History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 246

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 246

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the land on which the ancient church had stood, and erected the present beautiful place of worship, and thus, after an exile of twenty-eight years returned to the spot once dedicated by their ancestors to the worship of God.

Mr. Jefferds was dismissed May 15th, 1844, and died a few years since, in South Boston, abont 75 years of age. Mr. Jefferds was a most faithful pastor, proclaiming the doctrine of evangelical truth with- out fear of man and church discipline was kept up by him, without which, little good can be expected of its influence. Mr. Jefferds spent the best of his days here and laid well the foundations under which we have prospered. His memory should ever be held by this people in grateful remembrance.

Mr. Jefferds was settled in Epping, N. H., before coming to Middleton. He married President William Stearns' sister, by whom he had a very large family of children.

Rev. Thurston Searle settled May 8, 1845 ; dis- missed December 23, 1846. Mr. Searle married a daughter of Colonel Jesse Putnam, of Danvers, Mass., and died in that town a few years since.

Rev. J. Augustin Hood, ordained January 2, 1850 ; dismissed May 17, 1854. Mr. Hood was son of Rev. Jacob Hood, who died a few weeks since in Lynn- field, Mass., aged ninety-four years.

Rev. A. H. Johnson, ordained January 1, 1857 ; dis- missed April 5, 1865. Mr. Johnson is now a prac- ticing physician in Salem, Mass.

Rev. James M. Hubbard, installed April 8, 1865 ; resigned December 28, 1868. The same council that dismissed Mr. Johnson settled Mr. Hubbard.

Rev. Lucien H. Frary, ordained October 7, 1869; dismissed March 16, 1875. Mr. Frary went from here to Weymouth, and is now settled over a large and flourishing society. Mr. Frary is a very interest- ing preacher, and commanded a larger salary than this people could pay. The church and society pros- pered under his ministry.

A sad event took place just before Mr. Frary left, which was the partial burning of the church by an incendiary. A fire was kindled, as is supposed, in a cabinet organ standing at the right of the pulpit, which spread to the adjoining pews, twelve of which were consumed ; and if it had not been for the woolen carpet, the fire would have spread all over the house. When discovered the blaze reached the plastering overhead, and so great was the heat that all the paint, even to the entry, was blistered, and the desk, table, chairs and the organ in the gallery, that cost some five hundred dollars, was destroyed. The damage was about two thousand dollars.

This fire was discovered Saturday morning after Thanksgiving, 1873, about half-past six o'clock, by Benjamin Parker, who was at that time on his way to work at J. B. Thomas' box-mill. It is thought that in less than ten minutes more the heat was so great that the flames would have flashed all over the

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house. The house was closed tight; otherwise it would certainly have been burned.

After Mr. Frary left several candidates preached, among them Kingsly F. Norris, of New York, who received a call which he declined, it being his inten- tion to go West.

Rev. A. H. Tyler was settled October 24, 1877 ; dis- mi-sed April 29, 1880.

For the last three years the pulpit has been sup- plied by Rev. S. K. B. Perkins, who is a scholarly preacher and faithful, devoted pastor. Mr. Perkins 1 was born in Braintree, Mass., where his father, Rev. Jonas Perkins, was pastor for more than forty-five years over the same church where Mr. Frary is now settled.

The present house of worship was erected in 1859 by Ahel Preston, of Peabody, Mass .; cost about five thousand dollars. Building committee, Wm. A. Phelps, David Stiles and Francis P. Merriam.

LIST OF DEACONS.

1729. John Berry. 1820. Joseph Symonds.

Samnel Symonds.

1821. Joseph Peabody.

1738. Edward Putnam, Jr.

1829. David S. Wilkins.

1749. Samuel Nichols.

1831. David Stiles, Sr.

1756. Francis Peabody, Jr.

1840. Allen Berry.

1778. John Flint.

1859. William A. Phelps.

1780. Samuel Symonds.

1868. James N. Merriam.

1794. Benjamin Peabody. John Nichols.

1874. Edward W. Wilkins.

Abont eight years since a Methodist Society started here, built a neat chapel, and are now in a flourishing condition. A new house of worship has also been erected by the Universalist Society.

We will now resume the civil history. The first town clerk was Mr. Edward Putnam, son of first deacon of Salem village, and lived near the Craw- ford house, the site of which was his father's house. This son Edward's house came within the new town, which stood just a little down the hill, south of Mr. J. J. H. Gregory's present farm-house.

