USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > The story of a New England town; a record of the commemoration, July second and third, 1890 on the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Haverhill, Massachusetts > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
Despite the fact that there was but one denomination of Christians, instead of many different sects, as now, there is evi- dence that church affairs were not always harmonious. A diffi- culty arose about Ward's salary, when it was increased " to fifty pounds in wheat, rye and Indian com ," to which was coddled some personal contentious among the members. The distra bance asmed such proportions thet the Court of Mag- isttates interposed and directed the convening of a council here, composed of two messengers From each of the churches of Boston, Cambridge, and Ipswich. Roken Clement. was instructed to provide for the physical comfort of the delegates. for which he was to be satisfied by the town thattel.
148
HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSLIT.
council came and the difficulties were happily suded. It is to be hoped when the constable came to lay on the inhabi- tanto for the sum of twelve pounds and nineteen shillings to de- fray the expense of its entertainment, that they had a realizing sense of the fact that church quarrels were unprofitable.
During all this period there was no question that en- listed sharper controversy than that of the boundaries of the town. From the first there had been a dispute between Haverhill and Salisbury over the dividing line, which required repeated interventions of the General Court. The truth is, our Galmas were fired with the ambition of having a large domain. The General Const granted valuable meadow lands in addition to the grant obtained from the Indians. This did not satisfy, and, unembarrassed by modesty, they petitioned for nuts. Achainistering a somewhat sharp rebuke for their rajacity, the indulgent court added you farther to the town's territory hanging at last the feelings of this august body, when, having granted i tract to a certain Geral Dem- sor about six miles north of Andover, it was found that Haverhill lakl claim to this also. Without stopping to re- count the various stages in the discussion which followed, it ended at length in the appointment of a committee by the General Court to run the bounds of the town of Thatkill. evidently with a determination to have them new dimitely fixed. The order contained in words " not extending upon the river above right miles from their meet- ing-house." by some strange freak of misinterpretation, the surveyors, instead of following the sinnons course of the liv r, as the language of the order plainly mouled, ran the ha ight nales due west from the korting house. Marking this point with a " heap of stones," they arst ru south to the Merrimack, and afterwards from the terminus of the west he northward, until they met the boundary line be- tween Illerhill and Salisbury. The town thus obtained a territory four nales by twelve larger than the tieneral Court intended to giant; more, even, than the Indian lead con- seyed ; including within its limit, the present laurent- a
149
EXERCISES AT ACADEMY OF CU -10
large part of Methuen, most of Salem. Plaistow, Hampstead, and all of Atkinson, New Hampshire.
In 1663 the name of Nathaniel Saltoustall first ap- pears in the annals of Haverhill. He was the grandson of Richard Saltonstall, one of the six original patentees of Massachusetts, and came over in the same ship with Win- throp in 1630. Nathaniel settled in Haverhill soon after his graduation From Harvard College, and married the daughter of John Ward. He possessed fine gifts for ad- ministration, and exceeding grave of character
His capacity for leadership was quickly recognized by his fellow towns- men. who songla his counsel and his services in their pub- he affairs. For thirty-two years. following 1668, he was town recorder and clerk of the writs, and held prominent positions in the militia of the town and county. Sent as a deputy to the General Court in 1666, he was again re- naned for the years from 1069 to 1672. Though him, as a member of the Band of Assistants for many years under the old charter, and as one of the Council to whom the goverment of the Colony was entrusted after the deposi- tion of Andros, the town was honorably related to the larger mians of the Commonwealth. The judicial qualities of his mind carried him to the beach in the courts of Norfolk and afterwards Esses. Appointed one of the judges in a special counmission for the trial of persons accused of witch- malt, be declined to sit or have anything to do with the wicked business. Without doubt it was largely due to this decision and to his sound counsels that so slight a taint of this sanginnary fanaticism * sollies the ground. of Haverhill. This son, Gurdon, was the first graduate of Harvard
. Bat on person was ever moleste l in flaverland on the charge of wituneraft This was the widow of John Hutchins, -Frances Hutchins, -to wh an relerenee has already been made, as being presented for wearing a silk hond She was then past eighty, and was living in the West Parish. On December 21, 1og2, recognizance for her appearance at the next Court of Assize of Over and Terminer, "to be held for and within Essex County," was given by her son, Samuel Hutchins, and Troph Kingsbury husbandmen Firminatel, the case never came to trial. The court to which the recognizaner was reliable way abolished soon after the date the real, all die prosecuted probably died with the court
150
HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS
from this town. He was subsequently ordained pastor of the church at New London, Connecticut, and in 1707 was chosen governor of the State, continuing in office till his death in 1721, greatly admired for rare intellectual and moral endow- ments, and universally lamented. It is but justice to say that Nathaniel Saltonstall, by his high religious character, broad intelligence, and public spirit, left a deep impress np- on Haverhill in its formative period, and was an efficient factor in shaping its history. His influence was perpeinated through, generations of sons worthy of their illustrious sire.
