History of Newbury, Mass., 1635-1902, Part 13

Author: Currier, John J. (John James), 1834-1912. cn
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Boston : Damrell & Upham
Number of Pages: 1518


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > History of Newbury, Mass., 1635-1902 > Part 13


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March 27, 1699, Ebenezer Knowlton was granted a lot of land on the Bradford road " for the purpose of setting up a tanners trade " near the land formerly owned by Benjamin Lowell, " bounded westerly by a brook and northerly by the land of Stephen Emery." §


MILLS FOR GRINDING CORN.


In 1645, the only grist-mill in Newbury was at the falls of the Quascacunquen, now Parker river. In that year, or the year immediately preceding, Thomas Nelson built a mill in Rowley, near the dividing line between that town and New- bury, on the Mill river, a branch of the Quascacunquen. He died in 1648; and on the first day of July, 1654, Richard Dummer, of Newbury, executor of the will of Thomas Nelson, " sometime of Rowley deceased," sold to John Pearson " one half part of the corn-mill at Rowley " with land adjoining the same " surrounded with a salt creeke which cometh out of Newbury river." ||


Some doubt having arisen in regard to the right of the


* Town of Newbury Records.


t Gladdings spring is a few rods southwesterly from the house formerly owned and occupied by the Rev. James Noyes.


# Town of Newbury Proprietors' Records.


§ Town of Newbury Records.


Il Ipswich Deeds, book II., p. 300.


157


THE SETTLEMENT AT MERRIMACK RIVER


executor to sell the above-described property, a board of ar- bitrators was chosen to adjust the questions in dispute and determine the amount due from Richard Dummer to Philip and Thomas Nelson, " sons of Thomas Nelson, deceased." They reported October 30, 1657, and again on the twenty- sixth day of November, 1658 .* Subsequently, the questions in dispute were referred to the magistrates and deputies of the General Court. October 16, 1660, they declared,


In the case now depending betweene John Peirson of Rowley & Mr Richard Dummer, referring to the sale of a mill & certaine lands, some- tjmes possessed by Mr Nelson of Rowley, deceased, & now sold by the sajd Mr Dummer to ye sd Peirson for the vse of the sajd Mr. Nel- sons children, the Court judgeth it meet to confirme the sale of the sajd mill & land.t


From the testimony of witnesses given in a suit brought by Philip Nelson to recover possession of the property, at the Court held in Ipswich March 29, 1692, it appears that there was a saw-mill " neer ye south end of ye above said grist mill, upon ye land yt ye fulling mill [now] stands on the south- erly end of said Grist Mill." #


After the death of Philip Nelson his widow and executrix sold all her right and interest in these mills to John Pear- son, jr., son of John Pearson, sr., who retained possession of them for many years. They were owned and occupied by Mr. Pearson's descendants until 1840. Since that date they have been practically rebuilt ; and, supplied with new and im- proved machinery, they are now known as the "Glen Mills" of Rowley.


MILL ON LITTLE RIVER.


For the convenience of the inhabitants of Newbury, who were to remove from the old town on Parker river to the new town on the Merrimack river, in 1645, the erection of a grist-mill near the place now known as " Four Rock Bridge," was authorized by the following vote passed at a town meet- ing held December 18, 1645 :-


* Ipswich Deeds, book I., pp. 221, 222 (591-595).


t Massachusetts Colony Records, book IV., part I., p. 440.


# Ipswich Deeds, book V., p. 502.


158


HISTORY OF NEWBURY


Whereas the Inhabitants of ye Towne of Newbury at a publique meeting have chosen William Gerrish, John Lowle, Richard Knight, Henry Short, Richard Kent, Jnr, John Pike, Jnr, and William Titcomb for to procure a water mill for to be built and set up in sd Towne to grind theyr corne the sd men have accordingly covenanted & agreed with John Emery & Samuel Scullard to effect & perfect the same on these terms following :


I. That the sd John Emery & Samuel Scullard Do Covenant & promise that the sd Mill shall be sufficiently built & made ready for the Townes use to grind the Townes grists at or before the twenty ninth of September following.


