USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 24
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not be given here, but the church record says "they will shine amongst those 'who instruct many unto justice.'"
CHAPTER XVI.
TOWN OF BOXFORD.
In the beginning, what is now the town of Boxford comprised a large part of western Rowley. About 1750 there were several villages in Rowley, viz: Rowley, Rowley Village, and Rowley Village by the Mer- rimac; the first of these is still Rowley ; the last is Bradford, and Rowley Village was given the name of Boxford.
The first settler in the present town of Boxford was Abraham Red- ington, who arrived certainly as early as 1645, being an emigrant from England. He located near the Hotel Redington, in the East Parish Vil- lage. Before a score of years had passed, there was a goodly settle- ment here. Writers usually place the following-named as having been pioneer settlers at some date in the seventeenth century: Robert An- drews, from England, 1656; John Cummings, in 1658; Robert Stiles, of Yorkshire, England, 1659; Joseph Bixby, from Ipswich, 1660; Robert Eames, from England, in 1660; William Foster, from Ipswich, 1661; Robert Smith, 1661; Zaccheus Curtis, from Gloucester, 1661; John Peabody, from Topsfield, 1663; Samuel Symonds, 1663; Daniel Black, a Scotchman, about 1665; Moses Tyler, from Andover, 1666; John Kim- ball, from Wenham, about 1666; Joseph Peabody, from Topsfield, about 1671; Samuel Buswell, from Salisbury, 1674; George Blake, from Glou- cester, about 1675; Daniel Wood, about 1675; John Perley, 1683; Thomas Perley, from Rowley, about 1684; Thomas Hazen, from Rowley, 1684; William Peabody, from Topsfield, 1684; Timothy Dorman, from Topsfield, 1688; Joseph Hale, from Newbury, about 1691; Luke Hovey, from Tops- field, 1699; and Ebenezer Sherwin, about 1699.
When the place was incorporated, August 12, 1685, its name was changed from Rowley Village to Boxford, after Boxford, England. At that date the settlement consisted of about forty families. The town then embraced a part of present towns of Groveland and Middleton.
Boxford escaped Indian troubles such as other frontier towns en- dured, and its only connection with that race was when certain heirs of the old sachem of the Agawams, Masconomet, laid claim to this soil. They met at the house of Thomas Perley in January, 1701, and a quit-claim deed was obtained from them upon the payment of some re- freshments in the nature of "rum and vittels", together with the paltry sum of £9 in money.
Boxford did not escape the witchcraft delusion, for in a former re- liable history of this part of Massachusetts the following is found: The
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witchcraft delusion visited the settlement, and one of the wives and mothers of the town was condemned to pay the death penalty. The convicted woman was Rebecca, wife of Robert Eames. She was in a house near Gallows' Hill in Salem, when Rev. George Burroughs was executed, August 19, 1692, "and the woman of the house" felt a pin stuck into her foot, as she said. Mrs. Eames was accused of doing it, and convicted of witchcraft, but was later reprieved, having lain in jail over seven months. She survived until May 8, 1721, when she died, aged eighty-two years.
Topsfield was used as a burying place by this settlement until the incorporation of the town. The oldest burying ground in Boxford is near the residence of Walter French, well known to settlers of these parts not over a third of a century ago. The oldest stone erected there bears the date of 1714. The next cemetery, that near the old Barnes place, and the oldest in West Parish, began to be used about 1800. In 1807 the cemetery near the First Church was platted, and the later one in West Parish in 1838.
A population table compiled at various periods for this town would be almost a curiosity to behold, so many changes have been made in the territory. In 1765 it contained 851 souls; in 1860 it had a population of 1,020; the State census in 1885 gave Boxford 840, and at present it has a population of only 588. More than a century ago there were sev- eral negroes in Boxford, and one named Neptune served as a brave sol- dier in the War for Independence.
"The Moral Society of Boxford and Topsfield," established in 1815, had a wonderfully good effect on the community as against Sabbath breaking, profanity and intemperance, with kindred vices.
The Boston & Maine railroad line runs through this town, the same having been constructed in 1853. Thirty-five years ago the taxable property of the town was valued at $650,000. The first medical doctor to take up his practice here was Dr. David Wood, a native of the town, born 1677, died 1744. (See Medical chapter.)
The history of Boxford was written and published by Sidney Perley, in 1880, in a beautiful four hundred page book. The bi-centennial anniversary services were held here in August, 1885, at the First Church.
