History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 70

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 70

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In 1693 Thomas Tewkesbury represented the town at the General Court, and he received £5 and four shillings for a session of thirty-five days.

And the "Commoners organize, and enact laws for their government, and they provide for the keep- ing of their records distinct from those of the town."

At a town-meeting held 1st February, 1644,

" It was voted and a greed there should be n ' Grist-mill ' sett np upon the river near the meeting-house, at some convenient place for the use of the town by John Knowlton, Sen., by the Ist of Sept. next. And if any damage shall aceine to any persons' land from the flowing of the water by occation of the mill, the town shall be at one-half cost, and the miller the other baif said damage."

This mill was a one story log structure, about eighteen feet square, and boarded up and down. This old moss-covered mill stood until 1826, when it was taken down by John P. Allen, who built on its site a mill for sawing mahogany veneers.

After the decease of Mr. Knowlton, Mr. Obed Carter continued to run the mill for many years, and his son used to say the lobsters were so abundant, that whenever his father required any, he used to step across the stream at low tide, to a point of rocks, where Mr. Knight's coal wharf now is, and from beneath the rock-weed he could always select such and as many as he wanted.

This delicious crustacea, now so rapidly becoming

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MANCHESTER.

extinct, was then so plentiful as to be but little valued as an article of food.

In 1695 the town "granted Phillip Nichols a par- cel of land at Newport, being a fisherman."

" And John Sibley, Robert Leach and Thomas West, were chosen as the first school committee, and they were instructed to agree with a school-master to teach our children to read and write."

" A watch-house was ordered to be built, and am- munition was bought."

A church bell was presented to the town by George Norton, and it proved a great comfort to the peo- ple, for before this, the hour for public service was announced to the clockle-s inhabitants, by the blow- ing of a horn or conch shell ; that could not always be heard.

An imaginative writer of the period says "lions have been seen at Cape Ann," but the planters only complained of the "devonring wolves," who make sad havoc with the sheep and calves. And to en- conrage their destruction the town offers a bounty of twenty shillings for an old one, and five for a young one.

In 1696 Samuel Leach and John Lee were the owners of slaves.

In accordance with the custom of the times, the town appointed a committee to seat all persons in the meeting-house according as they had paid for the support of the minister, except "any antient, grave and sober person of good conversation."

1699 a quantity of the common land was sold, and the proceeds devoted to the building of a parsonage.

At a town meeting on the 23d of April, 1699, a committee was appointed to build a new parsonage house, forty-two feet long, eighteen feet wide, and fourteen feet stnd, to be located near the meeting- house, at the discretion of the committee. A rate for £50 was made to defray the expenses; and much " common land" was sold this year at the "Great Neck " (old neck), and Honse Island, and the proceeds were devoted to the construction of the parsonage and settling the minister. This parsonage was erected on School street, near where the dwelling of Capt. Carter now stands.

. It was occupied by Rev. Nicholas Webster, and in 1716 it was given to Rev. Amos Cheever, at the time of his settlement as a pastor in the town. The land belonging to it extended from near the saw mill brook, to the lot of land on which the Baptist church now stands: and was all on the western side of the road. The lot of land was given to the town by the proprietors of the four hundred acres.

ABORIGINES .- When our ancestors landed upon our shore they found it populated with a tribe of Indians, known as Agawams, who spoke the language of the Pequods, and over whom Masconomo ruled as their chief or Sagamore. But little is known of him or his people, except they had always been friendly to the pale-faces.

Mr. Felt, in his history of Ipswich, says Capt. Edward Hardy, and Nicholas Hobson sailed for North Virginia (New England), in 1611, and touched at Agawam (Ipswich), where the Indians treated them more kindly than others had done, and Capt. John Smith, who made several voyages, found, in 1614, the islands abont Cape Ann thickly populated with them, for then food was plentiful, so abundant that

" The sounds and seas, each creek and bay With fry innumerable swarm, and shoals Of fish that with their fios and shining scalee Glide under the green waves, in sculls that oft Bank the mid sea ; or under rocks their food In jointed armor watch."

These, with the sea-fowl and larger game, that in such numbers frequented the valleys and water-courses in the vicinity of what is now known as Manchester, made it an attractive home for the aborigines, and several villages were found there of considerable size, bnt evidently they had been more populous.

They claimed this reduction was the result of an epidemic, that a few years ago had swept away a great many of their people.

