History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 4

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 4

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1$66. Ancill Dorman. John F. Kimball. Oliver P'. Killam.

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

DANIEL WOOD.

The parents of Mr. Wood were, Lemuel born Oc- tober 25, 1745, and Frances (Tyler), born Novem- ber, 20, 1753; they were married March 21, 1782. From this union there were seven children, and Daniel was the sixth child; he was born February 10, 1793, and when he was but six years of age his father had him helping abont the shop in the making of shoes. Daniel was also brought up on the farm, which at his father's death was encum- bered for about all it was worth, but having a love for the old home, he concluded to remove these claims, and by his industry and economy he soon succeeded.

His education was limited, as he only had the

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

advantages of the common schools of that period. He married first, Maria, daughter of Isaae Barker, November 20, 1820; by this union there was one child, William H. born in the year 1821, who still lives with his father, and is married. Mr. Wood was married the second time to Abigail S. the daughter of Abram Tyler, she died April, 1879; and by this union there were three children,- Maria Louise, Samuel Eaton and Louise Maria. They all died quite young.

CHAPTER LXIV.

TOPSFIELD.

BY SIDNEY PERLEY.

FIRST SETTLEMENT, GENERAL HISTORY, ETC .- The present territory of Topsfield was originally con- tained in Ipswich and Salem. The locality was called by the Indians Shenewemedy, and was the home of one of the clans of the Agawams. The first English settlers called it New Meadows, probably on account of the extensive tracts of meadow land in its immedi- ate vicinity.

The English residents came here as early as 1635. The very first settlers were Allan Perley, an emigrant from England, and ancestor of the Perley family in America ; William Towne, an emigrant from Bristol, England ; Alexander Knight ; Zaecheus Gould, from Hemel Hempstead, England, and ancestor of most of the American Goulds ; John Wildes; John Reding- ton ; George Bunker; Lieut. Francis Peabody, an emigrant from England, and ancestor of the Peabody family in America; Daniel Clark, aneestor of the Topsfield Clarks; William Howard; and others. A very good list of the early settlers, with the dates of their first appearance, has been made up as follows : Thomas Averill, 1664; William Averill, 1666; Thomas Baker, 1661; Francis Bates, 1659; Benjamin Bixby, 1694; Daniel Bourman, 1666; Michael Bowden, 1669; John Bradstreet, 1661; Edmund Bridges, 1659; Thomas Browning, 1661; George Bunker, 1657; Isaac Burton, 1692; Anthony Carroll, 1658; Daniel Clark, 1645; Isaac Cummings, 1652; JJohn Curtis, 1672; John Davis, 1672; Timothy Day, 1679; John Death, 1670; Thomas Dorman, 1661; Michael Dwin- nell, 1668; Isaac Easty, 1658; Zerubabel Endicott, 1695; William Evans, 1661; John French, 1664; Zaecheus Gould, 1638; George Hadley, 1660; Thomas Hobbs, 1664; John Hobson, 1677; John Hovey, 1664; John How, 1661; William Howard, 1650; Samuel Jlowlett, 1658; John Kenney, 1683; Alexan- der Knight, 1645; John Lane, 1676; Jonathan Look, 1678; William Nichols, 1661; Francis Peabody, 1658; Thomas Perkins, 1658; William Perkins, 1655; Allan Perley, 1635; William Prichett, 1668; Abraham Red-

ington, 1645; John Redington, 1649; John Robin- son, 1668; Walter Roper, 1652; Peter Shumway, 1677; Robert Smith, 1661; William Smith, 1657; Matthew Stanley, 1659; William Towne, 1651; Luke Wakling, 1682; James Waters, 1669 ; Philip Welch, 1670; John Wildes, 1658; Josiah Wood, 1695; and Nathaniel Wood, 1693.

The first notice of Topsfield is contained in an order of the General Court, dated on the 4th of the 7th month, 1639. By this order certain lands lying near Ipswich River were granted for a village to the inhab- itants of Salem. Although by this order Salem peo- ple alone had lawful authority to settle there, several families in Ipswich made their homes with the settlers from Salem ; and "the Ipswich people " maintained preaching here for two years before they had liberty to take up grants of land in the settlement. Septem- ber 4, 1643, the General Court ordered that