2. They likewise promise that the sd mill shall be sett up between Nicholas Holts poynt & Edward Woodmans Bridge, or near there- abouts, this they promise to perform & make good & do hereby firmly bind ymselves & theyr heyrs under the penalty of forty pounds forfeiture if not done .*


The committee in behalf of the inhabitants of Newbury agreed to pay John Emery and Samuel Scullard the sum of twenty pounds in merchantable goods ; to grant them ten acres of upland and six acres of meadow land ; to exempt the mill from taxation for seven years, and acknowledge it to be a free- hold to them and their heirs forever.t


Samuel Scullard died previous to October, 1647, and his widow married John Bishop, who purchased John Emery's in- terest in the mill property. As the lawful successor of Sam- uel Scullard, deceased, the committee " confirmed upon John Bishop his heirs and assigns" all the rights and privileges originally conveyed by the above-described agreement.


June 18, 1663, he sold the mill to Peter Cheney.# Thirty years later there was some controversy in regard to the deed of conveyance ; and John Bishop denied, May 30, 1682, selling the freehold when he sold the mill. §


* Newbury Proprietors' Records, vol. i., folio 5. See also Suffolk Court Files, Pemberton Square, Boston, vol. i., No. 86 and No. 12513, for certified copies of above agreement signed by Nathaniel Coffin, " clerc for ye commoners in ye Towne of Newbury."


t " In consideration of John Emery his full satisfaction for his part of the mill land, the Towne Granted unto John Emery ten acres of land lying in the neck, below the House lotts, which John Bishop resigned to the Towne for his mill land, to be to ye said John Emery his heys & assigns forever provided yt there be a way in the most convenient place according to the agreement the Towne made wth Samuel Scullard." Newbury Proprietors' Records, vol. i., p. 26.


#"Ould Newbury," p. 104.


§ Newbury Proprietors' Records, folio 5.


159


THE SETTLEMENT AT MERRIMACK RIVER


MILL AT ARTICHOKE RIVER.


The freeholders granted, November 22, 1678, to John Emery, jr., "twelve acres of land on the west side of Arti- choke River adjoyneing to his owne land, Provided that he build and maintaine a corne mill to grind the Townes corne from time to time, and to build it within one yeare and one halfe after the Date hereof. And the Inhabitants of the Towne to have their corne ground according to their Turnes before any of another towne."


This mill was probably built during the year 1679 or 1680. December 13, 1686, the town appointed a committee "to lay out a convenient highway of such breadth as they shall see meet thro' the plaines to Sergeant Emerys mill." For more than two centuries the dam with the mill privileges at the mouth of the Artichoke river have been maintained in good order and condition for the grinding of corn.t


MILL AT PINE ISLAND.


Upon the petition of John Badger, the town of Newbury, March 8, 1680-1, granted him liberty to use "two rods of land over against his house to set up a mill to make oat- meale."# The mill was soon after erected, two or three hundred rods in a northerly direction from Little Hill, on the north side of the highway leading from Parker river to the Merrimack, and was operated by horse power.


May 12, 1715, Nathaniel Badger sold to his brother-in-law Joseph Lunt the house where he then lived, with buildings and utensils belonging to his " oat mill or mault mill," and the land appertaining to the homestead of his honored father, John Badger. §


Cutting Lunt, Nathaniel Lunt, and Lois Lunt, children of Joseph Lunt, owned and operated the mill from 1750 to 1785.


Afterwards Nathan Lunt, son of Cutting Lunt, became owner of one-half the property ; and March 2, 1791, he sold


* Town of Newbury Records.


t For further details relating to this mill see "Ould Newbury," pp. 269 to 274.


# Town of Newbury Records.


§ Essex Deeds, book XXVII., leaf 182.


