USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > The history of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1640, to the year 1860 > Part 7
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Houses, lands, and all other visible estate, real or personal, was to be valued according to what they were worth in the several places where they were, proportionable to the above prices for cattle, &c. Hay and corn growing were not to be rated. Towns were required to choose one of their freemen, who, with the selectmen, should yearly make a true valuation of all such ratable property in their several limits. This was the origin of "assessors " as town officers. t
Attending town meetings was evidently considered by our ancestors as a duty each voter owed to the community in which he lived, and for the neglect of which he deserved punishment. They even considered tardi- ness in attending as meriting rebuke, as we find by the record of February 13, 1647, that John Ayer, sen., and James Fiske were fined " for not at- tending the town meeting in season."
° Col. Rec. 3-109.
Choosing Selectmen is of earlier date. In 1636 the General Court enacted, that "every particular township should have power over its own affairs, and to settle mulcts upon any offender, upon any public order, not exceeding twenty shillings, and liberty to choose prudential men, not exceeding seven, to order the affairs of the town."
These men were at first called "the seven men," then "towne's men," then "towne's men select," and finally " select men." Says the Rev. Richard Brown, in his diary, "they were chosen from quarter to quarter by papers to discharge the business of the town, in taking in, or refusing any to come, into town, as also to dispose of lands and lots, to make lawful orders, to impose fines on the breakers of orders, and also to levy and distrain them, and were fully empowered of themselves to do what the town had power for to do. The reason whereof was, the town judged it inconvenient and burdensome to be all called to- gether on every occasion."
65
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
From the following entry in the records of the General Court, May, 1647, it appears that the justices, or commissioners, of the Court of the Writs, or courts to try " small causes," were chosen by the several towns, subject to the approval of the General Court :
" The town of Haverell having chosen Robert Clements, Henry Palmer, and Thom: Hale to end small causes, they are alowed."
At the same court John Osgood (Andover) and Thom: Hale were ap- pointed to " lay out the way from Andiver to Haverell; and James Davis, jun., and Antho: Staniell from Haverhill to Excetter. " They also appointed " a committee to view ye ryver, and make returne to ye Courte of ye necessity and charge of a bridge."
The river above referred to was doubtless the Merrimack. Though the committee were instructed to report to the next session of the Court, we cannot find that they did so, or that any report was ever made upon the matter. A bridge was not built at Haverhill until nearly a century and a half afterward.‹
The inhabitants this year petitioned the General Court for a tract of land to enlarge the town. The following is the answer of the Court, which was holden at Boston, 27th October : - "In answer to the petition of Haverhill, ye Courte concieving such vast grants to be greatly prejudicial to ye publick good, and little if at all advantageous to particular townships, apprehending 4 miles square, or such a proportion, will accommodate a sufficient tract of land; in such a case thinke meete a Committee be chosen to view the place and returne their apprehensions to ye next General Courte, to which end, with the petitioners consent, they have nominated Mr. Dummer, Mr. Carlton, John Osgood, and Ensign Howlet, or any two of them, provided Ensign Howlet be one to do it."f
At the same court it was ordered that every township in the jurisdic- tion numbering "fifty householders, shall then forthwith appoint one within their towne to teach all such children as shall resort to him to write and reade, whose wages shall be paid either by ye parents or masters of such children, or by ye inhabitants in general, by way of supply, as ye major part of those that order ye prudentials of ye towne shall appoint ; provided those yt send their children be not oppressed by paying much more yn they can have ym taught for in other towns; and it is further ordered, yt where any towne shall increase to ye number of 100 families or householders, they shall set up a grammar school. ye mr thereof being
· 1794.
+ Richard Dummer, of Newbury; Edward Carleton, of Rowley; John Osgood, of Andover: and Ensign Howlet, of Ipswich.
9
-
66
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
able to instruct youth so farr as they may be fitted for ye university, pro- vided, yt if any towne neglect ye performance hereof above one yeare, yt every such towne shall pay 5€ to ye next schooll till they shall perform this order."
This order of the General Court was the beginning of our now world- renowned system of common schools. Haverhill did not at that time con- tain the specified number of householders, and was consequently exempt from the requirement. We do not find that a school was commenced here until fourteen years afterward, and for many years subsequent to that time a teacher was not regularly employed, according to law.
