History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 186

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 186

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William Woodbury settled near the lower point of the name (Woodbury), and here was built (tradition states), the first dwelling, a large, double, oak-framed structure, called the garrison house, about the year 1630. This was, says an old resident, built with loopholes and scuttles, open underneath, and some of its oak timbers are in the lower portion of the house afterwards built there by John Prince. The first set- tlers were probably as above mentioned, the first great house at William Woodbury's Point and the first town-born child (accepting current tradition), was of the name of Dixey; a William Dixey, who followed Conant to Bass River side, was admitted freeman in 1634, and died, aged eighty-two, in 1690.

It will not fail to be noticed, that the settlement of Cape Ann side, afterwards Beverly, virtually began with the arrival of those sturdy pioneers, Roger Co- nant and his associates. They were but temporarily located at Naunikeag, the leaders of this band, styled the " Old Planters ; " and removed hither as soon as grants of land were secured, though retaining for a while, in Naumkeag, their gardens and improved lots.

1635. In the original "Book of Grants," yet to be seen in Salem, is found the following entry :

Ilubbard. 2 Thorntou.

3 " Felt's Annals."

681

BEVERLY.

"On the 25th of the 11th moneth, 1635." Voted that "Capn Trask, Jno. Woodhery, Mr Conant, Poter Palfrey & John Balch are to have 5 fearmes, viz ; each 200 acres a piece, to form in all a thousand acres of Land, togeather lying, and being at the head of Bass River, 124 pole in breadth and soe runne northerly to the River by tho great pond side,1 and soe in bredth making np the full quantitye of a thousand acres, These limits laid out and surveyed by vs.

JOHN WOODBERY, JOHN BALCII."

Of the same date :

" Mem. the limits of a fearme of ground granted to Henery Herrick, between two and three acres of ground, lying on the north side of Jeffry Mercy's Cove, bounded by the Rock on one side and Woolytons (Porter's) River on the other."

And on the " Sth of the twelfth month, 1635."

"That Israel Burnet may have a tenne acre lott at the upp. end of Bass River."

In 1639, " 23d day of the 10th moneth,"

"Granted to John Woodbery, John Balch & Mr Connaught 5 acres of medow a piece in some convenient place."

The best lands were then found at the heads of creeks and the margins of rivers, the higher sections being, for the most part, covered with dense forest, while these meadow-lands were open, or, in great part, free from forest.

There were no roads in those days, there being, for many years, but a single Indian trail between Boston and Agawam, or Ipswich; hence all communication between different settlements was by water.

It is related of the origin of the first road in Beverly that it was laid out by a heifer, which, having been driven from Woodbury's Point to the farms at the head of Bass River, by a circnitons trail along the shore, escaped, and made her way back home directly through the woods. This trail was followed, and subsequently became a line of communication be- tween the two places. "Two hundred years," says the historian of Beverly (Stone), "still leave us in possession of many highways whose numerons wind- ings bear ample testimony to the same scientific origin."

Regarding means of travel at that time, a contem- porary,2 writing in 1634 of Salem, says: "Although . their land be none of the best, yet beyond the rivers is a very good soyle, where they have their farmes and get their Hay and plant their corne; there they crosse these rivers with small cannowes (canoes), which are made of whole pine trees, being about two foot and a half over, and 20 foot long; in these like- wise they goe a fowling sometimes two leagnes to sea; there be more cannowes in this town (Salem) than in the whole Patent, every household having a water-house or two."

Of the lives of the planters of that time, the same writer gives us a glimpse: "For all New England must be workers in some kinde; and wheresoer it hath been reported that boyes of tenne or twelve yeares of age might doe much more than get their living: that cannot be, for he must have more than a

boye's head, and no lesse than a man's strength, that intend- to live comfortably ; and he that hath under- standing and Industrie, with a stock of an hundred pound, shall live better there than he shall doe here (in England) of twenty pound per annum."

This pioneer life led by our forefathers, passed in felling forests, clearing land and opening roads and trails, is well described in several books treating of that formative period of New England's history.

Of the "Old Planters" who received the thousand- acre grant of land between Bass River and Wenham Lake, three-Roger Conant, John Balch and John Woodbury-soon settled on their respective tracts. Captain Trask's grant went hy exchange to Thomas Scruggs, whose daughter, Rachel, married John Ray- ment (Raymond), by a descendant of whom it is oc- enpied (or a portion of it) to-day.

