USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 39
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A public library was established in North Andover in 1875 by the donations of General Eben Sutton, aided materially by many local con- tributions. This is in the Merrimac manufacturing district. In 1878 a
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fine library was established at Ballardvale, J. Putnam Bradlee furnishing one thousand volumes. The Stevens Memorial Library was established in 1907, at the corner of Main and Green streets. It was the gift of Hon. and Mrs. Moses Tyler Stevens.
North Andover was incorporated in 1855, and has ever since been well governed by prudent and efficient officers. The present town officers include the following: Town Clerk, Joseph A. Duncan; Town Treasurer, George H. Perkins; Selectmen: Peter Holt, Alex M. White, Fred Leach; Overseers of the Poor: Peter Holt, John T. Campbell, Alex M. White; Assessors: Peter Holt, Patrick P. Daw, Edward E. Curley ; Superintendent of Schools, Dana P. Dame; Superintendent of Public Works, Richard H. Ellis; Chief of Police, Wallace E. Towne; Constables : John II. Campbell, Wallace E. Town, James H. Goff, John P. Walsh, John R. McEvoy ; Keeper of Lock-up, John A. Morrissey; Highway Surveyor, Willard H. Poor; Tree Warden, William L. Smith; Superintendent of Town Farm, George L. Barker; Forest Fire Warden, William L. Smith ; Fish Warden, Joseph Hinchcliffe; Collector of Taxes, Frank A. Mackie; Auditor, James W. Elliott.
The present town clerk's report for last year gives statistics of in- terest as follows: Whole number of deaths in town of North Andover during year, 95-male 39, and female 56. The persons who died seventy years and older in the year were: Mary Hazelhurst, 70; Joseph A. Jette, 76 ; Mary Kennedy, 70; Maria D. Kimball, 87; Mary Ann Greenwood, 88; Mary Reeves, 81; Ann M. Grover, 88; Catherine Devitt, 79; Louisa Hol- royd, 84; Jannette G. Jewett, 81; John Morris, 72; William Freeman Hodgetts, 70; John Meserve Coffin, 76; Emma J. Phillips, 74; Susan Pratt 81; Hannah Lees Andrew, 74; George A. Brocklebank, 76; James Davis, 79; Emma Hanson, 81; Sarah Frances Carr, 78; George F. Cun- ningham, 73; Daniel Perley Stiles, 70; Richard Oliver, 79; George Gil- bert Davis, 76; Samuel A. Smith, 76; Ellen F. Mahoney, 73; Annie Brady. The whole number of births during the year was 113-64 males and 49 females; foreign parentage, 62. The assessors' report shows: Aggregate value real estate, $5,474,275; personal, $1,821,884; State tax, $23,460; State highway tax, $3,195.81; Special State tax, $1,- 148.40; Bay State street railway tax, $159.80; county tax, $14,382.21; town grant, $167,863; overlevyings, $478.52; total, $211,587.74.
Poll tax assessments, $8,865; tax assessed on real estate, $158,753 .- 10; on personal estate, $52,834.64; rate per thousand, $29; abatement authorized, $2,711.84; acres of land assessed, 14,109; dwellings, 1,072; hens, 277; cows, 697; neat cattle, 197; swine, 53; dogs assessed, 238; persons liable to military duty, 1,047.
The United States census returns for the past three decades give North Andover figures as follows: In 1900, 4,243; in 1910, 5,529; and the last (1920) enumeration placed the population at 6,265.
North Andover has always been the home of numerous uplifting
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associations and societies, including temperance orders and debating societies, as well as benevolent and secret orders, among them the Masonic Fraternity. It really sounds strange today, when we have national prohibition well under way, to solve the curse of the American saloon, to read in the annals of any given county in the commonwealth, such as Essex, about the formation of a temperance society in North Andover as early as 1825, nearly a century ago. Such a society was organized by Rev. Bailey Loring, through whose influence lecturers were secured here in the persons of E. H. Chapin, Hosea Hildreth and Lucius Manlius Sargent. In 1841 there were established both a lecture course and a debating club.
