History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 249

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 249

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).

ADAMS .- Rev. Solomon Adams and Abigail, his wife, had six children ; the oldest was born in the year 1795.

BERRY .- Joseph Berry and Sarah, his wife, had eight children. His oldest son, John, was born in 1721; Bartholomew, born 1734, whose daughter Betty married Oliver Perkins 1796. Samuel Berry appears to have been a brother of this Joseph, as his oldest daughter was born in 1721, whose children num- bered eight, and among them was Nathaniel, who was the grandfather of the late Deacon Allen Berry. Who their father was is not known, but Joseph names his oldest son John, and perhaps was named for his grandfather John, who was the first deacon chosen when the church was formed eight years after. Bar- tholomew Berry lived in a house now standing on the turnpike, near Andover line, now owned by

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Mr. Charles Mason. This house was built by Joseph Fry in 1742, and sold to Joseph Berry in 1750.

Nehemiah Berry, son of Bartholomew, was drowned March 5, 1811, by falling from a stringer (the bridge being gone) on going in the night across Beech Brook, just above the mill-pond of Wilkins' saw-mill, and near the James Wilkins' house. Mr. Berry's son Nehemiah, a well-known citizen of Lynn, Mass., died there two years since, eighty-four years of age, and of his children was A. Hun Berry, late of the Gov- ernor's staff.

BURTON .- John Burton lived in the east part of the town, on the side of the large hill near Topsfield line, and a little west of Conant's house in that town. This family were here when the town was incor- porated, but left for New Hampshire about 1750. The late Rev. Warren Burton, chaplain of the Sen- ate, was a descendant. One of the family is referred to in another part of this history as filling an import- ant position at the time of the Revolutionary War from New Hampshire.

BATCHELDER. - Captain Joseph Batchelder, of Topsfield, bought the old tavern-stand here about 1824, which was subsequently owned by his son, Col- onel Amos, father of Joseph A. Batchelder, Esq., who for many years has been postmaster here, and contin- ues to occupy the old tavern house.

CARROLL-CROWE. - John and James Carroll, brothers, as we suppose, were here before the incor- poration of the town, both of whom had families. The last was born in 1745, and all records of them cease. Also about the same time John Crowe and his wife Mary had three children. The parents were members of the church here, and that is all we know of the family.

CUMMINGS -John Cummings, and Mary, his wife, had eight children ; the oldest was born in 1717. His son, John Cummings, Jr., had a small family, but all the family left town before 1740.

CURTIS .- Israel Curtis, and Abigail, his wife, eight children, the oldest born in 1744; some of their de- scendants are-still living here.

COD .- William Cod, and Abigail, his wife, had two children, date, 1743 and 1745, a name long forgotten.

CASE .- Humphrey Case (he was born November 17, 1753), and his wife, Elizabeth, had five children ; the first was born in 1781, and named Elijah, and was with Nehemiah Berry when he was drowned, near Wilkins Mill, before named, but was unable to save him. (Case married Berry's sister.)

CRISPAN .- Richard Crispan, and Seviah, his wife, had four children ; the last was born in 1809. He moved to Derry, N. H., more than fifty years since. John W. Dempsey is a grandson (now of this town).

CRANE .- The Crane family lived here in 1834, and run the paper-mill.

DWINEL .- In 1786 Jonathan Dwinel had three children, and subsequently William Dwinel, having four children, in 1818 to 1828.

DEMSEY .- Samuel Demsey and his wife had five children, of whom John Wyman Demsey is now in town.

DANIELS .- Lucy Daniels had six children from 1820 to 1832. Her father was a Frenchman, and taken by Washington in time of war, and never re- turned to his country.

DALE .- Osgood Dale, and Susannah, his wife, had two children, 1831 and 1832.

ESTEY .- Jonathan Estey was the son of John Es- tey, who was the son of Isaac, whose wife, Mary, was hung for witchcraft, in 1692. This John came here from Topsfield, a few years after the execution of his mother. The blood of the family has been quite generally diffused throughout this town, and they are well known as a long-lived race. The larger part of the family moved to Framingham after the execu- tion of the wife and mother, hoping they had escaped the laws of Massachusetts, but subsequently found that they were still in the hated State; but they had cleared away too many fields to take up stakes again, and have remained, some of them, there to the present day. (This also has been referred to else- where).

