History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 190

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 190

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"There were not wanting those in influential stations who, moved with an unworthy jealousy for British glory, sought, io public and pri- vate, to undervalue the services of the provincial troops. . . . Col. Hale (who, with his regiment, took a conspicuous part in the dangers and fatigues of the siege) was keenly alive to American honor: and this ungenerous attempt to wrest from the provincial forces the tribute of approbation justly their due, deeply wounded his sensibilities. He re- pelled the insinuations of the British, and pointed out (in a letter written at the time) that the great error of the British government, in all their provincial enterprises which failed of success, consisted io the appoint- ment of foreign officers to the command of troops raised here, wheu between the former and latter there was no reciprocity of respect or confidence."

While at Louisburg Colonel Hale enclosed a piece of ground which was long known (and may be still), to our fishermen as "Col. Hale's garden."

" When the government of Massachusetts Bay, in 1755, had determined on an expedition against the French, and the reduction of Crown Point, Col. Hale was selected hy Governor Shirley as a suitable agent to lay the subject before the government of New Hampshire and solicit their aid. His commission bears date Feb. 22, 1755, and the same day he received from the governor a series of instructions, by which he was to conduct the negotiation."

These instructions, together with the correspond- ence between Governors Shirley and Wentworth, are given in the history above cited.

He was successful in his commission, and succeeded in securing five hundred men as the quota from New Hampshire, though, for some reason, he did not him- self join in the expedition.

In 1761 Colonel Hale received a commission of sheriff for Essex County. In 1767, after holding near- ly every office, civil and political, within the gift of his townsmen, he died, full of honors and lamented by all.

Among the curious memoranda left by Colonel

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Hale are several of value to the local antiquarians, as : " A list of deaths in Beverly, 1730-64;" " An account of all the houses in Beverly," 1723-51 ; "Per- sons now living in Beverly who have had the small- pox ; " " A list of Widows and Widowers in ye First Parish," which begins with the widow of Mingo (the slave); and under date of February 12, 1747-48, is this remark : " This day there are 7 Widows to one Widower in this Parish-63 W., 9 Widowers." 1

1756 .- For the Crown Point expedition, this year, the Beverly soldiers enlisted, in Captain Andrew Fuller's Company, were :

Benj. Balch, William Eborn, Daniel Gloyd, Corporal John Simonds, Joseph Baker, John Clark, Daniel Butman (again in 1759), Eliezer El- lingwood, Robert Matthewe, William Moneys, Azor Roundy, Peter Stokes, George Spenco (re-enlisted 1759 and 1761), and Andrew Wood- bury.

In another company at Fort Edward, Moses Dodge.

1757 .- In Captain Israel Herrick's company of Eastern Rangers, are enrolled : Osman Baker, Robert Baker (also in the Canada expedition 1759), Barth. Peart, John Simonds, John Trask, Josiah Trow.

1758 .- In Captain John Tapley's company : John Clark (at the capture of Fort William Henry), Wil- liam Herrick, Wells Stanley and Barth. Taylor.

In various other companies : John Smith, Samuel Tuck, Jonathan Thorndike, Samuel Woodbury, Jo- siah Woodbury, James Woodbury, Jonathan Corning (seaman), Zebulon Putman, David Hill (drummer), Jonathan Dodge, Nathaniel Woodbury, John Hub- bard, Abraham Hix (again in 1761), William Dodge (1761).

1759 .- Robert Elliott, James Giles, Jonathan Lar- com, Corporal Andrew Woodbury, Benjamin Brown, William Presson, Richard Standley, Barebeel Wood- bury, John Wallis, Samuel Bean, Josiah Cressy, Aaron Crowell, Andrew Elliot, Amos Hilton, William Morgan, Robert Picket, Nicholas Standley.

1761 .- Benjamin Presson, Ralph Tuck, Wilks West, Robert Standley, Joseph Williams, Benjamin Dike, Jonathan Dodge, Timothy Howard, Jacob Po- land, Nathaniel Butman, Samuel Stickney.

1757 .- Two families of Acadians, those unfortu- nate people who were expelled from their homes in Nova Scotia, were quartered upon the town, and a house hired for them. They were partially self-snp- porting, making wooden-ware and baskets ; but their stay was brief, and they soon wandered on and were lost to the view of their Beverly friends.

1765. REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD .- Troublous times were approaching, and the records of the day show that the people of Beverly were alive to every fateful prognostication from over the water.

They anticipated every movement of the home gov- ernment, and while conditionally loyal to their dis- tant sovereigns, made it appear, by their acts in town meetings assembled, that they would suffer no infrac-

tion of their liberties. The odions stamp act was as unpopular here as in Boston, and its repeal (1765) was heralded by bonfires and celebrated by patriotic speeches.