To "provide and maintain an able orthodox minister among them" was the highest obligation that rested on the founders of towns in all New England. To provide meeting houses was another great and vital feature. These buildings, according to the land grants and charters, must be erected within three years from date of settlement. A new meeting house seems to have been constructed in North Andover in 1669, and there are records showing that there had been "a first" meeting house erected there about 1646, and that it stood near "the Old North burying-ground," on the high land opposite the house of Gover- nor Bradstreet. The second meeting house served until 1711, and the third church was used until 1753, when the fourth building was raised. Its cost was £300 sterling. January 1, 1754, the pews were sold, the highest bringing seventeen pounds, and the lowest six pounds. These seats were always sold according to location, after having taken into account the social and financial standing of persons seeking a pew. Per- haps these good old brethren had not read or heeded the Scriptures, wherein it is written that God is no respecter of persons, but looketh at the heart. With these early church seating "committees" it was rather a matter of finance.
Another church building was erected in 1835, costing $11,000. The clock and bell were taken from the old church and placed in the new one. In 1844 an organ was introduced, and the old clarionet and violin were discarded.
The original membership of this church, as established in 1646, was made up of ten male members, including the pastor: John Wood- bridge, teacher; John Osgood, Robert Barnard, John Frye, Nicholas Holt, Richard Barker, Joseph Parker, Nathan Parker, Richard Blake and Edmond Faulkner. The following is a list of pastors down to 1870; Rev. Johen Woodbridg, 1645-95; Rev. Francis Dane, 1648-97; Rev. Thomas Barnard, 1697-1719; Rev. John Barnard (son of last named) 1719-57; Rev. William Symmes, 1757-1810; then came Rev. Bailey Loring, who served until Rev. Francis Williams was called in 1850; the eighth min- ister was Rev. Charles C. Vinal from 1857 to 1870, and he was succeeded by Rev. John H. Clifford.
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The Trinitarian Congregational Church was organized at North Andover, September, 1834, by a small company of men and women who came out of the Congregational church, which had become Unitarian in its belief. The present membership is 300, and the Sunday school has an attendance of about 140 pupils. Reginald Andrews is present superin- tendent. The church edifice is of wood, erected in 1865, and to replace it an expenditure of $50,000 would have to be made. It contains a fine, expensive pipe organ among its fixtures. The pastors have been as fol- lows: Revs. Jesse Page, seven years; L. H. Cobb, D.D., seven years; B. F. Hamilton, seven years; R. C. Flagg, five years; George Pierce, three years; H. H. Leavitt, eleven years; H. E. Barnes, D.D., five years; and J. L. Keedy, sixteen years, and still pastor.
CHAPTER XXX.
TOWN OF MERRIMAC.
The history of the town of Merrimac extends back only to 1876, at which date it was separated from the West Parish of Amesbury. It is situated on the north side of the Merrimac river, for which it was named. Its territory is about two and one-half by three miles in extent, and is bounded on the four sides by the Merrimac river, the city of Haverhill, the New Hampshire line, and the town of Amesbury, from which its territory was carved. Here one finds plains, valleys, hills, and the majestic flow of the Merrimac river, all. vying with each other to make charming the landscape scene-a thing of beauty, which it has been said is a joy forever. No wonder a Whittier could have been pro- duced here, for poetic inspiration seems on every hand.
