USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Salem > The history of Salem, Massachusetts, vol 1, 1924 > Part 20
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Oct. 3, 1632, the captains were ordered to train their com- panies only once a month.1 Subsequently, it was ordered that captains should not train their bands in July and August, but all unskilled men could be drilled as often as the captains pleased, not exceeding three days in a week. Nov. 20, 1637, the number of trainings a year was limited to eight, to be held at the discretion of the chief officers.
In 1629, there had been made ample provision for other equipment and supply of the soldiers here. There were three drums (each with an extra pair of heads) ; two ensigns; two partizans for the captain and lieutenant; and three halberds for the three sergeants. For the ordinary soldiers were sent sixty pikes and twenty half pikes; eighty bastard muskets, with snap- hances, which was a kind of flintlock, measuring four feet in barrel, and without rests; six long fowling pieces with musket bore, six and a half feet; four fowling-pieces with bastard musket bore, five and a half feet long ; ten full muskets, with barrels four feet long and match-locks2 and rests; and ninety bandeleers, for the muskets, each with a bullet bag. Forty of these bandeleers were made by John Gace of London, turner, of neat's leather, with broad girdles, the priming boxes of wood covered with black leather. Thirty of them were to be for bastard musket size, marked B, and ten for full musket size, marked M. There were also sent
1John Underhill and Daniel Patrick, captains for the general service of the country, were paid fifty pounds yearly for their service. This amount was levied upon the several plantations in the colony, and the share of Salem for 1630 was three pounds. No other demand was ever made upon Salem for their support and pay, although their services did not terminate until the close of the Pequot War, in 1637.
2This old gun was fired by a match.
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ten horn flasks, for the long fowling pieces, with the capacity of one pound each; and one hundred swords and belts. Joseph Churchill agreed to furnish one hundred swords and Pelonia hilts, and twenty-five swords were bought of Felix Boreman, who then dwelt in Fleet's lane, London. There were also furnished sixty corselets,1 and for ammunition shot and four barrels of powder for small shot.
It was agreed that twenty of the soldiers should have full suits of armor. This armor was made by Thomas Stevens, armorer, in Buttolph lane, London, and consisted of corselets,2 culets,3 tassets,4 gorgets" and headpieces. Four of the suits were to have close headpieces ; and all of them were to be varnished black, with leather and buckles. The armor protected all parts of the head and body, but not the arms nor the legs at and below the knee.
This supply of arms and armor was supplemented by many new articles, brought into town June 27, 1636, and carried up to Governor Endecott's. They consisted of eighteen sets of armor, the front and back part of the corselets, eighteen pairs of tassets and headpieces of three sorts, but only seventeen gorgets. With this new armor came sixteen pikes and nineteen swords. This increased the armor so much that a company of thirty-eight men could be fitted out with full suits.
Of the seventy-five pikes, fifty-seven are preserved in the State armory at Salem. The poles are about twelve feet in length and the spearlike heads about thirteen inches. A drawing of one of these pikes is given here- with.
In the autumn of 1634, the work of fortifying the several plantations in the colony was begun and the general court ordered that laborers and artificers in other plantations be impressed to perform it. Wages were paid to such workmen. The places to be fortified were Salem, Charlestown, Boston and Dorchester. These prepara- PIKE. tions were made apparently against invasion by water. The people
1Light armor for the body.
"The light cuirass, consisting of the breastplate and backplate.
3That part of the armor which protected the body behind, from the waist down, consisting of sliding plates riveted to a lining or to straps un- derneath and corresponding to the cuirassant in front.
4Tassets were splints of steel of which several formed the skirt, depend- ing from the cuirass in front of the thigh.
"That part of the armor which protected the throat, having a collar which supported the armor of the body. 6 Helmets.
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in Salem were not required to assist in the other settlements, pro- vided they fortified themselves, to the satisfaction of the court, within a year from Sept. 3, 1634, the date of the vote.
The leading military men, among them Capt. William Trask of Salem, selected the sites of the fortifications, and had charge of the work in all of the towns, except Salem. No records exist to determine what Salem did in the way of fortifications, if any- thing more than had already been done in 1629.
