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HISTORY 


AMESBURY 


INCLUDING   THE 


FIRST  SEVENTEEN  YEARS  OF  SALISBURY, 
TO  THE  SEPARA  TION  IN  1654; 

AND 

MERRIMAC 

FROM  ITS  INCORPORATION  IN  187b; 


BY  JOSEPH   MERRILL. 


i 


HAVERHILL : 

PRESS   OF  FRANKLIN  P.  STILES. 

1880. 


J4W  r 


Entered  according  to  .Vet  of  Congress,    in    the    year    18S0,    by    Joseph 
Merrill,  in  the  office  of  the  librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


t^ 


PREFACE. 

In  presenting  the  following  volume  the  writer  does  not  claim 
that  a  full  and  perfect  account  of  the  town  is  given,  as  at  this 
late  day  it  would  be  impossible  to  do  so.  The  main  object 
has  been  to  preserve  all  that  is  now  known  in  regard  to  the 
history  of  the  town.  To  gather  from  all  available  sources  facts 
and  items  relating  to  the  progress  and  doings  of  the  town  from 
the  first  few  who  crossed  the  Powow  river  to  the  present  day. 
This  has  been  no  easy  or  hasty  task,  but  has  required  patient 
labor  for  long  years.  For  a  quarter  of  a  century  we  have  been 
slowly  but  steadily  pursuing  this  work.  The  town  records  and 
documents,  which  have  been  in  our  custody  for  nearly  forty 
years,  have  been  carefully  examined,  and  many  private  papers, 
diaries,  account  books  and  documents  of  various  kinds.  The 
old  Norfolk  county  records,  also,  have  been  thoroughly  exam- 
ined, affording  much  valuable  information.  The  work  is  not 
an  enticing  novel,  (although  some  of  it  is  "stranger  than  fic- 
tion") but  a  simple  narrative  of  events  as  they  occurred.  Those 
pioneers  are  allowed  to  speak  for  themselves  in  their  own  pecu- 
liar language,  thus  illustrating  the  early  days  of  the  town  better 
than  modern  language  could  do.  We  have  endeavored  to  give 
a  truthful  version  of  all  subjects  treated ;  but,  should  errors 
be  found,  we  can  truly  say  that  they  were  not  intentional.  A 
map  of  the  location  of  the  town  at  East  Salisbury  in  1639  is 
given  to  show  the  regularity  and  system  with  which  the  colon- 
ists set  about  their  work. 

To  the  many  friends  who,  by  the  loan  of  documents,  books, 
diaries  and  records  of  various  kinds  have  kindly  aided  in  the 
work,  we  tender  sincere  thanks.  The  interest  which  they 
manifested  has  afforded  the  encouragement  which  was  greatly 
needed. 

Our  thanks  are  especially  due  to  John  G.  Whittier,  Rev.  P. 
S.  Boyd  and  Dr.  H.  G.  Leslie,  the  committee  chosen  by  the 
town  to  examine  the  manuscript,  for  their  very  favorable  report 
and  subsequent  assistance  and  encouragement. 

[oseph  Merrill. 


CONTENTS. 


1637. 
Remarks    on   condition    of  country;     Indians;   John    Bailey    and    William 
Schooler,  their  trial  for  murder  and  the  result. 

1638. 
Plantation  granted  at  Merrimac;    Marshes;   Fowls  and  work. 

1639. 
First  meeting ;  Divisions;   Roads  and  House-lots;    Green;   System  of  Divi- 
sion;  Public  Worship;  Named  Colchester;  Three  Meetings;   Several  fined: 
Goats  and  swine;    Localities;   Sweepage  Lots,  their  value;    Hummocks. 

1640. 

New  Committee ;   Great   Island   to   George   Carr;    Numerous  Grants;    Line 

next  Hampton;    Line    next   Pentucket;     Regulation  of    Meetings;    Trees; 

Change    of    name    to    Salisbury;    Drill  master;    Indian    troubles;     Garrison 

house;    Mill  road;   Powow  river;    Boggie  meadows;  Andrew  Greelie,  deputy. 

1641. 
Grant  at  Great  pond;  Four-rod  way  west  of  Powow  river;  Road  from  the 
river  northward;  Weare  point;  Jamaco;  Road  over  Ferry  hills;  Price  of 
labor  regulated;  Year  defined;  Winter;  Summer;  Clapboards;  Price  of; 
Boards;  Ferry  fees;  Price  of  butter  and  milk;  Grant  toward  Mill;  Regula- 
tion of  cattle;  Trees;  Pipestaves;  Mill  road;  Ox  common;  Land  grants; 
Reprimand  of  the  General  Court;  Marrying;  Committee  to  run  a  line  next 
Pentucket. 

1642. 
General  meeting;  Rates:  Pipestaves;  Fishing  in  the  Powow  river  restored 
to  John  Bayly;  Ordinary;  Church  bell;  Cutting  trees;  Grant  of  sixty  acres 
to  Abraham  Morrill;  Grant  for  fishing  on  island;  Rate;  Ammunition;  Thirty 
families  ordered  off;  Indians;  How  the  alarm  was  given;  Soldiers:  Garrison 
houses;   Watches;    Bounty  for  wolves;    Powder;    Ox  common. 

1643. 
Company  armed;    Where  deposited;    Ammunition;    Order  renewed;  Public 
charges;   Grant  to   minister;   Five   hundred  acres    granted;    Fences;    Hogs; 
Samuel    Hall;     Howard    chosen;    Record    of    grants;    Rate;  Town    creek; 
Cows;   Fences. 

1644. 
New  territory ;  Joseph  Moyce  sells  house ;   Value  of  land  west  of  Powow 
river;   Rate;  R.  Goodale    to    hunt;   Commissioners   to    end  small  cases;    Six 
hundred  acres  to  Ward;    Watch  kept;    Saltpeter;   J.  Haddon  sells  house. 

1645. 
Authority  of  Prudential  men;    Hunting;    Fined  for  cutting  trees;    Road   to 
Little  river;    Abusive  speech  of  S.  Hall;    Fences;    Rate;    Candlewood  trees; 


VI  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

Beach    road;     Road    west    of    the    Powow    river;    Ordinary;    Meeting-house 
daubed. 

1646. 
R.   Blasdell  to   draw  wine;    New  church:     Committee;    Rate;   Bounty  on 
wolves. 

1647. 
School  required;   Teacher  hired;    Little  river;    Fences;    Goats;   R.  North 
rings  the  bell;    |ohn  Hoyt  sells;    Anthony  Colby  sells;   Drawing  wine. 

1648. 
Mr.  Worcester  may  cut;   Goats;    Fences;   Wolves;   Ferry  dispute;    Rate: 
Line  next  Hampton  ;   Disorder  in  meeting  :   Islands;    Court  grant. 

1649. 
R.    Blasdell   to   keep   ordinary;    Trees;    Staves;   Thomas    Whicher;    Tar ; 
Beach  common;    Thomas  Petitt,  freeman;  James,  Indian;    Bill  of  Orchards; 
Shire  town ;   Courts  held  here. 

1650. 
Bounty  on  wolves;   Rate;    Fine  for  voting  wrong;  Stephen  Flanders,  towns 
man;   Pine  for  mill ;  Canoes;    George  Martin;   John  Hoyt. 

1651. 
Mr.    WinsleyTs    grave;    Salt    pans;     Hampton   line  rate;     Giant  at  Ring's 
island;    Vallentine  Rowell,  townsman ;   Philip  Challis. 

1652. 
Samuel  Groome,  townsman:   Meeting-house  repaired  and  enlarged;    Rate 
Commons;    Calling  meetings;    Edward  Cottle,  townsman;    Meadows  laid  out 
"  Elders  Cove  " ;   Pentucket  bounds;   John  Bayly  died;    Ship-building;    Mill 
Mint;   Prison;   Comet;   Witchcraft;    Road  from  mill  bridge. 

1653. 
Town  stock  of  ammunition;    Court  broken  on  an  alarm  of  Indians. 

1654. 
General  remarks;    settlement  of  Amesbury ;  Articles  of  Agreement ;   Sign- 
ers;  Territory;   Surface;    Pond. 

1655. 
Inhabitants;    Order   of    business;     Names   of  inhabitants;    Clerk;    Staves; 
Number  of  inhabitants  fixed;   James  George,  townsman ;   Oaths;    First  eight- 
een;   Cattle;    Power  of  the  company;    affairs  in  general. 

1656. 
Destruction  of  forests  forbidden ;   Sawmill;    To  build;    Conditions;    Depo- 
sition of, Richard  Currier;    Division  of  land;   Joseph  Peasley,  townsman;  His 
character. 

1657. 
Nathan  Gould,  townsman ;    Haverhill  bounds;    Hampton  line. 

1658. 
Great  swamp  laid  out;   Committee;    Not  done;    Lot-layers:   Ten  acres   to 
John    Weed;     Petition   to    the   General   Court;    Division  beyond    the  pond; 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  VII 

Lots;    Petition   not  granted;   Joseph    Peasley   preaches;    Order    of   General 
Court;    Mortgage  of  Macy. 

1659. 
Grant  to  Pike;  Road  to  Buttonwood;  Children's  land;  Names  of;  Walter 
Taylor,  townsman ;  Land  on  river;  Joseph  Peasley;  Opposition  to  attending 
meeting  in  old  town;  Mr.  Worcester  at  new  town;  Peasley  foi-bidden  to 
preach;  Reasons  for;  Thomas  Macy;  Fined;  Letter  of;  Flees  to  Nantucket; 
Whittier's  poem. 

1660. 
Cattle,   regulation    of;  Townships    to    sons;   Bounty   on  wolves;   Indians; 
Petition  for  new  town ;    Shubael  Dumer  ;   Courts  consent ;   Failure  of. 

1661. 
Frog  pond;  Thomas  Haynes;  Indian  grounds;  Anthony  Colby;    Sketch  of' 

1662. 
Richard  Currier,  clerk;   George  Can",  common  right;  Great  swamp;  Lion's 
Mouth;   Great  lots ;   Vallentine  Rowell;    Death  of;-  Sketch  of. 

1663. 
New  burying  ground  enlarged;   Golgotha;    Five  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
given  out;   Ezekiel  Worthen,  townsman;    Sketch  of. 

1664. 
Committee  to  layout  Great  swamp;    Lots  of;     Common  land;    Hampton 
lots;   Hollow  highway;  John  Pressey  buys  at  river. 

1665. 
Meeting  house  built;    Size  of;    Location  of;    Committee    to    obtain   minis- 
ter; Not  successful;  Treat  with  Capt.  Pike;   Cows  on  common;    Herdsmen. 

1666. 
Minister's  salary  ;   Petition  to  the  General  Court  for  minister  and  township  ; 
R.  Currier,  agent;   Pet  granted;  Organization  of;   Townships;   R.  Goodale; 
Sketch  of;   Freemen,  number  of. 

1667. 
Land  to  several;  Dissent;  Bridge  at  G.  Martin's;  Richard  Hubbard,  a 
common  right;  William  Hackett,  a  common  right;  Trouble  with  Haverhill; 
John  Nash  and  Thomas  Nichols,  townsmen;  Minister's  support;  Thomas 
Sargent,  townsman ;  Town  named ;  Land  for  minister ;  People  seated  in  the 
meeting-house. 

1668. 
Minister's  pay;   Name  of  town;   Goodwin's  ferry;    Four  divisions  of  land; 
George  Carr's  four  hundred  acres  confirmed;    Cattle;    Way  from  mill. 

1669. 
Thomas  Stevens  and  Joseph  Lanckester,  common  rights;  Land  to  minis- 
ter; Committee  to  purchase  house  for  minister;  Mr.  Woodbridge ;  Efforts 
to  obtain  a  minister ;  Sends  to  Mr.  Hobberd;  No  success;  New  committee ; 
Obtain  Mr.  Hubbard ;  John  Gimson  and  Joseph  Worthen,  townsmen ; 
Highway  north  of  river  lots ;  The  ferry ;  Dispute  about. 


VIII  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

1670. 

Commissioners;   New  meeting;  William  Carr,  townsman;    Road  and  Land- 
ing at  Ferry  laid  out;    Cellar  on  hill. 

1671. 
Firewood  to  minister;    Mr.  Hubbard's  labors  satisfactory;    Richard  Currier. 

1672. 
Minister's  house;  Salary   raised;    Vote    against   minister;    Rev.   Thomas 
Wells;   Engaged;   Salary;   Land ;  New  house ;    Committee   to  build;   Delay; 
House  not  built;   Vane  lot. 

1673. 
Vote  to  build  repealed;   Gives  Mr.  Wells  the  Vane  lot;   Hoyt  house;   He 
buys  land  and  builds. 

1674. 
Philip  Challis'  bill    of   sale;    New  town  book;    Committee  to  revise  the 
clerk's  book  ;  Thomas  Wells,  a  townsman. 

1675. 
Meeting   illegal;   New  clerk  continued;   Rate;  Business  of  town;   Island 
in  Country  pond;    People  seated;   William  Sargent;    Death  of;   Sketch. 

1676. 

Division   into    wards;    Watches;     Indians;     Forts;     Location    of;   People 
armed;    Line  next  New  Hampshire  ;  Night;    Regulations. 

1677. 

Eastern  Indians;   Murder  in  town ;   Weed  family;   Robert  Quinby;    Death 
of;  Sketch. 

1678. 
Controversy  with  the  minister;    Committee  to  settle;   Public  house. 

1679. 
Lecture  ordered;    Rates;  Jurors;   Lawsuit;   Samuel  Foot,  agent. 

1680. 
Mr.  Wells'  salary  increased. 

1681. 
General  renewal  of  bounds  ordered;   To  be  recorded. 

1682. 
Officers  unwilling  to  serve;    Committee  to  lay  out  Peke   land;     Deposition 
about  saw  mill. 

1683. 
Meeting-house  lot  enlarged;    Minister's  land  to  be  sold  or  let. 

1684. 
Thomas    Rowell ;   Death   of;    Sketch ;   Edmund  Elliott ;   Death  of;    Sketch 
of;    Where  lived. 

1685. 
Main  road  renewed  ;   Return  of ;   Committee. 


HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY.  IX 

1686. 
Mr.   Wells'   salary;  Births,    marriages  and   deaths;   Registration  of;  First 
book;   George  Martin;   Death  of;   Sketch  of. 

1687. 
Committee  to   seat    persons    in   the    meeting-house;    Bounty  on  wolves; 
Indians;    Richard   Currier;     Death    of;    Sketch    of;    Walter   Taylor;    Death 
of;   Sketch  of;   Thomas  Jewell. 

16S8. 
Opposition  to  Mr.  Wells;  JohnHoyt;  Death  of;   Sketch  of;   Jarret  Had- 
don;   Death  of;    Sketch  of. 

1689. 
Samuel  Colby,  representative;    Selectmen    to    report;  Trouble    with    Mr. 
Wells;    Royal  commission;    Opposed  by  the  town;    Vote  on;    Treatment  of 
Mr.  Wells;  John  Weed;    Death  of;    Sketch  of;    Widow  William    Hunting- 
ton;   Death  of;    Sketch  of. 

1690. 
Indian  troubles;    "frountere  towne  " ;    Petition  granted;    Edward  Cottle: 
JohnHoyt;  ^50  to  the  minister;  Samuel  Foot;  Death  of;   Sketch  of. 

1691. 
Minister's  salary  continued;  John  Hoyt,  jr.;  Death  of;  Sketch  of;  Thomas 
Hoyt;   Death  of;   Sketch  of;   Mary  Blasdell;   Death  of ;   Indians. 

1692. 
Road   over  Ferry    hill;     Pay    for;   Treatment    of    Mr.    Wells    again;    His 
reply;    Assent  to  conditions  of;    Susannah  Martin;  Trial  as  a  witch;    Convic- 
tion;  Execution  of;  Reflections. 

1693. 
Tything  men;   Office  described;    Representative;     School-masters;    Grant 
to  Francis  Davis;   John  Martin;   Death  of;   Sketch  of. 

1694. 
Mr.  Wells,  school-master;    Scholars;  Qualifications  of;     Indians;    Murder 

of  Joseph  Pike  and Long;   Location  of  Indian  relics. 

1695. 
Town  meetings;  Attendance  on;    Cutting  trees;   Care  of  common;   valua- 
tion taken;    Widow  died. 

»       1696. 
Mr.  Wells,  school-master;   Bounty  repealed;   Indian  murders;    John  Hoyt 
and    Mr.    Peters    killed;     Sketch    of;     Imprisoned;     Petition    of;  Haverhill, 
descent  upon;   Road  at  Cobler's  brook.;  Jamaco  house. 

1697. 
Mr.  Wells' pew;  Petition  for;   Meeting-house;   Foot's  garrison. 

1698. 
William  Barnes;   Death  of;    Sketch  of;    Children. 

1699. 
Galleries  in  meeting-house;    Repairs:  Appropriation  for;    Room  granted; 


X  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

Haverhill  line;     Prosecution   of;    Traditions    of  East    Meadows;     Schools; 
Appropriation  for. 

1700. 
Review  of   past;    Lecture;     Controversy   with    Major    Pike;     Letter  of;  ■ 
Action  of  town  :   Remarks ;   Sketch  of. 

1701. 
Mrs.  Orlando  Bagley's  death;  Friends'  treatment;   Compelled  to  pay  for 
preaching;    Vessel  registered. 

1702. 
School  law;   Free  school;   The  system;    Gallery  room    in    meeting-house 
granted  to    Mary    Currier    and    others;    Their    marriage;    Susanna    Frame; 
Friends  compelled  to  pay  the  Minister's  tax. 

1703. 
Commoner's  organization;  Their  action;   Second  meeting;   Davis  family; 
Elizabeth  Colby  leave  to   build  pew;    Suit   of  Richard  Martin;   Land  near 
Moses  Merrill's  laid  out;    Right  to  vote;    Francis  Davis;  John  Davis;    How- 
ard; Thomas  Challis;   Hunt's  lane;  Friends;  Vessel  built. 

1704. 
School-master;  Tanning;    Rates;   Ringing  bell;    Quaker's  dissent;    Indians 
and  John  Collins;   Vessel  built. 

1705. 
Road  given  up;   Landing;     Danger  from  Indians;     Schools;   meeting   at 
Jamaco;   Roads;  Their  condition;    Highway  at  James'  creek;  Robert  Ring; 
Death   of;    Mary   Currier;     Death  of;     Friends;     Friends'   meeting-house; 
Friends'   marriages. 

1706. 
Rate  for  schools;  Meeting  at  Jamaco;  Thomas  Sargent;   Death  of;   Sketch 
of;   Death   of  the   Weed   family;   Disease;   Reflections;    Friends   and  John 
Cazer. 

1707. 
Pound  ordered;  School  dames;  Two  masters;    Schools;    Constables  resign  ; 
John  Pressey;   Death  of;   John  Collins. 

1708. 
Road  ordered  near  John  Challis' ;    Fulling  jnill ;    Commoner's  grants  ;   Con- 
stables prosecuted. 

1709. 
Pound  at  Pond  plain;    Burying  ground  fenced;     Teachers;    Commoners' 
meetings;    Result;    Six-rod  highway  fenced  in ;    Trouble  with  John  Whitcher. 

1710. 
Trouble    with    Col.    March;    Suit    of   Joshua    Bayly;    Commoners'   rights; 
Ironworks;   Vessels  at  Jamaco;  ,£30  for  schools;   Brand  cattle;  John  Kim- 
ball;  Death  of;    Sketch  of;    Ebenezer  Blasdell ;   Death  of;    Sketch  of;    Fran- 
cis Davis;   Death  of. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  XI 

1711. 

Meeting  at  Jamaco;   School-master;    Schools,  where  kept ;   Road  narrowed. 

1712. 
Dam  at  Pond's  mouth;  Thomas  Currier;  Death  of;   Sketch  of;   New  clerk. 

1713. 
Schools;   Wolves;    Bounty  on;    Line  next  Kingstown ;  Territory. 

1714. 
Meeting-house;    Repairs  of;   New  house;   Two;    Opposition;   First  one  to 
be  built  at   Pond   Plain;    Arch   built;   Schools;   Thomas   Harvey;     Death  of: 
Sketch  of;    Friends  grant  meetings  to  Newbury  and  Haverhill. 

1715. 
"Clerk  of  ye  market ";    Duties;   Meeting-house  at  parsonage;    Dimensions 
of;   Committee  to  build;     ^150  raised;    Meeting-house  at  Jamaco;  Remarks. 

1716. 
Land  for  minister ;   Bounty  on  wolves ;   School-house  lot;    Given  the  town; 
School-house  ordered;    School-master;   John  Challis'  taxes;    Deaths. 

1717. 
Town  meeting;    Adjournment  of;    School-house  to  be  finished;   Teachers; 
Meeting-house;   not    completed;    Old  meeting-house    given    to    Mr.    Wells; 
Petition  of  Mr.  Wells  granted. 

1718. 
John  Barnard;   Death  of;   Sketch  of. 

1719. 
Constables;    Bounds  of  land;    Samuel  Weed;  Ancient;   John  Colby;  Death 
of;    West  school-house. 

1720. 
Money  for  expenses;   Petition  of  Gideon  Lowell;   Petition  of  Richard  Cur- 
rier;  Schools. 

1721. 
Constable's    bond;     Hunt's   road;     Regulation    of   hogs;     Bills    of  credit; 
Meetings    at    Jamaco;     Meeting-house    vote    reconsidered;     Meeting-house 
ordered;    Opposition;    Location  of. 

1722. 
Town  prosecuted    for  want  of  school;    Plighway  to  Kingstown;    Schools; 
Annual    meeting;    Location    of    Meeting-house;     Indian    raids;    Traditions; 
Way  to  Kingstown;   Colleague  for  Mr.  Wells;    Petition  of  Elizabeth  Colby. 

1723. 
Representative;      Landing    at    Nichols'    creek;      Road    to    Swett's    ferry; 
Thomas  Barnard;    Death  of;    Sketch  of;   Joseph  Kimball;    Death  of. 

1724. 
West  meeting-house;    Assignment  of  pews;    Support    of    Minister;     How 
furnished;    Division    into    parishes;     Confirmation    defeated;    Rice  Edwards' 
petition;     Thomas  Nichols;    Death  of;    Sketch  of. 


XII  HISTORY    OF  AMESBURY. 

1725. 
Wharf    granted;    Disagreeing   about    parish   matters;     Line   established; 
Parsonage  divided;    Confirmation  agreed  to;   School. 

1726. 
Representative;    Division  of  county;    Object  of;   Church  organization  at 
Jamaco;  Account  of ;  List  of  tax  payers  there;   First  minister. 

1727. 
Burying   place    at    Pond    Plain;    Province    rates;    How   paid;    Prices;   No 
trees   cut;     Thomas    Fowler;     Death   of;   Sketch    of;    Earthquake;     Mary 
Wells;   Death  of. 

1728. 
Bills   of    credit;    This   town's   share;    Trustees;    Interest;    John    Bagley; 
Death  of. 

1729. 
Hook's  ferry;    Trouble  about;     Pay  of  representative;   Thomas    Stevens; 
Death  of;    Sketch  of;   Thomas  Table;    Richard  Martin;   Death    of;    Sketch 
of;  Josiah  Bartlett;    Nathaniel  Brown;  Sketch  of. 

1730. 
Charter  rights;   Stocks  ordered;   Thomas  Cottle;   Hook's  law- suit. 

1731. 
Bridge    across    the    Powow;     Dam,    also;    West   parish    burying    ground; 
School-house;    School-master;   Training  field;    First  meeting-house. 

1732. 
Hook's  ferry;   Mr.  Wells'  pay;   His  great  age. 

1733. 
Record  of  horses;   Ear  marks;   Sample  of;   Cattle  marks;   Division  of  the 
minister's  land. 

1734. 
Petition    for    school   land;     Fishing    in    the    Merrimac;     Regulation    of; 
Thomas  Wells;   Death  of;   Sketch  of;   Edmund  March;   Mother  Balch. 

1735. 
Ferry   at   Savage   rock;    Hook's  ferry;  Trouble    about;    Division   of  the 
county;    Petition    of  Henry  Flood;    Meeting  adjourned  to  Ichabod  Colby's; 
Jacob  Merrill;    Death  of;   Quakers;   Dr.  Hale  taxed. 

1736. 
Road  from  Clapboard  landing  to  Cottle's  landing;   Deaths. 

1737. 
House    of   correction;   Teachers;    Pay    of;    Wolves;    Road    through    Wil- 
liam   Moulton's;    Damages;    Dispute;   John    Pressy;    Death    of;    Scarcity    of 
hay  and  corn;  New  Hampshire  line;   Governor's  cavalcade. 

173S. 
Bounty  on  wolves;   £5  offered. 

1739. 
Minister's  land;   Deer;   Meeting-house  bell  to  David  Blasdell;   John  Sar- 
gent, captain;    Dr.  Huse. 


HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY.  XIII 

1740. 
Tunnel   at    Fond    Ridge;   Constable's   report;   Petition  to  the  king;    River 
road. 

1741. 
Poor-house;   Leave  to  build  a  wharf;  Mary  Fowler;  Non  compos;  Schools; 
Quakers;    Richard  Kelley's  diary;   Hard  winter. 

1742. 
Almshouse;    Hired;   Inmates;   Samuel  Shepherd,  constable;   Dismissed. 

1743. 
Workhouse;  Ferry  at  Savage's  rock;  Weights  and  measures;  Elisha  Odlin 
at  East  parish;   Dismissal  of  Edmund  March. 

1744. 
Abraham    Merrill;    Death   of;    Sketch    of;    Cost  of  ordaining    Mr.  Odlin; 
Mr.  March's  dismissal;   Cost  of;    His  house,  etc.;    Captain  Currier. 

1745. 
Hannah   Bettel;    Wants   help;   Refused;    House    built   for    the   minister; 
Raising  a  vessel. 

1746. 
Idle    persons;    Bounty   on    wolves;    Gideon    Lowell's   exchange    of    land; 
Hannah  Eettel  helped;   By-laws  passed;  "About  trees;  Town's  ammunition; 
Rate  ordered;   West  parish  sells  parish  land. 

1747. 
Task-master;   Poor   and   idle   persons;  Road  fenced  in;   Soldiers  at  Cape 
Breton;    Churchmen;    Black    child;    Brick-yard    at    Buttonwood;     Deaths  in 
the  Kelley  family. 

1748. 
Poor  boarded  out;    Foot  stoves;    Description  of;    Exchange    of  road    over 
Baley's  hill;    Landing  described;    Mill  at  Buttonwood. 

1749. 
Burying  ground  to  be  fenced;   Town  charges;    Frog  pond,  etc. 

1750. 
Selectmen's  salary;   Their  power;   Jonathan   Bagley's  wharf;    Bridge  over 
Powow  at  Ferry;    Lime  kiln;    At  Ferry;    Spindle  of  meeting-house. 

1751. 
William     Challis    fined;   Caused    trouble;    Change    of    calendar;    Military 
companies;    Ship-yard  wanted. 

1752. 
Rev.  Elisha  Odlin  died;   Gift  to  widow;   Church  dismissions. 

1753. 
Schools;    Hook's  ferry;    Landings;   Buttonwood    brick-yarrd;    Dr.   Rogers; 
Death  of;    Patience  Weed;    Kimballs. , 

1754. 
New  clerk;    Committee  to  deliver  books;    Excise  duties;    Vetoed;     Thanks 
to  governor;    East  parish  ministers;    Mr.  Hibbert. 


XIV  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

1755. 
New  road;    Earthquake;    Severe  shock;    Continual;    Enlistment  to  Kenne- 
bec, Minis  and  Crown  Point. 

1756. 
French  and  Indian  wars;    Soldiers  called  for;    Captain  Worthen;    His  com- 
pany;   Enlistments;    Orlando    Bagley;   Death    of;    Sketch    of;    Braddock's 
campaign;   French  people  brought  here. 

1757. 
Town  has  no  grammar  school;   Prosecuted;  Sandy  Hill  meeting-house  lot 
David  Blaisdell;   Death  of;   Sketch  of;   Church  dismissions  at  West  parish 
Capt.    Kelley;     Soldiers   for   Lake   George;     Soldiers   drafted;     Marched 
Returned;   Alarm;   Ammunition. 

t  1758. 

Poor;     Ship-building;    French  people;     Haverhill    line;     Lord    Loudon's 
forces;   Soldiers  for;  Names  of. 

1759. 
Repairing  of  roads;   French  and  Indian  war;   Soldiers  and  laborers;   New 
school-house. 

1760. 
Appropriations;    Petition    of    William    Whittier;    List  of    persons;    Small- 
pox;   Poor   persons;    Town   meeting;    Adjourned;    Quaker  tax   document; 
Depositions  of  Enoch  and  Daniel  Flanders. 

1761. 
Appropriations;    Removal    of  courts;    Small-pox    accounts;    Yet  in  town; 
House  to  be  built;  Nursing  expenses;   O.  Badger's  petition;   Meeting-house; 
Removal  of;   Account  of;   Poor  and  idle  persons;   Committee's  report. 

1762. 
Landings;    Ship-yard;   Appropriations;    Widow    Mattes;    Widow   Timothy 
Colby;    Order  to;    Ferry  road  denned;    Hour  glass. 

1763. 
Work-house;    Pest-house  to  be  taken;   No  action. 

1764. 
Savage's  Rock  ferry  removed;   Appropriations;   New  road  refused. 

1765. 
Fishing;   The  poor;    Weavers;    Peter  Dulosh;    Sleds;    Regulation  of. 

1766. 
Annual  meeting;   Samuel  Shepherd;    Hook's  ferry  continued. 

1767. 
Appropriations;     Burying   ground;     The    ferry;     French    people;     Moses 
Chase's  petition;    Granted  land;    Marchant  Cleaves;   Tailor's  shop;   Tax  on 
tea,  etc. 

1768. 
Ferry  school-house;   Taxes  unpaid;   Widow    Mariner;    Vagabond;    Differ- 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  XV 

ent  views;    Mulatto  child;    Appropriations;    Land  to  Ichabod  March;    Earth- 
quake;   Boston  convention;   Not  attended. 

1769. 
Schools;   Men  drowned  on  the  bar;   Names  of;   Soldiers. 

1770. 
Peter  Dulosh;   John  Barnard;    Death  of;    Sketch  of;    Colony  tax. 

1771. 
Address    to    the    governor;    Eli    Gale's    shop;    Timothy  Barnard's    wharf; 
William  H.  Ballard;   Joseph  Currier;    Invoice  of  West  Parish. 

1772. 
New  pound;    Appropriation;    Meeting-house. 

1773. 
Tornado;   Effects  of;   Great  destruction  of  property. 

1774. 
Appropriations;  John  Bagley;  Sketch  of;  Preparations  for  open  resistance; 
Provincial  Congress;    Minute  men;   Taxes  not  paid;     Warning  out;    Capt.  R- 
Kelley;   Death  of;   Sketch  of;  James  Rowell  drowned. 

1775. 
Representative  to  the  Provincial  Congress;   Continental  Congress;   Vot 
to  be  recorded;    Minute  men;    Stock;     Course  of  town;    Minute  men;   Taxes; 
Pay  of  minute  men;   Hire  money;    Representative  to  Provincial  Congress; 
Sinking    a    pier;     Enlisting    papers;     The    cause;    Rations;    Clothing;    Capt. 
Currier's  petition;    Table  of  casualties;    Orders,  etc. ;    Capt.  Ballard. 

1776. 
Committee    of    safety;    New    regiment;    Dissatisfaction;     British    vessels; 
Fort;    Independence;    Declaration  of;    Bounties;    Men;    Enlistments;    Calls; 
Small-pox;    Population;   Josiah  Bartlett. 

1777.- 
Effects  of  war;    Arms  and  ammunition;  Depreciation;  Calls;  Bounty;  Mrs. 
Goodrich;    Burgoyne  captured;    Instructions  to  representative;    Capt.    Pils- 
bury;    Death  of;    Sketch  of. 

1778. 
Soldiers;    Pay  of;    Men  called  for;    Bounties;    Calls;  Town  prosecuted  for 
want   of    school;     School    established;     Calls;    Appropriations;    Help    from 
France. 

1779. 
Currency;    Depreciation  of;    New    constitution;     Delegates;    Prices  poor; 
Stacker's  house;   Charles  Weed's  house;   Call. 

1780. 
Committee  of  safety;    New  government;   Third  article  rejected;    Adoption; 
Call;   Appropriation;    Beef;   Town  meeting;    Loans  by  women ;    Col.  Bagley; 
Death  of;    Sketch  of;    Dark  period;    Winter;    Dark  day. 

1781. 
Town    report;    Call;    School-house;    Town    debt;    Investigation;     Procure 
men;    Beef;    Men;    Pay  of;    Population;  Militia. 


XVI  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

17S2. 
Amesbury  ferry;   Call;   Valuation;   Money;   Fishery. 

17S3. 
Hard  times;   Selectmen's  accounts;   Law-suits;   Patriotism;  Tories. 

1784. 
Road  from  Ferry  to  Clapboard  landing;    Road  from  Thomas  Rowell's  to 
Moses   Sargent's;   Difficulty   with    Mr.    Hibbert;  New  meeting-house;   New 
society;   Benjamin  Bell. 

17SS. 
Set  off  to  New  Hampshire;   Militia;   Ice  and  snow;    Moses  Chase's  shop; 
New  house  for  minister. 

17S6. 
Mr.  Hibbert;    Presbyterian  society;    Opposition  to;   Almshouse;   Negroes; 
River   road;   Opposition;   Settlement   with    Mr.    Hibbert;    Shay's    rebellion; 
Soldiers;    Law-suit  at  West  parish;    Sale  of  land. 

1787. 
Soldier's  pay;    Instructions  to  representative;    Appropriations;    Guns,  etc. 
River  road;  New  meeting-house  in  the  West  parish. 

17S8. 
Appropriations;   New  valuation;  First  presidential  election;  Oil  mill;  Flax. 

1789. 
Governor's  election;  Inauguration  of  Washington;  At  Amesbury;  Tradi- 
tion;  F.  Welch  ordained  at  Second  parish. 

1790. 
Schools;   Appropriations;   Bridge  over  Goodwin's  creek. 

1791. 
Appropriations;   Poor;   Schools;   Bridge  over  the  Merrimac;   Canal. 

1792. 
Collection  of  taxes;   Presidential   election;  Appropriations;   E.  M.  bridge 
chartered;    Mill,  leave  for. 

1793. 
Appropriations;   Small-pox;   Alarm;    Roads;    Francis  Welch;    Death  of. 

1794. 
Small-pox;   Moody;   Death    of;   Soldiers;   Provisions     for;     Powow    river 
bridge;   Joseph  Wingate;   E.  Cleaveland;   Deed;  Artillery  company. 

1795. 
Appropriations;   Powow  river  bridge;  Burying  place;   Road  straightened 
Revisal  of  the  constitution;   Tornado. 

1796. 
Road  petition;  Treaty;   Fishing;   Mills  bridge;   School  money;   The  vote 
for  governor;    Presbyterian  society;    Poor;   Ferry  school-house;    Master. 

1797. 
Appropriations;     Representative   to    Congress;     School     districts;     Poor; 
Grant  of  land;   Presbyterian  society. 


HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY.  XVII 

1798. 
Appropriations;    New  road    at    Indian    creek;    State  election;   Address  to 
the  president;    Winter;    Dog  tax. 

1799. 
Washington;    Death  of;    E.  Hull;    Stephen  Hull  ordained;    Repairs  of  the 
East  parish  meeting-ho,use. 

1800. 
Repairs  of  East  parish  meeting-house;    Tax;    Rev.  David  Smith  dismissed; 
Land    to    Eli    Gale    and    William    Goodrich;    Dr.    Weld;   Teachers;    Pound 
re-built;    Small-pox;    Carriage  business. 

1801. 
Elections;    East  parish  meeting-house  repairs;  Trouble  of;    Committee  sus- 
tained;    Mills  school  tax;    Death  of  John  Sawyer;   Teachers. 

1802. 
Road  to  Davis'  mill;    Great  storm;    Stephen  Hull  ordained;   Tything  men; 
Sandy  Hill  meeting-house;    Isaac  Merrill  killed  by   lightning;    William  Lur- 
vey,  death  of;    School-house  tax  in  the  West  Parish;     Powder  house;    Mate- 
rials of. 

1S03. 
Road  at  Davis'  mill;    Exchange  of;    Schools;    Episcopalians;    Orlando  Sar- 
gent;  Death  of;    Ichabod  March;    Death  of;    Ferry  school  tax;   Teachers. 

1804. 
Boor;    Fence  burying  ground;    Election;    Academy;    Samuel  Mead  settled 
by  Second  church;    Pleasant  Valley    school    tax;     Pond   Hills  school  tax. 

1805. 
Academy  raised;    Fire    at  Mills;    Susannah   Goodwin;     Samuel    Ordway; 
Death  of. 

1806. 
Eclipse;    Men    drowned;   Judith    Colby;    Death    of;    Capt.    John    Currier; 
Death  of. 

1807. 

/ 
Capt.  Barnard  Lowell;    Death  of;    Six  men  drowned  in  the  Merrimac. 

1808. 
Embargo;    Petition   about;    Tempest;    Capt.    Robert    Sargent;    Death    of; 
Col.  Isaac  Whittier;    Death  of;    Levi  Blaisdell  drowned. 

1809. 
Deaths  of  aged  persons,  viz. :    Widow  Lurvey,  Moses  Goodwin,  Isaac  Ran- 
dall and  Dr.  Nathan  Huse. 

1810. 
Appropriations;    Ship-building;    Ferry  bakery  burnt;     Anna  Cottle;    Death 
of. 

1811. 
Highway  district  changed;    Newburyport  pier;    Help  from  Amesbury. 


XVIII  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

1812. 
Soldiers  provided  for;    Engine  men;    Stephen  Hull  dismissed;    Isaac  Hunt- 
ington;   Death  of;    War  declared;    Militia;    Drill  of ;    Factory  built. 

1813. 
Soldiers'  pay;   Judith  Bagley;    Death  of;    Sketch  of;    Factory  at   Mills. 

1814. 
Soldier's    pay;    Poor-house;    Spotted    fever;    Capt.  Richard    Hoyt;    Death 
of;    Sarah  Sargent;    Death  of;    Deacon  Obadiah  Colby;    Death  of;    Benjamin 
Sawyer;    Soldiers. 

1815. 
September  gale;    Rum  for  funerals;    Capt.  Abner  Lowell;    Death  of. 

1816. 
Separation  from  Massachusetts;  B.  Sawyer  installed;  Widow  Randall  died; 
Deacon  Willis  Patten;    Death  of;    Peter;    Death  of ;    Frost;    Pottery. 

1817. 
Brigade  muster;    President  Monroe  at  Ferry;    Hannah  Hunt;    Death  of. 

1818. 
Iron    and    Nail    factory;    Change    of    meetings;    Daniel  Weed,  collector; 
Rocks  bridge  carried  away;    Benjamin  Lurvey,  Esq. ;    Death  of;    Sketch  of. 

1819. 
Discount;  New  school  district ;  Moses  Welch  ordained;  Marchant   Cleaves; 
Death  of. 

1820. 
Appropriations;    Presidential  election. 

1821. 
Thomas  Huntington  drowned;    Foul  play. 

1822. 
Thomas    Huntington    found;     Warren    lodge;    Pond   flowed;    Right    pur- 
chased;   Amesbury  Flannel  Company. 

1823. 
General  muster;    Pegg;    Death  of;   John  Blaisdell  drowned. 

1824. 
Common    land    sold;    Mills    landing    sold;    Bridge    at    Ferry;    Presidential 
election;   General  LaFayette;   Dr.  French;   Death. of . 

1825. 
Soldiers'  pay;    Road  at  Ramsey's;    Disposition  of  poor;    Dr.  Towle;    Major 
Thomas  Hoyt;    Death  of;    New  mill. 

1826. 
New  county;    Alice    Colby's    house;    Pressey's  bridge;    Bagley  boys;    Peter 
S.  Eaton,  pastor  of  the  Second  church;   John  Huntington;    Death  of. 

1827. 
Newburyport  bridge;    Deer  island  bridge  breaks  down;    Ferry  at   Patten's 
creek;    Episcopal  church. 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  XIX 

1828. 
Congregational  society  at  the  Mills;    Rev.  David  Damon;    Road  at  Indian 
creek;    Savings  bank. 

1829. 
River  highway  district;    Break-water;    First  steamer. 

1830. 
Appropriations;    East    burying    ground;    Survey    of   town;    School  district 
No.  9;    Division  of;    Representative  contest;  Christopher  Sargent;    Death  of; 
Sketch  of. 

1831. 
School   committee;    Pay  of;    William  Nichols,  senator;    Middle  road  peti- 
tioned for;    Break-water;   Jacob  Bagley  Currier;    Death  of;    Ephraim  Weed; 
Death  of;    Congregational  church  at  the  Mills  organized. 

1832. 
Middle   road   laid   out;   Cholera;   Cautionary  measures;    Presidential  elec- 
tion;  Dr.  Towle;    Death  of;    Barn  burnt. 

1833. 
Elijah  Weed's  house;   Joseph  Boardman;  Death  of;  Support  of  preaching; 
Meteors. 

1834. 
No  liquor  sold;    School  money;    B.  R.  Hutchinson  drowned;    Silk  culture; 
J.  H.  Town  at  Congregational  church  at  Mills;    Crops  in  town. 

1835. 
River    road;    William    Huntington;    Death    of;    Meeting-house    at    Point; 
Rev.   Benjamin  Bell;    Death  of ;    Steamer  on  the  Merrimac;    Rev.  B.  Sawyer 
resigns. 

1836. 
Stone  bridge  at  the  Mills;  River  road  widened;  Bailey's  dam;  Estate  of 
Aaron  Colby;  Presidential  election;  Universalist  meeting-house  at  West 
Amesbury;  Ferry  school-house  fence;  Primas  Hale;  Death  of;  Sketch  of; 
New  meeting-house;  Rev.  J.  H.  Town  dismissed;  Powow  River  bank; 
St.  James  church;    Rev.  S.  H.  Keeler;   J.  G.  Whittier;    Small-pox. 

1837. 
River  road  to  be  worked;    River  school  district  divided;    Surplus  revenue; 
Contest  of;    Hearses;    P.  S.  Eaton  dismissed;    Universalist    society  at   West 
Amesbury;    Shoemaking;    Rev.    C.    C.    Taylor  at  Episcopal  church;    Rev.  L. 
W.  Clark. 

1838. 
Surplus  revenue;    Contest  of;    Rev.  J.  B.   Hadley  at   Point;   Joseph  Stock- 
man drowned;    Sketch  of. 

1S39. 
Daniel    Weed;    Death    of;    Sketch    of;   John  Blaisdell;    Death  of;    Sketch 
of;   Capt.    Vallentine    Bagley;    Death    of;    Sketch    of;  New  school-house  at 
River;  New  meeting-house  at  West  Amesbury;    Rev.  J.  S.  Barry  at  Univer- 
salist society  at  West  Amesbury;    Rev.  S.  H.  Keeler  dismissed. 


XX  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

1840. 

Appropriations;  Poor-farm;  Town  house;  White  Hall  road;  Essex 
bridge;  Presidential  election;  Rev.  S.  H.  Merrill  installed  at  the  Mills;  J. 
H.  Davis'  school  at  the  Academy;  Spire  to  the  Congregational  church; 
Population. 

1841. 
New  road  from  pound;    Rev.  J.  J.  Locke;    Rev.  Silas  Blaisdell;  Death  of; 
Enoch  Wells. 

1842. 
Poor-farm  sold;    Men  drowned;    Rev.   L.  W.  Clark  dismissed;    Rev.  H.  B. 
Smith  installed ;   Congregational  bell. 

1843. 
Townhouse;    Little  Salisbury;    Railroads;    Powow  bridge  at  Ferry  re-built ; 
Rev.  G.  G.  Strickland;    House  burnt;    Remarks. 

1844. 
Political  parties;  New  clerk;   Rev.  S.  H.  Merrill  dismissed;    J.  H.  Mor- 
dough;   D.  Gorden  Estes. 

1845. 
Road  from  Bear  hill  to  pond;   White  Hall  road;   Universalist  society  incor- 
porated at  the  Mills;    G.  G.  Strickland,  pastor;    Planing  machine. 

1846. 
Railroads;    Not  built;   Stephen  Kendrick,  sexton ;    Episcopal  church. 

1847. 
Burying  grounds  ;  New  highway  widened ;   New  town  ;   Opposition  ;   Com- 
mittee to  oppose;   Defeat  of;   H.  B.  Smith;  S.  C.  Hewit. 

1848. 
Police;    By-laws  and  dogs;     Poor-farm;    Committee  chosen;    Sandy  Hill 
meeting-house  ;   Remarks  relating  to ;    Rev.  Albert    Paine ;    West    Amesbury 
Manufacturing  Company. 

1849.     ■ 
Poor-farm;    Purchase  of;    Rev.  E.  Howe ;    Rev.  Josiah  Gilman;    Free  Bap- 
tist meeting-house. 

1850. 
Appropriations;    Ship-building;     Fire  engines;   House  burnt;    Rev.   Rufus 
King;   Rev.  W.  Williams;   J.  H.  Davis;   New  school-house;    Friends'  meet- 
ing-house. 

1851. 
Bailey's  mill;    Washed  away;    Constitutional  convention;    Wheel  Factory 
road;  C.  L.  Rowell's  road;   William   H.   Haskell's  road;    Great  storm;    But- 
tonwood  tree;   Ferry  school-house  built;    Rev.  H.  P.  Cutting. 

1852. 
Dog  law;    Strike  at  the  Mills;    Operatives  sustained ;  Town  action;    Presi- 
dential   election;    Rev.    J.    Davenport;    Rev.    Benjamin    Austin;    Rev.    J.    E. 
Pomfret ;   Alfred  Bailey's  carpenter  shop. 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  XXI 

1853. 
Constitutional    convention;   Jonathan    Nayson,  delegate;    Votes    on;     Car- 
riage business  at  the  Mills ;  Rev.  Rufus  King. 

1854. 
Collector's  pay;   Town  landing  sold;    Bear  Hill  road;    New  location;   Rev. 
Albert  Paine;    Rev.  Leander  Thompson. 

1855. 
Deed  of  town  landing;    Proceeds  of;    Dispute  about;    Amendments  to  the 
Constitution  ;   Plurality  system  ;    Rev.  Robert  Chase. 

1856. 
Essex    Merrimac    bridge ;.  Charter   of;    Know  Nothings;    Presidential  elec- 
tion;   Rev.  W.  P.  Colby;    Rev.  A.  C.  Childs;    Agricultural  society. 

1857. 
Apportionment  of  school  money;    Constitutional  amendments;   Adopted; 
Fishing  in  the  Merrimac;    Lawrence  dam;    Fishing  grounds;  Fish;  Hezekiah 
Challis;   Salisbury  Mills;    Post-office  at  South  Amesbury. 

1858. 
Rev.  C.  Damon;  -Rev.  A.  C.  Childs;   Rev.  D.  G.   Estes ;   Robert    Patten, 
Esq.;    Dr.  Balch;    M.  D.  F.  Steere. 

1859. 
High  school;  Road  at  Patten's  creek;  School  district  defined;  High  school. 

1860. 
Appropriations;   High    school;    E.    G.  Colby,  Esq.;     O.   S.  Bayley,  Esq.; 
New  street;   Rev.  T.  D.  P.  Stone ;   Small-pox;    Population. 

1861. 
Rebellion;  Town  meeting;     Resolutions;   Pay  of    volunteers;    Enthusiasm 
of  the  people;   Call  for  soldiers;    Company  formed;    Dr.  Atkinson;    Death  of. 

1862. 
Peter    Colby's    cemetery;    Call  for  soldiers;    Bounty;    Additional  bounty; 
Nine-month's  men;     Bounty;    Powow  bridge;    Rev.  T.   D.  P.  Stone;    Rev. 
G.  E.  Freeman;    Boys  drowned;   Nail  factory;   Jonathan   Morrill;   Death  of. 

1863. 
Town  bonds;    Fire  district;    Almshouse  enlarged;    Landing  sold;    Recruit- 
ing committee;     Rev.   P.  S.  Eaton;    Death  of;    Wharf  at  South  Amesbury; 
Manufacturing    business;    Hollow    mill;     Lowell    Bagley,    Esq.;     Death    of; 
Amesbury  Hat  Company;    Mills  high  school  building. 

1864. 
Hearses;    By-laws;    Recruits;    Bounty;    Draft;    Men  drafted;    Recruiting; 
Cemetery  sold;    Presidential  election;    $10,000  for  recruiting;    A.L.Bailey's 
wharf;   Unite    towns;    Failure    of;    Horse    railroad;    Horton    Hat  Company; 
National  bank. 

1865. 
Roads    accepted;      Hose;    By-laws;     Rebellion;     Ended;    Number    of  sol- 
diers furnished;    Officers;    Catholic  church;    Rev.  E.  A.  Rand. 


XXII  HISTORY    OF   AMKSBURY. 

1866. 
High    schools;     East  burying    ground    enlarged;     Hose;     Congregational 
church  dedicated;    Horton  Hat  company  sold  out. 

1867. 
Greenwood  ^street;    Fall    election;     Rev.  L.Thompson;    Rev.  E.  A.  Hand; 
Baptist  church;    Rev.  John   Brady. 

1868. 
Aubin  street;    Ferry  landing;    Woodland  sold;    Pasture  bought;    East  cem- 
etery   enlarged    by   commissioners;     Road    straightened    at    Bolser's;     Free 
bridges;    Rev.    L.    Gregory;    Rev.    W.    H.    Kling;   New  school-house;    West 
Amesbury  railroad;    William  Nichols;    Death  of. 

1869. 

School  district;  New  school-house;  Railroad;  Town  may  subscribe; 
Academy  incorporated;  Rev.  W.  F.  Potter;  Baptist  meeting-house;  New 
post-office  building;    Carriage  factory  burned. 

1870. 
Appropriations;     Ferry    school-house;     Cattle    disease;     Baptist    meeting- 
house   dedicated;    Capt.    Currier's    house;    Store    removed;    Death    of  A.  I.. 
Bailey;    Fire  at  West  Amesbury. 

1871. 
Roads    accepted;    Hose;    Fire    district;    Rev.    N.    R.    Wright;    Rev.  P.   S. 
Boyd;    Rev.  W.  H.  Kling;    Death  of  Thomas  Bailey;     Fire    district;    Earth- 
quake. 

1872. 
Road  commissioners;  Truant  Laws;   Presidential  election;    Engine  house 
painted;    Rev.  E.  M.  Bartlett;     Rev.  S.  S.  Spear;    Opera  hall;    Gardner  dam. 

1873. 
Road    commissioners;    Street    accepted;    Friend  street  school-house;    Rail- 
road;   Subscription  to;   Town    house    burned;   Town  meeting;    Where  held; 
Representative  election;    Rev.  W.  D.  Corkin;    New  Catholic  church;    Foun- 
dation laid;    Small-pox;    Axle  factory;    Christian  society. 

1874.       • 
Death  of  Dr.  Sparhawk ;    Soldiers'  monument. 

1875. 
Appropriations;    Rev.  L.  Gregory  dismissed. 

1876. 
Division  of  the  town;    Salisbury  Mills  stop. 

1877. 
Depression  of  business;     Death  of  E.  M.  Huntington. 

1878. 
New  hat  factory;    Salisbury  Mills  sold;    Hail  storm;    E.  H.  Rowell. 

1879. 
Dr.  Dearborn;    Death  of;    High  school  graduates. 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  XXIII 

1880. 
Jonathan  Nayson;    Death  of;    Sketch  of;    Death  of  Dr.  McAllister;    Essex 
mills  sold;    Rev.  N.  Lasell;    Death  of;    Remarks. 

GENERAL  MATTERS. 

Post-office  sketch;  Statistics  of  carriage  business;  Wheel  Factory;  Biddle 
&  Company;  Merrimac  Hat  Company;  Amesbury  and  Salisbury  express; 
Savings  bank;  Powow  River  National  bank;  Academy;  Insurance  company; 
E.  P.  Wallace  Post,  Grand  Army;  Reform  Club;  Old  Ladies'  Home;  War- 
ren Lodge  of  Masons;  Trinity  Chapter  of  Masons;  Odd  Fellows;  Har- 
mony Encampment  of  Odd  Fellows;  Knights  of  Honor;  Knights  of  Pythias; 
Endowment  Rank;  McHale  Association;  Temple  of  Honor;  Fire  District; 
Hose  Company;  Hook  and  Ladder  Company;  Engine  Company;  Agricul- 
tural Society;  Veteran  Artillery;  Religious  societies;  Physicians;  Dentists; 
Lawyer;    Trial  Justices;    Town  officers. 


MERRIMAC. 


1876. 
Incorporation  of;  W.  P.  Sargent;  Public  meetings;  Consent  of  Ames- 
bury;  Boundary  line ;  Choice  of  town  officers;  Town  Hall;  Location  of; 
Lot;  Purchasers  of;  Corner  stone  laid;  Description  of  Hall;  Dedication; 
Sketch  of  W.  P.  Sargent;  Library;  Dr.  Nichols'  donation;  Trustees  of 
Library;  Town  considered;  Manufactures;  Meeting-houses;  School-houses 
and  schools;  Remarks;  Surface  of  the  town;  Tanning  business;  Library 
dedicated;  Sketch  of  Dr.  Nichols;  Rev.  W.  H.  Hubbard;  Hotel;  Con- 
gregational society;  House  burnt;  Capt.  J.  W.  Sargent;  J.  S.  Poyen;  Post- 
offices;  Carriage  business;  National  bank;  Savings  bank;  Merrimac  Man- 
ufacturing Company;  Merino  Shoe  Company;  Axle  factory;  Railroad; 
Niagara  Engine  Company;  Fire  District;  Agile  Engine  Company;  Bethany 
Lodge  of  Masons;  Grand  Army;  Odd  Fellows;  Temperance  Reform  Club; 
Christian  Association;  Clergymen;  Physicians;  Dentist;  Trial  Justice; 
Lawyer;  Selectmen;  School  committee;  Town  clerk;  Treasurer;  Collec- 
tor;    High  school  teacher. 


HISTORY  OF  AMESBURY. 


TWO  and  a  half  centuries  since,  and  the  territory  through 
which  the  beautiful  Merrimac  winds  its  way  to  the  ocean, 
was  in  the  strictest  sense  a  wilderness.  From  its  source  to  its 
mouth,  excepting  a  few  savages  who  had  survived  the  plague, 
not  a  human  being  was  found  to  enjoy  its  beauties  or  feast  on 
its  bounties.  But  in  the  dim  past  the  red  man  had  hunted 
and  fished  here  and  held  high  carnival  on  the  banks  of  this 
placid  stream.  Its  abundance  of  fish  and  clams  afforded  an 
inexhaustable  supply  to  the  local  tribes  and  others  which  occa- 
sionally resorted  hither.  Along  the  banks  of  the  Merrimac  the 
Indians  delighted  to  dwell,  and  when  the  Great  Chief  Passacon- 
away  paid  his  visits,  we  may  well  imagine  that  their  greatest  war 
dances  were  celebrated.  In  Amesbury  and  Salisbury  there  were 
found  abundant  evidences  of  their  settlements  in  the  various  relics 
and  extensive  shell  mounds. 

It  was  fortunate  for  the  first  settlers,  who  so  fearlessly  ventured 
into  the  forests  along  the  coast,  that  few  Indians  remained  to 
assert  their  rights  and  inflict  their  brutal  revenge.  The  condition 
of  the  country  must  have  rendered  these  pioneers  easy  victims 
to  the  red  men,  and  the  probability  is  that  no  settlement  could 
have  been  made  a  century  previous  to  the  plague. 

The  general  aspect  of  the  country  cannot,  perhaps,  be  better 
described  than  in  the  language  of  an  ancient  historian  who  wrote 
about  1700,  when  it  is  possible  that  some  of  the  first  settlers 
were  yet  living.  The  historian  says  "When  the  English  first 
landed  on  the  coast,  the  country  looked  like  one  vast  wood,  the 
Indians  having  only  cleared  here  and  there  a  small  patch  of  ground 
for  planting  corn  ;  but  upon  a  narrower  survey  they  found  every 
three  or  four  miles  a  fruitful  valley  with  a  clear,  fresh  rivulet  or 


2  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

brook  gliding  through  it,  and  these  again  were  surrounded  with 
vast  woody  hills,  which  afforded  a  very  agreeable  prospect."  This 
tradition  was  no  doubt  in  the  main  correct,  but  since  the  decima- 
tion of  the  Indians  by  some  disease  about  which  there  are 
various  opinions,  (some  believing  it  to  have  been  small  pox, 
others  pronouncing  it  yellow  fever)  the  planting  grounds  had 
been  neglected,  and  to  some  extent  grown  to  weeds.  There 
were,  however,  openings,  clear  spots  and  shining  rivulets,  and 
also  vast  woods,  some  old,  decaying  and  broken  into  fragments, 
scattered  in  wild  profusion ;  woods  towering  aloft  with  gigantic 
trunks  ripe  for  the  "woodman's  axe" ;  woods  in  the  prime  of 
life,  vigorous  and  of  the  brightest  foliage ;  woods  just  springing 
above  the  decayed  growth  of  former  centuries,  covering  the  hills 
and  most  of  the  valleys  in  such  abundance  that  our  ancestors 
found  it  convenient  to  build  huge  fireplaces,  something  like  eight 
feet  long  and  four  feet  deep. 

Dismal  and  gloomy  must  have  been  the  outlook  as  approach- 
ing night  settled  over  this  wilderness,  enshrouding  the  land  in 
darkness.  Oft  was  the  solemn  stillness  broken  by  the  sharp  bark 
of  the  fox  or  the  more  frightful  howl  of  the  hungry  wolf  which 
roamed  the  woods  undisturbed.  Over  this  wild  land  which  had 
hitherto  been  but  little  better  than  "a  solitary  waste",  the  sun 
had  not  failed  to  rise  in  all  its  usual  splendor,  the  moon  had 
shed  her  pale  light  as  at  present,  the  snows  of  thousands  of 
winters  had  come  and  gone,  spring  had  revived,  herb  and  plant, 
clothing  the  trees  with  beautiful  green.  Summer  had  not  failed 
to  bring  forth  flower  and  fruit,  nor  had  autumn  forgotten  to 
tinge  with  purple  and  gold  the  forest  leaves.  The  streams  had 
meandered  through  their  long  worn  channels  in  the  meadows 
and  by  the  hill  sides,  unused  and  unappreciated. 

There  were  none  to  admire  the  beauties  of  nature  or  turn 
her  wonderful  resources  to  account.  The  land  was  simply  the 
hunting  grounds  of  the  various  tribes  who  dwelt  in  the  vicinity 
or  resorted  to  this  famous  locality  for  hunting  and  fishing.  Wild 
beasts  of  various  kinds,  and  birds  of  many  species,  had  for 
unknown  ages  dwelt  in  comparative  safety,  strangers  to  the  sharp 
crack  of  the  hunter's  fowling  piece.     Ages  before  our   ancestors 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  3 

climbed  the  famous  Powow,  the  Indians  held  their  Powows  on 
its  top  and  there  celebrated  their  victories  by  their  hilarious  war 
dance.  The  surrounding  hills  were  lighted  by  their  camp-fires 
for  centuries  before  Columbus  was  born  or  imagination  had 
conjured  up  a  western  continent.  Wild  deer  after  quenching 
their  thirst  at  the  fountains  which  burst  forth  in  the  meadows, 
where  they  fed  in  the  tall  grass,  reposed  in  the  shady  groves  or 
wandered  in  herds  over  the  hills,  "the  loud  bark  of  the  raccoon 
was  heard  everywhere,  and  droves  of  voracious  wolves  roamed 
the  woods,  trotting  like  dogs."  Thus  wild  and  strange  was  this 
unknown  land  when  the  white  man  came. 

No  trace  of  pre-historic  civilization  was  found,  nor  could  the 
origin  of  the  red  man  be  traced.  He  was  here,  but  whence 
he  came,  where  he  originated — Phoenicia,  Scythia,  China  or  Tar- 
tary — is  a  question  hard  of  solution,  and  we  only  know  that  the 
earliest   discoveries  have  found  him  everywhere. 

The  plains  were  their  corn-fields,  where  the  shining  grain  had 
been  deposited  under  the  spear-turned  sod ;  their  canoes  glided 
quietly  over  the  beautiful  waters  of  the  Merrimac  and  Powow 
as  years  came  and  went ;  nor  did  "*Attitash"  refuse  the  shining 
pickerel  and  perch  for  their  feasts.  Ocean  and  rivers  abounded 
with  fish  and  clams,  the  forest  with  game,  and  enough  was  readily 
obtained  with  their  simple  instruments  to  satisfy  their  wants. 
Their  houses  were  built  of  the  branches  of  trees  in  summer  and 
skins  of  wild  beasts  in  winter. 

They  were  following  in  the  steps  of  their  ancestors,  who  had 
gone  towards  the  setting  sun  and  were  now  in  the  happy 
hunting  ground ;  dreaming  of  no  intrusion  unless  from  some  of 
their  warlike  neighbors  who  occasionally  surprised  them  by  the 
startling  warwhoop,  when  the  white  man  suddenly  appeared  in 
their  midst. 

For  a  while  they  hardly  knew  whether  these  strange  comers 
were  friends  or  foes,  and  their  friendliness  was  far  more  deserving 
of  the  name  than  at  a  later  period.  For  many  years  these 
pioneers  lived  a  life  of  anything  but  pleasure,  "and  their  de- 
scendants can  have  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  difficulties  they 
encountered,  and  of  the  dangers  that  continually  hung  over  their 

*Indian  name  for  Kimball's  Pond. 


4  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

heads,  threatening  every  moment  to  overwhelm  them  like  a 
torrent,  and  sweep  them  with  those  whom  they  dearly  loved,  to 
the  silent  tomb." 

Almost  every  man  was  a  soldier ;  and  many  who  lived  in 
remote  parts  of  the  town  "*were  obliged  to  flee  with  their  fam- 
ilies to  the  garrison  at  night." 

In  less  than  eighteen  years  from  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims 
at  Plymouth,  the  eastern  coast  of  Massachusetts,  including  that 
part  now  within  the  lines  of  Maine,  had  been  explored  with  a 
view  to  settlement,  and  many  plantations  located.  The  spirit  of 
adventure,  a  desire  to  know  more  of  this  strange  land  seems  to 
have  urged  these  strangers  forward  into  the  wilderness  far  beyond 
the  bounds  of  safety.  Small  companies  detached  themselves  from 
the  principal  settlements,  forming  independent  plantations  on 
every  favorable  spot  along  the  coast,  claiming  and  appropriating 
the  land  in  their  vicinity. 

Little  thought  seems  to  have  been  bestowed  on  any  claims 
which  the  Indians  might  have  to  the  territory  by  virtue  of  peace- 
able possession  for  long  ages.  In  some  instances,  however,  after 
taking  possession,  the  rights  of  the  Indians  were  purchased,  as 
in  the  case  of  Haverhill,  where  the  settlement  was  made  in  1 640 
and  the  territory  purchased  of  the  Indian  Chiefs  Passagus  and 
Saggahew  on  the  15th  of  Nov.,  1642.  It  is  not,  however,  our 
purpose  to  discuss  the  propriety  of  this  course,  but  to  note  care- 
fully such  facts  as  may  throw  some  light  on  things  which  trans- 
pired in  those  early  days. 

There  were  many  tribes  of  Indians  in  New  England,  but  the 
Naumkeaks  were  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  territory  now 
known  as  the  County  of  Essex.  After  the  settlement  of  Salem 
in  1628,  other  plantations  were  soon  made  to  the  eastward  : 
Ipswich,  "Newberry",  Merrimac  and  Hampton  within  ten  years. 
Newbury  was  begun  in  the  early  part  of  1635,  anc^  m  ^^e 
more  than  three  years  was  able  to  spare  a  few  persons  to  begin 
a  plantation  at  Merrimac  across  the  river  northward. 

General  Court  on  petition  of  Mr.  Bradstreet,  Mr.  Dudley,  Jr., 
Mr.  Batter,  Mr.  Winsley,  Capt.  Dennison,  Mr.  Clarke,  Mr.  Wood- 

*Histoiv  of  Haverhill. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  5 

bridge,  Mr.  Battye,  Henry  Bilye,  Giles  Firman,  Richard  Kent 
and  John  Saunders,  granted  leave  for  them  to  begin  a  plantation 
at  "Merrimack."  This  grant  was  obtained  Sept.  6th,  1638. 
How  much  territory  was  included  in  this  grant  does  not  appear 
from  the  record,  nor  was  that  an  important  consideration  at  that 
time.  It  would  not  interfere  with  the  rights  of  either  Newbury 
or  Hampton,  and  no  other  settlements  were  within  range  to  the 
westward.  Of  the  twelve  who  obtained  this  grant,  but  two  lived 
and  died  in  Salisbury,  viz :  Samuel  Winsley  and  Henry  Bilye. 
Messrs.  Bradstreet,  Batter,  Dennison,  Clarke,  Woodbridge,  Firman 
and  Kent  gave  their  names  and  influence  to  the  measure,  but 
never  settled  in  the  new  plantation.  Mr.  Batt  and  John  Sanders 
received  land  and  built  houses  but  removed  from  town  at  an  early 
period. 

The  company  was  "allowed  (upon  their  petition)  to  begin  a 
plantation  at  Merrimack,  &  shall  have  liberty  to  associate  to  them 
such  others  as  they  can  agree  upon  ;  &  if  any  difference  fall  out 
amongst  the  planters  about  the  seate  of  their  towne,  or  of  receiv- 
ing of  other  associats,  or  alotment  of  lands,  that  then  this  Court 
or  the  counsell  shall  set  order  in  it."  This  was  the  first  attempt  at 
permanent  settlement  north  of  the  Merrimac  in  Salisbury,  although 
one  solitary  soul  had  built  his  log  house  at  an  earlier  date  in 
this  gloomy  wilderness. 

But  the  policy  of  settling  along  the  coast  and  thus  getting 
possession  of  the  territory  was  early  decided  upon,  even  though 
it  might  prove  dangerous  to  those  occupying  these  distant  posts. 
These  continued  settlements  were  in  time,  as  the  Indians  grew 
more  numerous,  viewed  as  encroachments  upon  their  hunting 
and  fishing  grounds,  and  ill  feeling  and  revenge  began  to  appear 
in  the  torch  by  night  and  surprise  at  mid-day.  Half  a  century 
after  the  settlement,  the  people  were  in  more  danger  from  the 
Indians  than  at  first,  as  the  frequent  alarms  and  murders  clearly 
show. 

The  favorite  haunts  of  the  natives  seem  to  have  been  near  the 
sea  and  Merrimac.  At  Salisbury,  near  the  marsh,  immense  piles 
of  clam  shells  were  found  and  have  remained  until  recently. 
Among   these,  relic  seekers    have  found    many  arrow  heads   and 


6  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

some  bones  which  show  by  whom  these  accumulations  were  made. 
At  the  Buttonwood  in  Amesbury  many  relics  have  been  found 
and  other  indications  of  an  Indian  village.  These  evidences 
were  so  clear  in  1654  when  our  ancestors  explored  the  premises 
that  they  named  this  section  "Indian  ground,"  and  it  has  been 
known  by  that  name  ever  since. 

Another  favorite  resort  of  these  migratory  tribes  was  the  banks 
of  the  beautifully  winding  and  dashing  Powow.  Here  and  on 
the  summit  of  the  noble  hill  close  by,  tradition  had  no  doubt 
fixed  the  head  quarters  of  the  Indians  and  hence  the  appro- 
priate name  "Powous"  or  "Powawus." 

Having  spoken  in  general  terms  respecting  this  new  country, 
its  appearance  and  condition  at  the  commencement  of  the  new 
era  which  had  suddenly  opened,  it  is  now  proposed  to  give  more 
minute  details  of  the  progress  of  events  as  they  transpire,  and 
lay  before  the  reader  all  the  light  and  knowledge  which  long 
research  has  enabled  us  to  obtain  in  regard  to  men  and  things. 
Although  Amesbury  had  no  real  existence  for  some  sixteen  years 
after  the  plantation  grant  at  Salisbury,  yet  the  close  connection 
in  affairs,  as  well  as  the  fact  that  all  who  removed  west  of  the 
Powow  were  Salisbury  men,  prominent  in  the  management  of 
the  business  matters  of  the  company,  seems  to  render  it  necessary 
to  commence  with  the  settlement  then  and  trace  the  progress 
of  events  from  the  beginning.  "Salisbury  new  town,"  as  Ames- 
bury was  often  called  had  no  legal  existence  till  1666,  and 
until  that  time  all  who  lived  west  of  the  Powow  contributed 
by  way  of  rates  to  certain  purposes  in  the  old  town  and  voted 
there  till  1654.  So  closely  connected  were  those  who  settled 
the  new  town,  with  the  interest  of  the  old,  that  a  sketch  of  the 
mother  town,  seems  almost  indispensible  to  a  clear  understanding 
of  matters  in  general. 

The  character  of  the  old  town  was  undoubtedly  imparted  to 
the  new,  shaping  to  a  large  extent  its  future  developement  and 
progress. 

1637. 

Newbury  had  now  been  settled  two  years,  mostly  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  Parker  river,  when  the  venturesome  and  wandering  spirit 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  7 

of  John  Bayly  induced  him  to  plunge  further  into  the  forest  and 
establish  a  home  "beyond  the  Merrimack."  Here  he  built  his 
log  cabin  and  taking  with  him  William  Schooler  as  help,  settled 
in  solitude  and  began  his  preparation  to  cultivate  the  virgin  soil. 
He  had  a  wife  and  children  in  England,  but  she  was  unwilling 
to  quit  her  home  for  one  so  far  away  in  the  wilderness,  so  she 
never  came  to  join  her  husband  here.  Mr.  Bayly  was  an  honest 
man,  but  his  associate  was  of  a  very  different  make,  although 
John  supposed  him  trusty  and  seems  to  have  had  perfect  confi- 
dence in  him.  Mary  Schooler  a  servant  girl  at  Piscataqua,  (Ports- 
mouth, N.  H.)  was  visiting  at  Newbury  and  being  ready  to  return, 
agreed  with  Bayly  to  take  her  back  to  her  master.  His  man  School- 
er was  employed  for  that  purpose  and  set  off  on  his  journey  all 
right.  It  was  a  difficult  route  to  pursue  and  occupied  usually 
more  time  than  in  this  instance.  His  sudden  return  occasioned 
some  surprise,  and  it  was  generally  thought  that  he  had  in  some 
way  been  unfaithful  to  his  trust.  He  affirmed,  however,  that  he 
had  conducted  her  safely  to  her  master,  and  the  matter  was 
dropped.  But  Schooler  was  a  black-hearted  wretch  and  had 
murdered  the  poor  unsuspecting  girl.  A  few  months  later  an 
Indian  came  to  Newbury  and  reported  having  found  the  body 
of  a  female  some  three  miles  from  Piscataqua,  and  it  proved  to 
be  that  of  Mary. 

Complaint  was  made,  and  the  General  Court  issued  the  follow- 
ing order : — 

"1637,  June  6.     Order  was  appointed  to  be  given  to  the  cun- 

stable  of  Newberry  to  apprehend  Schooler Bayly 

dwelling  beyond  the  Merrimack,  to  appear  at  the  Court 

at  Ipswich  or  before  the  magistrates  there,  who  have  power  to 
take  further  order,  as  they  shall  see  cause." 

The  arrest  was  made  in  accordance  with  the  order  •  both  were 
tried,  Schooler  was  convicted,  but  Bayly  was  discharged.  The 
following  is  the  verdict  of  the  jury : — 

"19th  7th  mo.  1637  at  Quarter  Court  Boston  William  Schooler 
being  indited  for  the  death  of  Mary  Scholee,  the  jury  found  him 
guilty  of  murthering  the  said  Schoolee." 

Schooler  was  subsequently  hung  at  Boston.  No  doubt  Bayly 
was  entirely  innocent  of  the  crime. 


5  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

This  unfortunate  beginning  did  not  prevent  the  contemplated 
occupation  of  the  territory  by  good  and  true  men  at  a  subse- 
quent period. 

1638. 

On  the  6th  of  September,  in  answer  to  a  petition  presented  to 
the  General  Court  by  Simon  Bradstreet  and  others,  leave  was  grant- 
ed for  a  plantation  at  Merrimac,  on  the  north  side  of  the  river.  No 
legal  settlement  had  previously  been  made  here,  although  it  may 
be  possible  that  a  few  had  ventured  across  and  erected  temporary 
residences.  No  reference  is  made  by  Salisbury  records  to  any 
such  settlement  however,  and  it  is  hardly  probable  that  much 
was  accomplished  during  the  latter  part  of  the  year,  nor  until 
the  spring  of  1639.  The  territory  was  little  better  than  one  un- 
broken forest.  There  were,  however,  a  few  clear  spots  where 
the  Indians  had  planted  their  corn,  and  meadow  lands  which 
they  had  often  burned  over  to  get  rid  of  the  tall  grass,  which 
tradition  says  "grew  so  thick  and  high  that  a  man  or  beast  could 
not  be  seen  five  rods"  and  which  prevented  them  from  killing 
the  deer  which  resorted  hither  every  spring  to  feed  upon  it. 
There  were  also  many  acres  of  marsh,  clear  and  available  as  at 
present ;  but  houses  must  be  built  for  families,  and  sheds  for 
cattle  before  venturing  into  this  wilderness  to  spend  the  long 
severe  winter.  These  preparations  could  not  possibly  be  made 
in  the  short  time  before  winter  must  set  in  ;  besides  no  lots  were 
granted  this  year  for  building  or  planting,  and  squatter  sovereignty 
was  less  prevalent  than  at  present.  So  it  is  pretty  certain  that  few 
removals  were  made  in  1638;  but  there  was  an  abundance  of 
work  in  making  preparation  for  the  coming  spring. 

The  inducements  which  led  to  this  new  settlement  are  not 
quite  clear,  but  there  were  some  advantages  which  may  have 
had  weight  in  forwarding  the  movement.  The  great  tract  of 
marsh  was  near  at  hand  and  was  a  valuable  feeding  ground  for 
their  cattle ;  clams  and  fish  were  within  easy  reach,  and  the 
meadows  and  beach  were  alive  with  various  kinds  of  fowl ;  indeed 
tradition  has  it  that  at  times  geese  were  so  plenty  as  to  greatly 
damage  the  hay  crop.  Nor  were  these  alone  numerous,  but 
other  species  of  water-fowl   were  abundant    and    easily  obtained. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  9 

The  soil  was  rich  and  of  easy  cultivation,  and  water  communi- 
cation by  way  of  the  Town  creek  very  near  and  convenient. 
These  were  no  doubt  some  of  the  advantages  which  induced 
so  many  of  the  colonists  at  Newbury  to  remove  hither. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  grant  was  for  leave  to  establish 
a  "plantation  at  Merrimack."  The  name  "Colchester"  we  have 
not  found  on  the  first  town  records,  and  it  evidently  was  not  a 
popular  name  with  the  people. 

1639. 

Early  this  spring  the  company  was  sufficiently  organized  to 
begin  their  difficult  work.  Simon  Bradstreet,  Samuel  Dudley, 
Daniel  Dennison,  Christopher  Batt,  Samuel  Winsley  and  John 
Sanders  seem  to  have  been  the  committee  chosen  to  order  affairs, 
although  no  record  is  found  of  their  choice.  The  first  meeting 
on  record  was  of  this  committee  in  May,  and  is  recorded  as 
follows  : — 

"At  a   meeting   at   Merrimack  of  Mr.  Simon    Bradstreet,  Mr.. 
Samuel  Dudley,  Mr.  Danniell   Dennison,  Christopher  Batt,  Sam- 
uel Winsley,  John  Sanders,  two  divisions  of  meadow  were  ordered, 
one  nearer — the  other  further.     3  month  1639." 

Of  more  than  sixty  grantees,  ten  were  honored  with  the  title 
of  Mr.,  which  shows  them  to  have  been  men  of  worth  and' 
substance ;  and  this  fact  also  appears  from  the  grants  which  were 
in  proportion  to  the  wealth  possessed. 

The  grant  was  somewhat  indefinite,  but  as  subsequently  defined 
included   South   Hampton   and  a  portion  of  Kingston,  Plaistow,  . 
Newton,    Seabrook   and    Hampstead    as   well   as   Amesbury   and 
Merrimac. 

When  and  where  the  first  meeting  was  held  (if  the  foregoing 
was  not  the  first,)  we  have  no  means  of  kn6wing.  This  was  an 
important  meeting — a  town  was  about  to  be  located  and  where 
should  it  be  ?  East  Salisbury  was  the  favored  spot,  evidently  pos- 
sessing advantages  over  any  other  location.  Here  was  a  clear 
green  spot,  just  suited  for  the  center  of  their  village,  which  seemed 
especially  designed  to  meet  their  wants.  Around  this  green  spot 
so  frequently  mentioned  on  the  records  as  "the  Green,"  roads 
were  laid  out  very  nearly  as  found  at  present.     The  semi-circular 

2 


IO  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

road,  sometimes  called  "Mudnock  road",  the  old  "Ferrie  road", 
"road  to  the  neck",  road  to  Hampton,  "path  to  Exiter",  road  to 
the  "hoghouse"  and  "mill  road"  were  the  first  work  of  the  com- 
mittee. With  the  exception  of  the  "ferrie  road"  (which  lay 
through  the  pastures  to  Carr's  island)  the  roads  all  remain  with- 
out great  alterations.  The  road  to  the  neck  is  the  present  beach 
road  below  East  Salisbury,  and  the  Exeter  road  the  old  cross 
road  near  Mr.  Wm.  Pike's.  From  Mr.  Pike's  to  the  pump  was 
a  wide  green  or  road,  and  the  north-east  corner  of  the  semi- 
circle was  an  open  green  for  public  use.  The  road  to  the  "hog- 
house" is  the  present  one  to  Hook's  creek.  At  the  junction  of 
this  with  the  beach  road  is  the  ancient  Burying  Ground  laid  out 
with  the  first  lots  and  mentioned  in  bounding  a  grant  to  Richard 
Wells.  The  roads  in  this  vicinity  may  all  be  seen  on  the  map 
of  Amesbury  and  Salisbury.  The  object  in  settling  compactly 
was,  no  doubt,  protection  against  sudden  raids  by  the  Indians. 
No  settlement  was  without  its  "fort"  or  garrison  house. 

Having  located  their  roads  the  company  proceeded  to  locate 
house  lots  on  all  sides  of  the  green  and  circular  road  and  at  the 
opening  of  Hampton  road.  The  grants  were  based  on  property, 
and  not  on  the  principle  that  all  were  entitled  to  equal  rights. 
There  was  no  attempt  to  found  a  democracy.  The  men  with  ^ioo 
received  four  acres  of  meadow — with  ^50  received  four  acres 
of  planting  land — six  acres  for  the  next  ;£ioo  and  four  acres 
for  every  additional  ^100.  House  lots  ranged  from  one  to  four 
acres  on  nearly  the  same  principle.  There  were  but  eleven  who 
received  four  acres  each,  viz  : — Samuel  Dudley,  Wm.  Worcester, 
Francis  Dow,  Henry  Bilye,  Thomas  Macy,  John  Sanders,  Henry 
Mundy,  William  Hook,  Samuel  Winsley,  Christopher  Batt  and 
George  Carr.  These  were  the  most  wealthy  men,  but  others 
who  received  smaller  lots  proved  to  be  talented  men  and  became 
very  prominent  in  town  affairs  in  after  years.  The  number  who 
received  house  lots  in  the  "first  division"  is  somewhat  in  doubt 
on  account  of  a  document  found  in  the  Secretary's  office  at 
Boston,  duly  attested  by  Mr.  Bradbury  who  then  kept  the  records. 
The  following  is  the  document  referred  to  : — 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 


"I639." 

"The  names  of  those  yt  have  lots  and  proportions  granted  pr 
the  Toune  of  Colchester  in  the  first  division. 


Mr.  Sam.  Dudley, 
Mr.  Willi.  Hooke, 
Mr.  Willi.  Worcester, 
Mr.  Chistopher  Batt, 
Mr.  Sam.  Winsley, 
M.  Henry  Biley, 
John  Sanders, 
M.  ffrancis  Doue, 
Jno.  Rolfe, 

Mr.  Thomas  Dummer, 
M.  Henry  Monday, 


George  Carr,  John  Stevens, 

Mr.  Tho.  Bradbury,   John  Severance, 


Jno.  Harrison, 
Mr.  John  Hodges, 
Abra.  Morrill, 
Jno.  fullar, 
Phili.  Challis, 
Luke  Heard, 
Josiah  Cobbett, 
Jarret  Haddon, 
Antony  Colby, 
John  Bayly,  sen. 


Robt.  Pike, 
Robt.  Ringe, 
Richard  Singletary, 
Tho.  Macy, 
Tho.  Hauxwell, 
Jno.  Clifford, 
John  Eyers, 
Roger  Eastman, 
Anthony   Sadler, 

ffitts, 

Rowell, 

widow  Brown.  ' 
This  is  a  coppie  of  the  original  list  taken  out  of  the  old  book 
of  Records  for  Salisbury  as  attest. 

Tho.  Bradbury,  rec. 
A  true  coppie,  Attest. 

Edward  Rans  on,  sec." 
The  foregoing  may  be  a  true  copy  of  the  names  of  those  who 
received  house  lots  in  the  "first  division",  but  the  time  was  not 
confined  to  1639,  as  the  date  of  Abraham  Morrill's  grant  was 
12 — 12  m.  1640  and  Thomas  Macy's  26 — 1  m.  1642.  The  first 
list  found  on  Salisbury  records  contains  68  names  which  was  no 
doubt  all  in  the  settlement  at  that  time.  That  they  did  not  all 
join  the  colony  at  first  is  not  only  reasonable  but  highly  proba- 
ble.    The '  names  not  found  on  the  foregoing   document  are  : — 


Willi.  Partridge, 
Saml.  Hall, 
Christian  Brown, 
-Edward  French, 
Richard  Wells, 
Daniel  Ladd, 
John  Dickinson, 


Willi.  Allen, 
John  Clough, 
Richard  Goodale, 
.Richard  North, 
Joseph  Parker, 
Isaac  Buswell,  .. 
Thos.  Carter, 


Robert  Codman, 
JVVilli.  Barnes, 
Willi.  Sargent, 
John  Bayly,  Jr. 
John  Hoyt, 
John  Coles, 
Willi.  Holdred, 


12  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

Willi.  Osgood,  John  Eaton,  Tho.  Barnett, 

John  Elsly,  ^  Enoch  Greenleaf,  Richard   Currier, 

John  Wheeler,  Lewis  Hullett,  Joseph  Moyes, 

Willi.  Brown. 

The  grants  to  single  men  were  on  condition  that  they  "inhabit 
before  May  6,  1640."  It  was  not  the  intention  of  the  company 
to  grant  land  to  any  but  actual  settlers,  who  would  be  of  service 

to  the  plantation. 

At  this  date  there  were  very  few  local  names  attached  to  the 
different  sections  of  the  territory,  owing,  perhaps,  to  its  unex- 
plored state.  A  few  names  had  been  given — "ye  Pawawes  river", 
"ye  great  river",  "ye  little  river",  "ye  great  neck",  "fferrie  road", 
"road  to  Hampton",  "ye  mill  road",  "road  to  ye  hog-house"  and 
"ye  road  to  Exiter." 

After  the  house  lots  came  planting  lots,  which  were  freely  given 
out  in  the  various  sections  of  the  town,  the  first  grants  gener- 
ally being  near  the  house  lots,  as  convenience  and  safety  required. 
The  marsh  was  arranged  in  several  divisions,  and  lots  given  to 
each  settler   accordingly. 

It  has  been  supposed  by  some  that  our  plains  were  originally 
rich  like  the  western  prairies ;  but  in  one  instance  the  record 
describes  a  grant  as  being  near  "barren  plain",  which  would 
seem  to  indicate  that  they  were  not  all  productive  even  in  the 
earliest  days  of  the  settlement.  The  spot  selected  for  the  town 
was,  however,  very  productive,  and  has  so  remained  to  the  present 
day,  not  failing  to  furnish  an  abundance  of  the  greenest  verdure, 
and  may  very  properly  be  called  "the  green". 

The  lots  on  the  outside  of  the  circular  road,  commencing  on 
the  corner  where  the  Walton  house  stands,  were  Willi.  Partridge, 
Thomas  Dumer,  John  Rolfe,  Henry  Munday,  John  Sanders, 
Henry  Biley,  Robert  Ring,  Francis  Dow,  George  Carr,  Samuel 
Winsley,  Christopher  Batt,  Willi.  Sargent,  Thomas  Bradbury,  John 
Harrison,  John  Hodges,  Philip  Challis,  Josiah  Cobham,  Jarrot 
Haddon,  Anthony  Colby,  Henry  Brown,  Richard  Singletary,  John 
Clifford,  Thomas  Hawksworth,  John  Stevens,  John  Ayers,  Daniel 
Ladd,  Robert  Fitts.  On  the  inside  of  this  road  were  John  Dick- 
inson, Roger  Eastman,  Anthony  Sadler,   John  Bailey,  sen.,  John 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  1 3 

Bailey,  jun,  Luke  Heard,  John  Severance,  Willi.  Buswell,  and 
Robert  Codman  extending  to  the  green.  On  the  beach  road 
were  located  the  lots  of  John  Dickinson,  John  Hoyt,  Willi.  Hol- 
dred,  Thomas  Barnard,  John  Clough,  Thomas  Carter,  Enoch 
Greenleaf,  Willi.  Allen,  Richard  Goodale  and  Willi.  Barnes,  these 
lots  extending  to  the  green.  On  the  north  of  this  road,  com- 
mencing at  the  west,  were  the  lots  of  Lewis  Hulett,  Joseph 
Parker,  John  Ilsley,  John  Coles,  Thomas  Rowell,  Joseph  Moyce, 
Christian  Brown,  John  Fuller,  Richard  North,  Richard  Currier 
and  Abraham  Morrill,  with  the  lots  of  Willi.  Osgood,  Samuel 
Hall,  John  Eaton,  Ralph  Blasdell  and  Samuel  Felloes  in  the  rear. 
On  the  west  side  of  the  Hampton  road  were  Willi.  Hook  and 
John  Wheeler.  On  the  east  side  of  the  Hampton  road,  were 
at  the  north,  Samuel  Dudley,  Rev.  Willi.  Worcester  and  Robert 
Pike.  Next  east  of  Mr.  Pike  were  Edward  French  and  Thomas 
Macie. 

The  minister  received  liberal  grants  of  land,  both  east  and 
west  of  the  Powow  river.  With  our  ancestors  no  settlement  was 
complete  without  a  minister,  and  in  some  cases  he  was  the 
directing  spirit  of  the  little  colony.  Wherever  a  sufficient  clear- 
ing was  made  to  admit  a  little  band  of  puritans  in  those  solitary 
wilds,  and  the  smoke  began  to  curl  from  their  wooden  chim- 
neys, there  was  the  sound  of  prayer  and  praise  ascending  from 
devout  hearts  to  the  Giver  of  all  blessings.  Even  before  the 
little  log  church  could  be  erected — beneath  the  noble,  wide- 
spread oak,  the  minister  spake  of  Jesus  and  the  cross,  to  those 
rugged,  sunburnt  settlers  and  their  children,  who  were  ready  to 
receive  the  word  and  treasure  it  in  honest  hearts.  They  had  no 
crimson  cushioned  pews,  in  which  to  sit  at  their  ease,  but  the 
plain  board  settee  in  a  house  which  varied  in  temperature  as  did 
the  outside  weather.  Pilgrims  and  strangers  in  a  strange  land, 
like  the  Israelites  of  old,  they  did  not  forget  the  "One  God" 
who  was  to  make  of  them  a  great  nation.  In  the  forest  or 
beside  the  rippling  stream  they  could  kneel  and  ask  the  blessing 
of  Him  who  heareth  prayer,  confident  that  they  would  be  heard. 
Theirs  was  a  great  work  and  we  can  never  overestimate  its  im- 
portance. They  laid  well  the  foundations  for  succeeding  genera- 
tions to  build  upon. 


14  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

Sept.  4th  the  General  Court  named  the  plantation  at  Merrimack, 
Colchester.  No  clue  is  given  to  the  reason  of  this  name,  as  the 
town  records  are  silent,  not  even  mentioning  the  name,  which 
seems  not  to  have  been  satisfactory  to  the  company. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  a  committee  was  chosen  to  order 
the  affairs  of  the  company ;  but  in  November  a  petition  was 
presented  to  the  General  Court  for  the  appointment  of  "men  to 
manage  their  affairs",  and  Samuel  Dudley,  Rev.  Wm.  Worcester, 
Christopher  Batt,  Samuel  Winsley,  John  Sanders  and  Henry 
Mundy  were  appointed  "to  order  all  business  of  the  towne  so 
as  this  court  doth  expect  &  reserve  power  to  that  end,  that 
such  as  have  indirectly  obtained  greater  lotts  then  of  dewe  belongs 
to  them,  the  same  should  be  reformed,  &  that  care  bee  taken 
for  pventing  such  inconveniences  herraff." 

It  might  seem  strange  that  any  dispute  should  have  arisen  in 
regard  to  land,  when  every  man  had  more  than  he  knew  what 
to  do  with,  but  this  attempt  at  reform  shows  that  selfishness 
was  no  stranger  to  our  ancestors.  Who  the  unfortunate  persons 
were  who  had  received  more  land  than  they  were  justly  entitled 
to  it  is  impossible  to  say,  as  the  records  give  no  account  of  the 
matter,  or  whether  the  new  committee,  composed  as  it  was 
largely  of  the  old,  ever  carried  out  the  purpose  for  which  they 
were  appointed,  we  cannot  say. 

There  were  three  meetings  this  year,  as  appears  by  the  record,* 
viz :  "3  month — 7th  9  mo. — 29th  10  mo."  No  rules  for  the 
government  of  the  meetings  had  yet  been  adopted,  and  no  doubt 
some  of  the  "firemen"  had  very  crude  notions  of  an  orderly 
town  meeting.  Anthony  Colby  didn't  seem  to  understand  how 
to  behave  respectfully,  according  to  the  ideas  of  the  "major 
•part  of  the  meeting,"  and  was  fined  1  s.  for  being  disorderly. 
Willi.  Hook  thought  he  had  a  right  to  go  home  when  he  pleased, 
and  was  "fined  1  s.  for  leaving  the  meeting  without  leave." 

With  the  first  settlers  goats  were  very  common,  and  to  some 

extent  took  the   place  of  cows  which  were    scarce.     They  were 

however,    a   great   nuisance  to    other   people   than   their   owners 

when  allowed  to  run  at  large,  and   the   meeting   ordered  a  fine 

*No  doubt  there  were  more. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  1 5 

of  1 2  d.  on  all  taken  running  contrary  to  this  order.  Swine  at 
large  were  a  far  greater  evil  than  goats,  and  a  fine  of  6  s.  was 
ordered  when  taken  off  the  owner's  land. 

We  may  well  imagine  that  the  year  1639  was  a  busy  one  at 
Colchester,  for  those  intending  to  make  their  homes  there  must 
,  plant  something  to  furnish  food  for  their  families,  and  must  also 
put  up  their  log  houses  in  addition  to  clearing,  fencing  and 
planting.  There  was  no  time  to  be  wasted  and  no  disposition  to 
shirk  among  those  toil-worn  men.  It  could  seem  very  little  like 
home  at  first,  but  all  lived  in  hopes  of  better  times  and  pleas- 
anter  surroundings.  They  had  divided  an  abundance  of  land, 
even  crossing  the  Powow  and  giving  out  lots  there  this  present 
year.  The  marsh  was  disposed  of,  and  the  whole  range  of  beach 
from  Black  Rocks  to  Hampton  river  cut  up  into  lots,  numbered 
and  given  out  to  the  inhabitants.  These  lots  were  called  "sweep- 
age"  lots,  probably  from  the  fact  that  the  sea  swept  one  end  of 
them.  Those  toward  Black  Rocks  and  along  up  were  bounded 
westerly  by  Black  Rock  creek,  and  those  toward  Hampton  by 
Dead  creek.  William  Barnes  sold  his  sweepage  lot  No.  45  to  John 
Eastman — 4  acres,  116  rods  for  ^3  Sterling,  April  26,  1663. 
William  Huntington  sold  his  sweepage  lot  to  William  Osgood. 
It  contained  2  acres,  92  rods.  Jarrot  Haddon  bought  Valentine 
RowelPs  sweepage  lot  April  29,  1662.  Thomas  Macy  sold  his 
sweepage  lot  at  the  beach.  Jarrot  Haddon  sold  John  Eyer  two 
sweepage  lots,  viz :  the  lot  originally  laid  out  to  Henry  Brown, 
containing  3  acres,  66  rods,  between  the  lots  of  Wm.  Sargent 
and  Anthony  Colby  and  the  lot  he  bought  of  Val.  Rowell. 
Robert  Downer  sold  to  Joseph  French  a  sweepage  lot,  No.  58, 
near  Hampton  river  and  beach  containing  5  acres,  124  rods, 
being  originally  the  lot  of  Willi.  Partridge,  lying  between  lots  of 
Wm.  Buswell  and  said  French,  "one  end  butting  on  the  Beach 
ye  other  on  ye  River  that  runs  from  Hampton  for  £2.0  Sterling, 
May  13,  1679.  Philip  Grele  sold  lot  No.  60,  which  was  origin- 
ally the  sweepage  lot  of  his  father  in  law,  John  Ilsley,  3  ac, 
150  rods  for  ^20  Sterling,  Oct.  20th,   1674." 

The  foregoing  shows  how  closely  the  common  lands  were 
given  out,  and  also    the  value  of  these    lots    some    thirty   years 


1 6  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

afterward.  Instead  of  a  village,  was  a  forest  on  the  hummocks 
in  those  days.  Some  of  these  lots  were  very  valuable  if  we  may 
judge  from  the  price  they  brought.  Probably  at  that  time  the 
sea  had  never  broken  over  the  banks,  and  the  best  meadows 
were  along  near  them. 

1640. 

On  petition  of  the  inhabitants,  the  General  Court  appointed 
Samuel  Dudley,  William  Worcester,  Christopher  Batt,  Samuel 
Winsley,  John  Sanders  and  Henry  Munday  to  order  all  business 
and  "see  that  no  one  get  greater  lots  than  he    ought  to  -have." 

July  3d.  A  meeting  of  "ffreemen"  was  held  and  George  Carr 
was  given  the  "greatest  Hand  in  ye  river  merrimack."  This 
gave  name  to  the  island  and  it  has  been  known  as  "Carr's 
island"  ever  since.  Mr.  Carr  was  a  ship  builder  and  large  land- 
holder and  specially  known  by  his  ferry  across  the  Merrimac. 

July  20th.  At  a  general  meeting  "ordered  yat  everie  p  son 
that  has  a  lot  com  and  reside  in  ye  towne  before  ye  first  of 
November  next."  The  company  were  intending  to  grant  land 
to  actual  settlers  only  and  under  the  foregoing  proviso,  land  not 
occupied  would  be  declared  forfeited. 

Several  meetings  were  held  for  the  transaction  of  business  but 
the  November  meeting  was  specially  noted  for  the  large  number 
of  lots  granted  west  of  the  "Powaw."  There  seems  to  have  been 
a  determination  to  appropriate  all  the  land  among  the  company 
as  fast  as  possible. 

Christopher  Batt,  Samuel  Winsley  and  Thomas  Macy  were 
ordered  to  "strike  a  line  between  Salisbury  and  Hampton  and 
report."     Their  pay  was  fixed  at  "2  s  6  d"  per  day. 

Messrs.  Batt,  Winsley,  Heard  and  Bradbury  were  ordered  to 
"run  the  line  towards  pentucket  6  miles."  This  order  is  rather 
indefinite  but  no  doubt  meant  six  miles  from  Powow  river. 
Thus  the  boundaries  were  being  established  on  the  southwest 
and  northeast. 

Order  was  gradually  being  established  in  all  departments. 
Having  disposed  of  a  large  part  of  the  land  east  of  the  Powow 
they  now  turned  their  attention  to  other  matters,  relating  to  the 
municipal  affairs  of  the  company.  The  foundation  of  the  present 
town  meeting  was  established  by  the  following  order  : — 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  1 7 

"That  a  Moderator  shall  be  chosen  at  each  meeting  to  keep 
order,  and  that  every  ffreeman  when  speaking  in  meeting  shall 
take  off  his  hat  and  rise  when  speaking  and  put  it  on  when 
done,  and  that  no  ffreeman  shall  be  allowed  to  depart  the 
meeting  before  done  without  license  under  penalty  of  i  s." 

Such  a  rule  would  hardly  be  considered  consistent  with  present 
ideas  of  free  government. 

The  "Green"  and  its  highways  round  about,  were  carefully 
guarded  from  encroachments,  as  here  they  expected  to  build  a 
nice  little  village  including  their  church,  court  house  and  garri- 
son house.  "Voted  that  no  one  shall  be  allowed  to  fell  anie 
tree  on  anie  highway  or  street  in  or  near  about  ye  towne  or  on 
the  green"  under  a  penalty  of  20  s. 

There  was  no  wanton  destruction  of  trees  allowed,  notwith- 
standing the  wide-spread  forests  which  covered  a  large  portion 
of  the  territory.  Their  conduct  was  far  above  the  custom  which 
now  prevails  in  new  settlements. 

Oct.  7th.  The  General  Court  changed  the  town's  name  from 
Colchester  to  Salisbury.  How  this  change  was  brought  about 
has  been  a  matter  of  speculation,  but  the  most  probable  theory 
is  that  it  was  brought  about  by  Christopher  Batt.  He  is  said 
to  have  resided  in  Salisbury  previous  to  his  emigration  from 
England.  He  came  over  in  the  ship  Reuvis,  in  May,  1638, 
aged  37  years,  with  his  wife  Anna  aged  32  years,  and  five 
children  under  10  years  of  age,  also  a  sister  Dorothy  aged  20 
years.  He  immediately  joined  the  party  crossing  the  Merrimac 
and  was  chosen  on  the  first  committee  to  order  the  affairs  of 
the  little  colony.  He  served  the  colony  continually  until  1650 
when  he  removed  to  Boston.  He  was  an  influential  member  of 
the  company  and  was  no  doubt  the  author  of  the  name  "Salis- 
bury." 

He  was  appointed  to  train  the  company  at  Colchester  during 
the  year.  The  militia  were  required  to  be  in  constant  readiness 
to  repel  any  sudden  attack  of  the  Indians  as  they  were  becoming 
a  little  troublesome  at  this  time.  A  watch  of  two  persons  was 
kept  nights,  as  the  people  were  afraid  to  retire  without  sentinels 
to  give  the  alarm. 


1 8  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

The  garrison  house  had  already  been  built  a  little  south  of 
the  residence  of  Joseph  Pike,  jr.,  and  its  huge  logs  in  successive 
order,  raised  to  the  required  height,  afforded  the  whole  village 
protection  in  case  of  danger. 

A  portion  of  the  road  to  George  Carr's  "fferrie"  was  discon- 
tinued and  given  to  Josiah  Cobham  and  Phillip  Challis,  between 
whose  house-lots  it  lay.  The  road  as  re-located  was,  as  at  pres- 
ent we  find  the  old  Ferry  road,  at  its  junction  with  the  circu- 
lar road  near  where  Thomas  Bradbury  once  lived. 

There  is  a  "  Mill  road  "  mentioned  on  the  record,  but  noth- 
ing definite  as  to  its  location  is  found.  It  is  very  probable  that 
the  Powow  had  already  been  decided  upon  as  the  place  for 
mills,  as  the  beautiful  falls  were  well  calculated  for  that  purpose. 
Here,  within  a  short  distance,  the  water  is  precipitated  down 
nearly  one  hundred  feet  to  the  flats  below.  This  splendid  water 
power  was  destined  to  build  up  that  section. 

The  large  tract  of  rough  meadow  land  south  of  the  mill 
road  had  already  been  named  "  Boggie  meadows,"  and  several 
lots  given  out  there.  John  Ralfe  received  a  grant  of  four  acres 
next  to  "  Hurtleberrie  ground,  in  ye  greate  meadow."  The 
berries  were,  no    doubt,  very  plenty  there. 