At the same court town marks were assigned to each town, for marking cattle, &c. That of Haverhill was the letter H, which was to be put upon the near quarter.
The following order was also passed: " Ye court being informed that the soldiers of Haverhill are destitute of any officer to exercise them, it is therefore ordered by this court, that all ye inhabitants, who have a right to vote in ye election of officers, to meet and choose some meet person for the place of Sergeant to exercise them."
This is the first notice we find of a military company in this town, though a company, or " train band," was doubtless organized soon after the first settlement of the town, - the laws of the Colony requiring such a company in every town. As early as 1631, such companies were obliged to train every Saturday. Not only were the able-bodied men required to take part in this duty and exercise, but, by a law of 1645, all youth from ten to sixteen years of age, were ordered to be "instructed upon ye usual training days, in ye exercise of armes, as small guns, halfe pikes, bowes and arrowes, &c." Soldiers were obliged to furnish their own arms, for which they were allowed to exchange produce in lieu of money. If any under thirty years of age were destitute of means to purchase, they could be bound to service to earn and pay for the same The constant danger of attacks and surprises from the Indians, compelled the Colony to adopt these vigorous measures, and provide every possible means for their defence. Every town had its train-band, and its arrangements and signals for alarms, rendevous, and organization in case of sudden attack ; watches and scouts, were almost constantly employed; and so imminent was the danger, that the inhabitants never ventured to church without their arms. The men were the last to enter the church, and the first to come out after service, and always occupied seats nearest the door or aisles, that they might the more readily repulse an attack. This was the origin of the present almost universal New England custom of allowing the wives and daughters that part of the
67
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
pew farthest from the entrance, and their remaining after service until the fathers and sons have first retired. The custom is, however, slowly becoming obsolete.
At this early period there was no bell in town to call the people together, . and, as a substitute, the town voted that " Richard Littlehale should beat the drum on the Lord's day morning and evening, and on lecture days, for which, and also for writing public orders, he is to have 30 shillings ; he is also to beat the drum for town meetings."
This year the settlement began to extend northward. Grants of land were made to Henry Palmer and others, in the plain north of the Pond- meadow. A few houses had been built near the spot where Stevens' fac- tory now stands; and George Corliss had erected a log house on his farm farther west.
Thomas Whittier, of Newbury, came into town about this time, and brought a swarm of bees, which were probably the first in the place. They were willed to him by Henry Rolfe, of Newbury, who calls them " his best swarm of bees." At that time they were no mean legacy, and their arri- val was doubtless the " town talk."
Job Clement was this year (January 30, 1647) made a freeman at the Ipswich Court, and sworn constable for Haverhill. He seems to have been the first constable in the town.
Up to this time the town had no house for public worship. Tradition says that on pleasant Sabbaths they assembled beneath the branches of a large tree that stood near the burial ground, and at other times they doubt- less assembled in private houses. The population had now become so numerous that it was decided to build a house for worship, and at the March meeting, 1648, it was " voted that the Meeting House shall stand on the lower knowle at the lower end of the Mill Lot."
What was then called the Mill Lot, was the ground now occupied by Pentueket and Linwood cemeteries. The house was erected and finished in the following autumn. It was twenty-six feet in length, twenty feet wide, and one story in height. It had neither gallery nor cupola. It stood facing the river, upon the slight elevation or knoll, about midway between the south and the north bounds of Pen- tucket Cemetery. It was underpinned with rough stones, and several persons now living can remember of seeing the ruins of the foundation. Mr. Robert Willis informs us, that, in his early years, he could distinctly trace the size and position of the building by these foundation stones.
68
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
At the September Court, 1647, the town was presented for not having a ferry, and at the next March term it was " enjoyned to provide a boat for the convenience of passengers " within a reasonable time, " under a · penalty of 40s and fees." The town immediately appointed Thomas Hale to keep the ferry. The price for ferrying was fixed at " one penny for a passenger, two pence for eattel under two years old, and four pence for such as were over that age." The ferry was established at the place still called the " old ferry-way," a little east of the foot of Kent Street. The inhabitants had from the first passed over the river at this place, but no regular ferryman was appointed until this year.
