USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Essex > History of the town of Essex : from 1634 to 1868 > Part 4
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39
CITIZENSHIP.
1634-1700.]
tion of their lives, and of their dearest rights and liberties, depended on their promptly putting down all opposition to their civil government, and suppressing all insurrectionary publications.
Hence, when Roger Williams, a Welsh emigrant, ap- peared in 1631, and refused the oath of fidelity to the government, and taught others to follow his example ; and taught that their patent obtained of King Charles, was invalid ; and that it was wrong to take an oath in a court of justice, or anywhere else, unless. you first knew that the person administering the oath, was a converted man ; and other things equally absurd and dangerous to the civil peace, he was sent out of their colony, and pro- ceeding to another part of the wilderness, he began the settlement of Rhode Island ; which he might as well have done before attempting to overturn the government of Massachusetts as afterwards .*
And thus, too, when the Quakers appeared in 1656, with the declaration that no government was lawful unless ad- ministered by them, "That every other government but their own was a tree to be cut down,"f and carried out these insurrectionary principles, by riotous and treasonable acts,-they were sent out of the colony. On their return- ing with the same determination to overturn, if possible, the civil authorities, they were sent out again, with the warning that if they returned the third time, they would be subjected to capital punishment. In their infatuation, they came back, and four of them were hung on Boston Common ; just as incorrigible rebels against civil govern-
* It is a remarkable fact, that Rhode Island, actuated by the principles of self. defence, imitated Massachusetts in that very thing, in which Roger Williams had so reproachfully condemned them; viz. excluding those religionists, whom they be- licved to be dangerous to civil liberty, from the privileges of freemen, or the right of choosing, or being chosen, civil officers. And this, too, in violation of the char- ter which they had just received from England. In March, 1663, they enacted a law, in which they say, " That all men of competent estates, and of civil conversa- tion, Roman Catholics only excepted, shall be admitted freemen .- Hist. of N. E. t History of New England.
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HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 1.
.
ment would now be treated,-and yet this is called in all our school histories, the persecution of the Quakers! We have alluded to this matter because the reputation of the first settlers of Ipswich, and of this place, then a part of Ipswich, as well as of the colonists in general, is so deeply concerned in it. It seems to be time that their children should know, that the memory of their justly venerated sires is not deserving of this foul stigma, which some have endeavored to fasten upon it.
PEQUOT WAR .- 1637.
The Pequots inhabited the borders of Connecticut River, from its mouth to within a few miles of Hartford. They were a fierce, cruel, and warlike tribe. They had mur- dered several English families in that neighborhood ; and by seeking a union with other savage tribes, threatened to destroy the whole of the English colonists. This aroused the colonies of Plymouth, Massacliusetts, and Con- necticut, to unite, and make common cause against so de- structive a foe. Connecticut raised 90, Plymouth 40, and Massachusetts 200 troops. The quota of Ipswich, for this army is 23. They are drawn out by lot. The names of all the inhabitants, fit to bear arms, are placed in a box by the proper authorities, and drawn out, one by one, until the number to be drafted is completed. An order is then sent to each of the drafted men, to appear on parade on a certain day and hour, prepared to march in pursuit of the enemy. The summons is doubtless received with calmness and courage by men, who felt that the peace and security of their wives and children, and the welfare of the country, depended on their subduing this haughty and cruel foe. No little agitation and solicitude, however, is felt by the families in view of their husbands, fathers, and brothers, being called to the battle-ground, with the un- certainty of ever seeing them again. Three of the drafted men were from this part of the town,- Andrew Story,
41
JOHN BURNHAM.
1634-1700.]
Robert Cross, and John Burnham. Story probably lived at the Falls. Burnham lived on the farm now owned by Enoch and Caleb Haskell. His land, as appears from an ancient deed, extended to the head of the creek, then called Clark's Creek, and thence south-easterly, toward Gloucester line, including the farm now owned by Ezra Perkins, and joining upon the school farm. He was the progenitor of the Burnhams in this place. Some of his descendants inherited and lived on that tract of land until within thirty years. Others settled at an early period on land now owned by Timothy Andrews, Win- throp Burnham, Daniel Mears, William Low, and others,- making a circuit near the woods, from the south-west corner of the school farm, over Rocky Hill, to Chebacco Pond.
