USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 13
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Malt-kilns were in existence in Rowley as early in 1645, and numer- ous tanneries were constructed soon after the first settlement. In 1800, the number of tanneries was nine, and in 1839 about 600 cords of bark for tanning purposes, were brought here by ships.
The advent of the steam railroad in 1840, changed many features of the town. Many oxen were dispensed with and farming was not as profitable as before, but manufacturing began to be the order of the day. Boots and shoes were made by factory methods (as then understood) in 1703 by Abraham Jewett, and he continued until his death twenty-two years later. He was succeeded by others, until in the early eighties the business was in the hands of such firms as the Hendersons, Fosters, Todds, Primes, etc., and at that date the annual output exceeded $200,000. Messrs. Burke, Ellsworth and Boynton were largely engaged in making heels and rands, while inner-soles were being made by Bernard Damon.
One of the land-marks of Rowley is the old Glen Mills, established by Thomas Nelson and purchased in 1820 by N. N. Dummer, Sr., who also introduced carding machines. Since 1856 this plant has been ex- clusively engaged in making family flour. The power as described in the eighties was that furnished by three turbine water-wheels and a sixty- horse power engine. A 14,000 bushel capacity elevator is near the mill.
From records furnished by the department at Washington and from local assistance, the following list of postmasters for these two post- offices have been carefully compiled with years of appointment. Row- ley-James Smith, 1806; Edward Smith, 1825; Frederick Lambert, 1829; Benj. H. Smith, 1835; Oliver Blackinton, 1847; Richard Herbert, 1851; Joseph Johnson, 1853; Oliver Blackinton, 1854; Ezekiel Bailey, 1854; Thomas B. Cressey, 1861; J. S. Todd, 1869; Frank E. Jackson, 1881; Al- bert E. Bailey, 1886.
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The postmasters since 1826 have included these: Benjamin Cole- man, 1826; Samuel W. Stickney, 1827; Benjamin Coleman, 1828; Martin Root, 1847; Henry Durant, 1851; George C. Lincoln, 1852; Paul Tit- comb, 1853; Samuel S. Moody, 1854; Benj. Pearson, 1862; Harriet L. Moody, 1868; Justin O. Rogers, 1873.
As originally incorporated, Rowley embraced also Bradford (then taking in Groveland) in 1675, Boxford in 1685 and Georgetown in 1838, while the Bradstreet, Hammond and Harris farms were annexed from Ipswich in 1784. Its usual population for many years prior and including 1885 was about 1200, and the latest United States census gives it 1,249 in 1920.
The first church was organized by Rev. Ezekiel Rogers shortly after the town was incorporated, December 3, 1639. Of this, the first minister and stated pastor of the parish, much has been written, but the following taken from the epitaph on his tombstone will suffice in this connection:
Sacred to the memory of Rev. Ezekiel Rogers, first minister of the gospel in Rowley, who emigrated from Britain to this place, with his church and flock, A. D. 1638. He finished his labors and life, January 23, 1660, in his seventieth year.
He was a man of eminent piety, zeal and abilities. His strains of oratory were delightful. Regeneration and union to Jesus Christ by faith were the points upon which he principally insisted; he so remarkably described the feelings,, exercises, mo -. tives, and characters of his hearers, that they were ready to exclaim, "who hath told him all this?" With the youth he took great pains, and was a tree of knowledge, laden with fruit, which the children could reach.
He bequeathed a part of his lands to the town of Rowley, for the support of the gospel, which generous benefaction, we (in the first parish) enjoy until the present day; and here gratefully commemorate, by raising this monument to his memory, A. D. 1805.
The bequest just named above appears in his will as follows: "The rest of my estate in lands that are not given unto my wife during her natural life, that is, the land at planting-hill and called Shatswell's ground, and all the rest, be it meadow, fresh or salt or other upland whatever, and one-third part of gates or commonage, I give to the church and town of Rowley." He also made many more liberal contributions to the church and town.
