USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > The history of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1640, to the year 1860 > Part 26
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set Pomp at work to dig the well, and gave him positive instructions to have it done by the time he returned. Pomp labored diligently, and with good success, until he came to a solid ledge. This was too hard for his pick and spade, and poor Pomp was greatly perplexed. His " massa " had directed him to have the well done when he returned, but how to get through the solid rock was more than Pomp could tell. While in this dilemma, a neighbor happened along, who advised that the ledge should be blasted with powder, and kindly instructed Pomp how to drill a hole for the blast. The latter, much pleased at the prospect of getting his job finished in season, worked vigorously at his drill, and soon had a hole nearly deep enough, when he suddenly struck through the ledge, and the water commenced rushing up through the hole with such force, that he was obliged to scramble out of the well as fast as possible, to escape drowning. It is said that the well has never been dry since.
From Rev. Mr. Parker's book of church records, in the East Parish, we find that, in 1750, he " baptized Jenny, the Servant child of Joseph & Mary Greelee ;" in 1758, " Phillis, the negro child of Ezekiel and Sarah Davis; " and, in 1764, " Mercy, the negro child of Seth & Hannah Johnson."
From the official census of 1754, we find that there were then in this town sixteen slaves, "of sixteen years old and upwards," In 1764, the number was twenty-five.
From a partial file of the town valuation lists, from 1750 to 1800, we learn that the following persons in this town owned slaves. It is worthy of note, that with the very few exceptions noted, but one negro was owned by each person : -
1753. John Cogswell, John Dimond, Benj Harrod, John Hazzen (2), Col Richd Saltonstall (2), Wm Swonten (2), John Sawyer, Saml White. These were all in the First Parish.
1754. In the East Parish, Joseph Greelee, Wm Morse, Amos Peaslee, Timothy Hardey.
1755. In the First Parish, John Cogswell. In the West Parish, John Corlis.
1759. In the First Parish, Moses Clements, Samuel White, Samuel White Esq, Thos West. In the West Parish, Joseph Haynes.
1761. In the West Parish, Samuel Bacheller, Joseph Haynes.
1766. In the First Parish, Moses Clements, Nathl Cogswell, James McHard, Samuel White, Samuel White jun (2), John White.
1769. In the East Parish, Dudly Tyler.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
1770. In the First Parish, Moses Clements, James MeHard," Samuel Souther, Saml White, Saml White jun (2), John White.
1771. In the First Parish, Jona Webster, Saml Souther, John White, Saml White Esq,+ James McHard, Moses Clement, Enoch Bartlett. In the East Parish, Dudley Tyler.
1776. In the East Parish, Wm Moors, Dudley Tyler. This is the latest date we find "negroes," or " servants," entered in the valuation lists in the town.
In one list, the date of which is lost, but which was apparently some- where between 1750 and 1760, we find the following : - Robert Hutchins, Moses Hazzen (2), Robert Peaslee (2), John Sanders, John Sweat, Saml White, Saml White jun, Christ: Bartlett, John Clements, Joseph Harimin, Joshua Harimin, Eadmun Hale, Daniel Johnson, Jona Roberds, Wm Whitiker.
We are informed by Mr. James Davis, that his father, Amos Davis, of the East Parish, owned two negroes named Prince and Judith, whom he purchased when young, in Newburyport. The bill of sale of them is still preserved in the family. Prince married a white woman, and, after secur- ing his freedom, removed to Sanbornton, N. H., where he has descendants still living. Judith remained in the family until her death.
Deacon - Chase, who lived in the edge of Amesbury, not far from the Rocks' Village, also owned a negro, named Peter, who is remembered by many persons now living. After the death of his master, he passed into the posession of a Mr. Pilsbury, with whom he lived until his death. William Morse, of the East Parish, had a negro servant, named Jenny. We also learn of one in the family of Job Tyler in the same Parish.
From the town records, we learn, that in the month of September, 1714, there was a " great fire in the woods, whereby the hay was in general & great danger." We persume that a large part of their hay was usually stacked in the meadows, where it was cut, until wanted for feeding out in the winter, and it was these stacks which were thus endangered. The danger was so great, that but few of the inhabitants could leave home to attend town meeting, and it was therefore adjourned.
In the records of this year, (1714) we find the first allusion to Stocks, in the form of an item in a bill: - "iron for the Stocks, 3s. 10." Judging from the cost of the iron they were either the first Stocks in town, or, at any rate, new ones.
