USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > History of Newbury, Mass., 1635-1902 > Part 21
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* Norfolk County Records (Salem), book ii., leaf 197.
t Coffin's History of Newbury, pp. 336-339.
# Coffin Papers (Essex Institute, Salem) vol. i., pp. 61-76.
§ Probate Records (Salem), book cccxiii., p. 487 ; Essex Antiquarian, vol. v., p. 123.
255
THE SETTLEMENT AT MERRIMACK RIVER
November 4, 1725, Jonathan Poore sold " to M' Richard Kelly a nagrow man called Reuben " for one hundred pounds in " Billes of Credet." *
Rev. Matthias Plant, minister at Queen Anne's Chapel, in his will dated February 25, 1751, and proved May 7, 1753, makes the following bequest : -
I give unto my negro garl Luce all but seventeen acres of 2 lott of Land laid out to the original right of James George, called the great Farms in Almsbury [now in New Town, N.H.]. I also give her her Freedom after the Decease of my widow Lydia Plant. But my will is that my negro garl Luce shal not come into possession of said Land untill the decease of my said widow, But my said widow shal have the Improvement and profit of it During the term of her natural life in as full and ample a manner as if I had made no Bequest of said land to sd negro garl Luce. Moreover if said widw Lydia Plant shall Declare be- fore three or four Indifrent persons of good ability and understanding, or give a sartificat in writing from under her own Hand (or if she does not give it from under her hand but sais nothing against her) That the said negro garl Luce hath in all Fidelity, from time to time, both in Word and Deed behaved herself very respectfully and Dutifully as an Honist and faithful servant. she ye sd Luce shal be Intitled to the above Privelidge & Bequest. But on the contrary if her behaver be disonist. stubourn to what she ought to be to me or her sd mistres, then this my Bequest of freedom and Land given to her & her assigns shal be void and of none effect, and the said Luce in this case shal be my sd widws and she shal Dispose of her at her o'vn Discresion Tho I would not have my sd widw make a slave of her if she should be gilty of some common fallings, but such faults shall be lookt over. But in case my negro garl Luce should forfet her rite to her freedom and Land which I have Bequested her, Then in that case I. give and Bequeath the same to and for the use of the minister of Queen Ann's Chapel, in New- bury, for the time being : and I give it By the name of Gleeb Lands.
Lydia Plant, widow of Rev. Matthias Plant, in her will dated September 29, 1753, and proved October 22, 1753, gave her negroes, "Robin and Lucy," their freedom, and liberty also to live for four years in the house that she owned and occupied at the time of her decease, with the use of house- hold utensils, beds, sheets, blankets, etc.
Samuel Morgaridge, shipwright, in his will dated October 30, 1753, proved April 8, 1754, gave his wife the use of the
*Coffin Papers (Essex Institute, Salein), vol. L., pp. 61, 76.
256
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
dwelling-house where he then lived, and the service of negro Peter "if he behaves well." The executors of his will were authorized to let, sell, or use his negroes Primus and Lucy ; " also to sell my negroe Peter if he proves unruly and dis- obedient to my wife." In the inventory of his estate " three negroes " were valued at £133, 6s. 8d.
At the close of the year 1754 there were thirty-four male and sixteen female slaves in Newbury sixteen years of age and upwards, according to the census taken by order of the governor of the province of Massachusetts Bay .*
January 29, 1765, Mary Morgaridge, widow, sold to Enoch Sawyer, of Newbury, physician, her life interest in the dwell- ing-house bequeathed to her by the will of her late husband, Samuel Morgaridge, and also "a molat man called Peter, and a negro woman called Luce." +
The following items are credited in her account as execu- trix filed March 12, 1765 : į-
Received for negro Primus £31.12. 0
For the use of Primus for eight years 37. 6. 8
For the use of Negro Lucy 5. 0. 0
Negro Peter valued at 44. 8.10
Negro for use of children 44. 8.10
Sarah, widow of John Weed, gave a bond for fifty pounds to the selectmen of Newbury, September 22, 1768, as security for the support of her negro " Joel," in case he was unable to support himself after he was given his freedom.§
Marriages were not uncommon among the slaves of New- bury, and were usually recorded in manner and form substan- tially as follows : ---
October 13, 1749 married Scipio negroe servant of Mr Samuel Moody, Junr of Newbury, and Rose negroe servant of Mr Benja Harris of Newbury. ||
October 24, 1754 married John & Elizabeth servants of Mr Henry Rolfe. ||
June 20, 1779 md Cambridge servant to Col Little & Cate, servant of Mrs Hannah Sawyer widow both of Newby.||
* Massachusetts Historical Society Collections, Second Series, vol. iii., p. 95.
