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 142
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The first record of the laying out of roads, was made on the 12th of the 11th month, when it was ordered " that there should be a way layed out four rods in width from the Powow River Westward and so another way of the same width from the river Merrimac Northward next the land of Thomas Bradbury.
"This year the pay of laborers was fixed. Lot layers were to receive one cent per acre, for every lot layed out upou the Powow and Mer- rimac rivers. It was also ordered that the year shall be accounted thus ; From the first of November to the last of the first month shall be winter months, and the seven other months shall be summer months, and all laborers for the winter months shall have no more but 16 pence per day, and for the Summer months 20 pence per day, and all car- penters shall have 2 pence per day more than laborers, that is 18 pence per day in winter, and 22 pence in Summer. Mowers to have 2 penee per day more. The sale of certain articles was also regulated : Clap- boards tive feet in length, 3 shillings per hundred, split, 4 shillings 6 pence per hundred. Butter 6 pence per pound ; milk 3 half pence per quart, new milk one pence."
The first saw-mill was erected in 1641, by William Osgood; and for building this mill he was to receive fifty acres of upland, and ten acres of meadow.
In the 5th month, methods were adopted for making the highways passable through the town, and a system of working the highways was adopted. Fence-viewers were also appointed, and they were required " to have a care for the trees on the bank of the Merrimae River." Every man was required to work one day for making a road to carry corn to mill.
Three hundred acres were ordered to be enclosed for an ox eom- mon. This year, the Rev. William Worcester was granted 200 acres of land, Mrs. Rebecca Biles, 100 ; Henry Munday, 100; John Sanders, 200 ; Robert Pike, 200; John Hall, 100. In addition to the dispo- sal of grants of land by the town, it also controlled the right of fishing in the rivers. Thus it is recorded, that the sole right of fishing in the Powow River was taken out of the hands of John Bagley, Sr., for having forfeited the conditions under which it was granted. John Harrison was granted liberty to cut as many trees as shall make two hundred pipe-staves, and to be freed from all taxes, save minister's tax. Staves were a great article of commerce, and their sale and shipment brought much ready cash. In subsequent years, several of the citizens made fortunes by freighting vessels with staves and lum- ber to the West Indies, and bringing return cargoes.
The first meeting-house was built at the East Parish, in 1640. It was situated below the East Salisbury depot, opposite the house of the late Moses French, on what is known as the "Common." Here
was situated also the whipping-post and stocks. Its first minister was the Rev. William Worcester. Unfortunately, the early church records of this parish are lost, but enough is known to give a generally relia- ble account of the transactions of sufficient importance to be quoted. Thus, on the 11th month, 1641, at a general meeting of the inhabi- tants, Henry Munday and Thomas Bradbury were ordered to procure a workman to hang a hell in the meeting-house. This was the first bell ever rung in the town, and tradition says was sent over from Eng- land by an order from the Rev. William Worcester.
The first meeting-house in the West Parish was located about a half-mile north of the present location of the old Rocky Hill Church, and was built in 1665. In 1735, an article was inserted in the war- rant to have this church moved ; but not until 1784, was it successful. It caused great excitement, and the opposing party felt themselves greatly injured by the action of the town. The following protest, duly signed, was sent abroad : -
" We the subscribers, being dissatisfied with the proceedings of our town in removing our meeting house from us, as we judge that we are rohbed of our just rights and privileges and are not dealt with after a Christian Manner, although there are a number that are dissatisfied with our Minister's doctrine and gone out of town to worship, yet we never refused paying our Minister's rates. It is the estates that pays the bulk of the rates ; the polls pay hut three shilling apiece, and there is no reason why the polls should run away with estates, and as our town is so divided in religious affairs that it seems there will be no religion soon. It was always said that our forefathers came into this land for religion's sake and they were Presbyterians. The Presbyte- rians' constitution of church government is the nearest the Scriptures of any denomination of Christians, we ought in conscience to look out for ourselves and our children. It is religion that upholds a people and saves them from ruin, and as our new Constitution gives all denom- ination of Christians free liberty, and no subject be hurt or molested or restrained in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping God in the manner and season most agreeable to the dietates of his own conscience, and as things stands in our town at this present time, we whose names are hereinafter mentioned have jointly and severally agreed to petition the parish of Seabrook to see if they will agree and build a new meeting house upon the Province line, or move their meet- ing house upon the Province line, and in so doing we will join them in ministerial affairs and will settle a Presbyterian minister and will pay our proportion of said minister's support according to each of our polls and estates." This was signed by Nathan Dole, Reuben Mer- rill, Benjamin Joy, Stephen Merrill, Aaron Clough, Reuben Burns, Enoch Goodwin, Ebenezer Tucker, Belcher Dole. Thomas Bagley, Daniel Merrill, Ezra Merrill, Seth Bagley, Benjamin Joy, Jr., Sam- uel Merrill, Osgood Carr, Lewis Eaton, Abraham Morrill, Perley Dow, Aaron Dow.
