The Essex memorial, for 1836: embracing a register of the county, Part 17

Author: Newhall, James R. (James Robinson), 1809-1893
Publication date: 1836
Publisher: Salem [Mass.] H. Whipple
Number of Pages: 298


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The Essex memorial, for 1836: embracing a register of the county > Part 17


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Streets lying south of Essex and west of Summer street .- Warren, Flint, Green, Circus, Pine, Broad, Chesnut, Pickering, Cambridge. Summer street runs from Essex, opposite North, in a southerly direction.


Streets lying west of North street, between Essex street and North river .- Dean, Carpenter, Munroe, Lynn, River, Andover, Goodhue, Aborn, Beckford, Federal. North street runs from Essex street over North Bridge.


Boston street runs from the head of Essex street to Danvers. May street lies nearly opposite the head of Essex street.


Between Summer and Washington streets .- High, Creek, Norman, Crombie, Barton square. Wash- ington street runs south from Essex, opposite Court. Mill street commences at the south end of Washing- ton, and sweeps round toward South Salem.


Between North and Court streets .- Sewall, Lynde, Marlborough. Court street runs from Forrester to Essex street. Forrester street runs along the margin of North River, from North to Bridge street.


Between Washington and Central streets .- Short, Front; Higginson square, Derby square. Central street runs from Essex to the corner of Front street, and there meets Lafayette street, which leads over South Bridge.


Between Court and St Peter streets .- Rust, Ash, County, Church; Jeffrey court is on the north side of Court street, near the Court house. St Peter street runs from Forrester to Essex street.


Between Central and Union streets .- Fish, Charter,


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Vine, Water, Liberty, Elin, Walnut, Neptune. Union street runs from Essex, nearly opposite Frank- lin building, to Derby street.


Derby street, on the south of Essex, commences at the south end of Neptune, and runs, nearly parallel with Essex, to the Neck gate.


Between St Peter and Pleasant streets .- Brown, How- ard, Newbury, Williams, Mall, Oliver, Winter, Bath. Pleasant street runs from Essex, along the east side of the Common (or Washington square) to Bridge street.


Bridge street commences at the termination of For- rester street, near the Roman Catholic church, and runs to Beverly bridge.


Streets running from Pleasant east of Essex .- East, Briggs, Andrew, Pickman, Spring.


Streets on the west of Bridge street .-- Northey, Lemon, Saunders, March.


Between Union and Hardy streets .- Herbert, Curtis, Orange, Dariels. Hardy street runs from Essex (East church being on the corner) to Derby street.


Between Hardy street and Neck gate .- Turner, Carl- ton, Becket, English, Webb, Allen.


Streets in South Salem .- A part of Lafayette, leading from the bridge, Peabody, Harbor, Dow, Salem, South, Pond.


Streets in North Salem .- A part of North, leading from the bridge; Mason, leading towards Paradise; and several others not named.


It may be mentioned that there are a number of streets here and there, particularly in the outskirts of the town, without names.


NEWS AND READING ROOMS.


East India Marine Hall Room-Kept in the East India Marine Building.


New England Room-Essex, corner of Liberty street.


Whig Room-Holyoke place.


Democratic Room-Central building.


SALEM.


BY LAWS.


The following extracts from the By Laws of the town it is thought may prove useful to many.


Bonfires. It is ordered-That no person or per- sous shall make any bonfire, or set on fire any wood, straw, shavings, or other combustible matter, by night or by day, in any street, lane, alley or yard, in this town, under the penalty of three dollars for every such offence. Provided, nevertheless, that this order shall not be understood or intended to prevent any mechanic or other person from kindling such fire near his house or shop, at any time during the daylight only, as inay be absolutely necessary in his occupation: and provided also, that some suitable person watch the same while it shall continue burning.


Ashes, how to be kept. It is ordered-That no per- son shall keep any ashes in vessels made of wood; under the penalty of two dollars for every such offence.


Regulations as to Gunpowder. It is ordered-That no person or persons shall keep in any dwelling house, shop, store, or other building, occupied by him or them, in this town, more than twentyn e pounds of gunpowder, which quantity shall be kept in a tin or copper cannister, with a secure top; under the penalty of five dollars for every such offence.


Fire-Ladders. It is ordered-That no person shall take from its place of deposit any fire-ladder, without permission from the chairman or committee of the firewards of this town, or from the society or persons to whom such' ladder may belong; under the penalty of three dollars for every such offence.


Fire not to be carried open, &c. It is ordered-That no person or persons shall carry fire from any house or place within this town, to any other house or place within the same, except in some vessel which shall secure the fire from being driven about by the wind, or scattered; under the penalty of fifty cents for every such offence.


