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 127
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149
Almshouses. - While providing accommodation for criminals, the town was also careful to provide for care of the poor; and, in 1698, authorized the selectmen to hire a house for their accommodation. In 1719, a building was finished for their occupancy located on the site of the present State Normal School. This building was after- wards enlarged, and, in 1750, overseers of the poor were for the first time chosen. May 16, 1770, upon report made by Dr. E. A. Holyoke, the town vote to build an almshouse and workhouse upon the north- east part of the common at a cost of £452 lawful money ; and in 1772, upon the completion of the building, rules are adopted for the manage- ment of the inmates. The rooms in the old almshouse were rented by the town till 1807, when it was taken down to allow of the erection of a registry offiee. On the 30th of November, 1816, the present briek almshouse on the Neck was ready to receive the poor, and Paul Upton was its first master.
Roger Williams. - In February, 1631, Roger Williams arrived in Boston, and a few weeks afterwards the First Church at Salem invited him to succeed Higginson as their teacher. Mr. Williams, in the short time he had been in Boston, had made himself obnoxious to the government, and a letter was written from the Court to Mr. Endicott to this effect, "that whereas Mr. Williams had refused to join with the congregation at Boston because they would not make public declara- tion of their repentance for having communion with the churches of England while they lived there, therefore they marvelled they would choose him withont advising with the Council." The Salem church, however, chose Williams their teacher, despite the remonstrance ; but he remained there only a short time, when he went to Plymouth, and became assistant to the pastor of the church there. He was invited back to Salem, and returned ; but was not immediately called to the clerical office. When it was proposed to appoint him to the place lately vacated by the death of Mr. Skelton, the Massachusetts magis- trates interfered, but he was, nevertheless, installed. The magistrates soon found additional cause for complaint ; and when Salem applied to them for'a grant of land, they replied that "because they had chosen Mr. Williams for their teacher and so offered contempt to the magistrates their petition was refused." The next General Court un- seated the deputies from Salem, till their constituents should apologize for having "exceedingly reproached and vilified the magistrates and churches," which was presently done, and the following order was passed : -
" Whereas Mr. Roger Williams one of the elders of the church of Salem hath broached and divulged divers new and dangerous opinions against the authority of magistrates as also writ letters of defamation both of the magistrates and churches here, and that before any con- viction and yet maintaineth the same without retraction, it is there- fore ordered that the said Mr. Williams shall depart out of this juris- diction within six weeks now next ensuing; which if he negleet to perform it shall be lawful for the Governor and two of the magistrates to send him to some place out of this jurisdiction not to return any more without license from the Court."
The six weeks was extended to the next spring; and, in the mean- time, the magistrates, thinking he was better out of the country, sent a vessel from Boston to take him to England ; but Williams, hearing of this, left Salem three days before the vessel's arrival, and made that memorable journey in midwinter through the deep snows of a New England forest, guided only by a rude compass through the pathless wilderness. This compass is still preserved at Providence, among a people who look back with a just pride upon the history of this remarkable man, whose daring and heroism well fitted him to be the founder of a new State. .
John Endicott charged with Assault. - The methods of communica- tion in these early days were rude and primitive, and journeys were made, whenever practicable, by water. . In April, 1631, John Endi- eott, then one of the Court of Assistants under Gov. Winthrop, was charged with an assault upon Thomas Dexter, and being found guilty was fined 10s. In reference to this matter, Mr. Endicott writes to Gov. Winthrop a quaintly worded letter, which shows that human nature has not changed much since our early days, although it would be thought strange if one of our present governors should be found guilty of an assault, even under the provocation so naively stated in
Endicott's letter, which is dated at Salem, April 12, 1631, and which proceeds as follows : -
RIGHT WORSHIPFUL-I did expect to have been with you in person at the Court and to that end I put to sea yesterday and was driven back again, the wind being stiff against ns. And there being no canoe or boat at Sangus, I must have been con- strained to go to Mystic and thence about to Charlestown, which at that time durst not be so bold, my body being at this present in an ill condition to wade or take cold and therefore I desire you to pardon me. Sir, I desired the rather to be at Court, be- canse I hear I am much complained of by goodman Dexter for striking him. I acknowledge I was too rash in striking him, understanding since it is not lawful for a justice of the peace to strike. But if you had seen the manner of his carriage with such daring of me with his arms akimbo, &c., it would have provoked a very patient man. But I will write no more of it, but leave it till we speak before face to face. Only thus far further that he hath given ont if I had a purse he would make me empty it ; and if he cannot have justice here he will do wonders in England. and if he cannot prevail there he will try it out with me here at blows. Sir, I desire that you will take all into consideration. If it were lawful to try it at blows, and he a fit man for me to deal with, you should not hear me complain ; but I hope the Lord hath brought me off from that course. I will be with you, the Lord assisting me, as soon as couve- niently I can. In the meanwhile I commit you to -his protection and safegnard, that never fails his children, and rest
Your unfeigned and loving friend to command, Jo. ENDICOTT.