There is no record showing the exact date of the coming of the first settlers to this part of Essex county. It is known that Edward Cottle was a settler here very early, if not indeed before anyone else. Samuel Foot and John Pressey came respectively in 1659 and 1664. Henry Tuxbury, Thomas Nichols, John Grimpsen and Thomas Sargent had all settled here before 1670, while the Allens, Fowlers and Morses were known to have been here in 1700. Merrimac at an early day was known as Jamico, and was not known as Merrimac for fully a century. After it was considered safe on account of supposed Indian raids, and along about the opening years of the eighteenth century, the settlement was increased by the coming of the Davis, Clement and Kelly families; and about 1722 others came, including Abraham Merrill, from Newbury, and his three men-grown sons, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But before these had settled it has been found that a grant of land was issued to Thomas Harvey, a ship-carpenter and builder; his settlement was in 1666. Perhaps no better list of early immigrants and actual settlers
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in this part of the county can be given than to take the names of those who united in the support of their church in 1726:
Abraham Merrill, David Sargent, Jonathan Sargent, Samuel, Jr., Henry Dow, Benoy Tucker, Elias Colby, Philip Sargent, Jr., Richard Goodwin, Philip Sargent, Timothy Sargent, Samuel Poore, Jacob Sargent, Jr., Henry Trussell Jedidiah Titcomb, Samuel Foot, Joseph Harvey, Jonathan Cleark, Jacob Pressey, Daniel Sargent, Sam- uel Davies, William Davies, Joseph Lanckester, John Pressey, William Fowler, Eze- kiel Colby, Thomas Beedle, Samuel Colby, Jr., Jonathan Davies, Jo Davis, John Bart- lett, Jr., Abner Whittier, Ephriam Pembert, John Pressey, Nathaniel Merrill, Micah Lanckester, Joseph Bartlett, Eben Aboot, Nehemiah Heath, Samuel Dilver, Thomas Beedle, Jr., James Ordway, John Ordway, William Sargent, Jr., Joseph Pregett, Jeremiah Fowler, Joseph Currier, John Bartlett, Sr., John Hoyt, Abner Brown, Eph Davies, Samuel Hunt, Samuel Hadley, Thomas Stevens, Jr., Jacob Sargent, Titus Wells, Samuel Juell, Thom Colby, Nathaniel Tucker, Thomas Bartlett, John Fowler, Thomas Wells.
Benjamin Hadley, Jacob Hoyt, Thomas Davis, Joseph Hadley, William Pressey, Charles Sargent, Philip Rowell, Samuel Martin, Joseph Moody, Thomas Rowel, Timothy Colby, John Harvey, David Coope, Joseph Collins, William Moulton, John Davies, Joseph Shoort, Thomas Dow, Benjamin Tucker, Francis Davies, John Straw, Richard Kelley, John Nichols, John Blasdell, Jonathan Ferrin, Henry Trussell, Jon- athan Kelley, Israel Young, Thomas Fowler, Cap. John Foot, Charles Sargent, C. Feavor, Jonathan Colby, John Martin, George Hadley, A. Colby, D. Hoyt, Jo. Sar- gent, Ezra Tucker, John Lanckester, John Foot, Jr., Jonathan Clement, Jonah Fowler, Jonathan Nichols, Nathaniel Davies, John Whittier, Samuel Stevens, William Har- vey, John Sargent, Chas. Allen, Timothy Hoyt, John Hunt, Isaac Colby, Robert Ring, Jo Davies, Jr., Isaac Rogers, P. Call, Jas. Dow, V. Rowell, Andre Rowen, Robt. Beedle.
In 1824 a postoffice was established in West Amesbury, with Ed- mund Sargent as postmaster. In 1857 a postoffice was established at River Village, with Ebenezer Fullington as postmaster. Of recent years the postmasters in Merrimac have been as follows: George Prescott, Alexander Smart, died, and was succeeded by his widow; then George Ricker, and present postmaster, Martin B. Crane, since October, 1913. This office has one rural free delivery route, connected with Amesbury also. Business last year was $4,200.
Merrimac was incorporated in 1876, approved by the governor on April 11, of that year. The first selectmen chosen were: William H. Haskell, S. S. Blodgett, Alexander Smart. In keeping good his word, William P. Sargent, then of Boston, donated a newly built town hall which cost $20,000. This stands on a lot donated by Messrs. Haskell, Goodwin, Poyen Gunnison and Clement. Sargent's Hall was dedicated in the autumn of 1876. Donations were made: For land for cemetery purposes by J. A. Lancaster; a thousand volumes toward establishing a public library, by Dr. J. R. Nichols, and the town gave the funds for the erection of a suitable tablet to the memory of William P. Sargent, who gave the town hall.