Against smoking in the streets. It is ordered-That no person shall smoke any pipe or cigar in any street, highway, lane or public building, in this town, by day


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or by night; under the penalty of three dollars for every such offence.


Lighted candles. It is ordered-That no person or persons shall carry a lighted candle or lamp into any ropewalk, twine or line manufactory, barn or stable, in this town, unless in a tight lanthorn; under the pen- alty of five dollars for every such offence.


Guns and Pistols not to be fired. It is ordered-That no person shall fire any gun or pistol charged with ball or shot, within half a mile of the compact part of this town, in a direction whereby the lives of any of the inhabitants being in such part of the town may be endangered; under the penalty of two dollars for every such offence. And no person shall fire any gun or pistol within the limits of the town after sunset, under a penalty of two dollars for every such offence.


Foot-ball. It is ordered-That no person shall play at foot-ball, or any other ball, beat any hoop, throw any stone, brickbat or snow-ball, in any of the streets, lanes or alleys of this town; under the penalty of one dollar for every such offence; which penalty shall be paid by the parent or guardian of the person offend- ing, when such person shall be under age.


Horses not to be let loose, &c. It is ordered-That no horse or horse kind shall be turned out loose, or suffered to go at large, or go to water, in this town, without a suitable person to lead him; under a pen- alty of one dollar for every such offence, to be paid by the owner thereof.


Manner of driving Carts, Carriages, &c. It is or- dered -'That no ox cart, wagon of burthen, trucks or sled, drawn either by horses or cattle, or partly by each, shall be suffered to pass through any of the streets lanes or alleys of this town, but at a footpace, or common walk, nor without a sufficient driver, who during such passage shall keep with such cart, wagon, trucks or sled, and carefully observe and attend to such methods as may best serve to keep such horse, horses, or cattle under proper command: and if such cart, wagon, trucks or sled be drawn by horses, the driver shall constantly keep by the head of the thill or


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hindmost horse or horses; and if drawn by one horse only, then he shall constantly keep by the head of such horse, or shall always keep in his hand a halter fastened to the head of such thill or hindmost horse, or such single horse, in such manner as to give him full command of such horse or horses: or he may be in the carriage drawn by such horses; in which case, he shall have a bridle with bits in the mouth or mouths of the horse or horses drawing the same, with reins fastened to said bits in such manner as to give the driver full command of such horse or horses; on pen- alty of forfeiting two dollars for every such offence.


And it is further ordered-That no person riding or driving faster than a walk, shall turn short round the corner of any street, lane or alley; under the penalty of one dollar for every such offence.


Against Rudeness and Disorder in the Streets. It is ordered-That whosoever shall assemble with others in a disorderly manner, in any street or near any dwelling house in this town, or who shall insult any person within the town, or be guilty of rude or disor- derly behavior, or use indecent or profane language in any street or near any dwelling house in this town, to the annoyance or disturbance of any of the inhab- itants thereof, shall forfeit and pay the sum of five dol- lars for every such offence, to be recovered by com- plaint or information to a justice of the peace; one moiety to the use of the poor of the town, and the other to the use of the person who shall informn or prosecute for the same.


And it is further ordered-That it shall be the duty of the inspectors of police, and constables of the town to complain and give information on oath to some justice of the peace, of all breaches of this By Law; to order all persons who shall be assembled as afore- said, or who shall commit any of the offences afore- said in their presence, to disperse, and if they shall refuse or neglect so to do, then to apprehend such as he shall judge to be the principal offenders, and carry the same forthwith before some justice of the peace, and give information to him on oath, of the offence committed by such person or persons.


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Prosecutions. It is ordered-That all prosecutions for offences against the By Laws and orders of the said town, shall be commenced within one year from the commission of the offence, and not afterwards.


STAGES.


FOR BOSTON.


Salem and Boston Stage Company .- Seats taken at Lafayette Coffee House, Salem Hotel, at the office in Court Street, or at the office in West Place. Wil- liam Manning, Agent. Leaving every day except Sunday, and returning the same day : 3 at 7, A. M. ; 2 at half past 7 ; 1 at 8 ; 1 at 9 ; 1 at 10 ; 1 at 2, P. M. ; 1 at 23 ; 1 at 4. On Sunday 1 at 4, P. M. The hours, as here stated, are in accordance with the gen- eral arrangement ; but for some weeks, during the shortest days of winter, the times for starting are half an hour later. In addition to these, intermediate stages run, say 4 per day, on week days.


Osborn's Line .- Office, Essex Street, nearly op- posite the Market. One, daily, except Sunday, start- ing at 7, A. M., and returning in the afternoon.


