USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > The history of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1640, to the year 1860 > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
the modesty with which they generally treated their captive women. We do not recolleet of but one instance" where they attempted to abuse their chastity in word or action .;
Haverhill was a frontier town for nearly seventy years, and but few towns suffered so severely from the Indians. At this period we can have but a faint conception of the sufferings of the inhabitants. Surrounded with an immense and mostly unexplored forest- thinly scattered over a large tract of land - and constantly exposed to the attacks of savage hordes, are circumstances which have made us wonder, why they should continue to march onward and onward into the wilderness, terrific for its extent, and unfurl the banner of civilization under the very shadow of the enemy's wigwam. The contests between them and the savages, were not like those between civilized nations ; but it was a war for extermination on one side, characterized with acts of the basest cruelty and revenge for defence on the other. The foemen frequently fought hand to hand; the bloody frays were frequent and sometimes long.
The Indians made their attacks slyly, and cautiously approached their enemy by skulking behind the intervening objects, until they came so near that they felt perfectly sure of their victim. At other times, they would fall upon the inhabitants before the break of day, and barbarously slaugh- ter them while they were unprepared to defend themselves. The people always went armed to their daily labor, and on the sabbath they were seen on their way to Church, with a psalm-book in one hand, and a gun, loaded and primed, in the other. But even then, while kneeling beneath the roof of the sanctuary, they were not safe ; if they went into the fields at noontide, with their spades and mattocks, their foes were behind them; if they slept within their dwellings when the sun had gone down, the darkness would not protect them ; but ere the light had stole upon the east, their blood, and the blood of their beloved, might pool together upon their hearths. In summer and winter, at the budding and searing of the leaf, they were alike exposed to hardships and to death.
Some of the most heroie deeds accomplished by the inhabitants of this town, were performed by women, - by those whose limbs were not made to
" This was in the case of Mrs. Hannah Duston, when her captors told her that she, and her companions, must be stripped naked, and run the gauntlet.
1 Testimonies in favor of the savages, in this particular, are very frequent. Mary Rowlandson, who was taken prisoner at Lancaster, in 1675, says in her narrative, (page 55), -"I have been in the midst of these roaring lions and savage bears, that feared neither God nor man, nor the devil, by day and night, alone and in company, sleeping all sorts together, and yet not one of them ever offered me the least abuse of unchastity in word or action." Elizabeth Hanson, who was captured in Dover, in 1724, says in her narrative, that " the Indians are very civil towards their captive women, not offering any incivility by any indecent carriage." Charlevoix, speaking of the Indians of Canada, says, (letter 7) " there is no example that any have taken the least liberty with the French women, even when they were their prisoners."
153.
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
wield the weapons of war,-whose hearts could never exult in a profusion of blood,-and whose sphere of usefulness, of honor and of glory, was in the precincts of the domestic circle."
Dover was the first to suffer. On the night of the 27th of June, the garrisons were attacked, twenty-three persons killed, and twenty-nine cap- tured. Before the neighboring people could be collected, the Indians had withdrawn, with their captives and their plunder, toward Canada.
In August, a party of Indians fell upon the settlement at Oyster River (Durham, N. H.) and killed eighteen persons.
On the 13th of the same month, a small party made their appear- ance in the northerly part of this town, and killed Daniel Brad- ley. They then went to the field of Nathaniel Singletary, near by, where he and his oldest son were at work. They approached in their slow and serpent-like manner, until they came within a few rods, when they shot Singletary, who fell and died on the spot; his son attempted to es- cape, but was quickly overtaken and made prisoner. The Indians then scalped Singletary, and commenced a hasty retreat ; but their prisoner soon eluded their vigilanee, and returned to his home, on the same day, to make glad the hearts of his afflicted relatives. Nathaniel Singletary was a " squatter " on the parsonage lands. The marks of the cellar of his house are still to be seen, on the land now owned by Benjamin Kim- ball, on the Parsonage Road - a short distance northwest from the gate.
Bradley was killed on the " Parsonage Road," not far from the present Atkinson Depot.º
About the same time, two men were also killed at Andover.
These forays caused the inhabitants of the town again to appeal to the General Court, for assistance in the work of watchfulness, and de- fenee, t and on the 29th of the same month, the " Ipswich Horse " were ordered to this town, as a place of rendezvous for forces going to meet the enemy.