This year it was ordered that all the wood and timher upon all the common lands shall be divided to every inhabitant, apportioned ac- cording to his estate, except such land as shall be offered by the town for further consideration.
The energy of the early settlers is seen in the willingness with which they approved of all requests from those of their number who saw the advantages of utilizing the Powow River. Therefore, there was granted to Abraham Morrill and Henry Saywood threescore acres of upland, so near the falls as may be convenient, on condition " that before October they shall set up a mill of sufficient capacity to grind all the corn the town shall need." John Bayley, Sr., was granted the exclusive right of fishing in Powow River, on condition that he shall not dispose of his fish to any but inhabitants of the town. But, after the expiration of twenty-four hours, if he find no sale for his fish, he could sell them elsewhere ; hut his fishways were to be full-sea high. Thus it appears that "fisherman's rights" were duly considered in the early years, though in a somewhat exclusive manner.
1642. The first meetings of the town, related. as before, to the voting of land grants ; and the business of the town was placed in the hands of "seven men"; viz., Win. Worcester, Samuel Dudley, Edward French, Richard Wells, Wm. Pattridge, Robert Pike, Win. Hooke, Ralph Blaisdell. The first record of a county and town rate ; and Thomas Hall. Thos. Bradbury, Thomas Macy, and Robert Pike were ordered to levy the tax. The rate for the county to be £12 10s. The town rate. £3 15s. More decided action was taken for repair- ing and building town-ways and bridges, and Thomas Bradbury and Richard North were ordered to seize the goods of any person, to double the amount of his tax, who should refuse to work.
tt 5th mo. 11th. At a general meeting it was ordered and agreed
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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
that thirty families of the town shall remove to the west side of Powow River before the first of the third mo. 1645." Seven men were appointed to approve the persons who should go ; viz., Wm. Worcester, Samuel Dudley, Richard Wells, Robert Pike, Wm. Hooke, Ralph Blaisdell, and Wm. Pattridge. They to divide and distribute the lands on the west side, and to fix rates for taxes. This was the first movement made for the settlement of the town of Amesbury ; and land was granted there to thirty persons. Laws were adopted for the government of the ox common on the north side of the great neck leading to the sea ; a highway was laid out to run from Powow River, through " Amesbry," up into the country. Sammel Dudley was chosen deputy, and the improved land on the west side of Powow River (Amesbury) was ordered to be rated at half so much as improved land in the town, until they have a minister there. Mr. Worcester's rate was £27 for six months. At a meeting held on the 12th mo. 18th, Samuel Winsley and Samuel Dudley were chosen "deputies for the next General Court to be holden at Boston, 7th of 1st mo." It was ordered that those persons who go up to live on the west side of Powow River shall have the liberty of the sole feeding of their cattle on the common, and other privileges conceded them. Grants of land were made to Richard Goodale, Richard Currier, Robert Pike, Christopher Batt, Abraham Morrill, and P. Challis. Joseph Cob- ham was chosen grand juryman. Messrs. Dudley, Thos. Bradbury, Robert Pike, Mr. Munday, and Isaac Bussell, assessors. The fishing interest was so far established that the town granted to Robert Ring, of Ring's Island, two aeres of upland for putting up fish flakes for the cure of fish. For two hundred years, Ring's Island was devoted to that business. This year, fears were aroused on account of the threatened hostility of the Indians ; and Passaconway, the Indian chief, who lived by the Merrimac, was to be disarmed by order of the Court. Forty armed men were sent for that purpose, twelve of whom belonged in Salisbury. The people were also in trouble over a great tornado, which did considerable damage along the coast towns from Lynn to Hampton. It extended in a narrow limit, and in its course blew down many forest-trees. Groves of oak and pine covering the rocky pasture and intervale land for a mile in extent, in the vicinity of where now is located the Salisbury almshouse, were blown down.