The municipal affairs of the town have been faithfully administered with the passing years, by good and efficient men. The town owns its water work and electric light plants and is fully up to the standard
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in educational matters. The 1920-21 town officers include the following : Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor: Homer R. Sargent, James F. Pease and George B. Crofut; Assessors: Frank E. Bartlett, Willis H. Scott, Herbert N. Noyes; Town Clerk, Clifton B. Heath; Town Treasurer, Frank E. Walker; Auditor, A. Raymond Waterhouse; Collector of Taxes, Fred W. George; Constables: James P. Donahue, Fred O. Bailey, Leon N. Dow ; Inspector of Animals, Charles E. Welch ; Inspector of Slaughter- ing, Charles E. Welch; Inspector of Wires, Warren A. Bailey; Sealer of Weights and Measures, Edward S. Mckay; Tree Warden, Charles R. Ford; Forest Warden, Charles R. Ford; Burial Agent, John E. Bean; Superintendent of Streets, Edward F. Goodwin; Engineers of Fire De- partment, John W. Growcut, Roswell J. Eaton, Willard L. Fowle; Sworn Weighers : Byran H. Sargent, Alice J. Hoyt and Edward S. Preble; Fish Warden, Forrest A. Morse; Moderator, Clarence O. Libby.
The town is well supplied with churches and lodges, which organiza- tions are mentioned elsewhere in this work. The churches include the Baptist, the Church of the Nativity, the Pilgrim Congregational, and the Methodist Episcopal churches.
In 1921 the town of Merrimac supported the following industries: Automobile and carriage body manufactures-J. B. Judkins & Company, Merrimac Body Company, Walker Body Company. Carriage makers- William F. Carter; Heel makers-James M. Cushman; Wood Heel Com- pany. Bankers-Merrimac Savings Bank, First National Bank, Econ- omy Co-operative Bank.
At one period or another, the factory interests in what is now Merrimac have been quite extensive. In the early days of Amesbury, agriculture was the chief occupation of its people, but later saw mills and catching the salmon and sturgeon became a larger industry; then ship-building commenced in the West Parish. At a very early period brick-making was a business of no small importance in Merrimac, as understood today. A trade with the West Indies was also one of con- siderable proportion. At Merrimacport, earthenware was made as early as 1790. Among the makers of such ware was James Chase, and later his son Phineas ; subsequently came Smith Sargent, in about 1825. Tan- neries and coopershops were common away back in the twenties and thirties. In 1883 the Bay State Felt Boot and Shoe Company, under a patent process, commenced to produce felt-foot wear. From 1885 on many years this company produced 12,000 cases of shoes per year.
Carriage-making has usually been counted the great manufacturing business of Merrimac. In 1887 the following paragraph shows the out- put of vehicles in Merrimac to have been as indicated by firms :
H. G. and H. W. Stevens began in 1869; carriages, 415; carriages repaired, 600; value, $185,000; men employed, 100. J. A. Landcaster & Co. began in 1858; car- riages, 438; sleighs, 112; value, $70,000; men employed, 30. Clement & Young be- gan in 1884; carriages, 75; value $18,000; men employed, 12. John B. Judkins & Son, began in 1857; carriages, 200; value, $80,000; men employed, 50. William O.
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Smiley began in 1882; carriages, 75; value, $12,000; men employed, eight. Loud Bros. began in 1866; carriages, 200; sleighs, 125; value $82,000; men employed, 32. C. H. Noyes & Son began in 1845; carriages, 90; value, $18,000 men employed, ten. S. C. Pease & Sons, began in 1861 carriages, 300; value, $100,000; men employed, 42. Samuel Schofield & Son began in 1879; carriages, 75; value $18,000; men employed, 11. Harmer & Doucet began in 1873; carriages, 175; value, $74,000; men employed, 50.
Daniel M. Means began in 1881 carriages, 75; sleighs, 15; value, $15,000; men employed, 12. Moses G. Clement & Son began business in 1849; carriages, 200; sleighs, 60; value, $45,000; men employed, 19. George Adams & Sons began in 1857; number carriages, 200; sleighs, 100; value $35,000; men employed, eighteen. H. M. Howe (late Hough & Clough) began in 1879; carriages, 75; value, $20,000; men employed, 15. C. E. Gunnison & Co., began business in 1879; carriages, 250; men employed, 20; value, $35,000. At Merrimacport-William Chase & Son began in 1838; carriages, 50; sleighs, ten; value, $15,000; men employed, 11. Willis P. Sar- gent began in 1854; carriages, 40; value, $6,000; men employed, 3. George Gun- nison began in 1882; carriages, 50; value, $9,000 men employed, 7. A. M. Colby began in 1868; carriages, 150; sleighs, 40; value, $30,000; men employed, 19.
