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 146

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 146

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Religious Societies .- Hardly had the first feeble band of colonists planted themselves here in the woods ere they established among them the preaching of the gospel. In 1641 the Rev. William Knight, a resident of Ipswich, began to preach to the little company, and probably continued his labors until. his death, in 1655( ? ). He was supported, as it was claimed, by the Ipswich people. His successor was the Rev William Perkins, who came hither from Gloucester in 1655. Like Mr. Knight, he officiated for a number of years. Mr. Perkins was son of William and Catherine Perkins, and was born in London, Eng.,-where his father was a merchant tailor,-Ang. 25, 1607. His grandfather was George Perkins, who lived a yeoman's life in Abbot's Salford in the county of War- wick, England. In 1633 we find our Mr. Perkins associated with the illustrious JJohn Winthrop, Jr., and eleven others, the first settlers of Ipswich. The following year he removed to Roxbury, where he married Elizabeth Wooton, Aug. 30, 1636. In 1640 he revisited his native country. He soon returned and repre- sented the town of Weymouth in the General Court in 1644, acting as leader of a military company, and one of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. From 1650 to 1655-he was preaching to the inhabitants of Gloucester. From that place he came to Topsfield. Here, after preaching several years, he spent the remainder of his life in the ealm pursuits of husbandry. He died May 21, 1682, in the seventy-fifth year of his agc. A dim- inutive gravestone bearing the inscription, "Rev. William Perkins," has lately been discovered in the old cemetery. Among the early settlers .of the town, Mr. Perkins was probably the most accom- plished person. He was a scholar and a man of business,-a farmer, a clergyman, a soldier, and a legislator.

At what stage of the ecclesiastical history of Topsfield the church was ereeted, cannot be definitely determined. Tradition says it stood near the " dry bridge," on the " Ipswich road," not far from the residence of Mr. Nehemiah Perkins. In 1662 the Rev. Mr. Gilbert was invited to settle with them in the ministry. Upon the villagers agreeing to pay their share of the minister's salary, Mr. Gilbert accepted the call to be their settled pastor. In November, 1663, the church was organized. Mr. Gilbert's ordination proba- bly took place in the same month. The church was composed of the Topsfield people, the villagers (Boxford people), and several families living in Ipswich near to the Topsfield line, - all being hardly able to honorably maintain an able minister.

The Rev. Thomas Gilbert was born in Scotland in 1610, and, previous to his settlement in Topsfield, had been a clergyman of the Established Church, at Chedlie and at Edling, in England. He was one of the two thousand elergymen who were ejeeted from their benefiees by the Act of Uniformity, in 1662; so that he eame almost directly from an English vicarage, or euraey, to be the min- ister of a Puritan Congregational Church in the woods of Topsfield. In 1670 he was arraigned on a charge of intemperance. This trial left him in a very disgraceful attitude, and he was ejected from the office of pastor the following year (1671). After having been thus ejeeted, both in the old country and the new, he died in Charles- towir, Oct. 28, 1678.

The sceond-settled pastor was the Rev. Jeremiah Hobart, who was born in England in 1630, and ordained as the pastor over the Topsfield church Oct. 2, 1672. He was son of the Rev. Peter . Hobart, who emigrated to this country in 1635; assisted in forming the settlement of Hingham, in which town he was the first pastor, and a noted personage in Massachusetts. On the 21st of the next September (1680), he retired from the pulpit. He was afterwards settled at Hempstead, L. I., where he preached a number of years. But finding, after a while, that his congregation had nearly all left, he concluded to go also. The people of Haddam, Conn., then took him up, and there he stayed until his death, which occurred in March, 1715. His wife was Dorothy Whiting, daughter of the distinguished first minister of Lynn. Their daughter, Sarah, married a Brainerd, and thus became the mother of that celebrated missionary, whose name is

inseribed on the same illustrious roll with those of Eliot and Swartz and Martyn.