The second minister here was Rev. George Phillips, a graduate of Harvard College, 1650, died April, 1696, the ancestor of many dis- tinguished of his family name in this country. The third minister was Rev. Samuel Shepard, graduate of Harvard 1658. He served faithfully and well until taken from earth, 1678. From records he compiled and left with his parish it appears that the "blue laws" were very blue in those days. It took more than a century to inject much of the broader element of Christianity into these parishes, as we view such matters to- day. The fourth minister was Rev. Edward Payson, a graduate of Har- vard College in 1677, who came here to preach in 1680. He married and had seventeen children. He served well, and the church record says "The
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Rev. Edward Payson died August 22, 1732, about ye rising of ye sun in the 76th year of his age, after about a month's languishment and after he had preached ye gospel in Rowley more than 51 years." The fifth minister was Jedidiah Jewett, born 1705, graduated at Harvard College in 1726 and ordained in 1729. The third meeting-house was built under his pastorate. He stated in a record that in 1744 his membership was 208 persons. He died in 1774, and the parish voted to pay his funeral expenses and erect a suitable monument to his memory. The sixth min- ister was Ebenezer Bradford, the last regular parish minister who re- mained until released by death, all others having been dismissed. Rev. Bradford died in 1801. Following came these: Revs. Tullar, Tucker, Holbrook, Pike, Lyman, Blake, Joslyn, Bruce; the last-named became pas- tor of the church at Rowley in 1878, and was dismissed in 1882.
The following was a part of their "Confession of Faith," as late as the eighties:
that God created man upright, that our first parents freely sinned and fell, and that all their posterity are born destitute of holiness, dead in trespasses and sins, and justly exposed to the wrath and curse of God.
that God in His mercy has not left all mankind to perish forever, but of his mere good pleasure, has, from eternity, Elected some to everlasting life; and has determined to deliver them out of a state of sin and misery, and to bring them into a state of salvation by a Redeemer.
that without a change of heart, wrought by the special agency of the Holy Ghost, who is truly God, no one can be an heir of eternal life.
That there will be general resurrection of the righteous and the wicked and a general judgment; at which all the righteous will be received to everlasting happi- ness,, and the wicked sentenced to misery without end.
As early as 1702 the people residing in the northwestern part of the town of Rowley joined with the inhabitants of Newbury, living near the "Falls", in the erection of a meeting-house in that vicinity and in 1706 became a separate church by themselves. In the eighties it is found that the meeting house was located at Georgetown. It is known as Byfield parish.
In the southwestern portion of the town of Rowley was the church of Linebrook, whose members had united with some from Ipswich and formed a church in November, 1749, with George Leslie as first minister. After the changes of many years the churches of the town have finally been reduced to the one in Ipswich.
Like many another locality in New England, the Universalist faith has ever been quite strong in Essex county, including in the town of Rowley where a parish was organized or incorporated in 1877, and a meeting-house erected. However, no regular pastor was called and no extensive efforts have been made to increase the interest of this denom- ination.
The Baptist Church was formed in November 16, 1630, with twelve charter members. During that year a building was erected, and it was
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still doing service as late as 1890. About 1862 the membership had in- creased so much that the church was enlarged and beautified. The reg- ular pastors have included these: Rev.s Caleb Clark, 1831-34; Jeremiah Chaplin, 1834-36; Benjamin C. Grafton, 1839-41; Cephas Pasco, 1841- 48; Zenas Wildes, 1848-50; Alexander W. Carr, 1851-62; James W. Lathrop, 1862-67; Edwin T. Lyford, 1868-70; Robert G. Farley, 1870-71; Andrew Dunn, 1871-74; Patrick Galeher, 1876-78; John W. Chase, 1879- 81; James H. Gannett, 1881-84; Jonathan Tilson, 1884-91; James B. Webber, 1916 -; J. J. Fowler, 1917-20; Arthur W. Swift, 1920 and H. Hollingsworth, 1891-93; L. E. Caster, 1894-95; David M. Lockrow, 1895-98; W. B. Crowell, 1898-1901; Frank B. Sleeper, 1902-06; Elias C. Miller, 1907-08; Frederick J. Ward, 1910-13; J. C. Hayes, 1913-14; A. B. Webber, 1916 -; J. J. Fowler, 917-20; Arthur W. Swift, 1920 and present pastor. The present membership is 116; attendance at Sunday school is 132. The present edifice is valued at $8,000.
The present industries in Rowley are quite limited, there only being two concerns-a heel factory and a shoe factory, the latter employing about seventy-five people when running full capacity. The ordinary small town retail dealers are here found. With towns and thriving cities on every hand it is not strange that such towns as Rowley should not be any greater than they are.
