USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Wenham > Notes on Wenham history, 1643-1943 > Part 6
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The young women in the small towns were more gen- erous toward the pastors and joined in conducting spin- ning bees for their relief. The spirit of the times is well illustrated by the title of a sermon preached after one of these spinning bees in the nearby parish of Chebacco. Af- ter a long day of work on spinning wheels, seventy-seven
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Notes on Wenham History, 1643-1943
young women, who had met at the pastor's house, were entertained by a sermon from the pastor with the title --- "How the women might recover to their country's full and free enjoyment of our rights, properties and privileges- which is more than the men have been able to do"-and the pastor, exhorting them thus, ended with these words, "by living upon as far as possible, only the produce of this country, and be sure and lay aside use of all foreign tea, also by using as far as possible only clothing of this country manufacturing."
Wenham women were not far behind in answering this challenge, for on "Tuesday June 23, 1769 last, came early in the morning a number of young women to the home1 of Rev. Joseph Swain, with flax, wool, and wheels, in order to spend the day in spinning, which they did until six o'clock P. M. with cheerfulness, discretion and industry in the business of the day as will appear, by comparing the number of spinners and the quantity of the yarn spun.
The spinners were in number 38, the quantity of yarn was 75 run, all which they generously gave to him, and his family, beside a considerable quantity of flax and wool, which was left behind, unspun.""
There was some fear and some panic in the nearby towns on the coast lest their homes be attacked by the ves- sels on the coast. As a result of this fear many of the women and children were sent away for safety to inland towns. This accounts for the coming of Timothy Picker- ing to Wenham, as well as Captain Thomas Gardner and Samuel Blanchard, with their families. These men all gave distinguished service to the town.
The women of Wenham showed the most intrepid spirit at this time, in fact Wenham has a real Barbara Fritchie in Mrs. William Fairfield, who lived almost opposite the burial ground. When it was reported that a body of Bri- tish soldiers was approaching, her neighbors scattered in dismay, but Mrs. Fairfield rallied them to the fore, de- claring, "not a step, give me a spit, and I will pepper one of the villains."
1 Mr. Swain's house was on the corner of Larch Row and Main Street, now the site of Rupert Crehore's residence.
2 From Salem Gazette, June, 1769.
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Notes on Wenham History, 1643-1943
A real effort was made by some of the British officers to restrain their men from antagonizing the Colonists. "Pond John,"1ª a most interesting Wenham character, used to recall the pleasure barge on Wenham Lake of Gen. Gage, whose headquarters were in Danvers; and he well remembered "sitting on Gen. Gage's knee, and sharing in sweetmeats, given by Gen. Gage to the children, and listen- ing to the stories he used to tell them," a striking instance of the consistent efforts of this officer (Gen. Gage was then acting governor of the Province) to make himself as little obnoxious as possible to these wayward colonists.
Those who sympathized with the British at this time were very unpopular. A certain Nathaniel Brown of Marblehead, a lawyer, purchased the present Hobbs house. He was a Tory and very much disliked. From the story of Miss Hobbs we learn that the "Marblehead people came over to tar and feather him, bringing their kettle of tar with them, but he got wind of this and disappeared." This man, as far as we know, was the only avowed loyalist in Wenham at the opening of the Revolution, though the spirit of the whole town had been loyal to the mother coun- try until the first armed resistance.
The first rumblings of the Revolution as found in the Town Record was in:
May, 1773 ... The Town of Wenham having failed to elect a representative was forced to choose a committee of correspondents to consist of five men to confer and re- ply to the Boston Committee of correspondents being of the opinion "That the rights of the colonists are infringed upon and make a great grievance." (1) The committee chosen consisted of Benjamin Fairfield, John Friend, Dan- iel Killam, Jr., Edward Waldron, and Tyler Porter. These men made a report at an adjournment of that meeting and after enumerating their grievances, so "often enumerated before," they closed the report with the prayer "May we ever be a people favored of Heaven, and may this become Emmanuel's Land."
June 30, 1773 . . . Another set of letters must have been received, for the same committee were asked to con-
la Wenham Great Pond-Dr. John C. Phillip's, p. 32.
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Notes on Wenham History, 1643-1943
sider these letters and report at the next meeting after. This was March 1774.
