USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Rowley > The tercentenary celebration of the town of Rowley, 1639-1939 > Part 3
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During the interim between the arrival of Mr. Rogers' Com- pany in New England, and the incorporation of the new Plantation, 4th. 7 mo. (September) 1639, as Rowley, about forty more families had joined them, so that there were now fifty-nine families in all, some of whom had preceded Mr. Rogers to New England.
House lots were laid out, the locations being largely governed by the Town Brook and its tributaries. Gage, "History of Row- ley, 1840," says, "These people, it appears, labored together in common, for nearly five years, from the time they commenced a settlement in this place; no man owning any land in severalty from the company, until after they had laid out the several streets and roads, as now improved." We think there is no proof of this state- ment and the language used by the writer shows him to have been in doubt about it himself. It may be that for a brief interval they lived in common, but the probability is that just as soon as possible house lots were apportioned and shelters of some sort erected; but not log houses as the general impression seems to be, for they belong to a later date and another section of the country.
Higginson, "New-Englands Plantation, 1630," says, "We that are setled at Salem make what haste we can to build Houses, so that within a short time we shall haue a faire Towne."
Johnson, "Wonder Working Providence, 1654," writes, "They (the Rowley people) soon erected a number of houses."
Great as the problem of building shelters was it would have been a greater problem for between two hundred and three hun- dred people to have lived together for nearly five years. This experiment was tried at Plymouth but the results were far from satisfactory. According to Bradford, "History of Plymouth Plan- tation," it "Was found to breed much confusion & discontent."
"The Survey of the Towne of Rowley taken the tenth of eleauenth Anno Dni 1643, by Mr. Thomas Nelson, Mr. Edward Carlton, Humphrey Reyner, ffrancis Parrat, appointed for that purpose by the freemen of the saide Towne who also are to Regester the Seueral Lotts of all the inhabitants granted and laid out, and
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to leaue therof a Copy with the Recorder of the Shire according to the order of the Generall Court."
The fact that this survey was taken in 1643 and the General Court ordered a copy left with the recorder of the shire, has led Gage and others to conclude that the house lots were laid out at that time. The Massachusetts Bay Colony divided the towns into four shires or counties that year, before which time there was no shire where the record could have been recorded.
Essex County comprised eight towns south of the Merrimac. Rowley, after some changes in the original grants, was bounded on the north by Newbury, west by Cochicawick (Andover), south and southwest by Ipswich and Salem, and east, after the grant of one-fifth of Plum Island, in 1649, by the ocean, and was appar- ently the largest town in area in the county.
The General Court in March, 1635-6, granted some towns "sixe miles apeece into the country"; while Mr. Rogers in March, 1638-9, was granted "eight miles every way into the countrey." This occasioned some misunderstanding and before the bounds were finally settled some ill feeling was manifested and Mr. Rogers censured for his remarks and obliged to go before the Court and apologize.
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Three principal streets were laid out at an early date, Wethers- field, named for the birthplace of Mr. Rogers in England ; Holme (now Central), for the home of the Lamberts, Barkers, Brighams and Crosbies at Holme-on-Spalding-Moor; Bradford for the home of the Jewetts.
The First Church was organized 3 December, 1639, and was the sixteenth church in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
A public school was established soon after the settlement, William Boynton serving as one of the earliest teachers.
The size of the house lots was governed by the amount one paid toward the purchase of the land already pre-empted by Ipswich and Newbury, and varied from one to six acres.
Hundreds of acres of outlying lands were also divided, prob- ably by the same committee who apportioned the house lots. The rights in the commons or undivided lands were always designated as gates. Gates was an old English term and so far as we know Rowley was the only town to apply it in the laying out of land.
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In course of time as these outlying lands were cleared and occupied they were set off from the old town and incorporated as new towns; in many instances becoming the homes of sons and daughters of those who first came. The Merrimac lands became Bradford, in 1675; Rowley Village, Boxford, 1685; New Rowley, Georgetown, 1838; Groveland was set off from Bradford in 1850. Part of Boxford was included in Middleton when that town was incorporated, 1728. In 1785, a part of Ipswich, consisting of about two hundred acres, was annexed to Rowley.
Such in brief is the story of the beginnings of Rowley which in early years occupied a far more prominent place in the history of the Commonwealth than it does at the present time.
Standing as we do today on the threshold of another century of its history we may with pardonable pride look back on the past.
There is something fine in the planting of this and other towns in the wilderness. The establishment of a town government, the organization of a church, the founding of a public school, all made for a substantial, intelligent community.