We come how to what may be termed the heroic period in our history. commencing with the outbreak of the Indian troubles about 1675. The growth of the town in population and wealth. despite its inland situation in the heart of a wilderness at that time imperfectly traversed with roads, and .till forther deprived of the advantages of commerce that settlements newer the coast enjoyed, bens strong testimony to the energy and good order of its inhabitants. The tran- quillity of the preceding years had allayed the fears of the settlers as regards Indian dopredations. By purchase or ex- change of land among themselves, by the laying down of portion : first assigned and taking up others in their places, Recholder, had gradually gotten their numerous scattered acres together in one tract, like our modern larms. The process of moving out of the village, and building upon these farm-, -- as in the case of Corliss, Haynes and Bradley in the West Parish, the Peasleys and Whittier in the East, and many etlers at intervening points, - had created. in contrast with the somewhat compact hamlet of our first acquaintance, a community of widely scattered homes.
" Only here and there a cloning. With its farin-house rulle and new And tree-stumps swarcas Indians. Where the seanty harvest grew."
This movement, in view of what soon followed proved ill-timed, but it had been going on Such war the .h.
CITY HALI
151
EXERCISES AT ACADEMY OFMUSH
of affairs when the horrors of King Philip's War burst upon the Massachusetts settlements. The details of the three years of conflagration and carnage that followed we are not concerned with, except as they may enable us to realize the sufferings of our fathers from terror and alarm. The air was filled with reports of town after town blotted out in fire and blood. Groton not far away is reduced to ashes; Andover is attacked; and when the tidings spread that a large body of savages is actually crossing the river where Lowell now stands, it seemed as if our hour had come. Fortunately, Haverhill was spared. With the excep- tion of a few outrages committed in Bradford and Haver- hill tunder the lead of a well known renegade, Symon, no blood was shed ; but the suspense was terrible. The town had an honorable part in the general struggle, sending forth twenty-eight of her sous to the war, and paying her proportion of its cost. The levy of eighteen grands bore sa heavily that, by special vote, the inhabitants were allowed to make staves enough to pay the rates requirel, " o as to save bread coin which men cannot very well live without."
With the peace of 1678 there was for a decade rest from further alarm. It took some time for the beleaguered town to recover from the shock of war amol resume again the arts of peace. Early in this period. the wife of the now venerable Ward closed her earthly labots, and was laid to rest. She had, as a young bride, cros ed with him the orean, to share his hardships in the new world. Nobly had she fulfilled her ministry, and her death was a heavy blow to Wird. himalt well stricken in years. No wonder that, feel- mts his Inndens too grievous for him. he should desire the teliet of an associate. The town generously acceded to his request, and took immediate steps to find a suitable person and provid . for him a home. Parishes nowadays find it no light task to settle a minister. What must it have been then ! After some fruitless negotiations with others, Rev. Ben- janin Rolle appears. In 1693 he was permanently settled. to the eminent satisfaction of all parties. Sr. Ward did not live
HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.
to participate in the ordination. He closed he was, however, in the happy assurance that his mantle had fallen pon a most worthy successor.
