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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
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.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.