" The name of this negro was "Jenny."-Tradition.
At a town meeting, September 22, 1795, a committee was chosen to assist " Salem, a black man, late a servant of Samuel White," who had become chargeable to the town. Many now living remember "Old Salem," who lived on the bank of the river, nearly opposite the foot of Kent Street.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
In October, the bounds of the town were renewed, by Samuel Danforth, a son of the person who first surveyed them. The following is his report to the General Court :---
" Oct. 25, 1714. At the request of the Selectmen of Haverhill to renew the bounds of their town: I began at Merrimack River upon Denisens where it was asserted by Lieut Stephen Barker & Robert Swan, and Henry Bodwell of an old marked tree, & run north by a line of marked trees & heaps of stones to the north angle of the town, which was a great heap of stones; This line we renewed well : then I run southeast by a line of marked trees to the eastward side of Cedar Swamp; & this line we renewed until we came to a white oak tree marked with the letter X : and another tree marked H: and we found several of the trees on both lines marked with the letter H. Then I began at Holt's Rock's at Merrimac River & run northwest until I met with the line I left on the eastward side of Cedar Swamp: and I found one great pillar of stones upon the line near the old Dam. I find these two lines according to the return that my honord father made to the General Court; and the Selectmen and several others assisted me in said work.
Samuel Danforth Surveyor."
Though highway surveyors had been regularly chosen by the town, since 1693, and had been appointed by the Selectmen for many years previous to that time, yet we find no record or hint that money had been expended by them, or work done, except upon three or four bridges, until the year 1715, when "Jotham Hendrick, surveyor," was allowed six shillings for " mending the highway." As the smallest matters of town expense were recorded, we are confident that if any work or money had been expended upon the roads previous to this time, the records would surely contain some hint of the fact. As they do not, we feel safe in saying that the town did not, as such, expend a penny, or a day's labor, upon its roads, except for bridges, during the first seventy-fire years of its settlement ! Subsequent to this date, highway expenses are regularly mentioned.
At the annual meeting in 1715, the town voted that Mr. Gardner might have a weekly contribution if he desired it, so that he might have some money " before the town rate was raised for him." At the next annual meeting (1715-16) a committee was chosen to join with him in leasing the Parsonage farm for twenty years, " if he live so long." Two weeks after- ward, Mr. Gardner was dead, and a town meeting was held (March 28) to see about finding some one to take his place.
Mr. Barnard, his second successor, in a sermon, thus speaks of him: - " Mr. Gardner, who is warm in the hearts of a few of you to this day, was
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
soon ripe for heaven, according to the account which was handed down of him. He was not suffered to remain long by reason of death. Neither prayers nor tears could detain him from his inheritance above. In a few years he finished his course with joy."
The following epitaph is taken from the simple monument raised to his memory : -
" Rev. Joshua Gardner died March 21, 1715, a man good betimes and full of the Holy Ghost and faith, of an excellent temper, of great integrity, prudence and courage-pastor of the church in Haverhill five years -who, having faithfully improved his talents, fell asleep in Jesus, and went triumphantly to receive his reward in heaven."
After his death, the town voted to pay the expenses of his funeral, which amounted to thirty-four pounds nine shillings and six pence.º
A petition was this year presented to the town, signed by thirty of the inhabitants, desiring that the obstruction in Merrie's Creek, and the Fish- ing, or Little River, might be removed, " so that a free passage for the fish might be obtained." The petition was granted.
From the records of the same year, we learn, that the " Town's old book of grants and orders" was lost, and a committee was chosen to see if they could find it. From the bill presented by the committee the next year, it appears that they spent three days each in the business ; that Captain White, the Town Clerk, attended on the committee two days; and that James Sanders made one journey to Salem to enquire after it, and another journey to " Sandige " to "enquire after and bring home the old town books." The whole expenses were four pounds, sixteen shillings. The books were ordered to be delivered to the Town Clerk. The town had once before refused to allow these books to be kept by that officer, but hav- ing thus narrowly escaped a total loss, they wisely concluded they would be safest in his hands.
After the death of Mr. Gardner, the pulpit was occupied by various ministers, among whom was Mr. Jonathan Cushing, and Mr. Robert Stan- ton. At a church meeting, held July 27th, 1716, to choose a minister, Mr. Cushing received twenty out of thirty-five votes ; and at a town meet- ing, the same day, he received one hundred and two out of one hundred and thirty-six votes .; The town then voted to offer him the same that they had paid Mr. Gardner.
