USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Boxford > The history of Boxford, Essex County, Massachusetts, from the earliest settlement known to the present time: a period of about two hundred and thirty years > Part 2
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The south-western portion of the town (Rowley), which is now known as the town of Boxford, and whose history forms the subject of this work, remained unsettled by the white man for several years. From time immemorial the only occupants had been of the tribe of North-American Indians called the Agawams, -a sub-tribe, probably, of the Massachusetts. The number of the Indians had been greatly diminished by a fatal disease three years anterior to the arrival of the Pilgrims, which made the settlement of the country easier than had it been otherwise. The Indians usually selected the most beautiful ponds, waterfalls, and valleys for their villages, and supported themselves by hunting, by raising a little Indian corn, a few beans and squashes, and by the nuts and berries which the wil-
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
derness spontaneously produced. Their implements were made of hard wood, stone or bone, or sea-shells. They dwelt in wigwams rudely made, and used for money wam- pum, which consisted of shell-beads strung upon a belt. When kindly treated by the English, they, for the most part, exhibited a friendly spirit in return. Many Indians resided here previous to the coming of the white man, evidences of which fact are often found. About 1830, several bodies and great numbers of arrow-heads, together with a stone mortar and pestle, were dug up .* Arrow- heads are frequently unearthed by the ploughshare. In a field belonging to Mr. Samuel Killam has been discovered a regular aboriginal workshop. Last year the plough turned up a bed of arrow-heads, sinkers, pestles, and spear- heads, - some were perfect, others broken in the making, -and a great many chips from the implements. The stone is foreign, none said to be found nearer than the eastern portion of Maine. From the great quantity of relics in all conditions of perfection, it is reasonable to be- lieve that here was a manufactory of Indian supplies, and quite extensively carried on. Not uninteresting, though perhaps sad, is the thought that in this place where we now reside once dwelt a different race of men. Here they hunted, here they fished, here they had their council-fires ; but now, supplanted by us, they have forever passed away.
The territory of the Agawams comprised the original town of Ipswich. In 1638 their sachem, Masconnomet, conveyed by deed to John Winthrop, son of the governor of Massachusetts, all his right to the land then within the bounds of Ipswich, in consideration of twenty pounds. This chieftain who surrendered, for such a pittance, his princely domain, became a poor dependent on the colonists, and died and was buried, about 1658, upon Sagamore Hill, in Hamilton, In 1667, nine years later, a man was prose-
.
* Essex Memorial, p. 68.
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
cuted for digging up his bones and carrying his skull on a pole.
Rowley Village, as Boxford was originally termed, was much more extensive in its area than at the present time. The bounds also included a part of the present towns of Groveland, Georgetown, Topsfield, and Middleton. The line between Boxford and Bradford at the present time also divided " Rowley Village" from "Rowley Village by the Merrimac" (Bradford), in early days. From Mr. Elijah Stiles' the line ran across Johnson's Pond to Pen- tucket Pond, - now in Georgetown, -and from the pond the line ran in the vicinity of Pen Brook, probably to where Mr. T. B. Masury resides, and then following the present line between Boxford and Rowley, and Boxford and Ipswich, straight to where the towns of Boxford and Topsfield now meet, in front of Mrs. Isaac Hale's residence. Between this point and Ipswich River the line was indefi- nitely stated, which fact caused much trouble afterwards. It was intended to run, probably, straight to Ipswich River, passing on the east side of Lake's Hill (now in Topsfield). From this point Ipswich River formed the boundary for about four miles. Near Indian Bridge, in Middleton, the line left the river, and ran in a straight line in the rear of the present Middleton church to Pout Pond ; from which place the line extended in a northerly direction on the east side of Major-Gen. Dennison's grant, - which he sold, in 1663, to Thomas Fuller of Woburn, - to the north-easterly corner of said grant, which was about half a mile south of Bald Hill. From this point, proceeding westward, the line formed the northern boundary for the grants of Dennison and Bellingham, and proceeding about a mile through " wild land " reached the present corner bounds of Boxford, Middleton, and North Andover. The boundary-line of An- dover and Boxford was nearly the same as that now exist- ing between Boxford and North Andover. The original
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
territory of Rowley Village comprised about seventeen thousand acres, or twenty-six square miles.
