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 6

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 6

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Many attempts were made to found a permanent settlement at Cape Ann, but none succeeded until in 1642, when the town was incorpor- ated under the name of Glocester, " the first ordering, settling and disposing of lots, was'made by Mr. Endicott and Mr. Downing." It is not known exactly how many settlers were then at that place, but at this time it first assumed the condition of a permanent settlement and the organic form of a town. The arrival of the Rev. Richard Blynman, with several families from Plymouth Colony, in the same year, also gave importance to the place.

Andover, first called Cochichewick, was not incorporated until 1646, three years after the incorporation of the county of Essex, yet a settlement existed there previous to 1643. It is recorded that in 1634, an order was issued by the General Court respecting the land at Andover, " that it shall be reserved for an inland plantation, and whosoever shall go to inhabit there shall have three years' immunity from all taxes, levies, public charges and services whatever, military discipline only excepted." A committee was appointed, consisting of John Winthrop, Richard Bellingham, and William Coddington, to license any that might desire to settle on these lands. The land was purchased from the Indians by Mr. Woodbridge, for £6 and a coat, in behalf of the inhabitants of the town. This purchase was con- firmed by the General Court in 1646. The name Andover was given to the town with reference to some of the planters, who came from Andover in Hampshire, Eng.

In May, 1643, the settlements of the Massachusetts Bay Colony had reached the number of thirty-one, as follows : "Salem, Linn, Enon, Ipswich, Rowley, Newbury, Glocester, Cochichewick, Salsberry, Hampton, Haverhill, Excetter, Dover, Strawberry Banck, Charles- towne, Cambridge, Watertowne, Sudburry, Concord, Wooborne, Meadford, Linn Village, Reding, Boston, Roxbury, Dorchester, Dedham, Braintree, Waymoth, Hingham, Nantasket." The whole Colony was divided into four counties ; viz., Essex, Norfolk, Middle- sex, and Suffolk. Essex County embraced the eight towns first named above, Salem being made the shire town.

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

CHAPTER IV.

PECULIARITIES OF EARLY SETTLERS.

FREEMEN - RESIDENTS - TITLES AND DISTINCTIONS - DWELLING- HOUSES - LIGHTS, &C.

The county organization was not burdened with very extensive legislative or judicial functions. It is to be believed that the General Court was too jealous of its powers to delegate any great degree of them to subordinate courts. However, when the county received an organie existence, eertain duties and powers were given to the county courts, which, as a rule, met quarterly at the shire towns, and despatched certain local business, such as was at that time con- sidered burdensome to the supreme legislative power in the Colony. But, as the Colony increased in population, and the business interests of the towns developed, the legislative and judicial labor of the counties increased, and with it came also an enlargement of their powers. From the very earliest settlement of the county, eertain distinctions were recognized among the inhabitants. There was a wide difference between a freeman and a resident. To become a free- man, each person was legally required to be a respectable member of some Congregational church. Persons were generally made freemen by the General Court ; but as the business of that body increased, this duty was transferred to the quarterly courts of the counties. It was an important consideration that none but freemen could vote at elcetions, or hold office. However, in 1664, this regulation was so far altered, by royal decree, as to permit persons who could not obtain certificates of their being correct in the required doctrines to become freemen.

For a considerable period, it was the custom for all the freemen of the Colony to meet at Boston to eleet magistrates, governor, and lieutenant-governor; but, as the settlements extended, this practice became inconvenient, and the freemen of the more distant towns were permitted to send proxics ; and finally, these assemblies were- aban- doned altogether. The freeman's oath, as fixed by the General Court in 1634, was as follows: "I, A. B., being by God's providence an inhabitant and freeman within the jurisdiction of this Commonwealth, do freely acknowledge myself to be subject to the government thereof, and therefore do here swear by the great and dreadful God, that I will be true and faithful to the same, and will accordingly yield assistance and support thereunto, with my person and estate, as in equity I am bound ; and I will also truly endeavor to maintain and preserve all the liberties and privileges thereof, submitting myself to the whole- some laws and orders, made and established by the same; and further, that I will not plot nor praetise any evil against it, nor con- sent to any that shall so do, but will truly diseover and reveal the same to lawful authority now here established, for the speedy prevent- ing thereof. Moreover, I do solemnly bind myself in the sight of God, that when I shall be called to give my voice, touching any such matter of this state, wherein freemen are to deal, I will give my vote and suffrage, as I shall judge in mine own conscience may best conduce and tend to the public weal of the body, without respeet of persons, or favor of any man, so help me God, in the Lord Jesus Christ."

