USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > The history of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1640, to the year 1860 > Part 17
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
No further damage was done by the Indians in the vicinity" until Oeto- ber, when, says Hutchinson, " a family was killed at Rowley and one at Haverhill .; Perhaps he had reference to the above persons; if not, the
" On the 28th of September, seven persons were killed and captured at Berwick; and on the following day, between twenty and thirty at Sandy Beach.
t Vol. 1, p. 359. We find, however, that the History of Rowley places it one year later - 1692.
161
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
name of that family must remain in obscurity, for there is no account of the death of any other person, this year, by the Indians. The family killed at Rowley was named Goodrich.
The constant state of anxiety and fear in which the colonists were kept during these long and dreary months, and years, may be judged from the fact that in Newbury, which was far less exposed than either of the fron- tier towns, fifty-one persons kept watch each night.
The new year brought no brighter prospects, but rather the reverse. On the 5th of February, a large body of French and Indians attacked York, Maine, burned all but three or four garrisoned houses, killed about seventy-five of its inhabitants, and captured eighty-five. The work of slaughter had re-commenced in fearful earnest.
At the annual meeting of 1692, but little was done except the election of officers. . A few applications were made for land, and Samuel Dalton asked permission to build a corn-mill on Mill Brook, but all were refused. The inhabitants were evidently so engrossed in the all important matter of personal security, that they had little courage left for extending their settlement.
On the 18th of July, Hannah Whittiker, of this town, was killed by the Indians.º The particulars of her death are now lost.
On the same day that Hannah Whittiker was killed, an attack was made on Lancaster, Mass., and six persons were killed. August 1st, the same number were killed at Billerica; and September 29th, twenty-one were killed and captured at Rye Beach.
Sometime in August, John Keezar took his scythe and his gun, and went to the Pond Meadow to cut grass. Hc laid his gun down beside a trec, and while mowing, a short distance from it, an Indian, who had seeretly observed his motions, crept silently along, and secured the gun before Keezar was aware of it. The Indian then brought it to his shoul- der, and exultingly exclaimed -"me kill you now." Keezar saw that an attempt to fly would be attended with certain death, and his only re- course was to stratagem. Soon as he saw that the Indian had secured his gun, he faced about and ran toward him, shouting at the top of his voice, swinging his glittering scythe, and threatening to cut him in pieces. This daring conduct, in one whom the Indian expected would fly, or beg for his life, his terrible threatenings, and the formidable appearance of his wea- pon, completely affrighted him ; and he threw down his stolen gun, and
Hannah Whittiker was the wife of Abraham Whittiker, Jun. Her maiden name was " Beame." She was married April, 1682.
21
162
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
fled for his life. Keezar followed close upon his heels, repeatedly striking at him with his scythe. At length he reached him, and at one stroke, buried it in his bowels.º
The enemy were all around them, continually watching for opportuni- ties to make a successful attack, and the situation of the inhabitants of this town was perilous in the extreme. None knew when or where the blow would fall, but it was daily and hourly expected. In answer to a call for aid, Sir William Phipps ordered twelve soldiers to be sent from Newbury to Haverhill, November 1st, to assist in protecting the town. Happily no other assault was made that season.
With the return of another winter, came the necessity of again consid- ering the matter of Mr. Rolfe's settlement as minister, and a meeting was called for that purpose. At this meeting, the question, "whether Mr. Benj Rolfe, whom this town hath had experience of in the ministry near three years, shall be the man pitched upon for that work, and to be our settled minister in Haverhill," was " by a full vote," passed in the affirm- ative, and a committee was chosen to agree with him.
December 5th, a meeting was called, to hear the report of the committee, which was made in the form of a letter from Mr. Rolfe. The following is a copy : -
" Haverhill Nov 21, 1692.
To the Town of Haverhill,
Gentlemen :
The Committee chosen and appointed by you on Oct 25, 92, to treat with me in order to my settlement among you as your minister ; have been with me and acquainted me as far as they could with the Town's mind in this affair, making some proposals which they thought might be agreea- ble to what you approve of :
Upon which I make you this brief return - That it is not my design nor desire to propose for what may rationally be thought hard : But only that there may be such a competent, comfortable settlement, as that there- by I, or any that shall be called to be your minister, may be capable to endeavour the discharge of that duty that God requires of persons under such circumstances without distraction.