Different manufacturers made their own style of vehicles, some plain and some fancy, some cheap and others high-priced One shop made gears, while others made bodies, and another set of shops ironed, and still others were engaged in painting wagons and sleighs.
The first application of machinery these shops made to any consider- able extent was when John F. Foster engaged in the business. In 1867 he formed a partnership with Henry Howe in the manufacture of wheels. In 1870 the plant was burned to the ground, and within forty-nine days it was rebuilt and in operation again. Here about five thousand sets of wheels were produced annually. February 17, 1882, the firm of Foster & Prescott lost their entire works by fire, and never rebuilt. All, in all, the carriage and sleigh factories here have been the commercial life of the town for a large number of years in its history.
Like so many New England towns, Merrimac's history would hardly be complete without mentioning the fact that there were many years when boot and shoe factories flourished here abundantly as well as in most of the towns in the county. Moses Goodrich and Charles Sargent made boots and James B. Hoyt made shoes on quite an extensive scale.
The population of Amesbury in 1875, the year before it was separ- ated and Merrimac was formed, was 1,987; in 1880 it was stated by the United States census reports that Amesbury had a population of 3,355; in 1885 it was 4,403; in 1880 the population of Merrimac was 2,237; in 1885 it was 2,878; in 1900 Merrimac had 2,131; in 1910 it was 2,202; in 1920 it was 2,173.
The church history of Merrimac would require a volume of itself, but it must suffice to give the reader of this work a brief outline of the various religious societies, which here follows:
The first pastor of the first Congregational church here was Rev. Paine Wingate, who was ordained in June, 1726, and continued to serve over the parish for almost sixty years, when called by death; his wife
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followed to the better world two years later, both being beloved by all.
A new meeting house was erected in 1787, and a year later Rev. Francis Welch was settled as a pastor at a salary of £80 per year. He died in 1793 and was succeeded by Rev. David Smith, who was succeeded in time by Rev. Samuel Mead, of Danvers, in 1804. He remained until his death in 1818 and was followed by Rev. P. S. Eaton, who was dismissed in 1837, when Lucius W. Clark became pastor, and under his care and administration another church building was erected in 1839. At his own request he was dismissed in 1842. Henry B. Smith was the next pastor, and he was followed in 1827 by Rev. Albert Paine, who in 1854 was succeeded by Rev. Leander Thompson, of Providence. He re- mained until dismissed in 1867, and was followed by Rev. Lewis Gregory, who was dismissed in 1875, after whom came Rev. W. H. Hubbard, who was pastor until 1883. The next to serve in this pulpit was Rev. Thomas M. Miles, who became pastor in 1884 and was succeeded by Rev. George L. Todd in 1892; Rev. James W. Flagg came in 1901; Charles W. Legg came in 1918, and is still pastor. There are now 347 members, and a Sunday school attendance of 260 pupils. Herbert E. Whitney is the present superintendent.
The first church was erected in 1724, two years before organization ; the second was built in 1787; the third in 1839; the fourth in 1860, and still serves. Its value is $20,000 ; parish-house, $5,000; additions, $3,000; total value $28,000.
Until 1836 this Congregational church was the only church organi- zation within the borders of what is now Merrimac. That year the Universalist church was formed, and the next year a house of worship provided. Rev. Eldredge Brooks was the first pastor of this society.
The Baptist Society at Merrimac was organized in 1849 at the house of Levi Williams. What is now Merrimacport was then known as the river village of West Amesbury, and the church referred to was until 1857 called the West Amesbury Baptist Church. The charter member- ship included thirty-seven persons. It belonged to the Salem Baptist Association, and Nathaniel S. Pinkham, of Concord, New Hampshire, was its first pastor.