Cross, we suppose, must have lived on a tract of land east of John Burnham's; probably on the farm now owned by Jonathan Lufkin; since the town records mention a road, ordered to be laid out in 1657, from his house to the farther (south) side of Chebacco Ferry; the same road probably which is now from Caleb Haskell's, by the East school-house, to Jonathan Lufkin's.
The persons above named, went to the war, and returned in safety ; as we find them mentioned two years afterwards, among those who were to receive from the town, a grant of land from two to ten acres each, for their services in the Pequot war.
We will visit Mr. Burnham's, and hear from his own lips, the story which he may be supposed to have related to his family and friends, on his return. It is a Summer evening, and the family and visitors are seated in the yard of the log house, upon logs conveniently arranged, when Mr. B. thus begins :
" You remember the morning when neighbor Cross and I set out for the army, with our blankets and provisions strapped to our backs, and guns in hand. As we passed neighbor Cogswell's, he shook us heartily by the hand, 6
42
HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 1.
and said it was a righteous cause, and God would prosper us in it. They saw us coming at Goodman Bradstreet's, and the whole family came to bid us God-speed, and wish us a safe return. When we reached the corner of Belcher's lane, we found Andrew Story, from the Falls, waiting to join us. It was a painful and laborious expedition which was before us, attended with many anxieties as to whether we should ever see home again or not. But we encouraged one another in the Lord, believing that he had called us to the work of defending our lives and liberties against the attacks of a savage foe. We reached Ipswich Common, a little before the time appointed, and found there some of the drafted men of Ipswich, and those from Rowley and Newbury. Very soon Captain Dennison, and the rest of our company, came upon the ground. A number of the settlers in the neighborhood, with our beloved pastor, came also to take leave of us. We formed a line, and our captain having exercised us for awhile, requested our minister, Mr. Ward, to give us a word of exhortation, and offer a prayer, which he did. We then took up our march for the Pequot country. Having reached Salem Village, (North Danvers, ) we were joined by the drafted men from Salem, and as we marched on, several others fell into our ranks. We reached Charlestown late in the evening, and encamped on the common ; it was the first time that I had ever slept upon the ground, with nothing but the starry heavens for a covering. The next day, passing through Cambridge, we found there the Boston troops, with Captain Stoughton, who was to be our prineipal captain, having the military stores, and camp utensils. We marched nearly thirty miles that day, through thick woods, and across many small streams, halting at noon for our meals, and for rest. The Indians, with their squaws and papooses, came from their hills around, to take a peep at us. They professed to be friendly ; but there was jealousy in their looks, a sort of half war, and half peace. As we went through a manual exercise, and especially when we took aim, they suddenly skulked behind their stont oaks ; but soon ventured out again, when they found our guns did not speak. At evening we found an open space on the side of a hill, eleared by the Indians, and there halted for the night. Having kindled our fires, and ate a good supper of porridge, we attended, as usual, upon prayer, offered by one of our captains, and with a trusty watch, and blazing fires, we laid ourselves down, and slept safely and soundly. The next day, we found ourselves get- ting nearer to hostile ground, and kept a sharp lookout, lest we should feel the arrows of the Indians, suddenly flying upon us from the surrounding woods. We, however, passed along quietly that day. On the following night, the sound of the Indian warwhoop, real or imaginary, we could not tell which, together with the tremendous howling of beasts, kept me awake for awhile. But through fatigue I fell asleep, and dreamed of being in a terrible battle with the Pequots, whose arrows and tomahawks gave us no small trouble. Their awful yelling getting louder and louder, awaked me, when I
43
PEQUOT WAR.
