USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 209
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212 | Part 213 | Part 214 | Part 215 | Part 216 | Part 217 | Part 218 | Part 219 | Part 220 | Part 221 | Part 222 | Part 223 | Part 224 | Part 225 | Part 226 | Part 227 | Part 228 | Part 229 | Part 230 | Part 231 | Part 232 | Part 233 | Part 234 | Part 235 | Part 236 | Part 237 | Part 238 | Part 239 | Part 240 | Part 241 | Part 242 | Part 243 | Part 244 | Part 245 | Part 246 | Part 247 | Part 248 | Part 249 | Part 250
No other record of action at that time appears in the regular records of the town, but on one of the last leaves of the book of records then in use, we find the following :
"At a leggel meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the Town ef Methuen held by adjeurnment from the ninth of August, 1774, to the 20th ef September, 1774. Taking into serious consideration the State of public affairs, Voted, that a Committee be chosen to consult and Advise with Each other. Likewise with Committees of other Towns, and if need be to communicate te any other Town nny measure that may ap- pear to be conducive to the publick Benefite, more Especlay to be Watch-full that no Encroachments are not made on our Constitutional Rights and Liberties, that we may enjoy the Blessing we have Left in peace and net be Deprived of them from any quarter but may Devise prosecute the most vigorous and reselute mesures as far as Lyes in eur sphere, retrieve our invaluabl privileges. Veted that this Committee consist of fifteen persons.
" Stephen Barker, Esq.
Jehn Hnse.
John Bedwell. James Malloon.
Nathaniel Pettengill. John Pettengill.
Samuel Bodwell. Lient. John Sargent.
Cutting Marsh. Richard Whittier.
David Whittier.
Ebenezer Colten,
Jonathan Swan.
John Masten.
James Jones.
" Voted, that the above should be entered In the Town Clerk's office."
That the people began to contemplate the possibil- ity of war with Great Britain is indicated by the fol- lowing, which is an exact copy of the original now in possession of A. C. Goodell, Esq., of Salem.
" WHEREAS, milartrary Exercise hath been much nelicked We the Subserbers being the first comptrey in Methuen Do Covenant and En- gage to form our sevele in te a Bodey in order to Larn the manual Ex- ercise, Te be Subegat To Such officers as the Comptrey shall chuse by Voat in all constutenal marsher according to our Chattaers.
" Methuen ye 6th of octr. 1774
" James Jones. William Runnels.
Ichahed Perkins. Asa Currier.
James Wilson. Nathaniel Messer.
Timothy Eaton.
Ebenezer Messer.
Ebenezer Calten.
Nathan Perley.
Themas Runnels.
John Keley.
Henry Merss. Asa Messer.
Samuel Messer.
John Eaten.
Daniel Messer. John Davison.
Nath' Haseltine. William Stevens,
Richard Hall
Silas Brown.
Sammel Parker.
William Whittier.
779
METHUEN.
Stephen Webster, Jr. Jucob Messer. Daniel R. Whittier. Samnel Webber. Jacob Hall. Amos Gage.
John Marsten, Jr. Nathaniel Smith Messer,
James Silver, Jun.
Abiel How.
Timothy Emerson. Joshua Emerson, Jr.
John Cross.
Oliver Emerson.
Timothy How.
Isaac Darker.
Simeon Cross.
James Chase.
Francis Swan, Innr.
Nath. Herrick.
James Pavison.
Joseph Hustings.
Jacob How.
Kimball Calton.
Elijah Carlton.
Richard Currier.
Joseph How.
Ebenezer Enton.
Jonathan llow.
Simeon Hasttens.
Asa Morss.
Nath'l. Clark.
John How, Jr. Faruum Hall. Ephraim Clark.
John Merrill.
Abiel Cross.
Theodore Emerson.
" the ferst Compyney in Methnen meat att Mr. Eben. Carlton's in order to chuse officers, and thay Chose Lient. Benj'm. Hall Moderator. they chose Mr. James Jones for thar Capt. Mr. Ichobied Perkins furst Leut. MIr. James Wilson Sonent Lent. Mr. Sam1 Messer Ens. Mr. Nath" Messer Jr. Clark for said Compyney.
Clark
" WILLIAM PAGE for sd.
Metten.
" Metlien ye 6 of Octor 1774."
