USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
Another minister who did not find life here a continual round of pleasure was Rev. John Winborn, who arrived in 1667 and in 1686 the town voted "that he forthwith provide himself and family with some other place." In 1689 Rev. John Everleth was invited to preach as a candidate, and was soon called to preach at a salary of £23 per year.
Perhaps the earliest place in which the now almost universal cus- tom of raising funds by envelope collection, was in Manchester, where in 1690 it was voted that a contribution be taken up each Sabbath for the minister, in addition to his salary; the gifts to be wrapped in a paper, with the name of the contributor upon it. Rev. Everleth continued until 1695 and was succeeded by Rev. John Emerson, whose pastorate was quite short. From 1698 to 1715 the minister at Manchester was Rev. Nicholas Webster.
The Manchester church was not regularly organized until Novem- ber 7, 1716. Rev. Ames Cheever, a grandson of the well-known Ezekiel Cheever, was ordained minister here October 4, 1716. Up to 1677 the members of this church had belonged at Salem, then gathered at Bev- erly, where they remained until they were dismissed to form a church of their own. The members thus withdrawing to form a new society were inclusive of these: John Sibley and wife, John Lee, Robert Leach, Samuel Stone, Samuel Lee, John Knowlton and children (John, Joseph and Abigail), Benjamin Allen, Joseph Allen and wife, Jabez Baker and wife, Josiah Littlefield, Jonathan Allen. In fact, with the coming of Rev. Cheever began the real history of this church. He served faith- fully and well until January, 1743, a period of twenty-seven years. Not many years since, his supposed grave was marked by a proper tomb- stone by his descendants.
Rev. Benjamin Tappan became pastor in 1744, receiving the sum of one hundred and forty-eight ounces of silver or its equivalent per year. This also included his fuel delivered, though not so fully stated in the contract. Following Rev. Tappan came (for a brief season) Rev. Blake of Worcester, until September, 1791, when Rev. Ariel Parish was made pastor and served until his death, at an early age, in 1794. It is said of him: "He was cut off in the morning of life, and the tears of many watered his grave."
Other ministers here were: Revs. Abraham Randall, James Thurs- ton, Samuel M. Emerson, of Williams College, at $450 a year and four- teen cords of wood "at the house"; he was installed in 1821 and served till his health failed and he resigned, being succeeded by Rev. Oliver A. Taylor, installed in 1839. After his death came his brother, Rev. Rufus
145
TOWN OF MANCHESTER
Taylor, who was installed in 1852. A split occurred in the church which was not fully united until 1869. After Rev. Taylor, came Rev. George E. Freeman in 1858 and was dismissed in 1862. Next came Rev. Ed- ward P. Tenney, continuing until 1867; he left the ministry and entered literary work. In 1869 came as minister Rev. George L. Gleason, who served until 1881. In more recent years the ministers have been more frequent in their coming and going from Manchester. In 1882 came Rev. D. O. Clark; in 1886, Rev. Daniel Marvin, down to 1892. He was succeeded by Rev. J. P. Ashley for about six months, then came Rev. Samuel Reid, and next was Rev. Francis A. Fate, installed in November, 1894. From this date on down to the present the ministers have been: Revs. Walter Ashley, 1898-1904; Rev. C. Arthur Lincoln, 1905-07; Rev. Louis H. Ruge, 1907-12; Rev. Charles A. Hatch, 1913-16; Rev. Frederic W. Manning, 1917 and still pastor in 1921.
At the present (1921) the records of this church show there is a total membership of 171; and an average of 135 in the Sunday school, of which the present superintendent is Pastor Frederic W. Manning. The frame edifice built in 1809 still serves the congregation well.
As to the church above treated upon, and now known as the Orthodox Congregational Church of Manchester, Massachusetts, a booklet put out a few years since gives the subjoined historic church facts: Manchester settled as Jeffrey's Creek, 1636; incorporated as Manchester, 1645; church organized with twenty members, 1716; Sun- day school organized, 1810; meeting-houses built in 1656, 1695, 1719, 1809; parsonages built in 1685, 1699, 1745, 1803, 1811, 1853; chapel built in 1858; weekly offering system started in 1690; pews for negroes, 1737; Methodists forbidden to worship in church, 1795; total abstinence enjoined on members, 1833; individual ownership of pews relinquished in 1846; separation of parish from town, 1847; parish incorporated, 1847; division of church and new one formed, 1857; churches reunited, 1869 ; individual communion cups first used, 1901 ; new covenant and by- laws adopted, 1902 ; bells provided for church, in 1695,1755, 1843; clocks installed, 1792, 1846 ; organs installed, 1847, 1889 ; first stoves used, 1821; furnace heat, 1867; revivals of note in this church, 1727, 1737, 1757, 1763, 1797, 1809, 1827, 1839, 1888, 1897.
