Standard history of Essex county, Massachusetts, embracing a history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its towns and cities. The Most historic county of America., Part 102

Author: Tracy, Cyrus M. (Cyrus Mason), 1824-1891, et al. Edited by H. Wheatland
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Boston, C. F. Jewett
Number of Pages: 450

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Standard history of Essex county, Massachusetts, embracing a history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its towns and cities. The Most historic county of America. > Part 102

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In 1731 the town voted to keep school one month in Ebenezer Barker's house, one month in Thomas Eaton's house, and one month in Joshua Swan's. In 1733, Ebenezer Barker, Zebediah Barker, and Thomas Eaton were each paid £2 10s. for keeping school. From keeping school exclusively in private houses, an advance-step was made in 1735, the town voting to build a school-house, eighteen by twenty feet, near the meeting-house, school to be kept two months at the school-house, and one month at Spicket Hill. The school sessions were divided between the school-house and private houses, until 1792, principally; it is presumed, for the better accommodation of the scholars, who would thereby be saved long distances of travel. Male teachers were the only ones employed till 1749, when the town voted " to choose school-mistresses to instruct children in their read- ing. Also voted to choose a committee to agree with school-mis- tresses, and appoint convenient places for them to meet in."

The division of the town into school districts came in 1775, each of which was to have its proportion of the school money, pro- vided it built a comfortable school-house. Up to that time, the select- men usnally had the sole care of the schools. The building of the school-houses was at once let out at auction to the lowest bidder, the houses costing about £29 each. The vouchers of these transactions are now in the hands of Mr. David Nevins. To secure the occupancy of the school-houses, the town appropriated that year the sum of £30 for schools, and continued to appropriate that amount each year until 1792. Sixty pounds a year after this became the appropriation. After 1795 " dollars " appeared in the town records for the first time. The equivalent to a pound at that time was $3.33. The appropriation in 1797 was $300, followed by an increase at times, till in 1823 the sum appropriated for schools was $600.

The augmenting of appropriations did not stop here, but continued to increase, more than keeping pace with the increase of population, till in 1876 the amount appropriated for schools was $800.

A public library containing about 1,300 volumes has been estab- lished within a few years. It has an annual income from the dog- licenses of the town. Postal communication in the early time must have been one of the difficult things to accomplish. The post-office was first established here in 1843, and Moses How appointed post- master. This was 173 years after Haverhill, which included Methuen, was settled. Letters were then carried by post-riders, and the man- ner of their delivery is not now generally understood.

The burying-ground was among the first things provided by the settlers, and its proper care, enlargement, and improvement has ever been in view. There are three burying-grounds laid out by the town. In 1853, Walnut Grove Cemetery was laid out by an association of individuals, and has been much improved.

The cultivation of the soil was the almost exclusive occupation of the inhabitants of this town for many years. The product of their farms, and the fish taken from the rivers, supplied nearly every want. The waters were. alive with fish of various kinds, salmon so abounding that it became necessary to stipulate in the contracts of apprentices that their masters should serve them with salmon for food only a specified number of times per week. Eels, alewives, shad, and other

varicties of fish were caught in immense quautities, and those not used for food served for enriching the soil, which was a nse to which they were put by the Indians in raising corn, and was adopted by the white men who followed them. Their surplus products they early found a market for in Salem, and such as were portable in that way, were taken there on horseback. The soil was well adapted to the growth of flax. and what was not made into cloth through the in- strumentality of the spinning-wheel and the loom, the necessary fix- tures of every farm-house, was marketed in Londonderry, which was settled by the Scotch-Irish linen manufacturers and linen drapers, who carried their packs of linen goods all over the country, supplying all classes with the desirable fabrics they manufactured. The ready money required to pay taxes, and make their limited purchases of luxuries, was also obtained from the sale of wood and timber, which was rafted to Newburyport.

For long years these were the chief markets for the farmers of this town, but in the lapse of time the city of Lowell was built, which opened a fine market for everything except wood, and that became their principal market, for all products, till the building of Lawrence, which created an extensive market at their doors for every variety of surplus products. These excellent advantages of market, long existing, have made the cultivation of the soil a success here ; but it is a curious fact that the population of Methuen, outside of the village, is little larger at this time than it was at the beginning of the Revolutionary War.

The convenience of the inhabitants called for the early opening of highways, or paths, when this town was a part of Haverhill. This section was at that time threaded by a large number of town-ways which were probably opened for convenience in reaching the meadows and woodland in this section. These ways were usually two rods wide, generally beginning at a marked tree, and following on, their course being designated by stumps or trees duly "spotted." The marks of these old paths through the forests has now become chiefly obliterated.