t Essex Deeds, book cxv., leaf 163.
# Probate Records (Salem), book cccxlii., p. 62.
§ Essex Institute Historical Collections, vol. xxxv., p. 157 : also, " Ould Newbury," p. 137. il First Parish (Church) Records.
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257
THE SETTLEMENT AT MERRIMACK RIVER
Two articles in the warrant for a town meeting to be held August S, 1775, read as follows : -
Article 3. To see if the town will signify by their vote their Disap- probation of Slavery, or of keeping slaves, and, if voted, then
Article 4. To see if the Town by their vote will instruct their Rep- resentative to use his utmost Endeavors in the General Court that all Slaves in this Colony may be set at Liberty .*
No definite action was taken by the legal voters of New- bury at that date. When the articles were reached in the order of business, they were, in the words of the record, " dis- missed."
Rev. Moses Parsons, who was settled as minister in Byfield parish, June 20, 1744, was the owner of three slaves, -- two men and one woman. He was a faithful and devoted pastor ; but during the last years of his life he was involved in a con- troversy with one of the deacons of his church, Benjamin Col- man, who bitterly opposed the holding of men and women in bondage, and publicly asserted that " Mr Parsons was guilty of the wicked practice of man stealing."
Several communications were published in the newspapers of the day by Deacon Colman, condemning in vigorous lan- guage the buying and selling of slaves; and December 21, 1780, the parish voted to suspend him "from the fellowship and communion of the church till he does by repentance and confession give christian satisfaction for the offence he has committed."
October 26, 1785, two years after the death of Rev. Mr. Parsons, Deacon Colman acknowledged that in his controversy with the late worthy minister of the parish he had urged " his arguments against the slavery of the Africans with excessive vehemence and asperity "; and he was thereupon restored to membership in the church, and reappointed to the office of deacon.t
*Town of Newbury Records.
t Coffin's History of Newbury, pp. 340-350, inclusive; also, Memoir of Chief Justice Par- sons by his son, Theophilus Parsons, pp. 17-19.
258
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
GRIST-MILLS, WIND-MILLS, AND SAW-MILLS.
At the close of the year 1685 there were three grist-mills and one oatmeal or malt mill in the town of Newbury, but they were evidently overcrowded with work; and March 16, 1685-6, "The Towne being sensable of ye great want of another corn mill they did by a vote desire Capt Daniell Peirce, Capt Thomas Noyes, Ensign Nath1 Clark, Mr. Richard Dole and Samuell Plumer, at yr owne charg to view such place or places as may be most convenient for ye setting up of a Mill; as also to treat wth such persons that may be dam- nified thereby, and to bring report to ye Towne." *
January 5, 1686-7, a committee was appointed "to treat with Peter Cheney about setting up a corne mill and a fulling mill upon the Falls river."
Peter Cheney, who purchased of John Bishop the mill near Four Rock bridge on Little river in 1663, proposed, February 15, 1686-7, "to build and maintaine a good and sufficient grist or corn mill within two years, and a fulling mill within three yeares at ye upper falls [Quascacunquen river] and to full ye townes cloth on the same terms that Mr. John Pearson t doth full cloth, and resign up his interest in Little river on condition that the town give him fifty acres of land joyning to Falls river." #
This proposal was accepted by the town. December 25, 1689, "Peter Cheney was allowed one year longer in which to finish his fulling mill." After his decease a portion of the land, with the buildings thereon, was sold to Benjamin Pear- son, who was engaged in the manufacture of woollen goods in that locality until his death in 1731. For nearly a cen- tury after that date the business was continued by the chil- dren and grandchildren of Mr. Pearson, and the property still remains in the possession of his lineal descendants.§
In 1688, the building of another grist-mill on Little river
*Town of Newbury Records.
t Mr. John Pearson had a fulling mill, and carried on the clothier's trade at or near the present location of the Glen Mills, Rowley.