At the town meeting March 3d, 1648, it was " voted that all men shall have liberty to fell, or to let stand, any tree or trees which standeth at the end of his lot, next the street or great river: and if any man shall fell any such tree unto whom it doth not belong, he shall pay for every trec five shillings, to be paid unto him at the end of whose lot it did grow."
What is now Water Street, was the first highway laid out. It was laid out on the bank of the river, and the lots were bounded on the south by the highway. The above vote allowed the owners of lots to fell any trees that stood at the end of their lots; i. e., any trees in this highway opposite to their lots. Some years subsequently, the owners of these lots were permitted, during the pleasure of the town, to make use of the river as a fence to the end of their several lots. In the original grants, these lots were bounded " on the highway and the great river," or to the river, " the highway excepted." We find no grants of land on the south side of this street until long after this time, and therefore believe that our ancestors did not intend it should be built upon. Robert Clement was this year ehosen Deputy to the General Court at Boston, and was the first one sent from the town.
From the records of Jan. 7, 1649, we learn that there had been com- plaint made by some that had had land out in the plain (between the village and chain ferry), that it was "not fit for improvement." The town therefore gave them liberty to " lay it down," and take up in some other place.
At the meeting of February 18, "Thomas Hale was chosen Constable by the Freemen." This is the first constable mentioned in the town records, though, as we have seen, Job Clement was sworn into that office in 1647, at the Ipswich Court. Hale was probably the first one chosen by the town.
At the meeting of April 16. " it was acknowledged by John Robinson that Daniel Lad had bought six acres of accommodations of him, which
69
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
the town granted him. Approved on by the Selectmen." From this vote we learn, that at that time a settler could not sell the land which the town had granted him, without its consent.
The town was this year ordered by the General Court to erect a watch-' house, a pound, and stocks, immediately. We can find no vote in the Town Records relating to the stocks, or whipping post; but that such means of punishment were erected, and often made use of, is a fact, as persons now living can testify. They stood at the east end of the old meeting house on the common, about ten rods north of the present south- ern entrance to the park, on the easterly side. The whipping post is de- scribed to us as being from twelve to fifteen inches in diameter, and set in the ground at an angle of about forty-five degrees. Upon the upper side of this post the culprit was tied, and the lashes applied with a " cat," of stout leather thongs. Mrs. Stebbins, now 82 years old, distinctly remem- bers witnessing the whipping of a man who broke into the store of Mr. Duncan, about the year 1784. His groans and cries made a deep im- pression upon her mind. She thinks it must have been about the last case of public whipping in the town. Moses Wingate, Esq., now 91 years old, but hale and lively, remembers the whipping of a man, by Sheriff David Bradley. After it was over, the culprit coolly offered to "" take as many more for a half-pint of rum." We do not learn that the offer was accepted.
The stocks stood near the whipping post, the latter forming one end of the former.
This year, that part of Rowley called Merrimack, was settled by John and Robert Haseltine, and William Wild. It was incorporated by the name of Bradford, in 1673. What is now Boxford, was then called " Rowley village.""
An effort was made this year to induce Job Clement to remove to New- bury. The town of Newbury granted him a freehold " conditionally yt he live with us heere in Newbury exercising his trade four years, or as long as he shall live within that tearme, and also let the shoemakers of this town have the first proffer on the forsaking of his leather, making him as good pay as others." Job concluded to stay in Haverhill, notwith- standing the liberal offer.
· A few years since Bradford was divided, the easterly portion taking the name of Groveland.
70
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
CHAPTER VII.
1650 To 1659.
THE year 1650, the tenth after the first blow had been struck in the wilds of Pentucket, found the settlers well established in their new home. Their numbers had increased more than five-fold, and included men of character, wealth, and influence. They had their cattle, and horses, their meadows and cultivated fields, their mills and mechanics, their houses, their church, their minister, their town organization, and, in brief, were now fairly settled and prosperous.
About this time two orchards were planted, one by John Clement, and the other by Stephen Kent. As near as can be ascertained, the former was situated a little north of the Cemetery, probably under the shelter of the adjacent hill ; and the latter near the house where the late Samuel W. Ayer lived.