The ordering and conduct of any war, if there should be one, was placed in the care and authority of Governor Winthrop, John Haynes, John Humphrey and Governor Endecott. John Hol- grave1 was chosen "overseer" of the powder, shot and other am- fro: Holyvane. munition in Salem Sept. 3, 1634. The muskets, bandeleers and rests that had lately come over were or- dered to be divided amongst the several plantations ; "and the towns to haue att all tymes soe many in a readynes as a towne stocke."2
The ship Neptune landed at Salem two old sacker cannon, and the general court, Sept. 25, 1634, gave the use of them to Salem, if the town would provide carriages for them. These were probably the two cannon which were in Town House Square for many years.
The general court appointed commissioners to superintend all military affairs : and, March 4, 1634-5, the court ordered that each and every town provide, before April 6, a safe and convenient place in which to keep such powder and ammunition as said com- missioners should bring from Boston, and have a certain quantity in readiness for public service. Aug. 28, 1637, the town of Salem made a contract with Samuel Archer and William Allen to build "an ammunition house" by the last of October. Mr. Johnson then had charge of the powder.
Dec. 13, 1636, the militia of the colony was organized into three regiments, under the general command of the governor. One of the regiments consisted of the soldiers from Ipswich, New- bury, Salem and Saugus, and was commanded by John Endecott, colonel, and John Winthrop, jr., lieutenant-colonel. This was called the East regiment. Each regiment had a muster-master, and Capt. William Trask was the muster-master for this regiment. After this time, the regiment had the choice of colonel and
1JOHN HOLGRAVE1 was a fisherman and lived in Salem as late as 1652. His wife was living in 1640. Child (John Holgrave was called father of Robert Gooch in 1637) : I. Joshua.2
JOSHUA HOLGRAVE;2 children : I. Elizabeth,3 baptized Nov. 1, 1640; 2. Love,3 baptized April 17, 1642.
2Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume I, page 125.
.
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lieutenant-colonel; and the captain and lieutenants were to be chosen by the council, from a list of principal men in each town selected by the townsmen. None but freemen could hold office in the militia.1
The sword of Colonel Endecott is in the possession of his descendant, William C. Endicott of Boston.
March 9, 1636-7, William Trask was chosen captain, Richard Davenport, lieu- tenant, and Thomas Reade, ensign, of the Salem company.'
May 14, 1634, the general court or- dered "that there shalbe a watch of two a night kept in euy plantacon till the nexte Genall Court ;" and, June 27, 1636, it was ordered by the quarterly court that the watchmen in Salem meet the con- stable at the meeting house half an hour after sunset and in the morning.
As the settlements grew in size and number, two conditions became apparent. The number of freemen at the general court was too great, and it was unsafe to leave the settlements unguarded while the ENDECOTT'S SWORD. court was in session so far away. This was especially true of the colonies which were being settled farther were authorized to retain at home from the court of general elec- tion in May, 1636, a sufficient number of freemen, in their dis- cretion, for the safety of the town, the freemen having the right to vote by proxy. This arrangement was made by the court the next year also.1
To further safeguard the people, the general court ordered, Sept. 8, 1636, that no dwelling house should be built more than half a mile from the meeting house.
When the danger from the Narragansett Indians became imminent, the general court, March 9, 1636-7, ordered that the military officers in each town should provide that the watches be duly kept in places most fit for common safety and also a ward on the Lord's days to begin before the end of March and be con- tinued until the end of September; and every person above the age of eighteen years (except magistrates and elders of the churches) was liable to service, either in person or by a substitute, such persons were obliged to attend the public assembly with their muskets or other pieces fit for service, furnished with match. powder and bullets. It was also provided that no person should
1Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume I, page 188.
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travel without arms, more than one mile from his dwelling house, except in places where houses were near together ; and every town had to provide a sufficient watchhouse before the last of the next July. Also, all those who kept families at their farms, which were remote from the town, were not compelled to send the help from the farms to watch or ward in the town.
Nov. 20, 1637, the order for bringing arms to the meeting house was repealed, and, May 2, 1638, that matter was referred to each town.
Dec. 3, 1639, the general court fined the town of Salem for not keeping watch the preceding summer ; and again, for a similar neglect, June 2, 1640.
May 13, 1640, the general court provided that the ordinary watch and wards, in time of peace, should be set by the constables in each town; but in case of sudden danger from the enemy, the military officers should have charge.
Dec. 1, 1640, the general court permitted the Salem meeting house to be the watchhouse. This practice was allowed for several years.
CHAPTER X.
SICKNESS AND DEATH.
APT. JOHN SMITH wrote that Governor Winthrop found that sixty of the colonists had died and the rest were sick, ill-cared for and complaining.1 Both Charlestown and Salem suffered greatly by sickness. If the people in England had known how poorly the planters had passed the winter here, the ardor of the emigrants would have abated ; however, they were ignorant of the conditions and sailed with great expectations.
