History of Newbury, Mass., 1635-1902, Part 15

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 15


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Jonathan: woodman : Benjamin Moss & Isaac Brown tooke ye oath of fidellity to this govermt: & James Ardway tooke ye oath of a free- man of this Jurisdicon : ye 26: of ye 12th mº: 1668


before mee Robert Pike Comissr :


Henry Tuxberie & Isaac : Brown tooke ye oath of fidelity to this govermt this 13 : day of May 1669


before mee Robert: Pike Comissr:


Jno wells :


Pennell : Tittcom : Richard Bartlett, jun :


Tho : wells :


John Stevens : william Ilsly jun


Jno Swett :


Jonathan Wedgwood Joseph Ilsley


Moses Pilsbery :


Jacob Tappin James Ardway jun :


Tho : west :


John Ilsly


Tho : stickney


Josuah Richison :


Sam: Bartlett


Tooke ye oath of fidelitie to | ye gouermt of || this Jurisdicon this 25th day of May, 69


Peter Cheny NathIl Cheny & Amos Stickny of Nubery tooke ye oath of ffidelity to this Comon wealth this 25th of ye 3d mº 69 bfore mee Robert Pike Comissr


Jno Bayly: Benjamin Lowell Jno Bartlet jun : & John wells : all of nuberie tooke ye freemens oath ye 2d of Octobr 1669


before me Robert Pike Comissr *


Political complications in England occupied the time and attention of the king and his legal advisers for the next four or five years ; and soon after the colony of Massachusetts Bay was involved in a fierce contest with the Indians, which ter- minated in King Philip's War.


The heirs of Capt. John Mason and Sir Ferdinando Gorges continued, however, to press their claims to the territory under the control of the colony lying beyond the Merrimack river. The open violation of the Navigation Act in the colony was severely denounced and condemned by the Privy Council, and the law officers of the crown advised the issuing a quo warranto in order to secure a repeal of the charter granted in 1629.


In this emergency some concessions were considered neces- sary ; and the General Court ordered, October 2, 1678, that as


* Norfolk Registry of Deeds, book II., leaf 143.


179


THE SETT. T AT MERRIMACK RIVER


it hath pleased his Majesty, by letter dated April 27, 1678, to notify the authorities of the colony of Massachusetts Bay in New England "to give forth orders that the oath of Allegiance as it is by law established wthin the Kingdome of England, be ministered and taken by all his subjects within this colony who are of years to take an oath," that the secretary of the colony be instructed to send to every magistrate, justice of the peace, and constable in every town printed copies of the oath of allegiance to be by them administered to every male inhabitant sixteen years of age and upward, the names of the inhabitants to be taken in writing, and returned to the recorders of the county courts, to be by them enrolled. Any one refusing to take the oath of allegiance was liable to a fine or imprisonment .*


A list of their names who have taken the oath of allegiance at Newbury, 1678 : 1-


Aged


Aged


John Emery jun


51


John Ordoway


20


Jonathan Emery


27


John Bayly


65


Israell webster


35


Isaac Bayly


24


wm Bolton


48


Ephraim Plummer


#24


Abraham merrill


41


John Emery iun.


22


Joseph wheeler


16


Tho : Halle jun


45


- Wm Longfellow


27


Hen. Short


26


Jacob Topan


31


Joseph Bayly


30


John Sewall


24


: mathew Petengall


30


ffrancis Browne


46


Joseph Little


25


James Smith


33


Sam. Poore sen


55


John Emery sen


80


Sam. Poore jun


25


James Ordoway


60


John Poore sen.


63


John Topan


28


Jerem. Dauis


28


Isaac Ilesley


26


Nich. Rawlins


32


Rich. Bartlett jun


30


John Dauis


30


John Bartlett jun.


23


Edward Poore


23


Tho : Bartlett


25


40 James Carre


25


Joseph knight


26


Joshua Bayly


20


20 Sam. Sayer


29


Cornelius Dauis


25


Steph. Greenleafe jun:


26


cutting Noyes


29


Jam. Ordoway jun


26


Wm Ilesley jun


28


* Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. v., p. 193.


t Original on file in the office of the clerk of courts at Salem, Quarterly Court Files, book xxx., leaf 56. Recorded in the Registry of Deeds (Ipswich series), book iv., leaf 254.