Capt. Patrick received a grant of three hundred acres from the General Court, which he sold to Mr. William Painc. In 1640 this was laid out on the north of Ipswich River, and east of Fish Brook. Paine sold this land to Zaccheus Gould,* an emigrant, for one hundred pounds ; and Gould built himself a dwelling-house upon it before Nov. 14, 1652, when the sale was confirmed. At a town-meeting, Feb. 23, 1658, in Topsfield, Mr. Gould " joined himself and estate to Topsfield for seven years, or term of his life, or until a minister was settled in Rowley Village." At a meeting of the selectmen of Topsfield, March 10, 1661-62, he " gives his farm into Topsfield forever, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging." This made the change in the line which is now seen on the map.
Across the brook (Fish Brook) from the above grant, five hundred and fifty acres were laid out to Gov. Endicott in 1640. This included the southern portion of the present town of Boxford, and the farms of G. and S. Killam, T. Sawyer, and the late Francis Curtis. As this farm, after being laid out, was found to lie within the town of Rowley, the General Court granted Rowley as much more common land bounding on the river, and lying north of Salem bounds. This was the reason that that strip of land, which originally followed on the banks of Ipswich River down to Salem bounds, was a part of Rowley Village.
* Zaccheus Gould was son of Richard Gould of Bovington, Eng., and born in 1589. He resided at Hemel Hempsted and Great Missenden in England, and came to New England about 1638, and settled in Rowley Vil- lage, as above. He died about 1670. By his wife Phebe, who died Sept. 20, 1653, he had the following children (all born in England) : Phebe, Mary, Martha, Priscilla, and John, who was the ancestor of the several Gould families who have resided and do reside in Boxford. The site of the old Gould mansion is on the south side of Lake's Hill in Topsfield, which homestead has continued in the ownership of the Gould family for nearly two centuries and a half. See Gould Genealogy, by B. A. GOULD, 1872.
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
The first settler of the present town of Boxford was, undoubtedly, Abraham Redington. His name is first met with in 1645, his first child being born that year. His birth and parentage are unknown. He was, probably, brother of John Redington of Topsfield, who was born in 1620. The residence of Mr. D. S. Gillis is situated, un- doubtedly, on the site of Mr. Redington's house. The present house was probably built by his son Thomas some time toward the end of the seventeenth or the beginning of the eighteenth century, as the house is evidently very ancient, although the care which has been taken of it hides much of its antiquated appearance. On the mantelpiece in one of the rooms is cut out with a jackknife the name, " Thomas Redington." He owned a large tract of land around his residence, the ancient cemetery being a part of his territory. On his death in 1697 the land was equally divided between his two sons, Thomas and Abraham, the dividing-line running south to Fish Brook, on the west side of the burial-ground. Abraham had the east, and Thomas the west part. By their father's will, the daughters re- ceived forty pounds each. Mr. Redington was the leading spirit of the Village, and wealthiest of the early settlers. When the Village became a town, his name led the rest of the petitioners', and he was the chosen bearer of the peti- tion to the General Court. He was held in much esteem, as the following extract from the Topsfield (where our early settlers attended church) town records show: "The Town has manifested by voat that thay doe defier Abra- ham Redington fent to come and fite in ye fore feeate, and old Goodman Nickles in ye feckond feeate" (6 March, 1682-83). Mr. Redington, being aged and " sick of body," made his will- which he signed with his mark : 14 Oct., 1693, and which was proved 8 Nov., 1697, he having died on the preceding Sept. 12th. By his wife Margaret he had the following children: I. Elizabeth,2
.