Another Baptist church was formed in the central village of Merri- mac in 1867, with eighteen members; a neat church edifice was erected in 1869. The first pastor was Rev. W. H. Kling. The charter members were Job Hoyt, Daniel Gould, George H. Swasey, Gilman S. Hoyt, B. A. Kelley, Mercy Powell, George B. Hoyt, George H. Swasey, Jr., Ellen N. Gould, Hannah P. Hoyt, Eunice Gould, Frances Swasey, Mary C. Hoyt, Anne E. Kelley, Sarah B. Osgood, F. C. Poyen, Frances A. Swasey and Carrie T. Kelley. The present membership is 133, with a Sunday School attendance of 130. The superintendent is Justin E. Moulton. The value of church property is estimated at $9,600. The following have been pas- tors in about the order given: Revs. S. D. Ashley, J. H. Cox, H. A. Cor-
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nell, George A. Williams, Silas Morse, Wesley L. Smith, John H. Tidd, and the present pastor, Rev. Henry Schwab.
The Methodist Society at Merrimacport was formed in 1875, and Rev. Dinsmore commenced to preach in a hall in December of that year. He became the first regular pastor appointed to the place by the annual conference.
The Catholic people of West Amesbury (now Merrimac) first held services in Mechanic's Hall in 1870. At the time of organization the congregation had a membership of one hundred and fifty communicants. In 1884 it built a church building on Green street, and in 1887 was re- ported as having almost 400 members.
The secret orders in Merrimac consist of the Masons, Odd Fellows, Grand Army of the Republic, and several beneficiary societies. The Masonic lodge was instituted A. L. 5869. Riverside Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted December 3, 1875, and dedicated a handsome lodge room hall in May, 1887. The Colonel C. R. Mudge Post, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized December 20, 1869, under Commander Alexander Smart. In 1882 a Woman's Relief Corps was organized with thirty members. In 1883 the Merrimac branch of the Irish National League of America, No. 326, was formed. These orders are all flourishing today.
CHAPTER XXXI.
TOWN OF METHUEN
The town of Methuen is situated in the west part of Essex county, bordering on New Hampshire, and contains about twenty-two square miles. Before the incorporation of the city of Lawrence it was a section of land on the north bank of the Merrimack river, about nine miles long by three wide, following the curves of the river. The north part of the city of Lawrence was taken out of Methuen on the side next to the river, near the middle of the town, thus leaving the two ends three miles wide, and the middle of the town a little more than a mile at its narrowest part. The towns surrounding Methuen are the city of Lawrence and the town of Andover on the south; Dracut and Salem, New Hampshire, on the west; Salem, New Hampshire, and Haverhill, on the north; and Haverhill and Bradford on the east.
Probably the white man first set foot in Methuen about 1637. The settlers at Ipswich and other places along the coast explored the coun- try before its settlement, to find the most desirable places to locate. About 1640 a dozen or more colonists from Newbury, with Nathaniel Ward, settled at Haverhill, where the city proper now stands. Two years later they bought of the Indians a tract of land embracing a large part
ABOVE, NEVINS MEMORIAL LIBRARY, METHUEN; BELOW, NEVINS MEMORIAL HOME, METHUEN
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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of what is now Methuen. It is certain that the east and south portions of the town near the river were first occupied, probably on account of the places of Haverhill and Andover being nearer. It is said that while repairing the old "Bodwell House," in what was later Lawrence, a brick was found with the date "1660" which had been marked before the burn- ing of the brick. This really established the fact that there had been a settlement as early as that date. However, it is doubtful whether there were many settlers until Methuen was set off from Haverhill. The In- dians had troubles with the whites previous to 1700, and seriously checked, if not entirely prevented, the farm settlements. Andover and Haverhill were both frontier towns by act of the General Court, and both towns suffered severely during the Indian War. Yet there is no account of any Indian battles on the land where the name Methuen applies today. In Andover and West Haverhill, there were many bad attacks, as will be seen by reference to their local histories in this work. Again, it is likely that but few if any settlers were then in Methuen, or the savages would not have passed them by.
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