The first public house or tavern in the town was kept by William Foster from 1687 on for a number of years. Others who have presided over inns or hotels of later dates include Solomon Dodge, 1754; Lieuten- ant Asa Merrill, 1788; Phineas Cole, 1800; Captain Josiah Batchelder, 1840; Elisha G. Bunker, in 1836; John Brown, in 1837; the hotel Reding- ton was opened by Daniel S. Gillis about 1885, and it was the only public house in Boxford then.
Every town in the county has its own particular industries and re- tail business houses, as well as professional interests, and of course Boxford comes in for its share of all. While it must here be stated
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that this is an agricultural more than a manufacturing district, and has so been noted for nearly three hundred years, the fact of possessing such rapid running mill-power streams has also made it the home of numer- ous factories which have hummed and whirled with the passing of the years.
The Peabody saw and grist mill, constructed about 1695 by old Will- iam Peabody, was the first attempt to harness the waters of the town for milling purposes. This milling plant existed until 1845. Another saw mill was erected in 1710 by Thomas Hazen, Jacob Perley and Dr. David Wood. It went to final ruin and decay about Civil War days. Shoe pegs were also made in large quantities at the last named saw mill up to about 1863. Other mills were the Howe saw and grist mills, estab- lished in 1710, by Messrs. Kimball, Dorman and Samuel Fisk. About 1795 a grist mill was built by Asa Foster. The Day mill, the Richard Pearl mill, 1740, was changed to a saw and box-mill, about 1848, and three years later was burned. Herrick's saw mills were established in 1760 by John Hale. Captain Porter erected his mill in 1836, and added a grist mill to the saw mill part in 1839.
Possibly very few present-day residents of Essex county know that. once the iron industry was carried on with considerable success in this town, but such is the fact. The first business, aside from that of farming, was that of the iron works of Henry Leonard, established 1669. The capital was at first £1000 sterling. The site of these ancient works. is just in the rear of the Andrews mills of a later date. These works were run until about 1685.
In 1770 iron smelting works were established by Samuel Bodwell and Thomas Newman, and there they continued to smelt iron until 1805. The Diamond Match factory later utilized the site for its works. But long prior to its use for that industry, there were plants for making cotton goods, then a grist mill; there were also produced at that point a large number of wooden trays, bowls, etc. In 1867 the entire prop- erty was sold to Byam & Carlton, makers of matches, and five years. later the plant was taken over by the great Diamond Match Company. Eighteen hundred tons of timber were there cut into matches annually for many years.
The shoe industry has also touched Boxford to a good degree. As early as 1837 the estimated value of shoes made here was $52,975. Among the men thus engaged were Samuel Fowler, Marion Gould, John Hale, and Edward Howe & Son. The last mentioned were the only sur- vivors in this line in 1887.
The business interests of this town, including West Boxford and East Boxford (at the depot), are now limited to a few small stores and shops. The churches, of course, are still there, and in a flourishing condition for a country town. There are two small but valuable public libraries-one in West Boxford, the other in Boxford proper. The dog- tax collected annually goes into the library fund for these libraries.
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There is also a saw mill, near the depot at East Boxford. While at present there is not much doing in this industry, many millions of feet of native lumber have been cut at this mill in years gone by. A wood- yard is also run in connection with this mill, and here hundreds of cords of slabs are sold annually for fuel to the surrounding country.
There are postoffices at Boxford, East Boxford and West Boxford. The two latter have only been established a few years, while Boxford proper has been serving the people of the town since an early date. Since President Cleveland's first administration in about 1885, the office has been kept by Postmasters F. A. Howe, H. L. Cole and the present postmaster, Charles A. Bixby, whose commission dates July 3, 1908. This is a fourth-class office.
The town officers for Boxford in 1920-21 were as follows: Town Clerk, John W. Parkhurst, term expires in 1923; Selectmen: Harry L. Cole, Charles Perley, and Charles F. Austin; Assessors, same as Selectmen; Treasurer, William K. Cole; Collector of Taxes, Charles M. Moulton; Town Accountant, Rev. Emery L. Bradford; Committee on School Funds : William K. Cole, William B. Howe and John W. Parkhurst; Con- stables: David Mighill, Alvard P. Lyon; Forest Warden, Clarence E. Brown.
December 31, 1920, the following was shown by the town assessors' book and town records: Real estate valuation, April 1, 1920, $376,585; Real estate buildings, $434,708; Personal estate, $176,514. Number of polls assessed, 166; Persons assessed on polls only, 40; Residents assessed on property, 219; Non-residents assessed on property, 189; Corporations and others (resident or non-resident), 22; Dwellings, 279; Acres of land, 14,269 ; Horses, 153; Cows, 381; Neat cattle, 99; Sheep, 182; Swine, 48; Fowl, 3,898; Value of fowl, $7,753.
