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 35

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 35

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From this pond issnes Chebacco or Essex River, a small, but deep and valuable stream, which, pursuing a north-easterly course, divides the town into nearly equal sections, becomes navigable a little below " The Falls " above the village, spreads out into several creeks, passes by Cross Island, and then empties into the sea between Castle Neck in Ipswich, and Two-Penny Loaf in Gloucester. Castle Neck River, which unites with it from the north, is connected by a canal with Ipswich River. Hog Island is a rounded knoll, containing several fine farms, and noted as the residence of the Choate family. The underlying rock of Essex is sienite, of which there are many ledges, overstrown with bowlders of every size and shape. One of these bowlders, near the line of Manchester, has a perpendicular face of about thirty feet, with a thrifty pine-tree growing on its summit ; another, in the centre of the village, called " Martin's Rock," consists of huge rectangular blocks piled up fantastically, and surmounted by a flag-staff.

The soil is gravelly, or clayey loam, and well adapted to the growth of the cereals, vegetables, and fruit trees. The number of inhabitants in 1875 was 1,713, the oldest of whom had attained the age of ninety- five years. The whole number of farms was 114; of dwelling- houses, 343 ; and the town valuation was $862,325. The town has six public schools, and three religious societies, - Congregationalist, Methodist, and Universalist, - each of which has a house of worship.

The central village, pleasantly built on both sides of tbe Chebacco River, presents a very neat and attractive appearance, and the people are industrious, hospitable, and patriotic. They are mostly engaged in farming, gardening, fishing, and ship-building. Digging clams, for bait, also furnishes employment to many people. Boots and shoes, and cotton lines, are to some extent manufactured ; and the capital invested in ship-building in 1875 was $50,500. The value of straw- berries annually sold is over $3,000. Apples are abundant; and

Chebacco Pond furnishes the best of ice for transportation. The town has greatly improved since the opening of the Essex Branch Railroad to Wenham, in 1872. The buildings are mostly of wood, well painted, and surrounded with well-cultivated gardens, flowers, shrub- bery, and ornamental trees. By the ebb and flow of the tide, the scenery below the village is constantly changing, the river at low-water appearing like a silver thread, and at high-water as a broad arm of the sea. The ship-building is carried on near the bridge, in the cen- tre of the village. The largest vessel ever built here was of 767 tons. It was launched in 1873.

This town, as a part of Ipswich, began to be settled as early as 1634, at which period lands "toward Chebacco River were granted to Mr. William White and Goodman Bradstreet." These, it is presum- able, were soon followed by John Perkins, John Cogswell, Robert Andrews, George Giddings, John Burnham, William Goodhue, Andrew Story, Thomas Low, and John Choate, all inen of good standing, and names ever since prevalent in the town. The place was then a wilderness, infested with wild beasts and savages. The original settlers built their houses of logs, kept them in a state of defence, and the women and children were not allowed to leave them unattended, after night-fall. They attended church at Ipswich, of which the Rev. Nathaniel Ward was the beloved pastor.

Four years subsequent to the first settlement, three Chebacco men, Andrew Story, Robert Cross, and John Burnham, were drafted and served in what was called the "Pequot War ;" and Mr. Burnham, in 1639, received a grant of eight acres of land for his service in that hard campaign. It does not appear that the people were ever molested by the Indians in this place, or that the friendly relations between " the pale and the red faces" of old Chebacco were ever in the least disturbed. On the 28th of June, 1638, Masconomo, the sagamore of Agawam, sold to John Winthrop, for £20, his lands at Ipswich, then embracing what is now Essex; and in the deed it is added, " as well as such land as I formerly reserved for my own use at Chebacco," which would lead us to infer that this was the favorite resi- dence of the famous chieftain. The facilities for fishing in the ponds and river, the beauty of the locality, together with the numerous Indian implements and skeletons discovered in this vicinity, would seem to corroborate this opinion.

Land, though very good, was also very cheap; and for it a fair compensation was made to the original owners. Hence the peace between the parties.

As Ipswich had early established a grammar school, which must be supported, all " the neck beyond Chebacco River and the rest of the ground up to Gloucester line " was, Jan. 11, 1651, granted to this institution. It was leased to John Cogswell, Jr., for the sum of £14 per annum. In 1656 the first saw-mill was erected at the Falls on Chebacco River, and after this, framed instead of log houses began to be constructed.

