USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Essex > History of the town of Essex : from 1634 to 1868 > Part 23
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" He was ordained to the pastoral office in this place, February 25, (O. S.,) A. D. 1747, and for more than fifty-two years was eminently a faithful Watchman, being ever ready and apt to teach. His zeal and attention to the duties of his office, evinced the purity of his motives. His mind was richly stored with useful science, and in the Holy Scriptures he was eminently learned. His undeviating virtue com- manded respect, and confirmed the hope of his blissful immortality.
" His soul, released from cumbrous clay, Expatiates in eternal day ; And with the great Jehovah dwells, Who, wonders new and vast, reveals."
Of the officers of Mr. Cleaveland's Church, Dea. Choate and Dea. Giddings removed to Ipswich before the close of his ministry, and only two of the others survived him-
253
DEA. THOMAS BURNHAM.
1774-1800.]
Dea. Thomas Burnham, who died the next month (May 18th), aged seventy-two, and Dea. Jonathan Cogswell, (elected April 7, 1780), who died February 12, 1813, aged eighty-six. The youngest of these officers died at the age of seventy-two; the eldest (Dea. Story), at the age of ninety-three. Dea. Burnham was the last of the deacons who " lined " the psalm or hymn and "set the tune." In addition to his services as school-teacher, he was much em- ployed in writing wills and deeds and in settling estates. His house was not far from the dwelling of the late Capt. Moses Andrews.
The number of members who withdrew from Mr. Pick- ering's church and formed Mr. Cleaveland's in 1746, was 32; received from the Second Church at the time of union in 1774, 15; other admissions during his ministry, 187; total, 234; remaining at Mr. Cleaveland's death, 47.
Nov. 13th. Rev. Josiah Webster was ordained pastor of the church as successor to Mr. Cleaveland. Rev. Stephen Peabody of Atkinson, N. H., preached the ordi- nation sermon.
1812
CHAPTER V.
1800-1819:
BEING THE YEAR OF THE INCORPORATION OF CHEBACCO AS THE TOWN OF ESSEX.
1800. AT the close of the eighteenth century the popu- lation of Chebacco had increased from three hundred to more than eleven hundred, and instead of one school dis- trict there were three. Progress in educational matters was now further indicated by the erection of new school- houses. At the Falls one was built in 1800, in accordance with a vote passed "at a meeting of the school proprietors held at the house of Mr. Isaac Allen," February 24th, at which meeting Capt. Jonathan Story was moderator, and Capt. Nathaniel Burnham and Messrs. Jacob and Elisha Story were appointed a building committee. In accord- ance with another vote passed at that meeting, this build- ing was erected on the spot where the old one 'stood, (the first school-house at the Falls and built in 1761.) This location was near the dwelling of the late Nimrod Burn- ham. The second school-house on the south side of the river was also built by proprietors, the next year (1801), and was located on land bought of Joshua Burnham, and situated "on the easterly side of the Gloucester road at the parting of the way to Gloucester and Manchester." On the 15th of April of the same year, "the subscribers to a new school-house " in the North district, at a meeting of which Mr. Ebenezer Low was moderator, voted to erect a building suitable for a "reading and writing school, of the following dimensions : twenty feet square and nine feet post, with a chimney and six windows, with a hyp'd Rough" (i. e., a hip roof,) and to place it " on or near the
255
SOCIAL LIBRARY.
1800-1819.]
spot where Mr. Goodhue's ale-house formerly stood," i. e., a few rods north-east of Jonathan Low's. The cost of the building was divided into thirty shares. The building committee were George Choate, Esq., and Messrs. Samuel Giddings and Samuel Hardy.
1802. A social library is established here. The com- pany at its formation, consists of thirty-four men, compris- ing the physician, the minister and many of the leading men of the parish. But they have all since gone to their graves, save one. The library contained an excellent se- lection of books, and was of great utility in disseminating knowledge and promoting a taste for reading. It contin- ued in active operation for more than forty years, and contained at one period, four hundred volumes. When books became cheaper and found their way into families, as.a part of the household furniture, and more especially, when newspapers and periodicals began to multiply, and to constitute the principal part of family reading, the "Social Library " was more and more neglected, until at length its existence became merely nominal.
