USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > Ould Newbury: historical and biographical sketches > Part 27
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On the 27th of October, 1715, the members of the church at Pipe Stave Hill, then under the pastoral care of Rev. John Tufts, held a meeting, at which it was agreed
Yt Lieut. Caleb Moody & Ens. Stephen Emery should desire those yt were members of this church living below Artichoke River yt had with- drawn Themselves from Communion a considerable time to meet ye Church at ye Meeting House on November 7th next ; there to debate in a friendly manner ye past Difference & see if some thing could not be done or said to make them more easy & draw ym to our Comunion again ; & to hear ye Reason why they have withdrawn, &, if we cannot draw them by Fair means, to determine wh measures to take with them.
What answer was made to this proposal is uncertain. The records of the church at Pipe Stave Hill do not give any details of the conference, if one was held. It is evident,
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however, that energetic measures were decided upon; and the wardens and vestrymen of Queen Anne's Chapel, under date of June 2, 1718,
Agreed at ye vestry that if any member of ye Ch be distrained upon for ye payment of rates to any other minister yn that of this Ch that ye whole body will try ye case with any person or persons at law, and that each member of ye Ch of England shall bear his proportion accord- ing to his estate, for ye assistance of any person that shall be distrained upon, to carry on and end ye said suit at Law.
Witness my hand.
HEN : LUCAS.
Anxious and disturbed by the controversy, but evidently unable to deal with the difficulties of the situation or recon- cile the conflicting views and opinions that prevailed, Rev. Mr. Lucas wrote his last letter to the secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts June 19, 1720. He died Aug. 23, 1720.
He was a man of morbid temperament and quick sensibili- ties, liable to periods of deep depression. The church under his care seems to have gradually lost vigor and strength ; and, from the general tenor of his reports, sent annually to England, it is easy to see that he did not have the sympathy and support of his parishioners. Discouraged and disap- pointed, he is said to have taken his own life while laboring under temporary mental derangement.
Rev. David Mossom, of Marblehead, officiated occasionally at Newbury, until the arrival of Rev. Matthias Plant, who left London Feb. 16, 1722, in the ship " Drake," and landed at Boston April 15, about twelve o'clock. In his diary Mr. Plant wrote that he
Preached two sermons upon Thursday, an appointed fast, April 19th ; preached Sunday 22nd in the morning only; set out for Marblehead 24th; came thence to Newbury April 26th and preached in my parish April 29, 1722.
Although the inhabitants of the west precinct, whose place of worship was at Pipe Stave Hill, had voted April 2, 1714,
QUEEN ANNE'S CHAPEL AND BELLEVILLE CEMETERY 383
" to free all those persons that are or shall be for the Epis- copal way of worship in ye Precinct from paying any rates to the maintenance of ye Ministry amongst us, And also all Quakers," it appears that some years later an attempt was made to revive this tax. Rev. Mr. Plant, in behalf of his parishioners, applied to Governor Shute for protection, and obtained the following order directed "To his Majesty's Justices of ye Peace for ye County of Essex, or any one of them " : -
BOSTON, July 27, 1722.
Whereas upon information from the Rev. Matthias Plant, minister of the Church of England, Newbury, that several persons, inhabitants in that and the adjoining towns, have professed themselves members of ye said church and accordingly have entered their names in their Register Book, and that the Rt. Rev. the Bishop of London hath settled a minister amongst them and that there is a very considerable congregation, I do therefore order that ye persons, who have already declared, or shall hereafter declare for ye said established church, be peaceably allowed in their proceedings, and must not be taxed or imposed upon for ye support and maintenance of any other publick worship in ye said town or towns, wherein they shall inhabit: of which all persons concerned are to take notice accordingly.
Given under my hand
SAMUEL SHUTE.
On the records of Queen Anne's Chapel the following cer- tificate is inscribed immediately after the governor's order quoted above : -
Attested that this is the true form of the original signed and granted by His Excellency Sam1 Shute, Governor of New England, for ye pro- tection of ye members of ye Church of England in Newbury & for such persons as shall enter their names into ye Register Book.