The "residents" were a stratum below the freemen, at least, in civil and political rights. They were persons who were either not allowed, or declined to become freemen. However, it was provided as early as 1635, that all such residents over sixteen years of age should take an oath of fidelity; and although their political rights were meagre, they were not by any means thereupon excused from contributing of their means for the spread of the gospel and support of the government. But light was slowly dawning for these half- fledged residents. In 1649 it was ordered that such of them as were twenty-four years of age, who had taken the oath of fidelity, might be

chosen on juries by the freemen, and be allowed to vote for seleetmen ; and finally, in 1664, when the conditions of freemanship became less rigid, the disabilities of residents disappeared entirely.

The oath which these residents were obliged to take, was in this language : "I do here swear and eall God to witness, that being now an inhabitant within the limits of this jurisdiction of Massachusetts I do acknowledge myself lawfully subject to the authority and govern- ment here established ; and do accordingly submit my person, family, and estate to be protected, ordered, and governed by the laws and constitutions thereof ; and do faithfully promise to be from time to time obedient and conformable thereto, and to the authority of the governor and all other magistrates and their successors, and to all such laws, orders, sentences, and deerces as now are or hereafter shall be law- fully made, decreed and published by them or their successors, and I will always endeavor (as in duty I am bound) to advance the peace and welfare of this body politic, and I will to my best power and means seek to divert and prevent whatsoever may tend to the ruin or damage thereof, or of the governor, deputy-governor, or assistants, or any of their successors ; and I will give speedy notice to them, or some of them, of any seditions, violent treachery, or other hurt or evil, which I shall know, hear, or vehemently suspect to be plotted or intended against them or any of them, or against the said Common- wealth or government established, so help me God."

The title of Mr. was applied to captains, and frequently to mates of vessels; to military captains; to eminent merchants; to school- masters, doctors, magistrates, and clergymen ; to persons who had received a second degree at college, and who had been made frecmen. The wives and daughters of these persons were honored with the title of Mrs. To be deprived of this address required a legal action, and was considered a great degradation. In September, 1631, Josiah Plaistow, of Boston, for a misdemeanor, was sentenced by the court of assistants, " hereafter to be called by the name of Josias, and not Mr. as formerly used to be."

The usual address of adults who were not Mr. or Mrs., was good- man and goodwife, placed before their names. The terms soon fell into partial disuse, and were often misapplied ; but distinctions simi- lar to these continued in the Colony until it become a Province, when the custom of making freemen by the General Court seems to have been discontinued.

The early dwelling-houses of Essex County were, upon the whole, pleasantly built. They were, for the most part, very similar to each other, differing only in size and appointments, according to the means of their occupants. The better class of these houses were two stories high, with the upper story jutting out a foot or so over the lower. The roofs being either " hipped or gambrel," were high and steep. Some of the most pretentious dwellings had peaks on each side of the roof, so as to form small chambers. The frames were mostly of white oak, and the timbers were very much larger than those used even in larger buildings at the present day. In the best finished rooms the beams were either in sight, or poorly disguised.

" The windows of such houses," says Mr. Felt, "were from two and a half to three feet long, one and a half to two wide, with squares like the figure of a diamond, set in lead lines, and from three to four inches long. These windows were sometimes entire and sometimes in halves, and opened outwardly on hinges. They were fashionable till after 1734. . . The doors of the best houses had diagrams marked out on them, as large as the squares of glass, set in lead lines, and had brass nails driven in at the points of the angles."

The walls of the houses were generally daubed with clay, mixed with straw, or roughly plastered with a sort of lime made principally from clam-shells. On the inside, whitewash was used instead of paper, which was substituted at a later period. A few of the best buildings were shingled on the top, while a majority had only thatehed roofs till after 1691. Very few houses, previous to 1700, had more than one chimney. This was generally located in the middle of the

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

house, and was of large dimensions ; and, besides other fireplaces, had a mammoth one for the kitchen, where the whole family could sit on two benches, and enjoy the old-fashioned evening fire. There was but little or no paint used, inside or out, previous to 1734.

