USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The Essex memorial, for 1836: embracing a register of the county > Part 15
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Town Treasurer-Moses Merrill.
Selectmen-Charles H. Balch, Ebenezer Stone, John N. Cushing, Henry Merrill, Jeremiah Colman.
LAWYERS, PHYSICIANS, JUSTICES, ETC.
Lawyers .- Ebenezer Moseley, Stephen W. Mars- ton, Asa W. Wildes, Caleb Cushing, George Lunt, Nathaniel Hills, Jr.
Physicians .- Richard S. Spofford, John Brickett, Nathan Noyes, Jonathan G. Johnson, John Atkin- son, S. W. Wyman, Henry Perkins, Francis V. Noyes.
Police Court-S. W. Marston, Judge. William Woart, John Cook, Jr. Special Justices.
Justices of the Pcace .- William Bartlett, Thomas M. Clark, Asa W. Wildes, Edward S. Rand, John Porter, Solomon H. Currier, Caleb Cushing, George Lunt, George Titcomb, Henry Frothingham, John Andrews, Samuel Phillips, John Brickett, John Moody, Samuel Newman, John S. Morse.
Justices of the Peace and of the Quorum .- Wil- liam Woart, Jonathan Gage, Ebenezer Moseley, S. W. Marston, John Cook, Jr. William B. Bannister. Appointed to qualify Civil Officers .- William
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Woart, Jeremiah Nelson, John Porter, William B. Bannister.
Notaries Public .- John Porter, William Woart, Isaac Stone.
Deputy Sheriffs .- Gilman White, Nathan Brown. Coroners .- Gilman White, John Cook, Jr. John Moody.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
St Paul's .- Episcopal. Founded, 1711. James Morse, Rector. Number of communicants, 90. Sun- day School, founded 1826 ; number of scholars 80.
Unitarian Congregational .- Founded 1725. Thos. B. Fox, Pastor. Number of communicants, 90. Sun- day School reorganized 1832. Number of scholars 130.
First Presbyterian .- Founded 1744. Jonathan F. Stearns, Pastor. Number of communicants 330. Sun- day School, founded 1826. Number of scholars 200.
Orthodox Congregational .- Founded 1767. Lu- ther F. Dimmick, Pastor. Number of communicants, 360. Sunday School founded 1826. Number of scholars, 200.
Independent .- Orthodox. Founded 1794. Charles W. Milton, Pastor. Number of communicants, 200. Sunday School founded 1826. Number of scholars, 200.
Second Presbyterian .- Founded 1795. Daniel Dana, Pastor. Number of communicants, 160. Sun- dav School founded 1826. Number of scholars, 105.
Baptist .- Founded 1804. Nathaniel W. Williams, Pastor. Number of communicants, 196. Sunday School founded 1824. Number of scholars, 185.
Methodist Episcopal .- Founded 1827. J. San- born, Pastor. Number of communicants, 140. Sun- day School founded 1829. Number of scholars, 135.]
SCHOOLS.
The number of Public Schools is twelve, viz : One High School, N. S. Williams and D. P. Page, Instructors ; containing 103 scholars. Three Monito- rial Schools, Jonathan Coolidge, George Titcomb, and Newman Brown, Instructors ; containing 347 scholars. Three Female Grammar Schools, Mrs
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NEWBURYPORT.
Melvin, Miss N. Knapp and Miss Swett, Instructresses; Containing 263 scholars. Five Primary Schools, Misses Lunt, Campbell, Cook, Frothingham and Hoyt, Instructresses ; containing 308 scholars.
Number of Private Schools thirtytwo, containing 687 scholars.
Total number of scholars 1708.
Amount paid last year for Tuition in Private Schools, $5300.
Amount raised annually for Public Schools, $4000.
School Funds .- The late Moses Brown, Esq. left a legacy to the town, to be kept at interest till the same should amount to $15,000, and then the income to be applied to the support of a Grammar School. Amount of fund, 13th May 1835, $9,026.
The late Oliver Putnam, Esq. also left a legacy to the town, to be kept at interest till it should amount to $50,000. The income to be applied to the main- tenance of an English School. Amount of this fund, 1st September, 1835, $42,000.
BANKS.