MATTHIAS PLANT, Minister, SAMUEL BARTLET, JOHN BARTLET, JOSHUA BROWN, THOMAS BARTLET.
Under the protection of this official order the worshippers of Queen Anne's Chapel were relieved from anxiety and
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annoyance, and for many years continued to enjoy their rights and privileges undisturbed.
Standing rules and regulations were adopted for the gov- ernment of the church at a meeting held Nov. 28, 1722, “at the house of ye Rev. Matthias Plant, minister in Newbury, then a lodger in Mr. Samuel Bartlett's house." These rules were signed by Samuel Bartlett, Abiel Long, John Bartlett, Joseph Annis, Joshua Brown, Skipper Lunt, Josiah Sawyer, Benjamin Long, Stephen Rogers, Ephraim Davis, Thomas Bartlett, James Harbutt, William Somands, John Eayre, Robert Rogers, John Merrill, William Morey, and Richard Williams.
Mr. Plant married Miss Lydia Bartlett, daughter of Samuel Bartlett, Dec. 27, 1722. He was highly respected by his parishioners, and the number of communicants steadily in- creased. His reports to the secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts give, in con- nection with the early history of the parish, some items of interest relating to the general condition and occupation of the people. Under date of Oct. 25, 1727, he writes as follows : -
Sir,- I have returned you Answers to several particulars relating to the affairs of my Church.
I. The History of Building the Church, &c. It was erected for a Meeting House in 1711, by the Inhabitants, about 45 Families in num- ber ; but, being opposed by a greater Body of people within the same Division or Parish who had erected another Meeting House, they com- plained of 'em to the Justices of the Peace (who committed some of them to Prison, & others were compelled for their safety to appeal to the Governor & Council, where they met with no better treatment) for erecting a Meeting House contrary to Law (for according to the Laws of the Province the major part appoints the place where the Meeting House shall be built). Mr. Bridger at Portsmouth in N. E., having in- formation of the severity used towards these people, came to Newbury & told the Inhabitants that, if they would convert their intended Meet- ing House into a Church, he would engage 'em protection from the Governor. They complying with his motion (after the perusal of sev- eral Church Books), he obtained their easement. The Salary is Weekly Contributions by the Auditors, about £20 Per annm. The material with which the Church is built is wood. The dimensions of it, 50 ft. long & 30 wide, but accommodated with no House or Glebe.
QUEEN ANNE'S CHAPEL AND BELLEVILLE CEMETERY 385
2. The number of hearers were about 100, who at first frequented the Church (for many who contributed towards building the Church never consented to convert it to that use). Their condition of Fortunes is like unto our ordinary Farmers who rent £30 or {40 pr annm. They com- monly add some Trade to their Farming. In matters of Religion, Dis- senters. Their Settlements dispersed, after the manner of our Cottages upon commons, some perhaps having 30 to 60 acres of Land. Some of my Hearers live in the adjacent Towns from 2 to 6 miles distance. Marblehead is the nearest Church, 32 miles remote. My constant Auditors are from 150 to 200 or thereabouts, & daily increase as doth my Salary. Their Fortunes are no otherwise improved than by their Lands becoming more valuable, which is occasioned by peoples becom- ing more numerous in the Country.
3. There are three Meeting Houses about 3 miles distant in the same town, each frequented by 500 Auditors, at least to each Meeting House one Dissenting Teacher. They are supported by a settled Salary, thus when the major part of a Town or a Precinct in that Town call a Teacher, then they agree with him for an Annual settled Salary, which remains so during his life, which is assessed by the Selectmen in each Town, according to every Man's Estate in that Town or Precinct, & collected by the Constable, & so paid by him to their several Teachers. I think there are about 6 Families of Quakers in the Town, tho' more numerous than in the neighboring Towns.
4. The School Masters in every Town are annually chosen by the In- habitants of the Said Town. Their Salaries are then voted & settled for the year ensuing.
