History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 25

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 25

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On the same day that the order for the election of a constable was adopted, the court also voted to grant leave to Marblehead to "'fortify itself by a breast- worke or otherwise,' and directed two guns to be de- livered unto them with convenient ammunition thereto." It is uncertain whether this order was ex- cented by the refractory Marbleheaders, but that they were not considered as sufficiently instructed in the arts of war, in accordance with the laws of the colony, is evident from the following order adopted on the 23d of May :

" In consideration of the great default and neglect of the inhabitants of Marblehead in Not exercising themselves in Martial discipline, it is ordered that the inhabitants of Marblehead shall make choyce of some one who shall exercise the rest, that they may not be to seeke wben spe- cial occasions call for their assistance."

CHAPTER LXXVIII.

MARBLEHEAD-( Continued.)

Incorporatam of the Town-Dicisum of the Common Lands - Customs of Fishermen-Ordination of Rev. Samuel Cheever-Township Purchasei of the Indians-A Trial for Witchcraft.

THE year 1648 was one of the most momentous in the entire history of Marblehead. Early in March, the town of Salem ordered :

" That Marblehead with the allowance of the General Court shall he a town, and the bounds to be to the utmost extent of the land which was Mr. Humphries' farine, and sve all the land to the sea."

On the 2d of May, 1649, the General Court granted the petition of the inhabitants, and the town was duly incorporated as follows :

" Upon the petition of the inhabitants of Marblehead for them to be a town of themselves, Salem having granted them to be a town of them- Kelves, and Appointed them the bounds of their town which the Court doth grant."

Shortly after the separation from Salem, a meeting of the inhabitants was held, and the following town officers were chosen, or as the record faintly expresses it, " these men were chosen for the towns business : "

"Seven men or Selectnien : - Moses Maverick, Samuel Daliber, Francia Johnson, Nicholas Merritt, John Peach, Senior, Jobn Deverox, John Barto]]."

" To gather Mr. Walton's Pay. - James Smith, Joseph Doliber. "

This was probably the first meeting of the inhabi- tants after the action of the town of Salem, though there is no record of the date on which it was hekl, except that of the year.

The earliest date in the town records, is that of a meeting held December 22, 1648, when it was :

"agreed by the Towne that all such as are strangers fishing or employed about fish shall pay unto the Towne for their wood and flake stufe nud other conveniencies, the sum of ten shillings a year for every man."

By the records of this year, it appears that the in- habitants acted as an independent town before ob- taining the aet of incorporation, and that in antici-

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pation of the event they were busy in settling and arranging their affairs. The swamp running from John Legg's to Timothy Allen's, was laid out into eight lots and divided among the inhabitants. A rate was made for the meeting-house, and John Hart was authorized to collect it and to " take what course the law will afford against such inhabitant as shall refuse to pay." In order that there might be an equal way of " maintaining the ordinance by Mr. Walton," it was agreed that " a rate should be established accord- ing to requite." This rate was to include strangers, " Who have benefit by the plantation by fishing, and make use of wood and timber, and enjoy the benefit of the ordinance." Mr. Walton was to have forty pounds for his services this year, and the sum of eighteen pence was ordered to be added to every man's rate for his wood.

The earlier records of the town refer principally to the common lands, cow leases, land sales, etc., though occasionally there are very quaint entries to be found. In March, 1657,

" It Is ordered that all swine about the towne shall be sufficiently ringed by the first of Aprill next, upon the penaltie of 26. 6d. for every defect, and Edward Pittsford is to see this order to be observed."

In 1658 the town had evidently increased in num- bers, and had been blessed with prosperity to a greater degree than had ever been its fortune before. Mr. Walton's salary was increased to seventy pounds, and varied afterward from sixty pounds to eighty pounds yearly. This money was usually collected by persons chosen annually at the town meetings for the purpose, and those who had not the ready money to pay, were allowed to make up the amount of their proportion of the rate in provisions.

Mr. Walton rendered an account yearly of the amount received from each person, and these reports abound in such names as "Ould Harwood, Oukt Lander, Ould Bennett," and others equally as curious. Occasionally in these reports we find such items as these :

" By half a cow of Mr. Brown, £2. 28. 6d. ; by 1/2 ton of Muckroel, E5. ; by Richard Rowland in pork, $2; by smith in cheese, 13 shillings ; by Christo, C'odner in liquor, 15 shillings."