The necessity of definite bounds between the town and its neighbor, Salisbury, induced the inhabitants to prefer a request to the General Court, at Boston, to that effect, and the Court appointed a commission for the settlement of the same.º
At the same session, Henry Palmer, Thomas Davis, and Job Clements, were appointed to " end small causes " in the town, and at the next ses- sion (May 22) Robert Clements was appointed and empowered to give the oath of fidelity in the town. Both these appointments were made at the request of the town .; A petition was also presented to the Court by the inhabitants, for " the graunt of an iland lying in the Rieur Meri- macke agaynst some parte of theire towne, contayning about 20 or 30 acors." In answer to the petition, the Court ordered " that theire request be graunted for the sajd iland, vnless Mr Ward or any other shall make any cleare title from this Court, to appear vnto this Court within three years, to the sayd iland."
Among the votes of the town this year is one requiring that the name of every freeholder should be kept in the town's book, and that he be compelled to attend town meetings, when lawfully warned : - " and having lawful warning he is to come within half an hour after the meeting is begun, and continue till sunset if the meeting hold so long, under the penalty of halfe a bushel of Indian corn or the value of it."
· Col. Rec., 3,-196-4, 6, 19. Ibid.
71
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
Considerable land was this year granted to individuals west of Little River, on the Merrimack ; and Hugh Sherratt, Bartholomew Heath, James Fiske, and John Chenaric, had liberty to lay down their land in the plain, " and have it laid out over Little River, westward." We are unable to account for the frequent taking up and laying down of land about this time, except upon the ground of mere fancy, or notion ; as, about the same time that the above named persons made the change referred to, Joseph Peasley had leave to lay down his land over Little River, and take up in the plain, and Samuel Gild also made choice of land at that place.
John Hoitt, a brick maker, removed from Ipswich to Haverhill some time during this year, the town granting him three fourths of an acre of land, and the "clay pitts," on condition that he become an inhabitant of the town. The clay pits alluded to, are situated in the West Parish, near the late Ephraim Corliss's, and are still known by that name. It would seem that the pits were already dug, and perhaps bricks made, when Hoitt came, but by whom cannot now be ascertained. Many of the bricks used in building the first houses in Massachusetts, were brought from Holland, and we need not wonder that the town should consider the settle- ment of a brick-maker worth a strong effort.
In one of the land grants of this year we find mention of a " wigwam" in the town. It is also mentioned in 1660 and 1685. These are the only mentions or hints of the Indians, or of anything belonging to or done by them, that we can find in the early records of the town, save an " Indian wire " in Fishing River (1664) and the " Indian Bridge " over Spicket River.º The wigwam was an old and dilapidated affair, as in one of the places stated, it is spoken of as the " old wigwam that is, or was," in or near a certain swamp. It was located in the west part of the town, "at the lower end of the far west meadow."
The first mention we find of an ox-common, is in a vote of January 13, of this year, which declares that " the ox-common already appointed shall for the present be continued." About this time a dispute arose between the inhabitants of Haverhill and Salisbury, in relation to the bounds between the two towns. The latter (which then included what is now Amesbury) claimed more land than the former were willing to allow ; and, at a meeting in December, 1650, a committee was chosen to meet a similar committee on the part of Salisbury, and endeavor to agree upon the matter in dispute. The following is the vote :- " Voted, That Thomas Hale, John Clement, and John Davis, should meet with Salisbury men to
" There is an allusion in the records of the General Court, of 1662, to "Old Wills planting ground," which must have been near the mouth of Spicket River, and on the east side of it. Old Will was probably one of the Wameset Indians, whose principal settlement was then near the mouth of the Concord River.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
consult with them concerning the bounds between them and us: and the town doth hereby give them power to agree with them if they can, and to lay out the bounds between us."
This year there were forty-three freemen in town, nineteen of whom had taken the oath of fidelity. The following table contains the names found in the records of 1650 and previously, with the year in which the name first appears : and also the valuation of each man's property, according to the vote of November 6, 1643. Neither the date or valuation should, however, be considered as more than an approximation to the truth : -
