USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Salem > The history of Salem, Massachusetts, vol 2, 1924 > Part 8
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1Essex Registry of Deeds, book 24, leaf III.
CHAPTER IV.
ENLARGING THE MEETING HOUSE.
T the quarterly court, in Salem, on Christmas day, 1638, a number of civil cases and some criminal matters were heard. Richard Graves and Peter Busgutt, a smith, were indicted for breach of the peace, and Graves was ordered to sit one hour in the stocks for beating Busgutt in his own house; Mathew Reade, servant to Mr. Charles Gott, was ordered to be severely whipped for drunk- enness on the Lord's day, pilfering from his master, etc .; and Jane, wife of Joshua Verrin, was presented for absence from religious worship. Mr. Peter requested time to confer with her again.
At a town meeting, held two days later, Matthew Prior1 was admitted an inhabitant and six acres of land was granted to him ; Edward Ingram2 was granted six acres ; Henry Cooke six acres ; John Pickering's man six acres ; and John Hardy forty acres of upland and six acres of meadow next to the eastward of the land granted to William and Richard Dodge.
Jan. 21, following, the town granted to Mathew Waller twenty acres of land in addition to his ten; Thomas Read twenty acres; Thomas Truslar one hundred acres; Abraham Temple five acres in addition to his five acres ; John Robinson3 ten acres of planting ground; Nicholas Pacy a ten-acre lot; and to John Abbey five acres. At the same time, John Blackleech was granted fifty acres as an addition to his grant of three hundred acres,4 as fifty acres of his said former grant was rocky ground, and there-
1Matthew Prior removed to Long Island, and was of Brookhaven in 1665. His daughter Sarah married, first, John Gould of Newport, and, second, Gov. Walter Clark.
Edward Ingram (Ingeram, Ingerum, Ingraham) came from London, in the Blessing, in 1635, at the age of eighteen. He was in Salem in 1640.
3John Robinson died in 1653.
4At Beverly Farms.
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ENLARGING THE MEETING HOUSE
fore he had "an insufficient amount of ground to maintain a plow," the additional fifty acres being that which had been granted to Mr. Gott upon the plain, and was adjoining said three-hundred- acre grant.
Edward Giles sold to Edward Harnett1 about eight acres of land, and to end a dispute as to the acreage, being claimed to be four acres too little, the town granted to the purchaser six acres adjoining to John Borne's ten-acre lot, Jan. 27, 1638-9.
On the same day, Joseph Younge2 was admitted an in- habitant ; Sargeant Dixy requested the grant of some hay ground about Jeffry's creek; and Edward Ingram was granted five or six acres of land at the ten-acre lots at the Great Cove.
Feb. 4, 1638-9, the town granted thirty acres of land at the head of Bass River to William King; five acres each to Daniel Baxter3 and Henry Cook, twenty-five acres of land, lying between the lands of William Bennett and Samuel Archer, at Jeffry's Creek, to Robert Allyn; a ten-acre lot lying between Mr. Down- ing's farm and Mr. Endecott's, and a farm of two hundred acres, to Mr. Keniston ; a ten-acre lot (formerly of Mr. Gardner, John Barber and Richard Bishop, which they resigned to the town) to George Ingersoll; eighty acres of land, next to the land of Mr. Fisk and Mr. Smith; thirty acres of land, near the farm of James Smith, to Samuel Eborne ; a ten-acre lot to Thomas James ; a ten-acre lot near Mr. Downing's farm to Joseph Younge; five acres of land to Thomas Fryar ;4 some land to George Curwen ; fifty acres of land to widow Vermais; and one hundred acres to John Friend. On this date, Henry Bayly requested a little nook of land next Mr. Conant's house at Cat Cove, and was granted, eleven days later, about three quarters of an acre at Burley's cove. Henry Swan requested "some accomodation for his settling together with admittance into the plantation," and, a week later, was granted a ten-acre lot near the pond by Mr. Blackleech's farm.