160


HISTORY OF NEWBURY


his interest in the land and buildings to Nicholas Lunt, who continued the manufacture of oatmeal and malt there until the year 1810 .*


THE MERRIMACK RIVER.


The northern boundary of the colony of Massachusetts Bay, by a strict construction of its charter, extended from a point three miles north of the most northerly part of the Mer- rimack river and in an easterly and westerly direction from sea to sea. As early as September 6, 1638, the General Court passed the following order : -


Goodman Woodward, Mr John Stretton wth an Indian & 2 others, appointed by the magistrates of Ipswich, are to lay out the line 3 mile northward of the most northermost part of Merrimacke for wch they are to have 5s a day a peece.t


June 6, 1639, Goodmi Nathaniell Woodward was ordered to have three pounds for his journey to discover the runing vp of Merrimacke: IOS more was aded by order of the Governor & Deputies.


And they wch went with him, Tho: Howlet, Sargent Jacob, Tho : Clarke & John Manning to have 50s a peece for their 10 days a peece spent according to the former order; and John Clarke to have [ ] for going wth them & staying for them till their returne. #


In October, 1641, the government of the colony of Mass- achusetts Bay was extended to the Piscataqua river by the adoption of the following order : -


Whereas it appeareth that by the extent of the line, (according to or patent,) that the ryver Pascataquack is wthin the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts, & conference being had (at severall times) wth the said people, & some deputed by the Generall Court, for the setteling & estab- lishing of order in the administration of justice there, it is now ordered, by the Genrall Court, houlden at Boston, the 9th day of the 8th mo, 1641 & wth the consent of the inhabitants of the said ryver as followeth :


Impr: That from henceforth the said people inhabiting there are & shalbee accepted & reputed under the government of the Massachusetts, as the rest of the inhabitants wthin the said jurisdiction are &c. §


The heirs of Capt. John Mason protested against this as- sumption of authority, and claimed control of the territory


* See Essex Deeds, book XCIX., leaf 163 ; book CII., leaf 33 ; book CIX., leaf 12 ; book CXXIV., leaf 204; book CXLV., leaf 148 ; book CLII., leaf 242 ; book CCIX., leaf 154 ; Cof- fin's History of Newbury, p. 134.


t Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. i., p. 237. # Ibid., p. 261. § Ibid., p. 342.


161


THE SETTLEMENT AT MERRIMACK RIVER


from the Merrimack river to the Kennebec river, under a charter granted by King James I. in 1622. The General Court, however, reasserted its claim to the disputed territory, and appointed, June 1, 1652, Capt. Symon Willard and Capt. Edward Johnson commissioners "to p'cure such artists & other assistants as they shall judge meete to goe wth them, to finde out the most northerly p'te of the Merrimacke Riuer, and that they be supplyed withall maner of necessaries by the Treasurer fitt for their journey, and that they use their vttmost skill and abillitie to take a true observation of the latitude of the place and that they doe it withall convenient speed and make returne thereof at the next session of this Court." *


The commissioners employed Serjeant John Sherman, of Watertowne, and Jonathan Ince, a student at Harvard Col- lege, to accompany and assist them in their investigations. October 19, 1652, they reported to the General Court that by careful astronomical observations they found the head of the Merrimack river "where it issues out of the lake called Winnapuscakit " was in the latitude of forty-three degrees, forty minutes, and twelve seconds (43º 40' 12"), and that the boundary line of the colony, begining three miles north of that point, extended in an easterly direction to the sea .¡


In 1654, Mr. Jonas Clark and Samuel Andrews, " both well skilled in Mathematics," were appointed to mark with a heap of stones, or in some other suitable way, the northern boun- dary, or limit, of the colony on the seacoast. They reported that a line from lake Winnipiseogee to the Atlantic ocean, three miles north of the latitude given above, would fall upon an island called the " Upper Clapboard Iland, about a quarter of a mile from the mayne in Casco Bay." }


Over this vast territory the colony of Massachusetts Bay claimed jurisdiction until the year 1679, when the province of New Hampshire was created by an act of Parliament, and the towns of Dover, Exeter, Hampton, and Portsmouth became a part of that province. Subsequently, the boundary line be- tween New Hampshire and Massachusetts was the occasion of a long controversy that was not finally adjusted and settled until 1899.


* Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. iv., part I., p. 98. + Ibid., p. 109. # Ibid., p. 207.


162


HISTORY OF NEWBURY


PETITION FOR THE RELEASE OF ROBERT PIKE.


The General Court passed an order, May 18, 1653, declar- . ing it to be unlawful for any person to preach in any town in the colony without the consent of the elders of four neighbor- ing churches or by the approval of the county court. Robert Pike, of Salisbury, boldly denounced this act as an unjustifia- ble interference with the personal rights and privileges of freemen, and farther said " several churches had called theire members to accompt which did act in that lawe making, and that some places were about to show theire minds to the Gen- erall Court about it." *


August 30, 1653, Lieut. Pike was ordered to appear at the General Court and answer for his intemperate zeal and sedi- tious speech. He was disfranchised September 7, 1653, and prohibited from holding public office in the town or in the colony. A fine of twenty marks, equal to thirteen pounds, six shillings, and eightpence, was imposed as an additional penalty ; and he was required to give bonds for his good be- havior during the court's pleasure .*


The prompt and vigorous measures adopted by the General Court to assert its rights and protect its members from criti- cism and censure aroused a strong feeling of indignation among the inhabitants of Newbury, Haverhill, Andover, Hampton, and Salisbury. Petitions were prepared and circulated in these towns asking that the fine and punishment imposed upon " Lieutenant Robert Pike" be remitted. Several of these petitions are on file at the State House in Boston, but many of the signatures can hardly be deciphered and some are illeg- ible. The petition from Newbury reads as follows : +-


The humble petition of the inhabitants of Newbury, to the honored General Court now assembled at Boston, showeth :


That whereas our loving friend, Lieutenant Robert Pike, of Salisbury, hath by occasion, as it is witnessed against him, let fall some words for which the honored Court hath been pleased [to censure him] we having had experience that he hath been a peaceable man and a useful instru- ment ... do therefore humbly desire this honored Court that the said


* Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. iv., part I., p. 156.


t Massachusetts Archives, vol. x., leaf 299. See also "The New Puritan," pp. 44 and 45.


163


THE SETTLEMENT AT MERRIMACK RIVER


sentence may be [revoked] and that the said Lieutenant Pike be .. . restored to his former liberty. So .. . pray &c.


Richd. Kent, Jun. Wm Titcombe


Benj Swett


Wm Moody


John Bartlett


Joseph Swett


Daniel Peirce


Tho. Browne


Steph. Greenleaf


Geo. Little Richd. Bartlett


Anthony Morse


Saml Moody


Gyles Cromlome


Henry Lunt


Richd. Dole


Aquilla Chase


Solomon Kyes


John Poore


Edw. Richardson


Tristram Coffin


Dan Thurston


Wm Richardson


Francis Plummer


Joseph Plummer


John Bishop


Sam. Plummer


Richd Thurly


Sam Poore


Dan Thurston


John Wolcot


John Hutchins


Wm Cottle


John Hull


Wm Sawyer


John Rolfe


Rob. Adams


Richd. Fitts


John Muslewhite


Wm Chandler


John Bond


John Emery, Sen.


John Tillotson


Chris Bartlett


John Emery, Jun.


John Baily


James Ordway Sam Moore


John Wheeler


Edwd. Woodman


Nich. Batt


Rob. Cooper


Stephen Swett


John Cheney


Richd. Kent, Sen.


Wm Ilsly


Daniel Cheney


Tho Smith.