The proceedings of the " Boston Tea Party " were promptly approved, and measures taken for the ex- clusion of the obnoxious vehicle of taxation. The men, as may be imagined, were more in favor of non- importation than the women, and amusing stories are told, in which some of the latter evaded the strict let- ter of the law and joined together for private tea- drinkings. Some of these meetings are said to have taken place in the cellars of their respective resi- dences, and, on at least one occasion, an aerial " tea- drawing " was held on the roof-top of a house.

The story of a parallel occurrence, with all attendant circumstances, is pleasantly told in Miss Larcom's poem, " The Gambrel Roof."

" In tbie old house, even then not new, A Continental Colonel true Dwelt, with a blithe and wilful wife, The sparkle on his cup of life ; A man of sober mood,

He felt the strife before it came Within bim, like a welding flame, That nerve and sinew changed to steel ; And, at the opening cannon peal, Ready for fight he stood.

" Cheap was the draught, beyond a doubt, The mother country served us out ; And many a housewife raised a wail, Hearing of fragrant chest and balo To thirstless mermaids poured,

And Mistress Audrey's case was hard, When her tall Colonel down the yard Called, ' Wife, be sure you drink no tea! For hest Imperial, prime Bohea, Were in her cupboard stored.

" Young Hyson, too, the finest brand ; And here the good wife made a stand ; ' Now, Colonel, well enough you know Our tea was paid for long ago, Before this cargo came,

With threepence duty on the pound ; It won't be wasted, I'll be bound ! I've asked a friend or two to sup, And not to offer them a cup Would be a stingy shame.'

" Into his face the quick blood flew : ' Wife, I have promised, so must you, None shall drink tea inside my house ; Your gossips elsewhere must carouse ; '- The lady curtsied low;

' Husband, your word is law,' she said; But arcbly turned her well-set head With roguish poise toward thie old roof, Soon ae she heard hie martial hoof Along the highway go.

" But lightly dined the dame that day ; Her guests, in Sunday-best array, Came, and not one arrived too soon, In the first slant of afternoon ; An hour or two thoy sat,

In the low-studded western room, Where hollybocks threw rosy bloom On sampler framed, and quaint Dutch tile;

1 See Fssex Inst. Hist. Collections for detaile.

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BEVERLY.

They knit ; they sewed long seamus ; the while Chatting of this and that :-

" Of horrors scarcely died away From memory of the heads grown gray Oo neighboring farms; how wizard John And Indian Titnba went on,

When sorcerers were believed ; How Parson Parris tried to olake Poor Mary Sibley's conjuring cake The leaveo of that black witchcraft curse,

That grew and spread from bad to worse, And even the elect deceived.

"Dame Audrey said : 'The sun gets low ; Good neighbors mine, before you go, Come to the house-top, pray, with me ! A goodly prospect you shall see, I promise, spread arouud. If we must part, ere day decline, And if no hospitable sign Appear, of China's cheering drink, Not niggardly your hostess think ! We all are patriots sound.'

" They followed her with puzzled air ; But saw, upon the topmost stair, Out on the railed roof, dark-faced Dill, Guarding the supper-board, as still Au solid ebony.

' A goodly prospect, as I said, You here may see before you spread ; Upon a house is not within it ;

But now we must not waste a miante ; Neighbors, sit down to tea !' "

"The women were all liberty men," quaintly re- marked a survivor of the Revolution, "and threatened to scald the Tories;" yet they parted with their tea with great reluctance.

A tale was current in town some years ago of an in- terrupted tea-drinking, caused by the lord of the house happening home unexpectedly and surrepti- tiously dropping a quid of tobacco in the teapot ! But, as a rule, the clandestine meetings for indulgence in the fragrant beverage were winked at by the pa- triots.

The right of women to hold office was, this year, recognized by the appointment of Widow Priscilla Trask as pound-keeper.

The eager patriotism of our forefathers was tempered by commendable moderation, though they were the very first to apprehend approaching danger and pre- pare for it.

1765 .- October 21, The letter of introduction to their representative, Col. Henry Herrick, amply defines this position :

" We cannot " (they write), " without criminal injustice to those glorious princes, King William and Queen Mary, or the memory of our venerable fathers, nor without the highest injustice to ourselves and to posterity, consent to yield obedience to any law whatsoever, which, by its natural constitution or just construction, deprives us of the liberty of trial hy juries ; or of our choosing meet persons to represent us in the assessing or taxing our estates for his Majesty's service. And we do accordingly advise and iostrnct you, oor representative, to refuse your conseat in any such case, and do all that in yon lies to prevent any un- constitutional drafts upon the public treasury."

