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 5
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ley Villiage, have made a bridge over it, neare the lower end of Robert Hafelltines meadow & foe along, as the high way now goeth to A place commonly called, the aptake, and at the top of that Hill leaveing the high way, that now is A little on the left hand, and soe as the trees are marked, to Johnfons Brooke, and over the brooke vntill it meet with the high way againe, as trees are marked, and so along that high way, to Robert Hafeltines, corner of his barne yard, and as the trees are marked on both sydes of the way, to Thomas Kimballs and soe along the high way to the fferry place, by Merrimack Riuer. This is our finall determination, This 16th of march 1668 or (69)
" SAMUEL BROCKLEBANKE, JOHN GOULD, THOMAS BAKER, JOHN GRIFFING."
EZEKIELL NORTHEND,
JOSEPH PIKE,
When the Village lands were laid out in 1666, as we see by the second chapter, John Pickard of Rowley had a "farm " laid out to him in the north-easterly corner of the Village lands, lying south-casterly of Johnson's pond, and containing two hundred and fifty acres. Sept. 30, 1667, Pickard lets his "farm" to Edmond James of Rowley, agreeing * to "build and finish" a cellar twenty-four feet long, with a chimney in it, by the middle of the next April ; also, John Pickard is to build upon the land a dwelling- house twenty-four feet long and sixteen feet wide, and to " cover and finish the house and cellar," excepting the clay- work and underpinning, which James is to do. The house was to be finished by the middle of April, 1669. Pickard was also to build near the house a barn forty-six feet long and eleven feet stud, with " grate doors so that a loaden cart may conveniently goe in, and little dores soe as an unloaden cart may goe out thereof." He was also to " board or clapboard " the sides, ends, and roof of the barn ; James was to shingle and underpin the barn; and the whole was to be finished before " wheat harvest" in 1669. These buildings were situated in the extreme north-western
* See the agreement in Essex Registry of Deeds, at Salem, Vol. III., folio 45, Ipswich records.
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
corner of the present town of Georgetown. On searching, the old cellar might be identified. Regarding the lessee of this farm, little is known. From what we do know we should say that he resided here for several years, and in 1679 let himself to Rev. Francis Dane of Andover, where he died 14 Sept., 1682, in Dane's service. In 1680, Mat- thew Perry with his family, consisting of wife and six chil- dren, came from Ipswich, and took up their residence on this farm. Pickard made his will Sept. 6, 1683, and in it he bequeaths this farm, valued at two hundred pounds, to his wife, and after her decease to his son Samuel. Perry lived on the farm till about 1690, when he removed to Bradford, and Jonah Perry was appointed administrator of his estate, March 31, 1697. Nov. 29, 1686, he purchased sixty-seven acres of land of Samuel Stickney and Samuel Dresser, lying in Boxford, which he exchanged, a few years later, with John Pickard, for one hundred acres lying north of Pickard's farm in Bradford, now in Groveland. Matthew Perry m. 27 March, 1665, Elizabeth, dau. of George Blake of Gloucester -afterwards an early settler of Boxford. Their children, born in Ipswich, were: I. Matthew,2 b. 16 July, 1666; d. young. 2. Samuel,2 b. 15 April, 1668. 3. John,2 b. 15 Aug., 1669. 4. Waitstill,2 b. and d. about 1674. 5. Elizabeth,2 b. 13 Dec., 1675. 6. Eliphalet,2 b. - May, 1677. 7. Deborah,2 b. I May, 1678. 8. Wil- liam,2 b. 2 Aug., 1679. The following were born in Box- ford : 9. Matthew,2 b. I May, 1681. 10. Ruth,2 b. 15 Aug., 1682. II. Masille 2 (dau.), b. 15 April, 1684. 12. Dorothy,2 b. 14 Feb., 1685.