Boxford has had within its borders at least three churches and parishes. The First Church parish house was commenced in 1699; it was thirty by thirty-four feet in size, and eighteen feet high. Rev. Thomas Symmes was the first pastor; he preached his first sermon in Boxford, April 27, 1701; salary £16 in money, thirty-five cords of wood, a parsonage, with ten acres of land. There are now 122 members, and a Sunday school with an attendance of about 35 pupils. The present edifice was erected in 1837, and is valued at $10,000. The following have served as pastors since 1886 : Revs. R. R. Kendall, until 1891 ; Emery L. Bradford, 1892 to 1902; Laird W. Snell, 1902-04; Walter B. Williams, 1904-09; E. A. Roys, 1909-13; E. L. Bradford, June, 1913, to present time -summer of 1921.
The Second Congregational Church of Boxford was formed at West Boxford in 1736. The present edifice was erected in 1843, costing $5,000. The pipe organ was installed in 1895, at a cost of $1,500; new heating plant placed in church in 1919, costing $1,000; and in 1875 the parson- age was provided at an expense of $6,000. The church has endowment
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funds as follows: Invested in bonds, $24,000; John Tyler Fund, $1,000; Ephraim Foster Church Fund, $1,000; Emmeline Gardner Fund, $500; Alonzo J. Henley Fund, $1,000; Ephraim Foster Second Fund, $2,000. Total, $28,500.
The church has been served by pastors since 1885 as follows: Revs. Charles L. Hubbard, 1885 to 1905; F. Arthur Sanborn, 1906-11; William Taylor, 1912-13; Owen James, 1914-15; Edward D. Disbrow, 1916-21. The present membership is 70; present attendance at Sunday school, 75. The Sunday school is under charge of Superintendent Eugene A. Bascom. Rev. Cushing (son of Rev. Caleb Cushing) was ordained as the first pastor of this church.
The Third Parish in Boxford was an off-shoot of the old First Church. It was incorporated as the Third Congregational Society, April 19, 1824. No regular church organization was ever perfected, but ser- vices were held for ten years. The last services were held in 1834. In 1826 they had a membership of almost one hundred. The preaching was quite liberal, far from the old Congregational doctrine.
CHAPTER XVII.
TOWN OF MIDDLETON.
From records and notes written up in the eighties by David Stiles, and from present-day interviews, the following facts have been gathered and carefully compiled into a sketch of the history of Middleton. Mr. Stiles begins his sketch with this paragraph:
This town is about five miles long from north to south, and about three miles wide, bounded north by Andover and North Andover, on the west by North Read- ing, south by Danvers and east by Topsfield and Boxford. The larger part of the town is on the left bank of Ipswich river, which runs from southwest to northeast. Another stream is Beech Brook, named from the original beech trees along its banks. Its rise is in Andover, and its mouth is near the old box mill of J. B. Thomas, into the Ipswich river. Middleton Pond is the largest body of water in this town. The town has hills and valleys and there are many productive farms. In population the village has greatly increased in fifty years, but the country districts have gone back. This town was settled sixty-eight years before the act of its incorporation.
In 1639 the town site was one unbroken wilderness, except one In- dian plantation near the great pond. Richard Bellingham's grant, dated November 5, 1639, says: "In it is a pond (Wilkins Pond) and an Indian planation." This grant contained seven hundred acres. At this and another Indian plantation have been found numerous Indian relics, such as stone implements for domestic and war purposes.
William Nichols was the first settler to invade this section of Essex county ; the date of his coming was 1651; he located near the later William Peabody's, then New Meadows, from which came two of the first
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church officers. Bray Wilkins, a native of Wales, came among the very first. He was an enterprising man, and for many years operated as a licensed boatman on Neponset river, and charged a penny a passenger. Later he engaged in the iron business at Lynn. In 1859, with his brother-in-law, John Gingle, he laid out Bellingham, comprising seven hundred acres, paying therefore £250 in money and a ton of bar iron. It now seems strange that in the deed for this property, its original owner had inserted that in case mineral was ever found on this tract, the heirs were to receive ten pounds more per year.
On the Dennison tract of land was discovered iron ore, and a mill was erected on the site of what later was known as the knife factory. An iron puddling mill in the Fuller family of this town remained in that family in company with the Cave family for generations. The families of Fuller and Wilkins increased rapidly and others came in for actual settlement, so that in 1692 the town had about three hundred population.
