USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > The history of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1640, to the year 1860 > Part 14
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Upon this, Stephen Dalton " propounded for liberty to build a corn- mill," which request was granted.
That it is no modern notion, to find fault with, and be suspicious of the integrity of town officers, is manifest from the town's voting, as long ago as 1679, to choose a committee to look after the accounts, &c., of the Selectmen for the preceding year. Their confidence had somehow become so much weakened, that they even voted that a similar committee should be chosen every year in future.
In the early part of 1680, Haverhill was set back into Essex county. The following is the order of the General Court, making the change : -
" At a General Court held in Boston the 4th day of Feb 1679-80.
This Court being sensible of the great inconvenience & charge that it will be to Salisbury, Haverhill, & Almsbury, to continue their County Court, now some of the Towns of Norfolk are taken off, & considering that those towns did formerly belong to Essex, & attended at Essex Court, Do order that those Towns that are left be again joined to Essex, & attend public business at Essex Courts, there to implead & be impleaded as occa- sion shall be : Their records of lands being still to be kept in some one of their own Towns on the North of Merrimack." And all persons accord- ing to course are to attend in Essex County.
By the Court. Edw : Rawson Secrety."
From the records of the General Court, we learn that twenty-two towns, and among them Haverhill, had not yet paid the amount they subscribed for Harvard College. The Court ordered the selectmen of the delinquent towns to enquire into the matter, and report, under a penalty of twenty pounds. As we hear nothing further from it, we presume the subscription was soon after paid,
In the spring of this year, (March 24, 1680,) Mrs. Ward, the wife of the minister, died. From the testimony her husband bears to her charac-
" The records referred to in the above order, were subsequently deposited in the archives of the County, at Salem, where they still remain.
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ter, we learn that she was a woman of most exemplary life, and shining virtues, - a fit companion for the religious teacher of an early New England settlement. Her death was a severe blow to her surviving husband. She had been his constant, loving, and beloved companion, by night and by day, for nearly forty years. For more than a third of a century - the life-time of a generation- she had shared his joys and his sorrows, his hopes and his fears ; had comforted and cheered him when sad, gently chided him when erring, and had yielded him the full measure of that choicest and most precious of all the treasures of this life, -a woman's love and devotion. And now, seared and decrepit with age, with the blossoms of almost fore-score winters upon his head, the veteran minister found himself approaching the land of shadows alone. No wonder is it that the old man's heart sunk within him; that his step grew unsteady, his voice tremulous, and his eye dim ; when the full sense of his loss and his loneliness revealed itself to him. A few months afterward, we find the following record : -
" At a Town meeting Dec 22. 1680, held after Lecture, Nathl Salton- stall, Lieut Browne, Tho Whittier, Wm White, & Danl Ela, were chosen a committee to "look out for to agree with, & obtain forthwith, & pro- cure upon the best terms they can get, some meet & able person to be a present help & assistant to Mr Ward, our minister, now in his old age, in the work of the ministy in preaching."
The record tells us that this was done " by the advice of our present minister." The meeting was held "after the Lecture." Suggestive theme ! Who shall paint the picture presented to the eye at that " lec- ture ; " the humble, unpainted, unsteepled, uncushioned, organless, pic- tureless little church ; the assembled congregation ; and the white-haired minister ? All the members of his little flock were there ;- children, youth, middle-aged and old. For many, many years, he had watched over, instruct- ed, prayed for, and exhorted them ; had gone in and out among them at all times and seasons ; his benevolent smile, and sympathising voice, had been their comfort and solace in sickness and sorrow ; and his presence and counsel had smoothed the pathway of the departed to the tomb, and miti- gated the pangs of afflictive bereavement to the living. But his work was now almost completed; his sands of life were fast running out; his strong- cst earthly prop had been taken away; he was no longer able to labor
" Felt says, that "Lecture Day" was Thursday, when the services commenced at 11 A. M. They were superceded about 1753, by monthly lectures. Evening lectures were first held about 1740. From an early date, Friday seems to have been the Lecture Day in this town. Dr. Hezekiah Smith is said to have been the first one who held evening meetings in the town.