# These figures are indistinct, and may be " 26."


180


HISTORY OF NEWBURY


Aged


Aged


- Silvanus Plummer


20


Tho : Halle sen


74


Zeck. Dauis


29


/Antho. morse


72


Rich. Dummer jun


28


.Joseph Coker


38


Moses Geerish


23


Joseph Dole


22


Joseph Poore


24


ffrancis willett


43


Edmund moores sen


64


Joseph moring


22


Rich. woolworth


30


Hen. Jaques


60


Nath. Brickett


29


John Kelly


37


Nathan Parker


28


Tho : ffollinsby


41


Nath. Aires


22


Joseph mirick


18


Abeil Long


29


John Richardson Clr


31


Shubael Long


17


100 daniel Perse


40


Wm Worham


26


Tho : Noyes


30


Tristram Coffin


47


John woollcott sen


45


Wm Chandler


62


- John woolcott jun


18


60 John Badger


36


Sam : Pettingall


33


Christopher Bartlett jun


23


John Granger


24


Rich : Lowle


76


Wm Noyes


25


Tho : Woodridge


29


Andrew Godfry


22


Caleb Moody


41


Henry Somersby


16


Jonathan wheeler


20


James Brading


.


16


Nathan wheeler


18


Edward woodman jun


50


Hugh march jun


22


walter Taylor


55


Ephraim Dauis


23


-Wm morse


64


John Herricks


28


Rich. Petingall


60


Joshua woodman


41


Tho : Rogers


26


John Rolfe


18


Tho : Browne


72


Tho : Lowle


27 ,


Benajah Titcomb


25


Jonathan woodman


35


Beniamin Coker


26


Curmac Annis


40


George maior


31


Edmund marshall


29


ffrancis Thurley


48


Joseph Poore


17


120 Auth. Somersby


68


James Burrell


21


Abel Hewes


74


Percivall Lowle


40


Wm Sayer


65


Robt Coker


72


Peter Godfry


48


80 Hen. Sewall


66


Rich. Bartlett sen


57


John Webster sen


46


John Bartlett sen


65


John. Webster jun


22


John Bartlett jun


39


Dan. Lunt


36


Daniel Massiloway


33


John Atkinson


44


Hugh Pike


21


John Halle sen


42


Edward Richardson jun


27


Wm Randall


65


Tho : Titcomb


17


Joseph Richardson


23


Tho Silver jun


26


Ben : Lowle


37


Nathaneel Merrill


40


181


THE SETTLEMENT AT MERRIMACK RIVER


Aged


A ged


Peniel Titcomb


27


George Hardy


17


Augustine Studman


40


Elisha Ilesley


30


Joseph Ilesley


27


Dan. Thurston jun


17


Richard Jaques


22


John Poore jun


36


Steph : Jaques


17


Aquila chase


26


John. ffirman


31


John Chase


23


James Coffin


19


Joseph Goodridge


39


140 Increase Pillsbury


18


Edmund moores jun


27


Archelaus Woodman


60


Dan. Cheney


43


Peter Topan


44


Wm mitchell


24


Edward Richardson sen


61


John Hoeg


35


Joshua Richardson


28


Steph. Swett


58


Ben. Richardson


18


Benj. Goodridge


36


John Swett


30


180 George march


32


John Deeker


32


John Steevens


30


Tho : Silver sen


56


Job Pillsbury


35


James Jackman jun


22


Caleb Pillsbury


24


Richard Jackman


19


Abel Pillsbury


26


John mighill


42


Daniel Chase


16


Daniell merrill


34


Dauid Chily


28


Abel merrill


32


Hen. Lucas


18


Joseph Downer


40


Benj. morse


37


Joshua Browne


36


Robt. Adams


77


John knight


30


Tho : Chase


24


Robt Beedle


36


Wm Pillsbury jun.


22


Rich. Browne


27


Jerem. Goodridge


42


Joseph Pike


39


John Kent jun.


34


160 Dan. Thurston


40


John Tucker


28


Sam. Bartlett


32


Abraham Adams


37


Henry Poore


26


John mitchell


28


Henry Bodwell


24


~ Sam. Plummer


60


Ebenezer Hills


19


Isaac Adams


33


Jonathan moores


32


Jacob Adams


23


James Dauis


20


On the back of the sheet containing this list are the fol- lowing names : -


Aged


Richard Knight


77


Sam. youngloue


40


Hugh march sen


56


Robt. Rolinson


40


John Kent sen


37


Benj. Plummer 22


Joshua Bointon


30


- Joseph Plumer jun


23


John Huggins


26


Tho : Halle iun.