In Jannary. 1775, the town voted to give to the poor of the town of Boston by subscription, and chose a committee to receive donations. At the same meet- ing it was voted that the minute-men " drawn out or exposed to train, should have eight pence per day for their trouble to the last of March."
Mr. John Bodwell was also chosen at that meeting to meet the Provincial Congress on the first day of February at Cambridge. At the annual meeting in March it was voted to provide bayonets, "which should be brought to Captain John Davis, and after the service was over said Davis is to return said bayo- nets unto tbe selectmen of said town." It was also voted that the committee of safety or correspondence should continue a committee for the same purpose, and also that John Masters and Jonathan Barker be a committee to make up the "cartrages " for those persons who were not able to provide for themselves, ont of the town stock. Soon after, the town voted to provide guns for all minute men unable to furnish themselves ; also to provide blankets and cartridges.
Another interesting document, dated about this time, is also found out of place on one of the last leaves of the book of records, as follows :-
" We, the subscribers, being appointed a committee by the town of Methuen to give some instructions to a certain Committee of Safety and Correspondence, that was chosen by this town in September last or may hereafter be chosen as above, that it is recommended that the above committee do strictly observe and cooform to the instructions hereafter mentioned.
"First. That you will be vigilant in this time of public distress ; that no infractions, violations be made on the good and wholesome laws of this province, whereby the morals of the people are endangered of being corrupted, and in case you should he unsuccessful in your endeavors in all proper ways, then to publish their names that the public may see and know them to be enemies of their country and the privileges of the samę.
"Secondly. That you correspond with committees of other towns, if you see it needfal, as may be necessary ou all important occasions.
Thirdly. As a Committee of Inspection we recommend to you that you will not buy or purchase any British maoufactures or superfinities in your families but such as are of absolute necessity, and likewise that you recommend to others to do the same, for we think that a reforma- tion of this will greatly tend to lessen our private expense and the better enable us to bear the publick charges and prevent those mischiefs that may ensue therenpon.
"Fourthly. That you will suppress as much as possible those persons, if any such there be, who travel as pedlers to introduce British goods and impose on the inconsiderate, which may impoverish us. And where- us, it is said that our enemies are sending out spies in order to get infor- mation of our schemes and plans which are contrived for our defence so as they may frustrate them, it is recommended that you take care that they receive that resentment due to their deeds.
"Fifthily. If any trader or other person withio this town shall take the advantage of the present distressed circumstances in America and by an avaricions thirst after gain shall raise the price of any commodity whatsoever beyond their usual reasonable price, or shall use their influ- ence by words or actions to weaken the measures advised by the Grand Continental Congress wheo made to appear to you that be or they persist in the same, you are to publish their names that they may be publickly known and treated as enemies to their country.
JAMES INGALLS,
JONATHAN SWAN & Committee. JOHN IIUSE,
METHUEN, April 4th, 1775."
It will be noticed that this paper was dated about two weeks before the battle of Lexington. It shows the resolute, deep-seated earnestness with which our fathers entered the contest, and that the men of Me- thuen were as fully imbued with the spirit of resist- ance to tyranny as the more widely known men of the time. As might be expected, the town records are silent in regard to the events at Lexington and Bunker Hill. There was no reason why the town as a body should take action in reference to those battles. Nevertheless the men of Mechuen had an active share in those great events, and we are not without an official record of the part they took.
The archives at the State House contain the names of those who went from Methnen on the memorable 19th of April, and also the names of the Methnen Company who fought at the battle of Bunker Hill.
There were four Methuen companies at the battle of Lexington, and the following is a full list of the names just as they are found on the original muster rolls now on file in the office of the Secretary of State :
Captain John Davis' Company in Colonel Frye's Regi- ment, enlisted Feb. 14th, 1775.
Captain, Juha Davis. First Lieutenant, Nathl. Herrick. Second Lieutenant, Eliphalet Bouwell.
Sergeants.
Eleazer Carleton.
Richard Hall.
Francis Swan.
Jona. Barker.
Corporals.
Jonathan Baxter
William Stevens.
John Davisou Joshna Emersou.
Privates.
James Campbell.
Daniel Jennings.
Silas Brown.
Wm. Whitcher.
EDos Kings.
Nathan Swan.
Asa Morse.
Peter Barker.
Ebenr. Pingrief. Joseph Jackson.
