USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Salem > The history of Salem, Massachusetts, vol 2, 1924 > Part 48
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April 20, 1676, the selectmen ordered that all the boys of the town should sit upon the three pairs of stairs in the meeting house . on the Lord's day ; and appointed William Lord to look after the boys who sit upon the pulpit stairs; and for the other stairs Reuben Guppy "is to look to and order so many of the boys as may be convenient, and if any are unruly to present their names."
A visitor might have taken a look in, as one of the earliest services in the new meeting house was in progress. As the north door was entered, on the left were the gallery stairs, and next, between them and the north window, was the ancient square pew of Samuel Gardner. Between Gardner's pew and the northeast corner of the meeting house was the pew of the Grafton women, two widows and John's wife. On the eastern side, between the Grafton pew and the east window, was the pew of John Turner. On the other side of the window was the pew of James Browne, and between Browne's pew and the east door was that of Zerub-
434
HISTORY OF SALEM
babel Endecott. Still on the east side, between the east door and the southeast corner of the meeting house were the four square pews of William Browne, sr., Capt. George Corwin, Wil- liam Browne, jr., and Dr. Daniel Weld. At the middle of the rear end was the elevated pulpit, which was reached by stairs on its eastern side. Near the western side, on the other side of the pulpit, was a pew occupied by Mrs. Verrin, Mrs. Emery and Mrs. Norris. On the western side, between the southwestern corner of the meeting house and the west door were four pews, belonging to Maj. William Hathorne, Edmond Batter, Capt. Walter Price and John Corwin. Between the west door and the northwestern corner of the meeting house was, first, next the door, the pew of Farmer Porter, next, that of John Ruck, and next that of John Gedney and his sons John and Bartholmew. Glanc- ing up at the west gallery, the visitor could see Eleazer Gedney's wife, Serg. John Pickering's wife and Richard Hollingworth's wife sitting in a women's pew. Thus far only, the records per- mit the view.
In 1677, stone steps were provided for the meeting house at an expense of one pound. These were furnished by Eleazer Giles. In 1679, "a wicket door" was made in each of the west and east doors. The floor was lowered, and there was an extra charge for work done at the pillars.
William Seagraves was the sexton in 1671 and 1672, being paid five pounds yearly for ringing the bell; and Thomas Maule in 1673. March 29, 1673, the town chose Benjamin Felton to ring the bell and take care of the meeting house, for seven pounds yearly, but the owners of the pews were to look after them. April 26, 1673, the selectmen "Agreed with wiliam lord to Ring the bell boath on Saboath dayes and all other publicke oca- tions on Coart daies and alsoe to Ring the nine a clocke bell and to Sweep all the Seats and pewes both aboue and below in ye metinghouse And likewise to Call m' Higinson At his house both morning and afternoone Evry Saboath day and also to dig the graves for all Such as he is desired and to be paid by those that Imploy him In It." He was hired for one year, with a salary of seven pounds, and served also the next year. Manasseh Marston was paid three pounds for ringing the bell for the year 1675. Mr. Lord was the bellringer and janitor of the meeting house for 1676 and 1677. He rang the bell at five and nine o'clock daily.
April 20, 1676, the three constables were ordered to attend at the three great doors of the meeting house every Lord's day, at the end of the sermon, both forenoon and afternoon, and to keep the doors fast and suffer none to go out before the whole exercise was ended, unless there was necessary occasion. Reuben Guppy was engaged to keep the dogs out of the meeting house.
CHAPTER XXIII.
SALEM VILLAGE PARISH
S the first settlers of Danvers were all yeomen, that part of Salem was early called the "Farms," and the people the "Farmers." Later, when a little hamlet was gathered at what is now the Center, or the Highlands, it became known as Salem Village, in distinction from the town of Salem, which was generally applied to the neck of land lying easterly of the bridge on Boston Street, being the thickly settled part of Salem, and whose citizens were mer- chants and mechanics.
