USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 27
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As the years went by, ship-building and shipping interests became less and less, until today the place is of no considerable consequence. The business of present Danversport is that of any ordinary small vil- lage along the New England coast, the railway and a few small factories constituting the bulk of commerce. Like numerous other Essex county villages and towns, the history-making periods of the place are quite far remote. With the expansion of many large cities nearby, with the change in ocean shipping, etc., the general changes wrought by trans- portation, all tend to lessen the interest and development of the smaller places.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE TOWN OF LYNNFIELD.
For more than a hundred and fifty years what is now known as Lynnfield was an outpost of Lynn. March 13, 1638, "Lynn was granted six miles into the country," and a survey was ordered, to "see if it bee fit for another plantation or no." It was long called Lynn End, and oc- cupied chiefly by farmers. In 1712 it was first set off as a parish. A church was provided in 1715 and five years later a minister was settled. In 1782 the parish became a separate district and in 1814 the district was incorporated as a town. From what can be seen in church records, it appears that many of the earliest settlers were from Lynn, and in- cluded such names as Aborn, Bancroft, Gowing, Mansfield, Newhall and Wellman. The natural scenery here is indeed beautiful-especially in spring and autumn time.
Among the ponds or lakelets within the town is Lynnfield, or some- times called "Humphrey's Pond." In the eighties it was surveyed and the report showed it to contain two hundred and ten acres, a portion extending into Peabody. It was in this pond in August, 1850, that ladies on a picnic from Lynn (mostly) were out three hundred yards from shore, on a rude flat-bottomed boat, when a few women moved to the opposite side of the craft, which unbalanced the boat and it was sud- denly upset, with the sad result that thirteen of the ladies were drowned, there being twenty-five on the boat at the time.
The main branch of the Ipswich river flows along the northern bor- der of Lynnwood, while Saugus, Hawkes and other brooks and springs help make up the water-supply for the city of Lynn.
From various sources, including the records of the General Court, the following history has been secured concerning "fires in the woods". During her whole history Lynnfield has periodically been subjected to extensive forest fires. Down into the eighties such fires occurred and the result was great loss in the way of standing, as well as down timber and vast amounts of cord wood. In November, 1646, the General Court
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passed this order concerning "Kinlinge fires in wuds": "Whosoever shall kindle any fires in ye woods, before ye 10th day of ye first mo (March) or after ye last day of the weeke, or Lords Day, shall pay all damages yt any pson shall loose thereby, & halfe so much to ye comon treasury." At the same time the General Court generously allowed the use of "to- backo," under certain restrictions, saying, "it shall be lawful for any man yt is on his journey (remote from any house five miles) to take to- bacco so that thereby hee sets not ye woods on fire to ye damage of any man." During the decades just prior to and after the Civil War, many forests in this town were on fire and both standing and cut down timber was burned.
It was David Hewes, a native of this town, who had the honor of driving the "golden spike" connecting the two divisions of the Union and Pacific railroads on May 10, 1869. He was a contractor on that great highway.
Total valuation of property in this town in 1886 was $446,000. Rate of taxation, nine dollars per thousand. Number of farms, 55; number tons hay raised, 970; gallons of milk, 142,000; pounds of butter, 5,222; dozens of eggs, 18,400; bushels of potatoes, 4,000; acres Indian corn, 45; total value of all products, $54,415. Lynnfield has had a population at various periods as follows: In 1820 it had 596; in 1850, 1,723; in 1870, it was 818; in 1900 it had 1,888; in 1910 it had 911; in 1920, according to U. S. returns, it was 1,165.
In 1658, Joseph Newhall, the first of the settlers in Lynnfield, was born in Lynn. 1719, December 17, Northern Lights observed for first time ; people greatly alarmed. 1749, a hot summer, multitudes of grass- hoppers. 1775, April 19, Battle of Lexington ; Daniel Townsend of Lynn- field killed. 1804, snow fell in July. 1806, Newburyport and Boston turnpike completed; cost half a million dollars. 1833, in the autumn there was a great shower of meteors; at one time during a certain day not less than two hundred and fifty thousand of these metors were vis- ible above the horizon in Boston. 1854, railroad opened up through Lynnfield Center in October. 1861, Lynnfield furnished sixty soldiers to the Civil War. There was a military encampment, with drill grounds in South Village.
