USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > History of Newbury, Mass., 1635-1902 > Part 34
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Newbury
Andover
NATHANIEL CLARKE
FFRANCIS BROWN
DUDLEY BRADSTREET JOHN OSGOOD
Given in to be Recorded June 20th by two of the selectmen.
NATHANIEL CLARKE. JAMES ORDWAY.+
* Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. iii., P 305. t Salem Court Files, vol. ii., leaf 130.
# Town of Newbury Records. § Ipswich Court Records, vol. i., p. 47.
418
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
February 15, 1654 at a meeting of the Townsmen select It is or- dered that Richard Knight & John Pike shall stake out a convenient way & passage for the Towns Cattell to make use of the Spring of water by Henry Shorts wch is reserved for the publique use of the Towne .*
This spring is about thirty rods in a southwesterly direc- tion from the way, now known as Low street, extending from Hay street to Plummer street in Newbury.
September 21, 1654, the inhabitants of the "old towne" were granted liberty " to make a fence and hang a gate across the way about Anthony Shorts or John Knights provided they hinder not the cattell from going into the commons there." t . November 19, 1654, Richard Knight, John Cheney, and John Pike were appointed to "lay out the way from Merri- macke Street to the necke on the east side of the old town & through the said necke to the marshes there." # On the twenty-ninth day of November following, the way was laid out. It is still in use, and extends from the easterly end of the Lower Green, so called, to a sandy cove or beach on the Parker river, where the first settlers of Newbury landed.§
May 26, 1647, Tristram Coffin was authorized by the General Court to keep the ferry over Merrimack river from the Newbury side, and George Carr was granted " liberty to keep his boate going on Salsberry side." At that date probably the way to the ferry had not been definitely decided upon or laid out. March 28, 1648, the grand jury presented to the court held at Ipswich "the towne of Newbery for the want of a convenient safe way from the new towne to the fferry side. Witnesses Tristram Coffin of Newbury, John Stevens of Salisbury." |
Poore's lane previous to 1655 extended from the country road, now High street, Newburyport, to the Merrimack river, and was the way to the old ferry between Newbury and Salisbury, first granted to George Carr in 1641. A portion of this lane, running in an easterly direction from the country road, is now Woodland street, Newburyport; while another detached portion, near the river side, is known as Merrimack court.
*Town of Newbury ( Proprietors') Records, p. 5. t Ibid., p. 62.
# Coffin's copy of Newbury Records. § " Ould Newbury." pp. 18-20.
Il Salem Court Files, vol. i., p. 97.
-
419
HIGHWAYS
February 10, 1655-6 there was granted unto Lionell Worth In Consideration of his resigning up to the towne five akers of land for a highway to Salisbury ferry by his house where hee dwelleth which land he formerly purchased of Mr [Tristram] Coffin [Sen.] which was Mr Rawsons land, there was laid out to Lionell Worth eight akers of upland beyond the new towne &c .*
Land was also taken from John Kent, jr., for the new highway, now Jefferson street, Newburyport, extending from the ferry landing opposite Carr's island to the country road, now High street.
March 20 1665 uppon John Kent Junr his summoning of the Towne for to give him satisfaction for the land the Towne hath taken from him for the Country highway to Mr Carr's fferry The Towne voted that the Selectmen should give him satisfaction and accordingly the selectmen and John Kent agreed that the said John Kent should have yt parcell of land by the old ferry place which was the old way and taken out of his ffather's land, so long as the Country makes use of the way that now is, Provided that John Kent allow free egress & Regress for his neighbors for carting or sledding up of Wood, hay &c and to fetch water or to water theyre cattell so they do him no damage by theyr cattells feeding on his land or by leaving Downe his ffences.