The want of this will be uncomfortable to you and your minister: and, That in order hereto I presume that there is no rational man but will think it requisite, that, in such a place as this is, where there is no house for the ministry ; there be (in some convenient place) allotted to him a small
· Tradition .- Mirick.
163
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
parcel of land, on which he may at his own cost (with the help of such as shall freely offer thereto) erect an house to dwell in which he may call his own ; and
Inasmuch as your Committee have proposed to me by order of the Town, what place in the Town would be most satisfactory to me to dwell in ; - I reply, that I think it beyond me to determine. The Town's pleasure in this matter will doubtless be for accommodation.
But except the Town can think of a more convenient place, I know no objection against that place on which Nathaniel Smith did formerly dwell, or any near it.
With respect to a settled yearly maintain, I object not against what the Town by their Committee have already settled on me: Provided, that in convenient season, when the work is doubled, and the Town comes to be under better circumstances, there be such an addition to it, as shall ration- ably be thought requisite.
Your speedy conclusion upon what hath been proposed will enable me to give you a more full answer :
In the meantime I remain
Yours in all christian offices Benjamin Rolfe."
Upon the reading of Mr. Rolfe's letter, it was voted: -
" That Mr Benj Rolf, who hath, for about three years been an help here, in the work of the ministry with Mr Ward; If he please to settle here in the ministerial work shall have, & hereby hath, that piece of land freely bestowed upon him as his own proper estate, which was laid out by the Town's committee June 24, 1681, and approved of, near where Nathaniel Smith formerly lived, and is also joining to that two acres which was given by the Town to Samuel Wilcot."
The selectmen were, at the same time, directed to treat with the owners about buying Wilcot's two acres, to be added to the rest.
Toward the last of the next month, (Jan. 30, 1693) another meeting was called, to see if the town would confirm its vote to settle Mr. Rolfe, as some objections had been made to that mecting, " because of the shortness of warning." The town declared that, "by a clear vote, it is renewed, allowed of, confirmed, made, and to be stood unto, for the full and free vote of the Inhabitants of Haverhill." There could be no mistaking their intentions this time, most certainly.
Mr. Rolfe was granted the free and full improvement of the Parsonage farm and meadow, then on lease to Mr. Bradley, so long as he continued in the town as their minister, and also of the Parsonage land bought of
164
HISTORY OF IIAVERHILL.
William Starlin, besides what was otherwise appointed him for his annual salary. It was also voted to lay him out, with all convenient speed, ten acres of good meadow, for his free use while he remained their minister.
We have already alluded to the charter received in 1692. It was a far different instrument from the colonial charter of 1629, and effected a thorough revolution in the country. The form of government, the powers of the people, and the entire foundation and objects of the body politic, were placed upon a new basis.
Sir William Phipps, the first governor of the province under the new charter, arrived at Boston on the 14th of May, 1692. Writs were imme- diately issued for a general assembly, which convened in the following month, and the government was duly inaugurated.
These changes in the government of the province, necessitated corres- ponding changes in the organization of towns, and, accordingly, at the next annual meeting of this town, several new officers were chosen, and the name of the town Recorder was changed to Town Clerk.
The following is a list of the first board of town officers under the new charter : -
Lt John Johnson, Moderator ; Nathl Saltonstall, Town Clerk ; Ensign Thomas Eatton, Cornet Peter Ayer, Sergt Robert Ayer, Sergt John Page, Nathl Saltonstall, Selectmen; Robert Swan sen., Samuel Currier, James Sanders, Ensign John White, & Sergt Josiah Gage, Highway Surveyors ; Michael Emerson, Leather Sealer ; Ensign Thomas Eatton, Sealer of Weights & Measures ; Sergt Josiah Gage, Lieut Saml Ayer, Sergt John Haseltine, Capt Geo Browne, Wm Starlin, & Joseph Johnson sen, Tyth- ing-men ; for Viewers of Fences, for the West side of the Sawmill River, Ensign Saml Hutchins, Oncsiph Mash sen ; - between the West bridge and Mill brook and northward as far as Ephraim Gild's, John Johnson Saml Emerson ; - between the Mill brook and Great Plain, Eph Roberts, Israel Hendrick ; - for the Great Plain and fields below that, to the cx- tent of Haverhill bounds, on that quarter to the eastward, Amos Singletory, John Whittier ; - for the northern farms about Wm Starlin's, and in that quarter, Joseph Johnson sen, Christopher Bartlett; Steven Dow sen, Grand Juror ; Daniel Lad jun, for Jury of Trials.
