History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 166

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 166

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An extended biographical sketch of Mr. Loring will be found toward the close of this history of the town.

The seventh minister was the Rev. Francis Williams. He was ordained February 27, 1850, and continued in office to May 27, 1856. He resigned to accept a call to Brattleborongh, Vt. lle left many warm friends in the parish.

The eighth minister was the Rev. Charles C. Vinal, ordained May 6, 1857. Ile continued in office thir- teen years, to March, 1870. During his pastorate a parsonage was built, the parish having received for that purpose a testamentary bequest of six thousand dol- lars, from the late Hon. William Johnson. Mr. Vinal, in 1870, accepted a call to the Unitarian Church in Kennebunk, Maine, where he is now the pastor. His resignation was received with regret and he is kindly remembered in the parish.

The parsonage was destroyed by fire while it was unoccupied in 1870, and the parish library, the gift of the Rev. Mr. Loring, and the later church records were burned. The new parsonage was built in 1871.

The ninth and present pastor, the Rev. John H. Clifford, was ordained August 29, 1871. Ile and the two preceding pastors were graduates of the Can- bridge Divinity school.

The deacons of the First Church during the one hundred and eighty-nine years in which it was the only church in North Andover, and who sat in a special seat in front of the pulpit, were the following : John Frye, John Barker, 1603; Joseph Stevens, 1694; John Osgood, 1719; John Farnum, 1727; Samuel Barker, 1736 ; Samuel Phillips, 1748; Joseph Osgood, 1763; Joseph Barker, 1766; Benjamin Farnum, 1790; John Adams, 1797; George Osgood, 1797; Joshua Wilson, 1813; Jedediah Farnum, 1824; William Frost, 1824.

The Evangelical Church of North Andover, 1834, was the next religious organization made in the old town. The establishment of the Theological Semi- nary had tended to bring questions of creed more prominently before the churches, and to emphasize the importance of doctrinal distinctions. The churches and individuals came more and more to consider it a duty to define their position and to range themselves conspicuously on one side or the other of the denomi- national lines, which, abont the beginning of the present century, began to be closely drawn. The questions which finally ended in the division of the Congregational body into Unitarian and Trinitarian

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

were discussed with more carnestness and acrimony. The North Church, from the beginning, had been more Arminian than Calvinist, in tendency, although its pastors had associated in cordial fellowship with their brother clergy of the Calvinistic creed, and even in later times the names of Dr. Symmes and Mr. Loring were on the " Andover Association " (now of Calvinistic and Trinitarian Congregational order). But a strong feeling had grown up in the town that ' sketch.

the First Church was not of the true faith, or sup- porting an Evangelical ministry, and that another church ought to be organized in the North Parish for the accommodation of individuals of the First Church who were not in sympathy with its prevailing tone, and for persons of Calvinistic faith, who had become residents of the parish, but had not removed their connection from the churches in the respective towns of their former residence.

The South and West Churches and the Church of the Theological Seminary favored this movement, and aid was pledged by the Home Missionary Society. Subscriptions were obtained among the churches of the county and a meeting-house was erected in North Andover, a little cast of the North meeting-house. The house of worship was dedicated September 4, 1834, and on the same day the Evangelical Church was organized. It consisted of tbirty-one members ; seven of whom were from the First Church, fourteen from the South Parish. The others were from churches in various towns, but probably nearly all residents of North Andover.

The church was supplied with preachers for some ' months by the neighboring churches. In 1835, Sep- tember 9th, the first minister was settled-the Rev. Jesse Page.

In 1865 the original house of worship at the centre of the town was abandoned, and a new and commo- dions church edifice was built in the Machine-shop Village.

The names of the ministers are as follows: Rev. Jesse Page, graduate of Dartmouth College 1831, of Andover Theological Seminary 1835; Rev. William T. Briggs, graduate of Oberlin Institute 1844, or- dained in North Andover November 4, 1846 ; Rev. Levi 11. Cobb, graduate of Dartmouth College 1854, Andover Theological Seminary 1857, ordained at North Andover October 28, 1857; Rev. Benjamin F. Hamilton, graduate of Amherst College 1861, An- dover Theological Seminary 1864, ordained at North Andover June 28, 1805; Rev. Rutus (. Flagg, gradu- ate of Middle bury College, Vt., installed at North Andover September 26 1872; Rev. George Pierce, graduate of Dartooth College 1863, installed at North Andde ver October 16, 1878.

