History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 116

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 116

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In 1772 the freeholders and other inhabitants voted and unanimously resolved :

"I. That the most essential rights of mankind are,-Life, Liberty sad Property.

"2. That the only eod and design of government is to secure these.

"3. That gross invasions have been made upon these our rigbts by the British administration, till our grievances and oppressions are be- come intolerable.

"4. That our Representative be instructed to use all his influence in the house that all proper measures may be taken to obtain a redress of these grievances.

" 5. That if this fails of effect, this town is ready to noite with the other towas in this government, and with all the other British government, in this continent, in all lawful measures which, on joint consultation, shall be judged necessary to save our sinking state, and to obtain redress of our grievances.

"6. That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted by the town-clerk, to the gentlemen of the Committee of Communication and Correspondence in Boston, thanking them for their seasonable and prudent care of the public good."

On the reception of the news of the blockade of the harbor of Boston 1774, the town voted :

" That since we cannot have commerce with Great Britain upon no easier terms than giving up np our liberty and property, it is best to have nune, and therefore, that if the other colonies, or we, of this Province in general, come into measures, we will, after the 4th inst., fore bear all trade with Great Britain, and Ireland, and the West Indies, till the port of Boston is again opened as heretofore."

For the distress occasioned to the poor of Boston by the " embargo," the town not only voted aid, but contributed sixty pounds. Mr. Samuel Smith, Capt. Henry Eaton and Major Nathaniel Currier were a committee to confer with the town of Marblehead on the state of affairs. The Committee of Correspon- dence were Capt. William Hackett, Dr. Samuel Nye and Lemuel Stevens.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Twenty pounds were voted to provide timber, rocks and labor towards stopping the channel of the Merri- mac, to prevent British ships from entering.

The Committee of Safety were John March, Moses Pike, Josiah French, Capt. Steven Merrill, Henry Moody, Henry Morrill, Lieut. Benjamin Evans, Captain Joseph Pike, Captain William Hackett, Dr. Samuel Nye, John Hackett. This com- mittee were given full power to act in the town's behalf, and during the pleasure of the town. The town provided for the payment of its minute-men, purchased powder and ball and clothing for its soldiers, and instructed the selectmen to hire money to pay its . soldiers.

Names of soldiers who served in the Revolutionary War :- For two months' service at Cambridge and classed as " minute-men :"

Jacob Currier.

William Osgood.

Abel Morrill.

William Tucker.

I-tue Morrill.

Samuel Dudly.

William Merrill.

Philip Osgood).

Rufus Smith.

Stephen Smith.

Daniel Gale.

Jeremiah Morrill.

Joshua Morrill. Archelans Adams, Jr.

William Hackett, Jr.

Elias Pike.

For service at Winter Hill :

Joseph Wadleigh.

Jacob Currier.

Thomas Arnold.

Jeremiah Brown.

Samuel True.

Sylvanus Eaton.

Jun, Webster.

Daniel Morrill.

Abel Jackman.

Jolın True.

INane Fulton.

Robert Fowler.

Richard Brown.

William Osgood.

Robert Maxfield.

Sammel Hackett.

David Enton.

Benjamin Katon.

Moses Collins.

William Morrill.

Jeremiah Morrill.

Charles Morrill.

Llent. William Brown.

Joseph Gerrishı.

Jounthan Sellers.

John Dalton.

Joseph Maxfield.

John Merrill, Jr.

Sinon French.

Jahez True.

Nathaniel Jackson.

John Brown.

Jacob Ring.

Aaron Dow.

Benjamin French, Jr.

Jere. Dole.

Samuel Carr, Jr.

William Pike.

Those paid as Continental soldiers, and enlisted for the war, some of whom fought at Bunker Hill, were :

John Blaisde 11.

Moses French.

Thonnw Griffin.

JJumes Davis.

Juna Binisdell.

Elijah Dow.

Jeremiah Brown.

Lieut. W'm. Brown.

Winthr p Wiggin.

Stephen Smith.

James Seller's

Jona. Sawyer.

The mis Brown.

John Mansfickl.

John f'arr

Joseph Adams.

Capt. Nath'l Currier.

Jervminh Dule.

Richund Hoyt.

Daniel Marshal.

Moses Collins.

Samuel Webster

1.10 Inlet W 1w irl

Moses French.

J .na. Fouler.

Bill am C'i r.

W annull

Thirteen soldiers were paid who went to Providence, and ten were paid who went to Rhode Island.