The savages again made their appearance, on the 17th of the following October, when they wounded and made prisoner of Ezra Rolfe,¿ who died three days after being taken.
" On the 30th of September, 1690, the following petition of his son, Daniel, was addressed to the Court: "To the honord cortt now siting att ipswige this may signify to your honors that whereas by the prouvi- dence of God my father Daniel Bradly was slaine by the hand of the heathen and left no will as to the deposing of his outward estatte I request his brother Joseph may be appointed administrator.
DANIEL BRADLEY." (1)
This request was granted.
(1) This name does not appear in the Town Records among the children of the above Daniel Bradley. ¡ Men had been previously stationed in town, as garrison guards ; but in July, (22d) a part of them (those from Rowley) had been ordered home, on account of the "busy season of the year."-Hist. Rowley. # Roife lived not far from the present North Parish Meeting-house.
20
154
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
No further attaeks were made by the Indians that ycar, and the inhabi- tants began to hope that they might be spared a repetition of the bloody work.
Toward the latter part of 1689, Rev. Benjamin Rolfe, of Newbury, be- gan to preach in town, as an assistant to Mr. Ward, and, as it seems, with general acceptance.º
At a town meeting, January 20, 1690, called " to see about getting a minister to join with Mr. Ward," it was voted to give Mr. Rolfe " forty pounds per annum in Wheat, Rye and Indian," to join and assist Mr. Ward, and after Mr. Ward's death, the town would "farther allow what shall be rational." According to the Recorder, there was " grand opposition " to the above vote, and it was finally declared " not to stand." The record intimates, that " Mr. Ward and his son Saltonstall" left the meeting, on account of the opposition to the vote. While they were ab- sent, the town voted to pay Mr. Rolfe the above sum for one year, and his diet, or board, and that Mr. Ward should have his full salary, provided he, at his own cost, boarded Mr. Rolfe.
After a few months of comparative quiet, the colonists were again startled by the intelligence that the French and their savage allies were busily preparing for a renewal of their bloody work with the opening of spring. The prospects of the inhabitants of the frontier towns were indeed gloomy.
At the annual meeting, nothing was done, except to elect officers. Who can weigh the load of fear and anxiety that rested upon the hearts of our fathers, as they contemplated the dark future before them ?
But little time was left them for suspense. Anon the news came that a large body of the enemy had attacked the beautiful village of Schneetady, New York, massacred sixty of its inhabitants, captured twenty-seven more, and reduced the town to ashes! Hardly had the people realized the fear- ful import of the intelligence, when another herald announced an attack on Salmon Falls, and the murder of twenty-seven of its inhabitants, while fifty-two others had been hurried away into captivity. No time was to be lost !
On the 24th of March, a meeting was held, "to consider what is to be done for the present security of the place against the enemy, by sending for help abroad, or to draw off." After voting the selectmen " full powers in all respects," the Recorder informs us that " a small discourse was opened about the then state of the Town, how to stand against the Enemy,
Mr. Rolfe was chaplain to the forces sent to Falmouth, Maine, from July 14th to November 14th. 1689, and probably came to this town soon after his return from that Province .- State Arch. Vol. ii, p. 49.
155
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
and to see for a livelyhood for hereafter, if lives of the people should be spared ; But it soon ceased and was given over, and nothing done that was te satisfaction in that affair, the people being out of a way for their own subsistence ; and therefore the Moderator declared the meeting closed."
Reader, mark the deep significance of that language. So imminent to them seemed the danger, and so feeble the resistance that they could offer, unaided and alone, that it was seriously debated, whether it was not best to draw off - to abandon the town entirely, and seek safety in some less exposed place ! How must the mother's heart have sunk within her, when the husband and father returned from that meeting, with no word of hope or comfort for herself or her little ones. As the sun withdrew that day, and left the hills and valleys of Pentucket enshrouded in darkness, so the bright sun of hope withdrew from the hearts of its inhabitants, and left them buried in the dark shadows of despondency, and fearful appre- hension.
As a means of defense, the selectmen appointed six garrisons, and four " houses of refuge."" One of the garrisons was commanded by Sergeant John Haseltine. This house stood on the north side of the road, about half way up Pecker's Hill, and a few rods northwesterly from that for- merly occupied by Samuel Pecker. Haseltine had seven men under his command : - Onesiphorus Marsh, sen., Onisephorus Marsh, jun., Nathan- iel Haseltine, Eben Webster, Joseph Holt, Thomas Ayer, and Joseph Bond.