1803. February 28th, Joseph Perkins, Esq., died at Salem. He was born July 8, 1772. His parents, at the time of his birth, resided in the ancient house now owned by the heirs of John Choate. His father, Joseph Perkins, built the large house directly opposite the North Church. His ancestors, both on his father's and mother's side, were among the early settlers of this place .* When about four-
* PARTIAL GENEALOGY OF THE PERKINS FAMILY.
1. William Perkins emigrated to Ipswich about 1633.
2. Jolın Perkins, born in England and emigrated with his father.
3. Isaac Perkins.
4. Abraham Perkins, born about 1668; John Perkins, graduated at college in 1695, died in 1740.
5. Joseph Perkins (son of Abraham), born March 12, 1720 (O. S.); married Eliza- betli Choate (born August 2, 1723, and a daughter of Lieut. Thomas Choate) ; died April 4, 1805, aged 85. He was one of the founders of the Sixth Parish (Rev. Mr. Cleaveland's), was its clerk from its organization until its union with the Second Parish, and its treasurer for the most of that time. In the school records he is styled an innholder.
6. Joseph Perkins, born September 3, 1752; married his cousin Mary Foster (born
256
HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 5.
teen years of age, he began the study of Latin in the dis- trict school, no objection being made by the district, and the teacher kindly favoring it, by devoting to him extra time. We may say, therefore, with propriety, that this eminent lawyer and scholar was indebted to the district school for his literary career, just as the majestic river must be traced back to its bubbling fountain. Before he was seventeen years of age, he entered Phillips Academy at Andover, where he was soon known for his studious habits, and proficiency in the learned languages. He re- mained there a little more than a year, and then in 1790 entered Harvard College, at the age of eighteen. His college life was one of uncommon brilliancy, as a correct scholar, close thinker, and popular writer and speaker. Several of the productions of his pen, written in the early part of his college life, were published in the Massachu- setts Magazine, the only literary periodical then printed in Boston. At the early age of twenty, he seems to have become a regular contributor to this work, in addition to all his college duties. His essays and orations at the pri- vate exhibitions of his class, which he has left in manu- script, show great maturity of thought and strength of mind. It had long been the custom at Harvard for the Sophomore class to challenge the Freshmen to a wrestling match, a challenge which the Freshmen must accept, or endure worse evils. This custom was the source of much difficulty, and was deeply deplored by the friends of the
March 13, 1752, and a daughter of John Foster, born August 7, 1724, and Mary Choate Foster, born June 24, 1731); died February 1, 1806, aged 53. He had twelve children, four of whom died in infancy or early youth. The names of the others were as follows :
7. Joseph, Esq., the subject of this sketch, "born at the mansion-house of my grandfather, July 8, 1772," died February 28, 1803 ; John, born June 7, 1774, “ mar- ried February 19, 1801, Lydia, daughter of the late Capt. William Choate," died May, 1856; Elizabeth, born November 28, 1777, died May 19, 1806; James, born January 2, 1780; Mary, born October 22, 1781, died August 7, 1801 ; Jeremiah, born April 15, 1785 ; Sarah, born July 17, 1787, died May 25, 1804; Aaron, born Angust 26, 1789.
8. Children of John : Thomas, Mary (married U. G. Spofford), Sarah (married John Burnham), Lydia (married John Cressy), Clara (married R. W. Burnham), Harriet (married Oliver Burnham).
257
JOSEPH PERKINS, ESQ.
1800-1819.]
college. But who shall break up a time-honored custom, to which so many impulsive young men are strongly and passionately attached ? It remained for a lad from one of our district schools to effect this, simply by the power of his pen. He wrote and delivered before the college, a satirical piece, entitled an apology for wrestling, and the custom was never heard of afterwards. At the close of his college course, in selecting the performers for " Com- mencement Day," the government of the college placed him at the head of his class. Among so many scholars, who afterwards distinguished themselves in the various walks of life, this was no small honor for our Chebacco student. On that occasion, he pronounced an oration on Eloquence, which was universally admired. It was afterwards pub- lished in the monthly magazine, and of it the editors say :
" The following oration delivered on the day of public commencement at Harvard University, we are happy to insert in our magazine. The applause with which the delivery was received, the intrinsic excellence of the perform- ance, and a wish to make our monthly museum a repository of knowledge and useful entertainment, unite in an inducement to present it entire to the patrons of our publication."
