USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > The history of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1640, to the year 1860 > Part 27
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In July of this year, Stephen Barker, Henry Bodwell, and others, peti- tioned the town " to grant or set them off a certain tract of land lying in the township of Haverhill that so they might be a township or parish," but their request was denied."
At the next March meeting, the following petition was presented : -
" Whereas there is a certain tract of land in the West end of Haverhill containing Fifty or Sixty acres, lying on the south and south west of a Meadow commonly called bare meadow, which land, together with a piece of land lying on a hill called meetinghouse hill, in times past reserved by our forefathers for the use of the ministry, might in hard times make a convenient Parsonage ; if by the blessing of God, the gospel might so flourish amongst us, and we grow so populous, as to be able to maintain and carry on the gospel ministry amongst us.
We therefore humbly pray that you would take into consideration the circumstances we are in, & the difficulty we may hereafter meet with in procuring a privilege for the ministry ; and that you would grant, & settle & record the above said lands in your Town book, for the above said use,
. " The petitioners lived in that part of the town now Methuen.
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HISTORY OF HAVERIIILL.
& you will gratify your humble petitioners and oblige us & our posterity
to serve you hereafter in what we may.
Joshua Swan,
Thos Johnson,
Thos Whittier,
Henry Bodwell, Edwd Carleton,
Ephraim Clark,
Henry Bodwell jun,
Saml Hutchins,
Thos Whittier sen,
Danl Bodwell,
Elisha Davis,
Mathw Harriman,
Jas Bodwell,
John Hastings,
Saml Smith,
Thos Massar,
John Gutterson,
Saml Currier,
James Davis,
John Lad,
Jona Clark,
Abiall Masser,
James Sanders jun, Stephen Barker, John Sanders."
Henry Sanders, Wm Whittier,
" This petition was granted according to the proposals therein made," and in July a committee was chosen to lay out the land.
This spring (1720) the dispute between the commoners and non-com- moners again came up for consideration, and at the annual meeting, the town unanimously voted to make the following proposal to the commoners : " That the inhabitants or non-commoners so called, should have their right in all the Common or undivided lands in said Haverhill, lying on the West side of the way from William Johnson's to Jonathan Cloughs, in proportion with the Commoners according to the rates & taxes they have borne from the year 1694 to the year 1714."
" Nathan Webster was chosen to prefer this request to the Commoners or Proprietors of the Common land in Haverhill."
At an adjourned meeting, May 29, "The Commoners answer to the Town's proposal was brought into the Town meeting & read; and the Com- moners therein signify to the Town that they can't see reason to grant their proposals at present."
Upon this, the non-commoners appear to have decided to do as they pleased with the lands in dispute, as the very first vote at the next meeting, was, to " sell some common-land to pay the Towns debts or charges; " and the second was as follows: - " Voted and granted that that tract of land lying beyond Hoghill mill that lyeth within our Township not intrud- ing on the fourth division land shall be laid out to those men that have been out in long marches in the time of the war, and to others of the inhabitants of this Town, that will make speedy settlement on the same."
A committee of five was chosen to lay it out forthwith, in fifty acre lots.
At the July meeting, Ann Pecker petitioned for liberty to build a small pew in the meeting-house, " as through my infirmity and weakness, by reason of my age I cannot sit comfortably in the meetinghouse, during the time of divine service, the seat being so very narrow." Her request was
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL
granted, and also one from Richard Hazzen, who preferred a similar request, as he had "no place to sit but upon court sy of Mr Eastman or crowding into some fore seat, too honorable for me.
Samuel Haseltine was granted a piece of common-land, for his work in " enlarging the galleries of the meeting-house ; " and various other grants and sales of common-land were also made at the same meeting. The town seem to have renewed the business of disposing of these surplus lands in good earnest. At the next meeting they voted to " defend the land that they have sold or shall sell," and also to " bear all the charges that any man or men shall be put to, to defend the land that he hath bought or shall buy of the Town, by any suits in law until the title of said land shall be tried out."
In October, a meeting was held to see about the town's proportion of the €50,000 " Bank money " granted by the Great and General Court in 1720. Trustees were appointed to receive it, and were directed to let it out to individuals, inhabitants of Haverhill, in sums of £10 to £20, at five per cent. interest, payable annually.