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
b. 18 Feb., 1645 ; m. - Prescott. 2. Abraham,2 b. 25 Nov., 1647. 3. Thomas,2 b. 25 July, 1649. 4. Sarah,2 b. 15 March, 1654; m., as his second wife, John Rowe of Gloucester, September, 1684; and died 15 Feb., 1701, hav- ing given birth to four children. 5. Isaac,2 b. 27 June, 1657 ; d. 4 May, 1659. 6. Benjamin,2 b. 19 April, 1661, who probably died young. Abraham 2 settled in the Vil- lage, where he was a valuable citizen, and deacon of the First Church for several years. He was made a freeman March 22, 1689-90 ; married Martha - (who died Feb. 3, 1695) ; and died Dec. 22, 1713. Thomas 2 was made a freeman March 22, 1689-90 ; settled in the Village; and died Jan. 7, 1702-03. He married Mary, daughter of Thomas Kimball of Bradford, March 22, 1682-83, by whom he had five daughters and one son, Thomas,3 who married Hepzibah Perley, by whom he had nine children, and settled on his father's place. One of his sons, only, Abra- ham,4 resided here. He married Sarah Kimball, and be- came the father of seven children. About 1771, the family removed to Waterville, Me., and helped to settle that locality. Abraham's 4 son Samuel 5 was for many years an efficient and highly-esteemed member of the Massachusetts and Maine legislatures. A son of Samuel 5 was Adjutant- General of Maine, and mayor of the city of Augusta. His nephew, Judge Asa5 Redington, was Law Reporter for that State. Abraham 4 was the last of the name that resided in Boxford.
In 1652, for the convenience of Andover, Ipswich, and the other towns mentioned, the General Court ordered that a highway should be laid out from Ipswich to Andover, and from Andover to Newbury, passing over the Village lands. The following spring, Richard Barker of Andover, Thomas Hale of Newbury, James Howe of Ipswich, and John Pickard of Rowley, the committee appointed for the work, laid out the road from Andover to Ipswich, as fol- lows, viz. : -
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
"Begininge at the south end of Andevour, contynuing it in the cart way neere halfe a mile vnto a hill at the foot of the hill called Bare Hill, as it is marked with trees, then cominge into the beaten way which leadeth over a playne belonginge to Rowley, so leading on the southwest of a pond called Fiuemile Pond, & then contynuinge the cartway vnto a pond, called Mr Bakers Pond leauing the pond on the south, & so passinge ouer a little strip of meddow, & so on the cart way to Mr Winthrops playne, & so still the cartway on the south side of Capt. Turners hill, & from thence the beaten way to Ipswich."
This was the first road ever laid out in Boxford, and has always been known, even to the present day, as the "Old Andover Road." This passes the houses of Capt. Enoch Wood, the late Edward Batchelder, John Hale, and others, and passing on the north-east side of Hood's Pond, in Topsfield, continues its way to Ipswich. The road from Andover to Rowley and Newbury (mentioned in the above order) continues in the "Old Andover Road" within " half a mile of Five Mile Pond," then "goeinge in the beaten way of the south side of the Bald Hills, & contynu- inge the beaten way untill it come to the vppermost Falls Riuer, then by marked trees," &c. This is the highway that leads from Mrs. J. E. Foster's residence, past Mr. Daisy's house, and over Spofford's Hill in Georgetown. Boxford was at this time an almost untraversed forest, Mr. Redington's being probably the only family that lived here. Communication between these several towns de- manded as good a road as possible ; and no doubt, even in its infancy, it was better than we are apt to suppose.