Andrew  Greelie  first  appears  on  the  record  this  year. 

Capt.  Daniel  Dennison,  of  Newbury,  was  chosen  Deputy. 

1641. 

Jan.  1 2th.  A  meeting  was  held,  and  after  granting  Francis 
Dowe  a  large  tract  of  land  toward"  ye  Great  pond,"  and  Abra- 
ham Morrill  a  house-lot  on  the  "Green,"  it  was  ordered  that 
"a  way  four  rod  wide  be  laid  out  west  from  ye  Pawaws  river, 
and  another  from  the  river  northward,  next  land  of  Thomas 
Bradbury." 

The  road  laid  out  west  from  Powow  river  was,  no  doubt,  the 
main  road  through  town,  starting  at  Weare  point  (Gun-house 
lane)  and  running  through  the  Pondhills  and  "Jamaco"  to 
Haverhill.  Many  years  afterward,  this  road  was  run  out  four 
rods  wide  from  the  meeting  house  to  Haverhill  line,  but  was, 
really,  little  more  than  a  bridle  path  spotted  through  town. 
The    other   road    started   at    the    Merrimac   river   and   ran   over 


HISTORY     OF     AMES  BURY.  1 9 

the  eastern  side  of  the  ferry  hill  and  through  the  sand  hollow 
to  Whittier's  hill,  and  thence  over  the  hill  to  New  Hampshire 
line.  These  were  the  first  roads  laid  out,  portions  of  which 
have  been  discontinued,  viz.  :  part  over  the  ferry  hill,  and  part 
over  Whittier's  hill.  Of  the  main  road  running  westerly  through 
town,  a  very  small  part  has  been  discontinued,  viz.  :  that  part 
running  back  of  the  houses  of  W.  F.  Vining  and  John  Currier. 

April  5th.  Another  meeting  was  held  to  regulate  matters,  and, 
among  other  things,  the  prices  of  labor.  This  difficult  question 
was  readily  settled  in  those  days,  as  follows  : — 

"Also,  it  was  ordered  yat  ye  year  shall  be  accompted  thus: 
from  ye  first  of  November  to  ye  last  of  ye  i  month  ( March ) 
shall  be  winter  months  and  ye  seven  other  summer  months,  and 
all  laborers  for  ye  winter  months  shall  have  no  more  but  16  d. 
pr  day,  and  for  ye  summer  months  20  d.  pr  day ;  and  all  carpen- 
ters shall  have  2  d.  pr  day  more  yan  laborers,  yat  is,  18  d.  pr 
day  in  winter,  and    22  d.  pr  day  in  summer." 

"Also,  yat  mowers  shall  have  no  more  but  2  d.  pr  day,  and 
if  yey  mowe    pr  ye  acre  yey  shall  not  exceed  2  d.  pr  acre." 

"  Also,  yat  no  man  shall  sell  claboards  of  five  feet  in  length  for 
more  yan  yree  shillings  pr  hundred ;  and  if  shorter,  according 
to  prportion;  and  if  they  cleave  by  ye  hundred,  yey  shall  not 
exceed  six  pence  pr  hundred  for  five  feet  in  length." 

"Also,  yat  no  man  shall  sell  anie  sawn  board  for  more  yan 
five  shillings  pr  hundred,  and  for  ye  sawing  no  more  yan  yree 
shillings,  six  pence  pr  hundred ;  and  for  split  work  no  more 
yan  4s.  6d.  pr  hundred." 

"Also,  yat  ye  fferriman  shall  take  no  more  of  ye  town  but  2d. 
a  person  for  going  or  rowing  over  ye  river ;  and  all  great  beasts 
6d.  pr  head  and  3d.  pr  calfe,  and  all  small   cattell  id.  a  head." 

"Also,  yat  butter  shall  not  be  sould  for  above  6d.  pr  pound," 
and  this  price  continued  for  more  than  forty  years. 

"Also,  yat  milk  shall  be  sould  for  yree  half-pence  a  quart 
new  milk,  and   1  d.  skimd  milk — ale  measure." 

April  2 1  st.  A  general  town  meeting  was  held  and  William 
Osgood  was  granted  "  50  acres  of  upland "  and  "  10  acres  of 
meadow"  "on  condition  yat   he    build   a  mill  yat  may  be  suffi- 


20  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

cient  for  ye  use  of  ye  towne  before  ye  ioth  of  ye  7th  month 
next  ensuing."  This  "upland"  lay  along  down  the  Powow 
river  to  the  "  Landing."  The  town  agreed  that  no  other  mill 
should  be  built  so  long  as  his  did  the  required  work.  It  was 
a  saw  mill  and  the  price  of  sawing  was  fixed  at  "  3  s.  6  d.  pr 
hundred."  The  mill  was  built  and  performed  service  for  the 
town  for  many  years  before  others  were  built  in  addition. 

It  was,  in  all  probability,  the  first  mill  ever  built  on  the  Powow 
river.  To  be  sure,  it  would  hardly  be  seen  along  beside  the 
stately  buildings  of  the  Hamilton  mills,  but  it  was,  neverthe- 
less, a  great  acquisition  to  the  little  band  who  needed  shelter 
from  the  severity  of  those  dreary  winters. 

A  more  intelligent  race  had  turned  the  elements  to  account, 
and  the  first  water-wheel  ever  turned  by  the  ripling  "  Pawaw " 
was  now  busily  at  work  for  the  benefit  of  these  hardy  settlers. 
The  "boarded  frame  "  may  now  replace  the  log  house. 

May  ioth.     A  general  meeting. 

Cattle  forbidden  being  kept  on  the  neck  "  till  corne  be  reaped, 
except  calfes." 

Robert  Pyke,  Luke  Heard  and  John  Harrison  appointed  fence- 
viewers. 

Persons  were  forbidden  cutting  trees  along  the  river,  as  they 
infringed  on  lots  already  granted ;  but  Samuel  Winsley  was  allowed 
on  condition  that  he  pay  "toward  ye  buying  of  or  drawing 
20  miles  so  manie  as  shall  accomplish  his  bargain  of  30000 
pipe-staves."  Manufacturing  pipe-staves  in  the  early  years  of 
the  settlement  was  an  important  branch  of  business,  furnishing 
the  means  to  purchase  West  India  goods,  etc. 

Richard  North  and  John  Rolph  were  appointed  to  mend  the 
roads,  with  power  to  order  men  to  work  or,  if  refusing,  to  take 
their  goods. 

"  Ordered,  that  everie  townsman  shall  send  a  sufficient  man 
to  work  one  day  towards  ye  making  of  a  way  to  carrie  corn  to 
mill." 

"Also,  ordered,  yat  yere  shall  be  three  hundred  acres  of 
upland  inclosed  for  an  ox  common  near  ye  Little    river." 

Sept.  20th.  A  general  meeting  and  a  large  amount  of  land 
laid  out,  and  no  other  business  done. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  21 

Nov.  30th.  Henrie  Kimball  first  appears  and  receives  a  grant 
of  land  on  the  river. 

"  Salsberry  is  enjoyned  to  amend  their  ways  upon  paine  of 
20  s."* 

"Salsberry,  for  want  of  weights  &  measures,  is  fined  20  s.  6  d." 

To  end  small  causes,  Mr.  Batt,  Mr.  Dudley  and  Mr.  Winslow 
were  appointed,  "  and  one  of  them  to  see  people  joyne  in  mar- 
riage &  keepe  records."* 

"  Mr.  John  Woodbridge,  Mathewe  Boyse,  John  Crosse  &  George 
Gittings,  they  4  or  any  3  of  them  are  appointed  to  set  out  the 
bounds  betweene  Salsberry  &  Pantucket,  ali.  Haverell.  They 
are  to  determine  the  bounds  wch  Mr.  Ward  &  his  company 
are  to  inioy  as  a  town  or  village  if  they  have  6  houses  up  by 
the  next  Genr all  Court  in  the  8th  m0."* 

March  1st.  John  Clifford,  planter,  sold  to  Thomas  Hauxworth 
for  32  s.  his  house-lot  of  one  acre  on  the  west  of  the  circular 
road.     His  residence  is  given  at  Hampton  at  this  time. 

1642. 

Jan.  3d.  A  general  meeting  held,  and  it  was  agreed  "  that 
ye  Constable  for  ye  time  being  shall  not  yerely  be  ffreed  from 
anie  Rate." 

Henrie  Munday  was  chosen  constable. 

John  Hall,  John  Sanders  and  Richard  North  were  chosen  to 
take  account  of  pipe-staves  to  be  transported  "yat  no  man  exceed 
his  prportion." 

Whenever  the  authorities  could  make  a  contract  to  sell  pipe- 
staves  for  shipment  to  the  West  Indies,  each  inhabitant  was 
allowed  to  fill  his  proportionate  share  ;  and  it  is  possible  that 
some  were  disposed  to  do  more  than  that ;  hence  this  commit- 
tee. 

Jan.  10th.  At  a  general  meeting,  the  following  order  was 
passed  : — 

"  Ordered,  yat  ye  sole  fishing  in  Pavvaw  river  shall  be  taken 
out  of  the  hands  of  John  Bayly,  sengr.,  for  yat  he  hath  forfeited 
his  right  given,  in  not  performing  ye  conditions  on  which  it  was 
granted  him." 

*Mass.  Records. 


2  2  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

The  fishing  at  this  time  was  carried  on  in  the  Powow  by 
means  of  dams  or  "wyers,"  and  was  a  very  successful  business. 
The  town  claimed  a  certain  part  of  the  fish  taken,  and  it  seems 
that  John  Bayly  had  not  come  up  to  his  agreement,  either  by 
failing  to  render  to  the  town  its  share  or  some  neglect  in  regard 
to  his  "wyers."  The  right  was,  however,  soon  restored,  and  a 
reprimand  given  at  the  same  time,  as  follows  :• — ■ 

"John  Bayly,  sen1".,  is  granted  ye  sole  fishing  in  ye  Pawaw 
river  two  years  on  condition  that  he  shall  not  join  any  but 
townsmen,  so  that  ye  fish  shall  not  be  carried  out  of  towne ;  and 
he  is  not  to  have  more  than  his  share  of  alewives,  and  is  to 
make  '  ye  wyers '  to  be  full  hight,  so  that  the  town  may  not  suf- 
fer by  fish  escaping." 

The  rivers  were  full  of  fish  and  afforded  the  settlers  a  large 
amount  of  provisions,  which  were  very  much  needed.  The  price 
was  fixed  at  "3  s.  per  1000  in  work,  corn,  cattle  or  merchant- 
able commodities." 

"  Agreed  to  let  John  Harrison  cut  trees  enough  to  make  2000 
pipe-staves,  and  free  him  from  all  town  &  contre  rats  to  keep 
an  ordinarie  two  years."  At  the  present  time  there  are  plenty 
of  persons  ready  to  keep  an  "ordinarie"  with  no  inducement 
but  the  profits. 

Jan.  nth.  Willi.  Sargent  received  a  grant  of  six  acres  next 
the  mill  for  a  planting  lot,  butting  upon  "  Pawaws  river." 

Jan.  14th.  Henrie  Mundy  and  Thomas  Bradbury  were  author- 
ized to  bargain  with  a  man  to  hang  the  bell  on  the  meeting  house 
This  bell  was  brought  from  England  by  order  of  Rev.  William 
Worcester,  according  to  tradition.  It  is  probable  that  the  little 
log  church  was  built  in  1640,  as  the  hurry  of  1639  would  hardly 
admit  of  its  being  built  then ;  and  it  is  hardly  probable  that  it 
was  delayed  beyond  the  above  time.  This  roughly- constructed 
church  was  built  on  the  open  green,  on  the  easterly  corner,  now 
owned  by  Mrs.  Buswell.  It  stood  a  little  to  the  south  of  the 
present  road,  and  quite  a  large  common  or  green  was  then  left 
open  for  public  use  there.  It  was  simply  a  log  house  with  the 
outside  cracks  daubed  with  clay  to  keep  out  the  cold  and 
storms. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  23 

"Ordered,  that  all  the  wood  on  the  common  shall  be  divided 
to  everie  inhabitant  according  to  his  estate."  A  fine  of  10  s. 
was  imposed  for  cutting  contrary  to  order. 

Jan.  25  th.  A  general  meeting  was  held,  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
granted  to  Abraham  Morrill  and  Henrie  Saywood  to  build  a 
"corn  mill."  No  other  mill  was  to  be  built  as  long  as  this 
ground  all  the  town  needed.  With  two  mills  upon  this  "Pawaws 
river,"  as  it  was  sometimes  called,  it  was  considered  a  busy 
place. 

Thomas  Rowell,  Samuel  ffellows,  Henrie  Brown  and  Richard 
Currier  were  granted  four  acres  each  "nere  ye  powowes  Hill." 

"Feb.  1 6th.  Richard  Currier  sold  unto  Abraham  Morrill  six 
house-lots  wch  was  given  him  by  the  town  of  Salisbury,  contain- 
ing 7  acres." 

March  26th.  A  general  meeting  ordered  all  fences  made  suf- 
ficient before  April  8th,  "against  all  cattle  unyoked,  hogs  and 
goats  excepted,  upon  forfeit  of  2  s.  6d.  for  every  rodd  then 
found  unmade."  Every  hog  was  ordered  to  be  yoked  before  10th 
2d  mo.,  under  penalty  of  6  d. 

Robert  Ring  carried  on  the  fishing  business  and  received  a 
grant  of  two  acres  on  the  island*  for  two  years,  but  was  restricted 
to  building  "  more  than  3  houses."  He  might,  however,  con- 
tinue his  houses  and  stages  on  one  acre  "as  long  as  he  should 
employ  it."  Ring's  island  was  the  great  resort  of  the  fisher- 
men. Here  their '"  stages "  or  fish-flakes  were  spread  on  which 
the  fish  were  dried,  and  the  store  houses  built  to  contain  the 
products  of  their  labors. 

John  Hall,  Thomas  Bradburie,  Thomas  Macy  and  Robert  Pyke 
were  chosen  to  make  the  "rate  of  ^12  10  s.,  to  be  paid  to  the 
country  the  22nd,  6th  mo.,  1642  ;"  and  Samuel  Dudley,  Richard 
Wells,  Tohn  Sanders,  John  Severance  and  John  Harrison  were 
appointed  to  make  Mr.  Worcester's  rate. 

It  was  no  very  easy  task  to  procure  work  on  the  highway, 
although  but  little  was  expected,  and  Richard  North  and  Thomas 
Bradburie  were  chosen  "to  enforce  work  on  the  highway." 

Dec.  19th.     Since  the  two  mills  were  established  on  the  Powow, 

*  This  island  has  ever  since  been  known  as  Ring's  island. 


24  HISTORY     OF    AMESEURY. 

the  tide  of  emigration  had  set  in  that  direction,  and  at  the 
close  of  this  year  the  people  there  began  to  think  about  having  the 
amunition  removed  to  that  section,  as  the  following  order  very 
plainly  shows  : — 

"  Ordered,  that  the  ordinance  shall  be  removed  nere  the  paw- 
awes  river  by  the  last  of  September  next,  com.  1 2  month,  which 
will  be  in  the  year  1644."  This  was  rather  a  singular  order, 
for  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  the  next  September  could  be 
in  the  year  1644.  The  record  is  plain,  and  we  have  no  means 
of  correcting  the  mistake,  if  it  be  one. 

The  company  were  in  debt,  ( but,  probably,  to  no  great  extent ) 
and  a  rate  was  made  on  that  account.  These  rates  were  not 
paid  in  money,  but  provisions  and  produce,  which  was  legal  ten- 
der then. 

This  year  appears  to  be  remarkable  for  one  event :  the  meet- 
ing of  the  few  settlers  in  Salisbury  for  the  purpose  of  ordering 
off  a  portion  of  their  number,  which  would  seem  to  have  been 
sufficiently  small  already.  Hundreds  of  acres  of  land  had  been 
given  out  west  of  the  "Powowas  river,"  and  now  it  is  proposed 
to  settle  a  colony  there.  On  the  26th  of  the  10th  month  (Dec.) 
1642,  a  meeting  was  called  of  "ye  freemen,"  and  "it  was  ordered 
yere  shall  thirtie  families  remove  to  the  west  side  of  ye  Powowas 
river."  This  would  seem  to  be  an  arbitrary  order  and  one 
which  nobody  in  particular  was  bound  to  consider  as  applying 
to  themselves ;  and,  consequently,  amounted  to  nothing.  It  set- 
tled one  fact,  however :  that  nobody  was  willing  to  remove. 
Finding  their  attempt  a  failure,  in  ten  days  another  meeting  was 
held,  viz.:  on  the  "5th,  nth  mo.,  1642,"  (Jan.  5,  1643)  at 
which  the  former  vote  was  re-affirmed  and  the  time  for  removal 
fixed  "before  the  first  of  the  third  month  in  the  year  1645," 
which  would  be  in  season  for  planting.  And  such  persons  were 
to  remove  as  "the  seven  men  shall  approve  of."  The  seven 
men  were,  no  doubt,  those  chosen  to  order  the  prudential  affairs,, 
viz.  :    Messrs.  Dudley,  Worcester,  Batt  and  others. 

Those  removing  were  to  have  all  the  lands  and  timber,  and 
the  old  town  to  be  excluded  forever  therefrom.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  new  town's  people  were  to  be  excluded  from  all  rights 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  25 

in  the  old  town,  excepting  the  privilege  of  feeding  their  oxen 
on  the  "oxe  common"  when  working  there.  There  was,  how- 
ever, reserved  to  the  old  town  the  "libertie  for  one  familie  to 
feed  eight  cows  on  the  common  in  the  new  town."  This  one 
family  will  be  found  in  the  "Articles  of  Agreement"  No.  5. 
These  conditions  were,  no  doubt,  considered  liberal  and  such 
as  would   give  no   occasion  for  complaint   to  those  ordered    off. 

The  movement  was  made  with  a  determination  that  it  should 
be  carried  out,  and,  that  all  doubt  might  disappear,  "  it  was 
ordered  that  this  order  shall  stand  unrepealed  forever,  except 
by  the  consent  of  every  freeman  in  town."  Although  no  sanc- 
tion was  given  to  the  measure  by  the  General  Court,  yet  the 
company  thought  they  could  enforce  it,  and,  probably,  thought 
they  had  offered  sufficient  inducement  to  accomplish  what  they 
proposed.  This  was  evidently  intended  as  the  beginning  of  a 
new  town  or  plantation,  as  they  were  called  at  that  time,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Powow,  which  seemed  to  form  a  very  natural 
boundary. 

The  puritanical  radicalism  of  our  ancestors  seems  to  crop  out 
here  very  prominently,  for  which  they  were  somewhat  noted. 
Their  indomitable  will,  not  wholly  free  from  selfishness,  perhaps, 
hardly  dreamed  of  failure.  But  it  was  found  a  difficult  meas- 
ure to  carry  into  effect,  especially  in  the  short  time  of  three 
years. 

It  was  sufficiently  wild  at  Salisbury,  where  they  had  but  just 
reclaimed  a  few  broken  patches  among  the  scattered  inhabitants  ; 
but  this  western  wilderness  was  even  more  solitary ;  darker  and, 
if  possible,  denser  forests  covered  hill  and  dale,  rendering  the 
territory  gloomy  and  forbidding.  Few,  if  any,  were  ready  to 
obey  the  order,  and  the  only  settlers  who  ventured  along  came 
reluctantly  just  across  the  stream  at  first,  gradually  venturing  fur- 
ther on  as  the  territory  grew  more  familiar. 

At  this  time  the  territory  west  of  the  Powow  was  large,  extend- 
ing beyond  the  Great  pond,  now  mostly  in  Newton,  N.  H.,  and 
including  a  large  island  in  the  pond,  which  was  subsequently 
granted  by  Amesbury  to  Thomas  Haynes.  But  it  was  farther 
from  the  sea  and  farther  into  the  wilderness,  as  the   back  terri- 

4 


26  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

tory  was  then  called,  and  a  settlement  there  must  necessarily 
be  attended  with  many  inconveniences  and  great  danger  from 
the  Indians.  The  danger  from  the  Indians  was,  also,  so  great 
that  the  General  Court  ordered  a  strict  watch  kept,  and  estab- 
lished certain  rules  to  be  observed  to  guard  against  surprises, 
especially  in  the  night  time.  To  give  an  alarm  the  signal  was 
to  be  "by  distinctly  discharging  three  muskets  or  continual  beat 
of  the  drum,  or  firing  the  beacon  or  discharging  a  peese  of 
ordnance ;  &  every  trained  souldier  is  to  take  the  alarum  imedi- 
ately,  on  paine  of  five  pound." 

"That  every  towne  prvide  a  sufficient  place  for  retreat  for  their 
wives  &  children  to  repaire  to,  as  likewise  to  keepe  safe  the 
amunition  thereof."* 

"  That  all  watches  throughout  this  country  bee  set  at  suneset, 
at  the  beat  of  the  drum,  &  not  bee  discharged  till  the  beate  of 
the  drum  at  sunne  riseing."* 

It  will  readily  be  seen  that  great  care  and  constant  watchful- 
ness were  required  to  protect  these  settlements,  which  were 
very  liable  to  be  destroyed  at  any  moment  by  the  treacherous 
red  men. 

AVolves  as  well  as  all  other  animals  were  plenty,  and  to  rid 
themselves  of  a  common  enemy  a  bounty  of  10  s.  was  offered 
for  each  wolf  killed.  It  was  wolves  then  and  not  dogs  that  killed 
the  sheep  and  lambs,  of  which  all  the  farmers  kept  more  or  less. 

The  General  Court  passed  an  order  requiring  the  plantations 
to  keep  a  supply  of  powder,  and  Salisbury  obtained  one  barrel 
from  the  government. 

The  seven  men  appointed  at  first  to  manage  the  affairs  of 
the  plantation  gave  up  their  power,  and  William  Worcester,  Sam- 
uel Dudley,  John  Sanders,  Samuel  Winsley,  Robert  Pyke,  Jona. 
Cobbitt  and   John  Severance  were  chosen  in  their  stead. 

Ox  common  is  mentioned  as  being  near  the  sea. 

Salisbury  received  one  barrel  of  powder  as  its  share,  provided 
by  the  General  Court. 

March  25th.     John  Hoyt  exchanged  his  four-acre  planting-lot 
with  John  Dickinson  and  received  a   house-lot   and   planting-lot 
of  Dickinson,  who  never  built  on  his  corner  lot. 
*  Mass.   Records. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  27 

1643. 

Prudential  men  :  Christopher  Batt,  John  Severance,  Thomas 
Macy,  John  Hall,  Robert  Pike,  John  Sanders  and  Thomas  Brad- 
bury. 

At  this  time  people  were  obliged  to  keep  constantly  armed 
and  the  General  Court  ordered  "  that  the  military  officrs  in  every 
towne  shall  appoint  what  arms  to  be  brought  to  the  meeting 
houses  on  the  Lord's  day  &  other  times  of  meeting,  &  to  take 
order  at  farmes  &  houses  remote,  that  amunition  bee  safely  dis- 
posed of,  that  an  enemy  may  not  possesse  himselfe  of  them." 

We  can  imagine  our  ancestors  wending  their  way  to  church 
on  each  returning  Sabbath,  on  horse  back,  each  husband  with 
his  wife  seated  behind  and  his  matchlock  slung  to  the  saddle, 
ready  for  any  emergency  which  might  happen.  Arriving  at  the 
little  church,  whose  bell  had  proclaimed  the  solemn  hour  of  wor- 
ship, their  guns  were  severally  placed  within  the  door  ready  for 
use. 

It  was  a  long  way  from  the  Powow  where  William  Osgood 
and  others  lived  to  the  meeting  house  at  East  Salisbury,  and 
their  crooked  bridle  paths  lay  through  dark  forests,  where  the 
wiley  foe  could  easily  conceal  himself  till  sure  of  his  aim. 
Verily  these  were  trying  times,  requiring  courage  and  self  reli- 
ance. We  know  but  little  of  the  trials  and  privations  of  those 
early  days. 

Jan.  5th.     The  order  for  removal  was  again  affirmed. 

There  does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  additions  to  the  set- 
tlement this  year. 

Jan.  15th.  A  meeting  was  held  and  it  was  decided  that  "all 
public  charges  should  be  defrayed  by  both  places,  the  7  men 
having  power  to  make  rates  to  pay  debts  and  to  certifie  all 
ould  records  and  bring  into  this  new  book." 

"  And,  also,  yat  the  constable  for  ye  yeare  past  and  so  for  time 
to  come  shall  be  allowed  for  everie  rate  he  shall  gather  two 
days'  work  or  the  value  thereof  by  the  towne." 

Feb.  20th.  A  grant  of  70  acres  was  made  to  Mr.  Worcester 
"  between  ye  uper  end  of  ye  uper  range  &  ye  great  pond."  In 
addition  to  this,  five  hundred  acres  were  granted  to  various  per- 
sons, probably  in  the  "Peke"  or  near  Country  pond. 


2S  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

Among  those  who  received  land  at  this  time  were  William 
Barnes,  Thomas  Barnett,  Anthony  Colby,  George  Martin  and  Wil- 
liam Sargent,  who  were  afterwards  Amesbury  men. 

The  power  was  taken  from  the  seven  men  with  their  consent, 
and  others  chosen  in  their   stead. 

Feb.  26th.  It  was  ordered  that  all  fences  "next  ye  street  shall 
be  made  sufficient  by  ye  12th  of  ye  first  month,"  under  forfeit 
of  "  2  s.  pr  rod."  March  was,  at  this  time,  the  first  month  and 
the  season  must  have  been  very  early  or  frost  would  have  pre- 
vented fence  building. 

All  hogs  over  two  months  old  were  ordered  yoked  by  the 
12th  1st  mo.  or  anybody  might  impound  them  and  collect  6  s.  each. 

The  whole  number  of  towns  in  the  colony  was  thirty  at  this 
time,  and  the  counties  were  established  as  follows  : — 

Essex,  Middlesex,  Suffolk  and  Norfolk — the  latter  including 
Salisbury,  Hampton,  Haverhill,  Exeter,  Dover  and  Strawberry 
Bank  (Portsmouth).  The  courts  were  holden  at  Hampton. 
This  arrangement  continued  till  1679. 

Richard  North  was  chosen  "cryer"  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Dec.  27th.  Robert  Dumer  complained  of  Samuel  Hall  for 
beating  his  (Dumer's)  daughter  Phebe,  a  girl  about  ten  years 
of  age.     Hall  did  not  appear.* 

William  Sargent  sued  William  Hook,  and  the  case  was  tried 
at  Ipswich  court.     Recovered  56  s.* 

Richard  North  was  chosen  Howard  to  impound  the  cattle 
and  have  2  d.  each,  and,  also,  to  see  to  all  fences.  In  modern 
language  he  was  field-driver  and  fence  viewer. 

It  was  ordered  that  all  grants  of  land  should  be  recorded  in 
the  new  book,  every  man's  grant  together. 

1 8th,  5th  mo.  Thomas  Bradbury  and  John  Severance  were 
chosen  surveyors  of  highways. 

At  the  same  meeting  a  rate  of  ^15  was  ordered  "for  dig- 
ging town  creek  &  other  town  charges,"  and  a  meeting  of  all 
land  owners  ordered  to  be  held  at  the  meeting  house  on  the 
2 2d,  23d,  24th  of  6th  mo.  at  7  a.  m.  What  these  meetings 
were  for  does  not  appear  by  the  record,  or  whether  they  were 
ever  held. 

*  Court    Records. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  29 

20th,  9th  mo.  It  was  ordered  that  the  "  oxe  common  on 
the  north  side  of  ye  great  neck  leading  toward  the  sea  shall  be 
at  liberty  for  the  oxen  from  ist  August  to  ist  April,  and  cows 
to  go  from  15  Sept.  to  April;"  and  it  was  voted  to  fence  this 
half  with  four  rails. 

Richard  Goodale  was  granted  a  lot  of  meadow  west  of  the 
great  creek,  but  one  rod  in  width  was  reserved  next  the  creek 
for  drying  nets  and  other  purposes  connected  with  the  fishing. 

8th,  10th  mo.  Samuel  Dudley  was  chosen  deputy.  Land  was 
granted  to  John  Bayly,  sen.,  and  John  Bayly,  jun. 

.     1644. 

Prudential  men  :  Samuel  Dudley,  Thomas  Bradbury,  Robert 
Pike,  Henry  Munday,  Isaac  Buswell. 

Jan.  15th.  A  town  meeting  was  held  and  some  further  encour- 
agement given  to  those  who  should  remove  to  the  new  terri- 
tory : — 

"  Ordered,  that  those  persons  that  go  up  to  live  upon  the 
west  side  of  the  Powwas  river  shall  have  the  sole  feeding  on  that 
side  for  the  year  ensuing,  and  power  to  make  order  about 
fences." 

Jan.  20th.  Joseph  Moyce  sold  to  Richard  Currier  his  "new 
house,  land,  all  things  thereunto  belonging." 

Mr.  Samuel  Dudley  and  Samuel  Winsley  were  chosen  depu- 
ties Jan.  15  th. 

It  was  ordered  that  the  "rate  in  Constable's  hands  be  gathered 
in  corn  row  &  half  in  work  at  spring  digging  the  creek  or 
planting." 

"Also,  it  is  ordered  that  the  improved  lands  of  all  those  men 
yl  have  lands  upon  ye  west  side  of  ye  Powwaus  river  shall  be 
rated  att  half  so  much  as  the  imprvd  land  att  the  Towne  until] 
they  have  a  Minister  there." 

This  order  does  not  establish  the  fact  that  there  were  any 
living  west  of  the  Powow  at  this  time,  but  it  very  clearly  reit- 
erates the  determination  formed  in  1642,  when  the  order  of 
removal  was  passed,  to  make  a  new  town  in  course  of  time.  It 
may  be  that  some  had  already  crossed  the  river  and  were  cul- 
tivating small  patches  near  by,  but  in  our  careful  search  to 
ascertain  the  fact  we  have  failed  to  find  any  evidence. 


30  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

Messrs.  Winsley,  Severance,  Buswell,  Sanders  and  Ralfe  Blais- 
dell  were  ordered  to  make  a  rate  of  ,£27  for  Mr.  Worcester's 
half-yearly  salary. 

Feb.  1 9th.  "  Ordered,  that  those  prsons  of  ye  towne  of  Salis- 
bury wch  goe  up  to  live  upon  the  west  side  of  the  Powwaus 
river,  shall  have  the  libertie  of  the  sole  feeding  of  the  common 
for  there  chattell  upon  the  west  &  South  side  of  Powwaus  river, 
prvided  they  let  none  come  upon  the  towne 's  side,  nor  the 
Towne  let  any  goe  of  there  chattells  (  excepting  calves )  to  goe 
upon  the  above  sayd  side  of  the  Powwaus  river  for  the  ensuing 
year."  They  were,  also,  to  have  power  to  make  orders  about 
fences. 

Feb.'  20th.  Richard  North  was  granted  ten  acres  east  of  Powow, 
in  lieu  of  twenty  acres  granted  previously  west  of  Powow  river. 
This  grant  was,  no  doubt,  a  fair  illustration  of  the  value  of  land 
each  side  of  the  Powow,  and  explains  the  reluctance  of  the  peo- 
ple to  leaving  Salisbury  for  this  wilderness. 

March  25th.     Philip  Challis  ordered  to  run  his  fence  straight. 

Richard  Goodale  was  engaged  to  hunt  this  year,  and  for  hunt- 
ing six  weeks  before  Michaelmas  he  was  to  have  "one  peck  of 
Indian  come  from  each  townsman  &  ^3  to  be  paid  him  in 
wheat ;  and,  also,  to  have  for  each  fox  killed  2  s.  6  d.,  and  for 
everie  wolf  ^2." 

April  1 8th.     Josiah  Cobham  appointed  grand  juror. 

May  13th.     Richard  Dummer,  of  Newbury,  chosen  deputy. 

June  4th.  Richard  North  and  John  Stevens  chosen  survey- 
ors of  roads,  and  all  are  to  work  on  lawful  notice,  under  5  s. 
fine. 

Dec.  10th.  Forty  acres  granted  to  George  Carr,  next  his  sixty 
acres  near  Pentucket. 

John  Sanders,  John  Stevens  and  Thomas  Barnett  were  chosen 
to  "search  out  what  trees  have  been  cut  for  pipe-staves  contra 
to  order  of  1642,  and  inform  the  constable  who  shall  demand 
the  fine."  The  committee  were  successful  in  their  search,  as 
we  shall   see  in  1645. 

Robert  Pyke  was  appointed  to  end  cases  below  20  s. 

Philip  Challis  was   appointed   by  the  General  Court  one  of  a 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  3 1 

committee  to  lay  out  six  hundred  acres  of  land  to  Mr.  Ward 
near  Pentucket. 

At  the  May  session  of  the  General  Court  the  fine  imposed 
upon  Salisbury  for  not  having  a  watch-house  was  remitted,  as  the 
town  had  provided  one.  The  danger  from  the  Indians  was  such 
that  every  town  was  required  to  keep  watchmen  with  their  head- 
quarters at  the  watch-house. 

An  order  was  passed  by  the  General  Court  requiring  every 
town  to  take  measures  to  make  "  salt  peeter,"  and  a  commis- 
sioner was  appointed  to  see  to  it  that  the  order  might  be  obeyed. 
Sergt.  Challis  was  appointed  for  Salisbury,  Sept.  27th,  1642,  but 
it  seems  was  a  little  negligent,  as  this  year  the  Court  gently 
reminded  Salisbury  as  follows  : — 

"  It  is  conceived  fit  the  order  established  about  salt  peeter  should 
be  observed  at  Salsberry." 

The  order  provided  that  "  Every  house  or  some  two  or  more 
houses  to  join  together  for  the  breeding  of  salt  peeter  in  some 
out  houses  for  poultry  or  the  like,"  under  penalty  of  12  d.  fine 
for  each  month's  neglect.  Such  families  were  to  be  paid  a  due 
price  for  the  same. 

April  5  th.  Jarrett  Haddon  sold  his  house  and  lot  of  two 
acres  on  the  circular  road  to  Samuel  Felloes  and,  also,  a  plant- 
ing-lot ;  and,  probably,  removed  west  of  the  Powow  at  this 
time. 

1645. 

Prudential  men  :  John  Sanders,  John  Ralfe,  John  Stevens, 
John  Elsley ;  Ralfe  Blaisdell,  constable.  The  "five  men"  were 
empowered  to  order  all  town  business  except  giving  out  lands. 

Richard  Goodale  was  again  employed  to  hunt,  with  a  salary 
of  ,£13.  He  was  "to  hunt  1  day  everie  week  whether  there 
be  anie  occasion  or  noe,  &  as  often  as  there  be  occasion,  &  to 
have  1  s.  for  everie  fox  &  woulf,  according  to  County  order, 
and  not  to  hunt  in  any  other  towne  and  to  have  his  pay  at  a 
week's  warning."  He  was,  no  doubt,  an  expert  in  the  business, 
and  the  town  was  determined  to  secure  his  services  at  home. 
It  might  have  been  interesting  to  have  listened  some  of  those 
long  winter  evenings  to  his  stories  of  wonderful  shots  and  mirac- 


32  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

ulous  escapes  from  danger.  Old  and  young  were  attentive  list- 
eners on  such  occasions,  no  doubt. 

The  committee  chosen  last  year  to  inquire  into  the  violation 
of  the  order  concerning  cutting  trees  did  their  duty  faithfully, 
and  reported  the  names  of  those  subject  to  fines,  as  follows  : — 

Samuel  Hall,  Richard  Currier,  George  Martin,  John  Hoyt, 
Thomas  Whitcher,  William  Sargent,  Willi.  Brown,  Thomas  Row- 
ell,  Henry  Munday,  Thomas  Macy,  William    Barnes. 

Jan.  2d.  What  the  amount  of  each  man's  fine  was  does 
not  appear ;  but  at  this  meeting  it  was  "  ordered  that  Samuel 
Hall's  forfeiture  shall  be  abated  to  ^5,  &  he  to  have  the  trees, 
to  be  paid  forthwith.  Richard  Currier's  abated  to  £2  10  s.  & 
trees.  George  Martin's  to  £1  5  s.  &  trees.  John  Hoyt's  to 
£2  10  s.  Thomas  Whitcher's  to  £2  10  s.  Willie  Sargent's  to 
20  s.  Willie  Brown's  "xs".  Thomas  Rowell's  to  £2  15  s. 
Henry  Munday's  to  8  s.  4  d.  Thomas  Macy's  to  15  s.  Wil- 
liam Barnes'  to  1  s.  8  d." 

These  fines  were  ordered  to  be  paid  forthwith  to  the  consta- 
ble in  "pipe-staves  or  corn  or  cattle,"  "staves  to  be  delivered 
at  the  water  side,"  at  the  head  of  Town  creek. 

Jan.  6th.  "Ordered,  40  s.  to  John  Sanders,  John  Stevens  & 
Thomas  Barnett  for  their  services."  Also,  a  fine  of  10  s.  per 
tree  was  ordered,  and  2  s.  6  d.  of  it  to  go  to  the  complainant, 
for  future  violations  of  the  order. 

Samuel  Winsley,  John  Severance  and  John  Elsley  were  chosen 
to  lay  out  a  road  "  to  Little  river,  5  rods  broad."  This  was 
the  road  which  branches  from  the  old  road  and  leads  to  the 
large  brook   ( Little  river)   at  East  Salisbury. 

Samuel  Hall  seems  to  have  been  peculiarly  unfortunate,  hav- 
ing been  obliged  to  pay  a  fine  of  ^5 — about  twice  as  much 
as  any  other  person  for  cutting  trees — and  now  a  fine  of  "5  s. 
for  his  abusive  speaches  wa?1  the  ffreemen,  saying,  'you  are  all 
lords,  all  monarchs  ;  your  will  must  be  a  law,'  and  such  like." 
He  was,  evidently,  vexed  with  his  heavy  fine  and  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  give  them  somewhat  of  his  mind  in  town  meeting,  let 
the  consequences  be  what  they  would.  But  there  was  really 
more  of  "truth  than  poetry"  in  his  words. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURV.  $?, 

Feb.  5th.  A  meeting  was  held,  and  it  was  ordered  that  all 
fences  be  made  by  "ye  20th  of  ye  next  month  to  keep  out  all 
cattle,  but  not  goats  &  they  to  have  a  keeper." 

"  All  swine  above  4  mos.  old  shall  have  libertie  to  goe  about 
ye  towne  free,  and  wl  prsons  shall  neglect  to  make  their  fences 
sufficient  pr  ye  time  to  be  fined  2  s.,  &  for  everie  12  foote  so 
found  to  pay  2  s.  6  d.,  this  order  to  stand  in  force  1  yeare." 

There  were  very  few  seasons  in  those  times  when  the  frost 
would  allow  of  fence  building  by  the  20th  of  March.  It  would 
seem  that  the  springs  were  earlier  then  than  now,  but  this  order 
was  extended  to  April  nth,  at  a  meeting  of  the  commoners' 
committee  April  4th,  "  ye  wether  disabling  men  for  ye  same." 

It  was  ordered  that  no  cattle  but  calves  should  be  put  on 
the  lands  between  Mill  river,  on  the  west  of  the  bridge,  to  the 
great  swamp,  under  penalty  of  5  s. 

"  Further  ordered,  that  if  any  person  put  his  cattle  to  any 
heard  but  the  towns,  or  such  as  the  5  men  approve,  they  shall 
not  be  allowed  their  milch  cows  in  the  town  heard." 

For  many  years  cattle  went  in  herds  with  keepers,  and  not 
in  small  pastures  as  at  the  present  day ;  and  it  was  quite  a  priv- 
ilege to  have  them  under  their  care. 

The  remainder  of  the  rate  made  to  defray  the  "digging  up 
ye  creek"  was  ordered  to  be  taken  to  pay  town  debts. 

April  8th.  At  a  general  meeting,  Jarrett  Haddon  was  chosen 
grand  juror  for  the  year. 

April  2 1  st.  At  a  general  meeting  it  was  ordered  "yl  no  prson 
shall  imprve  or  make  use  of  any  candle  wood  or  pine  trees 
for  ye  making  pitch  or  tarr,  or  Rosen  to  sell  or  carrie  out  of 
ye  Towne  upon  ye  penaltie  of  20  s.  for  everie  loade,  &  accord- 
ing to  ye  same  rate  for  any  lesser  prportion." 

May  1  st.  A  general  meeting  chose  Samuel  Winsley  deputy 
"  for  ye  Court  of  Election,  and,  moreover,  it  was  ordered  that 
he  shall  have  8  s.  pr  week  while  he  attends  ye  Court,  alloAving 
him  for  2   days  going    &    2    days    returning    att    ye  same    rate." 

Mr.  Winsley,  probably,  rode  on  horseback,  and  as  far  as  Salem 
the  first  day,  and  arrived  at  Boston  the  afternoon  of  the  sec- 
ond day. 

5 


34  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

May  8th.  A  general  meeting  was  held  and  John  Sanders, 
Richard  Wells  and  Willie  Partridge  were  chosen  to  lay  out  "ye 
highway  to  ye  Beach,"  and  to  satisfy  the  owners  of  the  meadow 
taken  with  other  land. 

Thomas  Bradbury  was  chosen  grand  juryman  for  the  year. 

May  2 2d.  At  a  general  meeting  "it  was  ordered  yl  John  San- 
ders, John  Stevens  &  Thomas  Macy  shall  appoint  where  the 
highways  shall  lie  beyond  ye  Pawwaus  river  from  ye  mill  to  ye 
houses,  where  they  shall  think  most  convenient,  &  this  to  be 
done  between  this  &  September  next." 

This  order  would  rather  seem  to  indicate  that  some  houses 
were  already  built  west  of  the  river,  although  the  road  may  have 
been  in  anticipation  of  their  location  on  the  removal  of  the 
families  ordered  across.  It  is  probable  that  the  removals  were 
very  gradual  at  first,  and  the  few  small  houses  were  located 
near  the  river  in  every  instance. 

John  Stevens  and  John  Severance  were  appointed  surveyors, 
with  power  to  "demand  everie  man  helpe  toward  ye  making  & 
repairing  of  wayes."  They  were  to  give  three  days'  notice,  and 
were  to  be  paid  if  they  spent  more  than  their  share  of  time. 
There  was  a  great  deal  of  work  needed  to  make  their  "paths" 
even  passable  for  horseback  riders,  and  very  few  to  do  it.  Peo- 
ple were  busy  with  their  own  affairs,  clearing  and  reclaiming 
land,  and  it  required  all  the  power  which  the  infant  colony  pos- 
sessed to  procure  their  labor  on  the  roads. 

It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  note  that  our  ancestors,  although  intense 
lovers  of  freedom,  carried  all  their  measures  by  fines  and  force  ; 
nothing  was  done  by  moral  suasion,  and  Mr.  Hall  said  truly, 
"  you  are  all  lords,  all  monarchs  ;  yr  will  must  be  a  law."  It 
was  a  commonwealth  of  equals  which  they  were  attempting  to 
established,  and  how  well  they  succeeded  let  the  present  gener- 
ation answer. 

Oct.  20th.  Samuel  Dudley  and  John  Sanders  were  author- 
ized to  sue  for  the  fines  "for  pipe-staves." 

"Also,  it  was  ordered  that  Ralfe  blesdale  shall  keep  the  ordi- 
nary, &  shall  have  power  to  draw  &  sell  such  in  case  the  Court 
will  give  him  licence." 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  35 

Oct.  29th.  At  a  general  meeting  of  the  freemen  "it  was 
ordered  that  the  lane  wich  turnes  by  Richard  Currier's  new 
dwelling  house  shall  goe  no  further  than  the  end  of  yc,  wch  was 
John  ffellers  house-lot."  Richard  Currier  was  yet  in  Salisbury, 
east  of  the   Powow. 

Ralfe  Blesdell  borrowed  one  thousand  pipe-staves  of  the  town 
to  pay  in  twelve  months.  He,  probably,  had  engaged  a  large 
number  and,  being  short,  solicited  a  portion  of  those  which  had 
been  paid  in  for  fines,  while  he  might   be   able  to  make  them. 

The  commoners'  committee  confirmed  all  grants  of  land  which 
were  made. 

Sept.  19th.  Luke  Heard  sold  his  house,  lot  and  planting-lot 
to  George  Brown  for  _£g.  He  lived  within  the  circular  road, 
■near  its  junction  with  the  "  fferrie  road." 

A  rate  of  £8  was  ordered  "to  defray  town  charges  and  to 
daub  the  meeting  house."  If  built  in  1640  it  would  need 
re-daubing  or  plastering  again  by  this  time.  The  clay  mortar, 
although  becoming  quite  hard,  would  gradually  fall  off,  leaving 
sufficient  openings  between  the  logs  for  the  cold  to  creep  in. 

1646. 

Prudential  men :  Samuel  Dudley,  Christopher  Batt,  Henry 
Munday,  Edward  French,  John  Eaton. 

"Ralph  Blesdale  is  allowed  to  draw  wine  at  Salsberry"  by  the 
General  Court  this  year.  He  was,  as  usual,  chosen  to  keep  an 
"ordinary"  in  town,  in  later  times  called  tavern.  Most  of  the 
town  meetings  in  those  times  were  held  at  the  ordinary.  There 
was  a  petition  sent  to  the  General  Court  by  some  of  the  Salis- 
bury people  for  a  new  church  organization,  and  a  committee 
was  appointed,  as  follows  : — 

"Mr.  Richard  Dumer,  Mr.  Edward  Rawson  &  Mr.  Carleton 
are  appointed  a  committee  to  search  &  examine  things  at  Sals- 
berry  &  make  returne  of  their  thoughts  thereabouts  (concern- 
ye  petition  of  some  of  ym  to  be  a  distinct  church)  and  return 
their  thoughts." 

Why  this  petition  was  sent  to  the  General  Court  we  have  no 
means  of  knowing ;  but  it  is  certain  that  since  the  erection  of 
two  mills  on  the    Powow  river,  the  population  had  increased  in 


36  HISTORY     OF     AMESEURY. 

this  section,  and  it  may  be  that  in  their  own  estimation  they 
were  able  to  maintain  a  minister  in  their  midst,  which  would  be 
a  great  convenience.  Or,  it  may  be  that  dissentions  had  crept 
into  the  church  to  such  an  extent  that  it  was  deemed  advis- 
able to  settle  the  matter  by  establishing  a  second  one.  It  has 
been  thought  by  some  that  this  move  was  to  establish  a  church 
west  of  the  Powow  river ;  but  such  could  not  have  been  the 
case,  as  there  were  few,  if  any  settlers  there  at  this  time.  The 
most  reasonable  conclusion  is  that  the  intention  was  to  organize  a 
second  church  at  the  west  part  of  the  town,  for  the  conven- 
ience of  the  settlers  there. 

April  2 1  st.  It  was  "ordered  that  the  fence  between  Samuel 
ffelloes  &  Phillip  Challice  his  house  shall  be  sett  up  in  the 
same  place  where  it  was  wont  to  stand,  pVided  the  pties  make 
a  sufficient  gate  for  the  use  of  ye  Contry."  Phillip  Challice 
seems  to  have  been  in  Salisbury  (old  town)  at  this  time,  by 
the  above  order. 

It  was  "ordered  that  the  lane  wch  turn  at  Richard  Currier's 
new  house  goe  no  farther  thau  John  Fuller's  planting-lot." 

A  rate  of  ^20  was  ordered  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  town. 

John  Eaton,  sen.,  was  chosen  grand  juror. 

Samuel  Winsley,  who,  like  many  others,  was  engaged  in  the 
fishing  business,  was  allowed  "  the  acre  reserved  for  fisherie  on 
an  island  by  the  river  side  in  Mr.  Hook's  bounds,  as  long  as 
he  continues  fishing." 

The  bounty  on  wolves  was  fixed  this  year  at  £1,  10  s.,  and 
on  foxes  at  1  s.  each. 

1647. 

Prudential  men  :  Samuel  Dudley,  Robert  Pike,  Thomas  Brad- 
bury, Ralfe  Blasdell,  Thomas  Macy,  Philip  Challis  and  Samuel 
Winsley. 

This  year  a  stringent  law  was  passed,  requiring  every  town- 
ship of  fifty  families  to  maintain  a  school,  and  the  preamble  to 
the  law  is  worthy  of  being  read  by  every  one  : — 

"  It  being  one  cheife  priect  of  yl  ould  deluder,  Satan,  to  keepe 
men  from  the  knowledge  of  ye  Scriptures,  as  in  formr  times,  by 
keeping  ym  in  an  unknowne    tongue,  so    in  these  lattr  times    by 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  37 

prswading  from  ye  use  of  tongues  y'  so,  at  least,  ye  true  sence  & 
meaning  of  ye  originall  might  be  clouded  by  false  glosses  of 
saint-seeming  deceivers,  yl  learning  may  not  be  buried  in  ye  grave 
of  or  fathrs  in  ye  church  &  commonwealth,  the  Lord  assisting 
our  endeavors, — 

It  is,  therfore,  ordred,  yl  evry  towneship  in  this  jurisdiction, 
aftr  ye  Lord  hath  increased  ym  to  ye  number  of  50  household rs, 
shall  then  forthwith  appoint  one  with"  their  towne  to  teach  all 
such  children  as  shall  resort  to  him  to  write  &  reade." 

This  has  the  right  ring  and  sets  forth  the  best  of  all  reasons 
for  a  general  education  of  all  the  children,  viz.  :  That  the 
"ould  deluder"  may  lose  his  influence  over  the  people  by  a 
general  diffusion  of  light  and  knowledge.  This  advice,  in  the 
shape  of  law,  was  willingly  obeyed,  and  the  town  hired  a  teacher 
and  agreed  to  pay  him  in  provisions. 

Ralph  Blasdell  was  granted  four  acres  "above  the  mill  in  the 
new  meadow."  This  mill,  which  is  several  times  mentioned, 
was  evidently  on  "  little  river,"  which  is,  also,  frequently  named. 
Little  river  is  near  the  railroad  crossing  at  East  Salisbury,  extend- 
ing along  down  to  the  meadows,  and  has,  at  present,  an  old 
saw  mill  standing  on  it  and  the  remains  of  an  old  dam  near 
the  Hon.  Streeter  Evans'  residence.  In  the  dry  season  there  is 
but  little  water  running,  but  at  other  times  sufficient  to  carry 
the  mills.  It  is  possible  and  probable  that  a  mill  was  built  on 
this  stream  even  before  William  Osgood  built  on  the  Powow. 
There  is  a  mill  and  mill  road  mentioned  in  1639,  some  three 
years  before  the  grant  to  Mr.  Osgood,  and  it  is  reasonable  to 
conjecture  that  settlers  in  this  section  would  seek  to  accommo- 
date themselves  as  well  as  possible  and  as  soon  as  possible- 
The  first  mills  were  built  on  small  streams,  requiring  but  little 
expense  to  erect  the  dams  and  buildings.  The  settlers  around 
"the  green"  would  hardly  think  of  doing  without  a  mill,  or 
of  building  it  some  four  miles  away. 

Jan.  27th.  An  order  was  passed  forbidding  any  person  from 
gathering  more  than  "two  loads  of  candlewood  off  the  comon 
yearly  for  any  use  w'ever  upon  the  penalty  of  twenty  shillings 
pr  load." 


38  •  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

Feb.  8th.  The  Prudential  men  ordered  all  fences  set  up  by 
the  i  st  of  April.  For  years  the  matter  of  fences  has  been  taken 
in  hand  at  the  meetings  held  the  latter  part  of  February,  and 
it  is  a  little  remarkable  that  the  time  fixed  for  complete  repairs 
was  much  earlier  than  at  present. 

Feb.  24th.  The  Prudential  men  repealed  the  order  about 
candlewood,  but  forbid  any  one  from  burning  "any  kelne  "  of 
it  under  ^5  fine. 

Goats  were  very  generally  kept  and  were  very  troublesome, 
so  that  it  became  necessary  to  fine  the  owners,  who  allowed 
them  to  run  at  large,  12  d.  for  every  one  taken  in  any  "garden, 
corne  or  orchard,  winter  or  summer." 

Richard  North  was  allowed  "fivetie  shillings  for  ringing  the 
bell  two  yeare  &  a  half  past  and  twenty  shillings  to  ring  it  one 
yeare  more."  Most  of  the  early  meeting  houses  were  built  with 
a  hopper  roof  and  cupola  suitable  for  a  bell,  and  the  sound  of 
"the  church-going  bell"  was  heard  from  the  first  churches  erected. 

Sept.  27th.  John  Hoyt  sold  to  Willi.  Holdred  his  house  and 
two-acre  lot,  but  reserved  the  commonage.  He,  no  doubt, 
removed  to  the  west  side  of  the  Powow  at  this  time. 

March  25th.  Anthonie  Colbie  sold  to  Willi.  Sargent,*  seaman,  his 
house  and  two-acre  lot  lying  between  the  house-lots  of  Jarrett  Had- 
don  and  Henry  Browne,  and,  probably,  removed  west  of  the  Powow. 

Dec.  2 1  st.  John  Severance  sold  to  Thomas  Bradbury  "his 
new  and  old  house  and  house-lot  adjoining  on  both  sides  of 
ye  street  on  N.  W.  side  of  ye  road  running  into  a  great  swamp 
ye  middle  of  it." 

In  an  old  deed  dated  this  year,  John  Harrison  is  described 
as  "Cordish  maker  of  Boston." 

"Ralph  Blasdell  is  alowed  to  draw  wine  at  Salsberry,  pays  ye 
rent  appointed  by  ye  last  ordr  of  Corte." 

1648. 

Prudential  men  :  Christopher  Batt,  Thomas  Bradbury,  Edward 
French,  Isaac  Buswell,  Richard  Wells. 

Constables  :  Edward  French  and  Samuel  Winsley. 
Fence  viewers  :  Richard  North  and  Samuel  Fellows. 
Surveyors  of  highways  :  John  Dickinson  and  John  Clough. 
*See  164S. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  •  39 

Rev.  Mr.  Worcester  had  leave  "  to  fell  trees  on  the  common 
for  2000  pipe-staves." 

The  regulations  about  goats  were  repealed  so  far  as  to  impose 
no  fine  if  "  the  fence  was  4  feet  high  and  built  of  good  rails, 
&  there  were  no  stumps  that  they  could  climb  on  to  so  that 
they  might  leap  over,"  but  otherwise  damages  were  to  be  col- 
lected. Most  of-  the  fields  were  yet  dotted  with  stumps  which 
had  not  decayed.  Goat  herds  were  kept  on  the  commons  under 
the  care  of  a  herdsman  who  was  paid  by  those  who  turned  in. 
The  fences  were  mostly  built  of  rails  and  posts,  but  sometimes 
by  stakes  or  "pales"  set  in  the  ground;  very  little  stone  wall 
had  as  yet  been  built.  Rail  fence  must  consist  of  four  large 
rails  or  five  small  ones.  The  fences  were  ordered  to  be  set  up 
by  April  1st  this  year. 

The  order  about  wolves  and  foxes  was  repealed  and  a  new 
one  made  as  follows  : 

"And  it  is  now  ordered  that  wl  prson  soever  shall  kill  a  wolfe 
vvthin  ye  Towne  bounds  wth  his  gunne  shall  have  10  s.  and 
whosoever  catcheth  or  kills  them  wth  a  trapp  shall  have  15  s. 
and  whosoever  kills  them  in  hunting  wth  doggs  shall  have  20  s. 
also  6  d.  pr  head  for  foxes." 

Henry  Munday,  Christopher  Batt,  Samuel  Winsley,  Isaac  Bus- 
well  and  Josiah  Cobham  were  chosen  grand  jurors  to  Salisbury 
Court. 

June  4th.  Samuel  Dudley,  Samuel  Hall  and  Willie  Partridge 
were  joined  to  the  Prudential  men  to  settle  the  matter  with  Mr. 
Carr  about  the  ferry. 

A  rate  of  ^30  was  ordered  to  pay  Mr.  Worcester  six  months' 
salary. 

Dec.  1 8th.  A  committee  was  chosen  to  review  the  bounds 
next  Hampton,  consisting  of  Robert  Pike,  Samuel  Winsley,  Wil- 
liam Sargent,  Henry  Ambros,  and  Phillip  Challis. 

At  this  meeting  "  Mr.  Winsley,  John  Stevens,  Joh.  Severance, 
Henry  Broune"  were  fined  12  d.  "a  peece  for  disorderly  talking 
in  the  meeting." 

It  seemed  to  be  characteristic  of  those  early  settlers  that  they 
were   very  much   inclined  to    speak   their   minds,  and   in  rather 


4-0  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

plain  language.  What  raised  the  angry  discussion  is  not 
known,  but  there  appears  to  have  been  but  two  subjects  before 
the  meeting,  viz.  :  the  Hampton  line  and  disposal  of  the  "fferry." 
Mr.  Winsley  was  engaged  in  the  fishing  business  to  some  extent, 
and  may  have  opposed  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Carr  for  renting 
the  ferry.  The  meeting,  however,  "ordered  that  Mr.  Carr" 
should  have  the  ferry  fourteen  years  upon  the  terms  agreed 
upon  by  the  committee  chosen  in  June. 

George  Martin  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  the  abate- 
ment of  the  fine  imposed  upon  his  wife  by  the  County  Court 
(20  s.),  and  the  matter  was  referred  to  Hampton  Court. 

March  25th.  Willi.  Sargent  sold  the  house  and  lot  which  he 
bought  of  Anthony  Colby  last   year  to  Samuel  Felloes. 

Salisbury  sent  a  petition  to  the  General  Court  for  a  grant  of 
the  islands  in  the  river,  and  at  the  May  session  the  following- 
order  was  passed  :  "  Upon  the  petition  of  the  towne  of  Sals- 
berry  the  Corte  conceive  it  meete  that  the  little  iland  in  Mer- 
rimack be  reserved  for  the  countryes  use,  &  the  greater  iland 
to  be  given  to  the  towne  of  Salsberry,  reserving  a  sufficient 
highway  for  passage  of  men  &  cattle,  &  that  the  towne  may 
have  liberty  to  keepe  a  ferry  on  their  side." 

"  Thomas  Rowell  being  absent  from  Church  was  brought 
before  the  Court  for  being  found  in  John  Bournd  house  by  the 
Constable  in  time  of  public  ordinances  on  a  lectur  day  is  sen- 
tenced to  pay  5  6  and  2  6  fees  court."  "And  John  Bournd  is 
fined  for  selling  strong  water  on  the  same  lectur  day  and 
allowing  persons  to  get  drunk  in  his  house." 

1649. 

Prudential  men  :  Samuel  Dudley,  Christopher  Batt,  Thomas 
Bradbury,  Thomas  Macy,  Henry  Ambros. 

Constables  :     Willie  Allen  and  William  Barnes. 

Jan.  8th.  Ralfe  Blesdale  allowed  to  mow  four  acres  for  keep- 
ing  the  ordinary. 

Feb.  2d.  At  a  general  meeting  it  was  decided  that  "no 
pipe-stave  trees  above  18  inches  at  the  but  shall  be  granted  to 
any  man  to  be  transported  out  of  town  under  the  penalty  of 
^5   pr  thousand."     And  for  "boults"  under  the  penalty  of  ,£15 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  4 1 

pr  thousand,  &  hogshead  staves  ^4  pr  thousand,  and  barrel 
staves  ^"3  pr  thousand — any  kind  of  heading  stuff  40  s.  pr  thou- 
sand, and  this  to  continue  for  three  years,  and  not  to  be  altered 
but  by  consent  of  every  freeman  in  town."  The  woods  were 
carefully  guarded,  although  there  must  have  been  an  immense 
amount  of  growth  on  the  hills  and  valleys. 

Thomas  Whitcher  had  leave  to  make  three  barrels  of  tar — 
two  for  Mr.  Carr  and  the  other  for  the  town's  use. 

Isaac  Buswell  and  George  Carr  were  chosen  to  call  on  Newbury 
to  lay  out  the  "contry  roade  from  the  Island  to  Mr.  Clarks  farme." 

Samuel  Winsley  and  Willie  Partridge  were  chosen  Constables 
and  fined  20  s.  each  for  refusing  to  serve,  and  William  Barnes 
was  chosen. 

Beach  common  was  between  the  creek  and  the  sea. 

Mr.  Cobham  was  fined  1  s.  for  refusing  to  serve  as  juror. 

Nov.  2d.  Thomas  Pettitt  was  admitted  a  freeman  on  condi- 
tion that  he  "live  here,  and  he  shall  have  libertie  to  dwell  in 
the  watch  house  till  May  day  next  ensuing." 

Oct.  8th.  Thomas  Macy  sold  to  George  Martyn  one-half  of 
a  twenty-acre  lot  west  of  the  Powow,  for  the  sum  of  ^3,  10  s. 
Martyn  owned  a  small  lot  adjoining  this,  on  which  he  had  built 
a  house  recently. 

The  following  bill  of  sale  may  serve  to  illustrate  the  customs  of 
the  first  settlers  to  some  extent.  It  is  taken  from  the  ancient 
records  at  Salem  : — 

"In  consideration  of  ye  qrter  vessell  yl  I  ye  sd  George  Carr 
have  made  over  unto  William  Hilton,  as  is  in  writing  expressed, 
have  delivered  unto  ye  sd  George  Carr  James  my  Indian  and 
all  ye  interest  I  have  in  him,  to  him  or  to  his  assigns  forever, 
&  I  ye  sd  William  Hilton  doe  binde  myselfe,  heirs  &  assigns  to 
George  Carr  &  his  assigns  to  make  good  ye  sale  of  James  the 
Indian  wch  I  have  sold  unto  ye  said  George  Carr  his  servant 
forever  or  to  whom  ye  said  George  Carr   shall  assigne. 

Witness  this   29  December,   1649. 

Signed  and  delivered  in  ye  presence  of 
Abraham   Tappan,  William  Hilton, 

John  Bonde,  James  ye  Indian. 

Edmond  Greenlief.  his  m  marke  doth 

manifest  his  consent. 


42  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

Abraham  Tappan  and  John  Bonde  made  oathe  that  they  did 
see  this  writing  signed  and  delivered. 

Sworn  to  by  ye  sd  Tappan  &  Bonde  ye  24  of  ye  10  m.  1670. 
Before  me, 

Robert  Pike,    Commisr." 

This  was  by  no  means  a  solitary  case,  for  long  subsequent  to 
this  date  negroes  were  bought  and  sold  as  suited  the  wants  of 
the  people. 

Thomas  Bradbury's  orchard  is  mentioned  on  the  record,  show- 
ing that  in  ten  years  orchards  had  been  planted.  The  trees 
must  have  been  raised  from  the  seed  and  were  hardly  in  bearing 
condition. 

Dec.  3d.  A  meeting  has  held  and  an  order  passed  that 
"Anthony  Coleby  &  William  Browne  shall  have  power  to  sease 
upon  all  pipe-staves  &  boults,  hogshead  staves,  barrell  staves,  all 
kinds  of  heading  and  the  like  according  to  the  order — not  to 
reach  Richard  Currier's  and  George  Martin's  staves  y'  are  now 
in  the  woods  &  eatch  of  ye  one  tree,  already  felled  as  also  sayd 
Currier's  boults." 

Dec.  24th.  The  meeting  ordered  that  all  the  meadow  north 
of  Little  river  to  Hall's  farm  should  be  reserved  for  a  common. 

Salisbury  was  this  year  made  a  Shire  town  in  the  County  of 
Norfolk  "till  further  orders  from  Court."  Tradition  says  the 
courts  were  held  in  the  Cushing  house,  a  part  of  which  is  yet 
standing  near  East  Salisbury  on  the  Beach  road  and  is  no  doubt 
one  of  the  first  houses  built  subsequent  to  the  log  houses. 

March  8th.  Willi.  Holdred  sold  to  Henry  Brown  "his  dwell- 
ing house  and  all  houses  built  or  bought  by  him  near  unto  & 
his  house  lott  &  ye  house  lott  of  John  Dickinson  &  John  Hoyt 
which  he  bought  &  2  acres  of  meadow  every  thing  except  5 
loads  dung  &  ye  boards  over  and  against  ye  oxen  &  a  payer  of 
hinges  of  one  of  ye  doores  &  ye  railes  yl  lie  by  ye  leantoo  side 
also  his  commonage  &  two  of  ye  apple  trees  wch  ye  sd  William 
shall  make  choice  of." 

Henry  Biley  who  received  a  lot  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
circular  road,  between  John  Sanders  and  Robert  Ring,  was  dead 
in  1648  and  his  widow   petitioned   the    General  Court  for  leave 


HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY.  43 

to  sell  the  farm,  and  was  referred  to  Salisbury  Court  which  granted 
leave  and  appointed  Christopher  Batt  and  Robert  Pike  to  see 
that  the  children  (Henry  and  Rebecca)  had  the  money  when 
of  age. 

The  house  and  several  lots  were  sold  April  24th,  to  Henry 
Ambros,  including  "all  comons  &  town  privileges." 

The  widow  subsequently  married  John  Hall  of  Hampton,  and 
again  Rev.  William  Worcester. 

1650. 

John  Stevens  and  Samuel  Fellows  were  surveyors  of  high- 
ways. 

Feb.  7th.  A  bounty  of  30  s.  was  ordered  for  each  wolf  killed, 
and  the  order  to  stand  three  years. 

A  rate  of  ^22  was  ordered  to  be  collected  forthwith  to  pay 
town  debts. 

The  constable  was  ordered  to  collect  a  fine  of  2  s.  6  d.  from 
Willie  Partridge  "  for  putting  in  a  contrary  name  in  writing  for 
a  constable."  The  office  of  constable  was,  at  this  early  period, 
a  very  important  one  and  not  very  desirable.  Mr.  Partridge 
had  refused  to  serve  in  that  capacity,  and  now  votes  against  the 
regular  candidate,  who  was  getting  nearly  all  the  votes,  and  is 
fined.  This  was  Puritan  freedom  such  as  occasionally  cropped 
out  in  the  colony.  At  this  meeting  the  fines  of  all  who  had 
neglected  to  attend  town  meetings  were  abated. 

A  general  meeting  was  held  February  1 8th  and  "  Steven 
Flanders "  was  admitted  a  townsman  "  on  condition  that  he 
constantly  keep  the  town  heard  of  cows."  A  tract  of  land  was 
granted  him  beyond  "  Willi.  Allen's  house,  near  Samuel  Hall's." 
It  was  but  an  acre  and  a  half  for  a  house-lot. 

The  .matter  of  fencing  was  wholly  regulated  by  the  town,  even 
to  the  number  of  rails  in  the  different  sections.  For  instance  : 
From  John  Dickenson's  (  ffitts  his  corner )  to  Little  river,  it  was 
ordered  "to  be  sett  upp  with  5  rails,"  and  the  range  of  plant- 
ing from  John  Dickinson's  to  ye  farthest  corner  towards  ye 
mill,  shall  be  sett  upp  wth  a  fence  of  fouer  rayles,  and  from  the 
corner  to  the  boggie  meddow  wth  three  rayles."  It  was  built 
according  to  what  herd  was  pastured  against  it. 


44  HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY. 

March  25th.  Christopher  Batt,  Samuel  Winsley,  Samuel  Hall. 
Robert  Pike  and  Thomas  Bradbury  were  authorized  to  confirm 
all  grants  of  land  not  previously  confirmed. 

Nov.  23d.  The  town  gave  William  Osgood  liberty  to  use  all 
the  pine  trees  on  the  common  west  of  the  path  that  goes  from 
the  house  of  John  Bayly  unto  Exeter,  on  condition  that  he  set 
up  a  saw  mill  before  the  last  of  May,  1652,  and,  if  not  finished 
then,  the  liberty  to  be  void.  For  this  privilege  he  was  to  pay 
the  town  fifty  feet  of  merchantable  boards  or  planks  for  every 
thousand  feet  he  sawed.  Other  townsmen  were  allowed  to 
"make  use  of  any  pine  trees  either  for  canoes  or  to  saw  wth 
ye  whipsaw,  or  for  any  other  saw  mill,  but  not  to  fall  any  pine 
trees  and  let  them  lay  two  months."  Where  this  second  mill 
was  to  be  located  does  not  appear,  but  it  is  hardly  probable 
that  the  East  Salisbury  people  would  grant  any  favors  to  a  sec- 
ond mill  on  the  Powow.  It  is  more  probable  that  Little  river 
was  its  location,  if  ever  built.  The  affidavit  of  Richard  Currier 
in  1682  mentions  the  old  mill,  but  makes  no  reference  to  a 
second. 

April  1 2th.  George  Martin  bought  Anthony  Sadler's  house 
and  land  west  of  the  Powow,  described  as  follows  :  "  Between 
lands  of  John  Hoyt  and  Willi.  Osgood  butting  upon  the  river, 
mnning  60  rods  upwards  from  ye  river  side  next  to  John  Hoyt's 
unto  a  stake  within  3  rods  of  Josiah  Cobham's  fence,  &  then 
by  Osgood's  land  to  the  river."  Anthony's  wife,  Martha,  had  pre- 
viously notified  the  Court  of  her  objections  to  his  selling,  but  she 
signed  the  deed  at  this  time.  Tradition^  fixes  the  home  of  John 
Hoyt  where  Robert  W.  Patten,  Esq.,  now  lives,  and  the  Sadler 
lot  was,  probably,  the  next  north.  It  is  believed  that  John  was 
a  brickmaker  as  well  as  planter,  and,  probably,  was  the  first  man- 
ufacturer of  that  article  in  town.  In  December  of  this  year, 
Haverhill  offered  him  three-quarters  of  an  acre  of  land  and, 
also,  some  clay  pits,  to  remove  there,  which  would  seem  to  indi- 
cate pretty  strongly  that  he  was  a  brickmaker.  George  Martin 
was,  at  this  time,  living  on  his  Macy  lot,  south  of  John  Hoyt's 
and  not  far  from  East  Greenwood  street. 

Anthony  Sadler  was  a  shoemaker  (  and,  probably,  fisherman  ) 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  45 

owning  a  house-lot  nearly  opposite  Mr.  Stevens'  on  the  circular 
road,  and  twelve  acres  near  the  meadow.  Eleven  days  after 
selling  his  Amesbury  farm  he  was  drowned  ;  but  how  or  where 
the  record  does  not  state. 

Sept.  29th.  Christopher  Batt  sold  his  homestead  next  to  Mr. 
Bradbury's  to  Isaac  Buswell  and  his  son  Willi,  for  ^52.  It 
included  four  acres  of  upland  and  six  acres  of  meadow  adjoin- 
ing, which  may  be  known  by  "two  islands  of  upland  lying  in 
the  same."  The  eastern  boundary  was  the  drift- way  to  the  Town 
creek.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  tanner,  and  was  a  large  land- 
holder in  the  various  divisions.  Batt's  hill,  near  Edmund  and 
Robie  Morrill's,  has  served  to  hand  down  the  name  for  more 
than  two  centuries.  He  removed  to  Boston,  where  he  was  acci- 
dently  shot  some  ten  years  later.  By  the  Sale,m  records  we  find 
that  he  sold  several  large  tracts  of  land  at  Salisbury. 

1651. 

Samuel  Winsley  had  permission  to  fence  in  "  half  a  rod  square 
at  his  wife's  grave  in  the  burying  place." 

At  a  meeting  held  February  3d,  the  record  mentions  "  Salt- 
panns,"  and  it  is  a  matter  of  tradition  that  salt  was  made  from 
the  salt  water  at  this  early  day  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  settle- 
ment. The  location  of  these  "salt  panns"  or  salt  works  was 
at  or  near  Hook's  creek. 

Richard  Goodale  was  granted  a  house-lot  by  the  pound  on 
condition  that  he  build  on  it. 

Feb.  10th.  A  committee  consisting  of  Samuel  Winsley,  Thomas 
Bradbury  and  Phillip  Challis  was  chosen  to  settle  the  bounds 
next  to  Hampton,  and  were  allowed  2  s.  9  d.  per  day  for  their 
services. 

March  20th.  A  rate  of  ^35  was  ordered  towards  repairing 
and  finishing  the    meeting  house  and  paying  town  debts. 

Richard  Batt  and  Anthonie  Nuland  were  granted  six  acres  at 
Ring's  island,  with  the  right  reserved  for  the  town  to  "  set  up 
a  stage  and  flakes  for  fishing"  on  the  same. 

Vallentine  Rowell,  son  of  Thomas  Rowell,  was  made  a  towns- 
man this  year.  He  came  west  of  the  Powow  river  at  an  early 
date. 


46  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

April  nth.  George  Martyn  sold  his  house  and  land  to  Philip 
Challis.  It  is  described  as  follows :  "His  dwelling  house  & 
Lott  belonging  thereunto,  being  seven  score  rodd  of  ground  over 
&  above  the  one  full  and  compleat  half  of  that  lott  wch  was 
given  by  ye  Town  of  Salisbury  unto  Thomas  Macy,  &  sold  by 
him  unto  the  saycl  George  Martyn.  The  said  land  being  and 
lying  upon  the  west  side  of  the  Powas  river,  between  ye  lotts  of 
Willi.  Sargant  &  John  Hoyt,  one  end  butting  upon  the  river  & 
the  other  upon  land  of  Thomas  Barnard."  Martyn  bought  this 
lot  of  Macy  October  3d,  1649,  an<^  built  a  house  thereon,  or 
already  owned  one  on  the  "seven  score  rodd"  adjoining.  It 
was  half  of  Macy's  twenty-acre  lot,  and  Thomas  Barnard  owned 
the  west  end.  The  above  is,  in  all  probability,  the  date  of  the 
removal  of  Philip  Challis  to  the  new  town. 

June  4th.  George  Martin  mortgaged  his  house  and  land  to 
Samuel    Hall  "  for  ye  payment  of  3500  white  oake   pipestaves." 

"9  mo.,  165 1.  John  Baily,  living  here  and  his  wife  in  Eng- 
land, is  sentenced  by  Court  that  he  is  injoined  to  return  unto 
his  wife  by  next  summer  or  send  for  his  wife  to  come  over  to 
him."  *  But  she  never  came,  as  Mr.  Bayly  died  soon  after  this 
order. 

1652. 

Jan.  19th.     Samuel  Groome  made  a  townsman. 

Jan.  26th.  "  Ordered  that  the  old  meeting  house  shall  be 
repaired  wth  an  addition  of  a  new  frame  of  twelve  foot,"  and  "it 
is  left  to  Edward  French  &  John  Severance  to  agree  wth  any 
Carpenter  or  joyners  for  the  speedy  finishing  of  the  same  wth 
convenient  seats  &  wl  else  is  necessary  to  ye  sayd  house."  A 
rate  was  made  to  meet  the  expenses,  but  at  a  meeting  held 
February  2d,  it  was  decided  to  add  sixteen  feet  instead  of 
twelve.  The  addition  was  frame  work,  and  the  fact  that  it  was 
specially  designated  as  such  would  rather  seem  to  indicate  that 
the  old  house  was  built  of  logs  and,  if  built  previous  to  the 
completion  of  William  Osgood's  saw  mill  in  1641,  there  can  be 
little  doubt  that  it  was. 

A   general   division    of    the   commons   was   talked   of   at   this 

*Court  Records. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  47 

time,  but  it  was  not  deemed  prudent  to  hurry  matters,  and  a 
vote  was  passed  "that  there  should  be  nothing  done  at  any 
meeting  without  notice  left  at  every  house,  and  then  not  until 
agitated  att  three  several  Towne  meetings."  Meetings  were  not 
called  by  warrants,  as  at  present,  but  by  the  Prudential  men 
upon  such  notice  as  they  saw  fit  to  give.  This  order  was  intended 
to  check  even  the  Prudential  men  by  requiring  special  notice 
and  three  meetings  before  common  lands  could  be  given  out. 

Feb.  1 2th.  Edward  Cottle  was  made  a  townsman  "upon  con- 
dition that  he  shall  make  a  resignation  of  wl  rite  of  commonage 
belongs  to  Willi.  Holdred  to  ye  use  of  ye  Towne."  He  received 
a  grant  of  two  acres  in  the  new  meadows. 

Feb.  23d.  Samuel  Winsley  and  Abraham  Morrill  were  chosen 
to  divide  the  neck  towards  the  ferry,  which  division  had  already 
been  ordered. 

Thomas  Macy  was  given  all  the  meadow  left  at  the  new 
meadows  (  or  some  particular  part  thereof)  after  Edward  Cottle 
got  his  in  lieu  of  a  former  grant. 

In  the  -division  of  meadows,  the  right  to  pass  over  was  reserved 
to  those  owning  lots  joining  the  shore,  and  "  Anthony  Colbie  & 
Jarrett  Haddon  were  appointed  to  stake  out  the  paths  three  rods 
wide." 

The  great  neck  was  ordered  to  be  laid  out  as  an  ox  com- 
mon, but  to  continue  an  ox  and  cow  common  this  year  as 
before.  Also,  the  meadow  towards  the  Merrimac  river,  begin- 
ing  at  the  bridge  at  John  Sanders',  at  the  upper  end  of  the 
meadow.  There  was  some  opposition  to  this  order,  and  Phillip 
Challis,  Willi.  Osgood,  Willi.  Allin,  Willi.  Sargent,  Vallentine  Row- 
ell,  John  Hoyt,  Anthonie  Colbie,  Steven  Flanders,  Samuel  Getch- 
ell,  John  Gyll,  George  Martyn  and  John  Clough  entered  their 
"  contre  descent."  It  was  decided  to  give  up  "Elder's  Cove" 
to  the  cow-common  which  lay  north  of  the  Little  river  toward 
Hampton. 

The  boundary  line  between  Pentucket  and  Salisbury  seems 
to  have  been  in  dispute,  as  Lieut.  Pyke  was  ordered  "to  returne 
to  Pentuckett  answer  that  for  the  prsent  the  Towne  sees  no  rea- 
son to  alter  the  lyne,  but  shall  be  willing  to  attend  any  reason- 
able motion  farther  about  it." 


40  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

John  Bayly,  sen.,  died  this  year,  and  his  will  was  proved  April 
13th.  He  gave  his  house  at  Salisbury  to  his  son  John  during 
his  lifetime,  and  then  to  John,  jr.,  son  of  Joseph,  he  paying 
the  widow  J^b  if  she  came  over  to  Nuberryland.  He  gave  to 
his  daughter  Joannah,  wife  of  William  Huntington,  and  her  hus- 
band, his  house  and  land  which  he  bought  of  Vail.  Rowell  west 
of  the  Powow. 

Dec.  1  st.  William  Huntington  deeded  to  John  Bayly,  weaver, 
"his  dwelling  house  and  5  acres  lying  between  John  Weeds  and 
John  Bayly's,  sen.,  deceased,  joining  to  Jarrett  Haddon's  land ; 
also,  a  20  acre  lot  of  upland,  next  Richard  Wells,  butting  on 
river  south  and  common  ground   north." 

Jan.  4th,  1653.  John  Bayly  deeded  these  same  lots,  his  wife 
Elenor  joining  in  the  deed,  to  Joannah  Huntington  and  her  son 
John  and  daughter  Mary.  It  may  be  a  question  whether  the 
house  and  land  specified  in  the  will  of  John  Bayly,  sen.,  is  the 
same  deeded  to  John  Bayly,  jr.,  by  William ;  but  it  is  certain 
that  William  and  his  wife  sold  the  house  and  five  acres  in  1662 
to  John  Maxfield.  This  house  and  lot  was,  probably,  located  at 
the  ferry,  as  it  joined  Jarrot  Haddon's  land  and  is  not  described 
as  bounded  by  the  river  at  all.  It  is  probable  that  he  removed 
to  Pleasant  valley  at  the  time  he  sold  this  house. 

From  the  following  deposition  it  would  seem  that  ship  build- 
ing was  carried  on  at  this  early  date  on  the  Merrimac  river, 
and  that  the  first  saw  mill  was  doing  a  good  work. 

"  The  deposition  of  Nathan  Gould,  aged  68  years  or  there- 
abouts, Testyfyeth  and  sayth  that  in  ye  yeare  1652,  in  Septem- 
ber, he  came  into  this  Country  and  Town,  and  the  saw  mill  at 
Salesbury  was  then  built  and  going  and  had  gone  that  somer 
as  did  appear  by  the  heapes  of  Bord  then  at  the  sd  Mill,  of 
wch  boards  this  deponent  had  some  to  build  his  Shedd.  He 
further  sayth  that  folks  told  him  that  it  did  saw  the  plank  for 
Mr.  Greaves  vessel  that  was  gone,  and  he  this  deponent  saw 
her  in  Boston  and  further  sayth  not. 

Before  Robert  Pike,  Sept.  23,  1682. 

The   mill   had,  no    doubt,  been   in   operation   ten  years  when 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


49 


this  deposition  describes  the  work  it  had  done.  It  was  ordered 
in  1 64 1,  and  the  price  of  sawing  fixed;  and  it  is  certain  that 
it  was  built  by  William  Osgood,  who  had  the  first  grant. 

This  year  a  mint  was  established  at  Boston,  and  John  Hull 
appointed  mint  master.  The  famous  pine-tree  shillings  were 
coined  at  this  date. 

The  second  prison  was  built  at  Ipswich  this  year. 

The  records  of  the  first  church  in  Boston  mention  the  appear- 
ance of  a  comet,  as  follows :  "  December  ninth,  a  large  star 
with  a  long  blaze  appeared.  It  grew  less  and  less  till  the  twenty- 
second,  when  it  disappeared.  The  reverend  John  Cotton  died 
the  twenty-third  of  December." 

•  All  comets  were  believed  to  be  omens  and  attended  by  some 
marked  event,  generally  of  evil. 

Hugh  Parsons,  of  Springfield,  was  tried  for  witchcraft,  but, 
owing  to  disagreement  between  the  jury  and  magistrates,  was 
acquitted. 

Soon  after  the  mill  was  completed,  a  bridge  was  built  across 
the  Powow  to  enable  those  having  land  on  the  west  side  to 
haul  in  logs  and  pass  to  and  from  their  premises. 

Feb.  28th.  A  meeting  was  held  and  "Anthony  Colby  and 
Richard  Currier  given  power  to  lay  out  a  road  from  ye  mill 
bridge  to  ye  plain  that  goeth  to  ye  Lyons  mouth."  It  would  be 
impossible  to  designate  the  exact  location  of  this  ancient  road, 
which  was  to  be  four  rods  wide  and,  no  doubt,  intended  for  a 
permanent  highway. 

1653. 

John  Ilsley  was  appointed  to  keep  the  town's  powder,  bullets 
and  match.  This  was  an  important  matter  at  this  time  and 
required  constant  care.  The  importance  of  the  "town  stock" 
will  be  seen  by  the  fact  that  the  Salisbury  Court  was  this  year 
broken  up  by  Indian  troubles. 

In  September,  Mr.  Batt  sued  the  town  for  a  division  of 
meadow  and  the  case  was  tried  at  the  Salisbury  Court  and 
decided  against  him.  He  appealed  to  the  Court  of  Assistants 
and  the  decision  was  reversed  ;  but,  on  being  carried  up  to  the 
General  Court,  was  again  decided  in  favor  of  Salisbury. 

7 


50  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

1654. 

At  what  precise  time  the  settlement  of  Amesbury  commenced 
or  how  many  crossed  the  Powow  at  a  time  and  erected  their 
log  cabins  near  its  borders  can  never  be  known.  Tradition  has 
it  that  first  came  nine  and  subsequently  eight  more  families, 
but  there  is  little  if  any  proof  of  such  being  the  fact.  It  is 
more  probable  that  a  few  ventured  across  after  several  families 
had  settled  near  the  mill  in   Salisbury. 

Jarrett  Haddon  sold  his  house  in  Salisbury  April  5th,  1644, 
and  there  is  no  record  of  any  purchase  again  in  the  old  town, 
and  it  is  probable  that  he  came  over  at  that  time. 

John  Hoyt  sold  his  house  and  lot  in  Salisbury  September  27th, 
1647,  and>  no  doubt,  came  across  the  Powow. 

William  Sargent  sold  his  house  and  lot  in  Salisbury  March 
25th,  1648,  and  George  Martyn  bought  of  Thomas  Macy  a  ten- 
acre  lot  west  of  the  Powow  October  3d,  1649,  on  which  he 
built  a  house. 

At  an  earlier  date  (1645)  a  committee  was  chosen,  consist- 
ing of  John  Sanders,  John  Stevens  and  Thomas  Macy,  to  "appoint 
where  the  highways  shall  lie  beyond  ye  Pawwaus  River  from  ye 
mill  to  ye  houses  where  they  shall  think  most  convenient."  It 
is  by  no  means  certain,  however,  that  houses  were  already  built 
here,  as  the  order  may  very  properly  be  construed  to  mean 
where  they  were  to  be  located.  The  most  prominent  men  were 
certainly  east  of  the  Powow  at  this  time.  Richard  Currier  had 
just  bought  a  new  house  there,  Thomas  Macy  was  there  and 
so  was  John  Hoyt.  There  were  now,  however,  enough  to  organ- 
ize and  adopt  certain  articles  of  agreement,  defining  the  rights 
of  the  new  and  old  town,  as  follows  : — 

"Articles  of  agreement  covenanted,  made  and  concluded  upon 
ye  14th  of  ye  1  st  mo.  one  thousand  six  hundred  fifty  fower 
between  the  inhabitants  of  the  old  towne  of  Salisbury  &  the 
inhabitants  of  that  which  is  commonly  the  new  town,  witness- 
ing, as  followeth,  viz.  : 

First :  It  is  concluded  and  agreed  upon  between  the  afore- 
named inhabitants  that  the  whole  common  shall  be  divided 
between  them,  as  followeth,  viz.  :    that  the  inhabitants  of  ye  new 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  5  I 

towne  shall  have  for  their  full  part  and  portion  of  the  said 
common  all  those  lands  which  lie  upon  the  west  side  of  the 
pawwaus  river  up  to  Haverhill  bounds  &  the  said  river  to  divide 
the  bounds  between  the  new  town  and  the  old  town  of  Salis- 
bury, viz.  :  that  branch  of  the  sayd  river  on  which  the  mills 
now  stand  and  all  the  remaynder  of  the  common  besides  what 
is  before  expressed  is  agreed  and  concluded  upon  by  both  par- 
ties aforesaid  to  bee  the  full  part  and  portion  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  old  towne  for  their  bounds. 

2ly :  It  is,  also,  concluded  &  agreed  upon  between  the  afore- 
said inhabitants  of  each  towne  that  all  the  lands  in  the  prsent 
possession  of  either  parties  shall  be  rated  unto  yl  towne  only 
wherein  the  proprietors  now  dwell,  as  also  the  saw  mill  shall  be 
rated  to  that  towne  wherein  the  owners  live,  according  to  their 
parts  and  proportion  of  the  said  mill  provided  the  owners  live 
in  one  of  the  said  townes. 

3ly :  It  is  further  agreed  upon  by  the  said  inhabitants  of 
each  towne  that  three  parts  of  the  yearly  rent  of  the  prsent 
saw  mill  shall  belong  unto  the  inhabitants  of  the  old  towne  and 
the  other  fourth  part  of  the  yearly  rent  of  the  said  mill  unto 
the  inhabitants  of  the  new  towne  forever. 

4ly :  It  is  also  concluded  and  agreed  upon  by  y*  inhabitants 
of  ye  new  towne  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  old  town  shall  have 
full  power  &  libertie  to  feed  the  after  grass  of  all  the  meadows 
or  marshes  that  doe  or  shall  belong  unto  the  said  inhabitants 
of  ye  new  towne  in  that  tract  of  ground  meadow  or  marsh 
which  lies  from  the  hog  house  to  Merrimack  Rivers  mouth  & 
so  to  ye  extent  of  yc  bounds  to  Hampton  Rivers  mouth,  and 
the  said  inhabitants  of  the  new  towne  them  their  heirs  &  assigns 
shall  not  at  any  time  any  ways  lett  or  hinder  or  interrupt  the 
inhabitants  of  the  old  town  from  feeding  the  said  meadows  or 
marshes  as  aforesaid. 

5ly :  It  is  also  agreed  upon  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  new 
towne  that  William  Osgood  a  present  inhabitant  of  the  old 
towne  shall  have  libertie  for  himself  his  heirs  and  successors  to 
keep  eight  cows  upon  the  new  town  common  with  their  cow- 
heard   allowing   to   their   heardsman   the   like   pay  that   the  said 


52 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 


inhabitants  doe  both  for  quantity  and  qaulitie  according  to  their 
order  and  agreement  &  to  pay  rates  for  the  said  cows  during 
the  time  of  their  going  with  the  said  heards. 

61y :  It  is  also  agreed  and  concluded  upon  by  the  inhabi- 
tants of  each  partie  as  aforesaid  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  new 
towne  shall  have  their  full  proportion  of  all  the  common  stock 
of  ammunition  and  the  drum  which  is  in  their  prsent  possession 
and  the  inhabitants  of  the  old  town  shall  have  their  proportion 
of  the  said  amunition  and  the  new  drum,  as  also  the  Colors. 

7th  :  It  is  further  agreed  and  concluded  by  eache  party  that 
the  said  inhabitants  of  the  new  towne  shall  contribute  to  the 
mayntenance  of  the  ministry  of  the  old  town  untill  such  tyme 
as  the  said  inhabitants  of  the  new  towne  do  call  one  to  exer- 
cise among  them  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  &  allow  him 
mayntenance  from  which  time  the  said  inhabitants  shall  be  freed 
from  contributing  any  longer  towards  the  mayntenance  of  the 
ministry  of  the  old  towne  as  aforesaid. 

81y :  Last  of  all  it  is  fully  concluded  and  agreed  upon  by 
the  inhabitants  of  each  towne  that  the  said  townes  upon  the 
assignment  of  the  aforesaid  articles  of  agreement  shall  bee  abso- 
lutely dismist  of  themselves  &  have  no  farther  to  meddle  with 
the  affairs  of  each  other  in  any  towne  matters  whatsoever,  in 
witness  whereof  the  inhabitants  of  each  towne  aforesaid  have  to 
these  present  articles  of  agreement  enterchangably  put  to  their 
hands  the  first  of  the  third  month  one  thousand  six  hundred 
fifty  fower : 

Sam  Winsley,  sen., 

The  0  marke  of 

Georg  Goldwyer, 

The  H   marke  of 

Jn°  Hoyt, 

William  Buswell, 

Edward  French, 

The  A  marke   of 

William  Allen, 

The  f  marke  of 

Sam  Felloes, 


Tho.  Bradbury, 
Tho.  Macy, 
Ant.  Colby, 
The  f  mark  of 
Joseph  Moyce, 
The  11  mark  of 
Edw.  Cottle, 
John  Weed, 
William  Barnes, 
his  7  marke 
Geo.  M.  Martin, 


The  W  0  marke  of    Thomas  Barnard, 


Richard  Currier, 
Jaret  Hadon, 
The   T  marke  of 
Vail.  Rowell, 
The  T  marke  of 
Tho.  Carter, 
The  R  marke  of 
John  Rolf, 
John  Eaton, 
Phillip  Challis, 
The  F  marke  of 
Isaac  Buswell. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  53 

William  Osgood,  Henry  Browne,  The  ^  marke  of 

John  I  Stevens,  Roger  Eastman,  Richard  North." 

his  marke,  his  7  marke, 

Mr.  Thomas  Macy  was  deputy  this  year. 

March  2 2d.  George  Martyn  sold  the  right  of  commonage, 
which  he  bought  of  John  Cole  in  1643,  to  John  Maxfield,  for 
a  heifer. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  notwithstanding  the  virtual  separation 
by  agreement,  part  of  the  old  town's  officers  were  annually  chosen 
from  the  new  town  up  to  the  legal  incorporation  in  1666.  The 
new  town  had  a  complete  set  of  town  officers  for  their  own  munici- 
pal matters,  but  as  they  were  taxed  for  certain  purposes  in  the 
old  town,  officers  were  there  chosen  for  the  new  as  well  as  old. 

The  territory  thus  set  apart  for  a  new  town  was  large,  extend- 
ing to  "ye  great  country  pond"  or  further  and  embracing  a 
large  amount  of  territory  now  within  the  bounds  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. The  soil  is  generally  good  and  the  territory  is  dotted  with 
numerous  hills  which  give  a  great  variety  of  scenery.  Near  the 
center  of  the  town  is  Kimball's  pond,  the  Indian  name  of  which 
is  Attitash.  This  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water  about  one  mile 
in  diameter,  with  the  noble  Pond  hills  on  the  south  and  north, 
and  Bear  hill  on  the  west.  The  western  section  is  diversified 
by  numerous  hills  which  speck  its  surface  to  the  river's  banks 
which  in  several  places  tower  high  above  the  tide.  The  principal 
plains  are  "Pond  plain"  near  the  center  burying  ground  and 
extending  south  nearly  to  the  river;  the  large  plain  at  West 
Amesbury;  "Ben  Merrill's"  plain  near  Sandy  hill  meeting-house, 
and  the  plain  at  "Martin  place." 

1655. 

The  following  from  the  records  will  show  the  organization  of 
the  town  : — 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  ye  19th  day  of  ye  1st  month 
54  and  55  it  was  agreed  and  concluded  that  these  men  here 
after  mentioned  are  accounted  present  Inhabitants  and  Com- 
moners here  in  ye  new  town." 

At  the  same  meeting  "It  was  agreed  that  they  do  enter  into 


54  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

a  combination  for  ye  carrying  on  of  all  matters  that  do  concern 
the  town  or  plantation  according  to  terms  hereunto  written." 
"That  all  matters  of  publicke  concernment  be  ordered  by  the 
major  part  of  the  whole  company  of  the  inhabitants,  provided 
that  the  matters  they  do  act  on  shall  be  carryed  on  according 
to  law,  provided  also  that  each  man  of  ye  aforesaid  company 
have  notice  of  all  bisness  according  to  law  and  all  including 
what  ye  bisness  or  all  ye  gen1  bisness  is  that  is  to  be  transacted 
at  any  meeting  to  be  warned  as  Alowed." 

"Also  it  is  agreed  that  three  men  of  ye  Inhabitants  when 
they  judge  it  needful  for  ye  public  concernment  shall  have  power 
to  assemble  the  Inhabitants  at  any  time  provided  that  one  of 
the  three  men  so  agreeing  be  a  ffreeman  ffer  ye  full  manifest- 
ing of  our  consent  and  agreement." 

"We  the  Inhabitants  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  the  day 
and  year  above  written. 

Anthony  Colby,  John  Bayly,  Orlando  Bagly, 

John  Hoyt,*  William  Huntington,        Henry  Blasdell,' 

Phillip  Challis,  Valentine  Rowell,  Thomas  Macy, 

George  Martin,*  Thomas  Barnard,  William   Sargent, 

Jarrot  Haddon,  Edward  Cottle,  William  Barnes,* 

Richard  Currier,  John  Weed,  John  Colby." 

The  meeting  having  fixed  the  number  of  commoners  and 
passed  upon  various  other  matters,  it  was  important  that  a  clerk 
should  be  chosen  to  make  the  record ;  and  the  following  order 
was  passed  : — 

"At  the  same  meeting  it  was  ordered  that  Thomas  Macy 
shall  record  the  orders  of  the  Company  &  to  this  end  shall  have 
3  d.  a  meeting  allowed  to  him  and  also  apointed  to  record  all 
&  every  the  Articles  of  Agreement  made  between  the  old  town 
&  us." 

"At  the  same  meeting  it  was  agreed  that  what  staves  are 
made  upon  the  common  by  the  tyme  the  articles  between  the 
old  town  and  us  were  agreed  upon  that  whoever  has  made  pipe- 
staves  hogshead  staves  barrel  staves  or  heading  shall  pay  to  the 

*Made  their  marks.  The  above  signatures  were  on  the  original  book  made 
and  used  by  Thomas  Macy  till  his  flight  to  Nantucket,  and  were  the  names  of 
all  legal  townsmen  at  this  date. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  55 

town  half  a  hundred  upon  every  thousand  and  deliver  them 
unto  the  men  appointed  by  the  town  as  soon  as  they  are  brought 
to  the  water  side  &  this  order  extends  to  all  which  are  already 
solde  for  ye  ends." 

"Also  William  Barnes  and  Richard  Currier  are  appointed  to 
take  account  of  all  staves  due  to  the  town  and  examine  them 
for  the  town  &  to  give  account  to  sd  company  when  they  shall 
call  for  it.  Also  the  same  men  are  appointed  to  take  accompt 
of  ye  saw  mill  whch  doe  saw  for  ye  use  of  ye  town." 

The  town  claimed  tribute  from  those  persons  who  cut  trees 
to  make  staves  and  trees  to  be  sawed  at  the  Salisbury  mill  on 
the  common.  It  was  all  common  land  which  had  not  been 
given  out. 

Mr.  Samuel  Hall  was  deputy  this  year  for  Salisbury. 

"At  a  meeting  ye  same  day  (March  19th,  1655,)  of  ye  Inhab- 
itants it  was  agreed  and  voted  that  the  number  of  Inhabitants 
that  shall  be  commoners  shall  not  exceed  the  number  of  twenty 
six  without  the  consent  of  every  Inhabitant  of  ye  plantation." 

"The  same  day  it  was  ordered  that  James  George  have  the 
privilege  of  a  townsman  and  commoner  on  this  condition,  that 
if  he  leave  the  place  before  he  is  settled  on  his  own  land  or 
land  of  the  aforesayd  grant,  that  then  the  aforesayd  privilege 
shall  again  return  to  the  plantation." 

It  appears  by  the  Massachusetts  records,  vol.  1,  that  the  fol- 
lowing of  the  first  settlers  took  the  oath  of  freemen  before  the 
General  Court,  as  follows,  viz. :  "  Jarret  Haddon  and  Anthony 
Colby,  May  14,  1634;  Willie  Sargent,  3d  mo.,  1639,  22d; 
Thomas  Masie,  6th  day  of  the  7th  mo.,  1639  ;  William  Barnes, 
2d,  4th  mo.,  1641  ;  John  Bayly,  May  19,  1669" — but  the  others 
do  not  appear  on  the  Court  records.  The  first  eighteen  exer- 
cised full  authority  and  limited  the  number  of  Commoners  to 
twenty-six,  but  accessions  were  gradually  made  to  the  inhabi- 
tants and  allowed  all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  the  original 
settlers. 

At  a  meeting  May  1st  "It  was  ordered  that  all  the  dry  cat- 
tel  that  should  not  be  payd  for  being  kept  in  the  heard  be 
turned  into  the  town  pasture  the  2  of  May  55." 


56  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

"ffurther  it  was  ordered  the  same  day  that  if  any  man  suffer 
his  cattel  that  are  put  away  as  aforesayd  to  go  with  the  heard 
three  days  together  having  notice  of  it  he  shall  pay  for  ye  keep- 
ing halfe  the  summer  &  for  ye  last  halfe  it  is  ordered  in  like 
manner." 

The  man  who  watched  the  herd  was  hired,  and  each  person 
who  turned  in  must  pay ;  hence  those  cattle  not  in  the  herd 
must  not  be  suffered  to  mix  in  and  thus  reap  all  the  advantages 
of  those  paid. 

The  company  was  now  organized  and  empowered  to  transact 
all  business  which  related  to  its  own  territorial  matters,  but  still 
held  to  Salisbury  for  the  support  of  the  minister  and  common 
defence.  The  inhabitants  were  not  freed  from  rates  assessed 
by  the  old  town  for  the  purpose  of  repairing  roads  and  all  like 
improvements.  It  was  customary,  however,  to  choose  one  or 
more  of  the  new  townsmen  on  the  board  of  Prudential  men 
that  they  might  not  be  subject  to  taxation  without  representa- 
tion.    This  custom  continued  till  the  final  separation  in  1666. 