This year, there was a new " seating of persons in the meeting-house." The magnitude of the undertaking may be judged from the fact that it took the committee four days to do the job. As before, a second committee were appointed to assign seats for the first committee.
At an adjourned meeting, December 11th, the following important action was taken in relation to the common lands in town :-
" Voted and granted that the common land in Haverhill except the Cow common and the land beyond Hoghill mill, shall be laid out into rate lots, according to the Charges or Rates that every person in this town has paid from the year 1692 to 1712, except those persons that removed out of the Town in the time of the war; & excepting some land to make good old grants, if any do appear to be justly due from the Town."
" Voted and granted that every five pounds that has been paid in publie charges or rates in this Town by any persons within the time above men- tioned, shall draw one acre of land in the rate lots: and so proportionably according to what sum they have paid within the time above prefixed."
A committee was chosen to take an account of the rates paid during the years specified, and also one to lay out the land according to the above votes.
During this time the commoners were not by any means idl .. At a mecting in January, (Jan. 2, 1721) Samuel White and William White were granted permission to set up a grist-mill and fulling-mill on Sawmill River. The reason given for desiring to move their mill from Mill Brook to the above place, was, -the scareity of water during a part of the year at Mill Brook.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
At the same meeting, a fifth division of land was ordered, which was to include all the undivided lands in town, except the cow-common.
At a meeting in February, " the island or islands just above Spicket Falls " were sold to Asa and Richard Swan, for £2, 10 s.
At a meeting in June, the following interesting petition was presented :- " Haverhill June 26, 1721 :
To ye commoners or proprietors of ye common lands in Haverhill : Ye petition of Ebenezer Eastman of ye sd Town humbly sheweth yt for as much as Trading by sea is one way whereby I expect to gett my living and furnish out my good neighbors wth many such nessisarys of life as are most conveniant, and ye Incouragment of shipping being of very great consequence and a great Interest to this Town as well as my own, I would humbly request yt I may have liberty to erect a wharff some what above ye house where I now dwell yt soe navigation may be promoted, and yt Thereby ye whole Town of Haverhill as well as my self may receive an Annuall Income Thereby and you Infinitely oblige your humble petitioner Ebenezer Eastman."
Ebenezer, son of Phillip Eastman, was born in Haverhill, February 17, 1681. His father was the person already mentioned as having been taken captive at the same time with the wife and children of Thomas Kimball, of Bradford ; and whose house and buildings were burned by the Indians, in 1698.
From his youth, Ebenezer had been inured to hardship. At the age of twenty-one he joined the regiment of Colonel Wainwright in the expedition against Port Royal. In 1711, when the British fleet, under Admiral Walker, destined against Canada, arrived at Boston, Eastman, then about thirty years of age, had command of a company of infantry, which embarked with others in one of the transports.
In going up the river St. Lawrence, they encountered a violent north- east storm, in which eight or nine of the transports were wrecked and about one thousand men lost.º
The following anecdote is related of Captain Eastman : - As night came on, the orders were that all the transports should follow the admiral's ship, which had a large light hoisted at mast-head for a signal. Captain Eastman was somewhat acquainted with the navigation of the river, having sailed up and down before. In the night, the light of the admiral's ship was not to be seen, and at the time when the fleet were doubling a very dangerous and rocky point. When the admiral's ship had fairly doubled
@ Holmes' Am. Annals.
-
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
the point and got into line, the light appeared in such a position as to draw the line of ships directly on to that dangerous point. Aware of the danger, Captain Eastman went to the commander, informed him of the peril, and begged him to alter the course of the vessel; but, being then under the influence of liquor, the Captain positively refused to do so, saying he " would follow his admiral if he went to h-1." " Well," said Captain Eastman, " I have no notion of going there, and if you wont alter the course of the vessel, I will." " If you do," replied the Captain, " your head shall be a button for a halter the next morning." Informing his company of their danger, and relying on their support, Captain Eastman ordered the Captain below, and the helmsman to change his course. Thus they escaped the wreck which befel other vessels of the fleet. The next morning, the humbled Captain on his knees acknowledged his deliverer and begged his friendship. On the following day, the admiral came on board, and on seeing Captain Eastman, abruptly asked : " Captain East- man, where were you when the fleet was cast away ?" " Following my admiral," replied he. "Following your admiral !" he exclaimed ; " you Yankees are a pack of praying devils - you saved yourselves but sent my men to h-1."@
Soon after his return, Eastman entered with zeal into the projected set- tlement of Penacook, and was one of its most influential, persevering and useful citizens. He married, March 4, 1710, Sarah Peaslee, of Haverhill, daughter of Colonel Nathaniel Peaslee.
