USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > History of Newbury, Mass., 1635-1902 > Part 37
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On the sixth day of November, 1706, the General Court passed a " Resolve for allowing and paying five pounds out of the Province Treasury to Edward Sargent for transporting Soldiers and Horses over Merrimack river at Newbury" in the years 1703, 1704, 1705, and 1706.#
November 28, 1707, another " Resolve for allowing and paying three pounds four shillings and ten pence out of the Province Treasury to Edward Sargent in full for ferrying done, etc., for the Province to date," was passed by the Gen- eral Court and paid by the treasurer of the province.§
* Essex Registry of Deeds, book xxix., leaf 231. A copy of this deed will be found in the Court Files for Suffolk County in Pemberton Square, Boston, No. 6716.
t Province Laws, vol. viii., p. 633. # 1bid., p. 201. § Ibid., p. 252.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURY
The town of Newbury, having sold. only one-half the ferry to Edward Sargent and Thomas Moody, retained possession of the other half, and June 18, 1708, authorized the selectmen to lease it for three years on the best terms possible .*
Meanwhile the highway leading from the ferry to the com- mon road on the Salisbury side of the river was laid out anew and rebuilt. A small lot of land belonging to Mary Dole and John Dole was taken at its appraised value; and April 22, 1709, John March received from the selectmen of Newbury
MARCH'S FERRY LANDING PLACE, SALISBURY SIDE.
" five pounds ten shillings in full for wt w-s allowed by ye Court for Newburys part of ye highway on Salisburys side to the ferry & for ye Landing places, I say in full for my own part, Mrs. Doles part & Mr. John Doles part."
June 26, 1711, a suit was brought against Edward Sargent "for lack of suitable attendance at the lower ferry." The Court of General Sessions held at Salem, on that day, ordered that two boats should be kept, one on the Salisbury side and one on the Newbury side, as required by the order issued March 30, 1703 ; t and September twenty-fifth the court at Newbury
.Town of Newbury Records.
t Records of the Court of General Sessions (1696-1718).
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licensed Capt. Edward Sargent to keep the boat on the New- bury side and Capt. Humphrey Hook on the Salisbury side.
At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Newbury, held May 3, 1715, objections were made to the reappoint- ment of Capt. Sargent.
It was voated that ye ferre caled Serjeants ferry viz : Newburys halfe thereof : should be rented to Mr Benjamin Woodbridge, provided he will give as much as any man for sd halfe of sd ferry for ye term of one year next after Capt Hooks term is out in sd ferry .*
September 27, 1715, the Court of General Sessions, held at Newbury, licensed Benjamin Woodbridge to keep the ferry on the Newbury side and John Dole on the Salisbury side for one year from that date. December twenty-seventh Capt. Edward Sargent asked to be reinstated as ferryman, but his petition was dismissed by the court.
September 12, 1716, the town of Newbury authorized the selectmen "to let the Newbury halfe of Serjeants ferry for one year to any person whom the court will allow"; * and September twenty-fifth the court licensed Benjamin Wood- bridge to keep the ferry on the Newbury side and Capt. Ed- ward Sargent on the Salisbury side for five years.t
June 18, 1717, It was voted that whereas Capt Serjant is sewed in an action of trespass by James Carr & Richard Carr of Salisbury for carry. ing passingers (and taking pay for it,) over ye River Merrimack at ye ferre neer Capt Serjants. Sd ferre being owned ye one halfe by ye Town of Newbury & ye other halfe by sd Serjant & Thomas Moodey; that ye Town of Newbury shall & will pay to sd Edward Serjant one halfe of ye ·necessary charges which ye sd Serjant shall be at in defending against the sd Carrs in the above sd action .*
September 18, 1722, Voted that Mr Benjamin Woodbridge shall have ye ferre (near his house) for ye tearm of three years, he giving bond to ye selectmen of ye Towne to pay as rent for sd ferre nine pounds a year yearly during sd tearm .*
Five years later, Capt. Sargent, who had charge of the ferry on the Salisbury side, asked to be released from his obligation to keep the causeway in repair. The town of
*Town of Newbury Records.
