USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The Essex memorial, for 1836: embracing a register of the county > Part 2
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
so many hundred people ; the magistrates told her they would not admit it ; they came not there to hear her pray, but to examine her, in what was alledged against her. The worshipful Mr Ha- thorne asked her, why she afflicted those children ? She said she did not afflict them. He asked, who did then ? She said, ' I do not know ; how should I know ?' The number of the afflicted persons were about that time ten, viz : four married wo- men, Mrs Pope, Mrs Putnam, Goodwife Bibber, and an ancient woman, named Goodall ; three maids, Mary Walcut, Mary Lewis, at Thomas Putman's, and a maid at Dr Grigg's; there were three girls from nine to twelve years of age, each of them, or thereabouts, viz : Elizabeth Parris, Abigail Williams, and Ann Putman ; these were most of them at Goodwife C.'s examination, and vehemently accused her in the assembly of afflict- ing them, by biting, pinching, strangling, &c. And that they did in their fits see her likeness coming to them, and bringing a book to them ; she said, she had no book ; they affirmed, that she had a yellow bird, that used to suck betwixt her fingers, and being asked about it, if she had any familiar spirit, that attended her ? She said, she had no familiarity with any such thing. She was a gospel woman; which title she called herself by ; and the afflicted persons told her, ah! she was a gospel witch. Ann Putman did there affirm, that one day when Lieut. Fuller was at prayer at her father's house, she saw the shape of Goodwife C. and she thought Goodwife N. praying at the same time to the devil ; she was not sure it was Goodwife N. she thought it was; but very sure she saw the shape of Goodwife C. The said C. said, they were poor distracted children, and no heed to be given to what they said. Mr Hathorne and Mr Noyes
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ESSEX COUNTY.
replied, it was the judgment of all that were pree sent, they were bewitched, and only she the ac- cused person said, they were distracted. It was observed several times, that if she did but bite her under lip in time of examination, the persons afflicted were bitten on their arms, wrists, and pro- duced the marks before the magistrates, ministers, and others. And being watched for that, if she did but pinch her fingers, or grasp one hand hard in another, they were pinched, and produced the marks before the magistrates, and spectators. Af- ter that, it was observed, that if she did but lean her breast, against the seat in the meeting house, (being the bar at which she stood) they were af- flicted. Particularly Mrs Pope complained of grievous torment in her bowels, as if they were torn out. She vehemently accused the said C. as the instrument, and first threw her muff at her ; but that flying not home, she got her shoe, and hit Goodwife C. on the head with it. After these pos- tures were watched, if the said C. did but stir her feet, they were afflicted in their feet, and stamped fearfully. The afflicted persons asked her, why she did not go to the company of witches which were before the meeting-house mustering ? Did she not hear the drum beat? They accused her of having familiarity with the devil, in the time of examination, in the shape of a black man whisper- ing in her ear; they affirmed that her yellow bird sucked betwixt her fingers in the assembly, and order being given to see if there were any sign, the girl that saw it, said, it was too late now; she had removed a pin, and put it on her head ; which was found there sticking upright.
" They told her, she had covenanted with the devil for ten years, six of them were gone, and
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
four more to come. She was required by the mag- istrates to answer that question in the catechism, How many persons be there in the God-head ? She answered it oddly, yet was there no great thing to be gathered from it; she denied all that was charged upon her, and said, they could not prove a witch ; she was that afternoon committed to Salem prison ; and after she was in custody, she did not so appear to them, and afflict them as before."
"The thirtyfirst of March, there was a public fast kept at Salem on account of these afflicted persons. And Abigail Williams said that the witches had a sacrament that day at a house in the village, and that they had red bread and red drink. The first of April, Mercy Lewis, Thomas Putnamn's maid in her fit, said, they did eat red bread like man's flesh, and would have had her eat some, but she would not.