Among the many traditionary anecdotes, it is related that soon after settling in Penacook, Eastman made a journey to Haverhill, on horse-back, purchased a barrel of molasses, and contriving what was called a car, - formed with two shafts, one end of which was fastened to the horse and the other dragged on the ground-lashed on his barrel of molasses, and proceeded on his journey homeward, along the path through the wilderness. He got along very well until he came to the Soucook River. After crossing, the hill was very steep, and the horse would frequently stop to rest a few moments. Having nearly reached the top of the hill, the rigging gave way, down went his barrel of molasses at full speed, and, striking a tree, was dashed in pieces. "Oh dear !" exclaimed the Captain, " my wife will comb my head - yes, and harrow it too !"f
Captain Eastman went to Cape Breton twice - the first time, March 1, 1745, in command of a company, and was present at the reduction and surrender of Louisburg, June 16th. He returned November 10, 1745. Early the next year he went again, and returned home July 9, 1746. He
@ Bonton's Hist. Concord. + Bouton.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
died July 28, 1748, and his descendants are to this day among the most prominent and influential citizens of Concord.
This petition of Captain Eastman, is the first mention we can find of the commerce of Haverhill, or " trading by sea ; " though it hardly seems probable that he was the pioneer in that direction. And yet, there are strong reasons for believing that he was the first who made it a business. The sugar and wine, for Mr. Gardner's ordination, were brought from Boston, on horseback. by Deacon White ; the lime for plastering the par- sonage house, in 1719, was hauled from Newbury, by oxen ; and the nails for the watch-house were brought from Ipswich, on horseback. These small matters, and many similar that might be mentioned, taken in con- nection with the silence of the records, in regard to the navigation of the Merrimack, favor the supposition. that, up to this time, but little use had been made of the river for commercial purposes.
The lots in the fifth division of land, were drawn November 20th, 1721, and, as showing who, or rather whose representatives, were the commoners at this time, the list is well worth inserting in this place : -
" The first lot to Jno Ayer 27-Jno Dow purchased from mr 2-Mr clemens. Executors Coffins Right
3-Mr Joseph Jewitt
4-Jno page
29-Richard Singletery
5-Thomas Davis
6-Jno williams sen.
7-Robert Ayer
8-James Davis jun
9-Tho Whittier
32-wm Simons on the Right of Jno Davis 33-Rob Swan
10-John Johnson
34-Jno chenary
11-Thomas Sleeper
35-proprietors
12-Henry palmer
36-Richd littlehale
13-Willm Holdridg
37-Tho Eatton
14-Stephen Kent
38-To nathll Aver on his father Jno Ayers Right
15-proprietors
16-Samll Guile
39-Edward clark
17-To Robt clement or Jno clemt 40-Danll lad Right
41-James Davis sen
18-Georg Brown
42-James fisk
19-Matthais Button
43-Georg Corliss
20-Danll Hendrick
44-John Eatton
21-proprietors
45-Bartholl Heath
22-obadiah Ayer on his father Jno 46-Theophilas Satchesell Ayers Right 47-proprietors 23-Wm white
48-hew sherratt
24-Tho linforth
49-Abraham Tyler
25-Mr Jno Ward
50-To James pressess Right."
26-Joseph peasly
28-peter Ayer
30-Jno Ayer
31-Jno Hutchins
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HISTORY OF HAVERIIILL.
The fact that all these names, except seven," are to be found in the records within three years from the date of the Indian deed, and before the town was incorporated, shows most clearly who were at this time, consid- ered to be the proprietors of the undivided lands in the town. They were the heirs and assigns of the original purchasers. Those to whom lands had been granted since that time, were considered to have no further rights than had been granted them. That is, they could only claim the amount of land that the proprietors had specifically granted them. " The inhabitants of Pentucket," - their ancestors, - had purchased every foot of the ter- ritory covered by the Indian deed, and their heirs and assigns were therefore the sole proprietors of it. Grants and sales made subsequent to the original purchase, by the proprietors as a body, did not include an in- terest in the remaining undivided lands, but only affected the title to the particular lands thus alienated. This seems to us be the position taken by the " commoners," or "proprietors," at this time.
