USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > The history of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1640, to the year 1860 > Part 11
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103
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
ground that a "great mistake was made in the former. The request was granted, and the result proved that a mistake had been made. The decision of the last appointed surveyors was not, it seems, satisfactory to either party, (clearly showing that it was about right) and the subject continued to occupy and trouble the minds of the inhabitants of both towns, until the General Court approved the survey of 1667, and firmly decided that the line agreed upon in 1654, " should be the dividing line betwene them."
When the General Court ordered its grant to Major General Daniel Dennison to be laid out, in 1660, it was found that the Haverhill men claimed some of the land, and objected to its being laid out to the Major.º Upon this, the Court summoned the town " to shew a reason why they . have marked bounds trees at so great a distance from their towne vp Meremacke River, & also to give an account of the bounds of theire towne, & vpon what right they lay clajme to so long a tract of land." It would seem from this, that the western line of the town had been previously run, and marked, though we can find no record of its being ordered, or done, except those already mentioned. It is probable, however, that it was done by the town, a few years previously, when the lands in that section were laid out by them to the inhabitants of the town. Their Indian deed gave them " eight miles from ye Little River westward ; " but the General Court declared it should be eight miles upon the river westward from their meeting house. This made a difference of three-fourths of a mile.
The easterly bound of the town was now (1666) a due northwest line from Holt's Rocks, (the present bound), and when the commissioners came on to lay out the western bounds, they commenced at the meeting house, and run a line due west, eight miles, according to their interpretation of the order of the General Court. That order, however, says " not extend- ing upon the river above eight miles from their meeting house." By run- ning due west from the latter point, instead of following the river, it gave the town a much larger area than it would have given them by following the crooked, or general southwesterly course of the river. This difference was not less than four miles, upon the river ; thus giving the town a tract of land, equal to about four miles by twelve, more than a strict interpreta- tion of the order of the General Court would have allowed them.
" Since the above was written, we have found, under date of 1741, a petition from John Denison, a descendant of the Major above mentioned, to the proprietors of the common and undivided lands in Haverhill, in which it is made to appear that thirty acres of the land laid out to the Major in 1660, actu- ally fell within Haverhill bounds when the west line of the town was run in 1667; and that, in 1740, one Lyndly petitioned the Haverhill proprietors to purchase this thirty acres of them. To such a sale the petitioner (J. D.) objected, and to avoid all future trouble, requested the proprietors to give him their quit claim to the land,-which they did.
104
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
We do not learn that the Haverhill people made any objection to this course, and as it more than made up the difference between their bounds as given in the original deed, and that in the order of the Court, we pre- sume they were quite willing to keep quiet.
From the point eight miles west of the meeting house, a line was run due north and south, extending to the Merrimack on the south, and to the intersection of the northwest line from Holt's Rocks on the north. This gave the township nearly the form of a triangle. The length of the north- east angle was about fifteen miles ; of the west line rather more; and an air line from Holt's Rocks, to the southwest corner, would have been also about fifteen miles.
The following engraving is made from the original plan, as drawn by Jonathan Danforth, from this survey by Ensign Noyes.
NW @
FROM THE WEST LINE ITS ABOUT 12 MILES TO THE N.W ANGLE
THIS LINE RUNS NORTH WEST ABOUT 14 MILES & 3/4
MAJ. GEN. LEAVITT HIS FARM
THE NORTH LINE
HOLTS ROCKS
MEETING HOUSE
A DUE WEST LINE
THIS LINE BY THE RIVER IS UNCERTAIN
THIS LINE IS UNCERTAIN
"this platform of the town of hauerill began by ensign Noise of Sudbury and finished by Jonathan Danforth 16. 3d m. 1667."
The General Court approved of the report of the commissioners, and, for the first time, the bounds of the town were apparently well defined and understood.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that the original area of the town was much greater than the present. This difference is not, however, gen-
105
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
erally known by its present inhabitants ; and even those who do know something of former changes in its bounds, have but a vague idea of their extent. The following map shows, not only its past and present bounds, but also those portions that have been from time to time taken off, in forming new towns, and in running the present State line. There are several inaccuracies in the map, which were not noticed in season for their correction. The most important, is, the representing of the west line of Methuen and the old west line of Haverhill, as touching the Merrimack at the same point, whereas the distance between them should have been about one and a half miles. With this exception, the map is sufficiently correct for the purpose for which it is bere introduced.