The first selectmen were, Thomas Fuller, Thomas Robinson, John Nichols, Samuel Symonds and Edward Putnam.

The second pew from the front door on the west side, was sold to Joseph Fuller, for ten pounds more than what he hath recently done, (this Joseph was the grandson of Thomas), and his descendants occupied this pew, so long as it was used as a place of worship.

Soon after incorporation the town was fined for not maintaining a public-school.

" SPECIMEN OF TOWN ORDERS.

"Mr. Robert Bradford (Bradford lived on the Maj. Elias Wilkins place, east side), Sir, ples to pay unto Joseph Symonds two pounds eight shillings, it heing for Miss Betsey Bixby, keeping School three weeks, and charge the same to the town.

"MIDDLETON, Jannary ye third day, 1772.

" Andrew Fuller, Joseph Symonds, Archlans Fuller, Selectmen. An_ drew Fuller was called Capt., and built the house near the church in 1775, and also the same year built the Porter Gould house, for his son,

David. Archlaus Fuller, grandfather of Jeremiah Fuller now occu- pies the old house of his ancestors."

1732 .- There was a long and bitter contest in regard to the common lands with Salem village peo- ple, and General Court was appealed to. These lands lay along Nichols Brook, called Stickey meadows, (a proper name certainly). Afterwards this territory was called the disputed lands between Topsfield and Middleton, and so laid down in maps. Notwithstanding our charter laid the bounds by the northerly branch of said brook, yet as it could not be found, and that the other branches had been cut out as a nearer course to the river, to drain the me dows, many years before, had caused the northerly hranch to grow over in bushes and nearly obliterated ; hut finally traced out, and the heap of stones found on the meadow completely covered with soil, that was placed there by those who run the line probably two years before the act of incor- poration was passed.

In the early settlement of this place, the high- ways were not fenced, and gates or bars to be opened or taken away and again replaced on going through every man's farm. They however were to be in good condition. The roads were not only crooked, but in many places dangerous to travel, and so narrow in raised places that it was often with great diffi- culty that teams passed each other.

Soon after incorporation, alewives were taken from Cochitwiek Brook, Andover, and placed in Middleton pond ; then again in 1764, and at several times subsequently till within a few years, all to little purpose; and black-bass at last, of which few of the people who paid for the operation have ever seen one.

A clerk of market for many years was annually chosen, and a vote passed each year, whether the hogs should go at large, if well yoked and ringed ; this vote came up at March meeting till 1814.

Also "the chooseing of a man to take care of ye Deer, and see that they were not killed in an impro- per time." Mark Howe filled this office several years. He was the father of Esquire Asa, who was grandfather of Mr. Asa Howe, now living on the same farm, and in the same house.

1736 .- Another specimen showing the condition of the old church.

"To seee if the town will grant ye petition of Hannah Nichols, wife of Joseph Nichols, and Abigail Burton, wife of John Burton, Jr., to build a back pew over the womans stairs from ye womans back seet in the front gallery to ye east corner of ye meeting-house and from tbence to ye womans sets in the east gallery" (same meeting), "3d to see if ye town will grant the petition of Joseph Wilkins and Ebenezer Nichols for their two daughters, viz .: Mary Wilkius, and Keziah Nichols, and others with them to huild a back seat in ye east gallery of our meeting- house."

1739 .- Two men were sent to Boston to present a petition to General Court, to get a grant passed to abate a fine imposed for not sending a repre- sentative.

1 The home of the Perkins family was Ipswich, Mass.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Till within almost eighty years the expense of a representative to General Court was borne by the towns, and for eleven years after incorporation voted not to send every year, and only five times in the first sixty years. Timothy Fuller three times, and Archalaus Fuller twice. Subsequently Dr. David Fuller offered his services gratuitous at an informal town meeting, the Court refused him a seat, and afterwards the town called a meeting and disowned him as its representative. Dr. Fuller lived on the B. P. Richardson farm.

1740 .- "To see if ye town will vote Land-Bank money, to pay town rates," and was unanimously passed, " that Land-Bank money or manufactory bills should pay the town rates for time to come," was also passed.

In the scarcity of money in those days, this scheme to make paper money was devised by leading wealthy men in nearly all parts of the State, one of whom lived in Worcester. Cornet Francis Pea- body of this town, a wealthy man, and of much influence in the county, entered deeply into it, and pledged his property to defend it, and the scheme went so far that Parliament had to take notice of it and pronounced the scheme unlawful, and in the name of the Crown they were all pro- secuted, were heavily fined, and made to redeem every particle of it.