July, 1774 . .. Events were forcing more activity, for the town chose another committee to consider these "let- ters from Boston." Billy Porter, John Friend, Stephen Dodge, Wm. Cleves and Tyler Porter were named and in August 1774, the selectmen receipted for the town stock of ammunition "a barrell of powder, 40 to 50 lb. 200 one quarter lb. of bullets, and between 3 and 4 hundred flints."
September, 1774 . . . The town was now really aroused for in September they did elect a representative, Benjamin Fairfield to represent the town in the General Court "and join other members of provincial congress if need be." Wenham then voted that a contribution be made for the poor of Boston,3 and this was done.
The die was cast, for the town voted to raise 15 men as minute men. "Each man Shall have one shilling for Ev- ery half day he Shall be mustered by his officers To Exer- zise after he is mustered, or Eight Shillings a month"- - further that each enlisted man, who shall not be equipped, and shall not attend sd service according to the directions of his officers, shall be penalized ten pounds. Billy Por- ter, Richard Dodge Jun. and Mathew Fairfield were named a committee to enlist the men.4 And thus com- menced the Revolution in the Town of Wenham.
March 31, 1775 ... The fifteen men recommended to be raised as minute men and continued in pay at the town's pleasure were :5
Ebenezar Batchelder Israel Batchelder
Abraham Brown Israel Andrew Dodge George Dwinell
Amos Knowlton Josiah Ober Jr.
Nathaniel Ober
Samuel Ober
Francis Porter
Isaac Porter
John Friend, Jr. Nathaniel Gott Ebenezar Kimball
Asa Porter
3 During the period of occupation by the British Regulars, the Town of Boston bore the heaviest burden, in consequence of the interruption of trade which occasioned great suffering among the poor.
4 W. T. R., 3 : 279.
5 W. T. R., 3 : 279.
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These men were to meet in the future and exercise one- half day a week. Each man shall have a shilling for every half day he shall be mustered by his officers to exercise. After he is enlisted four shillings a month and that each man's pay begin the first of February to the last of March. Then the town chose a committee of three to enlist the men and draw articles of procedure. This committee de- creed that a penalty be put upon them that shall enlist as minute men and not be properly equipped and not attend service according to his officer.
Committee of Safety-In May 1775 the town chose a committee of Safety, "To guard against our enemies," five in number, Caleb Kimball, Tyler Porter, David Killam, Stephen Dodge, Jr., Thomas Kimball.
The minute men had only some nine months of training before the battle of Lexington. They were at that time under the command of Capt. Billy Porter.
On that memorable day of April 19, they joined in the effort to reach Lexington, in company with the town mili- tia consisting of thirty-seven men under the command of Capt. Thomas Kimball, both companies credited to the regiment of Col. John Baker. They were in service five days and travelled fifty miles. The little town of 500 in- habitants had a half a hundred men under arms on the 19th of April. From that time on, though the Revolu- tionary War was not fought out on New England soil, the town did its utmost to carry on. It supplied men, and when not able to recruit locally, paid for substitutes ; cared for the families of the men at the front by supplying them with corn, beef, pork, wood, flax, wool and sauce, food, clothing and warmth. This all hit the finances of the town, for during the first year and one half the town had paid out £550, 5 shillings and sixpence for their share of war effort.
There was an active committee of safety and correspond- ence to keep in touch with the needs and the actions of the General Court and Committee of Safety in Boston. This was no small task in those days of limited transportation. This spirit of co-operation and unified effort was an added credit to a town which had, early in '75, expressed itself
JACOB DODGE HOUSE, FORMERLY AT "SEVEN PINES," LARCH ROW One of the six gambrel-roof houses built in Wenham about 1725-1750. Twice moved-over fields and across Larch Row: 1943, the home of Preble Motley. There is a tradition that troops from Gloucester in '75 marching to Bunker Hill rested at this house; bayonet marks of their guns were long shown in the wood-shed.
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Notes on Wenham History, 1643-1943
unanimously against a general union of the colonies on this continent. 6
The list of those serving from Wenham in the war may not be complete, but is as correct as has been found to the present time from the muster rolls at the State House, and Vital Records. Undoubtedly there are names omitted of those who fought as paid substitutes, and who were not credited to Wenham. The list shows that one hundred and thirty-seven men fought in the Revolution, for various terms of service, ranging from three months to three years. Of this number there was one negro, Fortune Ellery, who lived in Wenham, but was credited to Ipswich; four men were at sea, viz., Joseph Brown, carpenter on the Resource, Thomas Dodge on the brigantine Fanny, Benjamin Fair- field, brigantine Speedwell, Andrew Dodge on the Brutus. One hundred and thirty-seven men is a good number, for at that time there were under a hundred heads of families in Wenham, living in an even less number of houses.7 The town recorded with deep thanksgiving the close of the war and the Town Clerk copied most carefully the whole of the Declaration of Independence.
