History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 126

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 126

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Since his marriage his winter residence has always been in Boston. In 1872 be bought an estate in Plym- outh, his native town, which he occupied during the summer until 1877. lu 1878 and 1879 he made New- port his summer residence and spent the summers of 1880 and 1881 in Swampscott, where, in 1882, he bought an estate, which since that time he has occu- pied during a part of each year, having become a citi- zen of Swampscott.

It only remains to speak of those traits which most prominently mark the character of Colonel Parker, some of which have already been alluded to. They could be spoken of more freely and with a stamp of sincerity more generally acknowledged, if he were not still among the living. What would be a just eulogy of the dead might be suspected to be flattery when spoken of the living man. Aside from perfect integ- rity and uprightness and energy and tenderness of heart, of which mention has been made, he possesses no more striking traits than those of liberality and entire frankness. Of the former of these he makes no boast nor any conspicuous display. It is such a natural and easy outflow from the warmth of his heart, that when others feel it and are grateful for it, he is scarcely conscious of it himself. The latter trait no one who knows him or bas even casually met him can have failed to notice. No friend can be un- aware of his friendship, no enemy can be deceived into thinking him his friend. His frankness is ap- plied to himself as well as to others, and thus be- comes what might be called openness or transparency. Indeed, the world is to him a sort of confessional. He not only does not conceal his faults, but proclaims them when they might not otherwise have been dis- covered. There are so many under-currents in men's lives, and there is so much hypocrisy in concealing them, that it is refreshing to meet now and then a man like Colonel Parker, who exhibits his whole self and says to the world, " Here I am; take me for cx- actly what I am worth ; estimate me by my weight and not by the varnish or plate or gilt with which I may be covered."

Colonel Parker is still in the prime of life, in good health and vigor, with a career before him which, if his life should be preserved, is far from finished.

CHAPTER CXXV.

AMESBURY.

BY JOSEPH MERRILL.

SCARCELY had the little colony at Salisbury es- tablished their homes around the " green" when the subject of a new town west of the Powow River was determined upon. That stream was looked upon as a natural boundary between the large territory, which they evidently considered suitable for two towns. Actuated by these views no doubt, they proceeded, as early as 1642, to carry the plan into effect by pass- ing the following order: "Ordered yer shall thirtic families remove to the west side of ye Powwas River." At a meeting held ten days later the time in which the order should be carried into effect was fixed " before the first of the third month in the yeare 1645." This order included nearly one-half of the families in Salisbury. But it was found very dif- ficult, if not impossible, to enforce the order, and the removal was very much delayed and partially defeat- ed by the reluctance of the people in quitting their homes to plunge still deeper into the unbroken forests, which covered hill and valley in the western territory. Other orders soon followed, calculated to encourage the new settlement by the grant of certain privileges. January 15, 1644, it was "ordered that those persons that go up to live upon the west side of the Powwas River shall have the sole feeding on that side for the year ensuing, and power to make order about fences." Again, in February of the same year, this privilege was confirmed and a further inducement given by reducing the taxes to one-half of the rate in the old town. The favorable condition offered finally induced a small colony to remove their fami- lies to the new territory.

BOUNDARIES .- It is hardly possible to correctly define the boundaries of the new town at this early date, as the State line was unsettled and uncertain, and new plantations were very poorly defined. It is certain, however, it included all of the territory west of the Powow River which Salisbury then owned. Its limits included Newton, N. H., and probably part of Kingston. Grants of land were made near "ye great country pond," and in 1675 the island in the pond was given to Thomas Haynes. This fact is confirmed by a town map drawn in 1715, which gives the " peake," as Newton was then called, as having been laid out with much regularity into large lots called " farmes." Ilaverhill formed the western boundary from "Brandy Brow" Hill to Merrimac River, which formed its entire southern boundary. This beautiful stream has an average width of about one-fourth of a mile and is navigable to Haverhill for small vessels. The Merrimac River, Powow River and Kimball's Pond constitute the principal bodies of water in and around the town.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

SETTLEMENT. - There is a tradition that the settlers came in two divisions, the one containing nine and the other right families ; but we find no confirmation of this theory on the records, and it is probable that the removal was without much regularity. Their homesteads at Salisbury were sold at different times, commencing with 1647, which indicates a gradual oe- cupaney of the new territory.