" Whereas at the Cort houklen at Boston the 4th 7th mo, 1639, there was certaine land lying neare Ipswich Byver granted for a village, eithr to some of the inhabitants of Salem or to some of the inhabitants of Ipswich, who have farmrs ; ear unto the said land, to lee enjoyed by those who first setteled a villige there, they both ppounding fur it to. gethr ; however the order mentioneth onely Salem inhabitants, & forns- much as the said inhabitants of Ipswich, viz .: Mr. Bradstreete, Mr. Symonds, Mr. Whittingham, Mr. Willi. Paine, Mr. Robot Paine, & such othr of Ipswich or Salem as they shall associate to themselves, shall bare lility to bettle a village near the ryver of Ipswich, as it may bee must convenient for them to web the foresaid land shall belong, viz : all that wjeh lyeth near the said ryver (not farinfly granted to any townr or pson), prvide that any of the inhabitants of Salem, who have farmes near unto the said land now granted, shall have liberty for one yeare next Comeing to joyne wth the said village & to have their equall and pportionable privilege in the same ; And wherens Mr. Bradstreete hath liberty granted bim to take his tarme of 50 Inc. in the next Conveniant place that is fit for a farme, to that web is granted to Mr. John Endecott wch may pre judiciall to the said village, it is therefore ordered that the Baid Mr. Bradstreete shall have liberty to take bis said farme of 500 nc. in any other place not yet granted to any towne or pson, nor pindicialf to any plantation mule or to bee made, wth, when hee hath so done & manifested the sumie to this Cort, his aforesuid grant shall fourthwth beo voyde & the said land shall belong to the village before mentioned, to beo disposed of by the inhabitants thereof for the good of the whole."

Most of the early settlers lived on the north side of the river. On the south side the meadows stretched away for a long distance ; some of the upland was un- der cultivation, but most of it was covered by the "Salem woods," when Topsfield had been settled but a few years.

The General Court declare, October 18, 1648, that "the village at the newe medowes at Ipswich is named Toppsfeild."

The population increased, more honses were built, and the little hamlet of a few cottages had become a settlement of some eonscquenee, when the General Court granted it a town charter, as the following eopy of the record shows :

"At a third session of the General Court, held at Boston Oct. 18, 1650 : In ungr to the request of Zachens Gould & William Howard, in the be- halfe of Topsfvild, the Court doth grant that Tupsfeild shall from hence- furth bo a towne, & have power within themselves to order all civill af. faytes, ns other tow nes have." 1

1 Cleaveland says that the date of Incorporation is October 15, 1650. We find that the General Court also order, October 16, 1650, -- " In an- swor to the potition of the inhabitants of Topsfeild, it is ordered by this

973

TOPSFIELD.

The town was called Topsfield, probably from Topesfield, a small parish, about four miles west-north- west from Castle Iledingham, in Essexshire, England, though no reason is known why that name should have been selected, unless some of the early settlers came from that place in England.

The records of the early town meetings are gone, so that the names of the first officers of the town can- not be ascertained. In 1661, however, we have found that " Ensigne Howlett, ffrances Pabodye and John Redington " were chosen selectmen. Lieutenant Francis Peabody was town clerk, probably, from the incorporation of the town until 1682, when John Gould was chosen his successor.

Topsfield was a part of the old sachem, Muschon- omet's, territory ; and although he gave a deed of the land then within the bounds of Ipswich, which in- cluded a part of what was afterwards Topsfield, to John Winthrop, Jr., in 1638, his grandson, Samuel English, made a claim upon the town for the land, claiming title thereto by descent. Upon the pay- ment of three pounds in money, he gave the town a quit-claim deed, bearing date March 28, 170I.

Although the town was incorporated in 1650, its boundaries were not settled for a long time after- ward, with the exception of Rowley. Rowley bounds were fixed so early that their exact location was par- tially forgotten in a few years; and after Boxford was incorporated in 1685, a contention, continuing for forty-six years, ensued before the line was agreed upon. Town meetings were held, committees and at- torneys were appointed, prosecutions were begun in the courts, and the action even of the General Court was repeatedly invoked. The line between Topsfield and Salem was agreed upon in 1659,1 and approved by the General Court in 1664. The Ipswich line was established after a short quarrel. With Wenham, the limits were easily settled, but the duty of the per- ambulators on that side of the town was rather severe. The course which they were compelled to take, as from time to time they went to renew or identify the bounds, carried them through a bog, in which they often got badly mired. . To prevent this discomfort, the line was finally altered by an amicable adjust- ment.

