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 24
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" TO THE CHRISTIAN SOCIETY IN WEST BOXFORD.
" Beloved Brethren, - I am admonished by advanced age, the in- firmities of body and mind, and the feelings of some in this society, that it is time for me to withdraw from the active duties of my pro- fession. It is therefore my desire to be exempted from the perform- ance of parochial duties after the close of the month of March ; and I request this Religious Society to adopt the necessary measures that the civil contract may be disannulled.
" Your affectionate pastor,
" PETER EATON."
* See Gage's History of Rowley, p. 44.
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The parish had no idea of losing their beloved pastor, if he was getting old, and his mind weak; and at the two succeeding parish meetings it was voted unanimously that he should remain, which Mr. Eaton consented to. April 22, 1845, the parish voted that he should preach when he felt able, and to employ some other person when he was not able. He again requested to be dismissed, and, Aug. 21, 1845, the parish voted that his connection with the parish should be dissolved from and after the first Sunday in the succeeding month; upon which the parish passed the following resolves, viz. : -
" Resolved, That in view of the contemplated separation between us and the Rev. Peter Eaton, our pastor, we tender an expression of our unfeigned attachment to him as a Christian minister, and that we sincerely regret any thing we may have done as individuals, or as a body, which may have hindered him in the work of the ministry, or in any manner have injured his feelings.
" Resolved, That we tender to him our ardent desires for his future usefulness and happiness, assuring him that our prayer to the great Head of the Church is, that he may be prospered in life, blessed in death, and receive an abundant entrance into the joys which are the reward of those who through grace endure unto the end.
" Resolved, That, as the crisis has arrived when the contract between the parish and their aged and venerable pastor (who has for nearly fifty-six years broken the Bread of Life) should be dissolved, it is regretted that any division between any members of the parish and their pastor exists, we therefore express a hope that a divine blessing may be bestowed upon our reverend father in the ministry, through his remaining days while here on earth, and that, when called to his home in Heaven, his exit from earth may be peaceful and happy."
Notwithstanding all we have just said, Mr. Eaton was not dismissed from the ministry, but another minister was called to assist him in the work. This colleague was Rev. Calvin E. Park, who was installed Oct. 14, 1846. The following were the exercises of the installation, viz .: Invo- cation and reading of the Scriptures by Rev. William S. Coggin; introductory prayer by Rev. L. F. Dimmick of
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Newburyport ; sermon by Rev .- Professor Park of Andover ; installing prayer by Rev. Calvin Park, D.D., of Stoughton ; charge to the pastor by Rev. Daniel Dana, D.D., of New- buryport ; right hand of fellowship by Rev. Nathan Munn of Bradford ; address to the people by Rev. Samuel C. Jackson of Andover; and concluding prayer by Rev. Jonathan F. Stearns of Newburyport.
Rev. Mr. Eaton lingered in his old age until April 14, 1848, when he quietly passed away at the mature age of eighty-three years. He was born in Haverhill, Mas's., March 15, 1765 ; graduated at Harvard, 1787 ; and studied divinity with Phineas Adams of Haverhill. He married, first, Sept. 2, 1792, Sarah, daughter of Rev. Elias Stone - for sixty years pastor of the church in Reading, - who died Jan. 15, 1824, aged fifty-seven years. He married, second, (pub. Aug. 17, 1824), widow Sarah Sweet of Andover. His children, all by first wife, were: I. Sarah, b. 24 July, 1794; m. Daniel Flint, 11 Dec., 1820. 2. Mary, b. 1796 .; d. 20 June, 1797. 3. Peter Sydney, b. 7 Oct., 1798 (see his biography). 4. Francis Welch, b. 28 July, 1800; was lost at sea, 15 Nov., 1821. 5. Mary Stone, b. 30 May, 1802 ; m. Moses Kimball of Boxford. 6. Joseph Webster, b. I May, 1804; d. 29 Oct., 1821. 7. John Hubbard, b. 12 April, 1806.
Rev. Peter Eaton was of a large and generous spirit, with powers as a preacher of a superior order, and with a char- acter for kindness of heart and moral worth not often surpassed. He secured, during his long and quiet minis- try, the respect and love of his people, who, as a memorial of their affection, erected a monument to his memory. - Monument.
