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 22
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Rev. Mr. Holyoke was born in Boston, May 1I, 1731. His father, Samuel Holyoke, born 1693, through Elizur 3 and Elizur2 was a great-grandson of Edward Holyoke 1 of Tanworth in Warwickshire, Eng., who married, 18 June, 1612, Prudence, daughter of Rev. John Stockton, rector of Kinkolt, in Leicestershire. Edward Holyoke, brother of Samuel, and uncle of our minister, was the president of Harvard College for many years. Rev. Mr. Holyoke's mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Brigham of Boston.
Mr. Holyoke married Hannah, daughter of Rev. Oliver Peabody of Natick, Nov 13, 1760, the result of which union was eight children, - six sons and two daughters, viz. : Samuel, b. Aug. 5, 1761 ; d. Aug. 8, 1761. Samuel, b. Oct. 15, 1762 (see his biography). Elizur, b. Nov. 17, 1764; d. about 1829. Elizabeth, b. May 28, 1767 ; d. Aug. 2, 1767. Oliver Peabody, b. April 14, 1769. Ed-
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ward, b. Jan. 15, 1772; d. July 1, 1846. Hannah, b. Oct. 16, 1774; d. unm., Dec. 5, 1865, at the old homestead. Charles, b. Nov. 11, 1781.
Mr. Holyoke first resided in the old house that formerly stood where the present Holyoke house now stands. After living in it two or three years, Mr. Holyoke's father, a rich merchant of Boston, razed it to the ground, and erected the present house at a great cost. The old mansion is known far and wide as the "Old Holyoke Homestead." It is now owned and occupied by Mr. Elvin French, the well-known musical director. Decay is fast creeping upon it, and soon it will be numbered with the things of the past. To strangers the old place is a pecul- iar curiosity. They desire to frequent the old house, and examine its passages, halls, and numerous rooms, each containing some curious work of antiquity. Gazing at the relic, underneath whose shadows so many happy as well as sorrowful scenes have been enacted, whose clapboards and trimmings have been worn rough and thin by the beating of storms for more than a century, and looking upward at the gabled roof overgrown with moss, and hanging over it the distended and drooping boughs of the gigantic elms which stand around, surely it does not need a Hawthorne to place before the thoughtful man its unwritten history. It was owned and part of it occupied by Hannah, Rev. Mr. Holyoke's daughter, until her death, which occurred in 1865, Dec. 5. The rest of the house was tenanted by many different families, one of whom was that of Mr. Benjamin French, father of Elvin French, the present owner and occupier, who was born in the ancient dwelling.
Regarding the old mansion, Mrs. M. L. Emerson, lately a resident of the town, who has written some excellent poetry, contributed the following lines to the Salem Ga- zette : -
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"'Neath sheltering elms the ancient dwelling stands, Where several highways socially clasp hands ; Its general air speaks of the 'auld lang syne,' And years have left their marks in many a line.
" The moss-grown shingles, broken and decayed ; The loosened clapboards, where the winds have played ; The shattered window-panes, the door-stone low, - All tell the story of the long ago.
" Within, what tales those mouldering walls could tell, If they could break their silence' mighty spell, - Of childhood, age, of happiness and tears, Of life and death, through all these hundred years !
"Old sunken floors, by many footsteps worn ; Paper once gay, but mildewed now and torn ; The embellished doorways, and the panelled hall, - The generations of the past recall.
" Two antique portraits, older than we know, - Perchance were old a century ago, - Hang in the upper hall ; faint shadows they Of faces long since passed from earth away.
"Up narrow winding attic-stairs we climb, To see the only gleam a bygone time Has left, of horror, in this lonely place, Which soon will crumble, and will leave no trace.
" From a high beam there still suspends a rope, Where, years ago, some one bereft of hope Essayed to end her life ; but all in vain : Life's rugged pathway she must walk again.
" A few brief years, and the old house no more Will stand a way-mark on Time's stormy shore ; And few will mourn, as few will ever prize These relics of the past, with all their teachings wise."
When Mr. Holyoke was settled over the society here, he · was but twenty-seven years of age, and unmarried. He had graduated at Harvard College in 1750, while yet in his
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teens. Where he had spent the intervening years, has not come to our notice.
Few ministers or men have lived in a place so long, so quietly, and so happily, as Mr. Holyoke. The cords of harmony between him and his people were ever perfect, even to reverence and love. His ministry,* extending as it did through the period of forty-seven years, was very uncommon and unprecedented in the ecclesiastical history of New England. In 1765, to show their love and respect, the parish presented to him a small tract of land near to his residence.