ELIOTT .- Francis Eliott was one of the original purchasers of land here, and the birth of his eldest son dates 1717, and though the name does not appear now upon our town records, yet the blood of the family is still here; the family was once quite nu- merous.

Stephen Emerson, father of Stephen, Daniel, and Darius, and others, seven in all, died many years ago; a grandson now owns the saw-mill above the present village. Stephen, Jr., died some two years since, aged seventy-five years.

The Fuller family have always been quite numer- ous here, and among the leading people in town, and it would be quite interesting to trace them down to 1663.

FELTON .- Amos Felton and Sarah, his wife, had eight children from 1790 to 1804. Felton lived on the old Samuel Gould farm, now owned by Mr. Gre- gory.

FULLER .- In the early history of this town this family were quite numerous, and held important trusts in society. All of this name in town can he traced to Thomas Fuller, who was the second man to settle in this village. The Abijah Fuller family sprang from a son or grandson of Thomas, named Joseph, and the family of Daniel Fuller sprang from Benjamin, grandfather of Daniel Fuller, Esq.

FLINT .- Stephen Flint and Hannah, his wife, had five children, the youngest of whom was Hannah, born in 1727, married John Estey about 1773, whose family of ten children averaged eighty-three years of age. This Flint family were first known in Salem Village; the original one known there built the first church at Salem Village, and of his descendants several large families were residents here in onr

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early history, of whom quite a number still live in the neighborhood of the paper-mill, where Charles L. Flint, late secretary of the State Board of Agri- culture was born.

FAIRFIELD. - Moses Fairfield married Polly Rus- sell, had ten children, married about 1828 or '29. He and his wife died some years since in Kansas.

FRANCIS .- Charles Francis (a man of color) and his wife, Betsy, had ten children, the youngest of whom was Edmund, who was born in 1811 ; he wore a fourteen size shoe, and is remembered by some now living. All the family have passed away.

EAMES .- John Eames, 1820, had three children to 1826 ; moved away.

FISH .- Levi Fish married Nancy Wilkins, had two children born in 1839 and 1840 ; moved to Danvers.

GOODEL .- Thomas Goodel and Hannah, his wife, had one child born here (Joseph) in 1745.

GAGE .- Abraham Gage and Mary, his wife, had four children ; oldest born 1767.

GIDDINGS .- Zaccheus Giddings and his wife, Han- nah, had ten children; oldest born in 1783. He built the red house, so called, near the cemetery.

GRAY .- William Gray and his wife, Sarah, had five children ; oldest born 1791. He built a carding-mill near the Merriam grist-mill. A son of this man came here in 1845, and erected stones at his parents' graves in the Fuller lot.

GOULD,-Nathaniel Gould and Lydia, his wife, had three children, oldest horn 1796, one of whom was Henry Lawrence Gould, born in 1798. The home of this family was on Bear Hill, now owned by Mr. Gregory.

Andrew Gould and Pamela, his wife had seven children, one of whom was born 1805, and is now living in Topsfield, viz., Andrew Gould, now eighty- two years of age, and is yet quite a smart man. Two other families by the name have lived in this place since this Nathaniel's day, supposed to he distant connections.

GOULDTHWAIT .- Benjamin Gouldth wait and Lncy, his wife, had three children-date of the birth of the oldest 1824-none of the family now are in town.

GOODHUE- HADLOCK. - William Goodhue and Sally, his wife, had one child horn here 1829; none by this name are here now. Samnel Hadlock and Pru- dence, his wife, had one child born 1731.

HOBBS .- Joseph, Benjamin, William and Hum- phrey Hobbs had respectively four, four, seven and four children, all born from 1735 to 1750. William built the house now standing, owned by John Wallis Peabody. They were probably brothers ; all the fam- ily left more than a century ago.