Not alone in this section of our country has the influence of the New England Puritan and what he stood for been felt. They peopled the Western Reserve in the eighteenth century and later pushed on to the middle west and beyond. The few thousand who came before 1640 have become a host and their descendants are found today from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Settled by English Puritans who laid the foundations and for more than two centuries governed this community, how great is our debt to them! That they were narrow and at times intolerant no one denies. It was an age of intolerance. That some of them were far from righteous is also true but the leaders of this move- ment and the greater part of their followers were straight-forward upright men.
Morison says, "It was in Massachusetts Bay, not Plymouth, that were worked out those characteristic forms of state, church and school, which have set off New England as a province apart," and adds, "Massachusetts as a colony and commonwealth, by every test of eminence, has produced more distinguished men and women in proportion to her population, than any other state in the union."
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Verily, grapes are not gathered from thorns nor figs of thistles. The sneer at the Puritans and their way is, to say the least, very ill-advised and generally born of ignorance. They builded better than they knew. They laboured and others have entered into their labours, too often without a thought of the debt they owe to those who made this heritage possible.
EXERCISES BY PUPILS OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS "PILGRIM DAYS"
PROLOGUE - Albert W. Haley, Jr.
"We're here today to show you The things the Pilgrims used to do.
Those folks who came across the seas
To worship God in the way they pleased. And so, we're asking you to go Back with us to the long ago To the days when Indians hunted deer And fished in the rivers far and near. When white men were few among Indians that time Back to the days of 1639.
The men in the fields would plow and hoe,
The women at home would bake and sew.
And everyone to church did go.
Now the maids of Pilgrim town Will greet you, each in her very best gown.
Maids-Joan Janvrin, Amber Knowles, Sheila Perley, Shirley Collins, Phyllis Todd, Ethel Leavitt, Dulcie Hussey.
And now please meet the Pilgrim boys. They carry guns as their favorite toys.
Boys-Ashley Leavitt, Barry Perley, Robert Blatchford, Con- rad Johnson, Robert Burke, Walter Babcock, William St. Laurent.
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And here are the women of Pilgrim town
Women-Corrinne Johnson, Joyce Lunde, Mildred Seaver, Doris Mehaffey, Mary Marshall, Frances Foley, Delberta Leavitt, Phyllis Maker.
And the men who once marched up and down,
Men-George Brown, Joseph Hirtle, William Jahnke, Lionel Leavitt, Carl Good.
With these friendly Indians, whom you see,
Indians -- Alfred Babcock, Robert Todd and Payson Todd.
Entire group sings-'Long, Long, Ago.'
Words by Phyllis McCormick, Doris Currier, Marion Murray
1. Tell me the tales that to me were so dear Long, long ago, Long, long ago; Tell of the people who used to live here Long, long ago, long ago. Ways of the past, let us gladly recall, Lest we forget the tales one and all. Let's make believe that we lived in the past, Long, long ago, long ago.
2. Do you remember the shores that they trod, Long, long ago, Long, long ago; Searching for freedom to worship their God ; Long, long ago, long ago. Here they were met by starvation and cold, Here is the vision their eyes did behold Strong is our faith as in dark days of old, - Long, long ago, long ago.
And now, how they lived we'll show to thee, By presenting a street scene by Pilgrims three."
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Scene I-Street Scene
Winthrop -- George Brown "Well, Master Brown, how does your corn? I must get mine in tomorrow morn."
Brown-William Jahnke
"Goodman Winthrop, mine is in, All harvested and in the bin.
Oh, Goodman Winthrop, didst you know, That Sunday, Trask did hunting go?
'Tis 'gainst our rules as you well can see
How we must treat him is left to thee,
To thee, and Goodman Standish there, For I see him coming across the square." (Enter Standish )
Standish-Joseph Hirtle
"God rest you, Goodman Winthrop and Brown. Hast heard such news as goes around,
That Trask has once again been gunning On the Lord's Day, for rabbits hunting ? And men, what shall we do with him Who will not keep our laws within?" Brown-William Jahnke
"I think Goodman Standish, Winthrop too, That he should be placed in the stocks, don't you? A badge of shame he ought to wear In the public gaze in the village square Where children much on mischief bent
Will soon make our friend Trask repent." Winthrop-George Brown
"Yes, that I think, is the thing to do. 'Twill make him ashamed of his sinning, too When he is held in ridicule
By all the boys just out of school."
Standish-Joseph Hirtle
"And I, too, am of mind that he Would after this, more honest be. So let us now set Trask up there There on the stocks in the public square."
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Albert W. Haley, Jr.