"Cornet " stood for "Captain of the troop of Horse ;" for the county, and the original commis- sion issued by the officers of the Crown of England are still in existence.

1744 .- " Voted Rev. Andrew Peters fifty-three pounds, six shillings and eight pence lawful money for his salary this present year."

1745 .- " Isaac Wilkins and Timothy Fuller chosen to keep the way clear for fish to pass to the great pond."

1749 .- Ezra Putnam was given liberty to cut a window in the back part of his pew on his own charge and cost.

1750 .- " Voted to pay Asa Foster, of Andover, twenty pounds lawful money if he would keep the long cassway in good repair, that it may be good passing at all times in the year for twenty years to come." This was Foster's offer, because, in his route to Salem, he had either to turn off and go by Emer- sen's Mill, or turn to the left and pass over at the outlet of Pout Pond, and go out by the Roger Eliott's place, thence over to John King's place and thence to Indian Bridge. Four years before the town had voted to discontinue this crossing, and an appeal had been made to the county for help, and even a lottery scheme was asked for from the State, to raise funds to fill np this sunken vale, and not till 1808 was it safe at " all times of the year " for public trav- el. In building the railroad across these meadows one morning it was found that during the night the road, which was nearly fitted for the rails, had gone

down out of sight. As early as 1688 the people of Andover had petitioned conrt to fill up this swamp as the diverging roads, before named, were hilly and rocky at that time, and for many years subsequently the crossway hill was avoided by a road east of it now seen.

1752 .- "Isaac Kenney and Andrew Fuller were chosen to go to ye General Court held at Concord with a petition to get ye town in a regular way or method by reason of the warrants granted by the se- lectmen have been deficient in time past."

1755 .- " Voted to raise forty pounds lawful money in raising the long cassway with timber and gravel."

1756 .- " Voted to supply the pulpits of those min- isters who were bearers at Mr. Peters' funeral."

1757 .- " Rev. Mr. Ames preached part of the year also Mr. Dana one month, and tried to settle him on a salary of sixty pounds a year."

1758 .- December 7th " Voted to pay charges of or- dination, also charges for ministers, messengers and gentlemen to dine " (Mr. Smith's ordination).

1759 .- "To see if the town will vote to have Mr. Nathaniel Peabody's rates abated, that is to say, what he was rated for his negro servant."

" To the town of Middleton.

" BRETHREN-By your committee I am informed of your desire that I might begin my salary the first of January, which I now tell you is very agreeable to me, and then there can be no difficulty in after time relating thereunto, and if you comply I expect you to give me an order upon the treasurer for eighty two pounds, old tenor, which is what will be due to that time. So, brethren, I wish you peace aod happiness and that you will not forget to pray for your unworthy pastor,

" Middleton, March 20, 1759."

" ELIAS SMITH.

1762 .- " Voted to repair the school-house that stands by the meeting-house, provided proper papers be given of the house to the town." Said house was moved to Danvers in 1819 by John Fuller.

The schools were often kept in private houses or buildings erected by individuals, for which they re- ceived a small income besides accommodating their own children near home, and do some work while being instructed, as at an early age they were required to be almost self-supporting.

1764 .- " At a vendue at John Estys' tavern the town sold vacant places for pews in the west end of the meeting-house to Captain Andrew Fuller for ten pounds and ten shillings."

1769 .- Jonathan Knight, Benjamin Peabody, Jo- seph Symonds, Eunice Hobbs, Elizabeth Hobbs, Sa- rah Fuller, Phebc Peabody, Margaret Peabody, Sarah Russell, Elizabeth Peabody, Mercy Knight, Susannah Wilkins, Mary Wilkins, Rebecca Holt and Lncy Kenney were appointed to say how the seats should be moved to build the pew as mentioned in the peti- tion of Jonathan Knight and others, and met March 13, 1770, and agreed that the seats should be moved to the pew built in the same manner as they are done in the men's gallery.

1771 .- " Voted to give liberty to snndre persons be-

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longing in towne to set in our school-house on Sun- days between meetings."

1775 .- " Captain Archealus Fuller was chosen to represent the town in the Provincial Congress to be holden at Cambridge Feb. ye first day, 1775."