From 1650 to 1665 several new families took up tracts of land here, and most of them were originators of an in- teresting and extensive posterity. The first of these was
ROBERT ANDREWS, a native of Boxford in England. He emigrated to New England, and settled in Boxford about 1656; his family then consisting of himself and wife and six children. He purchased two hundred acres of land of John Lambert of Rowley (which sale was con-
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
firmed July, 1661), lying on the west side of Pyc Brook, in the vicinity of Mr. Joseph H. Janes' residence, on which he erected a dwelling-house, and fenced and improved a portion of his purchase. He also purchased several other tracts of land in the Village and in Topsfield. He bought of Zaccheus Gould a lot of land on Fish Brook. His house was destroyed in some way, probably, before 1668 (when this is called the " Seller Lot"), and he erected a new dwelling, - probably the old Andrews house, lately situated below the late Mr. Nathaniel Smith's house, on the same road, - which was bequeathed (in his will), with the homestead adjoining, to his eldest son, Thomas. Mr. Andrews was an extensive cultivator of the soil, having at the time of his death (May, 1668), twenty-five acres of corn planted. Among numerous other things mentioned in the inventory of his estate, are two muskets and a rest, which probably constituted his armory, a mare and colt, four cows, four young cattle, four steers, sheep, lambs, a calf, twelve bushels of malt ; and the mention made in his will of "the new ship-saw, and other carpenter's tools," proves him to have had some mechanical genius in the joiner's art. Mr. Andrews died May 29, 1668. His will was dated May 16, 1668 ; and proved, Ist of 5 mo., 1668. His widow Grace, whom he married about 1636, survived him, and continued in a single state until her death, which occurred Dec. 25, 1700 (?). Her will is dated Sept. 4, 1699, and was proved Jan. 4, 1702-03. To her will she placed her mark : J. They were both interred in the ceme- tery at Topsfield, probably, as he requested to be in his will. Their children, a part of whom were probably born in England, were as follows, viz .: I. Mary,2 b. about 1638 ; m. Isaac Cummings of Topsfield, Nov. 27, 1659. 2. Hannah,2 b. about 1642; m. Capt. John Peabody, one of the early settlers of Boxford. 3. Elizabeth,2 b. about 1643 ; m. Samuel Symonds, another of the early settlers of
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
Boxford. 4. Thomas,2 * b. about 1645. 5. John,2 b. 1648 ; made a freeman October, 1690; m. Sarah, dau. of James and Rebecca Dickinson of Rowley, 18 April, 1683 (or 1684), and had eight children ; lived in Boxford, where he was a trustworthy citizen. 6. Robert,2 b. about 1651 ; probably
* The following is the line of descent of the present Andrews residents of Boxford from Robert's son Thomas :-
Thomas2 m. Ist, Martha, widow of Obadiah Antrum of Ipswich, June 22, 1670; m. 2d, Mary Belcher, 9 Feb., 1681 ; m. 3d, Rebecca -, who d. 24 April, I --. Ch .: I. Elizabeth,3 b. 16.Jan., 1671 ; m. William Wilson of Ips- wich, 19 April, 1693. 2. Martha,3 b. 25 Dec., 1673. 3. Rebecca,3 b. 14 April, 1686 ; d. 21 May, 16- (169 -? ). 4. Lilborn,3 b. I Oct., 1688 ; d. 23 May, 16 -. 5. Patience,3 b. 29 March, 1689-90. 6. Esther,3 b. 16 Feb., 1692-93 ; m. John Bixby of Boxford, 8 May, 1722. 7. Thomas, 3 b. 18 Dec., 1694 ; m. Ruth Bixby, I March, 1721-22, and had eight children ; lived in Boxford. 8. Robert,3 b. 16 May, 16 -.
Robert3 m. Deborah Frye of Andover, 10 March, 1719-20. He d. 14 April, 1751. Lived on the old homestead. Ch .: 1. James,4 b. 19 March, 1721; m. Ist, Ruth Wood, 18 Feb., 1746-47, who d. 7 April, 1764; m .. 2d, Elizabeth Bryant, 16 April, 1765; had seven children; lived in Boxford. 2. Robert,4 b. 8 Nov., 1722 ; pub. to Lucy Bradstreet of Topsfield, 23 Jan., 1746. 3. Nathan,4 b. 25 May, 1726. 4. Deborah,4 bapt. September, 1728 ; d. 4 June, 1737. 5. Samuel,4 b. 27 May, 1731 (A. Dorman, Esq., says 1724).
