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 16

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 16

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Thus we find the town, in 1714, with nearly two hundred propri- etors ; and a careful examination will reveal the fact that many of the names in this list have descendants residing in the town, many whom are scattered throughout the country.

INDIAN HISTORY.

" There was a time when red men climbed these hills, And wandered by these plains and rills : Or rowed the light canoe along yon river, Or rushed to conflict armed with bow and quiver, Or, 'neath the forest leaves that o'er them hung. They council held, or loud their war-notes sung."

When the little hand of settlers removed from Newtown to Cochi- cewick, the territory was occupied by the red men of the forest. It was a very favorable resort for their mode of living. The land on the banks of the rivers furnished corn and beans, while the Merrimac and

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

its tributarics furnished them with fish, and the forest the game. No better location could have been provided by nature than the spot where Roger and his company pitched their tents. They were free, roamed the land at pleasure, ate its fruits as spontaneously produccd, spending but little time in cultivating maize and roots, their chicf living coming from their hunting and fishing.

The new-comers gave an equitable consideration for whatever they obtained of the natives, and dealt with them kindly, with justice and humanity, so that they suffered but little from the Indians for upwards of thirty years. The inhabitants quietly pursued their business of clearing the forests, erecting their new homes, and tilling the land, till the breaking out of Philip's war in 1675, when it beeame neees- sary to ercet garrison-houses for their protection. These were usually made by filling bricks between the studding, or making them of thick timber, and sometimes they were surrounded by a stockade, a watch being kept during the nights. In the time of war, there was : garrison-house in every neighborhood in the town, one of which is said to be standing at the present time on the west shore of Haggett's Pond.

The first violence or damage occurred to the inhabitants on the nine- teenth day of April, 1676, just one hundred years before the battle of Lexington.

Mr. Ephraim Stevens discovered the enemy about a mile this side of Bodwell's Ferry, but escaped upon his horse, and alarmed the inhabitants. The Indians pursued and passed along the main road without doing any mischief, till they came to the south part of the town, where they killed Joseph Abbott, and took Timothy Abbott. These were the sons of George Abbott, Sr. Joseph was stout and resolute, and probably made resistauce ; and there is a tradition that he killed one or more of them before he was slain. He was in his twenty-fourth year. Timothy was in his thirteenth year, and was kept several months, and was brought back by a squaw who knew the family, and was friendly. He had been treated by the Indians as well as circumstances would admit; but, as Hubbard says, " was greatly pined with hunger."

At the same time Mr. Faulkner's house was burned, Roger Marks was wounded, and his horse killed ; they killed some cattle, but " had time ouly to cut out their tongues, being fired upon by the people in the garrison." A few months after, a small party of the enemy sur- prised and captured Mr. Haggett, and two of his sons.

In 1688, the Indians commenced another war with the English. Andover suffered more in this than in the preceding war. In August, 1689, John Peters and Andrew Peters were killed by the Indians ; and in the same year, Lieut. John Stevens, Benjamin Lovejoy, Eleazer Streaton, and Robert Russell died in the war at the eastward. In August, 1696, John Hoit and William Peters were slain.

But the most severe and distressing shock which Andover ever suffered from the Indians, was on the 5th of March, 1698, -" When between thirty and forty Indians surprised the town, killed five persons, burnt two houses and two barns with the eattle in them - set another dwelling house and the meeting house on fire; but the fires were happily extinguished before they had done much damage." The persons killed were Simon Wade, Nathaniel Brown, Penelope Johnson, aged nineteen, daughter of Timothy Johnson, Capt. Pas- coe Chubb, and Hannah his wife, daughter of Edmond Faulkner. Capt. Chubb had been a captain at Pemaquid Fort two years previous, when he had treacherously murdered two chiefs of the Indians, and had greatly irritated them; and his death afforded them as much joy as the taking of a whole town, because they had taken, though by accident, their revenge on him for his barbarity and perfidy to their countrymen.

They took Col. Dudley Bradstreet and family, and carried them about fifty rods from his house, when they halted and dismissed their prisoners without offering them the least injury, a singular instance of mercy in a people who had always shown themselves to be cruel, and

to have no mercy. The tradition is that one Waternummon, an In- dian who lived at Newbury, and is supposed to have had a particular regard for Col. Bradstreet, undertook to conduct the Indians to his house upon these conditions, that they should " neither kill nor cap- tivate any of his family." They took Abiel Stevens, a lad, who feigned himself launc and kept behind : the Indians hastened, expect- ing to be pursued, he turned, ran, and made his eseape, though fired upon by the Indian who took him.