The conclusion of the war did not release the local train- ing band, as they were required to continue their training, and keep in proper condition their equipment, as is shown by this order of Capt. Kimball to Samuel Ober: "Essex ss. to Sergant Samuel Ober- Greeting."
"I command you in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Forthwith to warn and Give Notice to the Ellarram List and Trainning Band Belonging to the west ward to appeair on the Perrade Near the meeting house in Wenham on Thirsday the fourth Day of June Next then and their to Exhibute their aquipments as the Law Directs."
"Fail Not and make Return of this warrant at on or Before the fourth Day of June Next."
"Dated at Wenham this twenty fifth Day of May one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty Nine 1789."
"Given under my hand and seal to appear at one o'clock in the after Noon."
"Thos Kimball Capt."
6 W. T. R., 3, 148. 7 W. H. C. Ms., Vol. 9.
POST-REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
Northwest Territory. The great adventure of this pe- riod was the opening of the vast Northwest lands and the Ordinance of 1787. This Ordinance outlined, for all time, the duties, responsibilities and privileges of State-hood. The inception and carrying through of this great land project is credited to three men in our immediate vicinity : First, to Timothy Pickering, who, as early as 1783, wrote to a friend of a new plan contemplated, no less than a new state, west of the Ohio, and that he "had set the matter on foot, it being the obvious dictates of humanity, that those who had borne the calamities of war, should receive such public aids as joined with their own exertions, shall maintain them in a suitable manner."1
The purchase of the one and a half million acres, and carrying it through Congress some four years later, was due to the tact, energy and diplomacy of our versatile neighbor, the Rev. Dr. Cutler.
The so-called Ordinance of 1787, modelled after the Massachusetts Constitution, was the work of another neighbor, the Hon. Nathan Dane. "The exclusion of sla- very, provision for schools, religious liberty and the grant- ing of titles, to properly surveyed land were the important contributions of this Ordinance."2
Dr. Cutler's enthusiasm induced a group of settlers from our neighborhood to undertake the long trek to the Mus- kingum. The departure of this group in the oxen drawn, covered wagon from Dr. Cutler's church in the Hamlet (Hamilton) was a dramatic incident which has often been told, and was celebrated in 1938, on the 150th anniversary of the event !
There were Wenham men in that group who became permanent settlers in the new lands in Ohio. An item in the Salem Mercury, under date of June 17, 1788, de- scribes the return of two of these men:
1 Letter to Samuel Hodgon-dated April 7, 1783.
2 Correspondence of Daniel Webster, E. I. H. C. 25:165.
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"On Saturday last, Mr. Isaac Dodge and Oliver Dodge arrived in Wenham from the Muskingum, which they left the 18th of May. These men belonged to the party em- ployed by the company, but obtained leave to come home, for the purpose of making provision for erecting mills. They came on foot, and were only 26 days from Muskin- gum to Wenham. They reported that Gen. Putnam had completed the surveys of the 4000 acres for a city, and the 1000 lots of eight acres. A large quantity of ground was sowed and planted, and the people were beginning to erect houses. The account they gave of the country was flattering. Provisions were cheap and plenty."
1 For accounts of the events-W. H. Col., Vol. 41.
NOTES ON EARLY BURIAL GROUNDS
Early Burying Grounds. For the first fifty years of the town's history, little is known of the places of burial of the early colonists. In the year 1681 is the first men- tion of a town burying ground in the Town Records.
Of the private, family enclosures, we have records of only two-the cemetery on Dodge's Row, Beverly, used almost exclusively by Wenham inhabitants, and the Fair- field burial ground, left by William3 Fairfield for his de- scendants. Tradition has persisted of a third1-a slave burial ground at Wenham Neck. Skulls which have been found at this spot would justify this tradition. A third private enclosure is sometimes mentioned-near Pleasant Pond-of which there is now no evidence or authenticity.
Stones in the Early Burial Grounds. The burials of the 17th century were marked by the most crude stones, na- tive or slate; the earliest slate was Welsh, which was later replaced by American slate. Since these slate slabs were only two inches thick, in course of years, they have fallen and broken, and finally lost.