The cost of shoes, clothing and blankets furnished the soldiers of the Continental army by the town was £1900 Gs.

For fear the British ships might sail up the Merri- mac, and to further prevent such a catastrophe, the town voted to build two fire rafts. These were com- pleted at a cost of €17 6s 11d. William and John Hackett superintended the work thereon.

The money in aid of the defense of American liberty was loaned to the town by its own citizens, and by a number of women possessed of estates; among the latter class a Mrs. Clark contributed €500.

Upon the adoption of the new Constitution in 1779, we find that the town voted to accept every article, except the third article in the Bill of Rights after these words : And all moneys paid by the subject to the support of public worship and the public teachers aforesaid, shall, if he require it, be uniformly applied to the public teachers of his own religious sect and denomination, provided there be any on whose in- struction he attends. It is the mind of this town that these words should be added-" provided, also, that he signify his mind publicly and enter his dissent at the settlement of a minister, as being of a dif- ferent denomination." The reasons urged for this settlement were-"That the people being left at an ntter uncertainty who is to support their minis- ter, and the minister whether he can have any sup- port at all, and also for the reason that a man might change his religious sentiments for the sake of avoid- ing his civil obligations, and it does not come within the power of the government to dissolve such a con- tract." Fifty-five voted for the amendment, twelve against.

The first petition against the parish tax system, preceded by strenuous opposition from Mr. Robert Pike, who declared it to be against the Constitution of the State, was sent to the Legislature from this town. Upon the presentation of this petition a town- meeting was called on the 27th day of December, and Caleb Cushing, Major Joseph Page, Dr. Samuel Nye, Benjamin Evans and Moses Rowell were chosen a committee to prepare reasons against the prayer of said petition.

The controversy thereon had been gathering strength for some years, as it was shown that the " ministers' rates " in the town in frequent years ex- ceeded the whole town expenditures. In 1788 the town voted not to take any action in ministerial affairs, and voted against hiring the Rev. Mr. Webster and the Rev. Mr. Noyes.

The men prominent in the affairs of the town were wise and capable of understanding its needs and necessities. It allowed none to represent them but those capable of expressing themselves by vote and action in an intelligent manner, and very often gave their representatives instruction upon the public

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policy of the day. Thus, in 1786, they gave special instruction to the representative-elect upon questions of finance -" declaring against the emission of paper- money as a dangerous expedient, promising rather an increase of confusion and fraud and injustice through- out the land, than any solid advantage to the public." They enjoined " Frugality and economy in every de- partment of the government, and such laws as would tend to diffuse these virtues, together with temperance and industry, throughout the State, as we look upon the practice of these and the eultivation of the most useful manufactures among ourselves to be the surest and safest method of extricating us from our present disagreeable and embarrassed condition." The report is addressed to Samuel Marsh, representative, a most worthy man of his time.

A history of the town, however brief, would be in- complete without some allusion to the character of its founders. Simon Bradstreet is a name that is well known in the history of the State. He was born in Lincolnshire, England, 1603 ; came to this country in 1630; was one of the assistants, and was so con- tinued till 1673. He was secretary of the colony from 1630 to 1644; was chosen Deputy Governor in 1673, and so continued until 1679, when he was elected Governor. He received no grants of land in Salis- bury, but helped to organize the town by laying out roads, the "green " upon which the first meeting- house and court-house stood, and assisted in the adop- tion of rules for the government of the plantation of Merrinac. Ile settled in Ipswich, afterwards in Salem. Daniel Dennison was one of the organizers of this plantation, but received no land grant. In 1671 he was appointed to hold a court at Salisbury and Hampton; was commissioner of the United Colonies.

Samuel Dudley, a son of Governor Thomas Dudley, born in 1606, came from England with his father in 1630 ; settled in Salisbury and secured house-lot, planting lot and meadow-lot at the first division of land in 1639. 1Ie held several important offices, and 1648 appointed to keep the court at Norfolk. The same year he sold all his land in Salisbury and re- moved to Exeter ; became one of its first ministers, and died there in 1683, aged seventy-nine.

John Clark, born in England, 1598, was in New- bury in 1638; was one of the petitioners for the Merrimae plantation, but received no grants of land. Tradition says, " he was one of the first regular edu- cated physicians who resided in New England."

Christopher Batt came from Salisbury, England, and settled in Salisbury, Mass., 1639. He introduced the tannery business into the town, from which early sprang that branch of trade-now extinct. Ile re- ceived large grants of land. In 1650 he removed to Boston and became a noted merchant there.