This is one of Massachusett's oldest town incorporations, it having been incorporated in 1639, and has just published its two hundred and eighty-first annual report. Here one finds the utmost care taken with public records. The present town elective officials are as follows: Town Clerk, John Marshall; Selectmen, Joseph N. Dummer, J. Harris Todd, Charles H. Perley; Assessors, J. Harris Todd, Joseph N. Dummer, Charles H. Perley; Treasurer and Collector, Wilfred P. Adams; School Committee, Samuel F. Knowles, Jr., Mrs. Mabel K. Gordon, William Dummer; Auditor, Arthur W. Peabody ; Surveyor of Highways, A. Ben- nett Boynton; Constables, John A. Savage, Frank L. Cook; Chief of Po- lice, John A. Savage; Librarian, Mrs. Charles H. Perley.
The financial condition of Rowley is indeed most excellent. The assets now amount to $13,415.48, while the liabilities run $13,428.30- liabilities more than assets, $12.92. When one understands that the place is supplied with electric lights (municipal) and has fully up-to- standard highways, good schools, etc., it is remarkable that the town has less than thirteen dollars indebtedness.
Essex-7
CHAPTER IX.
TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD.
In the southeastern part of Essex county, Massachusetts, lies the historic and unique peninsula known as Marblehead. It is sixteen miles out from Boston. This township, comprising about 3,700 acres, meas- ures near four miles from northeast to southwest, by from one and a half to two miles in width.
Between the "Neck" and the main land is a fine sheet of water, forming one of the best harbors along the entire Atlantic coast. At the date of landing of the forefathers, the whole of the eastern Massachu- setts coast was in possession of a tribe of Indians called Naumkeags, then under rule of the Squaw sachem of Saugus, widow of the great Nanepashemet, who in his day had been a powerful warrior, indeed con- trolling all other near-by tribes. But war and disease had thinned out the ranks of what had been a very large Indian tribe, just before white men saw these shores for the first time. The great conflict had occurred in 1615. In 1619 the enemy had besieged them, and in this movement chief Nanepashement was killed.
In 1621 a party from the Plymouth Colony, while ranging over this section, came across some of the old Indian forts. Winslow's account reads :
Having gone three miles we came to a place where corn had been newly gather- ed, a house pulled down, and the people gone. A mile from hence Nanepashemet, their king, in his life time had resided. His house was not like others; but a scaf- fold was largely built with poles and planks, some six foot from the ground and a house upon that, being situated on the top of a hill. Not far from hence, in a bot- tom, we came to a fort built by the deceased king the manner thus: There were poles, some thirty or forty feet long, stuck in the ground as thick as they could be set one by another, and with them they enclosed a ring some thirty or forty feet over. A trench, breast-high, was digged on each side; one way there was to get to it with a bridge. In the midst of this palisade stood the frame of a house wherein, being dead, he lay buried. About a mile hence we came to such another, but seated on the top of a hill. Here Nanepashemet was killed, none dwelling in it since his death.
After the death of this chief, his widow and her sons took charge of the affairs of their tribe. This squaw sachem lived in harmony with the white race, and at last really submitted to their government. Kind and docile in disposition, and generous to the wants of the whites, they in due time became the wards of the settlers. Forsaking the gods of good and evil, whom their fathers had taught them to worship, many were baptized and embraced the Christian religion.
Relics of the villages, graveyards, shell-heaps and Indian fort have been found from time to time, which, were other evidences wanting, are sufficient to prove the fact of this country having long been held by
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ABTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
SPIRIT OF '76 ORIGINAL IN ABBOT HALL, MARBLEHEAD
FORT SEWELL AND HARBOR ENTRANCE, MARBLEHEAD
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Indian tribes. Utensils made of stone have been found, among them arrow-heads, spears, etc. The largest shell-heap is near the Pine Grove, on the line of the railroad to Salem. By actual measurement, this con- tained thirty cords of shells, placed in layers of stone and ashes.
"Small-pox Pasture" at the Harris farm and in fields on Atlantic avenue, excavations have been found, thought to indicate the former location of Indian wigwams. These cellars are always to be found near some reliable supply of water. They are from six to eight feet across, and were originally from two to four feet in depth. The Bessom pas- ture, near Salem harbor, was most likely the site of an Indian village. Excavations, supposed to have revealed the cellars of wigwams, are to be found everywhere in the vicinity. An examination of this pasture revealed a grave in November, 1874, containing five skeletons, four being those of grown persons, the other that of a child. All but that of the child were in a remarkable state of preservation, one being very large, evidently that of a man. They were all buried on their backs, with their heads to the west, except one, which lay with its head to the east; the legs being drawn up so that the knees nearly touched the chin. Besides the skeletons, a lot of trinkets, an earthen cup, a small bell, two seashells, and a quantity of beads were found in the grave, proving conclusively that the bodies were buried after the white settlers came to America. As late as two hundred years ago, tradition says that Indians dwelt in Marblehead. In the Lower Division Pasture, the location of an Indian stockade is or was thirty years ago, mentioned by some of the older inhabitants. They received their information from aged citizens, then about to depart for their final rest, whose memories fondly cherished the traditions transmitted to them by their fathers.
