USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Wenham > The history of Wenham : civil and ecclesiastical, from its settlement in 1639, to 1860 > Part 5
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March 13, 1776, the town chose Messrs. John Friend, Tyler Porter, Stephen Dodge, Caleb Kim- ball, and Jacob Dodge, as a Committee of Safety for the ensuing year, with instructions similar to those of their predecessors. As after this year the war was removed from this vicinity, no committee seems to have been subsequently needed.
On July 4th, of this year, the celebrated Declar- ation of Independence was enacted by Congress. It was approved by the people of Wenham, and was copied out in full, and in an elegant hand, upon the records of the town.
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Dec. 9th, it was voted to grant the sum of £6, as a bounty for each soldier who should serve three months, and £200 was raised for this purpose. Two months later, £15 was granted to every sol- dier, who would enlist for the campaign, and £18 to all who had already served in the continental army, and were willing to re-enlist; and the town treasurer was authorized to borrow £250 in order to pay this bounty. Thirty-one votes were also given for County Registrar, the first office left vacant by change of government, which was filled by a popu- lar election. It was also resolved to supply the families of the soldiers who were engaged in the continental army, with corn, pork, beef, wood, wool, flax and sauce, and Messrs. Jacob Dodge, Thomas Kimball and Peter Dodge were chosen as a committee for the purpose.
This year the small pox broke out here as well as in some of the adjoining towns. An inoculating house was provided, where those who wished, could have the disease in a milder form, and those who were seized with it unexpectedly, could be taken care of. The disease continued to prevail at intervals for several years. When a person was affected with it, he was carried at once to the " pest house," and the house and yards thoroughly smoked. while fences were thrown up across the way, to prevent the risk of infection. It is hardly possible for us to form an idea of the terror, with which this fearful disorder was regarded. Inoculation
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was at best a very doubtful remedy, it being quite uncertain whether more was not done by it to in- crease than to check the spread of the disease. Since 1800, vaccination and improved methods of treatment have rendered almost harmless this once terrible scourge of the human race.
As the war went on, large amounts of scrip were issued by the various Legislatures, in pay- ment of the soldiers, or for other purposes. These at first were taken at par, but as the quantity con- tinued to increase without any prospect of their being redeemed in specie, their value rapidly de- clined. At first an attempt was made to compel their circulation. A convention was held at Con- cord for the purpose of appreciating the paper currency, in the results of which the town voted to concur. Accordingly a committee of nine was appointed to regulate the prices of labor, and of the various necessaries of life. But every effort to sustain the paper currency was in vain. People would not and could not be compelled to sell at the prices fixed by committees or conventions. The continental paper-money continued to depreciate till 1781, when a silver dollar was worth forty of the new, and thirty-two dollars of the old emission.
This depreciation of the currency may be traced in the sums of money raised by the town in suc- cessive years. In 1776, £200 were raised for the expenses of the town and the war; this appropri- ation was increased in '77, to £600; in '78, to
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£1,200; in '79, to £4,000; and October, 1780, it was voted to raise £40,000, ($133,333), for the ex- penses of that year. Mr. Swain's salary was in- creased by adding £100; then £300; then £300 more were given him for teaching school; then £600 per year. After that it was paid in silver or produce. In 1780, £1500, ($5,000) were voted for the support of schools. After 1778, the selectmen were paid for their services, at the rate of a bushel of corn a day.
Committees were appointed from year to year, to procure the number of soldiers required for the war, with instructions to obtain them from within the town if they could, and if not, from abroad. At the time of the greatest scarcity of specie, in 1781, $100 a year, " in hard money," were offered, ' to each man who would enlist into the continent- al army, for three years, or during the war. This, which was in addition to their claims upon the State, for pay, pensions, &c., must be considered a generous compensation, when the wages of a day's labor was only two shillings. The town was also heavily taxed for beef and provisions to supply the army. In 1780, the following sums were paid for this purpose, viz., to Mr Jacob Dodge, £1,529; to Richard Dodge, ££2,157 18s., to Tyler Porter, £1,890. The next year the bills for army supplies are all reckoned under one head, and amount to £13,140! The sum of £16,000, ($53,333) had been voted.
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Mr. Stephen Dodge was chosen a delegate to the convention, which met at Concord to form a Con- stitution for the State. The constitution which they proposed was not, however, acceptable to the people of the town, nor was it generally popular, and, in consequence, it never went into operation.