HOWE .- The Howe family sprang from James Howe, of Ipswich, Mass. He married Elizabeth Dane, 1637 ; John Howe (1st), John Howe (2d) and Mary, his wife, (the oldest child born 1737,) seven in all ; Joseph Howe and Sarah, his wife, had also seven children about the same ages, and must have been a

brother ; also Mark Howe and Dorothy, his wife, had eleven children, and all horn from 1732 to 1756. From this family we have those of that name now in town. These families lived in the north part of the town, house of Mark, now standing. Joseph and Hannah Hutchinson had five children from 1747-57.

HOPPIN .- John Hoppin and Abigail, his wife, one son, John, born in 1797.

HUTCHINSON .- Joseph and Hannah, his wife, had four children, the oldest born in 1781. This family lived in a house now standing in the south part of the town, and came from Dauvers Centre. The well- kuown singers by that name, the sons and daughters of " Jesse " sprang from this family.

HOLT .- Timothy Holt and his wife had one child 1804. Rev. Ebenezer Hubbard and Charlotte, his wife, had four children,-Charles Augustus Peabody, born IS18; William McKean, 1820 ; Cathariue Eliz- abeth, 1823 ; Ebenezer Augustus, 1825.

HASKEL .- Daniel Haskel and his wife had two children horn here in 1824 and 1826.

HAYWARD .- Octavius Hayward and his wife had two children born here in 1831 and 1833.

IRONSON .- John Ironson and Tabitha had two children, 1767 and 1769; same name by wife Sarah, seven children from 1790 to 1800.

INGALLS .- Edman Ingalls was born in 1627, and died 1719, aged ninety-two years. He was a tanner hy trade. His son Henry Ingalls, of Lynn, moved to Andover in 1653, married Mary Osgood, and in 1689 married again, the widow of George Abbot, and died at the age of eighty-three. (These wives were And- over women.) His descendants owned a large tract of land in the neighborhood of the Farnham District, and not far from the residence of the late Jonathan Ingalls, whose brother, Theodore Ingalls, commenced blacksmithing at this place, Middleton, and continued business here till his death ahout 1814. In the early days of manufacturing edged tools Mr. Ingalls stood very high ; his axes were sent to Maine to cut down those great forests ; his scythes also were very good, though clumsy, compared with those made at the present time. The writer's father well remembered these scythes. Mr. Ingalls also made hoes and shov- els, etc., and these tools were made in a common blacksmith-shop which stood on the north side of the long crossway.

This Theodore Ingalls was the grandfather of Senator John James Ingalls. He was married three times. His first wife was a Berry, by whom he had two sons, and subsequently married two sisters of Deacon Addison Flint, of North Reading, the lat- ter of which was the grandmother of the Senator.

The home of the Ingalls family was Lynn, from whence they scattered over the land, some remaining still in Lynn. In early history they were tanners, and a few years since an old tan vat (in Lynn) was unearthed, belonging to them, containing a few hides, which were still somewhat preserved.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

JEFFERDS .- Rev. Forrest Jefferds and Sarah Caro- line had eight children from 1828 to 1839.

Jonathan Knight, and Phæbe. his wife, had seven children from 1751 to 1777. But Benjamin Knight, and his wife, Ruth, appear to have been here before the act of incorporation ; we find him with a family of seven children born from 1720 to 1734. Though the name has passed from our books, yet some of their descendants remain.

KENNEY .- The Kenney family date 1735. They lived on the left bank of Ipswich River, known now as the King place. The family of Simeon numbered nine from 1767 to 1789. Moved to Milford, N. H.

MERRIAM .- Dr. Silas Merriam, by his first wife, who was a Deal, or Dale, had four children from 1767 to 1772; and by his wife Peabody, sister of Capt. Joseph, the millionaire of Salem, eight children, born from 1776 to 1790. The Merriam house is still standing.

MOINTIRE .- The MeIntire or Mackintire family lived in the northwest part of the town. Benjamin and his wife, Experience, had three children born from 1751 to 1755.

MOORE .- Thomas Moore and Betsy, one son, born here, Hiram, 1811.