t Records of the Court of General Sessions (1696-1718), P. 323.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURY
Salisbury granted his request upon the following terms and conditions : -
Agreement made December 19, 1727 between Mr. William Brad- bury, esq., Mr. Isaac Morrill, Capt. Jeremiah Stevens, Lt. John Morrill, Mr. William Smith, Mr. Jarvis Ring and Mr. Joseph French, all of Salisbury, as a committee and agents of Salisbury, and Capt. Edward Sargent, esq., of Newbury: Witnesseth that whereas the town of Salis- bury did formerly grant to said Sargent all their right and interest in ye lower ferry between Newbury and Salisbury then commonly called March's or Sargent's ferry with ye wharf, boat and £100 in money towards his purchasing the one-half of Col. John March's pretended right in said ferry upon condition that said Sargent his heirs and suc- cessors in said ferry should from time to time and at all times forever carry ye inhabitants of said Salisbury over said ferry as their occasions require ferry free and also make and maintain the highway, causeway and bridges from ye old burying place in said Salisbury down to said ferry as is more fully set forth in said grant bearing date Feb. 19, 1705-6, and in the {1000 bond or conditions of it formerly given by said Sargent to Salisbury under the hand of said Edward Sargent and Thomas Moody as security for ye faithful performance of the said con- ditions bearing date March 11, 1706, both on record in said Salisbury town book ; and said Sargent after so long experience of ye ferry com- plaining of it as too hard a bargain and too burdensome for him to be at ye charge of the causeways, bridges, &c., desiring ye town to take that upon themselves that so he may be ye better enabled and encour- aged cheerfully and faithfully to fulfill and perform ye other conditions of said grant, therefore said committee on behalf of Salisbury agree that in case said Sargent and his heirs and successors performs the con- ditions to carry over the inhabitants of Salisbury their persons and families, their horses, cattle and other necessaries usually transported over ferries ferry-free at all times as their occasion may require, they will acquitt and discharge ye sd Edward Sargent his heirs and assigns of and from the whole care and charge of making, repairing and main- taining ye highway, causeway and bridge from ye old burying place in sd Salisbury Down to ye ferry and that the town of Salisbury shall and will take the sole care thereof upon themselves .*
On the same day, Edward Sargent conveyed to the town of Salisbury all his interest " in ye lower ferry over Merrimack river," provided, however, that, if the said Sargent faithfully complies with the conditions of the agreement made with the committee named above, then the deed of conveyance
* Essex Registry of Deeds, vol. ixvii., leaf 9.
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"is to be void and of none effect or else to stand and abide in full force and vertue forever."
May 8, 1729, the inhabitants of the town of Newbury " Voted to grant Edward Serjant Newburys part of the lower ferry over Merrimack river, for the term of three years, upon condition that he carry all the inhabitants of Newbury, ferry free, and give a bond to the selectmen that he will keep the ferry according to law." t
Evidently this offer was not accepted by Capt. Sargent ; for, on the eighteenth day of June following, the town "voted that John Lunt shall have the lower ferre, over Merrimack river, that is to say, Newburys part of it, until next October, paying down five pounds and five pounds more next October. He to keep one good & suitable boat for Newburys part of said ferre and give a bond for the faithful discharge of his duties as ferry man."
September 10, 1729, the town leased the ferry to Joseph Greenleaf, for ten pounds per annum, for the term of seven years,
He having agreed to give a bond to make & maintain a good & suit- . able waye downe to the River at ye Easterly end of his now dwelling . house at his owne cost & charge during said tearm & that this Town shall have ye use of said way to take in & put on shore such persons & things as shall want to be carried over said ferre (after said seven years is ended) for so long a time as said ferre is kept at said place.t
September 18, 1734, Col. Richard Kent and Henry Rolfe, Esq., were appointed a committee to attend the Court of Gen- eral Sessions " to be held at Newbury on the last Tuesday in September," to look after the town's interest at a hearing to be held on a petition relating to the care and management of " Sargents ferry." t
September 24, 1734, the court licensed Joseph Greenleaf to keep the ferry on the Newbury side of the river, and Elias Pike and Jarvis Ring on the Salisbury side, " during the pleasure of the court." #
September 21, 1736, the inhabitants of the town of New- bury agreed to lease the ferry for seven years.
* Essex Registry of Deeds, vol. Ixvii, leaf to. t Town of Newbury Records.
# Records of the Court of General Sessions (1696-1718), p. 346.
.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURY
Mr Benjamin Woodbridge, Junr, for & in consideration of the sum of thirty and six pounds a year, & so yearly, shall have Newburys part of ye lower ferre, comonly caled Sergeants ferre, for ye tearm of seven years time next after Mr Joseph Greenleafs lease is out. The said Woodbridge to give a bond to the Selectmen of the town to provide good & suitable attendance .*
September 28, 1736, the Court of General Sessions, in an- swer to a petition from the inhabitants of Newbury, decided that the wharf owned by Benjamin Woodbridge, jr., should be "for seven years" the landing-place for the ferry on the Newbury side of the river .;
At a town meeting held June 2, 1742, Joseph Maeres (?) presented a petition
. .