Although the early settlers of Essex County could not produce tal- low for candles, they were not doomed to sit in darkness ; for, by the abundance of fish, oil was afforded in great abundance for lamps. But, if this oil ever gave out, there was another source of light. The pine-trees, that were most plentiful of all wood, "do allow us plenty of candles, which are useful in a house ; and they are such candles as the Indians commonly use, having no other ; and they are nothing else but the wood of the pine-tree, cloven in two little slices, something slim, which are so full of the moisture of turpentine and pitch, that they burn as clear as a torch."

The oil consumed by the early settlers was mostly obtained from fish livers, and continued to be used in the county until within half a century. The lamp in which this oil was used was large, made of tin, had a great wick, and was usually hung on one side of the fireplace.

To the first settlers, the rivers were the principal highways of com- munication ; but, with the increase of the appliances of civilization, roads were constructed, and although, owing to the scarcity of horses, walking was common, yet, when such animals became plenty, two persons would ride one of them, fitted out with a saddle and a pillion. It was also common for females to ride with side-saddles. These cus- toms continued until the introduction of small wagons and chaises. " About 1770, it began to be the practice to trot horses. Previously, these animals had paced. It had been common to pay individuals to teach them to go in this manner. The way in which a horse was taught to pace, was by fastening his two right and two left feet together with leather straps, so that the two former might step to- gether, and then the two latter."

It must now engage our attention to notice the rise of churches and other institutions within the county, and to speak of the general pros- perity of the settlements ; but, before entering upon this, let us ex- amine the witchcraft delusion, which stands out so prominently in the early history of Essex County, and which must forever vex and per- plex the historian. This may carry us past the dates of other impor- tant events, to which we shall be careful to return.

CHAPTER V.

WITCHCRAFT - BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DELUSION, WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THIE TRIALS, EXECUTIONS, &c.

The witchcraft delusion of 1692 has attracted the eyes of the world to the county of Essex ; for, although there are records of " com- munings with the Devil" as early as the thirteenth century, it was not till the delusion popularly known as " the Salem witchcraft," that any- thing like universal attention was directed to this sin. This most memorable instance of 1692, in " Salem Village," was a crisis, and since those days witchcraft has become a matter of history only. Forty years before the terrible excitement that resulted in the execu- tion of nineteen persons for the crime of witchcraft, scattering cases of accusations occurred, but no general outbreak till 1692. In Septem- ber, 1652, the grand jury presented John Bradstreet, of Rowley, "for suspicion of having familiarity with the Devil." On the 28th of that month he was convicted in conrt, at Ipswich, of lying ; and this being a second offence, he was fined to pay twenty shillings, or else be whipped. In 1658, John Godfrey, of Andover, was accused of causing losses in the estates of several people, and " some affliction in their bodies also." No sentence was ever imposed on Godfrey, though the case was several times in court ; and about 1659, he sued his accusers

for defamation. He is reputed to have challenged, and even courted, the imputation of witchcraft. In November, 1669, "Goody Burt," a widow, was prosecuted, a physician testifying that " no natural cause " could have led to such effects as were wrought by her. Her opera- tions were mainly in Lynn, Marblehead, and Salem. Philip Reed, the physician, preferred similar charges against Margaret Gifford, "a witch," in 1680; but no record of action against her appears. In 1679, Caleb Powell was arrested for bewitching, or, as the warrant specified, " for suspicion of working with the Devil to the molesting of William Morse and his family." This man was not found guilty, but " so much suspicion " was proved, that he was ordered to pay the costs of court. The arrest of Mr. Morse's mother was next demanded, on charge of causing the trouble ; and as Essex County courts could not be relied on for convictions in these cases, she was tried in Boston before the highest court in the Colony. She was found guilty, and the death sentence was imposed on her; but she was twice reprieved ; a new trial granted by the House of Deputies, but refused by the magistrates ; and, finally, she was released. The " witchery " in this case was all caused by the mischievous son of Mr. Morse. Margaret Jones and Anu Hibbins were also sentenced as witches. These, and similar instances, wrought up the public mind to that pitch of anxiety, that the people were in condition to succumb to the far greater excitement of 1692, a year that has become memorable in American history.