5. Nil.
6. Negro Slaves, one of them is desirous of Baptism, but denied by her Master, a woman of wonderful sense & prudent in matters of equal Knowledge in Religion with most of her sex, far excelling any of her own nation that ever yet I heard of.
Sir, I have been very particular in returning a true & exact account to each particular, & have transmitted a Letter to you of the same the very first opportunity which offered, and depend upon your laying the same before their Honors.
I am, Sir,
Your most humble Servant,
MATTHIAS PLANT.
In 1738, the erection of a new church was proposed by some of the prominent and influential citizens of Newbury, and this suggestion led to the building of St. Paul's Church near the business centre of the town. In 1740, it was ready for use, although not entirely finished until five years later.
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July 1, 1742, the General Court passed an act providing that "members of the Church of England shall be taxed according to the law of the province, but the amount col- lected shall be delivered to the minister of the church where the professed member regularly attends public worship." In compliance with this law an arrangement was made with Rev. Mr. Plant to officiate at Queen Anne's Chapel and also at St. Paul's Church. Under date of July 23, 1742, he wrote to the secretary of the society in London : "We have erected a fine new church about three miles from where I live. I preach in it every other Sunday." This arrangement, how- ever, was interrupted by some differences of opinion in re- gard to the rights and duties of the officiating clergyman. Several years later an amicable agreement was reached ; and, July 26, 1751, Rev. Mr. Plant was legally instituted rector of St. Paul's Church. In 1752, Mr. Edward Bass went to Eng- land, where he was ordained by the Right-Reverend Bishop
Sherlock of London. On his return to Newbury he was appointed assistant to the Rev. Mr. Plant, who remained in charge of both churches, but on account of ill-health was un- able to give much attention to parochial work. Mr. Plant died April 2, 1753. Mr. Bass continued to officiate at Queen Anne's Chapel once a month until 1766.
The building, neglected and deserted, began to show signs of decay ; and ten or twelve years later, during the prevalence of a high wind, fell to the ground. All the church furniture and other materials were appropriated in various ways. The pews were used for the construction of a gallery in an ad- joining meeting-house. The Bible was given to a church in Boscawen, N. H. The silver christening-basin came into the possession of St. Paul's Church, where it remained until stolen by burglars, April 2, 1887.
The bell, with the inscription, " Presented to Queen Anne's Chapel by the Bishop of London," hung for a time in the belfry of the school-house on Pillsbury's lane, now Ashland Street. In December, 1839, it was quietly taken down in the night, and secretly disposed of.
QUEEN ANNE'S CHAPEL AND BELLEVILLE CEMETERY 387
" 'Twas the eve before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse, Excepting three persons with their coach with one wheel, Intending, of course, the right bell to steal,
Who, with footsteps quite noiseless, crept up Pillsbury's Lane, Accomplished their purpose, and crept back again ; And from that day to this the compiler believes
The bell has been missing, and so have the thieves."
The burying ground connected with Queen Anne's Chapel was left undisturbed and neglected for many years. In 1790, Deacon Moses Atkinson and others interested themselves to enlarge and improve it. They built the stone wall on the Wesley Street side, and added an acre or more of land to the enclosure. In 1820, a bequest of $100 from Mr. Robert Dodge, on condition that a like sum be raised by subscrip- tion, was accepted, and the conditions complied with. The amount received from this source was invested in land pur- chased of Amos Chase and John Jackman, and added to the burying ground. In 1843, an association was formed, and money was raised for the purpose of building a receiving tomb and laying out and grading walks.
In 1851, Josiah L. Hale, Esq., gave some additional land to the association ; and, under Chapters 43 and 44 of the Revised Statutes, the organization was completed, and its members were legally incorporated as the Belleville Cemetery Association. In 1864, the area of the cemetery was still further enlarged by a gift of five acres of land from Messrs. Josiah L. and Joshua Hale. A few years later a substantial iron fence was erected on the southerly side of the enclosure, along the highway now known as Storey Avenue; and in 1873 a new gateway, suitably inscribed, was presented to the association by Mrs. Sarah Little, wife of Mr. John Little.