The names of those who for many years served this church as its deacons should not be overlooked by the reader. They included such men as Benjamin Allen, Samuel Lee, Benjamin Lee, Jonathan Herrick, John Tewksbury, John Allen, Albert E. Low, Henry Knight, D. L. Bingham, Nathan Allen, Andrew Brown, Enoch Allen, John Price, John Fowler, Oliver Roberts, Daniel Leach, and F. A. P. Killam.
Without going into detail concerning the church edifices occupied by this Manchester church, it may be said that they have had good aver- age houses of worship, beginning with the meeting-house erected in 1656, enlarged in 1691, though not paid for until 1695; another house
Essex-10
146
ESSEX COUNTY
was provided in 1720, being used until 1809. This church was followed by the one built in 1809 at a cost of $8,500. With numerous improve- ments and modern-idea changes, this edifice, so well constructed, has withstood the storms of all the years to the present (1921) and bids fair to be in use another half century.
It was not until 1821, that the above church was possessed of any artificial means of warming it. Then came the "foot-stove," says one writer. This proved unsatisfactory, and it was decided to try a cast-iron box-stove, even against great and stubborn opposition on the part of many churchgoers, who questioned the religious propriety of having a comfortable and well warmed church building. Minister Tappan has left on record an amusing incident connected with the use of the above named box-stove: "The first cold Sunday after it had been placed in position, the people all went to meeting fully prepared to watch the re- sult of the experiment. Many felt it uncomfortably warm; and two young women were so overcome by the 'baked air' they fainted, and were taken to the vestibule where the atmosphere was of a better qual- ity. But the next day it was learned, the wood for the stove had not been received, and no fire had been made; this proved a fatal blow to the opposition, and but little was said upon the subject afterwards."
Various publications and church records afford the writer the data necessary for this history of the Baptist church. Between 1631 and 1635 Roger Williams, "teacher," later "minister" of the First Baptist Church in Salem, en route to preach to the few fishermen living along the shores and back in the woods, arrived as the first to sow the seed of the Baptist doctrine in this part of the county. This reads like an accurate historical statement, but as a matter of fact it is simply con- jecture, for there is no real record to show that these statements are any more than tradition, yet seem quite plausable.
While from time to time, it is likely that there were those of the Baptist faith residing in Manchester, yet it was not until 1842 that Elder Elam Burnham, of Essex, began to hold meetings in the old Pub- lic Library building on School street. Great stress was laid on the theory of the Second Advent of Christ. A number were baptized by this man Burnham, and on April 10, 1843, thirteen men and women were baptized by him and by them a church organization was effected. Fifty-seven others soon united, and the organization was styled the Christian Church instead of Baptist. A building was provided in 1844 by this church. Following the founder, Rev. Burnham, came Rev. O. J. Waite, from 1844 to 1848. Then came Rev. P. R. Russell, under whose pastorate the church became a regular Baptist church, the date being February, 1850, when it was recognized by the council called for that purpose. He wrote against materialism and universalism, and was counted a strong man in debate, though not especially gifted as a scholar or fine orator. In 1851 he was succeeded by Rev. G. W. Davis, who gave way to Rev. G.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
JOHN ESTHER ART GALLERY. ABBOT ACADEMY, ANDOVER
147
TOWN OF ANDOVER
F. Danforth, who labored from 1853 to 1856. Indeed, this good man was one of the beatitudes of the community. The next pastor was Rev. C. W. Reading, who was followed by Revs. Hatch, Miller, Swett and Holt, the last named serving until the coming of that talented man, Rev. D. F. Lamson, whose pastorate commenced in 1884 and continued until he was succeeded by Rev. Briggs, and he in a short time by Rev. George W. Schurman in 1903; next came Rev. Edward H. Brewster, 1903-08; Rev. T. L. Frost, 1911-18; Rev. H. E. Levoy, 1918, and still serving acceptably and well. The present membership of this church is 190, and of the Sunday school 181. The superintendent is Abbott Foster. The church building was remodeled in 1910, and today the entire church property is valued at $29,000.