1656. 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  Salisbury,  the  business  of  splitting 
staves  from  the  numerous  oaks  growing  in  the  dense  forests  was 
begun  and  soon  became  an  important  item  in  their  means  of 
support.  The  record  mentions  an  agreement  of  one  man  to 
deliver  30,000  staves.  Small  vessels  were  built  on  the  river, 
principally  at  Carr's  island,  by  George  Carr,  and  used  to  ship 
these  staves  to  the  West  Indies.  The  town  claimed  fifty  of 
every  thousand  for  the  privilege  of  cutting  on  the  common.  It 
is  probable  that  most  of  these  staves  were  boated  from  the 
dock  at  town  creek  to  Newbury,  where  they  were  shipped,  and 
the  many  loads  lying  in  numerous  piles  around  the  dock  in 
early  spring  must  have  given  that  section  a  business-like  appear- 
ance. The  wanton  destruction  of  the  forests  was  forbidden 
under  penalty  of  twenty  shillings  per  tree.  The  yellow  pines 
were  preserved  for  the  manufacture  of  tar,  and  even  this  was 
placed  under  certain  restriction. 

It  was  soon  found  that  more  than  one  saw  mill  was  needed, 
and  this  year   Richard  Currier  and    Thomas  Macy  were  author- 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  57 

ized  to  build  a  saw  mill,  with  the  privilege  of  using  all  the  tim- 
ber on  the  common  not  included  in  the  grant  to  the  former 
mill,  "excepting  oak  &  the  right  of  the  people  to  make  canoes." 

For  this  privilege  they  were  to  pay  the  town  £6  per  annum 
for  ten  years,  in  boards  at  current  prices.  "No  logs  were  to  be 
carried  to  the  powwaus  river  to  be  sawed,  on  penalty  of  ten 
shillings."  They  agreed  to  saw  all  the  logs  on  shares,  as  the 
following  extract  from  the  record  shows  : — 

"So  the  said  Thomas  Macy  and  Richard  Currier  dowe  ingaieg 
to  saw  what  lagges  the  towns  men  bring  to  the  Mill  for  their 
own  use,  to  saw  them  to  the  halfes  within  a  month  aftier  they 
are  brought  to  the  mill  if  there  be  watier  the  first  lagges  that 
comes  to  be  first  sawne  and  so  the  rest  in  order  as  they  are 
brought." 

This  new  mill  was  built  on  the  west  side  of  the  Powow  at 
the  falls  and  was  greatly  needed,  and,  no  doubt,  looked  upon 
as  quite  an  achievement.  Beside  the  stately  buildings  at  present 
occupying  the  location,  it  would  hardly  be  noticed.  The  sen- 
tence "if  there  be  water"  seems  to  indicate  that  the  river  some- 
times grew  dry  in  those  days,  and  their  small  dams  did  not 
enable  the  mill  to  run  through  much  of  a  drouth.  The  depo- 
sition of  Richard  Currier  in   1682  also  confirms  this  fact. 

From  the  19th  of  March,  1655,  to  January  nth,  1657,  no 
general  division  of  land  was  made,  although  several  persons 
received  special  grants.  At  a  meeting  July  27th,  1656,  Joseph 
Peaslee  was  made  a  townsman  and  granted  twenty  acres  of  upland 
bought  of  Thomas  Macy,  and  ten  acres  of  meadow  at  the  pond, 
for  which  the  town  agreed  to  pay  J~6  to  Thomas  Macy.  Wil- 
liam Sargent,  also,  had  three  acres  granted  him  in  consideration 
of  land  he  had  laid  down,  and  it  was  to  be  laid  out  in  any 
part  of  the  pond  meadow  he  might  choose,  after  ten  acres  were 
laid  out  for  the  town.  This  Joseph  Peaslee,  which  the  com- 
moners received  and  gave  land  to  quite  liberally,  was  a  self- 
constituted  preacher,  as  well  as  farmer,  and  eventually  proved 
troublesome  on  that  account.  He  took  the  oath  of  freeman 
June  22d,  1642. 

Mr.  Thomas  Bradbury  was  deputy  this  year  for  Salisbury. 


5  8  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

1657. 

At  a  "generall  mieten"  of  the  inhabitants  held  November  20th, 
there  was  granted  to  Nathan  Gold  eight  acres  of  land  lying 
next  mill  river,  adjoining  "land  to  be  laid  out  to  Joseph  Peas- 
lee,  on  condition  that  if  he  leave  town  before  he  have  made 
improvement  of  the  said  land  he  shall  lay  it  down  to  the  town 
freely,  and  if  he  make  improvement  of  the  land  and  after  leave  the 
town  ore  sell  the  land,  that  then  the  town  shall  have  liberty  to 
porchase  the  same,  giving  the  same  price  that  a  nother  shap- 
man  will." 

"On  the  29th  of  November  another  "ginerall  miting"  was 
held  and  a  "township  was  granted  unto  Nathan  Gold  on  the 
same  condition  which  the  land  was  granted  unto  him  as  is 
above  recorded."  The  idea  seemed  to  be  that  Nathan  would 
not  stop  long  in  town,  and  so  they  made  his  grant  conditional. 
Nathan  Gold  remained  in  town,  and  a  long  line  of  descendants 
after  him.  Edward  Cottle  also  received  a  grant  of  an  acre  of 
land  in  satisfaction  of  a  "hiy  way"  taken  out  of  his  lot,  and 
Richard  Currier  and  "  Antony "  Colby  were  to  lay  it  out.  In 
December  the  selectmen  of  "  Hafriell "  viz.:  "Goriey  Brown 
and  Theophiaus  Shatinwell,"  joined  with  the  Salisbury  selectmen 
to  lay  out  the  bounds  between  the  two  towns,  according  to  the 
order  of  the  General  Court. 

Oct.  1.4th.  The  line  between  Hampton  and  Salisbury  was  run 
by  John  Appleton,  Joseph  Medcalf,  Will  Bartholomew  and  Dan- 
iel Perse,  by  order  of  the  Court. 

1658. 

Jan.  1  st.  "Thomas  Barnard  and  John  Weed  were  chosen  for 
ordering  the  prudential  affairs  of  the  Company,  and  the  extent 
of  their  power  is  according  to  the  prudential  men  chosen  last 
year  the  men  being  chosen  for  ye  yeare  insuing." 

"The  same  day  it  was  ordered  the  great  swamp  shall  be 
given  out  to  all  the  Inhabitants  in  the  prportion  hereafter  men- 
tioned and  these  seven  men  hereafter  mentioned  shall  have  ton 
acres  every  man  Edward  Cottle  George  Martyn,  William  Hown- 
tinton,  John  Colby,  Hinrey  Blasdal  James  George  and  all  ye  rest 
of  ye  inhabitants  shall  have  every  man  three  acres  and  so  accord- 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  59 

ing  to  the  same  proporcion  every  man  shall  have  of  the  inhab- 
itants to  ye  full  quantity  of  the  swamp  aforesayd,  reserving 
fourty  rod  at  ye  end  of  the  swamp  next  ye  Pawwas  river  for  the 
public  use  of  the  plantation  the  sd  fourty  rode  to  lye  in  the 
lengh  of  the  swamp  joining  ye  River  &  also  it  was  ordered  that 
Thomas  Barnard  John  Hoyt  &  John  Weed  shall  measure  the 
sayd  swamp  &  lay  it  out  by  lots  after  the  aforesayd  prportion 
according  as  they  think  necessary  &  then  the  inhabitants 
are  to  cast  lots  for  every  mans  prportion  also  the  men  above 
mentioned  shall  be  payd  two  shillings  &  six  pence  pr  day  for  their 
worke  to  be  payd  by  those  that  have  ye  land." 

This  order  was  not  carried  into  effect  this  year,  nor  until 
1664,  as  we  find  by  a  subsequent  record.  It  was  purely  wood 
lots,  and  there  was  no  hurry  about  it ;  all  had  wood  enough 
and  more  than  enough. 

Jan.  25th.  A  general  meeting  was  held  and  Thomas  Macy 
received  a  grant  of  one-half  of  a  piece  of  meadow  near  Haver- 
hill  line,  and  Richard  Currier  and  Edward  Cottle  the  remainder. 
George  Martyn  was  not  pleased  with  this  arrangement,  and 
entered  his  "  Contra  dissent." 

At  this  meeting  Thomas  Barnard  and  John  Weed  were  chosen 
standing  "Lot  Layers,"  and  served  a  great  many  years. 

At  this  meeting  there  was  granted  to  John  Weed  ten  acres 
of  land  for  a  highway  taken  out  of  his  land,  and,  by  the 
description  given  and  a  renewal  of  its  boundaries  by  the  com- 
mittee in  1694,  it  seems  to  have  been  on  the  corner  of  the 
Buttonwood  road,  where  Mr.  Thomas  Page's  barn  now  stands. 
There  was,  also,  given  Thomas  Barnard  a  strip  of  land  three 
rods  wide  the  length  of  his  house-lot  on  the  north  side  of  his 
house. 

May  26th.  Sergeant  John  Hoyt  and  Sergeant  Stephens  peti- 
tioned the  General  Court  that  Philip  Challis  might  be  con- 
firmed "Left  to  ye  foot  Corny  in  Salisbury,"  and  it  was  referred 
to  the  next  county  court. 

Oct.  29th.  A  general  meeting  was  held  and  a  large  tract  of 
land  beyond  the  pond,  bordering    on    Back    river,  was    ordered 


6o  HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY. 

to  be   laid   out  in   lots  eighty  rods  long,  ranging  southerly,  and 
given  to  the  following  persons  in  quantity,  as  below : — 

To  Anthony  Colby,  sixty  acres ; 

To  Philip  Challis,  sixty  acres  ; 

To  Joseph  Piesly,  forty  acres ; 

To  John  Hoyt,  forty  acres ; 

To  Jerrod  Haddon,  forty  acres ; 

To  Thomas  Barnard,  forty  acres  ; 

To  William  Sargent,  forty  acres  ; 

To  Thomas  Macy,  forty  acres ; 

To  Richard  Currier,  forty  acres  ; 

To  George  Martin,  forty  acres ; 

To  Valentine  Rowell,  forty  acres ; 

To  Edward  Cottle,  forty  acres ; 

To  Henry  Blasdell,  forty  acres ; 

To  William  Huntinton,  forty  acres ; 

To  Nathan  Gold,  ten  acres ; 

To  James  George,  ten  acres ; 

To  William  Barnes,  forty  acres ; 

To  John  Colby,  forty  acres  ; 

To  John  Baily,  forty  acres. 
This  year  an  attempt  was  made  to  obtain  a  legal  separation 
from  the  old  town,  the  inhabitants  feeling  that  they  could  sup- 
port preaching  nearer  home,  this  being  the  test  question  with 
the  General  Court.  Accordingly,  on  the  26th  of  May,  the  new 
town  of  Salisbury  petitioned  the  General  Court  "to  be  a  dis- 
tinct town  &  make  provision  for  the  maintenance  of  public  wor- 
ship;"  but  the  Court  having  "heard  what  the  inhabitants  of 
the  old  towne  &  new  Salisbury  by  their  Deputy  and  Attorney 
could  say,  the  Court  judged  it  not  meete  to  grant  ye  inhabitants 
of  the  new  town  of  Salisbury  their  petition,  but  doe  declare  and 
order  ffor  the  present,  that  they  shall  attend  the  worship  of 
God  together  in  the  old  toune  and  that  they  contribute  their 
several  proportions  for  the  maintenance  and  continuance  of  the 
same  amongst  them."  The  opposition  from  the  old  town  came 
with  rather  an  ill  grace  after  having  nearly  forced  the  settle- 
ment of  the  new  town  under  articles  of  agreement,  which  virtu- 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  6  3 

ally  established   a  separation.     They  could   hardly  spare  the  tax1 
paid  by  the  new  town  for  the  support  of  preaching,  and  this  was, 
no    doubt,   the    cause    of  their   opposition.     The    contest   was   a 
sharp  one.      The  new  town  appeared   by  their  counsel   and  the 
old  town  by  their  deputy. 

The  command  was  entirely  disregarded,  Joseph  Peasley  con- 
tinuing to  preach  and  the  people  refusing  to  attend  meeting  at 
the  Salisbury  church.  Finally,  at  the  October  term  of  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  it  was  ordered  "  that  the  recorder  for  the  County 
of  Norfolke,  fforthwith  issue  out  his  warrants  requiring  Joseph 
Peasley,  &  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  new  toune,  being 
masters  of  families,  or  at  their  owne  dispose,  to  make  theire  per- 
sonall  appearances  before  the  next  County  Court  to  be  held  at 
Salisbury,  to  answer  for  their  disobedjence  to  authorjtie  in  not 
complying  wth  sajd  order ;  and  the  sajd  County  Court  is  hereby 
impowered,  authorized,  &  required  to  proceede  agl  all  such  of 
them  as  in  their  appearance  shall  not  fully  make  it  cleare  they 
haue,  since  the  sajd  order,  performed  theire  duty  and  repajred 
to  the  public  worship  of  God  on  the  Lord's  day  at  the  ould 
toune,  to  fine  them  for  every  days  absence  there,  five  shillings." 

William  Osgood  and  Robert  Quinby  bought  of  Roger  East- 
man a  house  and  ten  acres  of  land  west  of  the  Powow  for 
^16  sterling,  adjoining  William  Sargent's  land  and  west  of  the 
road  to  the  mills.  The  deed  bears  date  February  28th,  165 8. 
Robert  Quinby  married  Elisabeth  Osgood,  daughter  of  William 
Osgood,  sen.,  and  the  farm  was  for  the  use  of  Robert,  who 
was  a  ship  carpenter. 

Aug.  20th.  Thomas  Macy  mortgaged  to  Rodah  Gove  of 
Roxbury  "1-3  of  all  his  part  of  saw  mill  at  ye  new  towne  & 
all  utensils  &  privileges  &  his  dwelling  house  in  said  new  town 
in  the  precincts  of  Salisbury  with  3  acres  of  upland  thereto 
adjoining  with  the  orchard,  garden,  barn  out  house  more  or  less 
bounded  by  Pawwaus  river  east,  the  street  west  &  the  land  of 
Richard  Currier  south,"  and,  also,  several  other  pieces. 

The  description  of  his  homestead  fixes  his  residence  near 
Powow  river,  where  most  of  the  first  settlers  built  their  houses. 


62  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

1659. 

At  a  general  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  February  14th  "  a 
grant  was  made  to  Lovetenent  Robert  Pike  of  common  right 
amongst  us  upon  condition  he  com  to  dwell  among  us. "  It 
would  seem  from  the  foregoing  that  Lieut.  Pike  had  some 
thoughts  of  coming  across  the  Powow  to  settle — but  he  never 
came.  At  this  meeting  the  road  from  Daniel  F.  Morrill's  to  the 
river  was  ordered  to  be  laid  out  six  rods  wide,  and  was  after- 
wards known  as  the  six  rod  highway.  It  was  laid  between 
Capt.   Pike's  land  and  the  Indian  ground. 

There  was  yet  plenty  of  land  in  town  not  disposed  of,  and 
it  was  concluded  to  give  the  children  a  section,  as  the  following 
vote  shows  : — 

"At  this  metin  ther  is  given  to  the  children  under  mentioned 
five  howndried  acres  of  land  upon  the  north  west  of  the  pond 
a  miell  and  halfe  of  the  said  great  pawnd." 

It  may  be  proper  to  remark  that  the  word  "  children"  included 
but   one  in   each  family,  and   the  following  is   the  list  so  far  as 
given  by  the  record  : — 
John,  son  of  Wm.  Huntington,     Thomas,  son  of  Val.  Rowell, 

Ebenezer,  son  of  Henry  Blasdell,  son  of  Ed.  Cottle, 

John,  son  of  John  Colby,  Richard,  son  of  Geo.  Martin, 

Thomas,  son  of  Wm.  Sargent,      daughter  of  Nath.  Gold, 

Thomas,  son  of  Thos.  Barnard,    daughter  of  Wm.  Barnes, 

son  of  Philip  Challis,        John,  son  of  John  Hoyt, 

Samuel,  son  of  John  Weed,  daughter  of  Jarret  Haddon, 

Joseph,  son  of  Joseph  Peasley,     son  of  James  George. 

Samuel,  son  of  Anthony  Colby. 

John  Hoyt  entered  his  "contrary  desent"  to  the  above  vote 
giving  the  children  land. 

At  a  meeting  held  November  1st,  Walter  Taylor  was  made 
a  commoner,  with  liberty  to  use  what  timber  he  wanted  for 
building  vessels  so  long  as  he  lives  in  town.  He  probably 
located  where  "Uncle  John  Davis"  lived  at  a  later  period. 

"Thomas  Barnard,  George  Marting  and  Samuel  Foot  these 
three  are  appointed  to  lay  out  the  land  upon  the  river  and  are 
to  have  two  pence  an  acre  for  laying  it  out." 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  63 

They  subsequently  laid  out  the  land  as  ordered,  and  the  lots 
were  drawn  as  follows  : — 

No.   1,  Samuel  Foot,  No.   14,  William  Sargent, 

No.   2,  Walter  Tayelier,        No.   15,  Samuel  Colby, 
No.  3,  Wm.  Howntinton,    No.   16,  William  Osgood, 
No.  4,  Edmund  Elliot,         No.   17,  John  Hoyt,  jun., 
No.  5,  John  Colby,  No.   18,  James  George, 

No.  6,  John  Weed,  No.   19,  Robert  Quinby, 

No.   7,  Phillipp  Challis,         No.  20,  Richard  Currier, 
No.  8,  Widow  Colby,  No.   21,  Vallentine  Rowell, 

No.  9,  George  Marting,       No.  22,  Thomas  Barnard, 
No.   10,  Nathan  Gold,  No.  23,  Mster  Reminton, 

No.   11,  John  Hoyett,  No.  24,  William  Barnes, 

No.  12,  Henry  Blasdill,  No.  25,  Widow  Peasly, 
No.  13,  Jarrit  Haddon,  No.  26,  Edward  Cottle. 
These  lots  commenced  on  the  west  side  of  the  Buttonwood 
road,  and  extended  westerly  along  the  river;  but  how  far  it  is 
difficult  to  tell.  We  find  these  lots  defined  at  a  later  period, 
and  one  of  them  is  described  as  being  sixteen  rods  wide.  The 
numbering  commenced  at  the  six  rod  (Buttonwood)  road,  and  all 
but  the  first  three  were  bounded  southerly  on  the  river.  John  Weed's 
ten-acre  lot  extended  across  the  south  end  of  the  first  three  lots, 
[oseph  Peaslee,  already  mentioned  as  a  self-constituted  preacher, 
seems  to  have  continued  his  obnoxious  labors,  notwithstanding 
the  formal  warning  from  the  General  Court  to  desist,  and  was 
this  year  fined  5  s.  per  week  for  his  disobedience  and  again 
ordered  not  to  preach,  as  his  preaching  "was  very  weak  and 
unfit."  He  gave  the  Salisbury  church  a  good  deal  of  trouble 
by  his  persistent  course.  He  was  undoubtedly  honest  in  his 
intentions,  and  thought  it  his  duty  to  preach,  but  the  church 
thought  his  simple  labors  were  calculated  to  do  more  harm  than 
good.  That  he  met  with  encouragement  from  the  new  town 
people  there  is  little  doubt :  and  his  disobedience  must  have 
had  a  damaging  effect  on  the  petition  for  the  incorporation  of 
the  new  town  last  year.  The  ministry  was  strictly  guarded  in 
those  days,  and  all  who  were  not  ordained  according  to  the 
regular  usage  were  excluded  from  the  pulpit. 


64  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

There  seemed  to  be  a  settled  determination  on  the  part  of 
the  new  town  not  to  cross  the  Powow  to  attend  meeting,  and 
finally  an  arrangement  was  made  for  Mr.  Worcester  to  preach 
every  fourth  "Lord's  day"  in  the  new  town.  The  people  here 
were  to  make  due  provision  for  his  accommodation.  This  plan 
was  laid  before  the  General  Court  in  May  and  was  approved. 
One-half  of  the  fines  was  respited  until  the  next  General  Court. 

The  old  town  had  very  nearly  driven  off  these  western  pioneers, 
and  obliged  them  to  settle  in  the  wilderness,  a  long  way  from 
church,  and  still  required  them  to  help  support  the  minister. 
Numbering  less  than  a  hundred  freemen  in  both  towns,  eighty 
pounds  was  quite  enough  for  all  to  pay. 

The  new  town  people  understood  that  the  order  for  removal 
meant  a  separate  township  and  they  were  impatient  for  its  accom- 
plishment. 

The  compromise  here,  however,  did  not  insure  peace,  for  no 
sooner  was  this  settled  than  the  old  town  was  embroiled  in  a 
local  quarrel  far  more  bitter  than  the  last.  The  majority  took 
occasion  to  reduce  the  salary  of  Mr.  Worcester  by  voting  him 
thirty  pounds  instead  of  forty  for  his  six  month's  salary.  The 
minority  were  greatly  incensed  at  this,  as  they  deemed  it  an 
unjust  measure,  and  appealed  to  the  General  Court,  complaining 
that  they  had  been  wronged,  that  legal  notice  of  the  meeting 
had  not  been  given,  &c.  There  was  strong  opposition  to  oblig- 
ing Mr.  Worcester  to  go  to  the  new  town  to  preach,  and  deter- 
mined opposition  on  the  part  of  the  new  town  to  attending 
church  at  Salisbury.  But  the  General  Court  finally  ordered  all 
to  attend  at  Mr.  Worcester's  meeting  till  they  obtained  "  an  able 
minister "  in  the  new  town. 

At  the  October  term  of  the  General  Court  Joseph  Peasley 
was  again  forbidden  to  preach,  and  some  little  dissatisfaction 
expressed  at  the  fine  imposed  by  the  Salisbury  court. 

"The  Court,  having  considered  of  &  given  ans1'  to  the  peti- 
tion of  the  inhabitants  of  Salisbury,  calling  to  minde  the  affront 
that  Joseph  Peasley  put  on  this  Corts  judgement  &  order  in 
the  yeare  fifty  eight,  by  not  only  continewing  his  preaching 
amongst  the  inhabitants  of  the  new  toune  of  Salisbury,  not  wth 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  65 

standing  this  courts  injunction  to  the  contrary,  but  refusing  to 
come  to  ansr  for  his  contempt  of  the  Courts  order,  &  under- 
standing the  County  Court  at  Salisbury  only  fined  him  five 
shillings  for  his  absence,  weekly,  as  they  did  others  &  still  that 
he  continews  preaching  there  as  frequently  as  before  the  courts 
order,  &  that  also  as  we  have  been  informed  against  the  advice 
of  the  church  whereof  he  is  a  member,  and  that  his  preaching 
( being  very  week  &  unfitt  for  so  great  a  work )  doth  rather 
encrease  then  lessen  the  contentions  there,  doe  order,  that  the 
said  Joseph  Peasley  be  forthwith  by  order  from  this  Court  for- 
biden  to  preach  any  more  in  any  part  of  this  jurisdiction,  till 
he  give  full  satisfaction  to  this  Court  for  what  have  been  past." 

The  early  history  of  the  church  in  New  England  is  very 
much  mixed  with  dissentions  and  divisions,  notwithstanding  the 
strong  hand  of  the  General  Court.  But  the  trouble  occasioned 
by  Joseph  Peasley  was  of  short  duration,  as  he  died  previous  to 
1662  in  Haverhill.  He  made  his  will  November  nth,  1660, 
and  gave  his  house  at  Salisbury,  new  town,  to  his  daughter 
Sarah.  It  was,  probably,  on  that  part  of  the  territory  now 
embraced  within  the  bounds  of  Newton,  N.  H.  His  children 
were  Sarah,  Joseph,  Elizabeth,  Jane  and  Mary.  Phillip  Challis 
and  Thomas  Barnard  witnessed  his  will.  The  inventory  of  his 
estate  footed  up  ^366.  On  the  inventory  was  found  two  guns, 
one  sword,  two  Bibles,  yarn,  wool,  flax,  hemp,  forty  bushels  of 
wheat,  sixty  bushels  of  Indian  corn,  three  cows,  two  heifers  and 
two  hundred  acres  of  land.  His  widow,  Maria,  settled  the 
estate.  If  he  was  "very  weak  and  unfit"  for  preaching,  he 
was  a  successful  farmer,  and  left  his  son  a  good  property. 

Thomas  Macy,  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Salisbury  and  a 
signer  of  the  Articles  of  Agreement,  also  numbering  among  the 
first  eighteen  commoners,  probably  left  town  this  year  or  the 
early  part  of  1660.  He  was  chosen  the  first  clerk  in  the  new 
town  to  record  the  orders  of  the  company,  and,  probably,  made 
his  book  of  record,  it  being  simply  a  pamphlet  of  note  paper 
size,  and  without  the  ancient  parchment  covers.  It  is  yet  in 
the  clerk's  office,  although  badly  worn  and  mutilated.  He  was 
a  good  penman  and,  no  doubt,  had  a  good  education.     He  was 

9 


66  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

overseer  of  schools  in  Salisbury  in  1652,  deputy  to  the  General 
Court  in  1654,  and  chosen  clerk  in  1655.  His  occupation  is 
not  definitely  known,  but  in  ancient  deeds  he  is  called  "Mer- 
chant "  and  "  Clothier."  The  record  is  in  his  hand-writing 
until  the  first  of  November,  when  a  meeting  was  held  to  grant 
Walter  Taylor  a  commoner's  right  in  town.  The  next  March 
meeting  is  recorded  by  Richard  Currier,,  who  was  a  poor  pen- 
man. 

In  some  part  of  this  year  he  was  so  unfortunate  as  to  harbor 
two  or  three  Quakers  for  a  few  minutes  in  a  severe  rain  storm, 
which  act  brought  the  wrath  of  the  General  Court  down  upon 
him,  accompanied  with  a  fine  of  "  thirty  shillings "  and  "  be 
admonished "  by  the  governor. 

In  May,  1657,  a  very  stringent  law  was  passed  against  harbor- 
ing "any  of  the  cursed  sect  of  Quakers,"  and  attached  was  a 
fine  of  40  s.  for  every  one  that  should  be  entertained  or  con- 
cealed." Macy  was  quickly  complained  of  and  included  in  the 
following  order  from  the  Court : — 

"The  Court,  understanding  that  severall  inhabitants  of  this 
jurisdiction  have  lodged  the  Quakers  now  in  prison,  doe  order, 
that  the  Secretary  issue  out  a  warrant  to  the  severall  persons  & 
send  the  same  by  a  messenger  of  purpose  to  bring  them  all 
with  speede  to  this  Court,  to  ansr  for  their  offence  therein." 

The  neighbors  of  Mr.  Macy  reported  his  generous  act  to  a 
brother  in  need  to  the  pious  but  horror-stricken  members  of 
Mr.  Worcester's  church,  and  it  quickly  reached  the  great  Gen- 
eral Court,  which  was  determined  to  punish  with  "  speede  "  all 
such  terrible  sins. 

Thus  for  years  was  this  harmless,  quiet  people  persecuted, 
hunted  from  town  to  town  as  criminals  and  offenders  against 
God  and  man,  and  unworthy  of  the  common  courtesies  of  life. 
In  fact,  no  more  heinous  sin  could  be  committed  than  that  of 
harboring  or  in  any  way  administering  to  the  wants  and  com- 
forts of  these  peaceful  sectarians.  They  openly  violated  the 
plain  commands  of  that  Gospel  which,  in  their  blindness,  they 
were  trying  to  uphold  :  "  If  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed  him  ;  if  he 
thirst,  give  him  drink." 


HISTORY   OF   AMESBURY.  67 

Macy  did  not  appear  before  the  General  Court,  as  summoned, 
either  from  inability  to  do  so  or  from  the  wish  to  avoid  the 
wrath  of  his  enemies,  whom  he  well  knew  were  greatly  exasper- 
ated against  him.  He  sent  the  following  conciliatory  letter, 
which  he,  no  doubt,  thought  a  sufficient  acknowledgement  in 
the  case : — 

"This  is  to  entreat  the  honored  court  not  to  be  offended 
because  of  my  non  appearance.  It  is  not  from  any  slighting 
of  the  authority  of  this  honored  court  nor  from  feare  to  answer 
the  case  but  I  have  bin  for  some  weeks  past  very  ill,  and  am 
so  at  present,  and  notwithstanding  my  illness,  yet  I  desireous  to 
appear  have  done  my  utmost  endeavor  to  hire  a  horse  but  can 
not  procure  one  at  present.  I  being  at  present  destitute  have 
endeavored  to  purchase,  but  at  present  can  not  attaine  to  but 
shall  relate  the  truth  of  the  case  as  my  answer  should  be 
to  ye  honored  Court,  and  more  cannot   be  proved   nor   so  much. 

One  rainy  morning  there  came  to  my  house  Edward  Whar- 
ton and  three  men  more ;  the  said  Wharton  spoke  to  me  say- 
ing that  they  were  travelling  eastward  and  desired  me  to  direct 
them  in  the  way  to  Hampton  and  asked  me  how  far  it  was  to 
Casco  Bay. 

I  never  saw  any  of  ye  men  afore  except  Wharton,  neither  did 
I  require  their  names,  or  who  they  were,  but  by  their  carriage  1 
thought  they  might  be  quakers  and  told  them  so  and  therefore 
desired  them  to  pass  on  their  way,  saying  to  them  I  might  pos- 
sibly give  offence  in  entertaining  them  and  as  soon  as  the  vio- 
lence of  the  rain  ceased  ( for  it  rained  very  hard )  they  went 
away  and  I  never  saw  them  since. 

The  time  that  they  stayed  in  the  house  was  about  three 
quarters  of  an  hour  but  I  can  safely  affirme  it  was  not  an 
hour.  They  spake  not  many  words,  in  the  time  neither  was  I 
at  leisure  to  talke  with  them  for  I  came  home  wet  to  ye  skin 
immediately  afore  they  came  to  the  house,  and  I  found  my 
wife  sick  in  bed. 

If  this  satisfie  not  the  honored  Court  I  shall  subject  to  their 
sentence.  I  have  not  willingly  offended.  I  am  ready  to  serve 
and  obey  you  in  the  Lord.  Tho.  Macy."* 

*  General  Court  files. 


68  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

Whether  or  not  this  letter  satisfied  the  General  Court  we 
have  no  means  of  knowing ;  but  the  fact  that  Mr.  Macy  fled 
seems  to  indicate  that  he  did  not  consider  it  safe  to  remain,  and, 
taking  his  family  into  his  open  boat,  sailed  away  to  Nantucket, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

At  the  time  of  this  occurrence  he  lived  not  far  from  the  mills, 
on  a  place  which  he  mortgaged  to  Rodah  Gove,  of  Roxbury, 
August  20th,  1658,  already  noted  in  that  year.  It  was  bounded 
easterly  by  Powow  river,  westerly  by  the  street,  and  southerly 
by  land  of  Richard  Currier.  He  sold  to  Anthony  Colby  his 
homestead  near  the  burying  ground  in  1654  for  £38,  to  be 
paid  as  follows  :  "  by  a  mare  fole  at  ten  pounds,  ^3  in  bourds 
and  in  courne,  £12  or  14  in  money,  rest  in  pipe-staves  or 
hogshead  staves,  cattle  all  at  prices  current ;  Indian  corne  at 
3  s.,  wheat  &  Barley  5  s."  Dated  the  23d,  2d  mo.  in  1654. 
This  place  was  bounded  westerly  by  land  of  Edmund  Elliott 
and  the  burying  ground  and  easterly  by  the  street.  These  prem- 
ises were  near  the  residence  of  the  late  Joseph  Bartlett,  and 
extended  southwest  to  the  vicinity  of  Mrs.  Killam's. 

In  1664  there  was  some  difficulty  between  Macy  and  the 
widow  of  Anthony  Colby  in  regard  to  the  title,  and  John,  son 
of  Anthony,  testified  that  Macy  did  sell  the  place  where  his , 
mother  then  lived  in  the  new  town.  Thomas  Barnard  also  tes- 
tified "that  he  heard  Macy  say  that  he  sold  house  &  barn  & 
orchard  to  Colby  &  that  it  was  paid  for."  This  testimony  was 
given  at  Salisbury  court  12th,  2d  mo.,  1664.  The  occasion  of 
this  law  suit  is  not  very  clear,  but  rather  looks  as  if  Macy 
denied  the  title  of  the  Colby's.  Macy  was  the  owner  of  many 
tracts  of  land  in  the  new  town  and  several  in  the  old  and, 
probably,  built  subsequent  to  this  sale  on  the  lot  mortgaged  to 
Gove. 

Mr.  Whittier  has  written  a  beautiful  poem  entitled,  "The 
Kxiles,"  descriptive  of  Macy's  encounter  with  the  priest  and  his 
flight,  which  by  permission  of  the  author  is  quoted  entire  : — 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  69 

THE  EXILES. 
1660. 

The  goodman  sat  beside  his  door, 

One  sultry  afternoon, 
With  his  young  wife  singing  at  his  side, 

An  old  and  goodly  tune. 

A  glimmer  of  heat  was  in  the  air, 

The  dark  green  woods  were  still; 
And  the  skirts  of  a  heavy  thunder  cloud 

Hung  over  the  western  hill. 

Black,  thick  and  vast  arose  that  cloud 

Above  the  wilderness; 
As  some  dark  world  from  upper  air, 

Were  stooping  over  this. 

At  times  the  solemn  thunder  pealed, 

And  all  was  still  again, 
Save  a  low  murmur  in  the  air, 

Of  coming  wind  and  rain. 

Just  as  the  first  big  rain-drop  fell, 

A  weary  stranger  came 
And  stood  before  the  farmer's  door, 

With  travel  soiled  and  lame. 

Sad  seemed  he,  yet  sustaining  hope 

Was  in  his  quiet  glance; 
And  peace,  like  autumn's  moonlight,  clothed 

His  tranquil  countenance. 

A  look  like  that  his  Master  wore 

In  Pilate's  council  hall; 
It  told  of  wrongs, — but  of  a  love 

Meekly  forgiving  all. 

"  Friend !  wilt  thou  give  me  shelter  here  ?  " 

The  stranger  meekly  said; 
And,  leaning  on  his  oaken  staff, 

The  goodman's  features  read. 

My  life  is  hunted, — evil  men 

Are  following  in  my  track ; 
The  traces  of  the  torturer's  whip 

Are  on  my  aged  back. 

"  And  much,  I  fear,  'twill  peril  thee, 

Within  thy  doors  to  take 
A  hunted  seeker  of  the  Truth, 

Oppressed  for  conscience's  sake. 

Oh !  kindly  spoke  the  goodman's  wife, 

"  Come  in,  old  man  !  "  quoth  she; 
"  We  will  not  leave  thee  to  the  storm, 

Whoever  thou  mayest  be." 


•jO  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

Then  came  the  aged  wanderer  in, 

And  silent  sat  him  down; 
While  all  within  grew  dark  as  night, 

Beneath  the  storm-clouds  frown. 

But  while  the  sudden  lightning's  blaze. 

Filled  every  cottage  nook, 
And  with  the  jarring  thunder-roll, 
The  loosened  casements  shook, 

A  heavy  tramp  of  horse's  feet 
Came  sounding  up  the  lane, 

And  half  a  score  of  horse,  or  more 
Came  plunging  through  the  rain. 

"Now,  goodman,  ope  thy  door, — 
We  would  not  be  house-breakers; 

A  rueful  deed  thou'st  done  this  day, 
In  harboring  banished  Quakers." 

Out  looked  the  cautious  goodman  then, 
With  much  of  fear  and  awe; 

For  there,  with  broad  wig  drenched  with  rain. 
The  parish  priest  he  saw. 

"  Open  thy  door,  thou  wicked  man, 

And  let  thy  pastor  in  ; 
And  give  God  thanks,  if  forty  stripes 

Repay  thy  deadly  sin." 

"What  seek  ye?"  quoth  the  goodman, — 

"  The  stranger  is  my  guest; 
He  is  worn  with  toil  and  grievous  wrong, — 

Pray  let  the  old  man  rest,!  " 

"  Now  out  upon  thee,  canting  knave  !  " 
And  strong  hands  shook  the  door; 

"  Believe  me,  Macy  !  "  quoth  the  priest, 
"  Thou'lt  rue  thy  conduct  sore." 

Then  kindled  Macy's  eye  of  fire : 
"  No  priest  who  walks  the  earth 

Shall  pluck  away  the  stranger-guest 
Made  welcome  to  my  hearth." 

Down  from  his  cottage  wall  he  caught, 

The  match  lock,  hotly  tried 
At  Preston-pans  and  Marston-moor, 

By  fiery  Ireton's  side; 

Where  Puritan  and  Cavalier, 

.  With  shout  and  psalm  contended; 
And  Rupert's  oath,  and  Cromwell's  prayer, 
With  battle-thunder  blended. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  71 

Up  rose  the  ancient  stranger  thus : 

"  My  spirit  is  not  free 
To  bring  the  wrath  and  violence 

Of  evil  men  on  thee; 

"  And  for  thyself,  I  pray  forbear, — 

Beethink  thee  of  thy  Lord ! 
Who  healed  again  the  smitten  ear, 

And  sheathed  his  follower's  sword. 

"  I  go,  as  to  the  slaughter  led; 

Friends  of  the  poor,  farewell !  " 
Beneath  his  hand  the  oaken  door 

Back  on  its  hinges  fell. 

"  Come  forth,  old  greybeard  yea  and  nay  !  " 

The  reckless  scoffers  cried; 
As  to  a  horseman's  saddle  bow, 

The  old  man's  arms  were  tied. 

And  of  his  bondage,  hard  and  long 

In  Boston's  crowded  jail, 
Where  suffering  woman's  prayer  was  heard, 

With  sickening  childhood's  wail, 

It  suits  not  with  our  tale  to  tell; 

Those  scenes  have  passed  away  ; 
Let  the  dim  shadows  of  the  past, 

Brood  o'er  that  evil  day. 


72  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

1660. 

At  a  meeting  held  March  ioth,  John  Hoyt,  sen.,  Anthony  Colby 
and  Richard  Currier  were  chosen  Prudential  men,  to  order  all 
affairs  given  them  in  writing. 

At  this  meeting  the  manner  of  allowing  cattle  to  go  on  the 
commons  and  in  the  herds  which  were  kept  by  a  "  Eardsman," 
was  decided  upon  and  the  price  fixed,  etc. 

TOWNSHIPS. 

The  only  way  in  which  a  right  to  all  the  privileges  and 
immunities  of  "ffreemen"  was  acquired — that  is,  the  right  to 
vote  and  take  part  in  the  town  meetings,  was  by  grant  from 
the  commoners,  who  were  already  in  possession  of  the  town- 
ship in  fee  simple.  In  this  way  some  twenty  were  added  to 
their  number  at  one  meeting.* 

"The  tenth  day  of  the  10  month  1660. 

At  a  generall  meting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  new  town,  It 
is  granted  to  John  Hoyt  in  a  coman  right  in  the  new  town  to 
be  a  towns  man. 

At  the  same  meting  it  was  grantied  to  Thomas  Barnard  a 
town  ship  for  one  of  his  sons. 

At  the  same  meting  it  is  granted  to  Jarrit  Hadien  a  towns 
shiep  for  one  of  his  doughters. 

At  the  same  mieting  it  is  granted  Samuall  Foot  to  be  a 
towns  man. 

At  the  sam  meting  it  was  grantid  to  Samuall  Colby  to  be  a 
towns  man. 

At  the  sam  mieting  it  was  agried  on  that  John  Weed  shall 
have  a  townes  shiep  for  on  of  his   sons   Samuell   Weed   (  9  yrs 

old). 

At  the  sam  mieting  it  is  agried  on  that  William  Sargent  shall 
have  a  towns  shiep  for  on  of  his  sons  (Thomas  17  yrs  old). 

At  the  sam  meting  it  is  grantied  to  Thomas  Rowell  a  towns 
shiep   (  1 6  yrs  old  ) . 

At  the  sam  meting  it  is  granted  to  Henry  Blasdell  a  towns 
ship  for  his  son   (Ebeneza  3  yrs  old). 

*  When  old  enough  to  vote. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  73 

At  the  same  meting  it  is  grantied  to  Georg  Marting  a  towns 
shiep  for  his  sone  Richard   (13  yrs  old ) . 

At  the  same  meting  it  is  grantid  to  William  Howntinton  a 
towns  shiep  for  his  son   (  John  1 7  yrs  old  ) . 

At  the  same  meting  it  is  grantid  to  John  Colby  a  towns 
shiep  for  his  son  John. 

At  the  sam  meting  it  is  grantid  to  Phillip  Challis  a  town 
shiep  for  on  of  his  sons   (John  5  yrs  old). 

At  the  same  meting  it  is  granted  to  Jarrit  Hadien  a  towns 
shiep  for  on  of  his  doughters   (  Sarah  2 1   yrs  old ) . 

At  the  same  meting  it  is  grantid  to  William  Barnes  a  towns 
shiep  for  on  of  his  dougters. 

At  the  sam  meting  it  is  granted  to  Nathan  Gold  a  town 
shiep. 

At  the  sam  meting  it  is  granted  James  Georg  a  towns  shiep 
for  his  son  when  he  hies  had  him."  This  was,  no  doubt, 
designed  as  a  joke  on  Mr.  George  by  some  wag  in  the  meet- 
ing;  but  it  proved  all  right,  for  five  years  afterwards,  viz. :  25th 
i2mo.,  1665,  his  son  Samuel  was  born,  and  was  entitled  to  the 
"town  shiep." 

"  At  the  sam  meting  it  is  grantid  to  Edward  Cotiell  a  town 
shiep  for  his  son. 

At  the  sam  meting  it  is  agried  on  that  William  Osgood  is 
made  a  towns  man  amongst  us. 

At  the  same  meting  it  is  agried  on  that  Robert  Quinby  is 
mead  a  towns  man  amengst  us. 

At  the  sam  meting  it  is  grantid  to  Joseph  Piesly  a  towns 
shiep  for  his  son." 

This  was  really  a  "town  shiep"  meeting,  no  other  business 
being  done.  It  must  have  been  a  pleasant  time,  as  they  granted 
their  favors  almost  entirely  among  themselves. 

Wolves  were  growing  more  troublesome,  and  the  30  s.  bounty 
of  1652  was  increased  to  50  s.,  if  not  killed  by  Indians.  The 
reason  of  this  exception  was  that  the  General  Court  had  ordered 
the  constables  in  each  town  to  pay  Indians  for  wolves  killed 
three  quarts  of  wine  and  a  bushel  of  Indian  corn  per  head. 
The    temperance   principles  of  the  General  Court  would,  at  the 

to 


74  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

present  day,  be  subject  to  severe  criticism  if  pursuing  a  like 
course.  It  was,  however,  deemed  right  and  proper  then,  as  the 
following  from  the  Court  records  shows  : — 

"The  Court  apprehending  y:  it  is  not  fit  to  deprive  ye  Indi- 
ans of  any  lawful  comfort  wch  God  aloweth  to  all  men  by  ye 
use  of  wine,  do  ordr  yl  it  shall  be  lawfull  for  all  such  as  are  or 
shall  be  alowed  licence  to  retaile  wines  to  sell  also  to  ye  Indi- 
ans so  much  as  may  be  fit  for  their  needfull  use  or  refreshing." 

Philip  Challis  and  Anthony  Colby  petitioned  the  General 
Court  in  behalf  of  the  new  town  to  be  made  a  distinct  town, 
stating  that  they  had  obtained  Mr.  Shubael  Dumer  to  be  help- 
ful to  them  in  the  work  of  the  ministry.  The  petition  bears 
date  May  27th,  1660.  To  this  petition  was  appended  the  vote 
of  the  church  of  Salisbury,  as  follows  : — 

"Whereas  certaine  articles  have  binn  mutually  agred  on 
betwixt  the  old  toune,  and  the  one  which  was  to  this  effect, 
that  when  the  new  toune  were  at  charged  to  mainteine  one  to 
performe  ye  worke  of  the  ministry  amongst  them,  they  should  be 
free  from  paying  to  the  ministry  of  the  old  toune,  in  refference 
to  which  article  the  bretheren  that  live  at  the  new  toune  have 
lately  signified  to  the  Church  that  they  were  in  hand  with  Mr. 
Shubael  Dumer  for  this  end,  desiring  the  churche's  advice  and 
furtherance  therein,  the  church  hereupon  doe  voate,  that  they 
apprhend  Mr.  Dumer  may  be  a  man  suitable  for  that  worke 
amongst  them ;  they  further  declare,  that  if  fower  bretheren 
seeke  to  ye  honored  Gen  Court,  who  only  have  power  to  make 
.us  distinct  tounes,  they  shall  not  at  all  hinder  them  in  theire 
suite ;  and  further,  if  the  honored  Gen  Court  doe  free  them 
from  us,  they  shall  not  only  submit  thereto,  but  also  further, 
what  lies  in  them,  their  obteining  of  Mr.  Dumer  or  any  other 
meete  man.  This  is  a  true  copie  of  the  churches  vote,  wch  was 
cleerely  passed  in  the  affirmative. 

pr  me  William  Worcester." 

"The  Court  judg  it  meet  to  concurre  wth  Mr  Worcester  & 
ye  church  in  the  paper  hereto  affixed,  judging  that  the  person 
in  nomination  for  the  helpe  of  the  new  toune  may  be  a  man 
meete  for  that  worke." 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  75 

Notwithstanding  these  favorable  circumstances,  nothing  came 
of  the  movement.  Mr.  Dumer  could  not  be  obtained  from 
some  cause  unknown,  and  the  new  town  people  continued  to 
contribute  to  Mr.  Worcester's  support  several  years  longer. 

Mr.  Thomas  Bradbury  and  Capt.  Robert  Pike  deputies. 

1661. 

At  a  general  meeting  February  26th,  the  ten-acre  grant  to 
John  Weed  was  reaffirmed  as  being  on  the  side  of  James  creek 
and  the  Indian  ground  east  of  that. 

Philip  Challis  was  granted  the  Frog  pond  at  the  north  side 
of  Robert  Ring's  hill.  This  hill  is  where  the  late  Joseph  Mer- 
rill lived,  and  received  its  name  in  consequence  of  a  large  tract 
of  land  owned  on  the  south  end  by  Robert  Ring,  the  same 
whose  name  was  given  to  "Ring's  Island."  This  frog  pond 
was  subsequently  owned  by  the  Hunt  family,  and  was  sold  in 
1749  to  Isaac  Merrill,  Esq.,  who  tunneled  the  ridge  between  it 
and  the  Great  swamp,  being  the  second  instance  of  ridge  tunnel- 
ing in  town. 

Thomas  Haynes  received  a  grant  of  five  acres  upon  the 
"north  side  of  salt  brook."  This  grant  was  near  Whittier's  hill, 
on  the  southerly  side/ as  later  descriptions  give  it,  and  "salt 
brook,"  which  is  sometimes  called  "slate  brook,"  may  have 
been  the  one  near  Samuel  Cammett's. 

Mr.  Haynes  married  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Barnard,  which 
fact,  no  doubt,  secured  him  a  hearty  welcome  in  town. 

The  town  granted  Capt.  Robert  Pike  sixty  acres  east  of 
James'  creek  on  condition  "that  he  come  and  inhabit  with  us." 
This  land  was  ever  after  designated  as  his  "Indian  ground," 
and  in  1700  was  the  occasion  of  his  famous  letter,  which  was 
ordered  to  be  kept  in  the  town  book  forever.  It  is  now  one 
hundred  and  seventy  eight  years  old,  in  a  good  state  of  pre- 
servation, and  will  be  found  in  its  appropriate  place.  Mr.  Pike 
claimed  the  land,  although  never  complying  with  the  conditions 
on  which  it  was  granted. 

The  tract  of  land  from  Thomas  Page's  to  John  Huntington's 
was  very  properly  named  Indian  ground,  as  it  was  evidently 
the  seat  of    an    Indian  village  at  some    period    of  time.     Many 


j6  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

implements  used  by  Indians  have  been  found  in  this  vicinity, 
some  of  which  were  deposited  with  the  Natural  History 
Society.  On  the  south  side  of  the  river,  opposite  the  Indian 
ground,  is  a  small  creek  long  known  as  Indian  river.  And 
when  we  take  into  consideration  the  fact  that  here  is  the  best 
shad  grounds  of  the  river,  we  may  safely  conclude  that  it  was 
a  favorite  resort  of  the  red  men. 

ANTHONY    COLBY. 

He  is  said  to  have  left  England  with  Winthrop  and  others, 
coming  to  Boston  in  1630.  He  is  number  ninety-three  on  the 
list  of  church  members,  and  was  made  Freeman,  May  14,  1634, 
with  Jerad  Haddon  and  some  eighty  others.  He  is  thought  to 
have  lived  at  Cambridge  in  1632,  from  whence  he  moved  to 
Salisbury  previous  to  1640,  with  his  wife  Susanna.  He  was 
not  a  very  young  man,  probably,  when  he  came  to  Salisbury,  as 
will  be  seen  by  the  following  : — 

His   children  were    Sarah,  born  ;   John,   1st  son,  born 

;    Samuel,    ;    Orlando    ;    Isaac,    born  July 

6th,  1640;  Rebecca,  born  March  nth,  1643;  Mary,  born  Sep- 
tember 19th,   1647;    Thomas,  born  March  8th,  1650. 

Sarah  married  Orlando  Bagley  March  6th,  1634,  and  had,  in 
1662,  of  her  father's  estate,  two  cows,  one  steer  and  a  young 
horse. 

John  was  baptized  the  same  day  as  Seaborn  Cotton,  and  married 
Frances,  daughter  of  John  Hoyt,  January  14th,   1656. 

Samuel  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William  Sargent. 

Rebecca  married  John  Williams,  September  9th,   1661. 

Mary  married  William  Sargent,  jr.,  September  23d,   1668. 

Isaac  lived  in  Salisbury  with  his  wife,  Martha,  and  was  des- 
ignated on  early  deeds  as  a  planter ;  but  it  is  said  he  moved  to 
Rowley,  and  the  records  of  deeds  mentions  a  person  of  that 
name  in  Rowley  as  owning  land  in  Amesbury.  He  held  office 
several  years  in  Salisbury  and,  in  1653,  was  one  of  a  commis- 
sion to  run  the  line  between  Haverhill  and  Salisbury.  He  was 
also  one  of  a  commission  to  lay  out  the  road  from  Mill  bridge 
to  the  plain  that  "goeth  to  Lions  Mouth."  He  was  a  farmer 
and  owned  1-8  of  the  "old  saw  mill,"  and,  probably,  lived  near 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURV.  77 

Powow  river.  He  was  an  active,  hard-working  man,  and  the 
worst  thing  that  we  find  against  him  is  that  he  was  once  fined  for 
being  disorderly  in  town  meeting.  He  died  in  the  early  part 
of  February,  1661,  and  his  inventory  bears  date  of  March  9th, 
1662, — taken  by  Samuel  Hall,  Thomas  Bradbury  and  Thomas 
Barnard.  It  amounted  to  ^359,  19  s.,  4  d.,  and  among  the  arti- 
cles enumerated  are  "old  swords,  2  old  muskets,  new  mill  saw 
and  an  old  one  jQi,  o,  o,  6  Oxen,  an  old  long  cart  &  wheels, 
2  canoes  &  1-2  a  canoe,  6  cows,  23  year  old  steer  ^10,  o,  o, 
8  sheep  7  swine,  1  mare  &  colt  ^20,  one  horse  ^10,  Dwelling 
house,  barn  &  14  acres  of  land  ,£70,  30  acres  pasture  ^20, 
n  lots  at  yl  which  is  called  Mr.  Halls,  18  acres  fresh  Meadow 
,£40,  2  lots  sweepage  &  1  higgle  piggledee  lot  £4,  60  acres" 
upland  towards  Pentucket  bounds  with  meadow  to  be  laid  out 
^10,  ye  8th  part  of  the  saw  mill  ^30,  40  bushels  wheat  £9, 
10  bu  of  barley  &  3  of  rye,  60  bu  of  Indian  corn  ,£9."  Dying 
before  the  great  division  of  land  was  made,  he  had  not  received 
so  much  land  as  those  who  died  at  a  later  period.  His  widow 
received  grants  in  nearly  all  subsequent  divisions. 

1662. 

At  the  March  meeting,  Richard  Currier  was  chosen  to  keep 
the  book  of  records  and  to  record  all  meetings,  and  to  be 
allowed  twelve  pence  for  each  meeting.  He  was  authorized  to 
get  a  new  book  and  the  town  to  pay  the  cost.  George  Can- 
was  granted  a  common  right  when  he  or  any  of  his  sons  came 
to  live  in  town.  Also,  the  right  to  cut  timber  on  the  common 
for  building  vessels.  A  large  tract  of  land  between  the  pond, 
Pine  hill  and  Powow  river  was  ordered  to  be  laid  out,  also  the 
land  between  James'  creek  and  the  Haverhill  line,  and  the  path 
that  goeth  to  Haverhill,  and  given  to  all  that  had  a  "  common 
right."  "Vallintine  Rowell  and  Sammuel  Foote  "  were  granted 
twelve  acres  of  land  on  "Whichers'  hill  for  six  years.  Goodman 
Mearting,  Goodman  Hoyt  and  Goodman  Rowell  were  appointed 
to  lay  out  the  land  in  the  Lion's  mouth  and  Great  swamp." 
Several  other  grants  were  made  at  this  meeting.  The  record  of 
the  great  lots  is  here  given,  it  being  the  greatest  division  made 
during  the  early  days  of  the  town  : — 


78  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

"William  Osgood,  first  lott,  200  acres;  John  Weed,  second 
lott,  200  acres;  John  Hoyt,  jr.,  third  lott,  120  acres;  John 
Colby,  fourth  lott,  160  acres;  Hen  Blasdell,  fift  lott  160  acres: 
Willi.  Huntinton,  six  lott,  120  acres;  Walter  Taylor,  seven  lott, 
108  acres ;  James  George,  eight  lott,  040  acres  ;  Edward  Cot- 
tle, ninth  lott,  160  acres;  Ms  Gove,  tenth  lott,  108  acres;  Rich- 
ard Currier,  leaventh  lott,  200  acres ;  Widow  Colby,  twelth  lott, 
108  acres ;  Thomas  Barnard,  thirteen  lott,  200  acres ;  Willi. 
Sargent,  fourteen  lott,  200  acres;  Sam11  Foot,  fifteen  lott,  120 
acres;  Edman  Elleat,  sixteen  lott,  120  acres;  George  Martin, 
seventh  lott,  160  acres;  Jeret  Hadden,  eighteerrK)tt,  200  acres: 
Widow  Peasly,  nineteen  lott,  108;  Sam"  Colby,  twenty  lott,  108 
acres ;  Rob  Quenby,  twenty  one  lott,  108  acres ;  Nath  Gold, 
twenty  two  lott,  108  acres  ;  John  Hoyt  sen.,  twenty  three  lott,  200 
acres;  Vail  Rowell,  twenty  four  lott,  160  acres;  Willi.  Barnes, 
twenty  five  lott,  200  acres ;  Philip  Challis,  twenty  six  lott,  200 
acres." 

Phillip  Challis  deputy  this  year. 

May  1 7th.  Valentine  Rowell,  one  of  the  first  eighteen,  and 
a  signer  of  the  Articles  of  Agreement,  died.  He  was,  probably, 
son  of  Thomas,  who  received  land  at  the  first  division  of  Salis- 
bury in  1639.  He  seems  to  have  been  one  of  the  first  who 
crossed  the  Powow,  as  previous  to  1652  he  sold  his  house 
and  land  to  John  Bayly,  sen.,  which  fact  Bayly  mentions  in  his 
will  made  in  1651.  Bayly  gave  this  house  and  five  acres  of 
land  to  his  daughter  Johanna,  wife  of  William  Huntington,  and 
April  2d  of  this  year  they  sold  the  same  to  John  Maxfield  for 
^5.  By  the  description  given  in  the  deed  it  seems  to  have 
been  at  the  Ferry  near  Bayly's  hill. 

Rowell  received  land  in  all  the  divisions  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death,  and  was  chosen  to  lay  out  the  Lion's  mouth  lots 
with  "goodman  Mearting  &  goodman  Hoyt."  He  was  made  a 
townsman  in  Salisbury  in   1650. 

His  children  were  Hannah,  born  January,  1643  j  Thomas, 
born  September  7th,  1644;  John,  born ^45,  died  Feb- 
ruary 1 8th,  1655;  Phillip,  born  March  8th,  1647;  Mary,  born 
January  31st,   1650;    Sarah,  born   November  16th,   165 1  ;   John, 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  79 

born  November  15th,  1655  ;  Elizabeth,  born  August  10th,  1657  ; 
Margaret,  born  September  8th,  1659. 

His  wife's  name  was  Joanna,  and,  subsequent  to  her  hus- 
band's death,  she  married  Richard  Currier,  whom  she  outlived 
and  was  a  second   time  a  widow. 

Rev.  William  Worcester  died  this  year.  His  first  wife  died  in 
1650  and  he  soon  after  married  Mrs.  Rebecca  Hall.  He  was 
a  fine  scholar  and  of  great  piety.  Cotton  Mather  calls  him 
"the  revered,  learned,  and  holy  by  whose  evangelical  ministry 
the  church  was  illuminated." 

The  death  of  Abraham  Morrill,  one  of  the  most  prominent 
men  -of  the  old  town,  may  with  propriety  be  mentioned  here,  as 
his  descendants  have  largely  helped  to  people  the.  new  town. 
He  died  previous  to  October  14th,  when  his  will  was  proved. 
He  was  among  the  first  to  settle  the  new  territory,  and  his 
house-lot  was  near  the  residence  now  occupied  as  a  parsonage 
at  East  Salisbury.  His  occupation  was  that  of  a  blacksmith, 
and  his  work,  no  doubt,  in  good  demand  at  that  time. 

In  1642  he  and  Henry  Saywood  built  a  corn  mill  on  the 
Powow  river,  which  changed  to  some  extent  his  business  in 
after  years,  although  he  never  gave  up  his  farm,  but,  like  some  of 
his  decendants  who  now  occupy  the  same  premises,  retained 
his  love  for  cattle,  horses  and  live-stock  generally. 

His  wife  was  Sarah  Midgett,  sister  to  Thomas  Midgett,  who 
hired  the  ship-yard  of  William  Osgood  at  the  landing  for  many 
years.  He.  died  before  his  last  child  was  born,  and,  in  all  prob- 
ability, was  not  very  aged.  Isaac,  his  elder  son,  received  two 
shares  of  his  estate,  and  his  wife,  Thomas  Midgett  &  Isaac  were 
executors  of  his  will.  The  whole  estate  amounted  to  ^507. 
At  his  death  his  children  were  Isaac,  Abraham,  Jacob,  Sarah, 
Moses  and  Lydia — mostly  young.  The  inventory  contained  "3 
horse  kind  &  mare  &  fole,  5  oxen,  4  cows,  7  young  cattle,  8 
sheep,  11  swine,  new  house  &  56  acres  of  land,  3  parts  of  corn 
mill,  part  of  vessel,  4  guns,  3  pots  &  blacksmith  tools." 

1663. 

This  year  the  town  bought  one  acre  of  land  of  Edmond 
Elliott    for  a   burying   place.     It  was  at    the  "  lower  end  of  the 


80  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

towne    part  of  that  which    was  formerly  Thos.  Macys    niext    the 
country  road  that  go  from  town  up  to  Hefriell." 

This  was  the  eastern  part  of  the  cemetery  next  the  late 
Joseph  Bartlett's,  and  here  the  oldest  stones  may  be  found, 
dating  far  back  in  the  past.  Up  to  this  time  Golgotha  had  been 
the  only  burying  ground  in  town. 

On  the  1 6th  of  March  a  town  meeting  was  held  for  the  dis- 
position of  land,  and  five  hundred  and  twenty  acres  were  given 
out  to  the  inhabitants.  To  scatter  the  grants  judiciously  would 
be  likely  to  occupy  the  time  of  the  meeting  pretty  closely,  but 
in  this  instance  the  doings  were  not  satisfactory ;  and  seven  who 
received  no  land  entered  "  their  contrary  desent  to  the  giving 
out  of  the  land  which  is  disposed  on  above." 
v^  Ezekiel  Wathen*  who  was  probably  one  of  the  ancestors  of 
the  Amesbury  and  Salisbury  Worthens,  first  appears  as  towns- 
man this  year  by  a  grant  of  land  near  his  house.  In  1644 
Widow  Wathen's  estate  was  settled,  and  Ezekiel,  then  a  boy 
eight  and  a  half  years  old,  was  "put  out  apprentice  to  Thos.  Abie" 
till  twenty  years  old.  The  next  that  is  known  of  him  is  in  1661, 
when  he  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  George  Martyn.  It  seems 
that  after  completing  his  apprenticeship  he  came  to  Amesbury, 
married,  and  purchased  land  at  Pleasant  valley  where  his  descend- 
ants still  live.  In  1665  George  Martyn  gave  to  "Ezekiel 
Wathen  my  well  beloved  son  in  law  &  unto  Hannah  his  now 
wife  my  dearly  &  well  beloved  daughter"  eight  acres  of  land  at 
the  "  Lyons  Mouth."  The  ancestor  of  Ezekiel  is  not  fully  known, 
but  on  the  County  Court  records  is  found  the  name  of  George 
Wathen  in  a  case  of  "  Wm.  Peturs  vs.  George  Wathen  bringing 
into  court  a  contract  whereby  about  an  acre  of  land  a  garden 
&  sd  court  agreed  yl  2  indifferint  men  shall  judge  betwixt  them 
wl  satisfaction  Mr.  Peters  is  to  give  ye  sd  Wathen  &  if  Mr. 
Peters  can  prove  agl  he  may  recover  of  him  5  m.  1640." 
George  has  been  a  family  name,  and  it  is  very  probable  this 
person    was  the    father  of   Ezekiel,  or,  perhaps   a  brother. 

Deputies  :   Robert  Pike  and  Jeremiah  Houchin. 

This  year  Salisbury  voted  to  pay  back  the  expenses  which  the 

*In   1669  there  was  a  Joseph  in  town — probably  a  brother. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  8 1 

new  town  had  incurred  on  account  of  the   ministry — when  they 
got  a  minister. 

1664. 

A  general  meeting  was  held  January  4th  and  "Georg  Marting 
was  chosen  with  Thos.  Barnard  Joh.  Hoyt  and  John  Weed  to 
lay  out  the  griet  swamp  and  also  either  of  them  have  power  to 
lay  out  the  griet  swamp  and  to  be  payd  three  shillins  a  day  by 
them  that  have  land." 

The  following  persons  drew  lots  : — 

"Richard  Corier,  one,  John  Hoyett,  ten, 

John  Weed,  tow,  Gorieg  marting,  liven, 

Edward  Cotiell,  three,  William  Barnes,  twelve, 

Jarrut  Haddon,  fovere,  William  hovntinton,  fovrtin. 

John  Waerd,  fiveft,  Phillip  Chalies,  thirtin, 

Henery  Blasdall,  sixt,  Wallintin  Rowell,  fivetin, 

Widow  Colby,  sevinth,  James  Gorieg,  sixtin, 

William  Sargant,  eight,  Thomas  Macy,  siventin, 

Thomas  Barnard,  nienth." 
Widow  Peaslee  "Exactitor  to   Joseph  Piesly"  received  twenty 
acres  of  land  in  exchange  for  six   acres  of  salt   marsh  formerly 
granted  her  husband. 

This  meeting  ordered  all  the  common  land  to  be  given  out. 
highways  only  excepted.  The  children  were  excluded  from  any 
share  in  this  division.  This  arrangement  was  not  satisfactory  to 
a  portion  of  the  meeting,  and  William  Sargent,  Thomas  Barnard, 
John  Weed,  Edward  Cottle,  William  Huntinton  and  George 
Martin  entered  their  "contree  dicent." 

It  was  a  sweeping  distribution  of  land,  and  thought  by  the 
dissenters  to  be  an  imprudent  measure.  The  land  was  not  needed, 
as  all  had  more  than  they  could  improve. 

A  general  meeting  was  held  Jan.  18th,  and  twenty-six  lots 
next  Hampton  line  were  ordered  to  the  inhabitants,  by  drawing 
lots  among  the  commoners. 

The  common  land  ordered  out  January  4th  was  also  given  to 

the  twenty-six  commoners  who  were  the  principal  men  in  town. 

There  was  evidently  strong  opposition  to  this  hasty  disposition 

of  the  town  lands,  and  by  an  adroit   movement  in  the  meeting 

1 1 


82  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

the  whole  measure  was  completely  changed,  as  the  following 
vote  shows  : — 

"Att  ye  same  miting  it  was  voted  that  this  tract  of  land  above 
lifting  shall  not  be  disposed  of  this  twenty  yeare  to  these  men 
above  ritting."  So  the  whole  matter  rested  quietly  for  two 
years. 

April  1 2th.  William  Barnes  sold  to  Richard  Currier  six  acres 
of  land  "  bounded  with  ye  west  with  ye  hollow  highway",  which 
would  locate  the  tract  in  the  vicinity  of  Winthrop  Collins'.  The 
Sandy  Hollow  road  is  therefore  a  very  ancient  one,  and  was 
probably  laid  out  among  the  first  in  town. 

John  Pressy  bought  two  river  lots  this  year — lot  No.  9  of 
George  Martyn  and  No.  10  of  Nathan  Gold.  The  Pressy  fam- 
ilies were  located  west  of  Pressy's  creek  mostly  at  first,  and 
these  lots  were  between  the  two  creeks  in  that  vicinity. 

Jeremiah  Houchin  was  deputy  this  year. 

1665.  ' 

The  most  important  event  this  year  was  building  a  meeting 
house  in  the  new  town,  which  was  very  much  needed  for  the 
convenience  of  the  people. 

Jan.  4th.  A  town  meeting  was  held  at  which  "  it  was  votted 
y1  there  shall  be  a  meeting  house  bilt  in  the  new  towne  by  ye 
next  midsomer  insuing  ye  date  here  of  wch  house  is  to  be  bilt 
thirty  foot  long,  five  and  twenty  feet  wide  and  sixteen  foot  stood 
or  there  abouts." 

"  Att  ye  same  meeting  there  was  chosen  Thomas  Barnard  senr 
and  John  Hoyt  sen  and  Richard  Currier  for  ye  caring  on  of  yc 
above  said  menchened  metting  house  and  also  they  are  impow- 
ered  to  hire  workmen  for  ye  earring  on  of  ye  worke  for  ye  build- 
ing of  ye  above  said  house  and  also  they  are  furder  impowered 
to  see  w'  ye  new  town  will  give  in  way  of  contribution  for  ye 
building  of  this  metting  house  and  wl  doth  fall  shorte  of  pay 
by  contribution  then  to  make  a  ratt  for  ye  carrying  on  of  y' 
worke." 

"Att  ye  same  metting  it  was  votted  y'  ye  above  menchened 
metting  house  shall  stand  upon  ye  land  bought  of  Edman  Ell- 
eat  for  a  buring  place." 


HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY.  83 

"Att  ye  same  metting  Thomas  Barnards  and  Richard  Currier 
was  chosen  to  go  two  Mr  Showell  or  Mr  Woodbridgs  son  to 
see  if  they  can  ataine  either  of  them  to  be  helpful  two  us  in 
ye  worke  of  ye  ministry." 

The  people  were  tired  of  going  to  Salisbury  to  meeting  and 
were  now  in  earnest  about  the  matter.  For  years  the  feeling 
had  been  in  favor  of  this  measure,  but  they  were  hardly  able 
to  support  a  minister  or  numerous  enough  to  render  such  a 
step  necessary.  When  the  first  attempt  was  made  in  1658 
the  prospect  was  not  sufficiently  encouraging  to  induce  the  Gen- 
eral Court  to  grant  their  petition ;  but  on  full  consideration  they 
were  ordered  to  worship  with  the  old  town.  The  old  town 
hardly  felt  able  to  support  Mr.  Worcester  without  their  help, 
and  hence  their  opposition  to  the  measure.  In  1660  there 
seemed  to  be  no  opposition,  and  yet  they  failed  to  get  Mr. 
Dumer,  probably  for  the  reason  that  the  prospect  was  hardly 
bright  enough.  Having  continued  with  the  Salisbury  church 
four  years  longer  and  increased  in  numbers  and  ability,  they 
now  move  with  a  determination  which  does  them  much  credit. 
They  were  fully  aware  that  the  General  Court  would  refuse  them 
a  township  until  they  had  obtained  a  minister,  nor  were  they 
disposed  to  ask"  any  such  favor.  Wherever  the  Puritans  went, 
the  meeting  and  school  were  sure  to  be  found. 

The  location  of  this  meeting  house  was  on  the  acre  bought 
of  "Edman  Elleat"  for  a  burying  place.  It  was  the  prevailing 
custom  in  early  days  to  make  such  locations.  It  probably  stood 
just  back  of  the  Hoyt  tomb,  near  the  shop  of  the  late  Joseph 
Bartlett,  and  hither  the  scattered  population  resorted  on  each 
returning  Sabbath.  In  this  little  hopper-roof  church  at  toll 
of  bell,  the  old,  middle  aged  and  young  quietly  took  the 
seats  assigned  them  and  listened  to  the  word  as  expounded  to 
them  by  the  eloquent  young  minister  whom  they  had  chosen. 

The  committee  chosen  to  go  to  Mr.  Showell  and  young 
Woodbridge  were  not  successful  in  obtaining  either  of  them, 
and  April  3d,  at  a  meeting  then  held,  Lieut.  Challis  and  John 
Hoyt,  sen.,  were  chosen  "  to  treat  with  Capttin  Pyke  to  see  if 
they  can    obtaine   him    to    be  helpful   to  us  in  the  work  of  the 


84  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

Ministry."  Capt.  Pike,  if  a  preacher,  could  not  be  obtained, 
having  plenty  of  secular  business  in  the  old  town.  It  is  prob- 
able that  meetings  were  held  and  occasional  preaching  had, 
although  no  minister  was  found  to  settle  with  them.  The  meet- 
ing house  was,  no  doubt,  completed  as  ordered,  and  it  served 
their  purpose  for  fifty-two  years. 

The  cows  still  went  on  the  common  under  the  care  of  a 
herdsman,  who  was  paid  by  a  rate,  each  person  paying  accord- 
ing to  the  number  of  cattle  put  into  the  herd.  James  George 
was  herdsman  this  year,  and  was  authorized  to  prosecute  those 
who  refused   to  pay. 

They  had  a  summary  process  for  removing  encroachments  on 
the  highway,  as  the  following  vote  shows  : — 

"  At  the  same  metten  William  Osgood  and  George  Martyn 
sen  and  John  Colby  sen  weare  chosen  to  few  the  bounds  of 
the  to  ranges  of  lots  that  the  hi  way  do  laye  between  them 
that  doo  run  to  Meremack  River  and  in  case  they  doo  find 
ani  fence  standing  upon  the  hi  way  above  retten  thay  are 
impowered  by  the  new  town  to  pull  it  up  povided  they  give 
the  perte  or  pertes  notis  of  it  six  days  before  they  pull  it  down." 

Deputy,  Jeremiah  Houchin. 

The  minutes  of  a  deed  from  John  Bayly,  2d,  to  Edward 
Goodwin,  who  for  some  time  kept  the  ferry  near  Mrs.  Babb's, 
may  be  of  some  interest,  as  showing  the  condition  of  Water 
street  at  the  Ferry  two  hundred  and  fifteen  years  ago  : — 

Mr.  Bayly  sold  Mr.  Goodwin  four  acres  bounded  south-east- 
erly by  the  river,  north-easterly  by  a  little  run,  south-westerly  by 
a  highway,  and  north-westerly  by  land  of  Mr.  Bayly ;  and  it  was 
to  extend  back  from  the  river  seventeen  rods  in  width.  This 
strip  which  extended  from  the  landing,  near  the  late  Capt.  John 
Martin's,  to  the  little  brook  at  Miss  E.  C.  TrusselPs,  was  wide 
enough  to  include  the  houses  on  both  sides  of  the  street,  and 
has,  since  that  first  deed,  been  a  noted  place  for  ship  building, 
and  especially  for  being  the  landing  place  of  Washington  when 
crossing  the  Merrimac  on  his  northern  tour. 

1666. 

The  first  act  this  year  was  to  fix  the   minister's  salary. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  85 

Feb.  19th.  A  general  meeting  was  held  and  the  following 
vote  passed  : — 

"At  the  same  metten  it  was  voted  by  the  mager  parte  of 
the  metten  to  pay  unto  the  man  that  is  helpfull  to  us  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry  forty  pound  a  year  so  long  as  hee  do 
continuee  in  the  work  of  the  ministery  among  us." 

This  was  a  very  important  move  and  calculated  to  insure 
success.  At  least  it  was  an  important  item  to  go  before  the 
General  Court  in  connection  with  their  petition. 

On  the  14th  of  May  a  meeting  was  held  and  the  following- 
vote  passed  : — 

"  At  the  same  meetten  it  was  agreed  to  send  to  the  General 
Court  for  the  obtayning  of  Mr.  Bengemen  Woodbriedg  to  be 
helpfull  to  us  in  the  work  of  the  ministery  and  also  to  see  if 
wee  can  obtain  to  be  a  township  of  ourselves." 

This  was  a  very  judicious  course,  for,  having  fixed  the  salary, 
they  very  humbly  asked  the  General  Court  to  assist  them  in  get- 
ting a  minister  and  to  allow  them  a  township.  All  this  was  in 
perfect  accord  with  the  agreement  made  with  the  old  town 
twelve  years  before. 

"  At  the  same  metten  Richard  Currier  was  chosen  to  go  to 
the  General  Court  to  maneg  the  bisnes  conserning  the  petission 
the  new  town  sends  to  the  Generall  Court." 

"Lieut.  Challes"  was  chosen  to  give  the  old  town  notice  of 
the  petition  sent  to  the  General  Court. 

The  first  session  commenced  May  23d.  The  petition  was 
duly  presented  by  Mr.  Currier  and  the  grant  made  early  in  the 
session,  as  follows  : — 

"In  answer  to  the  peticon  of  the  inhabitants  of  New  Salis- 
bury, this  Court  doeth  grant  them  the  liberty  of  a  touneship, 
according  to  the  agreement  with  the  ould  toune  &  that  upon 
their  providing  a  minister  approved  off  according  as  the  law 
provides,  they  then  to  be  taken  of  from  contributing  to  the 
minister  of  ye  old  toune." 

The  effort  of  the  new  town  people  was  crowned  with  perfect 
success.  They  obtained  their  "township"  and  their  minister, 
and  henceforth  will  take  rank  religiously  and  politically  among 
the  townes  of  Massachusetts  Bay. 


86  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

"At  a  generall  metting  of  the  inhabitants  of  ye  towne  new 
Salisbury  ye  8d  of  June"  "Goodman  Sargent  was  chosen  to 
entertain  Mr.  Bengaman  Woodbrag  and  the  towne  to  satisfie 
him  in  provision  what  hee  is  ought  about  it."  This  completes 
the  arrangement  so  far  as  church  matters  are  concerned  and  it 
only  remains  to  organize  the  town  by  choice  of  officers  which 
was  made  at  a  meeting  held   June  15th. 

Thomas  Barnard  was  chosen  moderator. 

Prudential  men  :  Thomas  Barnard,  Philip  Challis,  John  Weed, 
Robert  Jones,  John  Hoyt,  sen. 

Thus  in  about  one  month  from  the  first  move  on  the  14th 
of  May,  the  town  was  organized  and  in  running  order.  The 
first  juror  chosen  to  attend  Hampton  court  was  Robert  Jones, 
and  the  first  grand  jurors  were  John  Hoyt,  sen.,  and  Jarret 
Haddon. 

Grants  of  land  were  made  to  Thomas  Haines,  John  Hoyt,  jr., 
John  Colby,  Robert  Jones,  Nathan  Gould,  Thomas  Barnard,  jr., 
James  George,  Robert  Quinby,  Edmund  Elliott  and  John  Foot, 
in  all  amounting  to  two  hundred  and  five  acres. 

Thomas  Currier  was  granted  a  township  and,  also,  Thomas 
Sargent. 

Robert  Jones  was  granted  a  township  for  his  son. 

Deputy  :     Mr.  Thomas  Bradbury. 

The  inventory  of  Richard  Goodale,  the  famous  hunter  of  the 
colony  for  several  years  during  the  first  settlement,  was  filed  this 
year,  and  he  probably  died  during  the  year.  His  property 
amounted  to  ^80,  including  the  "8th  part  of  a  Barke,"  which 
was  appraised  at  ^20.  His  farm  was  appraised  at  ^60,  includ- 
ing the  personal  property,  which  consisted  in  part  of  five  cows, 
three  calves  and  four  swine.  In  his  will  which  was  made  June 
7th,  he  gave  his  son  Richard  one-half  of  his  property,  and  to 
his  servant,  Cornelius  Connor,  his  clothes.  The  rent  of  his 
property  was  to  be  divided  between  his  son,  and  daughter  Ann, 
wife  of  William  Allen.  No  account  of  any  outlands  is  found 
on  the  inventory,  although  he  received  land  in  the  several  divi- 
sions with  other  settlers.  One  or  two  of  his  lots  were  located 
at    Pleasant  valley,  but    sold    before   his  death.     George    Martin 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  87 

bought  one  lot  of  him  in  1662,  and  subsequently  sold  part  or 
all  of  it  to  Ezekiel  Worthen,  his  son  in  law.  This  lot  contained 
the  excellent  spring  long  known  as  "  Goodale's  spring,"  and  now 
owned  by  Peter  F.  Swett.  The  hill,  also,  at  the  foot  of  which 
this  spring  bursts  forth,  was  for  more  than  half  a  century  known 
as  "  Goodale's  hill,"  and  was  rendered  somewhat  famous  by  the 
wanderings  of  John  Pressy  over  and  around  it  one  evening  in 
1692.  This  location  remained  in  the  Worthen  family  for  about 
one  hundred  and  seventy-five  years  from  1670. 

At  the  incorporation  of  the  new  town  there  appears  to  have 
been  but  thirty-six  freeman,  by  which  is  meant  voters  and  com- 
moners, viz.  : — 

Richard  Currier,  Orlando  Bagley, 

George  Martyn,  Nathan  Gould, 

John  Hoyt,  Samuel  Colby, 

Philip  Watson  Challis,  William  Osgood, 

Thomas  Macy,  Robert  Quinby, 

William  Huntington,  Edmund  Elliott, 

John  Bayly,  George  Carr, 

Henry  Blasdell,  Walter  Taylor, 

John  Colby,  Thomas  Currier, 

William  Barnes,  Robert  Jones, 

Valentine  Rowell,  Thomas  Sargent, 

Thomas  Barnet,  Thomas  Rowell, 

Thomas  Barnet,  jr.,  Joseph  Peaslee, 

Anthony  Colby,  James  George, 

John  Weed,  Joseph  Peaslee,  jr., 

Jarrett  Haddon,  Ezekiel  Worthen, 

William  Sargent,  Samuel  Foot, 

Edward  Cottle,  John  Hoyt,  jr. 

1667. 

At  the  annual  meeting  the  division  of  the  land  set  apart  for 
the  children  in  1659  was  further  considered  and  ordered  o  be 
divided  "to  every  child  according  to  his  father's  estate  given 
in  to  the  makin  of  Mr.  Woodbridges  first  reat  at  the  new  town." 
"John  Hoyt  sen  do  enter  his  contri  desent  to  this  vot." 

Robert  Jones  and  James  George  were  granted  "their  sonns 
proportion  of  land    equevelent  to  the  other  children    by  way  of 


88  HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY. 

reat  and  the  land  to  ly  next  the  children's  land."  "  John  Hoyt 
sen  do  enter  his  contrere  desent  to  this  vot." 

Their  lots  were  to  begin  next  to  Cobler's  brook,  the  land 
lying  between  West  Amesbury  and  Haverhill  line. 

At  this  meeting  (January  25th)  it  was  voted  "that  the  town 
shall  make  a  bregh  over  the  swamp  at  Gorg  Martins  house." 
The  remains  of  this  bridge  or  rather  the  causeway  and  road 
each  side  are  still  visible  in  Mr.  David  Currier's  pasture  near 
Moody  Merrill's.  It  was  a  small  bridge,  perhaps  six  feet  wide 
in  the  center  of  a  causeway  built  over  a  meadow  some  six  or 
eight  rods  broad.  The  bank  on  the  south  side  was  dug  and 
carted  into  the  meadow  to  raise  the  grade  above  the  bogs. 
About  one  hundred  years  ago  a  second  bridge  was  built  far- 
ther to  the  north  across  this  same  meadow,  and  the  road 
changed  to  where  we  now  find  it  by  Aquila  Martin,  who  then 
owned  the  -land  in  that  vicinity.  The  town  allowed  a  short 
piece  of  the  old  road  to  be  discontinued  in  exchange  for  the 
new. 

Edward  Goodwin  was  granted  a  common  right. 

Richard  Hubbard  was  granted  a  "common  right  when  he 
comes  up  to  live  among  us  and  inhabitt  with  us." 

William  Hackett  was  granted  a  common  right. 

"William  Osgood  do  enter  his  contrary  desent  to  these  two 
last  acte." 

There  was  trouble  with  Haverhill  about  the  bounds  and  Wil- 
liam Osgood  and  Samuel  foot  were  chosen  to  join  with  the 
Prudential  men  to  demand  satisfaction  for  "  there  ungoust 
molestation  about  our  bounds  to  demand  our  charges  of  them 
and  in  case  of  refusal  to  prosecute  at  law  for  the  obtaining  of 
it." 

Whether  the  committee  ever  obtained  redress  to  their  satis- 
faction we  are  not  able  to  state  ;  but  the  line  was  settled  May 
15th  by  the  General  Court,  as  it  now  stands. 

The  town  ordered  the  Prudential  men  to  commence  a  "  suet 
against  the  cow  keeper  for  breach  of  covenant." 

John  Nash  and  Thomas  Nichols  were  made  townsmen. 

"  It  was  voted   and   agreed   upon   that  the  menesters  mainte- 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  89 

nance  shall  be  gathered  by  way  of  contrybnsion  so  long  till  the 
towne  shall    see  case  to  allter  it." 

Lieut.  Challis  and  Richard  Currier  were  chosen  to  gather  the 
contribution  and  pass  it  to  the  minister. 

Thomas  Sargent  was  made  a  townsman  on  the  right  his 
father,  William  Sargent,  had  for  one  of  his  sons. 

Nathan  Gould  was  granted  six  acres  of  land  "  upon  the  north 
sid  of  the  hill  caled  Thorn  Whiters  hill." 

"At  the  seam  metten  Liften  Challes  John  Hoyt  sen  and 
George  martyn  weare  apointed  to  lay  out  two  hundred  akers 
of  land  for  the  yous  of  the  Ministry  wherever  thay  shall  find  it 
most  convenient." 

A  portion  of  this  land  was  laid  out  near  the  late  Joseph 
Merrill's  and  is  now  known  as  the  "  parsonage."  It  is  bounded 
by  roads  on  all  sides  :  northerly  by  the  Pond  hill  road,  west- 
erly by  the  Hunt  road,  southerly  by  the  old  road  over  Clough's 
hill,  and  easterly  by  the  Martin  road,  embracing  about  one 
hundred  acres. 

July  9th.  A  general  meeting  was  held  for  the  purpose  of 
seating  the  people  in  the  new  church,  and  "  Liften  Phillip  Chal- 
les, Richard  Currier,  William  Osgood,  Rober  Jones  William 
Barnes,  John  Weed,  Thomas  Barnard  sen  Nathan  Gold,  Georg 
Martyn  thes  men  above  retten"  to  apoint  every  man  and  woman 
in  the  towen  there  pertecular  seate  to  set  in  in  the  metten 
house  acording  to  there  best  judgment,  excpt  thes  men  wich 
the  town  themselves  have  plased." 

Accordingly  they  proceeded  to  exercise  their  "best  judgment," 
as  follows  : — 

"Richard  Currier  is  to  set  at  the  tabell. 

Thomas  Barnard  sen  is  to  set  in  the  seat  behind  the  tabell. 

Roberd  Jons  and  John  Weed  are  to  set  in  the  nor  West 
corner  of  the  metten  house. 

The  2  seate  in  the  nor  "West  side  Georg  Martyn  and  Nathan 
Gould  are  to  set  in. 

Good  wiffe  barens  is  to  set  in  the  front  seate  at  the  tabell. 

Good  wiffe  Osgood  and  Good  wiffe  Challes  and  Good  wiffe 
Weed  are  to  set  in  the  first  seate  in  the  sowethest  sid  of  the 
metten  house.  12 


90  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

Good  wiffe  Currier  and  Good  wiffe  Barnard  is  to  set  in  the 
second  seate  in  the  sowett  west  side  of  the  metten  house. 

Good  wiffe  Jons  is  to  set  in  the  second  seate  in  the  soweth 
est  side  of  the  metten  house. 

Good  wiffe  Gould  is  to  set  in  the  3  seate  in  the  soweth 
side  of  the  metten  house. 

Good  wiffe  Martyn  is  to  set  in  the  3  seate  in  the  soweth 
west  side  of  the  metten  house. 

Georg  Martyn  do  enter  his  contry  desent  to  the  plasen  of 
his  wiffe  in  that  seat. 

William  Sargent  sen  is  to  set  at  the  tabell. 

Edward  Goodwin  is  to  set  at  the  tabell. 

J  arret  Hadden  and  Sargent  Hoyt  is  to  set  in  the  seate  at 
the  back  of  the  tabell. 

Edward  Cottell  and  Edmund  Elleatt  and  Hen  Blasdell  is  to 
set  in  the  2  seat  on  the  nor  west  side  of  the  metten  house. 

Samuel  Foot,  John  Hoyt  jr  Thomas  Barnard  jr  Thomas  Sar- 
gent, William  Hoyt  Isa  Colby  Thomas  Rowell  is  to  set  in  the 
first  seat  in  the  nor  est  side  in  the  metten  house. 

William  Huntinton  Thomas  Fowler,  Thomas  Nichols  Rob 
Quinby  is  to  set  in  the  3  seat  in  the  nor  west  side  in  the 
metten  house. 

John  Pressy,  Jemes  Fres,  Ezekiell  Worthen,  John  Huntinton 
is  to  set  in  the  2  seate  in  the  nor  west  side  in  the  metten 
house. 

Jemes  Gorg  Joh  Barber  is  to  set  in  the  3  seate  in  the  nor 
est  side  of  the  metten  house." 

The  record  is  very  much  worn  and  it  is  probable  that  a  few 
more  may  have  been  seated.  William  Barnes  was  moderator  of 
the  meeting  and,  of  course,  had  a  prominent  seat  assigned  him. 
Forty  or  more  were  seated  and  these  constituted  the  principal 
inhabitants  at  this  time,  excepting  children.  The  seating  seems 
to  have  been  satisfactory,  with  a  single  exception.  Those  seated 
at  the  table  may  have  been  deacons,  but  we  do  not  find  the 
term  used.  They  were,  no  doubt,  seated  somewhat  according 
to  their  standing  in  town.  The  seats  were  rudely  constructed 
settees  or  benches,  and  the  whole  outfit  of  the  house  was  very 
simple  and  plain. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 


91 


At  a  town  meeting  held  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  ( date 
wanting  )  a  large  amount  of  business  was  transacted  and,  among 
other  things,  the  new  town  was  named. 

"At  the  seam  metten  the  Towen  have  named  this  Towen 
Amesbery." 

There  is  little  doubt  that  a  large  number  of  the  original  set- 
tlers of  Salisbury  and  Amesbury  came  from  towns  of  the  same 
names  in  England.  In  fact,  the  two  towns  are  as  closely  con- 
nected there  as  here,  and  are  said  to  be  very  pleasantly  located. 
Salisbury  is  specially  noted  for  its  elegant  cathedral  of  ancient 
build,  and  Amesbury  for  its  Druid  temple  or  anointed  stone, 
erected  by  the  Druids  at  a  very  early  period. 

By  the  kindness  of  Mr.  J.  G.  Whittier,  we  are  enabled  to 
give  a  brief  sketch  of  the  ancient  town  of  Amesbury  in  Eng- 
land, and  the  origin  of  the  name.  The  following  is  Mr.  Whit- 
tier's  letter  : — 

"Amesbury  derives  its  name  from  Amesbury  or  Ambresbeery 
in  Wilts,  England,  on  Salisbury  plain,  and  near  the  great  Dru- 
idical  temple  of  Stonehenge.  The  ancient  Cymric  name  of 
these  stone  circles  was  Emrys  Avee,  Ambres  or  Ambrosius,  sig- 
nigfying  immortal  or  anointed  stones. 

The  practice  of  anointing  sacred  stones  is  as  old  as  history 
or  tradition.  The  Druidical  stones  in  Cornwall  were  called 
Dina's  Emrys  or  the  '  Anointed  City.'  In  Genesis,  chapter  28, 
we  are  told  that  Jacob  set  up  a  stone  in  Bethel  and  poured 
oil  upon  it.  It  is  probable  that  Amber  (  French  Ambre )  means 
Ambrosial  or  sacred,  as  it  was  used  by  the  Druids.  Gridley, 
in  his  work  on  Stonehenge,  says :  '  It  seems  tolerably  clear 
that  the  ancient  name  of  Stonehenge  is  preserved  by  the  neigh- 
boring town  of  Amesbury  or  Ambresbeery,  as  it  was  formerly 
called.' 

The  old  English  town  is  venerable  in  appearance — the  little 
church,  one  of  the  oldest  in  that  region.  Here  are  situated 
the  abbey  of  Amesbeery,  one  of  the  first  religious  houses  in 
Great  Britain.  Tennyson,  in  his  Idyls  of  the  King,  makes  the 
faithless  queen  of  King  Arthur,  after  her  disgrace  in  connection 
with  Sir  Lancelot,  fly  for  refuge  to  'the  holy  House  of  Ames- 
bury.' 


Q2  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURV. 

Well  may  the  people  of  the  town  cling  fondly  to  the  name 
which  has  come  down  to  them  from  the  pre-historic  time  of 
the  Druids,  Arthur  and  the  Round  Table,  and  which  the  great 
poet  of  the  century  has  embalmed  in  his  immortal  verse." 

1668. 

The  Prudential  men  were  authorized  to  order  all  affairs, 
excepting  the  disposing  of  land  and  timber  and  commencing 
suits  at  law. 

Phillip  Challis,  William  Osgood  and  Richard  Currier  were 
chosen  commissioners  to  end  small  cases. 

"  At  the  same  metting  it  is  agreed  that  the  minister  shall 
have  all  that  is  giveing  in  by  contrybushon  besides  his  dieght." 

Although  the  town  had  been  incorporated  two  years,  yet  no 
name  had  been  passed  upon  until  the  April  session  of  the 
General  Court,  when  the  name  voted  in  1667  was  confirmed 
and  "Emesbury"  made  the  legal  name. 

The  town  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  leave  to  keep  a 
ferry  over  the  river,  "  about  Mr.  Goodins  house,"  *  and  had 
leave  to  do  so  ;  but  the  appointing  of  the  ferry-man  and  price 
was  left  to  the  county  court,  which  decided  as  follows  : — 

"The  County  Court  held  at  Hampton  ye  13th  of  ye  8th  mo  1668 
Mr.  Edward  Goodwin  being  presented  by  ye  Selectmen  of  ye 
town  of  Amesbury  to  ye  Court  to  keep  ye  ferry  over  Merri- 
mack river  above  ye  mouth  of  ye  Powous  river  where  ye  sd 
Goodwin  now  dwelleth  this  Court  do  allow  &  approve  of  ye  sd 
person  for  one  year  next  following  and  until  ye  Court  shall  take 
further  orders  there  in  and  for  ye  prices  to  be  as  followeth  so 
for  every  single  passenger,  two  pence,  for  a  horse  and  man  six 
pence  and  for  all  great  cattle  four  pence  per  head  &  for  sheep 
and  other  small  cattle  under  two  years  old  two  pence  pr  head." 

On  the  1 8th  of  February  a  meeting  was  held  which  may 
with  propriety  be  designated  as  the  great  la?id  meeting.  One 
hundred  lots  were  disposed  of  in  four  divisions  of  twenty-five 
lots  each.  The  first  division  was  on  Whittier's  hill,  the  second 
was  in  the  vicinity  of  the  pond  ridge,  the  third  was  between 
the  pond  and  "  Borcheng  medow,"  and  the  fourth  was  to  begin 

*At  Mrs.   Babb's. 


HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY.  93 

the  west  side  of  the  pond  brook.  These  divisions  embraced  a 
very  large  portion  of  the  town's  commons,  and  the  measure  was 
very  important.  The  lot  layers  were  to  receive  "three  hapence" 
per  acre  for  their  services. 

Mr.  Carr's  grant  of  four  hundred  acres,  made  by  the  old 
town,  was  confirmed. 

Cattle  were  to  be  taxed  one  shilling,  six  pence  for  going  on 
the  common. 

A  private  way  was  laid  out  from  Mill  river  to  the  country 
highway  for  the  accommodation  of  the  new  saw  mill,  and  the 
owners  were  to  purchase  the  land  and  keep  the  way  in  repair. 
This  way  was  discontinued  in  1694. 

John  Pressy  was  made  constable  this  year. 

1609. 

James  Frees,  William  Sargent,  jr.,  Josue  Goldsmith,  Thomas 
Stevens  and  Jossef  Lankester  granted  common  rights. 

Jan.  28th.  "  It  was  granted  unto  that  minister  that  do  come 
and  live  and  inhabit  with  us,  ffifty  akers  of  land  lying  in  that 
part  of  the  common  between  fox  island  and  Georg  Martyns 
house." 

"At  ye  seam  metten  William  Osgood  sen  and  William  Barens 
and  Samuel  ffoot  was  chosen  and  impowered  to  purches  in  the 
behalf  of  the  town  any  howssen  or  lands  ffor  the  yous  of  the 
ministrey  and  to  despoes  of  any  common  land  for  the  purchis- 
ing  of  the  said  howsin  or  land  or  to  pay  by  reat  provided  it 
do  not  exseed  one  hundred  and  ffifty  pound." 

It  seems  that  Mr.  Woodbridge  made  a  short  stay — but  little 
more  than  two  years — and  the  town  was  again  without  a  min- 
ister. No  complaint  appears  as  to  his  services,  and  it  is  prob- 
able that  he  left  for  a  more  liberal  call.  It  was  now  thought 
best  to  purchase  a  house  for  the  better  accommodation  of  the 
minister,  which  was  a  move  in  the  right  direction. 

The  custom  of  "boarding  round"  was  anything  but  agree- 
able, and  not  desirable  to  the  people.  In  fact,  with  all  the 
inducements  offered,  it  was  no  easy  task  to  find  a  minister  will- 
ing to  come  into  this  wilderness,  as  the  territory  north  of  the 
Merrimac  was  then  called. 


94  HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY. 

Feb.  5  th.  A  meeting  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
measures  to  obtain  a  minister. 

"At  the  seam  metten  it  was  agreed  to  seek  out  to  obtain  a 
minister  of  the  gospel  to  live  amounst  us." 

"At  the  seam  metten  it  was  agreed  to  send  to  Mr.  Hobberd 
of  Kettre  to  see  if  we  can  obtayn  him  to  be  helpful  to  us  in 
the  work  of  the  ministry." 

"At  the  seam  metten  Rober  Jones  and  Richard  Currier  was 
chosen  to  goo  to  see  if  they  can  obtayn  Mr  hubberd  to  be 
helpfull  to  us  in  the  work  of  the  Ministry." 

This  Committee  do  not  seem  to  to  have  been  successful  in 
obtaining  Mr.  Hubberd,  as  on  the  19th  of  March  Robert  Jones 
and  John  Weed  were  chosen  to  see  if  they  could  find  a  Min- 
ister. This  committee  met  with  no  better  success,  and  May 
7th  Robert  Jones  was  again  chosen  to  hunt  up  a  minister  and 
to  invite  him  to  make  a  visit.  Mr.  Hubberd  was  finally  induced 
to  come  the  latter  part  of  the  year,  and  December  3d  the  town 
voted  him  the  fifty  acres  of  land  granted  to  the  minister  on 
condition  that  he  live  in  town  four  years ;  but  if  he  leave  before 
that  time,  having  made  improvements  upon  it,  then  to  be  paid 
for  the  improvements. 

The  town  agreed  to  pay  John  Hoyt  "  for  Mr  hobords  diet." 

The  committee  chosen  January  28th  had  not,  August  27th, 
purchased  a  house,  and,  at  a  meeting  on  that  day,  John  Hoyt 
was  put  upon  the  committee  in  place  of  Samuel  Foot. 

John  Gimson  and  Joseph  Worthen  were  made  townsmen. 

The  order  forbidding  persons  carrying  logs  to  the  old  mill 
was  this  year  repealed. 

The  town,  at  a  meeting  held  June  7th,  ordered  a  highway 
between  the  river  lots  and  minister's  land,  commencing  near 
Martin's  bridge  and  extending  westward,  the  north  side  of 
Clough's*  hill,  to  the  road  that  leads  to  the  Indian  ground,  now 
known  as  Buttonwood  road. 

George  Carr,  jr.,  was  at  this  time  building  vessels  at  the 
Ferry,  and  took  William  Severance  apprentice  for  four  years. 

George  Carr  was  not  well  pleased  with  the  appointment  of 
*  Formerly  Goodale's. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  95 

Mr.  Goodwin  to  keep  a  ferry  near  the  mouth  of  the  "Powows 
river,"  and  petitioned  the  General  Court  this  year  for  a  hearing, 
which  was  granted,  and,  it  appearing  that  he  was  efficient  and 
had  kept  his  bridge  in  good  repair,  tending  faithfully  to  his 
duties,  it  was  decided  that  "he  ought  to  have  his  covenant 
made  good  according  to  Salisbury  Court  order  9th  3  mo  1650." 
So  Mr.  Carr  was  given  full  control  of  the  ferries. 

1670. 

At  a  meeting  held  April  18th,  the  town  voted  that  they  would 
have  but  three  prudential  men,  virtually  dismissing  those  chosen 
March  10th,  and  proceeded  to  choose  Thomas  Barnard,  sen., 
Richard  Currier  and  George  Carr,  jr. 

William  Carr  was  made  a  townsman  at  this  meeting. 

This  year  the  road  from  the  landing  at  the  Ferry  was  laid 
out,  as  the  following  will  show  : — 

"  We  whose  names  are  under  written  being  chosen  to  lay  out 
ye  highway  to  ye  Ferry  place  in  Amesbury,  do  hereby  these 
presents  manifest  that  we  have  layed  it  out  in  manner  as  fol- 
loweth :  At  ye  water  side  next  Merrimack  River  over  against 
Newbury  Landing  place  from  Mr  Goodings  bound  tree  to  a 
white  oak  stump  about  nine  or  ten  rods  and  so  runeing  up  ye 
hill  on  ye  lower  side  to  a  walnut  tree  marked  with  A  over 
against  a  small  white  oak  marked  with  an  A  about  four  rods 
wide  ranging  up  ye  hill  between  two  small  black  oaks  marked 
about  four  rods  apart  and  so  upward  to  a  great  rock  on  ye 
lower  side  in  Bailey's  hill  two  rods  wide  &  so  to  ye  town  ward 
two  rod  wide  through  ye  land  of  ye  sd  Bayley  being  one  hun- 
dred and  ten  rods  &  one  half  in  length  so  through  ye  land  of 
John  Weeds  between  two  great  rocks  about  fifty  three  rods  & 
half  in  length  two  rod  wide  and  so  to  ye  land  of  Goodman 
Haddens  next  ye  street  as  witness  our  hands  the   17th   1670. 

Willi  Chandler, 
Nathaniel  Clark." 

The  marks  of  this  old  road  over  Bailey's  hill  are  still  visible, 
and   there    are    partial    remains    of   two  cellars  yet  to    be  seen. 

The  termination  of  this  road  was  in  Jarret  Haddon's  land  at 
the  Country  road   (now  Haverhill  road)  recently  owned  by  the 


96  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

late  Joseph  Bartlett.      The  southern  corner  bound  of  Gun  House 
lane  was  one  of  the  bounds  of  this  road. 

"The  land  taken  out  of  Mr  Goodings  land  fer  ye  conven- 
iency  of  ye  highway  we  find  to  be  27  rods  &  a  half  prized  at  o 
14  o,  taken  out  of  Goodman  Bayleys  one  acre  &  61  rods 
prized  at  3  o  o  taken  out  of  John  Weeds  land  one  hundred  & 
seven  rods,  prized  at  1   o  o  as  witness  our  hands. 

Willi  Chandler 
Nathaniel  Clar-k." 