The tribe of Tarrantines, whose home was on the coast of Maine, with a fleet of canoes, made frequent predatory excursions along the coast of Massachusetts. Masconomo had very successfully defended his people from some of their attacks, and had slain some of their warriors, and since their reduction by decease, they were in great dread of retaliation from their old enemies. Therefore it is quite probable they sought the friendship and protection of the English with a far greater warmth than they would have done at a time of greater prosperity.

This fear of the Tarrantines rendered it very easy for the Governor to arrange terms with the chiefs, for the fee to their lands. Thus the way seems to have been prepared for that little band of adventurers; instead of them finding a proud, bold race in possession of the land, they found a discouraged, disheartened people, ready to do anything, and to pledge anything for peace and protection.

Rev. Mr. Higginson thus describes them :

"For their stature, they are a tall, strong-limbed people, their colour is tawney, they go naked save only they are in part covered, their hair is generally black, and cut before like our Gentlewomen, with one lock longer than the rest, like our Gentlemen, which fashion I think came from hero to England. For their weapons they use bows and arrows, some of them headed with hone and some with brass. Their men for the most part live idly, doing nothing but fish and hunt. Their wives set their corn and do all their other work. They have little household stuff, as a kettle, and some other vessels like trays, spoons and baskets.

" They do generally profess to like well our coming and planting here, partly because there is an abundance of ground which they cannot pos- sess, and because our living here will be a means of relief to them when they want, and a defence from their enemies. They will come into our houses by half a score at a time when we are at victuals, but will not ask or take anything but what we give them."

The company seems to have desired to deal justly with the Indians, for in their letter of instruction to Gov. Endicott they say :

"If any of the Savagea pretend right of inheritance to all or any part

e 7

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

of the lands granted in oor patent, we pray you endeavor to purchase ar lyttle, that we may avoid the least scraple of intrusion."

And this spirit seems to have governed the General Court, for in 1639 it was ordered " that care be taken to prevent damage to Indians, and procure them satisfaction for any damage done them," and in the following year it was enacted " that in all places the English shall keep their cattle from destroying the Indian corn, and if any corn be destroyed for want of fencing, or herding, the town shall be liable to make satisfaction."

" Hope deferred maketh the heart sick." Maseo- nomo must have realized the full force of this senti- ment, for having bargained his land for promises which were never kept, and feeling the infirmities of age increasing with every additional year, he gath- ered his few remaining subjects, the remnants of his worldly possessions, and placed himself and them under the protection of Massachusetts.

There, as the ward of the state, Masconomo, the last Sagamore of the Agawams, the friend of the white people, saw his once powerful tribe melt away, until only a vestige remained.

Poor, disheartened, and friendless, he at last found peace in death. He was buried on " Sagamore Hill," in Hamilton, about 165%.

June 18, 1658, the town of Ipswich "granted the Sagamore's widow to enjoy that parcel of land which her husband had fenced in, during the time of her widowhood. This was a parcel of land of six aeres, set off to the Sagamore in 1655, but not property to any but himself."

The small sum for which this Indian Chief had bargained away his title to the soil, was not all paid until many years afterwards, as the deeds of several towns show, viz: The deed of the township of Man- chester from the Indians is dated December 19, A. D. 1700, and made from Sam'l English and Joseph Eng- lish and John Umpee, all living in ye County of Middlesex, in ye Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England, Indians " -- for the sum ofthree pounds, nineteen shillings current silver money of New Eng- land, paid by Robert Leach, John Knowlton and samuel Lee, seleetmen of ye aforesaid Manchester. This deed states " that whereas ye said town of Man- chester, having quietly and peaceably, without moles- tation, enjoyed the soil of their Township with ye groth thereupon and appurtances belonging thereto, and containing for ye space of thirty years and up- wards, and that in ye first place by ye consent and approbation of our grandfather, Sagamore John, of Agawam, alias Masqueyomoit, and ever since, by consent and approbation of his children, and by us his grandchildren, being the now surviving and proper he irs to our said grandfather."

The same year Beverly and Gloucester paid for their Indian deeds.

In speaking of the Indians Mr. Twee well says :

"telunch le rotte tion that e unes over one who traces the melt-

ing away of the aboriginal possessors of the country, whether they embraced the Christian religioo, aod lived in peace with the whites, or whether they resisted the settlers aod attempted to defend their homes and the graves of their ancestors from the invaders of their territory, the result was the sume. Fate had marked them for destruction, whether they yielded or resisted the European settlera. The invention of gun- powder and fire-arms had placed in the hands of the invaders a power which the natives, with their rude implements of warfare, could not resist, or numbers overcome, so there was no other alternative left them but to take up their weary march for the setting sun, fit emblem of their destiny.