1Edward Harnett was a tailor; had wife Priscilla; and removed from Salem in 1658. Edward Harnett, jr., probably their son, a tailor, removed from Salem in 1658; married Eunice, daughter of Jonathan Porter of Huntington, L. I., and had two children baptized in Salem: I. Jonathan, Nov. 17, 1650; 2. Eunice, Sept. 3, 1654.
"Joseph Young was a mariner and married and lived in Salem as late as 1649.
'Daniel Baxter was a seaman, and "propounded" himself to become an inhabitant at a town meeting, July 16, 1638; was in Salem as late as 1653; wife Elizabeth; children: I. Elizabeth, born Sept. - , 1644; probably married John Rogers Oct. 29, 1674; 2. Susanna, born Sept. - , 1646; mar- ried Isaac Hyde July 12, 1665; 3. Rebecca, born Jan. - , 1648-9; 4. Priscilla, born June -. 1652; married Benjamin Wilkins June 3, 1677.
4Thomas Fryer was a fisherman, and removed to Gloucester before 1642.
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HISTORY OF SALEM
A week later (eleventh), the town granted to Lieutenant Davenport two acres of meadow, lying on the west side of Butt brook, not far from the place that the way goeth over to Lynn; to John Boren thirty acres of land; and to Thomas Payne forty acres.
A week later (eighteenth), John Best1 was admitted an in- habitant and he requested accommodation of land; William Davis2 was admitted an inhabitant and granted ten acres of planting ground near Mr. Downing's farm. The town granted to Ensign Reed a hill adjoining to his farm with the brook, the trees to be for the maintenance of the fence from the mill to the river that parts Mr. Endecott's farm and the ten-acre lots.
A week later (twenty-fifth), Esdras Read3 was received as an inhabitant, and the town granted to Edmond Marshall three acres of ground near the ten-acre lot of An- anias Concline.
The next day (twenty-sixth), at a general town meeting, it was agreed that dry cattle should be "put out to the farms round about and that none shall go with the milch cows in the common, this year"; that every man "provide for their own calves this year"; that the seven men provide and agree for the keeping of the milch kine; who are to be paid by the owners of the cattle.
At this meeting, Mr. Hathorne, John Woodbury and Jeffry Massy were chosen deputies; Mr. Bishop was granted one hun- dred and fifty acres of land, forty of which were to be meadow ; Henry Bartholmew was granted fifty acres, five of which were to be meadow; and William Cantlebury4 was received as in- habitant and granted a ten-acre lot.
ENLARGING THE MEETING HOUSE.
In 1638, the meeting house became insufficient to accom- modate within it the number of people who attended the religious services, and the last day of that year the town "Agreed that there should forthwith an addition to the meeting house be builded and that there should be a rate made and levied for the
John Best was a currier; came in the Hercules in 1635, from Sand- wich, having lived in the parish of St. George, in the City of Canterbury. "William Davis probably removed to Boston; and died in 1655.
3Esdras Reade lived in the Wenham part of Salem; commissioner ; removed to Chelmsford in 1655; wife Alice; children: I. Bethiah, born about 1637; 2. Obadiah, born about 1639.
William Cantlebury was a yeoman; married Beatrice -; died June I, 1663; she married, secondly, Francis Plumer of Newbury Nov. 29, 1665; children : 1. Rebecca, born about 1636; married Benjamin Woodrow in 1659; John; living in 1663; 3. Ruth; married Thomas Small March 15, 1663-4.
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ENLARGING THE MEETING HOUSE
payment thereof, the seven men to see it effected and to pay for it." It was decided to enlarge the meeting house, by lengthening it twenty-five feet. The galleries were continued from the old part of the building, and new stairs led to them. In the new part was built a chimney, with a base twelve feet long, the top ex- tending four feet above the top of the building, and catted, that is, several small timbers, standing upon the top of the chimney met together at the upper end, probably for creating a draft through the interstices thus made. The back of it was made of brick or stone. The fireplace, which was constructed in the base of the chimney must have been about ten and a half feet in length, as the bier stood in it, at least in the season when a fire was not needed. This provision for the heating of the meeting house was very extraordinary, and shows that comfort was to be secured, if possible, unlike most if not all the congregations of those times. The addition was lighted by two windows of glass on each side and two on the end. The new part was covered with one and one-half inch plank, with one inch board upon that to meet close, and underpinned. The walls were daubed. The cost of the addition was sixty-three pounds; and the builder was John Pickering. The following is a copy of the agreement with him for its construction :-
The agreemt betweene the towne & John Pickeringe the 4th day of the 12th moneth 1638.