per ANTHONY SOMERBY.t
As early as 1649 "Isaac Buswell and George Carr were chosen to call on Newbury to lay out the country roade from the Island to Mr. Clarks farme." #
December 1, 1651, " John Clark of Boston Chirurgeon " sold his farm in Newbury to Matthew Chaffey ; and the same day the land with the buildings thereon was conveyed to Richard Thorlay.§ Previous to May 3, 1654, Richard Thorlay had built a bridge over the Parker river, near this farm. Soon after that date, the inhabitants of the towns of Hampton, N.H., and Rowley, Mass., petitioned the General Court " for a highway from Mr Carrs ffery to M' Clarkes farme." May 23, 1655, this petition was referred to the next session of the court; and the deputy from Newbury was "ordered to give notice to that town that they may have liberty to speake in the case." ||
* Coffin's copy of Town of Newbury Records.
t Town of Newbury (Proprietors') Records, , vol. i., p. 9.
# History of Amesbury (Merrill), p. 41. § See note, chap. ii., ante, p. 67.
!! Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. iii., p. 389.
420
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
The road was probably built soon after that date. James Carr, in a petition to Sir Edmund Andros, Knight, governor of New England, in regard to his claims to the ferry between Newbury and Salisbury, granted his father, George Carr, in 1655, makes the following suggestion : -
That for the ease, speed & Convenience of Travellers if yor Excel- lency shall thinke fit that the highway may be laid From the Bridge by Thomas Thurrells in Newbury to George Marches and from thence to Mr Woodmans which will save neer three miles Riding of what it is in the usual Road & be much better way and effected with a very incon- siderable charge to a publique benefit and advantage: Sept. 27, 1687 .*
In 1647, the town of Newbury granted Richard Kent, jr., one hundred and seventy acres of upland and marsh land on the island over Little river, now known as Kent's island. A way over the marsh to the island was laid out by order of the court held at Ipswich March 25, 1656, as follows : -
Richard Kent plt agst John Cheny in an action of the case for fenc- ing a p'sell of the Towns comons wch is pt of a highway. By consent of ptyes referred to the lotlayers to laye out a convenient highway accord- ing to ye originall grant.t
At a meeting of the selectmen of Newbury held January 26, 1656-7, Henry Short and Nicholas Noyes stated that there was a way "through Richard Kents Island from the way that is laid out thru' John Chenys land to the way that is laid out over the marshes."
The bounds and limits of this way through land belonging to John Cheney were somewhat vague and indefinite, and led to a legal contest that was referred for settlement to Nich- olas Noyes and Henry Short at the court held at Ipswich September 29, 1657.
Richard Kent plt agst John Cheny in an [action] of the case for denye- ing him a way where it is Layd out & interrupting & opossing him in the sayd waye. Both ptyes agreed that John Chenye should make the way layd out by the Towne Sufisient as Mr Nicolas Noyse & Henry Short should judge sufisient & to beare the action between them. §
* Massachusetts Archives, vol. cxxvii., p. 163. t Ipswich Court Records, vol. i., p. 54.
# Town of Newbury (Proprietors') Records, vol. i., p. 16; also, Coffin's History of New. bury, p. 48.
§ Ipswich Court Records, vol. i., p. 63.
.
