USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Salem > The history of Salem, Massachusetts, vol 1, 1924 > Part 3
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1Crane River, in Danvers, was so called as early as 1650.
"Some sharks were "as bigge as a horse, with three rowes of teeth within his mouth, with which he snaps asunder the fisherman's lines, if he be not very circumspect : This fish will leape at a man's hand if it be over board, and with his teeth snap off a mans legge or hand if he be a swim- ming."-New Englands Prospect.
3Description of New England, by Capt. John Smith, London, 1616, pages 35 and 36.
*According to tradition, North River, in Salem, was stocked with salmon.
5New Englands Prospect, chapter IX. "The ffish of theis parts is noe where excelled and bringes into England yearly great store of ready money from ffrance and Spaine."-A True Relation concerning the Estate of New England, written about 1635.
"The great numbers of bass occasioned the name of Bass River, in Beverly, as early as 1635.
2I
NATURAL CHARACTERISTICŚ
mackerel season in the bay, and in the autumn in the sea. They were generally caught with hook and line, but as they went in and out of the rivers and creeks with the tide, the English, at high water, placed long seines or bass nets across the stream or creek, stopping the fish from going out with the tide. In this way, thousands were sometimes taken at one tide. Alewives, which were similar to herring, went up fresh water streams to ponds in great numbers in the latter part of April to spawn. Nothing could turn them back, though the water in some places was so shallow that they were hardly able to swim.1 Frost fish gave name to Porter's brook and river, in Danvers, as early as 1637. Mackerel were of two kinds and caught by hook and line, baited with red cloth. In the spring of the year they were large, measuring sometimes eighteen inches in length, but from the first of May to the first of September smaller ones were caught.2 Salt water eels were abundant, especially where grass grew. They were caught with pots made of osiers, baited with a piece of lobster, into which pots the eels readily entered, but could not get out. Eels were either eaten fresh or salted for winter use. The lamprey-eels were disliked.
Of shell fish, lobsters of large size were plenty, some weighing over twenty pounds." They were taken among the rocks4 at low water, and were excellent for food, especially the smaller ones, though they were little eaten for years because there was a great supply of better fish. Indians used them for bait for fishing and for food when they could not get bass. Oysters were plenty® and large, being a foot in length, and their breeding places were banks that were bare at spring tides. Clams® were abundant, and were fed to swine, both summer and winter; and as soon as the hogs became accustomed to the flats they watched the tide and at ebb rooted their dinner out of the sand and mud. Mussels were also eaten by the swine. The perewig, tortoise," crab and wilk were also found.
Snakes were in great numbers, and were large and of colors new to the settlers.8 The largest and most dangerous was the
1Alewive brook, in Beverly, was so called as early as 1702.
2Mackerel Cove, in Beverly, indicates the presence of mackerel in the cove as early as 1636.
3Lobster Cove, in Manchester, indicates the presence of lobsters at that spot.
4July 7, 1792: "Yesterday the Beverly merchants erected a handsome Beacon on the inmost point of Lobster Rocks towards their Town."-Diary of Dr. William Bentley, volume I, page 380.
5New English Canaan, by Thomas Morton, chapter VII.
6Description of New England, by Capt. John Smith, 1616.
"Turtle Pond, at Turtle Hill, in Beverly, was so called as early as 1673.
8 According to the records, Beverly seems to have been the most noted place for snakes. Snake Hill was so called as early as 1673.
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HISTORY OF SALEM
rattlesnake, which would not run away from man as would the other varieties of snakes.1 Its sting was so mortal that persons bitten died almost immediately.2 Cows were sometimes bitten. There were other kinds of snakes, as black snakes, two yards in length, and many others that molested neither man nor beast.
There were great numbers of frogs and toads, including tree toads, and spiders, ants, wasps, wild bees and flies. The latter were of several varieties, including the large green head of the salt marsh, the midget and mosquito. Butterflies and many other varieties of insects were common.
CLIMATE.
When the settlement of New England was contemplated, at the beginning of the seventeenth century, it was supposed by Englishmen that this climate was too severe for their permanent residence ; but they soon learned that a short experience would enable them to become accustomed to it.