19


Wm Damford


30


James ffreezes


37


Aged


182


HISTORY OF NEWBURY


Aged


Aged


Joseph muzzy


50


John Thurley


19


James Jackman sen


60


Jonathan Thurley


17


Hen. Acres


26


John Noyes


33


James Noyes


21


Moses Little


21


Wm moody


17


Nath. Cheney


31


Joseph morse


40


John Glading


37


John Guile


23


Wm Pilsbury


73


George Perse


17


Wm Ilesley sen.


.


70


John Halle jun.


17


Steph Greenleaf sen.


50


Daniel moody


17


Benj. Rolfe


40


Robt Long


58


Tho. Thurley


47


John Smith


31


Peter Cheney


*39


INDIANS AND INDIAN DEEDS.


The territory granted the first settlers of Newbury in 1635 by the General Court was uninhabited, except by a few Ind- ians at the Falls, on the Quascacunquen river, and a some- what larger number that came from the woods and hills of the north during the summer months to hunt and fish at the mouth of the Merrimack.


The laws, customs, and habits of these migratory and some- times hostile Indians, the bounds and limits of their camping grounds, and the location of their villages are described with considerable minuteness by Rev. William Hubbard, pastor of the church at Ipswich, in his History of New England, writ- ten previous to 1682. He says : " Betwixt Kenebecke and Con- necticut were observed to be about twenty societies, or com- panies of these savages when the English first came upon this coast." ¡ One of these societies, or tribes, called the Tarra- tines, occupied the territory round about the Kennebec river. There were other Indian settlements at Casco bay and on the Saco and Piscataqua rivers. Inland, from twenty to fifty miles from the mouth of the Merrimack, the Wamoneset, Pentucket, Amoskeag, and Pennacook Indians lived, some- times in peace, but frequently at war with each other. "At the falls of Newbury there was a noted plantation of them,


*" A list of those that have taken the oath of Alegance & fidelity of Newbury before Mr John Woodbridge, Commissioner, in Dec & Feb. 1677," will be found in the Registry of Deeds (Ips- wich series), book 1V., leaf 189.


t Massachusetts Historical Collections (Second series), vol. v., p. 31.


·


183


THE SETTLEMENT AT MERRIMACK RIVER


by reason of the plenty of fish that almost at all seasons of the year used to be found there, both in winter and sum- mer." * At Agawam, also, now Ipswich, was another noted settlement, "to which belonged those of Newbury falls that lies in the midway, betwixt Merrimack and Agawam." *


When the inhabitants of Newbury decided to remove from the Parker to the Merrimack river, in 1645, a house lot was assigned to John Indian .; Soon after that date " Great Tom, Indian," conveyed to the selectmen thirty acres of planting land, " and all his right, title and interest " in the common and undivided land and woods within the limits of the town of Newbury, on the following terms and conditions : -


Witness by these presents that I, Great Tom, Indian, for and in con- sideration of three ponnds in hand paid by and received of the towns- men of Newbury, have given, granted, covenanted, and fully bargained, and for and by these presents do give, grant, convey, confirme, bargain, and sell all that my thirty acres of planting land as it is fenced in one entire fence in Newbury, lying neere Indian hill, with all my right, title, and interest in all the woods, commons, and lands that I have in the township of Newbury to have and to hold, all the said premises Respec- tively to bee to the proper use and behoof to the said Inhabitants of the Said Towne of Newbury, their heirs, executors, administrators, and as- signes for ever, and I, the said Great Tom, Indian, doe hereby engage and bind myself, mine heirs, executors, and assignes unto Mr. William Gerish, Abraham Toppan, and Anthony Somerby, being Townsmen in the behalf of Said Towne, to warrantize the said Bargained premises to the said Towne and for ever defend.


In witness whereof I the said Great Tom, Indian, have sett my hand and seale April 16, 1650. Witness the mark x of Great Tom, Indian.


JOHN BARTLET,


WILLIAM TITCOMB.


This is a true coppy of a deed, as is abovesayd, taken from the originall.