At this time the only public conveyance to and from Salem, was a ferry-boat which was rowed across Salem harbor as often as there were passengers who desired to cross, the fare being regulated by a town meeting as " two pence for the inhabitants of Marble- head." Thomas Dixie was the ferryman, and he was required to keep a boat and an assistant.

In 1660 there were only sixteen houses in the entire township. During that year the inhabitants voted to lay out a highway between Marblehead and Salem, which is the first of which there is any record. Seven ich were made choice of " for the placing and seat- ing of the inhabitants of the town, both men and women in the meeting-house," and it was agreed that the townsmen have liberty to consider what way is to be taken for the accommodation and entertainment

of strangers, if it cannot be that one house is suffi- cient, then to consider of another, that strangers may be the better accommodated."

The following year the court invested the commis- sions with-

"Magistritticall power, refering to Salem and Marblehead, Ibere being more than ordinary need theroof, that iniquity may not pass unpunished."

One of these commissioners was Major William Ilathorne, who, for several years previous had been a magistrate of Salem and several other towns, and who now appears to have assumed special charge of Marblehead. Before this august personage the se- leet-men summoned several of the most prominent citizens, for refusing to keep their cattle in accordance with a vote of the town.

In March, 1662, a contract was made with Robert Knight and John Salter, carpenters, to build a gal- lery at the south west of the meeting-house. "Sufficient for four seats, with columns, and a board at the bot- tom to keep the dust from coming down; and to be arched sufficient to strengthen the house with stairs and other necessaries." For this labor the Selectmen agreed to pay them twenty-one pounds " in such nec- essaries as they should have occasion of," and, if when the work was ended, they had any of the pay to take up, the balance was to be paid in fish or mackrel at the market price.

At a town meeting held October 21, the commoners agreed " that the cove lying between Joli Codners and John Northies stage, shall be for a common landing- place for the use of the public good of the town for- ever." The agreement was signed by Moses Maverick, Joseph Dolier, John Peach, Senior, Christoph. Latte- more, John Waldron, John Codner, John Bartoll and live others, who were probably all of the Commoners, who could write, and signed in the name of the rest.

"The records of this period abound in allusions to those who were appointed to keep the cows. In Feb- mary, 1663, an agreement was made with John Stacie to "keep the cattell the year ensuing, and to fetch the cattell of the lower end of the towne at William Charles by the sunn half an hour hie and to deliver them their at night, half an hour before sunn sett." If any were lost he was to use his endeavors to find them the next day, and for his services he was to re- ceive corn and provisions to the value of sixteen pounds. The searcity of money among the inhabitants cannot be more truly illustrated than in this and numerous other votes to pay the town's indebtedness to individuals in provisions, fish and other articles. In their intercourse with the outside world they were obliged to barter to an almost unlimited extout. Depending entirely upon the fishing trade for their sustenance, they had little else to offer for the commo- dities of which they were in need, and their fish be- came almost their only medium of exchange.

In 1666, the court, considering the exposed condi- tion of the harbor of Marblehead, voted that if the inhabitants would erect a suitable fort or breastwork,

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MARBLEHEAD.

their country rate should be abated, and that two or three guns should be furnished as soon as the fortifi- cation was finished. That the fishermen might be drilled and disciplined in military movements and tacties, the court ordered that a company should be organized, and Major Hathorne was appointed com- mander, with Samuel Ward as Sergeant. The fort was finished the following year, the cost to the town being about thirty-two pounds, New England money.

The year 1667 proved disastrous to the people of Marblehead. Owing to the inclemency of the weather luring most of the season when fish were plenty they were unable to venture out in their boats to any dis- tance, and in several instances those who did so were lost. The court therefore, with considerate sympathy, voted to abate their proportion of the county tax for one year.

In October, 1668, William Walton, the faithful and zealous missionary, died, after having served his Master and the poor people of Marblehead for a period of thirty years. Coming to them as a mission- ary to preach the Gospel, he became, without ordi- nation as a clergyman, a loving pastor, a faithful friend, and a wise and prudent counselor. His advice was sought on all matters of public or private im- portance, and when obtained, was usually followed without question. His loss was felt as a public be- reavement by the entire community.