After leaving College at the age of twenty-two, Mr. Perkins became an assistant in Phillip's Academy at Ex- eter, over which the late Dr. Abbot presided with so much celebrity for a long succession of years. He remained as teacher in this Academy only one year, during which time, he gave some attention to the law, under the direction of Hon. Oliver Peabody of that place. From Exeter he went to Gloucester, Mass., and took charge of a Proprietors' School in that place for one year. At Gloucester, also, he read law, under the direction of John Rowe, Esq. In the Autumn of the year 1796 he began to read law at Salem, in the office of William Prescott, Esq., a distinguished at- torney. In July of the following year, he pronounced an oration on Genius at the public commencement at Cam- bridge, and took his honorary degree of Master of Arts. On the following October, having read law for three years,
33
258
HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 5.
he was admitted to the bar, and opened an office in Salem. His first case in the practice of law, was before the Court of Common Pleas, when he addressed a jury for the first time in behalf of Marcus Feely, a young Irishman, in- dicted for theft. He was successful in the case, and Feely was acquitted. June 2, 1798, he married Miss Margaret Orne, daughter of Timothy Orne of Salem. By her, he had one son. His wife lived only about two years after their marriage. Of her death, he speaks in his journal in an affecting manner, bearing testimony to the excellence of her character. In 1801, he was appointed attorney for the country. In 1802, July 4th, his only son died in this place. In his journal, the father makes the following entry :
" My son, Timothy Orne, died at my father's, in Chebacco, where he was on a visit, aged three years, four months and six days, after an illness of five or six days. I was with him during his last painful night; and he expired before my eyes. Thus I am stripped of all. But the Lord gave, the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the Lord. His body was carried to Salem in the evening, and deposited in the Orne family tomb with the re- mains of my dear, departed wife."
The next entry in his journal relates to the death of his mother here.
" I was prevented," he says, " by indisposition from visiting her for ten days before her death, and was unable to attend her funeral. Thus within two years and a half I have been deprived of a beloved wife, a kind grand- mother, an affectionate sister, an only child, and a dear mother. Have pity upon me, O ye my friends, for the hand of the Lord hath touched me." .
This bears date August 5, 1802, and on the next Feb- ruary he himself departed from this world to another, at the age of thirty years. He died of consumption, which was doubtless aggravated, if not brought on, by his do- mestic sorrows and trials. He was a communicant at the Episcopal Church in Salem, and an officer in that church. His pastor, the Rev. Mr. Fisher, preached a sermon on the occasion of his death from I. Cor. xv. 53: "This mortal must put on immortality." He thus speaks of the deceased:
" Endued by nature with a clear and solid judgment, with a disposition formed to please, and with an heart to do good, great, and justly so, were
259
JOSEPH PERKINS, ESQ.
1800-1819.]
the expectations of his friends concerning his progress and usefulness in life. Possessed of an enlightened mind and a pure heart, his abilities were equally applicable either to elegant literature or professional studies. With an un- derstanding which felt its own strength, he decided whatever came before it with promptitude and propriety. He was peculiarly happy in communicat- ing his ideas and in illustrating his conceptions. On whatever subject he conversed, he discovered modesty, taste and correctness. His humanity and benevolence were so active and conspicuous as to interest him sincerely in the welfare of all about him, and to engage their respect and esteem in return.
Though sober and temperate in all the habits of his life, and given to se- vere application in the duties of his profession, he delighted in the convivial society of his friends. In all the domestic relations of life, such as that of a son, brother, father, husband, lover and friend, he felt and was governed by the tenderest of charities. His rectitude and integrity will remain forever unimpeached and revered, even by hypocrisy and dissimulation themselves. Although emulous and coveting the best gifts, the improvements and graces of others could excite in him no envy. He felt a strong sense of religious truths, and gave the most unequivocal proofs of his possessing the faith of a Christian by living in obedience to the doctrines and precepts of the Gospel."