This  road  was  again  bounded  out  in  1756  by  William  Moul- 
ton  and  Stephen  Bartlett,  selectmen. 

By  way  of  compensation  for  this  road,  which  seems  not  to 
have  been  paid  for  according  to  the  Court  order,  the  town  a 
few  years  later  defined  the  bounds  of  Mr.  Bayley's  lot  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  satisfy  him  for  the  damage  done,  and,  in  course 
of  the  description,  a  bound  tree  is  mentioned  near  the  house 
of  "Abraham  Morrill,"  which  fact  accounts  for  one  of  the  cel- 
lars on  the  hill.  .  Mr.  Morrill's  house  was,  no  doubt,  built  soon 
after  the  road  was  laid  out. 

1671. 

In  the  early  part  of  this  year  the  town  voted  to  give  Mr. 
Hubbard  "his  fire  wood  in  addition  to  his  ,£40"  per  year. 

The  labors  of  Mr.  Hubbard  in  the  ministry  were  giving  good 
satisfaction,  and  the  people  were  ready  to  increase  his  pay 
accordingly. 

Jarret  Haddon  sold  to  Richard  Bartlett,  of  Newbury,  his 
"great  lot  of  200  acres  as  laid  out  to  me  18  lot."  The  fact 
that  his  lot  contained  two  hundred  acres  shows  him  to  have 
been  one  of  the  most  wealthy  townsmen,  as  only  such  received 
those  large  lots. 

In  1 66 1  Richard  Currier  gave  his  son-in-law,  Samuel  Foot, 
and  wife  Hannah  (daughter  of  Richard)  the  place  he  bought 
of  George  Martin,  and  this  year  he  bought  it  back  again  by 
way  of  exchange,  giving  him  thirty  acres  at  Cobler's  brook.  It 
was  described  as  "Westerly  on  the  street,  southerly  by  John 
Hoyt  jr.,  his  land  N.  Easterly  &  Powow  River,  with  a  privilege 
to  the  landing  place  to  set  hay  on."  This  seems  to  fix  his  res- 
idence in  the  vicinity  of  William  D.  Bartlett's. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  97 

1672. 

At  the  annual  meeting  March  22c!,  Thomas  Barnard,  sen., 
John  Colby  and  John  Weed  were  chosen  to  "  hier  men  for  the 
finishen  of  the  howsen  where  Mr  hoberd  now  dwell." 

"Att  the  same  metten  it  was  aded  to  Mr  hobert  five  pound 
a  yeare  to  his  former  maintenance." 

"Att  the  same  metten  it  was  granted  to  Mr  hoberd  gras  to 
make  four  load  of  hay  for  this  year." 

Mr.  Hubberd  was  evidently  giving  good  satisfaction,  yea,  even 
more  than  that,  he  was  very  popular  and  well  beloved  by  his 
little  church  in  the  wilderness,  and  all  gladly  went  in  for  mak- 
ing him  comfortable  and  happy.  His  house  was  to  be  finished 
and  made  comfortable,  he  was  to  have  a  larger  salary  and  fire 
wood  and  hay.  What  better  evidence  could  he  want  of  the 
fact  that  his  services  were  duly  appreciated.  Every  omen  now 
pointed  to  a  long  term  of  useful  service  with  his  people  here. 

But  the  "fashion  of  this  world  changeth,"  and  our  highest 
hopes  are  sometimes  suddenly  dashed  to  the  earth  and  we  are 
dumb  with  amazement.  So  in  this  case  :  in  less  than  a  month 
the  public  mind,  fickle  as  the  wind,  had  changed  and  Mr.  Hub- 
berd had  not,  apparently,  a  friend  in  town. 

There  was  not  found  one  man  to  enter  his  "contra  dicent" 
to  this  cutting  vote  : — 

April  17th.  Voted  "not  to  ad  any  more  to  Mr.  Hoberds 
maintainance  nether  in  land  nor  anything  else." 

This  was  equivalent  to  a  dismission  and,  probably,  Mr.  Hub- 
berd so  understood  it.  Whether  Mr.  Hubberd  asked  for  more 
salary  we  do  not  know,  but  we  know  that  a  young  man  of 
great  ability  and  promise  had  recently  graduated  from  Harvard, 
had  studied  for  the  ministry,  and  was  occasionally  preaching 
at  Newbury  and  the  Shoals.  No  doubt  the  people  had  seen 
and  heard  him.  This  young  minister  was  no  other  than  Rev. 
Thomas  Wells.  He  had  captivated  the  hearts  of  the  people, 
and  in  less  than  two  months  a  committee  was  chosen  "to  see 
if  they  can  obtain  Mr  Wells  to  be  help  full  to  us  in  the  work 
of  the  Ministry." 

The   task  was    an    easy  one  and    quickly  accomplished.      Mr. 

I3 


gS  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

Wells  was  ready  to  come  and  accepted  the  invitation  at  once, 
so  that  in  twenty  days  the  town  voted  him  his  fire-wood  in 
addition  to  his  ^40.  They  also  gave  him  the  whole  improve- 
ment of  all  the  land  reserved  for  the  use  of  the  ministry,  "and 
in  case  he  die  and  leave  his  Widdo  or  children  with  us  to 
alow  her  or  them  fifty  pound." 

There  was  some  opposition  to  this  hasty  measure,  as  the  vote 
reads  "mayger  part"  of  the  meeting.  No  doubt  Mr.  Hubberd 
had  some  friends  who  began  to  think  this  hasty  work.  Never- 
theless the  friends  of  Mr.  Wells  were  determined  to  do  some- 
thing nice  for  him,  and  in  November  voted  to  build  him  a 
house,  as  follows  T  "Votted  that  there  shall  be  a  house  bilt 
upon  the  towns  land  next  Goodman  Sargents  for  the  youse  of 
the  ministry." 

"At  the  same  metting  they  have  voted  that  the  house  above 
menchened  shall  be  bilt  fower  and  forty  foot  long  or  there 
abouts  and  twenty  foot  wide  and  thirteen  foot  and  a  half  stood." 

"Goodman  Osgood,  Goodman  Challis,  Goodman  Weed  and 
Goodman  Rowell "  were  to  build  the  house.  But,  as  in  other 
cases,  the  matter  was  delayed  through  the  year  and  no  house 
was  built.  The  town  had  already  one  house,  bought  of  John 
Hoyt,  and,  on  further  consideration,  did  not  care  to  build  a 
second  for  the  minister.  Besides,  Mr.  Wells  may  not  have  been 
married  at  this  time. 

At  the  annual  meeting  the  town  made  an  exchange  with  Rob- 
ert Jones  of  land,  giving  him  ten  acres  at  Whittier's  hill  and 
taking  ten  acres  south  of  William  Sargent's,  called  the  Fane  or 
Vane  lot,  having  been  once  granted  by  Salisbury  to  one  Henry 
Vane.  We  shall  find  this  lot  becoming  a  historic,  spot  in  the 
future.  Robert  Jones  was  the  ancestor  of  the  families  of  that  name 
in  town  for  many  generations,  but  now  represented  only  by  Philip 
Tones,  the  well-known  farmer  of  "  Lion's  Mouth." 

1673. 

The  Prudential  men  to  have  power  to  act  in  all  matters 
except  giving  out  land. 

At  a  meeting  held  January  6th,  the  town  repealed  the  vote 
in  regard  to  building  a  house  for  the  minister  and  granted  Mr. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  99 

Wells  a  piece  of  land  adjoining  William  Sargent's  and  also  a 
piece  at  Back  river,  and  gave  him  the  house  bought  of  John 
Hoyt  for  the  minister's  use,  and  £io.  And  to  crown  their  gen- 
erosity, offered  to  haul  the  house  to  the  spot  where  he  should 
build,  provided  he  should  release  the  town  from  building  cer- 
tain roads.  Mr.  Wells  did  not  accept  the  house,  but  built  to 
suit  himself.  He  bought  fifty-five  rods  of  William  Sargent  on 
the  north  and  the  deed  bears  date  July  1,  1673.  The  lilacs 
still  mark  the  spot  where  his  house  stood,  and  bloom  as  beau- 
tifully and  are  as  fragrant  as  they  were  more  than  two  hundred 
years  ago.  This  was  the  Vane  lot  spoken  of  last  year,  of  which 
the  old  academy  once  occupied  a  part. 

The  annual  meeting  was  now  fixed  on  the  last  Tuesday  in 
March'. 

•   1674. 

The  town  having  some  misunderstanding  with  Phillip  Watson 
Challis,  commenced  a  suit  against  him,  but  was  beaten  and,  as 
he  says,  "upon  tryal  of  case  nothing  did  appear."  It  was 
claimed  that  he  agreed  to  give  up  to  the  town  a  fifty-acre  lot 
for  the  use  of  the  ministry  in  consideration  of  other  grants,  which 
fact  did  not  appear  on  the  trial,  but  "ye  land  was  granted  to 
me  without  any  reservation  of  any  such  engagement  whatever 
was  intended"  the  deed  acknowledged  this  year  states.  He 
seems  to  have  been  willing  to  give  the  land  for  the  use  of  the  minis- 
try, but  was  not  to  be  driven  to  it.  The  tract  is  now  known  as 
the  "parsonage"  near  the  late  Aquilla  Martin's,  and  the  follow- 
ing is  taken  from  the    deed  : — 

"Know  ye  that  I  ye  sd  Philip  Challis  wth  ye  consent  of  Mary 
my  wife,  for  divers  good  &  lawful  considerations  us  thereunto 
moving  but  more  especially  of  or  great  desire  &  affecon  towards 
a  Godly  ministry  to  be  settled  &  upheld  in  ye  sd  town  of  Ames- 
bury  have  given  *  &c  *.  *  *  without  pay  or  satisfaction  to  the 
public  use  of  the  ministry  in  ye  aforesaid  town "  *  *  *  "  Pro- 
vided &  it  is  always  my  declared  intention  yl  it  shall  not  be  yc 
power  of  ye  sd  town  as  feoffees  in  trust  nor  in  ye  power  of  ye 
Minister  at  any  time  in  being  yl  shall  have  ye  same  in  posses- 
sion use  or  occupation  to  aleniate  or  dispose  of  ye  same  or  any 


IOO  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

part  thereof  to  yr  selves  or  any  of  them  or  either  of  them  nor 
to  any  minister  or  ministers  or  any  other  prson  or  prsons  wl 
soever  but  only  for  ye  publique  ouse  of  the  ministry  as  afore- 
said  &   if  any  shall  so   doe  it  is   hereby  declared  voyd  &  null. 

Signed  March  25th,  1673. 
Ack  March  12,  1674  Philip   W.   Challis 

Before  Rob*  Pike.  Mary  X    Challis:'' 

Notwithstanding  the  strong  language  of  the  deed  to  prevent 
its  being  sold,  a  sale  was  made  in  1746  and  the  writer  now 
owns  most  of  the  tract. 

At  the  March  meeting  "Mr  Thomas  Wales  is  resaived  a 
towns  man  and  commonor  amongst  us." 

Dec.  14th.  A  meeting  was  held  and  various  matters  acted 
upon,  but  not  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  the  majority, 
it  would  seem. 

The  first  act  was  to  choose  Thomas  Currier  town  clerk,  and 
it  was  really  a  wise  move.  He  was  the  oldest  son  of  Richard 
Currier,  and  for  several  years  past  the  record  or  portions  of  it 
are  in  his  hand  writing.  Richard  was  growing  old  and  his  pen- 
manship and  wording  rather  poor.  In  fact,  he  never  was  a 
good  penman,  although  a  smart  business  man.  Under  his  son's 
clerkship  the  record  is  greatly  improved.  He  was  allowed  "  one 
shilling  pr  day  for  every  towne  meeting  for   his  paynes." 

A  committee  was  chosen  to  thoroughly  revise  the  book  of 
records,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  vote  ; — 

"Voted  yl  the  errors  in  the  Towne  book  off  records  shall  be 
corrected  And  Leift  Challes,  Richard  Currier,  William  Barnes, 
Thomas  Wells,  George  Martyn,  John  Weed  sen,  Samuel  Foot, 
Thomas  Sargent  &  Thomas  Barnard  sen.  were  chosen  for  a 
committee  yl  they  should  prosecute  ye  sd  vote  to  effect  by 
reviseing  &  drawing  over  the  towne  booke  off  Records  anew 
and  yl  every  error  therein  should  be  corrected  &  amended 
by  ye  joynt  act  or  consent  off  them  or  ye  major  part  off 
them  and  y*  any  such  act  by  them  concluded  shall  be  accounted 
firme  &  valid  in  order  to  ye  sd  end,  wch  comitee  have  likewise 
power  granted  them  iff  they  shall  see  cause  to  chuse  two 
or    more    prsons    off    another    towne   not   concerned   or   inter- 


HISTORY   OF   AMESBURY.  IOI 

ested  in  ye  towne  off  Amesbury  to  assist  them  in  ye  sd 
worke."  This  work  was  to  be  done  before  the  next  annual 
.town   meeting. 

This  committee  consisted  of  nine,  two  of  whom  made  their 
marks  on  the  Articles  of  Agreement  signed  in  1654.  What 
part  the  two  who  could  not  write  were  to  take  in  revising 
is  not  quite  clear.  This  new  move  was  in  keeping  with  the 
new  ministry,  and  possibly  may  have  been  suggested  by  Mr. 
Wells  or  his  special  friends.  How  such  a  thorough  revision 
was  to  be  made,  and  in  what  respect,  is  difficult  to  imagine. 
No  doubt  the  substance  of  all  votes  was  truly  recorded,  and  if 
not,  any  alteration  could  hardly  be  made  twenty  years  afterwards. 
If  the  grammatical  construction  of  the  language  was  bad,  any 
alteration  would  be  difficult  without  liability  to  alter  the  sense. 
Mr.  Wells  could  have  given  it  a  smoothing  touch,  but  the 
majority  of  the  town  were  of  opinion  that  it  had  better  be  let 
alone,  and  accordingly  a  meeting  was  called  January  25th,  1675, 
the  doings  of  which  will  be  found  under  the  head  of  that  year. 

1675. 

John  Hoyt,  sen.,  was  chosen  constable,  but,  not  wishing  to 
serve,  hired  his  son  John,  jr.,  to  serve  in  his  stead,  and  the 
town  accepted  the  substitute. 

Jan.  25th.  A  meeting  was  held  at  which  the  December 
meeting  of  1674  was  declared  illegal.  The  meeting,  however, 
chose  Thomas  Currier  clerk  and  confirmed  some  of  the  votes 
then  passed. 

Left.  Challes,  John  Hoyt,  sen.,  and  George  Martyn  were 
chosen  to  show  Mr.  Wells  the  bounds  of  the  land  given  for  the 
use  of  the  ministry  by  Left.  Challes. 

Mr.  Wells'  rate  was  ordered  to  be  made  annually  at  Mich- 
aelmas. 

The  business  of  the  town  at  this  time  was  farming,  fishing, 
making  staves  and  building  a  few  small  vessels.  These  occu- 
pations required  a  few  tradesmen,  such  as  blacksmiths,  carpen- 
ters, weavers  and  tailors,  who,  very  likely,  did  a  good  business, 
taking  barter  pay  for  their  services.  Fishing  in  the  river  and 
harbor  was  from   the  first   of  great  importance  to  the  little  col- 


102  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

ony,  and  finally  became  an  extensive  business.  But  the  chief 
reliance  was  on  cattle,  sheep,  corn  and  the  small  grains  which 
were  extensively  raised,  according  to  ancient  inventories.  Pota- 
toes were  unknown  at  this  time. 

At  the  annual  meeting  it  was  voted  to  pay  the  Prudential 
men  "reasonable  satisfaction  for  their  time,"  and  this  is  the 
first  instance  which  appears  on  the  record  of  their  receiving 
pay. 

Thomas  Haynes  received  a  grant  of  the  island  in  Country 
pond,  which  was  at  this  time  within  the  limits  of  Amesbury. 

The  Prudential  men  were  authorized  to  place  all  persons  in 
the  meeting  house  as  they  thought  best. 

William  Sargent,  one  of  the  eighteen,  died  this  year,  aged 
seventy-three  years.  He  was  born  in  England  and  was  the  son 
of  Richard  Sargent,  an  officer  in  the  Royal  navy.  It  is  believed 
that  he  came  to  Virginia  at  an  early  date  with  William  Barnes, 
[ohn  Hoyt  and  others.  He  married  Judith  Perkins,  who  died 
about  1633,  when  he  and  his  daughters  Lydia,  Sarah  and  Mary 
came  to  Ipswich,  where  he  settled  with  John  Winthrop,  Wil- 
liam Clark,  Robert  Coles,  Thomas  Howlett  and  others.  When 
leave  was  given  for  a  plantation  at  Newbury,  he  came  with 
others  and  helped  form  the  settlement  there.  A  few  years  later 
he  went  to  Hampton  with  those  composing  that  settlement,  and 
when  the  plantation  at  "Merrimack  "  was  begun,  he  was  found 
there  located  beside  Mr.  Bradbury  on  the  south-west  bend  of 
the  circular  road. 

March  25th,  1747,  he  bought  Anthony  Colby's  house  and  lot 
lying  next  Jarrett  Haddon's,  butting  upon  the  Circular  and  Ferry 
roads,  and  just  one  year  later  sold  the  same.  He  was  then 
called  a  mariner.  Whether  or  not  he  came  across  the  Powow 
at  this  time  is  not  certain,  but  it  is  probable  that  he  did  not 
remain  in  Salisbury  long. 

He  lived  near  the  residence  of  Hon.  George  W.  Morrill,  as 
various  facts  pretty. clearly  show.  In  1673  he  sold  Rev.  Thomas 
Wells  fifty-five  rods  of  land,  and  the  description  in  the  deed 
mentions  his  house  near  by.  He  never  lived  at  "  Jamaco,"  but 
died  where    he    first    built    near  the  Academy  lot.     Living   near 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  IO3 

the  meeting,  it  was  a  convenient  place  for  the  minister  to  stop, 
and  in  1666  the  town  voted  to  "satisfie  him  for  entertaining- 
Mr  Woodbridge,"  who  was  a  candidate  for  settlement  in  the 
ministry. 

He  was  Prudential  man  in  1667,  but  never  was  chosen  to 
much  office,  owing  partly  or  wholly  to  his  age  at  the  settle- 
ment of  Amesbury.  His  will  was  proved  April  13th,  and  his 
son  Thomas  and  daughter  Sarah  were  appointed  executors,  but 
the  daughter  declined  serving. 

1676. 

The  town  was  divided  into  wards  for  convenience  of  setting 
watches,  and  each  ward  had  a  watch  house  for  quarters. 

The  annual  meeting  "Voted  that  every  ward  shall  produce  a 
load  of  fire  wood  for  ye  watch  and  ward  while  they  have  gone 
all  round  and  yr  ward  to  be  fined  five  shillings  that  neglect  it." 
Indians  were  at  times  troublesome  and  the  garrison  houses,  then 
called  forts,  were  in  the  various  sections  of  the  town,  to  be 
kept  at  all  times  in  good  order. 

One  of  these  forts  was  located  on  the  plain  near  the  D. 
Gordon  Estes  place,  one  at  the  Pond  hills,  one  on  the  plain  at 
"Jamaco,"  near  the  burying  ground,  one  at  Birch  meadow  and, 
probably,  one  at  the  Highlands.  People  were  afraid  to  go  into 
their  fields  to  work  without  their  guns,  and  portions  of  the  time 
resorted  to  the  garrison  at  night  for  protection. 

The  General  Court  was  obliged  to  take  every  precaution  to 
check  the  plundering,  burning  and  murdering  of  the  people  by 
these  nightly  skulking  enemies.  Even  friendly  Indians  were 
hardly  to  be  trusted,  and  all  felt  constant  alarm. 

In  addition  to  other  troubles  a  dispute  had  arisen  in  regard 
to  the  line  between  this  colony  and  New  Hampshire.  False 
representations  had  been  made  to  the  King  and  it  became 
necessary  to  send  a  commission  and  address  to  pacify  his  Royal 
Majesty. 

So  that  with  the  watches  which  the  constables  were  obliged 
to  keep  nights  from  May  to  the  end  of  September,  in  which  all 
over  sixteen  years  of  age  were  obliged  to  take  their  turns  or 
hire    a    substitute,    there    seemed    but   little    chance  for  a    happy 


104  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURV. 

or  easy  life.  No  persons  were  allowed  out  after  ten  o'clock  at 
night  without  being  arrested  and  taken  to  the  watch  house, 
unless  a  good  account  could  be  given.  Lights  were  to  be  put 
out  at  ten  and  all  noises  stilled  in  the  streets.  How  strictly 
these  regulations  were  enforced  we  cannot  say,  but  judging  from 
the  character  of  the  Puritans,  must  lean  to  the  side  of  strict 
discipline.  All  of  these  measures  were,  no  doubt,  required  to 
guard  against  surprise  and  the  complete  destruction  of  the  col- 
ony, as  the  history  of  1677  will  very  clearly  show. 

1677. 

For  several  years  past  the  Indians  have  been  growing  uneasy, 
evidently  intending  mischief  on  the  first  good  opportunity.  In 
fact,  numerous  raids  had  been  made  along  the  settlements  and 
murders  committed  in  various  places.  The  people  lived  in  con- 
stant fear  and  were  obliged  to  keep  constantly  on  their  guard ; 
but,  notwithstanding  their  vigilance,  the  savages  fell  upon  the 
town  and  murdered  several  persons  before  relief  was  at  hand. 

Secretary  Rawson,  in  his  letter  to  Governor  Andros,  of  New 
York,  says  :  "  As  for  damage  done  us  by  the  eastern  Indians, 
mentioned  in  our  letter  dated  July  28th,  was  in  taking  our 
fishing  catches  about  Cape  Sable,  and  a  notorious  murder  com- 
mitted upon  some  men  women  and  children  at  Amesbury  about 
the  middle  of  July,  but  not  known  to  us  or  ye  Commissioners  at 
Pemaquid  until  after  the  peace  was  concluded  between  some  of 
the  eastern  Indians  &  Capt.  Brockles."  The  above  would  seem 
to  convey  the  impression  that  the  murders  here  were  by  east- 
ern Indians,  but  it  is  a  well  known  fact  that  there  were  Indi- 
ans roaming  up  and  down  the  borders  of  the  Merrimac  river 
quite  as  treacherous  as  those  farther  east.  There  was  one 
Symon,  of  considerable  influence,  who  had  lived  with  the  Eng- 
lish settlers  and  was  professedly  very  friendly  to  them.  But  in 
his  breast  rankled  all  the  hate  and  revenge  which  generally 
characterized  the  race,  and  there  is  little  doubt  that  he  was  the 
instigator  of  many  of  the  raids  in  this  vicinity. 

Drake,  in  his  Indian  Biography,  says  of  him:  "Symon,  a 
troublesome  fellow,  who  continued  to  create  considerable  alarm 
to  the  inhabitants  upon   the   Merrimack   river,  in  the  vicinity  of 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  IO5 

Newbury  and  Amesbury,  about  which  part  seems  to  have  been 
his  residence  as  late  as  the  month  of  July,  1677.  On  the  9th 
of  July  six  Indians  were  seen  to  go  into  the  bushes  not  far 
from  the  garrison  of  Amesbury.  Two  days  before,  several  men 
had  been  killed  in  the  neighborhood  and  one  woman  wounded, 
whose  name  was  Quimby.  Symon  was  the  alleged  leader  of  the 
party  which  committed  the  depredation.  Mrs.  Quinby  was  sure 
that  it  was  he  who  'knocked  her  on  the  head,'  and  she  knew 
many  of  the  names  of  the  rest  with  him,  and  named  Andrew. 
Geoffrey  and  Joseph.  She  begged  of  Symon  not  to  kill  her. 
He  replied  :  '  Why,  goodwife  Quimby,  do  you  think  that  I  will 
kill  you?'  She  said  she  was  afraid  he  would,  because  he 
killed  all  English.  Symon  then  said  :  '  I  will  give  quarter  to 
never  an  English  dog  of  you  all,'  and  then  gave  her  a  blow  on 
the  head — which  did  not  happen  to  hurt  her  much — at  which, 
being  a  woman  of  great  courage,  she  threw  a  stone  at  him. 
He  then  turned  upon  her  and  struck  her  two  more  blows,  at 
which  she  fell  and  he  left  her  for  dead.  Before  he  gave  her 
the  last  blow  she  called  to  the  garrison  for  help.  He  told  her 
she  need  not  do  that,  for,  said  he,  'I  will  have  that,  too,  by 
and  by.'  Symon  was  well  known  to  many  of  the  inhabitants, 
and  especially  to  Mrs.  Quimby,  as  he  had  formerly  lived  with 
her  father,  William  Osgood." 

Mrs.  Quinby  was  a  brave  woman,  and  had  she  been  with 
Mrs.  Dustin  at  a  later  period,  would,  no  doubt,  have  assisted 
her  in  despatching  those  sleeping  savages. 

Who  the  murdered  men  were  we  have  no  means  of  knowing, 
but  Mrs.  Quinby's  husband,  Robert  Quinby,  died  or  was  killed 
about  this  time,  and  very  likely  may  have  been  one  of  those 
spoken  of  as  being  killed  on  the   7th  of  July. 

Administration  on  his  estate  was  granted  to  his  widow  Eliz- 
abeth August  9th,  which  would  seem  to  favor  that  theory.  Tra- 
dition has  handed  down  the  story  of  the  murder  of  part  of  a 
Weed  family  at  an  early  date,  and  it  may  have  been  at  this 
time.  This  Weed  family  lived  near  the  late  Ephraim  Merrill's, 
his  farm  being  part  of  the  homestead  of  Nathaniel  Weed  and 
his  ancestor  John. 


Io6  HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY. 

For  the  first  twenty  years  of  the  town's  corporate  existence 
no  records  of  births,  marriages  or  deaths  are  to  be  found,  and 
no  information  can  be  obtained  from  that  source  ;  consequently 
the  names  of  those  who  fell  during  this  fearful  raid  must  remain 
unknown. 

Mr.  Quinby  was  not  one  of  the  first  eighteen,  but,  probably, 
came  to  town  in  1658,  when  he  and  his  father  Osgood  bought 
the  farm  of  Roger  Eastman,  near  William  Sargent's,  which  was, 
perhaps,  within  calling  distance  of  the  garrison  on  the  plain. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Osgood,  daughter  of  William  Osgood,  in 
1 64 1  and  was  admitted  a  townsman  here  in  1660.  He  received 
land  in  several  divisions,  the  first  lot  being  at  the  river  in  1659. 

His  inventory  contained  "house  and  lot  ^40,  6  acres  at 
Whitters  hill  ,£10,  land  at  Bugsmore  jQt»  at  Birchin  Meadow 
hill  ^20,  7  neat  cattle  ^22,  6  swine  £■$,  two  mares  £4,  6 
sheep  £2,  bed  &  bedding  &  household  stuff  jQ6,  10  yards 
cloth  £2." 

In  the  Lion's  Mouth  division  Robert  drew  a  lot  on  the  north 
side  of  the  road,  which  is  now  owned  by  Philip  Jones.  On 
this  lot  a  house  was  built  by  some  of  his  descendants,  and  for 
a  long  period  it  was  owned  by  the  Quinbys.  The  cellar,  par- 
tially filled  in,  may  yet  be  seen  near  Mr.  Jones'  gate.  The  old 
house,  which  was  well  lined  with  bricks  to  the  chambers  to 
guard  against  the  Indians,  was  torn  down  more  than  a  century 
since  and  some  of  the  bricks  used  in  Mr.  Jones'  chimney. 
And  even  here  the  family  were  not  safe,  for  a  boy  was  carried 
into  captivity  and  held  for  some  time,  being  scantily  fed  so  that 
lie  was  quite  willing  to  gnaw  the  bones  thrown  away  by  the 
Indians,  a  habit  which  he  retained  long  after  returning  home. 

1678. 

There  was  some  controversy  with  Mr.  Wells  in  regard  to  the 
land  granted  him  and  an  exchange  of  land  which  the  town 
wished  to  make.  A  large  committee  was  chosen  to  settle  the 
matter  and  their  decision  was  to  be  entered  in  the  town  book. 
A  road  had  been  reserved  through  his  land,  probably  with  the 
agreement  to  make  it  passable.  The  grant  was  the  lot  then 
known  as  the  Vane  lot  and  lay  south  of  William  Sargent's  house 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  IO7 

and  lot,  and  was  the  Academy  lot  with  a  portion  of  the  field 
owned  by  the  late  Capt.  William  Bartlett.  To  get  rid  of  build- 
ing this  highway,  the  town  once  offered  him  the  minister's  house 
to  move  on  to  this  spot  and  ,£20.  The  report  of  the  committee 
is  not  found  on  the  records  according  to  order,  and  we  cannot 
tell  how  the  matter  ended. 

Samuel  Colby  was  chosen  "to  keep  a  public  house  of  enter- 
tainment." This  seems  to  be  the  first  public  house  authorized 
by  the  town,  and  was  located  on  the  corner  of  the  Haverhill  and 
"Mill"  road,  now  known  as  Bartlett's  corner.  The  house  stood 
a  little  to  the  west  of  Mr.  Thornell's  grocery  and  just  back  of 
the  large  elm.  This  vicinity  seems  to  have  been  the  home  of 
the  Colbys. 

James  Freeze  was  building  vessels  at  Jamaco  about  this  time. 

1679. 

This  year  the  town  ordered  a  monthly  lecture  by  the  minister 
during  the  warm  season,  as  appears  by  the  following : — 

"Voted,  that  there  shall  be  a  lecter  the  last  Waddensday  of 
every  month  from  March  to  Mickaelmus."  * 

Mr.  Wells'  rate  was  ordered  to  be  made  twice  per  year : 
spring  and  fall. 

William  Osgood,  sen.,  and  Samuel  Foot  were  chosen  jurors 
to  Salisbury  court. 

Thomas  Fowler  commenced  a  law-suit  against  the  town  and 
Capt.  Samuel  Foot  was  ordered  "  to  pocequet  the  case  in  the 
behalf  of  ye  town  from  court  to  court  till  ye  case  be  ended  and 
lykwise  to  make  youce  of  any  yl  may  be  help  full  to  him  in 
ye  case." 

The  nature  of  this  law-suit  does  not  appear  on  the  record  at 
this  time. 

1680. 

The  town  added  ten  pounds  to  Mr.  Wells'  salary  "so  long 
as  he  continues  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  ministry  among 
us."  Thus  in  the  eight  years  of  his  ministry  he  had  proved 
faithful  to  his  trust  and  retained  the  confidence  of  his  people. 

*  Feast  of  St.  Michael  occurred  September  29th, — Roman  Catholic  festival. 


Io8  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

1681. 

The  bounds  of  land  was  ordered  to  be  renewed  this  year 
and  a  complete  return  made  in  the  book  of  records  ;  and  had 
the  book  been  carefully  preserved,  it  would  have  been  very  val- 
uable at  the  present  time.  But  the  careless  treatment  during 
two  hundred  years,  which  it  has  evidently  received,  has  resulted 
in  the  loss  of  portions  of  valuable  record. 

1682. 

At  this  period  it  was  difficult  to  find  persons  willing  to  serve 
as  selectmen.  The  first  board  chosen  this  year  declined,  and 
at  an  adjourned  meeting,  Richard  Currier  was  fined  i  s.  for 
refusing  to  serve,  and  several  others  when  chosen  declined. 
What  the  real  cause  of  this  singular  course  was,  we  have  no 
means  of  knowing ;  but  it  is  certain  that  the  pay  of  town  offi- 
cers at  this  time  was  mere  nothing. 

George  Martyn,  Robert  Jones  and  John  Prowse  were  appointed 
to  lay  out  the  peeke  land. 

An  ancient  plan  found  in  the  commissioner's  office  at  Salem, 
made  in  1715,  shows  that  the  "peeke"  was  not  then  wholly 
laid  out.  This  plan,  also,  shows  that  there  was  a  regular  sys- 
tem of  lotting  the  town  from  the  first.  All  farms  and  lots  were 
laid  with  right  angles,  making  squares  or  rectangles. 

It  is  evident  by  the  following  deposition  that  the  saw  mill  was 
yet  in  order  and  doing  its  work  as  at  first : — 

"The  deposition  of  Richard  Currier,  aged  about  sixty-six 
yeares,  testyfieth  that  I  kep  a  Sawe  Mill  at  Amesbury  neare  unto 
the  Sawe  Mill  that  do  belong  unto  Salsbury  upon  the  seam 
river  and  I  have  sawin  this  Spring  about  five  or  six  thousand 
foot  of  bord  a  weeke  for  three  months  together,  and  doe  Swere 
that  ye  Sawe  Mill  that  do  belong  unto  Salsbury  is  no  waies 
inferior  to  the  mill  at  Amesbury  and  have  ben  as  well  improved, 
and  further  saith  that  the  Saw  mills  did  sett  about  four  month 
but  had  not  a  full  hed  of  water." 

September  25th,  1682. 

1683. 

The  little  burying  ground  was  found  insufficient  for  public- 
convenience    and    the    town    chose    a    committee    to    make    an 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  IO9 

exchange  with  Thomas  Colby,  who  owned  land  adjoining.  There 
was  yet  some  common  land  belonging  to  the  town,  and  the 
design  was  to  give  him  a  sufficient  quantity  of  this  to  make  an 
even  trade.  How  much  addition  was  made  we  have  no  means 
of  knowing. 

The  selectmen  were  instructed  to  sell  or  let  a  portion  of  the 
minister's  land  as  they  might  judge  for  the  best. 

1684. 

Thomas,  son  of  Valentine  Rowell,  died  this  year,  probably  in 
the  early  part,  as  the  inventory  bears  date  May  6th. 

He  gave  his  wife,  Sarah,  all  his  property  during  her  lifetime, 
and  after  her  death  two  shares  to  his  son  Valentine.  He  was 
a  farmer  and  had  two  oxen,  five  cows,  three  two-year  olds, 
fourteen  swine,  one  horse,  three  calves,  sixteen  sheep  and  lambs. 

The  inventory  amounted  to  ^275.  He  probably  lived  at  the 
east  end  of  the  town,  but  the  exact  location  is  not  known. 
He  received  the  grant  of  a  township  when  he  was  but  sixteen 
years  old,  was  selectman  in  1673  and  1679,  and  was  on  various 
committees. 

In  a  return  made  by  the  lot  layers  of  the  bounds  between 
the  town's  and  John  Pressy's  land  is  found  the  following :  "  it 
is  to  be  understood  yl  ye  above  said  Pressy  bounds  shall  run 
from  ye  Barn  of  John  Pressy  to  ye  north  end  of  his  new  house 
as  ye  fence  now  stands  and  from  ye  corner  of  ye  said  fence  to 
a  stump  of  a  white  oak  tree  near  James  Georges  house.  Dat 
may  ye  first  1684."  This  location  was,  probably,  between  Pres- 
sy's creek  and  that  at  the  River  village,  but  it  would  be  impos- 
sible to  fix  the  exact  spot. 

The  death  of  "Edman  Elleat"  occurred  in  the  early  part  of 
this  year  or  latter  part  of  1683,  but  the  date  is  not  definitely 
known.  He  was  not  a  signer  of  the  Articles  of  Agreement,  and 
the  first  we  find  of  him  in  this  town  is  on  the  list  of  the  River 
lots,  having  drawn  No.  4. 

In  1 66 1  or  1662  he  was  granted  a  common  right  or  town- 
ship which  was  voted  to  Jarret  Haddon's  daughter.  He  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jarret  Haddon,  and  that  accounts 
for  his  grant  of  the  township. 


IIO  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

He  held  fewer  offices  than  most  of  the  eighteen,  but  was  occa- 
sionally chosen,  and  was  Prudential  man  in  1680.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  fierce  Indian  wars  that  raged  in  1675  and  f°r 
some  years  later,  and  made  his  will  before  marching  away,  and 
it  is  now  on  file  in  the  Probate  office  at  Salem,  and  is  as 
follows  : — 

"Edman  Elleat  The  last  will  of  Edman  Elleat  being  wall 
&  in  prfitt  memory  is  a  followeth  that  after  my  desease  my 
honest  deats  being  payd  ye  remainder  of  my  Estate  I  doe 
leave  wth  my  wife  to  be  at  her  disposing  tell  my  son  comes 
of  age  &  then  I  doe  give  ye  an  half  of  my  estate  to  my  wife 
duering  her  life  &  ye  other  halfe  of  my  Estate  to  my  son  John 
Elleat  &  after  my  wife  decease  I  do  give  my  whole  Estate  to 
my  son  &  if  my  son  dyes  before  he  comes  of  age  then  after 
my  wifes  deseace  the  remainder  of  my  estate  that  is  left  I  do 
give  to  my  nerest  relatives  that  are  in  England.  And  I  doe 
also  make  my  wife  my  sole  Executres  as  witness  my  hand. 
Dat  ye  26  day  of  feabewary  1675. 

Witness  his 

Richard  Currier  Edman   1 1  I  Elleat 

Thomas   Currier.  mark." 

At  court  Richard  Currier  and  his  son  Thomas  made  oath 
that  they  heard  said  Elleat  declare  to  them  the  above  will 
"  when  he  was  going  unto  the  waers,"  when  it  was  proved 
March  17th,  1684.  The  will,  written  by  Richard  Currier,  is  on 
file  endorsed  "  Edmond  Elliat  will  1684."  The  inventory 
amounted   to   ^480  n  s.  3d. 

"Ye  dwelling  house  &  outhousing  &  land  they  stand  upon 
playns  :  A  lot  by  meeting  house  ;  A  lot  by  Goodman  Martins  ; 
A  lot  by  ye  back  River;  A  lot  at  Whitch5  hill;  A  lot  at  Red- 
oak  hill ;  Three  lots  of  meadow  at  ye  black  rock  creek ;  A  lot 
of  meadow  near  to  Fox  island  ;  One  lot  in  ye  Lyons  Mouth  ; 
A  Great  swamp  lot ;  A  lot  of  meadow  in  ye  cow  common  ;  A 
great  lot ;  Two  lots  of  meadow  at  brush  island  ;  A  lot  of  meadow 
in  ye  new  meadows." 

He  lived  on  the  plain  near  Sandy  hill,  not  far  from  that  part 
owned   by  the  late    Rev.  N.    Lasell,  and   his   inventory  confirms 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  Ill 

this  fact  when  speaking  of  his  buildings,  by  saying  "  they  stand 
upon  playns."  He  was  a  large  lanu  owner  and  left  a  large 
property  to  his  only  son,  who,  at  the  time  he  made  his  will, 
was  a  minor.  His  wife  was,  however,  to  retain  possession  of 
the  whole  till  his  son  became  of  age,  when  she  was  limited  to 
the  income  of  one-half. 

1685. 

The  main  Haverhill  road  through  Amesbury  was  laid  out  anew 
this  year,  although  there  was  a  "path,"  as  sometimes  mentioned, 
that  led  to  Haverhill  long  since.     The  following  is  the  record  : — 

"We  whose  names  are  subscribed  being  chosen  and  appointed 
by  the  Selectmen  of  Haverhill  and  Amesbury  according  to  their 
order  have  laid  out  and  sufficiently  marked  out  a  country  high- 
way betwixt  Haverhill  and  Amesbury  of  four  rods  wide  lying 
from  iVmesbury  meeting  house  to  the  Widow  Bettels  lot  as  it 
is  now  bounded  out  and  have  been  formerly  marked  out  which 
bounds  are  now  marked  and  were  made  and  so  from  the  Widow 
Bettel's  lot  to  the  Country  Bridge  at  the  east  meadows  which 
is  laid  out  as  hath  been  formerly  marked  out  and  runs  thence 
to  the  east  end  of  the  town  and  so  to  the  Meeting  house. 

As  witness  our  hands  this  eighth  day  of  April   1685. 
Thomas   Whittier~\  Thomas  Sargent 

John  Page  V  Thomas  Fowler 

Daniel  Lade  jr    )  William  Sargent." 

It  was  intended  to  make  a  broad,  permanent  road  through- 
out, and  such  has  been  the  result  with  the  exception  of 
encroachments  made,  from  time  to  time.  The  road  is  given  on 
the  plan  of  1715  entire.  It  was  "marked  out"  in  1642,  but 
there  was,  probably,  very  little  fence  on  the  whole  route  from 
the  meeting  house  to  the  Haverhill  line,  even  at  this  day. 

1686. 

It  was  "voted  to  allow  Mr  Wells  fifty  shillings  in  money  out 
of  the  fifty  pounds  which  they  formerly  granted   him." 

It  was,  also,  "  voted  that  there  should  be  no  more  added  tow 
Mr  Wells  is  mayntainance." 

It  had  been  customary  to  pay  in  produce,  there  being  very 
little  money  in  circulation  ;    but  Mr.  Wells  needed  some  money 


112  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

as  well  as  provisions,  and  after  making  this  generous  grant  the 
town  was  not  in  favor  of  enlarging  his  salary.  In  June,  how- 
ever, a  meeting  was  held  for  the  special  purpose  of  repealing 
this  vote,  and  it  was  "made  of  no  effect." 

The  record  of  births,  marriages  and  deaths  commences  this 
year.  Mr.  Wells  was  chosen  register  of  births  and  burials  (as 
he  hath  it)  and  commenced  a  new  book,  which  is  the  oldest 
one  now  in  the  clerk's  office.  If  there  ever  was  an  earlier  one 
it  is  lost,  and  its  loss  can  never  be  supplied.  Richard  Currier 
was  "Clark  of  the  writs"  from  1662  to  the  time  Parson  Wells 
or  his  son  Thomas  was  chosen.  It  may  be  proper  to  state  that 
the  town  clerk  was  not  necessarily  "Clark  of  Writs,"  as  the  offi- 
ces were  separate. 

The  first  law  in  regard  to  the  registration  of  births,  marriages 
and  deaths  was  enacted  in  1642,  and  allowed  3  d.  to  the 
"Clark  of  the  writs"  for  recording  and  returning  to  the  "Cort 
Recorder."  All  magistrates  were  required  to  make  due  return 
of  all  marriages  solemnized  before  them.  One  penny  each  was 
to  be  sent  to  the  recorder,  thus  reducing  the  "  Clarks  "  pay  to 
2  d.  Thus,  in  a  book  not  as  large  over  as  common  sized  note 
paper,  began  registration  which,  in  its  more  perfected  form  at 
the  present  time,  requires  two  lines  across  two  pages  of  a  very 
large  book. 

Under  the  early  system  it  was  difficult  to  trace  families,  even 
when  the  record  was  complete ;  under  the  present  the  work  is 
made  easy. 

Rachel,  wife  of  William  Barnes,  died  February  9th. 

The  death  of  George  Martin,  it  is  believed,  took  place  this 
year,  as  his  name  appears  no  more  on  the  record  after  the 
March  meeting,  when  he  was  chosen  on  the  committee  to  show 
men  their  bounds.  He  held  office  almost  continually  till  his 
death.  His  line  of  services  seemed  to  be  in  laying  out  land 
and  roads  and  bounding  lots.  He  must  have  been  very  familiar 
with  the  various  lots  and  their  bounds.  He  was  one  of  the 
earliest  pioneers  in  this  western  territory,  crossing  the  Powow 
in  1649  at  which  time  he  bought  half  of  a  twenty-acre  lot  of 
Thomas    Macy  adjoining    that   river.     Here    he    built  his   house 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  1 13 

and  lived  till  the  nth,  12th  mo.,  1650,  (February  nth,  165 1  ) 
when  he  sold  his  farm  to  Philip  Challis.  He  now  removed  a 
short  distance  to  the  farm  which  he  bought  of  Anthony  Saddler, 
also  on  the  Powow.  This  place  he  sold  to  Richard  Currier  in 
e66o  and  removed  to  the  west  side  of  Ring's  hill  on  the  old 
Hunt's  lane,  where  he  lived  till  his  death.  In  1667  the  town 
ordered  a  "  bregh "  near  his  house,  and  the  road  across  the 
swamp  may  yet  be  seen  and  the  brook  over  which  the  bridge 
was  laid. 

He  was,  probably,  born  in  England  and  came  to  this  coun- 
try when  quite  young.  He  was  first  married  in  1643,  and  again 
in  1646  to  Susanna  North,  daughter  of  Richard  North.  His 
children  were 

Hannah,  born  Feb.   1,   1644,*     Hester,  born  April  7,   1653, 
Richard,  born  June  29,   1647,    Jane>  born  Nov.  2,   1656, 
George,  born  Oct.  21,   1648,      William,  born  Dec.   n,   1662,! 
Abigail,  born  Oct.  10,   1649,       Samuel,  born  Sept.  29,   1667, 
John,  born  Jan.   26,   165 1,  William, J  born    

1687. 

A  committee  was  chosen  to  "rectifie  all  ye  highways"  "and 
to  return  all  bounds  of  lots  according  to  ye  grant  upon  record 
into  ye  town  book  of  Records,"  but  the  record  is  very  imper- 
fect and  it  is  doubtful  if  the  business  was  properly  attended 
to. 

At  this  meeting  "  Left.  Foot,  Insine  Weed  and  Thomas  Sar- 
gent were  placed  at  ye  table ;  and  they  three  or  ye  magr  part 
of  them  ware  to  seate  those  yl  are  not  seated  or  to  remove 
any  persons  into  seats  in  ye  meeting  house  as  they  shall  see 
case."  The  town  has  always  exercised  the  right  to  seat  people 
where  they  thought  proper,  and,  no  doubt,  somewhat  according 
to  rank  or  wealth. 

It  seems  that  wolves  were  yet  troublesome,  and  this  year  a 
bounty  of  20  s.  was  offered  for  every  one  killed.  It  was  no 
uncommon  thing  for  parties  to  engage  in  hunting  wolves,  as  it 
was  rather  dangerous   business  for  one  alone.     Whole  neighbor- 

*  By  first  wife,  Hannah,     f  Died  a  few  day's  old.     t  Born,  probably,  between 
1662  and  1667. 


114  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

hoods  sometimes  turned  out,  after  some  depredations  among  the 
sheep,  to  hunt  these  "varmints." 

The  Indians  were  at  this  time  very  troublesome,  especially 
at  the  eastward,  and  the  troop  of  horse  commanded  by  Capt. 
Pike  was  hardly  sufficient  to  protect  the  inhabitants.  He  failed 
to  get  assistance  from  the  General  Court  as  desired,  but,  provi- 
dentially, this  section  escaped  serious  harm. 

Richard  Currier  died  February  2 2d.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  and  a  very  prominent  man,  and,  evidently,  a  very  capable 
one.  He  was  early  in  Salisbury,  as  we  find  him  buying  Joseph 
Moyce's  "new  house  and  all  things  thereto  belonging"  in  1644. 
In  February,  1652,  he  was  chosen  with  Anthony  Colby  to  lay 
out  a  road  from  "Mill  bridge  to  ye  playne  that,  goeth  to  Lions 
Mouth,"  and  he  was  with  Thomas  Macy  in  building  the  first 
saw  mill,  and  received  land  in  most  of  the  divisions,  besides 
many  special  grants.  He  was  chosen  clerk  in  1662  and  ordered 
to  get  a  new  book  for  records,  and  held  the  office  twelve  years. 
He  was,  also,  "Clark  of  the  writs."  He  served  on  the  board 
of  selectmen  twelve  years,  the  last  of  which  was  in  1683,  only 
four  years  before  his  death,  which  shows  that  he  was  still  capa- 
ble though  aged.  It  was,  however,  against  his  will  and  he 
declined  serving  and  was  fined  1  s.  Several  others  were  chosen 
and  declined,  but,  finally,  on  being  re-chosen,  he  consented  to 
serve.  In  1665  he  was  on  the  committee  to  build  the  first 
meeting  house  and  was  chosen  to  go  to  "  Mr  Showell  or  Mr 
Woodbridge  son  to  see  if  he  could  obtayn  them  to  be  helpful 
in  the  work  of  the  Ministry."  When  the  people  decided  to 
petition  the  General  Court  for  a  separation  from  the  old  town, 
he  was  chosen  to  manage  the  matter,  riding  to  Boston,  probably, 
on  horseback,  and  returning  with  the  news  of  perfect  success. 
No  doubt  he  was  joyfully  received  by  the  people.  He  was 
one    of  the    "Commissioners    to    end    small  cases"  many  years. 

After  Mr.  Woodbridge  closed  his  labors  he  was  again  chosen 
with  Philip  Challis  to  go  to  Kittery  to  obtain  the  services  of 
Mr.  Hubberd  in  the  ministry.  He  was  sometimes  joined  with 
the  selectmen  to  make  the  "Country  rates." 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  115 

He  was  a  great  land  owner  some  portion  of  his  life,  owning 
lots  in  every  section  of  the  town  and  frequently  buying  and 
selling,  as  the  old  deeds  at  Salem  show.  He  testified  in  1682 
that  his  mill  was  still  in  good  order  and  sawing  about  "  five 
or  six  thousand  per  week,"  when  there  was  water.  He  led  a 
very  busy,  useful  life  and  was  a  man  of  much  dignity  and  sound 
judgment.  It  is  believed  that  he  gave  his  son  Thomas  a  large 
portion  of  his  land  while  living,  as  there  is  no  record  of  much 
property  left  at  his  death.  During  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he 
married  Joanna  Rowell,  widow  of  Valentine  Rowell,  and  at  his 
death  lived  with  her  son  Philip.  His  homestead  was,  no  doubt, 
near  the  mills,  as  ''his  work"  spoken  of  must  have  meant 
tending  the  mill,  and  he  had  a  lane  that  led  from  the  road  to 
"his  work."  He  sold,  in  1662,  a  house  and  one  hundred  acres 
of  land,  near  Haverhill,  to  William  Ilsley  for  ^55  sterling. 
After  his  death  his  widow  gave  his  bed  to  Sarah  Rowell,  her 
daughter-in-law,  and  on  her  putting  it  out  doors  to  air,  the 
Widow  Foot  ( R.  Currier's  daughter )  came  down  and  took  it. 
Sarah  Rowell  complained  before  Worshipful  Maj.  Pike  and  the 
case  was  tried  and  decided  against  her.  A  petition  is  on  file 
at  Salem  saying  that  "  Richard  Currier  lived  with  her  several 
years  before  his  death,  and  that  she  ought  to  have  his  bed  which 
he  left."  She  appealed  from  the  decision  of  Maj.  Pike  to  the 
county  court. 

His  children  were  Hannah,  born  Oct.  5,  1643  j  Thomas, 
born  Oct.   1,   1646;   Richard,   (probably)   birth  unknown. 

Walter  Taylor  died  February  nth.  He  was  not  a  signer  of 
the  articles  adopted  in  1654  nor  among  the  first  eighteen,  but 
was  early  made  a  townsman.  He  received  land  in  1659  and 
was  granted  liberty  to  cut  timber  on  the  common  for  building 
vessels.  He  drew  lot  No.  2  in  the  river  lots.  He,  no  doubt, 
lived  near  the  river  and,  probably,  where  the  late  John  DaVis 
lived,  near  the  Merrimac  hat  factory.  After  his  death  the  land 
granted  to  him  was  given  to  Francis  Davis,  ancestor  of  the  late 
John  Davis.  This  fact  would  seem  to  fix  his  residence  there, 
and  his  ship-yard  may  have  been  in  front  of  his  premises,  near 
the    present    elm    on    the    river's    bank.     An    ancient    bounding 


Il6  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

of  the  Martin  road  describes  it  as  passing  along  the  bank  "  four 
rods  wide  to  land  of  Walter  Taylor." 

He  was  said  to  have  been  a  turbulent,  noisy  man,  frequently 
before  the  courts  for  his  violent  abuse  and  profane  language.  The 
Norfolk  county  records  contain  the  following : — 

"And  Walter  Taylor,  for  using  cursing  speaches  to  his  ser- 
vants, is  judged  to  have  to  pay  10  s.  ;  to  ye  treasurer  of 
ye  County." 

He  was  seldom  chosen  to  office  and  we  have  been  unable 
to  find  at  what  time  he  took  the  oath  of  freeman. 

Abraham  Joy  died  July  2d. 

The  name  of  Jewell  is  first  found  in  town  this  year.  Thomas 
Jewell  and  his  wife,  Susannah  Guilford  Jewell,  removed  from 
,  <yuHingham,  where  they  first  settled ;  and  tradition  has  handed 
down  a  bit  of  romance  in  regard  to  them.  Thomas  was  host- 
ler to  Lord  Guilford,  an  English  nobleman,  and  by  some  means 
won  the  love  of  his  daughter,  and  knowing  that  the  consent  of 
the .  noble  Lord  could  never  be  obtained  to  the  marriage  of  his 
daughter  with  any  but  of  equal  rank,  they  planned  and  carried 
out  an  elopement.  Quitting  England,  they  arrived  safely  in  the 
new  world  and  took  up  their  residence  at  Hingham.  But  this 
was  rather  a  public  town,  and  they  were  afraid  of  detection  by 
the  enraged  Lord ;  and  young  Jewell  with  his  accomplished 
wife  fled  to  the  wilds  of  Amesbury,  where  there  could  be  but 
little  chance  of  being  discovered.  In  the  mean  time  the  father 
had  taken  a  very  rational  view  of  the  affair,  and  sent  out  a 
vessel  laden  with  presents  and  articles  for  the  enjoyment  and 
comfort  of  his  lost  daughter.  But  no  trace  of  them  could  be 
found,  and  the  presents  were  never  delivered.  Mr.  Jewell  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  north  of  "Whitchers"  hill  in  a  perfect 
wilderness,  where  the  name  is  yet  found  and  a  portion  of  the 
homestead  yet  owned  by  a  descendant.*  When  the  long  dis- 
puted line  between  New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts  was 
adjusted,  a  portion  of  the  homestead  was  found  within  the 
former  province.  After  the  incorporation  of  South  Hampton, 
Joseph,  son  of  Thomas  and  Susannah  Jewell,  became  very 
prominent  in  town  affairs,  filling  every  important  office. 
*  Benj.  R.  Jewell,   Esq. 


<*&" 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  117 

In  1 71 2,  Thomas  Jewell  gave  his  son  Thomas  one-third  of 
his  farm   (next  Powow  river)   to  maintain  himself  and  wife. 

1688. 

According  to  the  custom  the  town  again  voted  to  continue 
Mr.  Wells'  maintenance,  "as  formerly  agreed  upon,"  although 
Samuel  Colby,  Joseph  Large  and  Samuel  Weed   dissented. 

The  most  prominent  event  of  this  year  was  the  death  of 
Sergt.  John  Hoyt,  sen.,  February  28th.  Among  those  entrust- 
ed with  office  by  the  new  town,  he  was  prominent.  He,  prob- 
ably, was  from  England,  but  the  precise  location  is  not  known. 
He  was  in  Salisbury  in  1639  or  1640,  but  was  not  made  a 
freeman  till  Oct.  3d,  1650.  He  served  as  selectman  eight 
years,  was  on  the  committee  to  lay  out  the  Great  Swamp,  to  pur- 
chase a  house  for  the  minister,  to  treat  with  Capt.  Pike,  to  build  the 
meeting-house,  and  was  constable  and  grand  juryman.  He  served  as 
moderator  of  a  town  meeting  held  April  27th,  1687,  which  would 
show  that  he  retained  his  faculties  remarkably  well.  He  was  a 
military  officer  in  Norfolk  county.  He  married  two  wives  by 
the  name  of    Frances,  but  it  does  not  appear  who  they  were. 

Children  of  his    first    wife  : —     Frances,    born   ;    married 

John  Colby,  January  14th,  1656,  and  John  Barnard,  December 
27th,  1676.  She  died  January  2d,  1721.  John,  born  1638; 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  William  Barnes.  Thomas,  born  Jan- 
uary 1st,  1640;  married  Mary  Brown.  Georgie,  born  January 
1st,  1641  ;  died  January  1st,  1642.  Elizabeth,  born  February 
33d,   1643. 

Children  of  second  wife:—  Sarah,  born  January  16th,  1645, 
died .  February  26th.  Mary,  born  February  24th,  1646.  Joseph, 
born  May  13th,  1648,  died  young.  Joseph,  born  November 
27th,  1649.  Marah,  born  November  24th,  1653.  Naomi,  born 
January  23d,   1655.     Dorothie,  born  April   13th,    1656. 

Jarret  Haddon  died  this  year,  but  the  date  is  not  known, 
as  his  death  is  not  found  on  the  Amesbury  record.  The  inven- 
tory of  his  estate  bears  date  June  1st,  1689.  He  was  one  of 
the  signers  of  the  Articles  of  Agreement,  and  received  land  in 
nearly  every  division.  At  the  time  when  the  town  was  grant- 
ing "townships"  to  the  children,  in   1660,  he  had  no    son    and 


I  l8  •  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

then  received  a  "town  shiep  for  on  of  his  daughters."  In 
1662  Edmond  Elliott,  by  vote  of  the  town,  took  that  right, 
and  at  a  later  date  his  grant  of  20  acres  west  of  the  pond  is 
said  to  lie  "next  his  Father  Hadden  lot."  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Haddon,  which  explains  the  whole  matter.  He  served  on 
various  committees :  was  commissioner  to  end  small  cases  in 
1673,  prudential  man  ini6y6,  '79  and  '80,  and  was  a  large  landholder. 
His  inventory  footed  up  ^181,  5s.  His  residence  is  not 
known,  but  he  lived  at  the  east  end  of  the  town  and  some 
of  his  land  is  described  as  running  from  the  country  road  to 
Powow  river,  lying  probably  in  the  vicinity  of  the  road  to 
Weare  point,  mostly  south  of  it.  He  took  the  oath  of  freeman 
May  14th,  1634,  his  name  being  spelled  "Terad  Hadden"  on 
the  record. 

His  children  were,  so  far  as  known  : —  Sarah,  born  January 
15th,  1640.  Mary,  (date  not  known)  married  Henry  Blaisdell ; 
and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Edmond  Elliott  and  was  executrix 
to  his  will  in   1684. 

1689. 

The  town's  management  in  religious  matters  was  very  singu- 
lar, especially  as  regards  the  minister.  Although  Mr.  Wells  was 
settled,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  times,  for  life,  yet  the 
town  annually  voted  on  the  question  of  keeping  him  another 
year,  sometimes  voting  that  they  were  clear  of  him  and  he 
them.  In  October  a  meeting  was  held  at  which  they  did  nothing 
but  to  vote  on  this  question.  The  first  vote  after  choosing 
moderator  was  "At  ye  same  metting  it  was  voted  yl  we  desire 
to  have  a  minister  among  us."  Second  vote — "  Voted  that  we 
would  send  to  Mr.  Wells  to  know  his  mind,  whether  he  would 
still  continue  in  ye  work  of  ye  ministry  among  us."  Third  vote — 
"Voted  yl  ye  towne  was  cleare  from  Mr.  Wells,  and  Mr.  Wells 
from  ye  towne."  They  repudiated  the  idea  of  having  settled 
Mr.  Wells  for  life.  Thus  the  matter  rested  till  December  26th, 
when  a  meeting  was  held  and  it  was  "  Voted  that  the  Minister 
that  carrys  on  ye  worke  of  ye  ministry  amongst  us  shall  have  for 
his  pains  fifty  pounds  a  yeare." 

"Att  ye  same  metting  ye  towne  made  choyce  of  Mr.  Wells  to 
be  their  Minister." 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  119 

"  At  ye  same  metting  it  was  voted  that  Mr.  Wells  shall  have 
his  fire-wood  brought  home  two  him  for  this  yeare  insuing 
and  ye  yeare  to  begin  ye  20  day  of  november  last  89."  So  in 
their  own  peculiar  way  they  came  around  all  right,  giving  Mr. 
Wells  a  good  salary,  his  fire-wood  hauled  to  his  door,  and 
dating  back  the  beginning  of  his  year. 

In  1^86  the  king  sent  a  royal  commission  to  take  posses- 
sion of  the  government  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  which  was 
strongly  opposed  by  the  General  Court  and  by  the  people,  but 
without  effect,  as  will  be  seen  by  Vol.  V.  Mass.  Records.  This 
year  the  town  voted  "that  ye  government  chosen  in  ye  yeare 
1686,  Governor,  Deputy  Governor  and  assistance  to  gether  with 
ye  debutys  according  to  charter  Rites  should  be  resumed  and 
to  that  end  we  have  sent  our  tristy  frinds  Capt  Foot  and  Sam- 
well  Colby  as  our  Representitives  to  act  in  our  behalfs  :  it  is 
also  our  desires  that  such  magistrates  as  may  be  thought  con- 
venant  may  be  added  to  ye  former  authority." 

The  course  pursued  by  the  king  was  considered  usurpation, 
and  the  people  were  very  jealous  of  their  rights  and  never 
failed  to  express  their  minds  pretty  clearly. 

Lieut.  John  Weed,  sen.,  died  March  15th,  after  a  long  and 
useful  life.  He  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Articles  of  Agree- 
ment and  received  larrd  in  nearly  every  division.  Was  selectman 
nine  years,  was  commissioner,  constable,  one  of  the  committee 
to  lay  out  the  Great  swamp,  on  the  committee  to  rectify 
bounds,  one  of  the  committee  to  find  a  minister  in  1669,  and 
served  the  town  in  various  capacities.  He  was  chosen  to  treat 
with  Capt.  Pike  in  regard  to  his  land  in  Amesbury,  and  also  to 
treat  with  the  "Gentlemen  of  ye  old  towne."  He  was  placed 
by  the  town  at  the  "tabell"  in  1687  with  authority  to  place 
others,  which  shows  to  some  extent  the  estimation  in  which  he 
was  held.  He  lived  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  late  Ephraim 
Merrill,  and  when  the  bounds  of  the  road  over  Bailey's  hill 
were  defined,  he  owned  land  between  the  hill  and  Haverhill 
road.  Ephraim  Merrill's  homestead  was  originally  part  of 
Lieut.  Weed's  homestead  farm,  which  was  valued  at  ^280  when 
he  died.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  his  inventory,  filed  June 
4th,    1690  : — 


120  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

Homestead,  £2%° 

Marsh,  50 

Land  at  Fox  Island,  80 

Two  forty-acre  lots  behind  pond,  60 

1  lot  behind  pond,  15 

Land  at  Brandy  Brow,  80 

Land  at  Birchin  plain,  1 

Bugsmore  lot,  3 

Great  Swamp  lot,  5 

Land  at  Peke,  4 

Marsh  near  hog  house,  o   15 
65  sheep,   1  horse,   17  lambs,  8  swine,  4  pigs  suck- 
ing, hemp  and  flax — 20  lbs.,  6  cows,  5  yearlings. 

Total.        ^737   7  8 
Sam.  Foot,  ^ 

Thos.    Sargent,    >•      Appraisers. 
Thos.  Barnard,) 

The  children  of  John  Weed  were  Mary,  Samuel,  John,  Eph- 
raim,  Joseph,  George,  Nathaniel  and  Anna. 

It  is  probable  that  William  Huntington  died  this  year,  al- 
though no  record  is  found  of  his  death.  His  name  does  not 
appear  on  the  Articles  of  Agreement  in  1654,  but  he  was  one 
of  the  first  eighteen  who  organized  the  town  in  1655,  and  sub- 
sequently drew  lots  in  nearly  all  of  the  divisions.  At  what  date 
he  came,  across  the  Powow  is  not  known,  but  John  Bayly,  sen., 
by  will  gave  himself  and  wife  a  house  and  five  acres  of  land  at 
the  Ferry,  and  also  a  twenty-acre  lot  at  the  river  in  1652, 
being  the  premises  which  he  bought  of  Valentine  Rowell.  De- 
cember 1  st,  1652  this  property  was  deeded  to  John  Bayly,  jr., 
and  re-deeded  to  William,  his  wife  and  two  children,  January 
4th,  1653.  The  house  and  five  acres  was  sold  April  2d,  1662, 
to  John  Maxfield,  for  ^5.  His  first  residence  in  town 
seems  to  have  been  at  the  Ferry.  He  also  sold,  July  20,  1662, 
a  twenty-acre  lot  west  of  the  Buttonwood  road  (the  lot  which 
he  drew  originally)  to  Robert  Pike,  for  ^5  sterling.  About  the 
same  time  he  sold  to  Walter  Taylor  six  acres  on  the  river  end 
of  a  lot  which  he  owned.     July  2d,   1662,  he  bought  a  twenty- 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  121 

acre  lot  on  the  river,  of  Robert  Fitts,  which  was  bounded 
easterly  by  his  own  land.  In  1663  he  sold  his  thirty-acre  lot 
at  Cobler's  brook,  which  butted  southerly  on  the  Haverhill 
road,  to  Morris  Tucker.  In  1664  he  bought  a  twenty-acre  lot 
of  John  Hoyt,  on  the  river,  lying  between  the  original  lots  of 
William  Holdred  (now  his)  and  Joseph  Parker's.  He  was  an 
extensive  land  holder,  and  a  very  quiet,  industrious  and  valua- 
ble member  of  the  company.  Whether  the  present  Hunting- 
ton house  at  Pleasant  Valley  was  built  and  occupied  by  him  is 
a  matter  of  doubt  as  his  son  John  was  married  in  1665  and 
very  likely  built  this  house.  This  theory  is  strengthened  by  the 
remains  of  an  old  cellar  a  few  rods  away,  but  on  the  same 
original  lot. 

1690. 

As  most  of  the  time  Indian  wars  were  harassing  the  colony, 
it  became  necessary  to  keep  armed  bodies  of  men  to  guard 
against  surprise,  and  the  towns  were  obliged  to  contribute  men 
for  that  purpose,  unless  so  situated  as  to  make  it  unsafe  for 
them  to  spare  any  part  of  their  people,  in  which  case  they  were 
denominated  "frontier  towns,"  and  excused  from  contributing 
to  the  common  safety.  Amesbury  being  thus  situated  chose  a 
committee  consisting  of  "  Mr  Wells  and  ye  Militia  and  ye  Select- 
men or  ye  mager  part  of  them  two  draw  up  a  petition  to  pre- 
sent to  ye  Court  that  we  may  be  accounted  a  frountere  towne 
and  for  severall  other  prticklers  that  they  shall  think  needfull  to 
petision  for." 

It  is  probable  that  this  petition  was  granted,  as  it  was  well 
known  that  Amesbury  had  suffered  severely  from  Indian  raids. 
Edward  Cottle,  one  of  the  first  eighteen,  moved  to  Dukes 
county  on  account  of  being  burnt  out  by  the  Indians.  His 
house  was  burnt  once  by  accident  and  once  during  an  incur- 
sion of  the  Indians  into  the  western  part  of  the  town.  Cottle 
lived  at  Jamaco,  as  it  was  then  called,  and  one  of  the  landings 
near  his  premises  was  named  for  him.  Others  at  "Jamaco" 
had  their  houses  plundered  about  this  time.  John  Hoyt  men- 
tions in  a  petition  to  the  General  Court  about  having  his  house 
plundered  by  Indians. 

16 


122  HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY. 

The  town  again  voted  Mr.  Wells  fifty  pounds. 

The  last  three  years  have  been  remarkable  for  the  deaths  of 
prominent  men,  who  did  noble  work  for  the  town  in  its  early 
history,  and  this  year  records  the  death  of  another  pioneer,  who 
has  been  conspicuous  on  nearly  every  page  of  the  record. 

Capt.  Samuel  Foot  died  July  7th.  He  was  not  a  signer  of 
the  Articles,  but  came  to  town  about  1658,  when  he  was 
chosen  one  of  a  committee  to  lay  out  the  river  lots.  He  drew 
lot  No.  1,  which  lay  along  the  western  side  of  the  Buttonwood 
road,  but  cut  off  from  the  river  by  John  Weed's  ten-acre  lot. 
He  was  made  a  townsman'  December  10th,  1660,  and  after- 
wards received  numerous  grants  of  land.  He  held  many  offices, 
was  Representive  in  1689  and  was  one  of  the  favored  three 
who  were  seated  at  the  "tabell"  in  church  in  1667.  He  lived 
at  Jamaco  and  it  is  very  probable  that  his  house  was  a  "gar- 
rison house,"  several  times  spoken  of  as  "Capt.  Foots  fort." 
Judging  from  his  frequent  services,  he  must  have  been  specially 
fitted  to  preside  over  town  meetings,  and  was,  no  doubt,  a  man 
of  more  than  ordinary  decision  and  ability. 

Dr.  Parish,  in  his  History  of  New  England,  says:  "Ames- 
bury  was  assaulted,  three  persons  killed,  and  three  houses 
burned,  and  Capt.  Foot  was  tortured  to  death."  But  no  men- 
tion is  made  of  such  fact  on  the  Amesbury  records. 

Mr.  Well's  salary  of  fifty  pounds  was  again  voted  him. 

John  Hoyt,  jr.,  grandson  of  the  first  John  and  son  of  John, 
2d,  died  August  24th,  1691.  He  lived  at  the  west  end  of  the 
town,  his  house,  as  described  in  the  inventory  of  his  estate, 
being  "House  &  land  at  Jamaicoe  j£6o."  He  had  a  meadow 
lot,  lot  in  the  children's  land,  two  lots  at  Lion's  Mouth  and  lot 
at  Country  pond.     The  inventory  footed  up  ,£153,   10  s. 

Thomas  Hoyt,  son  of  John  Hoyt  1st,  died  January  3d  and 
the  inventory  of  his  estate  was  returned  to  Probate  court  March 
19th  by  John  Hoyt  (then  sen.)  and  Henry  Blasedell,  sen.,  his 
son  Thomas  being  administrator.  As  a  curiosity,  showing  to 
some  extent  the  spelling  and  tools  of  the  age,  we  quote  from 
the    record    the    items    on    the    inventory : — 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  I  23 

"Seuen  Turening  hooks  i  mandrill  i  Lane,  4  senters      o  10  o 
It,    4   augers  o  10  o 

It,    2    addses   &    1    draugh   shaue,    2    chissells  o   17  o 

It,    2    cross   cutt    Sawes  o  15  o 

It,    1    hand   Saw    1    Tenant   Saw    1    square  o   15  o 

It,    1    warmeing   pan    1    frying   pan    1    Scimer  o  10  o 

It,    1    musquett    1    sword  o   15   o 

It,    2    Iron   potts    &   Tramill    1    Iron    Skillett  o  10  o 

It,    1    grinding    stone    1    fro  o  05   6 

It,    pailes   &   dishes    1    bottle    1    barrill  o  06  o 

It,    spining   wheell    1    paire    of  keards  o  04  o 

It,    1  sheep    1   hogg    1    chert  1    13  o 

It,    a    35    acre    Lott   at    Bugsmore  5  00  o 

It,    1    paire   cart   wheells  o  15  o 

It,    1    cart   rope   a   paire    of  plow  jrons  o  05  o 

It,    hemp   &   flax  o  02  o 

His  property  amounted  to  ^12,  12s.,  6  d.,  and  he  owed 
£11,   10  s.,   7  d. 

It  is  probable  that  he  lived  at  the  west  end  of  the  town. 
His  age  was  fifty  years. 

Mary  (Haddon)  wife  of  Henry  Blasdell,  sen.,  died  Decem- 
ber 1 2th. 

The  Indians  were  now  causing  very  general  alarm  by  their 
raids  on  the  settlements  at  the  eastward,  and  soldiers  were 
called  for  to  protect  the  people  and  their  crops.  A  treaty  was 
made  in  May  with  some  of  the  principal  chiefs,  but  soon  broken. 
Major  Pike,  of  Salisbury,  was  the  chief  officer  in  command  and 
directed  the  movements  against  the  enemy,  and  Capt.  Thomas 
Harvey  commanded  the  Amesbury  forces.  But  little  was  accom- 
plished against  the  treacherous  foe  during  the  year. 

1692. 

In  1670  a  road  was  laid  out  over  Bayly's  hill  and  damages 
awarded  to  Joshua  Bayly  and  others ;  but  from  some  cause  the 
matter  had  not  been  settled  and  this  year  the  town  voted  to 
make  Mr.  Bayly  "  satisfaction  for  the  road  laid  out  over  his 
hill  by  Newbury  men."  It  was  laid  out  by  a  sheriff's  jury, 
perhaps  against  the  wishes  of  the  town.     This  year  a  brigantine 


124  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

of  thirty-five  tons  was  built  at  Amesbury,  and  it  is  probable  that 
others  had  been  built  at  a  much  earlier  date. 

At  the  March  meeting  the  question  of  employing  Mr.  Wells 
was  again  discussed,  not  really  with  the  intention  of  dismissing 
him,  but  more  especially  to  establish  that  long-contested  point : 
that  the  town  was  not  holden  for  his  support.  For  many  years 
the  town  had  rather  grudgingly  voted  his  salary,  thus  wounding 
the  feelings  of  the  patient  minister.  As  Mr.  Wells  had,  evi- 
dently, been  settled  according  to  the  usual  custom  of  the  time, 
it  was  a  little  vexing  to  find  the  vote  year  after  year:  "we  are 
willing  to  have  Mr.  Wells  settle  among  us."  Nevertheless  at 
this  meeting  the  town  voted  "yl  we  ware  willing  to  have  Mr. 
Wells  to  be  our  Minister  two  settell  amongst  us  and  to  alow 
him  fifty  pounds  a  yeare  for  the  present  and  more  when  we  are 
able."  This  rather  cool  invitation  to  remain,  if  it  was  an  invi- 
tation, Mr.  Wells  did  not  seem  to  relish  very  much,  and  for- 
warded a  communication  to  be  read  in  the  meeting,  which  is 
copied  entire  : 
To  ye  Inhabitants  of  ye  town  of  Amisbury. 

Geittlemen:  In  answer  to  what  you  have  presented  to  me 
this  day  by  a  coppy  of  ye  town  act, 

i  I  had  a  great  deale  rather  you  would  supply  yourselves 
better  if  you  please. 

2  I  would  have  you  understand  y'  I  am  not  unsensible  of 
your  low  estate  nor  unwilling  to  take  share  wth  you  or  to  com- 
ply wth  you  under  your  sufferings  by  reason  of  yl  publique 
calamity,  the  reason  why  many  think  so  and  have  said  so  is 
(  as  I  take  it )  because  every  one  feeleth  their  own  sufferings 
and  not  mine  ;  If  I  should  adict  myself  to  be  as  strict  wth  many 
as  I  might  I  could  verify  their  words. 

3  As  to  ye  principal  matter  in  hand  I  comply  wth  you  and 
your  act  upon  these  conditions  and  terms  viz  :  i  That  all  acts 
votes  and  agreements  respecting  my  settlement  in  ye  worke  of 
ye  Ministry  amongst  you  and  my  maintainance  for  ye  same  before 
that  date  Oct  25  :  89  before  yl  time  unrepealed  shall  stand 
good  and  in  full  force  virtue  and  efficacy  to  all  true  intents 
constructions  and  purposes  whoever.     2dly  That  of  ye  bove  men- 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  I  25 

tioned  date  and  all  other  since  shall  stand  repealed  and  made 
voyd.  3flly  That  as  to  yearly  maintainance  i  I  will  abate 
either  my  fire  wood  or  ten  pound  pr  ann  :  at  my  own  choyce 
according  as  I  shall  see  cause  to  propound  to  ye  Selectmen  of 
ye  towne  from  yeare  to  yeare  about  Michaelmus  ;  and  yl  during 
ye  continuance  of  these  wars  and  so  long  after  untill  y£  ye  pub- 
lique  extraordinary  charges  there  of  shall  be  defrayed  in  ye 
country  and  y£  after  yl  time  ten  pounds  more  pr  ann  shall  be 
added  to  my  maintainance  beside  my  fire  wood  in  equal  con- 
dition wth  yc  former ;  4.1y  If  it  should  please  God  afterward 
during  my  service  in  yl  kind  to  visit  us  with  further  calamities 
of  yl  nature  I  promise  to  make  such  future  abatements  as 
shall  in  equity  or  honesty  be  desired  or  as  may  be  by  any 
rational  Indifferent  honest  man  be  judged  suitable.  5ly  That  if 
you  comply  wth  these  proposals  yl  ye  substance  of  this  my  3d 
and  last  answer  unto  you  especially  ye  conditions  propounded 
be  entered  upon  record  in  ye  town  book  as  ye  final  and  last 
conclusion  betwixt  you  and  I  iff  you  are  not  disposed  to  com- 
ply wth  ye  terms  above  propounded  I  only  request  you  never  to 
trouble  mee  more  with  proposals  upon  this  account  Just  as  you 
please  I  may  be  you  Serv1  Tho  Wells." 

"Att  ye  same  metting  it  was  votted  they  would  comply  with 
Mr.  Wells  in  ye  severall  pertickelers  as  he  sent  it  in  writing  to 
us."  Thus  summarily  ended  a  controversy  that  had  continued 
for  many  years. 

The  most  noted  event  of  this  year  was  the  accusation,  trial 
and  conviction  of  Susanna  Martin  as  a  witch.  Most  people 
were,  at  this  time,  believers  in  witches,  and  strange  events  were 
generally  accounted  for  in  that  way.  Whatever  could  not  be 
explained  readily  was  attributed  to  the  agency  of  witchcraft,  and 
there  is  but  little  doubt  that  persons  thus  accused,  or  commonly 
thought  to  be  in  league  with  the  devil,  were  in  some  instances 
shrewd  enough  to  take  advantage  of  such  superstition  to  obtain 
their  ends  by  way  of  help  or  some  other  benefit.  The  public 
were  credulous  and  superstitious,  and  the  wonderful  stories  about 
witches  riding  through  the  air  in  tunnels  and  on  broomsticks, 
happy  and  joyous  on  their    nightly  missions  of  evil,  was  just  as 


126  HISTORY     OF  AMESBURY. 

much  believed  as  the  Good  Book,  which  they  so  greatly  rever- 
enced. In  fact,  within  the  memory  of  some  now  living,  these 
wonderful  feats  were  credited  and  witches  feared.  It  afforded 
a  very  effectual  way  to  punish  an  enemy  or  vent  one's  spite 
upon  a  neighbor.  From  all  that  we  can  learn  after  much 
research  and  careful  consideration,  the  conclusion  is  reached 
that  Susanna  was  above  the  average  in  intellectual  and  moral 
courage,  being  an  outspoken,  fearless  woman,  but  very  far  from 
being  a  hypocrite.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Richard  North, 
one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Salisbury,  and  was  married  to  George 
Martin  as  second  wife  in  1646.  At  the  time  of  her  trial  she 
was  a  widow,  her  husband  having  been  dead  some  six  or  seven 
years.  Her  children  were  all  of  age  and,  as  a  natural  conse- 
quence, the  whole  management  of.  the  farm  fell  upon  her  at  a 
time  when  woman's  rights  were  but  little  respected.  She  was 
to  some  extent  dependant  upon  her  friends  for  labor,  and  thus 
came  in  contact  with  rough  and  sometimes  uncivil  persons,  who 
would  not  have  ventured  to  treat  their  male  friends  so  ill. 

The  complaint  came  from  Salem,  but  John  Allen  says,  in  his 
deposition  before  Robert  Pike,  that  James  Freez*  was  the  insti- 
gator of  it.  She  lived  on  the  south-west  side  of  the  hill,  a  lit- 
tle east  of  the  late  Aquilla  Martin's,  on  the  old  "Hunt's  lane," 
where  John  Pressy  (who  will  figure  somewhat  conspicuously  in 
the  trial)  would  pass  on  his  way  from  the  Ferry  to  his  home 
near  South  Amesbury. 

Judging  that  the  reader  will  be  interested  to  know  about  this 
fatal  delusion  and  the  summary  process  pursued  in  the  trial 
of  suspected  persons,  we  have  taken  pains  to  copy  the  court 
file  of  the  arrest  and  trial,  and  give  it  entire,  as  follows  : — 

THE    WARRANT. 

"  To  the  Marshall  of  the  County  of  Essex  or  his  Lawful  Dep- 
uties or  to  the   Constable  of  Amesbury : 

you  are  in  their    Majests  names    hereby  required  forthwith  or 

as  soon  as  may  be  to  apprehend  and  bring  (before  vs)  Susanna 

Mertin  of  Amsbury  in  ye  county  of   Essex  Widdow  at  ye  house 

of  V  Nathaniel  Ingersalls  in  Salem  village  in  order  to  her  exam- 

*  He  lived  at  Jamaco. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  127 

ination  Relating  to  high  suspicion  of  sundry  acts  of  Witchcraft 
donne  or  committed  by  her  upon  ye  Bodys  of  Mary  Walcot, 
Abigail  Williams,  Ann  Putnam  and  Mercy  Lewis  of  Salem  vil- 
lage or  farmes  whereby  great  hurt  and  damage  hath  beene 
donne  to  ye  bodys  of  said  persons  according  to  compu  of  Capt. 
Jonathan  Walcot  &  Serg  Thomas  putnam  in  behalf  of  their 
Majests  this  day  exhibited  before  us  for  themselves  and  also  for 
several  of  theire  neighbors  and  here  you  are  not  to  fail  at  your 
peril. 

Dated  Salem  Apr  ill  joth  i6q2. 

John  Hathorn         )    A     ■  , 
•/T       .1         ^        ■     r  Assistants. 
Jonathan   Lorivin  ) 

according  to  this  Warrant  I  have  apprehended  Susanna  Mar- 
tin Widdow  of  Amsbury  and  have  brong  or  caused  her  to  be 
brought  to  the  place  appointed  for  her  examination  pr  Me 

Salem  village  this  2d  May  1692. 

Orlando  Bagley 
Const,  of,  Amesoury." 
Oyer  &  Terminer,  June  27,  1692. 

Witnesses  :  John  Pressy  and  wife  and  John  Kimball  and  wife 
of  Amesbury,  John  Allen,  Barnard  Peach,  Jos.  Ringg,  William 
Brown,  Jarvis  Ringg  and  Mary,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Whitcher,  of 
Salisbury,  James  Freeze,*  Joseph  Knight,  John  ^Atkinson,  wife 
and  son,  of  Newbury. 

Joseph  Lanckester  summoned  the  Amesbury  witnesses  and 
Joseph  Eaton  those  from  Salisbury. 

Preliminary  Trial,  June  26th,   1692. 

For  the  crime  of  witchcraft  and  sorcery,  Susanna  Martin  pled 
not  guilty. 

•'As  soon  as  she  came  in  Marcy  had  fits. 

Magistrate.     Do  you  know  this  woman? 

Abigail  Williams  saith  it  is  goody  Martin,  she  hath  hurt  me 
often. 

Others  by  fits  were  hindered  from  speaking. 

Eliza  Hubbard  said  she  hath  not  been  hurt  by  her. 

*  Granted    a    common   right  in   Amesbury    January    19,   1669. 


128  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

John  Indian  said  he  had  not  been  hurt. 

Marcy  Lewis  pointed  to  her  and  fell  into  a  little  fit. 

Ann  Putnam  threw  her  glove  in  a  fit  at  her. 

Mag.     What !    Do  you  laugh  at  it? 

Martin.     Well  I  may  at  such  folly. 

Mag.     Is  this  folly,  the  hurt  of  persons? 

Mart     I  never  hurt  man  or  woman  or  child. 

Marcy.  Marcy  Lewis  cried  out  she  hath  hurt  me  a  great 
many  times  &  pulls  me  down. 

Then  Martin  laughed  again. 

Mag.     Pray  what  ails  these  people? 

Martin.     I  dont  know. 

Mag.     But  what  do  you  think  ails  them? 

Martin.     I  dont  desire  to  spend  my  judgment  upon  it. 

Mag.     Don't  you  think  they  are  bewitched? 

Martin.     No.     I  don't  think  they  are. 

Mag.     Tell  us  your  thoughts  about  them  then? 

Martin.  No.  My  thoughts  are  my  own  when  they  are  in. 
but  when  they  are  out  they  are  another's.     Their  master 

Mag.     Their  master;  who  do  you  think  is  their  master? 

Martin.  If  they  deal  in  the  black  art,  you  may  know  as 
well  as  I. 

Mag.     Well,  what  have  you  done  towards  this? 

Martin.     Nothing  at  all. 

Mag.     Why,  'tis  your  appearance. 

Martin.     Well,  I  cant  help  it. 

Mag.  Is  it  not  your  master?  How  comes  your  appearance 
to  hurt  them? 

Martin.  How  do  I  know?  He  that  appeared  in  the  shape 
of  Samuel  may  appear  in  anyone's  shape. 

But  the  afflicted  falling  into  fits  when  she  did  but  look  upon 
them,  she  was  asked  the  Reason  of  it,  and  answered  she  could 
not  tell,  it  may  be  the  devil  bore  her  more  malice  than 
another. 

So  she  was  committed,  and  being  brought  to  her  Tryal  the 
following  Witnesses  appeared  to  support  the  Charge  of  Witch- 
craft against  her,  besides  the  Accusation  of  the  Afflicted. 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  I  29 

John  Allen,  of  Salisbury  testified,  that  he  refusing,  because  of 
the  weakness  of  his  oxen,  to  cart  some  staves  at  the  request  of 
this  Martin,  she  was  displeased  at  it,  and  said,  it  had  been  as 
good  that  he  had,  for  his  oxen  should  never  do  him  much 
more  service.  Whereupon  this  deponent  said,  Dost  thou 
threaten  me,  thou  old  Witch  ?  I'll  throw  thee  into  the  brook ; 
which  to  avoid  she  flew  over  the  bridge,  and  escaped.  But  as 
he  was  going  home,  one  of  his  oxen  tired,  so  that  he  was 
forced  to  unyoke  him  that  he  might  get  him  home.  He  then 
put  his  oxen,  with  many  more,  upon  Salisbury-beach,  where 
cattle  used  to  get  flesh.  In  a  few  days,  all  the  oxen  upon  the 
beach  were  found  by  their  tracks  to  have  run  unto  the  mouth 
of  Merrimack  river,  and  not  returned  ;  but  the  next  day  they 
were  found  come  ashore  upon  Plum  Island.  They  that  sought 
them  used  all  imaginable  gentleness  ;  but  they  would  run  away 
with  a  violence  that  seemed  wholly  diabolical,  till  they  came 
near  the  Mouth  of  Merrimack-river  when  they  ran  right  into 
the  sea,  swimming  as  far  as  they  could  be  seen.  One  of  them 
then  swam  back  again,  with  a  swiftness  amazing  to  the  be- 
holder, who  stood  ready  to  receive  him,  and  help  up  his  tired 
carcass ;  but  the  beast  ran  furiously  up  into  the  island,  and 
from  thence  through  the  marshes,  up  into  Newbury-town,  and 
so  up  into  the  woods ;  and  after  a  while  was  found  near  Ames- 
bury.  So,  that  of  fourteen  good  oxen,  there  was  only  this 
saved  :  the  rest  were  all  cast  up,  some  in  one  place,  some  in 
another,  drowned. 

John  Atkinson  testified,  that  he  exchanged  a  cow  with  a  son 
of  Susannah  Martin,  whereat  she  mutterd,  and  was  unwilling  he 
should  have  it.  Going  to  receive  this  cow,  though  he  ham- 
stringed her,  and  haltered  her,  she  of  a  tame  creauture  grew 
so  mad,  that  they  could  scarce  get  her  along.  She  broke  all 
the  ropes  that  were  fastened  unto  her ;  and  though  she  was 
tied  fast  unto  a  tree,  yet  she  made  her  escape,  and  gave  them 
such  further  trouble,  as  they  could  ascribe  to  no  cause  but 
witchcraft. 

Bernard  Peache  testified,  that,  being  in  bed,  on  a  Lord's-day 
night,  he  heard  a  scrabbling  at    the    window,    whereat    he    then 

i7 


130  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

saw  Susanna  Martin  come  in,  and  jump  down  upon  the  floor, 
She  took  hold  of  the  deponent's  feet,  and,  drawing  his  body 
up  into  an  heap,  she  lay  upon  him  near  two  hours ;  in  all 
which  time  he  could  neither  speak  nor  stir.  At  length,  when 
he  could  begin  to  move,  he  laid  hold  on  her  hand,  and  pull- 
ing it  up  to  his  mouth,  he  bit  three  of  her  fingers,  as  he 
judged,  to  the  bone ;  whereupon  she  went  from  the  chamber 
down  stairs,  out  at  the  door.  This  deponent  then  called  upon 
the  people  of  the  house  to  advise  them  of  what  passed ;  and 
he  himself  followed  her.  The  people  saw  her  not ;  but  there 
being  a  bucket  at  the  left  hand  of  the  door,  there  was  a  drop 
of  blood  on  it,  and  several  more  drops  upon  the  snow,  newly 
fallen  abroad.  There  was  likewise  the  print  of  her  two  feet 
just  without  the  threshold ;  but  no  more  sign  of  any  footing 
further  off. 

At  another  time  this  deponent  was  desired  by  the  prisoner  to 
come  to  husking  of  corn,  at  her  house  ;  and  she  said,  "  If  he 
did  not  come,  it  were  better  that  he  did."  He  went  not ;  but 
the  night  following,  Susanna  Martin,  as  he  judged,  and  another, 
came  towards  him.  One  of  them  said,  "  Here  he  is ;"  but  he, 
having  quaterstaff,  made  a  blow  at  them  ;  the  roof  of  the  barn 
broke  his  blow ;  but,  following  them  to  the  window,  he  made 
another  blow  at  them,  and  struck  them  down ;  yet  they  got  up, 
and  got  out,  and  he  saw  no  more  of  them.  About  this  time, 
there  was  a  rumor  about  town  that  Martin  had  a  broken  head ; 
but  the  deponent  could  say  nothing  to  that.  The  said  Peache 
also  testified,  the  bewitching  of  cattle  to  death,  upon  Martin 
discontents. 

Robert  Downer  testified,  that  this  prisoner  being  some  years 
ago  prosecuted  at  court  for  a  witch,  he  then  said  unto  her  "  he 
believed  she  was  a  witch."  Whereat  she  being  dissatisfied, 
said,  "that  some  she-devil  would  shortly  fetch  him  away;" 
which  words  were  heard  by  others,  as  well  as  himself.  The 
night  following,  as  he  lay  in  his  bed,  there  came  in  at  the  win- 
dow the  likeness  of  a  cat,  which  flew  upon  him  and  took  fast 
hold  of  his  throat,  lay  on  him  a  considerable  time,  and  almost 
killed  him  ;  at  length  he  remembered  what  Susanna  Martin  had 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 


l3* 


threatened  the  day  before,  and  with  much  striving  he  cried  out, 
"  Avoid,  thou  she-devil ;  in  the  name  of  God  the  Father,  the 
Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  avoid ; "  whereupon  it  left  him, 
leaped  on  the  floor,  and  flew  out  at  the  window. 

And  there,  also,  came  in  several  testimonies  that  before  even 
Downer  spoke  a  word  of  this  accident,  Susanna  Martin  and  her 
femily  had  related  how  this  Downer  had  been  handled. 

John  Kimball  testified  that  Susanna  Martin,  upon  a  causeless 
disgust,  had  threatened  him  about  a  certain  cow  of  his,  .that  she 
should  never  do  him  any  more  good,  and  it  came  to  pass 
accordingly,  for  soon  after  the  cow  was  found  stark  dead  on  the 
dry  ground,  without  any  distemper  to  be  discerned  upon  her  ; 
upon  which  he  was  followed  with  a  strange  death  upon  more  of 
his  cattle,  whereof  he  lost  in  one  spring  to  the  valve  of  ,£30. 
But  the  said  John  Kimball  had  further  testimony  to  give  in 
against  the  prisoner,  which  was  truly  admirable.*  Being  desirous 
to  furnish  himself  with  a  dog,  he  applied  himself  to  buy  one 
of  this  Martin,  who  had  a  bitch  with  whelps  at  her  house ; 
but  she  not  letting  him  have  his  choice,  he  said  he  would 
supply  himself  then  at  one  Blazdel's.  Having  marked  a  pupy 
which  he  liked  at  Blazdel's,  he  met  George  Martin,  the  hus- 
band of  the  prisoner,  going  by,  who  asked  whether  he  would 
not  have  one  of  his  wife's  puppies,  and  he  answered  no. 
The  same  day  one  Edmund  Eliot,  being  at  Martin's  house, 
heard  George  Martin  relate  where  this  Kemball  had  been 
and  what  he  had  said,  where  upon  Susanna  Martin  replied, 
"If  I  live  I'll  give  him  puppies  enough."  Within  a  few 
days  after  this,  Kemball  coming  out  of  the  woods,  there 
arose  a  little  black  cloud  in  the  north-west  and  Kemball 
immediately  felt  a  •  force  upon  him  which  made  him  not 
able  to  avoid  running  upon  the  stumps  of  trees  that 
were  before  him,  although  he  had  a  broad,  plain  cart- way  be- 
fore him ;  but  though  he  had  his  axe  on  his  shoulder  to  en- 
danger him  in  his  falls,  he  could  not  forbear  going  out  of  his 
way  to  tumble  over  them.  When  he  came  below  the  Meeting- 
house there  appeared  to  him  a  little  thing  like    a    puppy,    of  a 

*  No  doubt  of  it. 


132  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

darkish  colour,  and  it  shot  backwards  and  forwards  between  his 
legs.  He  had  the  courage  to  use  all  possible  endeavors  to  cut 
it  with  his  axe,  but  he  could  not  hit  it ;  the  puppy  gave  a 
jump  from  him,  and  went,  as  to  him  it  seemed,  into  the 
ground.  Going  a  little  further,  there  appeared  unto  him  a 
black  puppy,  somewhat  bigger  than  the  first,  but  as  black  as  a 
coal.  Its  motions  were  quicker  than  those  of  his  axe.  It  flew 
at  his  belly,  and  at  his  throat,  so  over  his  shoulders  one  way, 
and  then  over  his  shoulders  another  way.  His  heart  now  be- 
gan to  fail  him,  and  he  thought  the  dog  would  have  tore  his 
throat  out ;  but  he  recovered  himself,  and  called  upon  God  in 
his  distress,  and  naming  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  it  vanished 
away  at  once.  The  deponent  spoke  not  one  word  of  these  ac- 
cidents for  fear  of  affrighting  his  wife.  But  the  next  morning, 
Edmund  Eliot  going  into  Martin's  house,  this  woman  asked 
him  where  Kimball  was.  He  replied,  "At  home,  a-bed,  for 
ought  he  knew "  she  returned,  "  They  say  he  was  frighted  last 
night."  Elliot  asked  "With  what?"  She  answered,  "With 
puppies."  Eliot  asked  where  she  heard  of  it,  for  he  had  heard 
nothing  of  it.  She  rejoined,  "About  town;"  although  Kimball 
had  mentioned  the  matter  to  no  creature  living. 

William  Brown  testified,  that  Heaven  having  blessed  him 
with  a  most  pious  and  prudent  wife,  this  wife  of  his  one  day 
met  with  Susanna  Martin ;  but  when  she  approached  just  unto 
her,  Martin  vanished  out  of  sight,  and  left  her  extremely  af- 
frighted. After  which  time  the  said  Martin  often  appeared 
unto  her,  giving  her  no  little  trouble  ;  and  when  she  did  come, 
she  was  visited  with  birds,  that  sorely  pecked  and  pricked  her  ; 
and  sometimes  a  bunch  like  a  pullet's  egg  would  rise  on  her 
throat,  ready  to  choke  her,  till  she  cried  out,  "Witch,  you 
shan't  choke  me!"  While  this  good  woman  was  in  this  ex- 
tremity, the  church  appointed  a  day  of  prayer  on  her  behalf; 
whereupon  the  trouble  ceased  ;  she  saw  not  Martin  as  former- 
ly ;  and  the  church,  instead  of  their  fast,  gave  thanks  for  her 
deliverance.  But  a  considerable  while  after,  she  being  sum- 
moned to  give  in  some  evidence  at  the  court  against  this  Mar- 
tin, quickly  this  Martin  came  behind  her,  while    she    was    milk- 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  1 33 

ing  her  cow,  and  said  unto  her,  "  For  thy  defaming  me  at 
court,  I'll  make  thee  the  miserablest  creature  in  the  world." 
Soon  after  which,  she  fell  into  a  strange  kind  of  distemper,  and 
became  horribly  frantic,  and  uncapable  of  any  reasonable 
action ;  the  physicians  declaring  that  her  distemper  was  preter- 
natural, and  that  some  devil  had  certainly  bewitched  her ;  and 
in  that  condition  she  now  remained. 

Sarah  Atkinson  testified,  that  Susanna  Martin  came  from 
Amesbury,  to  their  house  at  Newbury,  in  an  extraordinary 
season,  when  it  was  not  fit  for  any  one  to  travel.  She  came 
all  that  long  way  on  foot.  She  bragged  and  showed  how  dry 
she  was ;  nor  could  it  be  perceived  that  so  much  as  the  soles 
of  her  shoes  were  wet.  Atkinson  was  amazed  at  it,  and  pro- 
fessed that  she  should  herself  have  been  wet  up  to  her  knees, 
if  she  had  then  come  so  far ;  but  Martin  replied  "  she  scorned 
to  be  drabbled."  It  was  noted  that  this  testimony,  upon  her 
trial,  cast  her  into  a  very  singular  confusion. 

John  Pressy  testified,  that  being  one  evening  very  unaccounta- 
bly bewildered  near  a  field  of  Martin,  and  several  times  as  one 
under  an  enchantment,  returning  to  the  place  he  had  left,  at 
length  he  saw  a  marvelous  light,  about  the  bigness  of  an  half 
bushel,  near  two  rods  out  of  the  way.  He  went  and  struck  at 
it  with  a  stick,  and  laid  it  on.  with  all  his  might.  He  gave  it 
near  forty  blows,  and  felt  it  a  palpable  substance.  But  going 
from  it,  his  heels  were  struck  up,  and  he  was  laid  with  his 
back  on  the  ground ;  he  sliding  as  he  thought,  into  a  pit ; 
from  whence  he  recovered,  by  taking  hold  on  a  bush  ;  although 
afterwards  he  could  find  no  such  pit  in  the  place.  Having 
after  his  recovery  gone  five  or  six  rods,  he  saw  Susanna  Martin 
standing  on  his  left  hand,  as  the  light  had  done  before  ;  but 
they  exchanged  no  words  with  one  another.  He  could  scarce 
find  his  house  in  his  return ;  but  at  length  got  home,  extreme- 
ly affrighted.  The  next  day  it  was  upon  inquiry  understood, 
that  Martin  was  in  a  miserable  condition,  by  pains  and  hurts 
that  were  upon  her. 

It  was  further  testified  by  this  deponent,  that  after  he  had 
given  in  some  evidence  against  Susanna  Martin  many  years  ago, 


134  HISTORY     OF  AMESBURY. 

she  gave  him  foul  words  about  it,  and  said  "he  should  never 
prosper ;  and  more  particularly  that  he  should  never  have  more 
than  two  cows :  that  though  he  were  ever  so  likely  to  have 
more,  yet  he  should  never  have  them;"  and  that,  from  that  very 
day  to  this  namely  for  twenty  years  together,  he  could  never 
exceed  that  number,  but  some  strange  thing  or  other  still  pre- 
vented his  having  any  more. 

Jarvis  Ring  testified,  that  about  seven  years  ago  he  was 
oftentimes  grievously  oppressed  in  the  night,  but  saw  not  what 
troubled  him,  until  at  length  he,  lying  perfectly  awake,  plainly 
saw  Susanna  Martin  approach  him ;  she  came  to  him,  and  forci- 
bly bit  him  by  the  finger ;  so  that  the  print  of  the  bite  is  now, 
so  long  after,  to  be  seen  upon  him. 

But  besides  all  these  evidences,  there  was  a  most  wonderful 
account  of  one  Joseph  Ring  produced  on  this  occasion.  This 
man  has  been  strangely  carried  about,  by  daemons,  from  one 
witch-meeting  to  another,  for  near  two  years  together ;  and  for 
one  quarter  of  this  time  they  made  him  and  kept  him  dumb, 
though  he  is  now  again  able  to  speak. 

There  was  one  T.  H.*  who,  having,  as  'tis  'judged,  a  design 
to  engage  this  Joseph  Ring  in  a  snare  of  devilism,  contrived  to 
bring  this  Ring  two  shillings  in  debt  unto  him.  Afterwards  this 
poor  man  would  be  visited  with  unknown  shapes,  and  this  T.  H. 
sometimes  among  them  ;  which  would  force  him  away  with 
them,  unto  unknown  places,  where  he  saw  meetings,  feastings, 
dancings ;  and  after  his  return  wherein  they  hurried  him  along 
through  the  air,  he  gave  demonstrations  to  the  neighbors  that 
he  had  been  so  transported.  This  man  affirmed  that  he  saw 
Susanna  Martin  at  several  of  these  hellish  meetings. 