Rev. Henry Lucas, who died August 23, is said to have been buried Aug. 25, 1720, under the altar of Queen Anne's Chapel ; but this statement cannot be verified, as there is no monument or tablet to mark the spot where he was laid. The oldest stone now standing in the graveyard was erected
REV. MATTHIAS PLANT,
MRS. LYDIA PLANT.
MRS. SARAH BARTLETT.
BELLEVILLE CEMETERY.
QUEEN ANNE'S CHAPEL AND BELLEVILLE CEMETERY 389 to the memory of Mrs. Sarah Bartlett, who died Jan. 17, 1727. From that date until 1760 the worshippers at Queen Anne's Chapel buried their friends and kindred there.
Among the graves that deserve especial notice are four or five in close proximity to each other, marked by headstones bearing the following inscriptions : -
Here Lies Buried The Body of the Revd Mr. Matthias Plant Born in Staffordshier In Great Briton Minister of This Church and Rector of St. Paul's OBT April 2nd 1753 Etatis 62.
Here Lies Buried The Body of Mrs Lydia Plant The Widow and Relict Of The Revd Mr Plant Late Minister Of This Church And Rector Of St Pauls OBT October 8th 1753 Etatis 66.
Here Lyes Buried The Body Of Mr Samvel Bartlett Of Newbury Who Was One Of The First Founders Of This Church He Died May Ye 15th 1732 Being In The 87th Year Of His Age.
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Here Lies Buried The Body Of Mr John Bayley Who Was Clark Of This Church Died Decr 20th 1747 In The 70th Year Of His Age.
Here is Interrd The Body Of Joshua Brown Who Was One Of Ye First Founders Of The Church In Newbury He Died November The 21st A. C. 1742 & In Ye 71st Year Of His Age.
In the newer portion of the cemetery representatives of the Atkinson, Hale, Carr, Currier, Toppan, Wigglesworth, and other families living in that neighborhood, are buried.
MAP OF THE WEST PARISH.
Aug. 28, 1729, the inhabitants of the upper part of the West Parish petitioned the General Court for a division of the parish. In order to assist the petitioners in the presen- tation of their case, an accurate map of that portion of the town of Newbury was made by John Brown, surveyor, and dated Sept. 15, 1729.
This map is now exceedingly valuable and interesting, giving, as it does, the location of every house within the limits of the parish and the name of every owner or occupant at that date. Every street, road, and lane is also carefully laid down and properly designated. There are several litho- graphic copies of the original map in existence. One of them may be seen at the rooms of the Historical Society in the Public Library building, Newburyport.
For the convenience of those who wish to consult this map and compare it with the printed text of these pages, a copy, reduced in size, but correct in all its details, has been pre- pared for insertion here. In the accompanying list of house- holders will be found the names of many who were identified with the early history of Newbury. In this list Queen Anne's Chapel is designated " The Church " (No. 13). The minister at that time in charge of the chapel was Rev. Matthias Plant (No. 3). The mill-house (No. 25), at the mouth of the Artichoke River, is now known as Curzon's mill. The meeting-house (No. 56), built in 1710 at Pipe Stave Hill, gave rise to the prolonged contest described in the preceding pages of this book ; and Rev. John Tufts (No. 53) was its pastor from 1714 to 1738.
The ferries at the mouth of Powow River and at Holt's rocks, near Rocks bridge, are correctly located on the map ; and the extension of High Street from the Bradford road to the Merrimack River is also plainly indicated. This way,
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A PLAN OF THE WEST PARISH OF NEWBURY NEW TOWN. Taken Sept™ 15, 1729, by John Brown, Survr.
Part of Haverhill Sofort Seafla.
Afh Street
Holmans Lane)
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139 G.
L: 32 0 20 m J
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.....
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400
INHABITANTS OF WEST PARISH, 1729.
Hereunder follow the names of the Inhabitants of this West Parish, & the numbers against the names are set against the houses owned by ye same.
