History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 247

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 247

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).

" MIDDLETON, May 13th, 1783.

" Mr. Benjamin Berry and his wife, Sarah, with the following children, came from Andover to live in the house of the Rev Andrew Peters, late of Middle-

1 These soldiers might have served in the French and Indian Wars, instead of the Revolution, which took place some twenty years before.

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MIDDLETON.

ton,-Mehitable, Timothy, Phebe, Peabody, Lucy, Betsey and Nancy Robinson Berry.

" BENJAMIN PEABODY.

" One of the Selectmen.

" Middleton May 9th."

" Nov. 13.

1787. " To the selectmen, Gentlemen this is to inform yon that on the second day of November, Instant, I hired Frank Francis into my house as a labor, and he came last from Danvers, his circumstances I am un- acquainted with.

" REBECCA HOBBS. " BENJAMIN PEABODY.

" Que of the Selectmen.

1787. The town " voted to joine in a petition with George Cabot and others that a Bridge be Bult over the River near Beverly Ferry, if done without cost to this town." This, we think, must be beween Salem and Beverly, near railroad bridge.

1791. "Voted to allow on the highways a team of three good creatures, Four Shillings per day, and a greater or less team in proportion, and a man two shillings per day." Same meeting, "Voted to keep the school at the schoolhouse by the mectinghouse this season, and voted to repair said house."

This school-house stood a little east of the church, on the site of Mrs. Gillingham's house, and from the first had been the principal school in town. Schools had been kept in other parts of the town in private houses.

1792. Not till this year was the town divided into districts. Even after that date private individuals for some time furnished places for the schools. At the Dean Fuller place, on the North Road, was a school- house afterwards used by said Fuller for a carriage- house, and now said building is used for a dwelling- house by Mr. Coleman, near the depot.

The few opportunities afforded the children of a century ago to obtain an education, were well im- proved by some of them. Self-education was more practiced then by those who really desired an educa- tion than now.

1793. " Voted to supply the pulpit, Mr. Smith being unable by sickness. Subsequently " voted to be at the cost of burying Mr. Smith and find mourning for Mrs. Smith."

1798. " Tofed to sell the common lands. A great part of these lands was in the southwest corner of the town, near the old Hutchinson house, and part on Nichols Brook (Stickey Meadows).

1786. Up to this date the red deer were still in our forests, and were protected by law so as not to be killed in an improper time, a deer rief being chosen annually with all other town officers.

"MIDDLETON, Sept. 10th 1786.

" Mr. Timothy Farnum of Andover made applica- tion to be cryed to Miss Susannah Berry, of Middle- ton, and was cryed." 1

The method of crying was to pass rouud the meet- ing-house, outside on Sunday, three times, stop and ring the hand-bell and declare the intention of mar- riage, and make a record of that fact.

1796. The town voted unanimously that it is the opinion of the inhabitants of this town that the treaty negotiated between Great Britain and the United States is for the honor aud interest of our country.

1798. " Voted to allow Capt. Solomon Wilkins for powder at sixty cents per pound for General Muster."

1802 .- About thirty persons petitioned for a town- meeting to choose an agent or agents to confer with the petitioners for the turnpike road leading from Newburyport to Boston, and use their endeavors to have said road lead through this town by or near the meeting-house. Same meeting voted to paint the pulpit and canopy or sounding-board. Voted that the negroes shall have the north end of the second seat in each end gallery. (These seats were occupied by colored people till since the writer's remem- brance).

1803 .- New road by Asa Howe's. The road for- merly went a third of a mile west of this place.

" Voted to pay for the powder used by Captain Roger Flint's company at the regimental muster (date 1805)."

The long crossway was made safe at all times of the year 1808, when about seventy men from Andover and Middleton gave from one to three days' work each to build it up. Those who did uot choose to work themselves were to give seventy-five cents, which would then secure a good day's work.2

1800 .- Theodore Ingalls moderator. "2d, Voted to take notice of the 22d of February agreeable to the recommendation of Congress and our General Court which was the birthday of General George Washing- ton." "3d, Voted that it be the desire of the towne that our reverend pasture, Solomon Adams, deliver an oration on the 22d Feb. Instant, Beginning the exercises at eleven o'clock on said day." "4th, Voted that it be the desire of the town that the melitia of said town meet at half past ten o'clock at the ‘pas- ture's house with their badges of mourning & escort him to the meeting-house & back a gain after the so- Imnity of the day.'" "5th, Voted that the melitia take the body seats in the said meeting-house." "6th, Voted that the solemnity of the day should be opened by prayer & musick, then an oration and close with prayer and musick suitable for the oration." " 7th, Voted to choose a committee to require the Rev. Sol- omon Adams to deliver an oration and also desire the melitia to attend a greable to the vote of the town." " Voted Samuel Small, Lieu. John Flint and Chaplain Joseph Symonds a committee to arange musick on said day."

