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 21
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THIRD DISTRICT. - Daniel Chapman, John Dresser, Benjamin Emerson, Daniel Gould, John Herrick, Richard Peabody, Moses Perley, Nathan Perley, Capt. William Per- ley, Capt. Francis Perley, Moody Perley, Stephen Spofford, Jedediah Stickney, Jonas Warren, Nathan Wood, Moses Wood, Jonathan Wood, Solomon Wood, widow Mehitable Wood, widow Lydia Wood, and widow Margaret Wood.
FOURTH DISTRICT. - John Blaisdell, Samuel Brown, Thomas Butman, John Butman, James Chute, Joseph Hale, Joseph Holden, Nathan IIood, Benjamin Hood,
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Joshua Jackson, Nathan Low, Stephen Peabody, Jesse Perley, Major Asa Perley, Mr. Thomas Perley, Nathaniel Perley, Amos Perley, Henry Perley, Jacob Smith, John Smith, and Benjamin Spofford.
FIFTH DISTRICT. - Capt. Isaac Adams, Enos Carleton, Lieut. Moses Carleton, Joseph Carleton, Samuel Chadwick, Moses Chadwick, Isaac Chadwick, Deacon John Chadwick, Capt. Jonathan Foster, Oliver Foster, Ephraim Foster, Reuben Gragg, Jeremiah Harriman, Amos Kimball, Enoch Kimball, Nathan Kimball, Moses Kimball, widow Sarah Kimball, John Palmer, Tyler Porter, widow Mary Porter, Mr. Moses Porter, Samuel Spofford, Parker Spofford, Amos Spofford, Daniel Swan, Ensign Gideon Tyler, John Tyler, Abraham Tyler, Broadstreet Tyler, and David Wood.
SIXTH DISTRICT. - John Buckmaster, Samuel Carleton, sen., Samuel Carleton, jun., Obadiah Carleton, Thomas Chadwick, David Coburn, Samuel Cole, Simeon Cole, Lieut. Richard Head, Joseph Hovey, Capt. Ivory Hovey, widow Mehitable Hovey, Luke Hovey, Richard Hovey, John Hovey, David Kimball, widow Elizabeth Kimball, Stephen Merrill, William Parker, Richard Pearl, John Pearl, Lieut. Ebenezer Peabody, Daniel Peabody, William Porter, John Robinson, Esq., Lieut. Samuel Runnells, widow Hannah Runnells, Ensign Enos Runnells, Josiah Sessions, heirs of David Wood, Lemuel Wood, and Joseph Wood.
The situation of the several schoolhouses at that time may not be uninteresting to our readers. The First-District schoolhouse stood a little west of the present building, on the same side of the street; the Second, in the western corner of the late Deacon Palmer's house-lot; the Third, near the house of the late Edward Batchelder ; the Fourth stood a few rods nearer the junction of the two roads from where the schoolhouse of that district was lately removed, near the residence of Mr. William P. Cleaveland ; the Fifth
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stood near the junction of the two roads near the residence of the late Moses Kimball, on the northerly side of the way ; the Sixth stood a few rods west of the residence of the late venerable Benjamin Peabody, between the two roads. The after-history of these school-edifices is as follows : The First-District schoolhouse was supplanted by the present , one in 1854; the Second, ditto, in 1845; the Third was sold when that and the Fourth Districts were united, in 1869; and the Fourth was used as a schoolhouse until 1851, when it was sold to Mr. John Hale, who still uses it as an out-building, and a new one was erected a few rods in the rear of the old one. This occupied its site until 1869, when, as we have stated above, the Third and Fourth Districts were united, and this building was moved to its present position near Harmony Cemetery, which was a central place between the two districts. The Fifth stood on its original site until the district was discontinued, in 1869, when the schoolhouse was sold to Capt. Samuel Kimball. The Sixth was removed to the site of the pres- ent schoolhouse. About 1840 a new district, called the Seventh District, was created, and a schoolhouse built, which is the one situated near the Second Church.
During, and previous to, the period of which we are writing, but one session or term was held annually, proba- bly during the winter season. No regular system of study was followed, and the text-books used by the scholars were of various authorities. Previous to the year 1795 the se- lectmen hired the teachers, inspected the schools, and filled the office of school-committee generally. The extent of the branches taught is well represented in that well-known sentence, "to read, to write, and to cipher." English grammar was introduced into our schools about 1795, but was only used to a slight extent.