Simeon Tyler. Aaron Noyes
Argos Harrimoo. Parker Bodwell.
Nathan Russ. Richard Jaques. Robert Hastings.
780
HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Daniel Morse.
Solomon Jennings. Joshua Bodwell.
Nathl. Hazeltino. Elijah Carlton. Simeon Cross.
Privates.
John Kelly (drummer).
John Tippets, 3d.
Abiel Cross.
Oliver Emerson.
William Page.
James Messer.
Moses Sargent.
Henry Mors ..
James Fry.
Stephen Webstor, Jr.
Thomas Herrick.
Elisha Perkins.
Joseph Granger.
Job Pingrey.
Isaac Barker.
Joseph Cross.
Day Emerson.
Asa Cross.
Josoph Perkins.
Jolin Morris.
Jona. How.
Kimball Carleton.
Total, 49.
Muster roll of the following number or party of men that belonged to Methuen, in the county of Essex, on the alarm on the 19th of April, 1775, and never joined to any particular commanding officer :
Captuin. James Mallon.
Privates.
Abner Morrill.
Isaac Austin.
Isaac Austin, Jr.
Benj. llerrick.
Peter Harris.
Wm. McCleary.
Francis Richardson.
Ilrzekiah Parker.
Elisha Parker.
Jesse Barker.
John Parker, Jr.
Moses Morse.
Isaac IInghs.
James Denuis.
Timothy Chellis.
Total, 22.
The pay roll of the company under the command of Major Samuel Bodwell, exhibited in consequence of the alarm on the 19th of April :
Ist. Lient., David Whittier. 2dl Lient .. Nathl. Pettengill. Ensign, Enoch Merrill. Clerk, John Hughes.
Sergeunt, John Mansur. Privates. Joshua Stevens. John Whittier, Jr. Abel Merrill.
Wmn. Gutterson.
Nathl. Pettengill.
Thomas Pettengill.
Dudley Pettengill. Daniel Tyler. John Pettengill, Jr.
Joseph Morrill. John Richardson.
Wm. Richardson.
Saml. Cross.
Nathl. Hibbard.
Jobu Bodwell.
James Hibbard.
Parker Richardson.
Bodwell Ladd.
Thomas Dow.
John Ladd.
Win. Bodwell.
Stephen Barker.
Win. Morse.
Mitchell Davis.
John Barker. Ebenr. Barker.
Siteon Dow.
Nehemiah Barker.
Samuel Cole. Saml. Richardson.
Samuel Haghs.
Enoch Cheney.
John Pettengill.
Jona. Barker, Jr.
John Webber.
Benj. Stevens, Jr.
Beoj. Mastin.
John Hibbard.
Elijah Sargent.
Wm. Hibbard.
Total 45.
Captain James Jones' pay roll for the campaign in the defence of the country at the battle of Concord, made at the rate of twenty-eight days per month, four days' service.
Captain, James Jones. Lieutenant, Ichabod Perkins.
Timothy Enton. Ephraim Clark.
Sergeants. Nathan Perley. Jacob Messer.
Corporals.
James Ordway.
Ebenezer Ilerrick.
Dudley Builey.
Daniel Messer.
James Silver.
Nathan Russ.
Peter Webster.
James Ingalls.
John Swan.
James Davison.
Daniel Bailey.
Antos Gage (drummer).
Thomas Baee.
Josoph More.
Jeremiah Stevens.
Dudley Noyes.
Ebenezer Sargent.
Joseph Hibbard.
John Merrill.
Prince Johnnot.
Samnel Barker (fifer).
This muster roll made for seven days, from April 19th. Sworn to
JOHN DAVIS.
Nathl. S. Clark.
Total 32.
In the Company of Captain Charles Furbush.
Privates.
Theodore Emerson.
James Silver.
Isaac Maloon.
John Hancock.
JOB. Pettengill.
Nehemiah Kidah.
Abraham P. Silver.
Daniel Pettengill.
Total 8.
Grand Total 156.
The number of inhabitants in Methuen in 1776, ac- cording to the colonial census, was thirteen hundred and twenty-six.