Lol the poor Indian."

The following familiar letter from an intelligent settler in search of a new home, is interesting as showing how life in a region so new, and so different from that of England appeared to him. The writer was afterward a valued citizen of Manchester :

" PLYMOUTH, 1621.

"LOVING COUSIN : On our arrival at Plymouth, wes found all our friends and planters in good health, though they had been weake aud sicke and with small meaus. The Indiaos around about us are peaceable and friendly ; the country very pleasant and temperate, yielding, naturally of itself, greate stores of fruits, and vines of divers sorts, in abundance. There is, likewise, walnuts, cheatouts, small nuts aod plumbs, with much variety of flowers, roots and hereby no less pleasant than whole- some and profitable. no place has more gooseberries, and strawberries, nor better. timber of all sorts you have in England doth cover the land, that affords beasts of divers sorts, and great flocke of turkies, quail, and pigeons, and many great lakes abounding with fish, fowl, heaver aod otter. The sea affords great plenty of excellent fieh. Mybes we find to our thinking, but neither the qualitis or quantitie was dos know. Better graine cannot be than the Indian corde, and we can plant it on as good ground as we can desire. Wee are all free holders, the rent day does not trouble us, our companie ars very religious, honest people, and the word of God is sincerely taught us every Sabbath, soe that I know nothing a contented mind can here want. I desire your friendly care to send my wife aud children to me, where I wish all the friends I have in England-soe I rest,

" Your loving kinsman,

" WILLIAM HILTON.""

The following is a list of the early residents with date, as near as can now be ascertained, of their connection with the settlement :

1626.

1650.

William Allen.

Henry Les.

William Everton.

Jeokios Williams.

John Norman.

- Gravea.

166%. Oneciphous Allen.

1670.

John Black.

John Kettle.

William Hooper. Nicholas Woodberry. 1674. Ambrose Gals.

Robert Leach.

Samuel Arcber.

Robert Isabell.

Commit Marston.

Elodius Rayoolds.

George Norton. John Sibley. 1637.

Richard Norman. 1654. Thomas Millett. 1660.

John Mason. James l'ittruan. 16%0. John Les

Johu Pickworth.

Jobn Palley.

Samuel Allen.

Samuel Lee.

William Bentiet.

Pusco Foote.

Thomas Chubbs.

1610.

John Friend.

William Walton.

James Standish. 1665.

Benjamin Parmiter.

John West.

Manassu Marston.

Robert Allen.

1666.

Walter Palmiter.

Edmond Grover.

Richard Glass.

James Rivers.

Rev. Ralph Smith.

John Blackleechs. 1662.

-- Pitts.

Robert Leach.

John Marston.

John Elithope. 1661.

Thomas Tewkesbury.

John Crowell.

Thomas Ross.

Samuel Allen

Seargent Wolf.

Nathaniel Marsterson.

1667. Thomas Bishop.

Richard Norman.

William Jeffrey. 1629.

Joseph Pick worth.

Nicholas Vincent.

1636.

Robert Knight. 1651.

John More.

Moses Maverick.

Isaac Whitcher.

John Cadner.

Rev. Jolin Winborn. 16.1.

William Hosham.

1259

MANCHESTER.

John Foster.

Epharam Jones.

Eliab Littlefield.

Mark Tucker.

John Allen.

Richard Leatherer.

John Knowlton.

Aaron Bennett.

John Bishop.

Felix Monroe.

Samuel Crowell.

16%7.

John Norton.

William Allen.

Rev. John Everleth. Rev. John Emerson. John Burt.

Jonas Smith.

CHAPTER CI.

MANCHESTER-(Continued).

Annals from 1700 to 1800.

IN 1700 the town paid Samuel English, a grandson of Masconomo, £4 58. 8d. for relinquishing all his right, title and interest in the land of the township.

Lieutenant William Hilton, of this town, served under Colonel Winthrop Hilton in the war with the Eastern Indians.

In the year following the rate of the town was £23 19s. 11d.

The town granted John Knowlton the right "to erect a seat for himself in the meeting-house, next to the West stairs."

The proprietors of the "Common lands " author- ize their committee to sell "Howes Island " to him that will give the most for it.

In 1701 the town ordered the burial-place to be fenced in and " whoever neglect to work on the same shall be fined 3 shillings."