Most of the residents of the Farms lived some five miles from the meetings of the church at Salem, and the distance and poor roads made it in the winter an impossibility and always a task to meet the requirements of church attendance. The estab- lishment of religious services at Beverly probably caused them to consider their isolated position, but the discussion of building a new meeting house in Salem town brought the matter directly and forcibly to them and called them to action. They did not wish to help pay for two meeting houses.
There were other cogent reasons, and as early as 1667 the people living westerly and northerly of what are now Peabody and Danvers squares became cognizant of the danger they were in from their frontier and scattered situation. The town of Salem was protected by a watch each night, and this watch was drawn from every section of Salem. Each of the families of the Farms was isolated, rarely more than one cabin or small house and barn being found in a clearing in the woods. When the men were at home, the protection was meager, but when they were away all night, the women and children were in- deed stouthearted and courageous. Stories of incursions of the Indians not far away must have been told to them, and the red men were often in the neighborhood. Some of them, who were punished by whippings, were not adverse to wreaking their
435
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HISTORY OF SALEM
vengeance upon the unprotected planter or his family. Strong water had immediate and radical effect upon the brain of an Indian, and led him into stupidity or assault and murder.
Realizing the necessity of the planters of the woods staying with their families nights for company as well as protection, the men of that section objected to serving on a watch in a thickly settled community so far away, especially when the town was so much protected by water, they applied to the Salem court in June, 1667, praying that their liability to serve on military watches in Salem town, under the circumstances, might be deter- mined. The court did not decide the matter, but advised that it was a case for the general court. The following petition was thereupon prepared, signed and presented to the general court Oct. 10, 1667 :-
To the honord Gen11 Court at Boston
The humble petition of ye Inhabitants of the farms belonging to Salem most humbly, sheweth
Whareas yor petitioners, have been required, by or Commanders, to attend ye Millitary watch, at Salem Towne, which confidering, how remote our Dwellings are from ye Towne, we did, & doe still, conceiue Law doth not, require it of vs, But becaufe we are men, Subject to be partiall in or owne cafe, and might not be acquainted, with all ye Lawes, we did Prfent or request, to ye Countie Court at Salem, last June to giue vs their Judgment therin, Namely whither it weare, or duty by Law, to attend the fd watch, or not, And ye judgment, or ye fd Court, as far as we pceiued was, yt wee weare, neither bound by Law, nor reafon, to attend ye fd watch Except) in cafe of an Exegence, which we do fully, confent too: if our dwellings wear many miles, further from ye Towne, then they are, in cafe they wanted helpe, and or Selues in fafty, yet notwithstanding the Judgment of the Court, they did againe require vs, by exprefs warrant in his Majesties name, & p order of ye Malitia, to attend ye watch, and most of vs did obey, rather to auoyde, any occafion, of trouble. becaufe the spirits of men, Seemed to be very high, then yt we thought it, or duty by Law, Since wee p'fented or Cafe, to Major Denifon, whoe being ye Major, of this Regament, wee thought was ye next Pfon, to feeke to for helpe, whoe did write in or behalfe, to difwade them, from any further troubling of vs, But all tooke no effect, but still they warned vs. to watch by ye Authority. aforesd. vntell ye watch was ended. yor petition- ers did allfo, requeft ye last County Court, at Ipfwich, to relieve vs, but ye Court was pleafed, not to determine, ye matter, but willing vs, rather to Pfent it to this hon" Court, which we doe, as briefly as wee can humbly refeeching this Hon" Court to confider of or reafons which are as foloweth
Imp" The remotnefs of or habitations from ye Towne Some of vs liue 10 miles Some 8 or 9 ye neerist are at leaft fiue miles from Salem Meeting Houfe vpon ye Rhode and then tis neer a mile farther to ye Centry place and both Horfe & foote required to goe with Armes & Amunition euery way fixt according to Law so that fome of vs
437
SALEM VILLAGE PARISH
muft trauell Armed ii miles to watch which is more then a Soldiers march that is vnder pay and yet not excuffed from paying or pt to all charges both Ecclefiasticall & Ciuill befides ye maintenance of or familyes thefe hard times when the hand of God is heavy vpon ye Hufbandman
2ly The diftance of or Houfes, one from another, Some a mile, fome further that it is difficult, fending one neighboure, to another, in dark nights, in a wilderneffe, yt is fo little cleared, & wayes fo vnpafsable
3ly The weaknefs, or many of or famylies, when one man is taken away, the rest are fome young, fome fickly, & weake, not able, to help them felues much lefs to make refistance, if violence, be of- fered, that ye newes that wee are to watch, Strikes like darts, to ye Hearts of Some, of or Wiues that are weake, that one man was forced to goe 4, or 5 miles to get a man, to ftay wth his famylie, whilft him felfe, went to Salem Towne to watch.