Lying between the torrid and frigid zones, the climate of this section often changes suddenly, from that of one zone to that of the other-from the hot wind and air of the south to the snow and ice and cold of the north.
The average temperature of the year is about forty-six degrees Fahrenheit above zero, but it is liable to great and sudden changes-sometimes dropping or rising fifty-five degrees in twenty-four hours. The range of temperature is from one hun- dred degrees above zero in summer to twenty degrees below zero in winter.
The prevailing wind is from the northwest; and when it blows from that quarter the weather is generally pleasant and the air pure, dry and invigorating. The most uncomfortable wind is the northeast, being chilly from the dampness brought in from the ocean. Easterly winds are often attended with rain, sleet or snow, according to the season.
The climate is conducive to health, though injurious to persons having a tendency to pulmonary diseases ; but it produces strength and longevity, and has much to do in maintaining the high moral tone and active, enterprising spirit of the inhabitants.
The climate is not a dry one, as more rain falls here than in Europe, but in much less time, so that here the first English settlers found more sunshine than in England.
1Rattlesnake Hill, in Beverly, was early so called; and the point of land near Chubb's Creek was called Rattlesnake point in 1702.
"The root of a plant called snake weed was the common antidote in such cases, the person bitten chewing it and swallowing the saliva, and applying the root to the wound.
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NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS
The summers are generally dry and delightful, and when the air becomes oppressive it is relieved by thunder showers or easter- ly winds.
A season peculiar to the region is that known as Indian summer, a period of two or three weeks' duration in October. It comes after the early frosts, when the wind is southwesterly, and the air is delightfully mild and sweet. The sky is singularly trans- parent, pure and beautiful.
The winter season is from the first of December into March, and is usually cold and rigorous, the temperature usually falling below zero several times in each season. Snow lies on the ground nearly all winter, falling most deeply in the northeast storms, which are generally longest in duration. The shortest and most violent storms, generally quickly moderating, occur when the wind is from the southeast, snow usually turning to rain and the storm clearing in a few hours.
Storms accompanied by strong wind are occasional, and have proved disastrous to forests, buildings and shipping. The coast of Salem is not exposed sufficiently to cause it to be the scene of ship-wrecks. Rain storms have sometimes produced freshets ; and cyclonic winds and earthquakes1 of slight extent are not uncommon.
1The earthquakes of 1727, 1744 and 1755 were severely felt, and caused chimneys to fall and dishes to be jarred from the shelves in many instances.
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CHAPTER II.
THE INDIANS.
HE Indians who were living within the territory of original Salem when the English took possession and began their settlement were the survivors of a race that had been numerous, but which, by disease, had become weak and few in number.
These aborigines were tall and erect, with black eyes, which were far-sighted, high foreheads, strong limbs, long and slender hands, broad shoulders and small waists and feet.1 Their straight black hair was very long, but nothing could induce them to wear a beard. From the time that down appeared upon the chin of an Indian youth, he plucked out each hair. It was deemed useless, cumbersome and opprobrious.
Their clothing was scanty. An Indian's breeches consisted of a piece of cloth a yard and a half long, tied with a snake's skin about the waist. In the winter, the more aged wore leather draw - ers, made like trousers, and fastened under their girdle with buttons. In cold weather they wore shoes, which reached above the ankle, and were made of moose hide. Many of them wore on one of their shoulders skins of bear, moose, beaver, otter or raccoon, but most of them had thick-furred skins of wild cats, like a long large muff.
They had pride, which manifested itself in a longing for ornaments, as pendants in their ears, and forms of birds, beasts and fishes, carved out of bone, shell or stone, with long bracelets of their curiously wrought wampumpeag, which they put about their necks and loins. These they esteemed a rare kind of deco- ration. Many of the prominent adults bore upon their cheeks portraitures of beasts, as bears, deer, moose and wolves, or of fowls, as eagles and hawks, which were not a painting merely but incisions in the skin, made by some sharp instrument, in which
1New Englands Plantation, by Rev. Francis Higginson, 1630; and New Englands Prospect, by William Wood, 1634.