1802 .- The meeting-house was thoroughly repaired,

! This couple were the grandparents of the writer.

" Never heard of any one of them striking for higher wages,

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

porches added, new windows, pews took the place of seats in the body of the house and hewed stones for underpinning instead of rough stone, which were re- moved and the ground lowered about the sides of the house, leaving the floor upon the timbers that lay upon the ground. Stumps of a heavy forest were cut away to lay down these timbers, and still sound above ground when the honse was taken down more than a century afterward.

A committee was chosen to repair the house, and tradition says that John Fuller undertook the job withont specifications, and before he was able to sat- isfy the committee had expended more than the ap- propriation, and lost money. Subsequently his farm was sold to Rev. Ebenezer Hubbard.

1806 .- The Essex Turnpike was built through town; toll-gates were placed, according to law, at each end of the town-one stood near the house of Daniel G. Berry, Andover, the other below Ipswich River, on the hill. This road, we think, never paid a dividend. After trying to keep it in good repair for a little over twenty years, the stockholders asked the town through which it passed to take it off their hands. This town voted to take the gift of it, but some voted against it. Daniel Fuller, Esq., was a director and had the management of the section in this vicinity. It was intended to take the principal part of the travel from Canada, and along its route to the great markets of Salem and Boston. At the former town were the heavy merchants and a large foreign trade, and this market had a wide reputation. The small crafts of that day could land their cargoes at their wharves with ease ; subsequently larger ves- sels were employed, and they were obliged to seek ports with deeper water.

1811 .- " Toted to build a powder-house." It was built of brick by John Fuller, and on his land, on a hill sontheast of the present church.

"Sold the right to take Alewives for the season to Samnel Wilkins for one dollar and seventy-five cents," also "the right to take shad in Ipswich River for three dollars and fifty cents."

1811 .- " Voted that the commanding officer shall provide for the company when called out of town on muster days at the expense of the town, not to ex- ceed two shillings each." At this date there were a few over one hundred voters.

1812 .- " Voted to give soldiers 35 cts. a piece on muster days when called out of town to 'git ' dinner, and one dollar and a half to drafted men if they train more than the other part of the company, and when in actual service fifteen dollars per month more than the continental pay."

1812 .- William Estey was chosen clerk of market.

WAR OF 1812-14 .- In 1814 some British men-of- war lay off Salem harbor and old Parson Stone, of Northi Reading, preached one Sabbath. He drawled out his words (a habit of many preachers in the early days, and talked a little through his nose) and is said

to have used in his prayer these words, "We pray, Lord, that there may come a storm and sink them all in the deep." It is said that soon a storm did come, and they moved off, and many thought Stone's prayer was answered. This old divine was the father of Deacon Giles, of Deacon Giles' distillery of Salem.

The presence of these men-of-war was the cause of an alarm (the firing of three cannon in succession at Montserrat), which thrilled this whole community. The alarm came about by a little misunderstanding and bickerings between Colonel Jesse Putnam of Danvers, and Captain Jedediah Farnham of Ando- ver. When the news reached this town the minute-men rushed to arms. Captain Samuel Wilkins (father of S. H. Wilkins) was in command, but was a long time, it is said, in putting his company in marching order; it was at last accomplished, and the command given " forward march." Just at that moment had come " fals alarm."

At this time politics ran very high, and the town was about equally divided between Republicaus and Federals ; the latter, in a close vote, secured an old Republican, a negro by the name of Charles Snow, and kept him secreted till election, in the cellar at the house of John Fuller, near the meeting-house. The Federal party was what is now called the Demo- crat party, and were opposed to the war. When the alarm took place before-mentioned, many of the en- rolled militia did not appear, and when the word came that it was a false alarm the soldiers were jub- lant, and felt like accomplishing something, and it being then in the evening, but probably moonlight, as Ezra Bradstreet, a soldier that did not respond, though living close by, and in the house now stand- ing, occupied by Mr. Benjamin McGlaughlin, was seen to run into the swamp in his night dress as a soldier came into his yard, which very much fright- ened him, not knowing but that he was about to be dragged before the British muskets and cannon. However, his mother, an old woman, came to the door and asked what the matter was, when a rather excited soldier, by name of James Wilkins, said : “I will let you know," and then fired off his gun near her feet, at which she screamed and ran into the honse; how long her son (whom we well remember) remained in a nearly nude state in the swamp was not told.