At this meeting, Joseph Peasely was granted the privilege of erecting a sawmill " at the head of east meadow river upon the stream by or near Brandy Brow." The location selected was the one still occupied, and known as " Peaslee's Mills." It is now, and we believe has most of the time, since 1693, been owned by persons of that name.
165
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
We notice that more business relating to lands, and similar matters, was done by the town this year, than for several years previously, which indi- cates a returning confidence, and prosperity. No allusions are made to the Indians in the records, and we do not find any mention of persons being killed by them, this year, in the vicinity, except Jonathan Franklin in this town, and one person in Dover.
May 8th, a town meeting was called, " for the people to join with the church and take care for the providing necessaries for Mr Rolf's ordina- tion in office in this town." After choosing a Moderator, " the Town resolved to stop in the proceedings till they knew what Mr Ward would abate of his yearly maintanance." The following proposal from him, dated November 13, 1692, was then read : -
" In answer to the Town's proposal to me to know what I would abate of my yearly maintenance, and upon what terms they should be with me in case they got another minister to help with me in the ministry, I grant
In case the Church and Town do procure another Minister to be settled in office in the work of the ministry in Haverhill; Then from that time and forward I will abate to the Town of what they ought to pay to me by Covenant and Town orders, all, excepting only Twenty pounds in Corn, and Fifty cords of current merchantable cord wood, to be paid as follow- eth, annually, during my life; viz.
Ten pounds in merchantable Wheat, and Ten pounds in merchantable Indian, and
Fifty cords of Oak and Walnut wood, to be laid in at my house, and corded by one thereto appointed at the Town's charges; for time as followeth, viz :
Half in October, annually ; and the other Half in February annually.
Provided that all arrears be truly paid me, and that myself and estate I be exempted from all rates ; and that the Town do appoint one or two men to attend at my house upon a set day to receive and take account of what shall be brought in, and set the price thereof if it be not merchant- able, that so it come not in pitiful driblets as formerly.
And in case the conditions be not performed within the year, by the 2d of February annually ; then the whole Sixty pounds to be paid annually, according to town orders already made, and so proportionably.
John Ward."
After this letter was read, the meeting chose a committee of four, "to go and see what Mr Ward will abate of his annual covenanted mainte-
166
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
nance, in order to the settlement of Mr B Rolf for a minister here." The following is their report: -
" The messengers, by word of mouth, return Mr Ward's answer: That from and after Mr Rolf's ordination, he will abate all except Twenty Pounds in Wheat & Indian annually, & Fifty eords of merchantable sound wood corded at his house."
The town accepted the offer. A vote was then passed that " care shall at the Town's charge be taken for a place and provision for entertainment at Mr Rolf's ordination," provided it did not exceed ten pounds ; but as " several men proclaimed against it with great violence," the vote was nulled.
The following agreement of the committee with Mr. Rolfe, was then ap- proved and confirmed : -
" We," Robert Ayer, Peter Ayer, and Steven Dow, who are the present Committee in that affair have covenanted and agreed with said Mr Rolf; and do hereby covenant & agree, and promise to & with the said Rolf and his heirs and assigns, as the said Committee men, and on behalf of the said Town by virtue of their orders and acts, and because one vote may take off a preceding one by the unsteadiness of a multitude : That Mr Rolf may not be disappointed, We not only for the Town in general, but for our- selves in particular, as the said Town's Committee, and for our successors, do covenant and agree as followeth :
1. That Mr Benjamin Rolf during the time of his abode in this Town in the work of the ministry, until he is settled with us in office in that work, shall have paid unto him by the Town Sixty pounds per annum in Wheat, Rye, and Indian Corn, by equal proportions of each, at the price of the grain in the Country rate, at the time of payment. So that the whole may be paid into him, or his order in Haverhill, by the 2d of Feb- ruary annually.
