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 22

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 22

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Col. Ebenezer Francis, of Beverly as early as 1764, took an active part in the prosecution of the war. He was colonel, in 1776, of a regiment stationed at Dorchester Heights. Col. Francis fell at the head of his regiment at the battle of Hubbardton, near Whitehall,

N. Y., July 7, 1777, being shot through the right breast. His brother, John Francis, served as adjutant in the same regiment, and subse- quently held the same office in the regiment of Col. Benjamin Tupper. Ile also held many civil offices, and died July 30, 1822, aged 69 years. Their brothers, Aaron Francis and Thomas Francis, also were in the Revolutionary Army.

The town appropriated £300 in 1777 to supply the families of its soldiers then in the army, and in 1778 the three captains of the militia companies were directed to obtain the quota of soldiers for the army in Rhode Island, "giving the preference to town inhabitants." The next year a fine of £5,400 was imposed upon the town for its failure to supply its full quota of soldiers, to which it truly said, in a petition to have the fine remitted, "that as a town they had furnished more men, & been at greater expense in carrying on the war than almost any other town, in proportion to their abilities."

During the whole period of the Revolution, Beverly was extensively engaged in privateering. In 1775, Capt. Hugh Hill captured and brought into Beverly Harbor the schooner "Industry," where her cargo was sold, and the vessel delivered over-to the public service. Capt. Ifill, who was a native of Ireland and own cousin to President Andrew Jackson, also captured several other British vessels, mostly near his native coast, and brought them into Beverly, which was then the headquarters of the infant navy of the country, William Bartlett, of Bartlett Street, being the first navy agent, and into his charge were given many of the vessels and cargoes captured by the vessels owned or employed by the Government.

Capt. Eleazer Giles, in 1776, captured three British vessels laden with stores, and brought them safely into port. Capt. Elias Smith, com- inander of the " Mohawk," twenty guns, captured a Guineaman of six- teen guns, off the West Indies, and sent it into Beverly. Capt. Benja- min Lovett and Capt. John Tittle were also among the successful commanders of armed vessels in that service.

The Rev. Enos Hitchcock was dismissed from the pastorate of the Second Church, April 6, 1780, and installed over a church in Provi- dence, R. I., Oct. 1, 1783, where he continued until his death, which occurred Feb. 27, 1803. He was an eloquent preacher, and noted for his benevolence. He published a work of fiction, entitled, "Charles Worthy ; or, Memoirs of the Bloomsgrove Family," 2 vols., 12010, 1790, and several discourses. He was succeeded in the pastorate of the Second Church in Beverly, by the Rev. Daniel Oliver, who was ordained Oct. 3, 1787, and continued in the ministry here until 1797, when he was dismissed by a mutual council. He was followed by the Rev. Moses Dow, whose ordination took place March 18, 1800, the Rev. Stephen Peabody, of Atkinson, N. H., preaching the sermon. Mr. Dow graduated at Dartmouth College in 1796, and died at Plais- tow, N. II., in 1837, at the age of 66 years. He was an able and a faithful minister.

On the 30th of Dee., 1781, the Rev. Joseph Willard took his leave of the First Church, in order to assume the office of President of Harvard College, and was succeeded in the pastorate by the Rev. Joseph McKean, who was ordained May 11, 1785. Ilis salary was £200, and his " settlement" £300. In 1802 he became the first President of Bowdoin College, in which office he continued until his death, July 15, 1807. " Ile was," said Dr. William Jenks, "a humble pupil of the Redeemer, and his life will rank among the most consistent, sim- ple, and impressive examples of the efficacy of his faith." He was followed in the pastorate by the Rev. Abiel Abbot, born in Andover, Aug. 17, 1770, Harvard College 1792, and installed here Dec. 13, 1803. Ile died, greatly respected and lamented by his people, June 7, 1828. Under his pastorate the church became mainly Unitarian in sentiment, and so continues to the present day. In the year fol- lowing his deccase, his "Letters from Cuba " were published in Boston ; and a volume of his sermons, edited by S. Everett, subsc- quently appeared.

The declaration of peace in 1783 was hailed with demonstrations of

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the liveliest joy, and the town soon rose from the depression caused by the war, and increased in wealth and population.

The first cotton-mill erected in America, was built here in 1788, and in the following year was visited by Washington.