42 I
HIGHWAYS
At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Newbury held November 10, 1663, "It was voted that the country way by Richard Thorlays Bridg should be by the Mill Bridg." *
It was also ordered that Daniell Pierce, sen, Thomas Hale, Senr, & archelaus Woodman are chosen to be a committee to make the country way (according to court order) from mill bridge to the utmost extent of our bounds to Rowley &c.t
March 14, 1663-4 It was also agreed betweene the Towne & Daniell Peirce Senr & Thomas Hale Sent
In consideration of their making a sufficient country way to answer the country's ends for cart and horse, over the marsh from the Bridg towards Rowley with stone and earth & to maintaine it so long as they live, the Towne engaged to pay to them, in a towne Rate, thirty pounds, one halfe between this & the last day of October in wheat and barly, and the other halfe in March next in good merchantable pay, corne or cattle, and five shillings a peice yearly as long as they live, and if they trespass upon Mr Sewalls land the Towne shall beare the damag & they engaged to maintaine it, if they can get moveable stone within sixty Rods of any part of the Marsh. t
December 21, 1668 In answer to the petition of Rowley village men for a way from this town to Rowley, Ensign John Knight & Abell Somerby chosen to lay out the way; also to lay out a way from Goodwins ferry [at the mouth of Powow river] to [Aymsbery] mill with Amesbury men.t
March 6, 1672-3 It was agreed that Mr Peirce & Tho: Hale Senr should be released of their bargaine of maintaining the causy provided that the said Mr Peirce attend the making vp of the said causy sufficient that the towne may not suffer damag & bestow his owne labour freely & bring in a particular account to the Towne.t
March 8, 1665-6, the lot-layers, with Archelaus Woodman and John Merrill, were chosen "to lay out a way & to give satisfaction for a way to Salisbury new towne." #
This way was laid out December 21, 1668, and extends from the ferry landing, opposite the mouth of Powow river, to High street at its junction with the Bradford road, now Storey avenue, Newburyport.
According to our commission from the town, March 8th 1665, we have laid out a country way unto Salisbury new towne of four Rod broad, begining at Merrimack River side, running through Christopher
* Town of Newbury Records ; also, Coffin's History of Newbury. pp. 63, 68.
t Town of Newbury Records.
# Coffin's copy of Town of Newbury Records.
1
422
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
Bartletts land, sixty rods and likewise through Archelaus Woodmans land, sixteen Rod at the North end of Caleb Moodys land and through Robert Cokers land about 17 or 18 Rods. RICHARD KNIGHT JOHN KNIGHT RICHARD DOLE
being selectmen did give order to have this recorded
per ANTHONY SOMERBY .*
September 21, 1677 Henry Jaques and Abraham Merrill chosen . . to make the way passable to Emsbury ferry upon Munday next .*
At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of Newbury held October 21, 1686, Capt. Daniel Pierce, Lieut. Stephen Green- leaf, Lieut. Tristram Coffin, Ensign Nathaniel Clark, Sergt. John Emery, Joseph Pike, and Henry Short were appointed a committee to lay out and divide, among the freeholders of the town, six thousand acres of land in the "upper woods," so called. This committee was also authorized to lay out a high- way through this undivided land to Bradford; and on the twenty-sixth day of November they reported in favor of taking " the whole breadth of land between the stakes of the second division of freehold lotts & Emerys land," from Artichoke river to Lowell's brook, for the highway, but recommended that for the remainder of the distance from Lowell's brook to the Bradford line the highway should be "four Rods wide & no more." ¡
It is evident, however, that the proposed way was not com- pleted until several years later.
March 27, 1704 Coll Thomas Noyes, Esq. Joseph Woodbrig Esq. & Henry Short [were] chosten to be a comitte to lay out the High way to Bradford and also take notice of incroachmts on the highways & lay out any other highwayes especially in the upper woods in Newbury.#
A wooden bridge, built soon after that date on the Brad- ford road where it crosses the Artichoke river, was subse- quently removed, and replaced by the stone bridge shown in the half-tone print on the opposite page.
At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the town of New-
* Town of Newbury Records, vol. i.
t Newbury (Proprietors') Records, vol. ii., p. 22.
# Town of Newbury Records, vol. iii., p. 107.
423
HIGHWAYS
bury held December 13, 1686, a committee was appointed "to lay out a convenient highway of such breadth as they shall see meet thro' the plaines to Sergeant Emereys Mill." * This way, now known as the Curzon Mill road, extends from the Bradford road, now Storey avenue, Newburyport, to the mill at the mouth of the Artichoke river.
After the division of the "upper Commons," on the west- erly side of Artichoke river, in 1686, and the laying out of the Bradford road, it became necessary to erect gates across
BRIDGE OVER ARTICHOKE RIVER ON THE BRADFORD ROAD.
the highways to prevent horses and cattle from straying " from the upper to the lower commons."