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with them and for them as in times past; and, with trembling voice and tearful eye, he asks them to seek out another minister, while yet his little strength remained.
The committee chosen, were also instructed to " look out a place for a convenient situation for a minister," and "to agree with any one upon purchase or exchange of land, or if they meet not with a bargain to their mind, then to set out such of the town's common land as they shall judge most convenient for a place for the ministry."
At a meeting June 24, 1681, the committee reported that not finding any suitable place upon purchase or exchange, John Haseltine senior had " given two acres to the town for the perpetual use of the ministry," and they had laid out a piece adjoining it for the same purpose. Their doings were approved, and the land granted for that purpose "forever." This land was situated north of the present Winter Street, and between Little River and the Common.
The committee, at the same time, reported that they had not been able to get a new minister, and thereupon a new committee was chosen in their place, with instructions to do so, " they taking the advice of Mr. Ward, our present aged minister." Josiah Gage was agreed with, to build a house for the new minister.
At the same meeting, a gallery was ordered to be immediately erected in the east end of the meeting-house, for "the accommodation of the women."
We have already noticed that, in 1673, the annual salary of the school- master was discontinued. The records for several years succeeding that date are silent in regard to a school in town, and the first and only infor- mation we have been able to find relating to the subject at this period, is the following, in the records of the Ipswich Court, for March, 1681 : --
" The Court having called the presentment of Hauerill for not having a school-master, according to Law, in their Toune, & finding that there is some prouision made for the present, for teaching of children, they are re- leased upon that presentment, but the court judging that what is now done and provided by them doth not answer the law, nor is convienient to be rested in, doe order that the town before the next court at Ipswich pro- vide an able and meet schoolmaster that may constantly attend that service, as is usual in such cases, and that the scoole be kept neare the centre of the Toune."
For some unexplained reason, Josiah Gage did not build a house for the new minister, according to agreement, and at the annual meeting the next
" It will be recollected that John Hutchins had previously built a gallery at the west end.
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year (1682) a committee was chosen to find some one else to build it. A few weeks after, (April 4) a town meeting was called, and a committee chosen " to treat with Samuel Dalton" or John Stockbridge for either of their houses which they have of late erected in town," for the use of the new minister.
At the June meeting of the previous year, the question of building a new meeting-house was discussed. The old one was too small to aceom- modate all the inhabitants, and was, moreover, much decayed. But the proposition was finally voted down, " by the additional and wilful votes of many prohibited by law from voting." The proposition adopted at that time, to build a gallery for the women, was probably a sort of compromise between the two parties. At the March meeting following, the matter was again agitated, but no action was taken.
In June, another meeting was called, "at the request of Mr. Ward," to see about a new minister. At this meeting, ten pounds were raised to get one.
In July, the town met to see about the " parsonage farm," and it was finally leased to Daniel Bradley, for twenty-one years. Mr. Ward's in- creasing age and feebleness were doubtless the reasons for this action, though none are given.
September 18th, another meeting was called to see about a new minister. The necessity was now becoming urgent, and the matter could not be de- layed longer. After much discussion, the town voted " to proffer Mr. Jeremiah Cushing, or some other meet person that may be agreed upon, £100, in corn or provisions, besides the £60 proffered for annual salary during Mr. Ward's life." They determined that the above mentioned sums should be raised in the same way as a town rate, and should be paid " part money, part wheat, part rye, & part Indian Corn, all good, dry, sweet clean, & merchantable." The committee previously chosen were continued, "to carry on designs with Mr. Cushing, whom the town hath had some experience of."¡
Three weeks later, another meeting was held, at which it was voted to purchase of Samuel Simons, " his house & nine acres of land for the use
· Dalton was from Hampton.
+ From the last clause of this vote, it appears that Mr. Cushing had preached in town at some time previous, - perhaps on "exchange" with Mr. Ward. Mr. Cushing was a son of Daniel Cushing, Esq., was born at Hingham. Mass., July 3, 1654, and graduated at Harvard University, in 1676. He received an invitation to settle in the ministry at Haverhill, in 1682, which he declined accepting. He was after- ward invited to become the pastor of the church in Scituate, and was ordained over it May 27, 1691. He died March 22, 1705, in the fifty-first year of his age, and the fourteenth of his ministry .- Vide Histories Hingham, and Scituate.