William White made a journey to Boston to get supplies for the funeral. Among the items of ex- pense, was "one bbl cyder." Joshua Gardner married Mercy Pike, November 22, 1711. Children, - Samuel, December 9, 1713; Nathaniel, August 27, 1715.
."As our ancestors were always out in full force upon all such occasions, the above, we think, is very near the full number of church members and voters in the town at this time.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
It seems, however, that the minority, who had all voted for Mr. Stanton, were not merely in favor of the latter, but were opposed to Mr. Cushing ; and, November 28th, a meeting was called to hear the report of the com- mittee chosen to treat with Mr. Cushing, and "to hear what those persons have to allege against his settling here that are uneasy under his min- istry."
The result was, that a Committee was chosen to consult the Rev. Mr. Leverett and Rev. Mr. Brattle, of Cambridge, as to the best course to be pursued. According to their advice a Committee was chosen to treat with a Mr. Fiske, who had preached in town several times since the death of Mr. Gardner. But it seems that they could not unite peaceably upon Mr. Fiske, and recourse was again had to Cambridge for advice.
January 22d a meeting was called " to hear the advice of the Rev. Mr. Leverett, & Mr. Brattle." The record does not say what their further advice was, but from the following, which was the first vote passed at the meeting, we presume they recommended a day of fasting and prayer : -
" Voted that the Revd Mr Moody, Mr Parson, Mr Wise of Chebacco, Mr Wells, Mr Tappin, & Mr White be desired with the Revd Mr Barnard, Mr Cushing, Mr Symes, & Mr Tufts, in keeping a day of humiliation, to seek for wisdom of heaven in our great affairs, on Wednesday the sixth day of February next."
A Committee was chosen to invite the above named ministers, and receive their advice in the matter, and also to make provision for their entertain- ment on the day of the Fast.
The result of the fast, was, that the Rev. Joseph Parsons, of Lebanon, was selected by the church for their minister.
The church having made choice of Mr. Parsons, a meeting of the town was called, May 28, to consider the matter. As " a great many people were unsatisfied about his leaving his church" at Lebanon," several papers were read in the town meeting; among them the determination of a Council acquitting him " from crimes laid to his charge," and declaring their approbation of his removal. The town voted that they were satisfied, and, by a vote of sixty-five to forty-eight, chose him to settle here as minister, offering him a salary of one hundred pounds, besides the use of the Parsonage lands and buildings. The minority, however, were so strongly opposed to his settlement, that, at a meeting called in the following August, (13th) the town, with but one dissenting voice, reconsidered the vote.
October 30, a meeting was called, " to forgive all past offences that have been given among us, concerning the settlement of a minister, and agree in
" Mr. Parsons was now preaching in Haverhill.
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love and peace to consider & agree upon a suitable person to carry on the work of the ministry among us." The moderator, Ephraim Roberts, proposed that all who wished to signify " their desires for peace and love one towards another, & for the sending for a minister to preach with us," should move to the east end of the meeting-house. They all moved to the east end, except three or four persons. The meeting then adjourned.
Another meeting was held November 12, but, after " considerable dis- course" it adjourned without accomplishing anything, and the year closed without the settlement of a minister in the town.
Sunday, October 21, 1716, was what is called "a dark day." It was so dark that candles were lighted at noon. Stephen Jaques, of Newbury, in his diary, says : -
"On the sabath day about eleven of the clock in sarman time it grue so dark that one could not see a parson from one end of the metting hous to the other except it was against a window, nor could know another four seats off, nor read a word in a psalm book. It continued near half an hour. Sum ministers sent for candels, sum set still. till it was lighter. Sum was ready to think the world was at an end; all seemed to be con- sarned. It was a time when ye air was very full of smoke. It came dayly down when it was a south west wind, the wind being now as I re- member at est, which might bring ye smoak back, & dark clouds pass over, as it being cloudy weather. I was an eie witness of this myself."
The winter of 1716-17, is memorable for the unusual quantity of snow that fell between the 18th and the 24th of February. In these storms, the earth was covered with snow from ten to fifteen feet, and, in some places, even twenty feet deep. Many one story houses were entirely cov- ered, and, in many places, paths were dug from house to house, under the snow. Visits were made from place to place by means of snow shoes, - the wearers, in many cases, stepping out of their chamber windows on to the snow. In this manner, one Abraham Pierce, of Newbury, paid a visit to his " ladye love," and was the first person the family had seen abroad for more than a week. Cotton Mather has left a particular account of this " great snow," and the many marvels and prodigies attending it.