The Mowing douches have been organized in North Vedover in :dl jon to those already men- trum 1. Methodist Epocopal Church, 1545; Roman Carte Je Church, 1565 , Protestant Episcopal Church, 18>C.

CIVIL AND MILITARY .- The civil and military movements of North Andover are for a long series of years so intimately connected with the entire town, as originally founded, that it is difficult to deal with either precinct or parish separately. The events, however, which occurred on the territory of North Andover, and the persons who took an active part in them may with propriety be referred to in this

The first town-meeting, according to the records, was held in 1656 at the house of John Osgood. The freeholders were expected to attend these meetings and were fined for absence. Perfect order was pre- served in these assemblies ; and it was ordered that if any man speak in town-meeting after silence com- manded twice by the moderator, he shall forfeit twelve pence. Care was taken that the metes and bounds of the various estates should be preserved ac- curately by inspection every three years. The disci- pline with regard to seats in the meeting-house was severe. Young persons were not allowed abroad on Saturday or Sunday nights, and no entertainments could be given after nine o'clock. The settlement of mechanics and tradesmen was especially encouraged ; and the building of mills was favored greatly. In 1686 Henry Ingalls was allowed to set up a saw-mill on Musketoc River ; and in 1695 Samuel Osgood, John Abbot, Sr., Joseph and Henry Chandler, had liberty granted them to erect a saw-mill on Cochiche- wiek Brook two or three rods above the lower ford way, probably near the site of the North Andover Woolen Mills.

An act was passed June, 1801, by the General Court requiring the treasurer of the proprietors of Andover to pay over one-half of all the moneys and estate which was or may hereafter be in his hands as treasurer unto the trustees of the Free School in the North Parish in Andover for instruction in the school.

In 1765 it was voted that :

"Thereas, sundry of the inhabitants of the town are threatened with injuries and almses from riotous assemblies said town unanimously voted their utter abhorrence of all such violent and extraordinary proceed- ings ; and that the selectmen, the militia officers and magistrates of the town be desired to use their utmost endeavors agreeable to law to sup- press the same ; and that the freeholders and other iuhabitants will do everything in their power to assist them therein."

In 1765 a committee, consisting of Colonel James Fryc, Moody Bridges, Peter Osgood, Colonel John Osgood and others, residents of North Andover, ad- dressed the following instructions :

" To Sumnel Phillips, Esq., Representative for the town of Andover in his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay :

"SIR, We, the frecholders and other inhabitants of said town, legally assembled in town-meeting on said day, to consider what may be proper on our part to be done at this critical juneinre, being a time we appre- hend that we and the rest of his Majesty's subjects of this province, as well as those of the other provinces and colonies in British America, are by sundry acts of Parliament of Great Britain, especially by an act commonly called the Stamp Act, in danger of being not only reduced to such indigent circumstances as will render us unable to manifest our loyalty to the Crown of Great Britain, os upon all occasions we have heretofore done, by cheerfully exhibiting our substance for the defence of the British dominions in this part of the world ; but of being deprived

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NORTHI ANDOVER.

of some of our most valuable privileges which by charter and loyalty we have always thought and still think ourselves justly entitled to ;

" Therefore we take it to be a duty justly due to ourselves and poster- ity to instruct you, that you do not give your assent to any art of Assem- bly that shall signify any willingness in your constituents to sul nut toany internal taxes that are under any colour imposed otherwise than by the General Court of this province, agreeable to the constitution of this gov- ernment : That you join in such dutiful remonstrances to the King und Parliament and other becoming meusmes us shall carry the greatest probability to obtain a repeal of the Stamp Act, and an alleviation of the embarrassments, the commercial affairs of this province labour under by the vigorous execution of the acts of Parliament respecting the same ; and we also desire you to use your utmost endeavors that all extraordi- nary grants and expensive measures may upon all occasions as much as possible be avoided ; and we would recommend particularly the strictest care and the ntmrost firmness to prevent all unconstitutional draughts upon the public treasury ; that you would use your best endenvors, in conjunction with the other members of the General C'ourt, to suppress all riotons unlawful assemblies, and to prevent all' unlawful acts of violence npou the persons and substance of his Majesty's subjects in this Province,"