Not until 1654 bad a sufficient number crossed the river to organize and virtually establish a new town. At that time eighteen legal voters were in the territory, who styled themselves "the inhabitants and commoners here in ye new town."

AGREEMENT .- The certainty of a new town was now established and on the 14th of March, 1654, a permanent agreement was entered into between the two settlements containing eight articles intended to define the rights and privileges of the contract- ing partics.

The first article related to the boundaries and dis- position of the common lands, as follows: "The in- habitants of ye new towne shall have for their full part and portion of the said common all those lands which lie upon the west side of the pawawaus River up to Haverhill bounds, and the said river to divide the bounds between the new towne and the old towne of Salisbury." The remainder of the com- mon land east of the river was reserved to the old town.

By the seventh article the new town people were to contribute to the support of the ministry in the old town till they obtained a minister to settle among them. The eighth article provides for the separation as follows: " Last of all it is fully concluded and agreed upon by the inhabitants of each towne that the said townes, upon the assignment of the aforesaid articles of agreement, shall be absolutely dismist of themselves and have no further to meddle with the affaires of each other in any town matters what- soever." This document was duly signed May 1, 1654, by Thomas Bradbury, Joseph Moyce, Samuel Winsley, George Goldwyer, William Buswell, Edward French, William Allin, Samuel Felloes, Thomas Car- ter, John Rolfe, John Eaton, Isaac Buswell, William Osgood, John Stevens, Henry Browne, Roger East- man and Richard North on the part of the old town, and Anthony Colby, George Martin, John Hoyt, Philip Challis, Jaret Hadon, Richard Currier, John Weed, Thomas Macy, Edward Cottle, William Barnes, Thomas Barnard and Valentine Rowell on the part of the new town.

Although by this compact the new town appears to be entirely freed from the old, excepting in the moister's rate, yet such does not appear to be the fact, as the inhabitants were assessed to repair the roads, and the old town generally chose one of the prudential men from Amesbury till the final separa- Con in 1666. Surveyors and viewers of staves were also chosen, at the old town's annual meeting, for the new town.

SURFACE AND SOIL .- The landscape is diversified by numerous hills and valleys, which give a great variety of scenery. The western section is specially noted for its numerous hills, which speck its surface in places to the rivers' banks, where they rise high above the tide. The principal plains are the Sandy Hill, Martin and Buttonwood in the East Parish, and the Pond Plain and plain on Church Street in the West Parish. Near the centre of the town is Kim- ball's Pond, the Indian name of which was " Attitash." It is a beautiful sheet of water about one mile in diameter, nearly surrounded with hills which long have borne the name of " Pond Hills."

The Merrimac River on the south is about half a mile wide and navigable to Haverhill for small vessels. On the cast winds the famous Powow, a small stream which rises in New Hampshire, and on its way to the Merrimac, with which it unites at the Ferry, affords extensive water-power, which has been utilized from the first settlement of the territory. In 1872 the Salisbury Mills Company completed a mas- sive dam, known as the "Gardner Dam," near the mills, which has formed a beautiful sheet of water known as " Lake Gardner."

The soil is generally good, although somewhat hilly in the western part of the town. Some of the promi- nent hills, are Bear Hill, Brandy Brow, Red Oak and Tucker's in the West Parish, and Pond Hills, Ring's, Goodale's and "Whicher's" in the East Parish. Several plains are found, among which are Pond Plain, "Jamaco " Plain,1 Tucker's Plain, Sandy Hill Plain2 and plain at Martin Place.

1655. A meeting was held the 19th of March, at which the number of commoners was fixed, the man- ner of transacting the public business defined, and the method of calling meetings and notifying the in- habitants prescribed,-in short, an agreement was entered into for the regulation of all matters pertain- ing to the welfare of the colony. Thomas Macy was chosen clerk to record the orders of the company, and the small book which he used is still in the clerk's office.

Staves at this time were an important article among the colonies, selling readily in the West Indies for goods needed here, and the commoners claimed fifty for every thousand made from trees ent on the common lands. The old saw-mill also paid tribute to the new town for one-fourth which was owned here.

At this meeting a strong vote was passed as follows

" Ata meeting ye same day of ye inhabitants it was agreed and voted that the number of Fuhabitants that shall be commoners shall not ex- ceod the number of twenty-six without the consent of every Inhabitant of yo plantation."