May 19, 1780, is still memorable as the dark day. The sun rose clear, but soon became obscured, and the darkness continued to increase till one o'clock P. M. Candles were lighted, fowls retired to roost, and all nature assumed the appearance of night. This darkness extended over the State of Massachusetts, but was thickest in Essex county. The night which followed, was also extremely dark until about midnight, when the clouds were dispersed, and the moon and stars appeared in their brilliancy. The superstitious were greatly alarmed at these phenomena, some supposing that the day of judgment had indeed come ; others, that it por- tended war and disaster. The cause of this dark- ness is supposed to be an accumulation of dense clouds, which had been formed by the smoke from extensive fires in Maine, New Hampshire and Ver- mont.
April 2, 1781, was the first election for Gover- nor, Lieut. Governor and Senators. The vote stood for Governor, John Hancock, 28; for Lieut. Governor, Thomas Cushing, 28 ; for Senators, El- bridge Gerry, John Pickering, Samuel Holten, Stephen Choate, Jona. Greenleaf and Samuel Phil-
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lips, 28; being thus unanimous throughout - a result not common in later elections. The State government was thus re-organized, and that order of things established, under which we still continue to live.
I will close this brief and imperfect sketch of the revolutionary period, by a list, as far as I have been able to procure it, from the records of the town and the archives at the State House, of those who were engaged in that memorable struggle.
MINUTE MEN.
John Friend, Jr., Abraham Brown, Eben'r Batchelder, Israel Batchelder, Geo. Dwinell, Nath'l Gott, Eben'r Kimball, Israel A. Dodge, Francis Porter, Asa Porter, Nath'l Ober, Josiah Ober, Jr., Samuel Ober, Amos Knowlton, Isaac Porter. - To- tal, 15.
Names of those who served six weeks or more previous to 1777.
Asa Porter, Capt. Matthew Fairfield, Israel Batchelder, Jo- seph Batchelder, Josiah Batchelder, Jr., Daniel Rogers, Simon Dodge, Israel Dodge, Jr., Jas. Poland, Samuel Webber, An- drew Cole, John Hilliard, Abraham Brown, Capt. Billy Porter, Thos. Knowlton, Nath'l Poland, Abraham Knowlton, Amos Knowlton, Capt. Richard Dodge, Newel Davison, Caleb Knowl- ton, Joseph Webber, Capt. John Dodge, Reuben Patch, Eben'r Porter, Jr., Josiah Herrick, Isaac Giddings, Jr., Cornelius Ba- ker, David Harris, Nath'l Gott, Sam'l Raymond, John Friend, Jr., Bartholomew Dodge, Sam'l Ober, Josiah Ober, Jr., Asa Kimball, Ephraim Kimball, Jos. Kimball, Amos Batchelder, Nath'l Porter, Jona. Low, Tyler Porter, Nath'lOber, John Per- kins, Sam'l Brown, Daniel Kilham, Skipper Dodge, Benjamin
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Dodge, Benj. Edwards, Abram Edwards, Wm. Dodge, Abner Haggett, Edward Waldron, Nathan Brown, Abram Wyatt, John Giddings, Amos Lefavour, Wm. Cleaves, Andrew Allen, Francis Porter, Israel A. Dodge, Moses Brown, Jonathan Fisk, Jona. Moulton, Wm. Webber, Thos. Kimball, Sam'l Kimball, Caleb Kimball, Eben'r Batchelder, Jr., John Friend, John Dodge, Isaac Porter, Daniel Herrick, Eben. Kimball, Thomas Perkins, John Kilham, Jacob Dodge, Eli Messervy, Robert Dodge, Aaron Lee, Peter Dodge, Sam'l Quarles, Stephen Dodge, Amos Dodge, Isaac Patch, Dea. Sam'l Tarbox, John Dodge 3d., Jonas Kilham, Abel Dodge.
Of these, the first twenty-five had served, Jan., 1777, a year or more; the next thirty-three from six to twelve months, and the remainder from one to six months.
The following persons served during the later campaigns of the war, and mostly out of New Eng- land.