The two-hundred-acre grant to Peter Palfrey was not occupied by him, but subsequently came by pur- chase (1644) into the possession of William Dodge, the founder, with his brother Richard, of this numer- ous family in Wenham and Hamilton. He was known as Farmer Dodge; his son, Captain William Dodge, married a daughter of Conant, a portion of whose grant was sold by one of his descendants, to John Chipman, the first minister of the Second So- ciety, ordained December 28, 1715.

3 " The grant of a thousand acres, comprising the five farins, was always known as the 'Old Plauters' Farms.' The first proprietors of them, and their immediate successors, appear to have arranged and managed them in concert-to have had homesteads near together between the head of Bass River and the neighborhood of the 'Horse Bridge,' where the meeting-house of the Second Congregational Society (or of the Precinct of Salem and Beverly) now stands. Their woodlands and pas- ture lands were farther to the north and east. . . The dividing . line between Beverly and Salem Village, finally agreed upon in 1703, ran through the 'Old Planters' Farms,' particularly the portions helonging to the Dodges, Raymond, and Woodhury. It went through 'Capt. John Dodge'e dwelling-house, six feet to the eastward of his brick chimney as it now stands.' At the time of the witchcraft delusion (1692), the Ray- monds and Dodges mostly belonged to the Salein Village parish and church. They continued on the rate-list and connected with the pro- ceediogs entered on the record-books natil the meeting-house at the horse-bridge was opened for worship, in 1715, when they transferred their relations to the 'Precinct of Salem & Beverly.' "

It would, perhaps, be well to digress from the fol- lowing of events in chronologie sequence to glance at three of these "Old Pianters," the fathers of Bev- erly :- Conant, Balch and Woodbury. Roger Conant, one time Governor of the Plantation at Cape Anne and at Naumkeag, was born in Budleigh, England, in Devonshire, in April, 1591. He came to New England (Plymouthı Colony) in 1623, removing to Nantasket, where he remained a while, and then went to Cape Ann as superintendent of the Dorchester (England) Company's venture there, being, in point of fact, " the first Governor of the Colony of Massa- chusetts." Removing to Nanmkeag in 1626 (as al- ready related), he was instrumental, through his firmness and constancy of purpose, in keeping his little band together until the arrival of Endicott, in

1 Wenham Lake.

2 William Wood; "New England's Prospect," Loudon, 1634. 433

3 " Upham's Witchcraft," vol. i., pp. 130, 131.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

1628. He proved himself, according to Cotton Mather, "a most religions, prudent and worthy gen- tleman, always maintaining an interest in the affairs of the town to the last of his life." An original mem- ber of the first church in Salem, he was also one of the founders of that of Beverly, was made a freeman in 1630, and represented Salem in the General Court. In addition to the grant of lands in Beverly, he received, in 1671, two hundred acres more, near Dunstable, as a "very ancient planter." He died on November 19, 1679, in his eighty-ninth year, leaving seven children,-four sons and three daughters : Lot, born 1624, died 1674; Roger, born 1626, died 1672; Mary, married John Balch, and afterwards William Dodge; Sarah; Exercise (son), baptized December 24, 1637, died April 28, 1722; Elizabeth ; Joshua, died 1659.

The ancestor of the Beverly branch of the family was Lot, some of his descendants yet residing here. The second son, Roger Conant, Jr., enjoyed the dis- tinction of having been the first child born in Salem (in 1626), and was granted twenty acres of land in 1639 in recognition of this.

On the fly-leaf of an old Bible, once the property of the Conants (according to Mr. G. D. Phippen, in his memoir1), is this entry by the widow of Roger, Jr., who lost hoth son and husband within the space of six weeks :

" Tbe 4 day of May, 1672, being Saturday, my dere littel sone Samuel Conant dyed. The 15 of June 1672, being Saturday, my dere, dere, dere husband Roger Conant dyed."

A most pathetic chronicle of the old, sad story.

John Balch descended from a very ancient family of Somersetshire, England, where he was born at or near Bridgewater about 1579. He came to New England in September, 1623, with Captain Robert Gorges and settled at Salem with Conant. He was made a free- man May 18, 1631, and was one of the original mem- bers of the first church in Salem, also holding various offices of trust,-an "intelligent, exemplary and use- ful citizen."

He removed to his Bass River grant in 1638, and there resided until his death, in June, 1648. His will, dated May 15, 1648, was witnessed by Peter Palfrey, Nicholas Patch and Jeffrey Massey, and proved in the same conrt a fortnight later.