Dr. Samuel Fuller, Edward Winslow and Isaac Allerton, all of Plymouth, spent Sunday, July 25, 1630, at Salem. After the evening service, Mr. Johnson stated that he had received a letter from Governor. Winthrop relative to the sickness at Charlestown, that it was very great and a number of the people had died. It was desired that a day be set apart to beseech God to remove his wrath thus manifested. The Salem church declined to do so without the advice of the Pilgrims who were then present. After conference with them it was agreed that Friday, the thirtieth, be set apart for the people to humble themselves before God and seek Him in His ordinances, the service to end with godly persons publicly stating their desire to walk before the Lord in righteousness. It was agreed that the day be observed in the three plantations of Massachusetts Bay; and Doctor Fuller and Mr. Winslow wrote from Salem the next day, to Governor Brad- ford, Rev. Ralph Smith and William Brewster, requesting that the church at Plymouth set apart the same day for the same purpose. The following is a copy of the letter from Doctor Fuller and Mr. Winslow to Governor Bradford and others at Plymouth :- 2
1Advertisements for the Unexperienced Planters of New England, &c., by Capt. John Smith, London, 1631. See Magnalia Christi Americana, volume I, book 3, part 2, chapter I.
2Gov. William Bradford's Letter Book, page 57.
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To our loving brethren and christian friends Mr. William Brad- ford, Mr. Ralph Smith and Mr. William Brewster, these be.
Beloved, &c.
Being at Salem the 25th of July, being the Sabbath, after the evening exercise Mr. Johnson having received a letter from the Gover- nour, Mr. Winthrop, manifesting the hand of God to be upon them, and against them at Charlestown, in visiting them with sickness and taking divers from amongst them, not sparing the righteous, but par- taking with the wicked in those bodily judgments, it was therefore by his desire, taken into the godly consideration of the best here, what was to be done to pacify the Lord's wrath; and they would do nothing without our advice, I mean those members of our church, there known unto them, viz. Mr. Fuller Mr. Allerton and myself, requiring our voices, as their own, when it was concluded, that the Lord was to be sought in righteousness; and so to that end the sixth day (being Friday) of this present week is set apart, that they may humble them- selves before God, and seek him in his ordinances; and that then also such godly persons that are amongst them and known each to other, publicly at the end of their exercise, make known their godly desire, and practice the same, viz, solemnly to enter into covenant with the Lord to walk in his ways; and since they are so disposed of in their outward estates, as to live in three distinct places, each having men of ability amongst them, there to observe the day, and become three distinct bodies ; not then intending rashly to proceed to the choice of officers, or the admitting of any other into their society than a few, to wit, such as are well known unto them, promising after to receive in such, by confession, as shall appear to be fitly qualified for that estate; and, as they desired to advise with us, so do they earnestly entreat that the church at Plymouth would set apart the same day, for the same ends, beseeching God as to withdraw his hand of correction, so to establish and direct them in his ways; and though the time be very short, yet since the causes are so urgent, we pray you be provoked to this godly work, wherein God will be honoured, and they and we undoubtedly have sweet comfort in so doing: Be you all kindly saluted in the Lord, together with the rest of our brethren: The Lord be with you and his spirit direct you, in this and all other actions that concern his glory and the good of his :
Your brethren in the faith of Christ, And fellowship of the gospel, SAMUEL FULLER,
Salem, July 26, Anno 1630. EDWARD WINSLOW.
Doctor Fuller went from Salem to Charlestown to assist in allaying the fever there, but he could do no good for lack of drugs, etc.
Among those who first died at Salem that spring was Mr. Houghton, an elder of the church. Samuel Sharp was chosen to succeed him in that office.
When Governor Winthrop came to Salem for the first time, in June, he found Rev. Mr. Higginson sick and weak with fever ; but he rallied sufficiently to preach one sermon afterward. The
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text was Matt. XI : 7: "What went ye out into the wilderness to see ?" In this sermon he reminded the people that religion was the principal design of the plantation, and spoke of the wants and the various necessary trials in a wilderness and of the need for them to evidence the uprightness of their hearts in accomplishing the purpose of their coming hither. After this time, he was con- fined to his bed. The leading men in the colony visited him, and consoled him by expressing their regard for him and for his faith- fulness to the Lord in his former services and losses, and reminded him of the honor he had in beginning church-reformation in America. He replied, "I have been but an unprofitable servant ; and all my own doings I count but loss and dung ; all my desire is to win Christ, and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness !" At several times, he declared, "That though the Lord called him away, he was persuaded God would raise up others to carry on the work that was begun, and that there would yet be many churches of the Lord Jesus Christ in this wilderness." In the midst of many prayers, his death occurred Aug. 6, 1630, at the age of forty-two. This date was the first anniversary of the founding of the church. His funeral was held with all possible solemnity.