Few ministers can be found in any age or country who have occupied the same pulpit for so long a period as did Mr. Eaton. For fifty-seven long years he was almost constantly in the pulpit, attending to his duties.
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He saw ministers grow up and die around him ; he saw his young friends, who, when he was settled over the society, were yet in their teens, grow up, and become grandfathers ; new generations were born into the world; new manners and customs took the place of the old-fashioned mode of living ; and at last, aged, infirm, and with silver locks floating where, in his boyhood days, the golden curls grew, no wonder he felt like a pilgrim and a stranger whenever he thought of the scenes of his youth, his beloved wife, and most, if not all, of his children left him to wander alone. He was dearly beloved by his flock, and deeply lamented when he died.
Several of Dr. Eaton's sermons were published, and are now extant. Through the kindness of N. W. Hazen, Esq., of Andover, two of them now lie before us. One of these was delivered at Topsfield, June 20, 1815, before "The Moral Society of Boxford and Topsfield,"* at their first regular meeting. The text was : "They returned, and cor- rupted themselves more than their fathers " (Judg. ii. 19). It contains much information concerning the morals of that time. The other sermon is entitled, " Test of Chris- tian Character," and was written upon the text : "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven ; but he that doeth the will of my Father that is in heaven " (Matt. vii. 21), - delivered on an exchange at North Andover, March 9, 1834. Both show soundness and clearness of teaching.
After Mr. Eaton's death Mr. Park continued to occupy the pulpit.
May 14, 1850, the following Articles of Faith and Cove-
* This society was formed, as its constitution professes, for "the sup- pression of immorality of every description, particularly intemperance, sab- bath-breaking, and profanity ; and the promotion of piety and good morals." This was the introduction of the more narrow temperance organizations of the present day. In this sermon the development of immorality, and the steps taken to prevent its spread, are clearly and skilfully divulged.
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nant, which are those that are now used by the church, were adopted : -
ARTICLES OF FAITH.
" Ist, You believe in the one loving and true God -the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; and that it is the duty of all men supremely to love and obey him.
" 2d, You believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testa- ment are the Word of God, written throughout by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and that they are a perfectly sufficient and infallible rule of faith and practice.
"3d, You believe that God created our first parents upright, that by eating the forbidden fruit they fell from that state of righteousness, and that in consequence of their apostacy, all their descendants were made sinners.
" 4th, You believe in the incarnation, obedience, suffering and death of Jesus Christ ; His resurrection and ascension; that He alone by His sufferings and death has made atonement for sin, and that faith in Him is essential to salvation.
" 5th, You believe that the wickedness of every man's heart is such as to render necessary his being born again, that he may enter into the Kingdom of God, and that no one will ever perform the conditions of salvation but such as are made willing to do so by the special influence of the Holy Ghost.
"6th, You believe that God has from the foundation of the world chosen those from among men who shall receive eternal life, through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth, and who shall through grace persevere in holiness unto the end.
" 7th, You believe that Christ has established a church in the earth composed only of such as have savingly believed in Jesus Christ, and that he has appointed two ordinances to be observed by the church,- the Lord's Supper and baptism, the latter to be received by believers and their households.
"8th, You believe in the resurrection of the righteous and the wicked, in a universal final judgment in which all men will receive according to their deeds done in the body, and after which the right- eous will go away into eternal life, and the wicked into a punishment that will never end. - This you profess and believe.
COVENANT.
" You do now humbly and penitently, asking the forgiveness of your sins through the blood of your Saviour, give up yourself to God
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in an everlasting covenant in our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the pres- ence of God, angels, and men, you promise by the assistance of the Holy Spirit, that you will forsake the vanities of this world, and let your conversation be such as becometh godliness, consecrating all your powers to the service of Jesus Christ, and seeking the good of the church and the world. You covenant with this church to walk in love, to submit to its discipline and ordinances, and in all things to seek its peace and welfare so long as in the providence of God you shall be connected with it.
"And we, the members of this church, do now affectionately re- ceive you to our communion and fellowship; and engage to watch over your spiritual interests, and to walk with you in all the ordi- nances of the gospel, as becometh saints. And may God in His infinite mercy enable us to be faithful to Him and to each other while we live, that we may be admitted at last, through the blood of Christ, to His everlasting kingdom."