Mechanics .- Incorporated 1812. Capital $200,000. Discounts daily. Eleazer Johnson, President. John Andrews, Jr., Cashier. Jacob Stone, Book Keeper. Edward S. Rand, Eleazer Johnson, Stephen W. Marston, John Wood, Henry Merrill, Amnos Noyes, Charles J. Brockway, Directors.
Merchants .- Incorporated 1831. Capital $300,000. Discounts daily. Henry Johnson, President. Sam- uel Mulliken, Cashier. William G. White, Book Keeper. Henry Johnson, John Porter, Wmn. Balch, Micajah Lunt, Jr., Caleb Cushing, Joseph J. Knapp, Directors.
Occan .- Incorporated 1833. Capital $200,000. Discounts daily. Henry Frothingham, President, Enoch Plummer, Jr., Cashier. Silas Titcomb, Book Keeper. Henry Frothingham, Jeremiah Colman, Ebenezer Hale, Philip Johnson, Nathaniel Noyes, Jr. Seth Clark, John Balch Jr., Directors.
Institution for Savings. - Incorporated 1820. Amount of deposits $260,000. Thomas M. Clark,
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NEWBURYPORT.
President. Jeremiah Nelson, Treasurer. John Har- rod, Secretary. Three Vice Presidents and twenty Trustees.
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
Merchants. - Fire and Marine. Incorporated 1831. Capital $200,000. John Porter, President, Samuel Carr, Secretary. John Porter, William Balch, Micajah Lunt, Jr., Nathaniel Noyes, Jr. Henry Titcomb, Jr. Stephen Tilton, Henry Johnson, Caleb Cushing, Directors.
Mutual .- Incorporated 1829. Amount insured $150,000. Jeremiah Nelson, President. John Har- rod, Secretary. 13 Directors.
Mutual Fishing .- Amount insured $125,350. Na- thaniel Marsh, Philip Coombs, Moses Merrill, Thos. Morrison, Benjamin W. Hale, Directors. Charles J. Brockway, Secretary.
NEWSPAPERS.
Newburyport Herald .-- Semi-weekly ; imperial sheet. Same, daily, half imperial sheet. Established 1796. Politics, Whig.
Essex North Register .- Semi-monthly, half super- royal sheet. Religious, Orthodox ; established 1834.
MILITARY.
Newburyport Artillery .- Established in 1778, and served in the Revolution. Officers, John Bradbury, Captain. Isaac Stevens, First Lieutenant. Frederick J. Coffin, Second Lieutenant.
There are also three companies of infantry of the line.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
This town has a regular Fire Department, estab- lished by the Legislature in 1832. Nathaniel Foster, Chief Engineer. Henry Titcomb, Jr., Amos Top pan, John Cooper, John Bradbury, George Emery, Nathan Brown, Jacob Horton, Isaac Pearson, John S. Morse, Nathaniel Davis, Engineers.
Engines .- No. 1, Old North ; No. 2, Mechanic ;
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NEWBURYPORT.
No. 3, Protector ; No. 4, Newburyport ; No. 5, Ex- tinguisher ; No. 6, Little Belt.
Öne hook and ladder carriage, and one bucket car- riage ; also eleven hundred feet leading hose.
SOCIETIES.
Newburyport Marine Society .- Established 1772. Objects : 1st. " To improve the knowledge of the coast by communications from its members, (who are ex- clusively shipmasters.) 2d. To raise a common fund for the relief of members or their families when in poverty." In 1800, its funds amounted to $5,565, in 1820 to $11,522, in 1835 to $15,000, notwithstanding many liberal donations to indigent members or their families. Number of members, 61. Capt. Eleazer Johnson, President. Capt. Paul Simpson, Vice Pre- sident. Capt. John N. Cushing, Treasurer. Capt. Charles Hodge, Secretary.
Merrimack Humane Society .- Established 1802. Object, " Resuscitation of persons apparently drowned." Fund $2,500 and a costly apparatus. Hon. Jeremiah Nelson, President. Ebenezer Mose- ley, Vice President. James Morse, Corresponding Secretary. Anthony S. Jones, Recording Secretary. Paul Simpson, Treasurer. Twelve Trustees.
Howard Benevolent Society .- Established 1817. Object, Relief of the indigent sick. Fund $1,700. Thomas M. Clark, President. David W. Jones, Secretary. Samuel S. Plummer, Treasurer. Nine Trustees.