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THE INDIANS
black ink was inserted, making the desired form apparent and permanent. By hot irons, others seared their flesh with a row of star-shaped designs along the outside of their arms and on their breasts. It is not known whether these markings were foils to assist in manifesting beauty, or whether they were indulged in for other purposes. But no king ever was prouder than an Indian chief with a humming bird in his ear for a pendant, a black hawk on his head for a plume, a large amount of wampumpeag around his loins, his bow in his hand and his quiver at his back.
The Indians were affable and courteous and well-disposed, ready to devote the best of what they had to the general good. There seemed to be a bond of affection between them personally. which was affected only by ingratitude. They could not endure the thought of wrongs done to their countrymen, and quickly and stiffly assisted in their defence, pleading strongly in their behalf, and justifying one another's integrity in any warrantable action.
There were no cross, reviling or provoking words among them, and garrulity was unknown. They spoke but little, and then with gravity and euphony. They loved only him who spoke few words and opportunely, and whose word could be relied upon. They rarely laughed or smiled. Though they had a friendly manner, they were wary in their friendships. They hated a churlish disposition and dissimmulation. The English settlers neither feared nor trusted them. Into the houses of the English, sometimes half-a-dozen of them came together in time of meals, but they asked for nothing and took only what was given to them.1
They were apparently insensible to ordinary pain. They manifested no sign of its presence, even when they were beaten or whipped. They were healthy, and gray hair and wrinkled brows were unknown among them until they had passed the age of fifty. This was the result, apparently, of freedom from severe labor, annoying cares and abuse of plenty. They were born somewhat light in color, and in the open air and sunshine became tawny. Their skin was smooth,- the effect of frequent annointing of their bodies with fish oil, or fat of eagles or raccoons. They did this in summer to keep their skin from blistering in the scorching sun, and for protection against mosquitoes, and in winter to stop the pores of their bodies from the nipping cold.
Their language was that of the Algonquin race, and difficult to learn, because of its peculiar pronunciation, its chief grace, and few of the English in this vicinity became able to speak any of it. It was unwritten and was of course only known phonetically. It was in general euphonious, the words being constructed of short syllables which usually terminated in a soft or vowel sound, as Co-che-co and She-ne-we-me-dy (Topsfield).
"New Englands Plantation.
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HISTORY OF SALEM
Their sense of the beautiful is manifest in the appellations they gave to places and persons. The names of many lakes and localities throughout the great Algonquin territory begin with the syllables Winne, which means beautiful. Others, which have the quality of being almost beautiful, begin with Wonne, and still some begin with Wunne, which means pleasant or desirable. Not only were these terms applied to water and land, as Winnepe- saukee and Wonnasquam, but to human beings, as Winneperket and Wonnalansit.
Each succeeding generation was like its predecessor: its practices, manners and habits remained as the fathers had been.
Their chief ruler was called a sagamore, and the government was similar to a monarchy. The right to rule came by inheritance. descending from father to son. If, at the father's death, there were no son, the widow reigned as queen; and if there were no widow, the next blood royal took the reins of government. The importance and power of the chief depended upon the number of his subjects. The sagamore about Salem, in 1629, had less than three hundred men.1 The number of subjects was very large until the year 1617, when a fatal disease was so destructive that very few were left."
They had no laws and no revenue, though half of the possessions of the subjects, and also their persons were at the disposal of the sagamore, to whom they were loyal, obeying him freely.
Abuses were restrained generally by reproof and admonition ; but in serious cases the matter was investigated by the sovereign and some of his wisest men ; and if found to be guilty, the culprit was condemned to punishment. If the offence were one worthy of death, the condemned was executed with a hatchet or club ; and his friends buried him.
No condition of society is so simple as to afford absolutely no occasion for the exchange of commodities. The Indians had a circulating medium for trade, called wampumpeag, which con- sisted of cylindrical pieces of shell. Some were round and made from the Quahog shell and others more than a quarter of an inch long and probably made from the Buccinum shell. The former were about three-eighths of an inch in diameter and the latter about a quarter of an inch. The thin ones had a hole drilled in the center and the others were drilled lengthwise through the middle. They were usually strung upon a thread. The pieces were of two colors, white and violet, one being reckoned of greater value than
1New Englands Plantation.