While there appears to be a dispute as to what particular part of England the first settlers to Marblehead migrated, all agree that they were from that Kingdom, and that they arrived about 1629. They were largely fishermen, rough and ready at any kind of hard service. They came only about four years after Salem was first settled. This township included, at one time, all the territory embraced within present Essex county. In Colonial Records the name Marblehead occurs for the first time in 1633. In September, 1631, Isaac Allerton, having had difficulty, with associates in the Plymouth colony, set sail in the "White Angel" for Marblehead, where he established a fishery station. Without going further into details as to just who the first settlers were, where they located and what became of them, it will suffice to state that such settle- ment was effected in the years from 1629 on, and that usually they were from England.
In 1636 the building of a college was talked of and really projected in Marblehead. At a town meeting held in Salem, in May, 1636, in an order for the division of Marblehead Neck, Mr. Humphreys made ap- plication for some land beyond Forest river. Six gentlemen were to
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take it under advisement, and "to carefully consider of the premises, lest it should hinder the building of a College, which would mean many men's losse." October following, the Court granted £400 toward the erection of a college. The next year a committee was formed to look to its erection. This consisted of Mr. Humphrey and the Rev. Hugh Peters. The court subsequently ordered the college to be built at Cambridge, then called Newtowne, and to be named "Harvard College," in honor of the Rev. John Harvard, who made a bequest of several hundred pounds towards its erection, and donated his library for the use of the students.
The year 1636 was important to the history of Marblehead. It was in that year that the first ship was built there-a craft of 120 tons bur- den, and the third ship ever built in the colony. This vessel, known as the "Desire," for more than two years was used in the fishing business. Later, she went to the West Indies, and returning brought a cargo of "salt, cotton, tobacco, and negroes." These are supposed to have been the first slaves ever landed in the Colony. This was a fatal step, one later regretted by all New England times without number, when its result was finally observed, down as late as Lee's surrender to Grant, at the close of the Civil War.
In March, 1648, the town of Salem ordered: "That Marblehead, with the allowance of the General Court, shall be a town, and the bounds to be to the utmost extent of the land which was Mr. Humphries' farme, and soe all the land to the sea." May 2, 1649, the General Court granted the petition of the inhabitants, and the town was duly incorporated, as follows: "Upon the petition of the inhabitants of Marblehead for them to be a town of themselves, Salem having granted them to be a town of themselves, and appointed them the bounds of their town which the Court doth grant."
Shortly after the separation from Salem, a meeting of the inhabi- tants was held, and the following town officers were chosen, or, as the record expresses it, "These men were chosen for the town's business: Seven men or select men: Moses Maverick, Samuel Daliber, Francis Johnson, Nicholas Merritt, John Peach, senior; John Deverox, John Bartoll."
While this is the first meeting after incorporation, the records do not begin really until December 22, 1648, when it was "Agreed by the towne that all such as are strangers fishing or employed about fish shall pay unto the Towne for their and flake stufe and other conveniences, the sum of ten shillings a year for every man." In 1660 there were only sixteen houses in this township.
With the passing years many changes have been wrought in this town. Improvements have been made, they existed for decades, and then finally went to decay, as new and more modern methods obtained. Better street and road systems came, better architecture and different vocations followed. Coming down to the last annual report of the Board
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of Auditors, in 1921, the following were the officers in different depart- ments: Selectmen : Thomas Loham, Jr., chairman; John N. Osborne, William J. Goldthwait, Samuel B. Graves and John G. Stevens; Town Clerk, William T. Litchman; Town Treasurer, Everett Paine; Collector of Taxes, J. Hooper Martin; Assessors : Thomas Swasey, Herbert E. Bal- lard, Fred B. Litchman; Overseers of the Poor: William J. Goldthwait, chairman; Charles E. Stevens, James E. Gormon, Everett Chapman, Theodore M. Hutchinson; Fire Engineers: John T. Adams, chairman; William H. H. Atkins, Charles A. Goodwin, John T. High, Thomas H. Rhoades; Constable, Andrew M. Stone; Auditors: Fred R. Cooksey, chairman; Emerson S. Clark, William R. Noyes; Surveyor of Highways, E. Frank Chapman; Tree Warden, William H. Stevens; Moderator, Joseph W. Coates; Fence Viewers: William Pierson, Everett C. Beesom; Measurers of Wood and Bark: Walter P. Homan, George Doherty; In- spector of Animals, Everett C. Peach; Sealer of Weights and Measures, Ambrose J. Brown; Harbor Master, Stacey H. Clark; Chief of Police, Fred W. Trasher ; Patrolmen : Reuben A. Paine, John H. Collyer, Thomas G. Sweet, Charles E. Taylor, Samuel I. Chapman, B. F. Doliber (2d), George P. Kelley, Fred W. Bailey, Harold L. Woodfin.