March 20, 1690-1 The proprietors of the new feild above Harti- choak River desired of the Towne that they might have Liberty to keepe up the fence across the highway that runs from Bradford Rode to Mer- rimack River for this prsent year. [ ] it was granted by a voate.t March 7, 1692-3 Granted Liberty to ye proprietrs of ye field above Artichoake To fence all cross ye highway at the upr end of sd way for This prsent year provided they hinder no prson in carting on sd way.t
At the Court of General Sessions held at Ipswich March 29, 1709, liberty to place gates " on ye road from Newbury
* Town of Newbury Records, vol. i. t Town of Newbury Records.
424
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
to Bradford near Pilsburys, one, att M' Atkinsons Corner, one, at ye Mill Bridge, one, on ye rode to ye ferry near M' Knights, one," was granted in answer to the petition of Capt. Stephen Greenleaf in behalf of the town of Newbury .*
John Emery, Archelaus Woodman, Stephen Emery, and Benjamin Sawyer petitioned the town "for liberty to set up a fence across the way to Turkey hill that we may keep our sheep from running away before we have sheared them." This petition was granted March 14, 1714-5.t
"Col Noyes, Major James Noyes & Lieu Stephen Jaques " were granted liberty, March 10, 1718-9, to hang a gate at the eastern side of their land on the road leading to Brad- ford.t
Nathaniel Coffin was granted liberty, March 14, 1731-2, to hang gates across South street, near the residence of John Coffin ; and the same day liberty was granted John Huse and others to hang gates across the way near Brown's Gardens, so called.f
Samuel Bartlet and John Bartlet agreed, March 19, 1686-7, to lay out a way through their own land, in order to facilitate the landing and carting of hay, wood, or bark from the north- west side of Bartlett's cove to the "Bark House," used for storing bark needed for the tanning of leather.#
This way from the ferry road, now High street, to Bart- let's cove, was not laid out until 1698. It is now within the limits of the city of Newburyport, and is known by the name of Spring lane. The order adopted by the selectmen laying out this road or way reads as follows : -
NEWBURY, June 3, 1698.
We the Subscribers Selectmen of the Towne of Newbury, having re- ceived a petition signed by twenty one persons Inhabitants of the West end of the Towne of Newbury in which petition said Inhabitants Do re- quest & desire the selectmen to lay out a High way for to be and re- maine for the use & Benefitt of the Towne from Merremack River Running from Bartletts Cove between said Bartletts lands & the land of John Ordway up to Almsbury Highway. And we have laid it out six Rods wide by the River side from John Bartletts lime kill six Rods
* Town of Newbury (Proprietors') Records, vol. ii., p. 126.
t Town of Newbury Records.
# This agreement was recorded in the Town of Newbury Records in the month of May, 1694.
425
HIGHWAYS
easterly to a stake & a stone in the Ground and so running up the Hill to a stake & a stone in the ground the way at that place is three Rods & a half wide & from thence as it is bounded wth stakes & stones three Rods wide up to Samuell Bartletts way by John Bartletts fence & from the northeast corner of John Bartletts fence the way is laid out all a long by John Bartletts fence five Rods wide up to Almsbury high way as wit- ness our hand the day & year above said.
HENRY SHORT T. Clerk.
Given to be recordd pr ye selectmens order June 4th 1698 .*
On the westerly side of the Artichoke river a way extend- ing from the Bradford road to the mill at the mouth of that river was laid out in 1695 by a committee appointed by the town of Newbury for that purpose.
Whereas John Emery Senr did agree that the Towne should have a way through his land from the comon to the mouth of Artichoak River in the most convenient place for passing and repassing, And according to the power comitted to us, the subscribers, by the Towne to go uppon the spott for to determine where the way shall be through said land, and we did this day, the 31st day of January 1694-5, take a view of it and do judg the most convenient way is uppon the high land running from Bradford Rode up by the east end of John Emerys Barne & so running by the fence, that is now standing, down to the dwelling house where John Emery Senr did live and so by the house downe the Hill to the pasture land and from thence to the poynt at the River as the way goeth which was formerly made use of, as witness our hands this 3 1 st Day of January 1694-5.