Newburyport Lyceum .- Established in 1829. Num- ber of members 115. Price of season ticket, two dol- lars. Stephen W. Marston, President. Roger S. Howard, Vice President. David P. Page, Manager and Corresponding Secretary. William S. Bartlett, Treasurer and Recording Secretary. John Hull, Wil- liam Bradstreet, Moses Davenport, Jr., Curators.
PUBLIC HOUSES.
Wolfe Tavern, Stage House, State Street ; Enoch Tilton, keeper. Dexter House, High Street ; Mrs
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Marshall, keeper. Franklin Tavern, Water Street ; Joseph T. Haskins, keeper. Farmers' Hotel, Water Street ; S. Fifield, keeper.
LIBRARIES.
Newburyport Atheneum. - Incorporated 1809. Number of volumes 1,800.
There are besides two Parish Libraries, three cir- culating libraries and a library to each Sunday School.
ALMS HOUSE.
Number of subjects 65. Eleazer Johnson, Jr., keeper.
STORES.
Number of dry goods stores, 17. Number of gro- ceries, 30. Number of hardware stores, 3. Number of furniture stores, 3. Number of milliners, 7. Book- sellers 6, of which 3 are book binders. Tailors, 5.
Whole number of stores, shops and warehouses, 298.
TRADES AND MANUFACTURES.
A building intended for a Steam Cotton Factory, measuring 113 feet by 40 feet, has been built and will be in operation in January, 1886. It is confidently expected that the manufacture of cotton by steam will soon be an important interest at this place.
Charles H. Coffin's Steam Comb Manufactory .- Employs 15 males and 70 females. Manufactures 90,000 dozen combs annually, for the Western coun- try. Value $40,000.
E. and J. Husc's, Snuff, Cigar and Tobacco Man- ufactory,-employs 5 males and 50 females. Man- ufactures 10 millions cigars (principally of the nicest quality) annnally. 5 tons snuff and some chewing tobacco. Value $37,000.
John Bradbury's, Silver Plate and Thimble Man- ufactory,-employs 5 hands. Value of manufactures, $10,000 annually.
John Bradbury & Co's. Stove, copper and tin Manufactory,-employs 11 hands. Value of manu- factures yearly $30,000.
NEWBURYPORT.
There are also manufactures of hats, boots and shoes, &c. ; but at present to a comparatively limited extent.
Measures are in progress to introduce the raising and manufacture of silk.
TOWN EXPENSES.
The town expenses for 1834-5, amounted to $23,974 74 - embraced in the following items :
Overseers (of the poor) department 6,171 00
School department 4,507 81
Fire department (including a Reservoir) 3,093 74
Market Hall and Rooms 3,944 33
New Streets, Highways and bridges 3,638 82
Incidental-(including Police, Sextons and
Burial Grounds,) 2,613 77
23,974 47
Owing to several causes the expenditures of 1834-5 exceeded the general average of expenses by about $8,000. New streets were laid out, the Market Hall was finished, fire apparatus was purchased, &c. &c.
STAGES.
For Boston .- Stages leave for Boston, every day except Sunday, at 73, A. M. 11, A. M., at 12 M. and at 3, P. M.
Lowell .- Every day, except Sunday, at 12, M. and 3,P. M.
Haverhill .- Every day, except Sunday, 9, A. M. Amesbury .- do do do do 7, P. M. Exeter .- do do do do 10, A. M.
Portsmouth .- do do do
do 1, P. M.
Concord .- Tri-weekly, 7, A. M.
Eastern Mail, daily, 6, P. M.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
Taxable Property .- Real estate, $1,194,300. Per- sonal property, $2,112,100. Total, $3,306,400.
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ROWLEY.
Valuation .- Newburyport stands in the State val- uation, at $2,165,967 28.
Post Ofice .- The post office yields to government about $2,416.
ROWLEY.
ROWLEY was settled in the year 1638, by a com- pany of about sixty persons,* from Yorkshire, led by Rev. Ezekiel Rogers, who had been a minister at Rowley, in England. "Mr Rogers," says Dr Spofford, "was born at Wethersfield, England, 1590. He entered the university at thirteen years of age, and graduated A. M. at the age of twenty. After enduring many afflictions in England, he obtained a peaceful settlement in this place, to which he was a distinguished benefactor. He suffered many domestic sorrows in the evening of his days, and died, worn out with labor and care, in 1660. His remains were disinterred a few years since, and removed to a more suitable part of the burying-ground, and a marble monument erected by the people of Rowley, who still enjoy the fruits of his bounty."