Joseph  Ring's  testimony  was  nothing  but  the  foolish  story 
of  one  who  was  trying  to  outdo  everybody  by  telling  the  big- 
gest lie,  and  should  have  had  no  weight  at  all.  Such  men 
took  advantage  of  the  credulity  of  the  times.  John  Kimball 
was  a  prominent  man  in  town  but  full  of  the  superstitions  of 
the  times  and  had  been  for  many  years  her  enemy  and  now 
saw  a  good  opportunity  to  punish  her. 
*Thomas   Hardy. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  1 35 

John  Pressey's  scene  on  the  night  that  he  came  from  the  Ferry 
and  crossed  her  land  on  his  way  home,  was  very  much  like 
one  on  another  occasion  when  on  his  way  home  from  the 
same  place.  He  came  home  some  time  in  the  night  very  much  the 
worse  for  wear — clothes  badly  torn  and  neck-handkerchief  en- 
tirely gone — in  short,  he  was  in  a  bad  condition.  He  said  he 
had  had  a  serious  fight  with  wolves  when  half  way  home,  and 
thought  he  would  have  been  killed,  but  barely  escaped  with  his 
life,  bleeding  and  sadly  scratched.  Early  next  morning  the 
neighbors  were  aroused  to  go  down  and  examine  the  locality 
and  perhaps  find  a  dead  wolf  or  two.  They  proceeded  in  the 
usual  path,  which  was  easily  found  in  daylight,  and  soon  found 
a  large  thorn-bush  with  his  neck-handkerchief  finely  intertwined 
around  the  branches  and  thorns.  Here  was  the  scene  of 
his  dark  fight  with  the  wolves,  and  narrow  escape  with  his  life. 
This  story,  as  handed  down  by  tradition,  has  more  of  reality  in 
it  than  any  witch  testimony  ever  offered. 

John  Allen  was  a  rum-seller,  being  an  innholder  in  Salis- 
bury, and  his  evidence  was  warped  by  his  interest,  hate  and 
prejudices  ;  and  so  with  other  witnesses  ;  although  believing  firm- 
ly in  witchcraft,  yet  they  selected  those  they  disliked  as  proper 
persons  to  deal  in  that  black  art.  But  there  are  no  witches 
now  to  trouble  people — there  were  none  then,  and  people  gen- 
erally were  greatly  deceived  in  this  matter.  But  this  diabolical 
work  went  on  until  the  accusations  reached  the  relatives  of 
Cotton  Mather  and  the  governor's  wife,  when  it  came  to  an 
abrupt  termination. 

At  the  session  of  the  court,  January  3d,  1693,  the  grand  jury 
brought  in  "Ignoramus"  in  thirty  cases  and  twenty-six  other 
bills  were  dismissed,  while  only  three  persons  were  convicted, 
and  immediately  pardoned  by  the  governor.  The  reaction  pur- 
sued the  Rev.  Mr.  Paris,  in  whose  house  the  thing  first  com- 
menced, till  he  was  removed  from  his  charge  at  Salem. 

When  the  humbug  exploded  there  were  one  hundred  and  fifty 
in  jail  awaiting  trial  and  two  hnndred  more  accused.  The  fear- 
ful evil  it  might  have  wrought,  had  it  been  allowed  to  continue, 
can  hardly  be  imagined.     The  idea  of  snatching  this  hard-work- 


136  HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY. 

ing,  honest  woman  from  her  home  to  be  tried  for  her  life  by 
those  who  never  knew  her,  and  witnesses  who  were  prejudiced 
against  her,  some  of  whom  had  been  instructed,  no  doubt,  how 
to  act  their  part  at  the  trial,  is  almost  too  much  for  belief. 
Enemies  had  watched  their  opportunity,  secret  informers  had 
reported  her  to  the  junta  at  Salem,  which  held  the  lives  of  all 
in  their  bloody  hands.  Allowed  no  counsel,  she  was  her  own 
lawyer,  and  her  answers  are  remarkable  for  independence  and 
clearness.  She  showed  herself  to  be  a  woman  of  more  than 
ordinary  talent  and  resolution. 

When  she  saw  Orlando  Bagley  approaching  on  the  morning 
of  her  arrest,  little  did  she  dream  of  his  errand.  He  was  a 
personal  friend  of  long  standing,  and  we  can  but  faintly  imagine 
her  surprise  when  he  made  known  his  errand  by  reading  the 
warrant.  The  mental  anguish  and  suffering  of  the  two  and  a 
half  months  while  she  lay  in  Salem  jail,  previous  to  her  execu- 
tion, is  beyond  our  power  of  description,  and  we  leave  the  sub- 
ject with  the  reader  to  draw  his  own  conclusions. 

1693. 

At  this  meeting  "tything  men"  were  chosen  for  the  first  time, 
and  were  as  follows  : — 

Henry  Blaisdell,  Henry  Tuxbury,  sen.,  Thomas  Barnard,  sen., 
John  Gempson,  Joseph  Lanckester,  jun.,  and  Edward  Hunt. 

At  this  early  day  the  office  was  not  what  it  became  at  a  later 
period  :  merely  for  the  regulation  of  mischievous  boys  in  meeting, 
but  was,  really,  an  important  one,  with  clearly  defined  powers. 
In*  1698  a  statute  was  enacted  more  clearly  defining  the  duties, 
and  from  that  is  quoted,  as  follows  : — 

"Whose  duty  it  shall  be  carefully  to  inspect  all  licensed 
houses  and  to  inform  of  all  disorders  or  misdemeanours  which 
they  shall  discover  or  know  to  be  committed  in  them,  or  any 
of  them,  to  a  justice  of  the  peace,  or  sessions  of  the  peace 
within  the  same  county,  as  also  of  all  such  as  shall  sell  by 
retail,  without  license,  and  other  disorders  or  misdemeanours 
committed  in  any  such  house,  and  in  like  manner  to  present  or 
inform  of  all  idle  and  disorderly  persons,  profane  swearers  or 
cursers,  sabbath  breakers,  and  the  like  offenders." 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  137 

Their  duties  were  somewhat  similar  to  those  of  state  consta- 
bles of  the  present  day.  As  an  inducement  to  faithfulness  they 
were  to  receive  the  benefit  of  informers,  that,  no  doubt,  meaning 
a  certain  portion  of  the  fines.  Their  badge  of  office  was  "a 
black  staff  of  two  feet  long,  tipt  at  one  end  with  brass  about 
three  inches,  as  a  badge  of  their  office,  to  be  provided  by  the 
Selectmen  at  the  charge  of  the  town."  It  was  an  office  of  the 
times,  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  regulation  of  church  and  state, 
but  destined  to  die  out  under  the  march  of  improvement.  The 
last  tithing  men  were  chosen  in  1833,  viz.  :  Daniel  P.  Locke 
and  Enos  Rendrick. 

Thomas  Stevens  and  Thomas  Frame  were  chosen  school-mas- 
ters. 

The  town  granted  Francis  Davis  the  land  formerly  granted  to 
Walter  Taylor. 

Francis  Davis  lived  at  the  river,  near  the  house  of  the  late 
Ira  Miles,  a  little  to  the  west  of  the  ice  house  built  a  few  years 
ago.  The  old  house  I  well  remember,  but,  with  most  of  the 
ancient  houses,  it  has  been  torn  down. 

John  Martin,  son  of  George  Martin,  sen.,  died  this  year,  aged 
forty-three  years.  He  was  a  blacksmith  and,  probably,  learned 
the  tr^de  of  his  father.  His  shop  and  tools  were  appraised  at 
^55  and  his  homestead  at  ,£80.  He  had  land  at  Brandy  brow, 
and  at  the  old  pines  at  Goodale's  hill.  His  stock  consisted  of  two 
oxen,  three  cows,  two  yearlings,  two  calves  and  fifteen  sheep.  He 
lived  at  the  west  end  of  the  town,  in  the  vicinity  of  Red  Oak 
hill. 

1694. 

Mr.  Wells  was  chosen  school-master  with  a  salary  of  £20 
"to  teach  all  persons  that  belong  to  ye  town  that  shall  attend 
the  school  at  any  time,  except  such  lettell  ons  as  cannot  say 
there  a  b  c  and  to  begin  ye  first  Monday  in  June  next."  The 
qualifications  for  admission  to  this  high  and  district  school  were 
not  placed  very  high  and,  probably,  nearly  all  could  enter  when 
the  school  opened. 

Thomas  Fowler,  Samuel  Colby,  sen.,  and  John  Kimball,  sen. 
were  chosen  assessors. 


138  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

The  Indians  were  very  troublesome  at  this  time,  notwithstand- 
ing Sir  William  Phipps,  the  governor,  had  tried  every  means  to 
bring  them  over  to  the  English.  Especially  after  his  death, 
which  took  place  at  London  (whither  he  had  been  summoned 
by  the  king  to  answer  to  the  accusation  of  his  enemies )  on  Feb- 
ruary 1 8th,  1694  or  1695.  These  eastern  Indians  now  made 
descents  upon  nearly  all  the  towns,  committing  murders,  carry- 
ing off  the  inhabitants  into  captivity  not  much  better  than  death, 
and  burning  and  destroying  wherever  they  went. 

"Sept.  4.  Mr.  Joseph  Pike  of  Newbury  Deputy  Sheriff  of 
Essex  travelling  with  one  Long  between  Amesbury  and  Haver- 
hill in  execution  of  the  duties  of  his  office  fell  into  an  ambus- 
cade of  the  enemy,  and  both  he  and  his  companion  were  mur- 
dered." This  murder  was  said  to  have  been  committed  on  the 
ridge  near  Oilman  Merrill's,  a  little  west  of  the  brook  which 
crosses  the  road. 

All  the  towns  in  the  vicinity  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  suffered 
severely,  as  did  most  eastern  towns. 

It  may  have  been  at  this  time  that  one  Rowell,  who  was  a 
mail  carrier  between  Newbury  and  Portsmouth,  was  killed  in 
Patten's  hollow.  The  date  of  the  murder  is  uncertain,  as  our 
only  authority  is  tradition. 

The  bounds  of  John  Weed's  ten-acre  lot  at  the  "Indian 
ground"  was  defined  this  year,  as  follows:  "East  by  the  town 
highway,  on  ye  south  Merrimack  river,  on  ye  West  with  ye  land 
of  Edmond  Eliot,  on  ye  North  with  ye  lots  of  Samuel  Foot, 
Walter  Taylor  and  William  Huntington."  This  lot  is  now  owned 
by  Thomas  Page,  where  his  barn  sets,  and  here  the  famous 
Indian  mortar  was  found  worked  out  in  a  rock  that  would  weigh 
a  ton  or  more,  and  large  enough  for  the  use  of  the  whole  Indian 
village. 

1695. 

From  the  following  vote  it  would  seem  that  people  felt  but 
little  interest  in  town  meetings  and  that  they  were  very  thinly 
attended  : — 

"Voted  that  all  those  that  are  towns  men  and  freemen  that 
have  liberty  to  vote  in  ye  town  affires  as  ye  law  directs  shall  attend 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  1 39 

Town  meetings  upon  legall  warning  given  them  at  a  reasonable 
time  of  ye  day  and  for  their  non  appearance  shall  pay  as  a  fine 
two  shillings  a  day  to  be  disposed  of  for  the  youse  of  the 
towne."  The  fine  was  about  the  same  as  the  pay  for  a  day's 
work,  so  that  nothing  was  gained  by  staying  away. 

Persons  were  prohibited  from  cutting  timber  on  the  common 
at  the  pond  plain,  joining  the  road  from  the  burying  ground  to 
Tappan  Emery's,  under  penalty  of  two  shillings  per  tree. 

Thomas  Fowler  and  Thomas  Stevens  were  chosen  to  take 
care  of  this  common  land,  with  the  privilege  of  planting  part  of 
it,  and  were  to  set  "apletrees"  upon  it  for  the  town's  use  and 
were,  also,  allowed  the  fallen  wood  for  their   "payns." 

A  town  valuation  was  taken  this  year  for  the  commissioners 
at  Salem. 

Deborah,  widow  of  John  Weed,  sen.,  died  April  20th. 

1696. 

Mr.  Wells  was  chosen  "to  be  a  school  Master  for  ye  Town 
of  Amesbury  for  this  year  insuing"  and  "Left  Sargent  Left  Bar- 
nard and  Orlando  Bagley"  were  to  adjust  the  terms. 

The  vote  of  1687,  allowing  20  shillings  for  killing  a  "woulf," 
was  this  year  repealed. 

The  Indians  were  again  on  the  war-path,  and  Sergt.  John 
Hoyt,  son  of  John  Hoyt,  sen.,  and  a  Mr.  Peters  were  killed 
by  them  while  in  Andover,  on  the  road  to  Haverhill,  August 
7th.  He  had  held  various  offices  in  town  :  was  constable,  lot- 
layer,  committee  to  return  the  bounds  of  land,  etc. 

His  experience  as  constable  was  not  of  a  very  pleasant  nature 
owing  to  some  arrears  of  taxes  which  he  had  collected  but  not 
paid  over.  In  short,  he  was  a  defaulter  on  a  small  scale  and, 
in  consequence,  found  himself  in  Salem  jail,  from  which  he  had 
no  means  of  escape,  unless  the  General  Court  thought  proper 
to  release  him.  Accordingly  he  sent  the  following  petition  to 
the  General  Court : — 

"  To  the  Honble  their  Majties  Great  and  Generall  Court  of  the 
Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England,  now  sitting 
in  Boston  by  adjourn  ment  March  6th  1694-5. 

"The  Petition  of  John  Hoite,  one  of  the  late  Constables  of 
Amesbury  now  a  prisonr  in  Salem  Goal, 


140  HISTORY   OF   AMESBURY. 

"Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  yor  Petition1,  is  now  in  Prison  undr  an  Execution  for  the 
Nonsatisfaction  of  the  arrears  of  the  rates  comitted  to  him  to 
collect  whitest  he  was  Constable  of  Amesbury.  That  your  Peti- 
tion1' has  Lately  mett  with  great  losses,  haveing  had  his  house 
plundered  by  the  Indians,  and  has  been  visited  with  much  sick- 
ness through  the  holy  afflicting  hand  of  god  upon  him,  besides 
sundry  of  the  persons  from  whome  many  of  sd  arreares  be  due 
are  both  dead  &  removed  out  of  ye  Towne.  Now  Forasmuch 
as  yor  poore  petition1"  by  the  providence  of  God  is  reduced  to 
a  necessitous  condition,  and  wholly  uncapacitated,  by  reason  of 
his  confinement,  to  doo  any  thing  for  himself  &  family  or 
ye  paym1  of  sd  arreares  for  ye  present,  he  therefore  humbly 
entreats  the  favor  of  this  high  &  honble  Court  to  Consider  the 
premisses,  by  being  pleased  to  grant  unto  him  two  or  three 
yeares  space  for  paym1  therof,  as  also  for  areleasm1  from  his 
confinem1. 

"And  yor  petition1"  as  in  duty  bound  shall  Ever  pray,  etc, 

uJoh?i  Hoite." 
"Voted  upon  Reading  the  Petition,  above  sd  that  sd  Peti- 
tionr  is  granted  his  Request  provided  he  give  security  to  mr 
Treasurer  to  pay  sd  money  within  two  years  into  the  Treasury, 
March  8th  1694-5  past  in  the  affirmative  by  the  house  of  Rep- 
resentatives &  sent  up  to  the  honrable  Lt  Governor  &  Council 
for  consent.  Nehe??iiah  Jewett,  Speaker."* 

The  probability  is  that  he  never  paid  the  arrears,  as  he  was 
killed  within  two  years  of  his  release,  on  returning  from  a  visit 
to  his  daughter  Dorothie,  living  in  Andover. 

This  year  is,  also,  noted  for  the  famous  descent  made  upon 
Haverhill,  in  which  thirty-nine  persons  were  carried  off  or  killed, 
and  among  the  prisoners  was  Hannah  Dustin,  whose  heroism 
has  been  handed  down  to  us  in  history.  Her  memory  will  be 
perpetuated  by  the  monument  which  has  been  erected  near  the 
spot  where  the  massacre  occurred. 

Feb.  2 2d.     A    road  was    laid    out   from    thirty    rods   west    of 
'•Cobler's    Brook"    to    the    river,    at   a    place    called    "Jamaco 
*  See  D.  W.   Hoyt's  work  on  the   Hoyt  genealogy. 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  141 

house,"  and,  at  the  brow  of  the  hill,  next  the  river,  it  was  to 
be  forty  rods  broad.  There  was  a  small  brook  running  into  the 
river  in  the  middle  of  this  road  and  landing.  The  exact  ter- 
mination is  not  known,  as  it  was  never  worked  or  fenced,  in 
all  probability. 

1697. 

The  little  church  built  some  thirty-two  years  ago  was  now 
hardly  large  enough  to  accommodate  all  with  convenient  seats, 
and  Mr.  Wells,  (whose  family  should  have  been  well  provided 
for,  as  a  matter  of  courtesy)  sent  a  petition  to  the  town  meet- 
ing for  liberty  to  build  a  pew  on  the  outside  of  the  house, 
opening  into  the  congregation.  Such  an  addition  might  be  con- 
venient, but  could  not  improve  the  looks  of  the  meeting-house 
much. 

•'To  ye  Inhabitants  of  ye  town  of  Amisbury  assembled  this 
eighth  day  of  March  An  Dom  1697. 

These  request  you  to  grant  mee  ye  liberty  to  build  a  place 
fer  ye  use  of  my  family  on  ye  outside  of  ye  meeting  house 
betwixt  ye  south  doore  &  south  wast  corner  thereof  &  to  make 
a  convenient  opening  to  ye  congregation  not  damnifying  ye  meet- 
ing house  nor  any  room  or  seat  or  place  therein  upon  the  forfeit- 
ure of  treble  damages  &  in  so  granting  my  request  I  relinquish  all 
my  interest  that  I  have  in  an  old  grant  of  liberty  to  take  in 
half  of  that  seat  wch  my  wife  now  sits  in  for  that  end  I  remain 
your  servant  T/iomas    Wells" 

It  is  now  more  than  thirty  years  since  the  meeting  house  was 
built — small  at  first — and  the  increase  of  population,  though  not 
rapid,  must  have  been  enough  to  more  than  fill  it,  provided  all 
attended  regularly.  His  petition  was  granted  on  his  own  con- 
ditions. 

"Foot's  Garison"  is  mentioned  in  the  record  of  this  year,  and 
was  at  Jamaco,  no  doubt,  on  the  plain. 

1698. 

William  Barnes  died  March  14th,  and  was,  no  doubt,  the  last 
of  the  first  eighteen  who  organized  the  town  in  1655.  He  was 
one  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  number,  holding  the  office 
of  selectman    twelve  years,  was  moderator  at   sixteen    meetings, 


142  HISTORY     OF  AMESBURY. 

commissioner  to  end  small  cases  five  years,  juror,  constable, 
chosen  to  assist  in  correcting  the  clerk's  book,  one  of  the  com- 
mittee to  purchase  a  house  for  the  minister,  and  served  the 
town  in  many  other  ways.  He  is  said  to  have  come  from  Eng- 
land in  1635  m  trie  "Globe  Jeremy  Blackman  Mr,"  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two,  with  passengers  for  Virginia.  This  would  make 
him  eighty-five  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  trade 
was  that  of  a  house-carpenter.  His  wife,  Rachel,  died  February 
9th,   1686. 

Their  children  were  Mary,  bom ,  married  John  Hoyt,  2d, 

June  30th,   1659;   William,  born  ,  died   June    nth,   1648; 

Hannah,  born  January  25th,  1643  or  I644,  married  John  Prowse, 
died  May  27th,  1688;  Deborah,  born  x'Vpril  1,  1646,  married 
Samuel  Davis  December  19th,  1663  ;  Jonathan,  born  April  1st, 
1648,    died   young;    Rachel,    born    April    30th,    1649,    married 

Thomas   Sargent   March    2d,   1667  or  1668;    Sarah,  born  , 

married    first    Thomas    Rovvell    September    8th,   1670,  and   then 

John  Harve ;    Rebecca,  born  ,  married    Moses    Morrill  and 

had  a  son  named  William  Barnes  Morrill,  the  first  instance  of 
a  middle  name  being  given  in  the  town. 

A  handsome  "burying  cloth"  was  bought  by  subscription  this 
year,  costing  $45.50. 

1699. 

Again  we  find  the  meeting  house  too  small  to  accommodate 
the  people,  and  the  only  remedy  found  practicable  was  to  build 
galleries.  i\.n  appropriation  of  ^5  was  made  to  meet  the  expen- 
ses. 

"  At  ye  same  meeting  it  was  votted  yl  y*  meeting  house  should 
be  sufficiently  repared  and  galiers  built  on  ye  fore  side  and  at 
each  end. 

"Att  ye  same  meeting  it  was  voted  y'  Robert  Quenby,  Sam" 
Currier,  Sam11  Jones,  Jonathan  Blasdell  and  William  Hoyt  jr 
shall  have  liberty  to  have  so  much  room  in  ye  north  side  of 
ye  meeting  house  as  Joseph  Lanckester  sen  an  Orlando  Bagley 
think  convanant  to  build  them  a  seat  provided  they  do  main- 
tain ye  north  window  well  glast." 

It    is    hardly  probable    that    ^5    accomplished  all   the  repairs 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  1 43 

contemplated  at  this  time,  although  but  little  finish  was  put 
into  the  galleries  until  later  times,  as  the  room  was  needed. 

At  times  considerable  trouble  had  been  experienced  in  regard 
to  the  boundary  line  between  Amesbury  and  Haverhill  on 
account  of  the  large  meadows  in  the  vicinity,  which  yielded  a 
large  amount  of  hay  annually.  Fresh  meadows  were  valuable  in 
the  early  days  of  the  settlement  and  hence  we  find  all  such 
tracts  taken  up.  At  this  time  (May  29th)  no  line  had  been 
established  and  the  patience  of  the  people  being  exhausted,  it 
was  "Votted  yl  ye  town  would  complaine  and  prosecute  ye  town 
of  Haverhill  for  refusing  to  preambulate  ye  line  between  them 
&  us  with  us." 

Tradition  has  handed  down  the  story  of  a  fight  over  the 
grass  growing  on  these  disputed  meadows.  Haverhill  people 
were  in  the  habit  of  cutting  this  grass,  coming  with  a  large 
gang  of  hands,  who  were  instructed  to  drive  off  Amesbury  men, 
which  they  effectually  did  for  a  while,  but  this  year  Amesbury 
was  not  to  be  foiled  and  resorted  to  the  meadows  with  a  strong 
gang  ready  to  stand  their  ground.  A  fight  with  scythes  and 
forks  could  hardly  be  a  very  pleasant  affair,  and  yet  it  is  said 
that  such  a  battle  ensued.  The  list  of  killed  and  wounded  has 
not  been  handed  down  to  us,  and  it  may  be  sufficient  to  say 
that  Amesbury  maintained  her  rights  in  such  a  manner  that 
there  were  no  more  infringements. 

At  a  general  meeting,  held  March  20th,  "it  was  voted  to  leave 
it  to  ye  Selectmen  to  procure  a  School  Master  or  school  Dames 
that  may  supply  the  town."  At  a  subsequent  meeting,  held 
May  29th,  "it  was  voted  yl  ye  town  would  alow  six  pounds  a 
year  towards  ye  maintaynance  of  a  School  Master." 

Jonathan  Blasdell  was  granted  a  small  piece  of  land  near  his 
shop,  provided  "he  build  a  house  upon  it  and  folow  his  trade." 

1700. 

We  have  now  seen  during  the  last  half  century  the  begin- 
ning of  a  settlement  west  of  the  "  Powawas  River"  in  a  wilder- 
ness which  had  lain  desolate  for  an  unknown  period,  inhabited 
only  by  savages  and  wild  beasts.  The  unbroken  forest  had  sent 
aloft  its  waving  boughs  to  catch  the  early  beams  of  the  morning 


144  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

sun,  which  the  unscared  birds  were  wont  to  greet  with  their 
cheerful  notes ;  but  there  was  no  one  to  admire  this  grand  old 
scenery  or  enchanting  songs.  Nature  had  very  nearly  had  its 
way,  and  not  a  single  trace  of  civilization  was  any  where  to  be 
found.  All  was  rough  and  wild,  requiring  patient  labor  to  fit 
this  territory  for  comfortable  homes. 

The  poineers  were,  however,  men  of  strong  frames  and  iron 
wills,  well  fitted  to  subdue  the  forest  and  lay  the  foundations 
of  a  town  or  state.  And  well  did  they  perform  their  part. 
Although  not  highly  educated,  yet  they  were  good,  practicable 
business  men  and  honest  in  their  convictions  of  right  and 
wrong. 

The  little  band  ordered  away  from  Salisbury  organized  into  a 
community  for  the  common  good.  Scarcely  a  decade  passes 
ere  a  church  is  built  and  a  minister  obtained  to  teach  them  in 
spiritual  things.  Their  number  increases,  sons  and  daughters 
are  born,  and  general  prosperity  attends  their  efforts.  In  the 
midst  of  a  savage  and  relentless  foe  they  have  experienced  a 
remarkable  preservation,  for  which  their  thanks  went  forth  to 
that  kind  Providence,  of  whose  signal  favors  they  were  fully 
sensible. 

Most  of  the  land  had  been  divided  into  lots  and  freely  given 
to  the  pennanent  settlers.  Nor  had  new  comers  been  excluded, 
but  received  "townships"  and  were  at  once  granted  all  the 
rights  enjoyed  by  the  original  eighteen.  All  contributed  to  the 
common  expense  of  the  plantation,  which  was  very  light  at  first. 

There  was  great  change  in  this  half  century,  greater  than  thous- 
ands of  years  had  witnessed  up  to  the  present.  The  civil  authority, 
church  and  school  were  as  yet  but  faintly  marked  out,  although 
shadowed  forth  in  an  encouraging  light.  Science,  in  the  form 
of  machinery,  had  been  called  in  and  agriculture  had  drawn 
from  the  earth  food  for  man  and  beast.  Wheat,  corn,  rye  and 
barley  yielded  abundantly  on  the  new  and  fertile  soil.  The 
colony  is  now  permanently  established  and  nothing  but  the  hand 
of  Providence  can  blot  it  from  the  earth. 

It  was  voted  at  the  annual  meeting  to  have  a  lecture  once  a 
month  for  seven  months.     The  scattered  population  could  hardly 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


145 


gather  in  social  meetings,  and  the  regular  service  on  Sundays 
was  about  all  that  was  held.  No  doubt  this  proposition  met 
with  a  hearty  response  from  the  faithful  minister. 

This  year  is  especially  noted  for  the  controversy  with  that 
spicy  old  gentleman,  "Majr  Robert  Pike"  of  Salisbury.  From 
the  laying  out  of  the  town  at  East  Salisbury  to  the  present,  he 
has  taken  a  very  prominent  part  in  affairs  :  preacher,  major  and 
associate  for  holding  courts  in  Norfolk  county,  of  which  Salis- 
bury was  a  shire  town,  he  had  a  wide  field  for  displaying  his 
peculiar  talents.  Honest  he  was,  but  not  over  winning  and 
gentlemanly  in  his  manners. 

In  1665  a  committee  was  chosen  to  obtain  him  "to  be  help- 
ful to  us  in  the  work  of  the  Ministry,"  but  he  wisely  declined 
the  invitation,  choosing  a  course  more  in  accordance  with  his 
tastes  and  inclinations.  When,  in  1659,  he  received  a  grant  of 
sixty  acres  of  land  on  condition  that  he  "come  and  live  in 
Amesbury,"  it  is  possible  that  he  was  expected  to  preach.  The 
condition  he  never  complied  with,  but  subsequently  bought 
several  lots  at  the  Indian  ground.  A  tier  of  twenty-six  lots  was 
laid  out  at  the  river  in  1659,  beginning  at  the  Buttonwood 
road  and  extending  northerly  from  the  river.  Mr.  Pike  bought 
lots  Nos.  1,  2  and  3  at  different  periods  and,  also,  John  Weed's 
ten-acre  lot  on  the  corner  where  Mr.  Page's  barn  now  stands, 
and,  also,  the  six-acre  lot  on  the  opposite  corner  where  Mr. 
Page's  house  is  located,  originally  granted  to  William  Sargent, 
and  a  lot  of  an  Indian  woman  named  Jane,  lying  north  of  the 
corner  one  and  extending  up  the  hill,  so  that  he  owned  land 
on  both  sides  of  the  road.  At  this  time  and,  perhaps,  for  some 
years  his  great  age  prevented  him  from  often  visiting  his  land 
here,  and  he  was  obliged  to  trust  to  the  reports  of  others,  how- 
ever incorrect  they  might  be.  He  had  just  learned  that  the 
town  had  laid  out  a  road  forty  rods  wide  through  his  Indian 
ground  without  notifying  him  or  making  him  any  recompense. 
Although  the  report  was  without  the  least  foundation,  it  drew 
from  him  a  very  spicy  letter,  (to  use  no  harsher  term)  which 
may  be  worth  perusing,  and  is  inserted  entire.  The  town  voted 
that  it  should  be  kept  in  the  town  book,  no  doubt  deeming  it 
a  great  curiosity  : —  19 


146  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

ROBERT    PIKE'S    LETTER. 

"  To  the  inhabitants  or  freeholders  of  New  Salsbury  caled 
Amsbury  march  the  nth  i6gg  700. 

Gentlemen:  I  presume  you  do  not  forget  that  about  this 
time  twelve  month  at  your  then  asembly  I  presented  you  with 
my  sence  of  the  abuse  don  unto  me  in  the  Laying  my  Land 
at  the  Indian  ground  coman. 

first  a  highway  of  forty  rode  wide  and  bounding  the  same 
Est  upon  coman  and  the  same  recorded  in  your  town  book  all 
without  any  knowlig  of  mine  thereby  recording  falsly  my  Land 
to  be  yours  a  thing  of  the  like  was  hardly  ever  heard  of  among 
sober  men. 

I  then  civily  aplyed  my  self  to  you  for  resolve  of  these  too 
questions. 

first  why  you  delt  so  with  me,  2Jy  what  you  farther  intended 
to  do  about  it  to  wch  neither  the  towne  nor  on  of  you  in  the 
towne  was  so  civil  as  to  returne  me  on  word  of  answer.  I 
could  not  have  expected  Less  if  I  had  aplyed  my  self  to  a 
company  of  S  or  any  kind  of  bruit  creaturs  (wch  I  took  the 
more  a  miss)  because  I  know  that  ther  ar  many  good  men  a 
mong  you  and  persons  by  me  of  much  esteem  yea  and  sev- 
erall  of  them  had  in  my  hearing  despysd  the  basenes  of  the 
thing,  yea  so  late  that  capt  Harvy  himself  declaimed  aganst 
it  as  abomnable  and  yet  not .  on  word  to  me  about  it  then 
( nor  never  sine )  upon  wch  I  thought  it  not  uncharatabl  to 
surmise  that  you  wear  either  al  alik  in  the  case  w'ever  you 
sayd  or  that  the  acters  in  the  same  ar  so  farr  the  prevayling 
part  as  to  keep  the  rest  so  under  as  that  they  dare  not  do  nor 
speak  but  Lett  your  unc  Reply  be  as  it  will  to  me. 

I  shall  not  be  wanting  to  you  wth  regard  to  both  years  and 
cases  minding  the  rule  (if  it  be  posibl  )  Rom  12,  14.  18  and 
shall  begin  again  where  I  did  last  yeare  namely 

why  did  you  deale  so  with 
me  and  wl  do  you  intend 
further  about  it. 

And  in  the  mean  while  wayting  your  answer  would  prpose 
several  things  to  your  consideration. 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  147 

i  That  ther  never  was  any  high  way  no  farther  than  the 
head  of  Indian  ground  Lotts. 

2  That  William  Barnses  Indian  Lott  and  Jno  Weeds  ten 
achers  Joine  each  on  other. 

3  That  no  towne  have  power  to  sett  men  to  Lay  out  high 
ways  but  the  Select  men  must  appoint  for  privat  towne  ways 
and  the  court  for  the  country. 

4  neither  of  them  can  do  it  without  complying  with  the 
prprieters  of  ye  Land  for  thayer  Satisfaction  for  thayr  damag  as 
the   Law  direcks. 

5  but  your  commity  never  Let  me  know  it  nor  did  I  know 
of  it  in  almost  too  years  after  it  was  don  they  took  no  more 
notis  of  me  in  it  then  the  thieves  do  and  have  don  in  stealing 
our  wood  and  timber  that  is  to  take  a  time  to  do  it  when  we 
ar  where  we  cannot  see  them. 

6  I  do  hear  that  thay  do  pretend  that  the  records  of  the 
Indian  Land  was  burnt  wn  Left  Barnerds  house  was  burnt 
( wch  if  true  )  ( query )  is  it  not  the  duty  of  all  there  to  labor 
speedily  to  have  the  records  renewed  while  tis  in  memory  that 
so  men  men  may  have  thayr  Lands  repayred  as  well  as  the 
house  is  repayred — the  rule  is  render  to  every  man  his  right  if 
the  neibors  ox  or  ass  go  astray  may  he  that  find  them  sell 
them  or  put  them  into  the  pawdering  tub  because  he  can  do  it 
&  no  body  know  it  (  I  trow  not )  but  he  must  bring  them  home 
to  his  barn,  and  ar  thay  not  bound  to  do  the  like  by  deed  or 
records  of  Land  I  believe  you  would  think  so  if  ever  it  shoold 
com  to  be  your  case  with  your  records  (wch  God  for  bid.) 

7  I  woold  gladly  know  upon  wl  acompt  any  of  you  do  call 
the  60  akers  coman  land  it  was  mine  and  I  Legaly  posest  of 
it  as  you  all  know  and  I  never  resigned  it  to  you  nor  do  1 
think  that  your  stealing  my  wood  and  timber  do  make  it  yours 
any  more  than  your  stealing  it  of  my  other  Land  do  make 
them  yours  of  wch  you  may  understand  my  friends  you  are  not 
ignorant  of  the  wrong  don  to  me  and  my  children  in  stealing 
our  wood  and  timber  thay  now  you  ar  not  able  to  repayr  and 
do  you  think  the  taking  away  our  Land  also  will  make  us 
amends    your    predecesers    woold    have    abhored    it   and  if  you 


148  HISTORY   OF   AMESBURY. 

should  say  that  ther  is  now  another  generation  risen  up  that  do 
not  know  the  Lord  (wch  God  forbid)  yet  it  is  much  to  think 
thay  so  far  regenerated  as  not  to  know  the  9th  and  10th  com- 
andment  all  wch  gentlemen  I  hope  will  be  favorably  considered 
by  you  and  if  it  be  not  to  great  a  condescendansy  in  you  give 
me  som  answer  more  or  Less  Let  it  be  w£  it  will  it  shall  be 
grateful  to  me  who  am  gentleman  your  friend  and  neibour, 

Robe7't  Pike. 
on  thing  more  I  would  treat 
you  of  is  to  Let  me  know 
whether  any  of  my  Land  be 
recorded  to  your's  besides 
the  Indian  Land." 

"  Mr.  Thomas  Currier  pray  present  this  to  the  town  and 
return  me  thayr  answer  wch  will  oblig  your  Loving  friend, 

Ro  Piker 

Mr.  Currier,  then  clerk,  presented  the  letter  at  the  annual 
meeting,  March  nth,  and  the  town  took  special  notice  of  it  by 
voting  "whereas  Magr  Pike  sent  ye  town  a  letter  bearing  date 
March  n,  1699  or  1700  in  which  letter  he  is  pleased  to  call 
us  S  or  brutes  it  was  voted  that  if  ye  sd  Magr  Pike  make  it 
appeare  that  y^  "town  have  done  him  any  damage  they  are  will- 
ing to  make  him  satisfaction." 

Major  Pike  was,  at  this  time,  very  aged,  which  may  to  some 
extent  account  for  this  unmannerly  letter,  but  it  must  be  remem- 
bered that  he  was  a  free  thinker  and  bold  to  express  his  mind 
at  all  times  and  on  all  occasions.  In  religious  matters  he  was 
more  tolerant  and  consistent  than  the  great  majority  of  our 
ancestors. 

In  1653  the  General  Court  forbade  all  persons  preaching 
unless  licensed  by  four  churches  in  the  vicinity,  which  order 
was  designed  to  stop  the  spread  of  heresy.  This  law  Major 
Pike  did  not  hesitate  to  denounce  publicly,  as  the  following 
shows  : — 

"  Left  Rob  Pike  demanded  if  that  lawe  which  was  made-  to 
restraine  onfitt  prsons  from  constant  preaching,  &c  whither  that 
law  was  in  force  after   the    next    Generall    Court,  to  which  ansr 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  1 49 

being  made  that  the  Court  had  declared  their  minde  therein, 
on  which  he  replied  that  such  persons  as  did  ast  in  making 
that  law  did  breake  theire  oath  to  the  country,  or  acted  con- 
trary expressing  the  ffreemans  oath :  for,  said  he,  it  is  against 
the  libertie  of  the  countrey,  both  ecleasiasticall  and  civill,  and 
that  he  stood  there  ready  to  make  it  good ;  and  farther  said 
divers  or  severall  churches  had  called  theire  members  to  accompt 
which  did  act  in  that  lawe  making,  and  that  some  places  were 
about  to  show  theire  minds  to  the  Generall  Court  about  it." 

For  these  heretical  views  and  slanders  of  the  General  Court, 
he  was  arrested,  tried  and  sentenced  to  be  disfranchised  and 
made  incapable  of  holding  any  "public  office  in  toune  or  com- 
monwealth, and  from  pleading  any  case  except  his  oune  in  any 
Court;  and  further,  that  he  be  bound  to  the  good  behaviour 
during  the  Courts  pleasure,  and  be  fined  the  some  of  twenty 
marks  to  the  country."  His  stand  for  freedom  of  religious 
opinions  was  sustained  by  numerous  freemen  in  the  neighboring 
towns  and  his  sentence  was  strongly  condemned. 

A"  petition  was  circulated  in  Salisbury,  Newbury,  Haverhill, 
Andover  and  Hampton,  and  numerously  signed  for  "  revoaking 
his  sentence"  and  presented,  which  so  exasperated  the  General 
Court  that  a  commission  was  appointed  with  power  to  call  the 
petitioners  together  and  demand  their  reasons  "for  their  unjust 
request"  and  report  to  the  next  General  Court.  The  commit- 
tee reported  and  sixteen  of  the  principal  petitioners  were  bound 
over  for  trial,  viz. :  eight  from  Newbury,  six  from  Salisbury  and 
two  from  Hampton.  Among  those  from  Salisbury  were  George 
Martin  and  Philip  Challis. 

In  1657  Major  Pike,  by  the  intercession  of  Rev.  Mr.  Wor- 
cester and  his  own  humble  petition,  was  released  from  all  but 
the  fine,  which  he  said  he  had  paid^  and  thus  ended  and 
failed  the  bold  stand  he  had  taken. 

1701. 

Sarah,  wife  of  Orlando  Bagley,  sen.,  died  this  year,  and  hers 
is  the  only  death  recorded. 

The  earliest  record  of  the  Society  of  Friends  commences  this 
year  although  there  was  a  small  number  in    town    from    a    very 


150  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

early  date.  The  Hampton  monthly  meeting  decided  to  build  a 
meeting-house  26  feet  square  and  "14  foot  stud."  The  cost 
was  mostly  paid  by  subscription,  one  man  paying  £30.  Previ- 
ous to  the  completion  of  this  house,  meetings  were  held  at  pri- 
vate houses.  The  sum  of  ^66  4  s.  was  raised,  and  probably 
covered  a  large  portion  of  the  expense  of  building.  In  this 
little  house  all  of  the  order  from  Hampton,  Salisbury  and 
Amesbury,  gathered  for  some  four  years  to  worship  after  their 
peculiar  manner.  They  were,  however,  badly  treated,  as  the 
following  extract  from  the  record  shows  : — 

"Isaac  Morrill,  Junr  and  his  brother,  and  John  Tompson, 
came  to  the  house  of  Jeremiah  Dow  of  Salisbury  the  13  day  of 
the  11th  month  1701  the  sayd  Jeremiah  Dow  being  from  home, 
his  wife  in  Kindness  to  them,  they  being  Neighbors,  fetched  or 
caused  to  be  fetched  a  Pott  of  Cyder  for  them  to  Drink  which 
when  they  had  drunk  up  the  Cyder,  the  said  Issaac  Mor- 
rill (having  bin  constable  the  year  before)  carryed  away  the 
quart  pott  that  the  Cyder  was  in,  and  a  pair  of  fire-tongs,  a 
tray  and  a  cake  of  tallo,  to  satisfy  the  Hireling  Minister  Caleb 
Cushen  for  preaching." 

And  the  same  day  they  took  a  gun  from  Richard  Smith,  & 
from  Jacob  Morrill  a  cow  "  to  pay  ye  priest  for  preaching  in 
Salisbury."* 

Small  vessels  were  freely  built  in  town,  although  but  a  poor 
record  has  been  kept.  This  year  a  round  stern  vessel  of  about 
thirty  tons,  named  "  Katch  Peter,"  was  registered,  which  is 
said  to  have  been  built  in  1699. 

1702. 

A  stringent  law  was  passed  this  year,  making  it  obligatory 
upon  towns  to  maintain  schools  and  employ  qualified  teachers 
other  than  ministers,  under  penalty  of  ^20.  Hitherto  it  had 
been  customary  to  employ  the  minister  to  teach  the  children, 
thus  adding  a  trifle  to  his  scanty  salary.  To  comply  with  the 
law,  the  town  established  a  free  school  and  authorized  the  se- 
lectmen to  hire  a  master. 

Thus  by  vote  of  the  town  the  free  school  system  was  inaugu- 

*  Friends'  Record. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  151 

rated,  and  has  continued  to  prosper,  increasing  with  the  growth 
of  the  town,  till  from  the  small  expenditure  of  £6  it  has  gradu- 
ally increased,  reaching  in  1874  the  large  sum  of  $11,000. 
From  a  school  kept  in  private  houses,  with  a  few  simple  benches, 
has  grown  the  modern  school  of  many  branches,  kept  in  nicely 
furnished  public  houses. 

Three  years  ago  the  town  decided  to  repair  the  meeting- 
house, build  galleries,  etc.  It  is  probable  that  most  of  the  re- 
pairs were  completed.  The  galleries,  however,  were  not  wholly 
finished,  if  we  may  judge  from  the  following  vote  : — 

"  At  ye  same  meeting  it  was  granted  to  Mary  Currier,  Mary 
Stevens,  Hannah  Sargent,  Mary  Frame,  Rachel  Sargent,  Sarah 
Bagley,  Hannah  Stevens,  that  they  should  have  the  two  hinder 
most  seats  of  ye  short  seats  of  ye  womens  Gallery  in  our  meet- 
ing house  towards  ye  south-east  corner  of  it  in  to  a  pew  and  01 
improving  it  for  their  own  use." 

These  seven  young  ladies  were  unmarried  at  this  time,  and 
in  their  selection  of  a  place  to  build  a  pew,  showed  a  very 
commendable  modesty.  Whether  their  wise  course  was  the 
means  of  procuring  husbands  or  not,  certain  it  is  that  this  fine 
looking  pewfull  soon  began  to  disappear  till  the  pew  was  finally 
empty.  Before  the  year  closed,  Mary  Frame  married  John 
Colby,  and  Mary  Stevens  married  Thomas  Sargent.  Sarah  Bag- 
ley  married  Henry  Lanckester  in  1 703,  Hannah  Sargent  mar- 
ried William  Somes,  and  Rachel  Sargent  married  William  Cur- 
rier in  1704.  .  Mary  Currier  married  Robert  Hoyt  in  1707, 
and  Hannah  Stevens  married  Nathaniel  Merrill  in  1709.  Thus 
disappeared  this  maidenly  group  from  the  "south  east  corner" 
of  the  little  meeting-house. 

The  name  of  "ffreame"  as  it  was  sometimes  written,  appears 
in  a  few  instances  on  the  early  records,  but  soon  disappears. 
Susanna  Frame  married  Caleb  Norton  of  Salisbury,  and  it  is 
probable  that,  with  the  exception  of  John  Colby's  wife,  the 
family  removed  to  that  town. 

Thomas  Currier  was  allowed  "tenn  shilling  for  writin  for  ye 
town,"  this  year. 

This  year  the  constable  of  Amesbury  took  from  "Ezekiel 
Wathin"  two  calves  valued  at  30  s.  to  pay  for  preaching. 


lS2 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 


1703. 

A  new  move  seems  to  have  been  made  this  year  by  the 
commoners,  looking  to  a  separate  organization.  February  25th 
a  meeting  was  held  and  Thomas  Currier,  senior,  was  chosen 
clerk.  The  meeting  then  proceeded  to  vote  "that  all  that  are 
entered  townsmen  &  commoners  in  ye  town  book  of  records 
for  Amesbury  have  liberty  to  vote  as  commoners  for  the  dis- 
posell  of  all  lands  that  are  not  yet  granted."  The  meeting  also 
proceeded  to  order  the  laying  out  of  a  tract  of  land  next  the 
six  rod  highway,  and  to  impose  a  fine  of  three  shillings  per 
tree  for  all  cut  thereon.  A  committee  was  chosen  to  lay  out 
the  land,  and  also  a  committee  to  prosecute  any  "  parson  that 
that  shall  cut  any  wood  or  timber  upon  this  land  above  said." 

April  2  7th  a  second  meeting  was  held  by  the  commoners,  and 
the  only  business  done  seems  to  have  been  granting  Francis 
Davis  several  lots  of  land*  originally  laid  out  to  Walter  Taylor. 
This  was  a  confirmation  of  the  first  location  of  the  Davis  family  in 
the  East  Parish,  near  the  new  buildings  of  the  Merrimac  Hat  Com- 
pany, where  the  descendants  of  Francis  Davis  lived,  till  within  about 
thirty  years.  There  are  many  living  who  well  remember  "Uncle  John 
Davis,"  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  a  carpenter  and  pump-maker, 
living  snug  by  the  road  on  the  bank,  nearly  opposite  the  pres- 
ent elm  on  the  river  side.  He  was  the  last  of  the  children  of 
James  and  Tabitha  Davis,  whose  homestead  he  occupied.  Elijah, 
a  brother,  died  in  1832,  leaving  children  whose  descendants 
now  reside  at  the  Ferry  and  elsewhere.  His  house  stood  a  few 
feet  west  of  the  late  Ira  Miles',  and  the  cellar  is  yet  to  be 
seen. 

A  new  officer  was  chosen  this  year  called  "Howard,"f  and 
for  many  years  the  office  was  continued,  although  we  have  been 
unable  to  find  what  duties  were  performed. 

Elizabeth  Colby  was  granted  "  the  liberty  of  making  pew  in 
our  meeting  house  and  to  have  half  of  ye  hindermost  seate 
towards  the  south-east  corner  of  the  meeting  house  betwixt  the 
greate  post  and  the  womens  gallery  stairs." 

*  The  town  had  already  granted  this  land  to  him  in  1693. 
t  One  chosen  in   1643. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  1 53 

Richard  Martin  commenced  a  suit  against  the  town  and 
Ensign  Bagley  and  Thomas  Stevens  were  chosen  to  manage  the 
matter  on  behalf  of  the  town  with  power  to  employ  counsel. 

Thomas  Challis,  one  of  the  selectmen  and  assessors,  "prom- 
ised to  do  in  all  maters  relating  to  his  offices  faithfully  except 
making  the  ministers  rate,"  before  Thomas  Currier,  town  clerk. 
He  was  a  Quaker  and  had  no  faith  in  a  paid  ministry. 

The  tract  of  land  which  the  commoners  ordered  laid  out  at 
their  meeting,  February  25  th,  was'  on  the  east  side  of  the  But- 
tonwood  road  and  embraced  eighty-seven  and  a  half  acres  where 
Moses  Merrill  now  lives,  and  along  down  towards  the  river.  It 
was  laid  out  in  five  ranges,  embracing  thirty-five  lots,  which 
were  given  to  the  original  commoners.  The  Indian  ground 
bounded  this  tract  next  the  river  and  is  described  as  "being  in 
estimation  about  thirty  acres."  This  was  very  properly  called 
"Indian  ground,"  as  many  relics  have  been  found,  assuring  us 
of  their  residence  here. 

The  old  road,  commonly  known  as  "Hunt  lane,"  was  defined 
this  year  commencing  at  the  "country  road  that  leads  to  the 
Ferry  and  running  two  rods  wide  by  the  head  of  Bayly's  lot, 
and  to  a  heap  of  stones  on  a  knowl  near  Weed's  meadow  and 
so  along  between  Ring's  lot  and  ye  River  lots  to  that  highway 
that  leads  to  Wolf  peet  and  so  along  at  ye  head  of  ye  River 
lots  to  that  highway  that  comes  down  by  John  Colby's." 

John  Colby,  probably,  lived  nearly  opposite  the  late  Lewis 
Blaisdell's. 

The  famous  "Woolpit"  hill,  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  seems 
to  have  been  known  by  nearly  the  same  name  at  this  early 
date. 

This  year  a  small  vessel  of  about  forty  tons  was  built,  called 
"Friends  Adventure." 

"Taken  from  Jeremiah  Dow  of  Salisbury  one  cow  valued  fifty 
shils  without  showing  any  warrant  dun  by  ye  Clark  of  ye  train 
band  which  Clark  said  was  for  not  apeering  to  traine  &  being 
wanting  thare  seven  days."  And  there  was  also  taken  from 
Henry  Dow  a  cow,  from  John  Collins  a  mare  and  colt,  and  from 
Ezekiel   Wathen,  of  Amesbury,  two  thousand   and  one  hundred 

20 


J  54  HISTORY     OF  AMESBURY. 

shingles  to  pay  the  "prestes  rate."     These  were  all  Friends  and 
could  not  conscientiously  support  a  hired  ministry. 

1704. 

Jonathan  Blasdell  was  chosen  school-master  this  year. 

Samuel  Weed  was  chosen  sealer  of  leather.  The  tanning 
business  was  carried  on  to  a  considerable  extent  at  this  time. 
The  remains  of  tan  pits  are  yet  to  be  seen  back  of  Pleasant 
valley,  in  a  pasture  now  owned  by  Peter  F.  Swett,  at  this  time 
(  1 704 )  the  homestead  of  Richard  Martin,  and  at  the  Pond 
hills,  near  the  church  yard.  Most  of  the  leather  needed  was 
tanned  and  curried  at  home  and  made  into  the  various  articles 
wanted,  by  patient  labor. 

The  selectmen  were  ordered  to  make  "the  two  halfe  years 
rats  that  was  due  to  Mr.  Tho  Wells  for  his  labour  amongst  us 
in  the  worke  of  the  Ministrey  for  the  last  year  past." 

"At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  to  allow  Samuel  Colby 
sen  twenty  shillings  for  ringing  the  Bell  and  sweeping  the  meet- 
house  for  the  last  year  past." 

"Benony  Tucker,  Thomas  Nickols  and  Thomas  Challis  enters 
there  contrary  desent  to  those  two  acts  above  written." 

They  were  Quakers  and  had  no  desire  to  be  taxed  for  keep- 
ing the  house  clean,  where  preaching  was  not  to  their  liking. 

The  above  is  the  first  intimation  to  be  found  of  a  bell  on 
the  little  church.  It  may  have  been  placed  in  position  when 
the  repairs  were  made  in  1699,  but  no  charge  for  ringing  is 
found  previous  to  this  time.  Doubtless  Mr.  Challis  thought  it 
a  needless  appendage  to  a  meeting  house. 

The  Indians  were  very  troublesome  and  a  general  alarm  was 
given,  causing  the  people  to  flee  to  the  garrison  houses  for 
safety.  Among  those  who  hastily  snatched  their  guns  and 
sought  safety  in  the  garrisons  was  John  Collins,  of  Salisbury,  a 
Quaker.  He  was  afterward  sorry  that  he  showed  such  want  of 
faith  in  his  professed  creed,  and  made  confession  as  follows  : — 

"I  do  acknowlidg  that  When  as  I  take  up  arms  &  Run  to 
garrison  ffor  safte  from  the  Indians  since  I  was  convinced  of 
Gods  blessed  truth.  It  brought  grate  trouble  upon  me  and 
(rods    Rightous    Gugments  I  felt  upon  mee  which    brought  mee 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  1 55 

to  a  deepe  consideration  of  the  Eviel  of  my  so  Dooing  but  as 
I  was  made  wiling  to  come  out  of  those  things  againe  I  find 
God  is  wiling  to  forgive  mee  thearefore  I  desire  my  breatheren 
to  forgive  me  &  Reseave  mee  Into  unity  with  them 

John   Collins." 

We  find  no  record  of  murders  in  town  this  year  or  of  per- 
sons being  carried  into  captivity. 

A  square-stern  vessel  of  about  forty  tons  was  built  this  year. 
She  was  owned  in  Boston  and  named  the  "Success." 

1705. 

At  the  annual  meeting  it  was  "voted  to  throw  up  the  road 
through  Thomas  Nickols'  land  on  condition  that  he  give  the 
town  a  landing  place  six  rods  long  on  the  river  and  four  rods 
wide  up  the  bank."  The  above  was  a  road  across  a  portion  of 
the  plain  near  Tappan  Emery's  to  the  river,  probably  not  far 
from  the  present  one  which  terminates  near  the  late  Moses 
Currier's,  at  the  steep  bank. 

Again  the  town  was  troubled  with  war  and  Indian  depreda- 
tions to  such  an  extent  that  it  became  necessary  to  lay  the 
matter  before  the  people  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  when  "it 
was  voted  upon  consideration  that  the  town  is  under  such  difi- 
culty  this  time  of  war  that  ye  whole  town  cant  have  the  bene- 
fit of  any  settled  place  for  schools  without  exposing  our  child- 
ren to  great  danger  in  travelling  our  rodes  these  things  consid- 
ered we  see  case  to  impower  the  Selectmen  to  take  ye  best 
care  y'  they  can  to  apoint  such  places  as  they  shall  think  may 
be  best  for  ye  town  and  to  employ  such  parsons  as  they  shall 
think  may  be  for  the  best." 

"At  this  same  meeting  the  town  seriously  considering  the  difi- 
culties  that  the  people  at  Jamaco  are  under  these  troublesome 
times  that  there  old  people  and  children  cant  but  sildome  come 
to  meeting  these  things  considered  at  the  present  meeeting  it 
was  voted  that  the  Minister  preach  every  third  Sabeth  day  at 
Jamaco  at  such  place  or  places  as  shall  be  provided  for  that 
sarvis  and  this  to  continue  for  one  yeare." 

At  this  time  the  roads  were  not  much  better  than  paths  spot- 
ted through  the  woods,  few  if  any  carriages  being  in  use,  except 


[56  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

ox-carts.  The  Indians  were,  also,  on  the  war  path,  watching 
every  opportunity  to  glut  their  savage  vengeance.  The  way  from 
Jamaco  was  long  and  in  places  dangerous  to  the  little  church 
at  the  burying  ground,  and  very  truly  old  people  could  not  ride 
on  horseback  so  far  with  safety,  and  it  was  a  wise  measure  to 
appoint  meetings  nearer  home.  Scholars  were,  also,  in  great 
danger  when  going  through  the  woods,  as  they  were  obliged  to 
do,  and  changing  to  accommodate  different  localities  was  a  wise 
precaution.  Our  fathers  could  hardly  sit  under  their  own  vine 
with  none  to  molest  or  make  them  afraid. 

At  the  representative  meeting  in  May  the  town  gave  the 
selectmen  leave  to  lay  out  a  highway  to  "James  Creek"  if  they 
thought  advisable.  This  was,  probably,  from  the  six  rod  road 
near  Thomas  Page's  to  Pressey's  creek,  or  on  the  west  side 
from  the  steep  bank  to  this   ( then  James' )   creek. 

Mary,  wife  of  Thomas  Currier,  sen.,  (town  clerk)  died  this 
year  and  also  Robert  Ring,  who  was,  probably,  a  son  of  the 
first  Robert,  of  Salisbury. 

From  an  early  period  there  had  been  a  few  Friends  in  Ames- 
bury  and  Salisbury,  and  in  1699  a  minister  from  England  held 
a  meeting  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Weed,  there  being  no  meet- 
ing house  nearer  than  the  one  built  at  Hampton  in  1701.  This 
year  the  Friends  in  this  vicinity  made  a  move  towards  building 
a  house  to  worship  in  and  the  Hampton  monthly  meeting  chose 
a  committee  of  two  to  look  out  a  location  suitable  for  the  pur- 
pose. This  committee  subsequently  reported  that  a  piece  of 
land  could  be  had,  and  the  whole  matter  was  left  in  their  hands 
to  carry  out  the  minds  of  Friends  at  "Salisbury,  Amesbury  and 
Gemaco."  Thomas  Barnard  gave  the  lot  and  it  was,  according 
to  tradition,  situated  on  Friend  street,  near  No.  8  mill.  Thomas 
Challis,  who  opposed  the  minister's  rate  last  year  and,  also, 
paying  Samuel  Colby  for  ringing  the  bell,  was  one  of  this  com- 
mittee. Thus  the  Friends  were  gradually  gaining  in  numbers 
and  becoming  of  importance  in  town. 

The  first  marriage  recorded  among  this  order  took  place  this 
year  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Barnard,  where  a  meeting  was 
held  for  the  occasion.     The   parties  were    John    Peaslee,  grand- 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  157 

son  of  Joseph  Peaslee,  who  gave  the  General  Court  much 
trouble  many  years  ago  by  his  persistency  in  preaching,  and 
Mary  Martin,  granddaughter  of  George  Martin.  This  marriage 
was  signed  by  forty-seven  witnesses. 

1706. 

For  the  first  time  the  selectmen  are  ordered  to  make  a  rate 
to  pay  the  school-master,  and  this  places  the  educational  inter- 
ests on  a  firm  basis. 

Nothing  is  said  or  done  in  regard  to  Indian  troubles,  which 
were  so  threatening  last  year,  and  it  is  presumed  that  the  fright 
had    passed    away. 

The  town  voted  that  "ye  town  is  willing  that  Mr.  Wells 
should  goe  to  Jamaco  on  third  of  ye  Sabath  days  this  year  as 
he  did  the  last  yeare." 

Thomas  Sargent,  sen.,  son  of  William  Sargent,  died  this  year, 
aged  sixty-two  years.  He  was  born  at  Salisbury  on  the  Mud- 
noc  road,  so  called,  June  nth,  1643,  and  was  an  active,  capa- 
ble man.  He  served  as  selectman  five  years  and  held  many 
other  important  offices.  It  is  probable  that  he  lived  near  Bear 
hill. 

The  saddest  event  of  the  year  was  the  death  of  the  Weed 
family.  Sarah,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Weed,  and  her  three  child- 
ren :  John,  Daniel  and  Sarah,  died  in  one  day,  the  4th  ot 
July.  Their  death  resulted  from  an  epidemic  commonly  denom- 
inated "Throat  distemper,"  which  appears  to  have  been  very 
fatal  at  this  time.  It  was  a  fearful  sight :  in  that  house  of 
mourning  lay  four  of  the  family,  the  mother  beside  her  darlings, 
the  oldest  of  whom  was  less  than  three  years,  all  clad  in  the 
habiliments  of  the  grave,  and  all  borne  away  to  return  no  more 
to  that  hitherto  happy  home. 

The  father  returned  with  a  heavy  heart ;  they  were  his  all ; 
he  had  no  more  of  whom  death  could  rob  him.  All  was  gone 
in  a  day.  The  impression  on  the  public  mind  was  such  as  to 
cause  this  terrible  affliction  to  be  handed  down  from  generation 
to  generation,  until  the  present  time.  The  record,  also,  con- 
firms its  truth.     Mr.  Weed  lived  near  the  late  Ephraim  Merrill's 


158  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

and  the  land  on  the  south  side  of  the  road  from  the  brook  to 
the  old  Hunt's  lane  was  his  homestead. 

In  1 7 1 1  Mr.  Weed  married  Sarah  Sawyer  and  named  three 
of  his  children  born  subsequently,  for  the  lost  ones. 

The  Friends  turned  out  John  Ring,  John  Green,  Samuel  Nor- 
ton and  Samuel  Cass  for  "baring  arms"  and  other  bad  con- 
duct. John  Cazer,  of  Haverhill,  was  specially  admonished  by 
the  monthly  meeting  to  pay  his  debts. 

1707. 

Thomas  Colby,  jun.,  was  chosen  to  ring  the  bell  and  sweep 
the  meeting  house,  with  a  salary  of  24  s. 

The  town  voted  that  the  selectmen  should  forthwith  build  a 
sufficient  pound  near  Edward  Hunt's  (now  George  W.  Bartlett's.) 

"Att  ye  same  meeting  it  was  voted  that  ye  Selectmen  should 
hire  four  or  five  school  Dames  for  ye  town  to  teach  children  to 
read." 

"  Att  ye  same  meeting  it  was  voted  that  the  town  would  alow 
five  pounds  to  two  men  that  ye  Selectmen  should  hire  to  keep 
a  school  to  teach  young  parsons  to  write  and  sifer  two  months 
this  year  insuing."  The  work  of  educating  the  young  is  gradu- 
ally advancing  and  becoming  of  more  importance.  It  is  but  a 
few  years  since  the  master  was  to  teach  all  who  knew  their 
a  b  c ;  but  now  we  find  them  advanced  a  step.  Females  are 
to  teach  the  children  to  read  and  males  are  to  teach  writing 
and  arithmetic.  The  number  of  schools,  also,  have  increased, 
giving  greater  facilities  to  all. 

Richard  Currier,  being  chosen  constable,  gave  the  town  ^5 
to  release  him,  and  Ephraim  Weed  was  chosen  in  his  stead  ; 
but,  at  a  subsequent  meeting,  he  was  released  and  John  Kim- 
ball, sen.,  chosen  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Samuel  Colby,  sen.,  also, 
resigned  the  office  of  tithing  man.  Offices  were  little  sought  at 
this  time. 

Nov.  1 8th.  John  Pressey  died.  He  testified  against  Susanna 
Martin  in  1692. 

John  Collins,  who  offended  the  Friends  in  1704  by -defend- 
ing himself  against  the  Indians,  is  again  at  fault,  "  having  par- 
sistid    In    preaching   contrary  to    the    Manefestation  of  ye  spirite 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  1 59 

of  God  in  us  wee  desire  him  as  fformerly  to  take  care  of  his 
waves  all  so  to  his  doctrin  &  bee  silant  till  friends  have  unity 
tharewith."  But,  although  several  times  subsequently  warned,  he, 
like  Joseph  Peaslee,  persisted  in  preaching  till,  at  the  monthly 
meeting,  held  December  18th,  it  was  voted  "that  hee  ye  sd  Col- 
ins  Is  denyed  by  us." 

1708. 

The  town  ordered  a  road  laid  out  from  the  six-rod  highway 
near  John  Chains'  house  to  the  pond  plain  road.  This  was  the 
road  from  Daniel  F.  Morrill's  to  Tappan  Emery's. 

Benjamin  Eastman  petitioned  the  town  for  leave  to  build  a 
fulling  mill  just  below  the  mill  bridge  on  the  Powow  river,  and, 
also,  to  take  the  water  under  ground  across  the  road  to  drive 
the  mill.  The  petition  was  readily  granted.  This  was,  probably, 
the  first  fulling  mill  in  town. 

Col.  John  March  received  a  grant  of  several  pieces  of  com- 
mon land  on  the  original  right  of  George  Carr's,  whose  son-in- 
law  he  was.  This  grant  was  made  by  a  meeting  of  the  com- 
moners held  September  7th. 

Oct.  1 8th.  A  town  meeting  was  held  and  the  only  business 
transacted  was  to  order  the  selectmen  to  prosecute  at  the 
town's  charge  the  five  late  constables,  viz. :  Ebenezer  Blazdell, 
William  Fowler,  Robert  Quinby,  Israel  Dymond  and  John  Kim- 
ball, sen.,  for  not  making  up  their  accounts  according  to  law. 
It  would  seem,  however,  that  they  had  committed  no  very  great 
crime,  as  William  Fowler  was  elected  Representative  the  next 
vear. 

1709. 

The  pound  ordered  in  1707  had  not  been  built  at  Edward 
Hunt's,  and  it  was  now  decided  to  build  it  at  the  "  pond  plain," 
William  Pressey  offering  a  piece  of  land  "four  rods  square"  for 
ten  years  free  of  charge.  It  was,  probably,  built  near  the  bury- 
ing ground. 

The  town  voted  to  fence  in  the  burying  ground  with  boards 
at  the  town's  cost.  This  is  the  first  intimation  of  a  fence  around 
the  burying  ground  on  record. 

It  was,  also,  voted    to  hire    two    women   to    keep    school  and 


160  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

"Widow  Stevens  and  Goodwife  Pregett"  were  designated,  at 
salaries  of  £8  each.  A  master  was,  also,  to  be  employed  "  to 
teach  to  wright  and  sipher  and  not  to  exceed  eight  pounds  and 
one  quarter  part  of  it  to  be  money  and  ye  other  three  quarters 
as  money." 

April  29th.  The  commoners  held  another  meeting  and  chose 
a  committee  to  ascertain  all  encroachments  on  common  lands 
and  highways,  and,  also,  what  grants  had  been  made  and  not 
yet  laid  out,  and  report  at  an  adjourned  meeting  May  16th. 
At  the  adjourned  meeting  the  committee  reported  that  "accord- 
ing to  there  best  judgment  John  Colby  have  made  incroach- 
ment  upon  ye  coman  land" — hardly  worth  two  meetings. 

The  commoners,  also,  gave  Thomas  Weed  and  William  Cur- 
rier leave  to  fence  in  the  six-rod  highway  (  Buttonwood  road) 
by  making  sufficient  bars. 

The  town  had  considerable  trouble  with  John  Whitcher,  of 
Haverhill,  about  a  highway  which  the  court  of  sessions  had 
ordered  through  his  land  at  Jamaco.  It  was  proposed  to  refer 
the  matter  to  three  men,  but  finally  it  was  left  with  a  commit- 
tee to  agree  upon  some  plan  and  make  return  to  court. 

The  Friends'  Hampton  monthly  meeting  ordered  a  weekly 
meeting  on  the  first  and  second  fourth  days  in  every  month  till 
altered. 

1710. 

Some  difficulty  occurred  this  year  between  Col.  John  March 
and  the  town.  He  charged  the  town  with  "taking  away  all 
most  all  Wosters  lot  and  a  considerable  part  of  Challis  his  lot 
that  was  granted  to  him  in  the  year  1640  for  satisfaction  for  a 
highway,"  but  the  town  denied  the  charge.  The  commoners 
took  up  the  dispute.  A  meeting  was  called  on  the  2 2d  of 
March  to  transact  the  ordinary  town  business  till  twelve  o'clock, 
and  then  to  be  a  commoners'  meeting.  Thomas  Currier  was 
chosen  their  clerk  and  it  was  "  voted  to  stand  suit  with  Col. 
John  March,"  and  Left.  John  Foot  and  John  Blasdell  were 
chosen  as  "Aturnes"  to  answer  him  in  his  action  com- 
menced against  the  commoners. 

Another   action  was    commenced    against    the    commoners    by 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  l6l 

Joshua  Bayley,  of  Newbury,  and  Left.  John  Foot  was  again 
made  "Aturne"  to  manage  the  case  at  Newbury  court. 

The  commoners  had  or  supposed  they  had  rights  which 
should  not  be  acted  upon  by  all  of  the  voters  in  town,  and 
these  separate  meetings  seem  to  have  been 'held  for  the  pur- 
pose of  avoiding  this  outside  influence,  and  the  fact  that  they 
actually  finished  the  division  of  the  common  land  in  1703  by 
separate  meetings,  confirms  the  above  view  of  the  matter.  The 
first  eighteen  owned  and  disposed  of  the  common  lands  as  they 
deemed  proper,  and,  also,  granted  townships  or  common  rights 
to  whom  they  pleased.  They  fixed  the  number  of  commoners 
at  twenty-six,  unless  by  the  "consent  of  every  freeman"  the 
number  should  be  increased.  It  was  soon  increased  to  that 
number  and  most  of  the  divisions  of  land  were  made  accord- 
ingly. 

Col.  John  March,  John  Barnard,  Joseph  Brown  and  Jarvis 
Ring  petitioned  the  town  for  leave  to  build  iron  works  on  the 
Powow  river  without  being  liable  to  taxation,  and  their  petition 
was  cheerfully  granted.  A  similiar  petition  was  presented  at  the 
Salisbury  annual  meeting  and  readily  granted.  The  works  were 
built  and  in  operation  several  years.  Tradition  states  that  iron 
ore  was  taken  from  the  bed  of  the  pond  and  refined  for  use  at 
these  works,  which  were  situated  on  the  Amesbury  side  of  the 
Powow  river. 

Capt.  Harvey,  also,  petitioned  for  liberty  to  build  a  vessel  or 
vessels  at  "Jamaco,"  and  was  allowed  to  do  so.  Left.  Foot 
and  Thomas  Challis  were  appointed  to  lay  out  a  ship-yard  for 
him.  With  a  fulling  mill,  iron  works  and  several  ship-yards 
along  the  river,  it  was,  no  doubt,  a  busy,  prosperous  town. 

An  appropriation  of  ,£30  was  made  for  school  purposes,  and 
the  school  was  to  be  kept  one-half  of  the  time  at  the  meeting 
house  and  the  other  half  near  Roger  Stevens'  house. 

All  of  the  inhabitants  were  ordered  to  brand  their  cattle  with 
the  town  brand. 

May  9th.  John  Kimball,  sen.,  was  chosen  representative, 
and  on  the  16th  Thomas  Fowler  was  chosen.  It  is  very  prob- 
able that   Mr.  Kimball    died   at   this   time,  as  he  entirely  disap- 


162  history  of  amesbury. 

pears  from  the  records  hereafter.  He  was  a  prominent  man  in 
town,  serving  as  representative  three  years  and  was  elected  a 
fourth  time,  and,  also,  held   many  other  offices. 

He  lived  near  the  pond's  mouth  and  owned  seven  lots  in 
that  division  (which  was  called  the  ox  pasture)  in  1699,  embrac- 
ing all  between  the  pond  and  pond  road,  and  two  lots  north  of 
the  road.  Tradition  locates  his  house  south  of  the  road,  very 
near  the  pond's  mouth,  and  there  are  indications  of  a  former 
residence  there.  He  was,  probably,  an  extensive  farmer  and 
very  active  in  town  affairs,  but  a  firm  believer  in  witchcraft, 
giving  foolish  testimony  against  Susanna  Martin  at  her  trial.  It 
should  be  remembered,  however,  that  he  lived  in  an  age  of 
superstition,  when  clear-headed,  sensible  persons  were  much 
bewildered  on  this  subject. 

Aug.  10th.  Ebenezer  Blasdell  died.  He  was  a  son  of  Henry 
Blasdell,  one  of  the  original  settlers,  and  grandson  of  Jaret  Had- 
don,  who  gave  him  a  legacy  in  his  will.  He  was  born  the  1 7th 
8th  mo.  1657.  He  served  as  selectman  in  1698  and  held  many 
other  offices.     It  is  probable  that  he  lived  at  Bear  hill. 

April  12  th.  Francis  Davis  died.  He  was  successor  to  Walter 
Taylor  in  certain  lands  granted  by  the  town,  and  was  by  trade 
a  block-maker. 

This  year  the  Friends'  monthly  meeting  received  five  books 
sent- from  England.  May  18th  the  monthly  meeting  was  held 
at  Amesbury,  and  from  that  time  for  more  than  sixty  years  it 
was  "held  alternately  at  Amesbury  and  Hampton. 

1711. 

At  the  annual  meeting  it  was  "  voted  that  Mr  Wells  should 
go  to  Jamaco  on  third  part  of  ye  Sabath  days  and  of  Humala- 
tion  and  Thanksgiving." 

"At  a  general  meeting  it  was  voted  that  ye  Selectmen  should 
hire  a  school  Master  for  ye  town  for  this  year  insuing." 

"At  ye  same  meeting  it  was  voted  that  ye  School  should  be 
kept  ye  first  four  months  at  ye  town  Meeting  House  ye  next  four 
months  at  ye  Pond  Hills  fort  and  ye  last  four  months  at  Left 
Foots  fort  or  there  abouts." 

The    Pond    hills'   fort    may  have    been  the  house  now  owned 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  1 63 

and  occupied  by  Jacob  Huntington,  which  was  originally  lined 
with  brick  around  the  first  story,  and,  no  doubt,  designed  as  a 
garrison  house  for  the  neighborhood.  Left.  Foot's  fort  was,  no 
doubt,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  burying  ground  at  West  Amesbury. 
The  six-rod  highway  was  narrowed  by  allowing  Thomas  Chal- 
lis  and  Thomas  Weed  to  fence  in  two  rods  in  width,  in  consid- 
eration of  highways  laid  through  their  lands  elsewhere. 

1712. 

Capt.  John  Wadey,  of  Salisbury,  had  leave  granted  to  build  a 
dam  at  the  pond's  mouth  not  to  exceed  three  feet  in  height 
"to  preserve  water  in  a  dry  time  for  grinding." 

This  was  the  first  attempt  to  turn  the  water  of  Kimball's 
pond  to  account.  For  untold  ages  this  water  had  run  to  waste, 
passing  through  the  pond  meadow  and  across  the  highway  near 
Thomas    Colby's,  into    the    stream    that  carries   Tuxbury's  mills. 

In  great  drouths  the  water  in  the  Powow  river  ran  low,  so 
that  grinding  was  necessarily  suspended  ■  but  with  this  extra 
three  feet  on  the  surface  of  the  pond,  there  would,  probably, 
be  no  more  scarcity. 

Left.  Foot  had  leave  to  "fence  across  ye  highway  leading  by 
his  house  next  ye  country  road  and  so  against  Thomas  Colby's 
not  to  hinder  any  passing."  This  road  was,  probably,  the  one 
now  known  as  Church  street,  in  Merrimac. 

Sept.  27th.  Deacon  Thomas  Currier  died,  having  served  the 
town  in  almost  every  capacity.  He  was  chosen  town  clerk 
in  1674  instead  of  his  father,  Richard  Currier,  and  served  till 
his  death,  a  period  of  thirty-eight  years  lacking  a  few  months. 
He  served  as  selectman  seventeen  years  and  in  many  other 
offices,  and  was  a  fair  penman.  His  business  was  not  confined 
to  town  affairs,  but  he  was  employed  in  settling  estates  and 
various  other  matters.  He  was  a  witness  to  the  will  of  Edmund 
Elliott,  which  his  father  wrote  in  1675,  an^  occasionally  recorded 
meetings  when  his  father  was  clerk.  This  would  go  to  show  that 
they  lived  in  the  same  house  at  that  time,  and  it  is  very  probable 
that  Thomas  owned  the  homestead  before  his  father's  death.  It  has 
been  said  that  Richard  deeded  away  his  property  and  died 
poor.     Thomas    was    born    at    Salisbury  March    7th,     1646,   and 


164  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

was  sixty-six  years  of  age  when  he  died.  It  is  probable  that 
he  lived  near  the  mills  and,  perhaps,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Lion's  Mouth.  He  married  Mary  Osgood,  daughter  of  William 
Osgood  of  Salisbury,  and  by  her  inherited  one-quarter  of  the 
old  saw  mill  which  he  gave  to  his  son  Ebenezer.  He  had  nine 
sons  and  three  daughters. 

On  the  13th  of  October  Orlando  Bagley,  jun.,  was  chosen 
town  clerk  and  entered  upon  his  long  term  of  office.  He  was, 
also,  chosen  to  keep  a  private  school  to  "  teach  to  wright  and 
sipher  such  as  shall  come  to  him  they  paying  as  he  and  they 
shall  agree." 

1713. 

The  selectmen  were  ordered  to  hire  "  a  school  master  or 
masters  or  school  dames  for  ye  benefit  of  ye  town  for  this  year 
ensuing." 

Wolves  were  again  becoming  troublesome  and  a  bounty  of 
20  s.  was  voted  out  of  the  town's  stock  for  each  "woulf's  head." 

The  selectmen  notified  the  selectmen  of  Kingston  to  meet 
them  on  the  30th  of  March  "  at  ye  ponds  mouth,  called  ye 
country  pond,"  to  perambulate  the  line  between  the  towns.  At 
this  time  the  territory  of  Amesbury  extended  to  the  island  in 
Country  pond,  embracing  nearly  all  of  the  territory  now  known 
as  Newton,  N.  H. 

1714. 

A  town  meeting  was  held  January  7th  for  taking  some  meas- 
ures to  repair  the  old  meeting-house,  but  those  present  hardly 
felt  like  deciding  upon  what  should  be  done,  and  so  adjourned 
half  an  hour,  to  meet  at  Samuel  Colby's.  He  was  innholder, 
and  when  met  the  meeting  felt  better  spirits  and  proceeded  to 
business.  Without  opposition  it  was  "voted  that  ye  selectmen 
should  repair  ye  ould  meeting-house." 

With  the  same  unanimity  another  vote  was  passed,  as  follows  : 
"Voted  yl  ye  town  did  chuse  a  coram"  of  six  men  to  consider 
and  conclude  concerning  ye  building  of  a  meeting  house,  and 
they  to  bring  in  there  result  at  ye  next  March  meeting  for  ye 
town's  approbation,  and  also  ye  place  where  ye  house  shall  be 
built."     There  is  no  report  on  record  from  this  committee,    but 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  1 65 

from  subsequent  action  it  is  presumed  that  they  recommended 
building  two  houses. 

The  annual  meeting  was  held  March  8th,  and  adjourned  to 
the  ioth,  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Hoyt,  at  the  Pond 
hills.  At  the  adjourned  meeting  "it  was  voted  that  the  town 
would  build  two  meeting  houses  in  said  town." 

John  Challis  opposed  this  measure,  and  to  relieve  the 
Quakers  the  meeting  voted  "  to  free  the  Quakers  in  sd  town 
from  paying  to  the  minister's  rate  all  such  as  the  heads  of  their 
society  shall  give  in  a  list  of." 

To  give  the  matter  further  consideration,  however,  the  meet- 
ing adjourned  to  x\pril  12th,  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.,  at  the  meet- 
ing house.  After  having  had  time  for  due  consideration  of  the 
whole  matter,  the  town  voted  at  the  adjourned  meeting  to 
"build  there  first  meeting  house  at  that  part  of  the  town  called 
Jamaco."  It  was  voted  to  build  the  house  at  the  Pond  plain 
on  a  piece  of  land  given  the  town  by  Jarvis  Ring.  This  lot 
was  given  for  a  burying  ground  and  is  now  known  as  the  Mid- 
dle Cemetery.  The  house  was  to  be  40  feet  long,  32  feet 
wide  and  18  feet  stud.  No  committee  was  chosen,  and 
although  several  meetings  were  held  subsequently,  nothing  fur- 
ther was  done  this   year. 

Leave  was  given  Samuel  Colby  to  build  an  arch  "  on  the 
highway  near  his  house."  It  was  a  common  thing  to  build 
arches  in  those  early  times,  and  they  were  invariably  built 
on  the  side  of  some  knoll  or  rising  ground,  so  that  the 
earth  might  cover  the  top  sufficiently  to  keep  out  the 
frost.  The  location  of  this  arch  was  on  the  north  side  of 
the  road  a  few  rods  west  of  the  store  on  Bartlett's  corner,  and 
the  cavity  where  the  rocks  were  taken  out  may  yet  be  seen. 

Better  school  accommodations  were  ordered  this  year,  the 
selectmen  being  authorized  to  hire  two  masters  for  each  end 
of  the  town,  and  school  dames  for  the  whole  town. 

Capt.  Thomas  Harvey  was  chosen  representative  in  May  and 
in  October  Left.  John  Foot  was  chosen  for  the  remainder  of 
the  year.  No  record  of  his  death  is  found,  but  it  is  very  prob- 
able that  he    died    during    the    summer,    which    occasioned    the 


1 66  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

election  of  Left.  Foot.  He  first  appears  on  the  record  as  one 
of  a  committee  on  highways  in  1689  and  was  chosen  deputy 
in  1690,  1694,  1697,  1699,  1706,  1708,  1713  and  1714, 
and  was  on  the  board  of  selectmen  in  1701  and  1714.  He 
held  various  other  offices  and  was  a  ship  carpenter,  building 
vessels  at  Jamaco  on  land  granted  him  in  17 10  by  the  town. 
The  Harveys  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  near  the  Universalist 
church  at  West  Amesbury,  where  they  probably  lived,  and  also 
a  mill  on  Cobbler's  brook.  He  was  largely  employed  in  public 
business  and  was  a  faithful  servant. 

The  Friends'  monthly  meeting  this  year  granted  permission  to 
Newbury  Friends  to  hold  meetings  "every  3d  first  day  ye  week 
in  every  month,"  and  also  to  Haverhill  "every  4th  first  day  of 
ye  week  in  every  month." 

1715. 

For  many  years  an  officer  called  "  Clark  of  ye  market "  has 
been  annually  chosen,  whose  duty  is  defined  m  an  act  passed 
in   1696,  as  follows  : 

"Sect.  2d.  That  the  clerks  of  the  market  in  each  town 
within  this  Province,  or  any  one  of  them,  shall,  and  are 
hereby  impowered  and  required  once  every  week  or  oftener, 
as  they  shall  see  cause,  to  enter  into  any  shop  or  place 
where  bread  is  usually  sold  or  baked  for  sale,  and  to 
weigh  die  same ;  and  all  such  bread  which  they  shall  find  un- 
der the  due  assize  according  to  the  proportion  before  men- 
tioned, or  not  being  marked,  to  make  seizure  of  and  deliver 
two-thirds  parts  thereof  unto  the  selectmen  or  overseers  of  the 
poor  in  such  town,  for  the  use  of  the  poor  within  the  same, 
the  officer  to  have  the  other  third  for  his  pains."  The  fact  that 
such  officer  was  annually  chosen  seems  to  indicate  the  neces- 
sity, and  from  the  occasional  references  to  some  kind  of  bread 
shops,  it  may  justly  be  inferred  that  there  were  bakeries  in  town 
in  those  days.     Joseph  Prechet  was  chosen  this  year. 

A  town  meeting  was  held  January  7th  and  adjourned  to  the 
24th,  when  the  following  vote  was  passed:  "Whereas  there 
hath  been  a  vote  past  for  ye  building  of  two  meeting  houses, 
and  ye  first  to  be  built  at  ye  pond    plain,    we    upon    considera- 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  167 

tion  do  see  cause  to  have  but  one  at  present  and  to  build  it 
at  ye  parcel  of  land  called  y2  parsonage,  neare  Edward  Hunt's." 
He  lived  on  the  corner  where  Geo.  W.  Bartlett  now  lives.  The 
late  Joseph  Merrill,  who  hauled  the  present  house  from  the 
pond,  placed  it  over  the  old  Hunt  cellar. 

The  meeting-house  was  built  on  the  opposite  corner  of  the  Mar- 
tin road  on  a  little  knoll,  a  beautiful  location.  The  old  house 
was  altogether  too  small  to  hold  the  present  population,  being 
only  25  by  30  feet.  The  vote  to  build  two  houses  of  worship 
would  have  been  carried  out,  undoubtedly,  had  the  town  been 
able  to  do  so.  The  people  had  increased  at  the  west  end,  al- 
though no  village  had  yet  commenced.  In  1726,  which  is  but 
eleven  years  later,  we  find  the  names  of  123  men  taxed  in  the 
West  parish  for  the  support  of  preaching,  and  this  would  war- 
rant the  conclusion  that  there  were  not  less  than  four  hundred 
inhabitants  at  that  time.  There  were  not  quite  so  many  in 
1 715,  probably,  yet  there  were  more  than  were  willing  to  travel 
the  long  distance  to  the  little  church  at  the  burying  ground. 
The  most  prominent  men'  at  Jamaco  were  opposed  to  the  re- 
peal of  the  vote  ordering  two  houses,  and  Left.  John  Foot. 
Sergeant  Joseph  Davis  and  Thomas  Fowler  entered  their  "con- 
tra dicent  "  against  it.  The  present  location — one  mile  nearer 
the  centre  of  the  town — was  designed  to  give  better  accommo- 
dations to  the  west  end  people  and  obviate  the  necessity  of 
two  houses.  Nor  was  this  location  a  very  lonesome  one,  for 
within  the  range  of  a  half  mile  there  were  more  than  half  a 
score  of  houses. 

Dea.  Joseph  Brown,  Thomas  Hoyt  and  Thomas  Sargent  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  "carry  on  sd  work  of  building  said  house 
at  ye  towns  cost,  and  are  to  have  said  house  finished  at  or  on 
ye  first  of  November  in  ye  yeare  1716."  Its  dimensions  were 
"forty-five  fot  in  length  and  thirty-five  fot  in  wedth  and  twenty 
fot  stud." 

"Mr.  Skipper  Lunt"  was  the  master  builder. 

A  meeting  was  held  July  13th  and  ^150  raised  to  "carry 
on  ye  work  of  finishing  our  Meeting  house  and  likewise  to 
expend  ye  charge  that  we  have  already  been  out  in  building." 
So  the  work  was  begun  at  this  date. 


1 68  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

"  At  ye  same  meeting  voted  that  ye  town  would  in  general 
coust  and  charge  to  build  a  Meeting  house  at  ye  west  part  of 
ye  town  called  Jamaco  that  is  to  say  not  to  build  said  house 
within  three  years  after  yl  time  fixed  for  ye  finishing  our  Meet- 
ing house  which  is  already  raised  it  is  to  be  understood  when 
ye  Major  part  of  ye  town  yl  lyeth  west  of  Nickols'  creek  shall 
see  cause  to  build  ye  town  to  assist  them  as  aforesaid." 

It  is  probable  that  this  vote  settled  all  matters  in  dispute, 
and  the  work  went  on  with  the  house,  which  was  "already 
raised."  It  .is  said  to  have  been  very  heavily  timbered  and  was,- 
no  doubt,  a  very  substantial  building,  although  perfectly  plain, 
without  porch  or  spire.  On  this  gently-sloping  knoll  it  stood 
for  two  generations  or  more.  It  would  be  an  interesting  sight 
if  we  could  be  allowed  a  glimpse  of  that  sedate  assembly  as 
they  wended  their  way  from  all  sections  of  the  town  on  each 
returning  Sabbath  to  this  new  but  unadorned  house  of  worship. 
They  came  from  the  Ferry,  the  Powow  river,  the  Lyon's  Mouth, 
the  Pond,  the  Pond  hills,  the  Bear  hill,  Jamaco,  Nickols'  creek, 
the  River  and  the  many  old  roads  and  fields  where  they  were  then 
located,  some  on  foot,  but  mostly  on  horseback,  two  or  three 
to  a  horse.  Clothed  in  home  spun,  the  work  of  their  own 
hands,  a  few  yards  woven  in  a  day,  and  colored  and  dressed  in 
their  own  fulling  mill,  neat  and  comfortable,  they  humbly  gath- 
ered to  worship  the  God  of  the  Pilgrims,  who  had  so  gra- 
ciously protected  and  blessed  them  in  this  wilderness.  And 
with  each  returning  Sabbath  the  dignified  and  erect  form  of  the 
venerable  minister  was  seen  on  his  way  to  church,  riding  on  his 
"blackish  mouse  coulored  horse." 

1716. 

Mr.  Wells  sent  a  communication  to  the  annual  meeting,  desir- 
ing a  piece  of  land  for  his  use,  and  Capt.  John  Barnard  and 
[onathan  Blasdell  were  ordered  to  view  the  premises  and  report 
at  the  next  meeting.  The  matter  was  not  fully  settled  at  the 
next  meeting,  but  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  settle  that 
and  some  dispute  about  Mr.  Wells'  fire-wood. 

In  consequence  of  depredations  by  wolves,  a  bounty  of  20  s. 
was  again  offered  for  "  every  Woulf  killed  by  any  parson  belong- 
ing to  said  town." 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  1 69 

Schools  were  yet  anything  but  permanent  institutions,  being 
mostly  kept  in  private  houses,  but  the  young  clerk,  who  was 
fast  rising  to  prominence,  and  himself  a  schoolmaster,  very  well 
knew  the  importance  of  making  the  schools  local  and  perma- 
nent. To  carry  out  his  plan,  he  made  the  following  communi- 
cation to  the  meeting  : — 

"At  this  same  meeting,  Orlando  Bagley,  jun.,  doth  give  and 
giant  to  and  for  ye  use  of  said  town  one-half  qorter  of  an  acre 
of  land  frunting  on  ye  country  road  adjacent  to  a  town  highway 
on  ye  west  for  ye  privilege  of  setting  of  a  school  house  on  so 
long  as  ye  town  see  cause  there  to  keep  a  school. 

as  witness  my  hand  Orlando  Bagley,  Jun" 

This  lot  was,  no  doubt,  the  one  where  the  pound  now  stands, 
which  answers  the  description  perfectly.  It  was  a  notch  out 
of  the  clerk's  homestead. 

The  meeting  voted  "to  build  a  School  house  of  twenty  foot 
square  and  seven  foot  stud  to  be  built  within  ye  space  of  two 
years  after  ye  date  hereof  to  be  finished  and  set  on  ye  land 
before  mentioned  at  ye  towns  coast." 

Thus  began  the  Pond  hills  school  house  and,  although  the 
house  then  built  has  passed  away,  yet  the  locality  has  always 
been  provided  with  a  house.  Why  the  present  house  is  not  on 
this  lot  is  hardly  clear ;  but  some  three-quarters  of  a  century 
after  this  date,  when  the  house  was  old  and  unfit  for  use, 
there  was  some  considerable  contention  in  regard  to  the  new 
house,  which  was  finally  settled  by  two  men,  who  built  the 
present  house  and  afterwards  sold  it  to  the  town.  The  writer 
has  been  told  by  old  persons,  who  well  remembered  the  trans- 
action, that  such  was  the  case,  and  Capt.  Ephraira  Weed  and 
Ichabod    B.  Sargent  were    named    as  the  men  who  built  it. 

The  selectmen  hired  Nathaniel  Brown  (  son  of  Dea.  Joseph 
Brown)   to  keep  school  three  months  for  "ten  pounds." 

On  the  record  appears  the  following:  "Amesbury  May  ye 
28th  1 716.  Taken  from  John  Challis  (by  distress)  a  yearling 
heifer  and  proceeded  with  according  to  law.  Sold  for  eleven 
shillings  by  me  Henry  Trussel  late  Constable  of  Amesbury." 


170  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

June  15th.     Hannah  Fowler,  wife  of  Thomas  Fowler,  died. 
Sept.  27th.     Widow  Mary  Challis  died. 
Dec.  1 6th.     Jeremiah  Davis  died. 

1717. 

The  annual  meeting  was  held  in  the  old  meeting-house, 
which  may  have  been  uncomfortable,  and  the  few  in  attend- 
ance adjourned  to  the  house  of  Elizabeth  Colby,  to  meet  in  a 
quarter  of  an  hour.  Elizabeth  was  the  wife  of  Samuel  Colby, 
if  he  was  living,  but  the  vote  would  rather  look  as  though  he 
was  dead. 

Before  completing  the  whole  business  the  meeting  was  again 
adjourned,  to  the  house  of  Thomas  Challis,  on  the  15th  inst., 
This  was  an  accommodation  to  the  west  part  of  the  town,  as 
Mr.  Challis  lived  near  Sandy  brook,  just  west  of  Daniel  F. 
Morrill's. 

Upon  reassembling  "The  town  then  met  did  vote  and  chuse 
Thomas  Challis  for  to  finish  our  school  house  that  is  already 
raised  according  to  his  best  judgment  by  y°  time  before  men- 
tioned at  ye  town's  coast." 

Instead  of  hiring  a  master  to  "  wright  and  sifer,"  as  formerly, 
the  town  chose  Left.  Currier  and  Left.  Stevens  to  hire  a 
"  grammar  school  master  and  school  dames  for  ye  use  of  sd 
town."  The  good  cause  is  slowly  but  surely  progressing.  The 
people  are  doing  all  they  can  for  its  advance. 

The  meeting-house  was  not  yet  completed  and  the  town 
voted  that  those  having  leave  to  build  pews  should  do  so  with- 
in twelve  months  or  lose  the  privilege,  excepting  Mr.  Wells. 
The  pulpit  and  deacons'  pew  seem  to  have  been  completed  as 
the  meeting  proceeded  to  seat  some  of  the  most  prominent 
men — Capt.  Barnard,  Capt.  Foot  and  Ensign  Orlando  Bagley, 
sen.,  were  "set  in  ye  front  seate  at  ye  table."  Capt.  Chandler, 
Left.  Currier,  Ensign  Hoyt  and  Cornet  Blasdell  were  "  to  set  at 
ye  table  in  that  seate  next  y°  pulpit.  Thomas  Stevens  and  Sar- 
gent John  Kimball  are  to  set  wth  ye  deacons,  and  also  Joseph 
Lanckester,  sen." 

The  town  voted  to  give  Mr.  Wells  the  old  meeting-house, 
and  it  is  probable  that  it  was  torn  down  and  wholly  disappeared 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  171 

this  year.  It  had  been  the  gathering  place  of  those  hardy  pio- 
neers on  each  returning  Sabbath  for  more  than  half  a  century, 
and  now  it  was  given  to  the  faithful  minister,  which  was  a  very 
proper  disposition  of  it. 

Mr.  Wells  put  in  a  petition  at  the  adjourned  meeting  for 
leave  to  build  a  pew  in  the  new  meeting-house,  and  also  in 
the  one  to  be  built  at  "Jamaco,"  of  which  the  following  is  a 
copy :  — 

"To  ye  Moderator  of  ye  present  meeting  of  ye  inhabitants  of 
ye  town  of  Almsbury,  March  ye  15th,  17 16:  17,  to  be  com- 
municated to  y1-  town  that  if  they  please  to  grant  me  ye  privi- 
lege of  a  pew  in  ye  new  meeting  house  on  ye  left  hand  next 
ye  south  door  seven  foot  in  length  and  so  wide  as  present  va- 
'canta  space  in  ye  judgment  of  ye  workmen  or  Mr.  Skipper  Lunt 
or  both  of  them,  shall  admit  of  for  needful  passage  to  ye  ad- 
joining vacant  space,  and  an  other'  in  ye  upper  meeting  house, 
granted  to  be  built  for  place  and  dimentions  at  your  own  pleas- 
ure, provided  it  may  not  appear  to  be  a  ridiculous  mockery, 
both  to  be  built  at  ye  charge  of  me  my  heirs  or  assigns.  I 
will  in  addition  unto  ten  pounds  already  allowed  which  was  left 
out  of  rate  dat.  Sept.  14,  1 715,  allow  ten  pounds  more  out  of 
ye  present  rates  dat.  Octobr  23,  1716,  or  ye  next,  and  sign  a 
general  acquittence  for  ye.  town,  a  copy  whereof  may  be  seen 
next  underwritten,  and  I  expect  my  former  papers  given  in  to 
ye  town  and  committee  to  be  returned  unto  me,  and  this  also 
if  voted  on  ye  negative." 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  receipt,  and  seems  sufficiently 
broad  to  cover  the  whole  ground,  thus  avoiding  all  further 
dispute  about  salary  : — 

"  Id  acquitt  discharge  and  absolve  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  town 
of  Almsbury  considered  conjunctively  as  ye  town  of  all  debts 
dues  and  demands  whatsoever  relating  to  my  yearly  salary  for 
my  ministerial  maintainence  from  ye  beginning  of  ye  world  unto 
ye  twenty  ninth  day  of  September^'in  ye  yeare  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  fourteen. 

As  witness  my  hand  Thomas   Wells. 

Minister  of  Amesbury." 
"Voted  on  ye  affermitive." 


[72  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

Ever  since  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Wells  there  had  been  more 
or  less  trouble  in  regard  to  his  salary.  Hard  and  troublesome 
times  pinched  the  people  so  that  they  could  barely  live,  and, 
no  doubt,  failed  to  pay  the  minister.  But  they  seldom  refused 
to  grant  him  any  favor  which  he  asked  of  them,  and  were 
really  unwilling  to  part  with  him.  In  the  early  part  of  this 
year  the  road  near  the  new  meeting  house  was  enlarged  and 
bounded  out  to  a  knoll  the  south  side  of  the  swamp,  near 
Martin's  bridge  and  a  road  leading  to  the  river,  which  was  laid 
out  in  1693.  This  confirms  the  location  of  the  new  meeting 
house,  as  stated  in  previous  pages  of  this  work. 

1718. 

Capt.  John  Barnard  died  July  15th.  He  had  held  many  offices 
in  town  and  was  a  man  of  sterling  integrity  and  greatly  respected. 
He  was  one  of  the  committee  to  locate  the  meeting  house  in 
1 7 14  and  on  the  committee  to  run  the  line  next  Haverhill  in 
1 7 14,  and  the  town  meeting  adjourned  to  his  house  in  1709. 
He  was,  probably,  a  son  of  Capt.  John  Barnard,  who  died  in 
1700,  and  grandson  of  "Robert  Barnett." 

1719. 

Constables  have  been  collectors  from  the  first,  and  were  on 
that  account  considered  important  officers,  and  were  not 
taxed  ;  but  this  year  they  were  taxed,  and  allowed  six  pence  on 
the  pound  for  collecting. 

Capt.  John  Foot,  Orlando  Bagley,  sen.,  and  Thomas  Challis, 
were  chosen  to  return  the  bounds  of  land  "  into  ye  town  book 
and  also  to  join  with  ye  selectmen  concerning  ye  setting  and 
and  exchanging  highways."  Samuel  Weed  had  served  on  this 
committee  since  1694,  but  was  dismissed  at  this  meeting,  be- 
cause, as  they  said,  he  was  "ancient  and  decayed."  So  Samuel 
Weed  at  66  was  really  an  old  fogy — not  up  to  the  times.  It 
was  a  little  rough  to  dismiss  one  who  had  faithfully  served  the 
town  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  in  such  an  undigni- 
fied manner. 

Sergeant  John  Colby  died  this  year.  His  homestead  was 
probably  in  the  vicinity  of  Daniel  F.  Morrill's,  who  now  owns  a 
portion  of  it. 


HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY.  I  73 

July  30th.  A  meeting  was  held  and  the  following  vote 
passed:  "At  ye  same  meeting  that  part  of  a  vote  is  recalled, 
that  is  to  say  concerning  ye  place  of  building  and  setting  our 
school  house  at  ye  west  end  of  ye  town,  and  voted  to  set  said 
house  on  a  pece  of  land  near  ye  house  of  John  Davis,  and  ye 
inhabitants  of  ye  west  end  of  said  town  to  provide  land  for  set- 
ting of  said  house  on." 

1720. 

The  selectmen  were  authorized  to  raise  the  money  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  town  for  the  current  year. 

Gideon  Lowell  petitioned  for  leave  to  fence  in  the  road  over 
Bailey's  hill,  and  offered  to  give  a  piece  of  land  at  the  mouth 
of  Powow  river  for  a  landing-place.  The  offer  was  accepted  by 
the  town. 

Richard  Currier  petitioned  for  leave  to  build  a  vessel  or  ves- 
sels on  the  above  landing,  and  was  allowed  the  privilege.  Ship 
building  on  the  river  at  this  date  was  a  very  important  branch 
of  business  and  was  fast  building  up  the  Ferry. 

The  schools  were  not  forgotten,  but  at  the  May  meeting  the 
town  voted  "that  ye  school  shall  be  kept  at  Jamaco  five  months 
from  ye  first  of  February  last  and  the  school  shall  be  moved  to 
town  and  there  kept  till  seven  months  is  expired  after  his  re- 
moval to  town."     This  was  the  grammar  school. 

1721. 

The  first  mention  of  a  bond  given  by  the  constables  is  found 
this  year.  John  Pressy  was  accepted  by  giving  a  bond  of 
^600,  which  William  Pressey  and  Ephraim  Weed  signed. 