1634-1700.]
discovered one of the watch standing over me, who told me it was time for me to get up, and take my turn in the watch. At length, after a tedious and exhausting march of nearly a week, often through pathless woods, carry- ing our guns, our ammunition, and provisions, we reached the Pequot's country, and learned that Captain Mason, with 90 Connecticut troops, and 500 friendly Indians, had attacked and captured one of the principal forts of the Pequots, and that the remainder of them, with Sassacus, their principal Sachem, had gone westward, and Captain Mason had returned to Saybrook. Captain Stoughton, in consultation with his officers, concluded to march to Saybrook. At that place, Captain Mason, being thus joined by the Massa- chusetts troops, 200 strong, had orders to march immediately in pursuit of . the enemy. Accordingly, on the morning of the 25th of June, we took up our line of march in search of the remnant of this warlike and cruel tribe. It was not long before we came in sight of some of them in small detached parties, whom we easily captured or destroyed. But it was some time before we could get any information of the main body of the tribe. After five days' march, we reached Quinnipeak, (New Haven,) where we were told by a friendly Pequot, that Sassacus and his men were in a swamp, a few miles west of us. We pushed forward, and on the next day reached the border of the swamp. But it was too soft and boggy for any to enter but Indians. Our officers thought it best to surround the swamp, so as to be sure that none of them should escape, and annoy them as we could. We found that there was another tribe in the swamp, to the number of 300, that had never mur- dered any of the English. Them we willingly let out. But the Pequots said they had both shed and drank the blood of Englishmen, and were determined to fight it out. As night came on, we cut through a part of the swamp, and made the circle round the enemy much less, and so completely hemmed them in, that they could not escape, even under the darkness of the night. The enemy finding in the morning, that they were wholly shut in, made a violent attempt to break through our lines. But we drove them back, with great slaughter. They next tried to force the lines of the Connecticut troops; but with no better success. The battle now was close and hot, the enemy seem- ing determined not to yield but at the loss of their lives. Out of about 600 of them, only 60 escaped. Our loss was 11 killed, and 20 wounded. John Wedgwood and Thomas Sherman, of this town, were among the wounded. We took many of them prisoners ; some of whom were kept by our men as servants, and some were sent to the West Indies, and sold to the planters. This battle finished the Pequot tribe. The few that escaped, or were not in the swamp, were destroyed by the friendly Indians. We took some of them on our return. A party of them hove in sight one day, when Francis Wright, our townsman, gave chase to them, and having no more powder and ball, he brake his gun over them, and brought two of their heads to the camp. The prisoners told us that more than 2,000 of their tribe had been killed in dif-
44
HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 1.
ferent battles, and more than 1,000 taken prisoners .* Our march back was less tedious, as we had less to bring ; and, as we neared home, the way seemed shorter. Ipswich never seemed so pleasant before ; the sight of Che- bacco was still pleasanter. We owe many thanks to God for keeping us alive and unharmed in so hard and perilous a campaign, and in giving us such signal success."
Upon this, the good man offered a prayer, abounding in thanksgiving, as well as supplication ; after which all re- tired. In 1639 eight acres of land were granted to Mr. Burnham by the town as a pension for his service in the Pequot war.
Notwithstanding the extermination of this numerous and warlike tribe, the fear and alarm excited by the In- dians were not diminished, but gradually increased among the colonists. An order is issued by the Governor and Council, requiring Ipswich, Rowley, and Newbury, to send 40 men, on the Sabbath, September 2, 1642, to disarm Pas- conoway, who lived at Merrimack. This was caused by the suspicion of a general conspiracy against the English. The pay of the soldiers in these wars, was Is. per day, and of the officers, 2s. Musket balls and wampum, i. e. strings of shells, black, white, and blue, were the currency of the day.
EARTHQUAKE.
" The year 1638," history informs us, " was remarkable for a great earthquake, throughout New England. This earthquake, as did that of 1627, which was equally violent and extensive, constituted a remarkable era, that was long remembered, and referred to by the pious inhabitants of these infant colonies."
COMMONERS.
The first settlers of this town claimed all the land con- tained in it, having purchased it of Masconnomet, for £20 sterling. And what they did not divide among themselves, for their immediate use and improvement, or grant to
* Trumbull's History : Indian Wars.
45
COMMONERS.
1634-1700.]
others that came to settle among them, they held in com- mon, and were therefore called commoners, and their land thus held, commonage. They appear to have been a body of proprietors, distinct from the town; for it was not till 1788, that they gave to the town all their claim to the common land, to pay the town debt. But though distinct from the town as a body, they seem also to have had some connection with it in this matter, and to have been in a measure under its jurisdiction respecting it, for we find in the records of the town, that "None but commoners shall make any use of common land," and the Selectmen are directed to petition the Court for a confirmation of this order. The Court accordingly passed a law, "That no dwelling shall have commonage, except those now built, or which may be, by consent of commoners, or towns."