The " non-commoners," or " legal voters" in the town, on the other hand, seem to have taken the ground, that the territory having been origin- ally granted to the inhabitants of the town generally, all the common or undivided lands remaining at any time, belonged to all who were legal in- habitants, or voters, at the time the town should please to dispose of them. It mattered not whether one had been an inhabitant, or legal voter, one day or fifty years ; it was sufficient if he was entitled to vote in town affairs at the time the disposal of the undivided lands came up for consideration. If he was so entitled, he had an equal interest, or proprietorship, in such lands, with each and every other inhabitant of the town at the time.
These widely different and opposing conclusions, furnish a key to the long, and, at times, warm controversy, carried on concerning the undivided lands in the town.
The loss of the town's books, which we have before noticed, is doubtless to be accounted for by this controversy. When the books were finally recovered, it seems that they were in a mutilated state, and caused a great deal of trouble in the copying. At the annual meeting in 1721, it was voted " that there shall be a committee chosen to prefer a petition to the General Court for redress, in behalf of the damage that the town sustained by the town-books being part of them cut and torn out." That is, they desired to know how they could obtain redress for the injury done to the books.
Joseph Jewitt, Thomas Whittier, John Johnson, Thomas Sleeper, Thomas Linforth, Thomas Eatton, James Pressey.
33
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HISTORY OF HAVERIIILL.
Perhaps we cannot better close this chapter, than by giving a brief ac- count of the introduction of tea into New England, which occurred about this time.º
The first tea-kettles were small copper articles, and were first used in Plymouth, in 1702, though, for a long time afterward, tea was but little used. The first cast iron tea-kettles, were made in Plympton, now Carver, between 1760 and 1765, and it was about this period that the use of tea became common. Lewis, in his History of Lynn, says, - " when ladies went to visiting parties, each one carried her tea-cup, saucer and spoon. The tea-cups were of the best china, very small, containing as much as a common wine-glass."
From a letter written in England, in 1740, we copy the following ex- tract; : -
" They are not much esteemed now that will not treat high & gossip about. Tea is now become the darling of our women. Almost every little tradesman's wife must set sipping tea for an hour or more in the morning, and it may be again in the afternoon, if they can get it, and nothing will please them to sip it out of but china ware, if they can get it. They talk of bestowing thirty or forty shillings upon a tea equipage, as they call it. There is the silver spoons, silver tongs, and many other trinkets that I cannot name."
We are unable to say when tea was first introduced into this town, but it was probably soon after its introduction into Boston, as our people were in frequent communication with that place, and have never been far be- hind them in the adoption of new fashions. There is a tradition, that a Mr. Gile, of this town, had a present sent to him, from Boston; of one pound of tea. His good wife knew not exactly how to make it, but she concluded to hang on her dinner-pot, and cook it in that. The dinner-pot was hung over the fire, partly filled with water, and the whole pound was put into it. But to make it more luscious, the good lady put in a large piece of beef, for she intended to have a real dish of tea, - we presume that she had heard of the old proverb, " the more good things the better." After it had boiled sufficiently, the pot was taken off, " but the liquor was so despot strong," that they could not drink it; and, besides, it had made a complete jelly of the meat.
In regard to the use of coffee in town, we have an equally amusing tradition : -
About the year 1757, a party of gentlemen arrived from Boston and put up at Lieutenant Ebenezer Eastman's tavern. They brought their coffee
o Holmes, in his annals, under date of 1720, says, "This year tea began to be used in New England." + Coffin.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
with them, and requested the landlady to cook it. The good lady, not being particularly acquainted with the article, nor the manner of cooking it, hardly knew what to do. But having a little self-confidence, with her other good qualities, she scorned to ask advice, and proceeded to cook it in her best manner. Accordingly, she took her bean-pot, put the coffee into it, filled it with water, and boiled it as she would beans. At length, the refreshment was ready, and when the gentlemen sat down, they were not a little surprised to see their coffee set before them, well boiled, in the kernel. They, however, took it very good-naturedly, and afterward in- structed her in the mystery of cooking coffee.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
CHAPTER XVI.