In 1756 the following expression of sympathy with the sufferers during the commotion respecting the Stamp Act is honorable to the town : " Being put to vote whether the town will instruct their Representa- tive to use his influence in the Great and General Court of this province that the sufferers in the late troublesome times in Boston may have a consideration paid them out of the Province Treasury, or such other way as said Court shall judge to be most fit and equitable : " it passed in the affirmative.

In 1768 it was voted that Samnel Phillips, Capt. Peter Osgood, Col. James Frye and others be a com- mittee to consider some measures that may tend to encourage prudence and manufactures and to lessen the use of superfluities in the town, and report at the annual meeting of the town in May next. The com- mittee appointed reported : "That in order to securing to ourselves and transmitting to posterity these invaluable rights and privileges, both civil and relig- ious, which have been dearly purchased by our predecessors, the first settlers of this country, the loss of which is greatly threatened by the great and grow- ing imprudences and immoralities among ns,-The committee are humbly of the opinion that it is abso- lutely necessary that the inhabitants of this town use their utmost endeavors, and that they enforce their endeavors by their example, for the suppressing of ex- travagance, idleness and vice, and for the promoting of industry, economy and good morals ; and by all prudent means endeavor to diseountenance the im- portation and use of foreign superfluities, and to promote and encourage manufactures in the town." The above report was unanimously accepted by the town.

In 1770, " The town, taking into consideration the distresses this province is laboring under by the operation of a late act of Parliment imposing duties on tea, paper, glass, ete., made and passed for the express purpose of raising a revenue in the American Colonies without their consent, which we apprehend is oppressive, repugnant to the natural and constitu- tional rights of the people, contrary both to the spirit and letter of the royal Charter granted by their majesties William and Queen Mary to the inhabitants

of this province, whereby are ordained and establish- ed the having and enjoying all liberties and immuni- ties of free and natural born subjects ; and subversive of the great and good designs of our most worthy ancestors, who crossed the ocean, willingly exposed themselves to every danger, parted with their blood and treasure, suffered hunger, cold and nakedness, and every other hardship human nature is capable of, to purchase and defend a quiet habitation for themselves and posterity; Therefore voted, nemine contradicente.

"1. That it is the duty of every friend of liberty and to the British con- stitution to use all legal measures to prevent, if possible, the execution of said act, and would embrace this opportunity to express our warmest gratitude to the merchants and other gentlemen of Boston and other trading towns in this province for the regular, constitutional and spirited measures pursued by them, from principles truly generous, for repelling tyranny and oppression and establishing those rights for themselves and country which they are entitled to as men and as Englishmen.

"2. That we will, by all legal and constitutional measures in our power, support and encourage the nou importation agreement of the merchants ; and that we will have no commercial or social connexions. directly or indirectly, with those persons who, as enemies to the country, divested of every public virtue, and even of humanity itself, regardless of and deaf to the miseries and calamities which threaten this people, preferring their own private interest to the liberty und freedom of the community, are sordidly endeavoring to counteract such benevolent and saintary agreement.

"3. That we will encourage frugality, industry and the manufactures of this country ; and that we will not make use of any foreign tea, or snffer it to be used in our families (case of sickness alone excepted), until the act imposing a duty ou that article be repealed and a general impor- tation take place."

In 1774 it was,-

" Resolved, That no person in this town who has heretofore been concerned in vending tea, or any other persuo, may, on any pretence whatever, either sell himself, or be accessory to selling, any tea of foreign importation, while it remains hurthened with a duty, under penalty of incurring the town's displeasure."