Eastern Line .- The stages of the great eastern line pass through this town, leaving the Coffee House as follows : half past 10, A. M. ; half past 2, P. M. ; half past 3, P. M ; 4 and 6, P. M. ; and rarely a day passes without two or more extras.


FOR OTHER PLACES.


Beside the Boston Stages, there are many others, running to every section of the county, seats in which may be taken at the Coffee House, or Hotel. The Gloucester stage, through Beverly and Manches- ter, leaves the Coffee House at 1, P. M., daily. The Lynn stage leaves forenoon and afternoon. The Marblehead stage, also forenoon and afternoon. About ten or twelve stages pass daily on the eastern route, &c. &c.


LOCAL SOCIETIES, ETC.


Salem Moral Society .- Organized 1819. The ob- ject of this society is the moral and religious instruc-


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tion of the poor. Their funds are employed in the establishment of Sabbath and other schools, in the support of agents to preach the gospel, and in the distribution of Bibles, Testaments and religious tracts. The Bethel, on Derby Street, is supported by this Society. A Sabbath School is attached to the Bethel, comprising about 80 scholars.


President, Joseph G. Sprague. Vice President, William Goodhue. Secretary, Samuel W. Stickney. Treasurer, Nathan Putnam. Managers, Ehen Dodge, Nathaniel Appleton, Parker Brown, Elijah Porter, Joseph Ilale, Albert J. Bellows, John M. Ives.


Salem Lyceum .- Formed 1830. A course of lec- tures in the various departments of literature and science are instituted every year by this association, and are well attended.


President, Charles W. Upham. Vice President, A. L. Pierson. Recording Secretary, S. W. Stickney. Corresponding Secretary, William H. Brooks. Treas- urer, Henry Whipple. Managers, Caleb Foote, Henry K. Oliver, Francis Peabody, Charles Lawrence, Thomas Spenser, Benjamin Cox, Jr., John A. Vaughan, Nathaniel Peabody, Oliver Carlton, Ed- ward A. Holyoke.


Salem East India Marine Society .- Incorporated 1801. This society is composed of persons who have actually navigated the seas beyond the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn, as masters or supercargoes of vessels belonging to Salem. Their objects are : To bestow charities on such widows and children of de- ceased members as need assistance : To collect such facts as may tend to the improvement and security of navigation : To form a museum of natural and arti- ficial curiosities. Their museum is now very valua- ble, containing many thousands of curicskies arranged in the most perfect order. Members have the privi- lege of introducing any friends or strangers whom they please, to the museum ; no admission fee being in any case required.


President, William Fettyplace. Recording Secre-


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tary, John F. Allen. Corr VConding Secretary, Charles


Lawrence. Treasurer, John B. Osgood.


Salem Marine Society .- This society was instituted March 25, 1766, and was incorporated, 1771. They are proprietors of Franklin Building, which was pre- sented to them by Thomas Perkins, in 1830. Master, Samuel Cook. Treasurer, David Pingree. Clerk, Nathaniel Knight.


East India Marine Hall Corporation .- Incorporated, June 7, 1824. They are proprietors of the East India Marine Hall Building. Directors, William H. Neal, Emery Johnson. Clerk, John F. Allen. Treas- urer, John B. Osgood.


Salem Dispensary .- Incorporated, 1831. Object, to afford medical advice and relief to the sick poor of the town. Board of Managers-Joseph Peabody, President ; Henry Whipple, Secretary and Treas- urer. Benjamin Pickman, Daniel A. White, William Dean, John Brazer, Abel L. Pierson, Gideon Bar- stow, Charles Lawrence, William Micklefield, P. I. Farnham.


Marine Bible Society-for the District of Salem and Beverly .- Formed Sept. 1820. President, Par- ker Brown. Vice President, Michael Carlton. Treasurer, Daniel Lang. Secretary, Henry Whipple.


Bible Society of Salem and Vicinity .-- Incorporated, Feb. 1811. This society was instituted for the pur- pose of raising a fund, by voluntary contribution, to be appropriated in procuring Bibles and 'Testaments, to be distributed among those who are destitute of the sacred Scriptures, and cannot conveniently be sup- plied without the aid of others. President, Leveret Saltonstall. Secretary, John Brazer. Treasurer, John Stone. Trustees, Benjamin Pickman, Brown Emerson, S. C. Phillips, S. M. Worcester.


Naumkeag Fire Club. - Instituted for the purpose of rendering effective aid in protecting each others' property when endangered by fire. Number of members, 60. President, Benjamin F. Browne. Secretary, Joseph Chisholmn.