Capt.  Foot  was  moderator  of  the  annual  meeting,  but  being 
unexpectedly  called  to  a  session  of  the  legislature,  Orlando  Bag- 
ley,  sen.,  was  chosen  at  the  adjourned  meeting. 

Thomas  Challis  and  Jacob  Sargent  were  chosen  to  hire  a 
school-master  the  present  year. 

The  road  known  as  "  Hunt's  road,"  near  the  house  of  Benj. 
F.  Huntington,  was  widened  and  defined  this  year :  "  Voted 
that  ye  town  would  have  an  open  highway  of  three  rods  wide 
from  ye  countrey  rode  to  ye  town  highway  at  y-  head  of  the 
River  lots  out  of  ye  parsonage  land,  said  way  bounding  westerly 


i74 


HISTORY     OF  AMESBURY. 


on  ye  land  of  Capt.  Currier,  Ephraim  Hunt  and  Daniel  Flan- 
ders." For  many  years  there  had  been  a  road,  but  like  many 
of  the  old  roads,  it  was  a  mere  path  spotted  through  the 
woods.  On  three-fourths  of  the  roads  but  very  little  was  ex- 
pended for  their  improvement. 

Some  difficulty  having  arisen  in  regard  to  hogs  running  at 
large,  a  special  meeting  was  held  "  concerning  of  ye  taking  of 
ye  sharpness  relating  to  swine."  "Voted  that  all  hoggs  should 
go  at  large  on  ye  commons  in  said  town  for  ye  yeare  ensuing 
they  being  yoaked  and  ringed  as  ye  law  directs." 

Constables  were  paid  12  pence  on  the  pound  for   collecting. 

The  General  Court  at  its  session  begun  on  the  15th  of  March, 
passed  a  law  authorizing  the  emission  of  bills  of  credit  to  the 
amount  of  fifty  thousand  pounds,  for  the  use  of  the  province, 
giving  the  following  reason  :  "Whereas  the  public  bills  of  credit 
on  this  province,  which,  for  want  of  silver,  have  for  many  years 
not  only  answered  the  charge  of  his  majesty's  government,  both 
in  war  and  peace,  but  served  as  a  medium  of  exchange  in  the 
merchandise,  trade  and  business  of  the  province,  are  grown 
scarce  in  proportion  to  the  great  demand  of  the  same." 

These  bills  were  to  be  loaned  to  the  town  and  held  by  trus- 
tees, who  were  to  loan  the  same  on  good  security  to  the  in- 
habitants. The  towns  received  in  proportion  to  their  last  prov- 
ince rate.  The  amount  received  by  Amesbury  was  ^373. 
Capt.  Richard  Currier,  Jonathan  Blasdell  and  Orlando  Bagley, 
jr.,  were  chosen  trustees,  to  loan  the  money  on  time  not  longer 
than  four  years,  and  to  receive  one  quarter  of  the  interest  for 
their  services. 

Very  little  hard  money  was  to  be  found  in  the  colony,  and  it 
was  difficult  to  transact  business  or  even  pay  taxes. 

Mr.  Wells  was  directed  not  to  go  to  Jamaco  to  preach  till 
some  place  was  provided  for  him.  Very  likely  the  want  of  a 
suitable  place  to  hold  meetings  hastened  the  building  of  the 
second  meeting-house,  talked  of  some  six  years  ago.  Late  in 
the  year  (Dec.  nth)  a  town  meeting  was  called  to  consider 
the  matter,  and  possibly  to  make  preparation  to  build  the  com- 
ing year. 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  1 75 

At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  that,  "  that  vote  April  ye  1 2  : 
1 7 14,  which  was  voted  to  build  our  first  meeting  house  at  that 
part  of  ye  town  called  Jamaco,  should  be  built  on  that  pece  of 
land  which  Mr.  Ring  gave  ye  town  at  ye  pond  plain,  is  re- 
pealed made  voyd  and  of  none  effect." 

"At  ye  same  meeting  voted  that  ye  town  would  forthwith 
proceed  in  building  a  Meeting  house  at  ye  west  end  of  ye  town, 
commonly  called  Jamaco." 

Thomas  Challis  and  four  others  opposed  the  measure,  they 
being  Quakers.  Their  protest  availed  nothing :  the  meeting 
went  forward  with  the  measure  and  "voted  that  ye  said  Meet- 
ing house  shall  be  set  on  ye  country  road  near  ye  house  of 
Thomas  Bettells."  Thomas  and  Jeremiah  Fowler  owned  land 
there  and  offered  to  give  "one  quarter  of  an  acre  of  land  lying 
most  convenient  for  ye  aforesaid  Meeting  house." 

A  committee  was  chosen,  consisting  of  Richard  Currier,  Ja- 
cob Sargent  and  Orlando  Eagley,  jun.,  to  proceed  with  the 
work.  The  house  was  to  be  of  the  same  dimensions  as  the 
one  at  the  east  end,  built  at  the  parsonage  in  1 715.  The  lo- 
cation proved  a  bone  of  contention,  being  finally  repealed  in 
1722,  and  the  question  left  to  a  committee  taken  from  other 
towns. 

At  the  Friends'  November  monthly  meeting  at  Amesbury,  a 
communication  from  the  quarterly  meeting  was  read,  asking  the 
opinion  of  the  meeting  in  regard  to  wearing  wigs.  Some  of 
the  order  were  conforming  to  the  fashions  of  the  world  and  or- 
namenting their  persons  with  borrowed  hair.  This  wicked  de- 
parture from  the  plain  course  marked  out  by  the  founders  of 
the  order  received  very  grave  consideration  at  the  next  monthly 
meeting  at  Hampton,  and  the  following  conclusion  was 
reached  :  "  The  matter  above  mentioned  consarning  ye  Wear- 
ing of  Wigges  was  Discorsed  &  It  was  concluded  by  this  meet- 
ing yl  ye  Wearing  of  Extravegent  superflues  Wigges  Is  all  to 
Gather  Contreary  to  truth." 

1722. 

The  town  was  presented  for  not  having  a  school-master,  ac- 
cording to  law,  and  "Dacon"  John  Tukesbury  was  chosen  to  go 
to  Ipswich  court  to  answer. 


176  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

In  1 715  a  petition  was  laid  before  the  town  for  a  highway 
from  "Swett's  ferry  to  Kingstown,"  and  an  old  plan  is  now  in 
the  county  commissioner's  office  showing  the  way  as  peti- 
tioned for,  made  the  same  year.  Swett's  ferry  seems  to  have 
been  in  East  Haverhill,  or  near  the  line  of.  the  two  towns,  and 
the  way  went  through  the  northwest  part  of  the  town  to  Kings- 
ton. This  section  was  laid  out  in  farms  of  various  sizes,  but 
in  rectangles  intersected  by  roads  as  convenience  required.  The 
town  opposed  the  "way,"  and  paid  Jarvis  Ring  45  s.  for  "put- 
ting it  bye." 

The  selectmen  were  instructed  to  hire  a  school-master,  having 
had  some  trouble  on  account  of  the  neglect  to  comply  with  the 
law. 

The  annual  meeting  was  adjourned  "  to  the  house  of  Eliza- 
beth Colby,  inn  holder,"  to  meet  at  9  A.  M.  on  the  13th  inst. 
Capt.  John  Foot,  moderator  of  the  meeting,  was  unexpectedly 
called  to  General  Court,  and  Orlando  Bagley,  the  clerk's  father, 
was  chosen  for  the  remainder  of  the  meeting. 

The  constables  were  paid  6  s.  on  the  pound  for  collecting, 
which  is  equal  to  two  and  one-half  cents  on  the  dollar.  Rep- 
resentatives were  allowed  12  d.  per  day  in  addition  to  what  the 
law  gave  them. 

Last  year  the  town  voted  to  build  a  meeting  house  at  the 
west  end,  near  the  house  of  Thomas  Bettel  on  the  country 
road,  Thomas  and  Jeremiah  Fowler  engaging  to  give  a  quarter 
of  an  acre  of  land  for  that  purpose  ;  but  the  location  was  not 
satisfactory,  and  a  meeting  was  held  May  14th  and  the  vote 
reconsidered,  notwithstanding  very  strong  opposition.*  The  work 
had  already  commenced ;  the  materials  were  collected  and  on 
the  spot  and  the  building  under  contract  and  in  process  of 
construction ;  but  a  portion  were  dissatisfied  and  determined  -to 
change  the  location,  notwithstanding  the  extra  cost. 

"At  ye  same  meeting  voted  to  chuse  three  men  as  a  Com- 
mittee fully  impowering  them  to  appoint  a  plase  where  ye  said 
Meeting  house  shall  be  set  as  they  shall  judge  most  convenient 
for  the  west  end  of  ye  town  called  Jemaco  and  iff  ye  said  Com- 

*  Twenty-one  entered  their  "contra  dicent"  to  its  repeal. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  1 77 

mittee  see  caus  to  appoynt  any  other  place  the  town  to  be  at 
general  charge  for  ye  removing  of  ye  timber  and  other  matters 
already  provided  in  order  for  the  promoting  and  carrying  on 
ye  said  work  of  building  and  finishing  sd  house  so  that  the 
Committee  appoynted  for  building  and  finishing  sd  house  and 
ye  undertakers  that  are  obliged  to  do  and  finish  ye  sd  house 
afore  sd  may  not  be  damnified  by  ye  sd  removal." 

The  committee  chosen  were  Col.  Henry  Summerby,  of  New- 
bury, Capt.  Nathaniel  Brown,  of  Salisbury,  and  Lieut.  Richard 
Heason,  of  Haverhill.  What  conclusion  was  reached  we  hardlv 
know,  as  no  report  appears  on  the  record.  As,  however,  the 
house  was  not  located  on  the  "  Country  road,"  but  on  the  plain 
a  short  distance  above  the  present  church,  it  is  probable  that 
this  committee  changed  the  location. 

The  plain  was,  no  doubt,  the  most  populous  portion  of 
"Jemaco"  at  that  time.  Capt.  Foot,  the  Aliens,  Cottles  and, 
no  doubt,  many  others  lived  in  the  immediate  vicinity.  Capt. 
Foot's  fort  was  there,  to  which  in  times  of  alarm  all  the  fami- 
lies   fled   for   safety  and    protection,  as    they  did  this  very  year. 

The  Indians  were  making  raids  on  the  settlements  in  various 
places,  and  suddenly  appeared  at  Jamaco.  The  alarm  was  given 
and  great  excitement  followed.  The  women  and  children  fled 
to  the  fort  for  safety.  It  was  on  this  occasion  'that  Anna  Cot- 
tle was  born,  who  died  in  1810,  aged  87  years,  11  months,  5 
days.  Ushered  into  the  world  under  such  singular  circumstan- 
ces, she  yet  lived  to  a  great  age,  dying  at  a  period  when 
neither  forts  nor  garrison  houses  were  need.  Her  parentage  is 
not  very  clear,  but  she  may  have  been  the  daughter  of  Edmund 
Cottle,  then  living  in  some  part  of  Jamaco. 

There  were  at  this  time  several  forts  or  garrison  houses  scat- 
tered over  the  western  section  of  the  town.  One  of  them  was 
located  not  far  from  the  homestead  of  the  late  Enos  Heath, 
one  at  the  Highlands,  and  Capt.  Foot's  fort  was  on  the  plain 
where  the  school  was  kept  a  few  years  ago. 

It  is  probable  that  at  this  time  a  raid  was  made  on  the  Pond 
hills.  Tradition  says  that  David  Currier,  the  great  ancestor  of 
the    Curriers    there,  while    at  work    in  his    field  near  the    Great 

23 


178  HISTORY     OF  AMESBURY. 

swamp,  was  aroused  to  a  sense  of  danger  by  the  growling  of 
his  dog,  which  lay  not  far  off.  Being  thus  put  upon  his  guard, 
he  made  a  hasty  survey  of  the  surrounding  premises,  and  pres- 
ently espied  an  Indian  very  quietly  picking  huckleberries  near 
the  woods.  Snatching  his  gun  he  fired,  wounding  the  Indian 
slightly  under  the  arm,  which  so  frightened  the  poor  fellow  that 
he  called  for  quarter  without  firing.  "Lay  down  your  gun  and 
I'll  give  you  quarters!"  was  the  reply,  which  he  did  very  read- 
ily. He  was  taken  to  the  garrison  house,  near  the  residence  of 
the  late  D.  G.  Estes,  and  subsequently  exchanged.  The  gun 
was  kept  and  is  now  in  possession  of  Mr.  John  Currier,  who 
lives  on  the  premises.  He  was  one  of  a  party  of  five  or  six 
who  were  on  the  war-path  seeking  mischief.  Startled  by  the 
firing,  they  were  seen  running  over  the  hill  towards  the  pond 
a  few  minutes  later. 

Before  the  close  of  the  year  the  "way  to  Kingstown  was  laid 
out,"  and  the  town  complained  of  the  heavy  burden  imposed 
upon  them  in  consequence. 

Rev.  Thomas  Wells,  the  eloquent  young  preacher  who  capti- 
vated the  hearts  of  the  people  in  1674,  had  now  grown  some- 
what aged,  having  most  faithfully  expounded  the  word  for  more 
than  forty-eight  years,  and  passed  through  many  very  trying 
times,  as  well  as  the  people,  began  to  feel  the  need  of  some 
relief  from  the  duties  which  every  year  grew  more  arduous. 
Accordingly  a  meeting  was  called  to  "make  choyce  of  men  to 
procure  an  orthodox  Schooller  to  assist  our  reverent  Mr  Wells 
Minister  in  ye  work  of  ye  Ministry."  Nothing  was  done  at  this 
meeting  except  chosing  a  moderator,  and  thus  the  matter  rested 
awhile. 

Widow  Elizabeth  Colby  petitioned  for  leave  to  fence  across 
the  old  road  back  of  Pleasant  valley  (  then  called  River  lots ) 
;it  both  ends,  "making  convenient  gates  and  maintaining  them 
at  each  end." 

"This  voted  on  ye  afarmitive."  Many  of  the  roads  were  thus 
turned  into  pastures  every  year.  The  Sandy  Brook  road  was 
fenced  in  and  used  by  Thomas  Challis  and  Thomas  Nichols, 
through  whose  land  it  was  located. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  1 79 

1723. 

The  record  of  the  annual  meeting  is  missing  this  year. 

The  town,  having  laid  out  a  landing  near  Nichol's  creek,  found 
that  the  land  taken  was  given  to  the  "bank  of  credit"  for  secu- 
rity, and  could  not  be  legally  taken  without  the  authority  of  the 
Court.  Accordingly,  Capt.  Foot  was  chosen  to  petition  the 
"enferour  court"  to  establish  the  landing  as  desired.  Capt. 
Foot  was,  also,  "to  represent  at  sd  court  in  matter  and  caus  of 
and  concerning  the  great  hardships  we  are  under  concerning  a 
highway  lately  laid  out  from  Swetts  Ferry  to  Kings  Town." 

This  was  a  costly  road  and  of  no  great  benefit  to  Ames- 
bury — rather  a  damage,  cutting  the  farms  in  some  cases  to  a 
great  disadvantage.  It  might  have  been  valuable  to  Swett's 
landing,  -  affording  better  accommodations  into  the  country. 

Thomas  Barnard  died  December  nth.  He  was  a  grandson 
of  the  first  Thomas  Barnard  and,  by  inheritance  or  otherwise, 
had  come  into  possession  of  a  large  property,  appraised  at 
^543,  16  s.  His  horn-beam  tubs  were  valued  at  23  s.,  yoke 
of  oxen  ,£10,  horse  40  s.,  two  cows  ^4.  Tobacco  was  named 
in  the  inventory,  but  no  potatoes,  nor  do  any  of  the  old  inven- 
tories at  Salem  mention  them  up  to  this  date,  or  even  some- 
what later.     Some  part  of  his  homestead  touched  the  pond. 

Joseph  Kimball  died  during  the  year.  He  was  chosen  on 
the  board  of  selectmen  at  the  annual  meeting,  and  was  of  the 
family  at  the  pond. 

Some  of  the  Friends  were  putting  up  large  stones  at  the 
graves  of  their  friends,  contrary  to  the  principles  of  the  order, 
and  the  monthly  meeting  took  notice  of  the  matter,  as  follows  : 
"This  meeting  taking  Notis  of  ye  superfluas  Stones  sat  up  At 
ye  Graves  in  ye  buermg  place  Dwo  tharefore  Desire  Joshua 
Purington  benjamin  Houg  &  Moses  Swett  to  Discors  with  those 
yl  have  sit  up  ye  same  &  bring  thayer.  Account  to  ye  next 
monthly  meeting  y4  so  In  Deavers  may  be  used  to  hinder 
sutch  things." 

1724. 

The  new  meeting-house  was  so  far  completed  as  to  be  ready 
for  those  having  permission  to  build  pews  to  proceed  with  their 


l8o  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

work.  "  Lieu"  Thomas  Hoyt,  Dacon  Joseph  Brown  and  John 
Challis "  were  chosen  a  committee  to  assign  the  pew-room  to 
those  who  were  about  to  build.  For  the  privilege  of  pew-room 
each  was  to  pay  ten  shillings,  and  if  not  built  or  occupied  be- 
fore the  last  of  May  all  was  to  be  forfeited. 

Jamaco  was  now  well  accommodated  for  religious  worship, 
with  the  exception  of  a  minister,  and  the  question  very  natur- 
ally arose,  How  shall  he  be  hired  and  paid?  To  settle  this 
question  a  town  meeting  was  called  April  24th,  when  it  was 
•'  voted  whether  or  no  ye  town  will  still  keep  together  (or  part) 
in  ye  maintaining  two  ministers  among  us,  this  vote  voted  and 
past  on  ye  affermitive,  viz.  :  to  part  in  ye  maintaining  our  min- 
isters." 

The  dividing  line  was  fixed  at  Nichols'  creek,  and  up  the 
brook  to  the  country  road,  thence  north  to  the  pond  and 
across  to  back  river,  thence  up  the  river  to  Bartlett's  brook  to 
his  saw-mill,  and  thence,  as  the  brook  goes,  to  Country  pond. 
This  gave  each  parish  a  large  territory,  until  the  State  line  was 
defined  anew. 

To  make  this  division  valid  and  establish  two  parishes  in 
town,  the  consent  and  approval  of  the  General  Court  was  needed. 
Accordingly  a  meeting  was  called  on  the  28th  of  October  to 
take  measures  for  the  confirmation  of  this  line  by  the  legis- 
lature, but  those  opposed  were  the  stronger,  and  voted  not  to 
apply  for  a  confirmation.  Capt.  Richard  Currier  and  forty- 
others,  mostly  east  end  men,  entered  "themselves  contradicent 
to  and  dicenting  from  ye  vote  last  past  and  entered  upon 
record." 

The  west  end  people  were  not  fully  satisfied  with  the  line,  or 
with  a  division  at  all,  and  with  what  assistance  they  obtained 
at  the  east  end,  had  for  the  present  virtually  defeated  the 
measure. 

Rice  Edwards  asked  the  town  for  a  small  piece  of  land  in  the 
yard  at  the  Ferry  where  he  was  building  vessels,  to  set  a  house  on 
so  long  as  he  continued  building,  and  his  petition  was  granted. 
Capt.  Currier  and  Thomas  Challis  were  appointed  to  set  him  off 
four    rods.      Ship-building    was    adding   to    the    population    and 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURV.  l8l 

wealth  of  the  town,  and  all  favors  for  its  encouragement  were 
cheerfully  granted. 

Enoch  Coffin  was  the  school-master  this  year. 

Thomas  Nichols,  whose  home  was  on  the  plain  near  Tappan 
Emery's,  died  this  year.  By  his  will  he  gave  his  son  Jonathan 
live  shillings,  his  daughter  Anna,  wife  of  Samuel  Colby,  five 
shillings,  Mary,  wife  of  Ralph  Blasdell,  five  shillings  and  two 
bushels  of  winter  apples  for  ten  years  if  she  would  go  into  the 
orchard  and  pick  them  ;  Esther,  wife  of  Ichabod  Colby  (and  at 
a  later  period  the  famous  "Widow  Esther  Colby,  Inn  holder"  ), 
five  shillings  ;  Thomas,  five  shillings  ;  David,  forty  shillings  ;  Rachel, 
five  pounds  when  eighteen  ;  and  to  Stephen,  Ebenezer  and  Ben- 
jamin, all  of  his  real  estate.  He  was  the  father  of  those  bearing 
that  name  in    town,  and  a  Friend. 

1725. 

Capt.  Currier,  Jacob  Rowell  and  Samuel  Lowell  petitioned  for 
leave  to  build  a  wharf  "  upon  ye  Powow  river  to  the  north- 
ward of  Mr.  Lowells  his  wharf,"  and  the    petition    was   granted. 

Last  year  the  town  was  divided  into  two  parishes,  but  was 
not  presented  to  the  General  Court  for  confirmation  on  account  of 
some  disagreement  on  several  points.  The  west  parish,  how- 
ever, went  forward  and  hired  a  minister,  who  continued  to  preach. 
The  parties  could  not  agree  as  to  Mr.  Wells'  maintenance  in 
his  old  age,  or  about  the  "parsnage"  land,  which  was  ever  to 
be  kept  for  the  use  of  the  ministry.  The  west  parish  would 
have  given  up  the  land  to  be  cleared  from  contributing  to  the 
support  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wells. 

To  settle  this  difficulty  by  the  adoption  of  some  just  measure. 
John  Challis  was  directed  to  warn  a  meeting  on  the  7th  day  of 
April,  at  the  east  meeting-house,  "  to  consider  of  sum  means 
whereby  to  settle  ourselves  with  respect  to  ye  payment  of  our 
ministers  ;  and  to  endeavor  a  loving  agreement  for  ye  future 
setling  ourselves  for  ye  future  respecting  ye  same,  either  in  our 
being  together  or  asunder." 

Under  this  mild  and  peaceful  invitation,  the  people  assem- 
bled and  confirmed  the  line  to  be  perpetual  and  "mutually 
agreed    upon    and    concented    to    and    with  by  us  ye  sd.inhabi- 


1 82  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

tants,  that  ye  lower  precinct  shall  pay  to  ye  upper  precinct  so 
much  as  ye  sd  upper  precints  are  assessed  to  pay  to  ye  main- 
tainance  of  Mr.  Wells  for  his  work  in  ye  Ministry  in  ye  year 
1724;  within  three  months  after  ye  date  hereof  and  it  is  fur- 
ther mutually  agreed  upon  by  ye  sd  inhabitants  that  ye  upper 
precinct  shall  have  and  enjoy  ye  one  half  of  ye  pasnage  land 
and  meadows  conditionally  that  they  shall  and  do  pay  to  and 
for  ye  use  of  Mr  Wells  maintainance  after  he  is  disabled  for 
carrying  on  ye  work  of  ye  ministry  ye  one  half  of  what  is  to  be 
payd  to  him  and  also  pay  to  Mistress  Wells  ye  one  half  of 
what  she  must  be  paid  by  ye  towns  agreement  with  Mr  Wells." 

It  was,  also,  decided  to  have  a  confirmation,  and  Joseph 
Davis  was  intrusted  to  lay  the  matter  before  the  General 
Court. 

The    confirmation    was,  as  follows  ; — 

"In  ye  house  of  Representatives  May  ye  29th  1725.  Read 
and  ordered  that  ye  prayers  of  ye  petitioners  be  so  far  granted 
as  that  ye  town  of  Amesbury  be  and  hereby  is  divided  into 
two  separate  and  distinct  precincts  by  ye  line  mentioned  and 
described  in  ye  petition,  and  that  such  of  them  shall  have  exer- 
cise and  enjoy  ye  same  powers  and  privileges  with  ye  other 
precincts  in  ye  province. 

Sent  up  for  concurrence, 

Wm.  Dudley,  Speaker. 

In  Council  May  ye  29th  1725  Read  &  Concured  concerited 
to  /.    Willard,  Secretary. 

Wm.  Dumer. 
A  true  copy  from  ye  files   Examined  by 

/.    Willard.  Secretary." 

The  town  voted  to  have  a  school  kept  "one  quarter  part  of 
ye  su  time  for  this  year  near  or  at  ye  dwelling  house  of  Tres- 
trem  Barnard  iff  in  case  there  be  a  convenient  place  provided." 

1726. 

The  division  of  the  town  into  parishes  last  year  by  the  General 
Court  was  the  occasion  of  an  organization  of  a  separate  church 
on  the  19th  of  May,  as  appears  by  the  parish  records,  from 
which  the   following  is  taken  : — 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  1 83 

"Amesbury,  May  19,  1726;  Was  gathered  the  2d  church  of 
Christ  in  Amesbury,  there  being  then  present  the  Rev.  ministers 
of  the  gospel,  viz. :  Mr.  Wells,  Gushing,  Parsons,  Tufts  and 
Brown." 

A  creed  was  adopted,  containing  the  embodiment  of  their 
faith,  especially  the  Puritanical  doctrine  of  the  decrees,  election, 
reprobation  and  depravity.  The  church  covenant  followed,  and 
the  whole  was  signed  by 

Pain  Wingate,         Titus  Wells,  William  Moulton, 

John  Foot,  Valentine  Rowell,         John  Blasdell, 

Thos.  Fowler,         Samuel  Stevens,  Philip  Rowell, 

Abraham  Merrill,     Joseph  Sargent,  Tappan   Ordway, 

Thomas  Colby,       Joseph  Bartlett.  Abram  Merrill,  jr. 

The  whole  was  ratified  by  public  acknowledgment  in  the 
congregation,  and  Mr.  Pain  Wingate,  then  a  young  man,  was 
made  choice  of  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  ministry. 

Arrangements  were  then  made  for  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Win- 
gate. Capt.  John  Foot  and  Abraham  Merrill  were  chosen  to 
send  letters  to  the  neighboring  churches,  to  send  delegates  ;  and 
their  ministers  were  invited  to  take  part  in  the  services. 

Mr.  dishing  of  Salisbury  was  selected  to  preach  the  sermon, 
or,  if  not  able  to  do  that,  to  give  the  charge,  which  he  did. 
Letters  were  sent  on  the  23d  of  May,  and  the  ordination  took 
place  on  the  3d  of  June.  Mr.  Wells  made  the  prayer,  Mr. 
Gookin  preached  the  sermon  from  John  xx.  :  15.  Mr.  Tufts 
offered  prayer  and  Mr.  Gushing  gave  the  charge,  and  Mr.  Par- 
sons gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship. 

July  13th.  Abraham  Merrill  and  Joseph  Colby  were  chosen 
deacons,  and  this  completed  the  organization  of  the  second 
church  in  Amesbury. 

It  was  decided  to  furnish  the  communion  table  by  the  "free- 
will offering"  of  the  church.  It  cost  ^7,  10  s.  10  d.,  and  the 
whole  service  was  purchased  in  Boston  and  the  following  is  the 
bill  of  pieces  : — 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 


OSTON, 

Aug. 

8th 

.   i' 

726. 

£■ 

s. 

d. 

4 

6 
18 

2 
M 

5 

0 
0 
0 
0 
10 
0 

2  Hard  Metal  Floggers, 

2  Tankards, 

2  Platters, 

4  Tumblers, 

1  Bason, 

4  yds.  Linen  cloth, 


j£"j  10  s.  iod. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  persons  taxed  for  the  support  of 
preaching  in  the  west  parish  for  the  year  1726.  It  is  given 
here  as  showing  very  nearly  the  whole  male  population  of  the 
parish  who  were  voters  or  above  twenty-one  years  of  age.  It 
may  not  be  improper  to  remark  that  all  were  taxed  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  legal  church.  This  list  of  persons  was  assessed  to 
raise  the  sum  of  ,£220  8  s.  yd.  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the 
ministry : — 

Abraham  Colby,  ^     Abner  Brown, 
Benony  Tucker,  Benjamin  Tucker, 

Charles  Sargent,  jr.,    Charles  Allen, 


Abraham  Merrill, 

Abner  Whittier, 

Benjamin  Hadley, 

Cutting  Feavor,  Daniel  Hoyt, 

David  Sargent,  Elias  Colby, 

Ephraim  Pemberton,  Eben  Aboot, 

Jacob  Hoyt,  Philip  Rowell, 


Jonathan  Colby, 
Jonathan  Sargent, 
John  Pressey, 
Thomas  Davis, 
John  Martin, 
Samuel  Hadley,  jr., 
Nathaniel  Merrill, 
Joseph  Hadley, 
George  Hadley, 
Henry  Dow, 
Micah  Lanckester. 
William   Pressey, 


Joseph  Sargent. 
Philip  Sargent,  jr.. 
Nehemiah  Heath, 
Samuel  Martin, 
Ezra  Tucker, 
Richard  Goodwin, 
Samuel  Silver, 
Jonathan  Cleark. 
John  Hoyt, 
Thomas  Dow, 
John  Sargent, 
Jacob  Pressey, 


Daniel  Sargent, 
Ephraim  Davies, 
Francies  Davies, 
Timothy  Hoyt, 
Samuel  Davies, 
Joseph  Bartlett, 
Samuel  Hunt, 
John  Straw, 
John  Hunt, 
William  Davies. 
Samuel  Hadley, 
Richard  Kelley, 
Isaac  Colby, 
Joseph  Lanckester, 
Thomas  Stevens,  jr.. 
John  Nichols, 


HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY. 


I85 


Robert  Ring,  ^Jonathan  Nichols, 

John  Pressey,  Henry  Trussell, 

Insign  Jacob  Sargent,  Joseph  Pregett, 


John  Blasdell, 
Joseph  Davies,  jr., 
Joseph  Moody, 
John  Lanckester, 
Phillip  Sargent, 
Thomas  Beedle,  jr., 
Thomas  Rovvell, 
John  Foot,  jr., 
Timothy  Sargent, 
James  Ordway, 
Timothy  Colby, 
Jonathan  Clement, 
Samuel  Poore, 
John  Oseleway, 
John  Harvey, 
Josiah  Fowler, 
Jacob  Sargent,  jr., 
William  Sargent,  jr. 
David  Coope, 


Joseph  Collens, 
Nathaniel  Davies, 
Jedidiah  Titcomb, 
Jeremiah  Fowler, 
William  Moulton, 
John  Whittier, 
Samuel  Foot, 
Joseph  Currier, 
John  Davies, 
Samuel  Stevens, 
Joseph  Harvey, 
John  Bartlett,  sen., 
Joseph  Shoort, 
William  Harvey, 
William  Fowler, 
Titus  Wells, 
Jonathan  Ferrien, 
Isaac  Rogers, 
Ezekiel  Colby, 


Samuel  Juel, 
Henry  Trussell,  jr., 
Nathaniel  Tucker, 
Joseph  Davies, 
Philip  Call, 
Israel  Young, 
John  Fowler, 
Thomas  Beedle, 
Vallentine  Rowell, 
Capt.  John  Foot, 
Thomas  Colby, 
Jonathan  Davies, 
Robert  Beedle, 
Jonathan  Kelly, 
Thomas  Bartlett, 
John  Bartlett,  jr., 
James  Dow, 
Thomas  Fowler, 
Thomas  Wells, 
Samuel  Colby,  jr., 
Andrew  Rowen, 
Charles  Sargent. 


Widows  :- 


J  Mary  Busell,      Hannah  Gurdy, 
{  Mary  Sargent,  Margaret  Challes. 

The  foregoing  list  will  show  in  which  parish  a  large  portion 
of  the  people  lived,  and  is  valuable  on  that  account. 

Timothy  Colby  received  eight  pence  on  the  pound  for  col- 
lecting the  west  parish  tax. 

There  was  a  Dr.  Peterson  in  the  west  parish  at  this  time,  but 
nothing  is  known  of  his  history. 

On  the  25th  of  November  a  town  meeting  was  held  to  choose 
a  representative  for  the  fall  session  of  the  General  Court,  and 
the  choice  fell  upon  Capt.  John  Foot.  He  was  "to  represent 
sd  town  at  a  General  Court  now  holden  at  Boston,  to  endeavor 
to  have  ye  County  of  Essex  divided  into  two  countys."  The 
object  of  this  move  does  not  appear.  It  may  have  been  an 
attempt  to  re-establish  the  Old  Norfolk  county  north  of  the 
river.  24 


1 86  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

1727. 

A  committee  was  chosen  "to  purchase  of  Mr.  Ring  two  acres 
of  land  at  ye  burying  place  at  ye  pond  plain  and  to  receive  a 
deed  of  ye  same  at  ye  cost  and  for  ye  benefit  of  sd  town." 

This  was  no  doubt  designed  to  enlarge  the  burying-ground, 
but  it  is  very  doubtful  if  the  purchase  was  ever  made. 

Nathaniel  Brown  was  accepted  as  school-master  till  the  March 
meeting. 

For  a  long  series  of  years,  perhaps  from  the  first,  people  had 
paid  their  province  or  country  rates  in  grain  arid  the  products 
of  their  farms,  which  had  to  be  transported  to  Boston  and 
delivered  to  the  government.  This  year  the  town  offered  to 
abate  one-fifth  to  those  who  should  pay  direct  to  the  treasurer 
of  the  province.  This  tax  was  ^72  6  s.  this  year.  Prices  as 
fixed  by  law  were:  "beef,  ^3  per  barrel ;  pork,  ^5  10  s. ; 
winter  wheat,  8  s.  per  bushel ;  summer  wheat,  7  s. ;  barley, 
6  s.  per  bushel ;  rye,  6  s.  per  bushel ;  Indian  corn,  4  s.  per 
bushel;  oats,  2  s.  per  bushel;  flax  16  d.  per  pound;  pease  clear 
of  buggs,  9  s.  per  bushel;  firkin  butter,  good,  sweet,  12  d.  per 
pound;  hemp,  9  d.  per  pound;  beeswax,  2  s.  6  d.  per  pound"; 
dry  hides,  6  d.  per  pound ;  leather,  1 2  d.  per  pound ;  merchant- 
able dry  codd,  30  s.  per  quintal ;  oyl,  £2  10  s.  per  barrel ; 
whalebone  six  feet  long  and  upwards,  3  s.  6  d.  per  pound ;  bay- 
berry  wax,  16  d.  per  pound;  turpentine  full  bound,  13  s.  per 
cwt. ;  merchantable  bar  iron,  48  s.  per  cwt. ;  cast  iron  potts  and 
kettles  suitably  sorted,  not  too  heavy,  48  s.  per  cwt. ;  well 
cured  tobacco,  4  d.  per  pound ;  good  tryed  tallow,  8  d.  per 
pound." 

At  the  annual  meeting  it  was  "voted  that  no  person  shall 
cutt  down  or  other  ways  distroy  any  trees  standing  on  ye 
country  rode  or  on  any  town  way  within  two  miles  of  Merri- 
mack river,  on  ye  forfeiture  of  forty  shillings  per  tree  so  cut  or 
destroyed."  How  changed  are  things  !  At  present  there  are  not 
trees  enough  beside  the  road  for  the  weary  traveller  to  rest 
under. 

Thomas  Fowler  died,  October  3d.  He  was  a  man  of  con- 
siderable note,  having  served   as    representative    in    1695,    I7°°> 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  1 87 

1705,  1707  and  1 710,  and  was  several  times  moderator  of  town 
meetings.  He  was  chosen  assessor  in  1694  and  grand  juror  in 
1695,  and  his  name  is  frequently  mentioned  on  the  records. 
He  lived  at  "Jamaco"  and  was  opposed  to  building  the  meet- 
ing-house at  the  parsonage  in  1 715,  probably  because  but  One 
house  was  to  be  built,  and  that  too  far  off.  Thomas  and  Jere- 
miah offered  to  give  a  quarter  acre  of  land  to  set  the  meeting- 
house on  at  Jamaco  in  1721,  near  Thomas  Bettel's,  on  the 
country  road.  The  first  mention  of  his  name  on  the  record  is 
in  1678,  when  he  was  chosen  to  define  the  bounds  of  highways. 
He  sued  the  town  in  1679,  anc^  Capt.  Foot  was  chosen  to  de- 
fend the  suit;  and  he  was  constable  in  1685.  The  exact  time 
when  he  settled  in  Amesbury  is  not  known.  He  was  born  in 
Wales  and  probably  came  over  when  a  young  man,  and,  it  is 
said,  served  seven  years  for  his  passage  to  America.  He  had 
a  brother  Jeremiah  living  in  x\mesbury,  who  probably  came  over 
at  the  same  time.  In  his  will  he  mentioned  his  son,  William, 
and  daughters,  Jane  Ford,  Mary  Colby,*  Hannah  Ring  and  Mar- 
garet Challis.f  He  gave  his  son  William  forty  acres  of  land 
near  Country  pond,  and  mentioned  his  grandson,  Thomas,  son 
of  Jeremiah.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  said  he  was  old,  in  his 
will. 

Sept.    3d.    Bathsheba    Foot,    wife    of  Capt.  John  Foot,   died. 

On  the  ancient  account  book  of  David  Blasdell  is  an  account 
of  an  earthquake  on  the  29th  of  October,  at  10  p.  m.,  which 
he  calls  the  "  first  Earquake." 

Capt.  Richard  Kelley  also  mentions  this  earthquake  in  his 
diary,  as  follows  : — 

"  In  ye  yeare  1727,  October  29,  about  ten  of  ye  clock,  it  being 
Sabath  day  night,  was  the  Grate  earthquake  which  was  extrode- 
nery  loud  and  hard  as  awaked  many  out  of  sleep,  the  housen 
did  shake  &  windows  ratel  and  puter  and  dishes  clater  on  ye 
shelves  &  ye  tops  of  many  chimneys  fell  of  &  maney  ware  so 
shatered  as  that  people  ware  fain  to  take  them  down  and  new 
build  them  again." 

♦Married  Isaac  Colby,  Sept.  23d,  1706. 
fMarried  William  Challis  previous  to  April  15,  1699. 


155  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wingate  received  "  30  cords  good  wood "  this 
spring  for  his  supply.  This  would  be  considered  a  large  allow- 
ance at  the  present  day. 

The  West  parish  paid  Wm.  Pressey  ;£i6  for  building  a  fence 
at  the  burying  ground. 

Jan.  26th.     Mary,  wife  of  Rev.  Thomas  Wells,  died. 

1728. 

The  province  treasurer  was  directed  to  issue  ^60,000  in  bills 
of  credit,  to  be  loaned  to  the  towns  in  proportion  to  their  val- 
uation. Amesbury  received  ^473,  5  s.  The  proportion  of  this 
town  in  the  issue  of  1721,  when  ^50,000  was  the  total  sum, 
was  ^73,  and,  had  the  same  proportionate  share  been  received, 
it  would  have  been  £88.  The  valuation  of  Amesbury  had 
increased  more  than  the  average  of  towns  in  the  province,  or 
it  would  not  have  received  so  large  a  sum  as  ^473.  This 
speaks  well  for  the  prosperity  and  enterprise  of  the  people. 

John  Challis,  William  Moulton  and  John  Sargent  were  chosen 
trustees  to  receive  and  loan  the  money  in  sums  not  less  than 
two  nor  more  than  ten  pounds  to  any  one  person.  The  rate 
of  interest  was  fixed  at  six  per  cent. 

The  trustees  of  the  former  bank  were  ordered  to  render  their 
account  before  November  29th.  Thus  began  the  banking  sys- 
tem which,  under  various  forms,  has  been  continued  to  the 
present  day. 

Abigail  Merrill,  wife  of  Deacon  Abraham  Merrill,  died  July 
nth. 

John  Bagley  died  March  9th.  He  was  several  times  chosen 
selectman  and  in  several  instances  town  meetings  were  adjourned 
to  his  house. 

March  7th.  Thomas  Stevens  and  Joseph  Bartlett  were  chosen 
deacons  of  the  second  church. 

A  collection  was  taken  this  year  by  the  Friends  toward  repair- 
ing the  Boston  meeting  house,  and  Amesbury  Friends  contrib- 
uted ^5,   10  s.,  Hampton  jC$,   10  s.,  and  Newbury  40  s. 

In  1722  the  town  considered  the  propriety  of  engaging  a 
colleague  for  Mr.  Wells    in    order    to    lighten    his   labors,  which 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  1 89 

were  now  weighing  somewhat  heavily  upon  him  in  his  declining 
years  ;  but  nothing  further  was  done  at  that  time. 

This  year  the  Rev.  Edmund  March  was  ordained  July  3d. 
He  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  college  in  1722  and  was  about 
twenty-five  years  of  age. 

1729. 

The  ferry  across  the  river  at  Capt.  Hook's  occasioned  some 
trouble  at  this  time,  and  at  several  meetings  votes  were  passed 
in  regard  to  obtaining  it  from  the  hands  of  those  who  were 
monopolizing  the  privilege. 

At  the  annual  meeting  Jonathan  Blasdell  was  chosen  to  search 
the  records,  and,  at  a  meeting  in  September,  John  Blasdell,  jr., 
and  John  Challis  were  chosen  attorneys  to  obtain  the  ferry  by 
"tryal  at  law"  at  the  town's  cost.  Capt.  Humphrey  Hook  was 
using  the  ferry  and,  probably,  receiving  the  benefit,  and  a  por- 
tion of  the  people  were  dissatisfied,  no  doubt  thinking  the  town 
might  as  well  receive  some  little  income  therefrom.  A  meeting 
was  called  in  December  to  strengthen  the  committee  in  their 
law-suit,  as  it  was  now  in  court;  but,  after  choosing  Thomas 
Challis  moderator,  the  meeting  was  dismissed.  Evidently  Capt. 
Hook's  party  were  in  the  ascendant  and  defeated  all  action. 
The  question  created  considerable  excitement,  and  the  people 
were  very  much  divided  in  regard  to  it;  but  the  end  is  not 
yet. 

The  selectmen  were  ordered  to  perambulate  the  line  between 
Amesbury  and  Haverhill  and,  also,  to  hunt  up  the  town  lands. 
The  trustees  of  the  First  bank  were  ordered  to  pay  Capt.  Foot 
five  pounds  towards  his  services  as  representative  this  year. 

John  Challis  and  John  Blasdell  were  chosen  to  remove  all 
encroachments  on  the  highways  through  the  town. 

Deacon  Thomas  Stevens  died  April  14th.  He  was  one  of 
the  leading  men  during  a  large  part  of  his  life,  filling  nearly  all 
the  important  offices  in  town  at  some  period.  He  served  as 
selectman  seventeen  years  and  was  twice  elected   representative. 

His  first  election  as  one  of  the  selectmen  was  in  1684,  and 
his  last  in  1724.  Thomas  was  a  very  popular  name  in  the 
early  days  of  the  town,  and,  during  six  years  of  Deacon  Steven's 


190  HISTORY    OF-  AMESBURY. 

serving,    the    whole    board,    including    the    clerk,   were    able    to 
rejoice  in  the  Scriptural  name  of  Thomas,  thus  : — 

1684.     Thomas  Currier,  Clerk.  1685.     Thomas  Currier,  Clerk. 

Thomas  Barnard, ")  Thomas  Stevens,  ") 

Thomas  Stevens,   >-  Selectmen.  Thomas  Sargent,   >-  Selectmen. 

Thomas  Currier,  )  Thomas  Currier,  j 

1687.     Thomas  Currier,  Clerk.  1689.     Thomas  Currier,  Clerk. 

Thomas  Stevens,  ^  Thomas  Barnard,  ~\ 

Thomas  Barnard,  >•  Selectmen.  Thomas  Stevens,  >-  Selectmen. 

Thomas  Currier,  j  Thomas  Currier,  J 

1694.     Thomas  Currier,  Clerk.  1697.     Thomas  Currier,  Clerk. 

Thomas  Stevens,  ")  Thomas  Barnard,  ) 

Thomas  Barnard,  >-  Selectmen.  Thomas  Stevens,  >•  Selectmen. 

Thomas  Currier,  j  Thomas  Currier,    ) 

Thomas  Harvey,  Representative.  Thomas  Harvey,  Representative. 

Truly  from  1684  to  1697  was  an  age  of  Thomases,,  such  as 
never  was  before  or  since,  nor  ever  will  be  again  in  the  history 
of  the  town. 

Richard  Martin  died  March  nth.  He  was  mostly  noted  for 
being  one  of  the  lot  layers  from  the  death  of  his  father,  George 
Martin,  in  1685,  to  the  present  year,  although  he  held  many 
other  offices.  He  lived  near  where  Nicholas  Balford  now  lives, 
in  a  pasture  on  the  south  side  of  Goodale's  (P.  Valley)  hill, 
and  may  have  been  a  tanner  as  well  as  farmer,  as  several  tan 
pits  are  to  be  seen  near  his  residence. 

On  the  21st  of  November  an  event  occurred  at  the  Ferry 
which  attracted  no  unusual  notice,  nor  perhaps  brought  joy  to 
any  excepting  the  father  and  mother  of  the  promising  boy, 
who  was  at  a  later  period  known  as  "Josiah  Bartlett,"  a  signer 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  He  was  the  son  of 
Stephen  and  Hannah  Bartlett,  who  then  lived  at  the  Ferry  in  a 
house  which  stood  on  the  spot  now  purchased  for  an  Old 
Ladies'  Home.  The  house  remained  until  the  fall  of  1878, 
when  it  was  removed,  being  nearly  two  hundred  years-  old.  The 
history  of  the  boy  born  here  need  not  be  repeated,  as  all  who 
read  American  history  are  familiar  with  his  life.  The  "  Home  " 
contains  nearly  two  acres — a  beautiful  spot,  and  should  contain 
a  suitable  monument  to  Amesbury's  most  noted  son. 

Nov.  30th.     Nathaniel    Brown  died    in    the    30th  year  of  his 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  191 

age.     On  his  monument  is  the  following  : — JUI-HABUft-PRI- 
MUM-GRADUM-IN-ARtIBUS-COLLGIO-HARU-1722. 

He  was  the  son  of  Deacon  Joseph  Brown,  and  a  graduate  of 
Harvard  college,  but  what  professsion  he  had  chosen  we  have 
no  means  of  knowing.  He  was,  before  entering  college,  a 
school-master,  and  was  engaged  to  teach  in  Amesbury  in  1716. 
He  was  no  doubt  a  young  man  of  much  promise. 

1730. 

There  being  some  danger  that  the  charter  of  the  province 
would  be  taken  away  by  the  king  and  council,  Messrs.  Wicks 
and  Belcher  were  employed  by  this  town  (and  perhaps  by  all 
other  towns)  to  represent  matters  in  England.  Mr.  Belcher 
was  a  native  of  the  province  and  popular  at  court.  A  serious 
dispute  had  arisen  between  the  new  governor,  William  Burnet, 
and  the  General  Courts  of  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire, 
in  regard  to  his  salary.  The  excitement  is  supposed  to  have 
caused  his  death  in  a  few  months,  which  greatly  exasperated 
the  royal  government  in  England,  causing  a  strong  feeling  in 
favor  of  reducing  the  province  to  "  a  more  absolute  dependence 
on  the  crown."  To  pay  these  agents  for  their  services  the 
town  appropriated  ^"30  this  year. 

For  certain  offences  the  punishment  was  sitting  in  the 
"  stocks  or  bilbowes,  or  putting  their  tongues  in  split  sticks." 
Having  on  hand  a  lot  of  offenders  whom  the  town  was  unable 
to  punish  properly,  it  was  voted  at  the  March  meeting  "  to 
have  one  paire  of  stocks  immediately  built  and  set  where  ye 
selectmen  shall  think  most  convenient."  This  was  to  be  done 
immediately.  As  these  stocks  were  usually  set  up  in  some  high- 
way or  public  place,  it  was  really  no  small  punishment  to  sit 
thus  exposed  to  the  gaze  of  friends  and  foes. 

Thomas  Cottle  having  purchased  the  interest  of  Rice  Edwards 
in  the  ship-yard  near  Gideon  Lowell's,  petitioned  the  town  for 
a  continuance  of  the  grant  made  to  Edwards,  and  had  his  pe- 
tition allowed. 

Last  year  an  action  was  commenced  to  recover  the  ferry  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Powow  river  from  the  hands  of  Capt. 
Humphrey  Hook.     What  progress  was  made    does    not    appear, 


192  HISTORY   OF   AMESBURY. 

but  this  year  a  meeting  was  held  Nov.  9th  to  take  measures  to 
carry  on  the  suit.  The  inhabitants  were  notified  to  meet  at 
the  west  meeting-house,  and  even  there  it  was  a  close  contest. 
The  choice  of  moderator  seems  to  have  been  a  test  question, 
and  he  was  only  chosen  by  "drawing  out  of  sd  meeting  house." 
Batt  Moulton  was  chosen  moderator,  and  his  brother  William 
and  John  Blasdell,  jr.,  (all  west  end  men)  were  chosen  com- 
mittee to  continue  the  prosecution. 

Capt.  Hook's  party  was  present  contesting  the  ground,  but 
the  west  end  people  were  too  strong  for  them.  Capt.  Hook 
and  thirty-one  others  "entered  themselves  contradicent  to  and 
dicenting  from  ye  above  written."  Two  years  had  now  passed, 
and  but  little  progress  had  been  made  toward  recovering  the 
ferry  from  the  hands  of  Capt.  Hook. 

Philip  Rowell  was  this  year  appointed  clerk  of  the  Friends' 
monthly  meeting  in  place  of  Moses  Swett,  who  had  served  for 
many  years. 

1731. 

Jonathan  Barnard  petitioned  for  leave  to  build  a  bridge 
"  across  ye  falls  on  Powow  river,  about  four  rods  below  ye  bridge 
now  across  sd  river,  provided  ye  town  of  Salisbury  may  consent 
thereto,  he  ye  sd  Barnard  to  make  and  keep  ye  sd  bridge  for- 
ever at  all  times  in  good  and  sufficient  repair,  in  consideration 
whereof  he  ye  sd  Barnard  to  have  our  part  of  ye  ould  bridge 
and  also  ye  liberty  of  making  a  dam  across  sd  river  for  his  own 
use  for  ye  flooding  and  stopping  of  water  for  ye  use  of  a  mill 
or  mills  not  damnifying  ye  highway  nor  ye  town  of  Salisbury, 
nor  any  other  dam  or  dams,  mill  or  mills,  as  ye  affair  may  be 
vewed  and  considered  by  a  committee's  report  at  ye  next  meet- 
ing for  a  confirmation,  and  you  will  much  oblige  your  peti- 
tioner. The  petition  was  referred  to  a  committee  consisting  of 
Richard  Currier  and  Orlando  Bagley,  who  reported  in  its  favor, 
and  it  was  allowed  at  an  adjourned  meeting. 

*The  West  parish  bought  land  of  "Capt.  ffoot  or  John  ffoot, 
jr.,  for  a  burning  place,"  and  the  assessors  drew  their  order  in 
his  favor  for  £4. 

*Parish    Record. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  1 93 

October  4th,  "  Philip  Rowell  for  mending  ye  parsnedg  fence 
in  1730,  2  s. ;  and  for  nails  and  fitting  ye  school  house,  2  s. ; 
and  for  a  desk  or  table  in  ye  school  house,  5  s.  000.    09,   00." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Wingate's  large  fire-place  seemed  to  require  a 
great  deal  of  wood  in  the  course  of  the  year,  according  to  the 
assessors'  orders,  which  are  as  follows  : — 

"Ordered  to  Wm.  Moulton,  for  ten  cord  of  wood  to  Mr. 
Wingett,  005.  05.  00.  Ordered  to  Jonathan  Kelly,  for  ten  cord 
of  wood  to  Mr.  Wingett,  005  05  00.  Ordered  to  Joseph 
Currier,    for   ten    cord   of  wood  to    Mr.   Wingett,   005    05    00." 

This  was  in  March,  1732,  really,  and  probably  was  a  year's 
supply. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  employed  as  "school  master"  this  year 
by  the  town. 

John  Foot,  jr.,  sold  to  the  West  parish,  April  8th,  210  rods  of 
land,  being  40  rods  long,  for  a  training  field  and  parish  uses 
of  passing  and  repassing,  to  lay  common  forever.  The  consid- 
eration was  ;£n  16  s.  It  is  yet  common  near  the  cemetery, 
and  constitutes  a  considerable  portion  of  the  open  space  in  that 
vicinity.  An  old  deed  from  John  Foot,  and  his  son  John, 
jr.,  to  Rev.  Pain  Wingate,  dated  a  few  years  subsequent  to  the 
above,  refers  to  this  training  field  in  bounding  the  purchase, 
and  calls  it  one  and  one-half  acres.  The  description  of  Mr. 
Wingate's  purchase  is  as  follows  :  "  by  Nathaniel  Merrill,  Timo- 
thy Colby,  Widow  Margaret  Challis ;  west  by  one  and  a  half 
acres  purchased  for  a  training  field  and  partly  on  parish  land 
where  the  meeting-house  stands,  and  partly  on  land  bought  for 
a  burying  place  behind  sd  meeting  house."  This  fixes  very 
nearly  the  location  of  the  first  meeting-house. 

1732. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  again  chosen  school-master,  provided  his 
wages  were  not  raised. 

The  ferry  which  has  occasioned  so  much  feeling  and  trouble 
is  not  yet  recovered  from  Capt.  Hook.  September  4th  a  meet- 
ing was  held,  and  by  a  vote  of  fifty-seven  to  twenty  it  was  a 
thud  time  voted  to  obtain  it  out  of  his  hands.  By  what  right 
or  authority  he  held  the  ferry  does  not  appear. 

25 


194  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURV. 

John  Hoyt  received  of  the  West  parish,  for  "  drawing  a  deed 
for  ye  parish  of  ye  buring  place,  and  a  bond,  and  giving  out 
coppys,    ooo    12    oo." 

Rev.  Thomas  Wells  received  of  the  West  parish  ^"23  6  s.  8  d.,  but 
what  services  were  rendered  is  not  known.  If  his  colleague,  Rev. 
Edmund  March,  was  with  him  at  this  time,  the  probability  is 
that  he  preached  for  Mr.  Wingate. 

1733. 

For  many  years  past  those  keeping  horses  were  required  to 
enter  them  with  the  clerk,  giving  a  description,  in  order  to 
obtain  a  license  for  them  to  run  at  large  on  the  town's  com- 
mons. Unless  such  license  was  procured  they  were  liable  to  be 
taken  up  as  stray  beasts.  A  book  was  kept  for  that  purpose, 
and  to  enter  ear-marks,  which  is  yet  in  the  clerk's  office, 
although  very  much  worn.  The  following  are  copies  of  some 
of  the  entries  : — 

"Mr.  Wells,  A  white  mare  wth  a  small  slit  on  ye  topp  of  her 
right  ear.     March  ye  28,   1694." 

"  Richard  Martin  a  iron  grey  mare  wth  a  square  notch  cutt 
on  ye  under  side  of  ye  left  ear  &  a  square  pece  cut  out  of  ye 
uper  side  of  ye  right  ear ;  an  other  mare  black  wth  ye  same  mark. 
Aprill  ye   11th  1694." 

Such  licenses  were  required  from  1694  to  1733,  after  which 
none  are  found.  The  town  commons  were  gradually  narrowing 
down  till  they  finally  disappeared  altogether.  In  1694  there 
were  17  horses  licensed,  in  1725  only  21;  but  no  doubt  there 
were  many  not  licensed — kept  at  home  for  work. 

Cattle  and  sheep  were  also  marked  by  slitting  and  notching 
their  ears,  and  the  varied  marks  display  considerable    ingenuity. 

Feb.  24th.  On  the  West  parish  records  is  found  an  order 
"To  ye  Rnd  mister  Winget,  which  was  allowed  him  for  dividing 
ye  east  parsonedg  02  00  00."  The  town  records  make  no  men- 
tion of  the  committee  appointed  to  divide  the  parsonage  land  or 
the  time  when  it  was  divided,  but  the  above  order  shows  that 
it  was  done  previous  to  this  date. 

For  many  years  the  Friends  have  had  much  trouble  with  John 
Collins    about  "bearing   testimony"  or    preaching,  against  which 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  1 95 

he  had  been  repeatedly  cautioned  and  admonished,  even  to 
"  denying  him  to  be  in  unity "  with  them,  but  all  to  no  pur- 
pose. Judging  from  the  lenient  treatment  which  he  received, 
he  must  have  been  an  able  speaker,  although  somewhat  rash  in 
his  expressions.  At  the  monthly  meeting  in  June  he  was  pres- 
ent and  expressed  his  mind  as  follows  : — 

"  John  Colllins  being  spoke  to  concerning  our  Last  Labouring 
with  him  to  forbear  offering  among  us  by  way  of  publick  Testa- 
mony  or  preaching :  he  sd  John  Collins  stood  up  in  sd  meeting 
and  made  the  following  speech  or  Protestation  :  (  which  was  as 
followeth)  viz.  I  had  rather  than  conforme  to  your  judgment 
go  and  Kiss  the  Poopes  toe :  or  turn  Powower  among  the 
heathern  :  yea  or  go  joyn  with  mehomit  or  be  carried  into  the 
uttermost  Parts  of  the  Earth  and  there  be  put  into  Jayl  near 
to  hear  joyfull  sound  more  :  yea  or  if  hell  was  open  before  me 
and  God  behind  mee  with  all  his  heavenly  Host,  and  they  the 
Heavenly  Host  should  tell  mee  that  if  I  would  not  conform  to 
you  he  would  Imediately  cast  me  in  thither  I  would  Rather 
trust  in  his  mercy  that  he  would  not,  than  conforme  to  what 
you  would  have  mee ;  which  was  to  forbear  speaking  in  our 
meetings  untill  he  be  reconciled  to  his  Brethren." 

Verily,  perfect  freedom  was  not  found  even  among  the  Order 
of  Friends.  After  laboring  with  him  some  five  years  longer,  he 
was,  in  1738,  formally  turned  out  of  the  society.  Mr.  Collins 
was  of  Salisbury  and,  probably,  an  honest  free-thinker. 

1734. 

It  was  contemplated  obtaining  a  grant  of  land  from  the  Gen- 
eral Court  to  assist  in  establishing  a  free  school  in  town,  and 
the  representative  elect  was  instructed  to  petition  the  next  Court 
to  that  effect.  If  any  such  petition  was  preferred,  no  record  of 
the  result  is  found. 

At  the  May  session  the  General  Court  passed  a  stringent  law 
in  regard  to  taking  fish  in  the  Merrimac  river.  No  person  was 
allowed  to  set  up  any  "  wear,  hedges,  fish  garths,  stakes,  kid- 
dles or  other  incumberance,"  under  a  penalty  of  fifty  pounds 
for  the  first  offence    and    one    hundred    pounds  for  every  other 


196  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

offence,  and  any  one  was  authorized  to  destroy  such  obstruc- 
tions.    Nothing  is  said  about  fishing  with  seines. 

During  the  first  years  of  the  settlement  fish  were  very  plenty 
and  were  easily  taken  by  these  various  contrivances,  but,  as  they 
grew  more  scarce,  the  public  were  opposed  to  any  waste  by 
traps,  etc. 

Rev.  Thomas  Wells  died  July  10th  in  his  eighty-eighth  year. 
He  was  bom  at  Ipswich  January  nth,  1647,  and  was  a  son  of 
Dr.  Thomas  Wells.  His  father  died  in  1655  and  in  his  will 
gave  him  his  "three  ptisick  bookes  and  Hyelongs  Geogripta, 
and  one  two  and  twenty  shilling  piece  of  gould  and  the  new 
pictures  viz  of  the  King  and   Queene  and  the  five  sonllies." 

"I  give  it  to  my  son  Thomas  toward  his  charges  of  his 
going  to  the  Colledge  and  for  bookes  and  apparell  &c  to  put 
him  to  Mr.  Allecke,  or  the  like."  He  continued  his  studies, 
fitting  for  and  entering  Harvard  college,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated in  1669.  It  is  probable  that  the  intention  of  his  father 
was  that  he  should,  after  completing  his  collegiate  course,  study 
medicine.  It  was,  however,  decided  that  he  should  study  for 
the  ministry,  but  we  have  no  means  of  knowing  with  whom  he 
studied. 

His  first  appearance  as  a  preacher  was  in  Newbury,  where  he 
preached  and,  also,  at  the  Shoals,  before  coming  to  Amesbury. 
Thoroughly  educated  and  possessing  brilliant  talent,  his  first 
appearance  evidently  made  a  very  favorable  impression.  Nor 
did  his  record  during  his  long  pastorate  disappoint  his  admir- 
ers. On  his  first  appearance  in  town,  Mr.  Hubbard  was  popu- 
lar, giving  excellent  satisfaction  by  his  labors,  and  not  a  word 
of  complaint  was  heard  from  any.  But  the  young  preacher's 
eloquence  was  too  powerful  for  the  people  to  withstand — they 
followed  enchanted  by  the  words  which  fell  from  his  lips.  They 
went  about  repairing  and  finishing  the  minister's  house,  gave 
him  the  minister's  land  and  several  other  lots,  and  seemed  to 
work  with  a  will  hitherto  unknown. 

In  Newbury  he  married  a  lady  by  the  name  of  Parker  and 
was  blessed  with  seven  sons  and  three  daughters.  His  pastor- 
ship   extended    through    many    trying    times,    when    his    people 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  I97 

could  hardly  raise  salary  enough  to  support  him.  Indian  wars, 
citizens  murdered  and  carried  into  captivity,  unfruitful  seasons 
and  many  other  trials  were  not  uncommon.  He  was  obliged 
to  preach  when  it  was  dangerous  to  travel  to  church,  especi- 
ally so  far  as  "Jamaco."  All  these  troubles  prevented  the  peo- 
ple from  raising  sufficient  crops  at  times  to  supply  their  wants  ; 
but,  under  these  trials,  he  was  ever  ready  to  suffer  with  his 
people,  and  more  than  once  voluntarily  abated  part  of  his  sal- 
ary. At  times  vexed  with  the  peculiarities  of  his  church,  yet 
he  was  ever  ready  to  bear  and  forbear.  He  was,  however, 
prompt  to  speak  his  mind  in  regard  to  their  course  as  well  as 
his  own.  The  times  in  which  he  lived,  although  not  particu- 
larly noted  for  free  speech,  were  somewhat  remarkable  for  plain 
language,  and,  in  answer  to  a  vote  of  the  town  touching  his  con- 
tinued services,  he  commences  thus :  "  I  had  a  great  deal 
rather  you  would  supply  yourselves  better,"  and  closes  by 
charging  them  to  never  let  him  hear  more  from  them  unless 
they  accept  his  terms,  signing  "Just  as  you  please  I  am  your 
humble  servant." 

For  many  years  he  kept  the  book  of  births  and  deaths,  and 
his  penmanship  was  good,  plain  and  bold.  It  is  presumed  that 
he  was  settled  according  to  the  custom  of  those  times,  which 
was  for  life ;  and  yet  the  town  seldom  failed  to  vote  on  con- 
tinuing his  labors  another  year.  In  fact,  more  than  once  it  was 
voted  that  the  town  was  free  from  him  and  he    from  the  town. 

He  was  not  wholly  dependent  upon  his  salary  for  his  living, 
as  his  good  management  had  enabled  him  to  become  quite  a 
land-holder.  He  lived  in  his  own  house  nearly  the  whole  of 
his  long  ministry.  He  kept  a  horse  and  some  other  stock.  In 
1694  he  had  a  white  horse;  in  1708  and  1709  he  had  a  black, 
white-faced  mare;  in  1710  he  had  a  brown- bay  horse;  in  1711 
a  blackish  mouse-colored  horse,  and  in  1 7 1 2  "a  brown-bay  horse, 
gristly  crooked  Blase  on  his  forehead  and  right  eye  walled." 
Judging  by  the  description  it  might  seem  that  his  judgment  was 
not  quite  as  good  on  horses  as  on  other  matters,  since  it  rather 
looks  as  if  his  "white  horse"  of  1694  was  worth  more  than 
the    comical  "Walled  eye"  of  171 2.     He  is  said  to  have  lived 


198  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

on  the  premises  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  the  late  Capt. 
William  Bartlett,  just  south  of  the  Academy  lot  on  the  main 
street,  where  the  lilacs  still  mark  the  spot. 

During  the  last  few  years  the  Rev.  Edmund  March  was  his 
assistant,  as  age  had  unfitted  him  to  some  extent  for  the'  per- 
formance of  all  the  required  duties.  At  what  time  Mr.  March 
came  to  Amesbury  we  are  unable  to  state ;  but  a  meeting  was 
held  in  1722  for  the  purpose  of  taking  measures  to  secure  the  ser- 
vice of  an  assistant,  but  nothing  was  done.  He  was  in  town 
in  1728  and  bought  ten  acres  of  land  of  Nathaniel  Weed, 
where  he  afterwards  built  his  house. 

"Mother  Balch"  gave  the  Second  church  a  tankard. 

The  Friends  at  Haverhill  were  allowed  to  meet  in  their  town 
at  private  residences. 

1735. 

At  the  request  of  more  than  thirty  of  the  principal  citizens 
the  town  voted  to  join  with  Newbury  in  petitioning  the  court 
of  sessions  to  establish  a  ferry  at  Savage's  rock.  The  select- 
men were  chosen  a  committee  to  work  in  concert  with  the 
selectmen  of  Newbuiy  for  that  purpose.  They  were  not  suc- 
cessful and  the  town  again  applied  to  the  quarter  court  in  Sep- 
tember at  Newbury,  John  Blasdell  being  employed  as  agent. 

Capt.  Hook  was  still  holding  the  ferry  and  annoying  the  town 
by  his  law  cases.  He  had  recently  commenced  an  action 
against  Batt  Moulton  and  Edmund  Cottle,  which  was  soon  to  be 
tried  at  Newbury.  The  town  made  choice  of  John  Blasdell  to 
defend  its  interests,  but  he  was  not  successful,  the  town  losing 
the  case.  An  appeal  was  taken  to  the  superior  court  and 
Ensign  Thomas  Rowell  and  William  Moulton  were  chosen 
to  manage  the  case  for  the  town.  In  the  mean  time  a  com- 
mittee was  chosen  to  treat  with  Capt.  Hook,  but  nothing  was 
accomplished.  He  was  an  obstinate  fellow  and  bound  to  have 
his  way. 

Oct.  13th.  A  meeting  was  held  and  it  was  "voted  to  have 
our  county  of  Essex  divided  into  two  counties,"  and  Represen- 
tative Blasdell  was  instructed  to  present  the  matter  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court. 


HISTORY   OF   AMESBURY.  1 99 

Henry  Flood  was  very  poor  and  had  a  son  who  was  a  crip- 
ple and  unable  to  work,  and  to  prevent  his  ever  being  a  pau- 
per he  presented  the  following  petition  to  the  annual  meet- 
ing :— 

"To  ye  moderator  of  ye  present  meeting,  to  communicate  to 
ye  town  of  Almsbury  now  assembled    this    ioth    day    of  March, 

1734:  5- 

A  petition  of  Henry    Flood    of  Almsbury    aforesaid,    showing 

that  ye  providence  of  God  he  hath  a  son  that  is  a  creppel  and 
is  not  likely  ever  for  to  get  a  living  in  ye  world  without  a  tay- 
lers  trade  ye  wch  ye  sd  Henry  Flood  cannot  procure  without 
money,  ye  wch  he  is  not  able  to  do  by  reason  of  his  poverty ; 
therefore  he  humbly  prayeth  that  ye  town  would  be  pleased  at 
this  meeting  to  pass  a  vote  to  give  ye  man  that  shall  take  him 
(this  lame  lad)  and  learn  him  to  be  a  workman  at  ye  taylers 
trade,  ye  sum  of  five  pounds,  and  you  will  oblige  your  peti- 
tioner. 

Dat.  March  ye   ioth  day,   1734:  5. 

his 
Henry  X  Flood, 
mark. 
Voted  and  past  on  ye  affermitive  on  condicion  ye    sd    money    is 
employed  for  ye  use  and  end  above  mentioned. 

T/ios.  Stevens,  Moderator. 

The  father  and  town  acted  wisely :  the  one  to  provide  for 
the  future  welfare  of  his  son,  the  other  to  prevent  his  becom- 
ing chargeable  to  the  town  for  a  long  series  of  years,  as  would 
most  certainly  have  been  the  case. 

Ichabod  Colby  was  now  inn-holder  at  Bartlett's  corner,  and 
the  meeting  of  October  13th  adjourned  to  his  house.  He  was 
the  husband  of  the  famous  Esther  Colby,  who  continued  the 
tavern  for  many  years. 

June  3d.  Jacob  Merrill  died.  Tradition  says  that  he  was 
accidentally  shot,  although  the  record  does  not  mention  the 
fact.  About  1722  Abraham  Merrill,  then  in  Newbury,  opposite 
Pleasant  valley,  and  his  three  sons,  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob, 
and  two  daughters,  sold  his  farm  and  came  across  the   river   to 


200  HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY. 

Jamaco.     He  was  a  grandson  of  Nathaniel,  who  came  to   New- 
bury in  1635. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  "ye    people    called    Quakers    in    ye 
east  parish  that  are  exempt    by  ye    court  from  paying   any    tax 
towards  ye  support  of  ministers  in  this  province  : 
Thomas  Challis,  Jacob  Rowell,  Samuel  Jones, 

John  Jones,  James  Dowe,  Trestrem  Barnard, 

Samuel  Gould,  Aaron  Rowell,  Phillip  Challis, 

Margery  Weed,  Nat.  Weed,  Samuel  Norton. 

Returned  by  Thos.  Meekins,  Joseph  Jewell,  Samuel  George, 
assessors  of  the  East  Parish." 

This  year  we  find  Dr.  Hale  taxed  for  a  farm  in  the  West 
parish,  on  which  Mr.  Mitchell  lived,  but  find  no  tax  after  1736, 
when  he  probably  was  in  town. 

1736. 

The  most  noted  event  of  the  year  was  the  new  road  from  the 
road  at  Clapboard  landing  to  the  road  at  Cottle's  landing.  To 
open  this  two  rod  way  along  the  river,  the  owners  agreed  to 
give  the  land,  their  object  being  "  to  incourage  trade  and  for 
the  conveancy  for  traveling  was  the  subscribers  prone  to  lay 
open  a  highway  of  two  rods  wide  forever  for  the  town's  use." 
One  of  the  pleasantest  drives  in  Amesbury  and  Merrimac  is 
along  the  banks  of  the  river  where  up  to  this  time  there  was  no 
road,  and  through  Pleasant  valley  not  till  half  a  century  later. 

It  seems  to  have  been  sickly  this  year,  more  deaths  than 
usual  being  recorded.  Jacob  Jones  died  June  2d.  Thomas 
Fowler  lost  two  children,  and  Rev.  Pain  Wingate  his  two 
oldest. 

1737. 

A  new  move  was  made  this  year  looking  to  the  erection  of 
a  house  for  the  reception  of  idle  persons  by  several  towns  in 
this  section  of  the  county.  It  was  designed  to  answer  the  same 
purpose  as  the  present  house  of  correction  at  Ipswich.  The 
stocks  so  hastily  built  in  1730  hardly  answered  all  purposes, 
and  hence  this  move,  which  failed  to  meet  the'  views  of  other 
towns.  Orlando  Bagley  and  Thomas  Rowell  were  chosen  to 
consult  with  other  towns  in  regard  to  the  matter. 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  201 

The  ferry  which  was  granted  at  Savage's  rock  was  left  with 
the  selectmen  to  let. 

The  schoolmaster  was  annually  provided,  but  there  is  no 
mention  of  female  teachers  at  this  date.  The  trustees  of  the 
First  bank  were  ordered  to  pay  the  schoolmaster  for  "ye  use 
of  ye  town  fifteen  pounds  ten  shillings." 

Wolves  were  again  getting  troublesome  and  the  selectmen 
were  authorized  to  pay  "  forty  shillings  for  killing  of  a  wolf  for 
as  many  as  shall  be  killed  in  s<i  town  and  ye  heads  brought  and 
so  sartifyed  to  ye  Selectmen  of  sd  town  by  ye  person  or  per- 
sons so  killing  them." 

A  road  recently  laid  out  through  William  Moulton's  land  in 
the  West  parish  occasioned  a  great  deal  of  trouble  for  a  couple 
of  years.  He  had  been  awarded  ,£15  damages  by  the  town, 
which  was  not  satisfactory,  and  an  addition  of  ^10  was  made, 
which  did  not  satisfy  him. 

To  get  rid  of  this  dispute  a  meeting  was  called  August  1st, 
and  it  was  "voted  to  allow  and  pay  to  Capt.  Thomas  Hoyt 
one  hundred  pounds  of  money  for  an  open  way  or  Road  of 
two  rods  in  width  through  his  land  whereon  his  son  Jacob  now 
dwells,  beginning  at  ye  Northwest  corner  of  Hannah  Grant's 
land  near  her  dwelling  house  and  so  through  said  Capt  Hoyts 
land  to  ye  highway  near  ye  ould  Fort." 

Thus  ended  this  troublesome  affair.  The  exact  location  of 
this  road  can  hardly  be  determined  by  the  record,  the  bounds 
of  it  being  "a  red  oak  tree"  or  "a  stump  and  stones."  It 
was,  however,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  old  fort,  which,  probably, 
meant  Capt.  Foot's. 

John  Pressey  died  December  13th. 

In  Capt.  Richard  Kelley's  diary  is  the  following  : — 

"In  ye  spring  of  ye  yeare  in  1737  was  an  extrordenry  seaseinn 
for  hay  by  which  reason  maney  chatell  in  ye  countrey  wear  lost 
and  many  others  brought  very  low. 

And  the  sumer  after  was  the  scarcest  time  for  corn  that 
ever  i  knew." 

The  line  between  New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts  having 
occasioned  no  little  dispute,  an    attempt  was    made  this  year  to 

26 


202  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

have  the  whole  matter  adjusted,  and,  accordingly,  the  Great 
General  Court  accompanied  by  the  governor  and  council  passed 
through  Newbury  and  Salisbury  on  their  way  to  the  disputed 
territory  near  Hampton.  Perhaps  the  incident  cannot  be  bet- 
ter described  than  by  quoting  the  effusion  of  some  witty  poet, 
who  thus  sings  : — 

"THE  GOVERNOR'S  CAVALCADE." 

"  Dear  paddy  you  never  did  behold  such  a  sight, 

As  yesterday  morning  was  seen  before  night 

You  in  all  you  born  days  saw  nor  I  didn't  neither 

So  many  fine  horses  and  men  ride  together 

At  the  head,  the  lower  house,  trotted  two  in  a  row 

Then  all  the  high  house  pranced  after  the  low 

Then  the  Governor's  coach  galloped  on  like  the  wind 

And  the  last  that  came  foremost  were  troopers  behind 

But  I  fear  it  means  no  good  to  your  neck  and  mine, 

For  they  say  'tis  to  fix  a  right  place  for  the  line."  * 

This  famous  cavalcade  was  formed  at  Boston  on  the  ioth  of 
August  and  proceeded  to  Hampton  Falls  where  they  met  the 
New  Hampshire  assembly  and  proceeded  to  discuss  matters 
preparatory  to  a  settlement  of  the  line.  From  here  the  Massa- 
chusetts assembly  adjourned  to  Salisbury,  where  they  were  in 
session  until  the  7  th  of  September.  Tradition  points  out  the 
old  house  near  the  meeting  house  at  East  Salisbury  as  the  one 
in  which  the  General  Court  was  held.  The  final  decision  was 
adverse  to  the  interests  of  Massachusetts,  cutting  off  a  large 
territority  from  her  jurisdiction.  Southampton  was  a  portion  of 
this  territory  lost. 

Samuel  Colby  and  Trustram  Barnard  joined  the  Friends  this 
year. 

1738. 

At  the  annual  meeting  a  bounty  of  ^5  was  voted  for  each 
"woulf  .that  shall  be  killed."  A  bounty  of  20  s.  was  offered  in 
1687  and  repealed  in  1696  ;  but  now,  forty-two  years  later,  it 
was  found  necessary  to  again  offer  this  bounty  in  order  to  save 
their  sheep  from  these  ravenous  beasts. 

*  Belknap's  History  of  N.  H. 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  203 

1739. 

Some  encroachments  were  found  on  the  land  set  aside  for 
the  ministry,  and  the  town  "voted  to  prosecute  any  person  who 
should  improve  any  part  of  the  parsnage  lands  by  fencing  or 
plowing  or  any  other  ways." 

A  committee  was,  also,  chosen  "to  see  to  ye  observation  of 
ye  law  or  acts  relating  to  killing  of  Deer."  The  design  of  this 
law  was  to  protect  the  deer  which  occasionally  strayed  into  this 
colony  from  a  more  northern  latitude. 

At  the  annual  meeting  it  was  "voted  to  give  unto  David 
Blasdell  ours  ye  towns  Meeting  house  Bell."  David  was  a 
clockmaker,  and  may  have  used  it  for  casting  clock  bells. 
There  may  be  a  history  to  this  bell,  which,  if  known,  would 
be  interesting.  It  was,  probably,  a  gift  and  not  purchased  by 
the  town,  otherwise  the  record  would  have  made  some  mention 
of  it.     It  was  sent  from  England. 

John  Sargent  was  captain  of  the  Jamaco  military  company 
and  Benjamin  Morse  clerk  this  year. 

Dr.  Nathan    Huse  is  first  taxed  in  the  West  parish  this  year. 

1740. 

The  great  event  of  this  year  was  tunnelling  the  pond  ridge. 
This  singular  geological  formation  in  the  shape  of  sharp  ridges 
extending  in  one  continuous  and  nearly  unbroken  line  from  the 
Ferry  hill  far  into  Newton,  N.  H.  (and,  some  have  asserted, 
a  great  deal  farther,)  has  always  been  to  the  student  of  nature 
a  great  curiosity.  Its  general  course  is  northwest  and  stretching 
along  through  the  great  swamp ;  passing  the  pond  it  still  con- 
tinues its  well-defined  course,  slightly  broken  by  nature  or  some 
powerful  prehistoric  current,  near  Thomas  Colby's,  so  as  to 
afford  the  pond  the  only  outlet  which  it  originally  possessed, 
and  then  passes  on  to  Newton,  N.  H.  On  the  earlier  records 
we  find  this  break  termed  the  "  terrormost  end  of  ye  pond 
ridge."  The  most  favorable  section  was  chosen,  some  fifty  or 
sixty  rods  from  the  pond's  mouth,  where  the  base  of  the  ridge 
contracts  somewhat  and  allows  the  tunnel  to  open  into  a  low 
meadow  on  the  easterly  side,  through  which  the  water  passes 
into  the  Powow  river.     Orlando  Bagley,  Esq.,  and  Capt.    Caleb 


204  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

Pillsbury  obtained  leave  of  the  town,  on  the  19th  of  May,  to 
commence  and  complete  this  work,  which  at  once  greatly 
improved  the  large  tract  of  meadow  in  the  vicinity.  Previous  to 
this  the  meadow  was  full  of  stagnant  water  and  the  coarse  grass 
cut  there  was  not  obtained  without  much  labor  of  no  very  de- 
sirable kind.  Tradition  says  that  two  men — Mr.  Ring  and  Mr. 
Nutter — performed  the  labor  on  the  tunnel  for  "a  barrel  of  rum," 
and  from  the  best  information  we  have  been  able  to  get,  there 
seems  but  little  doubt  that  such  was  the  fact. 

At  an  adjournment  of  the  annual  meeting,  David  Tuxbury, 
constable,  reported  as  follows  : 

"  I  have  been  at  ye  dwelling  house  of  Samuel  Gould,  in  order 
to  notifie  him  to  appear  this  day  to  make  oath  to  ye  office  of 
a  constable,  and  cannot  find  him,  nor  understand  where  he  is 
gone,  and  I  have  been  at  ye  house  of  Samuel  Colby,  jr.,  to 
notify  him  to  take  the  oath  to  ye  office  of  a  hogreef,  and  can- 
not find  him." 

These  offices  were  not  sought,  but  frequently  declined  in 
these  times. 

Thomas  Hoyt  was  Captain  of  one  military  company,  and 
John  Bagley,  clerk.  Jonathan  Currier  was  captain  of  the  second 
company,  and  John  Currier,  jr.,  clerk. 

The  Hampton  line  was  not  defined  and  run  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  town,  and  it  was  decided  to  petition  "ye  King's 
most  excellent  Majesty  in  behalf  of  this  town"  for  its  rectifica- 
tion, and  Mr.  Thomas  Hutchinson  was  constituted  agent  for  that 
purpose. 

The  road  and  landing  at  the  river  were  bounded  out  and 
described  as  away  and  landing  given  to  the  town  in  1737  by 
Capt.  John  Sargent,  Dea.  Thomas  Stevens  and  others.  Capt. 
Sargent  and  Dea.  Stevens  lived  in  the  vicinity,  the  road  passing 
their  houses. 

1741. 

The  subject  of  building  a  house  for  poor  and  idle  persons 
was  again  before  the  town  and  approved  by  the  meeting.  A 
vote  was  passed  requesting  Newbury  and  Salisbury  to  join  in 
carrying  the  measure  into  effect,  but  nothing  was  done  by  those 
towns. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  205 

Orlando  and  Jonathan  Bagley  petitioned  for  leave  "to  build  a 
wharf  fifty  feet  in  width  on  the  piece  of  flats  between  Mr. 
Lowell's  wharf  and  Timothy  Currier's,  about  midway  between 
them,  from  the  bank  to  the  channel  of  Powow  river,"  and  was 
allowed  to  do  so. 

John  Fowler ;  has  for  years  been  allowed  ^5  per  year  to 
assist  in  maintaining  his  diseased  or  11011  compos  daughter. 
This  year  he  asked  for  ^10  and  was  allowed  £6  in  provisions, 
to  be  ordered  by  the  selectmen. 

Capt.  Thomas  Rowell,  Left.  John  Hoyt  and  Abner  Whittier 
were  chosen  to  hire  a  school-master  for  the  town  and  direct 
"ye  time  and  place  where  ye  school  shall  be  kept  at  the  west 
end  of  the  town,"  and  Orlando  Bagley,  Stephen  Bartlett  and 
Jacob  Bagley  were  chosen  to  order  the  place  at  the  east  end. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  assessors'  certificate,  filed  in 
1 741,  the  .original  being  now  in  the  clerk's  office,  giving  a  com- 
plete list  of  the  Quakers  in  the  East  parish. 

"A  list  of  the  Names  of  those  persons  called  quaakers  In  the 
East  parish  in  Amesbury  given  out    In    compliance  with  an  act 
of  Court    Directing    there   to    be    put  on   Record  by  the  Town 
Clark  are  as  followeth 
Jacob  Rowel  and  we   Know  of  No  others  that  have 

Aaron  Rowel  ever  obtained  sartificats  from  the  soci- 

Edward  Upton  ety  of  quakers    according   to  sd  act  of 

Samewel  Barnard  Court   to    free    them    from    paying    tax 

John  Jones  to   the    ministry   Established    according 

Samuel  Gould  to  the  laws  of  the  Province. 

Thomas  Chalis  Given    under    our    Hands    Dated    July 

Widow  Margery  Weed     the   16,  1741. 

Nat  Weed  Stephen  Bartlett  )       Assessors  for 

Samuel  Jones  David  Clough      >    the  East  Parish 

Tames  Dow  Isaac  Tuxbery     )       in  Amesbury." 

The  winter  of  this  year  seems  to  have  been  a  very  cold  one 
according  to  Richard  Kelley's  diary,  which  we  quote,  as  fol- 
lows:  "febuary  28,  1740-41  then  I  went  down  to  newbury 
with  my  team  &  carried  a  load  of  wood  for  Mr  Joseph  Dow  & 
sume  other  teams  with    me,  we  went    on  to  ye  River  at  Sweats 


206  HISTORY   OF   AMESBURY. 

ferry  &  I  went  of  down  at  newbury  a  letel  above  the  great 
meeting  house  and  i  saw  no  hole  open  all  the  way  as  we  went 
no  not  so  big  as  to  put  ons  foot  in  &  mr  Wells  Chase  cut  a 
hole  through  ye  ice  at  deare  island  in  ye  strongest  place  of 
ye  tide  &  measured  the  ice  and  found  it  to  be  two  foot  and  a 
halfe  thick  and  people  had  sleded  down  on  ye  River  for  about 
two  months  before  this — the  like  i  never  heard  of  in  aney  win- 
ter before." 

1742. 

The  plan  of  building  a  common  workhouse  with  other  towns 
having  failed,  it  was  determined  to  carry  out  the  plan  at  home. 
Accordingly  a  meeting  was  held  in  February,  when  it  was 
agreed  to  hire  a  house,  and  that  of  John  Bartlett  was  selected 
for  the  purpose.  Mr.  Bartlett  was  chosen  master,  to  take  charge 
of  the  establishment  and  keep  those  entrusted  to  him  at  work. 
According  to  the  following,  Edward  Goodwin  and  wife  were  the 
first  to  grace  this  new  institution  : — 

"  At  ye  same  meeting  voted  that  Edward  Goodwin  and  wife 
and  daughter  is  committed  to  sd  house  and  under  ye  custody 
of  ye  sd  Bartlett  as  Master  to  be  put  to  labor." 

This  was  the  first  attempt  at  establishing  an  almshouse  in 
town. 

The  bounty  on  wolves  was  continued  and  the  law  against 
killing  deer  ordered  enforced. 

Jonathan  Barnard  was  dismissed  from  "  ye  office  of  a  Select- 
man "  and  Ezra  Gould  chosen  in  his  stead. 

Samuel  Shepherd  was  chosen  constable  and  dismissed  in  Sep- 
tember for  "being  not  of  capasity  to  officiate  in  sd  office." 

Feb.  3d.     Samuel  Jones  died. 

March  4th.     John  Wingate,  son  of  Rev.  Pain   Wingate,  died. 

1743. 

The  old  subject  of  a  workhouse  was  again  revived,  and  in 
February  a  committee  was  chosen  to  "  trate  with  ye  town  of 
Newbury  and  Salisbury"  and  report  at  the  annual  meeting.  No 
report  is  to  be   found. 

The  ferry  at  Savages'  rock  was  leased  to  Deacon  Stevens  for 
five  years  at  forty  shillings,  old  tenor. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  20  7 

The  selectmen  were  ordered  to  procure  standard  weights  and 
measures  for  the  town's  use. 

Rev.  Elisha  Odlin  first  appears  in  town  this  year,  in  July,  as 
the  following,  from  the  East  parish  record,  shows  : — 

"  Ordered  to  Capt.  John  Currier  for  boarding  Mr.  Odlin  and 
keeping  his  hors,  and  troble,  from  ye  22  of  July  to  ye  22  of 
February,  twenty  pounds,  old  tenor." 

Rev.  Edmund  March,  the  colleague  of  Mr.  Wells  from  1723 
or  near  that  time,  was  dismissed  in  the  early  part  of  the  year 
by  a  council  held  at  his  house.  The  parish  was  in  debt  to 
Mr.  March,  and  in  February,  1744,  paid  him  ^300,  old  tenor, 
which  partially  settled  his  account.  A  note  of  £86  was  also 
paid  about  this  time,  and  it  looks  as  though  the  parish  was 
badly  in  debt  during  the  last  of  his  ministry. 

Nathaniel  Hunt  and  Nathan  Barnard  were  "  taken  under  the 
watch  and  care  "  of  the  Friends'  monthly  meeting,  October  20th, 
1 743- 

1744. 

Sept.  26.  Deacon  Abraham  Merrill  died.  He  was  born  in 
Newbury  and  lived  across  the  river  opposite  Pleasant  valley, 
until  he  was  sixty  years  of  age,  when,  with  his  three  sons,  (and, 
probably,  two  daughters,)  he  came  to  Amesbury  and  located  in 
the  West  parish,  about  1722.  When  the  second  church  was 
organized,  in  1726,  he  was  chosen  deacon,  which  office  he  held 
till  his  death.     The  church  record  has  the  following : — 

"March  10,  1745.  The  brethren  of  the  church  being  desired 
to  stop  after  divine  service,  the  pastor  first  mentioned  the  death 
of  good  old  Deacon  Merrill." 

He  must  have  been  at  this  time  more  than  eighty  years  of 
age.  He  was  frequently  sent  as  messenger  to  other  churches, 
and  served  as  selectman  in  1726. 

To  pay  the  expense  attending  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Odlin 
last  year,  a  rate  of  ^42,  13  s.,  4  d.,  old  tenor,  was  assessed 
upon  the  parish  February  8th.  This  was  rather  expensive  for  a 
parish  already  somewhat  in  debt. 

The  cause  of  Mr.  March's  dismission  last  year  is  nowhere 
stated   definitely,  but  is    spoken    of  as  "the  affair"  betwixt  him 


208  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

and  the  parish.     The  record  of  the  expense  of  the  council  which 
convened  at  his  house  contains  the  following  items  : — 

£  s.  d. 

"Deac  Stephen  Bartlett  for  service  done  for  the 
parish  as  assessor  and  committy  relating  to  the  affare 
Betwixt  Mr  March  and  the  parish  05    12  04 

To  Deac  Stephen  Bartlett  for  porke,  chese,  shu- 
gar  and  Eages  carried  to  provide  for  the  council  at 
Mr  Marches  01   15  05 

To  John  Currier  for  service  done  for  the  parish 
as  assessor  and  Committy  Relating  to  the  affair 
betwixt  Mr  March  and  the  parish  04  00  00 

To  John  Currier  for  veal  carried  in  to  provide  for 
the  Council  at  Mr  Marches  desmission  01   05  00 

To  Deac  Isaac  Tuxbury  for  service  done  for  the 
parish  as  assessor  and  Committee  in  the  affair  betwixt 
Mr  March  and  the  parish  04  04  00 

To  Deac  Isaac  Tuxbury  for  meal,  meat  and  but- 
ter carried  in  to  provide  for  the  Council  at  Mr 
Marches  Dismission  01  07  06 

To  Left  Jonathan  Barnard  for  providing  for  the 
Council  at  Mr  Marches  01  09  00 

To  David  Clough  for  providing  for  the  Council 
at  Mr  Marches  01  08  00 

To  Mr  George  Worthing  jr  for  providing  for  the 
Council  at  Mr  Marches  00  10  00" 

No  Doubt  the  council  was  abundantly  supplied  with  good 
things  to  eat  and  drink,  and  the  result  of  the  deliberations  was 
a  dismissal. 

As  already  noted,  Mr.  March  had  built  a  costly  house  on 
land  bought  of  Nathaniel  Weed  in  1728,  perhaps  expecting  to 
spend  his  days  in  town,  as  Mr.  Wells  had  done.  He,  however, 
removed  to  Newbury  soon  after  his  dismission,  and  in  1746 
sold  his  farm  of  thirty  and  one-half  acres  to  Isaac  Merrill,  Esq., 
for  ^950  in  bills  of  credit,  old  tenor.  The  cottage  house  of 
Lewis  B.  Davis  now  stands  on  the  spot  where  Mr.  March  built 
his  nice  house. 


HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY.  2O9 

John  Currier  was  captain  of  the  first  foot  company  in  Ames- 
bury,  and  George  Worthen,  clerk. 

Abner  Philbrick  appeared  in  the  monthly  meeting  held  Janu- 
ary 19th,  1744,  and  "declared  that  his  first  coming  amongst 
friends  was  by  reason  of  prejudice  against  ye  Presbiterians  and 
his  desiring  to  be  under  the  watch  and  care  of  ye  meeting  was 
only  covetousness  to  save  himself  from  paying  ye  ministers  and 
that  what  he  hath  done  and  said  amongst  friends  pretending  to 
be  one  with  them  in  the  truth  they  make  profession  of  was 
hipocrisy  and  deceit."     He  was  unanimously  dismissed. 

1745. 

Hannah  Bettel  applied  to  the  town  for  help,  when  her  father's 
estate  was  sufficient  to  maintain  her.  The  town  "voted  that  ye 
estate  of  her  father  ought  to  do  it,  and  past  on  ye  affermetive 
that  ye  estate  ought  to  do  it,  and  that  ye  town  proceed  in  ye 
law  for  to  see  who  ought  to  do  it,"  and  the  selectmen  were 
appointed  to  test  the  matter  at  the  town's  cost.  The  town  was 
willing  to  indulge  in  the  luxury  of  a  lawsuit  and  seldom  avoided 
one  in  old  times,  but  the  expense  was  light  in  comparison  with 
modern  suits. 

When  the  Rev.  Edmund  March  was  dismissed,  the  parish 
owned  no  house  for  the  minister  to  live  in,  and  from  the  records 
it  appears  that  one  was  built  this  year.  Numerous  orders  are 
recorded  for  labor  and  material,  amounting  in  all  to  ^65,  17  s. 
6  d.  Repairs  were  also  made  on  the  meeting-house,  amounting 
to  ^17,   is.   7  d. 

It  is  well  known  that  the  churchmen  built  a  meeting-house  at 
the  Pond  hills,  on  the  lot  now  known  as  the  "old  church-yard," 
but  the  exact  date  cannot  be  ascertained.  The  private  records 
of  Rev.  Matthias  Plant,  however,  contain  the  following,  written 
in  1745,  to  his  friend: — 

"  Dr. :    You  will  not  think  it  amiss    if  I    inform    you 

that  I  have  a  pretty  church  at  Amesbury,  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Merrimack  river.  I  gave  a  calf  towards  a  dinner  for  the 
men  who  raised  it,  and  ^5  this  currency  for  nails  towards 
shingling  it.  I  was  going  to  send  for  glass  to  England  for  it ; 
but  this  unhappy  quarrel  arising,  I  forebore ;  but  it  is  worthy  of 

27 


2IO  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

the  notice  of  that  venerable  body.  I  have  preached  there  for 
many  years,  in  a  house,  before  the  church  was  built,  and  since 
in  the  church,  where  I  also  had  a  numerous  congregation." 

As  early  as  1716  Samuel  Weed  and  William  Pressey  are  men- 
tioned on  his  record,  and  George  Worthen  in  1722.  Rev. 
Matthias  Plant  built  and  owned  the  house  near  the  chain  bridge, 
since  owned  and  occupied  by  the  town  of  Newbury  for  a  poor- 
house.  His  church,  known  as  Queen's  chapel,  stood  on  the 
plain  now  occupied  as  a  cemetery.  There  was  strong  opposi- 
tion to  the  building  of  this  chapel,  and  the  night  after  it  was 
raised  (1711)  it  was  pulled  down  by  a  mob.  Thus  it  seems 
that  there  were  no  Episcopalians  in  town  till  1716.  It  is  wor- 
thy of  note  that  Mr.  Plant  describes  the  Amesbury  house  as  a 
"pretty  church,"  which  seems  to  conflict  with  the  idea  formerly 
held — that  it  was  but  partially  completed.  The  Weeds  and  sev- 
eral other  wealthy  men  were  of  this  order,  and  were  abundantly 
able  to  build  and  complete  the  house. 

On  Mr.  Hackett's  old  account  book  the  following  is  found, 
which  may  serve  to  illustrate,  to  some  extent,  the  customs 
of  the  times.  The  items  are  for  raising  a  vessel  which  Mr. 
Hackett  built : — 

"To   1  gallon  rhum  and  shugar  for  raisen, 

To  expense  to  get  ye  frame  bands  up, 

To  geting  ye  wales  abought, 

By  your  order  drink, 

To  drink  to  get  ye  uper  wales  on, 

Geting  ye  beams  in, 

To  a  Saterday's  nite  can, 

1746. 

Jacob  Bagley  and  Abner  Whittier  were  chosen  to  take  care 
of  all  idle  persons,  according  to  law. 

Forty  shillings  were  offered  as  a  bounty  for  killing  a  full- 
grown  wolf. 

Deacon  John  Tuxbury,  Thomas  Rowell  and  Orlando  Bagley 
were  chosen  to  exchange  some  land  on  Bailey's  hill  for  two 
pieces  at  the  landing.  The  old  road  running  through  Mr. 
Lowell's,  on  the  hill,  was  given  up  in  consideration  of  land  on 
the  river  to  enlarge  the  landing. 


01 

08 

00 

00 

10 

00 

00 

07 

00 

00 

07 

00 

00 

oS 

06 

01 

00 

00 

00 

°5 

00 

HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  211 

The  town  voted  that  they  would  not  be  "at  any  charge  for 
ye  support  of  Hannah  Bettel."  Nothing  was  said  of  the  law- 
suit commenced  last  year.  At  a  meeting  later  in  the  season 
people  seem  to  have  changed  their  minds,  as  it  was  "voted  to 
allow  Jonathan  Farren  and  Thomas  Bettel  four  pounds  and  ten 
shillings,  old  tenor,"  for  her  support. 

The  town  ordered  the  selectmen  to  "  doome  those  persons 
who  have  wood-land  according  to  their  best  judgment." 

The  first  by-law.  Some  persons  were  in  the  habit  of  cutting 
trees  on  the  highways,  and  to  prevent  such  infringements  of 
the  town's  rights  a  stringent  law  was  passed  March  9th.  The 
reasons  given  for  this  course  were — "which  practice,  if  con- 
tinued in,  will  be  very  detrimental  to  many  of  his  Majestie's 
subjects,  and  perticulerly  to  the  inhabitants  of  said  town  of 
Almsbury." 

BY-LAWS. 

"Voted  and  it  is  hereby  voted  and  ordered  by  ye  Inhabitants 
of  sd  town  of  Amesbury  at  sd  meeting  that  if  any  person  or 
persons  Inhabitants  of  sd  town  shall  from  and  after  ye  tenth  day 
of  April  in  1747  until  ye  tenth  day  of  April  1748,  cut  down 
any  tree  or  trees  standing  on  ye  countrey  road  or  any  of  ye  high- 
ways in  sd  town  of  Amesbury  (  without  leave  first  obtained  from 
one  or  more  of  ye  Selectmen  of  sd  town  )  and  shall  thereof  be 
convicted  before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  or  Court  of  record 
every  person  or  persons  so  offending  shall  forfit  and  pay  to  ye  use 
of  ye  poore  of  sd  town  of  Amesbury  ye  sum  of  twenty  five  shil- 
lings for  every  such  tree  by  him  or  them  cut  down  as  afore 
sd  to  be  sewed  for  and  recovered  by  ye  town  Clerk  or  Select- 
men respectively." 

This  "Order"  was  presented  to  the  court  of  general  sessions 
for  approval  at  Ipswich,  and  was  approved. 

The  selectmen  and  commissioned  officers  were  ordered  to 
divide  the  town's  stock  of  amunition  and  "  take  care  of  ye  same 
that  it  may  be  well  secured." 

"Voted  also  that  the  selectmen  shall  enquire  of  Capt.  John 
Currier  how  that  he  disposed  of  ye  sixty  pounds  he  received  of 
ye  town  for  parchising  town  stock." 


212  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

Oct.  6th.  A  town  meeting  was  held  to  authorize  the  select- 
men to  make  a  rate  to  pay  town  debts  and  ^"150  rising  charges. 
The  town  debt  was  ,£200  at  this  time. 

By  leave  of  the  General  Court  the  West  parish,  by  their  com- 
mittee, consisting  of  John  Hoyt,  John  Sargent  and  Thomas  Row- 
ell,  sold  the  parsonage  land  assigned  to  it  after  the  division  of 
the  town,  to  Isaac  Merrill,  Esq.,  whose  great  grandson  now 
owns  it. 

The  school-masters  this  year  were  Stephen  Tufts,  who  received 
^32,  10  s.,  and  Mr.  Cotton,  who  received  £60  for  their  ser- 
vices. 

John  Collins  continued  to  be  so  troublesome  in  the  Friend's 
meeting  that,  at  a  monthly  meeting  held  in  Amesbury  February 
■2 1  st,  they  chose  a  committee  to  appeal  to  the  governor  for 
help,  and  another  committee  to  "  carry  him  out "  if  he  refused 
to  go. 

1747. 

Ephraim  Hunt  was  chosen  "task  Master  for  to  receive  into 
his  house  and  care  and  well  to  imply  all  such  poore  and  indi- 
gent or  idle  persons  of  sd  town  that  shall  be  sent  to  him  by 
ye  Selectmen  or  overseers  of  ye  poore  of  sd  town  and  his 
account  to  be  allowed  by  ye  Selectmen  of  sd  town." 

There  were,  no  doubt,  several  persons  who  could  not  or 
would  not  earn  their  living,  and  the  town  very  wisely  concluded 
that  they  should  work  as  well  as  eat.  The  necessity  for  a  poor- 
farm  is  very  apparent,  although  it  did  not  occur  to  the  town. 
A  union  workhouse  had  long  been  contemplated,  but  a  town 
establishment  was  not  considered.  Ephraim  Hunt  lived  on  the 
Hunt  road,  which  leads  to  the  Buttonwood  district  from  near 
John    H.    Blackstock's. 