"Down the street on Sunday crowds of Pilgrims appear, Going to worship in the church they hold so dear."
Scene 2-Going to Church
Doris Mehaffey
"The Reverend will read they say, After the sermon a letter today."
Robert Blatchford
"Yes, a letter from England over the sea From some friends of ours who wish to flee
From the King's harsh rule, and come To live with us in Pilgrim town."
Mildred Seaver
"Have you read your psalm book, little Jane? Pull 'round your cloak, I fear 'twill rain. Come let us hurry, or we'll not get in Before the Reverend will begin."
Mary A. Marshall
"Well little folks let us hurry on, Today our choir sings a fine old song.
'Tis one they learned on England's sod, Ere these shores they'd ever trod."
Dulcie Hussey
"Oh, now what fun. An old song, too I'd like to learn it, wouldn't you?" William Jahnke
"Now, Mistress Lane, how goes your class? And the lessons you teach each little lass?" Corrinne Johnson
"O, Master Brown, good things they learn. This little lady can a fine seam turn." Shirley Collins
"Yes, and I can knit and cook.
I pity the boys who must learn from a book." Frances Foley
"It looks as though today might be
As rainy as last Saturday."
1639-Rowley Tercentenary Celebration-1939
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Robert Burke
"Well, Mistress, it will help the farm, For rain does no one any harm." Albert W. Haley, Jr. "Now into the church let us peep, And see how they the Sabbath did keep."
Scene 3-Church Interior
Hymn, Psalm, Prayer, Sermon, Hymn, Benediction Rev. Stanley H. Gregory (minister for Scene 3)
Opening Hymn-"Winchester Tune"
1. The Lord is one-ly my sup-port, And He that doth me feede ;
How can I then lacke an-y-thing, Where-of I stand in need.
2. He doth me fold in coates most safe, the ten-der grasse fast by ; And af-ter drives me to the streames which run most pleas-ant-ly.
3. And when I feele my selfe neere lost, then doth He me home take; Con-duct-ing me in His right pathes, ev'n for His owne Name's sake.
Closing Hymn-"A Mighty Fortress is Our God" A mighty fortress is our God ; A bulwark never failing: Our Helper He, amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe;
. .
His craft and power are great,
And armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.
Albert W. Haley, Jr.
"The friendship of the Indians, the Puritans did win. To a conversation between them, let us listen in."
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Scene +
Joseph Hirtle
"How do you do, good Indian friend ? How? Swift Foot and Birch Tree that Bends?" Indians-Alfred Babcock, Payson Todd, Robert Todd. "How, How, white brothers, who talk true. We give wampum, we make, to you."
George Brown
"How do, Indian brothers good. Won't you come for supper? Food?
We're having a Thanksgiving feast quite soon, Come back, my brothers, on the full of the moon." Indians "Ugh. We tell our friends and bring them, too, We want make peace with white men. We want peace, We want peace, White man, white man, We want peace." (Repeat)
Joseph Hirtle
"Come and smoke a pipe, good friends, That peace shall be our aim and end.
To my cabin let us go,
And we'll not talk of war and woe." (Exit) Albert W. Haley, Jr.
"We've shown you scenes from Pilgrim town, And Pilgrims walking up and down.
The way they dressed, we've tried to show, The way they lived and acted, too.
The way the Indians looked and spoke.
Now bid farewell to these Pilgrim folk."
Albert W. Haley, Jr.
"We now take you to George Washington's day. When life was carefree, happy and gay.
When they danced minuets to the stateliest tune In satins, and laces, and velvet costumes."
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Scene 5
Minuet-Danced by Marcia Cressey and Donald Cressey, Anna Shechan and Robert Sheehan, Betty MacRae, Alphonse Gallant, Audrey Atkinson, Percy Purington, Ruth Murray and Lowell Merry.
"Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes"-Sung by "Minuet" group.
1. Drink to me on-ly with thine eyes, And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss with-in the cup, And I'll not ask for wine; The thirst that from the soul doth rise, Doth ask a drink di-vine ;
But might I of Jove's nec-tar, I would not change for thine.
2. I sent thee late a ro-sy wreath, Not so much hon-'ring thee As giving it a hope that there It could not with-ered be; But thou there-on did'st on-ly breathe, And sent'st it back to me,
Since when it grows and smell, I swear, Not of it-self but thee.
Albert W. Haley, Jr.
"We must now leave ye squires of olden days With their lives a memory, time turns the page Originally thirteen, we're now forty-eight From ocean to ocean our land is great. We pay tribute to those of an earlier date Let's honor Rowley as she celebrates."
Finale-All characters on stage sang "America."