In 1838 the land for the new cemetery in the West Parish was purchased, and improved for that purpose immediately. In 1863 an addition was made to it, lots, carriage-ways, and avenues laid out, together with other improvements.
About 1837 Major William Low built a building near the residence of Ancill Dorman, Esq., which he used for a carpenter's shop ; but Jacob, brother of Rev. Mr. Coggin, wishing to keep a store in the village, Mr. Low removed it to its present position. Having been used for that pur- pose ever since, it is now, as it has been for a number of years, under the care of Mr. Frederic A. Howe, who has been the postmaster of the East Parish for several years.
A number of shoe-manufactories existed in the town at the time of which we are writing. In 1837 the estimated value of shoes manufactured here was $52,975. One of these manufacturers was Samuel Fowler, in the West Parish. Some twenty years since, several shoe-manufac- tories were in vogue; among which were those of Marion Gould, John Hale, Isaac Hale, and Edward Howe. Marion Gould continued in the business but a short time. John
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Hale erected his elegant factory-building about 1857, and began the manufacture of shoes. He failed during the war, but afterwards for a few years did a little business. Isaac Hale built his manufactory in 1859, and did business about three or four years. The last mentioned, however, had manufactured shoes a few years previous to the erec- tion of his factory-building. Edward Howe began shoe- business in 1838; built his present shoe-manufactory in 1845, and entered into a larger enterprise. Uninterrupted by the fluctuations of business, he has kept his workmen busy to the present time. In 1876 his son William W. Howe became a partner in the business, and the firm-name from that date has been "Edward Howe & Son." Their trade is mostly confined to the Southern and Middle States, and, as their goods are of good stock and standard make, they have a regular sale. They now manufacture about six thousand pairs annually.
We pass onward with the history of the militia com- panies. In 1832 the two companies were joined together, and trained as one company until the spring of 1840, when all the militia throughout the State were disbanded. We insert the roll of the company, which was still a part of the Third Regiment, Second Brigade, Second Division, of the State militia, as corrected on the first Tuesday of May, 1838, viz. :-
Hosea C. Killam, Captain, John Peabody, Lieutenant, Isaac Hale, Ensign, Augustus Perley, Clerk, Arro Bly, Drummer, Oliver T. Peabody, Drummer, Daniel Bixby, Fifer.
Privates.
Samuel Andrews, Daniel Andrews,
Dean Andrews, William Atherton, Samuel Adams, Levi Bartlett, Charles Bixby,
Charles H. Bixby, William Bly, James Carleton, Samuel B. Carleton, Amos Chaplin, Amos Davis,
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Joshua T. Day, John Day, jun.,
Samuel Perley, 3d, Stephen P. Perley,
Moses Dorman, jun.,
Henry E. Perley,
Ancill Dorman,
Leonard Perley,
Bradstreet E. Davis,
Charles Perley,
William Fegan,
Hiram Perley,
John Fegan,
Moody Perley,
Richard K. Foster,
Leander Perley,
Warren Gage,
Jesse Reynolds,
Francis Gould,
Benjamin Robinson, jun.,
Elijah Gould,
Jeremiah Rea,
Samuel Goodale,
Samuel P. Russell,
Augustus Hayward, John Hale,
Elijah Stiles,
Joseph Hale, Israel Hale,
Israel Stiles,
Daniel Hosmer,
Nathaniel G. Spiller, John Spiller,
Benjamin Hood,
Calvin L. Smith,
Allen G. Hood,
Nathaniel Smith,
Joseph Killam,
Charles Smith,
Joseph E. Killam,
Simeon Spofford,
Oliver Killam, jun.,
Solomon Spofford,
Amos Kimball,
Samuel H. Towne,
Samuel Morse,
Henry A. Towne,
Jefferson Nichols,
Phineas P. Tyler,
Horatio Pearl,
Jeremiah Tyler,
James M. Peabody,
William Tyler, jun.,
Stephen Peabody,
Daniel Wells,
John Prescott,
Joseph Waterhouse,
Timothy Phillips,
William Wentworth.
Parker B. Perley,
Total number, 81.
The above company would have been much larger, but for the organization of the Boxford Washington Guards two years before (1836). Many of the old joined the new and dashing company, which was an intensely popular organization.