" The first of April also, Mercy Lewis aforesaid, saw in her fit a white man, and was with him in a glorious place, which had no candles nor sun, yet was full of light and brightness ; where was a great multitude in white glittering robes, and they sung the song in the fifth of Revelation, the ninth verse, and the one hundred and tenth Psalm, and the one hundred and fortyninth Psalm ; and said with herself, 'How long shall I stay here ! let me be along with you;' she was loth to leave this place, and grieved that she could tarry no longer. This white man hath appeared several times to some of them, and given them notice how long it should be before they had another fit, which was sometimes a day, or a day and a half, or more or less, it hath fallen out accordingly."
From "Remarks concerning the accused," we extract as follows :
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ESSEX COUNTY.
" In time of examination, they seemed little af- fected, though all the spectators were much grieved to see it." " Natural actions in them, produced preternatural actions in the afflicted, so that they are their own image without any poppits of wax or otherwise." "The witches had a fast, and told one of the afflicted girls, she must not eat, because it was fast day, she said she would : they told her they would choake her then ; which when she did eat was endeavoured."
Before the delusion vanished, more than a hun- dred had been imprisoned, nineteen hung, and one pressed to death.
The first discovery of the northern lights, from this region, of which we have any certain account, was on the night of the 17th of December, 1719. They appear by descriptions published at the time, to have made a very brilliant display, and to have assumed more of a red, fiery appearance, than we at present observe. The corruscations are repre- sented as having been distinctly heard ; and the people were very much alarmed.
The greatest earthquake ever known in this quarter took place on the 18th of November, 1755 ; the same day on which Lisbon was destroyed. It commenced a little after four in the morning and continued about four minutes ; chimneys were thrown down, clocks stopped, and much glass broken.
A printing establishment was commenced at Salem in 1768, by Samuel Hall, of Medford, and this was the third place in all Massachusetts Province, where a press was established ; the first being at Cambridge, and the second, at Boston. Hall commenced the Essex Gazette in August, of that year. The second newspaper published in Salem was commenced in June, 1774, and called the Salem Gazette.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
It may not be uninteresting here, to give a brief notice of some of the fashions of dress prevalent among our fathers. About the commencement of the Revolution, red cloaks, wigs and cocked hats were in general use among gentlemen, and boys also wore the two latter articles. Knee and shoe buckles were so fashionable, that none who could possibly afford them went without. It was cus- tomary for the bride and bridegroom, together with the bride's-maid and groom's-man, to attend church together, for three successive Sabbaths, after the wedding. They wore different dresses each day, which were more or less splendid, as their circumstances would admit; those of the more wealthy were trimmed with gold lace. It is said of a gentleman who died in the vicinity of Salem, a few years since, that he came out the first Sabbath in white broadcloth, the second in blue, and the third in peach-bloom. At funerals it was custom- ary to present the clergyman, and sometimes the physician and near relatives, with gold finger rings. Dr Andrew Elliot, of Boston, is said to have left a mug full of these presentation rings ; with ladies, hoops were indispensable in full dress; and so nice must they appear, that in fashionable circles, to prepare for a party, they were sometimes dressed the day before, sleeping upon easy chairs during the night, that their hair might be kept in a fit con- dition for the coming occasion. Within the pre- sent century, gentlemen wore cues and hair pow- der, and many were accustomed to sit upwards of half an hour daily under the barber's hands.
In the war of the Revolution, four regiments from this County, were early in the field ; a part of them at the battle of Bunker Hill.
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ESSEX COUNTY.
The first cloth ever manufactured in this coun- try, was made in Essex County, at Rowley. The first woollen factory in Massachusetts was at New- bury. Nails were first cut at Amesbury.
The 19th of May, 1780, was the famous dark day. In Essex County, the darkness was said to be more gross than in any other part of Massachusetts. The cattle and the fowls retired to their nightly abodes, and candles were required in the dwellings. The succeeding night, says a writer of that time, "was probably as gross as ever has been observed since the Almighty fiat gave birth to light. It wanted only palpability to render it as extraordina- ry as that which overspread the land of Egypt in the days of Moses. I could not help conceiving at the time, that if every luminous body in the uni- verse had been shrouded in impenetrable shades, or struck out of existence, the darkness would not have been more complete. A sheet of white pa- per held within a few inchesofthe eyes, was equal- ly invisible with the blackest velvet." The dark day appears to have created more terror in New England, than any other event on record. Vast numbers supposed that the sun had shone upon the earth for the last time.