4ly The opertunity, & aduantage that Indeans and other, ill affect- id Pfons haue by knowlidg before, that such and such families, are Such nights left destitute of helpe, for two, or three miles about, for warning of ye watch, & watching is no priuet thing, ffor Example, there was 29 warned for one night, as will plainly appeare, by warrants, vnder the Capts owne hands, & by testimony, had they all gone, it would haue cleared ye strength of 2 or 3 miles, about. If it be pleaded the number is altered, & but 4 warned for a night, for Anfwer as fome times it falls, 4 will cleare two miles about. It may allfo bee Ques- tioned, whether it bee not, a profaination of ye Lords day, for Pions to trauill fo far Armed, as is before expreffed, on ye Sabboth, to watch a populous Towne, in times of peace, concifting of neer 300, able pions wthin ye limmits of the Watch, and or felues left out.
wheareas ye Capt pleaded an exegence, at Salem Court, becaufe, a Jarfie or Gernfy Ship, came in as they fd, in ye night vndifcoured. To which we anfwer there weare feuerall of vs, in company with or Capt, at ye ffort, & wee Saw the fhip, fome howers before night, & was discouered before night, in ye Towne, to be a stranger, for how can it bee thought, pofsible, yt a fhip could come in, in a cleare day, & non fee her, confidering how many boats are dayly out, a fifhing, and Cape pan, & Marblehead, lye before ye harbor and many men, at worke at ye ffort yt day, befides a populous Towne, they further pleaded, thefe weare dangerous times, & they weare not able, to keep a watch without vs. For anfwer if wee fhould grant, that thefe times, are more dangerous then former yet not foe much to Salem Towne, as to or felues, & other places in this Collony, for wee know no obliga- tion, vpon ye Enemy, firft to Affault Salem Towne, when they may come a fhore at divers places & come vpon vs, & other places allfo by Land, and meet neither with fforte, nor 400 men vnder ye warning of an Alarm to opofe them. Tis probible if the French, or Dutch fhould come, they will haue a convoy of Indeans, from Eaft or west, & come first vpon remote dwellers. The confideration whereof, is able to strike terror, in to ye Hearts of women, & weake ones; efpecially confidering what dreadfull examples, former times hath afforded, in that refpect, in this Country from Indeans, and from others. allfo,
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HISTORY OF SALEM
in the night feafon, when their husbands have been abient If what hath been fd may be granted, as it may in euery pt be proued Then whether Salem Towne, hath not more caufe, to fend vs help, to watch amongst or felues, then wee haue to go to them, we concifting of Not 50 pfons able to watch, they a compact Towne, wee fo fcattred Six or 8 watches will not fecure vs, or Dwellings are fo, Scattred & remote one from another, & fo far from ye Towne, That Cambridge village, or Milton, may as eafy go to Boston, to watch as wee may to Salem Towne and leaue their familyes, in a great deale more fafty, becaufe they haue Townes near to helpe them.