1641 John Favor,“
1646 Thomas Davis, 100
John Robinson,
Thomas Davis, 100
1642 John Ward,+
£ 80
James Fisk,
Tristram Coffin,
William Butler,
Hugh Sherratt, 50
Bartholomew Heath. 140
46 William White, 50
Thomas Davis,
66 John Williams,
80
1643 Abraham Tyler,
60
66 Thomas Whittier, 80
66 Richard Littlehale,
40
1649 George Goldwin
1644 Henry Savage,
66 Job Clement,
66 Abraham Morrill,
1645 Christopher Hussie,
66 Christopher Lawson,
66 Richard Ormsby, 70
66 George Corliss,
1650 Robert Ayer, 40
John Ayer jun, 80
John Ayer,
160
66 John Chenaric,
66 Daniel Lad,
& 40
George Browne,
80
Joseph Peasley,
66 John Hoit.
John Davis,
66 Goodman Hale.
The following table contains the valuation of those to whom house lots were laid out at various times, but whose names do not appear previous
to 1650 : -
Robert Clement, Sen,
€ 50 Thomas Eaton, £ 40
John Clement,
35
Edward Clarke,
40
Matthias Button,
60 Robert Swan,
30
Steven Kent,
200
John Haseltine,
40
James Davis Jr,
130 John Johnson,
90
Peter Ayer,
60 John Carleton,
90
Richard Singletary,
60 Joseph Johnson,
50
John Huckins,
480 John Page jun,
40
1647 Samuel Gile, 40
1618 Thomas Linforth, John Eaton, 80
66 Goodman Moice & 3 Sons,
Daniel Hendrick,
120
Henry Palmer,
60
66 Wm. Holdridge,
1646 Thomas Hale, James Davis,
200
Thomas Ayer,
* Names against which no amount is placed, are those of persons for whom we can find no record of a house lot being laid out. Some of them, if not all, probably purchased the right of others to lands.
t We do not know whether these pounds were the English ponnds sterling (sixteen onnces of silver) or the pound of Troy weight, (sixty-two shillings) but presume they were the latter. If so, each pound was equivalent to $5.33.
73
HISTORY OF HAVERIIILL.
Among the early settlers, were four brothers by the name of Ayer, John, Robert, Thomas, and Peter. The former settled near the house of the late Capt. John Ayer, 2d, who was the sixth generation who lived on the same spot. The latter settled in the northwesterly part of the town, in the West Parish. Their descendants are very numerous, and are scattered throughout nearly every State in the Union. In 1700, it was supposed that nearly one third of the inhabitants of the town were of that name. They were mostly farmers."
At a meeting of the town January 1, 1651, " It was agreed upon that such as have land in the plain or below the plain, butting upon the great river, should have liberty to make use of the bank next the river for a fence for the space of four years: and also such as have land over the little river, west, shall have the same liberty so far as Thomas Hale's lot.
The plain here alluded to, was the one east of the village. Under date of January 12, 1651, we find the following: - " It was this day ordered that the ox-common which was formerly an ox-common, shall be for the use of them who live upon the east side of the mill brook, and for as many as will join with them."
" Ordered that they that live upon the west side of the mill brook, shall have liberty to have an ox-common westward for them, and as many as will join with them, which common is to be laid out in a convenient place, as shall be judged meet by the major part of the town.
That the town were anxions to have their numbers increased may be judged from the following vote of the same year: - "It was this day agreed that James Peeker should be an inhabitant with us, and that he shall have a four acre lot with accommodations proportionable to it, which lot is to be bought of Bartholomew Heath for eight pounds. James Peeker doth promise to come and be an inhabitant with us by June 1653." We
" The following notes, taken from the Essex County Records and papers, will doubtless be of interest to the many persons of that name in the town : - 1636. John Ayer, or Eyer, of Haverhill, made a will March 12, 1656-7, He died March 31, 1657, and his will was proved October 6th of the same year. His children were John, Nathaniel, Hannah, Rebeea, Mary, Robert, Thomas, Obadiah and Peter. He left a wife, named Hannah. 1668. Mary Ayers, aged 34; and Samuel Ayers, aged 45. 1671. Inventory taken of the estate of Benjamin Ayers. 1672. John Ayer, late of Ipswich, was now of Quaboag. (There was a John Ayres in Ipswich as early as 1648.) 1679. John Ayer, or Eyer, late of Haverhill, now of Ipswich. Had a wife Mary. 1693. Samnel Ayers, aged 43 years, 1704. Jonathan Ayer, aged 65 years. 1711. Robert Ayres, of Haverhill, aged 86 years.
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