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of the ministry." The town gave Simons for his house and land, " forty acres near Fishing river, and €30 in wheat, rye, and corn." They also voted Mr. Cushing " four cow common rights." in addition to what they had previously offered him, and also "twenty cords of wood at his house annually.">
This year, for the first time, the Moderator was chosen by "a paper vote," and it was voted that in future the Selectmen should be chosen in the same manner, " one at a time." This was the commencement of vot- ing by written ballot in the choice of officers by the town. t
At the annual meeting in 1683, Francis Wainwright obtained leave for his son Simon to settle in town, and use timber to build him a house and a " ware house." This is the first mention we can find of a merchant, or trader, in town. Francis Wainwright was himself a merchant, from Ips- wich, and had three sons,-John, Simon, and Francis. Simon immediately removed here.
At this meeting, the subject of Mr. Cushing's engagement was again discussed, and it was decided to send a messenger to get his answer or to have him " please to come and give us a visit, that we may receive answer from himself." It was voted to raise one-half of the one hundred pounds offered him, immediately ; and also to buy " the house where Henry Pal- mer lived & died, for the use of the ministry forever." The price paid was twenty acres of land " towards Great Pond."
This was the third time the town purchased a place to be devoted to that use, "forever," and we may doubtless forever speculate as to the rea- sons why the previous bargains were not carried into effect, as the records give us no clue to a solution of the problem.
In June, another meeting was called to consider about Mr. Cushing's settlement, and to see about a new meeting house. The latter subject, however, seems to have engrossed all the time of the meeting. We should judge from the records that there was no difference of opinion in regard to the need, or the expediency of building a new house, as the discussions appear to have been confined entirely to its location. Upon this question, there was a wide difference of opinion, and when the vote was taken upon the question of placing the new meeting house upon the old site, the following voted yea, viz :
Serg. John Johnson, Mr. John Ward, minister, Nath'l Saltonstall, Lieut George Browne, Wm. White, Thomas Whittier, John Whittier, Robert Emer-
" Twenty cords of wood per annum, was, at that day, considered a moderate allowance for an ordinary family.
t In the early days of the Colony, white and black beans were used in voting.
# This is the first mention we find of that body of water, by that, or any other particular name. 18
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son, Robert Clement, Jotham Hendriek, James Davis, sen., Daniel Ela, John Page sen., and Samuel Shepherd. (Total 15.) The following named per- sons " were against the settling of the meeting house where the meeting house now stands (forever), but that this meeting house that now is may stand as long as is convenient : - Thomas Davis, Daniel Lad sen., Saml Gild, Peter Ayer, Onesipho Mash sen. John Haseltine sen, Micha Em- erson, Geo Corlis, Rob. Ford, Saml Simons, Tim Ayers, John Robie, Saml Hutchins, John Corlis, Saml Ayer, Thos Duston John Hartshorne, Tho Ayer, Joseph Kingsberry. John Gild, Saml Kingsberry, Joseph Hutchins, Stephen Webster, Nathl Haseltine, Tho Hartshorne, Robt Swan sen. Willm Neff, Josiah Gage, Ezek'l Lad, Robt Swan Jun, Philip Eastman, Henry Kemball, Joseph Johnson, Mat Harriman." (Total 34).
In referring to the action of the town about the settlement of Mr. Cush- ing, the former historian of Haverhill concludes, that there was not only considerable discussion, but that it was " probably rather violent," and adds, "the excitement appears to have been great." We have carefully examined the record, and are unable to find any evidence of violent dis- cussions, or great excitement, and we feel confident that such was not the case. The matters were, indeed, most important ones, and we have no doubt that the discussions were both long and earnest; but the Recorder gives us no hints of either violence or great excitement.
Among the minor matters of this period, we find several items which may be of interest to our readers.º
In 1683, a committee was chosen to rebuild the " West Bridge, at Saw- mill River, it being much dammified by the great flood of waters this spring." (This bridge stood near the present Winter street bridge).