The first person born here, appears to have been Edward Carlton ; he was an ancestor of those of that name now in the town, and was born in 1639. The first marriage on record also took place this year, and the parties were Robert and Anna Hasel- tine. Some of the first settlers having been clothiers in England, it is said established a full- ing mill here soon after their arrival, and manufac- tured the first cloth ever made in North America.
* Some say sixty families.
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ROWLEY.
Among the names of the first settlers, we find Chaplin, Gage, Jewett, Mighill, Nelson, Payson, Spofford, Stickney and Tenney-names which are to this day prevalent in the town.
The act incorporating the town, is in these words-" 1639, 4th day of the 7th month, Ordered, that Mr Ezekiel Rogers' Plantation shall be called Rowley." The towns of Bradford and Boxford, together with parts of one or two other towns, were then included.
The present town of Rowley is bounded easterly by the sea, northerly by Bradford and Newbury, westerly by Boxford, and southerly by Boxford and Ipswich. The western part of the township forms the parish of New Rowley, and the eastern parish is familiarly called Old Rowley, in distinction. Half of the parish of Byfield, and half of Line Brook parish, are in this town.
The highest land in the county is " Bald Pate," in the western part of this township. From this elevation, an extensive and delightful view may be obtained, comprehending a portion of the valley of the Merrimack and the adjacent settlements, to- gether with the beautiful town of Haverhill.
Towards the sea shore, lies an extensive tract of salt marsh, from which large quantities of hay are cut, and boated up Rowley river to various land- ings.
Fruit is much cultivated in this town, particu- larly pears ; and about 1000 barrels of perry are annually made.
POPULATION.
The population in 1800, was, 1,557; in 1810, 1,682 ; in 1820, 1,825 ; and in 1830, 2,044.
Ratable Polls, 598.
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ROWLEY.
TOWN OFFICERS.
Town Clerk-Thomas Gage.
Town Treasurer-Harrison B. Spofford.
Selectmen-Edward Smith, John B. Savory, John Thurlow.
LAWYER, PHYSICIANS AND JUSTICES.
Lawyer .- Jeremiah Russell.
Physicians .- Benjamin Proctor, Charles Proctor, Daniel Perley, David Mighill, Richard Herbert.
Justices of the Peace .- Thomas Gage, Amos J. Tenney, Jeremiah Russell, Richard Herbert.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
First Church .- Orthodox Congregational. Organ- ized, Dec. 1639. Present pastor Williard Holbrook. Number of communicants, 109. The first pastor was Ezekiel Rogers. He was born at Wethersfield, Eng., 1590 ; was settled on the day that the church was formed ; died Jan. 23, 1661. The second pastor was Samuel Phillips. He was born at Boxford, Eng. 1625 ; graduated at Harvard, 1650 ; settled here the same year ; died April 22, 1696. The third pastor was Samuel Shepard. He was born at Cambridge 1641 ; graduated at Harvard 1658 ; settled here Nov. 15, 1665 ; died April 7, 1668. 'The fourth pastor was Edward Payson. He was born at Roxbury, June 20, 1657 ; graduated at Harvard, 1677 ; settled here Oct. 25, 1682 ; died Aug. 22, 1732. He was a direct an- cester of Dr Payson of Portland. The fifth pastor was Jedediah Jewett. He was born at Rowley, June 3, 1705 ; graduated at Harvard, 1726 ; settled here Nov. 19, 1729 ; died May 8, 1774. The sixth pastor was Ebenezer Bradford. He was born at Canter- bury, Ct. 1746 ; settled here Aug. 4, 1782 ; died Jan . 3, 1801. The seventh pastor was David Tullar. He was born at Shrewsbury, Ct. Sept. 22, 1748 ; graduated at Yale, 1774 ; ordained by the New York Presbytery, July, 1775 ; settled here Dec. 7, 1803 ; was dismissed 1810; settled over the Line Brook church 1823 ; resigned there, 1831. 'The eighth pas- tor was James W. Tucker. He was born at Dan-
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ROWLEY.
bury, Ct., 1787 ; graduated at Yale, 1807 ; studied divinity with Professor Stuart ; settled here June 24, 1812; resigned June 24, 1817 ; died Feb. 11, 1819. The ninth and present pastor, Willard Hol- brook, was born at Uxbridge, April 7, 1792 ; gradu- ated at Brown, 1814, and at Andover Theological Seminary, 1817 ; settled here July 22, 1818.