The cold "orthodox" air seems not to have found its way even among those where it would have been expected by others of a different denomination, who have always defined that class of ministers as haughty in their speech and manner, and restrained in showing the cords of love and affection.' He seems to have departed from this rule, and sought and found shelter in a more friendly and unrestrained manner.
During Mr. Holyoke's illness, miscellaneous clergymen were hired for a few sabbaths at a time. Principal among these were Revs. David Smith, Samuel Dana, Joseph Brown, and Henry Bigelow.
In January, 1808, Rev. Ebenezer Hubbard of Ipswich was invited to settle over the First Church ; but he refused because of so small a salary, which he said " would be insufficient to enable him to live as he ought to." On the 8th of the following August, the parish concurred with the church in inviting Rev. Isaac Briggs of York, Me., to settle here ; agreeing to give him four hundred dollars salary annually, and two hundred and fifty dollars as a settlement, to be paid in three months after his installation ; also, six cords of " good oak wood " annually, delivered at his door .;
* Sixty-four persons were admitted to the church during his ministry.
t He was to relinquish all claims to the income of the "Parsonage Lands," and money which might arise from leasing the same.
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Rev. Mr. Briggs consented to settle with them by the following letter : -
"TO THE FIRST CHURCH AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETY IN BOXFORD :
" My Christian Friends, - Whereas, He in whose hands are the hearts of all men, and who can turn them as the rivers of water are turned, hath in His all-wise providence inclined you unanimously to invite me, who am most unworthy, to the pastoral charge over you in the Lord, I do now return you my most grateful acknowledgment for the honor conferred on me in your election.
" And with respect to the important affair proposed to my consider- ation : after serious inquiry as to what was my duty, and having con- sulted my friends and some of my fathers in the ministry, I do now with a trembling heart but a willing mind hereby manifest my accept- ance of your invitation, and offer to settle with you in the work of the Gospel ministry. And although I have thought it my duty to obtain such a maintenance as might free me from the necessity of encumber- ing myself too much with the things of this world, yet I humbly trust I can truly say, that I principally seek, not yours, but you. May the Great Shepherd of Israel, who dwelleth between the cherubims, shine forth upon us all, uniting us with His light and love. I would like- wise, with the greatest importunity, ask an interest in your prayers at the throne of Divine Grace, that you would strive with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be enabled to discharge with fidelity every duty incumbent upon me ; that I may both save myself and those that hear me.
" May we all have abundant reason to rejoice together in peace and unity in this world, and be crowned with eternal glory in the world to come.
" ISAAC BRIGGS."
The installation took place on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 1808, with the following exercises : Introductory prayer by Rev. Mr. Briggs of Kittery, Me. ; preaching by Rev. Mr. French of North Hampton, N. H., from 2 Cor. vi. 4; charge to the pastor, by Rev. Mr. Stone of Reading ; prayer of consecration, by Rev. Asahel Huntingdon of Topsfield ; Rev. Mr. Eaton of the West Parish gave the right hand of fellowship ; and Rev. Mr. Chandler of Kittery, Me., made the concluding prayer. Samuel Holyoke, the noted com- poser, took charge of the music during the occasion.
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. In 1801, May 4, the town "voted to build a house to keep a stock of ammunition and military stores in." The " powder-house," as it was called, was situated on a piece of land, bought of Capt. Francis Perley, which is situated north of the late Third-District schoolhouse. It was built eight feet square, and seven feet and nine inches in height. The sides were of brick, and the roof of wood, with a double door to close the entrance. The cost of it was $132.41. The powder-house stood until 1856, when it was sold at auction in town-meeting, being bid off by Mr. Joseph H. Janes at $10.75.
Thomas Dresser,* brother of Nathan, having learned the trade in his father's shop, purchased, in 1795, some land, a part of which is now included in the Savage place, on which he erected the Savage house, and across the road built a blacksmith's shop,} which business he continued to carry on until about 1800, when he removed to Andover, Me. It was then owned successively by Thomas Butman of Marblehead, and John Dorman of Boxford. In 1813 Dorman sold out to Phineas Barnes. Thomas W. Durant hired the shop of Butman, Dorman, and Barnes, succes- sively, until about 1815, John Poor of Newbury, hiring it in May, 1816. Poor stopped but a short time, being fol- lowed by James Patterson in August, 1817. May 24, 1819, Barnes let the shop to Fitch Weston and Amos Cowdrey. They continued in the business there until 1822, when, with the help of Amos Perley and others, Weston erected a shop, and commenced the business, near the residence of Mr. William P. Cleaveland. The old shop was demolished by Mr. Barnes in 1825. Weston continued to work at his
* Thomas Dresser married Hannah Hazen, the celebrated witch of the neighborhood. She was daughter of Jacob and Abigail (Perley) Hazen, and was born in Boxford, July 3, 1764.
t So we are told. But, from the town-records, we should judge that this was the shop in which John Stiles worked in 1774 and after.