The tax book of that year gives the names of two hundred and fifty-two poll-tax payers. It is surprising that a town of so small population could have sent so many men at the first call to meet the British. Noth- ing could more forcibly impress us with the universal, deep-seated determination of our fathers to protect their rights at all hazards, than this simple list of names. When we consider that they were not called out by any order of the authorities, that their enthu- siasm had not been stirred by appeals from the daily press or by public speakers, that they only knew from the signal guns and fires on the hills that the British were in motion, and that the war had actually begun, and that nearly every able bodied man in town, more than half the poll-tax payers, must, of their own ac- cord, have shouldered their muskets and marched at a moment's warning to meet the foe, those of us who claim descent from those men cannot help feeling the blood tingle in our veins with an honest pride in such an ancestry. Such facts show better than anything else can, the quality of the Revolutionary spirit, and how it was that the colonies were finally successful. The next important event was the battle of Bunker Hill, on the 17th of June following, in which it is certain that a Methuen company bore an important part. The following is a copy of the original muster- roll on file at. the State House.
" CAMBRIDGE, Oct. 5, 1775. " Return of the men'e names, when they enlisted and where they be- longed. Belonging to Captain John Duvis' Company, in Colonel Frye's Regiment :
Cuptuin, John Davis.
First Lientenant, Nalhl. Herrick. Second Lientenant, Elipbalet Bodwell. Major, Jonathan Barker.
Sergeants. Ebenezer Carllton. Richard Hall.
Francis Swan. Peter Barker.
- Bodwell, 2d. - Austin, Jr. -- Parker, Jr. Obadiah Morse. Wni. Russ, Jr.
Joseph Griffin.
781
METHUEN.
Jonathan Baxter. William Stevens.
Joshua Emerson. John Davison.
Privates.
Abraham Anness.
Lazarus Hubbard.
Jolin Asten.
Ebenezer Herrick.1
Joseph Hibbard.2
Silas Brown. Parker Bodwell. David Bailey. Dudley Bailey. Timothy Chellis.
James Ingalls.3 Dudley Noyes. Aaron Noyes. Peter Webster.
David Corliss.
James Woodlmry. Ebenezer Sargent.
James Ordway. Jeremiah Stevens.
Samnel Parker.
Thomas Pace.
James Silver. Simeon Tyler.
Nathan Russ.
Amos Gage (drummer).
John Swan.
Samuel Barker (fifer). James Campbell.
Ebenezer Pingrief.
James Davison.
Joshua Bodwell.+
Mitchel Davis.
Solomon Jennings.5
Amos Harriman.
It is by no means certain that this list includes the names of all Methuen men engaged in the battle ; there may have been some iu companies from the neigh- boring towns. It is known that the Methuen company was in the thickest of the fight, that it was stationed in the redoubt, and was among the last to leave it. It is said that it came near being surrounded towards the end of the battle, and that as the enemy came up on each hand a British soldier ran up to Captain Davis, saying, "You are my prisoner."
Captain Davis, who was a resolute, powerful man, replied, "I guess not," at the same time running the soldier through with his sword. The blood spurted over his breeches as he drew back the sword, but he made his escape. It is also said that Captain Davis took one of his wounded men upon his back just after escaping from the redoubt, and carried him out of the reach of danger. As he was crossing the hollow be- tween the hills, which was swept by the fire from a British vessel, he saw before him a board fence. Cap- tain Davis, tired by excitement and the weight of his comrade, said : "I don't see how we can get over that fence." But in an instant after, a cannon ball knocked it in pieces and left the way clear.
Mr. Asa M. Bodwell tells a story of James Ordway, who afterwards lived on the west side of Tower Hill. Mr. Ordway was in poor circumstances in his old age, and had a bad ulcer on his leg. Mr. Bodwell says that his father sent him one day to Mr. Ordway with a gallon of rum to bathe his lame leg, and with it a message saying that the rum was sent to pay for throwing stones at the battle of Bunker Hill. The story being, that when the ammunition gave out, at the close of the battle, Ordway laid down his gun and threw stones at the British until driven out. Methnen lost three men at the battle of Bunker Hill. Ebenezer Herrick was killed in the battle, Joseph Hibbard was wounded and died June 20th, James Ingalls was wounded and died July 8th. It is impossible to as-
certain the exact number of soldiers Methuen had in the Revolutionary War. The town records give us no information on this point, and the State records are imperfect, but there is no doubt that Methuen kept her quota in the field. After the evacuation of Bostou by the British, the seat of war was so far away, that probably few of the soldiers from this town were actively engaged with the enemy.