1643. Luke Hurd was chosen constable ; and Richard North, town crier ; Thomas Bradbury and John Severance, highway surveyors, and arrangements made for digging the town creek ; Samuel Winsley and Samuel Dudley, deputies to the General Court, 7th of 1st mo.
1644. Meetings of the freemen were held; and additional land grants made to John Carr, John Stevens, Willie Brown, and others, and orders given to protect both trees and lands from encroachments, and the fisheries of the town from being destroyed or abused. Theo. Whitcher, John Hoyt, Willie Sargent, and Theo. Russell were fined for trespassing upon the rules of the town, and ordered to pay their fines in " pipe-staves, corn or cattle."
The first-recorded sale of a house is dated the 20th of January. Richard Macy sold unto. Richard Currier his new dwelling-house and lot, with all things thereunto belonging. Following this are re- corded several sales of land.
1645. The manufacture of pitch, tar, and resin was prosecuted as an industry ; but none was to be carried out of the town, under penalty of twenty shillings. The reason of this order has some reference to the prosecution of the building of small fishing-boats on the Merrimac. Tradition says that large numbers of such boats were built at a very carly period at Salisbury ; of which more hereafter. Samuel Winsley was chosen deputy, " to have eight shillings per week while he attends Court." A highway to the beach was voted ; and Thomas Macy was ordered to see that the "highway be layed out from the mill to the Merriinac."
1646. At a general meeting of freemen, it was ordered that Samuel Diriley, Left. Pike, Thos. Bradbury, Ralph Blaisdale, Thos. Macy, Sarget. Challis, Sammel Winsley, shall have power to order and dis, pose of all town affairs (except lands and timber) for one year.
1647. Mr. Batt, Thos. Bradbury, Ed. French, Mr. Buswell, and 'Mr. Wells were chosen to the charge of town affairs (except timber and lands) for one year. The town exercised a jealous eare over its timber and lands ; and the power of sale was kept in the hands of the freemen, to be acted on in town-meeting. Richard North was voted " fifty shillings for ringing the bell two years and a half, and twenty shillings to ring it one year more."
1648. Both grand and petit jurors were chosen. Mr. Munday was ordered to rate estates according to order of court ; and John Stevens, to gather up the town rates ordered by the "seven men." Robert Pike, Mr. Winsley, Willie Sargent, Henry Ambrose, and Philip
Challis were appointed to settle the bounds between Salisbury and Hampton. Several persons were fined for disorderly talk in town- meeting. A county way was laid out from Carr's Island to East Salisbury. The island was connected with the main land by ferriage, and from thence across the river by ferry to Newburyport, which was the only means of communication between the two places.
16.19. Salisbury was made a shire town by the General Court. In the old "Norfolk County" records are preserved the cases coming before the courts in Salisbury. The court-house was established at East Salisbury. On the settlement of the boundary line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Norfolk County was abolished in 1680, and the town lost its title of "shire town." The method of conducting trials is indicated in the following, taken from the town records : "At a general meeting of freemen, held 11th of 1st month, Left. Pike, Mr. Wells, Mr. French, and Mr. Cobham, were chosen to serve on the jury of trials, at the next county court, to be holden at Salisbury." A rate of £22 was made this year to pay town debts. Stephen Flanders was admitted as townsman, on condition that he should keep the town herd of eows. Thomas Petitt was admitted a townsman, and given liberty to dwell in the watch-house till next May-day. It appears by the record that a rule of the town fined all freemen who absented themselves from town-meeting. Many fines had accumulated, and this year a vote was passed remitting the fines.
1650. John Stevens and Samuel Fellows were chosen surveyors of highways. Surveyors of fenees were chosen, and fines and penalties voted against all who did not build in accordance with the rules adopted by the town. It was also ordered that Willie Osgood " shall have liberty to make use of all the pine timber between the west side of the path leading from the house of Jona. Bagley to Exeter, and on other growths, on condition of his building a saw mill, to be com- pleted before May, 1652." For this grant of timber-land, comprising some three hundred aeres, Willie Osgood agreed to pay one-half hun- dred boards and plank, merchantable, for every thousand sawn at the mill. At this mill the first planks were sawn for ship building pur poses on the Merrimac River. A ship, built by Mr. Greaves, and one by Nathan Gold, were furnished plank at this mill. In 1689, Willie Osgood surrendered up to the town all his right and interest in this grant of timber-land. The capacity of the mill is learned by a deposition found in the Essex County court files, wherein Richard Currier testifies that the mill in Salisbury is " no waies inferior to the mill at Amesbury," which, in the spring, "saws about five or six thousand foot of bord a weeke for three months together."