James George was made a townsman and commoner on condition that he come and live on his land.

1 Namse of the section in early times.

2 On Highland Street.

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AMESBURY.

Having thus regulated matters, the eighteen com- moners confirmed the whole doings of the meeting as follows :

" We, the Iuhabitants, have hereunto set our hands the day and year above written.

" Anthony Colby. Thomas Barnard.

John Hoyt. Edward Cottle.

Phillip Challis. John Weed.

George Martin. Orlando Bagley.

Jarrot Iladdon. Henry Blasdell.

Richard Currfer. Thomas Macy.

John Bayley. William Sargent.

William Huntington. 'William Barnes.

Valentine Rowell.

John Colby."

The above were the original proprietors of the town but Orlando Bagley and John Bayley were not per- manent residents.

By the Massachusetts records it appears that the following of the eighteen took the oath of freemen before the General Court at the dates named below, viz .: "Jarret Hadden and Anthony Colby, May 14, 1634; Willie Sargent, 3d month 1639, 22d ; Thomas Masie, 6th day of the 7th month, 1639; William Barnes, 2d, 4th month, 1641; John Bayley, May 19, 1669." The record of the others has not been found. It is nearly certain that most of those pioneers who settled Salisbury and Amesbury came from towns of the same name in England. Those ancient towns are closely connected there, and said to be very pleasantly situated. Salisbury is specialy noted for its elegant cathedral of ancient build, and Amesbury for its Druid temple or anointed stone, erected by the Druids at a very early period.

1656. It was now found that a second saw-mill was needed, and Richard Currier and Thomas Macy were authorized to build a saw-mill on the west side of the Powow, with the privilege of using all the timber on the common not included in the grant to the old mill, "excepting oak and the right of the people to make canoes." For this privilege they were to pay the town £6 per annum for ten years, in boards at current prices. The prices for sawing were all regu- lated by the town. As money was very scarce, the sawing was done upon shares, the mill being allowed one-half.

Joseph Peaslee was this year made townsman. He was a self-constituted preacher, and gave the General Court a great deal of trouble while living at Salisbury, by his " unfit preaching." His farin was in the West Parish, but at his death he was in Haver- hill owning a tarm there.

1657. Nathan Gold was this year made a townsman, and granted eight acres of land on condition that he make his home there.

In December the selectmen of Haverhill joined those of Salisbury in defining the bounds between the two towns, agreeable to the order of the General Court. And October 14th, the line between Hampton and Salisbury was run by Jolin Appleton, Joseph Medcalf, Will Bartholomew and Daniel Perse by order of court.

94 3

1658. January 1st, "Thomas Barnard and John Weed were chosen for ordering the prudential affairs of the Company, and the extent of their power is according to the prudential men chosen last year, the men being chosen for ye yeare ensning."

At this meeting it was decided to lay the great swamp out in lots, and Thomas Barnard, John Hoyt and John Weed were ordered to measure it, and re- ceive two shillings and six pence a day for their work from those who had the lots. A way was to be reserved next Powow River forty rods wide for the use of the plantation.

This order was not carried into effect until 1664. All had plenty of wood, and there was no hurry about dividing this section.

January 25th, Thomas Barnard and John Weed were chosen standing lot-layers, and served in that capacity a great many years. Small lots were given to the freemen at almost every meeting, and at this meeting John Weed received ten acres at the But- tonwood, now owned by Charles Rowell, and occu- pied by his new residence.

May 26th, a petition was sent to the General Court praying that Phillip Challis might be confirmed,- " Left to ye foot Com' in Salisbury," and it was re- ferred to the next County Court.

October 29th, a general meeting was held, and a large tract beyond the pond, bordering on Back River, was ordered to be laid ont and given to the inhabitants. This was the first general division made in the "new towne of Salisbury" since the Agreement of 1654. The original members received forty acres each; newly-admitted ones, ten each.

This year an unsuccessful attempt was made to obtain a legal separation from the old town. Salis- bury opposed the measure, not yet being quite wil- ling to lose the help they received towards the sup- port of the minister, and perhaps for other good reasons. The people were ordered to attend meeting in the old town; but the order was disregarded, and they still flocked to hear Joseph Peaslee preach, al- though by so doing they incurred the displeasure of the General Court.