. Concerning a ferry boat which he said was carried a way by ye ice & to help make up said Maeres (?) his loss & damage it was voted ye Town wold give twenty pounds in ye olde tenor, which twenty pounds shall be abated out of ye rent which is due from Mr Benjamin Wood- bridge for ye ferre .*
March 13, 1743-4, the selectmen were authorized to lease " Sargent's ferry" for a few years on such terms as they shall judge best for the good of the town and convenience of travellers .*
May 19, 1747, a committee was appointed to take charge of the ferry, provide suitable boats and attendants, and petition the Court of General Sessions for liberty to raise the rates of ferriage .*
When Newburyport was set off and incorporated as a sepa- rate town in 1764, all the right, title, and interest that New- bury had in " March's or Sargent's ferry " was transferred to the new town. It remained under the care and control of the selectmen of Newburyport for many years.
After the bridge over the Merrimack river, connecting Newburyport with the town of Salisbury, was built and opened to the public in 1827, the boats used for the transportation of cattle, horses, and carriages, were withdrawn and replaced with smaller ones, suitable for foot passengers only. In this modi- fied form, the ferry was maintained for more than fifty years.
* Town of Newbury Records.
t Records of the Court of General Sessions (1726-44), p. 460.
459
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In ISSO, Mr. Joshua M. Pike was appointed ferryman. He continued to serve in that capacity until the close of the year 1885, when, owing to the lack of patronage, he decided to give up the unprofitable business, and devote his time to other industrial pursuits. Since that date, there has been no attempt to keep the ferry established by Capt. John March in 1687.
SWETT'S FERRY, NEAR HOLT'S ROCKS.
At a meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of Newbury, held March 26, 1694, John Kelly, sr., presented a petition for liberty to keep a " ffery over the river Merrimack in the place where he now dwells," provided the neighboring towns and the authorities of the province give their consent "for sd fferry to be granted to the Towne of Newbury."
June 5, 1695, Capt Thomas Noyes, Cornt George March, Abraham Merrill & Henry Short [were] appoynted by the Towne to vew a con- venient place for a ferry over Merrimack River neer the now dwelling house of John Kelly, Sent, together wth a Rode theretoo and bring re- port to ye Towne at ye next meeting .*
Two weeks later, the selectmen of Newbury were authorized to petition the next General Sessions of the Peace to be held at Salem for liberty to establish a ferry over the Mer- rimack river near the dwelling-house of John Kelly, sr., and to appoint the said John Kelly, sr., keeper of it " until the towne see cause to other wise dispose of it." * The se- lectmen were also instructed to ask "for the continuation of the fferry so long as the Towne shall judg it beneficiall, the price of sd fferry to be sixpence money for horse and man and twopence for a single man, and for our owne Towne Inhabi- tants sixpence in pay for horse and man & twopence in pay for a single person." +
The petition presented to the Court of General Sessions, June 25, 1695, was by agreement referred to the next term of the court.
On the twenty fourth day of September following the court ordered that the town of Newbury have liberty to keep a ferry over Merrimack
* Town of Newbury Records.
t Town of Newbury (Proprietors') Records, vol. i., pp. 22, 23.
460
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
river near ye house of John Kelley where they are to keep a suitable boat a float with a hand ready to transport passengers, horses and cattle as need may require and ye fare of said ferry is hereby appointed to be a penny for a man and five pence for a horse and so proportionable for other creatures allwaies provided that ye town of Newbury do at their own cost and charge make and maintain a sufficient highway from ye river up to ye country road way, and ye town of Almesbury do ye like on their side of ye river .*
At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Newbury held October 18, 1700, the selectmen were authorized to lay out a highway near the residence of John Kelly, sr.
It was also voted yt in order to a Convenient way to the fferry com- only known by the name of Kellys fferry the Towne voted yt a Bridg should be made over the swamp leading to sd ferry to be made and main- tained by the Towne so long as the Towne see cause. t
April 12, 1703 upon the request of John Kelly, Sen John Kelly Junr, Abiel Kelly, Jonathan Kelly & John Swett, Junr, to make & maintain a good & sufficient bridg or way over the swamp at the end of John Kelly, Senr, his field for the space of four years & thereby be aquitted from making or maintaining any other of the Highways of Newbury, the Towne grants theyr proposition on the conditions aforesd provided yt It be used so long for a public highway to ye ferry now Kept by sd John Kelly, Senr.#
At the Court of General Sessions held in Newbury Sep- tember 25, 1711, John Swett, jr., of Newbury was licensed to keep the ferry over Merrimack river, near Holt's rocks, for the term of seven years.§ September 3, 1712, the inhabi- tants of the town of Newbury again ordered the selectmen "to lay out the way from the Bradford road to Swett's ferry" ; || and, on the thirtieth day of December following, the Court of General Sessions appointed a committee "to view the way leading to the Ferry under the care of John Sweat junior of Newbury." § Twelve months later, the selectmen of Newbury applied to the General Court for liberty to keep the ferry and pay over annually to the treasurer of the town the amount received for ferriage.