It brings in a vivid manner before us the life of his times to read in his inventory of the "great fruit trees, the young apple-trees, the corn that is growing upon the ground," and two of his cows "Reddie" and " Cherrie." Even at that early time our first settlers were firmly rooted in the soil of Beverly.

Balch's children were: Benjamin, born 1629; John, drowned in 1662, June 16th, at Beverly Ferry during a violent storm. It was his widow, daughter of Roger Conant, who afterwards married Capt. Wm. Dodge.

Freeborn (who, from his name, is believed to have

been born the year his father was made freeman, in 1631) went to England and never returned.

The widow of Balch died in 1657.

The most numerous family in Beverly to-day is de- scended from the Woodburys.

John Woodbury, the first of the name in America, came from Somersetshire, England, to Cape Ann in 1624, afterward removing with Conant to Salem, in 1626. The year following he went to England for supplies, returning in 1628, bringing with him his son Humphrey. He and his wife, Agnes, were of the original members of the first church in Salem, and he was made a freeman May 18, 1631.

It is stated that John and his brother, William, went over to Cape Ann Side about 1630, where the latter settled at what is now called William Woodbury's Point. From them, it is thought, are descended all of the name in New England. After his grant at Bass River, John, or "Father Woodbury " (as he is called), removed thither and there died, “ after a life of energy and faithfulness to the colony," 1641, aged about sixty years.

Humphrey, son of John, came to Nanmkeag with his father in 1628, and at that time was nineteen years old, having been born in 1609. He was a mem- her of the Salem Church in 1648, and one of the founders of the first church in Beverly, of which he was chosen deacon in 1668.

Other children of John, whose names are recorded, were Hannah, baptized 1636; Abigail, 1637; Peter, 1640. Humphrey is said to have reached the age of three-score and ten, and his widow died about 1689. Peter, son of John, was made freeman in 1668, a rep- resentative to General Court in 1689, and died July 5, 1704.

William Woodbury, John's brother, had also grants of land in Salem, and is mentioned in the records of 1639. His children : Nicholas (the oldest), William, Andrew, Hugh, Isaac and Hannah. His will was dated 1st Fourth month, 1663, and he died in 1676. Nicholas died 1686, leaving a widow, who survived till June 10, 1701. His daughter, Abigail, married Richard Ober, and died 1727, aged eighty-six.

It is an honorable as well as ancient family of Bev- erly. "Few enterprises of 'pith and moment' were set on foot in the colony except a Woodbury was of the party. and they seem to have been ready early and late, whether in humble or conspicnous station, and whatever might betide, to hear a man's part. Two Beverly Woodburys piloted the little fleet in the capture of St. Johns and Port Royal, in the N. E. expedition of 1654. And a full century later a Bev- erly Woodbury stood by the side of Wolfe as he fell in victory upon the plains of Abraham, and wore that day a sword which is still an heirloom with his fam- ily." 2

Two other names, equally honorable, and linked

1 Essex Hist. Col., vol. i, No. 4.

2 Robert S. Rantoul.

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BEVERLY.

with those of the Old Planters, were those of Brack- enbury and Lothrop. Richard Brackenbury came with Endicott in 1628, was a member of the first church, made freeman in 1630, and was granted seventy-five acres of land in 1636.

He was an active member of the first church in Beverly, where he lived till 1685, and died at the age of eighty-five. The family long ago became extinct here, though the name is perpetuated in one of our streets, Brackenbury Lane, which runs through his former farm.

Captain Thomas Lothrop was another man of force and integrity who came early from England, and who received a grant of land on Bass River Side in 1636, in which year he became a member of the first church of Salem. He was a representative to General Court for several terms from Salem, assisted in founding the church in Beverly, and was there elected selectman for many years.

The more important events of his history will be narrated in proper sequence, but it will be well to keep in mind this eminent man as one of the leaders of this young and struggling colony. His grant of land was at the Cove, not far from Humphrey Wood- bury's, where traces of his house-cellar were shown until a very recent period, and there he lived for forty years, a model of fidelity to all his public and private relations,

"Brave and gentle, generous and just, confiding, yet cautious and wise, of large estate for the time, bountifully as skilfully administered, never sparing of his own exertions, but always ready for every good word or work, he had a rare and remarkable hold on the confidence and affection of the community in which he lived. . . . His house was not ouly the abode of a liberal hospitality, but an asylum for the orphan and distressed. . . . Among those who shared his fostering care was a sister, Ellen, whom he brought with him on his return from a visit to England. She became the second wife of the veteran schoolmaster, Ezekiel Cheever, who taught for more than seventy years in New Haven, Ipswich, Charlestown and Boston."

