agreed April 8, 1714, to make the Grammar School for the present year " absolutely free to all such scholars be- longing to the towu." The town appropriated twen- ty-five pounds and chose a committee, who with the feoffees, provided a master, who shall attend " con- stantly in teaching grammar scholars and also Eng- lish scholars, to perfect them in reading and instruct them in writing and ciphering." Master Rogers is sketched as registrar of probate.

EBENEZER GAY, who graduated at Harvard in 1714, was the next teacher for one year, and had a salary of fifty-six pounds. He was afterwards the celebrated Dr. Gay, of Hingham. He was followed by MR. THOMAS NORTON, who was master in 1716. He was a deacon. His son, Thomas, graduated at Harvard in 1725, aud taught this school ten years, 1729-39, under the direction of the selectmen.

BENJAMIN CROCKER took the school June 4, 1717, at a salary of eighty pounds, old tenor, and left it November, 1719 [1718?]. He taught afterwards two years, 1746-47, at a salary of one hundred pounds, old tenor, and again two years, 1759-60. He gradu- ated at Harvard in 1713. He was feoffee 1749-64; he occasionally preached. Deacon John, of the First Church, was his son.

Revolution in School .- At this date began the period of contention and revolution in the school. For the encouragement of the school the town voted, May 8, 1718, to make up sixty pounds to the school, if neces- sary, after the collection of rents and a tuition of twenty shillings per scholar, for that year. The se- lectmen, it was voted November 5, 1718, shall provide " with all convenient speed " a master for the rest of

the present year. The town chose a committee Feb- ruary 9, 1719, to eject the tenants of the great farm, leased to John Cogswell, and release it for a period not exceeding twenty-one years. Rev. John Rogers and Rev. Jabez Fitch euter their protests. The dis- satisfaction seems to be "especially of the younger sort." The town voted June 6, 1720, to hire a gram- mar school teacher; and also chose a committee to recover the great farm, and re-lease it for twenty-one years. The town thns took control of the school and the school property ; the feoffees entered their protest in their records aud retired. The tenants of the great farm took advantage of the quarrel and refused to pay the rent till it might be determined who was entitled to receive it. The town January 4, 1720-21, consti- tuted John Wainwright, Ens. George Hart and Mr. Thomas Boardman trustees, to eject all persons in possession of school lands, but failed in the Court of Common Pleas March, 1722, to establish their claim. An inadvertence of the clerk failed to enter their ap- peal to the Superior Court, and Sarah, the widow of John Cogswell, still held possession.

In 1721 the town brought an action at law against the tenants of the school farm, and in 1729 Gifford Cogswell is ordered to pay £100 in adjustment of the claims, which sum was apportioned to the several parts of the town according to their proportion of the Province tax, whence dates the beginning of the dis- trict school system.

Reading and Writing School .- The above appropri- ation of £100 probably lasted about three years ; but no other is recorded till after the town is required, April 26, 1739, to answer to the Court of General Sessions, for not maintaining a Reading and Writing School according to law. Then, March 4, 1739-40, the town appropriated £150 for both the grammar and the reading and writing schools, put them un- der one teacher and began the practice of moving them at the judgment of the selectmen. The appro- priations were thus applied while the town had con- trol of the school property.

Incorporation .- In 1749 Jonathan Wade was the only survivor of the feoffees, and February 10th, of that year, he filled the vacancies by appointments ; but in 1756, the General Court incorporated Thomas Berry, Daniel Appleton and Samuel Rogers, E-qs., with Mr. Benjamin Crocker, on the part of the pri- vate persons who granted lands for the school, to- gether with Francis Wash, Esq., Capt. Nathaniel Treadwell and Mr. John Patch, Jr., three of the board of selectmen of the town, a Joint Committee, or Feoffees in 'Trust, with full power to grant leases, re- cover rents and annuities, appoint masters, regulate their salaries, appoint clerk and treasurer and if necessary, impose a tuition. The act was limited to ten years ; it was, at the end of the period, continued twenty-one years ; and at the end of that period, or February 14, 1787, it was made perpetual, tlie feoffees representing private persons filling vacancies in their

607

IPSWICH.

number, while the three senior members of the suc- cessive Boards of Selectmen represent the town.

Masters .- MR. HENRY WISE was the first master in the employ of the selectmen. He accepted the trust June 20, 1720, and continued eight years. His salary was £55. THOMAS NORTON, JR., before men- tioned, succeeded and continued ten years. After him was DANIEL STANIFORD, a graduate of Harvard in 1738, who continued five years, 1740-45. He was master of both schools, at a salary of £80. He was afterwards a successful merchant ; and also a Repre- sentative three years. His successor was BENJAMIN CROCKER, above mentioned, who taught two years, 1746-47, at a salary of £150. JOHN DENNIS taught in 1753, for the school rents. In 1754 the town claimed to have conducted the affairs of the school for more than twenty years ; yet she practically re- linqnished the school at the close of Mr. Crocker's mastership.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 167

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1538

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1538