The Rev. Joseph Capen was the third pastor of the Topsfield Church. He was born in Dorchester, Mass., Dec. 20, 1658. After graduating at Harvard College, he pursued his theologieal studies, until he received a call to preach to the people of Topsfield. He accepted the eall, and, July 29, 1681, "Thomas Perkins jnr and Joseph Bixby, Jun' [were] Chosen to goe to Cambrig to pilot mr Capen to Topsfield, to Lint Pebodyes house. Lint pebody Deekon perkins Sargt Redington James How sen" m" Tho : Baker JJohn Gould sergt pehody Samuel Busell sen' John Wilds John How : John Estey Clerke are Chosen a Commitey to discorse with m' Capen to stay and preach here with us at Topsfield a while." The committee agreed with Mr. Capen to receive for his salary twenty pounds in silver money, and forty-five pounds payable in pork and beef, and the use of the parsonage.

In January, 1681, Samuel Symonds agrees to build a pulpit, ten feet long, - the town finding stock, - for ten pounds, to be finished before the 15th of September next. Probably there had been no pulpit in the meeting-house prior to this date. Three years previously, the town voted to have a gallery built.

After preaching to the people of Topsfield for upwards of a year, they gave him a call to become their settled pastor. He accepted their eall, Sept. 18, 1682 ; but was not ordained until June 11, 1684. Being an acceptable pastor to the people of his charge, he continued to preach to them until just before his death, which occurred June 30, 1725.

During the Rev. Mr. Capen's pastorate of forty-one years, changes of considerable importance had been going on. The old meeting- house had become unfit for use, and it was deemed necessary to build a new one. At this time, the Boxford brethren built a house of their own, and this subtraction left the Topsfield church in a weak state. However, they, with what little help they received from the neighbor- ing families in Ipswich, began upon a new house of worship, which was completed in 1703. It was "two and forty foot wide and four and forty foot long." The site of this new edifice was where the present church stands, which was then a knoll that had heen levelled for the purpose to which it was applied. After removing the pulpit from the old meeting-house to the new, and using of the tim- bers, boards, &c., of the old house, what could be used, the old editiee was sold to John Gould for five pounds. After being used as a barn for many years, it fell beneath the hand of time, and is now returned to the dust from whenee it came.

The Rev. John Emerson was next invited to accept of a call, which ·he did. He was the son of Joseph Emerson, the first minister of Mendon, Mass , and was born at Charlestown Feb. 7, 1707; and ordained over the church here Nov. 27, 1728, having just passed the years of his minority. Mr. Emerson resided where Charles H. Holmes, Esq., has lived for many years. Mr. Emerson's labors closed just before his death, which occurred July 11, 1774.

Five years elapsed before another minister was settled over the church.

During the pastorship of the Rev. Mr. Emerson, the third church editice had been erected. May 19, 1757, a committee was chosen " to search the meeting house to see if it was worth repairing." The committee reporting it beyond repair, the town voted, Jan. 9, 1759, to build a new meeting-house fifty-four feet long, forty-two feet wide, and twenty-six feet stud, with a " perpornable steeple," and set it where the old one stood. Dea. Bixby, Thomas Symonds, Jacob Averill, Nathan Hood, and Stephen Perkins were chosen a committee to purchase timber, boards, &e., get it together near the old meeting- house, and hire carpenters to build it. On the following 4th of July (1759), a large crowd gathered on the " common," to view the rais- ing of the new church. A hundred men were present to assist in raising those heavy oak heams, posts', and other parts of the frame, into their proper positions. After their labor was over, the men partook of dinner. During this day, a barrel of rom and eleven barrels of cider were consumed. The cost of this meet- ing-house when finished was £743 10s. 73d. It is a faet worthy of notice, that a Mr. Ross, of Ipswich, who was present at the raising of this meeting-house, he being at the time but nine years old, was also present at the raising of the present church edifice, more than eighty-three years afterward.