Second Congregational .- (Orthodox). Organized 1731. Present pastor, Isaac Braman. Number of communicants, 100. The first pastor was James Chandler, a native of Andover ; settled Oct. 18, 1732 ; died April 16, 1788. Mr Braman, the present pastor, was born at Norton, July 5, 1770; graduated at Harvard, 1794 ; settled here June 7, 1797.
First Baptist .- Organized, 1785. Number of communicants, 50. At present without a pastor. Second Baptist .- Organized 1830. Number of communicants, 35. Pastor, Jeremiah Chaplin.
Byfield Parish, (partly in Newbury.)-Organized Nov. 7, 1706. Orthodox Congregational. Number of communicants, 130. Pastor, Henry Durant. Mr Durant was born at Acton, June 18, 1802 ; graduated at Yale 1827 ; settled here Dec. 25, 1833.
Line Brook Parish .- (See Ipswich.)
SCHOOLS.
There are nine school districts, in each of which a public or private school is kept the greater part of the year. The whole number of scholars from 4 to 16 years of age is about 500. The amount raised by tax for support of schools about $750; and the amount raised by subscription about $150.
An account of Dummner Academy, which is in By- field parish, but within the territory of Newbury, is given under the head Newbury.
PUBLIC HOUSES.
New Rowley-J. B. Savory. Old Rowley -- Ed- ward Smith.
MILITARY.
One volunteer company of Light Infantry. Two
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ROWLEY.
companies of infantry of the line, and portions of a company of riflemen, and a company of cavalry.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
Capital .- The amount of capital employed in this town, is from $400,000 to $500,000 ; mostly in the manufacture of shoes and leather.
Fire Department .- There are two fire engines, with suitable companies.
Libraries. - One in the first parish, one in the se- cond parish, and one in Byfield parish.
Alms House .- Average number of subjects, 30 ; more than half State paupers. Keeper, Samuel Jewett.
Stores .- Dry goods and groceries are generally kept in the same store, or in different apartments of the same establishment. Number, 9,
Mills, &c .- There are 4 grist and 2 saw mills; 1 steam engine for grinding bark, &c.
Taxable Property .- The amount of taxable pro- perty is about $500,000.
Town Expenses .- The town expenses last year were $3,200.
Stages .- Savory's tavern (New Rowley ) is on the Concord, N. H. route ; three stages pass daily for Lowell, or Newburyport, Portsmouth, Dover, &c. Smith's Tavern (Old Rowley ) is on the great eastern route.
Post Offices .- There are two post offices: New Rowley, yielding to government about $120,00 ; Ben- jamin Little, P. M. Old Rowley, yielding to govern- ment about $42 50 ; Benjamin H. Smith, P. M. At each of these a mail is received daily.
Divisions of Territory .- The whole town contains 21,000 acres ; about 3000 of which are covered with water ; among the residue, 827 acres are of tillage ; 1180 of English and upland mowing ; 1760 of salt marsh.
State Valuation .- In 1811 this town stood at $345,- 078 00; in 1831, $447,295 19.
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SALEM.
SALEM, the chief town of Essex County, was the first permanent settlement in old Massachusetts colony. Roger Conant with his company came here on breaking up the "fishing plantation" at Cape Ann, in the autumn of 1626. The ancient Indian name of the place was Naumkeag, but the settlers soon adopted that of Salem, or peace. Co- nant and his companions located themselves on the tongue of land through which Bridge street now runs, and the early settlements were generally made in the vicinity of North river. Conant is justly entitled to the honor of effecting the first perma- nent settlement in Massachusetts, as distinguished from Plymouth. He appears to have come with a full determination-a determination which no cir- cumstances could induce him to relinquish-to find a foothold for civilization upon these shores ; and his " utter deniall to goe away," when surrounded by perils and nearly forsaken by his brethren, and his firm reliance upon the guidance and protection of Providence, induce us to look upon him as one standing somewhat in advance of the ordinary ranks of men, though he may not have possessed the re- finements of many of the venerables of that period.
