USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Manchester > History of the town of Manchester, Essex County, Massachusetts, 1645-1895 > Part 21
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HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
all the denissions & Apprtenances belonging to it, with the propriety of all comons deuided & vndinided belong- ing to it, & an acre of salt marsh, at the lower end of my oarehard, that I purehast, this I giue to my two sonns onesiphorus & Wim: Allen, to be equally denided be- tweene them, both after the death of me & my wife & it is further to be vnderstood, that as son onesiphorus hath halfe an aere, in prsent possession, joynning to his house that lyes in my oarchard, for my son Wim: Allen to haue halfe an acre Joynning to his house in the same maner. In witnes where of the said William Allen has put to my hand in the prsence of Tho: Joans E Joans his mark Sam- uell friend
the mark of WA WILLIAM ALLEN
Tho: Joans & samuell friend gaue oath in Court that they signed the aboue written as witnesses & ye sª Allen signed the same & declared it as his last will & testament in theire prsence being of a disposing mind: alowed in court at Salem the 16:4:79
atest HILLIARD VEREN cler:
An Inventory of ye estate of Wim: Alleu deceased 3: mo 11:78
house & land with all ye meddow belonging £ 140:00:00
15 acres of vpland lying within the bounds
of Beverly: Joynning to wenham Great pond “ 20:00:00
2 oxen: a cow: 2 heifers: 2 sheep: a horse
" 18:10:00
Bed: with beding & other household stuff 66 08:00:00
£ 186:10:00
(£5 to be abated for the loss of a horse)
This is aboue Inventory made by Tho: West John Sibley 17: 12: 78 the estate is d' to senerall men 19: 13: 3}
Elizabeth the relict of the deceased gaue oath to the truth of the abone written Inventory to the best of her knowledge, & what comes to her knowledge afterwards; to ad to it in mo
Court at salem: 26:4: 79
atest HILLIARD VEREN cler. the widdows testimony & ye debtors bills filed with ye will & Inventory.
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APPENDIX L.
DEED OF MASCONOMO'S GRANDSONS.
SAMUEL ENGLISH and JOHN UMPEE to the town of MAN- CHESTER :
Samuel English, Joseph English and John Umpee all living in Middlesex county, Indians, on one party, and Robert Leach -John Knowlton, and Samuel Lee, Selectmen of the Town of Manchester in the County of Essex, on the other party, for £3 19s. current silver money of New England received. Whereas said townshipe quietly and peaceably and without molestation enjoyed the soil, &c. for more than sixty years - and that in the first place by the consent and approbation of our grand- father Sagamore John of Agawam -alias Masconomo, or Mas- quenomenit, and ever since by consent and approbation of his children, and by us his grandchildren, being now the surviv- ing and proper heirs to our said grandfather Masquenomenit.
SAMUEL ENGLISH [Mark & Seal] JOHN UMPEE [Mark & Seal]
Witnesses JOHN NEWMAN JOSEPH HERRICK THOMAS WHITREDGE
Acknowledged at Salem Dec. 18, 1700. JOHN HIGGINSON
Examined
Attest Steph Sewall Register.
INDIAN REMAINS. - The following account of archa- ological discoveries in town was written by a very care- ful and intelligent observer, Mr. John Lee. It is well worthy of preservation :
Many years ago one of these mounds, located near and south- easterly from the Orthodox meeting-house, and on land then owned by Capt. Thomas Leach, was levelled down, and in 1835, Capt. John Knight levelled down another situated at the head of tide-water, the spot on which the steam mill of Messrs. Kel- ham & Fitz now stands.