Nathan 4 m. Ist, Mehitable Foster of Andover, 23 April, 1751, who d. 25 Jan., 1760 ; m. 2d, Sarah, widow of Joseph Symonds, 6 Feb., 1764. He d. 29 March, 1806. Lived on the old homestead. Ch. : I. Deborah,5 b. 19 Oct., 1752; m. Joshua Andrews, II June, 1778. 2. Nathan,5 b. II Nov., 1754. 3. Lydia,5 b. 21 Oct., 1756. 4. Mehitable,5 b. 23 Sept., 1759; m. Jonathan Knight, jun., of Middleton, ยง 23 May, 1782. 28 S
Nathan 5 m. Ist, Esther Kimball, 20 May, 1783, who d. 11 Feb., 1791. He m. 2d, Eunice Kimball of Ipswich, (pub.) 12 Nov., 1792, who d. 28 Oct., 1845. He d. 17 June, 1844. Lived on the old homestead. Ch. : I Mehitable,6 b. 23 July, 1784 ; d. 15 Sept., 1784. 2. Robert,6 b. 31 July, 1785. 3. Mehitable,6 b. 13 June, 1788 ; d. unm. 3 Sept., 1870. 4. Samuel,6 b. 18 Sept., 1793 ; d. unm. 9 April, 1879. 5. Esther,6 b. 15 March, 1795; d. unm. 29 Oct., 1868. 6. Daniel,6 b. 13 April, 1797 ; m. Nancy, dau. of Moses and Anne (Mecum) Gould, 15 Oct., 1844 ; no issue ; d. 26 April, 1879. 7. Dean,6 b. 12 July, 1800. 8. Eunice,6 b. 13 March, 1803 ; m. Abraham P. Howe, 1871.
Dean 6 m. Harriet A., dau. of Henry and Hannah (Wood) Perley, 4 April, 1838. He d. I March, 1869. Ch. : I. Emily A.,7 b. 25 July, 1845 ; m. Solomon W., son of Edward and Mary Ann (Lowe) Howe, 16 Feb., 1870. 2. Harriet E.,7 b. 12 April, 1852.
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
died unm. ; will dated 6 Dec., 1675. 7. Rebecca,2 b. about 1654; m. Samuel Marble. 8. Joseph,2 b. 18 Sept., 1657 ; m. Ist, Sarah Perley, I Feb., 1681, who d. 15 Jan., 1693-94, leaving four children ; m. 2d, Mary Dickinson of Rowley, 29 March, 1694, who d. 25 Feb., 1700 (?), leaving two infant daughters ; resided in Boxford. 9. Sarah,2 b. about 1658 ; m. Daniel Wood, an early settler of Boxford. 10. Ruth,2 b. 27 May, 1664; m. Edward, son of Edward and Elizabeth Phelps of Andover, March 19, 1683. Of his sons, Joseph 2 was made a freeman March 22, 1689-90, and was the great-great-grandfather of John A. Andrew, the twenty-first governor of Massachusetts. Thomas 2 was made a freeman March 22, 1689-90, settled on the old homestead, and through him the name has been perpetuated here to the present time. He, and his long line of descendants, have been respected and honored citizens. This branch of the wide-spread Andrews family well represented that true patriotism and native strength characteristic of New-Eng- land principles.