After five years of unsettled, and therefore irregular preaching, their fifth-settled pastor was placed over their society. This was the Rev. Daniel Breck, a native of Boston. His ordination took place on Wednesday, the 17th of November, 1779, the sermon being

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

preached by the Rev. Mr. Lothrop, of the "Old North" Church, Boston, from 2 Corinthians iv. 5: "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake."

A council was called, which advised Mr. Breck's dismission, and he closed his services for the society, May 26, 1788. He removed to Hartland, Vt., where he settled in the ministry, and died in extreme old age. While in Topsfield, he married Hannah, daughter of Elijah Porter, March 23, 1786. Their son Daniel, who was a Kentuckian member of the national council, was born here, Feb. 12, 1788.

On Thursday the 12th of November, 1789, the Rev. Asahel Hunt- ington, the sixth-settled minister, was inducted into the sacred office. After an illness of only four days' duration, the Rev. Mr. Huntington died of malignant sore throat, April 22 1813, at the age of fifty-two years.

The seventh pastor was the Rev. Rodney Gove Dennis, a native.of New Boston, N. H. He was settled over the church here, on Wednes- day, Oct. 4, 1820. He resigned his office in a letter to the society under date of April 22, 1827. A town-meeting was held May 15, when it was voted not to dismiss him. He made another application, April 9, 1829, and was accordingly dismissed, by advice of a council met for that purpose, May 18, 1829.

While the Rev. Mr. Deunis occupied the pulpit, stoves had been placed in the meeting-house, to heat it in the winter season. In 1817, the spire of the steeple was taken down, and a cap-tower erected in its place. A bell, weighing 9383 pounds, was also purchased of Paul Revere & Sons, for $400, and suspended in the steeple "to be rung on all public days, and tolled for funerals."

The Rev. James Frisby McEwen, a native of East Hartford. Coun., was the eighth pastor. He was installed over the church here, May 5. 1830. A "root of bitterness " sprang up between the Rev. Mr. McEwen and the society toward the end of 1840. A council was held March 10, and his connection with the society ended May 5, 1841.

The ninth-settled minister was the Rev. Anson McLoud, of Hart- ford, Conn. For twenty-eight years Mr. MeLoud broke the " bread of life" to the people of his charge. His connection with the society ceased Oct. 1, 1869.

The tenth pastor was the Rev. E. P. Tenney, of Boston, who was installed on Wednesday, Dee. 1, 1869.

The Rev. James Hill Fitts, the eleventh and present pastor, was installed over the society, June 22, 1871.

The church membership now numbers 155; the Sunday-school has 175 scholars ; a library, containing about 1,000 volumes, which have a circulation of about 2,400, and supported by contributions, is in con -. neetion with the Sunday-school.

Several religious denominations having crowded their way into the town, the unanimity of the original Orthodox church was broken up. In this state of affairs, the members of the Orthodox society petitioned the General Court to grant them a parish charter, which was accord- ingly acceded to, in 1824, and approved by the governor, Feb. 19, 1824. The first legal meeting of the society was held on Monday, March 29, 1824, at which Hon. Nehemiah Cleaveland was chosen moderator ; Jacob Towne, Jr., parish clerk ; David Perkins, Thomas Balch, and Samuel Hood, parish committee ; and Samuel Hood, treas- urer. Dea. Daniel Bixby, who died the following year, bequeathed to this parish the farm, since known as the " Donation " farm, for the support of the ministry. In 1877, the principal of this fund was $5.592.55, and the income for that year, $358.29.

In 1842 the present church edifice was erected, at a cost of $5,000. The dedicatory exercises occurred on " Washington's birth-day," Wednesday, Feb. 22, 1843, at 2 o'clock, P. M.