This petition, with several other petitions from neighboring towns, was presented to the General Court at a session held May 14, 1654. The deputies as well as the magistrates were evidently disturbed and irritated by this unexpected display of friendship for Lieut. Robert Pike, and promptly appointed a committee of investigation.


In answer to the peticon of Hampton, Salisbury, Newbery, Haverill & Andover, subscribed by severall in each toune, this Court cannot but deeply resent that so many psons of seuerall tounes, condicons & rela- tions, should combine together to psent such an vnjust & vnreasonable request as the revoaking the sentance past the last Court, agt Left Robt Pike & the restoring of him to his former libertie, wthout any peticon of his oune, or least acknowledgment of his great offence, fully proved against him, which was no lesse then defaming this Court, and charging them wth breach of oath &c wch the peticoners call some words lett fall by occasion. The court doth therefore order in this extraordinary case, that Mr Bradstreet for Hauerill & Andover, Capt Wiggins for Hampton, Capt Gerrish & Nicho Noies for Newbery, & Mr Winsly & Mr Brad- bury for Salisbury, shall & heereby are appointed Comisioners to call the said peticoners in the seuerall tounes together, or so many of them


164


HISTORY OF NEWBURY


at a time as they shall think meete & require a reason of theire vnjust request & how they came to be induced to subscribe the sd peticon & so make theire retourne to the next sessions, that the Court may consider how to pceed farther therein .*


In October, 1654, Capt. William Gerrish and Nicholas Noyes reported to the General Court the reasons given for signing the petition by the men of Newbury : -


Francis Plummer and Robert Morse say the reason is because he is a useful man, and thought they might petition without offence. It was in the liberty of the Court to accept it or reject it and . . . they could not see they had done amiss in petitioning.


John Bishop being desired to go into the meeting house to explain . . . about the petition he said he could not stay, but the constable said he must. He came into the house before us; said, would the General Court have the reasons, they are in the petition, and that was all he would say, and so turned his back and away he went.


Benjamin Swett saith every free subject hath liberty to petition for any that had been in esteem, without offence to any.


John Emery demanded our Commission and the sight of the petition, and then would answer. Being produced, he answered we had no power to demand who brought him the petition ; and hearing John Bond make answer, told him he was a wise man in a bold, flouting manner. His carriage we conceive was [insulting].t


Others said they were friends of Robert Pike and out of respect for him they petioned for his release, while others confessed that they were ignorant of the words spoken by him & sentence imposed upon him by the Gen. Court and intended no offence to that honorable body in asking for his release.


After a careful examination of the answers returned by the men from Newbury and other towns in the vicinity, the Gen- eral Court ordered November 1, 1654, the petitioners whose answers were not satisfactory to appear at the county court and give bonds in the sum of ten pounds to answer for their several offences. The names of the Newbury men "to be summoned by warrant from the clark of the court " were : " Jno Emery, Sen, Jno Hull, Jnº Bishop, Benjamin Swett, Daniell Thirston, Jun. Joseph Plomer, Daniell Cheny, Jnº Wilcott."


* Massachustts Colony Records, vol. iv., part I., p. 194.


t Massachusetts Archives, vol. x., p. 299. " The New Puritan," pp. 44 and 45.


# Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. iv., part I., p. 215.


165


THE SETTLEMENT AT MERRIMACK RIVER


The objectionable order relating to public preaching in the colony was repealed August 30, 1653 ; but at the same time it was enacted " that every person that shall publish and main- taine any hetrodoxe and erronjous doctorine shalbe lyable to be questioned and censured by the County Court where he liveth according to the meritt of his offence." *


The sentence imposed upon Lieut. Pike was not revoked until several years later, as appears from the following order adopted by the General Court October 23, 1657 :-


In ansr to the peticon of Robert Pike, humbly desiring ye courts favor his fine being paid, to remitt to him & release him from the other pte of the Courts former sentence against him, Mr Worcester ye pastor of ye church at Salisbury appearing on ye behalfe of the peticoner and acknowledging himself much bound to the court if they would be pleased to graunt ye said Pikes request, the court grants his request.t


NEWBURY IN 1654.