1651. The prudential men voted a rate of thirty pounds for repair- ing and finishing of the meeting-house and paying town debts. Sam- uel Winsley was ordered to prosecute the business between the town and Hampton, at the next General Court, about the settling of the bounds. The Rev. William Worcester was voted five-and-twenty pounds for preaching. Anthony Colby and Philip Challis were chosen to order the prudential affairs of the town. It was voted that the old meeting-house should have an addition of sixteen feet. Henry Brown and Samuel Fellows were chosen surveyors of fences for the old town ; Jerrett Hatldow and - Hoyt for the new town. The new town (Amesbury) being under the jurisdiction of Salisbury at that time, not having been incorporated by the State.
1652. Thomas Bradbury was chosen to be school-master to teach all the children (those only excepted who have not the knowledge of letters) in writing and reading; and otherwise, so far as his abilities will reach unto. The town agreed to pay him twenty pounds per annum for his serviees. He was to have the privilege of attending the county courts, and the benefit of teaching other children. The " overseers," or school committee, were Willie Worcester, Samuel Winsley, Left. Robert Pike, and Thomas Macy ; they, among other duties, to judge when the teaching of other children was prejudicial to the interests of the school. The seats in the meeting-house were assigned ; but twelve of the prominent men dissented from such assignment. The wolves troubled the settlers to such an extent that a town bounty of thirty shillings was offered for cach wolf killed. Thomas Bradbury, Thomas Macy, John Ilsley, Andrew Greeley, and John Gyll, were chosen to order the planting and prudential affars of the town ; except the disposal of upland, meadow, and timber, and erceting buildings. A highway, four rods wide, from the mill bridge to Lion's Mouth was ordered, Anthony Colby and Richard Currier to care for the same.
1653. The "five men," or selectmen, gave liberty to any townsman to put his cattle upon the town common, and Richard Goodale was ordered to look after those delinquent in working upon the highway.
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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Mr. Worcester was ordered to be paid twenty-five pounds for his last year's maintenance, to be paid by contribution, and those who did not pay to be taxed. The first suit at law which the selectmen had to settle is thus recorded : Mr. Samuel Winsley, plaintiff, against Philip Chal- lis, defendant, in an account of debt upon goods delivered unto him, as one iron pot, a bottle of liquor, and other things. The plaintiff withdraws the account, allowed the defendant for costs, five shillings and fourpence. Another lawsuit between Samuel Winsley and Abra- ham Morrill, for goods delivered, plows, harrows, &c .; Mr. Winsley, plaintiff, was allowed five shillings and elevenpence, and costs of the meeting, nine shillings. At a general meeting of the town it was ordered that that which is commonly called Beach Common, running from Merrimac River's mouth to Hampton River's mouth shall remain a common to the use of the town forever. But in the mowing of the grass, every townsman was to have his proportion according to his estate. Sixty names are recorded in this division, and Anthony Colby, Thomas Macy, Mr. Munday, Abraham Morrill, Samuel Hall, and Jonathan Rolfe, were, evidently, the largest real estate owners. The division of the mowing of the grass towards the Merrimac and Great Creek barberry meadows was divided among sixty persons, which would make the number of property-holders in the town, under the two divisions, about one hundred and twenty.
1654. Joseph Peasley and Thomas Macy, for violating a law which forbade any but ordained ministers from preaching, were arrested and fined. This caused great excitement in neighboring towns, and peti- tions, numerously signed, were sent to the General Court to remit the fine and imprisonment imposed on Lieut. Robert Pike. Those who signed the petition were also called to account, and bound over in ten pounds each. Such as acknowledged their offence were released. The signing of the petition for release was considered as an offence against the court.