Others of these soldiers started for some who did not respond that lived in the east part of the town ; but George Drakes (a colored man), had been sent by John Fuller (before named), to warn them of the proposed raid by the soldiers; they, however, caught Drakes, and while some held him, others went on and gave them an awful fright, broke in some win- dows by firing off guns close to the houses and so spent nearly the whole night in this kind of sport.

These facts were told the writer by one of these raiders, whose word was never doubted.

1813 .- " To see if the town will defray the funeral

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MIDDLETON.

expenses of Rev. Solomon Adams." "Voted to con- tinue the salary of Rev. Solomon Adams untill the first of January, admitting Mrs. Adams will supply the Desk."

About this time an intention of marriage was posted ou the meeting-house, and if one of the par- ties lived in another town, a duplicate had to be pa-t- ed in that town. These notices had to be pasted a specified number of days before the marriage was to take place.

In the early history of New England it was the du- ty of the sexton to ring the bell at noon and at nine o'clock in the evening, and keep and "turn the glass," meaning the hour glass, that stood on or near the pulpit, and it was nnderstood that the sermon was to be one hour long. Whether the glass was used or not in this town we are not informed, but certainly there were but few clocks and watches among the first settlers, and the glass aud sun dials were their de- pendence, the former in stormy weather, the latter as a regulator when the sun shone. This town was with- out a bell till 1835, when the writer drew np a sub- scription paper and obtained about two hundred dol- lars, with which a bell was purchased, of the Holl- brook make, weighing five hundred and twenty-seven pounds. After the present church was erected the present bell was purchased (and the former broken np and sold for old metal). Present bell was bought in Westboro, Mass., where it had done service on a Unitarian Church, which had become weak, and to strengthen themselves, offered their house of worship to the orthodox society (then without a place of wor- ship), provided they would repair the house. This offer was accepted, and the bell was taken down and put upon the cars, to be transported to Boston, to have the wooden yokes removed and replaced with one of cast-iron. The former society being in debt, a few of its leading men depended on the sale of the bell to discharge the same, but the orthodox claimed the bell with the church, and a dispute arose, which threatened a suit and disruption, whereupon a delega- tion of the Unitarians, with a good team, boarded the cars, and by force, removed the bell and secreted it in an old shoemaker's shop; then, after the other society had purchased a new bell, and peace pre- served, the old bell was advertised for sale in the Plowman, and the writer being employed to go and see the bell, found it, as before-mentioned; it was raised up a few inches, and sounded, and found to be perfect ; the price paid was the same as for old metal. The bell is one of Henry N. Hooper's, of Boston, best make, and they claim that it would injure the tone of the bell to have a cast-iron yoke placed upon it, and the old yoke of wood still remains upon it.

The bell weighs about twelve hundred and fifty pounds, and the people of Westboro claimed that the. bell was the best of the six bells that had been hung in that town. Its present location is unfavorable on account of the falling away of the ground near the

church, causing the sound to rise in the air, and therefore is not heard at so great a distance. .

1814 .- " Let out the care of the meeting-house; to be swept twelve times a year; to be unlocked and locked on all occasions, both public and private ; shovel snow from the doors when necessary. Set up and struck off to John Fuller, Jr., for seventy-five cents." The usual price paid was about $2.50. Probably there was a little steam on at this time.

Trouble began about religious matters, and large numbers flowed into a new society, called the Chris- tian Society. Others joined themselves to neighbor- ing societies in Danvers and other places, as the law at that time compelled all to pay minister rates some- where. Asa Howe, Esq., signed to Danvers under the ministry of Rev. Jeremiah Chaplin (Baptist) ; Dr. David Fuller to St. Peter's Church, Salem. But in 1816, when Rev. Ebenezer Hubbard commenced preaching here, he was liked, and they all came back, and things went on very smoothly till near the close of his ministry.