Methodist Episcopal Church. - A society of this denomination was organized here in 1830, and incorporated, by an Act of the Legis- lature, in 1847. Their first meetings were held in the "north school- house." The Revs. William Nenseamen and Asa U. Swinerton preached to them until May, 1831. Their third preacher, the Rev. R. D. Easterbrooks, was the first stationed by the Conference. A plan was adopted and contract made with Mr. Timothy Munroe, of Lynn, to build a meeting-house. It was raised Oct. 19, 1831, and dedicated December 23d following. The church was of modern style, forty fect square, cost $600, and was situated upon the Newburyport Turn- pike, near Springvale. On January 9th and 10th, 1840, the meeting- house was moved on wheels to a site midway between the residences of the late Dr. Merriam and Mr. John B. Lake. The present church was erected in 1853, and dedicated June 14, 1854. The parsonage was built in 1840. Both church and parsonage are now entirely clear of

debt, and the society have in their possession about $20,000 worth of church property. The present pastor is the Rev. Stephen Louis Rodgers, a pleasing preacher of the gospel.

Military History .- A military company was early formed here, agrecably to the laws of the Colony, with whom the soldiers in Box- ford trained. This old-time institution continued without abatement, until a few years previous to the late civil war, when it came to an end. About 1840, a militia company, calling themselves the " War- ren Blues," flourished here.

An armory was carly erected, of which William Smith was the keeper in 1682.

Capt. Israel Davis and Viaj. John Baker, of Topsfield, were officers in the " French War." Many privates were out under their command, as well as in companies formed by neighboring towns, and who ren- dered good service for the Crown. Several lost their lives on ditfer- ent occasions ; while many, from enduring the fatigues and sufferings of the expeditions, destroyed their health and future usefulness.

The town purchased clothing for the soldiers; and, in 1780, voted to purchase 8,440 lbs. of beef for the use of the army. The town early appointed a committee to look after the soldiers' families, and to aid them, if need be, in procuring the necessaries of life.

Aug. 23. 1808, the town adopted and sent an appeal to the presi- dent to have the Embargo Act of Dec. 22. 1807, removed. The dee- laration of war, five years afterward. was condemned as an unneces- sary and useless measure. Their quotas of men for this war were, however, raised and equipped for service in due time.

Passing over minor matters, we come to the outbreak of the Rebel- lion. A bounty of $125 and $200 to volunteer soldiers was paid by the town throughout the war. Topsfield furnished 113 soldiers - a sur- plus of five over all demands. Five of these were commissioned offi- cers. The soldiers of Topsfield took a prominent part in the War of the Rebellion. Five of them perished in Andersonville Prison. - how, we know too well. Others were imprisoned there, as well as in the Libby Prison, on Belle Island. Several gave up their lives for their country on the battle-field of Fredericksburg, at Pamunkey River, in the last battle of the Wilderness, and other conflicts with the South. Many others moistened with their blood the soil of Win- chester. Va .. the banks of the Antietam. Donaldsonville, Port Hud- son, and the battlefield of the second battle of Bull Run. Battles of Roanoke Island, South-west Creek, Kingston, Whitehall, Golds- borough, Ball's Bluff, Edenburg. Mt. Jackson, Stransburg. Cedar Moun- tain. Rappahannock, Sulphur Springs, Chantilly. Sonth Mountain, and both battles of Port Hudson, and others, were also familiar to the Topsfield "Boys in Blue." At least half a score died in the Sonth of Southern diseases. Several arrived home, only to breathe their last breath among their relatives and friends. The following is a list of those who gallantly and patriotically gave up their lives for their country in the hospital, on the battle-field, and in the rebel prison : John II. Bradstreet. James Brown, Moses Deland, Royal Augustus Deland, Swinerton Dunlap, Emerson P. Gould, William H. Hadley, George Prescott Hobson. Francis A. Hood, Daniel Hoyt (at Ander- sonville Prison), A. A. Kneeland, Henry Porter Kneeland (at And- ersonville Prison), John Warren Lake. Lewis II. Perkins, Nathan Hanson Roberts (at Andersonville Prison). Daniel H. Smith (at An- dersonville Prison), John P. Smith (at Andersonville Prison) . John Stevens, Eugene H. Todd, and William Welch, Jr. Topsfield's quota for the navy was eleven. Of these eleven, William H. H. Foster and John Hoyt died in the service. The memory of those soldiers who fell during the struggle is preserved by having their names engraved on marble tablets and placed in a prominent position in the town hall.