Yor petitioners humble request to this Hon" Court is that you would be pleafed to releeue & eafe vs from this burden of watching which is too heauy for vs, or or Children to beare, Yor petitioners fhall all wayes pray for you
JOB SWINERTON SENY"
JOHN PORTHER
ROBERT GOODELL
PHILIP KNIGHT
IACOB BARNET SEN.
JONATHAN KNIGHT
ISAACH GOODELL
ZACHARY GOODELL
ROBERT PRINCE
NATHANIEL PUTNAM.
JOSEPH HOULTON
IACOB BARNET JUN.
JONATHAN WALCUTT
JOSEPH HUTCHINSON
NATHANIEL INGERÍON
HENRIE KEINE
ROBERT MOULTON
JOHN SMITH
JOSEPH PORTER
NATH CARRILL
JOB SWINERTON JUNER
JOHN PUTNAM
THOMAS FLINT
GILES GORY
THOMAS SMALL
BENJAMIN WOODROE
JOHN LEACH
JOÍHUA REA
JAMES HADLOCK1
Upon receipt of this petition, on the fifteenth, a hearing was ordered for "the next 6th day at 9 o'clock"; and the court ordered that "henceforth all farmers dwelling above four miles from the meeting house shall be exempt from constables watches, any law or custom notwithstanding."
A movement for religious services among the Farmers was precipitated by the action of the town at a town meeting, March 7, 1669-70, when the selectmen were requested to consider the matter of building a new meeting house in the town. Immedi- ately, the Farmers signed the following statement :-
1Massachusetts Archives, volume 112, leaf 175.
RICHARD HUTCHINÍON
RICHARD LEACH ;
439
SALEM VILLAGE PARISH
We whose names are here subscribed taking into consideration the motion that is now on foote concerning the building of a new meet- ing house now at Salem haue with one consent agreed not to con- tribute to the same at all (not knowing how long it may bee benefi- ciall to us) unles you likewise of the towne will beare share with us when wee shall build one for our selues.1
This statement was signed by John Porter, sr., Thomas Putnam, Richard Leach, Nathanill Putnam, Thomas Fuller, John Putnam, Joshua Rea, Robert Prince, Joseph Hutchinson, Joseph Holton, Nathaniel Ingersoll, James Hadlock, John Wilkins, Zerob- abel Endecott, Henry Kenney, John Leach, Thomas Small, Bray Wilkins, John Gingell, Thomas Wilkins, Philip Knight, Richard Hutchenson, John Buxton, Jonathan Walcot, Jobe Swinerton, jr., Edward Bishop, Joseph Herick, Jeremiah Watts.1
The Farmers first applied to the general court for the liberty of having religious services among themselves, as follows :-
To the honord Gener1 Court Afsembled at Boston
The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the ffarmes belonging to Salem whofe names are hereunto Subscribed most humbly Sheweth.
That whereas o" habitations are fo remote from or publicke Meet- ing houfe at Salem Towne, or four miles the neereft, and the furthreft eight or nine miles vpon the road, that befides many other inconven- iences &s diftracting in leauing or ffamilyes, we judge it too far if it may be lawfully remeded, to trauell on the Lords day. This or Condition many of us, have seuerall times p"fented to Salem Towne by way of petition fome years ago, in which we did requeft the Towne, that we might have a Minister amongst o"selues (either) to maintaine in Common with them, or that we might have such a number of ffamilyes allotted to us, as dwell at such a distance from Salem as is before exprefed (that is to say) from Beuerly to Lynn bounds that fo we may maintaine A Minifter or felues to which petition the Towne haue giuen us no anfwer although we haue ufed all the meanes we could. This our condition, we humbly p"fent to the wife & Chrift- ian confideration of this hon" Court hoping if o' bodies were in an afflicted ftate, you would according to equity relieue us how much more the condition of Souls humbly entreating you to relieue us, here in, as being o' laft means under God, from whom we hope to haue reliefe Your petitioners fhall all wayes pray for you
Dated October 6th (70).