The people were ordered to cut pine and hemlock brush from the fodder land two days. At that time the only hay for their cattle was cut from the natural meadows and swampy places, where there was a rank growth of a coarse variety of grass, and to keep back the encroachment of the woods the clearing above referred to was occasionally necessary. Dams were often built so as to kill the bushes and young trees by flooding them.

In 1705 a "saw mill " was erected at "Bushie plain ; " this was where the "old Baker mill " now stands.

On July 4, 1711, a proclamation was received in town to take all deserters of Ilis Majesty's troops in service in the expedition to the Canadas, on penalty of fifty pounds and twelve months' imprisonment of any person entertaining one of them.

At that time it was the custom to record any drift or stray property that had been found, in a book kept for the purpose; in 1715 is the following :

" Picked up by William Hilton, a boat (near Bak- er's Island) 20 ft. long and 9 ft. wide."

At the formation of the church November 7, 1716, Rev. Amos Cheever was ordained as its first pastor. He celebrated the first sacrament ever held in town. He was a graduate of Harvard College. The church at that time consisted of nine males and ten fe- males.

In the following year John Pierce was murdered on board a vessel in the harbor, and it was long be- lieved by the credulous that the moans of the mur- dered man could be heard on the approach of a storm. But it has since been ascertained that these mournful sounds proceeded from a sea-bird known as the loon.

The people of that time were extremely supersti- tious. On a hill near the beginning of the Essex woods two men used to make shingles ; in a drunken quarrel one was killed, and that part of the town was long avoided after dark; for on stormy nights the deceased shingle maker could be heard filing his saw, and uttering the most distressing groans. For many years this story was fully believed. At length, some young men, who could not understand what possible use disembodied spirits could have for files and saws, resolved to investigate. On a windy day they as- cended the hill, and found a long branch of a pine tree was resting heavily on a limb below, and when swayed by the wind their heavy, pitchy surfaces rnbbed and chafed with the sounds described.

The number of inhabitants taxed in 1717 was sixty- four.

The people of Beverly Farms by petition " desire to have the bounds of Manchester include Beverly Farms."'

The " Commons " voted to give one hundred acres of their land to the town, in consideration of their great cost in settling a minister in town." This grant included the Kettle Cove Pond, Kettle Island and half an acre near the Cove school-house, for a " clay- pit."

The town afterward sold Kettle Island to John Knowlton for three pounds.

Crow Island to Joseph Leach for six pounds.

The clay-pit was set off for the use of all the in- habitants. Then clay was used for mortar in the building of chimneys and for the brick walls often laid between the studding of the framed-houses, and in the construction of log-houses it was very much used in filling the spans between the logs.

Every pupil in the schools was taxed "5 pence per week for the support of the teachers; " and in cold weather every one was expected to contribute daily a stick of wood.

In 1718 the commoners "granted the Hon. Samuel Browne, of Salem, 10 acres of upland, and 5 acres of swamp, as he had been at great cost in settling a min- ister in town."

In December, 1719, Samnel Lee, Aaron Bennett, John Foster, Richard Leach, Benjamin Allen and John Dodge were chosen a committee to build a new meeting-house near the old one. It was forty-nine feet long and thirty-five feet wide.

Ezekiel Knowlton was drowned at Sable Island.

In 1720 the old meeting-house was sold for twelve pounds, and a committee was appointed " to take sub- scriptions of every man for his work, or stuff which

Emanuel Day. Elisha Reynolds. Joseph Woodberry. James Pitman. Robert Knight Jr.

Thomas Ayhairse.

1260

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

he will offer to build the new one, and to agree with an 'artificial' workman to over see the workers and work himself as cheap as can be done, and when the meeting.house is fit for the congregation to meet in, the committee are to make a satisfactory account of the same; and the committee are to seat the peo- ple according to their purchase in the said house, and all money which shall be received from other towns, shall be devoted to the building of the pulpit, and all pin money to building the minister's pew."

The front door, with its home-made lock, and heavy iron hinges, is yet preserved as the southern door of Major Foster's ware-house; and the sounding-board forms a part of the ceiling in a kitchen at West Man- chester. These interesting relics should be preserved in some place of greater safety.

About this time John Ilill opened a public house where the "Rail Road house" now is, on Union Street. This is the second tavern of which we have record. It was built by John Bishop in 1690.

In 1721 " Jabiz Dodge was chosen school-master, and was not to have more than twenty pounds per annum."

And among other subjects voted upon, there was a majority against geese running any longer on the common.