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trade in his new location for a few years. After he left town, Jacob Lofty, John Woodman, and others, carried on the business until about 1850, when the building was removed to a meadow of the late William N. Cleaveland, Esq., where it is yet standing, it being used as a storehouse for peat.
At this time (1800) Samuel Peabody was the blacksmith at the East Parish village. His shop was located near the residence of Ancill Dorman, Esq. Mr. Peabody is remem- bered as a man of great strength and endurance. He died June 7, 1824, aged fifty-six years. About 1800, Capt. Joseph Symonds, who lived in Mr. C. Piersons' house, left off blacksmithing. His shop stood near by.
In 1807, Asa Peabody presented to the public a lot of land near the First Church, to be used as a cemetery ; it being that which has ever since been used for that purpose. Mr. Peabody was the first person interred in it, as we are informed by his epitaph :-
In memory of Mr. Asa Peabody, Obt. Oct. 19, 1807, Aet. 67.
Lived respected & died lamented. First interred & giver of this ground.
In 1875 it was enlarged by the addition of a piece of ad- joining land given by Mr. John Sayward, who, by a strange coincidence, was the first one buried in the addition.
There is a private cemetery situated on the banks of Ipswich River, near the residence of Mr. Thomas Sawyer. It has been used by the Curtises and Killams for more than half a century.
In 1809 widow Sarah Chadwick, in her will, bequeathed two thousand dollars to the West Parish for the promotion of education.
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John Dorman, who was living at the Savage place, - probably having purchased it of Thomas Dresser, on his removal to Andover, Me., about 1800, -worked at shoe- making across the road near the barn belonging to the late Amos Stevens, in a building of considerable dimensions. About 1814 Samuel Stiles opened a store in one half of the buildings, and continued to make shoes with Dorman in the other part. About 1817 Stiles removed the build- ing to the Holyoke place at the village, and continued the business in that locality. In 1825 James Whittemore succeeded Stiles in the business. In 1826 Col. Charles Peabody bought and moved the building to the Sayward place (which had been previously owned by Capt. Tobijah Davis), and, having obtained the commission of postmaster, incorporated the post-office within its walls. On Col. Pea- body's removal to Barre, Ill., in 1836, he sold out to Mr. Elisha G. Bunker, from Barnstead, N.H., who continued in the business, and also in the office of postmaster, until he removed from the town. Gamaliel Harris then owned it until it was burnt; Osgood Dale having hired the store after Mr. Bunker had left.
About 1790 iron-smelting was begun at the match-fac- tory ; Samuel (father of Capt. Samuel) and David Kimball, brothers, being a part of the proprietors. Ore was brought from the neighboring towns, as well as from our own lands, to be smelted, and no doubt quite a business was done. After 1805 we hear no more about it.
The mill-site was next owned by Solomon Towne, who altered it into a grist-mill, his brothers Asa and John being millers successively. At the same time, two brothers by the name of Redington carried on, in another part of the mill-building, the manufacture of wooden trays, bowls, &c., and did various kinds of turning, such as hubs for wheels. Having entered into cotton-manufacturing, in the spring of 1832, Mr. Towne sold out to George Blackburn, who let
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the place to John Bentley, a cotton-manufacturer of York- shire, England, who removed the grist-mill, and began more extensively the manufacture of cotton yarn, wicking, and batting. Mr. Bentley lived in the house now occupied by Mr. Parkhurst. He employed some fifteen or twenty hands in the mill, a number of them being Englishmen, and, as we have been told, hired some of the neighbors to wind the yarn and wicking by some simple appliance at their homes. The business was carried on until a few years before Mr. Bentley's death, which occurred Feb. 13, 1864, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was a native of Yorkshire, England, and was son of John and Mary Bentley.
The building and machinery remained as they were until Messrs. Byam & Carlton purchased the property. in the summer of 1867, of Mr. Blackburn, who still possessed it. The machinery was taken out, and the old building removed to give place to the spacious factory-building within whose walls so many matches are daily turned out. The company immediately set up their match-machinery, and did their first day's work Sept. 2, 1867. Their first foreman was N. E. Harris. He was followed in the fall of 1868 by - Whittemore ; and Mr. Whittemore, May 1, 1869, by - Mr. John Parkhurst, who still retains the position.