"Historical Collections of the Indians in New England, by Daniel Gookin. 1674, in Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, volume I, page 150.
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THE INDIANS
the other. They were used also as an ornament, and ten thousand of them are known to have been wrought into a single belt, four inches wide.1
The Indians had no military exercises, at least after the old men were swept away by the pestilence, and the survivors had found protection among the settlers. William Wood, who per- sonally knew the Indians in this neighborhood, wrote,2 in 1634, that "they doe not now practice anything in martiall feates worth observation, saving that they make themselves Forts to flie into, if the enemies should unexpectedly assaile them. These Forts some be fortie or fiftie foote square, erected of young timber trees, ten or twelve foote high, rammed into the ground, with under- mining within, the earth being cast up for their shelter against the dischargements of their enemies, having loopeholes to send out their winged messingers. . These use no other weapons in warre than bowes and arrowes, saving that their Captaines have long speares, on which if they returne conquerours they carrie the heads of their chiefe enemies that they slay in the wars.
When they goe to their warres, it is their custome to paint their faces with diversitie of colours, some being all black as jet, some red, some halfe red and halfe blacke, some blacke and white, others spotted with divers kinds of colours, being all disguised to their enemies, to make them more terrible to their foes, putting on likewise their rich Iewels, pendents and Wampompeage, to put them in minde they fight not onely for their Children, Wives, and lives, but likewise for their goods, lands and liberties; Being thus armed with this warlike paint, the antique warriers made towards their enemies in a disordered manner, without any souldier like marching or warlike postures, being deafe to any word of com- mand, ignorant of falling off, or falling on, of doubling rankes or files, but let fly their winged shaftments without eyther feare or wit; their Artillery being spent, he that hath no armes to fight, findes legges to run away."
Remains of several forts of the natives have been discovered. One of these was situated on a low hill in a pasture on the north- westerly side of Humphrey Street, in the rear of the Maple Street schoolhouse, in Marblehead. It was circular in shape, about fifty- two feet in diameter, and built of palisades in the manner described by Mr. Wood. This fort is mentioned in the deed of Thomas
"Money was so scarce in the colony that, Nov. 15, 1637, the general court ordered that wampumpeag be treated as currency at six for a penny for any sum under twelve pence; and in 1641, the amount was extended to future debts of ten pounds. This use of wampumpeag by the English settlers was continued more than a score of years, when, May 23, 1661, because of the "much inconvenience of the law" the general court ordered that it should be legal tender no longer.
2New Englands Prospect, part 2, chapter XIII.
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HISTORY OF SALEM
Oliver to John Bradstreet, dated July 5, 1658.1 It is therein called "an old Indian fort." Castle Hill, in South Salem, principally a huge ledge, which is now being blasted away, was so called in the records of Salem as early as 1636; and it is said to have been the site of a fort of Nanepashement, chief of the Massachusetts tribe.
The Indians here were engaged in a great war with the Tarrantines from the eastward in the year 1615. which proved disastrous to the local tribe. Nanepashement had been obliged to retreat from Saugus to a hill on the border of Mystic River, where he afterwards resided. Four years later, the Tarrantines killed him at his dwelling place.
REMAINS OF INDIAN FORT, MARBLEHEAD.
They worshipped two gods, one of whom, their good god, was called Ketan,2 and the other, a god whom they feared would do them hurt, was called Squantum. To Ketan, after a bountiful harvest, they sacrificed ; and also invoked of him for fair weather ; or in time of drought for rain, and for the recovery of the sick.
The Indians often attended the religious services of the settlers, and sat soberly, though they had slight apprehension of the doctrines preached. They readily believed, as they said, the story of creation, and the origin and fall of man.
1Essex Registry of Deeds, book 2, leaf 82. Nearly three-fourths of the site of this fort has been dug away as a part of a gravel pit, birches having since grown up in the pit.
2New Englands Plantation.
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THE INDIANS
They were greatly afraid of a spirit called Abamacho; and because of him they would not leave their dwellings in the night, especially in evil enterprises. They had rather stay all night with an Englishman than go a quarter of a mile to their dwelling in the dark. From this fear of the dark, however, they were soon freed by the practices of the settlers.