DERRY
HAMP STEAD
ATKINSON
PLAISTOW
WINDHAM
SALEM
HAVERHILL
U EN
METH
MAP OF HAVERHILL, AND ADJACENT TOWNS.
If we start from the site of the first meeting house, (in the old burying ground,) and run a line due west, eight miles, it will bring us to a point about four miles northwest of Methuen village. A line due south from this point, will pass a little over two miles to the west of the above village, 14
106
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
and strike the Merrimack River about three and a half miles above the upper bridge at Lawrence, and within about one and a half miles of the present southwest corner of Methuen. This last named line, was the old western bound of Haverhill, as confirmed in 1667, and continued until 1725.
A glance at the foregoing map, will show, that the town then included the largest part of Methuen; a large part of Salem and Plaistow ; all of Atkinson; and a good share of Hampstead.
In 1667, the highway " down the vallay to Holt's Rocks " was ordered to be laid out; but, with the impression that it would not be much uscd, the town considerately accompanied the order with a proviso that those who used the highway should keep it in repair.
At the same time a vote was passed declaring that the inhabitants should keep the places assigned them by the committee in the meeting house, under a penalty of two shillings six-pence. The selectmen were ordered to see that the rule was attended to. John Hutchins was, how- ever, excepted ; - probably on account of his large interest in the house, for building the gallery.
Another lot of "accommodation " land was laid out in July of the same year. The following are the names and the number of acres laid out to each man :-
" Mr Ward six & twenty acres,
Job Clements"
5
James Davis sen & jun
20
Hugh Sherratt
George Browne
14
John Robinson
John Eaton sen
10
Goodman Butler
4
Henry Palmer
9
Henry Savage
4
Robert Eyre
4
Joseph Merrie
5
Oldgood Eyre
8
George Corley
5
John Ayres
8
Mill Lott
6
Wm White
5
James Pecker
2
Goodman Peasley
12
Richard Littlehale
4
Goodman Guile
4
Mr Coffin
10
Goodman Tiler
4
John Remington
4
Mr Clements, John, & Job
40
Robt Swan
2
Old Goldwine
8
John Hutchings
6
Goodman Heath
10
Daniel Ella
2
Andrew Grealey
6
Joseph Johnson
2
Goodman Noise
4
John Davis
6
Thos Haile
20
Job Clementsº
3
Thos Davis
18
Daniel Hendricks
3
Goodman Ladd
6
John Robinson
6
Goodman Williams
6
o It will be noticed there were three of this name.
t In all the drafts and divisions of land, the " Mill Lot " is mentioned as receiving a portion, or lot.
t
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
At the annual town meeting of 1668, "John Johnson was chosen Mod- erator for the present meeting." This is the first mention we find of such an officer, in the records, though one was regularly chosen afterward.
At the same time, a committee was chosen, to whom the inhabitants were to " make known by what title they lay any claim to any land in the town."
Several absentees from town meeting were fined for the offence. This illustrates one of the marked characteristics of the early settlers of the colony. Not to do that which ought to be done, was considered as worthy of punishment, as to do that which ought not to be done. It was neces- sary that there should be town meetings, to transact the business of the town; therefore every voter ought to attend, and do his part of the labor ; and, hence, if he did not, he neglected his duty ; and a neglect of duty was considered deserving of punishment ; and being so considered, they never failed to administer it when occasion called for it. This is the key to much in their history that at first seems strange and inconsistent. They believed that extravagance in dress was not only foolish, but wrong ; - and they punished the offender. They believed the Sabbath to be a day set apart for a rest from secular labors ; - and they punished him who would not so observe it. They considered worship a duty, and religious meetings a part of worship ; therefore, every man was obliged to attend religious services, and help pay for their support. They were stern men, - those old Puritans, - and did some hard things ; but they were men of inflexible fidelity to their convictions of right and duty ; and though we may dissent from their judgment, we cannot but honor them for their good intentions, and their uncompromising hostility to what they believed to be wrong.