This mound was about 150 feet in diameter, and about eight feet above the adjoining marsh, and on it stood some large apple trees. It was of a conical form and had a mnoat entirely
346
HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
surrounding it, which was filled with water at very high tides. Large quantities of bones were found here, but very much de- cayed, so that they were cut with a spade or shovel as easily as the ground they were embedded in. These bones appeared to have been interred promiscuously, and in an erect position. No Indian implements were found there. Ou the plain near the spot where it is supposed William Allen built the first English dwelling-house in the town, the Indians had their wigwam fires for a long period of time, for when that elevation of land was taken down in 1845, for the purpose of levelling off a lot for " Union Cemetery," below the soil was found in many places, of the diameter of about six feet, where the earth had been burnt down by fires, and the deposit of ashes, charred wood, burnt stones, etc., were from sixteen to eighteen inches in depth, and the earth for some feet around was of a reddish- yellow color, different from the natural earth; and when, in the autumn of 1864, a gravel pit was opened into a sandy, gravelly knoll about twenty-five rods southerly from this place, four entire skeletons were found buried there, three of adults, and one of a youth; one of the adults was of very large size. They were found lying nearly side by side, with their heads toward the west, which were raised so as to face the east. They were found about fourteen inches below the surface, which had been much cultivated. One of these skeletons had its head rested upon a round piece of copper of about sixteen inches in diameter, and where the head touched the copper the skin and hair adhered firmly to the skull. The hair was black and bright, and about two and a half feet long. With them were found an iron tomahawk, and an iron knife-blade much decayed by rust, some coarse cloth made of flags or rushes, a short-stemmed smoking pipe, a large number of bone arrow-heads, preserved by the copper in a sound condition. These arrow-heads were formed something like a writing pen, sharp at the point; some were found of stone, larger and in the form of a heart: some lobsters' claws, a fishing line in good form but very rotten, a portion of another line of larger size, both made from some fibrous plant, a wooden ladle or bowl and wooden spoons. At other times round, smooth stones about fourteen inches long, probably used for crushing corn, and a round stone of about the size of an eight-pound iron shot, with a groove around it in two ways, deep enough to receive a small rope or withe, were found.
347
APPENDIX L.
"FRENCHMEN " IN MANCHESTER. - Reference is made on page 258 to the " Frenchmen " mentioned in the Town Records. They were, as Bancroft says, " a simple, harmless people torn from their homes, and scattered in broken families from New Hampshire to Georgia." Those that were landed at Boston were dis- tributed among the towns, to be cared for at the public charge. The following action of the General Court throws light upon the matter :
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Dec. 27, 1755.
Whereas a considerable number of the inhabitants of Nova Scotia arrived here the 26th inst. being removed by the Gover- nor and Council of the Province for the security thereof ; and no provision being made for their support here, they are in great danger of suffering during this rigorous season, without the interposition of the Court. Ordered, that Mr. James Rus- sell, Mr. Cooper and Mr. Hall, with such as the honorable Board shall join, be a committee to provide for the support of such inhabitants of Nova Scotia until advice may be had from Governor Lawrence, and his orders concerning them; or until there may be an opportunity of applying to his Excellency General Shirley, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's forces in North America, for his directions concerning them. And the Committee are to dispose of them in the meantime in such Towns within this Province as they shall judge least in- convenient to the public. And the Selectmen or Overseers of the Poor of the several towns to which they may be sent as aforesaid are hereby authorized and required to receive them, and employ or support them in such manner as shall incur the least charge. And the said inhabitants of Nova Scotia being so received and entertained in any Town, shall not be con- strued or understood to be an admission of them as town inhabitants ; the Court relying upon it that some other pro- vision will be made for them without any expense to this gov- ernment, signed etc.
In pursuance of the above Order, we direct that the Town of Manchester shall at present receive Joseph Janwise his wife 1 Son, 3 Daughters in all 6, and the Selectmen or Over- seers of said town are to dispose of them in any method they
348
HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
apprehend most likely to answer the ends proposed by this government
SAMUEL WATTS, In the name of the Committee.
To the Selectmen or Overseers of Manchester.
Boston Dec. 29th, 1755.
1777.