The "fields at the Plain and at the Neck were held in common as pasture lands."

In 1722 the selectmen granted to John Lee, Jr., "a retailers license."

" Joseph Knight sells his farm at the the Cove to Ingersoll." This is the place now owned by the University of Pennsylvania.

The General Court assessed the town " £IOS as their proportion of the debt contracted by the expe- dition to Canada, and trustees were elected with in- structions to let it out at 6 per cent., in sums not less than $5, or more than £10, to any one person."

A road was laid out, one and one-half rods wide, from the county-road by the causeway up the " Grent Hill," " for fishermen to cut their fire-wood."

In 1723 the town "ordered the trustees of the £IOS shall have it for 5 years, and be allowed 20 shillings for bringing it from Boston."

A new school-house was built near the meeting- four, under the direction of John Foster and Rich- ard beach, "who are also required to survey the school lands and report on its quality and quantity."

This building was sold in 1811 and removed to Saw- Mill Brook, where it was converted into a dwell- ing-house by Mathew Giles.

John Foster was chosen school-master for four years, at ten pounds per annum. "And the town agrees to assess £100 for four years for the support of a free school, for bothe sexes to learn reading, writ- ing English and cyphering."

Nathaniel Marsters exchanges Poplar Plain with the town taking in lien thereof land bordering on Lob Jer Cove.

1724 " The clerk is ordered to Alphabet the Town's Books."

And "the road 1} rods wide, was built from the County Road to the White Beach."

In the following year "Benjamin Allen, John Bishop, Richard Leach, Jonathan Allen, Jeremiah Hibbetts, John Crowell, Jabez Dodge, Samuel Lee and Shadrack Norton petition for fifty feet of land in front of the landing place, off the point of rocks to build a wharf."

On the 29th of October, 1727, the people were alarmed by an earthquake.

The cause of such terrestrial disturbances was not understood by the people of that period. They were regarded as an evidence of the Deity's anger. A great religious revival followed and continued for sev- eral months, and forty people were united with the church.

In 1730 the town voted to pay Rev. Mr. Cheever, one hundred and twenty pounds, and he to release the Millet Swamp. "And every person is to pay his pro- portion by contribution every Lord's day, by writing his name on a piece of paper and handing it into the box."

Among the old papers of the town the following is not the least remarkable :

" Whear as thar was no way layd out at Keettel cove landing-place formerly, we, the subscribers, one ye fifth day of Nov., 1731, have Jaid out half an Acre of land for ye landing-place at Kettel cove on North bide of yo Cove, as foulerthe : teen pole frunting to ye water to one ye up land, to one ye pepel Stone beach, falling back to ye Nor ward to ye Distance of teen pol to 3 pol in weedth, thence back 6 pls. to 2 ple. in weath to ye Este eide of a Grate Rock ; and also bunding ont on Nor Eyst side of ye way to Daniel Knigh Howes 2 pot wide and eo along ye way that Gos to Kuigh saw mill, then one pol on half when ye way now is about teen pls. beyond the red saw mill, &c.

AARON BENNETT, ) Selectmen of

JOHN FOSTER,

THOMAS LEE, J Manchester."

Knight's saw-mill was above the old burial-ground on the road to the railroad station at the Cove.

At a town meeting held in 1731, it was ordered " that the valuable gift of Baxter's practical works from Mr. Holden, of London, by the Rev. Dr. Col- man, to the town and church at Manchester, are thankfully accepted, and £8 appropriated for the binding of said works."

These volumes were kept for many years, but in consequence of frequent and incautious lending they were lost.

In the following year Ram Island was sold to John Knowlton.

And in 1732 the town "agrees to build a wharf of fifty feet in front of the Landing place by the meet- ing-house, from the south ledge of rocks to the chan- nel, and assess £50 on the Town to build the same. And each man shall work one day on the said wharf, on penalty of paying 5 shillings to defray the cost of the wharf." This was the town's wharf by the Common.

In 1734 fifty pounds was ordered "to be assessed

1261

MANCHESTER.

for the schools, one-half of which is to support 4 Schoo! Dams, viz .: one at Nuport, one at the Meet- ing-house, one at Brierey Plain and one at Kettle Cove. The other half shall be expended in provid- ing a good school-master to keep near the Meeting- house during the fall and winter season" The " School Dams" of that time taught reading, spell- ing and writing, using the "horn book " and psalter for reading, and " the goose quill pens " for writing. It is said the twigs of the grey birch were sometimes used instead of quills.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 70

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