Henry Dilley came from Salisbury, England ; re- ceived honse-lot, planting and meadow-lots at the first division. He died, and his widow sold her land.

She married for her third husband the Rev. Wm. Worcester.

John Sanders received house, planting-lots and meadow-lots. He was from Wiltshire County, Eng- land. He sold his land in Salisbury to Richard Wells and removed to Wells, Maine.

Samuel Winsley, one of the grantees of the town, was the only one of the twelve who settled in Salis- bury, and remained there until his deathı.

Next to the early ministers, who take rank as men of great ability and worth, we may mention Thomas Bradbury, who, for many years, filled various public positions in the town, and left a record of usefulness which has been duly set forth in a biographical sketch written by one of his descendants. He was the first school-teacher employed. His record upon the books of the town proves his intelligence and worth.

Major Robert Pike was the greatest commoner of all,-a veritable Oliver Cromwell in decision and energy of character, and for the many qualities which made him prominent in the history of the town. A descendant has written a genealogy of the like fam- ily, in which the old hero, who came to Salisbury in 1637, and was admitted as a freemen, occupies a large space.

The twenty-eight counselors appointed by charter in 1684 were very important officers. The people selected their best representative men to be approved by the King to attend to the affairs of the colony. Robert Pike, of Salisbury, was selected and appointed to this office to serve for nine years. This appoint- ment was during the reign of King Philip, the great leading warrior of the Eastern tribe of Indians, an inveterate enemy of the English and the civilization they sought to establish. On the expedition to the " Eastward," in 1690, Major Pike was ordered to raise three hundred men, to fill the required complement called for by Governor Hinckly, under Major Church. Major Pike responded to this large demand, and in nine days' time added two companies and filled the quota of men necessary for the expedition. The let- ter of instructions to Major Church by Major Pike is interesting. It required him to sail by the first op- portunity to Casco, or places adjacent that may be most commodious for landing with safety and secrecy, and to visit the French and Indians at their head- quarters at Amerascoggon, Pejepscot or any other place, and to kill, destroy and utterly rout the enemy wherever he may be found, and also to recover our captives. In this expedition several men enlisted from Salisbury, but their names are not recorded on our records. To those familiar with the history of the French and Indian War the history of the expe- dition proves a chapter of sad interest.

Major Pike was a foe to intolerance in religious matters, and dared give expression to his sentiments in a manner that subjected him to disfranchisement and fine. He protected the Quakers from the insults

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

and abuse attempted upon them, and when the witchcraft delusion swept over the country he came to the rescue of the wife of Mr. Bradbury and saved that kind and Christian woman from the foul asper- sions which were cast upon her in her old age.

It is not improbable that the influence of Robert Pike had much to do in saving the good name of the town from the fatal delusion which makes so dark a record in neighboring places.

The wife of Thomas J. Bradbury was accused of be- witching John Carr, and was condemmed on the 9th of September, 1692. She was afterwards acquitted. She was the daughter of John Perkins, of Ipswich ; was probably not far from eighty years of age, as she was married about 1637. Her sister, Elizabeth Sar- gent, was the wife of William Sargent, one of the first twelve settlers of Ipswich, then in Newbury, then Salisbury, then Amesbury, where many of his de- scendants still reside. In this connection we give the following, sent to the court which sentenced Mrs. Bradbury :

" Wee, the subscribers, do testefy that her life was such as become the gospel. She was a lover of the ministrle in all appearance and a dili- gent attendant upon God's holy ordinances, being of a courteous and peaceable disposition und carriage ; neither did any of us (some of whom have lived In the towne with her above 60 years) ever know that she had any differences or falling out with any of her neighbors, man, woman or child, but was always ready and willing to do for them what lay in her power, night and day, though with hazard of her health or other dunger. More might be spoken in her commendation, but this for the present.

" July 28, 1692."

(Signed hy 118 men and women).