# Town of Newbury Records ; also, Proprietors' Records, vol. i., p. 18.
§"Ould Newbury," pp. 301-303.
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259
THE SETTLEMENT AT MERRIMACK RIVER
was authorized by the town ; but for various reasons the work · was delayed, and the mill was not completed until six or eight years later.
May 25, 1688 The Towne Grants theyre interest in the stream of the Little River to the mouth of it whear it vents into the great River to Henry Short for to build a Grist Mill uppon for the Townes use provided he build it in such place as may Answer the Townes end & grind theyr corne for them from time to time, provided he build it within one yeare, and if he do not build it he is to pay to the Towne five pounds & the Towne to have theyre interest in the streame again. The Mill to be set at the cart place or at the mouth of the River .*
December 26, 1689 The Towne having now relinquished any former obligation of Henry Short to the Towne uppon ye account of Building a Mill not by him performed Do hereby give, grant and empower all theyr right, title & interest in the stream of the Little River to Henry Short his heyrs and Assigns so long as he his heyrs & assigns shall build and maintain a sufficient corne mill for the Townes use and to grind for the Towne of Newbury before any other Towne. But pro- vided through defect of the Dam or Mill the said Mill should faile of grinding for the Townes use the above said stream shall not be for- feited provided it faile not a yeare or two .*
March 10, 1695-6, Granted to Henry Short thirty five acres of land towards the building of his mill to be laid out in the comon land of Newbury .*
August 1I, 1708, John Short sold to Lieut. Jeremiah Pearson, of Rowley, nine acres of land on the easterly side of Little river, "together with ye dwelling house and ye grist mill standing on said River " and the water privilege, "as it was granted to my honored father Henry Short late of Newbury decased at a meeting of the inhabitants of the town held Dec. 26, 1689." +
Mr. Silas Pearson, a descendant of Lieut. Jeremiah Pear- son, owned the mill and two other grist-mills, with an unfin- ished saw-mill, when they were all destroyed by fire June 12, 1813.4
Subsequently, a new mill was built by Mr. Silas Pearson about one hundred rods farther to the westward on the same stream. January 15, 1831, he petitioned the General Court
* Town of Newbury Records.
t Essex Deeds, vol. xxxii., p. 204.
# Newburyport Herald, June 15, 1813.
260
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
to legalize the removal of his mill and dam, "doubts having arisen whether he had a right to remove his said Dam and Mill without the consent of the Legislature." *
"An act to confirm Silas Pearson in the location of his Dam across Little River in the town of Newbury ... for the purpose of retaining water to carry a tide mill, agreeably to a grant from the said town (in the year 1689) in as full and ample a manner as if the said dam had been erected by the authority of this court," was passed March fourteenth, and approved by the governor March 15, 1831.
In 1843, the property was sold to Mr. James B. Knight, who operated a grist-mill there until the close of the year 1874.
WINDMILL AT FROG POND.
" July 9, 1703 Ensign Stephen Jaques, M' Benjamin Wood- bridge, & Henry Jaques petitioned the Towne to grant them a suteable piece of land to sett a windmill on. that Hill neere penuel Titcombs." This petition was granted, "Pro- vided when the windmill fails or is unservisable the land shall returne to the Towne wthin three years after the failure of sd mill if a windmill be not rebuilt againe wthin sd time." t
This mill was built near the southeasterly end of Frog pond, and was probably used for the grinding of corn and wheat until 1774, when the slight eminence on which it stood was graded to a level with the land in that vicinity, and made available as a training field.ț
March 29, 1771, Abraham Larkin was crushed to death while examining the machinery in the top of this windmill.§
SAW-MILL AT INDIAN RIVER.