Isaac  Merrill,  Esq.,  had  leave  to  fence  in  the  road  between 
the  parsonage,  which  he  bought  of  the  West  parish  last  year, 
and  the  Pleasant  Valley  lots.  This  old  road,  laid  out  in  1669 
and  now  mostly  covered  with  wood,  was  never  worked  and 
very  little  used.  It  was  fenced  up  without  "bars"  contrary 
to  common  usage,  which  shows  it  to  have  been  worthless 
to   the   public. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  213 

The   following   is   from    the    East   parish    records : — 

£  s.  d. 

"March    24,    1747,    Ordered    to    Stephen   Barnard 
being   in   ye   sarvice   at    Cape    Brittian  149 

To   Jacob    Bagley   jun   being   in   captivity  260 

To    Jacob    Bagley   being   rated   for   a   vessel   that 
was   taken  1    13     9" 

David  Hoyt  and  Isaac  Tuxbury  received  ^15  each  for  "fenc- 
ing stuff"  for  the  parsonage  land. 

Rev.  Matthias  Plant  received  ^15,  11  s.,  2d.,  from  the  par- 
ish rate  on  account  of  the  churchmen,  of  whom  the  following 
is  a  list :  John  Bartlett,  Ehod  Bartlett,  Frank  Bartlett,  William 
Currier,  John  Huntington,  Samuel  Huntington,  Jonathan  Hunt- 
ington, Gideon  Lowell,  Samuel  Lowell,  John  Hook,  and  Batt 
Moulton.  Their  tax  was  ^20,  3  s.,  6  d.,  out  of  ^897.  The 
foregoing  is  the  first  list  found. 

Among  the  items  of  expense  this  year  was  "^15  for  keep- 
ing Worrens  Black  child  for  ye  time  past."  Capt.  Sargent  kept 
her  and  agreed  to  keep  her  till  she  was  eighteen  years  of  age 
for  ,£20. 

"Ordered  to  Dr  Robert  Rogers  for  medsens  for  Ms  Weed 
and  ye  Widow  Hookley  16  s." 

William  Whittier  petitioned  the  town  for  leave  to  set  up  a 
brick-yard  "near  the   Button  tree    and    was    allowed    to  do  so." 

This  brick-yard  was  just  west  of  the  Buttonwood  road  at  the 
bank  of  the  Merrimac  river,  near  the  house  of  Thomas  Page. 
How  long  Mr.  Whittier  occupied  this  yard  is  not  known ;  but, 
probably,  for  a  number  of  years.  On  this  Buttonwood  road, 
about  half  way  up  to  Daniel  F.  Morrill's,  are  the  sights  of  two 
more  brick-yards,  where  many  bricks  were  once  made.  The 
"Button  tree"  here  spoken  of  is  named  in  the  records  of  1703 
and  has  been  a  very  noted  tree  for  a  century  and  a  half.  It 
was  the  eastern  bound  on  the  river  of  the  landing,  as  defined 
at  that  date. 

Mr.  Daniel  Kelley  was  greatly  afflicted  this  year  by  the  death 
of  five  children  in  fourteen  days,  as  follows :  October  1 7th, 
Marcy  C,  aged  ten  years;  October  19th,  Lydia,  aged  six  years; 


214  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

October  20th,  Mary,  aged  eight  years ;  October  29th,  Deborah, 
aged  four  years ;  October  30th,  Moses,  aged  two  years.  What 
this  fatal  disease  was,  the  record  does  not  state ;  but  seldom 
has  it  fallen  to  the  lot  of  any  family  to  be  thus  afflicted. 

1748. 

The  poor  were  boarded  out  as  usual  to  the  best  advantage. 
Samuel  Shepherd  kept  Mary  Fowler  for  17  s.  per  week  :  George 
Worthen  kept  Widow  Hookly  for  n  s.  6  d.  per  week,  and 
Hannah  Bettel  for  12  s.  per  week. 

Dr.  Ordway  charged  20  s.  for  doctoring  the  poor. 

David  Blasdell,  a  descendant  of  Henry,  sen.,  made  two  foot- 
stoves  for  the  tithing  men,  and  received  £1,  4  s.  These  stoves 
were  about  eight  or  nine  inches  square  and  six  inches  high, 
made  of  tin  and  wood,  with  a  cup  inside  to  be  filled  with  coals, 
to  keep  the  feet  warm.  When  meeting-houses  had  no  stoves 
to  warm  them,  these  were  a  great  comfort.  Some  of  them  are 
yet  in  existence,  kept  as  curiosities — mementos  of  the  past. 

At  the  annual  meeting  Thomas  Rowell,  Orlando  Bagley  and 
John  Tuxbury  were  chosen  to  make  an  exchange  of  the  road 
over  Bailey's  hill  for  a  landing  at  Powow  river's  mouth.  The 
exchange  was  made  and  ratified  by  the  town,  giving  Mr.  Gideon 
Lowell  all  of  the  road  through  his  land  over  the  hill  and 
receiving  two  pieces  of  landing  at  Powow  river,  viz. :  "  One 
piece  lying  near  ye  mouth  of  sd  river,  being  in  wedth  aboute 
seven  rods  from  ye  northwest  corner  of  Timothy  Currier's  house, 
joining  to  a  highway  westerly  till  it  comes  to  rainge  with  ye 
lower  cap  piece  of  Mr.  Gideon  Lowell's  wharfe  as  ye  wharfe 
now  stands  from  sd  highway  to  sd  Powow  river,  abutting  upon 
Powow  river  to  low  water  mark  easterly,  and  to  said  Currier's 
land  southerly.  And  also  one  other  piece  of  land  adjoining  ye 
sd  highway  westerly,  twenty-two  rods  in  length,  having  a  stone 
fixed  in  ye  ground  at  ye  southwesterly  corner  next  ye  sd  high- 
way, thence  running  easterly  to  Powow  river  to  low  water-mark, 
six  rods  up  said  river  in  distance  from  ye  northwest  corner  of 
Capt.  Currier's  ware  house,  and  having  at  ye  northwest  cor- 
ner next  sd  highway  another  stone  fixed  in  ye  ground ;  so 
running  from  sd  stone  near   as    ye    course    of  Gideon    Lowell's, 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  215 

jun.,  fence  now  stands,  to  low  water  mark  to  that  part  of 
Powow  river  that  lyes  to  ye  west  of  an  island  in  sd  river  which 
takes  in  ye  cove,  high  bank  and  flats  to  ye  line  first  mentioned, 
from  sd  rock  at  sd  highway  to  ye  six  rod  distance  from  sd  ware 
house  afore  mentioned." 

This  land  has  been  nearly  or  quite  disposed  of,  so  that  the 
town  has  no  landing,  unless  there  may  be  a  small  one  at  the 
foot  of  the  lane  by  Mr.  Cowden's  house. 

March  28.  Thomas  Challis,  jr.,  sold  to  Ephraim  Weed  two 
acres  of  land — being  the  southerly  part  of  his  homestead,  for 
^80,  old  tenor. 

This  lot  included  the  spot  where  Mr.  Alfred  Bailey's  mill 
now  stands  at  the  Button  Falls,  and  the  deed  refers  to  "an  old 
dam "  as  then  being  there,  so  that  the  spot  was  one  of  the 
oldest  mill  privileges  in  town,  if  not  the  oldest. 

The  sum  of  ,£400,  old  tenor,  was  raised  to  defray  past  ex- 
penses. 

1749. 

At  the  annual  meeting  it  was  voted  to  fence  the  burying 
ground  at  the  pond  plain. 

It  was  also  "voted  to  raise  ye  sum  of  eight  hundred  pounds, 
old  tenor,  for  ye  defraying  of  necessary  charges  heretofore  resin 
and  may  arise  for  ye  present  year  in  sd  town." 

For  many  years  the  old  paper  money  has  been  growing  of 
less  value,  and  now  it  becomes  necessary  to  designate  what 
money  is  meant  in  all  grants  and  contracts.  Prices  have  been 
constantly  rising  as  the  money  depreciated  and  the  times  were 
getting  rather  hard.  Fanning  and  ship-building  were  the  two 
principal  branches  of  business  and  main  stay  of  the  people. 

Dec.  8th.  Ephraim  Hunt  sold  to  Isaac  Merrill  eight  acres  of 
land  on  the  corner  "near  ye  meeting-house,"  and  also  "ye  frog 
pond,"  in  consideration  of  ^358,   15  s. 

The  first-named  lot  is  now  the  homestead  of  Geo.  W.  Bart- 
lett,  whose  house  stands  on  the  spot  where  Edward  Hunt  lived 
when  the  meeting-house  was  built  in  17 15.  Around  this  church 
were   more    houses   than    can   be    found   in   the   vicinity   now. 


2l6  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

1750. 

The  selectmen  were  allowed  ^4  for  their  services,  which  was 
to  be  lawful  money,  and  was,  probably,  equal  to  the  ^30  of 
depreciated  currency  allowed  last  year. 

For  several  years  the  town  has  carefully  guarded  the  treasury, 
not  even  allowing  the  selectmen  to  order  out  money  without 
calling  a  town  meeting,  and  this  year  passed  the  following 
vote  : — 

"  Voted  that  ye  Selectmen  of  last  year  shall  render  an  account 
of  their  doings  at  ye  next  meeting  on  adjournment."  It  is 
probable  that  their  account  was  satisfactory,  for,  at  the  adjourned 
meeting,  they  received  leave  "  to  order  out  sums  not  to  exceed 
8  s.  to  any  one  person,"  and  were,  also,  made    town  treasurers. 

Jonathan  Bagley  having  purchased  the  house  and  wharf  at 
the  Ferry,  of  Timothy  Currier,  asks  the  town  to  exchange  the 
fifty  feet  of  land  granted  him  in  1741  for  fifty  feet  next  his 
wharf,  and  his  request  is  granted. 

For  a  long  time  the  need  of  a  bridge  across  the  Powow 
river  at  the  Ferry  had  been  very  apparent  and  this  year  the 
subject  seems  to  have  received  special  attention.  At  the  annual 
meeting  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  town,  stating  the  great 
need  of  a  bridge  i  there  and  offering  to  build  one  without  any 
expense  to  the  town,  should  leave  be  granted.  The  following 
names  were  attached  to  the  petition,  viz  :— 

Timothy  Currier,  Thomas  Colby,  Theoder  Hoyt, 

Joseph  Worthen,  David  Merrill,  Elijah  Morrill, 

Stephen  Webster,         Barnard  Currier,  Thomas  Bagley, 

Samuel  George,  David  Clough,  Samuel  Adams. 

Daniel  Webster, 

What  was  done  in  regard  to  carrying  out  their  proposition  we 
hardly  know,  but  presume  that  no  bridge  was  built  till  a  much 
later  day. 

Joseph  Bartlett  petitioned  for  "three  or  four  rods  of  the  Bank 
at  the  lower  end  next  to  Pow  river  for  to  Build  a  Lime  Kiln 
in  order  to  burn  lime,"  and  his  petition  was  granted.  Nearly 
or  quite  all  the  lime  used  was  made  from  clam  shells  boated 
from  near  the  mouth  of   the    river    and   burnt  in  several  places 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  21 7 

at  the  Ferry.  The  lime  was  very  strong  and  made  durable, 
hard  walls. 

The  East  parish  records  contain  the  following:  "1750  then 
received  of  Ephraim  Weed  Eight  pounds  five  shillings  old  tenor 
for  the  spindle  of  the  meeting  house."  What  this  spindle  was, 
there  is  nothing  further  to  show. 

The  Amesbury  Friends  contributed  ^11  this  year  towards 
repairing  the  Boston  meeting  house. 

1751. 

The  record  is  deficient  this  year,  the  annual  meeting  not 
being   recorded  on  the  book. 

William  Challis  being  chosen  constable,  as  he  thought,  before 
his  turn,  refused  to  take  the  oath  and  was  fined  £4.  He  gave 
his  note,  but  his  friends  thought  he  had  been  badly  treated 
and  applied  to  the  selectmen  to  call  a  town  meeting  to  con- 
sider the  matter,  but  were  met  with  a  refusal.  Application 
was  then  made  to  a  justice,  who  issued  a  call  for  a  meet- 
ing. This  meeting  ordered  the  note  given  up,  and  the  unpleas- 
ant  affair   was   ended. 

The  great  event  of  the  year  was  the  change  of  the  calendar 
by  Parliament.  The  first  day  of  January  was  made  the  begin- 
ning of  the  year  in  all  future  time.  In  the  old  style  reckoning, 
January  was  the  eleventh  month  and  February  the  twelfth. 

Moses  Sargent  is  captain  of  the  second  company  and  Rich- 
ard Kelley,  lieutenant.  The  commission  of  the  latter  was  signed 
by  Lieut. -Governor  Shirley  July  18th,  and  is  now  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Mr.  Giles  M.  Kelley,  a  descendant. 

Theodore  Hoyt  and  Thomas  Colby  petitioned  the  town  to 
grant  them  a  piece  of  land  near  Mr.  Giddeon  Lowell's  wharf 
for  a  ship-yard  and  to  set  a  workshop  on.  The  other  yards 
were  occupied,  no  doubt,  and  here  was  a  convenient  place. 
The  petition  was  granted. 

Jonathan  Pierpont  and  John  Hickey  were  school-masters  this 
year. 

1752. 

The  poor  were  provided  for  in  the  usual  way  at  2  s.  per 
week,  lawful  money.  Seventy  pounds  were  raised  for  town 
expenses.  28 


2l8  HISTORY     OF  AMESBURY. 

Rev.  Elisha  Odlin  died  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  and  his 
widow,  Judith,  was  appointed  administratrix  of  his  estate.  The 
parish  voted  her  a  present  of  ^20,  which  was  paid  in  May. 
Mr.  Odlin's  ministry  continued  for  about  eight  years. 

March  26th.  The  Second  church  gave  letters  of  dismission 
to  John  Sargent  and  wife  to  Methuen. 

The  funeral  expenses  of  Rev.  Mr.  Odlin  were  paid  by  the 
East  parish  and  amounted  to  £16,  3  s.,  3  d. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wiburd  supplied  the  pulpit  most  of  the  present 
year,  Mr.  Adams  preaching  a  few  times  only. 

Josiah  Bailey  and  John  Hickey  were  school-masters  this  year. 

1753. 

The  town  voted  that  the  schools  might  be  kept  in  each  par- 
ish where  the  inhabitants  directed.  For  many  years  the  town 
employed  two  male  teachers,  ( one  for  each  parish )  but  no 
mention  is  made  of  female  teachers.  If  any  were  employed, 
it  was,  probably,  in  private  summer  schools. 

Another  effort  was  made  to  recover  the  ferry  "called  Ames- 
bury  Ferry,"  and  Orlando  Bagley  was  chosen  to  search  the 
records  in  order  to  ascertain  the  condition  of  affairs  in  regard 
to  it.  Abner  Whittier  was  chosen  to  petition  the  court  of  ses- 
sions to  appoint  some  one  to  "  keep  ye  Ferry  near  ye  Powous 
rivers  mouth  and  take  bond  of  ye  same  person  there  being  no 
person  now  licensed  to  keep  sd  Ferry." 

The  landings  were  always  carefully  watched  to  prevent  all 
encroachments,  and  this  year  Capt.  Thomas  Rowell,  Orlando 
Bagley,  Esq.,  and  Capt.  Jonathan  Barnard  were  chosen  to 
bound  them  anew  and  report  the  incumbrances  thereon  to  the 
next  meeting.  These  landings  were  important  for  lumbering, 
boating  and  fishing  in  these  days. 

William  Whittier  was  making  bricks  at  the  Buttonwood  on 
the  western  end  of  the  landing,  and  asked  the  town  for  an 
additional  rod  to  dig  clay  on,  and  was  granted  his  request  dur- 
ing the  pleasure  of  the  town.  By  the  present  appearance  of 
the  premises,  there  must  have  been  made  a  very  great  quantity  of 
bricks  in  this  yard,  which  were,  probably,  boated  down  river. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  219 

Dr.  Robert  Rogers  died  April  28th,  and  was  buried  at  the 
Plain  cemetery.  He  lived  in  the  West  parish  and,  probably,  at 
the  River  village,  and  it  may  have  been  in  the  house  owned  and 
occupied  for  many  years  by  the  late  David  Sargent. 

Patience  Weed  ( Martin )  swept  the  East  parish  meeting 
house  from  1745   to  1753. 

At  this  time  there  were  several  families  of  Kimballs  living  at 
the  Pond,  and  we  find  the  names  of  Abraham,  Joseph,  John 
and  Widow  Hannah  on  the  tax  list.  The  name  in  that  vicinity 
has  long  since  become  extinct,  but  several  old  cellars  are  yet 
to  be  seen  where  they  may  have  lived. 

The  Friends  have  been  greatly  annoyed  by  the  Brentwood 
people  since  the  meeting  was  allowed  there,  and  this  year  a 
complaint  is  made  that  "  several  persons,  men  and  women  are 
speaking  at  one  time  in  your  meetings  also  saluting  each  other 
men  and  women,  old  and  young  pretending  it  to  be  a  kiss  of 
charity — which  will  prove  of  ill  consequences  if  you  continue 
therein."  The  directing  spirits  of  the  meeting  at  Amesbury  and 
Hampton  were  devoted  to  plain,  sincere  worship,  and  labored 
most  faithfully  to  keep  the  order  free  from  all  corrupt  influences. 
But  theirs  was  a  hard  duty  to  perform,  requiring  great  patience 
and  much  sound  judgment.  They  were,  however,  increasing  in 
numbers  and  establishing  meetings  in  all  the  surrounding  towns. 
But  Brentwood's  meeting  was  taken  away  for  a  while  and,  also, 
Stratham's. 

1754. 

A  new  clerk  was  chosen  this  year,  probably  from  inability  on 
the  part  of  Orlando  Bagley,  Esq.,  who  had  served  so  faithfully 
for   nearly  forty-two  years. 

Thomas  Rowell,  Esq.,  Capt.  John  Sargent  and  Jacob  Bagley 
were  chosen  "to  deliver  the  town  books  and  other  papers  belong- 
ing to  the  town  to  the  sd  Thomas  Bagley,  without  any  cost 
to  ye  town." 

The  town  "voted  to  allow  Capt.  George  Worthen,  David 
Clough  and  Isaac  Merrill  fore  and  twenty  shillings  for  looking 
over  the  town  books  and  settling  with  ye  ould  constables." 

The  General  Court  recently  passed  a  law  granting  his  Majesty 


2  20  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

certain  excise  duties,  which  was  vetoed  by  the  governor.  The 
matter  was  laid  before  the  annual  meeting  and  the  following 
appears  on  the  record  : — 

"  At  the  same  meeting  ye  bill  was  read  intitled  an  act  for 
granting  to  his  Majesty  excise  upon  wines  &  spirit  distilled  and 
sold  by  retail  or  consumed  within  this  province,  &  upon  limes, 
lemons  and  oranges,  passed  by  the  two  houses  in  their  session 
in  May  last  &  not  consented  to  by  ye  governor  when  laid  before 
him,  &  his  excellency's  speech  thereon  being  read,  and  also 
after  some  dispute  had  thereon  ye  question  was  put  whether  it 
was  ye  minds  of  ye  town  ye  afore  sd  bill  should  pass  into  a 
law,  &  it  passed  in  ye  negative ;  also  voted  ye  thanks  of  this 
town  to  his  Excellency  ye  Governor  for  not  giving  his  consent 
to  ye  aforesaid  bill  when  laid  before  him." 

For  once  the  royal  governor  was  sustained  by  the  voice  of 
the  people,  and  received  their  hearty  thanks. 

The  East  parish  having  been  without  a  settled  minister  for  a 
while  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Odlin,  were  under  the  necessity  of 
employing  various  ministers,  but  for  some  little  time,  Rev. 
Anthony  Wibird.  He  was  the  first  minister  after  Mr.  Odlin's 
death,  and  though  no  account  is  found  of  his  settlement,  yet 
we  find  that  it  cost  four  pounds  to  dismiss  him.  He  boarded 
with  Mr.  Odlin,  according  to  two  orders  on  the  parish  order 
book  in  1752.     The  following  is  from  the  record: — 

"June  the  1st,  1753.  Ordered  to  pay  John  Wadlagh  for  Mr. 
Wibird's  riding  his  horse  to  Portsmouth,  — :  12: — " 

He  was  probably  from  Portsmouth,  as  were  many  of  the  can- 
didates. 

"April  29,  1754.  Ordered  to  David  Merrill  for  borden  Mr. 
Wibird,  4  04  o." 

This  order  closes  the  record  of  Mr.  Wibird's  ministry,  and  it 
is  probable  that  Mr.  Hibbert  was  now  in  town,  as  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  year  he  received  an  order  as  follows:  — 

"December  ye  26th,  1754.  Ordered  to  Mr.  Thomas  Hibbert 
the  sum  of  sixteen  pounds,  it  being  in  full  for  his  preaching 
with  us  till  his  ordination." 

Mr.  Hibbert  was  from  Kittery,  Maine,  and  was  without  doubt 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  221 

an  able  young  minister.  The  following  ministers  were  employed 
subsequent  to  Mr.  Odlin's  death,  and  may  have  been  candi- 
dates, viz.  :  Joseph  Adams,  Ebenezer  Adams,  Mr.  Upham,  Mr. 
White,  Solomon  Page,  M.  Parepaynt,  Benjamin  Butler  and  Mr. 
Feveryear.     The  price  of  a  day's  preaching  was   £1. 

The  Amesbury  monthly  meeting  in  May  accepted  John  Hunt- 
ington as  a  Friend.  This  is  the  first  instance  of  any  member 
by  that  name. 

1755. 

The  selectmen  were  ordered  to  lay  out  a  road  from  Barna- 
bus  Bradbury's  to  Titcomb's  landing. 

One  hundred  pounds  was  raised  for  public  expenses. 

On  the  1 8th  of  November  there  was  a  shock  of  an  earth- 
quake, but  there  seems  to  have  been  but  little  damage  done. 
Capt.  Richard  Kelly,  in  his  diary,  thus  describes  it : — 

ff  1755  November  ye  18,  it  being  Tuesday,  about  4  o'clock 
in  the  morning  was  an  exceeding  shock  of  ye  earthquake  which 
shook  nere  as  much  as  that  in  ye  yere  1727,  October  29,  but 
ye  noise  was  not  so  loud ;  it  continued  a  great  while,  I  think 
the  longest  that  ever  I  herd  in  all  my  life,  &  just  as  ye  day 
brake  there  was  another  but  nothing  so  hard  as  ye  former,  & 
I  have  herd  it  every  day  since  to  ye  2 2d  day  of  sd  month." 

The  French  and  Indians  were  giving  the  Colonies  trouble, 
and  soldiers  were  called  for  to  maintain  the  peace. 

The  following  men  enlisted  and  went  to  Kennebec  : —  John 
Martin,  Robert  Ring,  Bartholemew  Perkins,  Ephraim  Hodgkins, 
Joseph  Birrel ;  and  to  Oswego,  Bartholemew  Perkins,  Robert 
Ring,  Ephraim  Hodgkins,  Samuel  Colby,  Jacob  Chalks,  jr. 

The  following  persons  enlisted  and  went  to  "Minis  :" —  Timo- 
thy Sargent,  jr.,  Benj.  Ordway,  Stephen  Ordway,  Isaac  Foot, 
Ephraim  Sargent,  Peter  Stevens,  Joseph  Burril,  John  Blasdell, 
Thomas  Chase. 

The  following  went  to  Crown  Point : —  Capt.  Stephen  Sar- 
gent,* Thos.  Clark,  Timothy  Colby,  Matthias  Hoyt,  Thos.  San- 
ders, Philip  Sargent,  Moses  Pressey,  Jacob  Hoyt,  Joseph  Har- 
vey, Philip  Hunt,  Thomas  Sargent  "  ye  3d,"  Jacob  Harvey,  True 

*Commander  of  a  company. 


22  2  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

Sargent,  Joseph  Nichols,  James  Sargent,  Samuel  Foot,  Samuel 
Sargent,  jr.,  Joseph  Buswell,  Thomas  Hunt,  Thomas  Stevens, 
William  Williams,  Moses  Davis,  Ezekiel  Davis,  Gideon  Colby. 

Several  of  the  foregoing  were  in  service  through  the  Revolu- 
tionary war. 

1756. 

The  French  and  Indians  have  grown  troublesome  on  the 
western  border,  and  continued  calls  are  made  for  soldiers  to 
recruit  the  army.  The  captains  under  the  royal  governors  were 
frequently  ordered  to  impress  men  when  wanted,  and  this  year 
Capt.  George  Worthen  took  such  men  as  he  pleased.  There 
were  a  few  Quakers  in  town  and  the  following  in  his  company 
mostly.  In  filling  the  ranks  of  his  company  he  did  not  spare 
even  Quakers.  He  said  these  were  "in  exact  proportion  for 
two  to  be  impressed": — 

John  Huntington,  David  Challis,         Thomas  Challis, 

John  Huntington,  jr.,      Joseph  Pressey,       Peleg  Challis, 

Abner  Jones,  Ezekiel  Jones,         Jacob  Weed. 

They  were,  probably,  obliged  to  supply  two  substitutes. 

Captain  Worthen  and  his  company  were  in  the  service  at 
Lake  George  and  several  of  the  men  died  there.  John  Cur- 
rier, (afterwards  captain  at  Bunker  Hill)  learning  that  Capt. 
Worthen  was  intending  to  impress  him,  volunteered  as  lieuten- 
ant and  served  through  the  campaign. 

John  Harvey  died  at  Lake  George  August  18th,  and  one 
Currier,  also,  died  there  about  the  same  time. 

The  following  men  enlisted  for  Lake  George  from  the  Second 
foot  company  :  Lieut.  Thomas  Stevens,  Ensign  Josiah  Sargent, 
Bradbury    Morrison,    Charles    Sargent,    John    Harvey,    Sanders 

Bradbury, Wetherleys,  Philip  Wells,  Peter  Dow,  jr.,  Joshua 

Currier. 

Orlando  Bagley  died  May  3d.  He  was  born  December  14th, 
1682,  as  appears  by  a  certified  copy  of  his  birth  in  his  own 
hand-writing,  dated  1749.  The  same  paper  contains  his  father's 
marriage  to  Sarah  Sargent  on  the  2  2d  of  December,  1681.  He 
was  the  grandson  of  Orlando  Bagley,  who  married  Sarah,  daugh- 
ter of  Anthony  Colby  in  1653,  probably.     He  was  a  schoolmas- 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  223 

ter  and  was  chosen  to  keep  the  town  school  in  September, 
1 712,  and  on  the  13th  of  October  following  was  chosen  town 
clerk  in  place  of  Thomas  Currier,  deceased,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  for  nearly  forty-two  years.  He  possessed  fine  business 
talent  and  grew  in  popularity  as  age  came  on.  He  served  sev- 
eral years  as  selectman  and  held  courts,  officiating  as  trial  jus- 
tice on  many  occasions.  Wills  and  deeds  of  his  writing  are 
numerous,  and  his  marriages  for  several  years  far  exceeded 
those  of  the  minister's,  numbering  one  hundred  in  all. 

His  penmanship  was  very  good  and  easily  read.  He  lived 
at  the  Pond  hills,  near  the  pound,  as,  no  doubt,  his  father  did. 
At  his  death,  his  farm  passed  to  his  son,  Col.  Jonathan  Bagley, 
and  by  his  will  to  his  son  Orlando,  who  may  be  remembered 
by  some  now  living.  He  was  nearly  ten  years  of  age  when  his 
father  arrested  and  carried  to  "Salem  village  or  farmes"  Susan- 
nah Martin  to  be  tried  for  her  life. 

In  1755  General  Braddock  was  sent  out  from  England  as 
commander-in-chief,  with  two  regiments  of  troops,  to  plan  and 
carry  on  the  war  between  the  colonies  and  French  and  Indians. 
Three  principal  expeditions  were  planned,  one  of  which  was 
destined  against  the  settlements  at  the  head  of  the  Bay  of 
Fundy.  Col.  Monston  assumed  command  of  the  united  troops 
at  the  scene  of  operations.  Two  forts  were  the  only  obstacles 
to  be  met,  and  these  were  soon  reduced,  thus  throwing  into 
the  hands  of  the  British  the  entire  territory  in  that  section. 
But  now  came  a  strange  scene,  which  the  world  never  witnessed 
before.  The  peaceable  inhabitants  were  led  to  assemble  in  various 
places  under  false  pretences  to  the  number  of  twelve  thousand, 
and  some  seven  thousand  of  them  were  hurried  on  ship  board 
and  brought  to  the  colonies.  The  country  was  nearly  depopu- 
lated. These  inoffensive  people  were,  by  order  of  the  General 
Court,  scattered  among  the  towns  to  be  by  them  supported. 
Hundreds  of  quiet  homes  were  broken  up  at  Arcadia,  families 
separated  to  be  united  no  more — many  of  these  French  people 
dying  here.  Several  of  them  were  quartered  at  Amesbury  for 
some  years,  and  provided  for  by  the  town.  A  house  was 
hired   for   them   and   other   expenses    incurred,  and   among   the 


224  HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY. 

items  this  year,  Widow  Esther  Colby  received  10  s.  on  their 
account.  Probably  but  few  of  them  ever  reached  home  again. 
It   was   a   black-hearted   crime   without   the   least  justification. 

1757. 

One  hundred  and  forty  pounds  were  raised  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  the  town. 

The  town  was  presented  for  not  having  a  grammar  school, 
according  to  law,  and  Thomas  Rowell  was  chosen  to  appear 
"at  ye  next  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  ye  peace  to  be  holden 
at  Salem,"  to  answer  in  the  case. 

Petitions  for  new  roads  .seem  to  have  troubled  the  town  at 
this  time.  No  doubt  they  were  needed,  and  generally,  after 
much  opposition,  were  obtained. 

July  2d.  The  East  parish  bought  one  acre  and  a  half  of 
land  at  Sandy  hill,  of  Col.  Jonathan  Bagley,  for  a  meeting-house 
lot.  The  price  was  £13,  6  s.  8  d.  Since  1715  the  meeting- 
house had  stood  on  the  corner  near  Geo.  W.  Bartlett's,  (Edward 
Hunt's,  then,)  but  a  move  was  now  made  for  its  removal 
to  the  new  lot  at  Sandy  hill,  which  was  more  convenient  for 
the  Ferry  and  Mills.  This  measure  was  not  carried  into  effect 
till  1 76 1. 

David  Blasdell  died  this  year,  aged  forty-six.  He  was  a 
rather  prominent  man,  more,  perhaps,  on  account  of  his 
mechanical  genius  than  otherwise.  His  clocks  are  still  in  exist- 
ence. He  lived  near  Charles  BlasdelFs,  at  Kendrick's  lane,  and 
his  shop  was  in  Mr.  Blasdell's  front  yard.  His  business  was 
really  a  little  of  everything :  he  made  and  repaired  clocks,  made 
and  repaired  augers,  andirons,  steelyards,  gun  locks,  repaired  tin 
and  brass  ware,  shod  horses,  run  spoons,  forged  iron-work  for 
vessels,  sold  groceries,  dry  goods,  meat,  wood,  made  tow  combs, 
owned  cider  mill,  and  made  all  kinds  of  nails,  from  shingle  to 
double  tens.  He  was  selectman  (chairman)  in  1754,  and  sev- 
eral times  assessor  in  the  East  parish.  He  was  son  of  Jonathan 
and  grandson  of  Henry,  sen.,  and  a  more  industrious  or  useful 
man  is  seldom  found.  His  son,  David,  continued  his  business 
at  the  same  location  for  many  years. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  225 

May  10th.  William  Moulton  and  Stephen  Sargent  were  chosen 
deacons  of  the  Second  church. 

Dec.  3d.  William  Rowell,  David  Sargent  and  wife,  Thomas 
Fowler  and  wife,  Henry  Bagley  and  wife,  Reuben  Hoyt  and 
wife,  Christopher  Rowell  and  wife,  Widow  Sarah  Bartlett,  Eliza 
Bartlett,  Sarah  Juell,  Widow  Ruth  Merrill  and  Mary  Juell  were 
granted  letters  of  dismission  by  the  Second  church,  "  in  order  to 
their  being  gathered  with  others  into  a  church  state  at  New- 
town, N.  H." 

Richard  Kelley  was  commissioned  as  captain  of  the  "second 
foot  company"  in  Amesbury,  by  Lieut. -Governor  Phipps,  March 
2 1  st.  The  commission  is  yet  in  good  state  of  preservation,  in 
the  hands  of  Mr.  Giles  M.  Kelley. 

To  obtain  recruits  for  the  army  under  the  Earl  of  Loudon 
was  no  easy  task  for  Capt.  George  Worthen,  and  he  found  him- 
self under  the  necessity  of  using  all  the  power  conferred  upon 
him  by  the  royal  governor.  Accordingly  he  pressed  into  service 
such  persons  as  he  chose.*  The  following  were  accepted  as 
substitutes  for  those  who  had  been  impressed,  viz. :  Jacob  Chal- 
lis  for  Stephen  Patten  and  Enoch  Rogers,  Philip  Wells  for 
Gideon  Davis  and  his  brother  Francis,  Isaac  Challis  for  himself 
and  Samuel  Short,  William  Warran   for    Sergt.    John    Hoyt    and 

Isaac  Rogers,  Walker  for  Isaac  Merrill,    Esq. ;    Thomas 

Stone  for  Henry  Blasdell,  he  being  one-half  for  Samuel  Silver, 
jr.,  and  Abner  Whittier  the  other  half.  John  Currier  (enlisted) 
as  lieutenant.  Jacob  Pressy  for  himself  and  Benjamin  Pilsbury. 
The  foregoing  were  accepted  by  Col.  Greenleaf,  March  25  th. 

Aug.  15th.  The  following  persons  were  drafted  from  the 
second  foot  company,  viz. :  John  Kelly,  Joshua  Sargent,  Joseph 
Colby,  Sargent  Huse,  Roger  Colby,  Thomas  Williams,  Stephen 
Sargent,  jr.,  Jonathan  Moulton,  Daniel  Hoyt,  Jonathan  Clem- 
ents, Enoch  Chase,  jr.,  Ephraim  Currier,  jr.,  Benjamin  Morse, 
Wells  Chase,  jr.,  Jonathan  Kelly,  3d,  David  Currier,  Enoch 
Nichols,  Joseph  Harvey,  jr.,  Elliott  Colby,  Nathan  Hoyt,  Joseph 
Dow,  jr.,  John  Kendrick,  Nehemiah  Hadley,  Christopher  Sar- 
gent— 24.  This  was  a  very  large  draft  from  the  West  parish, 
*Capt.  Kelley's  diary. 
29 


2  26  HISTORY     OF  AMESBURY. 

and  the  East  parish  fared  no  better  in  this  matter.  Some  of 
the  foregoing  procured  substitutes.  Wells  Chase  took  the  place 
of  his  son,  Isaac  Foot  served  for  John  Kendrick,  Gideon  Colby 
for  Joseph  Dow,  jr. ;  Orlando  Sargent  agreed  to  serve  for  Chris- 
topher Sargent,  but  hired  Thomas  Hunt ;  and  one  Sidway  served 
for  Benjamin  Morse. 

Aug.  1 6th.  These  men  marched  away  to  join  the  main  army 
which  Lord  Loudon  had  been  collecting  to  fight  the  French 
and  Indians  at  the  lakes.  When  arriving  at  Marlboro',  near 
Worcester,  they  received  news  of  the  surrender  of  Fort  William 
Henry  to  the  French  under  Montcalm,  and  as  all  further  opera- 
tions were  suspended  for  the  season,  they  were  allowed  to  march 
home,  where  they  arrived  on  the  20th. 

The  alarm  on  the  approach  of  the  French  spread  like  wild- 
fire through  the  Colonies,  and  great  preparations  were  made 
early  in  the  season  to  avoid  the  threatened  danger.  Col.  Green- 
leaf  issued  his  instructions  to  his  regiment  (or  the  several  cap- 
tains) to  have  their  companies  ready  to  march  at  a  minute's 
warning.  Amunition  was  procured  for  each  company.  Capt. 
George  Worthen's  company  was  supplied  with  1  barrel  of  pow- 
der, 3400  bullets  and  200  flints,  and  Capt.  Kelley's  with  1  bar- 
rell  of  powder,  3500  bullets  and  200  flints.  Although  those 
precautionary  measures  were  taken  in  May,  yet  but  little  was 
done  until  August,  and  then  it  was  too  late  to  prevent  the  suc- 
cess of  the  French.  Soldiers,  as  already  stated,  were  again 
called  and  pressed  into  the  king's  service,  but  without  retrieving 
the  losses  already  sustained. 

Benjamin  Hoag  petitioned  for  leave  to  dig  clay  from  the  bank 
of  the  river  near  his  house,  to  make  bricks,  and  was  granted 
the  privilege. 

1758. 

The  only  poor  persons  provided  for  by  the  town  this  year 
were  Hannah  Bedel,  Hannah  Fowler  and  Widow  Hookley. 

William  Bayley  having  contracted  to  build  a  large  ship  at  the 
Ferry,  asked  the  town  for  a  grant  of  some  land  near  "the 
stern  of  his  ship  of  one  rod,"  and  his  request  was  readily 
granted.  The  reason  which  he  gave  for  asking  this  favor  was 
that  "from  Ins  yard  is  sumthing  difficult  to  launch." 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  227 

The  French  people  mentioned  in  1756  were  now  living  in 
Capt.  Jonathan  Barnard's  house,  but  were  ordered  to  remove  to 
some  place  in  the  West  parish.  These  persecuted  people  were 
strangers  in  a  strange  land,  and  their  lives  were  little  better  than 
wasted,  but  the  town  was  compelled  to  keep  them. 

The  selectmen  were  allowed  four  pounds  for  their  services. 

Deer  occasionally  strayed  into  town,  and  a  "deer  reef"  was 
annually  chosen  to  protect  them  from  harm. 

The  boundary  line  between  Amesbury  and  Haverhill  was  per- 
ambulated, and  the  ancient  bound  at  Holt's  rock  and  at  Brandy 
Brow  found  and  renewed. 

Lord  Loudon  again  collected  his  forces  to  subdue  the  French, 
and  was  furnished  with  seven  thousand  men  by  Massachusetts. 
Capt.  Kelley's  company  by  enlistment  furnished  Matthias  Hoyt, 
Enoch  Chase,  jr.,  Sargent  Huse,  Jacob  Hoyt,  John  Harvey,  jr., 
Charles  Sargent,  jr.,  Ezra  Hoyt,  Elliot  Colby,  John  Blaisdell, 
Philip  Sargent,  Isaac  Challis,  Thomas  Sargent,  3d,  Isaac  Sar- 
gent, Benj.  Sargent,  David  Ring,  Stephen  Sargent,  jr.,  Pasky 
Foot,  Henry  Williams,  Roger  Colby  and  Elijah  Blaisdell. 

Enlisted  into  Capt.  McCurda's  rangers  for  Cape  Breton : 
Gideon  Colby,  Benjamin  Ordway,  Thomas  Hunt,  David  Cur- 
rier, Sanders  and  Bradbury. 

Dec.  3d.  The  following  persons  received  dismission  from 
the  Second  church  to  form  a  church  at  Newton,  N.  H.,  viz. : 
William  Rowell,  David  Sargent  and  wife,  Thomas  Fowler  and 
wife,  Henry  Bagley  and  wife,  Reuben  Hoyt  and  wife,  Christo- 
pher Rowell  and  wife,  Widow  Sarah  Bartlett,  Eliza  Bartlett, 
Sarah  Jewell  and  Widow  Ruth  Merrill. 

1759. 

The  roads  were  to  be  repaired  by  a  rate,  and  the  wages  were 
to  be  "for  each  man  two  shillings  a  day — for  each  man  and 
yoke  of  oxen  three  shillings  and  six  pence — and  for  each  man, 
yoke  of  oxen  and  cart  or  plow,  four  shillings."  The  sum  of 
^40  was  raised  for  this  purpose.  Every  man  was  to  have  the 
privilege  of  working  out  his  tax. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  in  October,  £60  were  raised  for  the 
expenses  of  the  town. 


2  28  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

Doctor  Aaron  Sawyer  received  12  s.,  10  d.,  for  attendance  on 
Susannah  Goodwin,  a  poor  woman. 

The  French  and  Indian  war  continued  to  be  a  source  of 
trouble,  and  quite  a  large  delegation  of  Amesbury  men  went 
to   Lake  George,  either  as  soldiers  or  laborers. 

I    find    among    Col.    Jonathan  Bagley's    papers    the    following 
account  of  men  who   worked   on  the  batteaux  at  the  lakes  : — 
"col.  willard's  regiment. 


Philip  Colby, 

8  days, 

George  Warthing, 

8  days, 

Ezra  Jewell, 

3     " 

Henry  Trussell, 

7 

c 

Sarg  Adonijah  Colby, 

3     " 

Peltiah  Hoyt, 

5 

i 

Sarg  Theoder  Hoyt, 

8     " 

Thomas  Hoyt, 

7 

i 

Sarg  Gideon  Lowell, 

9     " 

Joseph  Hadlock, 

9 

i 

Elijah  Colby, 

<7            " 
/ 

Theophilus  Gould, 

7 

£ 

Thomas  Colby, 

8     " 

Robert  Gould, 

8 

I 

in  Col  Lovell's  Reg. 

Benjamin  Badger, 

7 

i  11 

As  soldiers,  were  Nathan  Kimball,  Richard  Currier,  Enoch 
Flanders,  Daniel  Flanders,  William  Hoyt,  Page  Ring,  Jonathan 
Hunt,  Moses  Molton  and  a  son  of  Abner  Currier.  These  were 
in  Capts.  Sikes  and  Bayly's  companies. 

Barnabus  Bradbury  built  a  school-house  for  the  West  parish 
and  was  paid  ;£n,  17  s.,  4  d.,  lawful  money,  for  the  same. 

Timothy  Heath,  Sargent  Heath  and  Isaac  Rogers  were  abated 
their  minister's  tax,  they  being  churchmen. 

1760. 

Fifty  pounds  were  raised  to  repair  the  highways,  an  increase 
of  ten  pounds  over  last  year.  Sixty  pounds  were  raised  for 
town  expenses. 

"  Voted  to  allow  ye  selectmen  twenty  dollars  for  their  services 
ye  present  year." 

This  is  the  first  mention  of  dollars  on  record. 

William  Whittier  petitioned  for  leave  to  set  a  house  on  the 
Buttonvvood  landing,  asking  for  a  strip  three  rods  wide  to  the 
river,  for  that  purpose,  stating  that  but  little  lumber  was  now 
brought  there.  A  committee  was  chosen  to  view  the  premises 
and  lay  out  the  lot  as  they  might  think  proper,  he  paying  them 
for  their  trouble.     The  committee,    after    viewing    the    premises, 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  229 

reported  that  it  was  attended  with  so  much  difficulty  that  it  be 
referred  to  the  next  annual  meeting.  Mr.  Whittier  had  leave  in 
1747  to  set  up  a  brick-yard  there,  and  had  no  doubt  done  so, 
making  more  or  less  bricks  every  year,  as  the  large  excavation 
shows,  and  now  wishes  to  build  on  the  ground.  The  final  result 
is  not  known. 

For  the  first  time  the  selectmen  were  required  to  make  out 
a  list  of  jurors  and  lay  it  before  the  town  for  acceptance.  From 
this  list  the  meeting  selected  such  names  as  were  thought  best 
for  the  Superior  Court,  and  placed  them  in  a  box.  Another 
selection  was  made  for  the  Inferior  Court,  and  placed  in  a 
second  box.  These  boxes  were  locked,  and  when  a  juror  was 
wanted  the  clerk  took  them  to  town  meeting  and  one  of  the 
selectmen  drew  out,  as  wanted,  one  or  more. 

The  small  pox  made  its  appearance  in  town,  causing  very  gen- 
eral alarm  among  the  people.  Precautionary  measures  were 
taken  by  providing  two  pest-houses,  one  at  the  west  end  and 
one  at  the  east  end  of  the  town.  Widow  Sarah  Currier's  house 
was  taken  at  the  West  parish,  and  Daniel  Martin's  at  the  East 
parish.  Ichabod  March  was  chosen  special  constable  at  the 
west  end  and  Eliphalet  Martin  at  the  east  end,  "  to  take  good 
care  and  see  to  the  people  that  have  the  small  pox  and  to 
press  nurses  necessary  for  the  help  and  support  of  those  sick, 
if  need  be,  and  to  remove  them  into  houses  that  the  town  have 
provided  for  that  purpose." 

Daniel  Martin  lived  on  a  "little  knowl"  near  Martin's  bridge, 
and  probably  the  Widow  Currier  lived  in  some  retired  spot  in 
the  West  parish. 

The  selectmen  were  ordered  to  take  care  of  "idle  persons" 
and  not  allow  them  to  "squander  away  their  estate." 

A  committee  was  chosen  to  devise  some  plan  for  the  man- 
agement of  the  poor,  and  report  at  the  next  annual  meeting. 

Dec.  1 6th.  A  town  meeting  was  held,  and  after  choosing 
David  Merrill,  moderator,  adjourned  "  to  ye  Widow  Esther  Colby, 
Innholder  in  Amesbury."  This  was  a  famous  resort,  and  busi  - 
ness  always  seemed  to  go  better  after  being  refreshed  by  some 
of  the  widow's  excellent  flip.  On  this  occasion  ^16  were  added 
to  the  sum  raised  for  town  expenses. 


23O  HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY. 

A  separate  tax  was  assessed,  by  order  of  the  General  Court, 
on  the  Quakers,  amounting  to  ^76,  13  s.  4  d.,  and  the  follow- 
ing is  a  list  of  those  taxed  : —  Ebenezer  Currier,  Peleg  Challis, 
David  Challis,  Thomas  Challis,  John  Huntington,  Abner  Jones, 
Ezekiel  Jones,  Aaron  Rowell,  Joseph  Pressy,  Jacob  Weed,  John 
Huntington,  jr.,  Jonathan  Reed,  Daniel  Hoage. 

The  following  document  is  found  in  the  clerk's  office  : — 

"Amesbury,  March  17th,   1760. 

We,  the  subscribers,  have  each  of  us  Respectively  Received  In 
full  of  our  wages  for  service  as  Soldiers  in  Cap1  Sikes'  Company 
and  Cap1  Bayly's  Companys,  In  the  year  1759.  Recvd  the  same 
of  Leu1  John  Currier,  as  witness  our  hands. 

Richard  Currier,         Nathan  Kimball,         Enoch  Flanders, 
Daniel  Flanders,  William  Hoyt,  his 

Jonathan  Hunt*         Moses  Motion,  -Pag?    X    Ring. 

mark. 

The  following  deposition  may  be  of  interest  as  throwing  some 
light  on  the  treatment  of  soldiers  in  the  old  French  and  Indian 
war : — 

"The  Deposition  of  Enoch  flanders  of  Amesbury  and  Daniel 
flanders  of  Salsbury  both  in  ye  County  of  Essex  &  province  of 
ye  Massachusetts  bay,  of  Lawfull  age,  testifieth  &  saith  that  we 
Inlisted  our  selves  as  Soldiers  in  ye  year  1759,  under  Capten 
Richard  Seiks  that  we  went  up  to  lake  george  at  Albany 
we  each  of  us  Received  a  province  arme  &  we  went  up  to 
ye  forte  at  ye  narrows  &  did  Duty  under  General  Amherst,  &  on 
our  Return  home  when  we  came  to  Still  water  we  had  each  of 
us  our  armes  with  us  but  by  the  order  of  ye  chief  ofnsser  of 
ye  forte  at  ye  sd  Still  water,  Each  of  our  armes  wear  taken 
from  us  sd  offisser  as  we  wear  told  was  a  leu1  &  we  wear 
told  his  name  was  mecains  &  he  gave  us  no  Receipt  for  said 
armes  &  further  says  not. 

Dated  at  Amesbury,  February  ye  27,   1760. 

Enoch  Flanders, 
Daniel  Flanders.'1'' 

The  foregoing  was  sworn  to  before  Isaac  Merrill,  Justice  of 
Peace. 

*  Probably  Huntington. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  23 1 

Government  had  agreed  to  find  the  soldiers  guns,  which  they 
were  to  retain  on  leaving  service,  and  the  above  was  a  breach 
of  trust.     Many  others  received  similar  treatment. 

1761. 

Eighty-five  pounds  were  raised  to  defray  town  expenses  and 
sixty  pounds  to  repair  highways. 

The  representative  was  instructed  to  petition  the  General 
Court,  in  connection  with  other  towns,  for  the  removal  of  the 
July  term  of  the  court  from  Salem  to  Ipswich,  and  one  of  the 
Ipswich  courts  to  Newbury. 

Deacon  William  Moulton,  Capt.  Jonathan  Barnard  and  Lieut. 
Timothy  Hoyt,  with  the  selectmen,  were  chosen  to  examine  the 
accounts  concerning  the  "small  pock." 

The  small-pox  still  lingered  in  town,  and  Ichabod  March  and 
Eliphalet  Martin  were  again  chosen  special  constables  to  have 
charge  of  this  department.  At  a  meeting  held  in  May  it  was 
"voted  to  provide  a  house  to  receive  such  persons  as  may  or 
shall  have  the  small  pock  in  said  town."  And  it  was,  also, 
"voted  to  erect  a  house  immediately  on  Coll  Bagleys  land  near 
Red  Oak  hill  so  called  to  receive  those  sick." 

Abner  Currier,  Daniel  Nichols  and  Enoch  Sargent  were  chosen 
to  build  the  house. 

"Voted  the  Selectmen  hire  fifty  dollars  to  pay  off  those  per- 
sons demands  for  nursing  those  persons  with  the  small  pock." 

Widow  Sarah  Currier,  whose  house  was  taken  last  year  for  a 
pest-house,  received  ,£25  for  boarding  and  nursing  small-pox 
patients. 

Obadiah  Badger  having  a  blacksmith's  shop  standing  partly 
on  the  road  and  partly  on  the  land  of  Aaron  Rowell  at  Row- 
ell's  corner,  and  being  obliged  to  move  it,  asked  leave  to  move 
it  a  little  farther  into  the  road,  he  buying  land  of  Tristram 
Barnard  on  the  opposite  side  for  the  road,  and  was  allowed  to 
do  so  "during  the  towns  pleasure."  This  location  was  on 
Friend  street,  near  Isaac  Barnard's. 

The  most  important  event  of  the  year  was  the  pulling  down 
of  the  meeting  house  at  the  parsonage,  which  was  built  in  1 715, 
and    its    removal    to    Sandy  hill,  where,  as   already  stated,  a  lot 


232  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

was  bought  in  1757.  Having  stood  forty-six  years,  it  was  des- 
tined to  be  enlarged  and  improved  in  its  internal  and  external 
parts.  As  built  in  1 715,  it  was  forty-five  by  thirty-five  feet,  a 
plain  structure,  probably  without  much  ornamental  finish.  When 
rebuilt  this  year  it  was  very  much  larger,  and  although  a  plain 
building,  with  the  exception  of  a  porch  on  the  west  end,  yet, 
no  doubt,  it  was  of  a  better  finish  than  formerly.  It  was  no 
small  job  to  build  a  large  house  when  every  nail,  bolt  and 
hinge  was  made  by  hand,  from  the  spike  to  the  fine  nails  that 
fastened  the  shingles  to  the  roof.  It  was  barely  possible  for  a 
smart  workman  to  make  five  hundred  small  nails  in  a  day. 
David  Blasdell,  who  made  many  of  the  nails,  in  his  diary  says 
he  made  that  number  one  day.  The  church  was  very  heavily 
timbered,  as  those  who  used  to  listen  to  the  preaching  there 
will  remember.  Many  times,  when  a  boy,  I  have  wondered 
where  the  trees  could  come  from,  some  fifty  feet  long  and  fif- 
teen inches  square,  which  supported  the  galleries  on  three  sides 
of  the  house.  Such  oaks  are  seldom  found  in  this  vicinity 
now. 

The  sounding-board  above  the  pulpit  was  then  to  me  a  great 
curiosity,  especially  the  eagle  which  surmounted  it  with  his  wide- 
spread wings.  Tradition  says  that  when  taken  down  some  of 
the  timber  was  split  into  smaller  dimensions,  which  alarmed  some 
of  the  people  so  that  they  hardly  dared  to  go  to  meeting.  Had 
they  lived  at  the  present  day  their  fears  might  have  been 
reasonable,  but  a  building  so  faithfully  timbered  as  the  old 
church  could  hardly  blow  down. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  233 

We  give,  below,  the  bill  of  David  Blasdell,  who  assisted  in  pull- 
ing down  the  old  house  and  building  the  new  one  : 
"What  I  have  Dun  towards  the  meeting  house — 

by  half  a  Days  work  going  to  Newbry,  oo   10    o 

to  two  Days  work  a  bording,  02  oo    o 
to  three  Days  work  building  the  stages 

and  shing.,  03  00  o 

to  Oliver  Blasdells  Days    work,  01  02  6 

to  a  thousand  and  a  half  of  shingle,  06  00  o 

to  hundred  and  a  half  Duble  tenes,  00  18  o 

to  one  Days  work  of  shingling,  01  00  o 

to  one  Days  work  shingling,  01  00  o 

to  cash  to  git  sum  paint,  01  02  6 

to  two-thirds  of  Days  work,  01   00  o 

to  half  a  Days  work  a  making  stages,  00   10  o 

to  a  thousand  clabords  nales,  02  00  o 

to  five  Days  work  of  Oliver  Blasdell,  05    12  6 

to  five  hundred  of  Duble  tens,  02   15  o 

to  cash  to  git  som  glas,  04   10  o 

to  Ribits  for  the  outer  Dour,  00  16  o 

to  forty  springs  for  the  windows,  07  00  o 
to  two  Days  work  a  puling  Down  the  old 

meeting  house,  02  00  o 

to  half  a  Days  work  making  the  seats,  00  10  o 

to  a  Days  work  a  puting  the  gise  in,  01  00  o 

to  mend  a  chane,  00  03  o 


44  03  6 
after  I   carried  count  in — to  a  bolt  for  the  outer  Dors,  1   10  o." 

The  above  is  as  found  on  Mr.  Blasdell's  account  book,  the 
ancient  spelling  being  retained. 

Last  year  a  committee  was  chosen  to  consider  what  should 
be  done  with  poor,  idle  and  lazy  persons.  The  need  of  an 
almshouse  or  some  similar  establishment  had  long  been  felt, 
the  custom  of  boarding  at  the  cheapest  place  giving  very  poor 
satisfaction  to  all  parties.  On  the  19th  day  of  February  the 
committee  made  the  following  report  to  the  town  : — 

40 


234  HISTORY     OF  AMESBURV. 

"After  some  consideration  on  sd  affair,  we  are  unanimously 
agreed  that  it  is  best  for  the  town,  as  soon  as  may  be,  to  Pro- 
vide some  proper  place  for  the  reception  of  all  such  poor,  idle, 
or  lazy  persons  as  in  the  judgment  of  the  overseers  of  the  poor 
of  sd  town  shall  judge  ought  to  be  sent  there  ;  and  they  are 
also  further  of  opinion  that  there  be  overseers  of  the  poor  yearly 
chosen ;  and  are  further  of  opinion  that  some  one  person  or 
persons  be  chosen  and  appointed  as  master  or  overseer  of 
sd  house,  and  there  be  received  under  his  care  all  such  parsons 
as  shall  be  sent  to  him  by  the  overseers  of  the  poor,  and  to 
take  care  that  such  parsons  be  well  imployed  in  such  business 
as  he  shall  think  proper ;  and  are  also  of  opinion  that  the  over- 
seers of  the  poor  provide  such  materall  as  the  master  or  over- 
seer of  sd  house  shall  judge  necessary  for  imploying  all  such 
parsons  as  shall  be  committed  to  his  care,  he  giveing  a  receipt 
for  all  such  materialls  as  he  shall  receive,  and  likewise  that  he 
yearly  render  particular  account  to  the  sd  overseer  of  each  and 
every  one  of  there  joining,  as  well  as  an  account  of  what  charge 
he  has  been  at ;  also  that  the  overseers  of  the  poor  lay  there 
accounts  of  the  whole  before  the  town  yearly.  All  which  is 
most  humbly  submitted." 

Signed  by  Thos.  Rowell,  Stephen  Bartlett,  jr.,  Ephraim  Weed, 
Wm.  Moulton,  Stephen  Sargent,  David  Merrill,  John  Bagley, 
committee. 

This  report  was  accepted,  but  was  never  carried  out  further 
than  to  choose  some  citizen  to  receive  those  persons  named 
in  the  report.  It  was  a  well-digested  plan,  submitted  by  some 
of  the  most  prominent  men  in  town,  and  ought  to  have  been 
put  into  operation. 

July  7th  was  observed  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  by  the 
Second  church,  by  reason  of  the  drought.     [Church  record.] 

1762. 

A  committee  was  chosen  to  view  the  town's  landings  and 
renew  the  bounds,  and,  also,  to  view  a  piece  of  land  petitioned 
for  by  Theodore  Hoyt  for  a  ship-yard  on  Powow  river.  The 
committee  bounded  out  a  strip  four  rods  wide  to  high  water 
mark,  and  the  town  confirmed  their  action,  he  paying  £,6  law- 
ful money  and  keeping  the  bank  wall  in  repair. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


235 


Mr.  Hoyt  was  a  ship-builder  and  had  many  years  previous 
built  the  house  (  about  1736)  now  occupied  by  his  descendant, 
Mr.  Enoch  Hoyt,  at  the  Ferry.  This  is  one  of  the  oldest 
houses  in  town. 

Sixty  pounds  were  raised  for  the  repairing  of  highways  and 
one  hundred  and  thirty  pounds  for  town  expenses. 

After  making   provision  for  several  of  the  poor,  it  was  "voted 
that  the    Selectmen  have  the  care  of  the  Widow  Mattes  and  to 
dispose  of  her  in  sickness  and  in  health  at  the  cheapest  rate." 
No    doubt    sometimes    the    poor    fell    into     selfish    hands    and 
received  rough  treatment. 

Widow  Timothy  Colby  offended  the  town  by  some  means, 
and  it  was  "voted  that  Mr.  Barnabus  Bradbury,  Lieut.  John 
Hoyt  and  John  Sawyer  be  a  Comm"  to  go  to  ye  widow  of 
Timothy  Colby,  now  wife  of  Isaac  Colby,  and  notefye  her  to 
take  of  that  house  that  stands  on  ye  Landing  place  called  Cot- 
tells  Landing  emedately  or  to  show  her  strength  in  order  for  a 
trial  in  ye  law  and  make  report  of  their  and  her  proceedings  at 
the  May  meeting." 

The  bounds  of  the  Ferry  road  were  rectified  as  follows : 
"Commencing  at  the  corner  at  land  formerly  owned  by  John 
Bartlett  ( recently  owned  by  the  late  Joseph  Bartlett )  and 
thence  southerly  to  the  land  of  Aquila  Worthen,  thence  to  a 
stone  by  Obadiah  Colby's  land,  thence  to  an  elm  tree  near  the 
north-west  corner  of  a  shop  belonging  to  the  heirs  of  Joseph 
Bartlett,  thence  to  a  stone  eight  feet  southerly  of  Stephen  Bart- 
lett's  shop,  thence  to  the  south-easterly  corner  of  Jacob  Bag- 
ley's  barn,  thence  to  a  stone  two  rods  and  six  feet  from  the 
house  built  by  James  Herbert,  thence  to  a  stone  one  rod  and 
a  half  from  Gideon  Lowell's  house,  thence  to  a  stone  where 
was  the  easterly  corner  of  a  log  house,  and  thence  from  where 
the  block  house  was  to  a  stone  two  rods  and  two  feet  from  the 
south-east  corner  of  Timothy  Currier's  house,  and  from  there  to 
the  river." 

The  "Log  House"  mentioned  in  17 19  was  gone,  but  its  loca- 
tion was  not  forgotten. 

Samuel  George  bought  an   hour-glass  for  the  East  parish  pul- 


236  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURV. 

pit,  for  which    he    paid   1  s.,  4  d.,  and  Samuel    Blasdell  made  a 
"settle  at  the  pulpit  for  the  hour  glass  to  stand  in." 

Nathaniel  Weed,  belonging  to  the  society  of  Friends,  enlisted 
this  year  and  was  denied  by  them. 

1763. 

Again  the  subject  of  a  union  workhouse  was  brought  up,  and 
the  selectmen  were  ordered  to  consult  with  Salisbury  in  regard 
to  the  plan,  but  met  with  no  encouragement  in  that  direction. 
The  long-cherished  union  workhouse  of  Amesbury  met  with  no 
encouragement  from  adjoining  towns,  although  it  deserved  a  bet- 
ter fate.  Finding  no  other  resource,  the  selectmen  were 
instructed  to  hire  a  house  for  the  town  poor.  The  system  of 
selling  the  poor  had  evidently  come  into  bad  repute,  and  the 
people  were  determined  to  abolish  it.  To  obtain  a  house  was, 
however,  no  easy  matter,  and  in  September  the  meeting  chose 
a  special  committee  to  procure  a  location  in  some  convenient 
place  and  remove  the  frame  of  the  pest-house  from  Red  Oak 
hill  to  that  spot,  for  a  poor-house. 

It  does  not  appear,  however,  that  even  this  plan  was  carried 
into  effect. 

Feb.  nth.  The  Second  church,  having  but  one  deacon, 
chose  Thomas  Rowell,  Nathan  Currier  and  John  Hoyt, 
deacons. 

1764- 

At  the  annual  meeting  it  was  decided  to  remove  the  ferry 
from  Savages'  rock  to  Sargent's  creek,  and  Robert  Sargent  who 
lived  close  by,  was  chosen  ferryman. 

The  meeting  raised  ^"200  for  town  expenses  and  to  meet  a 
deficiency  in  the  county  tax  of  1763. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  get  a  road  laid  out  from  near  Peter 
Sargent's  to  the  Merrimac  river,  but  the  committee  sent  to  view 
the  way  reported  unfavorably,  and  the  town  refused  to  grant 
the  petition.  This  way  was  substantially  the  same  as  the  way 
now  known  as  School  street,  from  Sargent's  hall  to  Merrimac- 
port. 

1765. 

This  year  the  selectmen  were  to  be  assessors  and  treasurers 
with  a  salary  of  £4.     Willis    Patten  and  Joseph  Goodwin  were 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  237 

chosen  to  "  prevent  the  fishing  in  Merrimack  river  on  unlawful 
days." 

"Voted  to  give  William  Moulton  13  s.  per  week  old  tenor 
for  keeping  Elizabeth  Nichols  one  year  coming  he  to  find  her 
clothing  and  move  her  to  his  house." 

"Voted  to  give  Josiah  Sargent  $17  to  keep  Jacob  Hoyt,  son 
of  Jacob  hoyt  disd  to  the  age  of  twenty  one  years  and  learn 
him  a  wavers  trade."  There  were  persons  who  made  it  a  spec- 
ial business  to  weave  to  supply  the  wants  of  those  who  either 
had  no  looms  or  did  not  wish  to  make  their  own  "home  spun" 
cloth,  and  it  was  quite  an  object  to  be  a  good  weaver. 

A  rate  of  ^"150  was  ordered  to  defray  town  charges. 

The  town  voted  to  take  care  of  Peter  Dulosh  and  wife,  living 
at  the  Highlands,  where  he  had  a  small  house  and  a  few  acres 
of  land.  He  was,  probably,  a  French  Canadian,  and  may  have 
been  taken  prisoner  in  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  although 
that  is  not  certain.  He  married  Sarah  Davis  in  1 730,  and  in 
his  old  age  was  unable  to  support  himself  and  wife.  He  pro- 
fessed to  having  some  knowledge  of  the  mining  business,  and 
on  examining  the  premises  of  Moses  Tuxbury,  sen.,  at  the  Pond, 
said  there  was  "a  quarter  of  an  acre  there  very  valuable"  for 
minerals. 

A  movement  was  made  looking  to  the  regulation  of  the  width 
of  sleds,  as  the  following  document  shows  : — 

"Whereas  the  sleds  that  are  generally  used  in  this  town  are 
so  Narrow  that  many  Inconveniences  attend  the  same  upon 
many  accounts  which  those  that  are  used  to  Sleding  Know  very 
well  and  that  if  they  were  four  feet  &  two  inches  in  wedth 
and  the  Town  would  agree  to  make  them  that  wedth  it  would 
be  better  for  many  &  a  Damage  to  None  and  many  have  been 
Desirous  in  other  towns  as  well  as  this  that  the  sleds  may  be 
mad  wider. 

Therefore  we  the  Subscribers  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
amesbury  Desire  the  Moderator  of  this  annual  meeting  assem- 
bled this  Eleventh  Day  of  March  1765  that  it  may  be  put  to 
vote  that  the  Town  might  shew  their  minds  whether  the  sleds 
for  the  future    be    four   feet    &  two  inches  from  outside  to  out- 


238  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

side.     And  you  will  oblige  your    petitioners  as    In    Duty  Bound 
Shall  Ever  Pray. 

Dated  Amesbury  March  8th  1765. 
to  the  Moderator  to  be  communicated. 

George  Wathen  William  Hoyt  jr 

Nehemiah  Davis  Thomas  Hoyt 

Elijah  Clough  David  Challis 

Joseph  Pressey  Ephraim  Weed 

Nathaniel  Weed  Jonathan  Bagley 

John  Huntington  Jacob  Weed 

Moses  Goodwin  Orlando  Sargent 

Moses  Currier  Samuel  Shepherd 

John  Currier  Daniel  Quinby 

David  Hoyt  Daniel  Jones 

Thomas  Hoyt." 
This  move  was  approved   by  the  town,  and    how  much  good 
resulted  the  reader  must  judge. 

Theophilus  Gould  was  a  blacksmith  at  the  Ferry  and  owned 
a  house,  but  had  no  land  for  his  shop  to  stand  on,  and  so  peti- 
tioned the  town  for  a  piece  near  Col.  Jonathan  Bagley's  "lime 
kiln."  The  exact  location  of  this  lime  kiln  cannot  be  deter- 
mined, but  there  was  one  or  more  on  the  banks  of  the  Powow 
river,  where  clam-shell  lime  was  made  to  supply  the  wants  of 
the   early  settlers. 

1766. 

The  annual  meeting  was  adjourned  from  the  Sandy  Hill  meet- 
ing house  to  Widow  Esther  Colby's,  to  meet  on  the  next  Fri- 
day. The  widow's  inn  was  an  attractive  place  from  some  cause, 
and  an  excellent  place  to  transact  business. 

Mr.  Samuel  Shepherd  received  the  thanks  of  the  town  "for 
his  good  service  he  did  the  town  in  respect  of  the  poore." 
Mr.  Shepherd  had  relieved  the  town  in  some  measure  of  care 
about  the  poor,  by  keeping  quite  a  number  of  them  on  his  farm 
at  White  Hall,  a  little  south  of  Joseph  Mason's  residence.  The 
old  house  was  standing  since  the  memory  of  some  now  living, 
although  a  very  ancient  building.  It  was  of  the  old  style, 
boarded  without  and  within,  (no  plastering)   lined  between  with 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  239 

bricks  to  stop  the  balls  of  the  Indians.  There  were  no  win- 
dows above,  but  boards  to  take  down  when  needed.  Its  huge 
chimney  presented  a  faint  attempt  at  ornamentation  in  the  shape 
of  fluted  work  or  imitation  of  pillars,  which  was  something 
unusual  in  those  days.  It  had,  no  doubt,  served  the  family  for 
several  generations.  The  location  was  a  very  pleasant  one, 
affording  a  fine  view  of  the  surrounding  country  for  many  miles. 

The  old  gentleman  was  somewhat  peculiar,  and  at  one  time 
entertained  the  singular  notion  that  he  was  not  taxed  sufficiently, 
and  so  informed  the  selectmen.  He  told  them  that  he  owned 
a  large  tract  of  land  running  to  the  Powow  river,  and  it  was 
undervalued.     The  result  of  the  complaint  is  not  known. 

Ship  building  on  the  river  was  now  an  important  branch  of 
business,  and  many  of  the  small  crafts  were  employed  in  fish- 
ing at  the  eastward  or  trading  in  the  West  Indies.  To  show 
the  terms  upon  which  hands  were  engaged,  the  following  agree- 
ment is  inserted  : — 

"Amesbury  April  17   1766. 

That  Jona  Bagley  &  Isaac  Randall  Doth  hereby  Agree  with 
and  hir  David  Blasdell  to  goe  a  fishing  voyage  on  the  Schooner 
Dolly  &  Ann  at  and  for  the  wages  of  six  Doller  per  Month 
and  Ten  Dollar  pr  Each  thousand  of  Coddfish  caught  by  him 
on  the  Outer  banks  and  Ten  Doller  for  every  Twenty  four  quali- 
ties caught  Else  where.  Said  Bagley  &  Randall  to  find  said 
Blasdell  Boots  Barrel  Lines  hooks  Leads  provisions  &c  and  one 
gal  Rum  Each  fair. 

Jona  Bagley  &  Isaac  Randall. 
David  Blasdell." 

At  the  May  meeting  the  old  bone  of  contention  was  again 
introduced,  which  had  occasioned  so  much  trouble  with  Capt. 
Hook.  A  committee  was  chosen  to  inquire  in  regard  to  the 
ferry. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  September,  "  it  was  voted  that  the  town 
would  proceed  to  recover  the  Ferry  at  law ;"  but  the  matter 
was  left  without  such  action  as  would  enforce  its  determination. 

Dec.  1  st.  A  meeting  was  held  for  the  special  purpose  of 
choosing   a  committee  "to    proceed   in  the  law  for  the  recover- 


24O  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

ing  of  the  towns  right  to  the  Ferry  called  Amesbury  Ferry." 
The  income  of  this  ferry  must,  at  this  time,  have  been  consid- 
erable or  there  would  have  been  no  such  fierce  contention  for 
its  control.  It  was  in  a  direct  line  from  Kingston  and  other 
neighboring  towns,  when  en  route  for  Newbury,  and  was,  no 
doubt,  doing  considerable  business.  The  town  has  always 
claimed  and  rightfully,  without  doubt,  the  ownership  of  this 
ferry. 

Jacob  Weed  and  his  son  Nathaniel,  living  at  the  Buttonwood 
and  owning  the  farm  since  owned  and  occupied  by  the  late 
Jonathan  Morrill,  Esq.,  sold  and  removed  to  Oblong,  N.  H., 
this  year.  They  were  Friends  and  removed  to  join  the  new 
settlement  there.  The  farm  was  sold  to  William  Bayley  for 
,£390,  and  was  subsequently  known  as  the  "Bayley  farm"  for 
nearly  three-fourths  of  a  century. 

1767. 

Sixty  pounds  were  raised  to  repair  the  highways  and  two 
shillings  per  day  were  allowed  for  work. 

At  the  annual  meeting  it  was  "Voted  to  fence  the  Burying 
ground  near  the  middle  of  the  town  with  a  good  stone  wall 
and  to  give  three  shillings  a  rod  and  Isaac  Merrill  Esq,  Orlando 
Sargent  and  Ephraim  Weed  is  a  committee  to  see  that  it  be 
done."  This  wall  was  thoroughly  re-built  about  thirty  years 
ago,  and  since  the  division  of  the  town  has  received  a  nice 
cap  piece,  making  a  good,  substantial  fence. 

The  ferry  again  seems  to  give  the  town  some  trouble,  and  a 
committee  was  chosen  "to  petition  to  ye  Gen11  Court  for  a 
explanation  of  a  grant  of  a  Ferry  over  Merrimack  River  near 
Mr  Goodwins  house  made  to  the  town  of  Amesbury  by  ye  Gen- 
arall  Court  in  1668." 

This  year  it  was  decided  to  send  the  French  people  back  to 
Canada,  and  fifteen  dollars  were  given  them  to  help  them  on 
their  way.  They  had  been  kept  prisoners  for  eleven  years,  to 
the  shame  of  the  colony. 

Moses  Chase  petitioned  for  a  piece  of  the  town's  land  under 
the  bank,  near  the  Powow  river  at  the  Ferry,  and  a  committee 
was  chosen  to  consider  the  matter. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  24 1 

The  committee  reported  favorably  and  he  was  granted  a 
piece  thirty  feet  square,  for  which  he  agreed  to  pay  30  s.  and 
keep  the  bank  wall  in  repair.  He  was  a  hatter  by  trade  and 
stated  that  he  could  not  get  a  suitable  place  to  build  a  shop 
on.  This  is  the  first  intimation  of  the  manufacture  of  hats  in 
Amesbury.  At  present  the  business  is  of  vital  importance  to 
this  section  of  the  town. 

Merchant  Cleaves,  who  was  a  tailor  living  at  the  mills  near 
the  Dr.  Sparhawk  place,  also,  petitioned  for  a  lot  next  that 
granted  Moses  Chase  to  set  a  tailor's  shop  on,  and  his  petition 
was  granted.  The  Ferry  was  much  the  largest  place  at  this 
time  on  account  of  ship  building,  fishing  and  the  West  India 
trade.  A  century  has  reversed  the  order  of  things  and  very 
nearly  annihilated  the  business  of  those  days. 

June  24th.  A  tax  was  laid  on  paper,  glass,  painter's  colors, 
teas  and  various  other  articles  by  Parliament,  which  caused  very 
great  dissatisfaction  in  the  colonies  and  finally  led  to  open 
resistance.  Of  course  this  act  was  even  more  obnoxious  than 
the  act  of  the  General  Court  in  1754,  laying  an  excise  duty  on 
certain  articles,  when  the  town  thanked  the  governor  for  his 
veto. 

1768. 

A  school-house  had  been  built  at  the  Ferry  and  the  town 
"Voted  that  ye  building  set  up  for  a  school  house  near  Capt. 
William  Bayleys  barn  may  stand  there  during  ye  towns  pleas- 
ure." This  location  was,  probably,  near  the  spot  on  which  the 
brick  school-house  was  subsequently  built. 

William  Challis,  late  collector,  seems  not  to  have  paid  over 
all  the  taxes,  and  the  selectmen  were  instructed  to  see  to  it 
immediately.  It  was  a  difficult  matter  to  collect  taxes  in  these 
days  when  money  was  scarce,  and  no  wonder  that  the  collec- 
tors were  always  behind  in  their  accounts. 

March  28th.  A  town  meeting  was  held  to  consider  various 
matters,  but  without  proceeding  to  business  adjourned  to  "Widow 
Esther  Colbys  immediately."  This  was  a  good  place  to  hold 
meetings,  especially  when  an  animated  discussion  was  required 
to  settle  some  knotty  question.     And  there  seems  to  have  been 

31 


242  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

one  peculiarly  hard  of  solution  before  the  meeting :  At  this 
time  a  widow  Mariner  had  turned  up,  causing  quite  an  excite- 
ment, some  pitying  her,  some  holding  her  as  a  nuisance,  and 
the  question  was  how  to  get  rid  of  her.  Some  proposed  treat- 
ing her  as  a  "vagerbond,"  others  thought  better  of  her  and 
deemed  that  rough  treatment.  She  evidently  had  friends  and 
determined  enemies  in  town,  as  the  following  shows  : — 

"It  was  put  to  vote  whether  ye  Widow  Martha  Merener  now 
being  in  this  town  be  proceeded  with  as  a  vagerbond  and  passed 
in  the  negative — and  it  was  put  to  vote  whether  that  vote 
should  be  reconsidered  and  passed  on  the  affirmative." 
'  "And  it  was  put  to  vote  whether  ye  town  would  support  her 
as  one  of  the  poor  of  the  town  and  passed  on  ye  negative. 
The  last  vote  on  Record  reconsidered." 

"Voted  that  the  town  take  care  of  ye  Widow  Marraner  and  sup- 
port her  as  one  of  their  own  poor  then  the  Meeting  adjourned 
by  a  vote  to  Tuesday  ye  5  th  day  of  April  next  at  three  of 
ye  clock  in  ye  afternoon  at  the  East  Meeting  house  in  said 
town." 

The  meeting  assembled,  on  the  appointed  day  and  "It  was 
put  to  vote  whether  the  last  vote  on  record  be  reconsidered 
and  passed  on  ye  affirmative." 

"  And  at  ye  same  meeting  it  was  voted  that  ye  Selectmen 
proceed  with  ye  said  Widow  Marraner  as  a  vagerbond."  So 
the  poor  woman  was  condemned  and  the  excitement  died 
away. 

At  the  representative  meeting  in  May  it  was  "Voted  to  give 
Henry  Blasdell  twenty  four  dollars  to  keep  and  support  that 
melotee  child  now  at  Deacon  Curriers  while  she  arrives  to  law- 
ful age  and  to  clothe  her  and  to  learn  her  to  read  and  to  have 
the  said  twenty  four  dollars  within  three  years  that  is  to  say 
eight  dollars  per  year  three  years." 

^120  were  raised  for  town  charges  the  present  year. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  September  a  committee  was  chosen  to 
settle  with  all  the    constables  and  report  to  the  annual  meeting. 

At  this  meeting  a  petition  was  received  from  Ichabod  March 
for  a  grant  of  twenty  rods  of  land  on  the  corner  of  the  parson 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  243 

age  where  the  old  meeting  house  stood,  and  the  town  granted 
the  petition.  This  was  on  the  corner  of  the  Martin  road  oppo- 
site the  house  of  the  late  Joseph  Merrill,  and  the  house  was 
standing  within  the  memory  of  old  persons  now  living.  The 
cellar  is  now  but  partially  filled  up. 

Vallentine  Colby  petitioned  for  and  was  allowed  his.  school 
money  to  hire  his  children  schooled.  He  lived  within  a  few 
rods  of  the  house  of  the  late  Peter  Colby,  and  there  was  no 
school  within  several  miles  in  town. 

Jan.   15th.     A  slight  shock  of  an  earthquake  was  felt. 

The  subject  of  sending  a  "committee  to  set  on  the  Conven- 
tion at  Boston"  was  before  the  September  meeting,  and  "after 
reading  and  considering  the  papers  and  disputed  on  it  was  voted 
in  the  negative." 

This  convention  was  called  to  consult  upon  constitutional 
measures  to  obtain  redress  of  the  numerous  grievances.  The 
convention  petitioned  the  governor,  assured  him  of  their  loyalty, 
although  deprecating  standing  armies,  etc.,  and  recommended 
patience  and  good  order  to  the  people. 

Amesbury,  after  due  consideration,  was  of  the  opinion  that 
but  little,  if  anything,  would  be  accomplished  by  this  move,  and 
declined  taking  any  part  in  the  convention. 

1769. 

There  were  very  few  school-houses  in  town  and  private  houses 
were  often  used  for  that  purpose.  This  year  the  town  voted 
that  each  parish  should  designate  the  places  where  the  schools 
should  be  kept. 

A  sad  event  occurred  on  the  16th  of  April,  or  the  night  of 
the  15th,  by  the  upsetting  of  two  boats  on  the  bar.  From  the 
settlement  of  the  town  to  the  present  time,  fishing  in  open  boats 
had  been  largely  practiced  and  had  supplied  an  important  arti- 
cle of  diet.  At  this  time,  four  men  went  down  the  river  and 
over  the  bar,  thinking  to  obtain  a  good  fare  during  the  moon- 
light evening,  as  the  people  had  always  done  before ;  but  what 
their  success  was  we  shall  never  know,  as  in  company  with 
another  boat  on  their  return  they  were  swamped  on  the  bar. 
It   is    probable    that   a    sudden    change    of   weather    had    taken 


244  HISTORY     OF  AMESBURY. 

place,  rendering  the  bar  rough  and  impassable.  Philip  Gould, 
John  Gould,  Samuel  Blaisdell  and  Moses  Currier  were  drowned 
and  thus  suddenly  cut  off  from  friends  and  homes. 

Philip  Gould  was  the  son  of  Philip  and  Hannah  Gould  and 
was  about  thirty-two  years  old ;  John  Gould  was  the  son 
of  Elihu  and  Martha  Gould  and  was  about  thirty-four  years  oldj 
Samuel  Blaisdell  was  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Hannah  Blaisdell 
and  was  about  thirty-five  years  old,  and  Moses  Currier  was, 
probably,  the  son  of  Moses  and  Rhoda  Currier  and  was  about 
thirty-one  years  old.  Of  these  young  men  little  is  known ;  but, 
no  doubt,  they  were  industrious,  hard-working  persons,  leaving 
many  friends  to  mourn  their  loss. 

For  many  years  wars  have  been  continually  going  on  and 
every  year  soldiers  from  Amesbury  have  been  in  the  King's 
service. 

This  year  we  find  a  document  which  may  serve  to  show  the 
customs  of  the  times  to  some  extent : — 

"June  ye  :i2  :176c). 

then  Received  of  Leut  John  Currier  ye  thorteen  Doler 
which  is  for  our  Bileten  from  the  time  of  our  inlistment  until 
the  Dat  a  Bove     we  Say  Received 

By  us  William  Lowell 

Daniel  Shepherd 
Benjamin  Sawyer." 

The  above  was  for  their  board  until  called  into  actual  ser- 
vice. 

1770. 

Valentine  Colby  received  6  s.  for  notifying  town  officers. 

Peter  Dulosh,  the  aged  Frenchman  already  mentioned,  was  this 
year  chargeable  to  the  town,  and  the  selectmen  took  the  income 
of  his  land  at  the  Highlands  for  his  support. 

Capt.  Jonathan  Barnard  died  before  the  close  of  the  year 
and  Jonathan  Bagley  was  chosen  representative  in  his  stead. 
Capt.  Barnard  had  filled  many  important  offices  in  town,  hav- 
ing been  selectman  eight  years  and  chairman  the  first  year  he 
was  chosen.  He  was  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Ann  Barnard  and 
was  born  July  8th,  1702.  It  is  probable  that  he  was  a  grand- 
son of  Thomas  and  Helen  Barnard. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  245 

The  tax  of  Amesbury  imposed  by  the  colony  was  ^93,  4  s., 
3  d.,  this  year.  The  warrant  of  the  royal  treasurer,  Harrison 
Gray,  was  sent  to  "  John  Currier  Constable  or  Collector  of 
Amesbury,"  and  is  now  among  his  papers  in  a  good  state  of 
preservation.  The  great  seal  of  the  "Province  of  Massachu- 
setts   Bay  "  is  attached,  and    it  is  really  an  imposing  document. 

The  Second  church  this  year  proposed  using  the  "new  ver- 
sion of  the  Psalms  and  Hymns  of  Dr.  Watts  now  annexed." 

1771. 

An  address  to  the  governor  was  ordered  at  the  May  meeting 
and  Jonathan  Bagley,  Esq.,  Thomas  Rowell,  Esq.,  and  Isaac 
Merrill,  Esq.,  were  chosen  to  prepare  the  document.  What 
purpose  this  address  was  designed  to  answer,  the  record  does 
not  show ;  but  it,  no  doubt,  was  to  set  forth  some  complaint 
and  ask  redress  of  the  royal  governor.  The  beginning  of  stir- 
ring times  is  at  hand  ;  the  people  are  heartily  tired  of  British 
rule  and  every  new  encroachment  upon  their  rights  calls  forth 
a  determined  remonstrance. 

Eli  Gale  petitioned  the  town  for  a  "place  to  set  me  a  Black 
Smith  Shop  on  "near  taylor  Cleaves'  shop,  very  handy  to  my 
house,"  upon  the  bank  of  "  Powwo "  river.  The  matter  was 
referred  to  a  committee  and  reported  upon  favorably.  He  was 
allowed  twenty-five  feet  on  the  road,  beginning  six  feet  from 
Merchant  Cleaves'  shop  and  extending  back  sixty  feet,  he  pay- 
ing the  town  4  s.  annual  rent. 

Timothy  Barnard  was  allowed  to  build  a  wharf  at  the  land- 
ing at  the  mills  on  the  flats  at  the  foot  of  the  falls,  opposite 
the  saw  pit,  to  lay  lumber  on.  It  is  probable  that  he  was  a 
ship- builder  and  needed  this  extra  room  to  deposit  his  timber 
and  plank. 

William  Hudson  Ballard  'is  captain  of  the  Ferry  military  com- 
pany. He  built  the  house  now  owned  by  John  Huntington  at 
the    Ferry. 

Rev.  Joseph  Currier,  of  Amesbury,  was  this  year  ordained 
over  the  church  at  Goffstown,  N.  H.  He  is,  probably,  the 
one  who  kept  school  in  town  in  the  years   1764-5. 

A  complete  invoice  of   the    West   parish    taken   this  year  has 


246  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

been  preserved,  and  is  valuable,  as  showing  to  some  extent  the 
amount  of  property  and  industrial  interests.  The  total  valuation 
was  ^2201,  10  s.  There  were  two  hundred  and  seventeen 
acres  of  tillage  land.  The  largest  amount  cultivated  by  any  one 
was  seven  acres,  and  the  following  are  the  names  of  the  largest 
farmers :  Isaac  Merrill,  Esq.,  seven  acres ;  Ensign  Orlando 
Sargent,  six  acres ;  Nathaniel  Davis,  five  acres ;  Barnabas  Brad- 
bury, four  acres  ;  Barzilla  Colby,  four  acres ;  Ebenezer  Farring- 
ton,  four  and  a  half  acres ;  Benjamin  Morse,  four  acres  ;  Joseph 
Moody,  four  acres ;  Samuel  Sargent,  four  acres ;  Dea.  Stephen 
Sargent,  four  acres ;  Thomas  Sargent,  jr.,  four  acres,  and  Chris- 
topher Sargent,  four  acres. 

The  number  of  acres  in  orcharding  was  twenty-four  and  a 
quarter,  and  the  largest  orchard  was  that  of  Isaac  Merrill,  Esq., 
containing  one  and  three-quarters  acres ;  Ebenezer  Farrington 
owned  the  next  largest  orchard,  of  one  and  one-quarter  acres. 
Although  it  is  probable  that  all  owned  some  apple  trees,  yet 
less  than  one-half  had  any  regular  orchard. 

The  real  estate    of   Isaac  -  Merrill,  Esq.,  was  valued   at    ^£47, 
7  s.,  6d. ;     Ens.    Orlando    Sargent,    ,£36,    2  s.,  6  d. ;     Benjamin 
Morse,  ^31,   7  s.,  6  d. ;    Joseph    Moody,    ^30,   15  s.  ■;   Thomas 
Sargent,  jr.,  ^27,   10  s, ;    Ens.  Josiah  Sargent,  ^,26,  5  s. ;  Chris- 
topher   Sargent,  £25,  5  s.;     Thomas    Rowell,    Esq.,  £28,   15  s. 
Barnard    Hoyt,  £25;      Ebenezer   Farrington,    £26,   12  s.,  6  d. 
Barnabas    Bradbury,  £26,   15  s. ;       Nathaniel    Davis,  £28,  5  s. 
Jacob    Harvey,  £24;      Caleb    Pilsbury,  £22,    7  s.,    6  s.;     Dea 
Stephen    Sargent,  £24,   10  s. ;      Capt.  John    Sawyer,  £22,  5  s. 

Four    Negroes    were    owned,  viz. :     Isaac   Merrill,  Esq.,  two 
Benjamin  Morse,  one ;   Wells  Chase,  one.     There  were  fifty-one 
horses,    one    hundred    and    seventeen    oxen,    two    hundred    and 
seventy-four  cows  owned,  and  £29,   15  s.  at  interest. 

Jacob  Harvey  owned  two  mills,  which  were  located  on  Cob- 
blers brook,  near  the  wheel  factory.  Isaac  Merrill,  Esq.,  kept 
nine  cows,  *Ens.  Orlando  Sargent  seven,  Isaac  Sargent  six, 
Ebenezer  Farrington  six,  Barnard  Hoyt  five,  and  others  from 
one  to  four,  and  there  were  fifty  who  had  no  cows. 

*  Ensign. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURV.  247 

1772. 

The  town  pound  having  become  old  and  dilapidated,  it  was 
decided  to  build  a  new  one.  It  was,  probably,  located  on  the 
lot  given  by  Orlando  Bagley,  Esq.,  for  school  purposes,  where 
the  present  one  stands.  It  seems  from  the  record  that  Col. 
Jonathan  Bagley  had  given  the  town  a  sum  of  money,  and  it 
was  "Voted  that  ye  money  Coll  Bagley  give  to  ye  town  be 
appropriated  to  building  the  pound."  A  committee  consisting 
of  Peleg  Challis,  Orlando  Sargent  and  Timothy  Barnard  was 
chosen  to  carry  the  vote  into  effect. 

A  tax  of  ^140  was  voted  to  defray  town  charges  at  a  meet- 
ing held  in  September,  and  then  an  adjournment  was  ordered 
to  meet  at  "  ye  house  of  the  Widow  Hester  Colby  in  half  an 
hour,"  and  nothing  farther  is  known  about  it. 

1773. 

In  portions  of  Amesbury  and  Salisbury  on  the  14th  of  Aug- 
ust occurred  one  of  the  most  violent  tornadoes  ever  known  in 
this  vicinity.  Although  not  lasting  more  than  three  minutes,  it 
damaged  or  entirely  prostrated  about  two  hundred  buildings. 
Two  vessels  were  removed  twenty  feet  from  the  stocks,  one 
of  which  was  about  ninety  tons.  One  Capt.  Smith  was  killed. 
It  swept  along  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  width  and  a  mile 
and  a  half  in  length  near  the  river.  The  damage  at  the  Fern- 
was  David  Blasdell's  blacksmith  shop  blown  down,  Ephraim 
BlasdelFs  house  wrecked,  Levi  Bartlett's  house  half  unroofed, 
Stephen  Blasdell's  house,  much  glass  broken  and  workhouse 
blown  down,  Theophilus  Foot's  new  house  blown  down,  Widow 
Bartlett's  barn  partly  unroofed,  David  Bartlett's  house  and  barn 
damaged,  Peltiah  Hoyt's  and  Humphrey  Hook's  houses  half 
unroofed  and  barn  blown  down,  Nathan  Bartlett's  barn  blown 
down,  Theodore  Hoyt's  house  damaged  and  barn  half  unroofed, 
Richard  Currier's  barn,  mill  house  and  blacksmith's  shop  blown 
down  and  house  damaged,  Philip  White's  house  damaged,  Isaac 
Lowell's  house  damaged,  Gideon  Lowell's  house  wrecked  and 
unroofed  and  barn  blown  down,  Moses  Chase's  house  unroofed, 
his  hatter's  shop  partly  unroofed  and  both  chimney's  blown 
down,    Eli    Gale's    blacksmith    shop    blown    down,    Daniel    and 


248  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

James  Bayley's  houses  partly  unroofed  and  one  chimney  partly 
blown  down,  Enoch  Bagley's  house  unroofed,  wrecked  and  barn 
blown  down,  two  vessels  blown  from  the  stocks,  apple  trees 
uprooted,  Nicholas  Bartlett's  new  house  frame  partly  boarded 
blown  down,  Eliphalet  Lowell's  house  wrecked  and  barn  unroofed} 
Capt.  Lurvey's  house  damaged,  barber's  shop  damaged,  Capt. 
Bayley's  house  considerably  damaged,  two  barns,  large  store  and 
workhouse  forty  by  twenty  feet,  each  two  stories  high,  blown 
down,  Joseph  Hoyt's  house  partly  unroofed,  David  Lowell's  new 
house  unroofed  and  old  house  partly  so,  Eliphalet  Swett's  house 
half  unroofed  and  barn  moved  down  into  a  gully,  Humphrey 
Currier's  house  partly  unroofed  and  two  small  barns  blown  down 
and  one  unroofed,  William  Hudson  Ballard's  house  somewhat 
wrecked  and  workhouse  wrecked  and  moved,  Thomas  Pearson's 
house  damaged,  blacksmith's  shop  partly  unroofed  and  chimney 
blown  down,  Levi  Hoyt's  house  west  end  beaten  in  by  a  fall- 
ing house  and  chimney,  partly  unroofed  and  barn  blown  down, 
one  end  of  Ezra  Worthen's  house  blown  down  and  the  rest 
much  damaged,  also  chimney  and  barn  blown  down,  Eliphalet 
Martin's  house  partly  unroofed  and  large  barn  blown  down, 
Adonijah  Colby's  bam  blown  down,  Timothy  Colby's  barn  blown 
down,  and  Isaac  Goodwin's  barn  blown  down. 

At  Haverhill  great  damage  was  done. 

The  above  account  was  given  by  Rev.  Samuel  Webster,  of  Salis- 
bury, together  with  a  longer  account  of  the  damage  done  there. 
No  such  time  has  ever  been  known  since  the  white  man  first 
set  foot  on  this  Western  wild. 

1774. 

The  sum  of  ^80  was  raised  for  the  repairing  of  highways 
and  ,£150  for  town  charges. 

John  Bagley,  after  serving  the  town  as  clerk  fifteen  years, 
closes  his  official  life  this  year.  His  penmanship  was  inferior 
to  that  of  Orlando  Bagley,  Esq.,  or  Thomas  Bagley,  who  pre- 
ceeded  him,  and  for  clearness  and  correctness  his  record  is 
below  mediocrity.  It  is  probable  that  he  was  a  nephew  of  the 
Orlando  Bagley  who  served  so  long.  He  lived  some  twenty 
rods  to  the  westward  of  Davis  Mason's  place,  on  the  old  road. 
The  office  was  held  by  the  Bagley  family  sixty-five  years. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  249 

The  people  were  organizing  throughout  the  colony  to  be  in 
readiness  for  any  emergency,  and  on  the  21st  of  July  a  town 
meeting  was  held  and  £,2,  8  s.,  7  d.  were  raised  for  the  com- 
mittee of  correspondence,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  "to 
inquire  into  the  affaire  of  the  towns  stock."  Clouds  were  gath- 
ering and  it  was  evident  that  they  must  break,  deluging  the 
land  in  blood.  Governor  Gage  finding  the  assembly  determined 
to  have  their  own  way,  had  dissolved  that  body  and  commenced 
fortifying  Boston.  People  were  not  disposed  to  leave  affairs  to 
the  royal  governor,  and  a  call  was  issued  for  representatives  to 
re-assemble  under  the  name  of  "Provincial  Congress."  This 
body  reflected  the  will  of  the  people  and  their  measures  were 
respected.  The  sum  of  ^20,000  was  voted  to  arm  and  train 
Minute  men  throughout  the  colony.  Amesbury  showed  her 
patriotism  by  choosing  Isaac  Merrill,  Esq.,  a  member  of  this 
Congress,  which  was  to  meet  in  October. 

Thus  matters  were  hastening  to  a  crisis,  the  people  every- 
where arming  for  the  inevitable  conflict,  determined  and  united 
against  the  common  enemy,  as  the  British  government  was  then 
thought  to  be. 

Even  the  taxes  were  not  paid  into  the  royal  treasury,  and  to 
secure  the  selectmen  the  town  held  a  meeting  and  "Voted  that 
the  town  indemnify  the  Selectmen  for  the  Constables  not  mak- 
ing a  return  of  the  money  raised  to  Harrison  Gray  Esq." 

The  custom  of  warning  out  new  comers,  who  might  become 
chargeable  to  the  town,  was  yet  in  being,  and  this  year  Christopher 
Sargent,  Esq.,  warned  out  Christopher  Davis,  Elizabeth  Fling, 
Sarah  Colby  and  Joseph  Giles,  who  were  supposed  to  be  inhab- 
itants of  Chester,  N.  H.,  and,  also,  Elizabeth  Hunt  and  two 
children,  of  Newbury,  who  had  been  in  town  about  six  months. 
The  warrant  was  returned  to  the  court. 

Capt.  Richard  Kelley  died  June  18th,  aged  70  years.  He 
was  born  at  West  Newbury  March  8th,  1 704,  and  came  to  Ames- 
bury  in  April,  1727,  having  purchased  the  farm  at  Birching 
meadow,  on  which  his  descendants  now  live.  His  house  stood 
on  the  spot  where  the  house  of  the  late  Joseph  B.  Kelley  now 
stands.     He   was    captain    under    the    royal    governor   and    long 

32 


25O  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

connected  with  the  militia  of  the  town,  and  held  the  office  of 
selectman  four  years.  His  book  of  accounts,  from  the  time  he 
became  twenty-one  years  of  age  to  February,  1774,  contains 
much  information  in  regard  to  the  times.  He  was  a  constant 
attendant  at  church,  and  had  a  system  of  short  hand  by  which 
he  was  enabled  to  take  down  the  sermons  for  many  years.  He 
was  a  very  even-tempered  man,  and  it  has  been  said  of  him 
that  he  was  never  known  to  do  a  rash  act.  Most  of  his  pub- 
lic acts,  as  connected  with  military  affairs,  were  during  the 
French  and  Indian  wars. 

Sept.  7th.  James  Rowell,  son  of  Jacob  Rowell,  aged  about 
eight  years,  was  drowned  at  the  Iron  works  at  the  Mills. 

1775. 

At  a  meeting  held  January  24th,  Isaac  Merrill,  Esq.,  was  again 
chosen  to  represent  the  town  in  the  "Proventell  Congress"  to 
be  holden  at  Cambridge  on  the  first  of  February.  Meantime  a 
Continental  Congress  had,  on  the  4th  of  September,  1774, 
assembled  at  Philadelphia  to  deliberate  upon  the  state  of  the 
country  and  measures  to  be  adopted  for  armed  resistance,  if 
necessary.  The  matter  was  discussed  at  this  meeting  in  regard 
to  the  propriety  of  acknowledging  the  acts  of  Congress  by 
recording  their  votes,  and  it  was  decided  to  do  so. 

"It  was  put  to  vote  whether  the  town  would  chuse  a  Com- 
mittee for  see  to  it  that  ye  votes  of  the  Continental  Congress 
shall  be  put  on  record  and  voted  on  ye  affirmative."  Daniel 
Quinby,  Willis  Patten,  Winthrop  Merrill,  John  Sawyer  and  Ezra 
Worthen  were  chosen  this  committee. 

The  subject  of  raising  Minute  men  came  before  the  meeting, 
but  it  was  deferred  to  the  annual  town  meeting.  A  committee 
consisting  of  Capt.  John  Sawyer  and  Ephraim  Weed  was  chosen 
to  join  with  the  selectmen  to  provide  a  "town  stock."  It  was 
found  that  some  of  the  stock  in  the  West  parish  was  missing, 
and  an  "investigating  committee"  was  chosen,  or  rather  this 
same  committee  was  instructed  to  "inquire  into  it  and  to  decide 
and  determine  whether  the  whole  town  or  the  West  parish  shall 
make  it  good." 

From    the    above    it   appears    that   the    town    was    thoroughly 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  25 1 

aroused  to  the  danger  and  importance  of  the  pending  contro- 
versy with  the  mother  country. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  held  March  13th,  eighty  pounds  were 
raised  to  repair  the  highways.  The  treasury  was  again  guarded 
by  ordering  the  constables  to  pay  the  money  to  such  persons 
as  the  town  might  designate. 

"Voted  that  Isaac  Merrill  Esq  shall  have  an  order  on  the 
constables  for  ten  pounds  in  part  for  his  service  at  the  Provin- 
cial Congress." 

The  course  pursued  by  the  town  was  virtually  a  complete 
revolution,  so  far  as  it  could  be  accomplished  without  blood- 
shed. No  support  was  permitted  to  be  given  to  the  royal 
government. 

A  colonial  government  was  already  organized  and  assuming 
control  of  public  affairs,  and  to  this  government  the  town  had 
pledged  itself  by  sending  a  representative  to  participate  in  its 
proceedings.  In  short,  no  support  or  countenance  whatever  has 
been  accorded  to  British  rule  from  this  13th  day  of  March 
1775  to  the  present  time.  Throughout  the  struggle  which 
"tried  men's  souls"  and  bodies,  too,  we  find  every  act  of 
Amesbury  true  to  the  cause  of  the  patriots. 