Cutting out the Red Cross .- A few years later, Mareh 4, 1635, Mr. Endicott was again summoned before the court, on the charge of having mutilated the English ensign at Salem by cutting out the red cross. At that time a strong opposition was felt towards Popery, in all its signs as well as services, and the bold act of Endicott was secretly approved by the principal men of the Colony. Had it not been for fear of the consequences, for the act in England was con- strued as an act of rebellion, no notice would have been taken of Endieott's aet ; but the General Court felt constrained to bring in some sentence against him, as a sign of their loyalty. In conse- quenee of this he lost his eleetion as assistant. One of Salem's dis- tinguished authors, in speaking of this occurrenee, says : "It is one of the boldest exploits which our history records. And forever hon- ored be the name of Endicott ! We look back through the mist of ages, and recognize in the rending of the Red Cross from New Eng- land's banner, the first omen of that deliverance which our fathers consummated after the bones of the stern Puritan had lain more than a century in the dust."
House of Representatives .- On the 14th of May, 1634, the Gen- eral Court defined the power of the Legislature. They provided that the whole body of freemen should be present at only one of the four General Courts to be held each year, and that their deputies should act fully for them in the three others. The addition of rep- resentatives to the assistants and governor was an imitation of the House of Commons in England. The House of Representatives in this Colony was the second in America. One had already been formed in Virginia. The Salem representatives were Messrs. John Holgrave, Roger Conant, aud Francis Weston.
Sir Henry Vane .-- On the 9th of July, 1636, Salem was visited by Sir Henry Vane, the new governor of the Colony, then only twenty-four years old. He came to this country in consequence of his non-conformity, and to escape the displeasure of the Bishop of London. After his return to England, and on the accession of Charles II., he was tried for high treason, and beheaded June 14, 1662.
Salem in 1639 .- Wood, in " New England's Prospect," gives the following description of the town as it was during the year 1639: " Salem stands on the middle of a necke of land very pleasantly, having a South river on one side and a North river on the other side. Upon this neeke where most of the houses stand, is very bad and sandie ground, yet for scaven years together it hath brought forth exceeding good corne, by being fished but every third year. In some places is very good ground and good timber, and divers springs hard by the sea side. There likewise is store of fish, as Basses, Eels, Lobsters, Clammes &c. Although their land be none of the best, yet beyond these rivers is a very good soyle, where they have taken farms and get their hay and plant their corne ; there they cross these rivers with small Cannowes, which were made of whole pine trees, being about two foote and a halfe over and twenty foote long. In these likewise they goe a fowling, sometimes two leagues at sea. There be more cannowes in this towne than in all the whole Patent, every household having a water horse or two. This town wants an alewive river which is a great inconvenience. It hath two good har- bors, the one being ealled winter and the other summer harbors, which lieth within Derbins Fort which place, if it were well fortified might keepe shippes from landing forces in any of those two places."