During the war of 1812, the maritime towns of this County suffered much by the destruction of their commerce ; but good may have grown out of the immediate evil, as the energies of the people were directed in a greater degree to Manufactures.
This County is traversed by a number of rivers and streams which afford facilities for inland navi- igation and the establishment of manufactories. Bass River commences in the north parish of Bev- erly and falls into Beverly Harbor. Chebacco
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COURTS.
River commences on the boundary of Hamilton and Essex and falls into Chebacco Bay. Ipswich River commences at Wilmington, Middlesex Coun- ty, and falls into Ipswich Bay. West (or Little) River commences in New Hampshire and falls in- to the Merrimack. Little River commences in West Newbury, and falls into Parker River. Mer- rimack River commences in New Hampshire and passing through the north part of the County, sep- arating Dracut, (Middlesex County) Methuen, Ha- verhill, Amesbury, and Salisbury, from the rest of the State, falls into the ocean at Newbury. North River, Parker River, and others, running in vari- ous directions.
BOUNDARIES AND POPULATION.
'The County of Essex is bounded North by the State of New Hampshire, East and South by Massa- chusetts Bay and the town of Chelsea, and West by Middlesex County. It is thirtyeight miles long, and twentyfive miles wide; and is more densely populated than any other county of its size in the United States. In 1790, the population was 57,913; in 1800, 61,196; in 1810, 71,888; in 1820, 74,655, in 1830, 82,887.
OFFICERS, COURTS, &c.
Sheriff - Joseph E. Sprague, of Salem. [The names of the Deputies appear in the several towns. ]
The sheriff is the chief executive of the County. He is appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Council, for the term of five years, the right to remove him, at any time previous to the ex- piration of the term, being reserved in the power which appoints him. He has the appointment of his
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ESSEX COUNTY.
deputies and the jailors, and takes security of them, for the faithful discharge of their duties, he being answerable for the mal-feasance and mis-feasance of such officers. He is required to execute the judg- ments of all judicial courts.
Supreme Judicial Court. - Justices, Lemuel Shaw, of Boston (Chief ), Samuel Putnam, of Boston, Sam- uel Sumner Wilde, of Boston, Marcus Morton, of Taunton. Attorney General, James T. Austin, of Boston. Reporter of Decisions, Octavius Pickering, of Boston. The terms in Essex County are: Law Term - At Salem, on the 6th Tuesday next after the 4th 'Tuesday in September. Nisi Prius Term - At Ipswich, on the 8th Tuesday next after the Ist Tues- day in March.
Court of Common Pleas .- Chief Justice, Artemas Ward. Associate Justices, Solomon Strong, of Leo- minster, John M. Williams, of Taunton, David Cum- mins, of Salem. District Attorney for Northern District, Asahel Huntington, of Salern. This court tries all appeals from Justices of the Peace, and has original jurisdiction in all civil actions, where the debt or damage demanded exceeds twenty dollars; not, however, including chancery or equity proceedings, which must always be commenced in the Supreme Judicial Court. It has also original jurisdiction of all crimes against the State, excepting capital crimes, or such as are punishable with death, of which the Su- preme Judicial Court has sole cognizance, although the indictment in these cases must be found at the Court of Common Pleas, there being no provision for the attendance of a grand jury at the higher Court. This Court sits at Ipswich on the third Monday of March and third Monday of December; Salem, third Monday of June; Newburyport, third Monday of September.