The brief account of the Episcopal church is found in the language of Dr. Lamson in his "History of Manchester" in 1895, in words as fol- lows: A little west of the Masconomo House, on the road to Lobster Cove, stands Emanuel Church. It is on land owned by Russell Sturgis, who was largely responsible for its being built. It is especially designed for the use of summer residents, and is therefore only open during the "season," when it receives within its walls more wealth and fashion and culture than are found often in churches of much larger size. It is viewed, however, rather as an exotic by some of the permanent resi- dents. About the same condition exists today.
The Roman Catholics built their church here in 1873. It was a small, though very neat structure, sufficient for the needs of so floating a congregation. It was formed as a part of St. Mary Star of the Sea, Beverly.
The Town Hall has been the meeting place for the few meetings held by the Universalist denomination at this point. The society has not been perfected at this writing, nor made very strong in church activities.
The Unitarians in the summer of 1895, erected a building used for their services on Masconomo street. This was largely provided by some of the summer residents. The present finds about the same condition. Services are held in the summer season when members are present on ac- count of the summer vacation periods and at summer resorts near by.
CHAPTER XIII.
TOWN OF ANDOVER.
The true date of settlement at Andover is and probably ever will be an uncertainty in history. There are so many conflicting theories that the writer of this chapter will not undertake to make a positive state- ment concerning it. However, it is quite safe to conclude from such records of church and state as are at command, that the original set-
148
ESSEX COUNTY
tlers came in about 1642 or 1643; for on May 10, 1643, an order was passed by the General Court for a division of the whole plantation into four shires. Cochichawicke is mentioned as one of the eight towns comprising the shire of Essex. Very soon after its settlement, its name was changed to Andover, at the request, likely, of the immigrants, who had came from Andover, Hants county, England. John Woodbridge, of Newbury, later the first minister in Andover, purchased from the In- dians the land included in this township. Cutshamache, the Sagamore of Massachusetts, was the chief with whom the bargain was made, and the price paid was six pounds and a coat. This purchase and preceding grant were confirmed by the General Court in 1646, when the town was incorporated with its present name. However, as late as 1648, it was always spelled in print and public records as "Andiver", and was original- ly bounded by the Merrimac, Rowley, Salem, Woburn and Cambridge. In 1829 Andover extended its northern border along the Merrimac river for nearly eleven miles.
At what is now known as North Andover in North Parish was effect- ed the first settlement of this town. Many years ago, the Rev. Charles Smith wrote on this settlement as follows:
The grantees, or proprietors, for convenience, mutual protection, social inter- course and to enjoy the better their religious worship and teaching, settled near each other, around their meeting house, on "home-lots", containing from four to ten acres each, according to wealth and importance of the occupant To the owner of a home lot was assigned meadow, tillage and wood-land in the remote parts of the town. The allotment was in proportion to the size and value of the village lot. These outlying farms were gradually built upon and lived upon by their owners. But not for many years was such occupancy common. For a long time living away from the village was discouraged; and on one occasion, the town went so far as to forbid any inhabitant's building a dwelling-house in any part of the town other than that which had been set apart for such houses, except by express leave of the town. The penalty for a disregard of this order was a fine of twenty shillings a month for the time the disobedient person should live in such prohibited place. But as the population increased, and the roads became passable, and danger from hos- tile Indians was largely diminished, people removed to their farms in the present South and West Parishes.
The records of the earliest settlers are scant. In them is to be found a list of what purports to be the original proprietors, which reads as follows: Mr. Bradstreet, John Stevens, Edmund Faulkner, Henry Jacques, John Lovejoy, Andrew Allen, John Osgood, Nicholas Holt, Robert Barnard, John Aslett, Thomas Poor, Andrew Foster, Joseph Parker, Benj. Woodbridge, Daniel Poor, Richard Blake, George Abbot, Thomas Chandler, Richard Barker, John Frye, Nathan Parker, Wm. Ballard, John Russ.