Oct. 26, 1670, the deputies consented to it, but the magis- trates would not, and the matter was referred to the town for its determination. The next year, application was made to the town for this purpose. At a town meeting held March 22, 1671-2, after several postponements, it was voted "That all Farmers (that now are, or hereafter shall be willing to join to-
1Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts, of Essex County, volume V, page 273.
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HISTORY OF SALEM
gether for providing a minester among themselves, whose habita- tions are aboue Ipswich highway from the horse bridge to the wooden bridge at the hither end of Mr. Endecott's plain, and from thence upon a west line) shall have liberty to have a minister by themselves, and when they shall have procured one, and pay him maintenance, that then they shall be discharged from their part of Salem's minister's maintenance and this to continue so long as the minister abides with them, and is maintained by them; provided always that they shall bear all other charges whatsoever, amongst themselves, both with respect to their meet- ing house and minister's house or otherwise whatsoever, in carry- ing on this work, and also bear their proportion of all other public charges in the town.
Richard Hutchinson, Thomas Fuller and others next pro- ceeded to petition the general court to establish the Farmers into a legal religious parish. The selectmen of the town authorized Capt. Walter Price to appear at the session of the court and answer the petition. Oct. 16, 1672, the court adjudged "it meet that all persons living within the tract of land mentioned in the town's grant of land to the petitioners together with all lands and estates lying within the said bounds shall contribute to all charges referring to the maintainance of a minister and erecting a meeting house there and that they shall have liberty to nominate and appoint persons among themselves or town of Salem not exceeding the number of five who are impowered from time to time for the making and gathering of all rates and levies for the ends above expressed - and that in case of refusal or non- payment of the same by any person or persons amongst them that then the constables of Salem shall and hereby are impowered to make distress upon the goods of any that shall so neglect or refuse to afford their help in that use. And the same to deliver to the persons aforesaid to be improved accordingly and that when a minister shall be settled amongst them they shall be freed from contributing to the ministers of Salem."
May 7, 1673, the general court explained this grant by de- claring "that neither the common or other unimproved lands belonging to any inhabitant living without the precincts of the village within the town of Salem shall henceforth be liable to assessments as to the village of Salem." Two suits were brought to collect the assessments made,-one for the cost of the new meet- ing house in the town of Salem, and, second, for cost of the meeting house at the Village. The first suit was against Nathan- iel Putnam who lived within the territory of the Village, March
1See petition of Capt. Thomas Lawthrop, to the general court, dated May 12, 1675, requesting further explanations as to the meaning of the grant.
1
ANDOVER.
ROWLEY VILLAGE. (BOXFORD.)
TOPSFIELD.
Indian Ford
WENHAM.
Bray Wilkins s
Wilki
Thomas Fuller
Henry Kemey
READING.
Thoma's Putnam Robert
Prince.
John Putnam.
Beaver Dan
Joseph Herrick .. Edward Bishop.
Joshua
Rea
Horse Bridge
-Richard Hutchinson.
House a James Bayley
Nathanielligersol Joseph Hutchinson. Job Swinerton.
Nathaniel Putnam Road.
LYNN.
Isaac Goodale
O
"Robert Goodale! John Upton. Joseph&Pope
Seven Men's Bound.
Thomas Flint.
Rum Bridge.»
SALEM VILLAGE.
BEVERLY.
Log Bridge
Ipswich River.
Jonathan Wakott D
James Hadlock.
Ipswich
Joseph Porter/
POND
44I
SALEM VILLAGE PARISH
II, 1673-4, which was decided in favor of the town;1 and the other, June II, 1675, was against John Upton2 who lived on the line of the parish, in West Peabody.
The accompanying plan shows the territory which consti- tuted the parish limits. This included the Bellingham and Denison grants, which are now wholly within the town of Middleton. Besides the families named on the map, Thomas Small and Ben- jamin Woodrow lived just easterly of Log bridge. There were two or three families living in Rowley Village (Boxford), and at- tended religious meetings here. Philip Knight and one or two other families lived over the line in Topsfield, and attended church here.