ffirft hee is to build a meeting howfe of 25 foote longe, the breadth of the old buildinge wth a gallerie anfwerable to the former; One Catted Chimney of 12 foote longe & 4 foote in height aboue the top of the buildinge. The back whereof is to be of brick or ftone. This building is to haue fix fufficient windowes. 2 on each fide & 2 at the end. & a pre of ftaires to afcend the galleries futeable to the former. This building is to be couered wth inch & halfe planck & inch board vpon that to meete clofe: And all this to be fufficientlie finifhed wth daubinge & glasse & vnderpinninge wth ftone or brick wth cariadge & all things neceffary by the faid John Pickeringe: In confideration whereof The faid John Pickering is to haue 631b in money to be paid at 3 paymts. The firft payment 211b at the beginninge of the worke. The 2ª paymt 211b when the frame is reared. The 3ª paymt is 21b wch is to be paid at the finifhing of it. And it is agreed That if it be found by indifferent men that the faid John Pickeringe hath deferued 31b more Then the towne is to pay it him If it be found the faid John hath deferued 31b leffe hee is to abate it: And the faid John Pickeringe
1Of the first payment under this contract, twenty pounds was borrowed of John Humphrey and six pounds was paid by Thomas Gardner. July 8, 1639, four pounds and five shillings, besides the first two payments, was paid. When the remainder was paid the records do not disclose.
A fac similie reproduction of this contract is in Essex Institute His- torical Collections, volume 27, at page 183.
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HISTORY OF SALEM
dorth Couennt to finifh it by the 15th day of the 4th moneth next enfuinge the date hereof.
In witnes whereof both pties haue subfcribed heerevnto.
JOHN PICKERING
Jo : ENDECOTT JO WOODBERY
WILL HATHORNE
LAWRENCE LEACH ROGER CONANT.
The town agreed with Nathaniel Porter, Nov. 12, 1638, to sweep the meeting house and ring the bell for fifty shillings per annum. Mr. Porter had the care of the meeting house in 1639; and John Horne also had it for a part of the year. Together they were paid six pounds and five shillings that year. Henry Birdsail1 Cours Rowofill was the sexton beginning Jan. 1, 1644, at the same salary paid to Nathaniel Porter, namely, three pounds and fifteen shillings. For ringing the bell for funerals he had three pence. Before 1645. Edward Burcham became the sexton at the same pay. In 1651, Benjamin Felton was chosen to succeed him at the same salary. Thomas Oliver was chosen in 1655-6, and the town voted that the bellringer should dig graves, his pay to be twelve pence for digging each grave. He resigned his position in 1661; and Henry West was engaged. The town then voted to pay five pounds for the service thereafter, with the addition of the shilling for digging graves, except from the middle of December to the middle of February, he should have what he should agree to with the interested parties, or they could get whom they could to per- form that service. West was there as late as 1667; the select- men chose Thomas Maule April 18, 1672, and his salary was fixed at six pounds.
After being in use more than a score of years, the old bell was removed, and a new one was bought for eighteen pounds, in 1657, and it was raised and hung at an expense of five pounds.
1Henry Birdsail was made a freeman May 2, 1638; lived in Salem in 1639 and 1649; and died in 1651.
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CHAPTER V.
DEPARTURE OF HUGH PETER.