Briefly traced, the history of the Salem witchcraft is here narrated. During the winter of 1691-92, a company of young girls were in the habit of assembling at the residence of the Rev. Samuel Parris, the clergyman of Salem Village, then including what is now Danvers Centre, Danversport, Tapleyville, Putnamville, and a part of Danvers Plains. At the social parties held at the minister's house, the arts of fortune-telling, palmistry, necromancy and magic were practised, till considerable skill in this direction was attained. After a little time, these people began to ascribe their peculiar actions to supernatural agencies, and the whole neighborhood became intensely interested, then alarmed, and an examination by the village physician, resulting in pronouncing them " bewitched," capped the whole, and the witch- craft delusion had taken root, to grow apace, and to lead to the terri- ble tragedies that the page of history records. The persons who were of the party that met at the house of Mr. Parris, and who acted the opening scenes, are thus named and described by the late Hon. Charles W. Upham of Salem, in his valuable and exhaustive volumes entitled, "Salem Witchcraft": Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. Parris, was nine years of age ; she performed a leading part in the first stages of the affair. Abigail Williams, a neice of Mr. Parris, was eleven years old ; she acted conspicuously from the inception to the end of the excitement. Ann Putnam, a daughter of the parish clerk, was twelve years old ; this girl was in many respects the leading agent in the mischief that followed. Mary Walcot, seventeen years of age, was a daughter of Jonathan Walcot. Mercy Lewis was also seven- teen ; she lived as a servaut in the house of Thomas Putnam ; she was responsible for much of the crime and horror connected with the affair. Elizabeth Hubbard, aged seventeen, was a neice of Mrs. Dr. Griggs, and lived in her family. Elizabeth Booth and Susannah Sheldon, each eighteen years old, belonged to families in the neigh- borhood. Mary Warren, twenty years of age, and Sarah Churchill, of the same age, were servants in the families of John Procter and George Jacobs, Sr. These last two acted prominently in the tragedy, actuated, it is reputed, by malicious feelings towards their employers. Mrs. Aun Putnam, mother of the girl mentioned above, Mrs. Pope, and Mrs. Bibber, living in Wenham, acted with the "afflicted " chil- dren.

Matters went from bad to worse. The bewitched at first had ex- hibited their afflictions, by such strange actions as creeping under benches and chairs, making wild gestures, and uttering strange ex- clamations. They would be seized with spasms, and apparently suffer

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

dreadful tortures. The next feature was the extension of these actions to the time of the church services. The minister would be inter- rupted in his services ; and Ann Putnam is mentioned as having such severe attacks, that she had to be held to prevent her breaking up the meeting. Mr. Parris invited neighboring ministers to assemble at his house, and unite in a day of praying, invoking the aid of God for resene from the terrible visitation. The same feats were per- formed in their presence, and the clergy corroborated the opinion of the doctor, that the Evil One had taken possession of the spirits of these people. This expression was the last straw. Public opinion all turned in one direction now, and the belief that these people were bewitched, became almost universal. It was demanded of the "afflicted ones " who it was that bewitched them, for it was the ac- cepted doctrine in those days, that the Devil acted, not directly, but through some human agent, or witch. Tituba, an Indian servant of Mr. Parris, Sarah Osburn, who was bedridden, and Sarah Good, a woman of ill-repute, were accused, and on the 29th of February, 1692. warrants were issued for their arrest, the complainants being Joseph Hutchinson, Edward Putnam, Thomas Putnam, and Thomas Preston. On March 1st, an examination of the accused was held before John Hathorne, and Jonathan Corwin, the two leading magis- trates in the vicinity. These magistrates " entered the village in im- posing array, escorted by the marshal, constables and their aids, with all the trappings of their offices," and a great crowd gathered to hear the testimony taken. The examination was held in the meeting-house, Sarah Good being arraigned first. Her bad name in the community made the people all the more ready to receive the charge against her. She stoutly denied all the charges preferred, as did also Sarah Osburn ; but Tituba, the Indian, admitted that she had pinched, and otherwise hurt the children, and declared that she was inspired to do it by the Devil, who had bid her serve him. She also accused Sarah Good and Sarah Osburn of participation in the bewitching of the afflicted ones. This woman was perfectly familiar with the whole affair; and evidently she had been used as an instrument to give effect to the delusion ; perhaps, says Mr. Upham, being frightened into confessing what she never did, and accusing the others of what she was instructed to ; or, perhaps, being promised immunity from punishment if she acknowledged her own guilt, and fixed a greater responsibility on the other women. Under date of March 7, the court records show that all three were sent to the jail in Boston, the magis- trates having held them for trial. All that is known of them after this is very indefinite. The jailer's bill seems to indicate that Sarah Osburn died May 10. Tituba is recorded as being " sold for her fees " about a year later.