Town Records .- In January, 1644, "The seaven men chosen for the year ensuing" for the government of the town of Salem were
364
HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
John Endicott, William Hathorne, William Lord, Jeffrey Massey, Peter Palfray, Thomas Gardner, and Henry Bartholomew, and they agree that if either of them are absent from their meetings without good excuse he shall pay 4s. The town records about this time con- tain some curious and quaintly worded entries. In order to insure an attendance at church, it was ordered, on July 7, 1644, "that twoe be appointed every Lord's day to walk forth in time of God's worshippe, to take notice of such as either lye about the meeting house without attending to the word or ordinances, or that lye at home or in the fields without giving good account thereof, and to take the names of such persons and to present them to the magis- trates whereby they may be accordingly proceeded against."
As showing the importance attached by our fathers, at that early day, to popular education, we find on the town records, under date of Sept. 30, 1644, an order "that a note be published on next Lecture day that such as have children to be kept at school would bring in their names and what they will give for one whole year, and also that if any poore body hath children or a childe to be put to schoole and not able to pay for their schooling, that the towne will pay it by a rate." The General Court, at its session of October, 1647, order "every town consisting of fifty householders to have a school for reading and writing, and of one hundred families to have a grammar school, so as to fit scholars for college"; and further enact, no doubt much to the discomfiture of the younger portion of the community, "that if any young man attempt to address a young woman without the consent of her parents or, in their absence of the County Court, he shall be fined £5, for the first offence, £10 for the second, and imprisonment for the third." Several instances of such fines being imposed appear on the records of the court.
In 1654, the persons chosen to conduct the business of the town having been called, for the most part, the seven-men, began to have the title of select-men, and on the 27th of May of that year an order was passed, "that any townsman duly warned, and declining to take part in public meeting, either in person or by proxy, should be fined 18d." On August 22d, the General Court appoint Samuel Archer, of Salem, to examine all persons going out of Massachusetts, to see that they carry no more than 20s. in coin to pay expenses.
Persecution of the Quakers .- Although the founders of Salem left country and friends that they might worship according to their own belief, they rigorously excluded from among their number all who held different religious views. The stern and uncompromising nature which had prompted them to separate from the church in their native land, and cross an ocean to establish a church where the gospel should be preached according to their understanding of its doetrincs, would not brook interference on the part of any person or sect. The religions intolerance from which they had suffered did not deter them from being equally intolerant to others of a differing belief. They banished Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson, and they fined and whipped and hung the Quakers.
In 1658, Samuel Shattuck, Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick, Nicholas Phelps, Joshua Buffum, and Josiah Southwick, all of Salem, and all Quakers, were ordercd to leave the Colony before the next election day. And on the 11th of May following, Daniel and Pro- vided Southwick, the two children of Lawrence and Cassandra South- wick, having no home to shelter them, and no one being allowed to harbor them under severe penalties, were arrested as vagabonds, and the treasurer was authorized to sell them to any of the English nation in Barbadoes or Virginia, as slaves. Provided Southwick was bap- tized at the First Church Dec. 6, 1639, and was therefore, at the date of this event, probably a little over twenty years of age. Chris- topher Holder and John Copeland, of the Friends denomination, being at Salem Sept. 21, 1657, the former attempted to address the people after the minister had done. They were both secured till the next day, and then seut to Boston, where they received thirty stripes each, and were imprisoned nine weeks.
William Robinson and Marmaduke Stevenson, Quaker ministers journeying from Virginia and Rhode Island, held open-air meetings in Salem in the year 1659, and were soon after both executed on Boston Common by the Puritan magistrates, being sentenced to death by John Endicott, then governor of the Colony.
The wife of Robert Wilson, for going through Salem without any clothes on, as a sign of spiritual nakedness in town and Colony, was sentenced to be tied to a cart's tail, uncovered to her waist, and be whipped from Mr. Gedney's gate to her own house, not exceeding thirty stripes. Her mother Buffum and sister Smith, being abettors of her conduct, were sentenced to be tied on each side of her, with nothing on to their waists but an under garb, and to accompany her
the distance mentioncd. Of this eouduct there is no doubt the Friends in Salem disapproved. Edward Wharton, who was actively engaged in spreading the doctrines of the Friends, was apprehended in Boston, and ordered by the governor to be whipped and carried to his house in Salem.