Same year, on account of the oppressive Post Bill to the people of Boston, the people met at Estys' Tav- ern and subscribed for their relief. Then follows the names of one hundred and four who contributed from fonr pounds ten shillings to three shillings nine pence. The sum total exceeded five hundred and sixty pounds. This was headed by Rev. Elias Smith, and among them were the names of several promi- nent ladies.

The killing of those volunteer farmers, the 19th of April, by the order of the British commander, pro- duced a thrilling effect all over the United States. The blood of the patriots was stirred as never before ; all rushed to the rescue with guns or no guns, and with whatever weapon or by whatever means they were intent upon driving the invaders from the soil. As the news reached this town, old Tim Fuller with his characteristic energy and bold spirit started on his old white horse for the scene of action ; he over- took the army on the retreat, and with his gun blazed away at their rear; returning a short distance was furnished with a fresh loaded guu, then, again, put- ting spurs to his horse would overtake the fast re- treating army, and at each shot would produce a startling effect in their ranks. They called him death upon the white horse. But the long ride and the chafing he received in such active exhibitions, when cooled off caused such a soreness that he walked home, and a boy from Danvers, who was there by the name of Daniel Brown, was induced to take the horse home.

Again, at the battle of Bunker Hill, the old man's blood was stirred up, and mounting his old mare rode to the scene of action, pushed his way in among his Countrymen to aid them in the fight. How many " red-coats " he killed or wounded will never be known. One creature, however, bit the dust, and this time it was his old mare.

Mr. Fuller's widow died in 1824; she was many years younger than her husband. As the story goes Mr. Fuller when at work on his land, near where the old road crosses the turnpike at Danvers Centre, went into an ordinary (Tavern) and called for a drink of cider. Mrs. Smith said "you rock the cradle while I draw the cider." When she returned Fuller asked for the gift of the child ; this request was granted, pro- vided he would wait till she was eighteen years old. True to his promise he appeared at the expira- tion of the time, and took her to Middleton and ex- hibited her before his forty negroes which he then owned, little and great, and in all conditions, and said "you are mistress of them all." " What can I do with such a black, dirty-looking company ?" The an- swer came quick as lightning, “ get one nigger to lick

another." These slaves were domiciled in the house now owned by Mr. George A. Currier, and was built in 1710. Fuller lived in the gambrel-roof house, now standing near the burying-ground. We have no reason to doubt the above statement. The dates upon their grave stones show the disparity of their ages.

1776 .- A company of Minute-Men were immed- iately formed, and the town voted unanimously "if the Continental Congress declares Independence upon the Kingdom of Great Britain, that we the inhabitants of Middleton solemnly engage with our lives and fortunes to support the measure so far as we arc able."

Colonel Benjamin Peabody was in command of his company at West Point, and assisted in laying the second cable, the first having been broken. This second cable was made in the form of a clevis instead of welded liuks as before.

Col. Peabody was a leading man in the county, and caused the widening and straightening of the road between the present village and Danvers Plains, in 1811. He was a brother of Joseph, the merchant of Salem and the older of a large family ; he was the son of Francis, and born August 9, 1741.

Dr. Silas Merriam, of Middleton, married his sis- ter.

Captain Andrew Fuller was an officer, and his son, John Fuller, also served in the war of the Revolution. We can give only a few names of those patriots, in the absence of the muster rolls which cannot be found, and these mostly come from those, now living, who have heard of their serving from their own lips. Samuel Gould, Robert Picket, Abner Wilkins, Jona- than Lemons, David Fuller (sons of Andrew) were taken prisoners, carried to England, and remained some time in prison ; Capt. Andrew died in the year 1802.

One man when he heard of the battle of Lexing- ton, was on his way to Salem with a load of wood ; he immediately threw off his wood and, with his team started for home in great haste, stopped on his way at Joshua Wright's blacksmith shop, (in our pre- sent village, which stood just north of Grothe's blacksmith shop), and ordered a spear and hook combined, made to use against the invaders. This circumstance indicated the scarcity of fire-arms. This man lived on a farm now owned by H. A. Stiles. When he arrived home his wife told him that he had more courage than conduct, and bid him wait till he was called for. What became of the savage weapon he had ordered we never knew. Certainly if it had ever been seen in his home, tradition would have made it known to us, as it, was, the fact that two of his family went to the war and had died, and when the procession with his remains were near the burying-ground just below the captain Ephraim Fuller house they met the other soldier on his way home upon a litter borne on the should-

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

ers of men. He lived for some years, but had so long slept on the ground and floors, that for a long. time he would not sleep on a feather-bed.1 This story was related to the writer more than sixty- five years since by an aged aunt. An old French gun of the best make was a few years since in the family, and had been for many years, the history of which if known, we think would be very inter- esting.

