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 143
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1666. On the 6th of 1st month, Capt. Robert Pike, Willie Bus- well, and Thomas Bradbury were chosen a committee to treat with the Rev. John Wheelwright and debate with him about any matters of difference between him and the town.
The ministry of Mr. Wheelwright was not a very pleasant one. He early came in conflict with Cant. Robert Pike ; yet no one of the early ministers of the town possessed such powers of mind. His trouble with the parish and appeals to the government only served to create still stronger prejudice. The connection between parish and people was broken in 1678. He soon after went back to England ; returned to this country and settled in Exeter, N. H., and left unon the records of the town of Exeter and the State of New Hampshire, the evidences of his genius, not alone as a scholar and religious teacher, but in wise statesmanship. Capt. Pike was chosen " deputie " for the town for its first sessions of next General Court. John Dickenson and John Eaton were chosen surveyors for highways; William Buswell, clerk of the market ; Richard Currier, measurer ; Richard Goodale, "hawzord " (nound-keeper).
1667-68. The town line between Salisbury and Hampton became a troublesome question and its final determination was ordered. At a General Court, held at Boston May 22d, "George Carr, in con- sideration of having built a bridge over Salisbury River, shall be freed from any tax to town or County, except minister's tax, and the minister and his family to be ferried from said bridge." The salary of Mr. Wheelwright was increased from £50 to £60.
1668-69. The desire of the early settlers to provide well for the future is seen, not only in the demand made for the building of roads and care of forest-trees, but also in their efforts to encourage school- teachers to settle among them. Another feature was the provision made for the care and raising of stock. Stock-raising in many of the settlements was much neglected. Not so in Salisbury. The extra care and guardianship of the "Cow Common," and " Ox Common," and the " town herd of cows," shows conclusively that there were minds who considered the wealth involved in fostering this branch of the farmer's calling. Other instances of this care are given in the records ; viz., the persons appointed to apportion the Common were instructed to provide watering-places for the cattle. In 1668 there was " reserved convenient land for a watering place for cattle about the Pine Hill Ridge to remayne to ye said use forever."
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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
1670-72. The selectmen were given authority to appoint surveyors of highways and to instruct them in their duties. Several meetings of the town were held during the years, but the business was mainly with reference to grants, gifts, changes and sales of land. In 1672, there appears the first recorded sale of a horse, viz : "Christopher Guild sold unto Jno. Severance, sen : of the town, a bright bay stone horse with a black mane and tayle; a white blaze down ye forehead, about fower year old."
1673-75. The first assistance to poor and indigent persons is recorded, and the constable was ordered to procure comfortable sub- sistence and entertainment for widow Buford and Clement Jarmine.
A convenient highway to the beach was very early agitated, and the surveyors were ordered to see it done. A committee of three was appointed to settle the bounds between Amesbury and Salisbury, with three men appointed by Amesbury. The fear of the Indians, whose appearance had been noted by unfriendly acts for some months, eaused the town to erect a place of security from sudden attack. Thus it was ordered on the 20th of September, 1675 : " That what soldiers or inhabitants soever belonging to this towne shall refuse or neglect to come to work about ye fortifications appointed by ye militia forthwith to be erected for ye security of ye town, especially women and chil- dren, shall be fined five shillings."
1676. Henry Brown was appointed to be town appraiser, Wm. Brown, constable, and Thos. Rawlenson to keep "the town's flock of sheep from May until October, and to have six pence a head," to be paid as follows : " four pound of butter for every twenty sheep and lambs and one bushel of corn for every score, and ye remaynder of ye pay in eorn or other good pay." Wm. Bradbury was given leave to " set up a pue or seate in ye meeting house in ye hindermost seat behind ye women's seats, next to the window, as shall be convenient for myself and family."
1677-78. Much of the business or trade between individuals was by barter, and the chief article for this purpose in the heavier trans- actions was Inmber. Therefore, the town records contain many cases of persons who were brought before "ye Commissioners of Salisbury," for refusing or neglecting to pay their agreements in lumber.