The first church of Lynnfield was formed August, 1720, though the people had used a meeting-house five years before. For many years the people went to Lynn to attend church, until they became strong enough to build for themselves and to support a minister. Rev. Na- thaniel Sparhawk was the first minister, his salary being fixed at £70 per year. He was born in Cambridge and graduated at Harvard Col- lege.
The Orthodox Evangelical Society at Center Village, beginning in 1833, is a Trinitarian Congregational Church, formed in 1832. The South Village Congregational Trinitarian was formed in 1849. The
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Methodist society was formed in 1816, and a house of worship erected in 1823. There are now two churches in the town, one at the village of Lynnfield, a Congregational society, with Rev. Francis George as pastor, and a Congregational at Lynnfield Center. The Episcopal denomination holds services regularly in Lynnfield Center, occupying the Congrega- tional church building.
At Lynnfield there is a garage and a grocery store at present. The postmaster is Arthur Elliott. At Lynnfield Center the postmaster is Ed- ward E. Russell. The practicing physician is Dr. Franklin W. Freeman. Here one finds today a lively railroad station point, two general dealers, two notion dealers, and a number of near-by summer resorts, well pa- tronized during the heated term of each year.
Lynnfield became a district in 1782, a town in 1814. It has kept pace with other towns in Essex county with passing years, in its im- provements and financial disbursements, making the funds go as far as possible.
The 1920 assessments for this town were as follows: Number of residents assessed on property, 383; non-residents assessed, 219; polls assessed, 343; valuation of assessed estate, $252,785; valuation of real estate, $1,723,233; valuation of property assessed, $1,976,018; tax on personal estate, $6,446.02; tax on real estate, $43,942.44; tax on polls at $5.00, $1,715.00 ; tax rate per $1,000, $25.50; horses assessed, 101; cows, 249; swine, 116; sheep, 10; neat cattle, 6; fowl, 2,407; dwelling houses, 457 ; acres land, 6,039.
Treasurer's Financial Report (1920)-Treasury warrants paid, $107,181; school balance, $412; interest on cemetery fund, 40c; on de- posit Wakefield Trust Company, $1,725.88; total taxes collected in years 1917-18-19-20, $109,320.45.
Registration, Licenses, Etc .- Number of males registered, 385; number females registered, 241; population, 1920 census, 1,165.
The present Town Officials are: Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor-Albert P. Mansfield (chairman), Frank C. Newhall, Carl H. Rus- sell; Town Clerk, Oscar E. Phillips; Town Treasurer, Franklin W. Free- man; Tax Collector, Franklin W. Freeman; Assessors, Henry W. Hodg- don, E. H. Gerry, George H. Bancroft; Trustees of Public Library, George E. Lambert, Jr., E. E. Gerry, Andrew Mansfield; Park Commis- sioners, Edward Q. Moulton, Sidney Richards and Harry B. Nesbitt; Cemetery Commissioners, Seth H. Russell, Willis E. Peabody, B. M. Par- ker; Constables for one year: Albert G. Tedford, John M. Temple; Tree Warden, Lyman H. Twiss; Town Counsel, Rutherford E. Smith; Town Accountant, Oscar E. Phillips. The Finance Committee for the past year was made up as follows: Harry B. Nesbitt, John Ward, Lewis F. Allen, William Walden and Andrew Mansfield.
In this, my portion of the Lynnfield section of this history, I have tried to accentuate the high lights and awaken new interest in the truly
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remarkable story of Lynnfield, formerly Lynn End. Keeping its village characteristics of the best type, it is yet a sharer in, and a contributor to, the life of the larger towns and cities which surround it. Its pupils have made noble records in the schools of Andover, Salem, Peabody, Wakefield, Lynn. The educational privileges of Boston have been eagerly sought by Lynnfield groups.
Little space can be given in a work of this kind to prehistoric mat- ters. But it should be stated that Phillips Andover has a collection of Essex county Indian relics that teachers are learning to appreciate more and more enthusiastically. Also, in the Harrison Gray Otis House, Bos- ton, headquarters of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, William Wallace Taylor, formerly field man for the Depart- ment of Archaeology, under Professor Warren K. Moorehead, Andover College, has placed a collection. Working in Lynnfield, in the interests of the Preservation Society, recently, Mr. Taylor came upon interesting Indian village and camp sites. We can but touch upon the matter, but we have named the sources of fuller information.