SHIPPING PAPERS OF SCHOONER "HAWKE," PRIVATEER, CAPT. J. HIBBERT. Now fitted for Sea
and ready to proceed on a cruise the privateer Sch. Hawke a well built vessel of seventy five tons burthen, mounting 10 carriage guns 8 swivels - small arms &c. - She is a prime sailer and has on board evry convenience for such a cruise and is to be commanded by Capt. Jeremiah Hibbert .- The whole crew are to draw one half of all prizes out of which the Capt. will draw 8 shares -First Lieut. 5, second do 2. Master 4-Prize Masters 3, first mate 22 second do 2. Surgeon 5 - and the remainder a single share ---
We therefore the subscribers do severally engage and en- list ourselves &c-&c-
Jeremiah Hibbert Captain Marston Watson 1st Lieut
Caleb Ray Surgeon Samuel Bennet Master Ezekiel Leach Mate Israel Morgan Gunner Benjamin Leach Prize Master
The names of some of the crew were Thomas Steele, Theophilus Lane, Joseph Perry, Nicholas Babcock, Stil- son Hilton, Abial Lee, John Knight carpenter.
NAMES OF MANCHESTER MEN, MASTERS OF VESSELS ON FOREIGN VOYAGES.
[It is perhaps too much to expect that this list is free from errors; but it has been made up with a great deal of care.]
Benjamin Allen. John Hill. Amos Hilton.
James Allen.
James G. Allen. Jacob P. Holmes.
John Allen. John Hooper.
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APPENDIX L.
John Allen.1 John W. Allen.
Joseph Allen.
Richard Allen.
William Hooper. (2.) William Hooper, Jr. William Kelleham. James Knight.
Samuel Allen.
Benjamin Leach.
William Allen.
Benjamin Leach, Jr.
Peter Ayres.
Charles Leach.
William Babcock.
Daniel Leach.
Babcock.
Ezekiel Leach.
Delucena L. Bingham.
Thomas Leach, Jr.
James Brown.
Edward Lee.
Abial Burgess.
Isaac Lee.
David Burgess.
John Lee.
David Burgess, Jr.
Nathaniel Lee.
Benjamin Carter.
William Lee.
David Carter.
William Lee, Jr.
Ezekiel Carter.
Benjamin Lull.
James Carter.
William Lull.
John Carter.
Andrew Marsters.
John W. Carter.
Isaac Morgan.
Nathan Carter.
Isaac Morgan, Jr.
Obed Carter.
Samuel Morgan. (2.)
Henry Cheever.
William Morse.
Jacob Cheever.
Tyler Parsons, Jr.
David Crafts.
Jacob Pert.
Ambrose Crowell.
William Pert.
Ariel P. Crowell.
Prince.
Samuel Crowell.
Augustus Smith.
Hilton Dow.
Abram Stone.
David Driver.
Nathan Stone.
David Driver, Jr.
Abram Symonds.
John Driver. Jolın Girdler.
Richard Trask.
John Girdler, Jr.
John Tuck.
Israel D. Goodridge.
William Tuck.
Simeon Haskell.
William Tuck, Jr.
Jonathan Hassam.
Samuel Wells.
William Hassam. Amos Hill.
Thomas Williams.
Jacob Woodbury.
Benjamin Hill.
1 Grandson of John.
Tarring.
Abial Burgess, Jr.
Thomas Leach.
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HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
If the adventures, "hair-breadth 'scapes," ingenious expedients, nautical skill and business enterprise of these men could be related, the tale would equal in interest, if not in wonder, the " Arabian Nights." They sailed every sea, visited every clime, saw the far-famed capitals of Europe, the old empires of the East, and lands unknown to history or song. They encountered savages, pirates' and enemies' fleets, typhoons in the China seas, icebergs in the Atlantic, doldrums and tidal waves. They made the name of the American sailor everywhere a synonym for hardihood, intelligence, pluck and sagacity. They built up a commerce which was once our national pride and the envy of the world.