For ten or fifteen years after the division of the upper commons Indian river was navigable for small boats. In 1706, perhaps earlier, a temporary dam was built at the mouth of the river, and a saw-mill erected there.
* See advertisement of petition in Newburyport Herald, January 18, 1831.
t Town of Newbury Records.
#"Ould Newbury," pp. 610-612.
§ Coffin's History of Newbury, p. 239.
261
THE SETTLEMENT AT MERRIMACK RIVER
November 26, 1686, the proprietors of the common lands in Newbury voted " that Indian River shall be free so far as the tide flows for passing & repassing of Boates and Canoos at all times : it is to be accounted a highway free for all men to transport by water." *
October 30, 1706, the proprietors authorized the selectmen to lay out a highway on the westerly side of Joseph Knight's lot, and at the same meeting voted to employ "Serjeant Jos- eph Pike to build a bridge over Indian river near his saw mill." ¡
" The highway near Indian river running four rods wide to Joseph Pike's mill and thence over the river below said mill " was laid out by the selectmen November 1, 1706.į
Joseph Pike, having given an obligation to build the bridge near his saw-mill, " he was released from the conditions of his obligation provided he agrees to repair all damage at his own cost that may happen to said bridge by reason of his impound- ing the water above it." §
At a meeting of the proprietors of Newbury, held June 18, 1707, he was granted "the liberty of hanging two gates one at the upper end of the way " near the Bradford road, and the " other is to be hung near the mouth of Indian River across the sd Rivr, ye last sd Gate to be so conveniently hung yt it may open wth the flood & shut wth the ebb." Il
SAW-MILL AT CART CREEK.
March 9, 1707-8, Edmund Goodridge and John Noyes, jr., petitioned the proprietors for liberty to set up a saw-mill on Cart creek. The committee appointed to view the place made a favorable report, and the petition was granted June 22, 1708.1
MILLS AT PINE ISLAND.
January 13, 1756-7, the town granted Nathaniel Lunt, Ben- jamin Rolfe, Jonathan Plumer, and Stephen Ilsley liberty to erect a grist-mill and saw-mill at Pine Island creek on certain
* Proprietors' Records, vol. i., p. 15. § Town of Newbury Records.
t Coffin's History of Newbury, p. 173.
Il "Ould Newbury," p. 341.
Proprietors' Records, vol. i., p. 29 T Ibid., p. 32.
262
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
conditions, the grantees giving bonds to save the town harm- less from damage arising from the overflowing of the banks or meadows on said creek .*
September 10, 1760, Nathaniel Lunt sold to Benjamin Rolfe and Stephen Ilsley " all his right title and interest in the mills lately erected at the Landing Place at Pine Island Creek." +
The half-tone print on the opposite page gives a view of the landing-place as it now appears. A mill-stone, formerly used for the grinding of corn, is the only memorial left of the mills that were destroyed by fire December 5, 1797.
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DISTILLERIES AND MALT-HOUSES.
Cattle-raising, farming, and fishing were the most prom- inent industries in Newbury fifty years after its first settle- ment ; but, in addition to the saw and grist mills, of which mention has already been made, several distilleries and malt- houses were in operation.
August 25, 1653, Edmund Greenleaf sold a dwelling-house and one acre of land, with a still-house and the fixtures con- nected therewith, to Capt. Paul White .;
In 1662, the Court of General Sessions at Salem licensed Capt. Paul White " to still strong waters for a yeare and sell by the quart "; and March 5, 1677, he petitioned the town of Newbury " for about a rod of land at the hanging of the hill before his still-house on the street." }
Col. Daniel Pierce had two or more malt-houses on land at the southeasterly corner of Chandler's lane, now Federal street, and the way by Merrimack river, now Water street, Newburyport, previous to the year 1700,§-and on the north- westerly corner of the same streets or highways Caleb Moody built a malt-house as early as 1673.| In 1692, James Ord- way, sr., owned a dwelling-house and malt-house on the north- westerly corner of Ordway's lane (now Market street) and the way near the river, now Merrimack street, Newburyport. IT
At a later date other malt-houses and distilleries were estab-
*Town of Newbury Records. t Essex Deeds, book cxi., p. 23.