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AFTERNOON
HISTORICAL EPISODES ON THE COMMON
This part of the celebration was interesting, an appropriate feature of the opening day's exercises, depicting as it did scenes and incidents in connection with the Town's early life which were vividly portrayed insofar as Rowley's episodes were concerned, largely by descendants of the early settlers.
The Rowley episodes were followed by Georgetown's episodes depicting incidents relating to the settlement of New Rowley as it was then called, later named Georgetown; also the founding of the Parish and founding of the first school.
The town of Boxford, which was formerly Rowley, followed with an interesting set of episodes, including :
1. Abraham Redington and Margaret, his wife, start for Boston with petition to the General Court for a Town Charter.
2. John Peabody as Schoolmaster.
3. Lieut. Thomas Perley and his wife, Lydia, give food and drink to four townsmen and three Indians.
4. The Essex Musical Association has its annual festival, directed by Samuel Holyoke.
ROWLEY EPISODES
The bright sun on the historic Rowley Common made a beautiful setting for the episodes which were presented in the afternoon by Rowley and her two daughter towns, Georgetown and Boxford. A very large crowd gathered to watch these epi- sodes which proved to be very impressive. William Dummer, with the assistance of Winfield J. Haley, erected the stage and other setting which was used for several of the episodes. Mrs. Etta Hodgdon, assisted by Mrs. Ruth Faulkingham and Miss Dorothy E. Keyes did a fine piece of work with the Rowley episodes.
Senator Cornelius F. Haley, representing Father Time, opened the program by reading a very fitting prologue written for the occasion by Mrs. Mabel J. Gordon who, with Joseph N. Dummer, prepared script for the Rowley episodes. He then announced that three episodes in the early history of Rowley would be presented
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by actors nearly all of whom are descendants of the characters represented, following which there would be similar historical sketches given by two of her daughter towns, Georgetown and Boxford.
PROLOGUE
We are turning back history's pages To the time when our township was new When down past the woodlands from Salem Came the pioneers earnest and true.
They were men in the best years of manhood Who were guiding that resolute band, And among them one leader of leaders With a soul that was born to command.
No monarch, nor modern dictator In a Europe of turmoil and strife, Can be wielding more absolute power Than did he in his wilderness life.
He was Minister, Counselor, Teacher, And a friend who was kindly, if stern But his wisdom no man cared to question, His decisions no man dared to spurn.
From a far away Parish in England From a home life of comfort and ease He had gathered these people together, They had made the long voyage over seas. And they came to a desolate country, To a life of privation and pain Before them one hope and one vision One ultimate goal to attain. A home for themselves and their children In a land that was free and their own There to worship the God of their fathers Unmolested by Churchman or throne.
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We may say that they held views that were narrow And their freedom to others denied, But their sterling devotion to duty Calls forth all our homage and pride.
So to-day we are here, their descendants, Looking back over three hundred years, At a picture from history's pages Portraying those grand pioneers.
Let us turn from the scenes of the present Let us live in the past, while we gaze On the site of Ye Rogers' Plantation As it was in the earlier days.
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THE FIRST SETTLERS
Rowley's first Episode, showing Rev. Ezekiel Rogers and . his men as he purchased from John Shatswell and John Simonds of Ipswich and Richard Dummer of Newbury the land which these men had occupied before he received his grant from the General Court for a sum of 800 pounds.
In the first episode Ezekiel Rogers purchased from John Shatswell and John Simonds of Ipswich and Richard Dummer of Newbury the land which these men had occupied before he received his grant from the General Court for a sum of £800.
After this transaction Thomas Nelson appeared with a bundle
of thatch and some thatch banks were then reserved for use in thatching the roofs. These men then chose sites for their new homes and named three of the streets for their homes in England - Brad- ford street, Wethersfield street and Holmes street (now Central street ).
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EPISODE 1-"THE FIRST SETTLERS"
Cast of characters, nearly all of whom were lineal descendants of early settlers :
John Shatswell, of Ipswich Randolph W. Emerson
John Simonds, of Ipswich John A. Marshall
Richard Dummer, of Newbury William Dummer
Rev. Ezekiel Rogers .F. Payson Todd
Joseph Jewett W. Ashley Jewett
Humphrey Reynor . W. Allan Foster
Thomas Barker Ronald P. Perley
Captain Brigham
Arthur K. Gordon
Thomas Nelson (thatch bearer) Curtis F. Haley
William Boynton Bennett W. Boynton Samuel Howlett (journeying to Ipswich) .. Kenneth A. Todd, Jr.