No assault was made by the Indians upon Andover after this time, although other towns in the vicinity had suffered severely. The in- habitants were obliged to use caution, and often to repair to garrisons for safety. Block-houses became necessary near the Merrimack, to secure the fields and laborers. In the spring of 1704, four block- houses were built at the expense of the Province, for £8 8s. 10d., by Christopher Osgood and Jolin Barker. It was very necessary to have a block-house in Shawshine fields, as there was no garrison or dwelling- house near, and many of the inhabitants raised eorn and rye in these fields.

In September, 1722, the town voted " that there be a new bloek- house builded against Henry Bodwell's, and the other three bloek- houses in said town shall be repaired, all at the town's expense." In 1735, the bloek-house in Shawshine fields was sold for 20s. to John Johnson.

This was a time that tried men's souls. The inhabitants lived in constant fcar, their labors being interrupted by the cowardly attacks, from behind some tree, or, when least expecting trouble, a group of the armed foe would suddenly spring upon the settlement, and destroy houses, barns, cattle, and pillage their fields. They had to carry fire- arms into the fields when at work, and also to and from their house of worship, and while at church, keep a sharp lookout. In short, they had ever to be on the alert for any emergency, night and day.

" Alas for them ! their days are o'er ; Their fires are out on hill and shore."

REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

The history of the Revolution is always read with interest, and as the town of Andover was active and zealous in protecting the interests of the Colony, and opposing every form of oppression by the mother country, it is proper to give a short statement of the part she took in the war. In 1765, the famous Stamp Aet was one that awakened a general indignation throughout the country, and ealled forth from her citizens the strongest kind of resolutions, in view of the threatened injuries and abuses, from riotous assemblies, &e. The seleetmen, militia officers, and magistrates of the town were directed to use their utmost endeavors to suppress all such, and the representative to Gen- eral Court, Samuel Phillips, Esq., was instructed "not to do any act that would signify any willingness to submit to any internal taxes, that are under any color imposed by any other than the General Court of the Province"; also, he was instructed to join in any remonstrance to the king and parliament, to have the Stamp Act repealed.

In 1768, the new Aet, imposing a duty on tea, papers, painter's colors, and glass, caused still greater dissatisfaction than the Stamp Act, and it was, "Resolved, that it was the duty of every friend of liberty, and to the British constitution to prevent, if possible, the exe- eution of said Aet." The town also voted that they do all in their power to support and encourage the non-importation of foreign goods, and encourage frugality, industry, and the manufactures of our own country, and that " we will not make use of any foreign tea, or suffer it to be used in our families (except in ease of sickness) until the act imposing a duty shall be repealed and a general importation take place." Also, resolved, that any person who should under any pre- tence whatever, be engaged in vending tea, should ineur the displeasure of the town. It was also, " Resolved, -That it is the duty of this town to conform and firmly adhere to the Association of the grand American

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Continental Congress, and to the resolve of the Provincial Congress of Dec. 5, thereto relating," and a committee was appointed to see these resolves are strictly observed.

In December, 1774, it was resolved, "that one quarter part of all the training soldiers of the town enlist themselves ; and for their eu- couragement they are promised pay for every half day they shall exercise in the art military."

Accordingly, two companies were raised in February, 1775, under the command of Capt. Benjamin Farnum and Capt. Benjamin Ames, which, with others, were regimented under Col. James Frye, and called minute-men. On the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775, these companies were ordered to Cambridge. From thenee they were detached for duty to take possession of Charlestown Heights on the 16th day of June. and the next day were in the Battle of Bunker Hill. There were fifty-eight men in Capt. Ames's company, more than fifty of whom were from the South Parish (Andover), in the battle. Three were killed and seven wounded. Capt. Farnum was wounded, and some of his company. Two of Capt. Charles Forbush's volunteer company were killed, Lieut. Samnel Bailey and a private named Corcy.

In 1777. there were four militin companies in the town, which, with the alarm-list, cousisted of 670 men. There were 187 men under command of Capt. Samuel Johnson ; Capt. Nathaniel Lovejoy, 161 meu ; Capt. John Abbott, 158 men ; and Capt. Joshua Holt, 164 men.