OTHER EARLY SETTLERS.
In 1643, Thomas Low settled in this place, on land since owned by the late Captain Winthrop Low. His house was about thirty-five rods south of Captain Low's mansion.
In 1645, John Choate, the first of the name in this place, came from England, and took land near the head of the creek, which divides Essex from Ipswich. His house was a few rods north-east of where the late John Low's now stands. He had four sons, and a number of daughters. His son Joseph, and grandson Daniel, afterwards owned the same farm. His son John settled on the farm now owned by Darius Cogswell. Thomas settled on Hog Island. He was a great farmer, and was called Governor Choate, probably from his having the sole rule and possession of the.Island. His son John, born 1697, built the stone bridge in Ipswich, called Choate's bridge. His daughter Sarah, married Rev. Amos Cheever, of Manchester.
In 1645, we are told, New England was remarkably prosperous : commerce flourished, the fishery was actively carried on, and agriculture was successful.
46
HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 1.
ANOTHER VISIT TO THE ANCIENT SETTLERS.
1649. As a marriage is to take place at Mr. Cogswell's, we will revisit the family, notice the changes that have occurred, and be present at the joyful solemnity. When there before, thirteen years since, they were living in their log house, surrounded by a dense forest, with but little land cleared, and that little full of burnt stumps, and with Indian wigwams near at hand, and the wolf, and the wild- cat, and the bear, as soon as night set in, filling the forest with their terrific notes. But though the savage man and beast remain, you see many agreeable changes wrought by the persevering hand of industry. The log house has been abandoned for a new framed house, two stories in front, the roof descending on the back side nearly to the ground, the chimney in the centre, with two spacious apartments, and their chambers, on each side of it, and a kitchen in their rear, narrow but nearly as long as the house. The chimney is built of stone, in its natural state, carefully selected, and put together with clay mortar, as high as the garret floor, where it receives a wooden chim- ney, daubed on the inside with clay mortar, and rising some feet above the roof. The fire-places in each of the front rooms, are spacious, but in the kitchen, of a mammoth size, so that the whole family may be seated in the corners at the ends of blazing logs, four or five feet in length. The boards were sawn by hand. Bricks being laid against the inner partition, and covered with clay, to exclude the cold, the boards on the outside, called clay-boards, are fast- ened in an upright posture, with narrow strips covering the interstices. The roof is finished in the same style. The house stands in from the road, and faces the south, that the sun at high noon, may look full into the windows, and by suitable marks on the window stool, may indicate the hour of the day. The windows are three feet by two, with small diamond-shaped glass, set in lead lines, and
47
ANOTHER VISIT.
1634-1700.]
opening outwardly, on hinges. As you approach the house from the road, you pass through a beautiful garden of shrubbery, arranged after the English fashion. The whole establishment, though without the modern clap-boards and shingles, and the ornament of paint, affords a fine contrast to the rough, dark-looking log cabin, still standing just in the rear. You stand at the door, and might enter, by pulling the new nice string which hangs before you, but you choose to knock, that some one may show you in, and conduct you to the family ; by whom you are cordially received, and hospitably entertained. You are as much pleased with the improvement of their dwelling internally, as externally. The fine carpets, which could not be laid upon the rough floors of the log house, are now spread upon their new rooms, comparing well with the stuffed chairs, and other furniture brought with them from Eng- land, and saved from the wreck at Pemaquid.
While the father and sons are busy in the field, the fe- males are more than usually busy in the house, preparing for the expected wedding, and fitting the bride with a suitable wardrobe, and other articles for housekeeping. Having paid your respects to the family within, you walk abroad to see those without, and to witness the various improvements upon the premises. The black stumps in the fields are nearly all gone, and new fields added to the old ones. The woods have grown thinner, and have re- tired farther from the barn, and other out-buildings. The road from Mr. C's. to the ferry, is not near as dark as for- merly, and is much improved for traveling. But you do not venture far ; for the law of the day forbids your going beyond a mile from the house alone, or unarmed, through fear of the Indians. The Indians here have the appear- ance of peace ; but they belong to an insidious race ; and need constant watching. See there a spacious log building, with strongly fortified doors. It has been erected in con- formity with a general order from the Court, to be a re-
48
HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 1.