In December, 1774, it was,-

" Resolved, That it is the indispensable duty of this town to conform and firmly adhere to the Association of the Grand American Continental Congress, and to the resolve of the Provincial Congress of the 5th of De- cember, thereto relating ; and in order that this may be thoroughly ef- fected, that the inhabitants of the town of the age of twenty-one years and upwards subscribe to the following agreement, viz. :

" We, the subscribers, having attentively considered the Association of the Grand American Continental Congress, respecting the non-impor- tation, non-exportation and non-consumption ot goods, etc., signed by the Delegates of this and other colonies on the Continent, and the re- solve of the Provincial Congress of the 5th of December thereto relating, do heartily approve the same and every part of them; and in order to make said Association resolve our own personal act, Do, by these pres- ents, under the sacred ties of virtue, honor and love of our country, firmly agree aod associate fully and completely to observe and keep all and every article and clause in sid Association, and resolve contained, ac- cording to the true intent, meaning and letter thereof, and will duly inform and give notice of every evasion or contravention of either, as far as we are able ; and we further covenant that if any person or per- sous of the age of twenty-one years und upwards shall neglect or refuse to subscribe this agreement, when tendered to him or them, that we will withdraw all commerce, trade or dealing from such, so long ns they shall continue thus inimical to the public good, and that their names shall be entered on the records of this town and published in the Essex Gazette as enemies to their country."

January 2, 1775, a committee was appointed, of which Colonel James Frye, Colonel Samuel Johnson, Captain John Farnum and Moody Bridges were members, to observe that the resolves of the Grand American and Provincial Congresses be strictly ad- hered to. The instructions to the committee require them to-

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

"l'se their utmost endeavours that the non-consumption agreement be strictly adhered to; to encourage the people to improve the breed of sheep and to increase their number; to encourage frugality, economy and industry, and promote agriculture, arts and manufactures, and dis- countenance and discourage every species of extravagance and dissipa- tion , and that they recommend' to the people of the town that they, on the death of any near relations, go into no further mourning dress than a black crape or ribbon on the arm or hat for men, and a black ribbon or neckInce for women ; that sail Committee inspect the merchanty and trader- in this town, and give information to the public of all persons as shall violate the Ninth article of the Association by advancing the price of their goods ; that they apply to all merchants and traders in this town humediately after the tenth day of October next, and take a full inven- tury of all the goods, wares and merchandlize which shall then be in their hands, and shall require them to offer no more of those goods for sale ; and if any merchant, trader or others shall refuse to have an inventory taken, or shall offer for sale after the teuth of October aforesaid any such goods, wares or merchandhize, the Committee is directed to take the goods Into their possession, at the risque of the proper owners, until the repeal of the Acts referred to, and publish the names of such refractory mer- chants or traders, that they may meet with the merits of enemies to their country ; and the town doth hereby engage to assist and support said committee in the discharge of their trust ; that the Committee inspect the conduct of every person in the town touching the aforestid Associa- tion ; that if any person or persons shall wilfully violate said Associa- tiuti, that the majority of said Committee canse the name of such person or persons forthwith to be published in the Gazette, to the end that all wuch fors to the rights of British America may be publicly known ; and it is further recommended to said Committee that they act in every re- spect as it shall appear to them to be their duty as a Committee of inspec- tion, whose duty is more fully pointed out in the Continental Associa- tion and Provincial Resolves."

June 12, 1776, the question being put, " Whether, should the Honorable Congress, for the safety of the colonies, declare them independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, you will solemnly engage with your lives and fortunes to support them in the measure," it passed in the affirmative unanimously.

Oct. Sd, 1776, it was voted to support the House of Representatives, should they conclude to submit a constitution and form of government for the State to the people thereof.

In 1777 the town voted to supply the families of non-commissioned officers and private soldiers belong- ing to this town, that are engaged in the Continental army, with the necessaries of life, that their circum- stances may require, agreeable to a resolve of the General Court.

July 2. 1779, Mr. Sam'I Osgood, Mr. Sam'] Phillips, Jr., Mr. John Farnum and Mr. Zebediah Abbot, were elected delegates " to attend at the convention to be halden at Cambridge, on September next, for the pur- pose of forming a Constitution of Government."

The conduct of the town during the Revolutionary War was most exemplary. There was great unan- imity of feeling and a resolute determination to stand by the patriot canse. In raising men and taking care of their families, the town was patriotic, charitable aml liberal. And the persons to whom the work was er trestel had the entire confidence of the people. The sentiments of the town were expressed in the results which have been already quoted.