County Commissioners .- Asa W. Wildes, John W. Proctor, Moses Newell. Special Commissioners, David Putnam, William Whipple. These officers are elected by the people for the term of three years. They are not a Court of Record, and do not hold their
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offices by the same tenure as that prescribed by the Constitution for Judicial officers. Their duties chiefly relate to laying out, altering, and discontinuing high- ways; building and repairing court houses, jails, &c .; managing houses of correction; licensing inn-holders, retailers and victuallers; apportioning county taxes; providing buildings for county officers, &c. Their meetings are held as follows: At Ipswich on the 2d Tuesday of April; at Salen, 2d Tuesday of July; at Newburyport, 2d Tuesday of October and 4th Tues- day of December. Other meetings, at Salem, Ipswich or Newburyport, as may be determined at any pre- ceding meeting.
Probate Court .- Judge, Daniel A. White, of Salen. Register, Nathaniel Lord, jr., of Ipswich.
The Judge and Register of Probate are appointed by the Governor and Council; the Judge, for the term of good behaviour, and the Register during the pleasure of the power which appoints him. The Judge holds Courts, for the settlement of the estates of persons deceased with or without wills; and the Register records the proceedings of the Courts.
The records are kept at the Probate Office in Ips- wich. The Court sits as follows: at Ipswich on the first Tuesday in February, March, May, June, Au- gust, September, November and December; at New- buryport on the 2d Tuesday in March, June, Septem- ber and December; at Haverhill on the 3d Tuesday in April and October; at Gloucester on the 2d Tuesday in May and November; at Andover (North Parish), on the 3d Tuesday in January; at Andover (South Parish), on the 3d Tuesday in July; at Salem on the Ist Tuesday in January, April, July and October, and on the 3d Tuesday in February, May, August and November; at Marblehead on the Wednesday follow- ing the 1st Tuesday in April and October; at Lynn on the Wednesday following the first Tuesday in January and July.
Register of Deeds, Ralph H. French. This officer is elected every five years, by the written votes of such
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ESSEX COUNTY.
persons as are qualified to vote for Representatives ; but he may be removed from office before the expira- tion of his term, for misconduct in the discharge of his duty, by the County Commissioners; the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas performing the duties of the office during any vacancy. The Register is to reside in a shire-town, and keep at his office the books, records, files and papers of his department, having his office open daily. He is to register all deeds and conveyances of real estate, and also to record all depositions taken in perpetual remembrance, and some other matters of a similar nature.
The office is kept at Salem, in a fire proof building belonging to that town.
Clerk of the Courts, John Prince, jr. This officer acts as Clerk of all the Courts, and of the County Commissioners. He is appointed by the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court for the term of five years, but removable at the pleasure of said Court. He has the care and custody of all the records, files and pro- ceedings, which have heretofore been had, and remain in the respective offices of the Clerks of the Supreme Judicial Court, Court of Common Pleas, and County Commissioners. He is to keep up the records sea- sonably, and in good order, and to keep convenient and correct alphabets to the same.
Treasurer, William F. Wade. The Treasurer is chosen annually by the votes of such as are qualified to vote for Representatives.
Justices of the Peace .- The names of these ap- pear in the several towns. They are appointed by the Governor and Council, for the term of seven years, but are not removed except by address of both Houses of the Legislature, or by impeachment. There are nearly three hundred in this county ; a part of them, however, do not act, not having taken the oath of office. About one fifth of the whole number are of the Quorum. Some are Justices throughout the Commonwealth, and some again are authorized to administer oaths and qualify certain civil offices.
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MILITARY.
Notaries Public .- These are appointed by the Gov- ernor and Council, for the term of seven years, and may be removed by thein, on the address of both Houses of the Legislature. The names of those in this county appear in the several towns.
Coroners .- The names of these appear in the sev- eral towns. They are appointed by the Governor and Council, and hold their offices during the pleasure of the power by which they are appointed.
Master in Chancery, John G. King.
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MILITARY.
The military of this County comprises the Second Division of Massachusetts Militia; embracing two Brigades and the Salem Independent Cadets.
DIVISIONARY AND STAFF OFFICERS.