At a town-meeting, held June 10, 1726, a petition signed by Thomas Caves, Edward Putnam, Joseph Knight and five others, praying that the town would grant them liberty to join with some families of Salem, Boxford and Andover, to be set off as a dis- tinct town, was presented. The town would not lis- ten to the petition. However, the petitioners, with the others mentioned, pre-ented their petition to the General Court, which duly considered, and, two years

Jater, granted it. These families, thus set off from the towns named, were incorporated as the town of Middleton June 20, 1728. The four families on the east side of the river, now included within the town of Topsfield, originally belonged to Ipswich. The Lamson and Cummings places were settled nearly as early as the village of Topsfield, and helped to sup- port the ministry at Topsfield from the earliest date. From 1729 to 1774 these families struggled to free themselves from Ipswich, and to be annexed to Tops- field. The town of Ipswich repeatedly opposed their petitions, and at last they asked the General Court that their prayer might be granted. This was satis- factorily answered by the Court, February 11, 1774, when it ordered that the families of Joseph Cum- mings, John Lampson, Israel Clark, Joseph Cum- mings, Jr, John Lampson, Jr., and Thomas Cum- mings, with their lands and buildings, be set to the town of Topsfield. These two instances form the only material changes in the original boundaries of the town.

In 1661 the common lands on the south side of the river were laid out to " m" Bradstreet, m' perkins, Zach- cas Gould, m' Baker, Tho Dorman, franees Pebody, Willi Evens, Daniell Clark, Isaac Cummings, sen", Isae Cummings, jun", Ensigne Howlet, Willi Smith, m' Endicoat, John Wiles, John Redington, Tho Per- kins, Tho Browning, Jacob Towne, Isace Estey, Willi Towne, Edmund Towne, matthew Standly, Anthony Carell, ffrances Bates, John How, Edmond Bridges and Willi Nichols." In 1664 some of the land on the south side of the river still remained undivided. The town voted that this should be granted to the several inhabitants that as-isted in supporting the minister in the following proportion, viz. : those that paid fifty shillings a year were to have one of the larger pieces ; those who paid more than twenty and less than fifty shillings, to have a medium-sized piece ; and those who paid less than twenty shillings, one of the least pieces. Thus it was divided among the following in- habitants, viz. : " John goold, m' thomas baker, danel Clark, thomas dorman, senr, frances pabody, decon hovey, william Eevens, Isack Comings, senr, Isack Comings, iunar, Ensigne howlat, antoni Carol, thomas perkins, thomas browning, thomas averil, thomas hobes, John Redington, John wildes, william smith, Edman bridges, Jacob towne, Isack Este, william towne, Joseph towne, Edman towne, matthew stanle, william nicoles, m' william perkeings, m' Endicot, John how, Robart andros and frances bates."

In 1683 the alarming demand for the surrender of the provincial charter, under a threat of quo warranto in case of refusal, came from Charles 11. On Christ- mas-day of that year the town voted that "We do hereby declare that we are utterly unwilling to yield, cither to the resignation of the Charter, or to any- thing that shall be equivalent thereunto, whereby the foundation thereof shall be weakened." The next year the royal menace was put into execution, and

court that from henceforth the shall bec a towne, & have power within themselves to order all civill affayers, as other townes have, p. Curia." See the Colonial Records of Massachusetts for 1650.

1 For a copy of this agreement see Massachusetts Bay Colony Records for 1001.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the letters-patent of Massachusetts Bay were cancelled by the Court of Chancery. To carry out the arbitrary measures thus begun, James II., in 1686, sent over the notorious Sir E Imund Andros to be governor of the Colony. Two years afterward the king fled to France, and the people, having no more to fear from him, pounced upon Andros and his assistants and sent them back to England. Lieutenant Thomas Baker was chosen by Topsfield to meet and consult with the " eouneil of safety " about resuming the former gov- ment, according to the charter, which was now re- vived. His instructions were " to aet for the public good and welfare and safety of their Colony, prohib- iting any act or anything that may have any tenden- cy to the infringement of any of our charter privil- eges whatsoever."

John Gould, captain of the Topsfield militia com- pany at this time, was arrested and placed in the old jail in Boston, for uttering treasonable words against Andros and his government; but before his trial came on Andros was himself lodged in the same goal, preparatory to treating him to a trip to the mother country, with the advice to stay there. This was in 1689.