It is to the credit of interested people, notably Mr. Well- ington Poole, that a record was made, and some resetting and re-cutting of inscriptions in the old Town burial ground. This was done in the '80's. In the year 1941, a committee of the Historical Society made a plan and in- dex to this old burial ground. ,
In the two private cemeteries, there was great neglect, until 1941, when the Historical Society, with the co-opera- tion of Mr. Louis Dodge. undertook to clear up the tangle in both cemeteries, and made a record of the burials up to 1850.
In the Dodge's Row cemetery, there are some native stones, most crudely cut ; here also one may find excellent examples of the carving of this period. The designs con- formed to a general pattern-a death's head, some call it an angel's head, in the center of two wings, a conventional
1 At rear of the house of Mrs. Charles Leach on Dodge's Row.
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PÈRE LYESY ALSO MARY 94 BODY OF MA SY WIFE OF RICH
RICHARD DODG DODGE LYES WHO DIEDY FERE WHO DIE 3 ITOS AGEDA NOVA 2 1716
YEARS AGED 75 YEAR
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Notes on Wenham History, 1643-1943
rosette at each corner, a conventional scroll bordering the sides. These weird figures became less popular in the lat- ter 18th century, being replaced by the urn and the weep- ing willow.
Epitaphs were rare, in the very early years, but genea- logical data most profuse. Watts' hymns succeeded coup- let like-
"As you are, so were we As we are, so you shall be" "As I am now, so you must be Prepare for death, and follow me."
The records of the three burial grounds, the location of the stones, with accompanying genealogical data, form a record of what survives after three centuries.2
Town Burial Ground. There are no records as to when the town commenced to use this spot, or when it appropri- ated the land for burial purposes.
The first mention is in a vote of the town in 1681-"to give Isaac Hull permission to fence his land, taking in the burial place, upon condition that 'if the town see cause to fence their burial place, the said Hull shall make one half of it, ye fence between the said burying place and his land.' "
The burying hill seemed to have no further interest to the town fathers for the next seventy years.
When again in 1750 they became aroused to the neces- sity of fixing its boundaries, "they applied themselves un- to the town book, for some record or grant, made unto the town, but they could find none, neither by inquiry from old residents." Since it was impossible to get an intelli- gent account of the boundaries, it was then referred back and forth between committees and the Town for two years, until June 1752, the boundaries were settled, and the part which is called the "old cemetery"-the little knoll by the roadside-was enclosed by a fence, "four feet high, from the surface of the earth." It took three years to com- plete this fence." In the meantime an "apple tree or two" supposed to be the town property was taken at or near the burying place and was the subject of diligent inquiry.8
2 W. H. C. Ms., Vol. 15.
3 W. T. R., Vol. 3, p. 120, 129.
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Notes on Wenham History, 1643-1943
The fencing was finally completed in 1755; the herbage being enclosed became a town asset, and for the next twen- ty years was rented, first for sheep and horses, later con- fined to sheep, at a yearly rental of five shillings and four pence.
Dr. Tyler Porter, Jonathan Porter, Haffield White and James Friend were of those who were yearly chosen to "improve the burying-place-by the pasturing of their sheep."
When Wellington Poole4 in 1882 copied the inscriptions in this burying-ground, there was found the fragment of a stone bearing the date of 1686. The oldest stone now decipherable is dated 1706, marking the grave of Sarah Fairfield, wife of Walter2 Fairfield.
Dodge's Row Cemetery. The original plot of land used for burial was the gift of Edward2 Dodge, from his in- heritance from his father, Richard. There is every evi- dence that the plot had been used for burial purposes some years previous to the conveyance, since there are stones dated 1704, 1705, and several others before the date of the deed.
This deed was accompanied by an agreement, signed by nineteen of the neighbors, who were the children or rela- tives of Edward2 Dodge. The agreement provides for proper fencing and a gate, and the keeping of both in re- pair.
In the reclaiming of this old part of the cemetery, Mr. Louis Dodge carried out the bequest of his father, Mr. William P. Dodge. In the process of the work, he made many interesting discoveries; pieces of slate and stone were found in the underbrush, which were carefully re- assembled, the inscriptions and lettering recut, and thus identified were set up in their proper location. In remov- ing a large stump, there was found grown into its roots a common field stone marked 19/1704, which Mr. Dodge from his knowledge of Dodge genealogy identified as the footstone of the grave of a little girl of five years, Han- nah Dodge, who died April 19, 1704.