In 1792, 560 was raised to support the schools for that year.
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
When the will of Hon. Aaron Wood was opened after his death in 1791, it was found that he had bequeathed to the town, for the support of a grammar-school, all the income of his house and other buildings, his real estate, &c. (it being the farm lately owned by C. C. Stevens), in the following words, viz .: "I give the improvement and income of my dwelling-house and all other buildings, and the improvement and income of all my lands in Boxford, to be used and improved for and towards the support of a grammar-school forever in the said town of Boxford. The manner of leasing out said premises I order to be under the care and direction of three deliberate persons chosen by the inhabitants of the said town of Boxford at a legal meeting for that purpose, and said committee to be chosen for so long time at each choice as the town shall think proper ; and, in case of the death or removal of any or either of said committee, then another or others, as the case may be, to be chosen at the next annual town-meeting. I give the use of my pew in the meeting-house to the same purpose as my real estate."
In April, 1793, the town chose a committee, according to the provisions of the will, to take the care of and lease out the estate. The committee * consisted of Thomas Perley, jun., John Robinson, Esq., and Capt. Francis Perley, " three discreet persons," who immediately sold the leases (which ran for a thousand years) at auction, realizing from the sale $2,061.33. This sum yields an annual interest of $123.68,
* The thanks of the town were voted to the committee May 8, 1826, in the following words, viz. :
" Voted, That the thanks of the town be given to the committee appointed by the town to take the care and management of the donation devised to said town in the last will and testament of the Hon. Aaron Wood, for the use of a grammar-school in said town forever, that they have so wisely, faithfully, and carefully managed the proceeds of said donation, that the town has not experienced a cent's loss during thirty-four years, the time of their service in that capacity."
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which is applied to the support of the schools in the town.
In consideration of the benevolence and usefulness of Mr. Wood, the town caused to be erected to his memory, at a cost of $78.53, a monument bearing the following inscription : -
Sacred to the memory of the Hon. Aaron Wood, Esq., who suddenly ex- pired on the twentieth of January, MDCCXCI., Etatis LXXI. He commenced a member of the
General Court in MDCCLXII, and during the remainder of his life he enjoyed the confidence of his country, being employed in the House of Representatives, Senate, Council, & Conventions of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. By a Devise in his last Will & Testament he left a valuable Estate toward supporting a Grammar School, forever, in the town of Boxford his native place.
The inhabitants of Boxford in town meeting assembled, on the nineteenth of September, MDCCXCIII, to perpetuate this act of his benevolence have erected this MONUMENT.
Sept. 22, 1795, the first school-committee, whose duties were " to hire schoolmasters and dames, and to inspect the schools if thought proper," were chosen. This consisted of John Robinson, David Kimball, Jonathan Wood, Thomas Perley, Jonathan Foster, Enos Runnells, and Timothy Dorman. Heretofore the selectmen had performed these duties.
At the end of the school-report which follows will be found the names of the school-committee for the succeed- ing year, 1796 :-
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" The committee appointed by the town of Boxford for attending to the business of the schools in the several districts beg leave to report that, since the rising generation have a just claim upon us to afford them all the opportunities and advantages which may be in our power, after deliberating impartially upon the subject, they are of opinion that it is a duty incumbent on us to provide for the instruction of our youth in those ways which will most directly lead to the desired end (viz.), the diffusion of knowledge and the promotion of virtue, and therefore have submitted the following articles for the consideration of the town.
" Ist, That it is the duty of school-committees when employing masters or mistresses for instructing the youth in the several districts in this town to require satisfactory evidence of their being qualified for that purpose agreeable with law; also, that the selectmen be directed to give no orders for the payment of any instructors who shall not produce the evidence aforesaid.
" 2d, That some regular system of instruction ought to be adopted in the schools, and that the scholars attending the same school ought to be furnished with the same kind of books, that the instructor may be enabled to divide his pupils into suitable classes.
" 3d, When masters are engaged they should be required to open and close the exercises of their schools with prayer, which will assist in preserving order and good government in them, and also that they be desired to observe any particular mode of instruction which the committee and they shall judge will become most beneficial.
" 4th, That the committee shall visit the masters' schools twice annually (viz.), when they are opened, and previously to their being closed; on their first visit specimens of the writing, &c., of the schol- ars shall be lodged in the hands of the committee, and they shall take, so far as may be, an exact state of the schools, which will enable them to form a better judgment of the proficiency of the scholars at the closing visitation.