It should be remembered that the original proprietors and settlers took up for their personal property only a small portion of the land, holding in common the remainder, and in reserve for future settlers, with a liberal allotment for the church and its ministry.
149
TOWN OF ANDOVER
At the beginning of the eighteenth century the church building, or meeting-house, as then called, became too small, and not fully up to the times, and the membership desired better quarters. Hence it was voted, in 1705, "to build a new meeting-house as sufficient and convenient for the whole town as may be." May, 1707, it was again voted "to build a meeting-house for ye inhabitants of Andover of these following dimen- sions, viz : of sixty foot long, and forty foot wide and a twenty foot studd, and with a flatt roofe." When the question of a location on which to build came to a vote, the decision favored the South Precinct. It was but natural that those residing in the North Parish should rebel at their meeting-house being transferred to the South Parish. A long drawnout battle was fought at town meetings and in General Court deliberations over petitions and counter-petitions, but the result was that the Gen- eral Court decided to divide the territory into two precincts. The locating of a church building was then considered of much greater im- portance to the masses than is the location of a county seat and court house building in these later days. After much pulling and hauling, with no little bitterness, the two parishes or precincts were set off and legally given bounds and a provision for a meeting-house in each.
In 1692, as appears from an old tax-list, the majority of inhabitants were at the North End of the town. In 1708, when the question as to the location of a meeting-house (new onė) came up, a majority of the voters were found to be at the South End. For fully fifty years the North Parish contained the meeting-house, the minister and the prin- cipal citizens. The North Parish was especially distinguished as being the home of Simon Bradstreet, who was governor of Massachusetts Bay Province for thirteen years, and whose family were looked up to by the community. For the present, the reader will turn his attention to the history of South Parish-the Andover of today-which was then but an outlying section of the township. A small part of the lands had been allotted to the first settlers. The larger part, held in common, was used for pasturage and wood-land. Those who owned farms four or five miles out worked at a great disadvantage, on account of Indian scares, bad roads, etc. With the passage of years, things changed, and these out- lying farms were much utilized by their owners. South Parish became a noted agricultural section of the county, and its people were looked upon as a class of hardy, God-fearing settlers.
Andover had less actual trouble with Indian raiders than many of the other towns in the county; there was only one attack in which life was lost among the settlers. This occurred on April 18, 1676, the in- vaders being a band of the allies of King Philip. The raid might have ended differently had not a scout, named Ephriam Stevens, discovered that a band of Indians were crossing the Merrimac river. He hastily notified the settlement, and the men working in the fields took refuge in the garrison-house, and thus were all saved. This house was oc-
150
ESSEX COUNTY
cupied by George Abbot, and was but a few rods to the south of South Church of a later date. Unfortunately, two sons of George Abbot did not get word in time to make the garrison-house. The elder, nineteen years of age, was killed by the Indians. His brother, only thirteen years of age, was taken captive, but after four months was returned by a friendly old squaw. A few men from the South Precinct lost their lives, while engaged in keeping the Indians away from the settlement, during the various wars with the whites, but not a large number suffered such a fate.
As early as 1673 encouragements were given to such as would lo- cate in Andover in some manufacturing enterprise. The town voted to "grant to Edward Whittington and Walter Wright five acres of land for encouragement of erecting a fulling mill, which they promised to set about the next spring." In 1675 "liberty was granted a tanner that he shall be allowed by the town to make use of what bark is needful for his works in town, provided he fell no trees that are fit for building or mill timber." In 1682 "liberty was granted to any man that the town or the committee shall choose to set up a saw mill, fulling mill and grist mill upon Shawshin river, near Rogers brook, to take up twenty acres of land adjoining said place and to enjoy the same forever, with the privilege of a townsman."
In 1688 "it was voted that the twenty acres of land shall be im- proved by Joseph and John Ballard and their heirs, so long as they shall keep up a grist mill, fulling mill, etc. In the same year, it was voted "to encourage setting up iron works." The iron works mentioned were necessarily small affairs, but served well for the time being. Not until 1775 did manufacturing take on goodly proportions. In the winter of 1775-76, Mr. Phillips built a powder house on the Shawshin river. This was built as a pressing necessity, to make powder for the Continental army, but it chanced to be both good for its original object and very profitable to its owner. After the war had ended, the mill still con- tinued to operate until 1796. In October of the year just mentioned, an explosion took place, and two men were killed. Later, the proprietor of the powder mill converted it into a paper mill; when there was no demand for large bills of powder, then it was that he produced paper. Soon Mr. Houghton, a devout Quaker from England, who had but re- cently failed in the paper business in the Mother Country, settled in Andover, and became a partner with Mr. Phillips. The two shared equally in the profits, one finding the capital, the other managing the affairs of the enterprise. After many years, paper-making was given up and the plant was sold and converted into the Marland Manufacturing Company, of which Abraham Marland was the sole founder. This enter- prise was one of the leading factors in the town for many years.