This garrison was owned by Onesiphorus Marsh, sen., who was the an- cestor of those of that name in this town. The first notice we have of him, is in 1684, when he built the house above described .; He owned the principal part of that hill, and for many years it was known by the name of Marsh's Hill. The name was once generally spelt Mash. Another ac- count states that the garrison was commanded by Jonathan Marsh.
Another was commanded by Sergeant John Webster ; this, Mirick sup- posed, was the brick house which stands on the bank of the river, three fourths of a mile east of the bridge, and formerly occupied by Widow Nathaniel Whittier, but now owned and occupied by Joseph B. Spiller; but, as that house was not built until 1724, Mirick must have been mis- taken. It was, perhaps, located somewhere in that vicinity. Webster had eight men under his command : - Stephen Webster, Samuel Watts Nicholas Brown, Jacob Whittaker, John Marsh, Robert Ford, Samuel Ford, and Thomas Kingsbury.
" It is not certain that all these were appointed at that time, but most probably they were.
t Perhaps he came from Hingham, as we find the same name in that town, in 1674.
156
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
The third was owned and commanded by Jonathan Emerson ; a part of it is now standing on the northwest corner of Winter and Harrison streets.
The fourth was commanded by James Ayer, and stood nearly opposite the house of the late Captain John Ayer, 2d, on Pond street.
The fifth was commanded by Joseph Bradley, and was situated in the northerly part of the town, not far from the house of the late Zebulon Sar- gent ; it was long since torn down, and no traces of it now remain.
The sixth was owned and commanded by Captain John White ; and was situated near the " White " house, on Mill street. Hehad six men under his command: - Stephen Dow, sen., Stephen Dow, jun., John Dow, Edward Brumidge, Israel Hendrick, Israel - -, jun.
Two brick houses, belonging to Joseph and Nathaniel Peaslee, in the easterly part of the town, and the houses of Major Nathaniel Saltonstall and Captain Simon Wainwright, were appointed for houses of refuge. A few soldiers were stationed in them, who were under the command of the owners. Two watch-houses were erected, one of which stood near the house occupied by the late John Dow, on Main street, and the other was on the bank of the river, a few rods east of the " Duncan Place," on Water street. The houses of Joseph and Nathaniel Peaslee are yet standing; the former was owned by the late Nathan Sawyer, and stands a short distance east of the latter, which is now owned and occupied by Captain Jesse Newcomb, and is situated about two miles east of Haverhill Bridge.
The house of Mr. Saltonstall stood on the site of that of the Widow Samuel W. Duncan. That of Captain Simon Wainwright, stood on the site of the " Emerson House," opposite Winter Street Church.
The school-house, which stood on what is now Pentucket Cemetery, was also used for the same purpose. A guard of soldiers was stationed in each of these houses, who were on the look-out for the enemy, night and day.
Besides these garrisons, and houses of refuge, many private houses were barracaded, and the inhabitants generally were prepared for any emergency.
" Most of the garrisons, and two of the houses of refuge, (those belong- ing to Joseph and Nathaniel Peaslee) were built of brick, and were two stories high ; those that were not built of this material, had a single laying of it between the outer and inner walls. They had but one outside door, which was often so small that but one person could enter at a time ; their windows were about two feet and a half in length, eighteen inches in breadth, and were secured on the inside with iron bars. Their glass was very small, cut in the shape of a diamond, was extremely thick, and fas- tened in with lead instead of putty. There were generally but two rooms in the basement story, and tradition says that they entered the chamber
J. H. Bufford's Lith B.stor
Passe ( lernen C.
157
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
with the help of a ladder, instead of stairs, so that the inmates could re- treat into them, and take it up if the basement-story should be taken by the enemy. Their fire-places were of such enormous sizes, that they could burn their wood sled-length, very conveniently ; and the ovens opened on the outside of the building, generally at one end, behind the fire-place ; and were of such dimensions that we should suppose a sufficient quantity of bread might have been baked in them to supply a regiment of hungry mouths.