2. That Mr Rolf out of his Sixty pounds is to provide personal quar- ters for himself as he shall think good.
3. We the Committee before mentioned do further promise to said Mr Rolf that upon the Town's charge, in convenient season annually, there shall be laid in for him a sufficient quantity and stock of good, sweet, and dry, and sound Hay for the keeping his horse through the winter at such place in Haverhill as he shall appoint."
" The introductory paragraph, which merely rehearses when and for what the committee were chosen, we have omitted, as unimportant.
167
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
The agreement is signed by the committee. The following is the letter of Mr. Rolfe, accepting the terms offered : -
" Haverhill April 29, 1693.
In answer to the Election of the Town of Haverhill significd by public vote at a general orderly meeting with respect to my being their settled minister, and to the call of the Church of Christ there ;
The Providence of God having so ordered, as to move his people here to invite me to settle among them for the carrying on of the great and solemn work of the ministry of the gospel of Christ,
I do hold it my duty to consider & take notice of the special Providence of God therein, and therefore do hereby express myself willing to settle among them for that end: viz :
1st. So long as the people of God here do continue in the profession of the true faith and peace of the gospel - Acts 2:42.º
2d. So long as I may have the liberty of my ministry among them.
3d. So long as I can discharge my duty to myself and family, if it shall please God to give me one ; I mean by this, That the Town comply with and duly discharge for the present, that obligation with respect to a yearly maintenance that they by their Committee are now under to me. Grant- ing also to me a supply of wood as soon as I shall stand in need of it. And if it shall please God so to order it that the whole work be devolved upon me, or to bring them out of those difficulties that by occasion of the war they are now under: They grant to me such a supply as that thereby I may so live as a minister of the gospel ought to live, and be able without distraction by wants, to discharge my duty as a minister of Christ to God and yourselves.
Thus I say I do express myself willing to settle among you with a truc intention and true affection.
Benjamin Rolfe."
Having at last seen his successor selected, provided for, and firmly seated in the affections of the people with whom he had himself lived so long, and so happily, and for whose welfare he had devoted the best years of a long life, the venerable John Ward was soon laid beside her whom in life he had loved so well. He died on the 27th of December, 1693, and was buried on the following day, almost in the very shadow of the humble little church where, for nearly a half century, his voice had been heard from Sabbath to Sabbath earnestly pleading with the FATHER for bless-
9 "And they continued steadfastly in the Apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."-Acts 2, 42.
168
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
ings upon his little flock." Mr. Rolfe, on the day of his ordination, speaking of him, says, that " these four years past have been the happiest and most profitable to me of my whole life. I have had the councils of wisdom and experience, the admonitions of a father and friend, and an ex- ample constantly before me, of undissembled virtue, ardent piety and burning zeal."
The following is an extract from his will, which bears date May 27, 1680.1
" O Lord, into thy hands commit I my spirit. Credo languida fide sed tamen fide.
Concerning that portion of worldly goods which God of his rich bounty hath bestowed upon me, I make this my last will and testament. I give to my beloved son Benja. Woodbridge, and to my beloved daughter, Mary, his wife, one parcell of land containing thirty acres, more or less, lying att the norwest end of the towne of Haverhill, in N. England. I give to my beloved son, Nathl. Saltonstall, and to my beloved daughter, Elizabeth, his wife, my house, and land adjoyning thereto, commonly called the houselott, lying in the town of Haverhill,; º º º º Lastly, I constitute and appoynt my beloved son, Saltonstall, the executor of this my last will and testament, and do hereby make void all former Wills made by me.
Witness my hand and seal
JOHN WARD. [SEAL. ] Signed and sealed in the presence of us;
WILLIAM WHITE, THOMAS EATON, BENJA. ROLFE. Jan. 23, 92 -- 3, owned before JOHN WHITE."
Mr. Rolfe was ordained on the 7th of the January following Mr. Ward's death.
At the annual meeting for 1694, the town refused to choose Tything- men, (and also a Hayward, Culler of Staves, Field Drivers, and House Officers,) according to law; but we find that a few weeks afterward, a town meeting was held " by the order of the Sheriff," to choose a repre- sentative to the assembly, and tythingmen. The government seem to have allowed the omission of the others, but refused to entertain the idea that a town could get along without tythingmen. The duty of a tythingman was
" On the 19th, of November, 1693, Mr. Ward, then just entering his eighty-eighth year, preached an ex- cellent sermon, - his last publie effort. - Mather.
t Two months after the death of his wife.