In answer to the Petition of the Select Men of Newbury Praying that the Profits of the Ferry lately granted, by the Genll Sessions of the
*Court Records (Salem), 1692-1709.
t Town of Newbury Records, vol. iii., p. 65. # Ibid. (1693-1757), p. 99.
§ Court Records (Salem), 1696-1718. Il Town of Newbury Records.
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Peace, to be kept over Merrimack River above Holts Rocks between Newbury and Haverhill may be settled upon the Town of Newbury.
Ordered [June 10, 1714] that there be a Ferry stated over Merrimack River in the Place mentioned in the Petition, the Profits of the said Ferry to be to the Towns of Newbury & Haverhill in equall Proportion; this Grant being limited for ye Space of forty Years next coming .*
March 4, 1718-9, the following petition was presented to the inhabitants of the town of Haverhill : -
John Sweet petitioning to the Towne as followeth,-
To the inhabitants of Haverhill this day convened at the meeting house in Haverhill ; The petition of John Sweet of Newbury humbly showeth,
Whereas there has been a Ferry granted by the Court to the Towns of Haverhill and Newbury for the term of Forty years where I now keep it.
I humbly now request that I may have this Towns interest therein during the whole term, and I will carry over the inhabitants of this Town one single person for a penny per time, and a horse & man for four pence & oblige myself to keep good conveniences for the transport of passengers, for which liberality & kindness your petitioner as in duty bound shall always pray JOHN SWEET.
This petition granted in the terms imposed therein. t
February 22, 1730-31 Deacon Caleb Moody, Mr Ezekil Hale & Mr Joshua Bailey were chosen to let out ye Towne of Newburys part of ye Ferry caled Swets Ferre for foure years next insuing ye date hereof. #
March 9, 1730-I, the selectmen of Newbury received from Mr. John Swett of Haverhill the sum of four pounds for the use of the ferry for the two preceding years.§ March 5, 1732-3, they received from Mr. Joshua Bailey three pounds for the use of the ferry for the year 1731, and subsequently received from him three pounds annually for the years 1732, 1733, and 1734.§
March II, 1734-5, the inhabitants of the town of Newbury passed the following order : -
Our Townes part of ye ferre called Swetts ferre is granted to Joshua Bailey upon his giveing to ye selectmen a bond to se said ferre be well tended & also to pay four pound a year, yearly, for three years insuing for ye use of ye Towne of Newbury.||
. Province Laws, vol. ix., chap. xxiv., p. 356; General Court Records, vol. ix., p. 334.
t Town of Haverhill Records. # Town of Newbury Records.
§ Records of the Selectmen of Newbury. Il Town of Newbury Records (1731-35), p. 21.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURY
The settlement on the north shore of the river, now known as Rock's village or East Haverhill, was at that time quite a busy and prosperous place. Salmon and other fish were caught in large numbers in that locality, and an extensive trade with the West India islands was established and main- tained for many years.
March 9, 1755-6 David Chase was granted liberty to build a wharf at his own cost at Swetts ferry .*
March 12, 1782, the selectmen of Newbury were author- ized "to let that part of Sweats ferry belonging to Newbury and defend the same against the claim made by the town of Haverhill." +
When the " Merrimack bridge," afterwards known as the " Rock's bridge," was built in 1795, the ferry established by , John Kelly, sr., near Holt's rocks, in 1695, was discontinued.
FERRY AT SAVAGE'S ROCK.
July 24, 1735, Mr Samuel March & Lieut John Emery were chosen for to joyne with those that are chosen by ye Town of Almsbury in us- ing proper means to have a ferre granted & settled over Merrimack River near Savages Rock, so called, between Almsbury ferre & Swetts ferre.
Savage's rock is on the southerly side of Merrimack river, between Rock's bridge and the mouth of Indian river, West Newbury. On the opposite shore is that part of Amesbury now known as Merrimackport.