1777 .- In June

" The town made prices for grain of all kinds, produce and merchan- dise of every kind, for days' work, prices for shoeing horses, tapping hoots and shoes, for dinners, supper and breakfast. For liquor not over one-fourth part water.

" By order of the Selectmen.

" ASA STILES, Town Clerk. " Stiles lived on the Upton farm."

In war time, Washington took a large number of prisoners, and eight of them were boarded in this town as their portion. By some reason or other one of them by the name of Joshua Daniels, a Frenchman, was never exchanged, became a resident, lived in a hut a little east of the house of John Smith; in the pasture the cellar hole is now seen. Daniels was a weaver, and wove twilled cloth. The art was then unknown by the girls here, and as a good recommendation for house-keepers they must be good weavers, and young girls eagerly sought to acquire all they could in this line of business.

1779 .- " Voted to raise Sogers if any are called for, and provisions if any are called for."

1780 .- Now they vote "to see if the town will procure the Beef called for by the great and General Court, or pay the money in Lieu of said Beef Fourth to see if the town will make good to the committee that was chosen to procure the Beef that was called for by the Court, the money that was condemned to be counterfit."

Among the state papers of New Hampshire on the muster rolls of those who served, in 1776, are found thirty-eight pages of highly interesting diaries and memoranda of Lieutenant Jonathan Burton, of Wilton.

Lewis Burton was born in Middleton, September 18th, 1741, a third of a mile south of William Pea- body's, near Topsfield line. He married Hulda Nichols, (a near neighbor as is supposed), February 29th, 1764, by whom he had nine children. He was appointed Captain in 1786, by president John Sullivan, and Brigade-Major August 5th, 1798. Mr. Burton filled all the important offices in Wilton, and often represented the town in General Court. He died April 30th, 1811.

In 1764, Mrs. Burton united with the church in Middleton, just before she and her husband left for

New Hampshire, (under the ministry of Mr. Smith). The late Rev. Warren Burton, once chaplain of the Senate in Massachusetts, and a grandson of this Jonathan Burton, informed us of this fact himself, more than forty years since. The father of Jonathan Burton was the adopted son of William Nichols, and the land on which this Jonathan was born, was given by said Nicholas to his father, which was a part of the large claim from Henry Bartholomew.

1779 .- The town voted to choose a committee to take under consideration the frame of government agreed upon by the delegates of the people of the State of Massachusetts Bay, in convention began and held at Cambridge the first day of September,' 1779, and continued by adjournment to the second of March, 1780. This committee were Rev. Elias Smith, Lieut. Isaac Kinney, Lieut. Amos Curtis, Mr. Israel Kinney, and Lieut. Jonathan Lemon.

The above committee subsequently laid before the town the doings of this convention or in other words our State Constitution, and each article voted on with the following results : First article, 35 for, 12 against ; second article, 42 for, 5 against ; third article, 36 for, 9 against ; fourth article, 32 for, 6 against ; fifth arti- cle, 35 for, 5 against. Then all the articles from the fifth to the thirtieth stood 31 for, 7 against. Then all the articles together 33 for, 7 against.

This meeting was held May 30, 1780. Benjamin Peabody was moderator ; selectmen,-Asa Stiles, Samuel Wilkins, Andrew Eliott, Asa Howe.

1780. "To see if the town will pay the school-mas- ter to learn the youth the rules of Psalmody."

1781. " Voted to raise nineteen thousand pounds in old Continental currency to procure beef now called for by the Great and General Court." We find that Stephen Richardson paid a marriage fee of one hun- dred and seventy-five dollars in this currency about this time.

A week's board then cost $105, but in gold $2. People were greatly in debt ; there was but little coin in circulation ; those taking this emission money in payment for sales were ruined. Asa Stiles sold his farm (the Upton place) and took his pay in this money, and lost it all. Said Stiles was the father of the late David Stiles, Esq., of New Hampshire.

At the close of the Revolutionary War, the muskets that were brought home, that were furnished by the town, were sold at auction to the towns peo- ple.

1783. Whoever took in people without knowing their financial standing were required to have their names recorded on the town-books, that the town offi- cers might, at their discretion, warn them out, so as to prevent their gaining a residence.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 246

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