ROBERT STILES, another early settler, was an emigrant from Yorkshire, Eng. In 1659 we find him owning a farm containing two hundred and fifty acres, with buildings thereon, in Rowley Village. His residence was near the East-Parish village. Dec. 16th of that year, he mortgages his farm to Thomas Wasse of Ipswich. To write his name was more than he was capable of doing. The next year, 4 Oct., 1660, he married Elizabeth, daughter of John and Anna Frye of Andover, by whom he had the following children, viz. : I. John,2 b. 30 Jan., 1661 ; made a freeman October, 1690; m. Deliverance Town of Topsfield, 24 Nov., 1684, who d. 16 May, 1700, and by whom he had several children ; lived in Boxford, south side of Fish Brook. 2. Elizabeth,2 b. 15 March, 1662; m. John Buswell, 8 July, 1700. 3. Sarah,2 b. 31 Jan., 1664 ; d. I Feb., 1664. 4. Abi- gail,2 b. 15 Feb., 1666. 5. Ebenezer,2 b. 20 Feb., 1669; m
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
Dorothy Dalton, 23 July, 1701, and d. 3 June, 1746; lived in Andover and Middleton. 6. Sarah,2 b. 20 Oct., 1672. 7. Robert,2 b. 15 Nov., 1675 ; m. Ruth Bridges, 10 Nov., 1699 ; resided in Boxford, and had issue. 8. Eunice.2 9. Timothy,2 b. I Oct., 1678 ; m. Hannah, dau. of Ephraim and Hannah Foster of Andover, 5 March, 1701-02; d. 7 Dec., 1751 ; lived in Boxford, and had issue. 10. Samuel,2 b. 21 May, 1682; m. Elizabeth Cary, 2 May, 1703 ; lived in Boxford, and had children. Robert Stiles, sen., died 30 July, 1690 ; and the administration of his estate was granted to his widow Elizabeth, a month later. Descendants of this emi- grant have ever since continued to reside in Boxford.
JOSEPH BIXBY was one of the leading men in Rowley Village, where he was living in 1661, having removed from Ipswich the preceding year. He was noted in being a sol- dier in King Philip's War in 1676. His residence in Box- ford was north of the mills of S. W. Howe. He could not write his name, and made for his signature this character ; 2. Is styled " Sergeant." He was made a freeman 22 March, 1689-90. 15th of tenth month, 1647, he made a marriage agreement with the widow of Luke Heard, then of Salisbury, - they having lived in Ipswich, - whose will was probated 28th of seventh month, 1647. Heard left two sons, John and Edmund, both under thirteen years of age. He was young when his death occurred; and his widow, being also in youth, married, a few weeks later, Joseph Bixby. Her maiden name was Sarah Wyatt. At the time of her marriage with Mr. Bixby her parents were both living, and her mother was owning land in Asington, County Suffolk, Eng. Joseph Bixby died, "being aged," 19 April, 1700. His will was made II Nov., 1699, and proved 6 March, 1703-04. His widow died at the age of eighty-four years, 3 June, 1704 (?). Their children were : I. Joseph,2 m., 29 March, 1682, Sarah, dau. of John and Sarah (Baker) Gould of Topsfield, and had eight children.
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
2. Sarah,2 d. 18 Jan., 1657. 3. Nathaniel,2 d. II July, 1658. 4. Mary,2 b. 18 Feb., 1659, in Ipswich ; m. - Stone. 5. George.2 * 6. Jonathan,2 m. Sarah Smith of Topsfield, 2 Feb., 1692-93, by whom he had nine children ; lived in Boxford, where his descendants resided for many years. 7. Daniel,2 m. Hannah Chandler of Andover, 2 Dec., 1674 ; lived in Andover, and had several children. 8. Benjamin,2 m. Mary -; lived in Topsfield, and had numerous descendants, one of whom, Mr. Daniel Bixby, now resides in Boxford. 9. Abigail.2
JOHN CUMMINGS resided near by the preceding settler (Joseph Bixby), in Rowley Village. He owned five hun- dred acres of land in the Village, and was taxed in 1661 ten shillings. He probably settled here in 1658 ; was here in 1678-79, when he was a gatherer of a rate to procure powder and bullets ; and was also living on the same place in May, 1699, which is the last we know of him. None of his children are again mentioned on the records - with the exception of the death of one in infancy - after the
* The following is the line of descent of the present Bixby residents of Boxford from Joseph's son George : -
George2 m. Rebecca -. He lived on land given to him by his father. Ch .: I. Nathaniel,3 b. I March, 1693 (?) ; d. 9 March, 1702-03. 2. Gideon,3 b. I Sept., 1699.