In the meadow at the rear of the Dr. Franklin W. Freeman estate, an Indian camp was located, on what is known as Partridge Island. An elementary beach was found. Triangular war-arrowheads showed that preparation for hostilities was necessary. When hunting arrow-heads only are found, the conjecture is a reasonable one that local tribes were friendly. Depredations from the north were probably the facts of the story. Mr. Taylor located other Indian sites in Lynnfield, and the pestles and other implements found are in the museum at the Harrison Gray Otis House, Boston.
Mr. B. P. Verne, formerly of Lynnfield, now of Reading, exhibited an Indian millstone for grinding corn, which he found on his estate in this town, at the Antique Display in the Public Library building, given in connection with the town's celebration of its centennial anniversary in 1914.
This celebration was planned for and given on an extensive scale. It was not only a celebration of the date when Lynn End became a separate township, but, as well, a recognition of the two hundredth an- niversary of the building of the old meeting-house on the green in 1714. This celebration, the religious part of which was held in the old church on June 13th and the civic portion on June 17th, was so fully reported in the "Daily Evening Item," Lynn, of the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th of June, 1914, that references to this source of information would supply one with almost any fact of previous or contemporary history of Lynn- field. Each speaker and each participant did his utmost to emphasize in picturesque terms the interesting history of the town. This was true of the floats in the parade, where, largely through the talent and work of Sidney B. Mansfield (a sketch of whom appears in this volume) "Town- send's Kitchen," old school days, old-time industries, etc., were delight- fully represented.
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During many years there was one church, the Congregational, hold- ing services in the old church on the green. A Unitarian flock detached itself and held gatherings there between the years 1816 and 1894. The Congregationalists dedicated the present church building in 1832, and it has been the one church center for a long period, in reality supplying the place of a community church and numbering amongst its members men and women who have taken their letters from Baptist, Methodist, and other churches, where they had been communicants in former homes.
The church in Lynnfield, which was begun as a mission interest connected with the church at the Center, sharing the services of the pas- tor at the Center, has now its own resident pastors and an up-to-date church edifice. The present pastors are Rev. Francis D. George and Rev. H. Lincoln Mckenzie.
At the Center, the Episcopalians have formed a mission which is fostered by the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Wakefield, and is called St. Paul's Mission. The rector is Rev. William E. Love. There are about thirty communicants. The date of formation is March, 1918. The one church building suffices for all. In the recent renovation and re- modelling, the needs of the Episcopalians were considered. Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Blood, formerly of Lynn, rendered great service in this artistically completed work. They, with the other members of the committee, wor- ship with the Congregational flock. John Ward and others of the Epis- copal mission showed great interest and gave substantial aid, so that the result is excellent, and all use the edifice in harmony. Both congre- gations, as one, welcomed Bishop Babcock at a recent confirmation.
At Lynnfield, the Catholic mission, which has been holding services since August 15, 1920, when mass was said for the first time by Rev. F. J. Halloran of Wakefield, has a congregation of approximately one hundred and fifty members. Ground was broken for the new chapel August 15, 1921, five days after the purchase of the land. Members of the two religious flocks aid each other in social functions. On Septem- ber 13, 1920, a very successful and generally enjoyed lawn fete was held at Wardhurst in aid of the work. The mission was established by St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Wakefield.
The story of the hero of old Lynn End, Daniel Townsend, is told fully in the Wellman history. It is further related that the night before the Battle of Lexington neighbors and friends gathered in the Townsend kitchen, bringing all the old pewter they could contribute, equipped with bullet-moulds, to run bullets for the needs of occasion. One of these moulds is in the possession of the Perkins family and can be seen at the old Perkins homestead, on Chestnut street.
Daniel Townsend's marriage took him, with Zerviah, his bride, to the home near the shore of what is now Pilling's Pond. Previous to his marriage, it is doubtless the fact that the young man lived with his fam- ily, and they occupied the west end of what has always been known as
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the Townsend-Sweetser house, on the Wakefield road. This house is the most interesting one in the town, because it has been kept very largely as it was built. Tradition says that it had its double walls for Indian protection. It has a gambrel roof, and an entry and stair- case of oak, an ancient cupboard, and interesting fireplaces. Here died the sister and nephew of Charlotte Cushman, who visited these rela- tives as frequently as she was able to do so. To the centennial of 1876 were sent from this house the silver shoebuckles of Samuel Adams, the patriot.