Young Men's Temperance Society .- The object of


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this Society is indicated ' its title. President, S. C. Phillips. Secretary, Chi ; Lawrence.


Scamen's Widow and Orphan Society .- This so- ciety is composed of ladies ; and their object is the relief of the widows and orphans of deceased seamen. They hold annual sales of articles of their own man- ufacture, and the proceeds are devoted to the further- ance of their benevolent purposes. This is the society which held the fair at Hamilton Hall, in 1833.


Besides the societies here mentioned, there are a large number, of less note ; such as those attached to the different religious congregations, benevolent societies whose spheres of action are confined to par- ticular neighborhoods, &c. &c.


MANUFACTURES.


Salem Laboratory .- Incorporated, 1819. Capital, $150,000. At this establishment, which is located in North Fields, are manufactured great quantities of æquafortis, muriatic acid, or spirits of salt, oil of vitriol and alum. Of this last, from 800,000 to 1,000,000 pounds are made annually. About 300,000 pounds of saltpetre are also refined annually. Agent, Ge). Nichols. Chemist and Superintendant, Joshua Upham.


White Lead .- There are two white lead manufac- turing establishments, in South Salem, at which much business is done. To one of them is attached an India Rubber factory.


Silem Iron Factory .- This establishment is located in Danvers, and does business to the amount of $400,- 000 annually.


MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.


Taxable Property .- The amount of taxable prop- erty is $8,250,000.


Taxes .- The amount raised for town and county tax the current year is $40,391 31.


Powder Magazine .- The powder magazine, in Great Pasture, was built in 1799. Joseph Grant, is keeper. In this magazine, any citizen may store


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powder, free of all expense except the small fee for keeper's services.


First Subbath School .- The first Sabbath School in this town was commenced in 1819, at North Fields.


Salem Turnpike .-- It may be stated as an interest- ing fact, that the stock of the Salem Turnpike and Chelsea Bridge Corporation yields at the present time a greater income than it has at any former period, notwithstanding the opening of the Forest River Road to Lynn, and the Winnesimmet Ferry from Chelsea to Boston. This may be ascribed to, the fact that the proprietors keep the road in such good re- pair, as to take more than sufficient from the general increase of travel to balance the loss by the Forest road and the Ferry.


Town Expenses .- By the Treasurer's annual Re- port, it appears that the receipts of the town, from March 5, 1834, to March 9, 1835, amounted to $37,- 205 35; the expenditures, during the same time amounted to #35,074 12; leaving a balance in the treasury, of $2,131 23. Three thousand dollars of the principal of the town debt, (included in the above amount of expenditures) had been paid off during the year. The amount of orders paid, drawn by Overseers of the Poor, for 1834, was $6,200 19 ; by the School Committee, $9,762 76 ; by the Fire De- partment, $2,148 95 ; by the Board of Health, $478 29 ; by the Selectmen, $8,576 03.


Highest Land .- The highest land in Salem is Legg's Hill, on the south side of Forest River.


Church Bells and Clocks .- 'There are six church bells in Salem. One on the East church, one on the Howard Street church, one on the Episcopal church, one on the Tabernacle church, one on the North church, and one on the South. There are two town clocks ; one on the East church and one on the North church.


Distances from the Coffee House .- To Boston Post Office, over the turnpike, 14 miles, 7 furlongs and 19 rods. To the same, by Forest River Road to Lynn


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Hotel, and thence by the turnpike, 15 miles, 6 fur- longs, 23 rods. To the same, by the Old Road as far as Lynn Hotel, and thence by the turnpike, 16 miles, 1 furlong, 24 rods.


Mineral Spring .- The Lynn Mineral Spring, so called, is in Salem ; but the Hotel attached to the same is in Lynn, the dividing line of the towns run- ning between the two.


Salem Common .- This is a beautiful plot of 8 and a half acres, almost perfectly level, enclosed by a neat railing, bordered by a large number of elins, and traversed by gravel walks.


Beverly Bridge .- The act incorporating the pro- prietors of Essex Bridge, passed November 17, 1787. This bridge, connecting Beverly with Salem, is 1484 feet long, and 34 feet wide. It is built on 93 wooden piers, framed of oak timber and driven into the mud. Its direction from Beverly to Salem is south, five degrees west. It has a draw of two leaves for the passage of masted vessels. The first pier was driven in May, 1783, and the last on the 8th of September, of the same year, and it was opened for travel on the 24th of the same month. The proprietors are au- thorized to receive toll for seventy years from this last date, when the bridge reverts to the Common- wealth. The proprietors are required to pay the town of Salem forty pounds, and the town of Danvers ten pounds, annually. The stock is divided into 200 shares, which now sell for much more than the original cost. The draw is raised for the passage of vessels about 300 times a year.