THE GOLD HUNTERS. - In 1849 a unique voyage was made from Manchester to California. A party formed a stock company, bought a schooner, the "Billow," of about 100 tons, and freighting it with the frame of a house and provisions, set sail for the new El Dorado. They manned the vessel themselves, and on arriving at San Francisco sold it and the freight, and betook them- selves to the mines. After varying fortunes, most of the number found their way back to their eastern homes. Three died in California. It was not a very profitable venture, but it was an illustration of pluck and enter- prise worthy the men of Cape Ann. None became mil- lionaires ; all secured a portion of that which is often of more value than riches - experience. The following is a list of the company.
Albert E. Low, John Kemp, Isaac Allen, D. W. Friend, William Sturgess, Henry Sawyer, Henry Stone, Albert Dow, William E. Wheaton, Joseph Morgan, George Thompson; J. D. Winn,1 Sailing Master; A. W. Smith, Captain. A. E. Low and D. W. Friend are the only survivors of these modern Argo- nauts. The vessel also carried as passengers, Joshua Younger, Charles Smith and - Hunnewell.
1 Captain Winn accompanied the famous Wilkes Exploring Expedition.
351
APPENDIX L.
EARTHQUAKES. - Several severe shocks of earth- quake were experienced in New England in the early days. One of these on the 29th of October, 1727, greatly alarmed the people of Manchester. The mo- tion was so violent, that those who were standing were obliged to sit down to avoid falling. An old writer says :
The heavens were clear, the atmosphere perfectly calm, the moon shining in her glory. The shock extended several hun- dred miles; its greatest force was displayed at Newbury, in Essex county; the earth burst open in several places; more than a hundred cart-loads of earth were thrown out, which in a few days, emitted a loathsome smell.
On the night on which Lisbon was destroyed, Nov. 1, 1755, it is said that the Leach family was gathered around the fireplace (in the house owned and occu- pied by the late Mr. Charles Wilmonton), when the house was violently shaken and bricks came tumbling down the chimney, to the great alarm of the family in front of the fire. Is there any record of similar seismic disturbances in New England at that date ?
EPIDEMICS. - In 1748, the throat distemper prevailed and many children died. "The throat swelled with white or ash-colored specks, an efflorescence appeared on the skin; with great debility of the whole system, and a strong tendency to putridity." This disease was the scourge of New England in the last century.
Early in 1775, the greatly dreaded small-pox visited the town, and many people fell victims to its ravages. " The pest-house " was built at this time. The town voted, March 20, "to Choose a Committee of three men to Look out and purchas a place to sett a small Pox & smoak House upon and to agree with a Person or Persons to Build said Houses in the Cheepest man- ner." Again, in 1791, a house was built at Graves'
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HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
Beach for small-pox patients, indicating a recurrence of the malady.
The following Report of Committee (without date) is on file in the Town Clerk's office :
The Committee Appointed to Look out a Suitable Place to Sett a House for the Vse of the Small pox and also to put the poor in when Not used for the Small pox and to procure a Frame for sd house have attended that Sarvice and Do Re- port - That the Common Right belonging to the Estate of Mr John Eskort Decd they Judg to be a most Conveniant place for that Purpose and that they have agreed with Mr Jacob Allen for a frame for said House for the Sum of Seven pound, Six Shiling Eight pence A Plan of which House is Herewith Exhibited
Signed By order of the Committee Andrew Woodberry Clerk.
In 1794, occurred the " great sickness," in which ac- cording to the memoir of Edward Lec, sixty-four per- sons died (page 28). " It visited every family but two in town." Dr. David Norwood is said to have " labored excessively " at this time. There was great difficulty in obtaining persons to care for the sick. "Many suffered for want of attendance."