Before the incorporation of this town, which was sixty-eight years after Wilkins bought Bellingham's claim, several incidents happened in the town's history which are mentioned at other places within this work. The lands of Wilkins and those owning under him were in 1661 annexed to Salem Village, which gives the long and peculiar-shaped boundaries of the place. It was in this neighborhood that the delusion of witchcraft began. The little settlement became greatly disturbed over this matter, and one man of no little note was selected as a victim and hanged on the spot still known as Gallows Hill, Salem. This refers to the un- fortunate John Willard, an account of whose execution will be found in the article on Witchcraft.
The first church was formed here in October, 1729, with fifty-two members. The first settled minister was Rev. Andrew Peters. Daniel Towne was the first schoolmaster. Of those who formed the first church in Middleton, twenty-five came from Salem Village, nine from Topsfield, and eleven from Boxfield.
The ordination of a minister, which was for life, was a great event in those days. From all the towns around, says one writer, "they flock- ed to Middleton for a feast; all doors were open, and tables loaded with the best of good things, and it was not an uncommon thing for in- dividuals to boast that they had called at every house on the way home, and took something to eat or drink at each, and in some cases they rested on the way till their stomachs were relieved of its unwonted burden." As nearly as can be ascertained, the ordination took place on November 26, 1729. Mr. Peters was then twenty-nine years of age. He remained twenty-seven years. He was a devoted minister, and the church pros- pered under his ministry. He died October 6, 1756, aged fifty-five years.
It is said that Mr. Peters had a negro servant who drove his master's cows to pasture up by the pond, and that at that time the road went round by the old Timothy Fuller house. Fuller was rather a lawless
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man, and often loved to bother people, especially those whom he could intimidate. The negro complained to his master of these insults, and forthwith Mr. Peters undertook to drive the cows, and he found the hec- torer of his negro and expostulated with him, but without satisfaction. Then Mr. Peters took off his coat and laid it upon a stump, saying, "lay there, divinity, while I whip a rascal," and gave him a sound thrashing. At another time, when looking after his cattle near Wills Hill, he entered the hut of Old Wills, the Indian (the last of his race in town), and his squaw asked him to stay to dinner with her. He first asked her what she had; she answered, "Skunk." Well, he thought he would not stop then, but would perhaps some other time. Not long after he found him- self under the cover of her tent or shanty, and, knowing that he loved eels, she had prepared a most tempting dish, which he did not decline, and ate heartily; after which the old cunning squaw came to his side and said, "you say you no eat skunk, but you eat rattlesnake," and so he had, but without any harm, as all Indians know they are good eating.
The first town clerk was Edward Putnam, son of the first deacon in Salem village. The first selectmen in Middleton were Thomas Fuller, Thomas Robinson, John Nichols, Samuel Symonds and Edward Putnam. Soon after the incorporation of this town it was fined for not maintaining a public school.
The early records of Middleton show these singular and in places interesting entries :
1749-Ezra Putnam was given leave to cut a window in the back part of his pew on his own charge and cost.
1759-To see if the town will vote to have Mr. Nathaniel Peabody's rates abated; that is to say, what he was rated for his negro servant.
1771-Voted to give liberty to sundre persons belonging in towne to set in our schoolhouse on Sundays between meetings.
1775-Captain Archealus Fuller was chosen to represent the town in the Pro- vincial Congress to be holden at Cambridge Feb. ye first day, 1775.
1781-Voted to raise nineteen hundred pounds in old Continental money to pro- cure beef now called for by the General Court. (A week's board in Continental money cost $105, while in gold it could have been had for $2. Such was the deple- tion of currency in the days of our forefathers).
1806-The Essex Turnpike was constructed through the town during this year; toll-gates were placed at each end of the town, per order of the common laws then in force.
Concerning Captain Fuller, the following is vouched for by fairly authentic tradition: Mr. Fuller was at work on his land. near where the old road crosses the turn-pike at Danvers Centre, and went into an or- dinary (tavern), and called for a drink of cider. Mrs. Smith said, "You rock the cradle, while I draw the cider." When she returned, Fuller asked for the gift of the child; this request was granted, provided he would wait till she was eighteen years old. True to his promise, he appeared at the expiration of the time, and took her to Middleton and exhibited her before his forty slaves, which he then owned, little and
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great, and in all conditions, and said, "You are mistress of them all." "What can I do with such a black, dirty-looking company?" The answer came quick as lightning, "Get one nigger to lick another." These slaves were domiciled in a house later owned by George Currier, which was built in 1710. Fuller lived in the gambrel-roofed house standing near the burying ground. "We have no reason to doubt this statement," says a local resident, "for the dates on their grave-stones show the dis- parity of their ages." Captain Fuller served in the Revolutionary strug- gle, as will be observed in reading the military chapters of this History.