It was truly an age of terror with these hardy and courageous men ; and their descendants can have but a faint idea of the difficulties they encoun- tered, and of the dangers that continually hung over their heads, threatening every moment to overwhelm them like a torrent. Almost every man was a soldier, and many, who lived in remote parts of the town, moved, with their families, into the vicinity of a garrison, or a house of refuge.
This was the case with Stephen Dow and his son, who lived in the cast part of the town, and moved near to the garrison of Capt. John White. The Indians had a peculiar whistle, which was made by placing both hands to the mouth, and was known to be their call. It was frequently heard in the adjacent woods, and tradition says, that Stephen Dow, jun., was the only person in the garrison who could exactly imitate it; and that he frequently concealed himself, and endeavored to decoy them within the range of the soldiers' bullets. But it does not say that he ever suc- ceeded."
April 7th, another meeting was held, "to consider what may, & is to be done, as to sending to the Council or General Court for their affording help to this place by soldiers, as it is a frontier town, exposed to great danger, &c."
At this meeting, it was " Voted and agreed by the Town that a petition be drawn up & sent by a meet hand to the Council and General Court, to have sent to us, as we are a frontier town, upon the Country's charges, 40 men at least, to be a constant daily scout, to keep out without the outmost garrisons, and in constant service, so as to watch the enemy & prevent & surprise them, or give notice to others within, that they may be encouraged to do somewhat in order to future livelyhood, and in case of need to stand for their lives."
Cornet Peter Ayer was "particularly made choice of to present, prefer, & prosecute " the petition.
· Mirick.
158
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
In answer to the petition of the town, soldiers were sent from Newbury, and other places, to Haverhill, Amesbury, and Salisbury.º
Scarcely had the inhabitants made their preparations for defence and security, ere the murderous savages were again in their vicinity.
On the 5th of July, eight persons were killed at Exeter ; and two days afterward, three were killed at Amesbury. It was no longer safe to ven- ture out of doors, except in armed parties, or in the immediate vicinity of the garrisons, where watch was kept night and day for the enemy. None knew when or where an attack would be made, and the only safety was in strongly fortified garrisons, armed soldiers, and constant watch- fulness.
Immediately after the news of the attacks at Exeter and Amesbury reached Haverhill, Major Saltonstall despatched a messenger to the Coun- cil, at Boston, with an urgent appeal for immediate aid. The following is his letter, copied from the original in the Archives of the State: -
Havll : July 10: 1690, at almost 3 afternoon ;
Hond : Gentlemen
I am now by ye Posts from Salisbury put upon hurrying up a line or two to yor: selves, & bec: of my shortness of time I cannot stand to enter ye abreviate of ye 2 Lres: to me ; & yrf : I have sent them to your selves by ye same hands yt brought ym to me; & pray that ye Lres: may by ye same hands be returnd, (we yy promise if it be permitted.)
I shal but add a few words ; Capt: Buswells request I judg rationall, & most necessary to be attended; I can as I wrote by Lt: Johnson of Almsbury on monday last say, That Havll: hath as much need of present & setled assistance as any place ; I beseech you cast us not off ; or give us comand to draw off. I do not think it much to avail but as a present satisfaction yt men visit us affr: mischeif is done us; for before yy can be wth us ye enimie is hidden or gone, & nothing to be done but for ye men to return, unless yy would stay as men in service, or occasion shal offer. Indeed ye charg is grt:, but tho: all are not, yet some are willing to bear their part. Foot men are most advisable, & serviceable & so, in ye end,
" About this time, one Isaac Morrill, a native of New Jersey, came to Newbury, to entice Indians and Negroes to leave their masters and go with him, saying that the English should be cut off, and the Negroes should be free. He was arrested, May 29. 1690, and sent to Ipswich for trial. Their intention was, to take a vessel out of the dock at Newbury, go to Canada, join the French, and come down upon the back side of the country, and save none but the negroes and Indians. They intended to come with four or five hundred Indians, and three hundred Canadians, between Haverhill and Amesbury, over Merrimack river, near " Indian river by Archelaus hill on the backside of John Emery's meadow and destroy, and then they might casily destroy such small towns as Haverhill and Amesbury."-Coffin Hist. Newbury, 153.
159
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
it will be found ; excepting only a very few to be imployed in carrying or fetching newes ; men complain more of difficulty to provide for horses than for many more men.