In 1681 came up the subject of a nes meeting-house. The small, rude structure - already enlarged through the enter- prise of John Hutchins, by a gallery placed in the west end, for which service he was rewarded by a rolea. from the bondage of the seating committee -- was still inadequate. The matter of location was involved and this proved a burn- ing quetim. The majority, for one cause or another, chung to the oft site, but the minority in favor of change was active and induential. As a compromise it was decided to enlarge till farther by the erection of a gallery for the women, at the east end. If the design in seating them apart had been to shield du dear women from the rude glaces of the other ses, one might have safely predicted that such a provision would aring, just a failure At all ants the compromise afforded but a temporary relief. The question avam sas pressed; this time the minority in favor of a new location was increased to a majority. After several years of warm debate it was decided to build a new meeting-house and place it on the Common, --- the present City Hall Park. That the house might profit by the latest specimens of church architecture, the badding committee chosen was to visit other towns and lix upon a suitable plan. The work was delayed by the pressure and panic of war, but by the close of 1699 the meeting-house was ready. Though the inception of the enter- prise had provoked much dissension, all were happy and mited in the end. Sergeant John Iselune, da builder, to when great honor is due, in his god added gratuitously many good things not called for by his covenant, and was publicly commended as " honest and honestly faithful in his work." Eight persons, presumably those who at this period were locked up to as of importance, were allowed to build at their own expense pews in the new edifice." The usual
Salonstill Sert form Haseltine, Lient Jann White Widow Hoanh Ster and Son, Ensign Joh : Gage Seigt Jostan tage
153
EXERCISES AT ACADEMY OU ML
conunitter was chosen to assign all others Le permanent places upon the long seats, -" that they may know where to sit and not disorderly crowd upon one another and be uncivil in the time of God's worship." These received six shillings apiece for their arduous services. The erestion of this meet- ing-house was a great effort, and doubtless throughout the Colony added no little to the importance and reputation of the town. At all events its consummation in the midst of the hoban troubles, and in spite of them, speaks well for the oggi " of its inhabitants.
The year 1688 brought a renewal of the Indian atroc- His. The desuaction of King Philip and his confederates we alsolike security to all southern New England, but now de hour of the eastern and northern settlements had come. It was the beginning of the long struggle, running through seventy years, between England and France, for supremacy upon this continent Waged in Europe and upon the sea, i was transferred is our northern shores with all the tragic horrors of Indian warfare thrown in. Natiand animosity, embittered by religions hatred engendered through long years of strife. combined to make the confor meat terrible.
The French had an unbounded control of the Indian tribes of Maine and Canada, so that the Frantic passions of the masters became completely incorporated with the natural ferocity of their savage allies. Haverhill, as one of the out- posts of the rising civilization, took the bill violence of the storm of war and vengeance. For more than twenty years, with occasional intervals of calm, the awful reign of panic, anguish and death continued. The appro och of their implaca- ble for was sometimes heralded by the tidings of murder and pillage in the neighboring settlements; then our fathers knew that their own fate hung in the balance. More Frequently the crack of musket and the hornd yell of the savage gave the first warning that the enemy was upon them. The situ- ation was pitiful and dismal in the extreme. Energetic measures were adopted for defence. Six of th best constructed houses at strategic exposed quarters were appointed as garri
HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSLETS
sous, where soldiers either from home or abroad avere kept constantly under arms. Other strong houses. Tom in number, went designated as places for refuge to which the inhabitants might flee in the time of danger. No man ventured abroad without his trusty rifle. le carried it with psaim book to the chunch, and along with his scythe and mattock to the field. But these precautions were unavailing to prevent sur- prise and marder. The settlers were widely scattered. The Indians rarely resorted to open attack. The woods, especially in the season of spring and summer, were filled with strag- glog parties wholly invisible, noislessly awaiting dieir of for- tumit ;. They stole myon the ungeadded deselling at midnight ; they ly in saleh beside the lonely cutepath by which the farmer must bring in his harvest ; they crept upon him in the field, if for one incautious moment be strayed beyond the reach of his musket. Imagine the almost sleepless anxiety of this paind : d distress of the wife, who bade adieu to husband and son in the morning, doubtful of their uturn at night; and of the father, in equal theestainty whether there would remain a home to which he could return. Every industry was well-nigh paralyzed. husbandry was pretty much abandoned and many never ventured to sleep outside of gurion or house of refuge. There is deep significance in the absence year after year, from the records, of the transaction of any business at town meetings, save the elec- tim of oficers. In the height of this datk euch the prop- osition of " drawing off" and leaving all behind was even debated. It is not likely that such a step was seriously conteandated. Our fathers were made of sommer tull than this; but that such a suggestion was offered. portrays the peril and despondency of the hour. Time would fail should I attempt to enumerate the thrilling incidents, or even speak of the individual actors in this bloody drama, -- of Hannah Duston. comwird in story and sing. and for no less heroic husband, whoor during defence of his children has often been forgotten. in the landation of the more sunational xploit of his wife, - of the rapture of the youths, Bradley and Whit-
HIGH SCHOOL ANT. CADETS.