1679. The town had trouble about paying the salary of the Rev. John Wheelwright, and Henry True and Ephraim Winsley were chosen attorneys in behalf of the town to answer an account brought against the town by the minister. The Rev. Geo. Burroughs was called to preach, and for his support the town voted him four score pounds per annum, twenty pounds in current New England money, and three seore pounds in corn and provisions, with house and land belonging to the ministry. Mr. Burroughs did not accept, and in 1682, Mr. Samuel Andros was invited to come and preach, and the call to him was renewed. Mr. James Alling was invited " to come and settle among us and marry, if it shall please ye lord yt he dies while he is with us, the town doth engage and order that his wyfe shall have twenty acres of upland, or in lieu of land, three score pounds." Mr. Allen accepted the offer and the agreement on the part of the town was ful- filled, and to this day the " Allen lot" is known in Salisbury ( East ), where he was settled for many years. He died there in 1696.
Limited space compels us to pass over many of the yearly recorded acts which make up the history of the town, together with the grants of land made to sundry persons. The custom of having a " parsonage pew," originated with the Rev. Mr. Allen, whose request to build a pew for Mrs. Allen to sit in, next the pulpit, was granted.
In 1692, a law was enacted that every town within the Province having the number of fifty householders or upwards, shall be constantly pro- vided with a schoolmaster to teach children and youth to read and write, and towns with one hundred families or householders should establish a grammar school, and the selectinen were required to take effectnal eare and make due provision for the settlement and maintenance of schoolmasters. A neglect of this duty subjected delinquent towns to a fine of £10. As early as 1648 the town employed a school- teacher. Under this law the services of Ephraim Winsley and Benjamin Eastman were secured, the former at the lower part of the town, and the last named at the upper section. Following this action the town voted that a teacher should be employed competent to teach Latin, for the reason "that some young men wanted to be learned for a physician and a knowledge of Latin was necessary."
1693-94. Thomas Bradbury, who had been identified with the interests of the town for many years, serving as town clerk, instruc- tor of youth, constable, representative, seleetman, lot-layer, &c., died, leaving a legacy of five pounds to the poor of the town.
The death of Rev. Mr. Allen left the East Parish without a minister, and a general mecting was called at which a vote was passed "that
the town will send to Mr. Cushing to know whether he be clear or not : Isaac Morrill Sen., and Ensign Will Allen were directed to find that if he be free then they give him an invitation to our town, to help us in the work of ye ministry in order for a further call as God shall make way for us." Mr. Cushing accepted the call, and in 1696, the town voted to give him £60 in good merchantable pay, ten of it in silver money, with four contributions, "besides ye sixty pounds," and the use of the parsonage house, and all the lands and meadows belong- ing thereto, during his stay. It was voted that ye ordination be the second Wednesday of November, and Capt. Wm. Bussell, Isaac Morrill, Sen., and Nathl. Eastman, Sen., are chosen to take care and provide things needful. Tax rate paid to the State 32 pounds, 19 shillings, 8 pence. This year a saw mill was built by John Wadley on the Powow River, making the third mill on the Salisbury side. Later, Benjamin Eastman " petitioned for a right in Powew River, between the Mill Bridge and the old saw mill, now in possession of Major March, Thomas Currier and Jacob Morrill, and with it the right to improve four rods of land adjoining, for the purpose of build- ing a fulling mill, to full the town's cloth, before any other town, they paying as other towns. Agreed to so long as the said Eastman performs the said conditions." In 1703 agreements were made between Salisbury and Newbury to maintain two ferry-boats for passengers and teams over the Merrimac. Jeremiah Eastman was elected the town school-master, for twenty-three pounds a year - "he to teach them to read, write, cipher, and Latin."
1704-06. At this period it was voted that all the common land should be laid out, and sixty persons shared in this division. But on petition of Jacob Morrill, Jarvis Ring, Joseph Page, William Smith, and John Wadleigh, sixty acres of land were reserved for the use of the poor people " who had settled on the land for a supply of their necessities." Christopher Tappan, of Newbury, received judgment against the commoners as one of the heirs to Christopher Batt's di- vision in the common land. This year the selectmen and town officers took the oath of office, and the records classify the voters and citizens as "freeholders." Willie Bradbury was chosen school- master, and to "teach the children to read, write, cipher, and to teach grammar to such as doe come." A committee was appointed to seleet " wimmin for scoole dames for ye several places in ye town most convenient." The town was continually troubled about the proper adjustment of land claims, and it required the services of one or two agents to attend such cases in the courts at Ipswich.