Another great industry founded and successfully operated in An- dover for many years was the Smith & Dove Manufacturing Company's
151
TOWN OF ANDOVER
plant. This was started in the autumn of 1834, for the purpose of mak- ing chalk-line from cotton, by use of a patented machine invented by Mr. Dove. Before it was in operation, however, the plans were changed by taking in as his partner John Smith, who wanted to make flax- thread; so they went to Scotland and secured specifications for the necessary mills. Here they made ships cords, sewing flax-threads, shoe- threads, etc. The only competitors in America were the merchants from Europe. At first, there was a prejudice against home-made threads, but after eight years, the company could not begin to fill its orders and was compelled to increase its capacity. In 1843, the company purchased the Abbot woolen mills. Finally, after eventful, useful careers, the two founders passed from earth's shining circles, and the business passed on to their heirs by whom it was run for many years longer.
Among other useful and profitable industries in Andover may be named the Ballard Vale Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1836. John Marland was the enterprising president of the concern. Some Bos- ton capitalists and a number of business men from Andover made up the stockholders. At first flannel making was the aim and sole object of this mill. Had the managers "let well enough alone," all might have gone well; but they reached out all over the country, and sought to raise silk-worms and weave silk; also to make various fine woolen goods. With all these things on hand, they failed, and the stockholders were heavy losers. The factory ultimately fell into the creditors' hands, and the treasurer, J. Putnam Bradlee, took it over, reorganized it, and went ahead with flannel making successfully.
The Craighead & Kintz Manufacturing Company succeeded to the old plant erected and operated by a Boston corporation, called the Whip- ple File and Steel Company. It manufactured files and fine steels. Mis- fortune befell its business endeavors, and it finally collapsed. Craig- head & Kintz started, in 1883, the manufacture of brass and bronze goods. In 1887 nearly three hundred men were employed in these shops. Over one hundred thousand dollars a year was the output in the eighties. With time, these factories have changed, merged with others, or gone out of business entirely.
The Tyer Rubber Company was incorporated in February, 1876. It used the old Boston & Maine railroad shops for headquarters. This concern made a diagonal rubber cloth used in the making of overshoes and arctics. Henry George Tyer, founder, invented many rubber goods in his day. He was born in England in 1812, came to America in 1840, and first settled in New Jersey, where he identified himself with the rubber trade. He came to Essex county in 1856. It was he who first discovered the art of producing white rubber articles. Another of his in- ventions was the "Campo-shoe." For his inventions he never received royalty in proportion to the value of his discoveries, though for some of them he was well paid. He died at his residence in Andover in 1882,
152
ESSEX COUNTY
and was buried in the cemetery of Christ Church, of which he was a devout member.
The industries of Andover today are limited to about the following manufacturing plants, all doing a prosperous business in their line of production : J. W. Barnard & Son, boots and shoes; Frank H. Hardy, brush makers; Ballardvale Milling Company, makers of flannel goods; W. C. Donald & Company, manufacturers of lampblack; the American Woolen Mills, the Osgood Mills, the Stevens Mills and the Sutton Mills. There are also two saw mills, one owned by Albert P. Couch, the other by Louis J. Kibbee.
Andover always having been a noted school and college town, it naturally comes in for its share of excellent public libraries. The pub- lic library sprang from the old "Social Library" in a very early day- about 1770. It distributed books for at least seventy years, when these were sold at auction, and scarcely a home in the vicinity today but has one or more of the books formerly in this collection. One of the rigid rules found in the records concerning the 1770 library, just named, reads thus: "For the future no person shall be admitted a member whose place of residence from the North Meeting-House in Andover exceeds ten miles. Each member shall pay not less than four dollars cash before becoming a member."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.