155
EXERCISES AT MADEMY OF MUSIC
ticker and their romantic escape, -- of the bagie murder of the old men, Haynes and Ladd, - of the spirited defence of home and fireside that Mrs. Bradley made, with no other weapon than ladlefuls of boiling soap, -of her subsequent suffering's in captivity, - of the prowess of Keezar in rushing upon a tawny savage who had levelled at hio his gun, and heving him into pieces with a seythe. Doubtless it was due to the effective measures adopted for protection, that twice only was there a general onslaught. The horrors of the last of these, upon the fatal 29th of August 1708, lingered in the memory of Judith Whiting. mutil the close of the contary. The attacking party consisted of two hundred and tilty Indians and French Canadians. led by Sien de Chail- lots and the infamous Hertel de Rouville. Leaving near where Atkinson depot now stands their packs - which were alquently captured by a small party ender Joseph Brad- lay - and passing undiscovered the outlying garrison, in the dead of night, they emerged at break of day from the woods on Main Street, in the vicinity of the present soldiers' mon- manent. They were first seen by Kcezar, who ran into the village and aroused the sleeping inhabitants by firing his gun wear the new meeting-house. But all too late.
" A yell the dead might wake to hear Swelled on the night am far and clear, Then smote the Indian tomahawk Ou crashing door and shattering lo 1."
The house of the beloved Roffe was first attacked. He was shot holding the door against the bloodthirsty fiends who pressed against it, and then tomahawked . his wife and infant. child met the same horrid fate. The negro servant, Hagar, land just time to conceal Rolfe's two little daughters under tubs in the collar. Readers of the English language the wide world over. who have delighted in the fascinating pages of John Lothrop Motley, well may bless the memory of Hagar, for in the preservation of one of these little girls was involved the life of her descendant. the fotine brilliant historian.
150
HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.
Breaking up into small bands, the assailants began their work of pillage and murder. Thomas Hartshorne and his three sons were shot as they ran out of their dwelling near the meeting-house. One party penetrated as far as Water Street, and shot John Johnson and his wife in the doorway of their house, which stood on the site of the Exchange Block, and tomahawked the son's wife while doing though the garden with her infant child. Goodwife Swan success- Fully defended her home on Winter Street against two Indians by running a spit through the body of the foremost, who was guessing open the door; but Capi Shaw. Wain- wright, the leading merchant in town, whose house stood near I. was shot upon its threshold. While the massacre was going on, the priest who accompanied the expedition, with some of the French officers, entered the meeting-house and left their mank upon its walls. It was afterwards fired, but exped dearaction, through the exertions of the intrepid Davis. Meanwhile the town had become aroused Major Tiener with a portion of his soldiers arriving, de exemy beat a basty retreat. carrying with them seventeen prisoners. Capt. Sind Ayer, a fearless citizen, a deann, in the church and one of the spleetmen, collecting a force of twenty, pisued. He overtook the retreating for just as they were entering the woods in the West Parish, and, though they ontombered him twelve to one, instantly gave battle. Reinforced by another sindl party, led by luo son, the con- fiet lasted upwards of an hour. Thirty of the enemy were Filled, including the brother of Rouville and another French oliver; some of the prisoners were totalen, But not without. the loss of nine on our side, among whom was the gallant Ayer. In this eruch raid forty were wrissacred ani carried into captivity. The work of burying the dead, that had to be com- ienced at once by reason of the intense heat, filled up the sor- rows of that mournial Sabbath day, henceforth to be forever memorable in our history.
Though we rehearse the story of this historic tragedy w . hu ir no malice towards the perpetrators of it. That was buried long.
157
LAERCISES AT ACADEMY DE ME. R .
ago. Their descendants from Canada in large mentbers are with us to-day. They have reared their altos for payer and praise hard by the very spots that anon resounded with their eries for Mood. They are with us not as aliens and esamies, but as trusted and respected citizens, participants in all the blessings of the splendid civilization they once frantically sought to obliterate.