1769 .- May 22, In another letter to him, they re- affirm these propositions :

"We apprehend that no power on earth can justly deprive us of our essential rights, and that no man can be safe, either as to his life, liberty, or property, if a contrary doctrine should prevail; therefore, we recommend to yon a firm but prudent opposition to all unconstitutional measures."

A powder-house was erected on the south side of the common in 1767, to contain the town ammnuition, which had heretofore been stored in the basement of the first parish meeting-house. Increasing supplies necessitated this.

1770 .- The first parish meeting-house was taken down and a new edifice erected at a cost of about ££1300. During its construction services were held near the big elm on the common.

1772 .- December 21, In town meeting assembled, and in an adjournment of January 5, 1773, they again assert that " the rights of the colonists in particular as men, as Christians, and as subjects, are studionsly, rightly, and justly stated by the committee of corres- pondence for the town of Boston; and Col. Herrick is instructed to "endeavor, as much as possible, in a legal and constitutional way, to effect the redress of the intolerable grievances, and secure the rights, liber- ties and privileges, both civil and sacred," guaranteed them by the charter.

1773 .- A " committee of correspondence and safety" was appointed the latter part of this year, consisting of representative citizens as follows : John Leach, Benjamin Jones, Henry Herrick, Joseph Rea, Samuel Goodridge, Josiah Batchelder, J. Batchelder, Jr., William Taylor, Joshua Cleaves, Larkin Thorndike, Joseph Wood, Isaac and Nicholas Thorndike, William Bartlett, Andrew Cabot, Joseph Orne, Benj. Lovett, Jr., Nathan and Asa Leach, Caleb and William Dodge, Livermore Whitteredge, Benj. Smith, William Long- dell, Thomas Stephens, Edmund Giles, John and Jona. Grant, Isaac Chapman and John Lovett, 3d.

The following letter "to the committee of corres- pondence for the town of Boston," Jannary 11, 1773, is referred to above, and illustrates their alert and ac- tive interest.

"GENTLEMEN : Inclosed you have the transactions of this town, in consequence of the resolves of the metropolis of this province, and the letter of correspondence herewith transmitted, whereby you will perceive the sentiments of this town with regard to the common cause in which we are all concered. In the name of the town, we return thanke for the early care taken by the town of Bostoo to communicate the most early intelligence of any alarming circumstances that they have with regard to any infringements on our righte, as Christians, subjects, or colonists.

" And, gentlemen, inasmuch as we are all concerned in one common cause, we shall esteem it as a favor of a free correspondence, that we may have the most early intelligence of any interesting events of a public nature, as yon live in the metropolis, that we may concur with you in any salutary constitutional measures for the good of all ; and are, gen- tlemen, with the greatest regards.

" Your most humble servants,

" JOHN LEACH, SAMUEL GOODRIDGE,

BENJ. JONES, JOSIAH BATCHELDER, Ja., HENAY HERRICK."

1774 .- In the town-meeting, Jannary 4, it was re- solved :

"That the method of introducing tea into this province in the manoer proposed by the British Ministry, for the benefit of the East India Co., je

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

justly und fairly stated by the inhabitants of tho town of Boston; and that it is the sentiment of this meeting, that they will always, in every salutary method, cheerfully join with our brethren of the town of Boston and every other town in this province, in withstanding every unlawful measure tending to enslave us, or to take onr money from us, in any nn- constitutional manner."

At a county convention held in Ipswich September 6th and 7th, the town was represented by three of its citizens : Benj. Lovett, Saml. Goodridge and Joseph Wood, who subscribed to the report of the committee, which, after asserting their continued loyalty to the crown, continued :

" But though, above all things, slavery excepted, we deprecate the evils of a civil war; though we are deeply anxious to restoro and pre- serve harmony with onr brethren in Great Britain ; yet, if the despotism and violence of our enemies should finally reduce ns to the sad necessity, we, undaunted, are ready to appeal to the last resort of States; and will, in support of our rights, encounter even death, sensible that he can never dio too soon who lays down his life in support of the laws and liberties of his country !"

Abundant assurances of their sincerity are found in the minutes of the numerous meetings of citizens.

1775 .- February 27th, Along with other articles in the warrant for town-meeting this year, are the following :

" To see if the town will havo a watch kept for the preservation of the town, and come into such measures relative thereto as may then be thought best ; and there was a warrant issued out to the several con" stables to warn the same, as follows : viz., to Samnel Woodberry 3d, to warn Farms and Bald Hill Districts: to Joseph Woodberry to warn Royal Side and Bass River Districts, and to Wm. Elliott to warn the Ferry District."