The town were yet without a settled minister, and, at one time, it seemed doubtful whether they would very soon be able to unite upon any one to settle among them. But the cloud of dissention at last blew over, and at a meeting held early in February, 1718, " Mr Samuel Chickley"" was unanimously made choice of for their minister. Two months after- ward, (April 23) he received a formal call from the town, accompanied
a Checkley.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
with the offer of one hundred pounds salary, and the use of all the Par- sonage land east of sawmill river.º For reasons not given, Mr. Checkley declined the offer.
The successor of Mr. Checkley, as occasional minister, or candidate for settlement, was Mr. John Brown, of Little Cambridge, (now Brighton) who pleased the people so well, that in October they unanimously invited him to settle among them, and offered him the same salary that they had previously voted to give Mr. Checkley. Mr. Brown accepted the invita- tion, and was ordained on the 13th of the next May, (1719.)
Mr. Brown graduated at Cambridge, in 1714. He married Joanna Cotton, daughter of Rev. Rowland Cotton, of Sandwich, an " eminently pious and worthy Lady." They had ten children, six sons and four daughters. Four of the sons were all educated at Cambridge. John graduated in 1741, and was ordained in Cohasset. He died 1792, aged sixty-nine. Cotton graduated in 1743, was ordained at Brookline, on 26th of October, 1748, and died 13th of April, 1751. Dr. Cooper notices him as one who "had raised in his friends the fairest hopes, and given them just reason to expect in him one of the brightest ornaments of society, and a peculiar blessing to the church." Ward graduated in 1748, and died the same year. Thomas graduated in 1752, and was a minister at Stroudwater. He died in 1797. His eldest daughter married John Chipman, Esq., of Marblehead; another, a Mr. Dana, of Brookline, and a third Rev. Edward Brooks, of Medford, formerly minister at North Yarmouth. f
The ferry, established in 1711, at Holt's Rocks, and kept by John Swett, was this year (1718) granted by the General Court to Haverhill and Newbury for the term of forty years. In answer to Mr. Swett's peti- tion, this town granted him all its right in the ferry, if he would engage to carry the inhabitants over the river " for a penny a single person and four pence for a man and horse."
We notice that, with the exception of two years, the bounty of twenty shillings on wolves had been annually voted up to this time. The num- ber of these troublesome animals in the vicinity may be judged from the fact that in 1716, five full-grown ones were killed in town. The bounty was continued for many years after this time.
" The reason given for not including the parsonage land west of the above river, was, - "not knowing but what they may in some convenient time settle another minister there."
The following is from the Town Records : - John Brown, m Joanna Cotton .- Ch .- Elizabeth, Oct 26, 1721; Martha Feb 6, 1723, d Oct 5, 1736; John, Mar 9, 1724; Nathaniel, Sep 20, 1725, d. Oct 21, 1736; Cotton, Jan 21, 1726; Ward, July 19, 1728; Meriel, July 5, 1730; Abigail, -; Thomas, May 17, 1734; Samuel, Sep 17, 1736, d Nov 8, 1736 ; The Rev. John Brown, died Dee. 2, 1742. "Phillis, an Indian servant" of Mr. Brown's, d Apl 22, 1729.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
The first mention we find of a deacon in town, is in the records of 1717. when "Deacon John Haseltine " was chosen moderator of one of the mnect- ings about a minister. A few weeks later. we find "Deacon White" (John) among the names. These two, then, were undoubtedly the active church deacons at this time. Deacon Haseltine was moderator of all the meetings called to see about a minister at this period, but not of other town meetings. Deacon White's seems to have been the usual stopping place for those who supplied the pulpit while there was no settled minister in town. The celebrated George Whitefield, who visited the town twice during his well known labors in the vicinity, was. on both occasions, the guest of Deacon White. Whitefield did not preach in town on lis first visit, as strong objections were made to allowing him the use of the meet- ing-house ; but, on his second visit, he preached to a large couprezi tion of people in the open air, opposite the Deacon's house, on Mill Sure. So strong was the prejudice against Whitefield, that the authorities of the town, hearing that he was to preach, sent him a warning to depart ont c2 the town. Instead of complying with their request, he read their letter at the close of his afternoon discourse, and observing " Poor souls! they shall have another sermon," proceeded to give notice that he should preach at the same place, ot sunrise, the next morning. He kept his word, and addressed a large audience.