John Endicott and his company arrived on the 6th of September, 1628, and the settlement soon became one of note. Endicott was unquestiona- bly a man of sound judgment, and well calculated to advance the interests of the infant community ; but of his temperament, something may be gath- ered from the following little incident, which oc- curred in 1631. Mr Thomas Dexter and Mr En- dicott had been at issue upon some point, when
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SALEM.
the latter so far lost control over his feelings, as to strike the former ; whereupon, Mr Dexter com- plained to the court at Boston, and Mr Endicott, who was prevented from attending court, addressed a letter to Gov. Winthrop, in which he says, "I did hope to have been with you in person, at the court, and to that end I put to sea yesterday, and was driven back again, the wind being stiff against us ; and there being no canoe or boat at Saugus, I must have been constrained to go to Mistic, and thence about to Charlestown, which at this time I durst not be so bold, my body being at present in an ill condition to take cold, and therefore I pray you to pardon me. I desired the rather to have been at court, because I hear I am much com- plained of by goodman Dexter for striking him. I acknowledge I was too rash in striking him, un- derstanding since it is not lawful for a justice of peace to strike. But if you had seen the manner of his carriage, with such daring of me, with his arms akimbo, &c., it would have provoked a very patient man. He hath given out, if I had a purse he would make me empty it, and if he cannot have justice here, he will do wonders in England ; and, if he cannot prevail there, he will try it out with me here at blows. If it were lawful for me to try it at blows, and he a fit man for me to deal with, you should not hear me complain."
Mr Higginson arrived in 1629, three years after Conant, and one year after Endicott. In a letter written soon after his arrival, he says-" When we came first to Nehum-kek, we found about half a score houses, and a faire house newly built for the governor ; we also found aboundance of corne planted by them, very good and well liking. And we brought with us about two hundred passengers
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and planters more, which by common consent of the old planters, were all combined together into one body politicke, under the same governour.
" There are in all of us, both old and new plant- ers, about three hundred, whereof two hundred of them are settled at Nehum-kek, now called Salem, and the rest have planted themselves at Masathu- lets Bay, beginning to build a town there, which wee do call Cherton, or Charles Town.
" We that are settled at Salem make what haste we can to build houses, so that within a short time we shall have a faire towne.
" We have great ordnance, wherewith we doubt not but we shall fortifie ourselves in a short time to keepe out a potent adversary. But that which is our greatest comfort, and meanes of defence above all other, is, that we have here the true religion and holy ordinances of Almighty God taught amongst us. Thankes be to God, wee have here plenty of preaching, and diligent catechizing, with strickt and carefull exercise, and good and com- mendable orders to bring our people into a chris- tian conversation with whom we have to doe withall. And thus wee doubt not but God will be with us, and if God be with us, who can be against us ?"
In 1629, the first child was born at Salem. His name was John Massey, and he was a son of Jef- frey Massey, a companion of Roger Conant. The cradle in which he was rocked is still preserved. At a church meeting, in 1703, the old church bible was presented to him as the " first town-born child." He died in 1709.
For a time, Salem increased so slowly that Ips- wich and Lynn were before it in importance; but in fourteen or fifteen years after the arrival of En- dicott, the fisheries had been commenced with
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success, and all other towns had been left behind in commercial enterprise. The township in 1637 comprehended, together with its present limits, Beverly, Danvers, Manchester, Marblehead, Mid- dleton, a part of Lynn, Topsfield and Wenham.
In 1636, the first Quarter Court was held here.
In the early days of the town, that part called the Neck, was a place of considerable business ; but the trade gradually passed up South river, and became settled in the sections where it is at present found.
In 1650, William Hawthorn, of Salem, was speaker of the House of Representatives. He is the first person whose name appears on record in that capacity.
In 1661, eighteen Quakers were publicly pun- ished. About the same time, a number were exe- cuted at Boston.
In 1663, the first prison was built.
In 1678, Salem had eightyfive houses and three hundred polls.
The spring and summer of 1692 afford the darkest passage in the whole history of this town, It was then that the witchcraft delusion prevailed. The town suffered greatly by the excitement, losing by removal, a fourth part of her population. The witches were executed on a hill in the westerly part of the town, ever since known as Gallows hill. The house in which some of them were examined is the mansion still standing in Essex street, upon the west corner of North street. It was built by Hon. Jonathan Curwin.
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