Attest ANTHONY SOMERBY, Clerk of Newbury.#


The title to land owned by Henry Sewall, in the vicinity of Newbury Falls, was in dispute for more than twenty years. In June, 1661, the General Court ordered : ---


* Massachusetts Historical Collections (Second series), vol. v., p. 32.


t See ante, p. 89.


# Town of Newbury Records, vol. i.


.


184


HISTORY OF NEWBURY


Whereas some Indians, as wee are informed pretend an interest in some part of the lands of Henry Sewall, wch lyeth at Newbury Falls, sometime Mr John Spencers, wch lands were purchased of the sajd Spencer, & also haue binn confirmed by the toune of Newbury vnto the sajd Henry Sewall, it is therefore ordered, by this Court, that if it shall appeare vnto the sajd Henry Sewall that the sajd Indians, or any other, haue any legall right vnto any part of the sajd land, the sajd Henry Sewall shall heereby haue liberty to purchase the same of the sajd Indians .*


Subsequently, the grandson of " Old Will " brought a suit to recover land in the possession of Henry Sewall. June 23, 1679, the depositions of Moses Bradstreet, Alice Homes, and John Todd, favoring the claim of the plaintiff, were taken and sworn to before Daniel Denison, of Ipswich .¡ Further con- sideration of the case was probably postponed until the next session of the court. Meanwhile some concessions were made ; and, eventually, a settlement satisfactory to all persons inter- ested was agreed upon.


June 14, 1681, Job Indian, grandson, Kate Indian, and Mary Indian, daughters, of Old Will Indian, of Newbury Falls, in consideration of six pounds, thirteen shillings, and fourpence paid to each of the above-named Indians. Job, Kate, and Mary, conveyed to Henry Sewall, of Newbury, a tract of land " of which a part is known by the name of the Indian field in Newbury, aforesaid, bounded as followeth ; on ye northerly side with the great brooke which runeth along the side of the greate field, on the westerly side with a line runn by said Seawell from ye head of sd farme unto Newbury river at or neere the upper fales & on ye Southerly side with ye said river, as alsoe all the right, title and interest they, ye sd Job, Kate & Mary Indians have or ought to have to land at or neere Indian hill, or anywhere else within the township of Newbury abovesaid, as they are heires to old Will Indian abovesd, or otherwaise." #


Soon after the charter of the colony of Massachusetts Bay was vacated in 1684, the inhabitants of Newbury and other towns in Essex county were greatly disturbed by rumors that


* Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. iv., part 1I., p. 21.


t Coffin's History of Newbury, p. 363.


# Essex Deeds, vol. vi., p. 23 (134).


185


THE SETTLEMENT AT MERRIMACK RIVER


they were to be deprived of land granted to them by the General Court. In order to strengthen their title to the prop- erty, and prevent its seizure by the officers of the crown, the towns of Newbury, Bradford, Boxford, Gloucester, and Bev- erly, bought of the grandchildren of Masconomo, " the saga- more of Agawam," all the land within their territorial limits.


The deed, dated January 10, 1700-1, to the selectmen of the town of Newbury, is substantially as follows : Sam- uel English, " grandson and heir of Masconomet, the Saga- more of Agawam, an Indian," in consideration of the sum of ten pounds in current money of New England, paid by Cutting Noyes, Joseph Knight, Richard Dole, John Worth, and Joseph Pike, for and in behalf of said town, conveyed to the above-named selectmen "a tract of land containing ten thousand acres more or less " lying within and including the whole of the township of Newbury, "bounded easterly by ye sea northerly & north westerly by Merrimack river, westerly by Bradford Line & Southerly by Rowley Line, together with all ye wood, timber, lands, grounds, soyles, waters, streams, Rivers, Ponds, fishings, huntings, stones, mines, minerals, heriditaments and all the appurtances belonging to ye same and to every part thereof within the said Township." * In acknowledgment of this deed of conveyance


Samuel English ye surviving heir of ye Masconomet ye Sagamore of Agawam appeared before us, ye subscribers, ye Tenth day of Janu- ary in the Twelfth yeare of his majties Reign, Anno Domini 1700-I, and acknowledged the above written Instrument to be his act & deed, before us


Justices


DANIEL PIERCE THOMAS NOYES of ye Peace.


The same day Joseph Foster made oath "that he did know Sarah ye Daughter of Maschanominet the Sagamore of Agawam, & father that Samuel English was reputed to be her eldest sonne now surviving." +


Moses Parker, also, made oath the same day "That he very well knoweth that Samuel English is ye reputed son of Sarah the Daughter of ye Sagamore Maschanominet & eldest son now surviving." +


* Essex Deeds, vol. xiv., p. 67. t Ibid., p. 68.