The first road recorded as laid out by the town of Methnen was from a point " on Hawkes Meadow brook to James Howe's well," and was probably a part of what is now known as Howe Street, north of the Taylor farm. At that date no money was expended for grading roads, and they were usually only ordinary cart-paths. The only vehicles passing over them were ox-carts and sleds, for many years ; the introduction of wagons and chaises having taken place about the beginning of the present century. The popular mode of travelling was on horseback ; the men in saddles, and the women on pillions be- hind them. They also went to market on horseback, taking their goods in sacks and saddlebags. This mode of travelling really required only bridle-paths, and in many cases such were the only openings for travel.

The people of the early time were quite averse to indulgence in luxuries, and were very careful about voting for public improvements which would necessitate an increase of taxation. Money was then too scarce and too hard to be obtained to part with without consider- able reflection.

The conservative and the penurions opposed all publie improve- ments and all corporate enterprises. The record is, that " In 1793, a company was organized to build a bridge over the Merrimack, at Bodwell's falls. Soon after a meeting was held to see if the town would send a remonstrance to the General Court against its erection. This proposition was decided in the negative. The opponents of the bridge then called a meeting to see if the town would petition the General Court to order the proprictors to pay the cost of the town roads leading to the bridge. This, also, was voted down, and the town decided to repair the road over Currant's hill to New Hamp- shire line." The evident hostility to this new enterprise was stimu- lated by the desire to escape taxation for the incidental improvement of highways, which an increase of travel would naturally call for. This carly hostility to public improvements was akiu to that which has been encountered by communities, in general, in later times, iu blocking the wheels of public improvements which have called for the levying of taxes on property. The majority in the past, however, sustained public improvements, as has been the case in the present, and the march has been steadily onward.

The ferries existing at that time were "Gage's Ferry," near the house of Samuel Cross ; "Swan's Ferry," at Wingate's farm ; "Mars- ton's Ferry," at the Almshouse, Lawrence ; "Bodwell's Ferry," at what is now known as the Pumping Station ; and "Harris's Ferry," a little east of Dracut line.

The bridge company, after being chartered, moved with alacrity,

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

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and the bridge was soon opened to public travel, which at once con- centrated at that point, passing from thenee to New Hampshire, over Currant's Hill. This success led to another incorporated company, which built the " Turnpike " in 1805-06, upon which a system of tolls was established. This was not popular, and a few years after it was made a public road. Not many years after, all the turnpikes in New England were made free roads, but it was not till within a very few years that free bridges became general.

In Chase's History of Haverhill, it is recorded : " In one of the early land grants in this section we find mention of a ' wigwam' in the town. It is also mentioned in 1660 and 1685. These are the only mentions or hints of the Indians, or of anything belonging to or done by them, that we can find in the early records of the town, save an Indian wire' in Fishing River (1664), and the 'Indian Bridge' over 'Spicket River,' in connection with which is an allusion in the records of the General Court, of 1662, to 'Old Wills planting ground' which must have been near the mouth of Spicket River, and on the cast side of it. Old Will was probably one of the Wamesit Indians, whose principal settlement was then near the Concord River. The wigwam in ques- tion, was an old and dilapidated affair, as in one of the places it is spoken of as the 'old wigwam that is or was,' in or near a certain swamp. It was located in the west part of the town 'at the lower end of the far west meadow.'"

There is no evidence indicating that any particular Indian tribe had its home in Methnen, though it is certain that Bodwell's Falls, where the Lawrence dam now stands, and the shores of the Spicket as far as "Spicket Falls," were their favorite resorts, especially during the fishing season.

It is stated, that, at the beginning of the present century, there were only six houses in the now thickly settled part of Methuen Vil- lage. These were the " Miller Cross House," corner of Hampshire and Lowell streets, "Sargent Honse," where the present hotel stands, " Deacon Frye's," the Butter's place, " Swan Place," now David Nev- ins's farm, "Jonathan Cluff House," now mill-yard, "John Sargent House," near elm-tree at the mill-yard.

At the date to which this points, there was one grist-mill a little south of Fulton's store, another on the opposite side of the river, and a fulling mill just below the foot-bridge at the falls. The first store in town was opened by Abiel Howe, in a building on Howe Street, nearly opposite the house of Charles L. Tozier, the date of which is not now known, but it is within the remembrance of persons now liv- ing.