Three years later eame the witchcraft delusion. It originated less than five miles from Top-field, and it was not possible that the town should escape. Mrs. Nurse, who was executed at Salem Village, and Mrs. Howe, of Ipswich, were sisters, and natives of Tops- field. Another sister, who married Isaac Esty, lived in Topsfield at the Pierce farm, and another woman, Sarah Wildes, of Topsfield, were executed by hanging for the crime which they never committed. Mrs. Wildes was executed July 19, and Mrs. Esty Sep- tember 22, 1692. Abigail Hobbs was also con- demned to die September 17, 1692, and was pardoned some time afterward, when the light had burst through the inky cloud revealing to the astonished court and church the terrible errors they had made.

The laying out and making of roads were among the earliest duties of the town. The history of these as they advanced from foot-paths to bridle-paths, from these to eart-ways and the carriage-roads of to- day ; and the progress made from sloughs to cause- ways, and from fords to bridges, might, perhaps, in most instances, be distinctly traeed.

Stocks were used as a means of punishment here as late as 1757. December 27, 1720, the town "alowed to John Willds for makeing the Towns Stoock and for finding y" lorns and Lock and bringing them to the meeting house and for seeting upsd stoocks £1, 4s."

The oldest cemetery in the town is that near the residence of Mr. Samuel Todd. The church once stood in the east corner, and the cemetery was, per- haps, originated by the introduction of the English custom of interring the dead around the church. The most ancient grave-stone, now standing here, is that of Capt. Thomas Baker, who died in 1718, at the age of eighty-one years. An addition was made to the

cemetery in 1706, and the whole enclosed with a new stone-wall. Since then two additions have been made, and the yard greatly improved. The first grave-digger was John Hobson, who was chosen by the town, March 7, 1676-77, to "dig graves for such as shall require him." He was to have " three shilns sixten for ol graves abov for foot long and thre for ol under." The new cemetery in the south part of the town is about fifty years old.

Until 1822, the paupers were boarded out, as was the custom in early times. In that year the town purchased the "Ebenezer Dodge farm" of Cyrus Cummings for three thousand five hundred dollars, and fitted up the dwelling house for an alm-house. The present superintendent is Mr. Henry R. White.

According to the census of 1885, the population of Topsfield is one thousand one hundred and forty- one,-five hundred and seventy-five males and five hundred and sixty-six females. In early times there were some negroes here. In January, 1777, there were seven negro males in town above the age of seven years.

The Odd-Fellows have an assembly here, called the Fountain Lodge, and numbered one hundred and seventy. It has quite a good number of members, and is in a flourishing condition. In 1886, Mr. Joseph E. Stanwood presented the lodge with a large two- story house for a hall, which they have neatly fitted up.

The Ancient Order of United Workmen also have a lodge in the town, its number being sixty-five. This lodge was founded here in 1886. It has twenty- nine members, and holds its meetings in Bailey's Block.

The Danvers and Newburyport branch of the Bos- ton & Maine Railroad runs through the centre of the town, and has one station, Topsfield, within its limits. The road was built in 1853. The trains run through to Boston without change. Mr. Frederic P. Merriam was the station-agent here from 1853 to 1886. His successor is Mr. William H. Goodwin from Boston.

The town has one post-office, which is named Topsfield. Mr. Salmon D. Hood is the postmaster.

The fire department of the town consists of a hook and ladder company.

The town hall was erected in 1873, at a cost of thirteen thousand dollars. The building committee were Charles Herrick, John Bailey, John 11. Potter, William E. Kimball, Dudley Bradstreet, Joseph W. Batchelder and Ezra Towne. The hall has a seating capacity of five hundred. The stage arrangements are first class ; and the whole building is one which much larger towns might be proud of. In the hall are located the public library, and offices of the board of selectmen, and town clerk and treasurer. In the tower is the town clock.

The taxable property in the town in 1887 amounted to $1,385,098 ; personal, $855,583; and real, $529,515. The number of polls was 296. The rate of taxation

975

TOPSFIELD.

was $6.60 per $1000. There were taxed 183 horses, 480 cows, 421 sheep, 56 oxen, 235 dwelling-honses and 7379 acres of land. The town debt is $21,200. The town has a fund of $5000 given to it by Miss Annah Pingree in 1876, the income of which to be devoted to the assistance of the deserving poor.

Topsfield has not been without its professional men. The clergymen will be mentioned in the next chapter. The resident lawyers have been two. One was Sylvanus Wildes, born in Topsfield in 1754, graduated at Harvard College in 1777, and died here in 1829, having, as Cleaveland says, "enjoyed the sweets of a perpetual vacation." The other lawyer was Charles H. Holmes, a native of Maine, and son of the Hon. John Ilolmes. He graduated at Brown University in 1829. He did but little more professional business than lawyer Wildes. While preparing this sketch the tall squire has been admitted to practice in the higher courts where quibbles are unknown.