Thomas Maule, who in 1688 built the first Quaker meeting-house, was on the third day of May, 1669, sentenced to be whipped for say- ing that " Mr. Higginson preached lies and that his instruction was the doctrine of the devil." Maulc was a remarkable man, and a mer- chant of no inconsiderable business. His house was on the south side of Essex Street, on the spot where the house of James B. Cur- wen now stands. The building was demolished in the year 1852. Here it was that the Quakers of Salem, in 1680 and for several years thereafter, hold their meetings for worship and business.
In 1694, Maule wrote a book, entitled "Truth set forth and main- tained," with a desire to explain and defend the views of the Quakers ; whereupon the governor and council directed the sheriff to search his house and burn all the obnoxious volumes he could find. Maule was arrested and indicted for publishing and putting forth a book " wherein is contained divers slanders against the churches and gov- ernment of this province"; and for saying at the honorable court at Ipswich, in May last, "that there were as great mistakes in the Scriptures as in his book." He was tried by a jury and acquitted, despite the adverse rulings of the presiding justice.
Sir Edmund Andros. - In 1689, Sir Edmund Andros passed through Salem on his way to Boston from Pemaqnid, where he had been to suppress Indian hostilitics. The Colony charter had been abro- gated, and Andros was the appointed ruler of New England. During his stay in Salem, he had a conference with the Rev. Mr. Higginson, the aged minister of Salem, and, in the presence of a large company, asked him if all the lands in New England did not belong to the king. Higginson answered him in the negative, stating two reasons for his position : first, that the colonists held by right of just occupation ; and second, by right of purchase from the Indians ; therefore the lands in New England are the subjects' property and not the king's. After much discussion, Sir Edmund said at last, with much indignation, " Either you are subjects or you are rebels." The foregoing was a part of the testimony of Mr. Higginson after Sir Edmund was displaced. The latter part of the same year, Andros was arrested and imprisoned, and a provisional government was formed, which elected the venerable Simon Bradstreet, resident in Salem, to be its president, and Wait Winthrop to command the militia. The General Court again con- vened, and Salem sent her deputies, and, during the year 1690, raised troops to serve against the Eastern Indians.
Salem Witchcraft .- There broke out in Salem, in 1692, that strange and dreadful delusion which will always remain as a blot on the fair fame of this ancient town. Some twenty persons were tried and executed on the charge of witchcraft, and many others, charged with the same offence, were arrested and thrown into jail. As Chap- ter V. of the history of the county has already given a full and accurate account of their trials and executions, it is not necessary to further allude to the matter here. The history of this delusion marks one of the most melancholy and deplorable events in the annals of Salem.
The Province Charter .- Sir William Phipps arrived in Boston May 14, 1692, bringing the new charter from William and Mary. This charter constituted Massachusetts, Plymouth, Maine, and Nova Scotia one Province, of which William Phipps was appointed gov- ernor by their majestics. This was the occasion of great rejoicing among the people here, although it did not restore, as they hoped it might, the whole of their former chartered rights.
Simon Bradstreet .- The venerable Simon Bradstreet, who had been the last governor under the colonial charter, died in Salem March 27, 1697. He was born in England in 1603, and came to Massachusetts in 1630, as one of the Assistants. Mr. Bradstreet was deputy-governor in 1673, and so continued to 1679, when he was elected governor. He served in that office till the charter of Massa- chusetts was made void, in 1686. When Sir Edmund Andros was deposed by the people, Mr. Bradstreet was again chosen governor, con- tinuing in office until 1692, when Sir William Phipps, appointed by their majesties, came and took his place. "He was a man of deep discern- ment whom neither wealth nor honor could allure from duty. He poised with an equal balance the authority of the king and the liberty of the people. Sincere in religion and pure in his life, he overcame the world." His house in Salem occupied the site on Essex Street, next west of Plummer Hall, and was taken down in 1750.