# This homestead, since known as the "Saltonstall Place," about half a mile east of the Bridge, re- mained in possession of the family until after the Revolution. It is now familiarly known as the : Widow Duncan's Place."
·
169
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
to preserve good order in the church during divine service, and to make complaint of any disorderly conduct. It is but recently that the office was abolished. The writer well remembers when " the tythingman " served as an effectual " bugbear " for juvenile church-goers.
This year, all the town officers were, for the first time, duly " sworn " to the faithful performance of their several official duties, - a practice which has since become a custom.
July 2d, a meeting was called to see about the meadow land for the ministry, which had been laid out, but was claimed by Robert Swan, sen., who had prosecuted the town for taking it away from him. The town voted to fight it out with him, "according to law."
On the 30th of July, a meeting was held, " by command of the Country," to choose assessors, and Captain Simon Wainwright, Ensign John White, and Cornet Peter Ayer were duly chosen and sworn.
This was the first board of assessors chosen by the town. For a few years preceding this, a " commissioner" had been annually chosen to act with the selectmen in taking valuations.
After nearly two years of comparative freedom from molestation by the Indians, the inhabitants were again alarmed by news of horrible massa- cres, and threatened extermination.
On the 18th of July (1694) the settlement at Oyster River was again attacked, and ninety-four of its inhabitants killed and captured. This sad news had hardly reached this town, when another messenger conveyed the intelligence of four more victims at Portsmouth ; and within a week later, Groton was surprised, twenty-two persons killed, and thirteen wounded. The enemy were all around them, and terror sat on every countenance. Three weeks later, five persons were killed at York, and the same week, eight more were added to the long list of victims from Kittery.
September 4th, two men, Joseph Pike and Richard Long, both of New- bury, were slain by the savages as they were travelling, near the north of Pond Plain. " The enemy lay in a deserted house by the way, or in a clump of bushes, or both.""
Although no other attack was made in this town that year, yet the in- habitants had every reason to expect them, and the strictest watch was kept. day and night, and every precaution taken to preserve life and pro-
0 Pike's Journal. Neal, in his History of New England, says, under date of September 4, 1694: - "Mr. Joseph Pike of Newbury, Deputy Sheriff of Essex, travelling with one Long between Amesbury and llaverhill in the execution of his office, fell into an Ambuscade of the enemy, and both he and hi companion were murdered."
22
170
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
perty, in ease of such emergency. Under such circumstances, as we may well suppose, there were occasionally false alarms, when a whole garrison or neighborhood would be thrown into the greatest consternation and fear, without serious cause. One of the most ludicrous of these alarms, occur- red at the garrison commanded by Sergeant Nathaniel Haseltine, " which is thus related by Mirich, from tradition : -
" In the dead of night, when the moon shone fitfully through the ragged clouds, and the winds moaned solemnly on the wooded hills, the watch, the only person awake in the garrison, perceived something within the paling that surrounded it, which he supposed to be an Indian ; and who was, as he thought, endeavoring to gain an entrance. Being considerably affrighted, he did not wait to consider the object coolly, but raised his musket and fired. The report alarmed the whole garrison. The women and children were awakened from their slumbers, and ran hither and thither like maniacs, expecting that they should fall beneath the tomahawk. The men, equally affrighted, jumped into their breeches as though their lives depended on their speed, seized their guns, and hastened to the port- holes. Every man now displayed his heroism. Volley after volley was fired at the suspicious looking object - but it fell not. There it remained, just as it did when the watch first observed it. This was truly a mystery, that had no whys nor wherefores. It is presumed a consultation was held at this important crisis ; but we have never been informed of the result. Let that be as it may, - they ceased firing, but continued under arms till morning, all prepared for immediate action, and keeping a good look-out for the supposed enemy. At length the morning began to dawn, and all eyes were turned toward the daring intruder. They soon discovered the cause of their alarm - and what do you suppose it was, reader ? Why, it was nothing but an old maid's black quilted petticoat, which she had washed the day previous, hung it on the clothes-line to dry, and neglected to take it in at night. When it was taken down, every part of it was pierced with bullet-holes, and, for aught we know, the poor old maid had no other to wear. It is thought that those excellent marksmen ought to have provided her with another- and doubtless they did."
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.