Dwellings .- The number of dwellings is 1,505.


Church Organs .- There are nine church organs ; one at each of the following churches : North church, South church, First Baptist, Tabernacle, Indepen- dent, First Church, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, East church.


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SALISBURY.


SALISBURY is bounded north by New Hamp- shire, east by the ocean, south by the Merrimack, and west by Powow river, which separates it from Amesbury. It is thirtyfive miles northeast of Bos- ton, and is the oldest town in Massachusetts upon the north bank of the Merrimack. It was incor- porated Oct. 7, 1640, and its history embraces many interesting particulars. Several sessions of the General Court have been held here; an im- portant sitting was had in 1737, for the purpose of settling the boundary between New Hampshire and Massachusetts ; the legislature of New Hampshire sitting at Hampton, the adjoining town, at the same time. Amesbury was settled as a part of this town, in 1634, and called Salisbury New Town. In 1662, John Wheelwright was settled as pastor of the church here. He was celebrated for the zeal with which he advocated the antinomian doctrines of Mrs Ann Hutchinson, who was a sister of his. He preached at Braintree soon after his arrival from England, which was on the 26th of May, 1636, and was ordered to leave the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, on account of his sentiments. Hc retired, and founded Exeter, N. H. 'That place coming under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts in 1642, he removed to Wells. In 1644, on making some concession, he was restored to the freedom of the colony ; was in England in 1658, a partisan of Cromwell, but returned to America, and settled here, as above. He died Nov. 15, 1679. Here, as in the neighboring places upon the Merrimack, ship building was formerly carried on to great ex- tent. In the Revolution, the continental frigate A ance was built at this place.


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A tornado which took place in this vicinity, on the 1st of August, 1773, is thus described in a pub- lication of that period.


" The tornado took its course from the east, first struck Salisbury point, and following the course of the Merrimack river, spread havoc before it for the space of a mile in width, extending to Haverhill. The devastation was almost beyond conception or description. Almost every house and building from Salisbury point to a quarter of a mile above Amesbury ferry, was levelled with the ground, up- rooted, or otherwise damaged. A Capt. Smith, who belonged to Beverly, was sitting in a sail maker's loft, at Amesbury, when the storm com- menced, and in a moment he and the whole build- ing were carried away together, the building rent to pieces and dispersed. Capt. Smith was found lying senseless ninetyfour feet from the sill of the loft he was carried from ; one of his legs was broken, and he was otherwise bruised. A large white oak post, fourteen feet in length, and twelve by ten inches, was transported one hundred and thirty- eight feet. Two vessels of ninety tons, building in Amesbury, were lifted from the blocks, and carried sidewise through the air, twentytwo feet. A large bundle of shingles was taken from the ground, and thrown three hundred and thirty feet, in an oppo- site direction to that of the post above mentioned, and at right angles to the course the vessels were carried. Large trees were torn up by the roots and cast into the river. Large oak planks wore hurled, with the velocity of cannon balls through the roofs of houses ; and, in fine, during the hurri- cane, which lasted a few minutes only, the air was filled with everything that could be moved, whirl- ing with the most surprising rapidity through the


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air, and surrounding the affrighted inhabitants, some of whom were taken up by the winds, carried a considerable way, and let down safe : others were buried in their cellars, but were dug out without receiving any hurt. About one hundred and fifty buildings fell.


" In Haverhill, the inhabitants fled in consterna- tion from one large dwelling house, which was blown down, and thought to save themselves in a barn which was almost new, and filled with about thirty tons of hay ; but the barn was entirely blown to pieces, in another moment, and some parts of it carried to the distance of three miles.


" This tempest was preceded by heavy rain and gross darkness ; and it appeared first on the Mer- rimack river, which was in the utmost tumult, roll- ing upon the banks, and threatening to swallow up the affrighted inhabitants."


Salisbury is a pleasant and flourishing town. Most of the land is good, and with the ordinary labor may be rendered quite as productive as the average of the soil of the county. There are three principal villages in the township; one at the mouth of the Powow, called the Point; one farther up that river, lying opposite the eastern settlement of Amesbury, and with that forming the settlement known as Amesbury and Salisbury Mills; the other, lying opposite Newburyport. Salisbury Beach, on the seashore, is several miles in length; it is com- posed of yellow sand, is regarded by many as an interesting curiosity, and is much resorted to in the warm season. Two elegant bridges are thrown across the Merrimack, connecting this town with Newbury and Newburyport.




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