A church was not intended to be organized in the Village at this time, as the Salem church was reluctant to part with any more of her members.
The first meeting of the Farmers after obtaining the act of the general court was held Nov. 11, 1672, when Lt. Thomas Put- nam, Thomas Fuller, sr., Joseph Porter, Thomas Flint and Joshua Rea were chosen to conduct their affairs and to levy necessary taxes. It was also voted to raise by taxation the salary of their minister, namely forty pounds and wood, or seven pounds more without the wood.
The preacher was Rev. James Bayley,3 son of John and Eleanor (Emery) Bayley of Newbury, where he was born Sept. 12, 1650. James Bayley gradu- ated from Harvard College in 1669; James Bayley). and came to Salem Village to preach when only twenty-two. The parish voted to build a house for him to live in, but they did not do so, and in 1673 he erected a house for himself upon land of Richard Hutchinson. This house stood on the northerly side of Hobart
1Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, volume V, pages 271-275.
"Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, volume VI, pages 45 and 46.
"Rev. James Bayley removed to Killingly, Conn., in 1682, and, in 1692, to Roxbury, Mass., where he became a physician; married, first, Mary Carr of Salisbury Sept. 17, 1672; she died in Killingly Oct. 28, 1688; mar- ried, second, Mary -; he died at Roxbury June 18, 1707; she died Oct. 23, 1717; children: Mary, born July 6, 1673, in Newbury; died Aug. 10, 1673; James, born April 12, 1675, in Salem; saddler; lived in Roxbury ; John, born Sept. 29, 1676, in Salem; died Dec. 29, 1677; John, born May 10, 1678, in Salem; physician; lived in Killingly and Roxbury; Samuel, born March 2, 1679-80, in Salem; Isaac, born Oct. 2, 1681, in Newbury; H. C., 1701; lived in Stonington and Lebanon, Conn .; Sarah, born Sept. 3, 1683; died in 1683; Joshua, born in 1685; physician in Newbury and Haverhill.
See The Essex Antiquarian, volume V, page 123.
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HISTORY OF SALEM
Street, some distance from the road, and easterly of the burial place.1
At a public meeting, June 23, 1673, it was voted that Mr. Bayley should continue in the work of the ministry in the Village; while some objected that he was never called, and that his stand- ing with them was upon sufferance.
Feb. 16, 1678, sixteen of the Farmers agreed to support a minister among them, and a year later the same sixteen agreed to ask the Salem church for their help and advice. At the meeting of the inhabitants, on that day, Mr. Bayley sent a letter to them, stating that he had been informed that Nathaniel Putnam and Bray Wilkins had publicly charged that he was not qualified for the work of the ministry, adding that "The great thing that I de- sire and pray for is that we may know and do the will of God." The Salem church advised that Mr. Bayley should stay at the Farms, and the minority should "fall in" with the majority and support him.
July 31, 1679, Mr. Bayley wrote to the people that he was "seriously thinking" of removing from the parish ; and in Septem- ber following his salary was incleased to fifty-five pounds.
A number of the inhabitants of Salem Village petitioned the general court, Oct. 15, 1679, relative to the continuance and maintenance of the minister, representing that he had been there in service six years and the Salem church had certified that he was orthodox and competent, of a blameless and selfdenying con- versation, and that the majority (some thirty house-holders) were desirous of his continuance among them as their minister, and praying that comfortable maintenance be allowed him for the support of himself and his wife and children. The inhabitants were authorized to call a minister to preach the Word of God to them. The court also ordered that he be continued, and settled as the minister of that place, at the annual salary of sixty pounds, one-third in money and two-thirds in provisions and fuel for him- self and family, which should be paid by the inhabitants, who were to choose two or three men to make assessment therefore. This settlement was to continuance for one year, or until further order of the court, or there should be a church of Christ orderly gather- ed and approved in the place.
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