In 1785, "Four shillings and half a pint of rum were allowed for a day's labor on the highways." The selectmen in 1787 fixed the price of bread at three cents and seven mills per pound, and this year fire- wards were first chosen. They were, Moses Brown, Andrew Cabot, George Cabot, Joseph Lee, and Joseph Wood. In the year following, the Essex Bridge, 1,484 feet long, and 32 wide, connecting the town with Salem, was constructed, at a cost of about $16,000. The right to take toll for seventy years was granted to the proprietors. Anterior to this, the communication with Salem was by ferry, and the first ferryman was John Stone, 1636, whose fee was, for a stranger, 2d. ; and for a citizen of Salem, ld. The number of fishing vessels belong- ing to the town this year (1788) was 32, employing 271 men. The population of the town in 1790 had arisen to 3,290, and the town was then divided into six school districts.

Of early Baptists here, Josiah Batchelder, Esq., wrote that his mother's mother, Ruth, the wife of Cant. William Rayment was "the daughter of a Baptist minister, and that some of her descendants are tinctured with her whims to this day. She was otherwise a very worthy woman," and probably the danghter of the Rev. Isaac Hull, minister of the First Baptist Church of Boston.

Before 1790, there were several persons from Beverly connected with the Baptist church at New Rowley, now Georgetown, and after that with the Baptist church at Danversport, who occasionally held meetings in a chapel where is now the Rose House, in Wallis Street. March 25, 1801, they organized the First Baptist Church in Beverly, and united with the society (formed Sept. 30, 1800) in settling the Rev. Joshua Young, from Maine, as their pastor, at a salary of £95; and built a meeting-house on Cabot Street, nearly opposite Elliot Street. Mr. Young left in December, 1802, and removed to Vermont, and has descendants there and at the West ; his wife being of the Daniel Wallis family. He was succeeded March 11, 1803, by the Rev. Elisha S. Williams, a Yale graduate, who, when quite young, had served with General Washington on Long Island. He resigned in October, 1812, and afterward resided in and near Boston, doing much ministerial work, and late in life returned to Beverly, where he died Feb. 2, 1845, aged 88, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Samnel S. Oher. His first wife, and the mother of his children, was a Livermore, and a sister of the mother of ex-Vice-President Hannibal Hamlin. The next pastoral call was given June 11, 1814, to the Rev. Hervey Jenks, of Hudson, N. Y., a young man of great promise ; but disease sud- denly terminated his earthly life, just four weeks from the day of his call.

July 2, 1817. The First Church admonished brother Francis Lam- son, and sisters Martha Lamson, Molly Gray, Sally G. Ashton, Jane Greele, and Mary Trask, who had connected themselves with the Bap- tist church without dismission, for " uniting with a close communion church," thereby "renouncing us as a church," and "we exhort them to return to the bosom of their native church."

The next pastor was the Rev. Nathaniel W. Williams, from Salem, ordained Aug. 14, 1817, after more than a year's previous service as acting pastor. Hle resigned Nov. 7, 1824, and removed to Windsor, Vt., and Aug. 20, 1836, he accepted a call to return to his old pas- torate here, and remained till April 17, 1840, when he resigned, but continued in the work of the ministry in various localities until near his death, which occurred in Boston, May 27, 1853, at the age of 69. He was one of the delegates from Beverly, to the State Constitutional Convention of 1820. His son, the Rev. N. Marshman Williams, D. D., is one of the prominent ministers of the Baptist faith. Nov. 30, 1825, the Rev. Francis G. Macomber, a pastor and preacher of rare gifts and graces, was ordained, but died quite suddenly July 1, 1827, very widely lamented. The Rev. Richmond Taggart, supplied in 1829 ; and

the Rev. Jonathan Aldrich was settled June 30, 1830, and resigned May 24, 1833. During his ministry the meeting-house was enlarged, 160 new members were added to the church, and twenty-six were dismissed to form the Baptist church at Wenham. The Rev. John Jennings was ordained Sept. 10, 1834, and resigned June 20, 1836. Then followed the second pastorate of Mr. Williams, during which the meeting-house was taken down, and used in building a larger house, seventy-four by forty-eight feet, farther down Cabot Street, where is now the Roman Catholic church. Nov. 11, 1840, the Rev. Charles W. Flanders was settled, and continued to Sept. 12, 1850, when he re- signed, and after that was settled at Concord, N. H., Westborough, Mass., and Kennebunkport, Me. ; and finally returned and built a home for himself and family on Thorndike Street, in Beverly, where he passed the remainder of his days amid a community in which he had a large circle of friends, besides those of his former pastorate. Here he did much ministerial work, including the charge of the Second Baptist Church at Beverly Farms for a year or more. He died Aug. 2, 1875, aged 683 years, and widely lamented. February 5, 1852, the Rev. Edwin B. Eddy was ordained, and resigned Nov. 16, 1855, after quite a prosperous pastorate. During his ministry the meeting-house was enlarged, by adding twenty feet to its length. The Rev. Joseph C. Foster was settled here, Aug. 7, 1856, after fourteen years suc- cessful service at Brattleborough, Vt., and continned till December, 1872, when he accepted a call to his present pastorate at Randolph. During his long ministry, the beautiful new chapel, now the military armory, was built, and after that the elegant and spacious church at the corner of Cabot and Abhott streets, including vestry and other conveniences, and both the church and society had prospered. The old church was first sold to the Crispins, and afterwards to the Roman Catholics.