Finally, at the October term of the General Court, an order was issued, "that the recorder for the Connty of Norfolke fforthwith issue out his warrant requiring Joseph Peasley & the rest of the inhabit- ants of the new towne, being masters of families, or at their owne dispose, to make theire personall ap- pearances before the next County Court, to be lield at Salisbury, to answer for their disobedience to authorities in not complying wth sajd order; and the sajd County Court is hereby impowered, authorized & required to proceede agt all such of them as in their appearance shall not fully make it cleare they haue, since the sajd order, performed theire duty and repaired to the public worship of God on the Lord's day at the ould towne, to fine them for every day's absense there five shillings."

1-198

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Under this order many were fined, and Peaslee with the others. It has been thought by some that this persistent preacher was a Quaker; but the Gen- eral Court said he was a member of the church at the old town.

Robert Quinby, a ship carpenter, first appears in town this year.

1659. To encourage settlers, five hundred acres of land beyond the pond was set apart for the children. This section was long known as "the children's land." It was intended for the oldest son in each family; but in case there were no sons, then a danghter took the family sbare.

Walter Taylor was this year made a commoner, with liberty to use what timber he wanted for build- ing vessels so long as he lived in town. He lived at the river, where "Uncle John Davis" lived at a later period. He was a rough person and a little given to profanity, being once fined ten shillings for "vring cursing speaches to his servants." Thomas Hoyt and Thomas Jonson were apprenticed to him to learn the ship-carpenter's trade, but ran away and were fined "fiue shillings a peece for going away disorderly."

A committee, consisting of "Thomas Barnard, George Martin and Samuel Foot,' these three are ap- pointed to lay out the land npon the river, and are to have two pense an acre for laying it out." Twenty- six lots were laid out, No. I commencing at the But- tonwood Road, and extending along the river west- wardly towards Haverhill. Probably these lots were not completed and drawn till 1661, as Widow Colby and Widow Peasly received lots.2

Joseph l'easly will not keep silent, but continues to preach, although fined and threatened by the au- thorities for doing what his conscience told him was his duty. And the new town people would hear him, notwithstanding his preaching "was very weak and unfit." A compromise was finally made, which it was hoped would satisfy the new town and settle the matter, which was becoming very troublesome.

The old town consented that Mr. Worcester preach at the new town every fourth Sunday. This plan was approved by the General Conrt, which graciously respited one-half of the fines till the next session. But still Peasly preached, defying the orders of court and the wishes of Mr. Worcester's church. The General Court now assumed a threatening attitude, and forbid his " preaching any more in this jurisdic- tion till he give full satisfaction to this court for what have been past." This was ominous of his Jate if he disregarded the order, and very likely he quit preach- ing. The confhet soon came to an end by the death of Peasly in 1660 or 1661.

Thomas Macy, one of the original settlers of Ames-

bury, and the first clerk, probably left town this year. The record is in his handwriting until the Ist of November, but the next annual meeting was recorded by Richard Currier. Macy offended the General Court by harboring Quakers, and was summoned to appear before that body to answer for the crime ; but either from his inability to do so, or intentionally, he failed to comply with the order. He, with Thomas Barnard and others, were proprietors of the island of Nantucket, to which place Macy now removed. Tradition says that he took his family in his open boat and sailed away to his favorite island, where he lived to a good old age. Mr. Whittier has written a beautiful poem entitled "The Exiles," which finely illustrates this singular adventure of Macy's, and the sentiments of those carly times.

TOWNSHIPS .- 1660. To enjoy all the rights of free- men, grants must be obtained from the commoners who held the territory, granting it to whom they pleased. On the 10th of December a town-meeting was held which may very properly be designated " a township meeting," as no other business was done. The following were admitted townsmen, viz. : Samuel Foot, Samuel Colby, Nathan Gold, William Osgood and Robert Quinby. The children's land was also divided among the children of the proprietors.

When our ancestors came to this wild territory wolves were very plenty and troublesome, and bounties were early offered for their heads, but 308. was hardly sufficient to destroy them, and this year it was in- creased to 50s., if not killed by Indians. The General Court had previously ordered the constables to pay the Indians three quarts of wine and a bushel of corn per head for all they killed.