Ilow carly the first machinery was moved by the power of the " Spicket " is not certainly known, but it must have been at an early date, and used for very common purposes. Mr. David Nevins has in his possession a deed from the widow of John Morrill, dated Decem- ber, 1709, in which she conveyed to Robert Swan, for the sum of thirty pounds, one-fourth of a saw-mill, and land "on Spicket river falls, the mill that was built by, and belonged to and amongst Robert Swan, John Morrill and Elisha Davis," which was probably the first mill built.

Some time afterwards a grist-mill was built, respectively, on each side of the river, but, in the absence of business enough to keep them both running all the time, it was mutually agreed that they should be run on alternate weeks, a spirit of accommodation and concession not sure to rule in these days of sharp competition. It is stated that this arrange- ment continued until the cotton-factory was built, from which it may be inferred that the new enterprise possessed one of these mill-sites. The record by Mr. Howe is, that " the first cotton factory was built about the year 1812 by Stephen Minot, Esq., of Haverhill, on the north side of the river. This was burnt in 1818, and soon after rebuilt. In 1821, the whole privilege and land connected therewith were purchased by the Methuen Company. The old carding or full- ing mill which had stood on the south side of the falls, was moved away and converted into a dwelling-house, which now stands on the north side of Pelham Street. In 1826-27 the brick mill was built as it now stands. In 1864 the property came into the possession of David Nevins, Esq., by whom it was greatly, increased in capacity and value, and to whose enterprise the town is largely indebted for its recent prosperity.

" In 1824, a saw-mill and grist-mill were built where the Methuen woollen mill stands. They came into the possession of Samuel A. Harvy, Esq., by whom the business of the respective mills was car- ried on for some years. In 1864, a factory was built by the Methuen Woollen Co., and soon after put in operation."

At a very early date the manufacture of hats was introduced into Methuen, but it was in a small way, and the history of the enterprise

is chiefly traditional. The work was then performed entirely by hand, and half a dozen men constituted the entire force of an estab- lishment. These little factories were chiefly located in the eastern part of the town, and the sites of these primitive "hat factories " are still pointed out.

Abial Messer settled here about 1700, and is believed to be the first person of that name who came to this country. He had seven sons. Within the radins of half a mile, nine houses were built by the Messers, of which only the cellars now remain, some of which are covered by woods and orchards.

The first hat shop was built by Jonathan Cluff. The pioneer hat- ters were Moses How (now a minister in New Bedford, and the oldest living hatter in the United States), Bowen & Gleason, Mr. Hall, Barker & How, Daniel Frye, who ran the " one-horse shop," heating his irons in his house by a wood fire. The other carly hatters were Bowen & Emerson, the Messers, Holley, Matthew Messer, in Pleas- ant Valley, J. H. Lang, Sargent & Hibbard, Joseph Jackman, Jona- than Currier, the Messrs. Pingree, John Merrill, the Messrs. Bixby, Asa Currier, Samuel Eaton, Ingalls & Davidson, Daniel Runnels, E. Mitchell, Messer & Sons, K. C. Gleason. These names have been traditionally obtained from Matthew Messer, now about eighty years old.

From these small beginnings grew the business which the introduc- tion of machinery has made so extensive.

Contemporary with this industry was that of shoemaking, though not on so extensive a scale. The shoemaker's 'shop was early an in- stitution in every neighborhood, and at length found its location on nearly every homestead in town, and in busy times the " music in the air" came from the meeting of the lapstone and the hammer, softened by the presence of the leather which received the mechanical strokes. With the introduction of machinery, and the factory system in the manufacture of shoes, as of hats, the little shops which were scat- tered all over the town have disappeared, and the immense increase of production is brought about by the application of machinery, united with a concentration of labor.

The statistics show that there was but slight increase of population from 1776 to 1820, from which time, by the increase of mannfactur- ing, the gain was nearly seventy per cent. in the following twenty years.

Methuen was not a single step behind the other colonial towns to resist the oppressions of the mother country, in the opening days of the Revolution. As carly as Angust, 1774, the record of the town commences with the vote "to pay one pound, sixteen shillings and sevenpence, lawful money, to defray the charges of the Provincial Congress." Following this, in the same year, it repudiated the pay- ment of " province rates," but voted instead, " That the Selectmen con- duct themselves respecting the Constables warrants according to the Provincial Congress Instructions."

The next record found upon the books of the town is the follow- ing : -

" At a leggal meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the Town of Methuen, held By adjournment from the nineth of August 1774 to the 20th of September 1774.