The Rev. E. B. Andrews, now President of Denison University. at Granville, Ohio, succeeded Mr. Foster for one year; and he was succeeded by the Rev. D. P. Morgan, the present pastor. Both of these last two pastors served in the Union army in the Rebellion War, and each has delivered anniversary addresses on Memorial Day, on invitation of the Post of the Grand Army here.

Nov. 9, 1802, the Third Congregational Church was organized, in connection with the society, whose name was changed in 1837 to that of "The Dane Street Society of Beverly." Their meeting-house was finished in December, 1803, and the Rev. Samuel Worcester, D. D., preached the dedicatory sermon. The Rev. Joseph Emerson, its first minister, born in Hollis, N. H., Oct. 13, 1777, graduated at Harvard College in 1798, and was ordained here Sept. 21, 1803, the Rev. Dr. N. Emmons preaching the sermon. He was quite a successful pastor, but his health was not fully equal to continue that work ; he resigned Sept. 21, 1816, and afterward engaged in educational work, in which he always took an especial interest. He was an ardent lover of the Bible, and his lectures and expositions thereon exhibited much re- search, and were of great interest. He wrote the "Memoir of Miss Fanny Woodbury " (a Beverly missionary to the heathen), and also several other works, and died at Wethersfield, Conn., May 13, 1833. One or more of his sons have been successful ministers of the gospel. The Rev. David Oliphant succeeded here Feb. 18, 1818, and continued till 1833, taking a very prominent part in temperance work and other good causes. During his ministry the old church edifice was burned down, and the present one erected upon its site ; and this has since been greatly beantitied and enlarged, and provided with all modern conveniences. Oct. 13, 1834, the Rev. Joseph Abhot was ordained, Prof. Ralph Emerson preaching the sermon. Mr Abbot resigned active work in March. 1865, but preached occasionally until April 11, 1867, when suddenly summoned by death to give account of a life of able and useful service in his Master's work. He was succeeded by the Rev. E. H. Titus for the year 1866 ; and he by the present pastor, the Rev. O. T. Lauphear, D. D., who was installed Oct. 23, 1867.

This church was organized originally by members from the First

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Church, who thought that the latter was not quite Orthodox or Calvin- istic enough for their views ; and this became more or less a matter of controversy for many years afterwards.

In 1812 Miss Nancy Ingersoll requested dismission from the First to the Third church, for the reason that the pastor " seldom or never touched upon the peculiar doctrines of the gospel," meaning "the saered Trinity ; the Deity of Jesus Christ ; the total depravity of the human heart; the election and perseverance of the saints ; and the eternal deerees of God." This request was referred to John Dyson, Thomas Davis, John Ashton, Samuel Ober, and Robert Rantoul, who reported that their " Reverend and beloved pastor does preach the essential doetrines of the gospel of Christ, with zeal and affection, and we have reason to bless God that his preaching has, as we fully believe, been the means under God of convincing and converting sin- ners, of comforting saints and of building up the church of Christ in this place." This report was aeeepted, and after some mutual expla- nations the request was granted, and Miss Ingersoll united with the Third Church. In 1814 the First Church adopted a rule granting to its members, "as an indulgence, liberty to attend worship with another congregation, and recommendation to occasional communion with another church," but refusing dismission to any church in town, ex- cept for " very special reasons." And in 1820 Miss Tamma Kilham asked such dismission for her " better edification." But this was re- fused, as was also a mutual council to determine the matter. Upon this she called an ex parte council, who decided in her favor, and she accordingly joined with the Third Church, but not without a pro- test from the First Church, which, with the other documents in the case, was published in the Boston " Recorder," and created quite a discussion. In 1823, on the settlement of the Rev. Ebenezer Poor at the Second Church, the objections to allow the Rev. Dr. Abbot, of the First Church, to participate in the exercises on account of his liberal opinions, also became the subject of a very able and elaborate controversy in the Salem "Gazette " and other newspapers. The death of the Rev. Dr. Abbot, in 1828, brought these differences of opinion into collision within the First Church and Society, and resulted finally in the settlement of the Rev. Christopher T. Thayer, Jan. 27, 1830, as a Unitarian, by a vote of seventy-six to thirty-eight ; the Rev. Dr. Thayer, of Lancaster, his father, preaching the ordination sermon. The result of this settlement was that the more Orthodox portion withdrew and joined the Dane Street Church and Society, and later, most of them withdrawing from there, with others, and organ- izing the Washington Street Church and Society. Mr. Thayer con- tinued in a long and peaceful pastorate till 1859, when he retired from the ministry and removed to Boston, where he now resides. He is a descendant of Andrew Elliot, the first Beverly town clerk, and has always taken much interest in the affairs of the town. His address at the bi-centennial anniversary of the First Church gives marked evi- dence of such interest, and is a valuable historical work. Mr. Thayer was followed by the Rev. John C. Kimball, for a period of nine years, who has since then been settled in Oregon, at Newport, R. I., and now at Hartford, Conn. The present pastor is the Rev. Ellery Channing Butler, who was settled in 1872. This parish has a minis- terial fund of about $13,000, besides which it has $5,000 given by Dea. Charles Davis as a fund to its Sabbath sehool. The present house of worship was built in 1770; enlarged, 1795; remodelled, 1835 ; again remodelled some thirty years later, adding alike neatness, comfort, and convenience. It stands very nearly on the same spot where stood its two predecessors. Dec. 19, 1820, a new chapel, built by private subscription and furnished by the ladies, was dedicated. It was then located on Federal Street, but later removed to its present loeation in the old cemetery.