DANIEL PEIRCE TRISTRAM COFFIN RICHARD BARTLET.t
This way is now within the territorial limits of the town of West Newbury. It was probably left ungraded for many years, and it may possibly have been closed to public travel during a portion of that time.
May 1, 1787, the inhabitants of Newbury " voted to open the way to Stephen Hooper's mill through the land of Stephen Emery, Esq."; and October 11, 1787, they "voted to accept the report of the committee chosen to open the way from Bradford Road to Stephen Hooper's mill dam." t
* Town of Newbury Records.
t Town of Newbury Records ; also, Proprietors' Records, vol. i., p. 27. The mill at the mouth of Artichoke river was built by John Emery previous to 1686, and was purchased by Stephen Hooper June 2, 1786. See " Ould Newbury," pp. 271-273.
426
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
The way between Brown's gardens, so called, and Brown's farm was relocated, March 11, 1739-40, upon condition that Thomas Brown, the petitioner, " do accept ye old way in full satisfaction for the new way that is laid out upon said Thomas Browns land." *
Mr. Brown accepted the terms named, and signed an agree- ment to that effect, which was duly recorded by the town clerk.
April 4, 1710, voted to give eight pounds towards ye procuring of a way proposed for thru' ye Little field provided yt sd way be laid out two rods wide the whole length from Ezra Cottles house to ye way by Henry Clarks next Merrimack River according to a vote of ye Town Decembr 18th, 1695.t
This way, called Cottle's lane, now Bromfield street, New- buryport, was laid out, March 6, 1718-9, from High street, by Ezra Cottle's dwelling-house, to the dwelling-house of Joseph Knight, jr., on the highway near Merrimack river .;
March 7, 1709-10, a committee was chosen by the in- habitants of Newbury "to discourse with Benjamin Rolfe about purchasing the lane called Rolfe's lane, in order to make it a highway for the town's use." } This lane extended from " trayneing green" to Merrimack river, and is now known as Ocean avenue. It was not legally laid out and accepted by the town of Newbury until December 24, 1735.±
A highway two rods wide was laid out March II, 1714-5, from Kent's lane, now Kent street, Newburyport, along the river side to James Ordway's malt-house, and thence to the landing-place at the foot of Ordway's lane, now Market street, Newburyport .;
September 20, 1763, the selectmen laid out "a way at ye end of Woodmans lane [now Kent street, Newburyport], Begining thirty feet above ye lane, in land formerly belong- ing to John & Richard Kent, Exchanged for the Better accom- dating the landing there," six rods wide, extending to the river.t
· Town of Newbury Records (1731-85), p. 45.
t Town of Newbury Records. # "Ould Newbury," pp. 795-9. .
427
HIGHWAYS
May 11, 1725, the town of Newbury was divided into seven highway districts, in conformity to a law enacted by the Gen- eral Court the previous year ; and way wardens, or surveyors, were chosen for each district, and instructed to keep the highways in good repair .*
March 11, 1739-40, Thomas Pike, John Brown, and Joseph Titcomb, selectmen, laid out the way " near Merrimack river from peirces farm up to Ordways Lane formerly so caled " ; } and the same day they laid out a two-rod way on the south- westerly side of the meeting-house, then standing in Market square.
The way from Water street, near the foot of Greenleaf's lane, now State street, Newburyport, to the lower ferry land- ing-place was probably laid out May 12, 1719, " bounded on the northwest by Nathaniel Clarks grant, now in ye posses- sion of Hugh Pike, and ye southeast side is bounded at ye Roade by John Calefs dwelling house & from the North cor- ner thereof running straight with the west corner of ye Road twenty foot and at Lowater mark thirty foot." *
July 5, 1763, a landing-place for the use of the public was laid out by the selectmen at the lower end of King street, now Federal street, Newburyport, from Water street to the Merrimac river ; and the same day "The way known by the name of Elbow lane in Newbury Running Between the Dwell- ing house of Samuel Sweasy & the House of Joshua Norton & so Northwesterly to the house of Moses Todd & ye house owned by the heirs of Jonathan Dole late of Newbury Decd & South Westerly to the New Lane " was laid out.