1817 .- All the poor were put up at auction at the annual meeting in March, and struck off at the low- est bidder, none of which received over $1.50 per week. Some of the most feeble, who were nearly helpless, were bid in by their relatives for seventy- five cents per week, rather than have them go into the hands of unfeeling strangers. However, this was the custom in all towns where there was no poor- farm. A century ago there were a smalller nnmber of poor people here than before or since; also more independent farmers according to the population. The lands had not begun to be exhausted, and they had large flocks and herds, and everywhere these families were distinguished, not only by their social acquirements, but by their dress and daily deport- ment, from the poor and unfortunate.

1832 .- The first manufactory started here (except the little grist and saw-mills, of which there were a number) was the paper-mill on Ipswich River by Colonel Francis Peabody, of Salem, Mass. (and son of Captain Joseph Peabody, a man who was born here, and married first and second daughters of Rev. Elias Smith), and has continued in operation since by other proprietors. A few years later the shoe business was started by Elias T. Ingalls (father of Senator John James Ingalls, of Kansas), who soon after removed to Haverhill, the home of his wife, and continued in the business with success.

About 1835 Francis P. Merriam began the shoe business here, and has continued the same. At the present time, under the firm of Merriam & Tyler, employing at times more than a hundred hands. Other smaller manufacturers have done business here, and are now employed in other business. A knife-factory was started here a few years ago by S. A. Cummings on the site of the old iron-works, which was started by Major-General Daniel Denni- I son, of Ipswich, about 1665, who employed Thomas

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Fuller as foreman, who afterward bought Dennison's claim, which was bounded south by Pierce's Brook, and near this brook, on the site of the house of Charles O. Frost, was his dwelling, and just over the stream is seen the foundation of his blacksmith-shop.

The box-mill of J. B. Thomas was started a few years since, and has done a large business, employing quite a number of men and teams.

With the business of the firm of Merriam & Tyler, which gives employment to a large number of hands, the village has grown up and many tasteful dwellings erected, and bears favorable comparison with many other places. Churches and schools are well main- tained, and prosperity seems to pervade the whole community ; and peace follows the wars, privations and contentions that have troubled past generations.

If those who complain of low wages would look over the pages of history written by past generations, they would not only feel contented, but thank God that their lines had fallen to them in so pleasant places. As I cast my eyes upon the portraits of those long since passed away, who sacrificed so much to lay the foundations of religious and civil society, I cannot but feel to maintain and perpetuate these blessings.

GRADUATES OF COLLEGES .- This town compared with others about the same size in the county, has produced as many distinguished men as any. Little or no labor has been employed to bring their names and deeds to notice, and we feel that we shall fail to do them justice.

Rev. Daniel Wilkins, the first minister of Amherst, New Hampshire, was born here, (and the house is now standing in which he was born). His labors in that then frontier town are beyond calculation. Once or twice the people were about to abandon the set- tlement on account of the depredations of the In- dians, but Wilkins with true conrage, again and again rallied the people in calling on the govern- ment to sustain them, and finally lived to see the town in a flourishing condition, (grandson of Henry Wilkins).

Rev. Daniel Fuller born here was settled over the second church in Gloucester, Massachusetts, more than a century ago. His wife was a member of the church here in 1770.

When Phillips' academy was established a century ago, fourteen young men from this place entered, and their names stand upon this catalogue. All but one left town in early life to bless other places. Among this number was Andrew Peabody, born here, father of Rev. Andrew P. Peabody, LL. D., graduate of Harvard College, class of 1826, editor of the North American Review from 1853, to 1863; Plum- mer, professor of Christian morals. Also sons of Ben- jamin P. Richardson,-Hazen K. and Benjamin Rich- ardson.

Margaret Fuller, the noted authoress, whose ten- antless grave is now seen in Mount Auburn, (she

was lost at sea, having refused to be saved unless with her husband and child), sprang from this Fuller family we have so often mentioned.

The father of Dr. Andrew Peabody was born here, and many of this distinguished family of Pea- hody's are still among us. " Cornet " Francis Pea- body and Col. Benjamin Peabody, afterwards chosen deacon, (and died since my remembrance), a leading man in the county who took an active part in the Revo- lutionary War. Other names deserve honorable men- tion, for which space cannot be had. But I would not forget the matrons and maidens of that early day, who spun and wove to clothe the family, but the skilled weavers went further, and made cloth for the market. These were the pioneers in manufacturing industries of the country And the beautiful maidens who were not afraid of work. Hear what the poet says.