In the earlier colonial days the governor, deputy-governor, &c., were chosen in London by all the freemen of the Com- pany in the manner known as the "erection of hands." After transmitting the patent to New England, the gover- nor and other high officers were chosen by the freemen of the Colony. The Village freemen, each year until 1670,
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made their annual tour to Boston to participate in the election, which was held upon the last Wednesday in every Easter term, which would vary from the 29th of April to the 2d of June. The General Court-Electory, as it was called, which consisted of the governor, deputy-governor, all the magistrates, and one or two deputies from each town, met at the place of meeting in Boston, on the day of election, to receive the votes of the freemen. The manner of voting was as follows: The voters entered the room at one door, and, in full sight of the Court-Electory, placed their votes (pieces of paper, after the style of the present day) upon a table, and then passed out at an oppo- site door. Those who could not be present sent their votes by proxies. The polls being closed, the governor counted the votes, and declared the result. The deputy-governor was chosen in the same way. The assistants were nomi- nated, one at a time, by the governor ; and at each nomina- tion the freemen voted for or against the election of the nominee. The affirmative votes were pieces of paper with some marks made upon them: the negatives were blank. After 1670, because of the growth of the colony, and the inconveniences arising therefrom, the old rule was changed, and the election was held in each town, and the result sent to the Court-Electory at Boston, who declared the aggregate result, after the manner of the present day .* The Village
* In these elections, none but freemen could vote; and to become a freeman one must belong to some Congregational church, and be of good standing in society. But in 1664, and after, certificates from clergymen signifying them to be correct in doctrine and of good moral character were all that was necessary. This practice of making freemen was done away with before 1700.
The following is a true copy of a freeman's oath, as it was printed in the Freeman's Oath, the first paper published in New England, in 1634 :-
"I, -, being by God's providence, an Inhabitant, and Freeman, within the jurisdiction of this Commonwealth, do freely acknowledge myself to be subject to the Government thereof : And therefore do here swear by the great and dreadful name of the Ever-living God, that I will be true and
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freemen cast their votes at Rowley until the incorporation of Boxford in 1685.
Every man of suitable age and proper qualifications, of the early settlers of New England, was required to enter the military ranks, and receive the instructions of the officers. Each town contained a company, who chose their own officers. Massachusetts was divided into three sec-
faithfull to the same, and will accordingly yield assistance and support there- unto, with my person and estate, as in equity I am bound ; and will also truly endeavor to maintain and preserve all the liberties and priviledges thereof, submitting myself to the wholesome Lawes & Orders made and established by the same. And further, that I will not plot or practise any evill against it, or consent to any that shall do so ; but will timely discover and reveal the same to lawfull Authority now here established, for the speedy preventing thereof.
" Moreover, I doe solemnly bind myself in the sight of God, that when I shal be called to give my voyce touching any such matter of this State, in which Freemen are to deal, I will give my vote and sufrage as I shall judge in mine own conscience may best conduce and tend to publike weal of the body. So help me God in the Lord Jesus Christ."
Those persons who were not allowed, or who declined to become freemen, were styled residents, and not entitled to full civil privileges. They, with every other man above twenty years of age, having a residence of six months and not enfranchised, were made to take the following oath before the gov- ernor, deputy-governor, or the two next assistants : -
" I do swear and call God to witness, that being now an inhabitant within the limits of this jurisdiction of Massachusetts, I do acknowledge myself lawfully subject to the authority and government here established ; and do accordingly submit my person, family, and estate to be protected, ordered, and governed by the laws and constitution thereof ; and do faithfully promise to be from time to time obedient and conformable thereunto, and to the author- ity of the Governor and all other magistrates and their successors, and to all such laws, orders, sentences, and decrees, as now are or hereafter shall be lawfully made, decreed, and published by them or their successors, and I will always endeavor (as in duty I am bound) to advance the peace and welfare of this body politic, and I will to my best power and means seek to divert and prevent whatsoever may tend to the ruin or damage thereof, or of the Governor, Deputy Governor, or assistants, or any of their successors. And I will give speedy notice to them, or some of them, of any seditions, violent treachery, or other hurt or evil, which I shall know, hear, or vehemently suspect to be plotted or intended against them, or any of them, or against the said Commonwealth, or government established. So help me God."
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tions, and the soldiers of each of these sections composed a regiment. Essex and Norfolk counties, containing eleven companies, composed one of the regiments, which was commanded by Major Daniel Dennison of Ipswich. The following order of the General Court was early passed : -
" Ordered, that all the souldiers belonging to the twenty-six bands in the Mattachusetts government shall be exercised and drilled eight daies in a yeare, and whosoever shall absent himself, except it were upon unavoidable occasions, shall pay 5s. for every daie's neglect."
The eight days' training mentioned in the above order was to be all at one season. The Villagers trained in the Rowley company, which was commanded by Capt. Sebas- tian Brigham, an original settler of that town. But, Rowley totally disregarding the Villagers for several years, Major Dennison ordered them to train at Topsfield, which the Villagers gladly consented to, as Topsfield was much more convenient ; and many of the Villagers were chosen into military offices in the company.