PRIL 15, 1639, Francis Bushnell1 was admitted into the town as an inhabitant; John Bachelor and Thomas Weeks2 were admitted as inhabitants and they requested accommodation in land; Joseph Ked- gerer (Ketcherill) desired accommodation; Mr. Allerton wished accommodation near his son-in-law at Marble- head; Mr. Walton desired a grant of three acres of land at Marblehead to build upon; John Abby was granted five acres near Mr. Throgmorton's3 hoghouse; Robert Baker was granted ten acres westward of Mr. Throgmorton's hoghouse; and Mr. Fisk and Mr. Fogg were granted for this year the grass of the salt marsh at the side of the old planters' fields.
Two days later, the town granted to Lawrence Southwick half an acre of ground adjoining his other half acre, and Obadiah Hulme a spot of ground to build upon. At the same time, the seven men agreed with Austen Calum and William Browne to keep the goats this season for thirty-two pounds. Augustine Calem was goat keeper in 1640, also. "The goates are to be driven out an hower after the sun is up & brought in to the pen neere the pownd an hower afore sun settinge." The pound was
*Francis Bushnell was born in 1609, being brother of John Bushnell, who were sons of Francis (who died in 1646) and Rebecca Bushnell; car- penter ; removed to Guilford, Conn., and thence to Norwalk, Conn .; married Mary -; died Dec. 4, 1681; children: I. Elizabeth; married William Johnson in 1651; 2. Sarah; married Joseph Ingram of Saybrook; 3. John, born in 1632; died in 1686; 4. -; married Jonathan Smith of Glaston- bury, Conn .; 5. Samuel; 6. Hannah; 7. Martha.
2Thomas Weeks (Wickes), turner, was in Charlestown in 1636; wife Alice; children : 1. Bethiah, baptized Feb. 27, 1641-2; married John Archer ; 2. Hannah, baptized Jan. 5, 1644-5; married John Pickman Aug. 27, 1667. 3Tohn Throckmorton had a daughter Patience who married John Coggeshall Dec. - , 1655, and had a son John, who was of Providence, R. I.
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HISTORY OF SALEM
about where the western gateway to Washington Square is, having been removed from Town House Square to this site, where it existed as late as 1663.
At the session of the general court, March 13, 1638-9, among those present were John Endecott and John Winthrop, jr. , and deputies, William Hauthorne, John Woodbury and Jeffery Massey. At this court, John Endecott and John Win- throp, jr., were ordered to administer the oath of freedom to Emanuel Downing at Salem.
At the same court, the committee to settle the bounds be- tween Salem and Lynn, one of whom was John Woodbury, re- ported, and it was "ordered, that the bounds betwixt Salem and Linn shall begin at the cliffe by the sea where the water runs, as the way lyeth from Linn to Marble Head, and run upon a straight line to the long pond, by the ould path that goeth to Linn, at the south end thereof next to Linn, and the whole pond to be in Salem bounds; and from that pond to run upon a straight line to the iland in Mr. Humfreys pond, and from that iland to run upon a straight line to 6 great pine trees marked, called by those 6 men that layd out the bounds, the 6 Mens Bounds : and from those trees to run upon a straight line unto another little pine tree marked, by the side of a little hill beyond the trees. to run upon the same line, so farr as our bounds shall reach, into the country."
This is presumed to be the present line between Salem and Swampscott and Lynn and between Peabody and Lynn and Lynnfield. Where the line was soon became a question, especi- ally as it cut into the territory of Salem, after grants of land had been made, between Lynn Street, now in Peabody, and Ipswich River, and trouble about those grants arose. However, March 22, 1657-8, the selectmen requested John Gardner, William Flint and Henry Skerry to perambulate the line from the sea to the great pond by the road towards Lynn; and Thomas Putnam, Joseph Pope and John Putnam from the pond to the seven men's bounds and so on, with Lynn men, April 15th. April 7, 1662, the selectmen appointed Major Hathorne, Mr. Curwin, William Flint and John Pickering to run the line from the sea to the long pond, and Thomas Putnam, Thomas Flint, Nathaniel Putnam and Henry Bartholmew from the pond to the seven men's bounds. Jan. 18, 1663, the selectmen appointed Captain Curwen, Lieutenant Putnam, William Flint and Henry Bartholmew to meet with some men from Lynn and perfect the bounds between the two towns from the sea to the pond by the way to Lynn. May 16, 1666, the selectmen appointed Henry Bartholmew, Samuel Gardner and William Flint to meet with
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DEPARTURE OF HUGH PETER
SEVEN MEN'S BOUNDS.