" Then as he opened the door, he behield the form of the maiden Seated beside her wheel, and the carded wool like snow-drift Piled at her knee, her white hands feeding tbe ravenous spindle, While with her foot on the treadle she guided the wheel in its motion. She rose as he entered, and gave him her hand in a signal of welcome, Saying, I knew it was you, when I heard your foot-step in the passage. For I was thinking of you as I sat here singing and spinning."

Charles L. Flint, late Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, and a large contributor to the Flint library was born here.

Honorable John Haskell Butler of Somerville, was in the state legislature, is a lawyer, and was born in Middleton, August 31st, IS4I ; a graduate at Yale College in 1863; in 1880 and 1881 was a member of the House of Representatives, and in 1884, was elected by the Legislature to fill a vacancy in the Council, caused by the death of Honorable Charles R. McLean of Boston. He was elected in the dis- trict at the ensuing election.

Benjamin Peters Hutchinson, now a Chicago grain dealer, estimated to be worth twelve million dollars, was born here in IS29.

Dean Peabody, lawyer, now Clerk of Courts in this county, was born here, his father having filled the office of deacon here for many years.

Franklin O. Stiles, graduate of Amherst College, class of 1856, died the same year.

Rev. Henry J. Richardson, graduate of Amherst College, now in his twenty-fifth year of pastorate at Lincoln, Massachusetts. Rev. Daniel W. Rich- ardson, brother of the above graduate at Union College, New York, late pastor of the Congregational Church in Derry, New Hampshire.

Jesse Fuller, graduate of Amherst College, now residing in the west.

Rev. Jesse Wilkins now residing in Connecticut.

Rev. Solomon Adams, son of Rev. Solomon Adamg was born here; died in Boston a few years since.

Dr. Archelaus Fuller, a college graduate, son of . Daniel Fuller, Esquire, died a few years since in the State of Maine, aged about eighty years.

Edwin Berry, son of Jonathan Berry, now a law- yer in New York city, was born lere.

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MIDDLETON.

William Weston, son of Samuel W. Weston, gradn- ated at Amherst College about 1868, and is now in the employ of the United States government.

Sumner B. Stiles, born January 13th, 1851, gradu- ated at Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, in 1872, at Harvard University in 1876, and at the Harvard Law school in 18SI ; admitted to the New York Bar, in May, 1883; married September 10th, 1884.

James H. Flint born 1852, graduated at Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, 1871, at Harvard University in 1876, at Boston University Law School in 1SS1, admitted to Suffolk Bar, Boston in 1882.

Andrew Preston Averill, a graduate of Harvard College class of 1882.

SCHOLARS AT PHILLIPS ACADEMY .- The follow- ing is a list of the first scholars at Phillips Academy, Andover :

1778. Benjamin Fuller, aged twelve years. Died in Norway, Maine, son of Archelans; Elias Smith, aged twelve, son of the minister Smith.

1779. Andrew Fuller, aged thirteen.

1780. Samuel Symonds, aged twenty-four, son of the deacon ; David Putnam, aged ten.

1785. Daniel Fuller, aged fourteen, son of Archelaus; Silas Merriam, aged fifteen, son of Dr. Silas, died in Norway, Maine, at a great age.

1786. John Lamon, aged twenty, moved to and mar- ried in Danvers, Mass.

1790. Andrew Peabody, aged sixteen, father of Dr. Andrew P. Peabody, of Harvard College.

1791. Benjamin Smith, aged fourteen, son of the minister.

1792. Simon Kenney, aged twenty-five, moved to Milford, N. H.

1795. Israel Fuller, aged seventeen, son of Tim- othy.

1812. Solomon Adams, aged fifteen, son of the minister.

1820. William Johnson Curtis Kenney, aged eleven, now superintendent of the freights on the Boston and Maine Railroad.

This list might be continued up to the present time, but space is not allowed.

POST-OFFICE .- It is now only a little more than fifty years since a post-office was kept in this town. Now we receive and discharge two mails per day. When Abraham wished to send a message to Lot he put a man upon a running horse and it was conveyed with a speed of twelve miles an hour, and since the writer's remembrance we could do no better than that ; and this mode of sending letters was the only way practiced by the early settlers of New England. At a later day stage routes carried the mail bags to the principal cities and towns, for which they received large pay, while the small out of the way towns bad no post-offices, and this town was one of them. As a sample, while in Hallowell, Me., in 1834, we sent a letter to Middleton ; after a week or two it was found

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 247

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