A late event of the eighteenth century worthy of note, in respect to this town, was the capture of the schooner " Alert," Capt. Jacob Oliver, Jan. 18, 1799, by three French privateers, as it was entering the harbor of Santander. Capt. Oliver had but two guns, yet with

these he made a heroic defence, beating off one vessel and engaging with another until the arrival of the third, with ten guns, when he was obliged to strike. The population, in 1800, had come up to 3,381. The cod-fishery was carried on at this period with great profit.

In 1802 the Beverly Bank was incorporated, with a capital of $160,000. The Hon. Israel Thorndike was the first president. A social library was established on the 20th of January of this year, the sum raised for it being $660. The books were selected by Dr. Joshua Fisher, Nathan Dane, Thomas Davis, and the Rev. Dr. Mc- Kean.

On the 1st of March, 1807, the Beverly Charitable Society, since changed to the Fisher Charitable Society, was incorporated. Its design is to relieve any citizens of the town who, by sickness or mis- fortune, may stand in need of aid. . To this society Dr. Joshua Fisher (1749-1833) gave $200, and left a legacy of $1,000. Dr. Elisha Whitney, who had praetised here successfully since 1792, died here Feb. 22d of this year, much lamented.

A Sabbath school, one of the earliest in the State, was opened in 1810, by Miss Joanna Prince and Miss Hannah Hill, holding its sessions mostly in the First Parish meeting-house, but participated in for several years by members of all the churches, until separate schools were set up in each congregation.

Mr. Israel Trask commenced the manufacture of britannia-ware here in 1812. It was the first made in America.

The Rev. Humphrey C. Perley was settled over the Second Church on the 2d of December, 1818; was dismissed, June 13, 1823, and was followed by the Rev. Ebenezer Poor, who was ordained Oct. 29th of the same year, and continued in the pastorate until March, 1829.

On the 18th of April, 1823, the Hon. George Cabot, an eminent merchant, born in Salem, 1751, and long a resident of Beverly, died. He was president of the famous Hartford Convention in 1814, and was a personal friend of George Washington and Alexan- der Hamilton. Two of his brothers, Andrew and John Cabot, and a brother-in-law, Joseph Lee, also resided in Beverly, and were promi- nent merchants.

On the 9th of June, 1824, Liberty Lodge of Freemasons was estab- lished here, the first Master being Col. Jesse Sheldon, and the first secretary, Stephens Baker. A handsome brick building for the accommodation of the lodge, costing about $20,000, and situated upon the corner of Washington and Cabot streets, was erected in 1867, and parts of it are now used for the post-office, bank, and other purposes. After the completion of the building, the Amity Chapter of Royal Arch Masons was chartered, which occupies the hall for their meetings.

The town was honored, Aug. 31, 1824, by a visit from Lafayette, whose arrival was announced by a salute of thirteen guns from Elling- wood's Point. Upon a beautiful arch, thrown over Essex Bridge, was written : " Welcome, Lafayette, the man whom we delight to honor." An address of welcome was delivered by the Hon. Robert Rantoul, to which the General made a brief reply and then departed.