#" Ould Newbury," p. 177. § Ibid., p. 123. Il Ibid., p. 149. T Ibid., P. 397.
LANDING PLACE AT PINE ISLAND.
.
264
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
.
lished. May 18, 1738, the selectmen of Newbury, with Henry Rolfe and Charles Pierce, justices of the peace, granted Joseph Lunt, jr., "liberty to erect a still house on the corner of Thomas Moodeys lane by the end of his Malt house for the distilling of strong liquors." # This grant was recorded Au- gust 24, 1738.
LIME-KILNS AND ROPEWALKS.
At the beginning of the eighteenth century the tanning of leather was well established, ship-building was carried on quite extensively, and a large and profitable trade had been de- veloped between Newbury and the West India islands.
This Summer [1697] Ensign James Noyes hath happily discovered a Boddy of Marble at Newbury, within half a mile of the navigable part of Little River; by which means very good Lime is made within the Province.t
Several kilns were built for the burning of lime within the limits of the town, and for many years the business was pros- perous and profitable.#
Cordage was probably manufactured in Newbury pre- vious to 1748. John Crocker, in a petition presented March 8, 1747-8, to the inhabitants of the town, makes the follow- ing statement : -
Whereas his present occupation of Rope making has been found for time past very beneficial not only for the sea faring business of this Towne but also as thereby many poor people are imployed he there- fore asks permission to set up a rope walk between Abiel Somerby's land and the windmill for such a term of years as they [the freeholders of the town ] shall think proper.§
The petition was granted ; and the selectmen were author- ized to lay out the land for the purpose designated, the peti- tioner to have the use of it for ten years. ||
*Town of Newbury Records.
t Phenomena quadam Apocalyptica, etc., or, The New Heaven and the New Earth, by Samuel Sewall, first edition (1697), p. 60, in Boston Public Library.
# "Ould Newbury," pp. 421-423.
§ Town of Newbury Records, p. 74.
Il "Ould Newbury," pp. 610, 611. In 1803, there were five cordage manufactories in New- bury, employing from forty to fifty men and boys, and producing annually from two to three hun- dred tons of cordage, valued at about $70,000 (History of Newburyport, by Caleb Cushing, p. 88) .
265
THE SETTLEMENT AT MERRIMACK RIVER
From 1724 to 1737, Capt. Crocker was master of a vessel that made many voyages between Boston and London. He was a member of Christ Church, Boston, and married, April 12, 1727, Mary, daughter of Thomas and Mehitable Savage, of that town .* He removed to Newbury in 1737, probably. " Elizabeth, daughter of Capt John Crocker & Mary his wife," was baptized by Rev. Matthias Plant August 8, 1737. Capt. Crocker was one of the wardens of Queen Anne's Chapel in 1739 and a vestryman in 1740. He was afterwards a prom- inent member of St. Paul's Church, and was annually elected to the office of warden or vestryman of that church from 1743 to 1753. He died March 19, 1763, and was buried in St. Paul's churchyard, then in Newbury, now within the limits of the city of Newburyport.
The Massachusetts Gazette, published in Boston, April 7, 1763, contains the following obituary notice : -
Newbury March 19, 1763 This Day died here in the 71st year of his Age Capt John Crocker a gentleman that was well known in the town of Boston where he formerly lived and was many years in the London Trade. He was universally beloved and esteemed for his re-markable Honesty and good Nature, and other amiable Qualities. The memory of the Just is blessed.
HAY SCALES.
Ponderous scales for weighing hay, grain, and other heavy merchandise were erected at a very early date near the centre of the town, on Fish street, now State street, Newburyport.