NICHOLS .- William Nichols and Elizabeth had four children, from 1704 to 1714. The origin of the Nichols family dates from this William or his father of the same name, who settled in the east part of the town, near Nichols' Brook, as early as 1652, then known as New Meadows, Topsfield ; none of this family now in town.

PERKINS .- Timothy Perkins and Phebe, his wife, had five children, from 1744 to 1754. This man lived on the Tufts place, where the house still stands, one of the oldest in town. Timothy, Jr., had ten children, from 1760 to 1782; the family not numerous here.

PUTNAM .- Ezra and Lucy had six children from 1751 to 1757 ; lived in the southeast part of the town.

PERRY .- Jonathan Perry and Mehitable three children, from 1836 to 1840.

PEABODY .- This family has always remained one of the largest since the town was incorporated.

Francis Peabody, of St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, born 1614, who came to New England 1635, and traced as follows : from his second son, Joseph, born 1644; Samuel, born 1678; Moses, born 1708; Samuel, born 1741; Joseph, born Aug. 3, 1770; the last named was the deacon here for some years, and father of Samuel J. Flint, Ann, Joseph and Dean, the latter now clerk of court.

All the others bearing the name of Peabody in this town can be traced to the first named Francis.

The original name was Boadie, who made a raid upon the tyrant emperor Nero, of Rome, in the year of our Lord 61, in defence of the Queen of the Britons, who had been publicly whipped before her grown up daughters, hy the order of this noted ruler, and for this exploit and others of like character the Pea, which

means the big hill, or mountain, was added, " Big man, or mountain man-Peabodie." In the expedi- tion named above Boadie entered the emperor's palace and carried away a miniature picture of Nero's wife, which was retained in the family till the eleventh century.

ROBINSON .- Daniel Robinson and Elizabeth had six children born from 1730 to 1747.

ROLF .- The families of Daniel and Jesse Rolf had respectively one and two children from 1726 to 1756.

RICHARDSON .- Solomon Richardson and Elizabeth had three children from 1730 to 1735. The Richard- son family have lived mostly in the southeast part of the town. Several of them had large families.

RUSSELL .- Joseph Russell and Mary, his wife, had thirteen children born from 1793 to 1821, one of whom was David, born in 1795, late of Amherst, N. H.

RAY .- Fry Ray and Mary had four children from 1801 to 1810.

STILES .- The Stiles family came from Rowley Village (Boxford) in 1700; commenced settlement in the north part of the town on land now owned by John Brown. The cellar of the house is now seen across the meadows east of the Demsey place.

SYMONDS .- First settled in Boxford, subsequently near the box factory in this town (then a part of Box- ford). There were several families from first settle- ments till the commencement of the present cen- tury.

SMITH .- Rev. Elias Smith and Catharine, his wife, had nine children from 1760 to 1777.

SMITH .- Aaron Smith and Mary had eight chil- dren from 1766 to 1781.

STEARNS .- Samuel Stearns and Dorothy, his wife, had fourteen children from 1739 to 1757 ; moved to Salem, Mass.

SAUNDERS .- Timothy Saunders and Rhoda, his wife, had two children from 1831 to 1832.

SHELDEN .- Herman Shelden and Angeline, his wife, had four children from 1836 to 1841.

TOWN .- Daniel Town and Dorothy, his wife, had eight children from 1722 to 1739; he lived in the east part of the town once belonging to Topsfield, and was chosen schoolmaster when the town was incor- porated. He opposed the annexation to Middleton.

THOMAS .- Rowland Thomas, and Margaret, his wife, had eight children from 1708 to 1731.

TOWN .- Richard Town, and Margery, his wife, had three children from 1752 to 1756.

Lewis Tyler, and Sally, his wife, had three children from 1834 to 1837.

UPTON .- Jeremiah Upton, and Elizabeth, had six children from 1788 to 1804.

WILKINS .- This family has always flourished here from the first. The children of Joseph and Mar- garet date from 1710 to 1728. This man was doubt- less a son of the original Bray Wilkins, whose pos-

1-n Pubhsling & Engraving Cu New York

Charles &. Flint

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terity exceed in numbers any families found on our town books.