Maj. Billy Porter, Lieut. Walter Fairfield, Asa Porter, Asa Kimball, Wm. Poland, Abraham Knowlton, Daniel Redington, Jonathan Goodhue, a negro servant of Tyler Porter, Sam'l Ober, Simon Dodge, Abram Dodge, Pelatiah Brown, Edmund Kimball, John Moulton, Amos Batchelder, Joshua Herrick, Nath'l Friend, Wm. Webber, Andrew Allen, Isaac Patch, John Hooker, John Perkins, York Freeman, Thomas Webber.
CIVIL HISTORY.
SINCE the Revolution, the history of the town has furnished few events of general interest or im- portance. Times of peace and prosperity are sel- dom distinguished by incidents worthy of much note. Hence, periods of the greatest national pro- gress and improvement, are often most barren to the historian.
The return of peace here, as elsewhere, was re- ceived with the liveliest joy and exultation. The country had passed through an arduous and almost hopeless struggle. The rebellious colonies had become a great, a free, and an independent nation. They had achieved all for which they had contend- ed, but it had been done at a great sacrifice both of blood and treasure, and it was many years before the country recovered from the exhaustion conse- quent upon these almost superhuman efforts. Pecuniary difficulties and embarrassments were general and severe, in consequence of the debts contracted during the war. There was an almost universal stagnation of commerce and of business of every kind. The old paper currency was worth- 8
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less and specie was scarcely known. This state of things produced much discontent and uneasiness, and resulted in the western part of Massachusetts, in "Shay's Rebellion," in 1786. The people of Wenham, though suffering as much as any others, from the hardships of the times, stood by the regular government. The old soldiers of the Revolution, when summoned by the proper authori- ty, again buckled on their swords, and marched under the command of Col. Wade, of Ipswich, to suppress the insurrection. The rebels were speedily dispersed and order was again restored.
Soon after the Revolution, public attention was called to the vast regions west of the Alleghanies, which had been granted to the United States, by the treaty of 1783. The fertility of the soil, salu- brity of the climate, and the low rates at which the public lands were sold to actual settlers, were strong inducements for emigration, to the surplus population of the Atlantic States. The young, the hopeful, and the venturesome, were eager to take up the line of march for the land of which they had heard such wonderful accounts. From our own neighborhood started the first expedition to explore and settle those unknown wilds. It was " a long, ark-like wagon, covered with black can- vas, and inscribed on the outside, in large letters, to Marietta, on the Ohio." This expedition, under the care of Dr. Cutler, of Hamilton, and in which several of the people of Wenham took an active
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part, founded the first town in the State of Ohio - a State which now contains more than two millions of inhabitants, to whom not Old England but New England is a father-land. Many persons will recall with pleasure, numerous anecdotes of this expedi- tion, as related by the late John T. Dodge, Esq., who was actively concerned in it, but who after- wards returned, and was for many years a promi- nent citizen of Wenham.
A vote was passed in 1785, to repair the monu- ment over the grave of the Rev. Joseph Gerrish. It will be remembered that Mr. Gerrish was pas- tor of the church for nearly fifty years, and his death occurred more than sixty years before the passage of this vote. This act, on the part of the town, shows that his memory was still rever- enced, and his labors not forgotten. Col. Porter has informed me that he assisted on this occasion, in placing the present slab which marks the site of Mr. Gerrish's grave.
The next year the town voted, " to petition the General Court for liberty to erect a bridge over Beverly Ferry." The idea of this was probably suggested by the bridge, which had recently been built to connect Boston and Charlestown. With the increase of population and travel, the incon- venience of a ferry must have been felt quite sen- sibly. The petition was not at this time granted. But so anxious were the people for a bridge, that the next year the town chose two agents, Capt
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John Gardner and Capt. Richard Dodge, “ to rep- resent them at the Hon. General Court, now sitting in Boston, to satisfy the Legislature, of the propri- ety and reasonableness of the petition of George Cabot, Esq., and others, respecting building a bridge over Beverly Ferry." This time the prayer of the petitioners was granted, and the next year the bridge was opened for travel. The right to take toll, which has been a source of much profit to the proprietors, was granted for seventy years which expired in 1858, when it was taken by the State, to be held until a sufficient fund has been raised for its maintainance.
Dec. 26, 1787, Mr. Jacob Herrick was chosen a delegate to the convention which was held at the State House, in Boston, January, 1788, "to take under consideration the late constitution or form of government proposed for their assent and ratifi- cation." This convention, one of the most impor- tant which ever met in the State, after considera- ble discussion, voted in favor of adopting the present Constitution of the United States, although it was not carried without strenuous opposition. The vote of Wenham, by its delegate, was cast in favor of the Constitution.