Ferries and Bridges .- At a very early period in the history of the
365
HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
settlement of Salem, ferries were established as a means of communi- cation with the surrounding country. It is agreed by the town, Dec. 26, 1636, that John Stone shall keep a ferry betwixt his house on the neck and Cape Ann side, during the space of three years, and shall charge twopence from a stranger, and one penny from an inhabitant. This was the ferry to Beverly. Sept. 25, 1637, George Wright is granted certain land " to keep a ferry between Butt point and Darby fort." This ferry was from the foot of Turner Street to Naugus Head. When Marblehead was incorporated, in 1649, Salem reserved to it- self the right of the ferry, and the appointment of the ferrymen. The Beverly ferry was continued, with numerous changes of rates and ferrymen, until the opening of Essex Bridge, Scpt. 24, 1788. The ferry to Naugus Head was used till about 1785, when it was abandoned altogether.
The Mill Bridge, over South River, was built about 1664. The bridge over North River was built in 1744, and, in 1789, became the property of the town. The proposition to build a bridge from Salem to Beverly, in 1787, met with violent and determined opposition on the part of the Salem people. They assembled in town-meeting and instructed their representatives to oppose the granting of a charter, alleging as a reason that the navigation of North River would be destroyed ; and they invited the adjoining towns to join in the remon- strance, and to use their utmost endeavors to prevent the accomplish- ment of the project. In spite of the opposition, however, a charter was granted, and, Sept. 24, 1788, the bridge was opened to the pub- lic as a toll-bridge. The tolls were removed in 1868. A bridge was built over South River, in a line with Central and Lafayette streets, in 1805. It was built at the expense of E. H. Derby and others, and was accepted by the town in 1810.
The General Court at Salem. - In 1728, a dispute having arisen between Gov. Burnet and the General Court, in reference to his salary, the governor orders the General Court to meet at Salem October 31st. And to accommodate them, the town have " the new town and court house fitted up." Salutes are fired as the governor arrives. He informs the House that he removed them from Boston because the people there endeavored to influence representatives from other places against granting him a salary. The House hold that they should not be moved from Boston, and desire the governor to order them back again, and they prepare a memorial to His Majesty " setting forth the reasons why the House cannot settle a salary on the Governor for the time being." The House having refused to do any business in Salem, holding that they should sit only in Boston, the governor, on December 12th, adjourns them to the Ship Tavern, and, on the 20th, prorogues them. April 2, 1729, the General Court again meets in Salem, and Gov. Burnet renews his call for fixing his salary, and again the question is put " whether the House will come into any further consideration of settling a salary on the Governor at this session," and decided in the negative ; and, on the 18th of the same month, the governor dissolves the Legislature, after informing the members that he had not ordered them any pay, because they had refused to do business one-third of their sessions, and to compensate him as the king required. The town of Salem votes to pay its representatives out of the town treasury.
On May 28th, the Legislature meets again in the court-house, which the town has had newly painted for its reception. Immediately after the Council is formed, the governor prorogues them to June 25th, without delivering a message, at which time they again assem- ble, and July 7th, without transacting any business, are adjourned to meet at Cambridge, August 21st. In the midst of his controversy with the representatives, Gov. Burnet dies September 7th. He was a son of the celebrated Bishop Burnet.
Jonathan Belcher is appointed governor in his stead, and reaches Boston in August, 1730, and, like his predecessor, has a dispute with the Legislature about his salary, and May 31, 1733, in his speech to the House, says : "In obedience to His Majesty I must inform you he still expects, that you make provision for the support of his .government according to his Royal instructions"; but the House still refuses to grant the governor a fixed salary. Finally the House votes to supply the treasury with £76,500 in bills of credit, and in this manner the matter is adjusted. A misunderstanding arises soou after in regard to raising money to supply the treasury, and the gov- ernor complains bitterly of the action of the representatives in not following his instructions in relation to taxation. The Legislature agree to supply the treasury with £100,000 in bills, and £900 are granted for fortifications at Salem. May 27, 1741, the General Court met, but were dissolved by Gov. Belcher, on the 28th, because they encouraged the formation of the Land Bank, which he says will
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.