The Ld: be yor Counsellor & guid in all these difficulties; Let us have a speedy dispatch of the Posts, Philip Grele, & Wm Hely both of Salisb: yt I may give accot: to ym yt send to me; I am not in a capacity to help ym, but want men for or necessary defence; & orders to keep or own men to duty upon their peril, & for their being sent to Boston for judgmt according to yr desert, yt is, some of ym. I am Gentlemen
your true servant N: Saltonstall
On the 31st of August, as Samuel Parker, and a small boy, were engaged in curing hay in the East Parish, at the east-meadow, a party of Indians surprised them, and shot Parker dead on the spot. The boy ran in an op- posite direction from the smoke of the assailants, and by concealing himself in the tall grass, escaped uninjured, and was the first to bear the melan- cholly tidings of Parker's death to his family.º
September 21st, is memorable for an attack on Casco, in which eight persons were killed, and twenty-four wounded. This was the last foray of that season, and the Indians, according to their custom, gradually withdrew as winter approached, toward Canada.
Believing that the inhabitants could now, for the winter months at least, take care of themselves, the General Court (Oct. 10) ordered " that Maj Saltonstall do dismiss home the scout of ten troopers appointed to be em- ployed between Haverhill & Salisbury by direction of the said Major for security of said towns in the time of harvest." On the 22d of the same month, they ordered that all the garrison soldiers posted in the towns of Haverhill, Salisbury, and Amesbury, be forthwith dismissed. Two weeks afterward, (Nov. 7) all the officers and soldiers at Piscataqua were ordered home ; and a few weeks still later, (Dec. 13) one-third of all the eastern garrisons were disbanded.
While the inhabitants were thus surrounded by all the horrors of savage warfare, the small pox broke out among them. This loathsome disease was then but little understood, and was much more terrible to encounter
" The following doubtless refers to this attack, though the account is far from correct : -
"This morne about seven ye the clock news came to me from Rowley yt Majr Saltonstall sent to New- berry : vizt, yt two men of Haverhill was in the evening last night about three miles out of the towne lookig after their corne: their fields were about fift rods one from the other ; each about their owne ; one of them is escaped who heard a gun which he supposed to be shot at ye other man & espying Indians Run for it but saith yt he heard at least ten more guns & ye man not returning he is supposed to be killed, for he that escaped heard them give a Grat Shout."-Extract from a Letter of Samuel Appleton, of Ips- wich, to the Governor. September 1, 1690.
.
160
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
than at the present day ; and we need not wonder that the town was greatly alarmed. A pest-house was erected on the hill east of the house of the late Joseph Bradley, to which the infected were removed. But few, however, died of the disease.
Mirick says, " We can learn of but six persons who died with this dis- ease. They were Abraham Hendrick, Mary Ford, and her daughter Mary, Josiah Starling, Ruth Hartshorne, and Thomas Marsh. The records say that John Stockbridge ' went to sea & died of the small pox,'"
Taking advantage of the short respite from savage incursion, the town again turned their attention to the matter of securing a minister. Mr. Rolfe had now been laboring among them a year, and was so well liked. that a meeting was called (Dee. 31) to see about securing his " fur- ther help in the ministry." They unanimously voted to do so, if they eould, and a committee was chosen to treat with him.
At the annual town meeting the following spring, (1691) nothing was done except to choose town officers. With the opening of spring, the in- habitants feared fresh outrages by the Indians, and they had little heart to engage in anything except measures for the support and defense of their families.
On the 16th of June, John Robie, of this town, was killed by the say- ages. Warned by the impending danger, Robie had taken his family from his own dwelling, to a house of refuge, that stood where the house of Ben- jamin Clement now stands, in the North Parish. He was returning from this mission with his cart and oxen, and had reached about midway of the burying-ground, near the residence of Jesse Clement, when a ball struck him down. His son, Ichabod, who was with him, was taken prisoner, but soon after managed to escape, and returned home. Robic's wife died a few days previously, leaving a family of seven children, the oldest of which was not quite eleven years of age. This doubtless led him to seek safety for them in the house of refuge. A letter from Nathaniel Salton- stall, to Major Pike, of Newbury, dated " June 15, 1691, 12 at night," states, that Robie was killed about two hours before sunset, " near the woods near Bradley's."
At the same attack, Nathaniel Ladd was shot, and soon after died of his wounds.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.