The swine, who for more than a century had enjoyed the freedom of the town, (coupled only with the restriction that they should wear a yoke and be adorned with a ring,) were, in 1790, depriv- ed by a formal vote, of all their ancient and hith-
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erto undisputed privileges. For them, no more delightful rambles in highways and byeways ; no more moonlight serenades; no more roving at large, over waste lots, or through the forests. We fancy that we can almost hear their dolorous grunts of indignation. But all opposition, not- withstanding their well-known obstinacy, has been in vain. From that time they have been obliged to remain in their solitary pens. With the duties, the glory of the name of hog-reeve has departed. But the swine did not lack for friends and advo- cates. At an adjourned meeting, their partisans rallied and endeavored to get the previous vote re-considered. We doubt not their cause was elo- quently supported, but all in vain. Their masters, in acquiring their own freedom, had only become more tyrannical towards their bristly dependents.
About this time, the ancient custom of seating the inhabitants in the meeting-house, according to their supposed rank, appears to have ceased. The last record which I can find, of a committee for the purpose, was in Oct. 17, 1785, when Josiah Ober, Lieut. Baker, and Richard Friend, were ap- pointed to that office. A considerable part of the house was already occupied by pews which were owned by individuals. The influence of the Revo- lution was affecting, quite perceptibly, the manners and habits of the people, and this, with many other social distinctions of our fathers, rapidly died 8*
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away before the popular and democratic principle of the equality of all mankind .*
Another institution which was gradually de- stroyed by the spirit of freedom, was the practice of holding negro slaves. This practice, though it seems never to have prevailed to any great extent, was introduced into the colony at quite an early date. I find recorded, as long ago as 1738, an " intent of marriage between Sharp, a negro ser- vant of Samuel Gott, and Deborah, negro servant of Joseph Herrick, of Topsfield." In 1756, a vote was passed to lengthen the negro seat at the west end of the meeting-house. Tyler Porter's servant, Pomp, is repeatedly mentioned in the records. During the Revolution he did service as a soldier. In 1783, he was hired of his master, to do the work of a sexton,t and many persons still remem- ber his jovial face and merry stories.
During Washington's administration there were many complaints that the treaty of 1783, with Great Britain, had not been properly observed. There was still a strong feeling of hostility towards
* I have since found a record of the choice of a committee of three, for this purpose, as late as 1795. Their names were Richard Dodge, Richard Hood and Isaac Porter.
+ When informed that he was entitled to his freedom, by a law of the State, and was at liberty to go when and where he pleased, he replied quite indignantly, "I will not go a step: I have worked hard to help earn this property, and I am determined to remain and help spend it." He expressed, not long before his death, the singu- lar wish that his body might be disinterred after its decay, and the skeleton being wired together, might be suspended in that part of the attic in which he used to sleep, for the observation of future gen- erations. He outlived his first and second master, and finally died in 1833, in the service of Dr. John Porter, at the advanced age of nearly ninety years.
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England, and it was so much embittered by the re- fusal to deliver up some posts specified in the treaty, and by subsequent injuries that the two countries were again upon the verge of war. The town, in these circumstances, voted a bounty of $12 to every man who would enlist in the United States Army, in addition to what he should receive from the government. These troubles were fortunately appeased by a treaty with England, negotiated by Mr. Jay, in 1795. It was not altogether satisfacto- ry, but was approved by the constitutional majori- ty of the Senate and by the President. Many cities and towns passed resolutions condemning it se- verely. It was, however, unanimously supported by the people of Wenham, not as being all that they desired, but as vastly preferable to a war. Time has vindicated the wisdom of their decision. The same year the town voted in favor of revising the Constitution of the State.
For many years the alewife fishery upon Miles' river, was a matter of considerable importance, and many meetings were held for the purpose of re- moving obstructions to the ascent of the fish, and of regulating the mode of catching them. A com- mittee was first appointed for this object, in 1798, and was afterwards chosen annually, for many years. Two years later, it was voted, that these fish should only be caught with a seine, and on three days of the week, viz., Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, on penalty of $50, one-half to be paid
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to the town, and the other to go to the informant. A special resolve was passed against fishing on the Sabbath.
In 1805, the dysentery was unusually prevalent and fatal, so that, in five weeks, from September 15th to October 20th, eleven persons died of it, nine of them being children.