In one of the Salem newspapers, soon after his death appeared a sketch of his character, of which the following is an extract :
" With an undeviating rectitude of heart, and stability of understanding, in his practice he was indulgent without weakness, and firm without severity. He was clear and cool in debate, and the tones of his voice sweet and musical. He always examined his propositions and opinions with great care and in- dustry, and if he retained them with firmness, he had adopted them with cau- tion. Patient and laborious in study, ardent and accurate in investigation, with a penetration of mind that permitted nothing valuable to escape it, and a tenacity of memory that suffered nothing useful to be lost ; he had added the solidity of science to the natural beauties of his native genius, and would have ripened ' in his season' to be an ornament to the bar, as he was of so- ciety. In private life he was amiable and exemplary. To the attainments of the scholar were united the accomplishments of a gentleman. His man- ners were retired without moroseness, and polished without the false re- finements of fashion. His conversation was interesting and instructive, as he mingled in it the fruits of the study, unmixed with its pedantry. With a countenance and features of a manly and pleasing conformation, he possessed a well-formed person, and was calculated to embellish polite society. Atten- tive to the duties of religion as well as to the domestic and social duties, ' modern degeneracy had not reached him ;' he exhibited constant evidences of his belief in the holy scriptures, and a uniform practice of the sacred doc- trines enjoined in them."
260
HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 5.
1804. About this time forty sail of boats were engaged in the fishery on the Eastern shore ; a few were employed in the Bank fishery. The fishing business diminished as ship-building increased and was found more profitable. The former was mostly discontinued about 1821.
1805. December 19th, the physician of this parish, Dr. Parker Russ, died in the thirty-seventh year of his age. Dr. Russ was born in this place; a descendant of "Master" Rust the first school teacher. He was the son of Joseph and Mary Rust. His father died when he was quite young. His widowed mother married Rev. Paul Park of Preston, Ct., and removed there with her son, then three years old. Parker received his education in Connecticut, and remained there until prepared to prac- tice medicine, when he came to this place, about the year 1788, and succeeded Dr. Davis, as the physician of the parish. The first Winter of his residence here, he taught the North school with great success. He resided in the ancient Rust house, where he was born, now owned by William H. Mears. In 1800, December 14th, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Jonathan Cogswell, Esq., who died June 5th, 1803. Dr. Russ was well-skilled in his profes- sion, and successful in his practice. Integrity, decision and energy were prominent traits in his character.
Dr. Reuben D. Mussey succeeded him as physician of the place. He came while Dr. Russ was sick, a short time before his death. His first lodging was in a tavern, kept by Amos Burnham, on Thompson's Island. Dr. Mussey was born in Pelham, N. H., June 23, 1780 ; graduated at Dartmouth College in 1803, studied medicine with Dr. Nathan Smith of Hanover, N. H. He continued here in successful prac- tice for a few years only ; became a member of the church here, and officiated as its clerk. In September, 1808, he went to Philadelphia to attend a course of medical lec- tures. On his return, he settled in Salem, and continued in full practice there till 1814, when he was appointed professor at Dartmouth College. In 1838 he removed to
261
DR. MUSSEY.
1800-1819.]
Cincinnati, where he was appointed professor in the med- ical college. Dr. Mussey left many warm friends here, some of whom still live. IIe made them several visits, after removing his residence from town, and on one occa- sion lectured in the North Church, on the deleterious effects of chewing and smoking tobacco or using it as snuff, as tending to destroy health and shorten life .* Dr. Mussey was succeeded here by Dr. Thomas Sewall.
1806, February 15. From a document still extant, it appears that an effort was made to build a school-house and establish a school somewhere in the center of the parish, for the study of Latin a part of the year, and English studies another part. This was to be a sort of high school, into which all the older scholars of the place were to be admitted, while the district school-houses were to be used for primary schools, to be taught by females. The project received the approbation and patronage of several in remote parts of the parish, as well as of some in the center. If it had been carried into execution, it is our opinion that education among us would have been advanced by it more than half a century. We insert the document, with the subscribers' names :
" Whereas the inhabitants of Chebacco are deprived of the advantages of the Grammar (Latin) school in the town of Ipswich, the distance being so great that we cannot send our youth to it; and thinking it necessary, that they should be instructed in grammar ; and as there is no school-house in this parish, in a suitable place, for such a purpose, it is thought advisable to build a school-house in some central place to accommodate a (Latin) Gram- mar school a part of the year, and a school with the common English studies another part, leaving the district school-houses to school dames in the sum- mer, and likewise to accommodate singing schools.
" Therefore, we, the subscribers, do engage to pay for the several shares set to our respective names for the purpose of erecting and completing a school- house on that piece of land granted by the Commoners in 1729, for that pur- pose ; said house to consist of forty shares ; and as soon as thirty shares are engaged, the subscribers to meet in some suitable place, to agree upon the
* Dr. Mussey was a member of the Faculty of Dartmouth College from 1814 to 1838,-the first six years of that time Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine and of Materia Medica, and afterwards Professor of Anatomy and Sur- gery. He died at Roxbury, Mass., June 21, 1866, aged 86.