It was later voted that a watch, consisting of nine persons, be posted at three different places ; and that " if the watch discover that any Hoistilities are likely to be made on the town or any of the inhabitants thereof, they are to make an alarm, by the fireing of three guns and the ringing of the bell."

Voted, also, "that the town will raise fifty-four minute-men, including officers."

Voted, "to give the captain of the minute-men three shillings and four pence for each half day ser- vice in larning of the art military ; the lieutenants two and eightpence, the ensign two and sixpence, and each private one shilling, eightpence."

Voted, " that the minute-men turn out two half days in a week, and four hours each half day be spent in larning the art military, Col. Henry Herrick was empowered to hire £80, with interest, to pay off the minute-men."

" BOSTON, Feby. 7th, 1775.

" Roceived from the town of Beverly, by the hands of Mr. Henry Ilerrick, a donation, consisting of the following articles, viz. : Two bar- rels of sugar four hundred one quarter of sugar, one bbl. rum, fivo und 12 qtls, of fish, 105 lbs. of coffee, two cheeses, eight pair of womens and five pair of mens leather boots, one hide upper leather, and thin calf skins entried, sixteen pounds chocolate, ten pounds of pork, 25 lbs. fiax, one barrel flower, & ono and 16 bush. corn ; for the relief and support of the poor of the town of Boston, suffering by means of the Boston Port Bill,

" SAMUEL PARTRIDGE, "one of the committee of Donations."

These excerpts from the records of the town, show that our people were ready, with money and musket, to resent the first invasion of their rights. Thus it

was, the eventful nineteenth of April, 1775, found them not unprepared. Though every householder bad gone forth to his daily occupation, and was peacefully following his duty for the day, yet the ar- rival of the breathless messenger, announcing the departure of a British detachment from Boston to seize the military stores at Concord, was a spark that kindled into flames their smouldering fires of patriot- ism. The business of the day was abandoned, each man seized his musket and hastened to the appointed place of rendezvous. The captains of the militia companies, Joseph Rea, Caleb Dodge and others, mounted their horses and posted to the Farms and other districts, arousing the whole population along their routes. By three o'clock that afternoon a large proportion of the male inhabitants of Beverly capable of service were armed and ready for the conflict. No troops engaged in that memorable fight had so long a distance to march, yet they arrived in season to par- ticipate in the skirmishes that followed the battle of Lexington, and assisted in driving the British back to Boston. One of their number was killed, Reuben Kennison ; and three wounded, Nathaniel Cleaves, William Dodge (3d) and Samuel Woodbury.

These names are given in "George's Almanac " for 1776, though Kennison's name is spelled as Kinnym. The widow of Kennison (it is stated by Stone in 1842) retained in her possession till her death (which oc- curred October 22, 1842, at the age of eighty-nine), the shirt worn by her husband when killed.

The present historian, learning that a portion of that interesting relic was still in possession of con- nections of the widow Kennison's family, was per- mitted to see it, August, 1887, one hundred and twelve years after the fatal bullet had pierced it that deprived Reuben of his life. 1 The fragment is about a foot square, of striped homespun, with a jagged hole in it that may have been made by the bullet. It was wrapped in a sheet of blue paper of ancient manu- facture on which was written: "Reuben Kenniston of Beverly, killed at Lexington April 19, 1775. Part of his shirt." It now belongs to Mrs. Huldah Her- rick, whose mother was niece to Reuben's wife. Mrs. Kennison was married a second time, to Uriah Wright, and lived at Ryal Side. Reuben lived at Ryal Side previous to 1775, and is said to be buried in the old Leach burial-lot near Brown's Folly Hill.

The house he lived in has disappeared. Tradition states that his body was brought to Ryal Side on an ox-cart. An elm tree which was planted near Kenin- son's house, April 19, 1775, was blown down a few years ago.

1 At the seventy-fifth anniversary of the battle of Lexington (April 19, 1850) the president of the day said : " You may seo on the table be- fore mo tho powder-horn of Isaac Parker, of Chelmsford, who wore it at tho North Bridge, and a fragment of the shirt in which Reuben Ken- niston of Beverly, was killed, which was preserved with pious care by his wife. The holes through it have decayed from the blood steins, which were left nneffuced."

701

BEVERLY.

A valuable lesson in history might be acquired by tracing the route of our first Revolutionary soldiers, as they so eagerly pressed on to join their brothers-in- arms and that of their return, bearing with them their slain and wounded comrades.