The town continued to be exceedingly jealous for the timber; almost every year, a vote was passed for its preservation, and this year, a fine of ten shillings was imposed upon any person, who should fall a white, red, or black-oak tree, within the town's limits, " for staves, heading, logs for boards, or any thing else for transportation, without leave from the Select men from year to year."
At the same meeting, Nathaniel Saltonstall was chosen Town Recorder and Clerk of the Writs ; in which offices he continued until 1700, - a period of thirty-two years. At the May session of the General Court, " Capt Nathaniel Saltonstall " was (in answer to a petition) authorized to join persons in marriage.º
" Mr. James Savage, who has made extensive historical and genealogical researches, stated at a meet- ing of the Massachusetts Historical Society some time since, that he had discovered no record of a mar- riage performed by a clergyman in New England prior to 1686, except in George's Province by &
108
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
Nathaniel Saltonstall was descended from an ancient and highly re- spectable family in Yorkshire, England. His grandfather, Sir Richard Saltonstall, was the first named associate of the six original patentees of Massachusetts, and one of the first Assistants, and was present at their court, August 23, 1630. He came over in the same ship with Governor Winthrop, in 1630, and was the leader among the first settlers of Water- town. He brought over with him three sons and two daughters. He returned to England in the spring of 1631, taking with him his two daughters and his youngest son. He did not return to America. His father, Richard, was born in 1610, and came to America with his father, in 1630. He was admitted a freeman in 1631. In November of the same year, he returned to England, where he remained about four years and a half, and married Meriell Gurdon, daughter of Brampton Gurdon, of Suf- folk, with whom he again embarked for America, in 1635. Upon his arrival, he settled in Ipswich, and was elected Deputy to the General Court in the same year. He was elected Assistant in 1637, and continued to be elected annually, until 1649, when he again returned to England. He was in America twice afterward, and returned to England finally in 1683, and died at Hulme, April 29, 1694, aged 84.
Nathaniel, was born in Ipswich, and graduated at Harvard, in 1659. He married Elizabeth Ward, daughter of Rev. John Ward, of Haverhill, December 28, 1663, and settled in this town about the same time, upon that beautiful estate half a mile east of the village, which was conveyed to him by his father-in-law, on the occasion of his marriage. In 1664, his father also deeded him eight hundred acres of land " on his marraige." In 1665, he was chosen Captain of the military company in town; was afterward appointed Colonel ; and, still later, was elevated to the impor- tant post of Major. He was regularly chosen Assistant from 1679 to 1686, when the charter of Massachusetts Bay was taken away, and he was named in the commission as one of " the council of the Governor of Massa- chusetts Bay." As he had a few days before taken the oath of Assistant
elergyman of the Church of England. The statement clicited some discussion. It was accounted for by the fact that marriage was considered by the Puritans to be a civil contract and not a religious rite. In abjuring the forms and ceremonies of the Established Church as offshoots of Popery, the marriage sacra- ment was also abandoned. Winthrop's History of New England contains the following : --
" 1647, 4, 4th day, 6th month. There was a great marriage to be solemnized at Boston. The bride- groom being of Hingham, Mr. Hubbard's church, he was procured to preach, and came to Boston to that end. But the magistrates, hearing of it, sent to him to forbear. The reasons were : 1. For that his spirit had been discovered to be averse to our ecclesiastical and civil government : and he was a bold man and would speak his mind. 2. We were not willing to bring in the English custom of ministers perform- ing the solemnities of marriage, which sermons at such times might induce; but if any ministers were present, and would bestow a word of exhortation, &c., it was permitted."
109
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
under the old charter, he refused the latter appointment, and, upon the deposition of Sir Edmund, he became one of the Council which took the government of the Colony into their hands. He continued in this office until the arrival of the Charter of William and Mary, wherein he was appointed one of their Majesty's Council.
In 1680, he went with the Deputy Governor and others, " with 60 sol- diers, in a ship and sloop from Boston, to still the people at Casco Bay, & prevent Gov Andros's usurpation." In 1683, he was appointed by the Crown one of the Commissioners " to examine & enquire into the claims & titles, as well of his Majesty as others, to the Narraganset country," to which important mission he attended.