I86


HISTORY OF NEWBURY


WITCHCRAFT IN NEWBURY.


" December 3, 1679, Caleb Powell being complained of for suspicion of working with the Devill to the molesting of Will- iam Morse and his family " was brought before John Wood- bridge, commissioner or special magistrate at Newbury, for examination ; and, after the accusation and testimony had been read, the case was adjourned until the Monday following.


The second hearing was held December 8, 1679, before the commissioners and William Morse was ordered to bring the case to the attention of the county court to be held at Ipswich in the month of March following. Caleb Powell was com- mitted to the care of the constable " till he find security of twenty pounds for the answering of the sayd complaint." *


The testimony of William Morse and his brother Anthony Morse, of John Badger, Sarah Hale, Joseph Mirick, and Mary Tucker, will be found on file in the court-house at Salem .; Notwithstanding the strange and extraordinary character of the evidence submitted, it was not considered sufficient to con- vict Caleb Powell of an offence against the laws of God and man ; and he was therefore discharged.


Upon hearing the complaint brought to this court against Caleb Powell for suspicion of working by the devill to the molesting of the family of William Morse of Newbury, though this court cannot find any evident ground of proceeding farther against the sayd Powell, yett we determine that he hath given such ground of suspicion of his so dealing that we cannot so aquit him but that he justly deserves to beare his owne shame and the costs of prosecution of the complaint.


It is referred to Mr. Woodbridge to hear and determine the charges.#


The mysterious disturbances in and about the house of William Morse evidently continued while Caleb Powell was a prisoner and after he was set at liberty. Vague and contra- dictory reports in regard to the frivolous speech and malicious conduct of Elizabeth Morse, wife of William Morse, were cir-


. Court Files (Salem), vol. xxxii., pp. 130-133, inclusive.


t The reader will also find on pages 131 to 133, inclusive, of Coffin's History of Newbury, the substance of the testimony given by William Morse ; on page 123, the testimony of John Badger and Anthony Morse ; and on page 125, the testimony of Sarah Hale, Joseph Mirick, and Mary Tucker.


# Court Files (Salem), vol. xxxii., p. 132.


187


THE SETTLEMENT AT MERRIMACK RIVER


culated, and served to fasten suspicion upon her as one insti- gated by an evil spirit, and ultimately led to her indictment and arrest. She was brought to the Court of Assistants, sit- ting in Boston, for trial, and was adjudged guilty. The record reads as follows : -


at A Court of Adjourment held at Boston 20th May, 1680 :


The Grand Jury presenting Elizabeth morse ye wife of Wm morse, Sr |shell was indicted by the name of Elizabeth morse for that she not hauing the feare of God before hir eyes being Instigated by the divil & having had familiarity with the divil contrary to the peace of our Souaigne Lord the King his crowne & dignity ye lawes of God & of this Jurisdiction : After the prisonr was at ye barre and pleaded not Guilty & put hirself on God & ye country for triall ye evidences produced were read & committed to ye Jury.


The Jury brought in their virdict & they found Elizabeth Morse, the prisoner at the barre, Guilty according to Indictmt. The Governr on 27th May after ye lecture pronounced ye sentence : Elizabeth Morse you are to goe from hence to the place from whence you came & thence to the place of execution, there to be hanged by the neck till you be dead, And the Lord have mercy on your Soul.


This Court was adjournd diem per diem & on Ist June 1680 The Gouvrnr & magists voted Reprieving of Elizabeth Morse, condemnd, till the next session of the Court in October .*


as Attest EWD RAWSON, Secretary .*


Subsequently, an effort was made to still farther delay pro- ceedings, and secure a second reprieval for the wife of William Morse. November 3, 1680, the following order was passed by the House of Deputies, but failed to receive the approval of the magistrates : -


The deputies on perusal of the acts of the honorable Court of As- sistants relating to the woman condemned for witchcraft doe not under- stand why execution of the sentence given against her by said court is not executed and that her second repreevall seems to us to be beyond what the law will allow and doe therefore judge meete to declare our- selves against it with reference to the concurrence of our honored magis- trates hereto. WM TORREY Clerk.


Not consented to by the magistrates.