The first ship-yard here was set off in 1668, when the town granted " One acre of ground, near Mr. Cogswell's farm, to the inhabitants of Ipswich for a yard to build vessels, for the use of the inhabitants, and to employ workmen for that end." This land was near the present bridge across Chebacco River. It is probable that the business of ship-building, for which Chebacco has since been so famous, * had

* Cooper, in his "Pilot," makes Capt. Barnstable, commander of the " Ariel," come from " Old Chebacco"; and Dr. Elisha K. Kane made a polar voyage in a vessel built on Essex River.

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already been commenced, and that this grant was for the purpose of affording greater facilities for its prosecution.

It is said that the first Chebacco boat was built by one of the Burn- ham family in the attic of his house, and that, in order to launch it, the window had to be cut away.

On the 29th of Nov., 1669, the little colony was called to mourn the death of one of its earliest settlers, John Cogswell, Sr., who was aged about 72 years. His grandson, John Cogswell. Jr., was taken captive by the Indians at the castward during Philip's war.

As the settlement had now much increased in respect to numbers, and also, by reason of timber-cutting, boat-building, and heavy crops of hay from the rich meadows, had become prosperous, it began to agitate the subject of a distinct parochial organization. Some of the people were obliged to travel five or six miles to attend public service at Ipswich, and to fail in doing it was, with our ancestors, no light offence. Accordingly, in February, 1677, they petitioned the town of Ipswich for "liberty to call a minister to preach among them- selves "; but the town chose not to vote concerning the matter at all. They then presented their petition to the General Court, which re- fused to grant it at the time ; but referred them to the town again. As the town would not decide the question they took it upon them- selves, Jan. 19, 1679, to call Mr. Jeremiah Shepard (Harvard Col- lege, 1669), son of the Rev. Thomas Shepard, of Cambridge, to be their pastor. He preached for awhile in a private house ; but find- ing, soon, the place too limited, "they agreed to build a plain house, and, if they could obtain leave of the town, or Court, to put it to the use of a meeting-house ; if not, to some other use." But the church at Ipswich was dissatisfied, and Mr. Shepard soon left the place. Another petition to the town and to the Court met with a reception no more favorable to the petitioners.

Pending the decision of the Court, however, they prepared the tim- ber for the meeting-house, which was to be erected on the ground of Mr. William Cogswell, near the river.

" While we were in this great conflict," says the record, "that all things seemed to act against us, some women, without the knowl- edge of their husbands, and with the advice of some men, went to other towns & got help & raised the house that we intended for a meeting-house, if we could get liberty." Dux femina facti. All honor to the noble mothers of Chebacco for their intrepidity !

Then came posting down the constable with his warrant for the offenders :--

" To attach the body of Abraham Martin and John Chub and bring them before me on Tuesday next about one of the clock to answer for their contempt of authority in helping to raise a meet- ing-house at Chebacco. You are also at the same time, to bring with you the wife of William Goodhue, the wife of Thomas Var- ney & the wife of Abraham Martin for procuring, or abetting & encouraging the raising the said house : and so make return hereof under your hand."

What a sensation in the settlement that day !

They were arrested, tried and convicted ; but those were days of witchcraft and intolerance.

The case then came before the General Court, which ordered, May, 1679, that they should appear before the Salem court and make a gen- eral acknowledgment for their offence, and be dismissed. A committee appointed by the General Court also reported that "the place where the house now standeth, be, and is, hereby allowed by us, and they have liberty to proceed to the finishing of said meeting-house."*

This first house of worship stood on what is now, or lately was, Capt. Joseph Choate's house-lot. It had a bell and a sounding-board over the cushioned pulpit, and the seats were built one or two at a time, as the people could afford the expense of doing it.

The Rev. John Wise, born in Roxbury, 1648, entered Harvard College in 1673, was ordained pastor of the church on the day of its

organization, Ang. 12, 1683, having ten acres of land granted him for a " settlement," and a yearly salary of £60, one-third to be paid in cash, and two-thirds in grain. He was also to have forty cords of oak wood and eight loads of salt hay brought annually to his door. The parish were also to build and keep in repair for him a parsonage. This was on the road to Ipswich.

An acre of land was granted for a burial-place Feb. 15, 1680 ; it is near the present Congregational church, and has served as a receptacle of the dead for many generations. The oldest legible inscription in it is : "Here Lyes ye Body of John Burnham who departed this Life Jan. 11. 1708-9 in the 59th year of his age." Another near it is : " Here Lyes ye Body of Mr Thomas Low, Deacon who died April ye 12th 1712 aged 80 years.

As you are so were we, As we are, you shall be."