The great-grandchildren of Daniel Townsend, George Townsend and Mary Richardson, were united in marriage, and bore two children, girls, of whom one died in early childhood. The other, Harriet, married Rich- ard Hewes and bore two children, Carrie Amelia and Frank. The daugh- ter, Carrie, became Mrs. Laselle. She with her family lived for many years in Lynn, and she died there, on Marianna street, some years ago. Of the thirteen children of Mr. and Mrs. Laselle, six are living, as far as has been learned. In the possession of members of this family are the table linen and the silver table spoons marked "Z. T." which be- longed to Zerviah Townsend, wife of the hero. A chapter of the C. A. R. is named in honor of Daniel Townsend, and a group of the young people came to Lynnfield to hold exercises in the old church and to visit the grave of the hero, at the time of the formation of the chapter.
The occupants of the other part of the old house under consideration were John and Betsey Sweetser. Everybody seems to have known and loved "Aunt Betsey." She was a very remarkable maker of dolls, and a most interesting specimen of her handicraft of this heart-winning variety can be seen in the aforementioned Harrison Gray Otis House, Boston. Catherine Sweetser, daughter of John and Betsey, married Cap- tain John Perkins, and went to live at the Perkins homestead, where her grandson resides. He and his wife cherish certain of the possessions of Betsey Sweetser and her daughter.
Mansfield is one of the oldest and most honored names. So many of the old family names are disappearing, it is cause for rejoicing that we have promise of the continuance of this worthy stock. The present chair- man of the board of selectmen is Albert P. Mansfield; and his wife, Martha D. Mansfield, is secretary of the school committee. There has never been a time when there was not a Mansfield serving the town. The late Andrew Mansfield was sent to the legislature. This is not genealogy, but history, therefore we must content ourselves with the mention of one more Mansfield item. Everybody who came to the cen- tennial celebration was interested to see and call the attention of the children to the exhibit arranged on the wall of the library. It included, with other Mansfield accoutrements, the sworn worn by Major Andrew Mansfield at the laying of the cornerstone of the Bunker Hill Monument on June 17, 1825.
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Newhall is an old Lynnfield name. A mayor of Lynn, Hon. Asa Tar- bell Newhall, has been supplied from this family. General Josiah New- hall was one of a group interested in founding the Massachusetts Hor- ticultural Society, and references to this fact, with resolutions adopted concerning his work, may be seen in the archives of the society. This Josiah Newhall was the first representative from Lynnfield. He served in the War of 1812, and was chairman of the school board for twenty-two years. At the age of eighty-six he died at Lynnfield, December 26, 1879. Other members of the family have achieved prominence. Road construc- tion has been in the hands of capable members of the family for long periods. Frank C. Newhall is at the present time secretary of the board of selectmen and forest warden.
A well-known Lynnfield name is Coney. The Coney homestead is on Lowell street. Two representatives of the family are living in Lynnfield -J. Winslow Perkins, and Miss Kate E. Coney, of Lynnfield and West Roxbury, a teacher in the Boston schools and an authority on ferns and flora. Miss Coney also gives informal travel-talks before women's organizations. The father of the late Jeremiah Coney served in the War of 1812, on "Old Ironsides." John Coney was Paul Revere's instructor in craftsmanship.
Russell is another name that has figured in Lynnfield annals for generations. The telephone exchange is located in the home of Mrs. S. Russell, widow of Francis P. Russell, for many years merchant and post- master. The present postmaster is Edward A. Russell, who is also a member of the school committee. Mr. Henry C. Russell was, with his brother, the late William G. Russell, owner of a provision market on Portland street, Boston. Mr. Russell is now interested in real estate activities in Malden and Lynnfield Center. The winter home of the family is in Malden, but Mr. Russell is in Lynnfield Center during the summers, and identifies himself with many interests, especially in mat- ters musical. Carl H. Russell is a member of the board of selectmen and commander of the Legion Post. The father of Seth H. Russell, whose residence is at "Willow Castle", the estate on which still flourishes the more than century-old willow, was one of the "town fathers" for a number of years and served on the school board at the time of Horace Mann, of whom he related reminiscences. This Enoch Russell was sent to the Legislature for a term of years. Mrs. Seth H. Russell, Hattie F., has been in charge of the primary department of the Sunday school of the Congregational church for thirty years. Mrs. Russell was a teacher in the public schools of Essex county. Their daughter Marian is mak- ing a name for herself in educational fields.