The town lost, in the death of Dr. Abner Howe, May 15, 1826, a skilful physician and a valued citizen. He was born in Jaffrey, N. H., 1781, and graduated at Dartmouth College in 1801.

A church was organized at Beverly Farms in 1829, and, Sept. 23d, of that year, the Rev. Benjamin Knight was ordained pastor. A meet- ing-house of brick was dedicated in January of the year following. This church soon changed from the Christian to the Calvinistic form of the Baptist belief, and among its pastors have been the Revs. Mr. Gil- bert, P. P. Sanderson, Sumner Hale, J. W. Lothrop. The present minister is the Rev. C. W. Redding.

The Rev. Ebenezer Robinson, succeeded Mr. Poor as pastor of the Second Church, October, 1830, and labored here until his dismission, which occurred Jan. 27, 1833. He was succeeded by the Rev. Edwin

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACIIUSETTS.

M. Stone, who published a history of Beverly in 1843, and whose pastorate covered the space of thirteen years. Ilis successor was the Rev. T. D. P. Stone. After him the Rev. Alexander J. Sessions was installed acting pastor in 1872, and the Rev. F. K. De Bos in 1876.

The subject of temperance attracted attention in Beverly, as carly as the war of 1812, when the effort was for the suppression of intem- peranec, and this interest contiuned until the practice of total abstinence became very general in this community, and its influence was com- bined in all the various forms of organizations which here aided in the good work.

The Hon. Robert Rantoul delivered before the lyceum in Beverly, in 1830, 1831, and 1832, some very valuable lectures on the history of this town, which have formed the basis of most of what has been writ- ten of that history.

The Hon. Nathan Dane, born in Ipswich, Dec. 27, 1752, but long a resident of Beverly, died here Feb. 15, 1835. He framed the cele- brated ordinance of 1787, which saved the vast north-western territory fromslavery, and wrote " A General Abridgment and Digest of American Law," a work of great labor, in nine volumes, and published in 1829. He also founded the Dane Professorship of Harvard University, and also the Law Hall of that institution.

The Fourth Congregational Church was organized Sept, 1, 1834, and the meeting-house dedicated, Dec. 29, 1836. The Rev. John Foote was this year installed as pastor. This was afterwards merged in the Second Church, and its meeting-house sold and removed down Cabot Street to opposite Baker's Tavern Corner, and altered into Mystic Hall, with business rooms on the lower floor.

On the 10th of December, 1834, Robert Thorndike, a native of this town, died at Camden, Me., at the remarkable age of 100 years and 5 months. The Beverly Anti-Slavery Society was formed February 21st of this year.

The Washington Street Society was organized in 1836, the church was formed Feb. 8, 1837, and the meeting-house, seventy-seven feet by fifty- two, and costing, with the bell, $9,387.33, was dedicated on the 29th of March ensuing. The Rev. William Bushnell was installed pastor Jan. 3, 1838. He was dismissed May 9, 1842, and his successor, the Rev. George T. Dole, was ordained October 6th of the same year.

He was succeeded by the Rev. A. B. Rich, he by the Rev. Benson M. Frink, he hy the Rev. C. Van Norden, and he by the Rev. W. H. Davis, the present pastor.

The first Universalist record in Beverly is on Jan. 31, 1810, when Joseph Woodbury and wife were recommended by the Second Church to the First Church, where they were objected to on account of "his reputed faith in the doctrine of universal salvation," and the case was referred to John Dyson, Samuel Ober, Benjamin Lamson, and Robert Rantoul, who reported that "they had waited upon said Woodbury and find that he freely professes his firm belief of the final salvation of all mankind : that he disseminates that doctrine among his neighbors as opportunity offers, and that his wife embraces the same sentiments ; and believing the said doctrine to be dangerous and unscriptural, and that the admission of persons holding to and openly professing such sentiments, would give offence to many of the church, they report in their opinion, that said Woodbury and his wife ought not to be admit- ted into this church. They also recommend that the Pastor be requested to write an affectionate letter iu behalf of the first Church to the Second Church expressive of their desire to cultivate Christian fellow- ship with them, and of their hope, that, on understanding the ground of proceeding in the case, the brethren will not for a moment harbor the thought that there is any diminution of their love towards them." And this report was unanimously accepted. Mr. Woodbury was a housewright who removed from North Beverly, and built and lived in the house on Cahot Street, now that of Major Israel W. Wallis.

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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 22

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