I John Bayley 48 Joseph Richardson 49 Edmund Greenleaf
95 Samuel Chase
142 Samuell Buckman
2 John Ordway
96 Ephraim Noyes
143 Jonathan Hog
3 Revt. Mr. Plant
50 Tristram Greenleaf 97 Joseph Noyes
144 Roger Chase
4 John Bartlett
51 Capt. Jnº. Greenleaf 98 Edward Sargeant
145 Da. Thomas Chace
5 Thomas Bartlett
52 Joseph Pike
99 Capt. Greenleafe
146 Andrew Downor
6 Seth Bartlett
53 Rev. Mr. Jno. Tufts
100 Joseph Bailey
147 Stephen Sayer
7 Saml Bartlett
54 Francis Willet
IOI Samuel Plummer
148 SamIl Poore
8 Dan Joshua Brown
55 John Gourdin
102 Widow Hill
149 Hannuniah Ordway
9 John Bartlett
56 Meeting House
103 Thomas Hale
I 50 Nathaniel Ordway
IO Thomas Bartlett
57 Isaac Bailey
104 Enoch Little
1 51 Samll Morse
II Joseph Moulton
58 William Sayor
105 Christopher Bartlett 152 John Emerson
12 Skipper Lunt
59 Tristram Knight
106 James Smith
153 Thomas Hale
13 The Church
60 Timothy Morse
107 Samuell Dole
I 54 Abel Merril
14 Benjamin Long 15 Thomas Rogers
62 Widow Savory
109 John Hill
156 Abel Morse
16 Stephen Rogers
63 Shubael Long
IIO Samuell Hill
I 57 Moses Richardson
17 Robert Long
64 John Coffin
III John Morrison
I 58 Daniel Morse
IS Thomas Chase
65 Charles Chase
112 Daniel Morrison
I 59 Daniel Rawlines
19 Joseph Annis
66 James Carr
113 John Emery
160 Truman March
20 Archelaus Woodman 67 John Chace
114 Francis Follinsby
161 Widow Morse
21 Widow Davis
68 James Ordway
115 Samuel Merril
162 Joseph Williams
22 John Merril
69 Benjamin Merril
117 Daniel Bartlett
164 James Chace
23 Josiah Sayor
70 John Worth
118 Daniel Bartlett
165 Benjamin Rawlins
25 Mill House
72 Joseph Piker
119 Benjamin Morse
166 Stephen Ordway
26 Petor Ordway
73 Nathan Ordway 74 Abraham Annis
I21 Ezekiel Hale
168 Joseph Pilsbury
28 Philip Morse
75 John Annis
I22 James Brickett
169
29 Thomas Brown
76 Sam1 Sayer
123 Benja Hill
30 John Sayor
77 Joshua Bailey
124 Salomon Holeman
170 Deacon Caleb Moodey 171 James Huse 172 William Huse 173 John Huse
33 John Sayor
80 Abel Merrill
I27 Richard Bartlett
174 Abel Huse
34 John Cooper
81 John Kelby
128 Thomas Kenney
175 Abel Huse
35 John Bowley 36 Ephraim Davis
82 John Kelly 83 John Morse
129 Stephen Morse
176 Sam" Bartlett
37 John Emery 38 Reuben Emery
84 Benja Swett
v130 John Woodman 131 Abraham Chase 132 Abraham Chase
178 Thomas Rogers
39 Joseph Lowell
86 Joshua March
133 William Morse
180 John Rogers
40 Joseph Brown
87 Moses Chase
134 Thomas Noyes
181 Robert Rogers
41 Joseph Brown
88 Ezra Pitsbury
135 Moses Pitsbury
42 William Richardson 89 Willm Johnson
136 John Carr
43 Thomas Huse 44 Daniel Cheney
90 Thomas Follinsby 91 William Follinsby 92 John Noyse
I37 David Chace 138 John Chace
185 Thomas Brown
45 Daniel Cheney
46 Nathaniel Greenleaf 93 Benjamin Jaques
140 Nathan1 Merril
187 Stephen Bailey
94 Thonias Follinsby 141
139 James Brown
186 Brown Upper House
47 Shimuel Griffin
78 Willm W: atson
125 Joseph Hill
32 Joshua Sayor
79 William Noise
126 Willm Johnson
116 Richard Bartlett 163 James Britt
24 David Merril
71 Tristram Coffin
120 New Meeting House 167 Richard Bartlett
27 Benjamin Morse
85 Sam1 March
179 Thomas Rogers, Jr.
182 Joseph flood 183 George Little 184 John Brown
177 Benja Poore
31 Peter Merril
61 Jonathan Sayor
108 Stephen Chase 155 Stephen Morse
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or Ferry road, as it was afterward called, was probably laid out in 1668. The first volume of the records of the town of Newbury has the following report from the selectmen of the town : -