262
HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 5.
plan of the house, the method of building it, and to act upon any other business relative to the same, that may then be thought necessary.
"Chebacco, February 15th, 1806.
" Subscribers' Names : one share to each name, viz., William Holmes, Jonathan Cogswell, George Choate, Jonathan Story, Jacob Story, Abraham Perkins, Moses Marshall, Thomas Burnham 3d, Moses Marshall, Jun., Thomas Choate, Thomas M. Burnham, David Choate, Jonathan Cogswell 3d, John Perkins, Daniel Low, Abner Burnham."
On the 6th of March, a military company was organ- ized, called the "Ipswich Light Infantry." A petition to the General Court for leave to form such a company hav- ing been presented and granted in January, the following order was issued from head-quarters :
" February 26th. The Commander-in-Chief being authorized by a re- solve of the General Court on the petition of John Perkins and others, and having the advice of Council thereupon, orders that there be raised by vol- untary enlistment, a Light Infantry Company in the town of Ipswich in the Second Regiment, Second Brigade, Second Division of the Militia, to be annexed to said Regiment, and subject to the rules and regulations estab- lished by law for governing and regulating the Militia. By order of the Commander-in-Chief, WILLIAM DONNISAW, Adj. Gen."
April 4th, a constitution prepared by Jonathan Cogs- well, Jr., as committee was adopted and signed. The preamble is as follows :
" We, the subscribers, do enlist and agree to form ourselves into an asso- ciation or company to be called the Ipswich Light Infantry ; and as it is in- dispensably necessary for the promotion of good order and discipline that we should meet frequently in private, and as the existence of the company de- pends on the most implicit subordination,-in order to enforce it and to strengthen the bond of our union, do hereby establish, in addition to the general provisions of the law, the following articles."
The number of members at the formation of the com- pany was thirty-two. The uniform was " a short blue coat, trimmed out with red, with a collar and facing; dimity pantaloons, waistcoat with red seams and binding, black half-gaiters, and Grecian caps." Knapsacks and canteens were afterwards obtained. Its first officers were as follows: Jonathan Cogswell, 3d, Captain ; John P. Choate, Lieuten- ant; Jeremiah Choate, Ensign; Sergeants, Solomon Choate,
263
REV. MR. WEBSTER.
1800-1819.]
John Perkins, Thomas Burnham 3d, Caleb Marshall. Octo- ber 20th, the company made their first appearance at "gen- eral muster" with a band of music from Salem. Captain Cogswell continued to command the company until 1810, when he was elected Colonel of the regiment. . His suc- cessors down to the year 1826, so far as appears from the company records, were John P. Choate, William Andrews, Joseph Choate, James Perkins, William Choate, Joshua Low.
Rev. Josiah Webster having requested a dismission, a mutual council is called, and by their advice his pastoral relation is dissolved, July 23. Mr. Webster was much be- loved by his church and people, who deeply regretted his leaving them. At his settlement, the parish gave him $500 as a donation, or settlement, as it was called. His annual salary was $334, and the parsonage. As the cur- rency diminished in value, his salary became insufficient. The parish voted to add $100 from year to year as should be found necessary. The pastor was satisfied with the addition, and only insisted that it should be made a part of the original contract. The parish thought their pastor should have confidence in their good will, to vote the ad- dition yearly, along with the rest of the salary. This, however, did not satisfy, and the parish will, as is usually the case, becoming stouter and stronger, the result was as stated above. Mr. Webster was afterwards settled in Hampton, N. H., June 8, 1808, where after a quiet and successful ministry, he died March, 27, 1837, aged sixty- five. In the twelfth volume of the American Quarterly Register was published a biographical sketch of him, from which the following extracts are taken :
% "Rev. Josiah Webster, the son of Nathan and Elizabeth Webster, was born in Chester, N. H., January 16, 1772. His father was a farmer, barely in circumstances of comfort, with patient, laborious industry, providing for the wants of a large family, and therefore unable to furnish more than a common school education for his children. Josiah, the eldest, in his sixteenth year went to reside with an uncle, whose affairs he managed in his many and long absences. But for a long time he had felt a strong desire to become a minis- ter of the gospel, and though he had acquired only sufficient property to de-
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