Rev. Cotton Mather wrote that Mr. Higginson had "crossed the sea with a renowned colony, and that having seen an old world in Europe, where a flood of iniquity and calamity carried all before it, he also saw a new world in America; where he appears the first in a catalogue of heroes, and where he with his people were admitted into the covenant of God may therefore be called the Noah or Janus of New England."
Edward Johnson wrote that Mr. Higginson was "a man in- dued with grace apt to teach, and mighty in the Scriptures, Learned in the Tongues, able to convince gainsayers, aptly apply- ing the word to his hearers."1 Mr. Johnson also published the following lines :- 2
What Golden gaine made Higginfon remoue, From fertill Soyle to Wilderneffe of Rocks; Twas Christs rich Pearle ftir'd up thee toile to love, For him to feed in Wilderneffe his flocks. Firft Teacher, he here Sheepe and Lambs together, First crownd fhall be, hee in the Heavens of all, Chrifts Paftors here, but yet Chrift folke had rather, Him here retaine, bleft he whom Chrift hath call'd.
1Magnalia Christi Americana, volume I, book 3, part 2, chapter I.
"History of New England; Wonder-working Providence of Sion's Saviour, in New-England, by Edward Johnson, London, 1654, chapter 10, page 21.
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Mr. Mather prepared the following epitaph as applicable to Mr. Higginson :-
Jacet sub hoc Tumulo Mortuus, FRANCISCUS HIGGINSONUS: Jaceret et ipsa Virtus, si mori posset Abi Viator, Et sis hujus Ordinis Franciscanus.
The house which had been built by the Company for Mr. Higginson's occupancy was, after his decease, given to his widow, who continued to live in it but a short time. She removed to Charlestown and later lived for some years at Quinnipiac (New Haven), where she died early in 1640. She sold the house and land to Rev. Roger Williams upon his settlement in Salem as teacher of the church. Mr. Williams lived in it until his banish- ment in the winter of 1635-6. He sold the estate, preparatory to his departure, to John Woolcott of Salem, and Mr. Woolcott conveyed it, with two bedsteads, table, forms, shelves, etc., to William Lord. The deed given by Mr. Woolcott to Mr. Lord bears two dates, but it was not delivered probably until after Mr. Williams' sudden departure. This is the oldest deed extant of property situated in the original territory of Salem, and is not recorded, the original instrument being on file in the office of the clerk of courts, in Salem.2 It reads as follows :---
In Salem, the - of the 8th month caled Octobr 1635
Memorandu that I John Woolcott of Salem have Bartered and Sould vnto William Lord
all and euery part of my houfe and mifteed in Salem ( formerlie in the occupation of m' Roger williams, & from him by order from m's Higenfon fould vnto me, as by a quittance vnd" m" wms hand doth appear ; as alfo all the out houfing, wth 2 bedfteads Table formes & fhelues in the forefaid dwelling houfe, with all the ffences about it, or wt els thervnto belong vnto it. Alfo all the Intereft ms Higenfon of Charles Towne, & fo my felfe, had or now haue in a Tenn Acre Lott of ground on the fouth fyde: ffor, & in Confideration of the fome of ffifteene pounds Tenn fhillings to me in hand paid, (according to an order of Arbitermt mad by m' Throckmorton, & John woodbury, in differently chofen by vs both for that purpofe,) in full fatiffaction of the p'mifes, wth faid fome &c the faid John Woolcott doth acknowledg him felf fully contented and paid and therof acquitteth the fd w" Lord
1Dead under this Mound lies Francis Higginson, and Virtue herself, if she could die, would lie buried also. Depart, Traveler, And may you be a Franciscan of this order.
2Salem Quarterly Court files, volume XIV, leaf 15.
CHARTER STREET BURYING GROUND.