WOODMAN .- Moses Woodman, and Olive, his wife, one son, Moses, 1811.

WHITE .- Perley White, and Eliza, his wife, had three children from 1827 to 1836.

WRIGHT .- Hiram Wright, and Lydia, his wife, had five children from 1830 to 1838.

WINSLOW .- Washington W. Winslow and Phoebe Ann, his wife, two children from 1833 to 1835; since moved away.

WESTON .- Samuel W. Weston and Polly, his wife, four children from 1836 to 1842.

WAKEHAM .- Samuel G. Wakeham and Lucy, his wife, three children from 1837 to 1840.

"Trio," a negro servant to Jonathan Wilkins, and "Cute," servant to Benjamin Fuller, of Middleton, married by Rev. Peter Clarke (of Salem village), No- vember 22, 1757.

The number of deaths since the first settlement, and that have been buried here, is estimated at about two thousand. The average for the last sixty-five years has been a little over eleven a year, or about seven hundred and fifty. During the last named period the death rate remained about the same, while the population nearly doubled.

COPIED FROM ACCOUNT BOOK OF COL. BENJAMIN PEABODY.

" March 24, 1785 .- Lent Brother Joseph have 12 lbs." (This Joseph was subsequently the millionaire of Salem, Mass.)

"Feb. 8th, 1793 .- Lieu Joseph Wright took the Jack (mule we sup- pose)."

"Apr. IGth, 1788 .- Archefus Kenney took a cow for a year at one pound."

" Andrew Peabody, Dr., to two days' work at the sawmill, 8 shillings, killing e calf 8 pence."

" 1789 .- Killing cow for Mr. Robert Bradford 1 1h. 4 shillings."

" Nov. 20th, 1798 .- Making a coffin for Mr. Robert Bradford that day he died, 3 shillings, 6 peace."

" Nov. 22d .- To a quarter of tea & 2 lbs. shugar. Sanie day one shill- ing's worth of bread and two quarts Rum."

" Nov. 19th & 22d, 1792 .- To killed two cows and two hogs, three shill- ings, 6 pence."

" 1789 .- Bought 2 bushels Rie, gave & shillings."

"1789 .- Bonght one bushel cora, gave 6 shillings."

"William Wright to mend plow share, one lb."

"1797 .- Hoeping cyder Barrels, 4 shillings."

" 1786 .- Weat two days to Salem after sherif, did not find him; my two days 10 shillings ; expenses 9 pence. To one day setting glass in Meeting house and making Old Debory's coffin."

"Joseph Symonds, Dr., to making Coffing 8 shillings; to putting ia axle and drafts 3 shillings."

" 1799 .- Making small coffing 3 shillings ; also his making cyder at my mill."

" Dr. Silas Merriam, Dr. a long account for work at the Dr. grist mill embracing almost every part of the machinery."

" Nov., 1790 .- To sitting on arbitration three tiniee and expenses 7 shillings & 6 peace "

" My oxen 4 hours & 12 8 peace."

"Simeon Kenney to killiag a lamb 3 pence."

" To building back to chimney 3 shillings."

"To putting nosle to pump for Amos Felton 33 cts."

" Bimsely Peabody, Dr., 1799. To half bushel apples and running four spoons, one shilhag 6 pence." (We find a long account against the town, some of the charges for important business. Through his influ- ence the road between this village aad Danvers' Plain was widened and straightened in 1811.)

"Oct. 28, 1799 .- Mark Avrill borrowed my wheelbarrow, brote it home, one shilling.

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Asa Howe to putting in 4 felloes & I spokes in cart wheel, 4 shillings." " 1797 .- To a day a shoeing oxon at Kimbal's." (This was Moses Kimball ; his shop was Howe road.)

" 1797 .- Collering chimney & other things 4s. Gp."

" Dec. 12th, 1809 .- Laying hearth in his oven and plastering, one pound (account with David Peabody)."