Lothrop, in 1654, was lieutenant under Captain Hawthorn, and a captain under Major Sedgwick at the capture of St. Johns and Port Royal. From the latter place he brought home a bell, taken from the "New Friary " there, for the use of the church in Beverly.

We will return now to the chronological narration :

1636 .- "It is agreed, December 26, that John Stone shall keep a ferry, to begin this day, betwixt his house on the neck upon the north point and Cape Ann side, and shall give diligent attention thereupon dureing the space of three yeares, unless he shall give just occation to the contrary ; and in considera- tion thereof he is to have twopence from a stranger and one penny from an inhabitant. Moreover, the said John Stone doth engage to provide a convenient boat for the said purpose, betwixt this and the first month next coming after the date hereof."

In 1653 the profits of the ferry "towards Ipswich," were allowed to Richard Stackhouse's family provided he find boats and men. He continued in charge till 1686, when he was sncceeded by John Massey, " the

oldest town-born child then residing in Salem." Two years later, Massey had charge of the south side, and Bogers Haskins of the north (or Beverly) side. In 1694 the latter was succeeded by Edmund Gale, and he, in 1701, by the widow of Haskins, who, in 1708, leased the ferry for a term of twenty years. In 1742, over one hundred years after the establishment of the ferry, the rates for crossing were "3d. for a person, 9d. for a horse and 3%. for a chair or chaise."

In 1749 it was leased by Robert Hale, of Beverly, at three pounds sterling per annum for seven years. In 1769 B. Waters, of Salem, and Ebenezer Ellin- wood, of Beverly, hired the ferry for three years. The rates then were, " 1d. for an individual, 2 half-pence for a horse, 4 half-peuce for man aud horse, 5d. for a chair, 7d. for two-wheeled chaise, and 9d. for a four- wheeled."

The building of a bridge over the ferry was agi- tated in 1787, the principal mover in the matter being an eminent merchant of Beverly, George Cabot. As the proposition gave rise to angry discussiou, a certaiu Mr. Blyth remarked, that he " never knew a bridge to be built without a 'railing' on both sides." The following year, 1788, the bridge was built by a distinguished contractor, Lemuel Cox. It rested upon ninety-three piles, was thirty-two feet span, fourteen hundred and eighty-four feet long, entirely of wood. Its cost was about sixteen thousand dollars, which sum was divided into two hundred shares, worth, prior to 1830, five times the original value, but steadily declining later, after the railroad was built, and in view of its approaching reversion to the commonwealth.

It was called Essex Bridge, as so beneficial to the county, and its cost was to be remunerated by tolls for a period of seventy years, after which it became free to the public.

This, in brief, is the history of the Salem and Bev- erly ferry and the Essex Bridge. In 1789 General Washington, then on his famous tour, was so inter -· ested in it that he dismounted after he had crossed the " draw," which was hoisted that he might examine it.

1638 .- John Winthrop, Jr., having settled at Aga- wam (1633) has leave to set up salt-works at Ryal -Side-then part of Salem, now of Beverly-and to have wood enongh for carrying on his works, and pastnrage for his cows. The name of Salt-house, or Salter's Point, remains to this day, applied to the point between Danvers River and Duck Cove.

1639 .- " At genall towne meeting, the 11th month, Granted to Roger Conant, the sonne of Roger Co- nant, being the first borne childe in Salem, 20 acres of Land."

This individual was Roger Conant, Jr., born 1626, died June 15, 1672.

1642 .- " At a particular meeting of the seven men, Granted to Samuel Edson 25 acres of Land joyning to Humphrey Woodburys farme in Mackerell Cove,

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

& 2 acres of medow where he can find yt there about."

1643 .- "8th moneth : John Balch, for the Basse River, and William Woodbury for the Mackerell Cove, were nominated to receive donations of corne for a certain John Moore."

" It is ordered that all those that have land granted them at the great pond, shall fence with the rest or els leave theirre Lands. And all that have lotts at Bass River are bound to the like conditions."

1644 .- " The 29 of the 2d moneth,

"Ordered that Guydo Bayly shall have soe much of the swamp that lyeth along by his lott over at Cape Ann side as he can ridd within 3 yeares next insu- ing."

Bayly emigrated to Plymouth colony, and sold his lands to Humphrey, the son of John Woodbury.

These extracts, from the Salem Book of Grants, give us a glimpse of the toiling pioneers and enable us to localize some of those hitherto in doubt.