May 23, 1753 the town granted liberty to Samuel Titcomb and John Harris to build a substantial engine to weigh hay, to stand where the old engine stood near the head of Fish street.t
A petition, signed by James Knight and others, "inhabi- tants of Newbury," for liberty to erect hay-scales on the highway, nearly opposite the town-house, at the head of Muzzey's lane, now Marlborough street, was granted March 13, 1758-9.}
* Rev. Anson Titus, of Tufts College, who has given much attention to genealogical research, says that Thomas Savage was a goldsmith by trade; that he was for many years in Barbadoes, but subsequently came to Newbury, where he died August 23, 1749. His grave and the grave of his wife " Mehitable," who died June 6, 1737, are in the Old Hill Burying ground, Newburyport. t Town of Newbury Records ( 1731-85), p. 94. # lbid., p. 117.
266
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
MANUFACTURE OF COMBS.
The manufacture of combs was established in Newbury in 1759 by Mr. Enoch Noyes. The business is still carried on successfully in West Newbury and in Newburyport .*
THE INCORPORATION OF NEWBURYPORT.
June 10, 1763, a petition, signed by William Atkins, Dan- iel Farnham, Michael Dalton, Thomas Woodbridge, Patrick Tracy, and many other inhabitants of Newbury, living at or near the water side between Cottle's lane, now Bromfield street, Newburyport, and the dividing line of the Fifth parish, now Oakland street, Newburyport, was presented to the Gen- eral Court, asking that a portion of the town of Newbury might be set off and incorporated as a separate town.
Many reasons why this request should be granted were stated in the petition. Considerable emphasis was laid upon the fact that the farming population persistently opposed any and all measures advocated by "the merchants, traders and mechanics" living at the water side; that the petitioners were obliged to provide fire engines at their own cost, for the protection of their property ; that there were no fixed and stated schools, but only movable ones, and no public school- houses within the limits of the proposed new town; that there was no town treasurer, the selectmen serving in that capacity in violation of the law of the province; that the taxes were illegally assessed; and also that the new town- house on Fish street, now State street, lately built by some of the petitioners, with the aid and consent of the courts of Essex county, had not been used by the town on account of complaints and objections to its location.
The General Court ordered " that the town clerk of New- bury be served with a copy of the petition, and the inhabi- tants be notified to appear on the second Tuesday of the next sitting of the Court to show cause why the prayers of the petitioners should not be granted."t
* Coffin's History of Newbury, p. 225.
t Acts and Resolves of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, vol. iv., p. 698.
267
THE SETTLEMENT AT MERRIMACK RIVER
On the twenty-eighth day of January, 1764, the General Court passed "an act for erecting part of the town of New- bury into a new town by the name of Newburyport," which was approved by Francis Bernard, governor of the province, February 4, 1764. The first section of this act gives the bounds and limits of the new town as follows : -
Where As the Town of Newbury is very large, and the Inhabitants of that Part of it who dwell by the Water-side there, as it is commonly called, are mostly Merchants, Traders, and Artificers, and the Inhabi- tants of the other Parts of the Town are chiefly Husbandmen, by means where of many Difficulties and Disputes have arisen in managing their publick Affairs :
Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and House of Representa- tives, That that Part of the Town of Newbury, and the Inhabitants thereof included within the following Line: namely, begining at Mer- rimack River, against the North-easterly End of the Town way Com- monly called Cottle's Lane, and running as the said Lane doth on the easterly side of it, to the highway commonly called High Street ; and so westerly as the said highway runs, on the northerly side thereof, till it comes to a town way known by the name of Fish Street; and thence southwesterly as the way goes, and on the easterly side thereof, leading by Benjamin Moodey's to a place called the West Indies, until it inter- sects a streight line drawn from the southerly side of the highway against Cottle's Lane aforesaid, to a rock in the great pasture near the dividing line between the third and fifth parishes there; and so as the said streight line goes, until it comes to the dividing line aforesaid ; and from thence as the said dividing line runs, by the said fifth parish, down to the Merrimack River, and thence, along said river to the place first mentioned,-be and hereby are constituted and made a [separate and] distinct Town by the name of Newburyport, and vested and endowed with all the Powers, Priviledges and Immunities that the Inhabitants of any of the Towns within this Province do or ought by Law to enjoy ; save that they shall have the Right of chusing and sending from time to time but one Person to represent them in the Great and General Court of this Province .*
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