The whole amount of money expended for the war, exclusive of State aid, was $14, 746.35. State aid paid to the soldiers' families in 1861, $307.46; 1862. $1.628.58 ; 1863. $2.259 ; 1864, $2,020; 1865, $1,419.06; amounting in the whole to $7,634.10.

The ladies of Topsfield worked heartily in the cause of the soldiers during the war, and forwarded to the army, money, clothing, and hospital stores. to the value of five hundred dollars.

Education. - The first entry bearing upon the subject of education, is dated March 6, 1693-94. It is as follows : "The Town have agreed that Goodman Lovewell Schoolmaster shall live in ye Parsonage house this yeare ensewing to kepe schole and swepe ye meeting house."- (Town Records, Vol. 1, p. 83.) The town, for a long period. had but a single schoolmaster. He was chosen at the annual town-meet- ing, and was usnally a citizen of the place. A room in some private dwelling was hired for this purpose, even as late as 1750. The first school-houses of which the records speak were built between the

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

years 1790 and 1794. In 1790, the town was divided into three school districts, - the South, Middle, and North districts, -and a school-house erected in each district. These were supplanted by new houses in 1844, '45, '46, and '47, and another district had been pre- viously added, now making, in the whole, four. One hundred and fifty scholars now attend the district schools.

An academy was incorporated here in 1828, and for several years well sustained. Among its teachers were Francis Vose, Benjamin Greenleaf, Edmund F. Slafter, and others of equal merit. The build- ing, having been purchased by the town about ten years since, was and is used as a " centre " school-house. The lower room is used for a primary, and the upper room for a school of a higher grade.

Distinguished Natives. - Topsfield has been the birthplace of many distinguished business, literary, scientific, and public men. The fol- lowing is a partial list of the noted natives of Topsfield, viz. : The Rev. Ivory Hovey, M. D. (1714-1803), graduated Cambridge, 1735, pastor and physician of second parish in Rochester, Mass., for twenty-five years ; also, installed at Monument Ponds, in Plymouth. Nathaniel Peabody (1741-1823), a statesman, physician, and soldier. The Rev. Daniel Gould (1753-1842), son of Daniel and Lucy (Tarbox) Gould, graduated Harvard College, 1782, set- tled in Bethel, and in Rumford, Me. Jacob Kimball, graduated Har- vard College, 1788, a musical composer, and author of " The Rural Harmony," 1793. David Cummings, Esq., graduated Dartmouth College, 1806, a successful lawyer in Salem, and judge in the circuit court of common pleas. Daniel Breck, LL. D. (1788-1852), au able jurist, and member of Congress. Dr. Royal A. Merriam, gradu- ated Dartmouth College, 1808, physician in Topsfield. Israel Baleh, M. D., graduated Dartmouth College, 1811, physician in Salisbury. The Rev. Ebenezer Perkins, graduated Dartmouth College, 1814, a clergyman in Royalston. Dr. Josiah Lamson, graduated Harvard College, 1814, physician in Essex. Elisha Huntington, M.D. (1796- 1865), graduated Dartmouth College, 1815, for eight years mayor of Lowell, and lieutenant-governor of the State. Asahel Huntington, graduated Yale College, 1819, a successful advocate in Salem, and, for many years, county attorney. John Cleaveland, graduated Bowdoin. 1826, counsellor-at-law in New York City. The Rev. Jonas Merriam, graduated Bowdoin, 1826, clergyman in Barnard, Me. Prof. David Peabody, graduated Dartmouth College, 1828, professor at Dartmouth College. The Rev. Elisha Lord Cleaveland (1806-66), graduated Bowdoin, 1829, an able divine of New Haven, Conn. Josiah Pea- body, graduated Dartmouth College, an Armenian missionary. Cyrus Cummings, graduated Dartmouth College, counsellor-at-law, Boston. The Rev. George Hood, a minister in Southport, N. Y.