The following brief notice of the first settlement of Londonderry may not be considered inappropriate in this place, for reasons which will after- ward appear.
On the 14th of August, 1718, there arrived in Boston five ship-loads of emigrants from the north of Ireland." They were descendants of a colony which went from Argyleshire, in Scotland, about the middle of the seventeeth century. They were rigid Presbyterians, and fled from Scot- land to avoid the persecutions of Charles I. Soon after their arrival in New England, they petitioned the Assembly for a grant of land, and ob- tained liberty to make a settlement of twelve miles square in any of the unappropriated lands to the eastward. Twenty families of them sailed for Casco, where they remained until spring, when, not finding land which pleased them, most of them embarked for the Merrimack. They reached Haverhill April 2d, and while here, hearing of a fine tract of land about fifteen miles distant, called Nutfield, from the abundance of chesnut, but- ternut, and walnut trees, which distinguished its forests, the men left their
" There were one hundred and twenty families in all.
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families in Haverhill, and went to view Nutfield. Being well pleased with the location, and finding it unappropriated, they concluded to take it up. Having selected a spot, and built a few huts, they returned for their fami- lies, with whom they finally arrived at Nutfield April 11, O. S., 1719. There were sixteen families of them. In 1720. they purchased the Indian title, and, although it was long a frontier town, they were never molested by the Indians. In 1722 their settlement was incorporated by the name of Londonderry, -from a city in the north of Ireland, near which they had formerly resided.
These settlers introduced the culture of the potato,-a vegetable till then unknown in New England, - and also the manufacture of linen cloth."
Potatoes were first raised in the garden of Mr. Nathaniel Walker, of Andover, and gradually, but very slowly, found their way into general cultivation. They are first mentioned in Newbury, in 1732; in Lynn, 1733: in 1737, Rev. Thomas Smith, of Portland, says " there is not a peck of potatoes in the whole eastern country." . So late as 1750, if any person raised so large a quantity as five bushels, great was the inquiry among his neighbors as to how he could dispose of the enormous quantity. They were first planted in this town by William White, who raised four bushels ; but he knew not how to make use of so large a quantity, and gave many of them to his neighbors.
Rev. Mr. Parker, in his History of Londonderry, gives the following interesting account of their first cultivation in Andover : ---
"Previous to a permanent settlement at Londonderry, some of these people resided a few months at Andover, Mass., and on taking their depar- ture, a few potatoes were left with one of the families there, for seed. The potatoes were accordingly planted ; came up, and flourished well; blossomed and produced balls, which the family supposed were the fruit to be eaten. They cooked the balls in various ways, but could not make them palatable, and pronounced them unfit for food. The next spring, while ploughing their garden, the plough turned out some of the potatoes, of great size, and thus discovered to them their previous mistake."
At the annual meeting of this town, in 1719, it was voted "to make all the inhabitants of this Town proprietors in Common lands according to the charges they have borne in the town in the time of the war ; " and a com- mittee was chosen "to examine what every man paid to the rates in the time of the war in this town .? ' We do not learn that this proposition was finally carried out.
· Belknap, Hist. N. H.
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HISTORY OF HAVERIIILL.
The proceedings of the " Commoners," in holding separate meetings, and taking the management of the common lands into their own hands, was not entirely satisfactory to all the inhabitants, and, early in June, 1719, " upwards of twenty of the Inhabitants & Frecholders " petitioned the selectmen to call a town meeting "to prevent the disposing of any more of the common-lands belonging to said Town by a few men contrary to a former vote of said Town ; " and also, " to choose a committee to pros- ecute any that have or shall encroach upon any of the lands, at the Town's cost." The selectmen refused to call such a meeting, and a warrant was thereupon issued by " Joseph Woodbridge Justice of the Peace."
Nothing was done at the meeting thus called, except the dismissal of all committees previously chosen by the town, and the choice of a new committee, to prosecute encroachers upon the common lands of the town. From these proceedings, it will be seen, that the non-commoners were deter- mined to try their strength with the commoners, and the consequence was that the town soon became the seat of warm contentions, and disputes. At the time of the last named meeting, the feeling ran so high, that the commoners were refused the key of the meeting-house, and after organizing their meeting at its door, they adjourned to the tavern of James Pecker, where several subsequent meetings were also convened.
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