Their medical men were called powwows. They set broken limbs, and used such medicines as roots and herbs. But they were most prominent because of the peculiarities of their practice. As disease was supposed to be caused diabolically it was natural to believe that any means which would influence the evil one were useful in warding it off or curing it. The medicine men, therefore, were esteemed to be familiar with the evil cause, and were regarded as conjurers. Their service was rendered principally in mutterings and exorcisms and incantations. This practice was forbidden by the English.
The Indians greatly feared death. If they believed that the pain they were enduring was the prelude to death, the thought of which was so terrible to them, they were exceedingly agitated.
The burial of their dead took place after a period of mani- festation of excessive grief. Over the grave was shed many a briny tear, with groans and howls. Annually, this was repeated, the faces of the mourners having been painted with some black pigment. They were apparently without hope, though they said that they believed the soul to be immortal, and that it passed to the southwest Elysium. With the body they buried the bows and arrows of the deceased and a considerable amount of wam- pumpeag to purchase prerogatives in paradise. They said that their enemies and the unworthy among their own people passed to the infernal dwellings of Abamacho to be punished.
Graves of the Indians have been found in many sections of original Salem, but the more extensive burial places are in Marblehead. The larger of these are situated at the north side of the road to Swampscott and in the Upper division of the common lands. In each of these localities thirty or more graves were found. Several have been discovered on the high hill, now a part of the Waterside cemetery, which was evidently the burial place of the later Indians as the skeletons were in good state of preservation,1 and with them were articles of foreign manufacture. Graves are usually indicated by circular depressions about ten inches deep; and the skeletons are about eighteen inches below the surface in earth almost black in color. Generally, the bodies
1These skeletons are now in the museum of the Peabody Academy of Science in Salem; and there are deposited, also, skulls and other portions of the anatomy of Indians found at Fort Lee, and on Turner Street, in Salem, and in Danversport and Beverly.
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HISTORY OF SALEM .
were buried with their heads to the west. With some Indian bones found in Beverly, about 1827, was a square wrought iron rod, together with several black earthern jars. In one grave in Beverly were several large plates of mica, which is unusual. In the autumn of 1803, the bones of some Indians were discovered in Buffum's field in North Salem.1 Some bodies were also found in Forest River Park, in Salem, in 1809.2
From graves are obtained the more valuable objects for study. From such may be determined the date of burial and the articles of the deceased and those in contemporary use. A copper kettle or Venetian bead indicates a period for the grave from the year 1500 to 1600, while a number of graves containing only stone implements and pottery would appear to be of a date prior to 1500. Graves are also the best indication of the character of the per- manent occupants of the region.
In Manchester, a century ago, there were two mounds which attracted attention from their peculiar shape and surroundings. One was located southeasterly from the Congregational meeting house, and was removed about 1825. Another, situated at the head of tide water, on the site of the steam mill of Kelham & Fitz, about one hundred and fifty feet in diameter and about eight feet above the adjoining marsh, was taken away in 1835. It was conical in shape, and was entirely surrounded by a moat, which was filled with water at very high tides. In this mound were found large quantities of bones, but so much decayed that they were cut with a spade or shovel as easily as the ground in which they were imbedded. The remains appeared to have been interred promiscuously and in an erect position ; but no Indian implements were found. In 1845, when a slight elevation of land was removed for the purpose of levelling a lot for Union cemetery, below the soil were found in many places of about six feet in diameter, deposits of ashes, charred wood, burnt stones, etc., from sixteen to eighteen inches in depth, apparently the remains of wigwam fires long continued. For some feet around each of these deposits the earth was of a reddish-yellow color. In a sandy and gravelly knoll about twenty-five rods southerly from the place last men- tioned, a gravel pit was opened in 1864; and in it were found buried four entire skeletons, three of adults and the other of a youth. One of them was very large. They were nearly side by side, their heads being toward the west, but raised sufficiently to face the east. They were about fourteen inches below the surface, which had been plowed many times. The head of one of the skeletons rested upon a round piece of copper about sixteen inches in diameter, and where the head touched the copper the skin and
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