Another effort was made to obtain a separation from the old town, but without avail. The new town people, supposing they had secured the services of Rev. Shubael Dumer (an orthodox minister), peti- tioned the General Court for an act of incorporation, which was granted, provided Mr. Dumer was obtained. He finally declined the call, probably not considering the encouragement given quite sufficient. The old town very kindly gave consent to the proposed change, but the measure failed.

1661. Various grants of land were made this year, among which were the "frog pond at the north side of Robert King's hill," where the second instance of tunneling occurred about 1749.

Thomas Haynes, son-in-law of Thomas Barnard, first appears on the record this year, by a grant of five acres of land near " Whicher's hill."

Anthony Colby died in the carly part of February. He came over from England with Winthrop and others, in 1630. He is number ninety-three on the list of church-members at Boston, and was made a freeman, May 14, 1634, with Jerard Haddon and some eighty others. He probably lived at Cambridge in 1632, from whence he moved to Salisbury, previous to 1640, with his wife, Susannah, and the following

1 Not d townsman till le

a Widow of Anthony Colby and Joseph Pearly' who died in 1660 or 1661

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AMESBURY.

children, viz. : Sarah, born -; John, first son, born -; Samuel, born --; Orlando, born --; Isaac, born July 6, 1640; Rebecca, born March 11, 1643; Mary, born Sept. 19, 1647; Thomas, born March 8, 1650. Anthony was one of the eighteen who signed the regulations at the or- ganization of the new town in 1655. His inventory amounted to £359 198. 4d.

1662. No record is found of the election of a town clerk since the flight of Thomas Macy in 1659, until this year, when Richard Currier was chosen. Much of the early record is missing, which may account for the deficiency.

George Carr was granted a common right when he or any of his sons came to live in town, and also the right to cut timber on the common for building ves- sels. This was offered as an inducement to Mr. Carr to become a citizen of the new town, and it was suc- cessful in calling George Carr, Jr., a few years later to engage in building vessels at the Ferry. An offer of land was once made to Major Pike if he would remove to the new town.

A large tract of land between the pond, Pine Hill and Powow River was ordered to be laid out to all who had a " common right." "Goodman Marting, Goodman Hoyt and Goodman Rowell were appointed to lay out the land in the Lion's mouth and Great Swamp." These orders, if complied with, would dis- pose of nearly four thousand acres, one division, called "the great lots," containing three thousand eight hundred and seventy-six acres.

May 17th Valentine Rowell, one of the first eigh- teen and a signer of the articles of agreement, died. He was early in town and sold his first homestead to Johu Bayley previous to 1652.

His children were Hannah, born January, 1643; Thomas, born September 7, 1644; John, born 1645; Philip, born March 8, 1647; Mary, born January 31, 1650; Sarah, born November 16, 1651; John, born November 15, 1655; Elizabeth, born August 10, 1657 ; Margaret, born September 8, 1659.

1663. This year the town bought one acre of land of Edmund Elliott for a burying-ground. It was the eastern part of the ancient cemetery at Bartlett's Corner. Up to this time Golgotha had been the only burying-ground in town.

On the 16th of March a meeting was held, and five hundred acres of laud disposed of among the inhabit- ants, but not without strong opposition.

Ezekiel Wathen, one of the ancestors of the fami- lies in Salisbury and Amesbury, first appears as a townsman this year by a grant of land near his house. He lived at Pleasant Valley.

1664. The Great Swamp ordered to be laid out in 1662 was this year given out in lots, and a sweeping vote passed disposing of all the common land. This measure was opposed by some of the most prominent men, and at a subsequent meeting entirely changed by the following vote: " Att ye same meting it was

voted that this tract of land above ritting shall not be disposed of this twenty yeare to these men above riting."

John Pressey appears this year, having purchased two river lots west of "Pressey's creek," and near South Amesbury.

1665. The most important event of this year was building a meeting-house on the acre bought of Ed- mund Elliott. Hitherto all efforts to obtain a sepa- ration from the old town had failed, because no pro- visions had been made to permanently establish and maintain public worship. Having become sensible of this fact, it was resolved to make due preparation for the long-desired event of a legally established township by the erection of a church in which the people could assemble on each returning Sabbath. Thomas Barnard, John Hoyt and Richard Currier were chosen to carry forward the work, which was to be completed by " mid-summer." It was a small house,-thirty by twenty-five feet,-but large enough to seat the few inhabitants of the town.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 126

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