1655. This year was built the first bridge across the Merrimac. It was a floating bridge, between Carr's Island and Newbury, at the old ferry. It was five feet wide, rails on each side, and 270 feet long. It was built hy George Carr, who owned the island; and far this service he received liberal grants of land in the town. The aneient road leading to the ferry on the Salisbury shore, though abandoned a hundred years ago, still remains.
1656. Lient. Rohert Pike, Edward French, Willie Buswell, Willie Osgood, and John Ilsley, were chosen prudential men.
1657. At a general meeting of the town, Robert Pike, moderator, it was ordered that the breaches of all orders concerning timber, boards, staves, &c., shall be prosecuted. Also voted, that Mr. Wor- cester's salary for the midsummer quarter be at the rate of six pounds per annum. Liberty was granted to Left. Pike, Jonathan Clough, and Henry True, to transport so many plank as will serve for the deck of a vessel building at Boston. A grant was given to "Left. Robert Pike to build a warehouse on the Ferry, if it doth not prejudice the country way." The following order may serve to amuse, if it does not instruct, the reader. We copy it verbatim: "Ordered, that whose swine shall be taken upon ye Common after ye first of March next ensuing without their snouts slitt down to the grissell, and slit half an inch on either side the said slitt along by the grissell, shall forfeit five shillings per head for every swine, the one half to ye informer, and the other half to the towne."
1658 and 1659. The thirst for land seemed to be a growing desire among the settlers, and the division of five hundred acres by vote oc- casioned some difficulty ; seven persons entering their contrary dis- sent ; viz., Lieut. Robert Pike, Thomas Bradbury, Edmond Elliott, Robert Ring, John Stevens, John Rolfe, and. John Maxfield. Lient. Pike denounced the action as unjust, declaring it was equivalent to saying, because we have the power we will take it and divide it among ourselves. It was voted, 11th of 12th month, that there shall be a general meeting for the choice of all public offieers for the town, and for the election of a deputy to the General Court, and for one to ad- minister oaths and marrying. A further division of land was made and a highway of four rods wide laid out next to Merrimac River. It was ordered that Mr. Worcester shall have his maintenance for the year, either sixty pounds or fifty pounds and the produce of the old saw-mill, provided the new town continue with the old town. John Severance was to keep the ordinary and to provide for the court. The county rate for the year was established and seventy-six persons were assessed in the town.
In 1860 and 1861 further divisions of land were made among fifty- eight property owners in the town, and Edward French, George Goldwyer, Willie Osgood, Cant. Robert Pike, and William Worces- ter, received each one hundred acres.
1662. This year the Rev. John Wheelwright came to the town to preach, and it was agreed " that for his maintenance while he should continue among us that he should have three seore pounds a year while the new town continues as one with us, hut when they have a minister he shall be paid the full sum of fifty pounds per year by the town of Salisbury, besides accommodation of house and land."
1663. At a general meeting, Sept. 29th, two divisions of land were ordered to be made " above the mill," with a sufficient highway, beginning at the north end of John Stevens's lot, and so run till it comes to a spacious turn towards Powow Hill ; but the woods were so thick up between the hill ranges as to make the running of the road a difficult matter.
1664. This year a meeting was held, John Severance moderator, and a new meeting-house was ordered to he built with all convenient speed. It was also added that all the townsmen " shall have libertic to make staves or bolts, or heading, or planks, allowing to the town one hundred out of every thousand, and to give a true account to Thos. Bradbury of the number of staves made, and the number of trees felled upon the old common belonging to the old town." This year we have a recognition of the division of the town into its several districts, which has been continued all through its history. Fence- viewers, highway surveyors, &c., were chosen as follows: "For the old town, for the new town, ye middle town," (Mills) and Batt's Hill, or Plains. Henry Dearing was allowed ten pounds a year for his en- couragement in teaching school in town, and to have the privileges of a commoner.
1665-66. In the early records there is evidence that the settlers and leading men were disposed to deal justly by the Indians. Many facts might be given to confirm this view, but the following will suffice : At a meeting held 6th of 1st month, Thomas Bradbury moderator, " there was granted to Ned, an Indian, the right to set up a fish ware in the town creek to catch fish for the summer fol- lowing." In another instance it is recorded that one of the settlers was held to account for dealing unfairly by an Indian. A com- mittee was appointed to build an addition to the barn for the min- istry, a floor to thrash on, and to finish off the attic for a library- room ; stone the well, and do the finishing work for the minister's house.
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