Through the instrumentality of its distinguished sons, Topsfield has obtained a good reputation abroad.

Business. - A large number of the inhabitants are employed in shoe manufacturing. The factories of Messrs. John Bailey and Charles Herrick, and one or two smaller business concerns, form this branch of industry. Some 1,500 pairs of shoes are turned out every working-day. Most of them are the kinds known as women's, misses', e., -very few, if any, of the heavier make are manufactured. Sewing-machines have been introduced, and some of their manufact- ure is now sewed work, especially in the factory of Mr. Herrick. Messrs. Herrick and Bailey have together about $30,000 invested ; and about $215,000 worth of goods are annually manufactured. About $20,000 are invested in the blacksmithing, butchering, and other sinall business concerns in the town. The outskirts of the town are, of course, devoted to the interests of agriculture and its attendant ramifications.

Almshouse, -Previous to the year 1822, the paupers in the town were boarded out, as was the custom of early days. In the year above-mentioned, they purchased the "Ebenezer Dodge " farm, of Cyrus Cummings, Esq., for $3,500, and fitted it up to meet the exigence of the town. Under the care of the present master, Mr. William J. Savage, the farm thrives.

Town Hall. - March 4, 1873, the town voted to build a town hall,

on ." some suitable spot," at a less sum than $13,000, and a committee, consisting of the following gentlemen, was chosen to carry out the vote : Charles Herrick, John Bailey, John H. Potter, William E. Kimball, Dudley Bradstreet, Joseph W. Batchelder, and Ezra Towne.

Public Library. - A room was also prepared in the town hall for the use of the public library, which was founded in 1875. The fol- lowing gentlemen were the committee for founding the same, viz. :- Sidney A. Merriam, Esq., the Rev. Anson McLoud, Humphrey Balch, Esq., the Rev. James H. Fitts, and Dr. J. Allen. For founding the library, contributions were made by Messrs. Blake, Merriam, and others. The present number of volumes is 1,500, and the annual eirculation of the same, 10,000. Sidney A. Merriam, Esq., at his decease, bequeathed to the library a bond of $1,000 to be placed at interest, and the committee to use its income, semi-annually, for the purchase of books. A social library was organized here in 1794,- the largest number of volumes in its possession, at any one time, being about 200. This library managed to live until the new publie library was founded, when they were incorporated as one. The Rev. Anson McLoud is the librarian.

The turnpike from Boston to Newburyport runs through the town. Until the Danvers and Newburyport branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad was built, several stages ran over the turnpike daily. This was the popular and only public mode of conveyance then in being, to Boston, Newburyport, and other places. A large hotel was built near the village, which was one of the stages' principal stopping- places along the route. The turnpike has had its day, being super- seded by the steam-ears in 1854.

Topsfield has one post-office,, located in the village. J. Bailey Poor, postmaster.

The population of Topsfield in 1875, according to the last census, was 1,221,-616 males, and 605 females. From the same census we gather the following facts : 394 catable polls, of whom 356 are legal voters; 336 native, and twenty naturalized, 284 families, and 220 dwelling-houses, nine unoccupied. 239 males and 239 females married. 377 males and 366 females unmarried. Of the inhabitants, 652 were born in Topsfield; 336 in other towns in Massachusetts; 144 in other States in the Union ; sixty-three foreign born; and twenty-six unknown. Of the foreign born, five were born in England ; thirty-five in Ireland ; three in Scotland ; and nineteen in the Canadian Dominion. Of the inhabitants, seventeen hold government or professional positions ; 356 personal and domestic ; forty-four are engaged in trade and transportation ; and 165 in agri- culture. Of the selected occupations : of males, there are three elergymen, eight butchers, seven elerks, ten merehants or traders, 162 farmers, fourteen carpenters, 138 shoemakers, thirty-four labor- ers ; of the females, nine teachers, 307 housewives, thirty-four domestie servants, twelve dressmakers, aud eighteen that work upon shoes.

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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 146

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