The old company, as we have before said, was disbanded in the spring of 1840. Aug. 10 of the same year the town voted that they would furnish an armory for the use of the
Johnson Savage,
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Guards, at an expense not exceeding $300, including land for its site. On the 13th of the following November $70 more was voted to be expended in its completion, thus making its cost $370. The armory was built by David Dwinnell, and was situated near the residence of Mr. Jere- miah Rea. A few years later it was sold to the late Mr. Joseph N. Pope, who removed and fitted it up into the dwelling-house which he occupied till his death.
After flourishing for about ten years, the Guards dis- united, never to meet as a company again. This is the last company of militia that Boxford has had.
In 1852 steps were taken by the people living on its line to build a railroad from Danvers to Newburyport, pass- ing through the east part of Boxford. The Boxford people invested much money in the shares of the capital stock, from which little advantage was derived, except from the convenience of the railroad. The work of building the rail- way was accordingly begun in the summer of 1852; and in October, 1853, the trains began to run. Three trains a day each way was then the rule, - one at morning, the others at noon and night. In 1859 the company sold the road to the Boston and Maine Railroad, who have since owned and controlled the road, which they have extended to Wakefield to unite with their line. The Boxford dépôt is situated in the extreme eastern part of the town, and Mr. William J. Badger is, and has been for sixteen years, the popular and efficient station-agent. The station-agents before Mr. Badger were S. Page Lake, John Hale, jun., and Samuel McKenzie, respectively.
The practice of " boarding out" town paupers was con- tinued up to the time of purchasing the farm of Capt. Jacob Towne in 1847. The farm-buildings were repaired, improvements made, and every thing was prepared for the reception of the paupers. Mr. Jonathan Martin - now living, and postmaster at Byfield, being upwards of
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eighty years of age- was the first master of almshouse. Various men have occupied that position during the three decades that have elapsed since the purchase of the farm ; some of them staying a number of years. Since coming into the possession of the town, the farm has been much improved, both in its appearance and fertility ; and we congratulate the town in obtaining the services of such able men for masters.
March 7, 1846, the western extremity of the town of Ips- wich was annexed to Boxford. The annexation contained about fifteen acres, and included the residences of Messrs. Edward and Leverett S. Howe.
A small village having sprung up in the southern part of the town of Groveland, those families that resided on an adjacent corner of Boxford desired to be set off to Grove- land, and thus form a portion of the rising village of South Groveland. A petition was sent to the General Court, who granted their request, providing "that the inhabitants and land thus set off shall be holden to pay, and shall pay, to said town of Boxford, the sum of one hundred and ten dol- lars and fifty cents ; the said sum being their part of the town-debt of said town of Boxford : and provided further, that all paupers who have gained a settlement in said town of Boxford by a settlement gained or derived within said territory shall be relieved or supported by said town of Groveland, in the same manner as if they had a legal settlement in said town of Groveland." In choosing repre- sentatives to the General Court, the voters in that district were ordered to vote with the town of Boxford until the next decennial census (1860). The act was approved by the governor, March 21, 1856 .* The part set off was that enclosed by the following lines, viz. : " Beginning at a stone monument at the north-westerly corner of the town of Georgetown, and north-easterly corner of said town of Box-
* Acts of General Court, 1856, chap. 61, sects. 1-3.
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ford, thence running, ten degrees thirty minutes west, three hundred and eleven rods and five links, on a line between said towns of Georgetown and Boxford, to a stone monu- ment, at an angle between said towns; thence running on an angle with the first-mentioned line, containing forty-six degrees thirty minutes, five hundred and fifty-eight rods and twenty links, north-westerly, and between the houses of William Ross and John C. Foot, and across Johnson's Pond, to a stone monument between the towns of Brad- ford, Boxford, and Groveland ; thence running easterly, on a line between said towns of Boxford and Groveland (which is the present dividing line between said towns), to the point first begun at."
In 1857 the number of school-committee was reduced to three. The same number is still chosen annually, - one being chosen for three years, one for two, and one for one year, by which arrangement one of the committee leaves, and a new one enters the office, each year. In 1858 it was voted to have a "prudential " committee, consisting of one person in each district, to hire their own teacher. This arrangement continued for a number of years, and was then abandoned.