Martha or "Goody " Corey, the third wife of Giles Corey, was the next person accused. She was examined March 21st, and the records appear in the handwriting of Mr. Parris. She was committed to Salem jail. Rebecca Nurse was arrested on the 24th, and was ex- amined, and she, too, was cast into jail. Martha Corey was a church- member, and was evidently a person perfectly free from the terrible delusion. Rebecca Nurse was a person of acknowledged worth. She was of infirm health and advanced in years. Each of these two women declared and protested their entire innocence, but the result of any examination was a foregone conclusion, and each new person aceused was fully committed for trial, the flimsiest evidence being admitted as conclusive. Dorcas, a little daughter of Sarah Good, between four and five years old, was arraigned and committed with her mother to Boston jail. Says Mr. Upham, in his work on this dark delusion :- " There was no longer any doubt in the mass of the community that the devil had effected a lodgment at Salem Village. Church-members, persons of all social positions, of the highest repute and profession of piety, eminent for visible manifestations of devotion, and of every age, had joined his standard, and become his active allies and confed- erates." "The public mind was worked to red heat, and now was the moment to strike the blow that would fix an impression deep and

irremovable upon it." Deodat Lawson preached a sermon that after- noon that "re-enforced the powers that had begun their work. It justified and commended everything that had been done, and every- thing that remained to be done." It was printed and endorsed by several of the most eminent divines in the country. One week passed before any further action was taken; but on April 8th, complaints against Sarah Cloyse and Elizabeth Procter, "for high suspicion of sundry acts of witchcraft," having been preferred, warrants for their arrest were procured. Their examination was before a representa- tion of the government of the Colony, headed by the deputy-governor, Thomas Danforth, and took place in the meeting-house of the First Parish. A number of witnesses were examined, and all testified that the accused had "hurt" them,-choked and pinched them, and " tor- mented " them. Mr. Upham, after a careful examination of all the records and papers relating to those terrible days of evil doing, concludes that nothing was worse than this examination before the deputy-governor and members of the council. As a result of the examination, Sarah Cloyse, John Procter and his wife Elizabeth Procter, were held for trial, and were confined in the jail at Boston, with Rebecca Nurse, Martha Corey, and Darcas Good. On April 18th, warrants were issued against Giles Corey and Mary Warren, of Salem, Abigail Ilobbs, of Topsfield, and Bridget Bishop, of Salem, the second mentioned being one of those who had before been an accuser. She was cast into prison, and was several times examined by the judges, till she appeared to the magistrates and the people to have been delivered from the devil's clutches, and was then released. Mr. Upham expresses the opinion that she played an important part as one of the party of conspirators to develop and carry on a deep- laid plot - for such he considers the whole phenomena. After her discharge from jail, she appeared as a witness in ten prosecutions. Giles Corey was examined in the village meeting-house April 19th. Abigail Hobbs "confessed," and secured immunity from heavy pun- ishment, though she was imprisoned, as was the custom to do with those who confessed, that they might be held in subjection. Bridget Bishop was examined at the same session of court before which Mary Warren was arraigned, and all of the four mentioned were incarcerated in jail. On the 22d of April, William Hobbs, his wife Deliverance, Nehemiah Abbot, Jr., Mary Easty, and Sarah Wilds, all of Topsfield or Ipswich, Edward Bishop, Sarah his wife, Mary Black, a negro, and Mary English, wife of Philip English, all of Salem, were arraigned at the house of Lieutenant Nathaniel Ingersoll. The first-named of these was committed, but was bailed out and the bail forfeited, the parties not deeming it expedient to have him come into court. At the May term the next spring, the fine was remitted, and he was dis- charged by proclamation. Abbot was dismissed, - the only one reported to have been after an examination, - and it is not quite certain that he was not re-arrested, for a man by the name of Abbot is recorded to have been, though the Christian name is not given in the records. The other seven were all committed, as was the rule. Records of their trials exist only in the cases of Edward Bishop and his wife. The judges - Hathorne and Corwin - showed signs of relaxing their stern methods of condueting the trials, and Thomas Putnam wrote a letter to them immediately, in which he urged them to be a terror to evil-doers, and assured them that, though the people would never be able to make them recompense, a full reward would be given them of the Lord God of Israel, whose cause and interest they had espoused.

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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 6

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