In the French and Indian Wars which preceded, and in the Revolutionary War, which followed the adoption of these resolves, North Andover took an important and conspicuous part. Iler soldiers in the

French War were in almost every engagement; her officers were able, efficient and distinguished. Col. James Frye, who seems to have been a leading man in the town, commenced at Crown Point that career as a commander which culminated in the Revolutionary War.

Col. Joseph Frye, who was conspienous in the de- struction of Aeadia, commenced in this war his long and brilliant career of service. His house in North Andover stood near the famous elm-tree planted by Chaplain Frye when he departed with Lovewell's expedition. He had command of a small body of troops outside Fort William Henry, when the disas- trous attack was made on it by Montcalm with his savages. He fought the enemy in front, opposed capitulation in the rear, and slew the savage who led him forth a prisoner to torture and death.

" In the massacre which followed the surrender he was dragged into the woods, stripped of his clothes, except his shirt, and was nhont to be murdered, when, in the sudden strength of desperation, he sprang upon his foe, all unarmed and naked as he was, beat down and dispatched the warrior who was already exulting in his anticipated scalping. Three days he wandered through the forests in a state bordering on distraction, suffering in body and mind from the long protracted horrors of the fight, the terrible scenes of the missicre and his perils and exposure. At last he found his way back to Fort Edward in a most pitable condi- tion, half starved und nearly crazed, and in the same naked condition in which he had escaped from the savage. But with tender nursing he regained strength of body and mind, and lived to render more valiant service in the war, and in the Revolution he received the commission of brigadier-general."

A petition was granted him to purchase land in the region of the Saco and Ossipee Rivers, and about 1770 he settled there with some associates from Andover. On May 23, 1759, John Farnum, of Andover, solic- ited aid from the government on account of his ser- vices in the Canada expedition. John Beverly and others made a similar application, and their applica - tions were successful.

The prominent officers in the French and Indian War from North Andover were Captain Joseph Frye, Lieutenant-Colonel James Frye, Colonel Moody Bridges, Surgeon Ward Noyes, Captain John Farnum, Captain Thomas Farrington and Captain Abiel Frye.

The military experience of the French and Indian War soon proved to be most valuable to the colonies, in the great conflict out of which the independence of this country was secured. As it became necessary to defend the principles avowed by the citizens of North Andover in the resolves and instructions they adopted, the soldiers and officers of the English and American forces in the French War came to the front with their skill and courage, and the declarations of the town were renewed with greater force. New names appeared, it is true, but many a familiar form presented itself ready for the new conflict. Into the councils of the town entered Samuel Phillips and Samuel Osgood, and in martial array stood Gen. James Frye with his military training and his soldierly genius; Col. Moody Bridges with his fervid popular

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NORTH ANDOVER.

oratory and his courage and resolution ; Capt. Peter O-good, Capt. John Farnum, Capt. Henry Ingalls with their old comrades-in.aims. Samuel Phillips had spoken the voice of the young men of the town when he declared, "We must watch against every encroach- ment and with the fortitude of calm, intrepid resolu- tion oppose them. Unborn generations will either bless us for our activity and magnanimity, or curse us for our pusillanimity." His successor in the House of Representatives, Col. Bridges was instructed as to his duty in language somewhat familiar to himself, in which it was declared, "May all that is dear in nature defend us, and not only us, but our domesticities that are possessed of the least degree of feeling, from such an inquisition." Col. Bridges was sent to the First Provincial Congress which met in Salem, September, 1774. A Committee of Inspection for the town was chosen January 2, 1775, to see that the resolves of the Continental and Provincial Congresses were adhered to, and "to inspect the conduct of every person in the town touching the aforesaid association." On this committee were Col. James Frye, Col. Samuel John- son, Ensign Joshua Holt, Capt. John Farnum, Col. Moody Bridges, Ensign Stephen Holt, Samuel Frye and Lieut. John Ingalls. A Committee of Safety was also appointed, on which the names of those who have appeared so often are repeated.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 166

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