In 1683, the village had the pleasure of witnessing, for the first time on the Common, the parade of its military company, of which John Andrews was the captain, and William Goodhue the ensign.

To the exactions of Sir Edmund Andros in 1687, Mr. Wise and others of this place made a manly resistance, and for it, he, together with John Andrews, William Goodhue, John Appleton, Thomas French, and Robert Kinsman were arrested and committed to jail in Boston. The losses sustained by these brave men were subsequently met by the town of Ipswich.

A school for the instruction of the children of Chebacco was opened by Nathaniel Rust, Jr., as early as June, 1695, and for the benefit of the school, six acres of pasture-land was granted by the town.

On the 5th of November of the preceding year, the parish was called to mourn the decease of Dea. John Burnham, the ancestor of numerous families of that name in Essex, and in other places.

At the commencement of the eighteenth century, Chebacco had a population of about three hundred, and they were mostly engaged in farming, fishing, and boat-building.

The first school-house here was erected in 1702, on "the common," and continued in use until 1757 ; Samuel Phillips (Harvard College, 1708), was the teacher in 1709, and William Giddings in 1713. In 1710, William Cogswell, of Chebacco, was killed at the eastward by the Indians ; and on the 12th of April, 1712, Dea. Thomas Low, a prominent citizen, died at the age of eighty years. Dea. William Goodhue, also, died about the same time. He had represented the town in the General Court, and was highly respected.

In 1717, appears the first trace of slavery in this place. By a bill of sale, dated July 30th of this year, we learn that Jonathan Burn- ham, of Chebacco, bought for £64, in bills of credit, a negro boy of Joshua Norwood, of Gloucester, he having bought the same of Thomas Choate, of Hog Island.

In the year following the parish erected its second meeting house on " the common," near the pound. It was fifty-two feet long, and forty-two feet wide, having galleries on three sides, and a turret tor the new bell, rising from the centre. An hour-glass stood on the pul- pit, and the psalms were " deaconed off" from Tate and Brady's cele- brated version, and sung by the congregation.

"I received," says the Rev. Thomas Symmes, 1720, " a letter from Mr. Wise of Ipswich, wherein he gave it as his judgment that when there were a sufficient number in a congregation to carry away a tune roundly, it was then proper to introduce that tune."

Mr. Wise died April 8, 1725, greatly mourned by all who knew him. The number of his flock, at the time of his decease, was ninety- one. He was a good scholar, and spoke with unusual grace and power. His person was commanding, and in all the relations of life he evinced remarkable wisdom, firmness, and integrity. He was a stanch defender of civil and religious liberty, maintaining that every church is in itself independent in all matters pertaining to its own govern- ment. He was among the first to denounce the obnoxious doctrine of

* History of Essex, p. 82.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

taxation without representation, and he was also an earnest advocate of the manumission of slaves.

He served as chaplain in the expedition against the French in 1690, manifesting therein " heroie spirit and martial skill." His publications exhibit something of the wit and the ability of those of the Rev. Mr. Ward, of Ipswich. His funeral sermon was preached by the Rov John White, of Gloucester. A slab, with the following inscription, marks the spot of his interment : " Underneath lies the body of the Rev John Wise A. M., first pastor of the 2nd church in Ipswich. Graduated at Harvard College 1673. Ordained Pastor of said church 1681, and died April 8, 1725 aged 73. For talents, piety & learning, he shone as a star of the first magnitude."

The Rev. Theophilus Pickering, Harvard College, 1719, was ordained as the sueeessor of Mr. Wise, on the 13th of October, 1727, and con- tinued in the pastorate until his decease. Mr. Leonard Cotton was the schoolmaster in 1733, and on the 9th of July of this year, Dea. John Choate, born in 1660, died at the age of seventy-three years. In October of this year, Jonathan Cogswell was commissioned as justice of the peace, an office of much consequence at that period. In 1735, the potato is said to have been first introduced into the parish by Mr. Cavies. It was cut into slices and boiled as a rare vegetable with soup. The Scotch-Irish are said to have brought it with them to this country as early as 1719.

Capt. Thomas Choate, the first resident of Hog Island, and a promi- nent citizen, died March 3, 1745, much lamented by the people. Joseph Eveleth died December 1st, at the remarkable age of 105 years.