" May 8th, 1800 .- Archolus Kenney, Dr., to 24 spokas in cart wheel, 8 shillings,"

"Feb. 20th, 1802 -To making coffia for Wd. Jernsha Nichols $2.66 cts., also wrighting her wi 1 G6 cts."

"Oct. 17th, 1802 -Dr. Jolin Merriam, Dr, to ono and half days work on his barn 9 sinilings ; to a cannow (b nt we suppose) 6 shillings "

" 1802 .- Building stages round the meetinghouse for Joho Fuller $1.50 ; Sept. 25th making coffin for his father $3.75."

"1804 .- Dr. Silas Merriam, three days ou his new house, $3.00 ; one day and half stoning sellar, $1.50.

"1805 .- Bloading aud Roweling his horse, 33 cts. Aug. 19 & 20, going to see his cow that was shot, and another journey, & taking of her hide & my hoys coming to Symonds for me $100.

(" This cow was accidentally shot hy the Docters soo Jooas, who was driving his father's cows on the pond road to pasture tradition says.)

" May 10th, going to his pigge, 25 cts. Sick one, we suppose.

"Oct. 16, 1804 .- Anno Jane and Martha Nickson came to board with me 19, the horse and cart to move their goods 50 cts. These children and their parents came from Ireland about this time in consequence of the Rebellion. Anne subsequently became the wife of Dr. Merriam's son, Andrew, and now their posterity, are among our most honored peo- ple.

" Dr. Merriam married Col. Benjamin Peabody's sister, whose daugh- ter is now 102 years old, living in Dauvers.

" 1801 .- Paid $4.75 and cost in Mr. Capt. Thomes Cusheas office to Mr. Appletoas for the Salen Gazette and discontinued the paper."

This most wonderful old eccouot book end memorandum ruas through shout thirty years, and is foll of historical events, to say nothing of what this man undertook, as a jack of all trades, end in filling impor- taat officee. He must have made nearly all the coffins, repaired and built buildings, mill machinery, blacksmith, wheelwright, mason, cow, and horse doctor, etc. He was an honest end just man. He died since our remembrance, at en advanced age. His height was full six feet (we should judge), and walked very erect. Had a long queue that reached half way down his back.

Till withio sixty years the sextoo chosen must be a carpenter, at least enough to make a coffin, for which and digging the grave and attend- ing the funeral, he received a fee of five dollars.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

CHARLES L. FLINT.

Charles Louis Flint, born in Middleton on the 8th of May 1824, was the second son of Jeremiah and Mary (Howard) Flint. His father was a farmer, and occupied a part of the estate that had been the ances- tral inheritance for several generations.

The first American ancestor of this branch of the Flint family, Thomas Flint, is reported to have come from Wales about the year 1640, and to have settled soon after in what was then known as Salem village, now called Peabody. The farm he then acquired by purchase was held till recently by one of his lineal descendants. Charles I. is of the seventh genera- tion by direct descent from this agricultural colonist.

Like most farmers' sons, his early years were spent on the farm and in the district school, and were, of course, quite uneventful, given to acquiring the first rudiments of an education, and to the innumerable chores and lighter kinds of farm work which usually

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

fall to the lot of country boys. These occupations, though often irksome and gladly shunned as distasteful by most boys on the farm, really constitute by far the best foundation for the practical education of life. The influences of the farm are healthful, mentally, morally and physically. Other things being equal, that is with equal natural gifts, equal advantages for education, and equal opportunities for advancement and mental discipline, the boy on the farm will in the long run come out ahead of the boy in the city.

At the age of twelve, when scarcely ahle to realize the loss, came the great misfortune of his life-the death of a devoted mother. This led to some change in the family, and at the age of fourteen he went to live with an uncle, who was a large farmer, in the town of Norway, Oxford County, in Maine. There too, he enjoyed a few weeks of schooling in the winter, and for the rest of the year worked diligently on the farm. The experience then acquired enabled him to speak and write with clearness and intelligence on the practical as well as the scientific elements of agri- culture in subsequent years of public and official toil.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 249

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