He was a man of superior powers of mind, and rare talent, In 1692, he was appointed one of the judges in a special commission of Oyer and Terminer, for the trial of persons accused of witchcraft, at Salem. With a high-minded liberality, and freedom from the bigotry and superstition of the time, worthy of his immediate ancestry, he refused to serve in that com- mission, from conscientious scruples. Brattle, in his account of the witch- craft, says : " Maj N Saltonstall Esq, who was one of the judges, has left the court, & is very much dissatisfied with the proceedings of it." His bold stand was powerful for good. It opened the eyes of the masses to the enormity and fearful tendency of the delusion ; - the charm was broken, and the excitement soon subsided. It is no small honor to his memory, and satisfaction to his descendants, that he was not carried away by this dreadful fanaticism.
Mr. Saltonstall lived to a good old age, and died May 21st, 1707. He left three sons, Gurdon, Richard, and Nathaniel. His only daughter mar- ried (1st) Rev. John Dennison, and (2d) Rev. Rolland Cotton, of Sandwich.
The town voted, in 1668, that one of the former Selectmen should be re-elected each year ; but the very next year it was " set aside for this year," and in the year following, it was repealed altogether. Why this obviously sensible and important rule should have been so soon abolished, seems somewhat surprising. Perhaps it should be referred to their well known opposition to succession in office, or, most probable, to the fact, that the office of Selectman in those days, included " hard work and poor pay," and it was not easy to find men willing, or even able, to accept the onerous position two years in succession.
The Selectmen of this year were directed "to provide a herdsman or herdsmen, and bulls, for the use of the town," Those who lived without
110
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
the compass of Pond River and the Great Plain" fence," were to " pay 6d a head for privileges of herdsmen & bull."
It was also ordered " that what papers shall be brought to the Recorder, to be entered in the town book of Records, it shall be in his power to rec- ord them, provided, that Ensign Browne, James Davis Jun, & Robert Cle- ments Jr, give their assent." The Recorder was sometimes troubled, it seems, by persons wanting papers recorded on the town books, which properly belonged elsewhere, or were not worth recording, and he fre- quently drops a hint to that effect in his record. Thus, he introduces his record of several deeds with the following note: - "The copy of several Deeds, which to satisfy the grantees, are entered, who they are told that it is no legal County Record of Deeds,"
The only new names met with this year in the records, are Henry Kingsbery, and John Remington.
The highway from Haverhill Ferry to Topsfield was accepted in the spring of 1669, as we learn from the Ipswich Court Records.
That town offices were not much sought for in those times, may be judged from the fact that the town, having chosen Thos. Whittier con- stable, voted, that he should be excused, provided he presented some one to take his place whom the Selectmen should declare satisfactory.
Upon a complaint made by Mr. Ward for want of wood, it was voted to add ten pounds to his salary (which was fifty pounds), and that the Selectmen should annually expend it in procuring him cord-wood, at six shillings per cord.
Among the votes passed at the same meeting, we find the following curious one : - " The town, by a major vote, did make choice of Andrew Greely, sen., to keep the ferry at Haverhill; provided that he agree and will carry over the Inhabitants of the town, and the inhabitants of the town of Merrimack, [Bradford] over against us, for three pence an horse, and a penny a man; and that he will carry all Ministers over free that come upon visitation to us, and in particular Mr Symes ;; & that, if the inhabitants of the town over against us do come over to meet with us on the sabbath days, they shall have the free use of the ferry boat, or boats, for the occasion, without paying anything." They also stipulated that he should pay the widow of the former ferrymant forty shillings.
" Pond River, was the outlet to Great Pond ; and the Great Plain, was the plain east of the village. t The person here referred to, was Rev. Zachariah Symmes, of Bradford, a man of considerable note and learning, and much beloved by his own people, as well as esteemed by his neighbors across the river. Mr. Symmes was educated at Cambridge, and gradnated in 1657. He came to Bradford sometime pre- vious to 1668, at which date he was their minister, though he was not ordained until 1682. He remained with them until his death, in 1707.
: )Ir. Simons,
111
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
This year a new bridge was built over Little River, where the present Winter Street Bridge stands. The old bridge had become much out of re- pair, and though it was considered that the " present sawmill owners were engaged to do it," yet when the question was put to Thos. Davis, in town meeting, he plainly answered, "I will not." Upon this, the meeting voted to prosecute him, but the next vote declared this vote to be " nulled and void." Finally, a committee was chosen to "compound the matter with Davis, & to build a new bridge." The inhabitants were each obliged to contribute a portion of labor toward constructing it.