There are stories told of Methuen men who went to fight Burgoyne, and helped to conduct the captured soldiers to Cambridge, and guard them while there; other soldiers from this town were stationed at dif- ferent points on the coast exposed to attack.
During those years, the towu business went on as usual. A Committee of Safety and Correspondence was appointed each year, and in February, 1778, the town voted that the Selectmen should supply the families of soldiers in the Continental Army with the necessaries of life. At the same meeting the town was called upon to see what instructions it would give to their Representative, relative to a resolve of the Continental Congress for all the United States of America to join in a perpetual union with one another. The subject was referred to a committee, consisting of Major Bodwell, Captain James Jones, Colonel Thomas Poor, Lieutenant John Huse and Mr. Enoch Merrill. At an adjourned meeting, the question was put whether the town would receive and accept the Articles of Confederation and per- petual union, and " voted in the affirmative."
The currency question seems to have been as trou- blesome in those days as it has been later. At a meeting held April 2, 1778, there was an article in the warrant "To see what the town will do with those persons who refuse to take our paper currency,-and passed a resolve to treat them as enemies to their country, and voted to publish the same in the Boston newspaper." The rapid decrease in value of this currency is shown by the fact, that while, in 1777, £30 was raised for the ordinary repairs of the highways, in 1781 £6000 was raised for the same purpose.
In 1779, Lieut. John Sargent was chosen delegate to represent the town in the convention to be held at Cambridge, to form a new constitution. In 1780, the new Constitution of the State of Massachusetts took effect, and in that year we find the first record of a vote for Governor and Senators. It is evident that party feeling did not run very high, from the fact that for the office of Governor, John Hancock had sixty- four votes and James Bowdoin two.
In that year the town furnished 8780 pounds of beef for the army, and hired sixteen men. The next year they furnished 6957 pounds of beef, and raised twelve men to serve as soldiers.
We find nothing in the town records to indicate the end of the war, except a vote to sell the entrenching tools belonging to the town, and the frequency of military titles, indicating that the soldiers were at home and active in town matters.
1 Died June 1.tb.
8 Died July 8th.
4 In train June 17th.
6 In train June 17th.
2 Died June 20th.
Corporals.
Nathan Swan.
782
HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
From the close of the Revolutionary War, there is little of interest to be gleaned from the town records for many years. About this time we find that the town voted "not to give liberty for inoculation for small-pox," and to "choose a committee of five to take care of those persons lately inoculated with the small-pox, and prosecute them, and take effectual care that the distemper spread no further."
Iu 1793, a company was organized to build a bridge over the Merrimack at Bodwell's Falls. Up to that time ferries had furnished the only means of crossing this river. We find mention of five different ferries, as follows:
Gage's Ferry, near the end of Pleasant Valley Street.
Swan's Ferry, at Wingate's farm.
Marston's Ferry, at the Alms-house, Lawrence.
Bodwell's Ferry, at the Pumping Station, Lawrence. Harris' Ferry, a little east of Dracut line.
The early inhabitants did not dream that a bridge could be built across so broad a stream, and a common way of expressing the impossibility of doing a thing was to say, "It is as impossible as to build a bridge over the Merrimack River." It seems, too, that some of the inhabitants did not take kindly to the new projeet, probably deeming it a base scheme on the part of the proprietors to make money out of the public ; for a meeting was held soon after to see if the town would send a remonstrance to the General Court against its erection. This proposition was decided in the negative. The opponents of the bridge then called a meeting to see if the town would petition the General Court to order the proprietors to pay the cost of the town roads leading to the bridge. This also was voted down, and the town decided to repair the road over Currant's Hill to the New Hampshire line.
The bridge was built shortly after, and for some years the travel from thence to New Hampshire passed over Currant's Hill, curving around over the old road-now discontinued-on the hill in the rear of the house of James Ingalls.
The "Turnpike" (now Broadway) was built in 1805-6, by an incorporated company. A system of toll was established, but it cansed such dissatisfaction that in a few years the "Turnpike" was made a public highway by the County Commissioners.
The town first voted for a Representative to Con- gress and for a Presidential Elector, December 18, 1788, the highest candidate voted for receiving twenty-three votes. It seems that at the first Presi- dential elections, the town voted for only one elector ; but in 1804 votes were cast for nineteen electors.