" Taking into Serious Consideration the State of public Affairs, Voted that a Committee be chosen to consult and Advise with Each other Likewise with Committees of other Towns and if need be communi- eate to any other Town any mesuers that may appear to be condueive to the publick Benefite more Especlay to be Watch-full that no En- croachments are not made on our Constitutinal Rights and Liberties, that we may enjoy the Blessings we have Left in peace and not be Deprived of them from aney quarter but may Devise prosecute the most vigerous and reselente mesures as far as Lyes in our sphere retrieve our invaluable privelages. Voted that this committee consist of fifteen persons. Stephen Barker, Esq., John Bodwell, Nathaniel Pettengill, Samuel Bodwell, Cutting Marsh, David Whittier, Jonathan Swan, James Jones, John Muse, James Malloon, John Pettengill, Lieut. John Sargent, Richard Whittier, Ebenezer Carlton, John Mas- ten.

" Voted that the above shall be entered in the Town Clerk's office."

Following this manifesto was the organization of a company under this agreement : -

" Wharcas milartrary Exercise hath been much nelicked We the Subscribers being the first comptrey in methuen Do Covenant and Engage To from our sevels in to a Bodey in order to Larn the man-

298

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

ual Exercise To be Subegat To Such officers as the Comptrey shall chuse by Voat in all constutenel marsher according to our Chattaers. "methuen ye Gth of Oetr 1774 .??

This company consisted of forty-five men, who organised as fol- lows : -

" the ferst Compyney in Methuen meat att Mr. Eben Carlton's in order to Chuse officers, and they chose Lieut. Benj'm Hall Moderator. they chose Mr. James Jones for thar Capt. Mr. Ichobied Perkins furst Leut. Mr. James Wilson Sonent Leut. Mr. Saml. Messer Ens. Mr. Nathll. Messer Jr. Clark for said Company.

" William Page

Clark for sd. metten.

" niethuen ye G of Octor 1774."?

In January, 1775, the town followed the usage of all the colonial towns in raising money by subscription for the poor of Boston, and ordered that the minute-men should be " drawn out or exposed to train," voting eightpence per day till the last of March.

At the annual meeting of the town in March, they voted to provide bayonets " which should be brought to Capt. John Davis and after the service was over said Davis is to return said bayonets unto the Select- men of the town." Soon after, the town voted " guns for all minute- men unable to furnish themselves, and to also provide blankets and cartridges."

Not long after, the following explicit and pointedly-drawn document was adopted by the town and spread upon the records : -

" We the subscribers, being appointed a committee by the Town of Methuen to give some instructions to a certain Committee of Safety and Correspondence that was chosen by this town in September last, or may hereafter be chosen, as above, that it is recommended that the above committee do strictly observe and conform to the instructions hereafter mentioned.

" First. That you will be vigilant in this time of public distress, that (no) infractions, violations be made on the good and wholesome laws of this province whereby the morals of the people are endangered of being corrupted, and in case you shall be unsuccessful in your endeavors in all proper ways, then to publish their names that the public may see and know them to be enemies to their country and the privileges of the same.

" Secondly. That yon correspond with committees of other towns if you see it needful, as may be necessary on all important occasions. " Thirdly. As a Committee of Inspection, we recommend to you that you will not buy or purchase any British manufactures or super- finities in your families, but such as are of absolute necessity, and likewise that you recommend to others to do the same, for we think that a reformation of this will greatly tend to lessen our private expense and the better enable us to bear the publick charges and pre- vent those mischeifs that may ensue therenpon.

Fourthly. That you will suppress as much as possible those per- sons, if any such there be, who travel as pedlers to introduce British goods and impose on the inconsiderate which may impoverish us. And whereas it is said that our enemies are sending out spies in order to get information of our schemes and plans which are contrived for " our defence, so as they may frustrate them, it is recommended that you take care that they receive that resentment due to their deeds.

" Fifthly. If any trader or other person within this town shall take the advantage of the present distressed circumstances in America, and by an avaricious thirst after gain shall raise the price of any commodity whatsoever beyond their usual, reasonable price, or shall use their influence by words or actions to weaken the measures advised by the Grand Continental Congress, when made to appear to you that he or they persist in the same yon are to publish their names that they may be quiekly known and treated as enemies of their country.

" James Ingalls, Jonathan Swan, John Huse,

Committee.

" Methuen April 4, 1775."