Daniel Ela was prosecuted by his wife, for ill treatment, and the court ordered him to pay her 40s. This, however, did not prevent a continu- ance of his cruelty, as he was the next year complained of by William White, for turning his wife out of doors in a snow-storm, and shamefully abusing her. The following deposition of one of his neighbors, will ex- hibit his character : "Goodman Ela said that Goodman White was an old knave, and that he would make it eost him souse for coming to him about
The following, from Coffin's History of Newbury, will probably apply equally as well to Haverhill, and is therefore worth inserting in this place : - "Turnips at that time, & for a half century afler, sup- plied the place of potatoes. In 1662, the price of a cord of oak wood, & a bushel of turnips, was the same, namely, one shilling and sixpence. In 1702, oak wood was three shillings, & walnut five shillings a cord, and turnips from one shilling and sixpence to two shillings a bushell. (1) In 1676, turnips one shilling per bushell, hemp and butter sixpence per pound. In 1687, cotton wool was one shilling and six- pence per pound. (2)
(1) John Knight's Journal.
(2) Richard Bartlett's Journal.
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his wife, and meddling about that which was none of his business. He said that she was his servant and his slave; and that she was no woman, but a devil in woman's apparel ; and that she should never come into his house again ; and that he would have her severely whipped, but that it would be a disgrace to him.""
John Page was licensed to keep an ordinary in town; and William White to sell cider for three years. At the next court, Page was fined forty shillings for " selling drink to Indians."t
At the town meeting, in 1683, a complaint was made against John Kee- zar, for keeping his tan-vats open. by which means, some cattle and swine belonging to his neighbors, had been destroyed. " The Moderator, in ye name of ye towne, did publiquely give sd Keezar a caution - warning and admonishing him upon his perill to secure his tan-yard and tan fatts that no damage be done by him, to other mens or his own creatures; and in speciall that mischief may not come unto children, which may occasion his own life to come upon triall."
On the 27th of October, another meeting was ealled to see about settling a minister. The first vote passed, was to dismiss the committee previously chosen for the purpose of finding some suitable person, and the next, was to choose a new committee, " to procure a person to join with Mr. Ward in the work of the ministry at Haverhill." This third committee consisted of Corporal; Peter Ayer, Corporal Josiah Gage, and Robert Swan, senior.
In the records of this meeting, we find the following, touching the nego- tiations with Mr. Cushing: -
" The town by their former Committee having had a treaty with Mr. Cushing, in order to his settlement, and at last being denied, Lient Browne, that the town may be justified if they treat with any other person in order to a settlement in the ministry, gave in Mr. Cushing's two letters as his answer and refusal of our motion, that they might be entered and put upon file, with other papers belonging to the town's concernments which are on file."
This is the last reference we find to Mr. Cushing in the records. The Recorder does not state what his reasons were for declining to come, and as the letters above mentioned are now lost. we are left entirely in the dark concerning them. We feel confident, however, that his refusal was not given on account of any division or excitement among the people of the town, though Mirich so intimates in his History of Haverhill.
º Court Records. f Ibid.
# If any of our readers feel disposed to smile at the prominence given to military titles, by our ances- tors, let them please remember, that, in these "latter day.," nearly every man is addressed by some title. Those who cannot claim a higher one, are usually addressed as " Esq."
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At the next annual meeting (1684) Daniel Ela and William Starlin made " a proffer to the town, to sell their livings, house & land, for a situ- ation for a minister or the ministry," and a committee was chosen to treat with them " in the time of intermission, before the afternoon," and re- port. Upon the committee's report, the town declined the proffer of Ela, as "too difficult to comply with & perform," and decided to treat further with Starlin. For the latter purpose, the committee was ordered to con- fer with him again, and report at an adjourned meeting, the next day. The next day, the town voted to give Starlin one hundred pounds for his house and land, provided he would give them a " sufficient legal convey- ance " of the same. His pay was as follows : - " Ten acres of land at the Fishing river, near to Robert Emerson's." which was to be laid out convenient " for the setting up of a corn mill there," at three pounds per acre ; and the remaining seventy pounds to be paid in merchantable corn, in two several payments, for which a rate was then ordered to be laid.