1708-10. The assessment of the parish tax had been growing in disfavor among a considerable portion of the citizens, and in 1708, no one was chosen to colleet the minister's rate. Accordingly, a com- mittec was appointed, with instructions, to settle the matter between the town and the Rev. Caleb Cushing, and to call the several con- stables to account. Several years the controversy about paying the arrears due the minister was carried on, and many pages of the ree- ords are taken up with this matter. The Rev. Dr. Webster had an unsettled account of £200, and quite a sum was due Mr. Cushing. Thirty pounds was due the estate of the Rev. James Allen, which was paid. Samuel March was chosen school-master, and voted £30; five in money, the balance in provisions, to be paid quarterly, " so that our youth may be educated in learning, and the law of the country obeyed."
17.10. This was quite an eventful year in the town. The subject of building a new meeting-house agitated the people greatly. In ad- dition thereto the following petition shows that the industries at the " mills," on the Powow River, confined mostly to saw-mills and grist- mills, and a fulling-mill, were to receive a new impulse : --
" The humble petition of we, the subscribers, to the town of Salisbury, assembled this 21st day of March, 1710 : hereby showeth that whereas your petitioners have had thoughts for to set up and build Iron Works upon ye Falls in ye Powow River, humbly prays ye town that they would please to grant them some small matter for ye promoting that design which if we shall go on with ye work it may prove a great benefit to the town. Therefore, we pray ye town to grant that we may be freed from all rates that may arise on said works, and to give some- thing that may promote that work ; so hoping that you may oblige us in this thing. We remain your humble servants,
John March, John Barnett, Jarvis Ring." The petition was granted, the works were built, and for several years did quite a business in the town. Anchors for many ships built on the Merrimac were forged at the works, the ships " Alliance " and " Essex " among the number.
1711-12. The meeting-house trouble continued to vex the people. A committee consisting of Dea. Moss, of Newbury, Dea. Tinnie, of
406
HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Bradford, Dea. Stevens, of Amesbury, Dea. Leavitt, of Exeter, and Dea. Shaw, of Bradford, in connection with the selectmen, were chosen to settle the location. And a committee was appointed to confer with, and entertain a committee appointed by the Legislature. The question was finally settled in 1714, the church built, and the West Parish established. Jurors were allowed two shillings a day for their service, and grand jurors one shilling.
1721. This year the town received its proportion of the £50.000 issued by the state in bills of credit. It was placed in the hands of trustees, "and let out by them to the inhabitants at five per centnm from time to time as they may have occasion for it, on good security, not above £15 to any person at one time." The money was not to be let out for a longer term than four years at the first letting. This town's proportion was £410 10s. Such was the scarcity of silver. that the issue of this paper money was designed to aid the trade and business of the Province. It was not popular with the people.
For many years the unsettled condition of the boundary line be- tween Hampton and Salisbury had led to much contention. The colleetors of both towns in turn levied upon the property of those persons within the line of the disputed territory, and finally the authority of the governor of the state was invoked to protect the people.
The settlement of the boundary line caused a committee of the General Court, with the governor at their head, to assemble at East Salisbury. The "State " honse, as it is called, is still standing where the governor and committee met to determine the question.
1727. The interest-money on the bills of credit in the hands of the treasurer was voted to be paid into the town. The money received from the state occasioned no little anxiety from the time the first loan was received until paid up and withdrawn. Several times the trustees of the fund were questioned as to the disposal of the fund ; but as long as the interest-money was paid, public anxiety was al- layed, but when not paid, a public meeting was called, and judging by some portions of the record, hard thoughts found expression.
From 1727 to 1773 the town continued to foster its little industries. The saw-mills, five in number, were a considerable' source of income to the people at the "mills," and at Webster's Point ship-building was attracting settlers and building up that locality. The sustaining of public worship by a town tax-rate was a prolific source of trouble. The two settled ministers, with their friends, were yearly solieiting inerease of pay, which may be taken as a good indication of prosperity among the people.
In 1773 the town was visited by a violent tornado. The Rev. Mr. Webster, the West Parish minister, in his diary, says of it: "This tempest was preceded by heavy rain and gross darkness. It first ap- peared on the Merrimac river, and rolled up the waters upon the banks, and threatened to swallow up the affrighted inhabitants. From the river inland it covered three quarters of a mile, and ex- tended to the sea. The tempest continued for three minutes, und wrecked and destroyed one hundred buildings in the town. Yet through the great and marvellous mercy of God who ruleth in the storm, no life was lost or bone broken on the Salisbury side, where the most damage was done."