Bancroft is an old Lynnfield name. In 1711 a meeting held at Cap- tain Bancroft's resulted in the building of the old church on the green in 1714. Members of the family have served the town and the church in many capacities. Mr. George H. Bancroft has been active in town af-
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fairs, especially as trustee of the public library. Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft cater to many visitors as well as residents, through "Ye Village Tea Room" and the provision store at Pillings Pond. J. Lawrence Bancroft, brother of George, is a member of the firm of Perkins & Bancroft, of Melrose.
Herrick is an old name with us, and the Deacon Herrick estate is a very interesting place to visit, especially as the ancient fireplaces can be seen in both the larger and the smaller house, the latter occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Herrick. Deacon Herrick was a member of the school board for many years. Traditions are loved and preserved and hospitality has always been abundant in this home. Miss Clara M. Her- rick, daughter of the house, is head nurse in one of Boston's best known institutions. Miss Herrick is a graduate of the Lynn Hospital.
The Cox family has furnished members who have served the town in different capacities. Besides the old house, there are several others occupied by sons of the family with their families. The locality is al- ways known as Cox's Corner. Mrs. Clarissa Cox was a remarkable wo- man who lived to the age of 101 and a few months, spending three- fourths of her life in this locality.
The Danforth homestead and acres of verdant farmland have de- lighted the eye of many comers for generations, situated, as they are, so near the station. John Danforth was station master during a long period, also serving the town as selectman for years. His son, the late John Morton Danforth, was known throughout Essex county, both as county commissioner and in connection with the County Argicultural Society, which he served as secretary and in other capacities. This Mr. J. M. Danforth was sent to the legislature from Lynnfield.
The old Joseph Henfield place, bought and occupied by B. H. Robi- dou, of Lynn, with his family, as a summer residence, is said to be the oldest house in town. The Perkins homestead is one of the older houses. The original deed of the land, written on vellum, is dated 1695, and is signed by Governor Phipps, the "witchcraft governor" of Boston. A very small house which sufficed for the first couple, John and his wife, formerly Anna Hutchinson of Danvers, has been enlarged and altered by each succeeding generation of the family. A partial restoration to the features of other days revealed a number of interesting arrangements, and corroborated certain traditions. This house is still occupied by a Perkins family descendant.
The Hart house on Chestnut street is one of the older homes. It is still occupied by members of the Hart family. An interesting feature of this house are the portholes in the western outer wall, where members of the family watched for danger in the time of Indian attacks. A heavily-wooded section, much of which is still the same, lay in that di- rection. Clapboards have been put over these apertures, but the bulge of the wall shows plainly their location. A garden stile and quaint gates
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between the house and gardens accentuate most attractively the English origin of this family There was a still older homestead on the "acres and acres" of Hart orchard and woodland beyond Lowell street. It was from this family that Hon. Thomas N. Hart went forth into the world and became a mayor of Boston.
Possibly the one native son of Lynnfield who made the greatest name for himself in the outside world was David Hewes, Esq. In sev- eral localities in California announcement is made through the mega- phone of the sight-seeing automobile, that David Hewes came from the East to start work in California, with no money, a wheelbarrow and a Chinaman, and became known as the maker of San Francisco, a great railroad man, and a multi-millionaire. The story of this remarkable son of Lynnfield is fully told in the "Hewes Genealogy." It was he who gave the gold spike used at the ceremony at Promontory Point, Utah, 80 miles west of Ogden and 804 miles east of San Francisco, when in the presence of 1,000 notable guests the railroad across the continent was completed, and the news flashed from the golden spike, by electricity, to all the great centers, where crowds awaited the moment. In 1879, Presi- dent and Mrs. Hayes were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. David Hewes at their home in Oakland, Cal. David Hewes, with the second Mrs. Hewes, attended the golden wedding of Mr. Gladstone. Several libraries and art collections were presented by Mr. Hewes to public institutions. Like an inspiring romance reads the story of this courageous, Christian man. At the time of Lynnfield's centennial, Mr. Hewes sent several telegrams and a check for two hundred dollars. James Hewes, father of the pres- ent John Hewes, was elected to the convention that revised the constitu- tion; he also represented Lynnfield in the legislature for a term of years.
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