"5th, That it be recommended to the several instructors in those instances where scholars are tolerably forward, and can read with proficiency, to instruct them in English grammar, that they may be led into the principles of the English language.
"6th, That it might have a beneficial tendency, should the town see it proper to advance a trifling sum (say one dollar for each district) to be laid out for books, and those to be given by the committee to the scholars who, in the judgment of the master, shall have made the greatest proficiency in several branches.
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" 7th, That it is the duty of every committee to report annually to the town the particular state of each school.
" PETER EATON, JOHN ROBINSON, SAMUEL HOLYOKE, THOMAS PERLEY, FRANCIS PERLEY, JOSEPH SYMONDS.
" BOXFORD, Oct. 31st, 1796."
The town debt in 1793 was £452. This continued at about the same amount for many years. In 1858 $500 of the debt was paid ; in 1859, $700; in 1860, $500; and so on to the present time. The debt, now amounting to $5,095.44, is covered by notes and bonds and other secu- rities.
July 19, 1799, the West Parish " voted that Instrumental Musick be Introduced into the meeting on Sundays." The people of color were also appointed a separate seat, in the gallery, where they could be clear (?) from the whiter population.
July 17, 1792, a committee were appointed to make a report of the First Parish's funds. Their report states that the funds consisted of a State note of £148 18 s. 5 d., dated Dec. 5, 1781, having three years and nine months interest paid, and miscellaneous bonds and notes amounting to £99 18 s. II d. 2 far., besides sums due on petty accounts to the amount of £30 19s. IId., and £10 II s. IOd. in cash ; amounting in the aggregate to £290 9s. I d. 2 far. These funds were combined with the First-Parish fund when it was originated in 1824.
During these few years of which we have just been writing, various repairs on the meeting-house in the East Parish had been made from time to time. These repairs were generally to stop leaks, and fill up cracks where snow blew in in the winter, mend broken glass, patch the plastering, and to paint the meeting-house on the outside,
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which was at the beginning of this century of a stone-color. The walls on the inside, from time to time, the parish voted to whitewash. There is only one instance of its being re-shingled, which was in 1785, at which time the fore- side and two ends were newly clapboarded, and the whole painted.
In 1802 the West Parish presented Rev. Mr. Eaton the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars gratuitously. In 1804 they built a shed and woodhouse for him.
In 1799 the Second Parish thought of putting in a stove to warm the meeting-house ; but nothing was done about it until 1824, when two stoves were purchased and set up. When this was done the people were very uneasy, fearing that the meeting-house would catch fire.
Nov. II, 1824, the East Parish voted to have a stove put into their meeting-house, for the " convenience and com- fort" of the inhabitants. The comfort which this afforded to the church-goers is too well known to need definition, but the convenience would perhaps not be so clear in the minds of the uninitiated. To make the language of this record clear, we would state that previous to this time, and even later, the people carried to meeting the old-fashioned foot-stoves. These were square tin boxes enclosed in an ornamental wooden frame, large enough to place both feet upon, in which the people placed hot glowing coals fresh from the hearth, when they started to meeting. When noon came their coals would emit no heat, and to obtain a fresh supply they would be compelled to borrow some more live coals from those people that lived near the church. When the stove was placed in the meeting-house, the people found it much more convenient to fill their foot- stoves in the meeting-house.
When the vote regarding the stove became known, the . parish were surprised with the gift of an "elegant cast- iron stove and funnel." The donors were Solomon Towne,
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Jeremiah Peabody, Jacob Peabody, Charles Scudder, Gil- man Prichard, Timothy Dorman, William G. Lambert, Elizur Holyoke, and Samuel Peabody, all of whom were of Boston. The stove was received, and placed in the aisle in the centre of the meeting-house.
In early times most of the congregation stopped at the meeting-house all day. This gave rise to the " Sabba'-Day houses," which some of the wealthy families built for their convenience. They were sheds with another story above finished off into a tidy room where they could spend the noons. The shed beneath was used as a shelter for their horses. Whether any of these buildings were ever erected in Boxford, or not, we have never learned ; but they were in use at the Topsfield meeting-house when the Boxford people attended church there.