treat for all the families around, in case of an attack from the Indians. A watch is kept every night in all the towns, and the discharge of a gun is the signal of alarm. In the conversation of the evening, this matter is often referred to, and the wish that their savage neighbors would take up their wigwams, and leave the town, is heartily re- sponded to by all. But there is little hope of this, and the various ways in which they would defend themselves, or escape from their murderous weapons, is, therefore, freely talked of, especially by the younger members of the family. But there is one defence surer than all oth- . ers, the protecting arm of a gracious Providence; and as the good man of the house devoutly renders thanks in the family prayer, for their preservation thus far from so dreadful a foe, and from other impending dangers, and sup- plicates a continuance of the same, all unite with deeper solicitude, and more heartfelt devotion than ever.
The morning light dawns upon the Sabbath. All pre- pare at an early hour for the Sabbath day's journey to the house of God. Their home they leave under the protec- tion of that Being, whose command they obey in not for- saking the assembling of themselves together. As you proceed with the men armed, you are silent, ready to catch every sound from the deep woods, lest it should betoken an attack from some beast, or savage foe.
The neighbors join you, as you pass their houses, armed in like manner, and your fears are abated as your numbers increase. On arriving at the house of God, the numerous muskets and pikes, seen in the hands both of old men and young, give signs of the common danger. But faith in God, composes the mind, and prepares the heart for His worship, Who is the source of all good, and a very present help in trouble. But means are to be used, and, to pre- vent a surprise, sentinels are placed on the outside of the church, while the congregation worship within.
49
ANCIENT CUSTOMS.
1634-1700.]
PUBLIC WORSHIP.
Mr. Rogers, the pastor, begins the services with a prayer. The teacher, Mr. Norton, then reads and expounds a por- tion of Scripture. A psalm is then given out by one of the ruling elders or deacons, which is read and sung line by line. Mr. Rogers preaches in the morning, and Mr. Norton in the afternoon. An hour-glass is placed at one end of the elders' pew, that the sermon may not be less than an hour in the delivery. Singing, prayer, and the benediction follow the sermon on both parts of the day. Before the close of the afternoon service, the usual Sabbath collection is taken in the following manner: the whole congregation, with the magistrates and chief men at their head, pass up one aisle to the deacons' seat, where, if they give money, they drop it into a box, if anything else, they set it down before the deacon, and then pass down the other aisle to their seats. At the close, notice is given of the Thursday lecture, at eleven o'clock, A. M., which all are expected to attend, as it is a service which the pa- rishioners have requested of their minister, for their own religious instruction and edification. As soon as the bene- diction is pronounced, your attention is suddenly arrested by the loud and measured tones of the town clerk, in the following announcement: "Notice is hereby given that marriage is intended between Godfrey Armitage, of Bos- ton, and Mary Cogswell, of Ipswich." As this is the third Sabbath that the parties have been thus publicly cried, only a slight tinge of red now suffuses Mary's face. A justice of the peace must marry them; such is the law of the colony. But as religious services are proper and important on the occasion, the parents invite their pastors to be present on the following Tuesday, at eleven o'clock.
In conversation with the family, as you return, you speak of the precious privileges you have enjoyed ; and of your great satisfaction that the sermons, so faithful and 7
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HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 1.
profitable, were each of them over an hour in length. " We could not do with less instruction from the pulpit than this," says Mr. C. "We therefore stipulated with our pastors at their settlement, that in proportion as they fell short of an hour, in their sermons, a deduction should be made from their yearly support."
In your walk on Monday through the North End, you notice with pleasure, the increased number of settlers, all occupying framed houses, and all having some cultivated lands nearly free from stumps, and orchards that are be- ginning, some of them, to yield fruit. Nothing seems to be in the way of their comfort and peace, except that the bears and wolves commit depredations upon their flocks and herds, both by night and by day, making it unsafe for the children to be out of the sight of their parents. The Indians, too, frequenting the woods and the roads, and occasionally looking into the houses, though apparently friendly, yet occasion anxiety lest they are plotting some hidden mischief.
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