The "iron-works," which were an important business enterprise in the early settlement of the town of Boxford, were established by Henry Leonard of Lynn in 1669. Henry, with his brother James Leonard, emigrated to New England about 1640, and set up the first forge for the manufacture of iron in Plymouth Colony .* Leonard car- ried on the " works " here till the latter part of the winter of 1673-74, when he removed to Taunton, Mass., and after- wards to the State of New Jersey, and established the manufacture of iron in that State.| His three eldest sons, Samuel, Nathaniel, and Thomas, tarried here, and on the
* These two brothers were engaged in making the first castings ever made in the United States. - Great Industries of the United States.
t Henry, son of Thomas Leonard, was born in 16IS, and by his wife Mary had the following children, all born in Lynn, probably : I. Samuel; m. Sarah Brooks. 2. Nathaniel. 3. Thomas ; m. in Virginia. 4. Henry, b. 14 June, 1656 ; died - Sept., 1657. 5. Sarah, b. 26 June, 1663; m. ---
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
6th of April, 1674, contracted with the owners of the iron- works to carry them on. After continuing a short time in the business, they followed their father to New Jersey, where numerous descendants are now living.
John Vinton was undoubtedly the successor of the Leonards in the business. He was living here before 1677 and after 1680. He also came from Lynn, but whether this was the emigrant or his son we cannot determine. The family were of French descent; they having, as tradi- tion says, about the beginning of the seventeenth century, left the fair shores of France, for the sake of religion, and settled on the eastern coast of England, and subsequently removed to America, and settled in Lynn, Mass .*
Shortly after 1680, the business came to an end. On Fish Brook, near the sawmill of the late Mr. Daniel Andrews, indentations and upheavals on the surface of the ground are said to mark the site of the iron-works. This is confirmed by the town records, which mention the "works " as situated in that vicinity ; and we have not the least doubt but that is the original site. The capital stock of the company was about a thousand pounds ; and by the Registry of Deeds we have ascertained the names of some of the stockholders, viz .: John Wildes of Topsfield con- firms to Thomas Baker of Topsfield, 31; of the iron-works, 15 March, 1670-71. For forty-two pounds, Joseph Bixby of Rowley Village sells Jonathan Wade of Ipswich, -16 of the iron-works, 29 Oct., 1673. John Gould, sen., of Tops- field, owned -1, 16, and in 1679 purchased of John Safford of Ipswich another 116, which } he deeded to his sons John and Thomas in 1686. John Baker of Topsfield sold 31 in
Throgsmorton. 6. Mary, b. 13 Jan., 1666 ; d. - Aug., 1667. 7. Mary. 8. John ; m. A. Almy. The family is thought to have descended from the twelfth Lord Dacre. The Leonard English ancestors were among the most noted iron-manufacturers of the old country; and the American ancestors of America's smelters.
* See N. E. Gen. and Antiq. Register, Vol. VII., p. 164.
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
1674. Thomas Perley confirms to Mr. John Ruck of Salem, 30 : 10 m. : 1671, for sixty pounds sterling, " one sixteenth part of the Bloomery or Iron workes, newly erected in the bounds of Rowly viladg, with the sixteenth pt of all ye houseing, buildings, water workes, dams, water cources, lands, woods, timber, tools, instruments, with all ye stock of cole & provissions of every kind that now belongs to it," &c.
A "minister's farm," so called, was laid out, probably, at about the same time as the Village lands were (1666 or 1667). This farm was near, and perhaps included, the Dollof Place in the East Parish, situated on the " Old Andover Road." The income of this tract of land, on which a barn was afterwards erected, -- which barn the town purchased of William Smith for fifteen pounds, 12 May, 1727, - was to aid in supporting an orthodox minister when one was settled here: till then, the minister in Row- ley was to receive the income. July 2, 1669, Rowley ordered the Village people to pay their proportional part of the taxes (town taxes probably); which part was to be applied, first, to defraying the necessary expenses of the Village, and the residue to the improvement of the " minis- ter's farm." For many years after a church was formed here, we find that the town "raised" so much money in addition to the income of the "minister's farm " to pay the minister's salary. The farm was ultimately leased, May 7, 1754, for the term of nine hundred and ninety-nine years, for £456 8s. 8d. The interest arising from this amount assisted in supporting the ministry in the First Parish,* and in 1824 was incorporated with the First Parish fund. The Second Parish attempted to obtain a portion of this money ; but, as we are informed, some necessary records not being found, nothing could be legally claimed.