1646 .- " The 26 day of the 8th moneth,

" Ordered, that Willm Woodbury and Richd Brack- enbury, Ensign dixie, Mr. Conant, Lieftenant Lo- throp, Lawrence & Leech, shall forthwith Lay out a way between the ferry at Salem & the head of Jef- fryes creek, and that it be such a way as men may travell on horse back & drive cattle ; and if such a way not be found, then to take a speedy course to sett up a foote bridge at Mackrell Cove."

The original roads were merely tracks or trails, over the beaches, and leading from one house or settlement to another, not having a well-defined objective point; hence their meandering courses at the present day. From foot-paths and bridle-trails, those most in use finally hardened into roads, which were ultimately extended so as to connect distant points, or with the great public highways, as between Boston and Ips- wich.

Our forefathers came here, primarily, for religious freedom; they accepted the country and conditions of life as they found them, striving hard and always to improve both, They could not, like settlers at the present day, project a town or city in advance, on pa- per, laying out streets and highways, broad and straight, and defining beforehand the position of every public building, park and station. .

A home, first of all, they sought ; a farm, where the land was most fertile and its surface most easily pre- pared for the plough. They found no broad acres of prairie land lying open to cultivation; but were obliged to labor, for many months, at the surface- work of preparation. There was at first a struggle for mere existence ; their sustenance was to be drawn from the soil, supplemented by the various products of the sea. Theirs was not a high ambition, yet it was the noblest man can conceive: to have a home of their own for the possession of themselves and their descendants.

This characteristic trait has descended to the pres-

ent generation : this desire to retain an ownership in the soil; and perhaps explains the thrift and pros- perity that has ever attended upon the town.

As the founding of homes was the main occupation of the inhabitants during the first century or so, and as this gave them little leisure for visiting, there was not much attention paid to the means of intercom- munication. Thus it was the original trails, with all their sinuous traceries, became indurated, as it were, into the roads of the present day. The cow path of the " stray " from the Woodbury farm at the Cove to the larger farms on the Bass River, is now crossed by portions of Cross and Colon (or Cow Lane) Streets.

It may be well to note, in passing, that the right to traverse the ancient bridle-trail along the shore is still claimed by many inhabitants.

1647 .- 27th October : The inhabitants of Mackerell Cove (as the coast settlement was called), were re- leased from watching in Salem, except in seasons of danger. They had preaching soon after at Cape Ann Side, and erected a house of worship. Twelve years later, they built a parsonage, as appears from the cn- rious deposition in the Salem Records :

1659 .- 9th month, 29th :

"Wee whose names are heareunder written being desired to vew and to take notice what work is yet to be done to the house which John Norman built for the use of the Ministrie on Cape An Side, having vewed the same accordinge te our best vnderstandinge wee doe judge that the werk yet to be donne is worth att least fiftio shillings, besides tho dividing of the rooms.

" The T mark Cof THOMAS CHURB. "The Z " ef ZACHARIAH HIERRICHI. " WILLIAM SEARGENT."

This house was built on the slope of the hill oppo- site the (Bancroft) house at present standing, which was built for the minister's use about 1690.

FIRST CHURCH OF BEVERLY .-- The records of the First Church contain a faithful description of the first foundation in Beverly, as follows : " The Lord in merey alluring and bringing over into this wilder- ness of New England, many of his faithfull serv- ants from England, whose aymes were to worship God in purity according to his word; they, in pursu- ance of that work, began to sett up particular churches; and the First Church gathered in Massa- chusetts colony was in the town of Salem ; a gratious beginning of that intended church reformation, which hath beine farther prosecuted and prospered through the Lord's mercy in divers parts of the land. This church of Salem entered church covenant with pub- lique fasting and prayer upon the sixth day of the sixth month, 1629; their number att the beginning very small, was soon greatly increased and inriched with divers worthy labourers in God's vineyard as Pastors and Teachers successively, viz .: Mr. Samuel Skelton, Mr. Francis Higginson, Mr. Hugh Peters, Mr. Edward Norris and Mr. John Higginson, their present Pastor.

1650. "As their church increased, divers of the members came over the Ferry to live on Bass River

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BEVERLY.

side, who, on the 10th of the 12th mo., 1649 (Mr. Norris beinge teacher), presented their request to the rest of the church for some course to be taken for the means of grace among themselves, because of tedious- ness aud difficulties over the water and other incon- veniences, which motion was renewed againe the 22d of Ist mo., 1650, and on the 2d day of the 8th mo. they returued their answer, viz. : that we should look out some able aud approved teacher, to be emploied amongst us, wee still holding communion with them as before.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 186

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