In the thirty-first chapter of the history of New England, otherwise known as " Wonder Working Providence of Sions Saviour," by Edward Johnson, printed in London in 1654, is the following description of Newbury : -


In the latter end of this yeare (1634) two sincere servants of Christ inabled by him with gifts to declare his minde unto his people, came over this broad Ocean, and began to build the Tenth Church of Christ at a Towne called Newberry, their names being Mr. James Noise and Mr. Thomas Parker, somewhat differing from all the former, and after mentioned Churches in the preheminence of their Presbytery, and it were to be wished that all persons who have had any hand in those hot contentions, which have fallen out since, about Presbyterian and Inde- pendent Government in Churches, would have looked on this example, comparing it with the Word of God, and assuredly it would have stayed (all the godly at least) of either part from such unworthy expressions as have passed to the grief of many of Gods people; And I doubt not but this History will take of that unjust accusation and slanderous im- putation of the rise of that floud of errors and false Doctrines sprung up of late, as flowing from the Independent or rather Congregationall Churches. But to follow on, this Town is situate about twelve miles from Ipswitch, neere upon the wide venting streames of Merrimac River,


* Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. iv., part I., p. 151. tIbid., p. 313.


166


HISTORY OF NEWBURY


whose strong current is such that it hath forced its passage through the mighty Rocks, which causeth some sudden falls, and hinders Shipping from having any accesse far into Land, her bankes are in many places stored with Oken Timber of all sorts, of which that which they com- monly call'd white Oke is not inferiour to our English Timber; in this River lie some few Islands of fertill Land, this Towne is stored with Meddow and upland which hath caused some Gentlemen (who brought over good Estates, and finding then no better way to improve them,) to set upon husbandry, amongst whom that Religious and sincere hearted servant of Christ Mr. Richard Dummer, sometime a Magistrate in this little Common-wealth, hath holpen on this Town; their houses are built very scattering, which hath caused some contending about removall of their place for Sabbath-Assemblies; their Cattell are about foure hun- ared head, with store of Corne-land in tillage, it consists of about sev- enty families ; the soules in Church fellowship are about an hundred, the teaching Elders of this Congregation have carried it very lovingly toward their people, permitting of them to assist in admitting of persons into Church-society, and in Church-censures, so long as they Act regu- larly, but in case of their male-administration, they assume the power wholly to themselves, their godly life and conversation hath hitherto been very amiable, and their paines and Care over their flock not in- feriour to many others, and being bound together in a more stricter band of love than ordinary with promise to spend their dayes together (if the Lord please) * . ..


In the fourteenth chapter, Book Second, the Merrimack river is described as follows : -


Salsbury being seated upon the broad swift torrent of Merrimack, a very goodly River to behold were it not blockt up with some suddaine falls through the rocks: over against the Towne lyeth the Towne of Newberry, on the Southern side of the River, a constant Ferry being kept between ; for although the River be about half a mile broad, yet, by reason of an Island that lies in the midst thereof, it is the better passed in troublesom weather; the people of this Towne have of late placed their dwellings so much distanced the one from the other, that they are likely to divide into two churches; the scituation of this Towne is very pleasant, were the River Navigable farre up, the branches thereof abound in fair and good medowes with good store of stately Timber upon the uplands. t


NEWBURY IN 1660.


When Governor Winthrop arrived in New England in 1630, Samuel Maverick was settled at Noddle's Island, now


* Massachusetts Historical Collections, Second Series, vol. iii., p. 144. .


t Ibid., vol. vii., p. 18.


.


167


THE SETTLEMENT AT MERRIMACK RIVER


East Boston, and had been there for several years. In 1660, Maverick is supposed to have written the following account of Newbury and other towns on the Merrimack river : -




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