The change from the use of English money to Federal currency took place about 1795-96. The last time we find "pounds" used in making up the town records was in 1795.
fn 1805, the town voted that the Annual Town Meeting should be held on the first Monday in
March, for the future; and, at the same meeting, for the first time voted that swine should not go at large. Previous to that time, the town had always voted the largest liberty to swine, except that for a few years this liberty had been coupled with the condition that they should be "yoaked and ringed."
In the War of 1812 Methuen sent her proportion of men to meet the old enemy. The only reference to that war in the town records, is a vote passed " to give the detached soldiers a sum to make them up twelve dollars a month while in active service with what Govern- ment gives them." We have been told by veterans of that war, now dead, that the number of men called for from Methuen was not large. They were mostly stationed to defend the forts along the coast. It is said, however, that a small number of soldiers went from Methuen to meet the British in Canada, and that they were present at the surrender of Hull. It appears from the census returns and the tax lists that Methuen grew but little in wealth and population, during the forty years subsequent to the Revolution- ary War. In 1776 the population of the town num- ber one thousand three hundred and twenty-six, and in 1820 one thousand three hundred and seventy- one.
There was no village in the town at that time, and no neighboring markets to induce growth. At the beginning of this century, there were only six houses in the now thickly settled part of Methuen Village. The Miller Cross house, corner of Hampshire and Lowell Streets ; Sargent house, where Exchange Hotel stands ; Deacon Fry house, Butters farm ; Swan place, Nevins tarm; Jonathan Cluff house, Mill-yard; John Sargent house, at elm tree by mill- yard.
There was then one grist-mill, a little south of Fisher's grocery store, another on the opposite side of the river, and a fulling-mill just below the foot-bridge at the falls. From 1820 to 1840 the town gained about seventy per cent. in population, with a corre- sponding increase in wealth. This was in consequence of the building of the cotton-mills, and increase in the manufacture of shoes and hats. During that time there were few events of special interest to this gen- eration. In 1837 it appears that a new town-house was talked about, and a committee was chosen at the March meeting to select a location and prepare esti- mates. The committee reported at an adjourned meeting, and the town voted to build. A week or two afterwards another meeting was called, the vote reconsidered and committee discharged. The same year the selectmen were authorized to hire the vestry of the Baptist meeting-house for holding town-meet- ings, and that house continued to be the place for town-meetings until the present town-house was built in 1853. In 1844 rumors began to circulate of a pro- ject to dam the Merrimack, and build factories at Bodwell's Falls. The town voted to give Daniel Saunders and his associates a refusal of the town-
783
METHUEN.
farm, which was situated on Broadway, the buildings being on the east side, south of Haverhill Street, at its cost, with an addition of thirty-three per cent.
The terms on which the Essex Company bonded the land now oceupied by the principal parts of the city of Lawrence were, a fair cash value, with an ad- dition of thirty-three per cent. The land was bought in due time, and the "New City " as it was then called, grew with wonderful rapidity. When opera- tions first began there were only nine or ten houses standing on what is now the thickly settled part of North Lawrence. There was a paper-mill, operated by Adolphus Durant, on the Spicket, a little above its mouth. In 1847 Chas. S. Storrow and others peti- tioned for an act of incorporation of a new town to be called Lawrence. There was a strong opposition to this scheme on the part of Methuen, a town-meeting was called, and John Tenney and George A. Waldo were chosen to oppose the petition before the com- mittee of the Legislature, They were unsuccessful in this opposition ; Lawrence obtained an act of incor- poration, and Methuen lost a large section of her ter- ritory. Another small slice was subsequently taken from Methuen and added to Lawrence, since which time the boundaries of Methuen have remained un- changed. Doubtless old residents of the town will recall many matters of much interest in their day, such as the bickerings about the enforcement of the liquor laws, the efforts made to suppress the liquor traffic in Salem, the contests over the dividing lines of school districts, and the disputes over the building of new roads, but they would hardly be of general inter- est now. From 1850 to 1860 there was little change in population, and few events of general interest. In 1861 came the war which laid its hand so heavily on the whole land. When the first note of war was sounded, and President Lincoln called for seventy- five thousand troops to protect Washington in April, 1861, Governor Andrew ordered the Sixth Massa- chusetts Regiment, with others, to start at once. Company F of that Regiment, Capt, Chadbourne, had its armory in Lawrence, and eight members of that company belonged in Methuen as follows :
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.