Mr. Walton was succeeded in his noble work by Mr. Samuel Cheever, a young man who but a few years before had graduated at Harvard College with the highest honors. The meeting-house had recently heen repaired, and the young preacher was received with marked attention and every possible evidence of respect. The town voted to pay him £40 for his ser- vices the first six months, and after that £80 yearly.

In March, 1669, another gallery was built at the north-eastern end of the meeting-house, Robert Knight, Francis Collings and Jeremiah Neal being the builders. The contract was, that the gallery should be built with "five seats, stairs and other necessaries as the other gallery was," and the car- penters were to receive €23 New England money for their services.

The road leading to the Great Neck was evidently laid out during this year, as on the 18th day of De- cember it was voted that "on the next convenient day as many of the commoners and proprietors as can shall see that a convenient way may be laid out for drift of cattle to the Neck on the other side of the great harhor."

To the early settlers, and for many years, the har- hor was known as the "Great Bay," or "Great Har- bor," while the cove at the lower end of the town, known as " Little Harbor," was on account of its con- venience, and because it was so much nearer the settlement used almost exclusively as the harbor.

On the 6th of April, 1672, the town "ordered by general consent that a 'Lentoo' be built adjoining

to the back side of the meeting-house, twenty foot in breadth and forty foot in length, with three gable ends in the same, with timber work," etc. The build- ing of this addition to their honse of worship was the cause of great controversy and disagreement among the inhabitants. The town voted to instruct the selectmen to "seat the men and women in the 'Lentoo,"' but after vainly endeavoring to assign seats to the fault-finding and jealous worshipers, they declined to have anything to do with the matter, and were with difficulty persuaded not to resign their offices as selectmen. The disagreement now assum- ing the phase of a downright quarrel, a town meeting was called, and the matter was put into the hands of a committee, consisting of Mr. Maverick, Mr. John Devereux, John Peach, Senior, and Nicholas Merritt. These men were fully empowered "to seat the Len- too men and women in ye seats, cut an alley-way through ye ould part, dispose of any persons who shall want seats or lose their seats by means of ye alley, in ye most convenient places in ye ould or new part, and rectify any disorders with due care that such as have been formerly seated may keep their places as many as conveniently can." It was also ordered, for "ye regulating and preventing of dis- orders in seats," that Richard Norman should have power to " look after all persons, men and women, that they keep their seats upon penaltie of two shillings, five pence for every single offence upon every Sabbath day." These fines were to be "destrained upon legal warning given to the parties offending," and one-third of the amount was to be given to Mr. Norman, and the remainder to be appropriated for the poor of the town.

However sadly the inhabitant may have disagreed in regard to the seating of the "lentoo," as they termed the addition, it is evident that the day on which it was raised was one of general rejoicing. Those who are familiar with New England customs in the olden time know that it was thought next to impossible to have a "house raising," without ex- tending an invitation to the entire community to as- sist. These occasions were generally observed as holidays, and were devoted by the younger people to merry-making and the most joyous festivities. The wine and other liquors flowed freely, and, while many partook of the beverage temperately, an opportunity was given to the weak and thoughtless to indulge in a reckless round of dissipation and drunkenness. The raising of the lean-to was no exception to the general custom. In the report of the expenses incident to the occasion we find the following item : " l'aid for rum and charges about fish at raising the Leantoo at the Meeting-House, £4 28. 6d."

The custom of using intoxicating liquors as a beverage, which prevailed throughout New England until a comparatively recent date, was one of the be- setting sins of the people of Marblehead from its ear- liest settlement. Not a vessel went from its harbor,

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

whether for a long trip to the " Banks " or for a few days fishing in the bay, without a plentiful supply of liquor. Not a vessel arrived with a fare of fish with- out providing " something to take" for washing-out day. The custom was so universal that even at the town-meetings liquor was provided as a matter of course.

As a consequence many persons were disorderly, and the meetings were frequently disturbed.