Gideon 3 m. Rebecca, dau. of Timothy and Ruth (Andrews) Foster, 20 June, 1751. He d. 1754 or 1755, and she m. 2d, Solomon Gould of Topsfield, 12 May, 1756. Ch. : 1. Gideon,4 b. 15 June, 1752.
Gideon 4 m. Sarah Wood, 18 July, 1780, who d. 9 Oct., 1837. He d. 15 Feb., 1830. Ch .: I. Rebecca,5 b. 12 May, 1781 ; m. Ancill Kimball, 5 Jan., 1805. 2. Sally,5 b. 6 Dec., 1783. 3. David,5 b. 20 April, 1786. 4. George,5 b. 27 Dec., 1788. 5. Charles,5 b. 19 Oct., 1793 ; m. Hannah French, 31 Dec., 1818; had issue. 6. Samuel,5 b. 13 April, 1799.
Deacon Samuel5 m. Eleanor E. Johnson of Andover, 4 Feb., 1830. Ch .: I. Sarah Ellen,6 b. 30 March, 1831 ; m. Charles Foster. 2. Samuel Johnson, 6 b. 4 Feb., 1833. 3. George Loring,6 b. 25 Jan., 1835; d. 17 Jan., 1838. 4. Stephen Augustus,6 b. 3 Dec., 1836. 5. George Loring,6 b. 11 July, 1839. 6. Rebecca Kimball,6 b. 17 March, 1841 ; m. Charles N. Sargent, 1873. 7. Mary Peabody,6 b. 23 May, 1843. 8. Harriet E.,6 b. 17 Nov., 1844 ; m. Gardner Kimball. 9. Abbie M.,6 b. 12 Dec., 1845.
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
date of their births, which are recorded at Salem. By his wife Sarah he had the following children : I. Nathaniel,2 b. 10 Sept., 1659. 2. Sarah,2 b. 28 Jan., 1661. 3. Wil- liam,2 b. 5 Aug., 1671; d. 30 March, 1672. 4. Eliezer,2 twin with the preceding, b. 5 Aug., 1671. 5. Benjamin,2 b. 23 Feb., 1672. 6. Samuel,2 b. 28 Dec., 1677.
ROBERT EAMES (spelled at the present time, Ames), another early inhabitant, probably came from Boxford, Eng. He undoubtedly resided near the Andover line, as several of the births of his oldest children are recorded on the Andover town records. We find no conveyances of prop- erty either to or from him ; and for forty shillings his son Daniel (at his father's death) discharges to his brothers John and Robert all his right of dower in their father's estate : so that we conclude, from this and connecting circumstances, that this settler had little property. He married, about 1660, Rebecca, eldest daughter of George Blake of Gloucester, who afterwards removed to Boxford, and became an early settler. She was rather of a loose character, and in 1692 was arrested as a witch, and con- demned ; but was reprieved after seven months' imprison- ment, and lived to be eighty-one years old, dying 8 May, 1721. She was imprisoned in August, 1692, reprieved in March, 1693; and her husband died 22 July following. Their children were: I. Hannah,2 b. 18 Dec., 1661 ; m. Ephraim Foster of Andover, about 1678. 2. Daniel,2 b. 7 April, 1663. 3. Robert,2 b. 1666 or 1667. 4. John,2 b. I I Oct., 1670. 5. Dorothy,2 b. 20 Dec., 1674; m. Samuel Swan of Haverhill. 6. Jacob,2 b. 20 July, 1677. 7. Joseph,2 b. 9 Oct., 1681. 8. Nathaniel,2 b. about 1685. Daniel,2 the eldest son, m. Lydia Wheeler in Andover, 15 April, 1683, and settled in Boxford. In the beginning of the winter of 1693-94 he left his wife and six small children (the oldest being a daughter under ten years of age) in destitution. She applied to the selectmen for help; and John Peabody
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