The town expressly reserved the right to allow any other person or per- sons to put up mills on the same stream, and also stipulated that in setting down his dam he should not hinder the passage of the fish up the river to the pond, " at the season of the year when they come to pass up."
From the record of the same meeting we copy the following :
" A complaint being made to the town for want of room in the meeting house, for the women, convenient when they come to hear the word of God preached, and that care be speedily taken about the same: The town (by their act upon June 24, 1681, having taken care for such a galery, and appointed persons to take care thereof, and get it to be made at the towns cost) do refer this matter to the said committec, empowering them to get the same built, desiring them forthwith to proceed upon the work to have it finished, that no excuse of that kind be made by any persons that do, or shall absent themselves from the public worship of God."
From the above, we are led to presume, that the committee had neglected to build the gallery on account of the probability of a new meeting-house being soon erected. As they were now ordered to proceed at once in the work, it appears as though the proposition for a new one was given up for the present.
In the summer of this year, (July 30. 1684.) a town meeting was called to sec about the seating of the inhabitants in the meeting house, " altera- tions and divers deaths" having made some new arrangements necessary, and the selectmen were made a committee " for the new seating or placing of persons in the seats in the meeting house." It was voted, that if any of the inhabitants refused to occupy the seats assigned them by the se- lectmen, they should "forfeit a fine of twelve pence in corn " for each
-
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day's negleet or refusal : and, " to prevent any objection of others," an- other committee was chosen to seat the selcetmen !
Mirick, in noticing the above, says,-" It is evident, from the language of the Recorder that some epidemic prevailed about this time, though we have no other account of it." We are surprised that, with the record be- fore him, he should have drawn such an inference. It had now been about thirty years since the seats were first assigned, and in that period great changes had naturally been made in families by "alterations and divers deaths," and we see no evidence or hint that favors the adoption of any other theory in explaining the above-mentioned action of the town.
A change in the mode of voting for Selectmen was adopted at the annual meeting this year, the record of which is not without interest : - " It is ordered that at this present meeting, and so for the future till this act is orderly repealed. every one that is presented at the town meeting for, and hath power or liberty of voting in the choice of Selectmen for the follow- ing year shall bring in his votes for five several distinct persons in one paper at one time, cut between the names, so that they may hang together ; and when all the papers so brought in are sorted, those five men that have the greatest number of votes, as it is usual in the public elections on Nomi- nations for the country shall be the men who are chosen to serve for the Selectmen for the year ensuing.""
In 1683, Job Clement of Dover, son of the late Job Clement of this town, applied to the town to lay out some land to him upon his father's house lot accommodation ; but, "upon discourse," several persons affirmed that the land had already been laid out, and as " Daniel Ela affirmed openly that Mr Job Clement in his life time did say with reference to his three acres of accommodations, that Theoph. Satchwell who had been at law with him, had cheated him of it all," the town refused his request. In 1684, Clement renewed his application, and the " matter being long discoursed," the town again refused to acknowledge his claim,
After the Selectmen for 1685 were chosen, it was found that a major- ity were not freemen," as a law of the colony required, and " without reflection or disrespect, Daniel Bradley was left out, and Josiah Gage chosen in his room."
The same year, a highway was laid out " from Almsbury meeting house by Country Bridge to Haverhill." It was a " beaten " way before, but had not been regularly laid out. A highway was also laid out " above Spicket as far as Haverhill lands go in that direction." One had been previously laid out in the latter direction, but being little used, it had become " uncertain."
9 In 1687, this regulation was repealed, and " the former ancient practice of putting in for but one per- son at a time ordered to be attended to."
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John Keyzar, to whom land was granted in 1674, on condition that he came and " set up his trade of tanner " in town, (which land was " con- firmed to him" in 1682) made application this year for liberty to sell it; but the town informed him that " they did and do expect the conditions therein mentioned to be attended, or else the said John may leave the same to the Town, with the buildings and improvements by him made thercon, to the Town for public use."
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