The number of hands requisite to run the machinery, &c., is twenty. Their method of match-manufacturing is as follows : The logs are taken into the mill, and the clear timber between the knots carefully cut out, which process is termed " bolting." The knots and other refuse are used in feeding the large thirty-horse-power steam-engine. These junks, thus cut out, are then sawn into two-inch, round- edged plank. This is called "planking." These plank are passed to the "trimmer," whose business it is to square- edge them. The plank are then carried to the steam-house, when, after being thoroughly "steamed," they are taken
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out and "slashed," that is, cut up into thin boards two inches wide, and of the thickness of a match. They are then conveyed to the dry-house to be " dried," after which they are carried to the "gang-machines," three in number, at which two employees work, -one to saw the matches with the gang-saws, and the other to pack them in boxes as fast as they are sawn. These boxes contain ten or fifteen gross each, and are conveyed by rail to Boston to be " dipped," preparatory to offering them for sale. About 350 gross, or about 5,000,000 single matches, are turned out per day, and some 1,800 tons of timber consumed annually. The company have some $30,000 invested in the business, and turn out about $40,000 worth of goods annually. A saw-mill is also in connection with it, and also box-machinery to manufacture boxes for their own use, and for sale.
In the beginning of the nineteenth century the militia- companies drilled twice a year; viz., April and October. During the October training, the regiment met together for regimental inspection, and were reviewed by the gen- eral. Oct. 17, 1810, and Oct. 7 and 9, 1811, they were reviewed by Gen. Peabody of Newburyport.
The equipment of the militia was as follows, viz. : one musket, one bayonet, one iron rod, one scabbard and belt, three flints, one wire and brush, one knapsack, and twenty-four rounds of cartridges and balls. For being deficient of a cartridge-box and cartridges, the fine was thirty cents ; for not training, two dollars.
The Boxford companies formed a part of the Third Regiment, Second Brigade, Second Division (of which Benjamin Jenkins was lieutenant-colonel commandant), of the State militia.
From the beginning of the decade of time of which we are writing, England began to be hostile with the United States. American ships abroad suffered considerably by
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the British men-of-war that were sent out for that purpose. At last events terminated in an open declaration of war in June, 1812.
The West Parish company of foot, in 1812, consisted of the following men., viz: Captain, John Tyler ; Fifers, Charles Kimball, William Runnells; Drummers, Jacob Parker, John Merrill ; Sergeants, Samuel Clement, Frederic Carleton, Gardner Ames, Isaac Hovey ; Privates, Daniel Adams, Billy Bradstreet, John Bacon, John B. Buckmas- ter, Edmund Barker, Richard Carleton, Leonard Carleton, James Coburn, William M. Coburn, Samuel Cree, Dan- iel Currier, Henry Clement, John Day, Nathan Dresser, Jeremiah Harriman, Daniel Harriman, Thomas Hovey, Benjamin Herrick, Micaiah Kimball, Benjamin Kimball, Moody Kimball, John Kimball, jun., Peter Pearl, Jonathan Porter, Stephen Porter, James Pettingill, Rufus Porter, Abraham Peabody, jun., Jonas Runnells, Eliphalet Run- nells, Samuel S. Runnells, William Ross, John Ross, John Runnells, Thomas Spofford, Francis Swan, William Tyler, Joseph S. Tyler, Joseph Wood, Daniel Wood * (49).
Before war had been declared, pursuant to an Act of Congress of April 10, 1812, men were drafted to guard the seaports all along the coast, as it was expected that England would again commit her depredations upon our Atlantic ports.
Pursuant to an order from the lieutenant-colonel com- mandant, the company met at the West Parish meeting- house on Monday, May 25, and the following soldiers were drafted, viz. : Frederic Carleton, sergeant ; and Billy Brad- street, Leonard Carleton, Henry Clement, Benjamin Pearl, Rufus Porter, Moses Ross, and Joseph S. Tyler, privates.
As soon as war was declared with Great Britain, the inhabitants of Boxford came together at a town-meeting
* Daniel Wood is the only one now living of this company. He resides in the West Parish, and enjoys good health.
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· appointed for that purpose, and chose a committee, which consisted of Thomas Perley, Parker Spofford, Jacob Gould, Ebenezer Peabody, and Jonathan Foster, jun., to take into consideration the condition of affairs with Great Britain. The committee accordingly retired, and made out their report (which is inserted below), which was accepted by the town. It will be seen, on perusing the report, that the town greatly blamed the United States for doing as they did.