LONGEVITY. - Statistics hardly bear out the assertion sometimes made that the average of life is less than in former times. No doubt, our forefathers possessed vigorous constitutions, and were capable of enduring great hardships. But the burdens imposed upon the earlier generations in New England told upon them, and the average of life appears to have been less than at present. Bradford, in his Memoir of Elder Brewster, speaks of many of the people living to "very olde age," and goes on to say that many had "attained to 60 years of age, and to 65, diverse to 70 and above, and some were 80," and adds, that in view of " ye many changes and hardships these people went through, and
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APPENDIX L.
ye many enemies they had and difficulties they mette with all, it was God's vissitation that preserved their spirits." There are no records of deaths in town prior to 1749. From that time to 1800, we find but thirty- two who reached the age of eighty; from 1800 to 1850, there were seventy-one, with a gap of twelve years in the records; from 1850 to 1887, there were no less than one hundred and thirteen. Allowance must be made, of course, for increase of population. Mrs. Lucy A. Roberts, who died in 1881, reached the age of one hun- dred and three years and ten months.
RATTLESNAKES .- There are no snakes, so far as is known, of the species Crotalus horridus at present in Manchester. But rattlesnakes formerly abounded in the ledges and rocky hillsides, much to the terror and danger of the inhabitants. These reptiles were no mere myths, but a very awesome reality ; so much so that so late as 1844, the town offered a bounty of one dollar per head for their destruction. While found more or less in different parts of the town, as near the village even as Powder-house Hill, they seem to have had their headquarters in a den in the woods near the Essex line.1 Their extermination is due to a single mighty hunter of Ophidians, Mr. John D. Hildreth. This slayer of dragons received a considerable revenue in bounties, in the oil which was considered by many a specific for rheumatism, and for living specimens secured for museums and showmen. He had an ingen-
1 There were at least two severe cases of rattlesnake bites. In 1799, Capt. Henry Lee was bitten, but by prompt treatment his life was saved. A few years later, Ebenezer Tappan was bitten; with him, although vigor- ous application of remedies neutralized the effects of the bite, discolora- tion of the skin, inflammation and lameness recurring about the same time every year until his death, some forty years after, witnessed to the viru- lence of the venom. Among the remedies used in these cases, were fresh earth, baths of warm milk and application of pelts from a newly killed sheep. .
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HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
ious method of ensnaring them. With a dog to arouse the reptiles, and armed with a slender stick with a slip noose attached to it, he watched his opportunity as the head was lifted in anger to strike, and dextrously lassoed his victim which he then easily despatched. At last he laid siege to their stronghold, when they were in a state of hibernation, and by building a fire at the mouth of their den, lured them forth, when he caught them one by one, flinging them upon the snow which chilled them and made them an easy prey. This ruse proved so successful that apparently not one escaped, as no rattlesnake has been seen in town since. Mr. Hildreth well deserves to be called a public benefactor. He died in 1885.
TRAVEL ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO. - An interest- ing letter, preserved in the Crufts Genealogy, gives a glimpse of the perils of the road only a few miles from Boston, near the close of the last century ; and also furnishes a personal reminiscence of Prof. David Tap- pan, of whom so little is now known, which shows him to have been a man of nerve, and equal to an emer- gency. The scene is laid in Brookline, Mass.
Mr. Jackson has the rheumatism, he is not confined to the house, but is at times lame. Mr. Tappans of Cambridge preached for him yesterday. He was very unfortunate in coming over the bridge in the new lane as it is called. The violent South storm we had Saturday night carried off the snow & raised the water to such a degree that none attempted to pass but Mr. Tappin & his son; in passing the horse went off the bridge, Mr. Tappin, son & carriage were plunged into the water, it is said his son had liked to have been drowned, but they got out safely. Mr. Tappin sent his son back to Capt. Crafts to get people to assist in getting the horse & chaise out of the water, while he went on to Mr. Jackson's, dripping. This was the report yesterday, your brother has this minute come in from town meeting, says Mr. Jackson told him, after Mr. Tappin had sent his son to call assistance he staid in the
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APPENDIX L.