May 20, 1667, the town of Rowley " voted that the Vil-
* The terms, East and First Parish, and West and Second Parish, are used synonymously.
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
lage people may pay one-half of their minister's rate where they ordinarily hear (Topsfield), and the other half to the town minister of Rowley, till they have a minister of their own." Feb. 13, 1671-72, Rowley ordered " that the inhab- itants of the Village may have liberty to retain three-fourths of their minister's rate." If this fractional part was not enough to pay their part of the minister's salary at Tops- field, the remainder was made up among themselves. Thus, really, the Villagers were compelled to assist in paying the ministers of both towns.
Mr. Gilbert's pastorate in Topsfield was far from being a smooth one. He had difficulties with his people, who sometimes arraigned him before the courts of law. In 1666 he was brought before the court on a complaint of sedition .* In 1670 he was again arraigned on a charge of intemperance. This case was sadly disgraceful. He went into the pulpit in a disordered state, which he betrayed by the confusion of his thoughts, and the clipping of his words, and especially by forgetting the order of the exercises. First he prayed, then he sang, then prayed again, and again sang; and so might have gone on indefinitely, had not Isaac Cummings risen, and begged him to stop .; This twice-ejected minister died in Charlestown, in the year 1673.
* The testimony in this case shows that the language which he used, both in prayer and sermon, was certainly rather strong. We find such expres- sions as the following : "Christ Jesus should reign, in despite of all the Devil's kings, do what they would." "God hath deceived us. Wee looked for glorious days in England, Scotland, Ireland, for days of reform ; but behold a crooked Providence hath crost our expectation. God hath befooled us all." He, in prayer, begged of God either to forgive the king this per- jury, or to give him repentance for it : " It is better to live here poore, and to live in the wilderness, being covenant-keepers, than to sit on the throne, and be covenant-breakers." He begged of God to convert the king and the royal family from their superstition and idolatry. What was the decision of the court in this case does not appear. He was probably let off easily. See Cleaveland's Address, P. 33, and Appendix, note vii.
+ Cleaveland's Address, Appendix, note vii.
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
In 1672 Rev. Jeremiah Hobart, son of Rev. Peter Ho- bart, first minister of Hingham, and a noted personage in Massachusetts, was ordained over the Topsfield church.
5 March, 1671-72, Topsfield grants the Villagers liberty to build "a house to shelter there horfes in neere to ye meeting house where ye Selectmen and thay shall thinke fite or most Convinient and alfo a house to shelter them- felves in with a fier in it," as long as they attend the church there. In the fall of the next year (1673), a stone wall five or six feet high, and "three foote brod at the botom," was built around the meeting-house. On the south side the wall was twelve feet, and on the other three sides ten feet, from the meeting-house. Though an entrance is not mentioned in the record, it is supposable that there was one. Within this wall, at the south-east corner, a watch-house ten feet square was built, which-was called in the beginning of the eighteenth century the "Old Meeting-House Fort." The Villagers were to lend aid in this work, and no doubt many weary days were spent in building the massive wall. The watch-house was also probably built with stone, -as we should judge from the dimensions, &c., given in the records, and not recorded here, - the wall forming a part of the south and west sides. Having in our minds the contemporary Indian hostilities, the watch-house tells its own use ; and probably many anxious hours were spent in the limited space enclosed within its four walls.
For some reason, early in the year 1673, Abraham Redington and some others sent a petition to the General .Court, asking for the dissolution of their connection with Topsfield, and praying to be annexed to Rowley. Others of the Village were strongly opposed to the movement, because of the convenience of the nearness of Topsfield ; and, not discerning any reason why the change should be made, sent the following petition to the General Court : -
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" To the Honorable General Court now sitting in Boston, this 7th of May, 1673. The Humble petition of divers well affected Inhabit- ants and House-holders of the Village commonly called Rowley Village.