In 1674 the town had increased to such an extent that there were then one hundred and fourteen house- holders, whose names with their common age are re- corded in the records. At a town-meeting, held dur- ing this year, it was voted that "all these fifteen or sixteen houses built in Marblehead, before ye year 1660, shall be allowed one cows common and a halfe."

nists and the Indians, known as King Philip's War broke out. This terrible and bloody war lasted three years, and ended only at the death of King Philip. The whites bad so diminished before its close that they began seriously to apprehend total extinction. During the year 1677, while the war was at its height, two Indians were brought as captives to Marblehead. Their fate is thus portrayed by Mr. Increase Mather in a letter dated 23d of fifth month, 1677,-

" Sabbath night was srnnight, the women at Marblehead, as they Cathe ont of the meeting-house, fell upon two Indians that were brought in as captives, and in a tumultuous way, very barbarously murdered them. Doubtless if the Indians bear of it the captives among them will be served accordingly.

The first school in town, of which there is any record, was opened in 1675, Mr. Edward Humphries being the teacher, and receiving forty pounds yearly for his services.

In March, 1679. it was agreed at a town-mecting "that Robert Knight shall be clearly requited and discharged from paying his Town Rates during his life for his workmanship done in the meeting-house in building the gallery. It was also voted at the same meeting " that Robert Knight hath libertie for to flow the ferry Swamps as to the benefit of his mill, and it is to continue during the townes pleasure." These votes illustrate the impulsive and generous disposition of the people of Marblehead, traits which have characterized their descendants to a marked de- gree ever since. But a few years before the passage of these votes, Mr. Knight, in building the lean-to, had found it nere sary to cut away a post under the gallery. For this he was severely censured, and ordered to replace it under a heavy penalty. Natur- ally rosenting the indignity he delayed his work somewhat, and the town voted if it were not com- deted before a certain date "to sue him, and to prosecute him from tourt to Court until the case was ende l" Like many others who have suffered from the lo porary unpopularity which their actions have occasioned, Mr Knight lived to see the excitement of

his fellow-citizens abate, and had the pleasure of ex- periencing the popular reaction in his favor, of which the votes were an evidence.

Sailors and fishermen are proverbial for their sym- pathy and disinterested benevolence in behalf of the distressed. The people of Marblehead have ever been a conspicuous example of this elass of men, and their generosity and good-heartedness is shown on nearly every page of their history. A vote passed by the commoners in 1682, gives an evidence of their kindness which should serve as an example worthy of emulation by their posterity. . Richard Reed, a man advanced in years, having forfeited his land for a fish-fence, by being in arrears for rent, the town " voted in consideration of his age and losses, that he might pay two pounds, and the rest should be abated ; and that he should enjoy the privilege of using the

In 1675 the war between the Massachusetts Colo- | land for a fish-fence for the rest of his natural life."

The year 1684 was made memorable by the public ordination of Mr. Cheever, and the organization of a church in Marblehead. Mr. Cheever had been preaching for sixteen years, and the number of com- municants had increased to fifty-four, who were in the habit of going to Salem to have the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper administered. This having been found inconvenient, a vote was passed by the congregation, after the afternoon ser- vice on the 6th of July, to request Mr. Cheever to be ordained, and to take measures for the organization of a church. On the 16th of July a solemn fast was observed for the blessing of God on the undertaking. the exercises being conducted by the Rev. Mr. Hall, of Beverly. The ordination took place on the 13th of August in the presence of the Deputy Governor, five of the assistants, twenty elders and a large con- course of people.

For some time previous to the period of which we are writing, certain Indians, heirs of the squaw sa- chem of Saugus, had presented claims of ownership in the lands comprised in the township of Marble- head, and after several years of controversy it was decided to hold a town-meeting and take appropriate action in regard to the matter. Accordingly on the 14th of July a meeting was held, and Moses Maver- ick, John Devereux, Captain Samuel Ward, Thaddeus Ridden, William Beal, Richard Read and Nathaniel Waltown, with the selectmen, were chosen a commit- tee to investigate the matter and search after the pretended claims. Messrs. John Devereux and Samuel Ward, as a sub-committee, were authorized to pur- chase the land and take a deed of it in the name of the town in case the claim should be found valid. The committee reported that the claim was valid, and that they had purchased the land. The town therefore appointed a committee, one of whom was the Rev. Samuel theever, to " proportion each Mans part according to his privilege in the township." The committee, after attending to the duty assigned them, reported that after "proportioning the amount by

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cow leases, they found it to amount to nine pence per cow in money."