This paper, expressive of the firmness and earnest purpose of the people of this town, was adopted only fifteen days prior to the battle of Lexington, for which they were preparing, and in which they took an honorable and patriotic part. The town records make no mention of that memorable event, and do not contain the list of the " minute

men" who were engaged in it, but the archives at the State Honse contain the "roll of honor" on that occasion as also at the battle of Bunker Hill."

" Following this is the muster roll of the number or party of men who belonged to Methuen, in the county of Essex, on the alarm of the 19th of April 1775, and never joined to any particular command- ing officer."

" Capt. James Mallon, Abner Morrill, Isaac Austin, Isaac Austin, Jr., Benj. Herrick, Peter Harris, Joseph Griffin, Francis Richardson, Elisha Parker, John Parker, Jr., Isaac Hughes, Timothy Chellis, - Bodwell, 3d. ~ Austin, Jr., - Parker, Jr., Obadiah Morse, I'm Russ, Jr., W'm MeClary, Hezekiah Parker, Jesse Barker, Moses Morse, James Dennis - 22.

" The pay roll of the company under command of Major Samuel Bodwell, exhibited in consequence of the alarm on the 19th of April.

" 1st Lient., David Whittier, 2d Lient., Nath. Pettengill, Ensign, Enoch Merrill, Clerk, John Hughs, Sergt. John Mansur, Wm Gut- terson, Nath1 Pettengill, Thomas Pettengill, Dudley Pettengill, Dan- iel Tyler, John Pettengill, Jr., Samuel Cross, John Bodwell, Parker Richardson, Thos Dow, Wm Bodwell, Wm Morse, John Barker, Simeon Dow, Samuel Cole, Samuel Hughes, John Pettengill, John Webber, Benj Marston, Elijah Sargent, Joshua Stevens, John Whit- tier, Jr., Abel Merrill, Joseph Morrill, John Richardson, Wm Rich- ardson, Nath'l Hibbard, James Hibbard, Bodwell Ladd, John Ladd, Stephen Barker; Mitchell Davis, Eben' Barker, Nehemiah Barker, Sam1 Richardson, Enoch Cheney, Jona. Barker, Jr., Benj Stevens, Jr., John Hibbard, Jr., Wm Hibbard-45.

" Capt. James Jones' pay-roll for the campaign on the defence of the country at the battle of Concord, made at the rate of 28 days per month, 4 days' service : "

Capt., James Jones ; Lieut., Ichabod Perkins ; Sergt., Timothy Ea- ton, Sergt., Nathan Perly, Sergt., Ephraim Clark, Sergt., Jacob Mes- ser ; Corp., Nathaniel Haseltine, Corp., Elijah Carleton, Corp., Simeon Cross ; Drummer, John Kelley ; Abiel Cross, William Page, Moses Sargent, James Fry, Thomas Herrick, Joseph Granger, Isaac Bar- ker, Day Emerson, Joseph Perkins, Jonathan How, Nathaniel S. Clark, John Tippetts, 3d, Oliver Emerson, James Messer, Henry Mors, Stephen Webster, Jr., Elisha Perkins, Job Pingrey, Joseph Cross, Asa Cross, John Morris, Kimball Carleton - 32.

" In the company of Capt. Furbush : "- Theodore Emerson, Isaac Maloon, Joseph Pettengill, Abraham P. Silver, John Silver, John Hancock, Nehemiah Kidah, Daniel Pettengill - 8. Total, 156.

According to the colonial census of 1776, the population of Me- thuen was 1,326, and the tax-book of that year gives the names of 252 poll-tax payers. These statistical figures of that time show, that out of that number of tax-payers, 156 were in arms at the first call of their country, to resist British invasion ; which illustrates, more fore- ibly than words can do, that they were determined to stand by their rights at all hazards. No drafting foreed men to arms at that time, and bounties for enlistment were then unknown. Appeals from ora- tors were not heard, and the daily press was not an ageney to fire the publie heart. It was simply and purely " the spirit of '76" which led them to rush at a moment's warning to support the flag of independence and equal rights, and was a most striking illustration of the power of " free moral agency," exhibited in the acts of men in the face of peril.

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Standard history of Essex county, Massachusetts, embracing a history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its towns and cities. The Most historic county of America., Part 102

Author: Tracy, Cyrus M. (Cyrus Mason), 1824-1891, et al. Edited by H. Wheatland Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Boston, C. F. Jewett Number of Pages: 450

Author: Tracy, Cyrus M. (Cyrus Mason), 1824-1891, et al. Edited by H. Wheatland
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Boston, C. F. Jewett
Number of Pages: 450