4 Inscriptions from the old burying ground in Wenham, com- piled by Wellington Poole, 1882.
Index and Plan of the Old Burying Ground, by Mrs. Ethel Wentworth and Mrs. J. Harrington, 1943. W. H. Col., V. 15.
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Notes on Wenham History, 1643-1943
Other missing stones which were "borrowed" have been located, and are being returned and reset. In all, thirty- nine stones have been identified and reset in the old cemetery.
Fairfield Burial Ground. Deacon William3 Fairfield seems to be the first Fairfield to live on the eighty-acre grant from Salem. In 1685 William3 married Esther (surname not recorded) and their infant son was buried on the little knoll which he later set apart as a cemetery. The date of this stone 1691 is the oldest marked grave in Wenham.
The death of Esther his wife in 1723 and her burial in the center of a square piece, two poles on each side, gives a bound to the burying place, which in his will5 he definitely sets aside, "always reserving my burial place. free from any gift, grant, bargain or alienation whatso- ever, and I do hereby except and reserve to my own use and the use of my family in common even to all descend- ing from me, either male or female that shall see cause to bury their dead in said burying place forever." For one hundred and thirty-three years, through many conveyances the burial ground and passage to and from same is men- tioned, because it was an outer boundary, but in the year 1861 in the deed, George Kimball to Elisha Forme,6 the land completely surrounds the burial ground, and from that time is not mentioned in the deeds, being no longer a boundary.
Thirteen Fairfield connections are buried here, and with the passing years and neglect in care, the little knoll be- came overgrown, the stones and tomb broken. In 1941 the Historical Association cleaned up the underbrush, mended and reset the stones and rebuilt and sealed the tomb. It is now a credit to the memory of Dea. William Fairfield, one of Wenham's most distinguished citizens. His stone is thus inscribed-"Here lies ye body / of the Honorable William Fairfield Esq. / sometime Speaker of the House / of Representatives / and for many years / a Deacon of ye church / in Wenham / and representative for said Town / who died Decr 18th, 1742-in ye 81st year of his age."
5 E. P. C., 325 : 107.
6 E. R. D., 633 : 244.
EDUCATION
Public Schools. The General Court early in the 17th century enacted a law requiring every town with a popu- lation of fifty families to provide a public school. Wen- ham population increased slowly and the town was remiss in meeting the requirement, until it was fined for this neglect.
Capt. Thomas Fisk was the first schoolmaster, and the school was probably kept in accordance with custom, in the house of the schoolmaster, in this case the present Claf- lin-Richards house, and Capt. Fisk received what he could collect from each pupil as tuition.
The year 1712 marks the time when school dames began to be regularly employed by the Selectmen, who arranged with "such school dames as are necessary to learn children to read and write."1
Mr. William Rogers was schoolmaster for twelve years, when it became necessary to employ two masters. Mr. Daniel Dodge was chosen as the second master. He was a graduate of Harvard, class of 1700, the grandson of Rich- ard Dodge the pioneer. Each of the masters had for sal- ary 6 shillings per pupil a week.
It was very difficult for the pupils in the east and west parts of the town to take advantage of a Center School. For this reason, it was arranged in 1733 that school dames in different sections should see to it that the children be taught to read, and in addition a writing master was ap- pointed, who journeyed from one district to another. No provision was made by the town to pay these school dames, so it may be assumed that they were paid as in private schools by the individual pupils.
District Schools. The first district school house was in the west part of the town, when in 1739 Daniel Fisk con- veyed2 to the town five square rods of land with the pro-
1 W. T. R.
"nevertheless it is mutually agreed that in case the aforementioned committee and inhabitants abovementioned, shall at any time neglect to use and improve the said land and
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vision that on this land the town should support a school. The school house was built and later replaced by another building which was used as a school house into the 20th century, when, on account of the consolidation of the schools, the building was no longer of use as a school house, and it was moved to the center of the town, and remodelled into a town garage.
Proprietors School. The children in the East District depended upon school dames for their training up to the year 1766. At this date, parents took matters into their own hands and decided to build a school house themselves, subscribing certain stipulated amounts. The following de- position illustrates how the proprietors of this school dealt with a reluctant subscriber, by name Peter Dodge.
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