Nathaniel Cleaves, who was wounded in the fight, having had his fingers cut off and ramrod carried away by a bullet, is included in the "list of the names of the provincials who were killed and wounded in the late engagement with his Majesty's troops at Con- cord." He seems soon to have recovered of his wound, for he was in the Bunker Hill fight of June 17th, and with the troops at Cambridge within a month of the Lexington engagement.

An extremely interesting relic of the times is the journal of this same soldier, which is now in posses- sion of one of our most estimable citizens. It com- mences :

" Thursday, May ye 25, 1775. Captain Low marched from Beverly to Cambridge ; took up our quarters at mister bloggets ; the 27, Saturday (foreneon), plesent ; at night a scurmig (skirmish) came on between the regulars and our peopel on the island (?) ; burnt a house and barn, killed - horses, burnt one schuoper and took sum plunder, and lest no lives on our side, but supposed that we killed a number of them. Sun- day, 28, Some guns fired on our peopel that were getting sum guns out of the racks, but no damage. Monday, the 29, brought off the island 27 head of cattel, 20 ed horses, 300 sheep and lams, and no damage. Tues- day, the 30, great movement made with the treeps in Boston, by which means the country was alarmed, and no men to go ent of the camp. Wens., 31, Capt. Cimbel's (Kimbal's (?) company came to Cambridge.

" Thursday, June 1, 1775. Cloudy morning ; cleared of pleasant. Had Mister Willard, Mr. Cutler and Mr. Hichcock in the afternoon. [These were the ministers of First Parish, Beverly, Hamilton, and Second Parish, Beverly. These three also rode to Lexington immediately ou receipt of the alarm.] A meeting concerning our field officers adjourned to next day. Cornelos Maurice hanged hisself with his hanchirchif. The next day, pleasant morning ; guns were fired, supposed to be at Nodels island (East Boston), and so continued all day by spurts ; sent a party of about 200, and 2 field peises, for Chelsea. The day ended with the meeting of the officers ; had the mager before us and had a full hearing ; so that day ended. The mme night a scout went to Dear Island, took of 400'sheap, sum cattel, fore priseners.

" The 3d day, Saturday, a plesent morning ; this day the whole army was mustered on the common to see 2 theives whipped, ene 20 stripes, negro 10 ; one man drumed out of the army with 36 drums and 40 fifes, with the rogues march. Sunday, the 4th day, fair whether ; went to meeting, heard 2 sermons. Monday, the 5 day, fair wether ; nothing re- markibel. The 7th day set out for Beverly, reached it about 12 o'clock, and ret'd to Cambridge Saturday, the 10th.

" Monday, the 12 day, a number of the priseners under the main gard ris and abused the captain of the gard, and a giveral cort marshel was ordered to try the same ; the common report for this day is that their is 3 rigement and 3 company of horse off in the Bay ; this day ended with- out anything new.

"15 day Monday, cool morning ; cort marshel continued till Fryday ; nothing new.

" the 16 Day, a pritty hot Fire, said to be at the effege of Hancock. This day the Duse came to Cambridge that Philadelphia had taken a ship with 750 stand fire-arms and quantity of ammunition. This is goed nuse for which I am thankful. About 6 o'clock there was mustered about 1000 men to go and take possession of Bunker hill (!), which they did the same night without any disturbance.

BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL.

" Till Saturday morning about snorise the Lively fired on our men ; killed Asa pollerd of Billerica ; Orders for our rigement to parade at 5 o'clock with 3 other rigements to relieve those at Bunker hill, but was alarmed at 12 when the troops began to land, which caused a bet fire on both sides, which our side left the ground for want of field peices and powder (!). Soon after the engagement began they set Charlestown ou

fire ; our rigement returned at night to Prospect hill and intrenched all night.

" The 18 day, Sunday, they fired upen our peopel but did no damage."

In this brief chronicle of the soldier's life in Cam- bridge is given his share in the important battle of Bunker Hill, which he treats merely as a skirmish of little consequence. His point of view was not suffi- ciently removed from the scene of conflict for him to appreciate its magnitude. He wastes no words in ex- cuses for their retreat, nor stops for gratulation :

" The 24 day, Saturday, in the morning was nlarmed by a great move- ment of the regulars on Bunkers hill, supposed to be a coming out, but did not. 25, Sunday, in the forenoon stayed at our camp at Cambridge ; about 12 o'clock went down to the hill and begun our brestwork. There was a packet of letters came to gineral Putmun frem our priseners in Boston and say that they are treated vary wel. Mister Cleveland preached on the hill, frem John 20, 22; this day dug up the hones of a man buried about a foot under ground.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 190

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