The service rendered by Capt. Nathaniel Lovejoy's company amounted to 2,127 months, or 175 years and 7 months ; and a total of the four companies in Andover, 737 years, - equal to 98 men in eon- stant service during seven and a half years that the war continucd. This does not include the officers. The amount of money expended in the service amounted to $10,671 in specie, and $14,960 in paper, somewhat depreciated. Besides the wages paid the soldiers, and the extra bounty paid by the town, the mothers and sisters were busy at home making stockings, shirts, blankets, &c., for their comfort, and the families of absent soldiers were supplied with necessary provisions, which was no small expense. The officers who were in in actual ser- vice, during the war, were Col. James Frye, Capts. James Benjamin Ames, Benjamin Farnum, Samuel Johnson, Charles Furbush, John Abbott, and Stephen Abbott.

Twenty soldiers died during the war, from the South Parish.

Thus was Andover true to liberty and independence, and fulfilled all that was demanded of her, and more, during a long and tedious war.

Besides the above list of persons in the Revolutionary War, we find recorded seventeen men who died at Louisburg, Nov. 9, 1745 ; also seven men who died in the expedition to Lake George, in 1758. Seveu men died in the war, at the West. In 1760, two died, besides others from Andover.

REBELLION.

The active participation of Andover in the War of the Rebellion begau ou the 18th of April, 1861, six days after the bombardment of Fort Sumter, and three days after the Proclamation of President Lincoln for 75,000 men. This first meeting was held in a hall at Frye Village, in response to a call of only seven hours' notice. John Dove was chosen ehairmuan. After remarks by several persons. it was decided to await the action of the citizens on Saturday, the 20th inst. At that mecting carnest and patriotic speeches were made, and a scries of resolutions were offered by Hon. Marcus Morton. which were re- ceived with great applause and adopted. The mecting then adjourned to Monday, April 22. at which time a committee of twenty-five were chosen to carry into effect such measures as they deem expedient for the support and defence of our National Government during the present Rebellion.

This committee consisted of Francis Cogswell, Peter Smith, John Dove, William Chiekering, Amos Abbott, Joseph Holt, William P.

Foster, Nathan Frye, Jedediah Burtt, Stephen D. Abbott, Willard Pike, Isaac O. Blunt, James Shaw, George Foster, William Jenkins, Calvin E. Stowe, Moses Foster, Jr., Benjamin F. Wardwell, John Aiken, Benjamin Boynton, William Abbott, Nathan Shattuck, John Abbott, James Bailey, and Warren F. Draper, who were called a "Committee of Twenty-Five."

At a legal meeting of the town, held May 6, to make arrangements for enlistments, the following resolutions were passed : -

"Resolved, That we will respond to the call of the President of the United States for the means to suppress this Rebellion. by encouraging volunteers in this town to enlist in the service of the Government, and by providing for their comfort, and the comfort of their families iu their abseuce, and by such other means as we, as good aud loyal citizens, shall have the wisdom and the ability to devise and execute ; aud, adopting the language of one of the resolntious passed by this town in 1787,-

"Resolved, That the inhabitants of the town, of every description, but heads of families iu particular, are hereby solicited - as they would falsify the predictions and disappoint the hopes of those who are iuimieal to our independence and happiness ; as they would gratify the anxious wishes of our best friends, and the friends of freedom in general ; as they regard the political well-being of themselves and posterity ; as they hold precious the memory of the heroes and patriots, and of our own kindred who have sacrificed their lives that we may enjoy the fruits of virtuous freedom -to unite in these res- olutions, and to exert their utmost influence in every proper way to promote the important design of them."

A military company was immediately organized, and the officers chosen April 30, - Horace Holt, captain, George W. W. Dove, Charles H. Poor, Moses W. Clement, Orrin L. Farnham, lieutenants, with seventy-nine privates, who were drilled daily, till June 24, when they went to Fort Warren to await orders, and were afterwards mus- tered into the United States service July 5, 1861, and designated Co. H, 14th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. They left Boston, Aug. 7, for Washington, D. C. This was the first company sent to the war from Andover. Other levies followed in rapid succession. The town furnished for the army during the war, 549 men; for the navy, 50 men, over the various calls ; total, 599, and a surplus of 116 men. The number killed or deceased from this town was 52, which are placed in the roll of honor in Memorial Hall.

Of the nearly six hundred men, twenty were commissioned officers. A glance at the tablet in the hall reveals the names of many who snf- fered and died of starvation in the prisons at Danville, Andersonville, or Salisbury. The amount of money expended by the town, exclusive of State aid, was $30,650, to say nothing of the contributions of the " Ladies' Aid Society," "Old South Society," who were constantly furnishing hospital and sanitary stores, clothing, and money, to the value of twenty-five hundred dollars, besides their time and labor.