Coming down to later generations of men are the Websters, who settled along the Point shore and early engaged in commerce. The Hacketts, of which William was the ship designer and the first inventor of the water-line model,-the ancestor of Professor llackett, the best Greek and Latin scholar of his day. The Clarks, of which Master Clark is the representa- tive name, who engaged in the West India trade and aided in developing the tanning trade to an extent it had not knowu in the town, by establishing his four sons in business and which was prosecuted by them for many years. The Curriers, who built ships and saw-mills, and laid the first brick for a woolen-mill in the town, all the while extensive land-owners and farmers-descendants of Richard, known in the his- tory of Amesbury. The Morrills, who operated the first machinery-such as " Ensign Morrill and his two sons." The Browns, who figured as merchants and mechanics of note. The Rowells, who operated brick yards and saw-mills and built the first brick building in the town-Franklin Hall-in 1628, and where the first public discussion was held upon the enormity of the sin of slavery. The Misses Grimkie, two Southern ladies, who had liberated the slaves which were theirs by inheritance upon the death of a relative, representing property at that time valued at fifty thousand dollars, spoke upon the question and delivered the first public anti-slavery address held in

the town; though later came Garrison and Stephen Foster, and other carly disciples of the reform, until the whole town was in a turmoil of excitement, over the agitation, and became allied to the towns in Essex County, who espoused the cause of freedom and held the balance of power in the vote previous to 1840, and was one of the first towns to be represented in the Legislature by a pronounced abolitionist.

The town can also elaim the honor of being the birthplace of the mother of Daniel Webster,-Aba- gail Eastman, who was the second wife of Col. Ebe- nezer Webster, then a resident of New Hampshire, but a native of Kingston. By this marriage they had three children,-the Hon. Ezekiel Webster, the Hon. Daniel Webster, and a daughter who mar- ried a Mr. Haddock, and was the mother of the late Professor Haddock, of Dartmouth College. Ab- igail Eastman, the mother of Daniel Webster, was born in Salisbury, at the "Four Corners," or, as known by its local name, the "Rabbitt Farm." She was a woman of sterling good sense.

The Cushings sprang from Minister Caleb Cushing, and the honored statesman of this nation claims Salis- bury as his birthplace.

Thomas Macy aud Tristram Coffin were each men of remarkable character. They were the original settlers of the island of Nantucket. Maey was called to account for harboring Quakers and for his non-conformist notions ; he evaded the sentence of the law passed upon him by making a voyage to Nantucket in a somewhat sudden manner, an ac- count of which has been graphically described by the poet Whittier.

Nathaniel Currier, of Salisbury, held a commission under King George III .; but on the breaking out of the War of the Revolution he cast his influence on the side of the patriots, and was elected to the "Con- gress at Watertown " in 1773. He died in 1775.

Capt. John March, Capt. True, William Sevett, Oliver Osgood, Ezekiel Hackett, Worthens, Morrills, Stevenses, Lowells, Hoyts, Colbys, Eatons, etc.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. - First Congregational, founded in 1638, two years before the incorporation of the town, and was the eighteenth church in Mas- sachusetts. The first pastor was Rev. William Wor- cester, settled at the organization, and died October 23d, 1662. Second pastor, John Wheelwright, settled December 9th, 1662, died November 15th, 1679. Third pastor, James Alling, a native of Boston ; settled May 4th, 1G87, died March 3d, 1696, aged thirty-seven. Fourth pastor, Caleb Cushing, born at Scituate, set- tled November 9th, 1698, died January 25th, 1752, aged eighty. Fifth pastor, Edmund Noyes, born at Newbury, settled November 20th, 1751, died July 12th, 1809, aged eighty-one.

The Rocky Hill Church, or West Parish of Salisbury, was built in 1716. The first settled minister was Rev. Joseph Parsons, installed November 28th, 17IS. The covenant was in accordance with the custom of the

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SALISBURY.

early New England churches, there being no distinct creed or articles of faith. It was as follows :

"We do this day, in a grateful son49 of the call of Christ unto us, avonch the Lord Jehovah to be our God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and giving up ourselves to Gol anl Christ and one another, we do, by the grace of Christ assisting us, cheerfully submit ourselves to his gov- ernment and to all his ordin inces and institutions, takiog and acknowl- edging him to be our prophet, priest and king, further promising by the grace of Christ to shun and avoid all errors, with all unrighteousness and ungodliness. We do also with ourselves give up our seed to be the Lord's, submitting them also to, the discipline and government of Christ in his Church, promising moreover that we will endeavor to upholdand promote the worship of God in public or in private ; and finally that we will walk together ava church of Christ in all mutual love and watchfulness, to the building up of each other in faith and love, humbly craving help at the hands of God for the performance hereof."

Mr. Parsons died at Salisbury, March 13th, 1739, aged sixty-nine years, and in the twenty-first year of his ministry. He was a graduate of Harvard College in 1697. During his ministry, two hundred and ninety-one persons were added to the church. His wife was the daughter of Dr. Benjamin Thompson, of Roxbury. They had five children, three of whom were born in Salisbury : Samuel, born in Salisbury, was a graduate of Harvard College in 1730; William, born in 1716, graduated at Harvard 1735; John, died October, 1740, while attending Harvard College.