Major-General, Benjamin Stickney. of Newbury.
Aids-de-Camp, William S. Allen, of Newburyport, Robert C. Stickney, of Newbury.
Division-Inspector, Samuel Phillips, of Newbury.
Division- Quarter-Master, John Phillips, of Newbu- ryport.
Judge -. Advocate, Caleb Cushing, of Newburyport.
BRIGADE AND STAFF OFFICERS.
First Brigade.
Brigadier-General, Samuel Avery, of Mar- blehead. Aid-de-Camp, (vacant.) Brigade-Major, (vacant.) [ Brigade-Quarter-Master, (vacant.) 1
Brigadier-General, Solomon Low, of Box- ford.
Second Brigade.
Aid-de-Camp, John Howarth, of Andøver. Brigade-Major, (vacant. )
Brigade- Quarter-Master, William Mar- land, of Andover.
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ESSEX COUNTY.
SALEM INDEPENDENT CADETS. Captain, Ephraim F. Miller, of Ipswich. Capt. Lieut., Stephen Osborn, of Salem. 1st Lieut., William B. Johnson, of Salen. 2d Lieut., John S. Williams, of Salem. Ensign, Gideon F. Barstow, of Salem.
FIELD OFFICERS AND ADJUTANTS OF INFANTRY. First Brigade. First Regiment. Colonel, William B. Adams, of Marblehead. Lieut. Colonel, Charles A. Andrew, of Salem. Major, Joshua Shelden, of Beverly. Adjutant, Thomas D. Dalton, of Marblehead. Second Regiment.
Colonel, William Pool, of Gloucester. Lieut. Colonel, John Clark, of Gloucester. Major, Daniel Gilbert, of Gloucester. Adjutant, James Haskell, of Gloucester. Third Regiment.
Colonel, Ebenezer Sutton, of Danvers. Lieut. Colonel, Jesse Tapley, of Danvers. Major, Gustavus Atwell, of Lynn. Adjutant, Hazen Ayer, of Danvers. Regiment of Light Infantry.
Colonel, Samuel W. Stickney, of Salem.
Lieut. Colonel, Henry K. Oliver, of Salem. Major, Edward S. Davis, of Lynn. Adjutant, William Brown, of Salem. Second Brigade. First Regiment.
Colonel, (vacant.) Lieut. Colonel, Samuel M. Noyes, of Newbury. Major, George W. Carr, of West Newbury. Adjutant, William E. Currier, of Newburyport. Second Regiment. Colonel, Joshua Low, of Essex. Lieut. Colonel, John Kimball, of Rowley .. Major, Jeremiah Nelson, of Rowley. Adjutant, Caleb Cogswell, of Essex.
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MILITARY.
Third Regiment.
Colonel, David Rice, of Andover. Lieut. Colonel, Warren Kimball, of Haverhill. Major, Mighill Spofford, of Rowley. Adjutant, William Brown, of Bradford.
Fourth Regiment.
Colonel, Amos Tappan, of Newburyport. Lieut. Colonel, Fordyce F. Lincoln, of Salisbury. Major, Alfred E. Goodwin, of Amesbury. Adjutant, Ichabod B. Morrill, of Amesbury.
Regiment of Light Infantry.
Colonel, Chauncey Hastings, of Haverhill. Lieut. Colonel, William Baker, of Ipswich. Major, Harrison B. Spofford, of Rowley. Adjutant, Jeremiah Emerson, of Haverhill.
OFFICERS OF CAVALRY.
Second Brigade. One Battalion. Two Companies.
Major, Richard Dodge, of Wenham. Adjutant, Ira B. Dodge, of Wenham. Captain, Joshua Dodge, of Wenham. Captain, Enoch Harriman, of Bradford.
OFFICERS OF ARTILLERY. First Brigade. One Regiment. Colonel, George Peabody, of Salem.
Lieut. Colonel, Nathaniel J. Lord, of Salem.