In 1806, " the privilege of ringing the bell and sweeping the meeting-house for one year ensuing," was let out to Jonas Cook, for $6,75. The collec- tion of taxes in the east ward of the town, was taken by John Hooker, at $1,18 on the $100; in the west ward it was taken by Caleb Kimball, at $1,49 for the same sum.
Dec. 22, 1807, the embargo was passed, which was repealed two years after, and the non-inter- course act substituted in its stead. These acts bore very heavily upon the people of New Eng- land, a large part of whom subsisted by com- merce. In consequence of the distress thus occa- sioned, the Rev. Mr. Anderson addressed a letter to the town, remitting $50 a year, of his salary, one-half to the town, and half to individuals who were in need, or had suffered during the year, from sickness. For this act of delicate considera- tion the thanks of the town were publicly voted to Mr. Anderson.
Political excitement run very high during this period, as is shown by the frequent meetings, and large votes which were cast. The Federal party
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was uniformly and largely predominant, and the measures of Congress, particularly the em- bargo and the war with England, were bitterly censured. A strong address upon the subject was adopted by the State Legislature, and formally ap- proved by the town. July 8, 1812, Hon. Timothy Pickering was chosen to attend a convention at Ipswich, "for the purpose of consulting upon the present awful and alarming situation of our coun- try, on account of the war declared by Congress against Great Britain, and of adopting all constitu- tional measures for the restoration of peace and free commerce, on which the well-being of the commonwealth essentially depends." Dr. Daniel Kilham, a resident of the town, was, for many years, an active and zealous politician of the Re- publican party, while the Hon. Timothy Pickering was equally active on the side of the Federalists. They often used to meet and sometimes held warm discussions upon public affairs. On one occasion, they commenced a debate respecting the war, after the close of the morning session of the annual town meeting, and continued it so earnestly as to forget their dinners and everything else. The by-stand- ers became so much interested that the afternoon session of the town meeting was given up, and the discussion continued till evening. Both parties were earnest and well-informed, and it must be ac- knowledged that there were really two sides to the questions discussed. As usually happens in such
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cases, neither party was able to convince the other, but the majority of those present, perhaps, from previous prejudices and opinions, sided with Mr. Pickering. In the evening his friends took him to the public house, and gave him a supper, at which he made a speech of more than an hour, vigorously denouncing Congress and its favorite measures.
But, although the people of Wenham did not ap- prove of the war, yet as long as the country was engaged in it, they did their part as faithful and patriotic citizens. Many of them engaged in those privateering enterprises which were carried on so extensively by the people of Essex county, and which contributed so much to annoy and injure the commerce of the enemy. Others enlisted in the United States armies, and fought bravely in those hard-contested battles, which marked that short but severe struggle. The town even vot- ed, July 29, 1814, to hire men to enlist in the United States service, and appointed a committee for the purpose. That the burdens of the war were severely felt, appears from the smallness of the appropriations for schools, highways, &c., during this period. Rev. Mr. Anderson voluntarily relin- quished $100 out of a salary of $500, during the continuance of the war.
As Essex county was much exposed to assaults from the blockading squadrons of the British, es- pecial provisions were made to resist any attack.
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Col. Porter, of Wenham, then commanded the Ip- swich regiment. Being asked by the General of his Brigade how soon he could get his men under arms if they were called for, he replied, in four hours. The General would not believe this possi- ble, but soon after an alarm came that the enemy had landed; for the moment, of course, all was disorder and confusion ; but speedily every man seized his weapons, bade adieu to his wife and little ones, and within an hour the Wenham com- pany was ready to march for Salem, only one man being absent. News soon arrived that the alarm was false, and the soldiers were at once dismissed. The spirit showed upon this occasion proved that the fires of the Revolution were not yet wholly extin- guished. Soon after this, intelligence was received that the war was closed by the treaty of Ghent, and nowhere was peace more welcome than to the inhabitants of Wenham. Commerce again revived, manufactures continued to flourish, and the coun- try resumed its career of unexampled growth and prosperity.
In 1820, the question of revising the Constitu- tion of the State, was agitated. It was opposed by the people of Wenham, but being supported by a majority of voters in the State, John T. Dodge, Esq., was chosen as a delegate to the convention held in the State House for this purpose. Most of the changes proposed by this convention were subsequently approved by the town, although sev-
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