Passing over the events of the intervening years between 1684 and '92, of which there is no record of any importance, we come to the period when the great witchcraft delusion spread with such terrible and deadly effect among the people of Essex County. The people of Marblehead, credulous and supersti- tions as were the inhabitants of nearly all maritime towns, listened with awe to the tales of distress which were brought, from time to time, from their neighbors in Salem, and, clustered about their firesides or in the shops along the shore, whispered of ghosts and gob- lins, and tokl blood-curdling tales of the sea.

At this time there lived in Marblehead an oldl woman, the wife of a fisherman, of whose supernat- ural powers many weird and dreadful stories had been told. " Mammy Red " was considered a witch, and had been known to afflict those whom she disliked in various ways. To some she sent sickness and distress by wishing that a "bloody cleaver" might be found on the cradles of their infant children ; and it was said that whenever the wish was uttered the cleaver was distinctly seen, and the children sickened and died. At other times, it was said, she caused the milk to curdle in the milk-pail as soon as it had left the cow ; and numerous instances were cited to prove that she had often caused the butter churned by her enemies to turn to "blue wool."

In spite of the grievous manner in which they be- lieved themselves afflicted, the kind-hearted people of Marblehead had made no complaint to the author- ities of the matter, and it was reserved for several deluded young women of Salem, who had already cansed much suffering in that community hy their ready accusations, to cause her arrest and imprison- ment. Early in the month of May, 1692, a warrant was issued by John Hathorne and Jonathan Curwin, two of the assistants, for the arrest of Wilmot Read, wife of Samnel Read, of Marblehead, who was charged with having "committed sundry acts of witchcraft on the bodies of Mary Walcot and Mercy Lewis, and others, of Salem Village, to their great hurt," etc. The examination took place on the 31st of May, at the house of Lieutenant Nathaniel Inger- soll, of Salem. After listening patiently to the evi- dence the grand jury brought in two indictments against the woman. In one she was charged with " certain detestable arts called witchcraft and sorceries wickedly, maliciously and feloniously used, practiced and exercised at and in the town of Salem. . . . in, upon and against one Eliza Booth of Salem, single woman, by which said wicked arts ye said Eliza Booth was tortured, afflicted, consumed, pined, wasted and tormented." The other indictment charged her with practicing her " detestable arts " npon one Eliza Hubbard, of Salem.

After the examination usual in such cases at the time, with no defense, save her own vehement pro-

testations of innocence, the poor woman was con- demned and sentenced to be hanged. She was exe- ented at Gallows Hill, Salem, on the 22d of Septem- ber.

CHAPTER LXXIX.

MARBLEHEAD-(Continued).

Suju rstitions Beliefs -The Screeching Woman-Weird Legends-St. Michael Church - New Meeting-House Built- Marbleheerd in 1714- The Marble- head Dialect-Semmen Captured by Pirates.

IN the preceding chapter an evidence has been given of the superstition of the people of Essex County at the time of the ever-memorable witchcraft delusion, but it would be almost impossible to relate half the superstitions traditions firmly believed by the inhabitants of Marblehead then and for more than a century after.

Stories of phantom ships seen at sea before the loss of a vessel ; of the appearance on the water of loved ones who had died at home; footsteps and voices heard mysteriously in the still hours of the night, coming as warnings from another world; signs and omens which foretold the approaching death of some member of a family, or prophecies whispered by the wind that those away on the mighty deep would find a watery grave.

These, and other stories of pirates met on the seas and smugglers who secreted their treasures along the shore, formed the burden of conversation during the long winter evenings. Of the many traditions of this kind, told with simple faith and sincere belief by our ancestors, few have come down to their descendants, and of these, the story of the screeching woman is perhaps the most vividly remembered. It was said that during the latter part of the seventeenth century a Spanish ship laden with rich merchandise was cap- tured by pirates and brought into the harbor of Mar- blehead. The crew and every person on board the ill-fated ship had been murdered at the time of the capture, except a beautiful English lady, whom the ruflians brought on shore near what is now called Oakum Bay, and there barbarously murdered her. The few fishernien who inhabited the place were ab- sent, and the women and children who remained could do nothing to prevent the crime. The screams of the victim were loud and dreadful, and her cries of " Lord, save me! oh, Lord Jesus, save me!" were distinctly heard. The body was buried where the crime was perpetrated, and for over one hundred and fifty years, on the anniversary of that dreadful tragedy, the screams of the poor woman were repeated in a voice so shrill and supernatural as to send an indescribable thrill of horror through all who heard them.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 25

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