The action of the town during the " Revolutionary period," from 1770 to the close of the war, is an unexceptionably bright and patriotic record. March 13th the town voted that " thanks be given to the re- spectable body of Merchants in Boston and other towns for their truly generous non-importation agreement, and for their prudent and vigor- ous endeavors in this critical time to save their Country." . "That we will not ourselves drink any foreign teas and endeavor (sickness excepted ) that none shall be drinked in our houses till the duties are taken off and the other Revenue acts repealed." Col. Caleb Cushing and Capt. Nathaniel Currier were candidates for representatives, and received 55 votes cach. At the second meeting, Col. Cushing was elected. One hundred pounds voted for town expenses.
At a meeting dated Dec. 28, 1772, the freeholders and other inhab- itants, voted and resolved unanimously :
1. That the most essential rights of mankind are-Life, Liberty and Property.
2. That the only end and design of government is to seeure these.
3. That gross invasions have been made upon these our rights by the British administration till our grievances and oppressions are be- eome intolerable.
4. That our Representative be instructed to nse all his influenee in the house that all proper measures may be taken to obtain a redress of these grievances.
5. That if this fails of effect, this town are ready to unite with the
other towns in this government, and with all the other British govern- ments on this continent in all lawful measures which on joint consul- tation shall be judged necessary to save our sinking state and to obtain redress of onr grievances.
6. That a copy of the above resolves be transmitted by the town clerk, to the gentlemen of the Committee of communication and cor- respondence at Boston, thanking them for their seasonable and pru- dent care of the public good.
In 1774. on the reception of the news that the harbor of Boston had been blockaded. the town voted, " This is a blow at the root of all American liberty and property and renders it all precarious for- ever. Voted, that since we cannot have commerce with Great Bri- tain upon no easier terms than giving up our liberty and property, it is best to have none and therefore that if the other Colonies, or we of this Province in general come into measures, we will after the 14th inst., forbear all trade with Great Britain and Ireland and the West Indies, till the port of Boston is again opened as heretofore." For the distress occasioned to the poor of Boston by the " embargo," the town not only voted aid, but contributed sixty pounds. Mr. Samuel Smith, Capt. Henry Eaton, and Maj. Nathaniel Currier, were a com- mittee to confer with the town of Marblehead on the state of affairs. The "Committee of Correspondence " were Capt. William Hackett, Dr. Samuel Nye, and Lemuel Stevens.
Mr. Samuel Smith was chosen delegate to the Provincial Congress, to be holden at Cambridge in February, and in May following. Maj. Nathaniel Currier was chosen a delegate to the Congress, and July 4th chosen to represent the town in the Legislature. Twenty pounds voted in timber, rocks, and labor, towards stopping the channel of the Merrimac, to prevent British ships to enter : the pay of the minute- men voted ; powder and ball, and clothing for the soldiers, provided ; and the seleetmen instructed to hire money to pay the soldiers. The Committee of Safety consisted of eleven men; viz., John March, Moses Pike, Josiah French, Capt. Steven Merrill. Henry Moody, Henry Morrill, Lieut. Benjamin Evans, Capt. Joseph Pike, Capt. William Hackett, Lieut. John Hackett, and Dr. Samuel Nye. . Said committee to act in the town's behalf, and during the town's pleasure, and were empowered to give such encouragement as they deem neces- sary to soldiers, that the town may be called upon from time to time to raise, without calling the town together.
For two months' service at Cambridge, and classed as " minute- men." the following names are recorded : Jacob Currier, William Os- good, Abel Morrill, William Tucker, Israel Morrill, Samuel Dudley, William Morrill, Philip Osgood, Rufus Smith, Stephen Smith, Daniel Gale. Jeremiah Morrill, Joshua Morrill, Archelaus Adams, Jr., Wil- liam Hackett. Jr., Elias Pikc.
For service at " Winter Hill " for two months : Joseph Wadleigh, Jacob Currier, Thomas Arnold. Jeremiah Brown, Samuel True, Sylvanus Eaton, Jona. Webster, Daniel Morrill, Abel Jackman. John True, Isaac Dalton, Robert Fowler, Richard Brown, William Osgood, Robert Maxfield, Samuel Hackett, David Eaton, Benjamin Eaton, Moses Collins, William Morrill, Jeremiah Morrill. Charles Morrill, Lieut. William Brown. Joseph Gerrish, Jonathan Sellers, John Dal- ton. Joseph Maxfield. John Merrill, Jr., Simon French, Jabez True, Nathaniel Jackson, John Brown, Jacob Ring. Aaron Dow, Benjamin French, Jr .. Jere. Dole, Samnel Carr. Jr., William Pike.