Major, Charles F. Putnam, of Salem. Adjutant, William H. West, of Salem. Captain, Edward S. Fowle, of Lynn. Captain, Robert Kimball, of Salein. Captain, Amos Pratt, of Danvers.
Captain, William Beach, of Gloucester.
Captain, William Haskell, of Marblehead; annexed to First Regiment of Infantry. Captain, Benjamin Dennis, of Marblehead; also an- nexed to First Regiment of Infantry.
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ESSEX COUNTY.
Second Brigade. One Battalion. Major, Jeremiah Goldsmith, of Andover. Adjutant, Joseph T. Abbott, of Andover. Captain, John Bradbury, of Newburyport. Captain, Samuel K. Hutchinson.
SOCIETIES.
ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
This society was organized on the 16th of Februa- ry, 1818. Hon. Timothy Pickering was chosen Pre- sident, and continued to hold that office till Septem- ber, 1828. He was an intelligent, practical farmer, and did much, both by precept and example, to give character and usefulness to the institution. He de- livered several practical and highly instructive ad- dresses on agricultural subjects, and furnished vari- ous essays and remarks, which will be found in the publications by the Society. Frederick Howes, suc- ceeded Col. Pickering a s President, and held the office three years. Ebenezer Moseley succeeded Mr Howes, and holds the office at the present time.
In 1819 the Legislature passed "an act for the en- couragement of agriculture and manufactures," and by a judicious application of the bounty of the State, placed the county societies in a situation to be active and useful. This annual bounty of the State, has, by successive acts, passed in 1823, 1829 and 1834, been continued to the present time.
Soon after the bounty was first conferred by the State, about seven hundred citizens of the county, became members of the Society, and contributed $3 each, to constitute a permanent fund. These sub- scriptions, with the liberal donations of other individ- uals, soon established a fund of $3000 ; from the in- come of this fund, and the bounty of the State, the Society have been enabled to appropriate from $500 to $700 annually, in premiums, and publications for the encouragement of agriculture. The funds have
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SOCIETIES.
been so managed with the additions that have accru- ed, and the subscriptions of new members at $3 each, that the Society have now securely invested on inter- est about six thousand dollars.
The Society have aimed to encourage those branch- es of agricultural industry, which are most practically useful, and best adapted to the farmers of Essex. With this view, they took the lead, in offering premi- ums for the management of entire farms. These premiums have elicited many valuable facts, as con- nected with the management of some of the best farms in the County. They have also given about a hundred dollars annually for the encouragement of domestic manufactures, believing that the female who industri- ously plies her needle, her spinning wheel, or her loom, is as useful a member of society as he who holds the plough or drives the ox. The follow- ing is the list of officers elected Sept. 30, 1835.
President, Ebenezer Moseley, of Newburyport. Hobart Clark, of Andover, David Cummins, of Salem,
Vice Presidents, r James H. Duncan, of Haverhill, Solomon Low, of Boxford.
Treasurer, Andrew Nichols, of Danvers. Secretary, John W. Proctor, of Danvers.
Trustees, Daniel Adams, 3d, of Newbury, Stephen Barker, of Andover, Andrews Breed, of Lynn, Jere- miah Coleman, of Newburyport, Hector Coffin, of Newbury, Nathaniel Felton, Jr., of Danvers, Dan- iel Fuller, of Middleton, Edward Ford, of Beverly, Moses French, of Salisbury, Frederick Howes, of Sa- lem, Nathan W. Hazen, of Andover, Richard Jaques, of Newbury, William Johnson, Jr., of Andover, Jo- seph Kittredge, of Andover, Daniel P. King, of Dan- vers, Amos Kimball, of Boxford, R. A. Merriam, of Topsfield, Moses Newell, of West Newbury, Dan- iel Putnam, of Danvers, Jesse Putnam, of Danvers, Dean Robinson, of West Newbury, Jeremiah Spof- ford, of Bradford, Bowman Viles, of Lynnfield, Eras- tus Ware, of Marblehead.
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