The preaching of George Whitefield, in Ipswich, in September, 1740, which Mr. Pickering opposed, was the cause of some disagreement of opinion among the members of his church, and in consequence, a separate church, called " the Fourth Church in Ipswich," with the Rev. Ebenezer Cleaveland as its pastor, was organized May 22, 1746, at the house of Mr. Francis Choate, one of the seeeders. Eleazer Craft and Daniel Giddings, were appointed deacons. On the 25th of Feb- ruary of the ensuing year, the Rev. John Cleaveland, was ordained pastor of the separate church, and on the 7th of October, of the same year, the Rev. Mr. Pickering died at the age of forty-seven years.

During his ministry, about two hundred persons were added to the church. He was a learned, faithful, and industrious minister ; but of a temperament too cold to accept of the new measures of Mr. White- field. He was buried in the old graveyard, and on his tombstone is inscribed : -

" Here lies buried the body of ye Revª M' Theophilus Pickering, who departed this life Sept ye 19th, 1747, aged 47 years." Of the animosities between the two parishes, we need not speak ; but all is well that ends well, and such in this case was the final issue. .

The Second Parish elected as successor to Mr. Pickering, the Rev. Nehemiah Porter (Harvard College, 1745), who was ordained as pas- tor over it, Jan. 3, 1750. He was dismissed in June, 1766, and died in Ashfield, Feb. 29, 1820, at the remarkable age of ninety-nine years and eleven months.

In 1752, the " separate church" erected a house of worship, it hav- ing previously held services in a barn, or private house. In 1758, the Rev. Mr. Cleaveland served as a chaplain in the army, and kept an interesting journal of his adventures in the war. A remarkable revival occurred in his church in 1763; and under him, in 1774, the Second and Fourth parishes were reunited, they voting (April 8th) " to bury forever as a church all former differences between themn & the other church and to acknowledge the other a sister church in char- ity & fellowship."

The officers of the church after the reunion were : the Rev. John Cleaveland, pastor ; Francis Choate, and Eleazer Craft, elders ; and Thomas Burnham, Stephen Choate, Solomon Giddings, and Seth Story, deacons. A party of seventy-seven ladies visited Mr. Cleave- land's house, June 27, 1769, and spent the day in spinning flax for his family. A surprise party of the olden style.

Dr. Ebenezer Davis, the first local physician, came to reside in Chehaeco in 1770; two years later a strange fever appeared in the place, which carried off about fifty persons.

During the contest with Great Britain, the people of Chebacco heartily espoused the cause of liberty, and made great sacrifices to sustain the Revolutionary army. Their pastor, by his voice, his pen, and person, led the way.

At a town-meeting held soon after the destruction of tea in Boston harbor, it was amongst other things voted, "That every person who shall import tea while the act of duty on it continues shall be held as an enemy," and " that no tea be sold in town while this act is in force."

On the 20th of September, 1774, a military company, consisting of sixty-eight men, was organized : Jonathan Cogswell, Jr., was chosen Captain ; David Low, Lieutenant, and Francis Perkins, Ensign.

In January, 1775, Michael Farley was chosen to represent the in- habitants of the town in the Provincial Congress ; and on the seven- teenth day of June following, six men from Chebacco were engaged in the battle of Bunker Hill. Their names are : James Andrews, Benjamin and Francis Burnham, Nehemiah Choate, Aaron Perkins, and Jesse Story, Jr. ; the latter of whom was killed in the action.

Mr. Cleaveland was appointed and served as chaplain in Col. Moses Little's regiment. It was said of hin, that " he preached all the men of his parish into the army, and then went himself."

On the 15th of February, Jonathan Cogswell was appointed colonel of the third regiment of Essex County, and Mr. Cleaveland served with him as chaplain. This regiment, which embraced the Chebacco company, under Capt. Perkins, did good service at the battle of White Plains, Oct. 28th, and at other places. The parish had twenty-eight men in the northern army, under Gen. Horatio Gates, in 1777; but there was danger elose at home. A British frigate this year appeared in the bay below the village, and a boat from it attempted to effect a landing on Hog Island, then guarded by twelve resolute men. Of the inhabitants of that island, all fled for safety, except the wife of William Choate, and grandmother of the Hon. Rufus Choate, who declared that she would, with her two children, remain at home ; she did so, and was not molested.

It appears from the church records, that the following soldiers from Chebacco died, in 1788; viz., Israel Andrews, Nathaniel Emerson, Abraham and Isaac Jones, and Abijah Story (negro), in the army ; Jonathan Andrews, and Stephen Rent, at Albany ; James Rust, a prisoner, aged twenty, at Halifax; and Nehemiah Choate, of the small-pox, at Bilboa.

The whole number of soldiers from Chebaceo, serving in the Revo- lutionary war, so far as ean be ascertained, is 105; and of these 22 bore the name of Burnham.