Lynn men the next second day of the next week to run the line and settle the bounds; but the line was not determined at that time, and the same committee, together with Capt. George Cor- win, was ordered, by the selectmen, Dec. 19, 1667, to meet with Lynn men before the first of March and settle the line. April 19, 1669, the selectmen appointed John Corwine, John Pickering, Bartholmew Gedney, Henry Bartholmew, William Flint and Samuel Gardner "to meat our neibours of Lyne to goe in pembu- lacon in the bounds betweene them and us as also to setle the bounds or what concerneth the setlinge of the bounds there wh have been or at present is in diference." April 24, 1673, by appointment of the selectmen the line which had been settled was perambulated by Lynn men and Bartholomew Gedney, John Pickering, Jonathan Corwin, Hilliard Verin, jr., John Price and Thomas Gardner. In their return, the line is described as running from the middle of Mr. Blano's house to the noted spring and so to the tree at the farther end of the long pond, and they state that they renewed the bounds every twenty rods by adding to the heaps of stones which had been formerly made. The rest of the line, from this pond to Ipswich River, was still unsettled April 10, 1675, when the selectmen appointed Captain Curwine, Samuel Gardner, Captain Gardner, Lieutenant Put- nam and Philip Cromwell "to settle the line between us and Lynn from the country highway at ye upper end of ye Great pond from the bound tree there upon a direct line to a tree in the middle of the island in Mr. Humphry's Pond and from thence to
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HISTORY OF SALEM
the seven men's bounds and so to the Great River." To run this line, the expense at the ordinary of Arthur Hewes was fifteen shillings and five pence.
The final agreement, which fixed the line permanently de- scribed this northwesterly part of it as running from "the upper End of the longe ponde, to the iland in Mr. Humphrey's ponde and from thence to the seven men's bounds ; and from the seven men's bounds to a pine tree marked with six marks upon a Hill Northerlye from the said bounds and from thence to a small White Oake by the Side of Ipswich Riuer; about three or four score pole above the Saw mill against John Phelps his house the particuler bounds between the abovesaid head bounds are about twentye pole distant Each from other and are either a parcell of stones and a stake in the middle of them, or stones layde upon a Rock, or a stake driven downe and the Earth digged up aboute it." This was done April 18, 1679, and the committee for Salem consisted of Samuel Gardner, sr., John Price, Bartholmew Ged- ney. John Higginson, John Pickering and John Hathorne.
The general court appointed April 4th as a day of "humilia- tion, to seek the face of God, and reconciliation with him by our Lord Jesus Christ, in all the churches. Novelties, oppression, athism, excess, superfluity, idleness, contempt of authority, and troubles in other parts to be remembered."
By order of the same court, no town should send thereafter more than two deputies thereto; and that Salem should have two barrels of gunpowder for the supply of the militia here, and each town must see that there is a good supply of powder on hand.
At a town meeting. May 15, 1639, John Pickering requested " a farm at the south end of the long pond going to Lynn"; and was granted "fifty acres of land beyond the West pond lying next to Lynn bounds," Aug. 8, 1639. At the meeting held May 15, Thomas Smith was grantetl eighty acres of land ; Lawrence Leach's two sons seventy acres of land, of which seven acres were to be meadow, they relinquishing their former grants of twenty and thirty acres; Thomas Gardner a bank of upland near Strongwater brook, to his marsh, paying five shill- ings per acre as Goodman Lord had it; and William Hathorne about three acres of rocky ground, lying by his marsh, for five shillings an acre. Ezekiel Knight also desired accommodation of land.
At the general court, May 22, 1639, there were present John Endecott and John Winthrop, jr., and deputies William Trask and William Hauthorne from Salem, and the first two named were chosen assistants.