The Essex Musical Association was an extensive organi- zation in its day ; and, as implied by the title, was composed of Essex-County vocal musicians. Several members be- longed to Boxford, some of whose names, and perhaps all, follow : Deacon Parker Spofford, Ensign Joseph Symonds, jun., and Mr. Stephen Kimball. Samuel Holyoke, the dis- tinguished composer, was prominent in this association ; and it was probably through his influence that their annual festival was several times held here. Sept. 3, 1798, the First Parish voted that they "may have the liberty of the galleries in the meeting house as may be convenient for them at their annual public exhibition." In the falls of 1806 and 1807, we believe, the festivals were again held here. Shortly after this, the association died out. In their exhibitions, which continued through the day, the singers, numbering upwards of fifty, were arranged in the three galleries of the meeting-house, and the audience occupied the auditorium below. This was a gala-day to the people of Old Essex. Refreshment-booths were erected, wagons at whose tail-end refreshments of all kinds were sold were
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drawn up in order, and other things incident to such times were created ; and the people came in teams, on horseback, and on foot, from all sections of the county. Those who remember these festivals declare that the musical talent here congregated has rendered to Boxford a name and a fame that will enliven the annals of those dull old times.
As we write, a copy of the Salem Gazette, of Jan. 3, 1800, lies before us. A deep black border is placed upon the four pages, and the reading-matter is entirely devoted to the death of George Washington. An assured belief in Washington's greatness and goodness, and praise and honor to his illustrious name, is the spirit of its columns. The actions taken by the highest legislative bodies of our National Government, letters from the leading men of the country, and miscellaneous articles of prose and verse, are congenial in their reverence of the departed President. Washington died at his home at Mount Vernon, in Vir- ginia, between eleven and twelve o'clock Saturday night, Dec. 14, 1799, at the age of sixty-seven years. On the anniversary of his next birthday, Feb. 22, 1800, Rev. Mr. Eaton delivered " a well adapted oration in commemoration of the sublime virtues of General George Washington." At the next annual town-meeting, a vote of thanks was tendered to him for the same by the town.
In 1788 a tavern was in vogue in the West Parish, it being carried on by Lieut. Asa Merrill. In that year the militia company of that parish met at the tavern, and were reviewed. About the year 1800 two taverns were flourish- ing in the town, one in each parish. The one in the West Parish was kept by Mr. Phineas Cole, at the Clement place. Mr. Cole soon afterward removed to Pelham, N. H., and instituted another tavern in that place. The tavern in the East Parish was kept at the late residence of Mr. Charles C. Stevens, near the "old camp-ground." As we have observed a few pages back, after Hon. Aaron Wood's
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death, the place was sold by lease to Deacon Parker Spof- ford. He refitted the old mansion, as far as need be, into a fine country tavern. This flourished until his death in 1836, and received during that time the commendation of the entertained. The first post-office ever in town was kept in this tavern until 1826, the mail being conveyed by the old stage-coaches. This was one of the stopping- places of the famous stage-driver Pinkham, whose route was over the old Andover road. The people living so far away from the post-office, a general distribution of the mail took place only on Sundays, when Mr. Spofford would carry the mail-matter to church, and deliver it to the various owners. A slow procedure, to be sure; but the people of those days were not in so much haste as at the present.
Mr. Elisha Bunker also kept a tavern, during the year 1836, at the mansion now occupied by Mr. John I. Ladd, near the Second Church. He was succeeded, on his re- moval to the East Parish in 1837, by a Mr. Brown, who, however, retained the business there but a short time.
CHAPTER XII.
1800-1830.
REV. MR. HOLYOKE'S DEATH. - HIS MINISTRY AND LIFE. - REV. ISAAC BRIGGS SETTLED. - POWDER-HOUSE. - BLACK- SMITHS IN EAST PARISH. - CEMETERY NEAR THE FIRST CHURCH. - PRIVATE CEMETERY. - CHADWICK BEQUEST. - GROCERY-STORES. - MATCH-FACTORY. - MILITIA. - WAR. OF 1812. - MIND OF THE TOWN IN REGARD TO THE WAR. - EVENTS OF THE WAR. - SOLDIERS DRAFTED. - FIRST-PARISH FUND FOUNDED. - TROUBLE IN THE FIRST RELIGIOUS SOCI- ETY. - HEARSES, &C. - DAY'S GRIST-MILL. - PORTER'S MILL. - BLACKSMITHS IN WEST PARISH IN " OLD TIMES."