" Humbly sheweth. That whereas yor petitioners formerly pur- chased a tract of land of Joseph Jewett of Rowley, now deceased, on which we now dwell, wh. land was sold to us as village land, free from any engagement to the town of Rowley, ellse we had not purchased it ;* as also it lyeing nigh to the now town of Topsfield, whose inhabitants about ten or twelve years since, called Mr. Gilbert to be their minister ; he was unwilling to accept, unless we of the village would engage to pay our shares in and to publiqe charges at Topsfield. Upon this, Abraham Redington, Joseph Biggsby, John Cumins, and the rest of us, being free as we apprehended, agreed to pay our proportions as our honest neighbours of Topsfield did, only provided they would remove or sett the meetinghouse so as it might stand convenient for us ; upon this a committy being appointed out of them and ourselves, agreed unanimously to set the meetinghouse toward the outside of Topsfield bounds to us ward, wh. was don, and now stands to our great conveniency, being allmost as near to us as to divers of Topsfield, viz. two or three miles, and our distance from Rowley is 7 or 8, if not nine miles, some of us. Farther, as to mili- tary matters, we were not regarded by Rowley for many years, but that service totally neglected, wh. the Major of the Regemt under- standing, sent his warrant to us to traine in Topsfield ; we obeyed, and that company and ourselves agreeing, some of us were chosen into office, mutually by both places, and were all as one town and company very loveingly agreeing. While such time as some of us, meditating other designs than we think were pretended thereby, as we conceive, broke the neck of Love and unity with our neighbors of Topsfield. Abraham Redington did put in some hands, we doe not say of boyes, and divers other persons, inconsiderable, to move this Honorble Court, to free us'from Topsfield, and lay us to Rowley, to our great incumbrance and inconvenience every way, both to matters civile, ecclesiasticall, and military ; our condition is hereby rendered extremely burdensome, divers of our people are already joined to the church at Topsfield, and more may soon be if God please to move yr hearts, it being the only nigh place where we can hear and enjoy the solemn and publiqe worship on the Lord's dayes; what division
* When these men bought this land, they supposed it was entirely free from any town authority, thinking that Jewett obtained it from the Colony.
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this may in time produce, especially since the late law impowering none but persons in full communion to elect or have voice in electing church officers, &c., we cannot but, as our case stands, be afraide of. There being by this means a foundation layd for not only unpleasant variance, but future alienation with our Loveing brethen of that church.
" This is our distracted and wronged case and condition, by reason of our breaking with Topsfield, wh. we doe tender to your Honorble selfes, for redress and cure, Humbly beseeching your Honors herein, that our poor village, being but sixteen familyes, incapable of calling a minister or maintaining one, and so far from other towns, and so nigh to Topsfield, may be layd thither and united to that towne, which will be for the great behoofe of them and us both, in respect to township and militia, as well as church, and minister's encouragement, all of us being hardly able to maintayne one able minister honorably, wee beg wee may be declared a free village from Rowley, as our deeds of our lands, and lines, and bounds, demonstrate. These privileges, granted by your worships, will, we trust, tend to the honor of God, peace and comfort of our neighbours, and benefit of ourselves, your poor peti- tioners. We leave ourselves herein to the mature consideration of this Court ; praying the only wise God to direct, council, and guide you in all things. Soe we remain your humble petitioners.
" ROBARD SMITH, ROBARD STILES, THOMAS ANDREWS, EDMON BRIGGSS, JOHN RAMDELL."
This petition was received by the Court, and the magis- trates agreed to an order of notice ; but the deputies did not consent. What further order was taken we are not informed. The Court probably came to the conclusion that the situation of the affairs here was best as they existed, and that it would be folly for them to interpose their authority.
Regarding the military drill of the Villagers, Oct. 7, 1674, it was ordered by the General Court, " that the trayned souldjers of the place called Rowley Village shall forthwith list themselves, & performed duty in ordinary traynings, either at Rovly or Topsfield, as shall svite best wth their
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HISTORY OF BOXFORD.
incljnations & occasions, which being don shall so continue vntill such time as the sajd village is setled with a minister, and haue a sufficient number to trayne among themselues & officers according to lawe appointed to excercise them." Taking advantage of the above liberty, the dissatisfied members of the Village trained with the Rowley company, and the others continued their practice with the company at Topsfield.
Boxford being a central town, surrounded on all sides by numerous settlements, and lying several miles from the frontier-line, the depredations of the savages were foreign to its inhabitants; but a period was now approaching, which threw the whole colony into greater excitement than had been experienced since the settlement of the country. The chapter of history that details the incidents of that season is filled with deeds of savage warfare and barbarity, which causes the reader to shudder as he dwells upon the melancholy doom of the helpless women and children who became the victims of the tomahawk and scalping-knife.
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