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DEPARTURE OF HUGH PETER
At the same court, retailers of wine were ordered not to allow it to be drank upon the premises ; and Mr. Peter was de- sired to write to Holland for five hundred pounds worth of saltpetre and forty pounds worth of match.
June 6, 1639, the general court appointed Emmanuel Down- ing and William Hauthorne of Salem to assist the magistrates in the Salem court; and it was ordered that one of the deputies in each town should post a note on the meeting house door, for creditors of the colony to demand their debts of the constable within six weeks thereafter. Mr. Hugh Peters was granted five hundred acres of land, John Endecott, Esq., three hundred acres, Mr. William Hauthorne two hundred acres and Capt. William Trask two hundred acres, in regard of much service, and to Lt. Richard Davenport one hundred acres. Mr. Endecott, Mr. Downing and Mr. Hauthorne were ordered "to dispose of the house which Mr. Peters bought as they can, and return the money for the college."
There was "a very great drouth all over the country, both east and west, there being but little or no rain" from April 26 to June 10, 1639, so that corn began to wither, and the people feared that the crop would be entirely lost. The general court conferred with the elders, and agreed upon June 16th as "a day of humiliation in all our churches for the want of rain, and help of brethren in distress." The very day after the fast was appointed there was a good shower, and within a week after the day of the fast was past, there was so much rain the corn revived and gave hope of a plentiful harvest.
Governor Winthrop was in Salem June 25, 1639, when he and Col. John Endecott, Lt .- col. John Winthrop, jr., and John Hum- phrey, Esq., assisted by Mr. William Hathorne and two from Lynn presided over the quarterly court. It was a busy jury session. There were ten civil cases and a number of criminal and other matters. Hope, an Indian living with Hugh Peter, was sentenced to be whipped for running away and being drunk. The general court, July 30, 1640, censured her for running away and other misdemeanors, and ordered her to be whipped in Boston and at Marblehead.
July 25, 1639, the town granted to Thomas Pickton1 a ten-acre lot ; to Na- thaniel Pitman about Chom: Haffon twenty acres, lying next to widow Dix's land on
1Thomas Pickton (Picden, Pigden) ; planter ; lived on Cape Ann Side, which was incorporated as Beverly in 1667; married Ann - as early as
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HISTORY OF SALEM
the south side of Forest River; and to William Hathorne fifty acres of plowed land near or adjoining to his farm. At this
meeting of the town, Henry
Silsbury1. Mr. Sharp's man,
George Dill2. Samuel Edson3,
Thomas Davenish', Nicholas
Lowery Sillyboy)
Patch, John Lovett5, Ed- potil mond Patch6 and John White7 were received as inhabitants; and George Dill and Samuel Edson were each granted a half acre house iot, Thomas Davenish ten acres of planting ground, Nicholas Patch8
1641; died in the autumn of 1677; she died, his widow, Dec. 25, 1863, aged about eighty-four.
1Henry Silsby lived in Ipswich in 1647, and in Lynn in 1658; married,
first, Dorothy she died Sept. 27, 1676; married, second, Grace Easton Nov. 18, 1680; he died in 1700; children: I. Henry; 2. John; 3. Ephraim; 4. Samuel; 5. Hannah; married Thomas Laighton; 6. -; married - Marsh; 7. -; married - Collins.
2George Dill was fined forty shillings for "drunkenes, & to stand att the meeting hous doar next Lecture day, wth a Clefte stick upon his Tong, & a pap[er] vpon his hatt subscribed for gross p"meditated Lyinge." He was of Watertown in 1671.
3Samuel Edson was living in Salem in 1655; removed to Bridgewater ; deacon; representative; married Susanna -; died July 9, 1692, aged eighty ; she died Feb. 20, 1699-1700; children : 1. Samuel; married Susanna Byram; 2. Joseph; 3. Josiah; 4. Susanna; married Rev. James Keith ; 5. Elizabeth; married Richard Phillips of Weymouth; 6. Mary; married Nicholas Byram in 1676; 7. Sarah; married John Dean of Taunton Nov. 7, 1663; 8. Bethiah; married Ezra Dean Dec. 17, 1678.
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