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SICKNESS AND DEATH
his heirse & affigns for euer In witnes wherof I haue hearvnto put my hand and feale this 23th of the 9th mo : caled Noveb" annº 1635. Sealed Signed and
delivered in prfence of Raph ffogg sr The mark of Elizabeth Turner
Jo N WOOLLCOTT [SEAL]
Hilliard Veren appears as its owner in the spring of 1659. He died Dec. 20, 1683, at the age of sixty-three; and the estate which was then valued, with the house and barn thereon, at one hundred pounds, descended to his two daughters, Mary, wife of Samuel Williams of Salem, and Abigail, wife of Benjamin Marston of Salem. They divided the house and lot, Mary taking the western, and Abigail, the easterly part. Mr. Williams died, and his widow, Mary Williams, with the consent of her son Samuel Williams, for forty-three pounds, conveyed her half of the house and lot to John Woodwell of Salem, glover, April 6, 1693.1 Mr. Marston, for forty pounds, conveyed his wife's half of the lot and house, with the leanto, to Mr. Woodwell Nov. 14, 1693.2 For forty-five pounds, sixteen shillings and eight pence, Mr. Woodwell conveyed the house, barn and land to Elizur Keysor of Salem, tanner, May 11, 1698.3 Mr. Keysor conveyed the same estate to Florence Maccarty of Boston April 7, 1707. Mr. Maccarty, for twenty-eight pounds, conveyed it to Peter Windet of Salem, currier, May 8, 1707. Mr. Windet evidently removed the old house soon afterward.
Lady Arbella Johnson was sick on the voyage and failed to rally after landing at Salem. She was daughter of Churton, the third Earl of Lincoln and Lord High Admiral of England. Her husband, Isaac Johnson, had a large estate, was a man of influence and came of an old family living at Clipsham, in Rutland. His father held the living of North Suffenham in the same county. She is said to have been beautiful in person and character. Her family was very friendly to the Church of England, but Puritan in their attitude toward it. Her home was at the royal forest of Sherwood. Robin Hood and his merry foresters were sheltered by the same ancient oaks that she knew, which later stretched their gnarled limbs over the shorn lawns of the parks. This is a region of romance, within sight of the battle fields of the rival Roses, and ruins of castles and monasteries.
1Essex Registry of Deeds, book 12, leaf 143.
2Essex Registry of Deeds, book 12, leaf 144.
3Essex Registry of Deeds, book 13, leaf 2.
4Essex Registry of Deeds, book 20, leaf 27.
5Essex Registry of Deeds, book 20, leaf 28.
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Lady Arbella survived Mr. Higginson only a few days. Sir Henry Wotton wrote: "She left an earthly paradise, in the family of an earldom, to encounter the sorrows of a wilderness, for the entertainments of a pure worship in the house of God; and then immediately left that wilderness for the heavenly paradise, whereto the compassionate Jesus, of whom she was a follower, called her."
Mr. Johnson assisted in settling Boston. He survived his wife only about a month, dying September 30th, and was buried in the lot where his house was being built. Others were later buried near him, and this was the beginning of the ancient Kings' Chapel churchyard. Cotton Mather inverted the lines of Sir Henry Wotton, when he wrote of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson :-
She first deceased; he for a little tried To live without her, liked it not, and died.
Governor Winthrop wrote that Mr. Johnson was "a holy man and wise" and that he "died in sweet peace, leaving some part of his substance to the colony."1
Among the immigrants who came with the Winthrop fleet were also Rev. George Phillips and his wife. Mr. Phillips was a native of Raymond, in the county of Norfolk, and minister at Boxford, in Essex County, England. He was a non-conformist, and came to America with many of his neighbors. Soon after landing at Salem, his wife, who, though an only child, had cheer- fully left her parents to enter into the privations of this new life, died and was "solemnly" buried near Lady Arbella. Mr. Phillips became the minister of the church at Watertown July 30, 1630, when the church was organized.2
On a bluff, projecting into the South River, back from the harbor front, a small space of land was devoted to the burial of the early dead in Salem. Here were undoubtedly laid the remains of Mrs. Endecott, Mr. Higginson, Mr. Houghton, Lady Arbella, Mrs. Phillips and the others who survived for only a little while the tempestuous voyage across the ocean. This was the beginning of what was at first called Burying point, and is now known as the Charter Street burying ground.
The original plot of land used for burial purposes is marked O on the following plan of the burial place. The way which led to it was the narrow path on its western side, as shown on the plan. After a few years the place began to be too small; and, March 9, 1668-9, the town voted "that the Selectmen shall and are Impowered to agree with M' Henry Bartholmew and Edward
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