REPORT.
" The committee appointed to take into consideration the present alarming situation of our country in consequence of the late Declara- tion of War by our Government with Great Britain, to express their minds on the subject, and to adopt such measures as will be thought fit and proper to avert so dreadful a calamity, viewing with inexpressi- ble anxiety the awful situation of our country by the measures and declarations of the Government now involved in the calamities of war, and exposed to all the numerous train of evils inevitably resulting therefrom:
" In this situation it highly becomes good men and lovers of their country to consider and perform their duty to the Government. Under these apprehensions the following resolves are submitted, viz. : -
" Resolved, that as citizens of a free Government we consider it to be our duty, and that we will support all constitutional laws and authorities of the United States and this Commonwealth, and being orderly assembled according to the provision of the Constitution, to consult on the common good of our country, are constrained to say, that when the United States were in a state of neutrality and at peace with all nations, for a series of years under the late and present administrations, under fearful apprehensions we have seen the Gov- ernment of the United States proceeding in a course of measures of aversion and irritation with one powerful nation, and of com- plaisance and submission to another powerful nation. In the prose- cution of such measures we consider the Government to have lost sight of, or to have disregarded, the best interests of the people, who by the late acts of the Government are now become exposed to all the horrors of war, and a numerous train of evils which will follow from a continued war with the power of Great Britain, and must result in the greatest of all evils, an alliance with, and subjugation to. the Emperor of France.
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" Resolved, that we cannot see any just cause of this war : it will be destructive to the prosperity, the happiness, and the morals of the people ; and if proceeded in we have reason to fear the loss of much blood and treasure, together with our national rights and inde- pendence.
" Resolved, that we admire the late speech of his excellency, Caleb Strong, to the Legislature, replete with wisdom and with moderation.
" Resolved, that we highly approve of the address of the House of Representatives to the people of Massachusetts, clearly pointing out to them their danger, the causes of their sufferings, and their remedy.
"Resolved, that in this deplorable situation of our public concerns, we will endeavor to cultivate a spirit of amity among ourselves ; and, being of opinion that a unity of sentiment expressed by towns and counties is become necessary, this town will, on their part, appoint a delegate to meet, deliberate, and advise with the delegates that are or may be chosen for that purpose by the other towns in the county of Essex."
Not much was accomplished during the campaign of 1812, by the army of thirteen thousand men which had been raised by the Government, although the British could scarcely muster three thousand men on their whole line from west to east.
The next spring opened with the capture of York, in Canada, now called by its original Indian name, Toronto ; and again, on the 27th of May, Fort George was taken by the Americans. These, with several other victories on the water, among which may be mentioned Perry's victory on Lake Erie, made the season quite successful to the United States.
In 1814 Congress made provision for raising more men for the army. In the month of July orders were received by the West Boxford military company to detach a ser- geant and a private from their company : accordingly Dean Chadwick and Eliphalet Runnells were drafted, - Dean Chadwick being appointed sergeant. The East Boxford company also received orders to draft two men to serve in
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the army : Oliver Wood and Jacob Dresser were according- ly drafted. They were to serve for three months, and were ordered to march on Monday, the first day of August following. In the following September eight more were drafted for the service of the State. Their names are as follows, viz. : Francis Swan, Daniel Mitchel, Moody Kim- ball, and Stephen Pike, from the West Boxford company ; and Joseph S. Peabody, Francis Peabody, John Perley, and Abraham How, from the East Boxford company. They were ordered to march to Beverly as soon as possible. The late Capt. Aaron Spofford was also a soldier in this war. He was at work, farming, in Andover, when he was drafted. In 1878 the government granted him a pension.
The following were a part of the East Boxford " company of foot" in 1814, viz. : Abraham Perley, captain ; Charles Peabody, lieutenant ; Josiah Kimball, ensign ; Oliver Wood, Joseph Foster, Tobias Davis, Abraham How, Nathan Dresser, Seth Burnham, Samuel Perley, Jacob Dresser, Henry Perley, Jonas Foster, Jacob Gould, Samuel Perley, jun., Joseph Towne, Joseph S. Peabody, Francis Peabody, John Perley, Francis Perley, and Timothy F. Stevens, privates. Moody Foster and Nathaniel Long belonged to it in 1815 ; Asa Perley, Daniel Andrews, Asa Stiles, Daniel Gould, jun., Artemas Kimball, and Ancill Perley, in 1816; Oliver Killam, Samuel Bixby, Joseph P. Gould, John Gould, Peabody Russell, Oliver T. Peabody, and Joseph Daniels, in 1817.
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