In 1817 all the poor of the town were put up at auction at the annual meeting in March, and struck off to the lowest bidder, none of whom re- ceived over $1.50 per week. Some of the most feeble, who were nearly helpless, were bid in by their relatives at seventy-five cents per week, rather than have them go into the hands of unfeeling strangers. How- ever, this was the custom in all towns where there was no poor-house. A century ago there were a smaller number of poor people here than be- fore or since: also, more independent farmers according to the popula- tion. The lands had not begun to be exhausted; flocks and herds were large, and everywhere these families were distinguished, not only by their social accomplishments, but by their dress and daily deportment, from the poor and unfortunate.
As Lynn became a larger trading center and took to manufacturing, many of the people removed from other parts of the county to that city, and some found their way from Middleton and Lynnfield to Lynn and Salem, thus reducing the rural population.
In 1835 a shoe-making establishment was opened in Middleton by Francis P. Merriam. In 1887 the business was still carried on there by Merriam & Tyler; they usually employed a hundred workmen. A knife factory was also established by S. A. Cummings on the site of the old iron works. Major-General Daniel Dennison, of Ipswich, started this industry about 1665. In the seventies the box-making business was established by J. B. Thomas. Immediately after the close of the Civil War there were a half dozen or more small shoe factories in this town and a number of business houses. The Essex railroad was opened up for travl in 1848. Saw-mills, grist-mills, carding-mills, etc., were all to be seen in operation in this town at an early day in its history, some of which continued to operate till recent times.
A postoffice was established in Middleton about 1834 and has con- tinued ever since.
The population of Middleton in 1900 was 839; in 1910 it was 1,129 and the United States Census for 1920 gives it 1,195.
In the summer of 1921 the business interests in the village of Mid- dleton were inconsiderable. There is one good practicing physician- Dr. C. A. Pratt. There are a few small stores, a good hotel, well patron- ized in summer season, especially by summer tourists. The Public
Essex -- 13
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ESSEX COUNTY
Library was erected in 1891, of stone and brick; it was the bequest of a resident, Charles L. Flint, and is known as Flint's Library. The only church organization is now known as the Union Church, but formerly was of the Congregational denomination. The present pastor is Rev. H. A. G. Abbe. The two lodges represented here are the Grange, and Red Men of America, both of which assemble in the town hall.
The Public Librarian's report shows volumes in library, January 1, 1921, to be 8,355; added by purchase in the year, 85; total volumes added in year, 134; circulation of books in year 1920, 7,544.
The 1920-21 town officers included the following: Moderator, F. W. Giles; Town Clerk, William Cannavan; Treasurer, Harry H. Bradstreet; Selectmen: Hazel K. Richardson, Maurice E. Tyler, Wayne A. Giles; Overseers of the Poor, B. T. McGlauflin, Maurice E. Tyler, J. Allen At- wood; Assessors: Maurice E. Tyler, B. Frank Phillips, Lyman Wilkins; School Committee: George E. Gifford, Arthur E. Curtis, Miss Ruth Has- tings; Highway Surveyor, Herbert J. Currier; Tax Collector, Henry A. Young ; Tree Warden, B. T. McGlauflin ; Constable, Will A. Russell; Audi- tor, Frank B. Tyler; Town Accountant, Harley M. Tyler; Forest Fire Warden, Thomas M. Robinson; Chief of Fire Department, Oscar Shel -. don; Superintendent of Burials, J. Allen Atwood; Janitor of Town Hall, Henry A. Young; Manager Electric Light Plant, Maurice E. Tyler; Inspector of Animals and Slaughtering, Lyman S. Wilkins.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE TOWN OF DANVERS.
From old records, and from the authentic writings of Mr. Alden P. White, it is learned that Governor John Endicott was the pioneer of Dan- vers. As he sailed from Cape Ann by the rocky hills of the North Shore and brought the "Abigail" to anchor off the few cabins of the old plan- ters, near Collin's Cove, he looked out upon a landscape where in the midst of dense forests he was in a few years to settle and call it his home. Endicott landed at Salem in September, 1628, and about four years later his company under their charter claimed absolute right to all lands therein conveyed. This charter was dated July 3, 1632. Very soon Governor Endicott commenced to clear up his plantation. He had a large number of competent men, and within one year he had seven thou- sand palisades cut, and ground was broken for raising Indian corn. The grant soon took the name of "Orchard Farm." Here he raised large numbers of fruit trees. Fifteen years later he traded five hundred fruit trees for a two hundred and fifty acre tract of land to Captain Trask. For some years his only neighbors were the howling wolves and the Indians; until his men had made roads, all travel had to be made by boats.
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