EDWARD RAWSON Secretary.t


* Massachusetts Archives, vol. cxxxv., p. 18 ; Court of Assistants (manuscript records), .p.


11; Court of Assistants (printed records), p. 159; Coffin's History of Newbury, p. 126. t Massachusetts Archives, vol. cxxxv., leaf 18.


188


HISTORY OF NEWBURY


When the General Court assembled in May, 168 1, a petition, dated " Newbury May 14, 1681," signed by William Morse, was presented to the deputies and magistrates, asking for a review of the evidence given in the Court of Assistants, impli- cating Elizabeth Morse in the charges brought against her .*


At the same session William Morse also presented the fol- lowing petition : -


To the honored governor, deputy governor, magistrates and deputies now assembled in Court May the eighteenth 1681.


The most humble petition and request of William Morse in behalfe of his wif (now a condemned prisoner) to this honored court is that they would be pleased so far to hearken to the cry of your poor prisoner, who am a condemned person, upon the charge of witchcraft and for a witch, to which charge your poor prisoner have pleaded not guilty, and by the mercy of God, and the goodness of the honored governor, I am reprieved and brought to this honored court, at the foot of which tribunal I now stand humbly praying your justis in hearing of my case and to deter- mine therein as the Lord shall direct. I do not understand law, nor do I know how to lay my case before you as I ought for want of which I humbly beg of your honors that my request may not be rejected, but may find acceptance with you it being no more but your sentence upon my triall whether I shall live or dy, to which I shall humbly submit unto the Lord and you,


WILLIAM MORSE in behalf of his wife Elizabeth Morse.t


The deputies, in General Court assembled, voted to grant the prayer of the petitioner ; but the magistrates declined to give their consent.


The deputies judge meet to grant the petitioner a hearing the next sixth day and that warrants goe forth to all persons concerned from this Court then to appear in order to her farther triall, our honored magis- trates hereto consenting. WM TORREY Clerk.


May 24, 1681 not consented to by the magistrates


EDWARD RAWSON, Secretary.t


No farther action was taken by the General Court, and a few days later the Court of Assistants issued the following decree : ----


* Massachusetts Archives, vol. cxxxv., leaf 18. See also Coffin's History of Newbury, pp. 127-129.


t Massachusetts Archives, vol. cxxxv., leaf 19; also, Coffin's History of Newbury, p. 130.


THE SETTLEMENT AT MERRIMACK RIVER


189


Att a Court of Assistants held at Boston Ist June 1681


In Ansr to the peticon of Wm morse in be- half of his wife Elizabeth morse & of hirs also. The Court Judgeth it meet to Reprieve the sajd Elisabeth morse the Condemned prisoner to the end of the next session in October and in the meantime order hir dismission from the prison in Boston to Returne home wth hir hus- band to Newbery Prouided she goe not aboue sixteen Rods from hir Oune house | & land | at any time except to the meeting house in Newbery nor remoove from the place Appointed hir by the minister & selectmen to sitt in whilst there


past E. R. S .*


present Symon Bradstreete Esqr Go Tho Danforth Esqr dept Gou


Dani : Gookin Esqr majr Gen Dani Dennison Esqr Jno Pynchon Joseph Dudley Nath Saltonstall Tho Sauage Jnº Hull James Russell Peter Tilton


Although Elizabeth Morse was not pardoned, but only reprieved until the end of the October session of the General Court in 1681, she returned to Newbury, where she remained until her death, in the house owned and occupied by her hus- band, on the southeasterly side of what is now known as Market square, Newburyport .;


William Morse died November 29, 1683. His wife was living at that time, and was appointed one of the executors of his will. She made oath January 8, 1683-4, to the in- ventory of his estate. The date of her death is unknown, but at her decease the old homestead became the property of her daughter Abigail, wife of John Hendricks. June 19, 1696, Moses Pingry and wife Abigail (formerly Abigail Hen- dricks) sold the house and land to Daniel Davison.


SAMUEL SEWALL.


The worthy and upright judge who sat on the bench at the witchcraft trials in Salem in 1692 was closely identified with the early history of Newbury, and manifested, during a long and eventful life, a deep and abiding interest in the wel- fare and prosperity of the town.


* Records of the Court of Assistants, p. 133 ; Ibid. (printed copy), p. 189.


t" Ould Newbury," pp. 627-629.




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