INDIAN TROUBLES .- 1713 TO 1725.
THE peace made with the Indians, in 1713, proved of short duration. The French, who saw in the progress of the English, the downfall of their own power on the continent, employed the great influence of their mission- aries, Ralle, and La Chasse, to arouse the Indians, and stimulate them to jealousy and revenge." A conference was finally held with the Indians, at Arowsie Island, in 1717, by Governor Shute, which resulted in a confirma- tion of the treaty of 1713, and the apparent satisfaction of the Indians. But the French were far from willing to allow the savages to be at peace with the English, and, in 1719, they again renewed their claims for the removal of the English from their lands, but a small force on the frontiers prevented an open violation of the treaty.
In 1720, the Indians were persuaded to commit depredations, and parties from the Norridgwock and Penobscot tribes killed some cattle, and threat- ened the lives of the English. The Nova Scotia Indians went still further, and added murder to robbery. Further hostilities at this time were pre- vented by Colonel Walton, of New Hampshire, who was detached with a force of two hundred men to guard the frontiers. In August, 1721, a party of two hundred Indians, accompanied by their spiritual leaders, Ralle and La Chasse, under French colors, and armed, appeared at Arowsic, for a "talk" with the commander. This ended without satisfaction to either party, and the Indians left with complaints and threats. They warned the English to remove from their lands in three weeks, or they would kill, burn, and destroy. Iritated by the conduct of the French, government determined to attempt the removal of the cause of all the trouble, and for that purpose, three hundred men were sent to Norridgwoek, with orders to seize Father Ralle, and bring him to Boston. No other success attended this expedition, than the seizure of his private papers, which fully revealed the secret machinations of the French.
This invasion of their head-quarters, exasperated the enemy in an unus- ual degree, and, in June, 1722, a party of sixty men, in twenty canoes, captured nine families, at Merrymeeting Bay, and committed other depre- dations, soon followed by the destruction of Brunswick, Maine.
· See Ilntchinson, Douglas, and others, upon this point.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
Immediately after the news of the latter reached Boston, the Governor and couneil made a formal declaration of war.
Though so far removed from the immediate vicinity of the troubles, the inhabitants of this town well knew that they were not safe from savage outrage, and they determined to be prepared for any emergency. With the bloody scenes of August 29, 1708, still fresh in their memory, we need not wonder that their first care was for their minister. At a meeting held on the 10th of August, the Selectmen were ordered " to build a good fort round Rev. Mr. Brown's house with what speed they could."
The enemy committed no further violence that season, but early in the spring, they divided into small parties and harassed the whole line of fron- tier settlements, - Falmouth, Scarboro, Berwick, Wells, York, Dover, and Lampray River. This intelligence, as may be supposed, thoroughly alarmed the people of Haverhill, and, at a meeting called March 19th, the town voted to buy a house of Jeremiah Page, and set it up between the parsonage house and Samuel Smith's, for a watch-house, which was accord- ingly done, with all possible dispatch.º
On the opening of the spring of 1724, the enemy were again found in numerous parties, scattered over the country, plundering and murdering the inhabitants, and threatening the entire destruction of the English settlements. A constant watch was found necessary in the frontier towns, and those less exposed were called upon to furnish their proportion of soldiers for the common defence. In July, Colonel Noyes, of Newbury, was ordered to send twelve men to Haverhill, and six to Amesbury, to serve as seouts. A few weeks later, (September 15,) "John White, Capt; Richard Kimball Capt; Jonathan Woodman, Capt; and Richard Hazzen, Lieut; " wrote from this town to the governor, strongly urging the importance of sending an army of men to Winnipiseogee Lake, to surprise the Indians in that vicinity, and utterly rout them.
Determined to beard the lion in his den, government fitted out a force of two hundred and eight men, and attacked the head quarters of the Indians at Norridgwock. The settlement was entirely destroyed, and about eighty killed and drowned, among whom was father Ralle, the Jesuit missionary. This achievement completely broke the power of the Norridgwocks.t
The next and last considerable engagement in this war, took place at Pequawket, now Fryburg, Me., in May, 1725, by a party of volunteers,
" The town clerk made a journey to Ipswich for the nails, on horseback. At the raising, " two quarts Rum" were employed, at an expense of four shillings.
t See Hutchinson, for a full account.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
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