N February, 1793, Rev. Mr. Holyoke, pastor of the First Church, was prostrated by a paralytic shock, which unfitted him for constant duty in the pulpit during the rest of his life. During the following summer he preached but seldom. He grew more ill as the year advanced, so much so that he did not preach after the end of the year. Mr. Holyoke's salary was continued the same, and the same relations were regarded by both pastor and people, - in a pecuniary view, - though the parish hired other ministers to discourse to them on the sabbath. Sept. 1, 1793, Rev. Francis Quarles was hired to preach a few months. During the ensuing four years, various clergymen officiated in the pulpit ; some for a shorter, and some for a longer, time.
On the 13th of October, 1797, a committee appointed by the parish went to Mr. Holyoke's house, and conversed 267
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with him on the subject of his resigning the ministry, and having a new minister settled among them. Mr. Holyoke fully acquiesced with the desire of the parish, and also in their choice of the Rev. Nathaniel H. Fletcher as their pastor. During these four years of Mr. Holyoke's illness, his regular salary continued to be paid to him. In 1798 a committee was appointed to offer to Mr. Holyoke an annual sum for his support during the remainder of his life, on condition that he resigned his office of pastor. The committee repaired to his house on the 6th of June, and made known to him the proposals of the parish, and pro- posed a conference on the subject at any time that would be most agreeable to him. Thursday, the 4th of July, being assigned by Mr. Holyoke, the committee waited upon him on that day; but, Mr. Holyoke's infirmities being so much increased, he excused himself from taking a part in the conversation, which, thereby devolving upon his family, was chiefly conducted by his sons, who informed the committee that, in various conversations with their father, they had become acquainted with his views and sentiments concerning the matter. The sons observed that their father was fully satisfied with the existing establish- ment, and did not on his account wish for any change of measures ; but that, if he agreed to any other arrange- ment, it would be to accommodate himself in some measure to the wishes of the parish ; and, conformable therewith, they had made calculations for finding the amount of the sum suitable to be received as an acquittance and discharge of his stated salary, and proposed fifteen hundred dollars as an acceptable sum. The committee observed that that sum was considerably beyond what any person in the par- ish had contemplated, and in their apprehension could not be agreed to. The family, in reply, said if the sum pro- posed was improper, the parish might mention what they would give. They described the debilitated state of Mr.
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Holyoke as requiring much attention, care, and labor from the family, and consequent need of a support from the parish, of whom they spoke in terms of respect, and did not discover any aversion to attempting a settlement in the manner proposed, if the parish chose some person to con- duct the business on their part. They also said that Mr. Holyoke was desirous of retaining his ministerial relation to his people ; but, in case the parish could settle a minis- ter only by his resignation, he would relinquish his minis- terial relation, provided a council should advise thereto. The idea of making some deduction from the stated salary, while things continued on the present establishment, was proposed by the committee. In reply, the family said that, by the change of times since Mr. Holyoke's settlement over the parish, the salary was reduced almost one-half, and they did not see how they could do with less than the usual salary. After this conference with Mr. Holyoke's family, no further advances were made toward effecting the proposed settlement; and the idea of having another minister settled among them while Mr. Holyoke was alive soon ceased to exist. But, contrary to appearances, Mr. Holyoke agreed, the following winter (1798-99), to take two hundred dollars, and ten cords of wood hauled to his door, as an annual sum of acquittance and discharge of his salary during the remainder of his life. During the remaining time that Rev. Mr. Holyoke lived he was out of doors but seldom, his paralytic complaint compelling him to undergo less exercise.
After enduring his illness for thirteen years, Mr. Hol- yoke quietly died on Monday, March 31, 1806, at the age of seventy-four years and ten months. His wife, who had tenderly cared for her beloved husband, survived him little more than two years, dying Tuesday, Dec. 20, 1808, at the age of seventy-two years. Their remains lie interred in the cemetery near the church, and the monument erected
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to his memory by the parish bears the following inscrip- tion : -
"This Monument erected by the Ist Parish in Boxford as a Testimony of Respect to the memory of the REV. ELIZUR HOLYOKE, 3d Pastor of the Ist Church in this Town who died on the 31 of March 1806, Ætatis 75 & 47 of his Ministry.
Lost to the world adieu! our friend adieu ! Unblemished spirit, seek those realms of light, Where boundless Mercy only meets the view, Faith lost in wonder, Hope in full delight.
Come ye, whose throbbing bosoms know to feel; Come, let me point you to the loosen'd sod; Behold the tomb, in humblest reverence kneel, Here learn humility, yourselves and God."
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