water while he disengaged the horse from the carriage, then mounted bare-backed, followed his son, borrowed a saddle, & rode round by White's to Sumner's store. This accident hap- pened at first bell-ringing, he did not get to Mr. Jackson's till after the second began. He was so fatigued he could not give much account of himself, only that he had been in the water. Mr. J. drest the poor unfortunate then in a suit of his cloaths, but as his small cloaths did not cover his knees he was obliged to wear his wet ones or go without. David H- said he was very sorry he did not send to him for a pair, but as the legs of the lame are not equal, if one knee had been covered, the other must have been bare, but he dried & fixed himself as well as he could and went clumping into meeting with his bor- rowed shoes, just as Mr. J. had done his first prayer. Mr. J.'s cloak was so short for him, he could not look very Buckish; altho' there were some circumstances a little diverting it was really a serious affair. ... Mr. Tappin put his notes & his Bond [Bands ?] in his Book & put them on the cushion on be- hind him when he set out from Cambridge. The current was so rapid they were all carried off. Notwithstanding he preached two excellent sermons from notes he happened to have in his pocket The chaise which he borrowed of the President was very much damaged. It seemed as if fire & water was against them Sunday; his son staid at home in the forenoon to dry himself, left his shoes in the sitting room & went out to the kitchen fire, - meanwhile a brand fell down on one of them & burnt the heel quarter almost up, but Mr. Jackson was kind enough to look up one that answered to follow his father to meeting in the afternoon.
CONVEYANCES. - There could hardly be a better illustration of the changes of the past century, than the contrast between the lumbering stage-coach that once accommodated the travel between Gloucester and Bos- ton by its triweekly trips, and' the eight or ten long, well-filled trains that now run daily each way between the " Hub " and the "City of the Sea." The pictur- esqueness of the old method of conveyance, when the arrival of Captain Trask from a Russia voyage would be known to the loungers at the tavern as soon as the
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HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
stage hove in sight, by its " list" to port or starboard, as the case might be, has been more than counterbal- anced by the ease and quickness of transit on the " Fly- ing Fisherman." 1
SAW-MILLS. - The first settlers built their houses of logs ; the earliest frame buildings were constructed of hewn timber. But saw-mills were erected at a very early period in different parts of the town. There was one on Cheever's Creek, north of the High Schoolhouse; one still farther north; one on School street, near the brook, which was referred to as the " old Saw-mill " as early as 1694; there were three at the "Cove," and one on the Baker farm, the only one now remaining. The small streams in town must have been of much greater volume formerly than at present, " Wolftrap Brook" having almost entirely disappeared; changes in the surface of the country, the building of roads and drains, and the partial clearing of forests, have no doubt contributed to this result.
THE GRIST-MILLS. - These were John Knowlton's in the centre; Easkott's at West Manchester ; Israel Fors- ter's (still standing) ; and one at the "Cove," near the road to the Magnolia station ; a wind-mill for grinding grain was built by the town on the "Plain."
THE SHOEMAKERS. - John Cheever, Andrew Lee, Nehemiah Goldsmith, Daniel Anable, Edward Gold- smith, James Hooper, John W. Mann, Benjamin Mor- gan, John Robinson, Isaac S. West, Stephen Story, Benjamin Morse, William Stone.
These disciples of the " gentle craft " worked in small shops, with sometimes an apprentice or two, or a jour- neyman. The days of immense factories, of machinery, and of strikes, were yet in the distance.
1 Not to speak of the " Subseribers' train," somewhat irreverently dubbed the " Dude " by some of the natives.
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APPENDIX L.
THE PRESENT BUSINESS. - Of late years, the busi- ness of the town has depended largely upon its summer population. Roberts and Hoare began business, Jan. 1, 1884, as successors to the firm of Friend, Roberts and Hoare, and have built for summer residents thirty-two houses, at a cost of $225,000, and twenty-one stables at a cost of $75,000. This is in addition to work done for permanent residents, and out of town, aggregating $216,000. Employment has been given by this firm alone to forty men on an average in carpentering, and to fifty or more, in all departments of their work. Other builders have been. F. W. Churchill, and Phillips and Killam. E. A. Lane and A. P. Crowell do an extensive business in painting.
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