The remarkable " Dark Day," Friday, May 19, 1780, is thus de- scribed by a person then at Hog Island : -

" Soon after nine, a dark, heavy cloud was seen rising from the north-west, which gradually spread itself till it covered the whole heavens, except a narrow space near the horizon. About ten, this was also covered, and the darkness increased so that we had to light a candle. All the folks out of doors left their work, and came in. Fear and anxiety were manifest on every countenance. It was quite dark when we set our dinner table. Early in the afternoon, the dark- ness began to abate, and before sundown, it was light, but cloudy, with a yellow, brassy appearance." The cause of this strange phe- nomenon has never been satisfactorily given. The most probable theory, however, is that the darkness was occasioned by the smoke of forests burning far away, towards the north-west.

A weekly singing-school, through the winter, was commenced as carly as 1764; but congregational singing, the deacons " lining " the hymn, was continued until 1768, after which, the singers sat together as a choir. Abraham and Joseph Perkins, and John Choate, were the first choristers. In 1785, the Psalins and Ilymns of Dr. Watts took the place of the " Bay Psalm Book."

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

In 1787, the population of Chebacco, was 1,200. For the suppres- sion of the insurrection, this year, seven men were sent from this place ; viz., Daniel Burnham, Samuel Eveleth, Abraham and Joseph Knowlton, Lieut. Aaron, and Edward Perkins. They enlisted in Capt. John Baker's company, and assisted in capturing the insurgents under Daniel Shays, in the town of Petersham.

On the 8th of October, 1793, a new meeting-house, on "Meet- ing-house Hill," was dedicated, the pastor preaching an impressive sermon to a large audience ; and on the 22d of April, 1799, the Rev. John Cleaveland's long and useful labors were closed by death. He was an ardent patriot, and successful minister. Though not an ele- gant, he was a vigorous writer, earnest in the defence of the old doc- trines, and the new measures. His house stood on Spring Street, on the spot of the house of the late Hon. David Choate. His writings are mostly controversial. " Scrupulous," says Dr. Elijah Parish, who preached his funeral sermon, " in his ideas of right and wrong, ardent in his feelings, daring in his temper, he followed the convictions of his own mind, little regarding what might be the impression upon others."

His friend, Dea. Thomas Buruhamn died on the 18th of May, follow- ing, aged 72. He was a school-teacher, and one of the last who lined out the psalms in church.

During a terrible snow-storm, March 13, 1795, Parker Story, in his 35th year, Aaron Story, in his 28th year, Thomas Holmes, aged 29 years, and Moses Pearce, aged about 16 years - were drowned in the Chebacco River. The loss of these young men caused a deep sensa- tion in the settlement.

The Rev. Josiah Webster ( Dartmouth College, 1798), was ordained as Mr. Cleaveland's successor on the 13th of November, 1799.

At the beginning of the century Chebaeco had a population of about 1,100, and three school districts. In 1802, a social library was estab- lished, and in 1804 as many as forty fishing-boats were owned in the place. In the following year, December 19, Dr. Parker Rust, the beloved physician of the parish, died, and was succeeded by Dr. Reu- ben D. Muzzey, who subsequently held a professorship at Dartmouth College, and died at Roxbury, June 21, 1866, aged 86 years.

At his own request, the Rev. Mr. Webster was dismissed from the pastorate, July 23, 1806, and was soon afterwards installed over the church at Hampton, N. H., where, after a faithful ministry, he died on the 27th of March, 1837.

On the 5th of April, 1808, "The Christian Society," so called, was established here by Elder Elias Smith, Elder Abner Jones and Brother John Rand. A house of worship was erected by it, sometime during the following year.

Elias Smith has the honor of starting the first religious newspaper ever published. It was called " The Herald of the Gospel of Liberty," and was commeneed Sept. 1, 1808. It ceased to be published in Sep- tember, 1817. Mr. Rand officiated as pastor of the Christian society about seven years. The church is now occupied by the Methodist society, of which the Rev. Frank T. Pomeroy is the pastor.

The successor of Mr. Webster as pastor of the Second Parish was the Rev. Thomas Holt; born in Meriden, Conn., in November, 1762 ; (Yale College, 1784) ; was installed here, January 25, 1809, and hon- orably dismissed, April 20, 1813. His death occurred in Hardwick, Feb. 21, 1836. He was followed in the ministry by the Rev. Robert Crowell, who was ordained on the 10th of August, 1814, and eontin- ued faithfully discharging the duties of his pastorate more than forty years.

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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 35

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