Vital statistics in 1920-Marriages recorded, 92; licenses issued, 80; married in Marblehead, 60; licenses outstanding, 5; brides born in Marblehead, 26; grooms born in Marblehead, 15; both born in Marble- head, 19; brides foreign born, 8; grooms, foreign born, 5; both foreign born, 6. The town had an indebtedness at the end of 1920 amounting to $241,000, but at the close of that year, the books show payments amounting to $203,000, as follows: Bonds on water loans, $18,000; schoolhouse loans, $13,000; municipal lights loan, $2,000, and road im- provements, $5,000.
The present system of water-works in Marblehead was installed in 1886, and has been extended and improved with the passing years, until now it appears to be adequate to the demands of the municipality. The number of gallons of water pumped in 1920 was 233,000,000; average number of gallons per day, 636,000; average pound of coal per day used 2,636; coal for the year, 965,000. Gallons pumped with one pound of coal, 241.
A recent historical account says that the year 1667 proved disas- trous to the people of Marblehead. Owing to the inclemency of the weather during most of the season when fish were plentiful, they were un- able to venture out in their boats to any distance, and in several instances those who did so were lost. The court therefore, with considerate sym- pathy, voted to abate their proposition of the county tax for one year.
Times change, some features grow better, while others change for the worse. The custom of using intoxicating liquors as a beverage, which prevailed in all New England until within a comparatively short time, was pronounced at Marblehead during its early days. No vessel
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sailed from its harbors for long or day trips without a good supply of liquors. No boat arrived with its supply of fish without supplying some- thing "to take" for the inner man. Even the functions of all the churches had to be toned up by "spirits."
The first school of this town was opened in 1675, by Edward Humph- ries, who received £40 yearly for instruction. In 1674 the town had one hundred and fourteen houses, all well filled.
In 1675 the war with the Indians, known as King Philip's War, broke out, and lasted in all fury for three years, only ending with the death of King Philip. The whites were slaughtered in great numbers, and it appeared in 1677 as if the white race was to become extinct in the colony. Two Indians having been brought captives to Marblehead, their fate was thus related by Increase Mather in a letter dated 23d of the fifth month, 1677: "Sabbath night was sennight, the women at Marble- head, as they came out of the meeting-house, fell upon the two Indians that were brought in captives, and in a tumultuous way, very barbarous- ly murdered them. Doubtless if the Indians hear of this, captives among them will be served accordingly."
In 1747, a school for poor children was established by Robert Hooper Jr., who agreed to pay all expenses for salary of a teacher if the town would fit up and keep a suitable school room. This offer was gladly car- ried out, and thus it was that the poor children of the town had school opportunities. The place then contained about four hundred and fifty residences.
During 1768 nine vessels, with crews, were lost, and the following year fourteen other vessels met with like fate-one hundred and twenty- one men and boys lost their lives. Besides these, many were washed overboard from boats on the homeward trips. A large number of widows and orphans were thus left to care for themselves, or to be kept by the town. These were among the darkest days ever experienced in Marble- head.
Human slavery existed in Marblehead, as well as in other New Eng- land towns, at a very early day. In fact, nearly all of the more wealthy families owned one or more negroes. Colonel Lee, that great business factor in colonial days, owned many slaves, whom he employed in the work of loading and unloading his numerous vessels, as fast as they arrived from foreign ports. Slavery was then believed to be the proper and natural condition of the black race, and was fostered and encour- aged. Church records disclose the fact that negroes were baptized and received into the church. Slave marriages are also there recorded for all three of the Marblehead churches. Early newspaper files give further evidence of the slave conditions in Marblehead. These notices appeared in the papers in 1724 and as late as 1756:
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