To the Memory of our Patriotic Dead.

JAMES H. BAILEY,

GRANVILLE K. CUTLER,

Died of disease at Washington, D. C., Sept. 14, 1561. ENOCH O. FRYE.

Killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1554.

JAMES H. EASTES.

Killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 19, 1864.

Accidentally killed at Fort Albany, Va., Oct. 29, 1561. CHARLES H. CALLAHAN. EDWARD FARMER. Died of disease at Chelsea, Mass., May 29, 1562. AMOS WHITTAKER. Killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 19, 1564. JONATHAN A. HOLT. Killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 19, 1564. JAMES H. ROTHWELL.

Killed at Gaines' Mills, Va., June 27, 1562. GEORGE M. SMART,

Died of disease at Fort Albany, Va., July 25, 1562. WILLIAM GREELEY. ENOCHI M. HATCH.

Killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 19, 1864.

Died of disease at Carrollton, La., Aug. 22, 1562. BERNARD KAVANAUGHI.

Died of disease at Philadelphia, l'a., Aug. 21, 1962. EDWARD C. MERRILL.

Killed near Petersburg, Va., June 16, 1864. BERNARD MCGURK. Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1564. ORRIN L. FARNIIAM.

Died of wounds at Bryant's Farm, Va., Jnne 17, 1564.

EPAPIRUS K. BRYANT.

Died of disease at Carrollton, La., Aug. 27, 1562. WILLIAM H. LUKE,

Died of wound- at Manassas, Va., Sept 13, 1862. JEFFERSON N. RAYMOND. Died of disease at New Orleans, La., Sept. 13, 1862.

Died of wounds at Washington, D. C., July 3, IS64.

WILLIAM RUSSELL. Died of wounds at Washington, D. C., July 11, 1864.

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

JAMES RUSSELL,

Died of disease at Fort Albany, Va., Oct 19, 1862.

JAMES JAQUITII,

Died of disease at New Orleans, La., Dec. 1, 1862.

HENRY G. KIMBALL,

- Died of disease at Newbern, N. C., Jan. 1, IS63.

JAMES W. MERRILL,

Died of disease at Newbern, N. C., Jan. 20, 1863. JOSEPH CHANDLER, JR.,

Died of disease at New Orleans, La., Mar. 10, 1863.

NEWTON G. FRYE, Died of disease at Andover, Mass., Mar. 28, 1863.

JOSIAH MASON,

Died of disease at Andover, Mass. Apr. 7, IS63.

JAMES LOGUE, Died of disease at Baton Rouge, La., May 11, 1863. NEWTON LOVEJOY, Died of disease at Vicksburg, Miss., July 9, 1863.

WILLIAM H. WARDWELL,

Accidentally killed at Maryland Heights, Md., Aug. 1, 1863. CHARLES A. CLEMENT,

Died of wounds at Gettysburg, Pa., Sept. 30, 1863. WILLARD G. BODWELL,

Died a prisoner at Salisbury, N. C., Dec. 25, 1864.

Died of disease at Fort Strong, Va., Mar. 24, 1864.

THOMAS F. PORTER,

Died of wounds at llampton, Va., April 15, 1864. JAMES WARD,

Killed at the Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864.

SAMUEL AIKEN,

Killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 19, 1864.

Died of disease at Andover, Mass., Jan. 12, 1866.

ISRAEL A. BERRY, Died of wounds at City Point, Va., April 22, 1865.

Died of wounds at Fredericksburg, Va.

EARLY CHURCH HISTORY.

In nearly all the older towns of New England, the history of the church and town were nearly the same; every town, in fact, formed a parish, though it managed its parochial affairs by means of its muni- cipal organization, and as soon as a church was formed, agreeably to the custom of the early churches, the town was prepared to settle a minister, whenever their circumstances would allow him the necessary support. We find provision was made for stated and regular church worship at Andover at an early date. Hubbard says : "Sept. 19, 1645. Two churches were appointed to be gathered, one at Haverhill, the other at Andover, both on Merrimack River. They had given notice thereof to the magistrates and ministers of the neighboring churches, as is the manner with them in New England. The meeting of the Assembly was to be at that time at Rowley ; the forementioned planta- tions, being but newly erected, were not capable to entertain them that were likely to be gathered together on that occasion. But when they were assembled, most of those who were to join together in church fel- lowship, at that time, refused to make confession of their faith and repentance, because as was said, they declared it openly before in other churches, upon their admission into them. Whereupon the messengers of the churches not being satisfied, the assembly brake up, before they had accomplished what they intended."