According to our commission from the town, March 8th 1665, we have laid out a country way unto Salisbury New towne of four Rod broad, begining at Merrimack River Side, running through Christopher Bartlett's land sixty rods and likewise through Archelaus Woodman's land, Sixteen Rod at the North end of Caleb Moody's land and through Robert Coker's land about 17 or 18 Rods.
RICHARD KNIGHT JOHN KNIGHT RICHARD DOLE
being selectmen did give order to have this recorded.
per ANTHONY SOMERBY.
DECEMBER 21, 1668.
This road was rendered necessary by the grant of a new ferry near the mouth of the Powow River. May 27, 1668, the General Court,
In ans' to the petition of the inhabitants of Salisbury, new toune, humbly desiring the favor of this court that their toune may be named Emesbury, the Court grants their request.
In a further answer to their request to haue liberty granted them to keepe a ferry ouer Merremack Riuer, about Mr Goodwin's house, the Court judgeth it meet to grant that there shall be a ferry kept as is desired, & leaue it to the next Court of that county to appoint both the person that is to keepe it & also to appoint the price.
October 13 of that year Edward Goodwin was duly ap- pointed ferryman. In 1669, George Carr applied to the Gen- eral Court for liberty to keep this new ferry in accordance with the agreement made and provided when the floating bridge at Carr's Island was built. His request was granted ; and the ferry remained under his care and control until his death, April 4, 1682. It was afterward kept and maintained by the heirs of George Carr until Feb. 8, 1695-6, when Richard Carr sold to Captain John March, of Newbury, "The Ferry commonly known by ye name of Almesbury ferry together with all ye priveleges to ye same belonging,
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MAP OF THE WEST PARISH
which s'd Ferry was by ye Town of Almesbury Granted to my Honoured Father, Mr. George Carr, late of Salisbury, deceased, and confirmed by ye General Court, allsoe ye ferry boats, allsoe a freehold commonage or common right in ye Township of Almesbury, as my said Father, Mr. George Carr, was a free Commoner in s'd Towne as ye Towne Booke will make appeer " (Essex Deeds, Ipswich Series, book 2, page 160.)
Humphrey Hook, who married Judith, daughter of Captain John March, was placed in charge of the ferry, which in process of time came to be known as " Hook's Ferry." He continued to serve as ferryman until his death in 1754. He was followed by his grandson Humphrey Currier, and other members of his family, until the Essex-Merrimack bridge was opened to the public in 1792.
The ferry at Holt's rocks, afterward called Swett's ferry, was located where the present Rocks bridge now stands. March 26, 1694, the town of Newbury " granted John Kelley, senior, permission to keep a ferry over the Merrimack at Holts Rocks, in the place where he now dwelleth, ferriage six pence for horse and man, two pence for single man." Coffin, in his History of Newbury, says, "Sept. 25, 1711, John Swett was licensed by the Court to keep the ferry at Holt's rocks. Fare, two pence for a man and four pence for a horse." When the map of the West Parish was drawn, John Swett was in charge of this ferry, and resided on the north side of the river. The older ferry, established at Carr's Island in 1644, does not appear on the map, as it was located some distance beyond the limits of the parish.
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