From a vote passed this year, we learn that the first half of Mr. Ward's yearly salary was paid by a "collection of estates," in August, and all other charges and debts were paid by "a collection of estates, in Novem- ber, or December, annually." Upon notice by the Seleetmen, every man was obliged to bring in to them an account of his estates. If any man ne- gleeted or refused to do this, or brought in a false account, it was "in the power of the Selectmen to rate such persons by will, and doom as they please upon account of their defeet."
The town still continued to be troubled about a corn-mill, as will be seen by the following record of a special town meeting, held September 17, 1669:
" This meeting being warned to take some order about a corn-mill, the town being wholly destitute of any ; Andrew Greeley," in whose hands the mill was, being about to carry on a mill at the East meadow river, upon the motion & desire of the town, did promise to take the frame down at the little river, & bring it up & raise it at the place where the former mill was ; ¡ many of the inhabitants at the same time promising to allow him freely some help towards the taking the frame down & raising it again."
The powers of the Selectmen, as defined by the town the same year, were as follows: -
" That the Selectmen shall carefully endeavour the strict observation of all orders made by the town, and shall take all fines, if not peaceably paid, by distress, which shall be due upon the breach of said order, unless they shall see good ground to the contrary, & shall make return to the town, at the general yearly march meeting, of what they have done in this matter, & how they have disposed of the fines.
" That the Selectmen shall see to, & pay all debts due from the town in their year, or just # arrears according to their discretion the fines that are due to the town, or by rates in general upon the inhabitants.
" Andrew Greely was by trade a shoe-maker. He was in Haverhill in 1646 and in 1672. At the latter date, he was 52 years of age. He died previous to 1712.
t The former mill stood on Mill Brook. į Adjust.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
" That the Selectmen shall timely make all rates that shall be neces- sary for the defraying of the town's debts, upon the cstates of the inhabi- tants.
"That the Selectmen have power to call town meetings as they shall see necessary, they giving timely and sufficient notice to the inhabitants, according to law.
" That the Selectmen shall take special care that all those laws of the country are observed & kept by the neglect whereof the town may any way be liable to be fined by authority; and also that the town be kept from all charges."
The General Court for October, ordered, " that George Broune be lef't, and James Parker ensigne, to Hauerill millitary company, vnder the con- duct of Nathaniel Saltonstall, capt." "
On the seventeenth of November, there was a "thanksgiving for relief from droutht & lengthening out the harvest." }
The only new name we find in the Town Records of this year, is that of Samuel Colbie.
· Col. Rec. t Ibid.
113
HISTORY OF HAVERIIILL.
CHAPTER IX.
1670 To 1675.
IN examining the records of our town for the past two hundred years, one cannot fail to note the great changes that have taken place in that time. Habits, customs, laws, and language, have all yielded, in a greater or less degree, to the ever active and never tiring power of - progress. A striking illustration of this fact is seen in the history of our common schools.
For several years previous to 1670, (viz .: from 1661) a school-master had been employed to keep a school in the town, but the records, up" to this time, give us no hints in addition to that simple fact, except that he was paid ten pounds per annum by the town for such service. But in the records of the annual meeting of 1670, we find the following, which throws much additional light upon the matter: - " It is ordered by a major or free vote of the inhabitants, that the Selectmen shall agree with a School Master for the keeping of a school in the town of Haverhill, who shall allow him Ten pounds annually, to be rated upon the inhabitants proportion- able to their estates according to the way of making Mr Ward's rates; & what children do come to him to be taught, the selectmen being to provide a convenient place to keep the school in, shall pay to the schoolmaster ac- cording as he & the parents or masters of such as come to be taught can agree for, provided that he do not ask for a child or person more than is usually given in other towns by the year."
From the above, we learn that the ten pounds paid by the town, was in addition to the amount received by the school-master from the parents of his pupils. As to the latter sum, we can find no definite account, or even hint, in the records. Previous to this time, the school had been kept in some private house, but the number of the scholars had now become so large, it was considered necessary that a building should be erected ex- pressly for the purpose, and at the same meeting the following vote was passed : -
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