" On the 24th of October 1645, messengers of churches met together again, when such satisfaction was given, that Mr John Ward was ordained pastor of the church in Haverhill, on the north side of the Merrimack, and Mr John Woodbridge was ordained pastor of the church of Andover, on the South Side of the same."

These were the twenty-third and twenty-fourth churches organized in Massachusetts. The church of Andover consisted of ten male members, including the pastor ; viz., Mr. John Woodbridge, teacher, John Osgood, Robert Barnard, John Frye, Nicholas Holt, Richard Barker, Joseph Parker, Nathan Parker, Richard Blake, Edmond Faulkner. A number of others were added soon after.

Mr. Woodbridge remained with them but a short time, having resigned in 1647, and returned to England. Mr. Francis Dane suc- ceeded Mr. Woodbridge, and had a long and successful pastorate of forty-eight years. He died Feb. 17, 1697, aged eighty-two years. It appears that during his ministry, harmony prevailed among his people, and the worship and ordinances of religion were well attended.

Jan. 13, 1682, the town voted "to give Rev Thomas Barnard a call to settle here in Andover for the carrying on of the work of the ministry amongst us," with a salary of eighty pounds per annum. In 1683, "voted to give Mr Barnard five pounds of his salary, in silver during his abode in the ministry." Mr. Barnard was a col- league pastor with Mr. Dane fifteen years, with the most friendly relations existing between them. His ministry was satisfactory and successful during twenty- eight years that he served the town.

The first meeting-house in the town, of which we have any account, was built near the old burial-ground, in the North Parish, near where the first settlement was made. It had two galleries, one above the other, and a bell. This house stood till 1711, when a new one was erected, near the same spot. Up to this date, the people from every section of the town repaired to this house for worship, and this was the only one for many years in the town.

About the year 1707, the parsonage belonging to the town was destroyed by fire ; and the town provided a new one, and fortified it against the Indians.

About this time the subject of a new meeting-house agitated the minds of the people, and several town-meetings were held to consider the matter of location. After much and protracted discussion, and no agreement being made among the citizens, the town immediately petitioned the General Court for a committee to fix a location. The committee, after a thorough inquiry into the subject, judged the town able to support two ministers, and on the second day of November, 1708, that body, -

" Ordered, That the town be divided into two distinct precincts, and that Col [Francis] Wainwright, Major [ Stephen] Sewall, and Major [Henry ] Somersby, and Nehemiah Jewett, Esq. be a comit- tee to perform that division and make it equal for North and South precincts, within the space of two months, next coming, unless in the interim the town agree thereon and make it themselves, and that thereupon the North Division take the present meeting-house, and repair and add to it as they please.

" That there be forthwith laid out for the minister of the South pre- cinet fourteen acres of land for a house lot, and forty acres at a further distance, part of it lowland, to make meadow, of the common land in said precinct, which will make them equal to the other division, to be for the use of the ministry forever.

" That, the inhabitants and proprietors of the South Division build a convenient mecting-house for their own use, and a ministry house."

" Upon all which Mr. Barnard, the present minister, shall declare his choice of which congregation he will officiate in, and that precinct, North or South, shall fully and wholly perform the past contract of the town with him, and the other precinct or division of the town shall call and settle another minister for themselves.

" And the inhabitants of the respective precincts and divisions are hereby impowered to make choice of some discreet persons among themselves, as committees, to manage and govern their affairs with respect to building a meeting-house and ministry house, the making assessments to defray the charge thereof, and for the support of the ministry, and to appoint collectors to gather the same; - and are advised and directed to proceed in these several articles with that peace and friendship, one towards another, that they may honor relig- ion, the government, and themselves."

The committee appointed for the purpose of establishing the bound- ary lines between the parishes, fixed upon the following, as reported to the General Court, April 12, 1709; viz., "Begining at a great pitch pine tree, near Merrimack River, marked with stones about it, and the west corner of Richard Barker's land, and is said to be the bounds between his land and John Gutterson's land, so called, from said pine tree on a straight line to a stake and heap of stones about it at the corner bounds between Walter Wright and Hooker Osgood, and from thence on a straight line to a white oak tree marked A and R, being a bound tree between said town of Andover and

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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 16

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