October 16, 1735, the Court of General Sessions held at Newbury," in answer to the petition of Newbury & Almsbury praying that a ferry be established over Merrimack river at or near a place called Savages Rock," granted the prayer of the petitioners, and appointed Thomas Stephens, of Amesbury, to keep the ferry " so as not to interfere with or prejudice the right of Humphrey Hook of Almesbury his heirs or assigns to the right of Ferriage if any he has," -the said 'Stephens to keep a good ferry boat and provide two able and experienced ferrymen to attend upon the same.§
* Town of Newbury Records (1731-85), p. 103. # Ibid., p. 24.
t Town of Newbury Records. § Court of General Sessions (1696-1718), p. 409.
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Humphrey Hook, who had the management and control of the ferry at the mouth of Powow river, was in litigation at that time with the town of Amesbury in regard to the rights and privileges that he claimed in the transportation of men, horses, and carriages from the Newbury shore. The case was warmly contested, and finally settled by compromise several years later.
March 8, 1736-7, the selectmen of Newbury were desired " to agree with M' Thomas Stephens relating to ye ferre at Savages Rock "; * and, in 1743, the town of Amesbury leased the ferry " to Deacon Stevens for five years at forty shillings, old tenor." +
March 26, 1764 It was also voted to remove ye Ferry that is kept near Savages' Rock to Sargent's Creek so Called and Capt Robert Sar- gent was appointed ferryman.#
The ferry was probably discontinued soon after the bridges at Holt's rocks and Deer island were built.
FERRY AT BARTLETT'S COVE.
March 10, 1761, the town of Newbury granted a peti- tion for a ferry from the middle of Bartlett's cove to Salis- bury, on condition that the petitioners "obtain a license for the same from the Court of General Sessions." * This grant was not confirmed by the court.
Subsequently, several attempts were made to secure a license ; but no definite action was taken until September, 1789, when the court ordered " that Joseph Swasey and John Webster be licensed to keep a ferry over Merrimack River at or near Jona- than Moulton's dwelling house in Newbury in said County, and from thence to the opposite side of said river in Salis- bury."
It is said that Washington was taken over this new ferry in a barge specially prepared for the occasion, on his way from Newburyport to Portsmouth, October 30, 1789.5 In his diary, published in 1858, he wrote :
· Town of Newbury Records. t History of Amesbury, p. 206.
# Town of Amesbury Records, p. 334. The entrance to Sargent's creek, from Merrimack river, was at Merrimackport.
§ Putnam's Historical Magazine for March, 1895, p. 77.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURY
Left Newburyport a little after 8 o'clock (first breakfasting with Mr Dalton) and to avoid a wider ferry, more inconvenient boats, and a piece of heavy sand, we crossed the River at Salisbury.
It is possible, however, that the older ferry, known as Amesbury ferry, was the one used on that occasion, and that Washington landed at the mouth of the Powow river in Amesbury, as some local historians assert, and then proceeded along the river road through Salisbury point to the Rocky Hill meeting-house, where several companies of soldiers were drawn up to receive him .*
The new or middle ferry, as it was sometimes called, under the management of Joseph Swasey, of Newburyport, and John Webster, of Salisbury, was successfully maintained until 1792, when the Essex Merrimack bridge was built across the Merri- mack river at Deer island, and the ferry was discontinued for lack of patronage.t
* History of Amesbury (Merrill), p. 304.
t For a more extended account of this ferry see "Ould Newbury," pp. 239-246.
CHAPTER X.
POSTAL SERVICE.
NOVEMBER 5, 1639, the General Court of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay passed the following order : ---
For preventing the miscarriage of letters,- It is ordered that notice bee given that Richard Fairbanks, his house, in Boston is the place appointed for all letters which are brought from beyond the seas, or are to be sent thither : - are to bee brought unto him and he is to take care that they bee delivered or sent according to their directions, and hee is allowed for every such letter id and must answer all miscarriages through his own neglect in this kind; provided that no man shall bee compelled to bring his letters thither except hee please .*
Some years later, it was customary to leave letters at the exchange or the town hall, "so that who will may take them up" and forward them ; but " letters of great moment were frequently lost."
Francis Lovelace, governor of New York, established postal communication between that state and New England early in the year 1673. In a letter dated "Fort James 27th December 1672," he wrote to John Winthrop, governor of Connecticut, that the postman would set out from New York on the first Monday of each month,
... and is to return within the month from Boston to us again. The mail has divers bags, according to the towns the letters are designed to, which are all sealed up, till their arrivement, with the seal of the Sec- retary's office, whose care it is on Saturday night to seal them up ; only by-letters are in an open bag to disperse by the ways. Thus you see the scheme I have drawn to promote a happy correspondence. I shall only beg of you your furtherance to so universal a good work: that is, to afford him directions where and to whom to make his application to upon his arrival at Boston, as likewise to afford him what letters you can to establish him in that employment there. It would be much advantageous to our design if in the interval you discourse with some of
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