The church was strong in members and influence. Rev. Mr. Parsons was an eminent Christian, an ac- complished, able and faithful minister. I copied from the humble monument in the parsonage lot of the old graveyard, near by the old meeting-house site, a few days ago, this uncommon, brief in-crip- tion on an insignificant, moss-covered stone :

" REV. JOSEPH PARSONS.

"' Only this, and nothing more.'

" Can storied urn or animated bust Back to its mansions call the fleeting breatlı ? Can Honor's voice provoke the silent dust, Or flattery soothe the dull, cold ear of death ?"

No "storied urn " nor "honor's voice" of flattery here to soothe with solemn, ancient epitaph; but here beneath the sod is mingled with the dust of many of the once loving and beloved parishioners of the Second West Parish Church of Old Salisbury their first minister, Joseph Parsons, whose honored name is rudely marked on the moss-covered slate at the head of his grave. We look not down to read his noble record here; but we know by the good works of earth of that record of promise in letters of gold, written higher and brighter in heaven's glo- rious record of the faithful.

The second minister was Rev. Samuel Webster, of Bradford, who was ordained March 24, 1741.

June 28, 1797, and died March 16, 1801. He was born in Chelmsford; graduated at Harvard in 1795. Mr. Beattie, during his brief ministry of three years and nine months, won the respect of his parishion- ers. He was buried beside Rev. Joseph Parsons in the Rocky Hill Church-yard.

The fourth pa-tor was Rev. William Balch, who was born in Danvers, Mass., January 17, 1775. He was three years in Harvard College, after preparation in Phillips Academy, Exeter, N. H. IIe excelled as a Latin scholar. Previous to his settlement he served as chaplain in the United States Army. He was ordained pastor of this church November 17, 1802, and was dismissed February 20, 1816. During the latter part of the ministry of Mr. Balch many of the church and parish became disaffected, and were unwilling to aid in his support. After much un- pleasant contention, an ex-parte council was con- vened by the church, which Mr. Balch consented to make mutual, and by it matters were so adjusted that he was honorably dismissed. The difficulties arose out of the excited political feeling which at this time divided the community. The churches called to settle this difficulty were Seabrook, Hamp- ton Falls, Fourth in Newbury, Exeter, West in Amesbury, and East in Haverhill. A memento of this council of these neighboring churches is still preserved, which doubtless may have been indirectly one cause of the happy, mutual and friendly adjust- ment that resulted in the desired honorable dismissal of the pastor. It is a settled bill of the expenses of said council which I will here copy :

"THE WEST PARISH IN SALISBURY.

To David M. Leavitt, Dr.

To Brandy and Rum, as per bill. $9.20

4 Turkeys 4.60

8 Chickens 2.00

5 lb. loaf sugar, 37 cts. per pound.

1,88

16 " Bacon, 1216 cts. per pound

2.00

38 " beef

2.82

3 " Raisons and Currants

.40

6 " Brown Sugar, 1/2 lb. Tea 2.00

Butter, cheese, horse-keeping, potatoes, lodgings, etc 10.00

Time attending on council. 10,00

Journey to Exeter and Hampton Falls .. 1.50

$46.90 "

During the interval from the dismissal of Mr. Balch, in 1816, to the commencing of the Rev. Benjamin Sawyer, in 1835, the pulpit was supplied by a com- mittee, and the preachers remained for a longer or shorter period. During the time more or less of the members of the parish "signed off," as it was called under the Religious Freedom Act, and worshipped with other churches. Rev. Thomas C. Upham, after-

After a ministry of nearly fifty-five years, he died at Salisbury, July 18, 1796, aged seventy-eight years. wards a professor in Bowdoin College, preached here His eldest son, Rev. Samuel Webster, Jr., was born with greatacceptance. Then followed Rev. Mr. Turner and Rev. Charles Bowles, neither of whom were able to secure the harmonious co-operation of the whole parish. Rev. Mr. Harris came as a supply in 1828. at Salisbury, September 16, 1743; graduated at Ilar- vard College, 1791. He was ordained at Temple, N. H., October, 1771.

The third pastor was Andrew Beattie; ordained Rev. Thomas Rich came in 1829 and continued until

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

1-34. At the parish meeting, December 17, 1835, Rev. Benjamin Sawyer, then of the old Sandy Hill Church, Amesbury, was invited to supply the pulpit, and again in April 4, 1826.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 116

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1672

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672