During this season of Indian hostilities sixty persons, at different times, were killed and a large mumber suffered untold miseries in captivity. Thanks to a gracious Providence, with the asfal experience of 1708 all suffering from actual attack came to an end. There were subsequent alarm. In fact. it was not till 1725 that the inhabitants folt enthely secure, and for several graus active measures for defence were continued.
With the removal of the Indian troubles attention was turned to matters of internal policy. The absorbing interests till 1750 were the land question and the adjustments incident to the establishment of the boundary line bergen Massa- chusetts and New Hampshire. The struggle growing out of the formaer was altogether the most critical of any through which the town had yet passed. The population had now so greatly in- crean d. then the descendants of the original proprietors were in the minority. By virtue of the action of former town meetings, however, as you will remember, they had an exclusive right to all der common or undivided lands. The b lathers had purchased the land of the Indians ; it was the just reward of their labors and hardships as the original occupants of the wilderness. The majority disputed this claim of exclusive ownership. They too had shared the fortunes of the town in war and peace, and as citizens had barne and were bearing their share of its burdens. The audivided lands they regarded as " an estate of all the inhab- Hants whoever they might be now or hereafter." The question touched the pocket ; it was one of di possession and of acqui- sition. There was wide scope for plenty of arrinony in debate, with imminent peril of outbreaking strife.
It is impossible to follow in detail the conflict which lastel for fifteen years. Besides the town meeting which was the principal battle ground, there were the separate meeting ..
1.8
HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSLITE
of the proprietors, to concert measures for the Jefene. of their rights. As the contention grew in bitterness they were refused the use of the meeting-house and were obliged to adjourn to Pecker's Tavern. The suits brought by the proprietors for trespass upon the common lands were met by counter suits from the town against the proprietors. The fences placed by them around the ox-common were torn up and burned, oner resulting in serious conflagration in the forest. In defiance of the claims of the proprietors, the town voted to sell a parcel of undivided land to pay town delats; to divide another portion among soldiers in the late wars ; sufl another among actual settlers; and finally to distribute the nost among the tax payers throughout the Indian troubles. Somehow the proprietors. - for many of them, like Capt. John White, Nathaniel Peasley, Richard Hazzen, Deacon James Ayer, and others, were men of acknowledged worth and of great influence, as their fathers had been before them, - the proprietors m maged to hold their ground, and practically nulki, these aggressions. At last, when nothing had really been gained by fighting, ile town took the initiative in seeming a confer- care with the proprietors. Without waiving their legal claims, the latter asked those active in the opposition to frankly say what would satisfy them. One after another to the number of thirty-nine, profferel their requests for grants of land varying in restent from two to twenty acres. The proprietors con- sented to make these grants, upon the condition chat each man, before the land was laid out to him, would siga an agreement. "yt They rest satisfied & Contented with ye division of yo Com a Land according to ye proprietors order, & gt for ye future 'They appear In all Town meetings, unless hindered by extraordinary Casuthy & doe oppose By Voate & argument all such persons & voates as any way disturbi or hinder ye pro- prietors in Their prarcable Injoyments of Their lands divided or undivided, & gt They Indeavor To hinder any farther process in law about ye same & farther peace & unite again
OLD LADIES' HOME.
159
EXERCISES AT ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
as far as may be." The condition was accepted and the grants made. This was doubtless a stroke of policy on the part of the proprietors, but at the same time their liberal action affords abundant evidence that they were not wholly selfish and devoid of sympathy with their fellow townsmen. This measure brought only a temporary peace. Hostile feeling still remained, and in time found new exponents to continue the strife. It broke out afresh in the town. meeting, wherenpos the proprietor, and their adherents bolted. and sot mp a town meeting of their own, at which a separate list of town officers was chosen. There were two rival sets of town officers now, each claiming legitim wy. Appeal was made at length by the non- proprietors to the General Court, and through their inter- vention a settlement was reached, in a manner which might now be regarded as arbitrary, but which proved effectual. Far- ther contest was abandoned. Proprietors and non-proprietors heur folk acted together harmoniously For nearly forty years afterwards the former held then separate meetings when the division of lands was involved. They sonned, sold, and exchanged the undivided lands until there was no longer lun to be thus disposed of. They were genre . in their use of dam, giving liberally to the new parishes. whenever they wat constituted, for the support of church and school, and to their respective ministers." Subsequent events, as we shall see, seemed to vindicate the justice and the wisdom of the minciple of ownership for which they contended.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.