The history of the medical profession here is more extended. The first physician, of which any record has been left, is Michael Dwinnell. His grandfather was said to have been a French Huguenot, of the same name, who settled here before 1668. Dr. Dwin- nell was born here January 7, 1705-6. He was here as late as 1733, and probably later.

The next physician was Richard Dexter, who was born in Malden, Mass., June 15, 1713, and began practice here in 1740. He was an excellent citizen as well as physician. He died here November 25, 1783.

Dr. Joseph Bradstreet, who was born here in 1727, practised here contemporaneously with Dr. Dexter. His practice was rather limited, and he taught school for awhile, dying at last, a pauper, in 1790.

In 1783, the year of Dr. Dexter's death, two physi- cians settled here. The first of these was Nehemiah Cleaveland, and the second, John Merriam. Dr. Cleaveland was born in Ipswich in 1760. He was also engaged in public affairs, serving as a State Senator in 1812, '16, '17 and '18. In 1814 he was made a session justice of the Circuit Court of Com- mon Pleas. From 1820 to 1822 he was associate jus- tice of the Court of Ses-ions for Essex County, and in 1823 he was appointed chief justice. He retired in 1828; and in that year received the honorary degree of doctor of medicine from Harvard University. Ile died in this town February 26, 1837, aged seventy-six.

Dr. Merriam was born in Concord, Mass., August 10, 1758. He studied medicine in Charlton, and commenced practice in Topsfield in December, 1783. Ile built and occupied the residence of Mr. Samnel Todd. He died of consumption November 21, 1817.

The next physician here was Jeremiah Stone, who was born in Marlborough, N. II., November 2, 1798. Ile began practice here about 1825, and continued in it about a dozen years, Ile died in Provincetown, on Cape Cod, April 23, 1875, at the age of seventy-six, and his remains were brought to Topsfield for inter- ment.

Dr. Joseph Cummings Batchelder succeeded Dr. Stone about 1838. Ile was a native of Topsfield. He began practice in Lynn, but stayed there but a short time. Ile went to Cambridge from Topsfield about 1849, and remained there seven years. He then removed to Templeton, Mass., where the remain- der of his life was spent in the practice of his pro- fession, excepting the six months that he served as assistant surgeon in the Twenty-Fifth Massachusetts Regiment in North Carolina in the Rebellion. IIe died in Templeton in 1884.

Dr. Royal Augustus Merriam, who also succeeded his father, Dr. John Merriam, in the medical profes- sion in this town, was born here January 30, 1786, and graduated at Dartmouth College in 180S. Ile was a good physician. IIe died here, of heart dis- ense, November 13, 1864, at the age of seventy-eight years.

After Dr. Merriam was well along in years, other physicians came to this flourishing town. The first of these was Dr. Charles P. French from Box- ford. He was born in Lyndsborough, N. H., in 1824, practised in Boxford in 1848 and '49, and then came to Topsfield, where he stayed four years. He now resides in the West.

He was succeeded by Dr. David Choate, a native of Essex, in 1854. Dr. Choate stayed till 1857. He is now in practice in Salem.

The present physician, Dr. Justin Allen, came here in the fall of 1857. He is a native of llamilton, and graduated at Brown University iu 1852 and at Har- vard Medical School in 1857.

On August 28, 1850, was celebrated the bi-centen- nial anniversary of the incorporation of the town. An historical address was given by Nehemiah Cleave- land. A large number were present, and a very en- joyable time was had.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY .- Hardly had a settlement been begun here before the preaching of the Gospel was established. As early as 1641 Rev. William Knight, a resident of Ipswich, began to preach to the little company. The Ipswich people paid him for his services, which he continued until his death, which occurred about 1655. His successor was Rev. William Perkins, who came hither from Gloucester in 1655, and preached here for several years. He was the son of a merchant tailor, and was born in Lon- don, England, August 25, 1607. 1n 1633 he was as- sociated with John Winthrop, Jr., and eleven others, in the settlement of Ipswich. In 1640 he visited his native country, but soon returned and preached to the small band of worshippers living in Weymouth. Ile removed to Gloucester in IG-16, and preached there from 1650 to '55, when he came to Topsfield. Here, after preaching till 1663, he spent the remainder of his life in the cal pursuits of hu-bandry. He died May 21, 1682, aged seventy-four years. Among the early settlers of the town he was probably the most accomplished person. He was a scholar and a man

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 4

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