Indian Group. . Elizabeth McCullam, Maureen H. Youngs,
John Prime Curtis, Bradford H. Mighill, Robert Hale The scene of the second Rowley episode was the Quarter Sessions Court in Ipswich with the magistrate and the clerk of courts in attendance. At this session Robert Hunter, Henry Sands and William Stickney became freemen.
EPISODE 2-"THE FREEMAN'S OATH"
(only freemen entitled to vote)
Characters
Magistrate . J. Harris Todd
Clerk of Courts William Dummer
*Robert Hunter Arthur K. Gordon
*Henry Sands . Alden J. Kent
*William Stickney Arthur H. Bradstreet
* Desiring to be freemen.
1639-Rowley Tercentenary Celebration-1939 49.
The scene of the third Rowley episode, "Rowley in King Phillip's War" was laid in the home of Captain Brocklebank where a group of women were spinning and sewing with Mrs. Brocklebank. Mrs. Brocklebank's daughter, Hannah was assisting some of the visitors with their work. Elizabeth Hopkinson was one of the leading characters. While the women were talking of the various massacres which had taken place recently a messenger appeared and asked to see the captain, who appeared shortly with Joseph Jewett. The captain read aloud the message from the governor, asking for 12 men to report from Rowley for service. This caused considerable excitement and the other women gath- thered around Mrs. Brocklebank, offering to assist her. Mrs. Brocklebank stated that she felt that the captain would not come back and from the history of Rowley it is learned that Captain Brocklebank was later slain near Sudbury.
EPISODE 3-"ROWLEY IN KING PHILLIP'S WAR"
Characters
Hannah Brocklebank . Sylvia K. Todd
Hannah Brocklebank (her daughter) Millicent A. Hodgdon
Elizabeth Hopkinson Elizabeth Dummer
Captain Brocklebank . J. Harris Todd Joseph Jewett W. Ashley Jewett Messenger . Grover Gibbs Several Women and Children .... Mrs. Etta Pickard, Mrs. Mildred Hardy, Mrs. Inez Brown, Mrs. Elizabeth Cartledge, Sarah Orne Cartledge.
From Gage's "History of Rowley," we quote the following : "About 1730, the Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth, who had been min- ister of the first church in Boston, and was president of Harvard College from 1725 to 1737, a son of the said Captain S. Wads- worth. with the assistance perhaps of others, caused to be erected a monument where this battle was fought, with this inscription:
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'Capt. SAMUEL WADSWORTH of
MILTON, His Lieut SHARP of BROOKLIN, Capt. BROCKLEBANK, of ROWLEY, with about
Twenty-six other Souldrs Fighting for the defence of Their COUNTRY, Were Slain,
By ye Indian Enemy April 18th, 1676, & lye Buried in this place.'"
GEORGETOWN EPISODES
In the first Georgetown episode, "John Spofford Family Leav- ing for New Rowley," Mr. and Mrs. Spofford and their children are shown leaving their old home to go six miles into the woods and their fears and hopes were portrayed in a very realistic manner.
Robert F. Metcalf, Esq., was the announcer for the George- town episodes, giving at the opening of each episode the prologue or subject matter of each scene as it was about to be portrayed, with its application to the life and experiences of the early settlers of these communities.
"JOHN SPOFFORD'S DEPARTURE"
Characters
John Spofford Paul M. Meader
Elizabeth, John's wife Barbara Poole
John, the son . Frank Noyes
Elizabeth, the daughter Mary Nally
Hannah, the daughter Rosemary Merrill
Mary, the daughter Betty Ann Nally
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1639-Rowley Tercentenary Celebration-1939
JOHN SPOFFORD FAMILY LEAVING FOR NEW ROWLEY
Georgetown's first Episode. Mr. and Mrs. Spofford and their children are shown leaving their old home to go six miles into the woods, and their fears and hopes were vividly portrayed in this scene.
John: "Well, here we are Elizabeth, all packed bag and bag- gage, ready to go. Thought you'd squeal at the last moment. You know they'll be no roads, no houses, and no neighbors. It's six miles from here. But ninety acres of land !"
Elizabeth : "But the Injuns, John."
John : "Injuns! (pats his gun) Injuns. .. they'll be dead Injuns when they run afoul of this ... But there ain't no Injuns there Elizabeth."
Elizabeth : "We're getting old, John. You're fifty-seven ... and not a spry man any more."
John (straightening up) : "I'm not eh! Look at my arms (taps muscles). I could strangle a bear or a wolf. Besides the muskets will always be loaded. We'll carry them everywhere. Eliza- beth. .. you tremble."
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