The selectmen in their report state that " the said Lane is not accepted of the town, nor Recorded as a publick highway, tho' it has been used as such for near thirty years." * This lane is now within the limits of the city of Newburyport, and extends from Market square to Liberty street. In 1763 it probably continued through what is now Centre street to New lane, now Middle street.
September 23, 1715, a way "from the country road through M' Thirrills [Thorlay's] farme to M' William Moody's
* Town of Newbury Records. t Town of Newbury (Highway) Records.
428
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
land," in the Falls village, and from thence to the parsonage of Byfield parish, was laid out ; and May 10, 1727, the select- men were authorized to lay out another way, two rods wide, from the country road near Lieut. Gov. Dummer's house to the parsonage in Byfield .* October 24, 1739, the inhabi- tants of Newbury voted to raise the sum of thirty pounds " to help pay for a stone bridge sufficient for carting over ye falls River " between Deacon Samuel Moody's mill and his mill dam .*
May 12, 1719, Lieut. Col. Henry Somerby, Capt. Thomas Hale, and Major James Noyes were chosen to settle and de- termine the bounds and measurements of the highways in the town of Newbury. On the twenty-eighth day of May the committee reported the result of their investigations, and rec- ommended some changes that were subsequently adopted. The country road from Parker river, along the ridge, to " trayne- ing green," four to six rods wide, was called " Merrimack street "; from "trayneing green" to Queen street, now Market street, Newburyport, it was called "Norfolk street "; and from Queen street to the Amesbury ferry landing, "High street."
From High street to Artichoke river, the way now known as Storey avenue, Newburyport, was called "Church street." It probably received its name from the fact that Queen Anne's chapel, the first Episcopal church in Newbury, was erected on land adjoining this street early in the summer of 1712.
The continuation of Church street from Artichoke river, over Lowell's brook, at or near the place now known as Brown's springs, West Newbury, to the Bradford line was called by the committee " the Bradford Road." +
In 1726, several streets and ways in the upper parish, now West Newbury, were laid out by a vote of the town; and during the same year the following streets in the first and third parishes were relocated and renamed : -
Marlborough street, two rods broad, from Norfolk street " down by Joseph Muzzies into Merrimack street " (now Water street), Newburyport.
* Town of Newbury Records.
t Town of Newbury (Highway) Records.
429
HIGHWAYS
King street, now Federal street, Newburyport, four rods broad, from Norfolk street " down by the Prison into Merri- mack street " (now Water street).
Fish- street, now State street, Newburyport, four rods broad, from Norfolk street "down by the house formerly Capt Greenleafs into Merrimack street " (now Market square).
Queen street, now Market street, Newburyport, four rods broad, from Norfolk street "down by Joseph Morses into Merrimack street."
Low street, now within the limits of the city of Newbury- port, " four rods broad running from Norfolk street by Will- iam Titcombs and Peter Godfreys and so along to the Plains."
Union street, now Toppan street, Newburyport, "a way as it is now improved, running by Abraham Toppans, from High street to Low street."
Sandy street, now North Atkinson street, Newburyport, " a way as it is now improved, running by Stephen Sawyers from High street to Low street."
A landing-place, or driftway, at the foot of what is now Ashland street, Newburyport, was laid out, May 11, 1733, by Joseph Gerrish, Joshua Moody, and Charles Peirce, " begin- ing near the corner of Josiah Pilsburys garden fence & from thence on a straight line ranging with the south west corner of M' Morgradges dwelling house to the Brook and down by said Brook to Merrimack River, and in breadth on the bank of said River Six Rods." *
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