The present school system is very advantageous, accom- modating itself to the scholars by its summer, fall, and winter terms, continuing in the aggregate some six or seven months out of the twelve. The younger children, that could not attend the winter term on account of the inclemency of the season, can avail themselves of the summer months. Also, the young men that are employed at home upon the farm during the summer season can attend the winter term. Many of the higher branches of study have been introduced into the schools, so that our . younger population can obtain a good education without leaving town, although we have no high schools or academies.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE REBELLION.
CAUSE OF THE STRIFE. - FIRST EVENTS. - VOTES OF BOXFORD. - VOLUNTEERS. - BOUNTIES OFFERED BY THE TOWN. - THE MORSE HOUSE. - LISTS OF THOSE THAT ENTERED THE ARMY AND NAVY FROM BOXFORD. - THE DRAFT. - AMOUNT OF MONEY EXPENDED BY THE TOWN. - THE WORK OF THE LADIES. - SOLDIERS' MONUMENT. - CAMP STANTON.
E now enter upon a period which bereaved many families of their main support, and brought sor- row to every household in the loss of a son, a father, a husband, or some near kindred. It was a period that tried the patriotism of the Northern States, and which proved that they would sustain the Union, cost what it might. Among the many towns and cities of the old Commonwealth, Boxford made known to the world that her share of the conflict would be sustained ; and she kept her word by sending into the service several soldiers more than had been called for.
The question of slavery - the cause of the strife-need not be agitated, as every American home has been thrilled with its discussion, and all well understand its alliance with the South.
At the national election in 1860, Abraham Lincoln of Illinois, the Republican nominee, was elected President of the United States. Disdaining to accept the result of the election, because of Lincoln's aversion to slavery, a number of the Southern States seceded, and attempted to set up
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a government of their own, choosing Jefferson Davis presi- dent, and Alexander H. Stephens vice-president, and call- ing themselves the Confederate States of America. The United States immediately began measures to suppress the attempt of disunion, but on a very limited scale.
At half-past four on the morning of April 12, the first shot was fired from Fort Moultrie, -in which the South had placed seven thousand men under the command of Gen. Beauregard, - upon Fort Sumter, which contained only seventy of the Union soldiers under the command of Ma- jor Anderson. Thus commenced this strange, unequalled battle, in which no lives were lost on either side. Fort Sumter, after withholding fire three hours, opened her guns with vigor. The battle continued without result dur- ing the day, and Beauregard kept up his fire at intervals during the night. The next day the woodwork of Fort Sumter was set on fire by shells, and the men were forced to leave the guns to arrest the flames. At noon the whole roofing of the barracks was on fire, and there was imminent danger of an explosion of the magazine. At last, worn out, suffocated, and almost blinded, the garrison capitulated. The telegraph conveyed the tidings to all parts of the country ; it excited everywhere the greatest amazement, few persons having believed hitherto that the South would ever proceed to extremities. It was also met with the determination on the part of nine-tenths of the people of the North, that the rebellion should be sup- pressed, no matter how much human life, or how much time and money, its suppression might require. President Lincoln issued a proclamation on the 15th, calling for seventy-five thousand volunteer soldiers.
On the 6th of May, the selectmen of Boxford called a town-meeting, at which it was voted "to furnish each of those persons who have volunteered, or who may volunteer, into the service of their country from this town, within the
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present year, with such clothing and other things as they may need; also, to pay them during their elementary drill as much per month as their pay will be when in regular service." The number, names, &c., of the men that volunteered this year, as well as those that enlisted during the whole five years that the war continued, will be found by referring to the table given a few pages ahead.
The events of the first year, 1861, aroused the North to more extensive operations. The first battle of Bull Run, which was fought this year, was the most disastrous to both armies, about two thousand being killed on each side.
July 22, 1862, to further encourage men to volunteer into the service, the town voted "that a bounty of two hundred dollars be offered to any person being a citizen of this town who may enlist into the service of the United States for the term of three years, to be paid them when they are sworn into said service, until the town's quota is full. They must enlist within twenty-one days from this date " (July 22, 1862). Also, voted "that the recruiting officers be authorized, after the expiration of twenty days, to recruit from any other source approved by law, offering a bounty of one hundred dollars."
Aug. 22, the town voted "that they will pay to each person that is a resident of this town, who will enlist into the Federal army, and be duly enrolled under the last call of the President for three hundred thousand men for nine months service, until the quota for Boxford shall be filled, a bounty of two hundred and fifty dollars."
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