Those paid as Continental soldiers, some of whom fought at Bunker Hill, and afterwards enlisted for three years, were : Jacob Blaisdell, John Carr, Eliphalet Woodward, Thomas Griffin, William Sellers, John Merrill, Jona. Blaisdell. John Grittin. David Davis, Jeremiah Brown, Samuel Morrill, Enos French, Winthrop Wiggin, Samuel Colby, Samuel Dudley, James Sellers, Nathaniel Dustin, Samuel Stevens, Thomas Brown, Dudley Stearns, William Gould, Moses French. Richard Hoyt, James Davis, Daniel Marshal, Elijah Dow, Moses Collins, Lient. William Brown, Samuel Webster, Stephen Smith, Moses French, Jona. Sawyer, Jona. Fowler, John Mansfield. William Eaton. John Brown, James Noyes, William Glidden, John Carr, Joseph Adams, Lieut Lewis, Capt. Nath. Currier, Daniel Gale, Jeremiah Dole. Levi Tilton.
Thirteen soldiers were paid who went to Providence, and ten sol- diers were paid who went to Rhode Island.
On the record is the following ; "There is dne Francis Maxfield. two thousand old emission dollars equal to seventy-five for one, if said Maxfield should call for his money." He was reported among the killed at Bunker Hill. "Paid Ebenezer Tucker and Jabez True £42 for making shoes for the soldiers; also Philip Wadleigh, Daniel Moody, Enoch Hoyt, for shoes, stockings and shirts. £15 each." " Paid Enoch Jackman for cash paid Mr. Osgood of Andover for the
HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
407
town's quota of beef for the army £13,632" (this was in Continental currency ).
Twenty-eight soldiers were enlisted in addition to the above-named. The cost of shoes, clothing, and blankets, furnished the soldiers of the Continental Army by the town, was £1,900 6s.
In 1779, upon the adoption of the new Constitution, the town voted " To accept the new Constitution in every article, except those which follow - in the third article in the bill of Rights after these words : And all moneys paid by the subject to the support of public worship and the public teachers aforesaid, shall, if he require it be uniformly applied to the support of ye public teachers of his own religious sect or denomination, provided there be any on whose instruction he attends. It is the mind of this town that these words should be added - provided, also, that he signify his mind publicly and enter his dissent at. the settlement of a minister as being of a different denomination.'" This amendment was urged for the reason that the people being left at an utter uncertainty who is to support their min- ister, and the minister whether he can have any support at all, and also for the reason that a man might change his religious sentiments for the sake of avoiding his civil obligations, and it does not come within the power of the government to dissolve such a contract. Fifty-five voted for the amendment, twelve against.
The result of so much trouble with ministers' rates, building and repairing churches and parsonage-houses, led to action on the part of many citizens of Salisbury, which finally resulted in severing the whole parish-tax system. The first opposition was made by Mr. Robt. Pike, who protested against being compelled to pay a tax for the sup- port of preaching, as against the Constitution of the State. A peti- tion was presented to the General Court by citizens of Salisbury and Amesbury, praying " that they may be exempted from paying minis- terial charges to the Congregational ministers in said towns." The result of this petition was the calling of a town-meeting on the 27th day of December, and Caleb Cushing, Maj. Joseph Page, Dr. Samuel Nye, Benjamin Evans, and Moses Rowell were chosen a committee to prepare such reasons as they shall judge necessary against the prayer of the petition. Subsequently the town voted "not to raise any more money for the support of ministers by virtue of any vote passed in the town prior to votes passed in 1751; and later (1788), voted, " that the town will not take any action respecting ministerial affairs," and voted against hiring the Rev. Mr. Webster and the Rev. Mr. Noyes. This virtually ended the parish-tax system under the old law.
Sept. 19, 1786, a town-meeting was called to hear the report of a committee previously appointed to instruct their representative-clect in regard to his duties. The report is a curiosity in its way, as it treats of questions which agitate the public at the present time. It speaks upon the finance question ; the undue influence of lawyers ; methods of law and need of greater economy in legislation. The instructions are seven in number, and the sixth is as follows :
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