The  annual  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  20th  instant,  when 
it  was  "  voted  to  raise  fifty  able  bodyed  men  including  officers 
for  minnit  men  and  to  enlist  them  for  one  year  if  not  disbanded 
before  and  that  each  man  shall  have  one  shilling  for  exercising 
four  hours  in  a  fortnight  and  that  the  commanding  officer  of 
said  Minnit  men  shall  exhibit  an  account  of  them  that  shall 
exercise  to  the  Selectmen  for  to  receive  their  pay  for  exercis- 
ing, and  it  was  further  voted  that  said  Minnit  men  shall  upon 
their  own  cost  be  well  equiped  with  arms  and  aminition  accord- 
ing to  law  fit  for  a  march."  The  meeting  was  now  adjourned 
"to  the  third  Monday  in  May  next  at  two  of  the  clock  after- 
noon." 

In  the  meantime  questions  came  very  unexpectedly  before  the 
board  of  selectmen,  requiring  instructions  from  the  town,  and 
on  the  7th  day  of  April  a  warrant  was  issued  calling  a  meeting 
on  the  17th  of  said  month,  "to  pass  an   order   for   to   pay  the 


252  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURV. 

money  raised  in  the  town  for  the  Province  use  for  the  year  1774 
to  Henry  Gardner  Esq  of  stow  he  being  appointed  Treasurer 
by  the  Provincial  Congress,"  "and  to  do  any  other  business  the 
town  shall  think  proper." 

At  this  meeting  it  was  "voted  to  pay  the  money  raised  in 
1774  and  also  that  raised  in  1773  to  the  Provincial  Treasurer." 
It  was,  also,  "voted  to  give  the  minit  men  one  shilling  each 
for  exercising  four  hours  in  a  week  in  the  room  of  one  shilling 
in  a  fortnight  as  voted  last  meeting." 

"  At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  that  each  minit  man 
shall  have  two  dollars  bounty  paid  them  at  their  first  marching 
of  provided  they  are  called  for  by  the  Congress  or  a  General 
officer  they  may  appoint." 

This  patriotic  meeting  was  just  two  days  before  the  fight  at 
Lexington.  On  the  24th  instant  a  town  meeting  was  held  and 
Doctor  Nehemiah  Ordway  was  chosen  moderator. 

"At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  to  send  a  man  upon  the 
town's  cost  to  Cambridge  to  the  Minit  men  to  see  whether  they 
wanted  their  bounty  or  any  part  of  it." 

Since  April  17th  fifty  men  had  been  raised,  equipped, 
marched  and  arrived  at  the  head-quarters  of  the  Patriot  army. 

The  selectmen  were  authorized  to  hire  ;£ioo,  lawful  money, 
for  one  year,  to  carry  on  the  work  thus  begun. 

Another  meeting  was  held  May  25th,  and  Capt.  Caleb  Pils- 
bury  was  chosen  a  representative  to  the  Provincial  Congress  for 
six  months. 

June  6th.  A  town  meeting  was  held,  when  it  was  voted  to 
join  with  Newburyport  in  sinking  a  pier  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river.  This  measure  was  considered  of  so  much  importance 
that  the  meeting  was  called  by  one  of  the  selectmen,  the  others 
being  away  from  town  attending  to  matters  relating  to  the  army, 
and  with  but  two  day's  notice.  Josiah  Sargent,  the  only  select- 
man in  town,  had  no  scruples  what  course  to  take,  when  sup- 
ported by  the  "  Committee  of  Safety,"  who  requested  the  meet- 
ing. 

The  pier  was  sunk  and  Lieut.  John  Barnard  and  Lieut.  Wil- 
lis Patten    boated  a  portion  of   the    ballast  for  that  purpose,  for 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  253 

which  the  former  received  ,£10,  13s.,  4  d.  and  the  latter  ^8. 
What  good  resulted  from  this  measure  can  hardly  be  told  ;  but 
British  war  vessels,  although  frequently  lying  outside,  were  not 
anxious  to  enter  the  river,  nor  did  they. 

Immediately  after  the  fight  at  Lexington,  active  measures 
were  taken  by  the  Provincial  Congress  to  defend  the  rights  of 
the  people  by  organizing  troops  through  the  colony.  In  Ames- 
bury  enlisting  papers  accompanied  with  proper  instructions  were 
received  by  Capt.  John  Currier,  who  proceeded  forthwith  to 
recruit  a  company.  Having  Capt.  Currier's  papers  at  hand,  and 
judging  that  they  may  be  interesting  to  all,  they  are  copied 
entire  : — 

ENLISTING    PAPERS. 

"We  the  Subscribers  do  hereby  solemnly  and  Severally  engage 
and  inlist  ourselves  as  Soldiers  in  the  Massachusetts  Service,  for 
the  Preservation  of  the  Liberties  of  America,  from  the  Day  of 
our  Inlistment,  to  the  last  day  of  December  next,  unless  the 
service  should  admit  of  a  Discharge  of  a  Part  or  the  Whole 
sooner,  which  shall  be  at  the  Discretion  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  and  we  hereby  promise  to  submit  ourselves  to  all  the 
Orders  and  Regulations  of  the  Army,  and  faithfully  to  observe 
and  obey  all  such  Orders  as  we  shall  receive  from  Time  to 
Time,  from  our  superior  officers." 

"Edmund  Barnard,  Samuel  Elliot, 

Calven  Hallowell,  Micah  Sargent, 

David  Juell,  Elias  Waite, 

Gideon  Colby,  Ephraim  Sargent, 

Levi  Sargent,  Reuben  Silloway, 

Peter  Bagley,  Joseph  Tersey, 

Jonathan  Hoyt,  Daniel  Chase, 

Isaac  Whittier,  Ephraim  Challis, 

John  Weed,  Ebenezer  Sargent, 

Joshua  Walls,  Charles  Weed, 

Michael  Brown,  Jonathan  Colby, 

Sipeo  Gray,  Slave  Robert  Hoyt, 

to  Benjn  Barnard,  -  Aaron  Currier, 

Wells  Blasdell,  Wm  Hoyt, 


254 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 


John   Huntington, 
Charles  Sargent, 
Daniel  Barry, 
Paul  Hardy, 
John  Hoyt  ye  3, 
Thomas  Foote, 
Moses  Bassiel, 
John  Harvey, 
John  Plumer, 
Timothy  Silver, 
Ebenezer  Kelley, 
David  Colby, 
Issac  Currier, 
Joseph  Wells, 


Ezra  Hoyt, 

John  Blasdell, 

David  Hoyt, 

David  Huntington, 

Eliphalet  Sargent, 

Christopher  Chalis, 

Joseph  Pressy, 

William  Jones, 

Thomas  Barnard, 

Robert  negro  man 

servant  to  Eliphalet  Currier. 

Isaac  Barnard, 

Benjamin  Pressey, 

Jonathan  Blasdel." 


Andrew  Newhall, 

The  above-mentioned  persons  belonged  to  Capt.  John  Cur- 
rier's company. 

The  instructions  to  the  recruiting  officers  were  very  strict,  as 
will  be  seen  by  the  following  copy : — 

"You  are  not  to  Enlist  any  Deserter  from  the  Ministerial 
Army,  nor  any  Stroller,  Negro  or  Vagabond,  or  Person  sus- 
pected of  being  an  Enemy  to  the  Liberty  of  America,  nor  any 
under  Eighteen  years  of  Age. 

As  the  Cause  is  the  best  that  can  engage  Men  of  Courage 
and  Principle  to  take  up  Arms ;  so  it  is  expected  that  none 
but  such  will  be  accepted  by  the  Recruiting  Officer;  The  Pay, 
Provision,  &c  being  so  ample,  it  is  not  doubted  but  the  Offi- 
cers sent  upon  this  Service,  will  without  Delay  compleat  their 
respective  Corps,  and  March  the  men  forthwith  to  Camp. 

You  are  not  to  Enlist  any  Person,  who  is  not  an  American 
born,  unless  such  Person  has  a  wife  and  Family,  and  is  a  Set- 
tled Resident  in  this  Country. 

The  Persons  you  Enlist  must  be  provided  with  good  and 
complete  i\rms. 

Given  at  Head  Quarters  at  Cambridge,  this  10th  Day  of 
July  1775.  Horatio  Gates, 

Adjutant  General.'1'' 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  255 

Under  Capt.  Currier,  Lieut.  Wells  Chase  was  appointed  re- 
cruiting officer.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  instructions  were 
very  particular,  requiring  the  greatest  caution  against  engaging 
bad  characters  or  even  negroes  to  fight  for  the  "best  cause 
that  can  engage  men."  It  was  believed  that  when  such  ample 
provision  had  been  made  in  regard  to  "  Pay  and  Provisions," 
that  good  men  would  readily  be  obtained.  Could  they  have 
been  permitted  to  look  into  the  future,  little  would  have  been 
said  about  negroes,  vagabonds,  or  "ample  Pay."  Capt.  Cur- 
rier was  willing  that  negroes  should  fight  in  a  good  cause  and 
forthwith  enlisted  Sipeo  Gray  "  slave  to  Benjamin  Barnard," 
and  "  Robert  Negro  Man  Servant  to  Eliphalet  Currier."  Sipeo 
was  a  young  man  aged  twenty-one  years,  and  very  probably 
interested  in  the  good  cause  choosing  to  join  the  army  rather 
than  remain  with  his  master  and  hoe  corn,  etc. 

The  rations  ordered  by  the  Provincial  Congress  were  "  ample  " 
when  obtained  but  failed  in  a  short  time  —  long  before  the 
terrible  struggle  was  over.  The  following  document  accompa- 
nied the  enlisting  papers  : 

"In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  June  10,   1775. 

RESOLVED,  That  each  Soldier  in  the  Massachusetts  Army, 
shall  have  the  following  Allowance  per  Day  viz. 

Article   1.     One  Pound  of  Bread. 

Article  2.  Half  a  Pound  of  Beef,  and  Half  a  Pound  of 
Pork  ;  and  if  Pork  cannot  be  had,  one  Pound  and  a  Quarter 
of  Beef. 

And  one  Day  in  seven  they  shall  have  one  Pound  and  one 
Quarter  of  Salt  Fish,  instead  of  one  Day's  Allowance  of  Meat. 

Article  3.  One  Pint  of  Milk,  or  if  Milk  cannot  be  had,  one 
Jill  of  Rice. 

Article  4.     One  Quart  of  good  Spruce  or  Malt  Beer. 

Article  5.  One  Jill  of  Pease  or  Beans,  or  other  Sauce  equiv- 
alent. 

Article  6.     Six  Ounces  of  good  Butter  per  Week. 

Article  7.  One  Pound  of  good  common  Soap  for  six  men. 

Article  8.  Half  a  Pint  of  Vinegar  per  week  per  Man,  if  it 
can  be  had.  Joseph    Warren,  President. 

Attest.  Samuel  Freeman,.  Secrv." 


256  HISTORY     OF  AMESBURY. 

The  proposed  rations  were  really  better  than  most  people 
enjoyed  at  home  and  if  it  had  been  possible  to  continue  them 
all  through  the  war,  an  immense  amount  of  suffering  would 
have  been  avoided.  Ragged,  shoeless  and  hungry  soldiers 
were  no  uncommon  sight  long  before  the  close  of  the  war. 
And  yet  all  this  was  endured  with  a  great  deal  of  patience  by 
those  brave  patriots.  Nearly  every  family  in  town  sent  forth  a 
delegation  to  share  the  burdens  of  this  almost  hopeless  struggle. 

To  provide  clothing  for  the  soldiers  the  Provincial  Congress 
issued  a  call  upon  the  towns  for  13,000  coats.  The  propor- 
tionate share  of  Amesbury  was  sixty-nine  coats.  As  the  select- 
men had  no  authority  to  act  without  the  consent  of  the  town, 
a  meeting  was  called  August  15th,  and  a  committee  consisting 
of  Capt.  John  Hoyt,  Capt.  John  Sawyer  and  Cornet  John  Bar- 
nard was  chosen  to  procure  the  required  number  of  coats. 

Nov.  27th.  A  town  meeting  was  held  and  ^140  raised  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  the  town. 

After  the  fight  at  Lexington  a  permanent  organization  of  the 
army  was  resolved  upon  and  soldiers  were  enlisted  for  speci- 
fied periods,  generally  three  years,  but  frequently  for  shorter  time. 
Capt.  Currier's  company  was  enlisted  till  the  1st.  of  August. 
The  following  document  will  be  of  interest  as  it  furnishes  con- 
siderable information  in  regard  to  this  company. 

"  To  the  Honorable  General  Court  of  the  Massachusetts  Col- 
ony  now   sitting   at   Watertown  this   4th   day  of  August,  A.    D. 

I775- 
The   petition   of  John  Currier  of  Amesbury  Humbly   showeth 

that  your  petitioner   in  the  foor   parte  of  May  Laste    Inlisted  a 

Company  of  Soldiers  Consisting   of  54  men   and   marched  with 

sd    Company   to   head    Quarters   at    Cambridge   and   have    been 

there  upon  Duty  ever   since   about   the    20th  of  May  and  have 

all   past  muster  but  won  who  was   taken  sick   and   died  a  Few 

days  after  we  came  to  head  Quarters  and  your  petitioner  would 

observe    to    your    Honors  that    there  is    twelve  of   his    Soldiers 

that    have    not    yet    had    there    won    months  advance  wages    as 

was  voted   and    said    Soldiers  are    very  uneasie,  wherefore    your 

petitioner  prays    your    Honors  to  consider  the    same   and    make 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


257 


such    provision    for   their    Relief  as    you  in    your    wisdom    shall 
think  to  be  Convenient. 

Your  petitioner  further  prays  that  there  was  a  Number  of 
his  Soldiers  who  in  the  Engagement  at  Charlestown  Lost  some 
of  there  Clouthing  and  other  particulars  that  the  same  may  be 
made  good  to  them  he  having  taken  from  under  Conoll  Fryes 
Hand  to  make  it  appear  his  Company  being  in  sd  Fryes  Reg- 
iment and  your  petitioner  who  as  in  Duty  bound  Shall  ever 
pray. 

Cambridge  3  August   1775. 

John   Currier,    Capt" 

The  tabulated  statement  made  immediately  after  the  battle 
was  as  follows  : — 

"Cambridge  June   17th  1775. 

A  Return  of  what  was  lost  out  of  Capt.  John  Curriers  Com- 
pany in  Colo"  Fryes  Regiment  on  the  late  Battle  upon  Charles- 
town  : 


Wounded 

gun 

Coats 

Blankit 

Great  Coat 

snap 

sack 

shoes 

Lieut  Wells  Chase 

Wounded 
baionet 

gun 

coate 

great 

coat 

snap 

sack 

shoes 

Sargt  Isaac  Barnard 

great 

coat 

snap 

sack 

un  pare  of 
stockin 

Sart  Paul  Hardy 

Blankit 

snap 

sack 

one  pare  of 
trowsers 

Corp  John  Hoyt 

coate 

Blankit 

snap 

sack 

two  h'd'chfs 

Corp  Timothy  Silver 

Wounded 

gun 

John  Harvey 

gun 

snap 

sack 

Peter  Bagley 

gun 

Robert  Hoyte 

snap 

sack 

two  pr  socks 

William  Jones 

Baionet 

one  hat 

Sipeo  Gray 

coate 

Blankit 

Thomas  Foot 

coate 

Blankit 

snap 

sack 

Isaac  Whittier 

coate 

great 

coat 

snap 

sack 

David  Huntington 

Killed   or 

taken 

Joshua  Walls 

Blankit 

snap 

sack 

It  is  remarkable  that  in  the  hasty  retreat  after  the  supply  of 
amunition  had  been  exhausted,  so  little  loss  should  have  been 
made.  The  position  occupied  by  this  company  must  have  been 
favorable  or  the  casualties  would  have  been  far  greater.  A  son 
of  Capt.  Currier,  the  late  David  Currier,  related  to  me  his  rec- 
ollections of  that  day,  June  17th.  He  was  then  a  boy  some 
five  years  old,  and  the  excitement  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
Pond  hills  was  so  great  that  it  made  an  impression  upon  him 
never  to  be  forgotten.  33 


258  HISTORY    OF  AMESBURY. 

It  was  a  warm  day  with  south-west  wind  and  the  guns  were 
distinctly  heard,  forcing  all  to  the  conclusion  that  a  battle  was 
going  on.  Never  before  had  the  big  guns  of  an  enemy  been 
heard  at  Amesbury.  All  were  wild  with  fear  and  excitement, 
for  it  should  be  remembered  that  almost  every  family  was  rep- 
resented on  that  battle  ground.  The  women  gathered  at  some 
neighbors  to  sympathize,  as  well  as  express  their  deep  anxiety 
as  to  the  result.  Would  more  than  half  be  killed?  Some 
thought  not,  others  thought  there  would.  But  their  fears  could 
not  be  dispelled  for  some  days,  as  there  were  no  lightning 
trains  or  telegraphs  then,  and  anxious  hearts  must  retire  to 
bed,  but  not  to  sleep.  What  will  the  British  do  ?  Will  they  kill 
us  all?  Such  were  the  questions  asked,  which  no  one  could 
answer.  From  other  sources  I  have  had  like  narratives,  and  in 
this  manner  local  tradition  has  preserved  valuable  information. 

The  following  will  show  the  quarters  this  company  occupied 
at  Cambridge  soon  after  the  battle. 

"June  24,  1775. 

Gen1  Orders,  That  Capt  Kyer  lodge  his  men  in  Mr.  Wyth's 
Barn  until  further  Orders."  /.    Ward,  Secry. 

Later  in  the  season  General  Washington,  who  assumed  com- 
mand of  the  forces  at  Cambridge  July  2d,  sent  the  following 
note  to  Capt.  Currier : 

"  To   Capt.   Currier,  Colo.  F.  Regiment. 

General  Washington's  Compliments  to  Capt.  Currier. 

Requests  his  Company  at  Dinner   to  day  half  after  2  o'clock 

Thursday  morn  Octbr  26th." 

The  original  document  more  than  105  years  old  is  in  a  good 
state  of  preservation. 

The  taxes,  town  and  province  for  the  year  1775  were:  — 

"Town,  in  West  „      .  Town  in  East 

Parish.  lr°vmce-  Parish. 

£,66,  12  s.  2d.        £  115,  5  s.  10  d  W.  P.      ,£79,  4  s.  5  d. 
Taxpayers,  168  131,9        9    E.  P.       Tax  payers,  232" 

In  1773  a  committee  was  chosen  to  remove  all  encroach- 
ments   upon    the  highways  and   landings  ;  and    this  year  several 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  259 

bills  were  paid  for  court  expenses  and  also  a  lawyer's  bill. 
There  seems  to  have  been  a  lawsuit  but  the  record  throws 
very  little  light  on  the  affair. 

John  Poor  was  school-master  at  the  Ferry  this  year  one 
quarter. 

John  Mycall  kept  school  one  quarter  (probably  in  the  West 
parish) . 

Winthrop  Merrill  (at  the  Ferry)  made  a  "  powder  chest " 
for  the  town. 

Isaac  Merrill,  Esq.  received  ^28,  19  s.,  10  d.  for  services  at 
the  Provincial  Congress. 

May  20th.  A  call  was  issued  by  the  selectmen  for  a  town 
meeting  on  the  25th  inst.  to  choose  representatives,  and  it  is 
worthy  of  note  that  it  was  called  "  In  observance  of  the  Re- 
solves and  Recommendations  of  the  Provincial  Congress."  Al- 
ready had  the  town  rejected  "  His  Majesty's "  authority  and  it 
never  more  appears  in  town  records. 

Capt.  William  Hudson  Ballard  from  the  Ferry  was  in  the 
service  during  a  part  of  the  war  but  how  long  or  at  what  pe- 
riod is  not  quite  certain.  From  the  account  book  of  Jonathan 
Blaisdell  it  would  seem  that  he  was  at  Cambridge  soon  after 
Gen.  Washington  assumed  command.  Mr.  Blaisdell  was  a  gun- 
smith and  was  evidently  at  Cambridge  repairing  the  guns  for 
Washington's  army.  The  account  book  contains  nearly  two  hun- 
dred charges  embracing  guns  from  nineteen  regiments  and  forty- 
four  companies.  There  is  no  date  to  fix  the  exact  time,  but 
the  heading  reads  "  Cambridge  iune  25,"  and  one  later  charge 
is  as  follows:  "  David  Boyd  to  menden  a  gun,  o,  15,  o.  Abra- 
ham Miler  Captn  in  genaril  wosenton  regiment." 

At  this  time  Captain  Ballard's  company  was  present  and  also 
Captain  Currier's,  and  Mr.  Blaisdell  repaired  guns  in  both  com- 
panies. 

1776 

A  committee  of  safety  and  correspondence  was  chosen  con- 
sisting of  Lieut.  John  Barnard,  Winthrop  Merrill,  Christopher 
Sargent,  Enoch  Rogers,  Peleg  Challis,  Ezra  Worthen  and  Oba- 
diah  Colby.     This  was  an  important  committee  and  very   wisely 


260  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

composed  of  some  of  the  most  substantial  and  influential  citi- 
zens. The  duties  of  this  committee  were  to  hold  correspond- 
ence with  the  committee  at  head-quarters,  and  of  other  towns, 
and  of  deciding  upon  measures  for  the  public  good  and  safety. 
Theirs  was  the  duty  of  directing  the  proper  course  to  be  taken, 
and  the  people  and  authorities  were  ready  to  carry  out  the 
measures  advised.  Forty  pounds  were  raised  to  repair  the  high- 
ways and  the    selectmen  allowed  four   pounds  for  their  services. 

April  2 2d.  Major  David  Merrill  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  a 
county  convention  to  be  held  at  Mr.  Treadwell's  tavern  in  Ips- 
wich.    The  object  of  this  convention  we  are  unable  to  state. 

The  council  organized  a  new  regiment  in  the  towns  of  New- 
buryport,  Amesbury  and  Salisbury  to  be  designated  as  the  Sec- 
ond Regiment.  Amesbury  was  dissatisfied  with  the  proportion 
of  commissioned  officers  assigned  to  her  and  voted  that  "they 
thought  they  had  not  had  their  proper  proportion  of  field  offi- 
cers." 

"At  the  same  meeting  Capt.  William  Bayley,  Lieut.  John 
Barnard  and  Christopher  Sargent  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
draw  a  petition  or  memorial  and  send  to  the  honorable  coun- 
cil and  house  of  representatives  in  behalf  of  the  town  praying 
their  honors  to  consider  whether  a  second  major  is  our  full 
proportion  of  field  officers,  and  redress  us  if  they  think  we  are 
agrieved." 

Each  regiment  was  provided  with  three  important  officers,  viz. 
Colonel,  paid  ,£15  per  month,  Lieut.-Col.,  paid  ^12  per  month, 
and  Major,  paid  ,£10  per  month,  and  neither  of  these  officers 
had  been  taken  from  Amesbury,  but  simply  a  "  Second  Major." 
Those  determined  men  who  were  watching  every  interest  of  the 
town  were  not  to  be  slighted  in  any  manner,  without  an  attempt 
at    redress.     The    effect    of  this  petition  is  not  known. 

British  vessels  were  frequently  seen  off  the  Bar,  and  Coffin,  in 
his  history  of  Newbury,  gives  an  account  of  several  that  were 
taken  and  brought  into  Newburyport  as  prizes,  viz.  Jan.  15th 
the  ship  Friends,  Feb.  16th,  a  bark  of  three  hundred  tons, 
March  1st,  brig  Nelly;  and  supposing  that  war  vessels  might 
attempt  to    enter  the    river  to  burn  the  town  it  was  determined 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  26 1 

to  build  a  fort  on  Plum  Island.  By  request  of  Newburyport 
and  Newbury,  a  town  meeting  was  held  April  30th  to  con- 
sider the  matter.  The  meeting  declined  to  assist  in  building 
the  fort  as  this  town  was  in  very  little  danger  from  that  cause. 
Newburyport  had  appopriated  ^4000  and  Newbury  ^200. 

Although  few  decisive  battles  had  been  fought  and  the  pros- 
pect for  independence  was  anything  but  flattering,  yet  Massa- 
chusetts was  fully  determined  to  press  forward  in  the  cause  of 
freedom  and  the  General  Court  advised  holding  town-meetings 
throughout  the  colony  to  consider  the  subject  of  independence, 
and  to  give  instructions  to  the  representatives. 

July  1  st.  The  town  assembled  agreeable  to  a  call  to  con- 
sider the  propriety  of  instructing  the  representatives  to  press 
forward  the  declaration  of  independence.  The  vote  was  "  that 
they  will  abide  by  and  Defend  the  Members  of  the  Continen- 
tal Congress  with  their  Lives  and  fortunes  if  they  think  it  ex- 
pedient to  declare  the  Colonies  Independent  of  Great  Briton." 
This  was  no  hasty  resolution  of  the  people,  but  the  result  of 
long  continued  and  calm  consideration.  Heartily  tired  of  Brit- 
ish rule  they  were  willing  to  sacrifice  property  and  even  life 
itself,  if  need  be,  for  liberty.  And  there  was  at  this  time  a 
native  son  of  Amesbury  in  the  Continental  Congress,  fearlessly 
advocating  this  bold  measure,  and  by  his  influence  greatly  assist- 
ing in  its  adoption.  Dr.  Josiah  Bartlett  born  at  the  Ferry  in 
1729  was  now  a  resident  of  Kingston,  N.  H.  and  member  of 
Congress.  He  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  talent,  a  fine 
scholar,  successful  physician  and  determined  patriot.  Popular 
with  the  people  of  his  adopted  state,  he  had  been  entrusted 
with  their  interests  at  a  most  critical  period,  and  well  did  he 
execute  that  trust. 

While  the  people  at  Amesbury  were  pledging  their  all  to  the 
cause  of  freedom,  he  was  urging  forward  the  bold  measure 
calculated  to  separate  the  colonies  from  the  mother  country. 
When  the  fearless  document  was  completed  he  boldly  steps 
forward  and  places  his  name  at  the  head  of  the  Declaration. 
Of  such  heroic  conduct  Amesbury  may  well  be  proud.  In 
1790    he   was    chosen   Governor  of  New    Hampshire,    an    office 


262 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


which  he  filled  with  credit  to  himself  and  honor  to  the  State. 
A  fitting  memorial  of  him  would  be  a  proper  monument  on  the 
spot  of  his  birth. 


ClfrQ  t&hft^Ucw'      Governor 

July  3d.  A  meeting  was  notified  to  meet  on  the  4th  to  raise 
money  to  encourage  enlistments.  A  call  had  just  been  made 
for  thirty-seven  men  to  reinforce  the  army  at  Canada. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  263 

The  colony  had  offered  bounties  but  the  men  were  not 
easily  obtained  and  it  became  necessary  for  the  town  to  make 
some  addition.  "  It  was  voted  to  give  unto  each  man  the  sum 
of  twenty  dollars  to  the  amount  of  thirty-seven  men,  and  in 
proportioning  the  tax  to  raise  the  money,  the  selectmen  shall 
consider  them  men  that  have  done  anything  in  the  service  the 
year  past  and  allow  it  unto  them  according  to  what  they  have 
done." 

"  At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  that  each  man  that  shall 
enlist  shall  have  the  whole  of  his  bounty  from  the  town  at 
their  passing  muster  and  that  the  Selectmen  shall  procure  the 
money  upon  the  town's  credit  to  pay  the  Soldiers." 

The  selectmen  were  also  instructed  to  procure  a  town's  stock 
of  amunition  as  soon  as  possible. 

It  was  also  voted  to  join  the  Newburyport  regiment.  After 
eleven  days  experience  in  recruiting  it  was  found  that  the  men 
could  not  be  raised  with  the  present  bounty,  and  a  meeting 
was  called  July  15th,  and  an  addition  of  twenty  dollars  voted, 
thus  giving  forty  dollars.  It  was  a  dangerous  expedition,  one 
in  which  no  one  wished  to  engage  even  for  money.  The  men, 
if  enlisted,  were  not  sent  to  Canada,  as  the  army  of  invasion 
was  already  on  their  retreat,  a  mere  handful  of  worn-out  sol- 
diers  when  they  arrived  at  Ticonderoga. 

By  the  18th  twenty-six  men  had  been  enlisted  who  received 
their  bounty  on  that  day,  viz  : 

Thomas  Foot,  Thomas  Lanckester, 

Robert  Hoyt,  Levi  Sargent, 

Stephen  Locke,  Samuel  Foot, 

Benjamin  Swett,  Nicholas  Colby, 

Gideon  Colby,  Robert  Hastings, 

Timothy  Silver,  Samuel  Barnard, 

Samuel  Blasdell,  John  Currier, 

John  Blasdell,  Levi  Blasdell, 

William  Lowell,  Jacob  Randall, 

Benjamin  Worthen,  John  Weed, 

Edmund  Barnard,  Stephen  Badger, 

Aaron  Colby,  Orlando  Bagley, 

Jonathan  Hoyt,  Timothy  Hoyt,  jun. 


264  HISTORY     OF  AMESBURY. 

Nearly  every  one  of  the  above  were  citizens  of  Amesbury, 
and  to  pay  them  the  selectmen  hired  on  the  17th  inst.  ,£538, 
5  s.,  8  d.  of  the  inhabitants,  who  readily  loaned  their  money  in 
behalf  of  the  cause,  which  evinced  their  patriotism,  and  faith  in 
its  final  success. 

Their  lives  and  fortunes  were  pledged  to  Congress  and  now 
they  are  nobly  redeeming  both.  Robert  Hoyt  and  Timothy 
Hoyt,  after  enlisting,  loaned  the  town  ^12  each  to  assist  in 
paying  the  large  bounties. 

Scarcely  was  the  excitement  of  this  call  over  before  another 
demand  was  made  for  every  twenty-fifth  man,  being  nine  men. 
To  meet  this  call  a  meeting  was  held  on  the  2 2d  inst.  and  a 
bounty  of  ^12  offered. 

The  nine  men  were  obtained  previous  to  Aug.  6th,  when 
they  received  their  bounty. 

NAMES    OF   THE    MEN. 

Wells  Chase,  Sargent  Harvey, 

Abner  Hoyt,  Ezra  Jewell, 

David  Hoyt,  Moses    Buswell. 

Moses  Sargent,  Moses  Currier. 

John  Currier,  jr. 
Another  requisition  was  received  for  six  men,  and  a  town- 
meeting  held  Aug.  2d,  when  it  was  "voted  that  the  town  will 
make  ye  pay  of  the  Soldiers  in  the  present  requisition  to  the 
sum  of  ten  dollars  per  month  during  the  time  of  their  service 
with  what  shall  be  paid  by  the  Province." 

William  Williams  and  Lieut.  John  Barnard  were  chosen  to 
enlist  the  men.  The  selectmen  were  instructed  to  hire  the 
money  and  on  the  8th  the  six  men  received  £4  bounty  as 
their  own  signatures  attest. 

NAMES    OF   THE    MEN. 

Joseph  Wells,  Richard  Currier, 

Benjamin  Merrill,  John  Huse, 

Anthony  Kelly,  Samuel  Sargent. 

On  the  23d  of  September  a  meeting  was  held  to  take  meas- 
ures to  raise  men  to  reinforce  the  army  at  New  York  and  a 
bounty  of  £6  was  offered  in  lawful  money. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  265 

'•'Voted  that  Capt.  Barnard  Hoyt  shall  be  the  man  to  ingage 
the  above  said  men  and  fit  them  of." 

NAMES    OF   THE    MEN. 

Richard  Sawyer,  John  Hoyt  ye  3. 

Daniel  Nickols,  jun.,  Ephraim  Sargent, 

Daniel  Hoyt,  jun.,'  William  Williams, 

John  Silver,  Wells  Chase,  jun., 

Daniel  Chase,  Enoch  Colby, 

Humphry  Hoyt,  Barnard  Hoyt. 

The  above  twelve  men  joined  the  army  at  Fairfield,  and  Wells 
Chase,  jun.  carted  their  baggage,  as  the  following  receipt  shows  : 

"October  12th  1776  payd  by  the  Selectmen  to  Mr.  Wells 
Chase  jun.  for  carrying  the  baggage  for  the  Soldiers  to  fairfield, 
— 24 — 9 — 8." 

The  army  was  now  reduced  to  18,000  men  and  of  that  num- 
ber 3,000  were  sick  and  hence  the  resolute  attempt  to  send 
forward  strong  re-enforcements. 

Soon  after  the  foregoing  calls  were  filled,  another  demand 
was  made  for  one-fourth  of  the  able-bodied  men. 

Dec.  2d.  A  meeting  was  held  when  it  was  "voted  to  give 
1 20  to  each  man  that  shall  inlist  or  be  draughted,"  and  Capt. 
Barnard  Hoyt  and  Capt.  Timothy  Barnard  were  appointed  to 
enlist  the  men. 

This  meeting  was  held  at  the  "Church"  which  stood  on 
what  is  now  known  as  the  "old  church  yard"  opposite  where 
the  late  Town  House  stood  at  Pond  hills. 

The  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  9th  inst.,  and  again  to  the 
house  of  David  Hoyt,  jr.,  who  then  lived  where  the  family  of 
the  late  E.  M.  Huntington  now  lives.  The  present  house  is  of 
more  modern  date  and  was  built  by  the  late  Moses  Hoyt.  The 
church  could  not  be  warmed  properly  and  was  unfit  for  town 
meeting   on   a   cold  December  day. 

An  addition  of  $10  was  made  to  the  former  bounty,  making 
it  $30.  The  able-bodied  men  were  now  reduced  to  120,  accord- 
ing to  the  best  information  to  be  obtained,  and  to  enlist  30 
out  of    this    number    was    no    easy    task.      Upon  this    increased 


266  HISTORY     OF  AMESBURY. 

bounty  the  men    were  enlisted  previous  to    December  14,  when 
the  following  persons  received  bounty  : 


Daniel  Waite, 

David  Page, 

Levi  Wells, 

Jonathan  Morrill, 

Philip  Chandler, 

Charles  Barnard, 

Daniel  Chase, 

Richard  Bartlett, 

Samuel  Foot, 

Joseph  Wells, 

Nehemiah  Osgood, 

Jacob  Ring, 

Dudley  Maxfield, 

Richard  Morrill, 

Richard  Currier, 

Jeremiah  Morrill, 

Richard  Osgood, 

Levi  Blasdell, 

David  Lowell, 

Willoughby  Hoyt, 

William  Davis, 

Thomas  Clarke, 

William  Sargent, 

Richard  Kelley, 

Asa  Sargent, 

Marshal  Stocker, 

William  Morrill, 

Jonathan  Bagley, 

Joshua  Wells, 

Jarvis  Ring. 

:  a  meeting  held    December 

30th    it    was  "  voted    to    raise 

t    hundred   pounds   lawful   m 

oney,    in    addition    to    what  is 

eight 

already  voted,  which  is  to  make  a  tax  of  twelve  hundred  pounds 

to  defray  the  charges  of  the  town  the  present  year." 

Thus  closed  the  year  1776,  full  of  startling  events  and  meas- 
ures of  which  time  only  could  enable  the  world  to  judge.  It 
was  glorious  in  principles  and  aspirations  if  not  in  the  success 
of  its  arms.  The  town  was  called  to  meet  sixteen  times  and 
once,  so  great  was  the  necessity  that  but  a  single  day's  notice 
was  given,  and  in  another  instance  the  call  was  made  by  one  of 
the  selectmen  only.  In  no  year  during  the  Great  Rebellion 
was  one  half  as  many  meetings  held. 

In  addition  to  the  continued  excitement  in  war  matters  the 
small-pox  prevailed  to  some  extent,  which  was  in  those  days 
more  to  be  dreaded  than  an  army  with  banners. 

The  following  document  will  fully  explain  itself: 

"Amesbury,  Sept.   1776. 

Then  received  of  Capt.  John  Currier  the  sum  of  two  pounds 
fourteen  shillings  and  three  pence  Lawful  Money  which  I  received 
as  being  due  for  my  negros  service  in  the  last  years    campaign 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  267 

under  the  command  of  sd  Capt.  Currier  if  it  should  hereafter 
be  so  ordered  that  the  said  Capt.  should  be  obliged  to  pay  the 
money  to  the  negro  I  promise  and  engage  to  pay  said  sum  of 
money  back  again  as  witness  my  hand. 

Benjamin  Barnard." 

The  census  of  the  population  at  this  time,  as  taken  by  the 
colony,  only  gave  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-five 
inhabitants,  and  in  1790,  some  fourteen  years  later,  the  increase 
was  but  six.  In  1800  there  was  found  a  decrease  of  popula- 
tion from  1776  of  thirty-eight,  and  in  1820,  after  the  lapse  of 
forty-four  years,  the  town  had  gained  but  one  hundred  and  six- 
ty-one in  numbers,  although  two  or  more  factories  had  been 
built  and  put  in  operation  during  that  period. 

1777. 

The  following  persons  were  chosen  a  committee  of  correspond- 
ence and  safety  :  John  Patten,  Capt.  John  Sawyer,  Capt.  Mat- 
thias Hoyt,  John  Hoyt,  jr.,  Major  David  Merrill,  John  Bagley 
and  Capt.  Caleb  Pilsbury. 

The  frequent  calls  for  men  last  year  had  severely  tried  the 
town  and  its  resources,  but  this  year  opens  under  no  very  fav- 
orable prospects  to  encourage  renewed  effort  in  the  good  cause. 
So  many  able-bodied  men  were  in  the  army  that  provisions 
were  scarce  and  high.  The  town  was  under  the  necessity  of 
supplying  the  soldier's  families,  and  frequently  bought  corn  for 
that  purpose.  The  people  were  not  fed  on  pie  and  cake  then. 
Guns,  amunition  and  shovels  for  the  soldiers  and  army  were 
bought  by  the  town. 

Aug.  23d.  An  order  was  drawn  for  "  14  guns  with  Bayonets 
at  72  s.  each  and  ten  gun  locks  at  18  s.  each  and  288  pound 
of  lead  at  10  pence  per  pound  and  240  flints  ,£72     4 — 10." 

"Paid  to  Benjamin  Sargent  for  4  shovel  woods  o — 8 — o." 

"July  paid  for  2i6lb  of  powder  bought  for  a  Town  Stock  for 
this  town  ^64 — 16 — o." 

The  town  purchased  steel  of  the  board  of  war  at  Boston  to 
the  amount  of  ^18. 

"May  6th  Ordered  to  Roger  Colby  in  full  for  shewing  24 
shovels  £2,   14 — o." 


268  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

There  were  continual  calls  on  the  town  for  clothing  and 
almost  every  variety  of  needed  articles,  and  to  add  to  the  other 
pressing  burdens,  the  Continental  money  was  rapidly  deprecia- 
ting and  large  quantities  were  required  to  purchase  the  needed 
articles. 

To  illustrate  this  depreciation,  we  cite  the  case  of  Daniel 
Hoyt :  He  gave  a  note  March  3d,  1775,  for  ^3,  2  s.,  2  d.,  to 
Mr.  Peleg  Challis  for  the  benefit  of  his  brother  Jacob's  children. 
On  September  25th,  1777,  he  paid  it,  and  the  amount  includ- 
ing interest  was  ^"20,   16  s. 

April  2 1  st.  A  call  for  fourteen  men  having  been  made,  it 
was  found  necessary  to  hold  a  town  meeting  to  decide  on  the 
manner  of  raising  them.  "The  question  was  put  whether  the 
town  would  pay  any  bounty  to  the  men  now  to  be  raised  and 
it  passed  in  the  negative." 

It  is  evident  that  the  people  were  a  little  discouraged,  nor  is 
it  any  wonder  that  they  should  be.  It  was  difficult  even  by 
the  help  of  the  women  to  raise  provisions  enough  to  supply  all. 
The  fare  was  coarse  and  scant,  and  money  hard  to  get. 

The  people,  however,  soon  rallied  from  their  depression, 
called  a  meeting  on  the  28th  and  "voted  to  pay  three  pounds 
each  to  fourteen  men,  who  shall  enlist  as  private  soldiers  and 
serve  two  months  as  private  soldiers  or  non-commissioned  offi- 
cers agreeable  to  the  order  of  Court." 

This  bounty  was  sufficient  to  secure  in  two  days  the  required 
number  of  men,  who  were  paid  with  money  borrowed,  as  usual, 
from  the  citizens.     They  were   all  Amesbury  men,  as  follows  : — 
Thomas  Colby,  Hezekiah  Colby, 

Enoch  Colby,  Daniel  Flanders, 

Zebulon  Sargent,  Jonathan  Hoyt, 

Joseph  Morse,  Aaron  Bagley, 

Peter  Bagley,  Levi  Goodwin, 

Jeremiah  Shepherd,  Thomas  Bagley, 

Levi  Flanders,  Timothy  Lanckester. 

With  great  exertions  these  men  had  been  enlisted  and  paid 
to  the  very  great  relief  of  many  sad  families. 

The    enemy  was,    however,  becoming    very  troublesome,  even 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  269 

in  some  portions  of  New  England,  and  Gen.  Washington's  army 
amounted  to  but  a  few  hundred.  An  effort  to  fill  up  the  rank 
and  file  became  absolutely  necessary  to  sustain  the  desperate 
cause. 

The  scarcity  of  arms  was,  also,  telling  against  the  Americans.  . 
All  the  old  guns  were  repaired  by  local  gunsmiths  in  the  vari- 
ous towns,  so  as  to  pass  muster.  In  Amesbury,  David  Blasdell 
repaired  the  locks  and  guns,  as  his  father  had  done  in  the  old 
French  and  Indian  wars.  Fortunately,  however,  a  French  ves- 
sel arrived  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  with  eleven  thousand  guns 
and  other  war  material.  One  or  two  chests  of  these  were 
brought  to  Amesbury  and  distributed  by  Isaac  Merrill,  Esq., 
two  of  which  the  writer  now  has  in  his  possession,  now  known 
as  "old  French  guns." 

To  the  amazement  of  all,  in  seven  days  from  filling  the  last 
call  the  town  was  threatened  with  a  draft.  A  warrant  for  a 
town  meeting  was  immediately  issued,  containing  the  following 
article  : — 

"  To  see  if  the  town  will  take  some  proper  method  to  com- 
plete our  full  seventh  part  of  all  the  male  inhabitants  of  this 
town  from  sixteen  years  old  and  upwards  to  serve  as  Soldiers 
in  the  Continental  Army  agreeable  to  an  act  of  this  State  of 
April  ye  30th  to  enlist  or  draft  the  men  that  are  wanting  to 
complete  said  seventh  part  on  or  before  the  15  th  day  of  this 
present  May."  That  the  people  might  be  awake  to  the  impor- 
tance of  the  meeting,  the  selectmen  added  "It  is  desired  the 
good  people  of  this  town  will  give  their  attendance  at  time  and 
place  above  mentioned  for  the  business  is  urgent  and  will  not 
admit  of  delay." 

The  citizens  assembled  on  the  12th,  and  under  the  excite- 
ment of  the  moment  voted  a  bounty  of  $100  to  each  man  who 
should  enlist.  The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  meet  at  the 
house  of  Benjamin  Bodge  on  "Thursday  Next." 

At  the  adjourned  meeting,  the  previous  vote  was  reconsidered 
and  $50  substituted  for  serving  till  "the  tenth  of  January  next," 
a  little  more  than  seven  months.  This  arrangement  was  not 
satisfactory,  however,  from    some    cause    and    was    reconsidered. 


270 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


and  then  the  meeting  adjourned  to  the  West  meeting  house  on 
the  19th. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting,  Capt.  John  Hoyt,  Ensign  Mat- 
thias Hoyt  and  Lieut.  John  Barnard  were  chosen  to  enlist  the 
men  on  the  best  terms  they  could  obtain  for  three  years  or 
during  the  war.  At  this  time  one-seventh  of  the  able-bodied 
men  was  twenty-two.  This  number  was  obtained  for  ^30  each, 
which  was  paid  by  the  town  from  money  borrowed  of  the  citi- 
zens. The  noble-hearted  women  frequently  loaned  the  town 
money  on  these  occasions. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  men  : — 


"Gideon  Colby, 
Timothy  Silver, 
Stephen  Lowell, 
Levi  Wells, 
Timothy  Colby,  jun., 
John  Lowell, 
Henry  Hunt, 
Stephen  Badger, 
John  Newcomb, 
Aaron  Colby, 
Benjamin  Bodge, 


David  Nickols, 
Wells  Chase,  jun., 
Thomas  Clarke, 
Eliphalet  Hoyt, 
John  Plumer, 
Thomas   Lanckester, 
Timothy  Hoyt,  jun.. 
Marshal  Stoker, 
John  Hoyt  y-  3d 
Matthias  Hoyt, 
Barnard  Hoyt." 


Aug.  1 6th.  A  call  for  one-sixth  of  the  able-bodied  men  hav- 
ing been  made,  a  meeting  was  held  this  day  and  a  bounty  of 
^4,   10  s.,  per  month  was  offered  to  each  of  thirty  men. 

The  following  persons  were  enlisted  and  received  their  bounty 
money  on  the   23d  inst.,  viz.  : — 


"William  Lowell, 
Benjamin  Swett, 
Joshua  Wells, 
Jonathan  Barnard, 
David  Currier, 
Levi  Blasdell, 
Jacob  Ring, 
Richard  Osgood, 
John  Herbet, 
Obadiah  Badger, 


Thomas  Foot, 
Daniel  Hoyt, 
Moses  Goodwin, 
Edmund  Bartlett, 
Jonathan  Hoyt, 
Isaac  Foot, 
Joseph  Morse, 
Robert  Hoyt, 
Joshua  Sargent, 
Enoch  Colby, 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  27 1 

William  Morrill,  John  Sargent, 

Currier  Barnard,  Moses   Buswell, 

Levi  Flanders,  Richard  Kelley, 

Jacob  Lanckester,  Jesse  Carr, 

Ephraim  Currier,  Barnard  Worthen." 

It  required  constant  effort  to  fill  the  calls  so  rapidly  made  at 
this  critical  period,  and  the  only  wonder  is  that  it  was  possible 
to  find  men  and  money  enough  to  comply  with  them.  There 
appears  to  have  been  but  one  mind  in  town,  and  that  was 
patriotic  in  the  extreme  :  loyalty  to  the  cause  of  freedom.  Not 
a  line  appears  on  the  mass  of  records,  which  have  been  labori- 
ously searched,  which  could  possibly  be  construed  into  anything 
like  "Toryism." 

On  the  26th  of  August  a  town  meeting  was  held  to  take 
measures  to  raise  seven  men  just  called  for,  and  Capt.  Pilsbury 
and  Lieut.  John  Barnard  were  chosen  to  hire  the  men  on  the 
most  reasonable  terms  "they  can."  Lieut.  Barnard  proceeded 
to  the  eastward  and  was  successful  in  obtaining  six  men,  to 
whom  bounty  was  paid,  as  follows  : — 

Abner  Coffin  Lunt  and  Isaac  Smith  ^33  each ;  Nathaniel 
Young,  Mark  Merrill  and  William  Stevens  j£a2>  each  J  Nathaniel 
Coffin  Lunt  ^40,  and  Abraham  Young  ^43. 

Nov.  6th.  The  town  voted  to  raise  ^2000  to  defray  the 
charges  of  the  town  the  present  year,  and,  also,  to  make  up 
the  wages  of  the  soldiers,  now  to  be  raised  to  six  pounds  per 
month. 

It  was,  also,  "Voted  to  give  Mrs.  Goodridge  widow  of  Capt. 
Ezekiel  Goodridge,"  who  was  killed  at  the  taking  of  Burgoyne, 
"twelve  pounds  as  a  bounty  for  last  year's  service." 

Capt.  Goodridge  was  originally  from  Haverhill,  but  moved  to 
Amesbury,  and  his  stone  in  the  East  parish  burying  ground 
gives  the  date,  etc.,  of  his  death. 

The  gloomiest  and  most  trying  period  of  the  war  ended  with 
this  year.  At  its  close,  prospects  were  brightening.  Burgoyne 
had  been  captured  with  his  whole  army,  and  the  American 
army  had  gained  many  advantages.  Great  numbers  of  soldiers 
had  been  added  to  the  various  commands,  and  even  the  British 
generals  were  seriously  thinking  of  giving  up  all  as  lost. 


272  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

The  several  calls  made  upon  the  town  during  the  year 
amounted  to  seventy-three  men,  exclusive  of  the  November 
call  for  men  to  supply  the  places  of  those  whose  term  expired 
with  the  month. 

"April  ye  30th  1777  then  paid  a  bounty  of  three  pounds  each 
to   14  soldiers  agreeable  to  a  vote  of  this  town  42-0-0." 

"May  ye  3d  1777  paid  to  Jacob  Lancaster  for  carrying  the 
three  year  soldiers  baggage  to  Cambridge  4-0-2." 

"  June  23  paid  to  Elijah  Tilton  for  keeping  school  one  month 
2—17—7." 

June  16.  At  the  same  meeting  voted  to  build  a  place  in 
"  Deacn  Orlando  Sargent's  corn  house  on  the  towns  cost  to  put 
the  towns  stock  of  amunition  and  tools  in." 

"  August  23  paid  to  Robert  Rogers  for  finding  boards  nails 
Joyce  and  making  a  town  store  in  Deacon  Sargents  Barn  2 — 8 
—8." 

Joseph  Gould  died  in  the  army  which  previously  occupied 
Ticonderoga,  on  September  20th.  This  fort  was  taken  July  2d 
by  Burgoyne. 

Joseph  Pressey  and  his  sons  John  and  Hezekiah  (Friends), 
enlisted  this  year  and  were  turned  out  by  the  monthly  meeting 

1778. 

Jan.  26th,  1778.  A  meeting  was  held  at  which  Thomas 
Rowell,  Esq.,  was  chosen  moderator  and  then  it  was  adjourned 
to  the  house  of  Isaac  Whittier  forthwith.  It  was  there  voted  to 
chose  a  committee  of  seven  men  to  draft  instructions  for  "  our 
Representative  consierning  the  Confederation  and  lay  them 
before  the  town  at  the  adjournment  of  their  meeting." 

The  selectmen  with  the  addition  of  Thomas  Rowell,  Esq.,  Col. 
Jonathan  Bagley,  Stephen  Kelley  and  Capt.  John  Currier  were 
chosen  for  the  above  purpose,  and  then  the  meeting  was 
adjourned  to  meet  February  3d,  at  the  church  meeting  house 
at  the  Pond  hills.  The  report  of  this  committee,  composed  of 
the  most  prominent  men  in  town,  is  well  worth  perusal,  as  it 
clearly  sets  forth  the  views  and  ideas  of  the  people  at  the  time 
the  government  was  being  formed.  Their  opinions  were  by  no 
means  favorable    to    a   strong  central    power  that  should  control 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  273 

the  state  governments  at  will,  but  the  reverse.  They  were 
unmistakably  "State  Rights"  men: — 

"  To  Capt  Caleb  Pilsbury  Representative  for  the  town  of  Ames- 
bury. 

Sir  :  The  Inhabitants  of  Amesbury  being  assembled  this  3d 
day  of  February,  1 778,  took  into  consideration  the  Articles  of  Con- 
federation and  perpetual  union  betwixt  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica, the  Honorable  the  House  of  Representatives  looking  upon 
it  as  a  matter  of  the  greatest  importance  by  their  Resolves 
have  recommended  it  to  the  consideration  of  the  several 
towns  in  this  state  to  instruct  their  Representatives  to  act 
and  do  as  they  shall  judge  most  for  the  advantage  and  security 
of  this  and  the  other  United  States,  relative  to  that  matter, 
the  inhabitants  of  this  town  are  most  humbly  of  their  opinion, 
and  sincerely  obliged  to  that  Honorable  Assembly  whereof 
you  have  the  honor  to  be  a  member,  for  the  great  care  they 
have  taken  in  order  to  collect  the  whole  wisdom  of  the  States 
before  they  come  to  a  determination  upon  a  matter  where  the 
lives,  the  liberties,  the  property,  the  safety  and  the  future  well 
being  of  this  Continent  so  much  depends,  after  reading  the  several 
articles,  and  considering  the  same  the  inhabitants  upon  mature 
deliberation  and  with  the  most  earnest  solicitude  recommend 
the  following  amendment  in  the  several  articles  hereafter 
mentioned. 

In  the  8th  article  where  the  proportioning  the  Continental 
charges  upon  the  several  states,  it  be  proportioned  according 
to  the  value  and  income  of  personal  as  well  as  real  estate. 

And  in  the  ninth  article  the  Congress  not  to  have  the  sole 
and  executive  right  and  power  of  determining  on  peace  and  war 
without  first  consulting  the  Legislative  authority  of  every  one  of 
the  United  States,  and  the  Legislative  authority  of  nine  of  the 
United  States  consenting  to  the  determination  of  war,  and  to 
every  article  of  all  Treaties  of  Peace  and  alliance,  then  the 
United  States  in  Congress  to  have  power  to  declare  war  and 
grant  letters  of  Marque  and  Reprisals  and  to  ratify  peace  and 
not  without  such  consent   first  'had  &c. 

Also  in  the  ninth  article  when  the  Congress    either  borroweth 

35 


274  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURV. 

money  or  emits  Bills  on  the  credit  of  the  United  States  trans- 
mitting every  half  year  to  the  respective  States  on  account  of 
the  sums  of  money  so  borrowed  or  emitted  then  add  together 
with  an  account  of  the  expenditure  of  the  same.  The  inhabi- 
tants of  this  town  are  unanimously  of  opinion  that  all  Commu- 
nitys  of  people  out  in  justice  and  have  an  undoubted  right  to 
know  the  expendure  of  their  public  money. 

Consider  Dear  Sir  that  the  Articles  of  Confederation  are  per- 
petual and  not  to  be  altered  without  such  alteration  be  agreed 
to  in  Congress  and  afterwards  confirmed  by  the  Legislative 
authority  of  every  State,  the  obtaining  of  which  will  be  next  to 
an  impossibility  therefore  it  highly  behooves  every  state,  every 
town  and  every  indevidual  to  summons  up  their  Power  and 
exercise  their  whole  wisdom  and  see  their  way  is  clear  before 
they  bind  themselves  and  thousand  and  ten  thousands  yet  unborn 
in  a  perpetual  covenant  never  to  be  altered. 

The  other  Articles  in  the  proposed  Confederation  the  inhabi- 
tants leave  to  the  great  wisdom  of  the  General  Assembly 
together  with  our  ardent  prayers  that  they  may  be  directed  from 
above  to  do  that  which  may  make  the  inhabitants  of  the  United 
States  ever  happy." 

The  presentation  of  these  instructions  was  the  last  important 
act  of  Capt.  Pilsbury's  life.  He  died  before  the  close  of  the 
year,  having  led  a  useful  and  honorable  life.  He  commenced 
his  public  life  in  1728  as  juror,  and  held  almost  every  office 
within  the  gift  of  the  people.  He  was  selectman  in  1757  and 
1764,  and  Representative  to  General  Court  and  to  the  provin- 
cial Congress  in  1775.  He  was  one  of  those  who  proposed 
digging  through  the  Pond  ridge,  which  he  and  the  venerable 
Orlando  Bagley  successfully  accomplished  in  1 740,  thus  opening 
a  short  cut  from  the  pond  to  Powow  river.  For  this  act  he 
will  long  be  remembered. 

Committee  of  correspondence,  inspection  and  safety,  Jacob 
Lowell,  John  Kelley,  Capt.  William  Bayley,  Isaac  Merrill,  Esq.' 
Capt.  Eli  Gale. 

A  committee  was  chosen  to  settle  with  the  selectmen  and  all 
who  may  have  the  town's  money  in  their  hands. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  275 

"  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  pay  those  men  that  went  to  guard 
the  prisoners  taken  by  General  Gates  their  wages  agreeable  to 
the  vote  of  the  town." 

It  was  voted  not  to  join  the  Newburyport  regiment  with  only 
a  major  as  field  officer,  and  then  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to 
March  30th. 

There  are  no  lists  or  record  of   the  men  who  were  furnished 
at  the    several   calls  during   the  year,  and   all  the   clue  we  have 
been  able  to  find  is  the  record  of  the  few  orders  drawn  for  their 
pay  during  the  latter  part  of  the  year  or   first  part  of  1779. 
The  following  men  received  pay  for  service  at  Rhode  Island  : 
"  Moses  Buswell,  John  Sargent, 

Joseph  Mors,  Theophilus  Goodwin, 

Samuel  Feavour,  Samuel  Kimball, 

Andrew  Whittier,  Isaac  Foot, 

Moses  Sargent,  Aaron  Bagley, 

Philip  Chandley,  Paul  Hardy, 

Zebulon  Sargent,  John  Patten, 

Ezra  Jewell,  John  Sheapherd, 

Obadiah  Badger,  Timothy  Colby, 

Joshua  Wells,  Barzilla  Colby  (  Winter  Hill) ." 

There  were,  also,  four  others  who  had  their  taxes  abated  on 
account  of  being  in  the  army,  viz,  : — 

"Daniel  Chase,  jr.,  Aaron  Bagley, 

William  Johnes,  John  Newcomb." 

The  reason  of  this  sudden  change  in  the  record  cannot  be 
imagined.  The  little  book  called  the  "Witch  Book"  gives  a 
very  good  account  of  the  men  up  to  1778,  when  no  more  can 
be  found. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  it  became  necessary  to  adopt  some 
measures  to  raise  more  men,  another  call  having  been  made,  and 
it  was  "Voted  to  make  up  their  wages  to  seven  pounds  per 
month  with  what  they  have  from  the  Continant  and  State." 

The  committee  was  instructed  to  go  to  the  "Eastward"  to 
hire  the  three  years'  men  now  called  for,  as  it  was  very  diffi- 
cult finding  men  in  town  who  could  be  spared,  or  were  willing 
to  continue  in  the  service  all  of  the  time,  away  from  their  fam- 
ilies. 


276  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

Capt.  Ezekiel  Goodridge  before  his  death  had  taken  a  very 
active  part  in  the  war,  and  his  services  to  the  town  by  way  of 
enlisting  recruits  had  been  very  valuable.  His  labors  were  duly 
appreciated,  and  his  widow  received  $16  by  vote  of  the  town, 
in  addition  to  a  bounty  of  ^12  last  year. 

At  a  meeting  held  April  9th,  it  was  "  Voted  to  give  Stephen 
Blasdell  a  gun  for  that  his  son  left  at  Canada." 

"Voted,  also,  to  make  up  the  wages  of  the  Soldiers  that  went 
to  guard  the  prisoners  taken  by  Gen  Gates  to  six  pounds  per 
month  besides  the  twenty  shillings  the  Court  gave  for  sauce 
money  or  wages." 

Another  call  for  soldiers  obliged  the  selectmen  to  issue  their 
warrant  for  a  meeting  May  4th,  when  it  was  "Voted  that  each 
man  that  shall  inlist  into  the  Continental  service  for  nine  months 
shall  be  entitled  to  the  thirty  pounds  each  which  the  Court 
allows  the  town  and  also  thirty  pounds  more  to  each  man  as 
an  additional  bounty  from  the  town." 

"At  the  same  meeting  voted  to  give  each  that  shall  inlist  for 
eight  months  to  serve  as  Soldiers  on  Hudson  River  thirty 
pounds  each  as  a  bounty  from  the  town." 

This  meeting  was  adjourned  one  week  and  met  on  the  1  ith 
inst.,  when  the  following  vote  was  passed  : — 

"Voted  to  chuse  a  Committee  to  see  if  they  can  procure 
the  men  now  wanted  on  the  towns  costs." 

"Voted,  also,  that  the  Selectmen  and  Committee  of  Safety 
be  the  Committee  to  procure  the  men." 

Continual  effort  and  large  bounties  were  required  to  meet 
the  frequent  calls  for  men  to  reinforce  the  army ;  in  fact,  it 
was  a  very  discouraging  task  for  any  committee,  however  effi- 
cient. The  people  were  poor  and  needed  at  home  to  till  the 
ground  to  keep  their  families  from  starving ;  but  those  who  had 
money  freely  lent  it  to  the  town,  taking  notes  as  security.  Old 
persons  who  could  remember  those  days  have  described  the 
fare  as  "boiled  beef,  corn  bread  and  cider." 

The  poor  of  the  town  were  kept  by  those  who  would  keep 
them  the  cheapest,  and  many  times  the  pay  was  in  provisions, 
as    were    some    cases    this    year :     "  Capt  Worthen    a    bushel  of 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  277 

corn  per  week  for  supporting  Widow  Hookley."     "Isaac  Rogers 
a  bushel  of  corn  per  week  for  supporting  Lydia  Ordway." 

June  25th.  A  town  meeting  was  held  to  take  measures  to 
raise  ten  men  now  called  for,  and  the  committee  was  "to  pro- 
cure the  men  on  the  towns  cost  on  the  most  reasonable  terms 
they  can.  Also  to  replace  the  guards  under  General  Heath 
when  called  for  on  the  towns  cost,  the  Committee  not  to  have 
any  pay  for  their  own  time  and  expense." 

"And  Mr  Ephraim  Weed  appeared  in  said  meeting  and 
entered  his  decent  against  said  vote."  Whether  Capt.  Weed 
was  opposed  to  raising  men  or  not  paying  the  committee  for 
their  services  does  not  appear,  but  at  a  subsequent  meeting  we 
shall  find  him  opposing  the  whole  proceedings. 

Tuly  13th.  A  town  meeting  was  held  to  take  measures  to 
clear  the  town  from  a  presentment  at  the  Salem  court.  "  Isaac 
Merrill  Esq  and  Capt  William  Bayley  were  chosen  a  committee 
to  appear  at  the  Salem  court  in  behalf  of  the  town  on  account 
of  their  being  presented  for  not  having  a  Grammar  school." 

This  was  a  most  singular  affair  and,  probably,  the  work  of 
some  evil-minded  person,  for  the  town  had  provided  schools  in 
both  parishes.  Samuel  Brooks  kept  school  three  months  ending 
March  6th  in  the  East  parish  and  Thomas  Clark  in  the  West 
parish,  and  there  can  be  but  little  doubt  of  their  ability  to  teach 
the  required  branches.  It  cost  the  town  for  the  committee's 
services  ^14,  n  s.,  9  d.  However,  there  was  a  master  in  town 
whose  qualifications  no  one  was  able  to  gainsay,  and  on  the 
8th  of  September  he  was  employed  to  open  a  school  in  which 
all  legal  branches  could  be  taught.  Jacob  Merrill,  the  new 
master,  was  said  to  have  been  an  excellent  Latin  and  Greek 
scholar. 

A  town  meeting  was  held  July  30th  to  raise  men  to  fill  the 
call  just  made,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  "to  procure  the 
men  on  the  towns  cost." 

Ephraim  Weed  again  appeared  in  the  town  meeting  "  and 
entered  his  decent  against  the  whole  proceedings  of  said  meet- 
ing." The  cause  of  this  solitary  opposition  on  the  part  of  Mr. 
Weed  is  singular  and  cannot  be  explained.      Until  this  instance 


278  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

all  had  been  harmonious  and  without  the  least  opposition.  The 
leading  patriots  in  town  were  unanimously  sustained. 

Sept.  14th.  A  meeting  was  held  and  a  committee  chosen  "  to 
raise  the  men  that  are  wanted  for  Soldiers  on  the  best  terms 
they  can  get  them  and  on  the  town's  cost."  The  men,  how- 
ever, were  not  obtained  on  such  terms  as  the  committee  felt 
authorized  to  offer,  and  on  the  23d  inst.  another  meeting  was 
held  and  further  instructions  given,  as  follows  : — 

"  Voted  to  give  some  encouragement  to  the  men  that  shall 
inlist  or  be  drafted  equal  to  one-third  part  of  the  training  band 
list." 

"At  the  same  meeting  voted  to  make  up  die  wages  of  each 
man  that  inlists  or  be  drafted  to  twenty-four  pounds  per  month 
with  what  they  shall  receive  from  the  Continant  and  State." 

"Voted  that  the  Selectmen  and  Committee  of  Safety  be 
ordered  to  draft  the  men  if  the  Committee  cannot  inlist  them 
on  the  towns  encouragement." 

This  is  the  second  threat  to  draft  in  case  the  men  were  not 
forthcoming ;  but  it  is  probable  that  the  men  were  enlisted,  as 
no  more  meetings  were  held  until  December  14th,  and  then 
simply  for  the  usual  town  business. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  "Voted  to  raise  three  thousand  pounds 
to  defray  charges." 

"Voted,  also,  that  the  Selectmen  sell  those  gunlocks  and 
steel  that  belongeth  to  the  town  at  the  best  terms  they  can." 

Thus  closes  the  year  1778.  It  has  been  a  very  trying  one 
to  the  people,  who  had  little  time  to  think  of  anything  but  bat- 
tles and  recruits,  and  it  becomes  us  who  enjoy  the  blessings 
secured  by  the  hardships  and  sufferings  of  these  noble  patriots 
to  pause  and  consider  their  cost.  We  can  never  know  the 
anxiety  and  distress  which  filled  the  hearts  of  those  noble 
matrons,  who  so  freely  sent  forth  their  husbands  and  sons  to 
fight  for  their  country.  We  may,  however,  to  some  extent 
express  our  gratitude  by  perpetuating  their  memory  and  hand- 
ing down  to  succeeding  generations  their  patient  toil  and  valor- 
ous deeds. 

The  year  closed  with  brighter    prospects    than    the    preceding 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  279 

one,  and  the  assistance  of  France  was,  to  say  the  least,  timely. 

The  fees  for  the  committee  who  hired  the  soldiers  from  x'Vpril 
3d  to  September  28th  were  ,£36,  9  s.,  4  d. 

Jacob  Merrill,  Thomas  Clark  and  Samuel  Brooks  were  school- 
masters this  year. 

1779. 

Seth  Kendrick  received  3  d.  per  pound  for  collecting  taxes. 

Capt.  William  Bagley,  Obadiah  Colby,  Willis  Patten,  Wells 
Chase  and  John  Barnard  were  the  committee  of  correspondence, 
inspection  and  safety. 

"Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  allowed  forty  pounds  for  their 
services  the  ensuing  year." 

"Greenbacks"  had  sadly  depreciated  since  the  war  began, 
and  the  evil  was  assuming  huge  proportions,  almost  endanger- 
ing the  patriot's  cause.  The  large  appropriations  show  the 
worthlessness  of  Continental  money  and  the  rapid  decline  it 
was  making. 

"Voted  to  make  a  grant  of  one  hundred  dollars  to  each  Sol- 
dier that  is  gone  from  this  town  into  the  three  years  Conti- 
nental service  that  have  not  left  families,  towards  making  up 
their  wages  on  account  of  the  depreciation  of  the  money." 

May  17th.  A  meeting  was  held  for  the  choice  of  a  repre- 
sentative, and  other  purposes,  and  to  consider  the  necessity  for 
a  "new  Constitution  or  form  of  Government."  The  vote 
"  passed  in  the  affirmative,  thirty-three  in  the  affirmative,  one  in 
the  negative."  This  vote  not  only  shows  the  unanimity  of  the 
town,  but,  also,  the  size  of  the  town  meetings  at  this  time. 
How  many  voters  there  were  in  town  is  not  known,  but  only  a 
minority  were  generally  present. 

June  17th.  A  town  meeting  was  held  and  Ensign  Simeon 
Bartlett  and  Seth  Kendrick  were  chosen  to  hire  the  men  called 
for,  and  pay  them  in  money  or  produce  "  as  they  can  agree." 
At  this  meeting  ^3000  were  raised  "towards  defraying  the 
charges  of  the  town  the  present  year."  Money  had  depreciated 
very  much  and  large  sums  were  required  for  ordinary  purposes. 

Aug.  5  th.  In  town  meeting  this  day,  John  Barnard  was 
chosen  to  attend  the  Constitutional  convention.     At  this  meeting 


280  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

Ezra  Worthen  was  chosen  delegate  to  attend  the  convention  at 
Concord  the  first  Wednesday  of  October  to  regulate  prices. 

"At  the  same  meeting  voted  that  the  Committee  of  corre- 
spondence be  a  Committee  to  regulate  prices  of  Inholders  labor 
and  other  things  not  particular  regulated  by  the  Convention  in 
July  last."  A  futile  attempt  was  this  while  the  currency  was 
every  day  becoming  more  worthless.  Regulate  the  currency 
first  and  then  less  regulation  would  be  required  for  other  mat- 
ters. Our  ancestors  were  famous  for  regulating  everything  by 
law,  but  this  was  a  difficult  subject.  It  was  soon  found  that 
the  committee  was  too  small,  and  a  meeting  was  called  August 
nth  to  enlarge  it,  and  Moses  Chase,  Deacon  Orlando  Sargent, 
Enoch  Bagley,  Lieut.  Robert  Rogers,  Daniel  Currier,  Seth  Ken- 
drick  and  Josiah  Sargent  were  added. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  August  16th,  it  was  found  that  the 
committee  was  still  too  small,  and  Thomas  Rowell,  Ephraim 
Weed,  the  three  selectmen,  Capt.  Robert  Sargent,  Thomas  Per- 
son and  Capt.  John  Sawyer  were  added.  This  committee,  prob- 
ably, succeeded.  At  this  meeting  Capt.  William  Bayley  was 
chosen  selectman. 

"At  the  same  meeting  voted  to  give  Mr  John  Bagley  six 
dollars  per  week  for  supporting  Mary  Fowler  for  six  months." 
It  was  only  one  year  ago  that  Mr.  Bagley  agreed  to  keep  her 
for  8  s.  per  week,  showing  a  depreciation  of  more  than  400  per 
cent. 

"At  the  same  meeting  voted  that  Capt  Barnard  Hoyt,  Capt 
John  Sawyer  and  Ensine  Josiah  Sargent  be  a  Committee  to  see 
whether  there  is  a  .convenient  place  at  Cottle's  Landing  on  the 
towns  land  for  Marchel  Stocker  to  sett  a  house  without  being 
a  public  damage  and  make  report  at  next  meeting."  Mr. 
Stocker  was  a  soldier  enlisted  under  the  call  of  December  1776 
for  every  fourth  man.  It  seems  he  was  poor  and  unable  to 
buy  land  to  put  his  house  on. 

Sept.  27th.  At  a  town  meeting  held  this  day,  it  was  "Voted 
to  raise  Eleven  thousand  three  hundred  and  twenty  pounds" 
for  town  charges,  making  in  all  ^14,320.  At  this  meeting 
Matthias  Hoyt,  William  Moulton,  Stephen    Kelley,  Thomas  Per- 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  251 

son,  Moses  Chase  and  Enoch  Bagley  were  chosen  "to  see  that 
the  regulating  prices  are  kept." 

At  the  same  meeting  Deacon  Orlando  Sargent,  Peleg  Challis 
and  Capt.  John  Currier  were  chosen  a  committee  to  see  if  there 
is  a  convenient  place  on  the  highway  below  Charles  Weed's 
shop,  against  the  land  of  Peleg  Challis,  for  Charles  Weed  to 
set  a  house  on,  and  make  report  at  the  next  meeting. 

Oct.  13th.  More  men  having  been  called  for,  the  meeting 
held  this  day  chose  William  Williams  and  Capt.  William  Bayley 
to  procure  the  men. 

Lieut.  George  Worthen  and  Ezra  Worthen  attended  the  con- 
vention at  Concord  to  regulate  the  prices  this  year. 

Jacob  Merrill  and  Mr.  Robinson  were  school-masters. 

1780. 

Ezra  Jewell  was  chosen  constable  this  year  and  allowed  six 
pence  on  the  pound  for  collecting. 

The  committee  of  safety  was  still  continued,  and  consisted  of 
Ezra  Jewell,  David  Blaisdell,  Enoch  Rogers,  Stephen  Kelley  and 
Robert  Rogers.  This  committee  have  had  large  powers  during 
the  war  and,  no  doubt,  rendered  valuable  service  to  the  town. 

The  depreciation  of  paper  money  is  well  shown  by  the  fol- 
lowing vote:  "Voted  Enoch  Rogers  nine  pounds,  ten  shillings 
a  week  for  keeping  Widow  Hookley." 

May  4th.  A  meeting  was  called  to  consider  the  new  Form 
of  Government  and  the  following  vote  was  passed  :  "  Voted  to 
choose  a  committee  to  peruse  the  form  of  Goverc  for  amend- 
ment and  report  at  the  adjournment  of  this  meeting."  Five 
persons  were  chosen  for  the  purpose,  viz.  :  Col.  Jonathan 
Bagley,  Simeon  Bartlett,  Christopher  Sargent,  Timothy  Barnard 
and  Willis  Patten.  This  was  an  able  orthodox  committee,  and 
it  is  pretty  certain  that  no  part  of  the  Form  of  Government 
escaped  a  critical  examination. 

May  2 2d.  We  find  no  report  of  the  foregoing  committee, 
but  the  matter  was  referred  to  an  adjournment  of  this  meeting 
to  be  held  on  the  29th  instant.  At  the  adjournment,  the  third 
article  of  the  Bill  of  Rights  was  rejected  by  thirteen  yeas  to  four- 
teen nays.  The  remainder  was  approved  by  eight  yeas  to  two 
nays.  36 


282  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

The  vote  on  the  adoption  of  the  Form  of  Government  stood 
twenty-one  yeas  to  nineteen  nays.  So  it  seems  that  Amesbury 
people  were  not  much  pleased  with  the  new  government, 
especially  the  third  article  of  Rights,  which  allowed  "every 
denomination  of  Christians,  demeaning  themselves  peaceably, 
and  as  good  subjects  of  the  Commonwealth  protection  under 
the  law."  Although  for  nearly  a  century  the  town  had  been 
obliged  to  tolerate  other  denominations,  yet  it  was  never  allowed 
willingly  or  deemed  necessary  for  the  public  good.  This  new- 
move  was  hardly  in  accordance  with  public  feeling. 

June  12th.  A  town  meeting  was  held  to  take  measures  to 
raise  the  men  called  for  as  soldiers  for  the  army.  The  com- 
mittee of  safety  and  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  hire  the 
men,  and  the  meeting  was  adjourned  for  one  week. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  a  committee  was  appointed  to  hire 
all  the  men  called  for  during  the  year. 

July  24th.  A  meeting  was  held  to  raise  money  for  town 
expenses. 

"Voted  to  raise  the  sum  of  forty  eight  thousand  four  hund- 
red pounds  by  a  tax  on  the  polls  and  estates  for  the  use  of 
the  town."  This  large  sum  really  amounted  to  but  little,  owing 
to  the  depreciation  of  the  paper  money. 

Sept.  4th.  At  the  state  election  to-day  only  twenty-one  votes 
were  cast  for  governor,  of  which  number  John  Hancock,  Esq., 
had  fifteen. 

The  General  Court  called  upon  the  town  for  ten  thousand 
three  hundred  and  seventy  pounds  of  beef  forthwith. 

Oct.  10th.  A  meeting  was  called  to  see  how  the  beef  should 
be  procured  and  to  choose  a  representative  under  the  new 
government. 

At  this  meeting  Ezra  Jewell  and  Seth  Kendrick  were  chosen 
to  procure  the  beef  "as  cheap  as  they  can."  Mr.  Kendrick 
was  a  butcher  at  the  Landing. 

"At  the  same  meeting  voted  to  raise  ^16,000  to  buy  the 
said  beef  and  also  voted  to  make  the  rate  by  the  old  tenor." 

Col.  Jonathan  Bagley  was  chosen  representative. 

Dec.   28th.     A   town    meeting    was    held    at    the    Sandy  Hill 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  283 

meeting  house,  but  "  voted  to  adjourn  the  present  meeting  at 
Widow  Esther  Colby's  Innholder  immediately."  It  was,  no 
doubt,  a  cold .  day,  and  having  no  means  of  warming  the  large 
meeting  house,  it  was  thought  best  to  adjourn  to  more  comfort- 
able quarters.  When  they  had  again  assembled,  it  was  "Voted 
to  raise  the  sum  of  forty  eight  thousand  four  hundred  pounds 
by  a  tax  on  the  polls  and  estates  within  this  town  a  sum  suffi- 
cient to  purchase  199 12  lbs  of  beef  called  for  for  the  use  of  the 
army  to  be  drawn  out  of  said  ^48,400  the  remainder  to  defray 
the  charges  of  the  town." 

"At  the  same  meeting  voted  to  raise  two  thousand  pounds 
in  hard  money  or  paper  money  equivalent  to  hire  the  men 
called  for."  Twenty-one  men  had  just  been  called  for  to  serve 
three  years  or  during  the  war.  This  vote  was  subsequently 
reconsidered  and  the  matter  left  to  the  selectmen  to  hire  the 
money. 

This  money  was  hired  of  townsmen  mostly,  and  on  the  list 
are  the  names  of  several  women  who  loaned  money  to  the 
town  for  war  purposes,  viz.  :  Rebecca  Kelley,  ^75  ;  Widow 
Hannah  Kelley,  ^128;  Widow  Tabitha  Barnard,  ^280.  The 
noble  wives  and  mothers  of  those  days  were  devotedly  patriotic 
and  contributed  in  every  possible  way  to  the  support  of  the 
cause  and  the  comfort  of  the  poorly  paid  soldiers. 

Col.  Jonathan  Bagley  died  December  28th.  He  was  one  of 
Amesbury's  most  prominent  men  and  had  been  of  great  service 
during  the  war  in  obtaining  men  for  the  army.  His  first  appear- 
ance in  public  affairs  was  as  a  juryman  in  1 740,  but  his  prog- 
ress was  rapid,  for  in  1 743  we  find  him  chairman  of  the  select- 
men. In  1758  he  was  elected  representative  and  eleven  times 
afterward.  There  was  hardly  an  office  which  he  did  not  fill 
and  that  very  credibly.  He  was  in  the  old  French  war  and 
was  quite  a  military  man.  At  his  death  he  was  a  large  land- 
holder and  gave  away  in  his  will  nearly  a  thousand  acres. 
He  owned  the  farm  at  the  Pond  hills,  where  his  father,  Orlando 
Bagley,  the  clerk,  lived,  and  gave  it  to  his  son,  Orlando  Bag- 
ley,  who  held  it  until  his  death.  He  was,  probably,  a  great 
grandson    of   Orlando    Bagley,  who  came  with  the  first  eighteen 


284  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

in  1654,  and  signed  the  first  record  book  with  them.  He 
lived  at  the  Ferry  in  the  house  near  Bailey's  wharf,  having 
about  half  an  acre  of  land  under  and  about  his  buildings. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  General  Court  while  the  new  gov- 
ernment was  being  formed,  and  was  again  elected  in  Octo- 
ber as  first  representative  under  that  government.  His  age  was 
sixty-three  years,  nine  months,  five  days. 

Lieut.  John  Barnard  attended  the  constitutional  convention 
and  received  the  following  order  : — 

"  feb  18  ordered  to  Lt  John  Barnard  for  horse  hire  and  for 
his  time  and  expense  in  attending  the  Convention  at  Cam- 
bridge and  Boston  upon  the  form  of  government  and  for  100 
of  three  inch  plank  for  a  bridge  ^357 — 14—0." 

This  was  a  year  of  discouragement  to  the  American  cause. 
Scarcity  of  provisions,  worthlessness  of  paper  money  and  very 
general  defeat  by  the  Colonial  forces  cast  a  gloom  over  the 
whole  land.  The  south  was  overrun  by  the  enemy  and,  to 
crown  all,  Arnold  came  near  delivering  West  Point,  the  only 
strong  place  of  connection  between  New  England  and  the  Mid- 
dle States,  to  the  British  at  New  York.  The  government  had 
no  means  of  feeding  the  army  and  was  obliged  to  call  on  the 
towns  for  large  quantities  of  beef,  and  the  amount  furnished 
this  year  by  Amesbury  amounted  to  thirty-three  oxen  weigh- 
ing nine  hundred  pounds  each,  not  a  very  small  tax  on  this 
little  town.  In  addition  heavy  taxes  were  levied,  amounting  to 
^112,800  in    bills  and  $2000  in  hard  money  or  its  equivalent. 

The  winter  of  1 780  is  said  to  have  been  unusually  severe,  no 
perceptible  thaw  being  seen  for  forty  days,  and  most  of  this 
time  was  in  March.  The  snow  was  very  deep  and  hard,  so 
that  loaded  teams  could  pass  over  the  fences  in  any  direction. 

May  19th.  The  celebrated  "dark  day,"  which  old  people 
have  told  us  of,  has  been  described  by  Bishop  Edwards  as  fol- 
lows : — 

"On  the  morning  of  the  19th  the  sun  was  visible  for  a  short 
time  very  early,  but  was  soon  over  cast,  and  very  black  clouds 
were  seen  to  rise  suddenly  and  very  fast  from  the  West,  the 
wind  what  there  was  of  it  at  South  West.     The  aforementioned 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  285 

clouds  mixing  with  the  vast  quantities  of  smoke,  occasioned  by 
a  general  burning  of  the  woods,  caused,  in  the  opinion  of  many 
this  unusual  alarming  darkness,  which  began  twenty  minutes 
before  eleven  O.  clock  a.  m.  and  lasted  the  whole  day,  tho'  not 
equally  dark  the  whole   time. 

At  Falmoth  Casco  bay  it  was  not  dark  at  all.  I  hear  of 
darkness  as  far  as  Danbury  in  Connecticut." 

Joshua  Coffin  says  :  "  In  the  memoirs  of  the  American  Acad- 
emy I  find  the  following":  "Candles  were  lighted  up  in  the 
houses,  the  birds  having  sung  their  evening  song  disappeared 
and  became  silent,  the  fowls  retired  to  roost,  the  cocks  were 
crowing  all  around,  as  at  break  of  day,  objects  could  not  be 
distinguished  but  a  very  little  distance  and  everything  bore  the 
appearance  of  gloom  and  night." 

Nov.  1 8th.  There  was  said  to  have  been  an  earthquake 
near  midnight. 

1781. 

The  committee  of  safety  were  Dr.  Aaron  Sawyer,  Stephen 
Blasdell,  Orlando  Sargent,  Marchant  Cleaves  and  Maj.  William 
Hudson  Ballard. 

The  town  "Voted  to  give  Timothy  Hoyt,  jr.,  six  hundred 
pounds  as  a  gratuity  for  his  being  a  prisoner  in  the  year  1779." 

"Voted,  also,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  ordered 
that  they  keep  a  fair  account  of  their  time  and  expense  in  the 
service  of  the  town  and  at  the  close  of  the  year  lay  the  same 
before  the  town  for  their  allowance  together  with  the  accounts 
of  the  several  other  expenditures  before  they  draw  any  orders  on 
the  Collector  in  their  own  favor."  This  seems  to  be  ordering  a 
town  report,  which  custom  has  since  prevailed. 

"Voted  to  give  Daniel  Chase  jr  50  dollars  per  week  for  keep- 
ing Lydia  Ordway  until  May  Meeting."  This  vote  shows  the 
value  of  Continental  money  at  this  time. 

Jan.  nth.  A  town  meeting  was  held,  at  which  the  vote  of 
last  December  was  so  far  reconsidered  as  to  order  the  select- 
men to  procure  the  twenty-one  men  called  for  on  the  best 
terms  "they  can."  Two  thousand  dollars  in  hard  money  were 
voted,  but  it  would  have  been  very  difficult,  if  possible,  to  col- 
lect a  tax  in  hard  money,  and  hence  the  change. 


286  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

"At  the  same  meeting  voted  that  a  number  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  town  may  have  liberty  to  build  a  School  house  where 
Doctor  Ordway's  Bake  house  formerly  stood  on  their  own  cost 
for  the  benefit  of  the  town." 

An  effort  was  made  at  this  meeting  to  find  out  the  indebted- 
ness of  the  town,  the  whole  expenditure  since  the  beginning  of 
the  war  and  a  proper  account  taken  of  their  depreciated  value. 
Capt.  William  Bayley,  Enoch  Rogers  and  Mr.  Samuel  Ordway 
were  chosen  a  committee  for  that  purpose. 

May  1 6th.  A  meeting  was  held  and  a  committee  chosen  "to 
look  over  the  Selectmen's  account  for  the  year  1780  for  their 
services  and  make  report  to  the  town  at  the  next  meeting;" 
and  also  a  committee  was  chosen  "to  look  over  Josiah  Sar- 
gent's account  for  boarding  the  School  Master  and  also  on 
account  of  his  being  rated  for  Jacob  Hoyt  after  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  old  and  make  report  at  next  meeting."  This  seems 
to  have  been  an  age  of  investigation,  somewhat  resembling  the 
present. 

At  the  state  election  April  2d,  the  whole  number  of  votes 
cast  for  governor  was  thirteen  and  for  senators  ten. 

June  28th.  A  meeting  was  held  to  take  measures  to  hire 
the  three  men  called  for  to  serve  in  Rhode  Island  for  five 
months,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  procure  the  men  at 
the  town's  cost.  The  selectmen  were  instructed  to  assess  the 
sum  of  nine  hundred  and  twenty-four  pounds  in  hard  money. 

July  10th.  Another  meeting  was  held  and  further  measures 
taken  to  obtain  the  men,  and  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to 
borrow  the  money.  Deacon  John  Hoyt  and  Ezra  Jewell  were 
chosen  to  purchase  the  beef  called  for,  and  then  the  meeting 
was  adjourned  to  the   17th  inst. 

July  17th.  "Voted  to  allow  Mr.  Jewell  the  630  dollars  that 
was  counterfeited  of  the  money  that  was  sent  to  pay  for  the 
beef,"  and  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  August   2d. 

Aug.  2d.  At  this  meeting  it  was  "Voted  that  the  Constables 
be  ordered  to  collect  immediately  the  one  half  the  town  rate 
committed  to  them  in  hard  money." 

"Voted,  also,  the  Committee  appointed    to  purchase  the  beef 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  287 

be  impowered  to  give    notes    in    behalf   of  the    town    for    hard 
money  to  those  persons  willing  to  spare  the  beef." 

It  was  a  trying  time  :  people  had  lost  all  confidence  in  paper 
money ;  it  had  depreciated  to  almost  nothing  and  was  counter- 
feited even  at  that,  and  neither  men  nor  beef  could  be  obtained 
for  it.  Farmers  had  rather  keep  their  oxen,  and  soldiers  were 
not  inclined  to  serve  for  nothing  and  starve  their  families.  To 
obtain  hard  money  was  a  difficult  thing,  as  there  really  was  but 
little  in  the  state,  and  those  possessing  it  were  not  inclined  to 
part  lightly  with  it,  and  hence  the  necessity  of  giving  notes 
payable  in  hard  money  at  some  future  time. 

Aug.  2 1  st.  A  meeting  was  held  and  Capt.  William  Bayley 
was  chosen  moderator.  Measures  were  taken  to  raise  the  three 
three-months  men  now  called  for,  and  it  was  "  Voted  that  the 
committee  appointed  to  hire  the  three  months  men  proceed  to 
hire  them  on  the  same  terms  that  those  have  been  already 
hired  viz,  ten  hard  dollars  bounty  and  twenty  bushels  of  corn 
per  month  for  each  man."  No  laborer  at  home  could  earn 
such  pay ;  but  the  cause  was  at  this  time  in  a  critical  condi- 
tion, much  more  so  than  two  months  later,  when  Cornwallis  had 
been  compelled  to  surrender  to  Gen.  Washington,  amid  the 
universal  rejoicing  of  the  people.  The  war  was  considered 
virtually  closed  and  the  hopes  of  the  people  were  greatly 
revived. 

Since  the  settlement  of  the  town  the  population  of  the  various 
localities  has  been  continually  changing.  At  first  nearly  all  the 
settlers  were  near  the  Powow  river  ;  a  little  later  the  mill  had 
gathered  a  little  village  at  the  falls  ;  later  still  fishing  and  ship- 
building built  up  quite  a  village  at  the  Ferry ;  and  again  the 
establishment  of  factories  suddenly  called  a  village  into  existence 
at  the  mills.  While  these  changes  were  going  on  at  the  east 
end  of  the  town,  the  west  end  had  been  steadily  gaining  in 
population  and  wealth,  numbering  among  its  people  some  of  the 
most  talented  and  enterprising  citizens.  The  Pond-hills  even  had 
in  some  portion  of  the  early  history  of  the  town  a  much  larger 
population  than  at  present,  as  the  following  document  will  show  : 

"Sir  Whereas  By  a  Recommendation  of  the   Provencial   Con- 


288  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

gress  in  the  year  1774  Did  form  a  Company  of  Mallitia  in  that 
part  of  Amesbury  called  the  pond  hills  to  come  so  far  east  as 
that  Brook  called  the  Great  Swamp  Brook  and  Did  appoint 
officers  in  said  Company  and  actually  march  several  times  for 
the  relief  of  the  State  when  attacked  and  as  your  Company  has 
been  omitted  in  the  Notification  to  meet  and  appoint  your  offi- 
cers— this  Day  we  Desire  that  you  would  meet  at  some  conve- 
nient place  to  morrow  to  appoint  officers  according  to  the  New 
Mallitia  Law. 

Amesbury  April    25th   1781 

Capt.  John   Currier. 

Obadiah    Colby,        ~\    Selectmen 


Orlando  Sargent, 

Wm.  H.  Ballard,      i  ^ 

Marcheant  Cleaves.  J     Committee." 

So  the  Company  organized  by  Capt.  Currier  as  minute  men 
in  1774  or  5  is  yet  to  be  preserved,  and  it  ought  to  be  for  its 
prompt  defence  of  the    "  State  when  attacked." 

1782. 

At  the  annual  meeting  it  was  "  voted  to  put  in  a  ferry  boat 
at  Amesbury  Ferry  and  to  agree  with  some  person  to  tend  it." 
A  committee  was  chosen  to  purchase  a  boat  and  procure  a 
person  to  tend  it  and  report  to  the  town.  William  Hudson  Bal- 
lard was  engaged  to  furnish  boat  and  tend  the  ferry  for  a  rea- 
sonable compensation. 

At  a.  later  meeting  a  committee  was  chosen  to  collect  all 
the  papers  relating  to  the  original  grant  and  lay  them  before 
learned  Counsel  to  see  if  the  ferry  belonged  to  the  town.  This 
ferry  has  occasioned  a  good  deal  of  trouble ;  it  was  in  law  for 
many  years  previous  to  1766,  and  now  the  question  comes  up 
again  for  settlement.  The  original  grant  was  rather  indefinite, 
some  of  the  "  inhabitants"  petitioning  and  not  the  town  author- 
ities. Under  these  circumstances  the  obstinate  Capt.  Hook 
being  appointed  to  tend  it,  refused  to  give  it  up,  contending 
that  the  town  had  nothing  to  do  with  it. 

The  grant  left  it  with  "ye  County  Court  to  appoint  both  ye 
person  y{  is  to  keep  it  and  also   to  appoint  the  price."     And  now 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  289 

the    town    puts    on    a    man   and   boat   and    agrees    to  save  him 
harmless  in  case  of  a  law-suit. 

Another  call  is  made  upon  the  town  for  soldiers  and  the 
committee  of  safety  was  instructed  to  assist  the  selectmen  in 
classing  the  town  preparatory  to  a  draft  in  case  it  should  be 
found  necessary. 

x\t  the  state  election  in  April,  Ezra  Orne,  Esq.  received  sixteen 
votes  for  Governor,  and  the  Senators  one  vote  each.  Not  very 
popular  candidates. 

The  following  document  in  the  clerk's  office  shows  several 
items  of  interest : 

"  East  End  Estates,  ,£43,859 — 3  s — o  d 

West  End  Estates,  42,470 — 8  —  o 


Total  of  Estates,  ,£86,329 — 11  s — od 

East  End  No.  Polls,  231  1-2 

West  End  No.  Polls,  163  1-2 


Total  polls,  395 

to  be  raised. 
934—3—4 

395  Polls  att  £0 — 16  s — 8d  pr  Poll  is  329 — 3 — 4 


605 — o — o 

Remains  to  be  paid  ,£605  upon  ,£86,329 — 11 — o" 

The  difference  in  valuation  was  far  less  in  1782  than  a  cen- 
tury later  between  the  East  and  West  parishes. 

May  1 6th.  A  town  meeting  was  held.  At  the  meeting  it  was 
"  voted  to  choose  a  Committee  to  settle  with  all  the  Selectmen 
and  beef  Committee  that  have  served  since  the  present  war  and 
to  see  what  is  become  of  the  town's  steel  and  guns." 

July  2 2d.  A  town  meeting  was  called  to  day  in  answer  to  the 
urgent  demand  from  the  State  for  money  forthwith,  and  it  was 
"  voted  that  the  Selectmen  collect  as  much  money  as  they  can 
and  so  dismist  the  meeting."  The  demands  for  money  came 
thick  and  fast,  and  the  impossibility  of  meeting  them  was  appar- 
ent to  all,  and  under  such  circumstances  the  people  were  will- 
ing to  trust  the    matter  to    their    Selectmen. 

37 


29O  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

Early  in  the  year  the  town's  representative  was  instructed  to 
use  his  influence  in  the  General  Court  for  an  application  to 
Congress  that  in  any  negotiations  with  Great  Britain  for  peace, 
the  right  to  fish  to  be  an  indispensable  article  in  the  treaty. 

During  the  early  days  of  the  town,  and  even  to  a  later  date, 
the  fishing  was  an  important  branch  of  business,  furnishing  a 
large  amount  of  provisions  for  consumption  and  exportation,  and 
many  vessels  were  owned  in  town  which  were  sent  to  the  east- 
ward on  fishing  voyages.  At  the  close  of  the  war  they  very 
naturally  looked  forward  to  the  time  when  a  large  fleet  would 
be  employed  in  the  fisheries,  and  were  careful  to  see  that  their 
rights  were  secured  in  that  respect. 

1783. 

A  meeting  was  held  January  2  2d  to  see  if  the  town  would 
raise  any  money  for  town  expenses,  and  it  was  "  Voted  not  to  raise 
any  money."  It  was  very  hard  times  and,  although  the  town 
was  in  debt  and  needing  money  for  many  purposes,  yet  it  was 
almost  impossible  for  the  people  to  obtain  hard  money,  and 
there  is  little  wonder  that  they  were  disposed  to  put  off  all 
payments. 

The  selectmen  laid  their  accounts  before  the  town,  as  ordered, 
and  had  them  allowed.  For  their  services  they  received  :  "  Eph- 
raim  Weed  ^7  4  s — Enoch  Bagley  £6  1  s — Matthias  Hoyt 
^7  8  s  and  expense  and  paper." 

The  town  had  on  hand  at  this  time  two  law- suits  :  one  with 
Capt.  Timothy  Barnard  and  the  other  with  Jacob  Worthen. 
The  nature  of  these  suits  are  not  stated,  but  the  selectmen  were 
instructed  to  "defend  compromise  or  refer"  them  as  they 
thought  proper. 

At  the  April  meeting  the  vote  for  governor  stood  :  John  Han- 
cock, nine ;  Azor  Orne,  twelve ;  James  Bordwain,  five ;  Capt. 
William  Bayley,  two,  thus  making  twenty-eight  votes  cast.  The 
senatorial  vote  was  unanimous  at  seventeen.  There  were  not 
less  than  four  hundred  polls  in  town,  and  yet  but  a  very 
small  fraction  of  them  were  generally  present  at  town  meetings. 

During  the  progress  of  the  war  we  have  sometimes  found  a 
slight  opposition  manifested    at    town    meetings,  but    have  never 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  29  I 

attributed  It  to  toryism  or  want  of  patriotism  ;  even  on  the  1 3th 
of  March,  1775,  when  the  town  voted  not  to  raise  any  minute 
men,  the  act  of  adjourning  to  the  20th  inst.  shows  that  further 
time  was  needed  for  consideration  only.  If  there  was  a  particle 
of  doubt,  it  must  forever  be  dispelled  on  the  passage  of  the 
following  unanimous  vote  this  year  : — 

"Voted  that  this  town  will  at  all  times  as  they  have  done  to 
the  utmost  of  their  power  oppose  every  enemy  to  the  just 
rights  and  liberty  of  mankind  and  after  that  so  wicked  a  con- 
spiracy against  those  Rights  and  liberty  by  certain  Ingrates 
most  of  them  natives  of  States  and  who  have  been  refugees  and 
declared  Traitors  to  their  Country,  it  is  the  opinion  of  this 
town  that  they  ought  never  to  be  suffered  to  return  but  be 
excluded  from  having  lot  or  portion  among  us." 

Thus  boldly  spoke  Amesbury  concerning  tories.  Every  pos- 
sible exertion  had  been  made  during  the  almost  hopeless  strug- 
gle to  raise  men  to  fill  the  numerous  calls.  More  than  sixty- 
five  thousand  dollars  had  been  hired  to  pay  bounties  and  out- 
fits, and  very  large  indebtedness  had  been  incurred.  The  war 
now  being  ended,  it  was  proper  that  some  of  its  burdens  should 
be  borne  by  posterity,  for  they  were  to  reap  its  benefits. 

1784. 

The  price  fixed  for  labor  on  the  highway  was  "three  shillings 
per  day,"  and  ^60  were  raised  to  repair  the  highways.  A  com- 
mittee was  chosen  to  look  out  the  location  for  a  road  from  the 
Ferry  to  Clapboard  landing  at  South  Amesbury,  with  instructions 
to  report  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  and  then  made  the  following 
report : — ■ 

"Amesbury  March  18th  1784.  We  the  subscribers  being 
appointed  by  the  town  at  their  meeting  on  the  eighth  day 
of  this  instant  to  view  the  way  petitioned  for  by  Samuel  Fol- 
lingsbee  and  others  from  the  way  by  Elijah  Flanders  by  or  near 
Merrimack  River  to  the  way  near  Mr  Stephen  Patten's  on  to 
Clapboard  Landing,  Have  attended  said  service  and  are  of 
opinion  that  said  way  would  be  of  general  service  and  that  it 
would  accommodate  some  persons  very  much,  therefore  are  of 
opinion  that  if  said  way  can  be  opened  without  any  cost  to  the 


292  HISTORY     OK    AMESBURY. 

town  as  petitioned  for  are  of  opinion  that  the  prayer  of  said 
petition  should  be  granted  and  doubt  not  but  that  a  consider- 
able will  be  done  by  way  of  subscription  to  make  the  way  pass- 
able. Ens  Simeon  Bartlett, 

Maj  Barnard  Hoyt, 
Capt  John  Sawyer, 
Capt  Christopher  Sargent, 
Lieut  Ezra    Worthen." 

The  report  was  accepted. 

The  above  road  commenced  at  Elijah  Flanders'  house,  which 
adjoined  Eliphalet  Martin's  at  the  Ferry,  and  was  to  be  laid 
out  through  Pleasant  valley  to  South  Amesbury. 

April  5th.  A  meeting  was  held  and  the  petition  of  Joseph 
Wingate  and  others  for  a  highway  from  Moses  Sargent's  to 
Thomas  Rowell's,  Esq.,  without  any  cost  to  the  town,  was 
accepted ;  but  the  petitioners  were  required  to  lay  it  out  two 
rods  wide.  It  was  found  that  the  land  would  not  be  given  for 
the  River  road,  as  was  expected  by  the  committee,  and  an  arti- 
cle was  inserted  in  the  warrant  of  September  16th  to  see  if 
the  town  would  buy  the  land ;  but  no  vote  appears  to  have 
been  taken,  and  the  petition  was  presented  to  the  court  of  ses- 
sions for  a  committee  to  view  and  lay  out  the  way. 

Nov.  12th.  A  meeting  was  held  and  a  committee  chosen 
"to  attend  on"  the  court  committee  at  Stephen  Patten's  on 
the  30th  inst.,  but  no  instructions  were  given  and  it  does  not 
appear  whether  this  committee  were  to  oppose  or  approve  the 
plan. 

There  was  some  difficulty  between  the  town  and  Rev.  Thomas 
Hibbert  about  his  taxes,  which  he  was  compelled  to  pay,  he 
being,  as  he  saith,  a  Presbyterian  minister.  He  commenced  a 
suit  against  the  selectmen  for  the  recovery  of  the  tax,  and  the 
town  chose  a  committee  to  defend  the  same.  Mr.  Hibbert 
addressed  a  letter  to  the  selectmen,  to  be  communicated  to  the 
meeting,  of  which   the  following  is  an  extract : — 

"  And  on  the  other  'hand,  That  the  town  discharges  me  from 
all  obligation  to  pay  any  Town  Rate  or  Rates  after  that  to 
which  The    Lawsuit  refers  during  The  Time  I  shall  be  Minister 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  293 

in  the  Presbyterian  Society  to  which  I  belong.  If  the  town 
consents  to  the  above  proposal  I  hereby  unite  with  Them  and 
engage  to  let  drop  the  suit.  Amesbury  Nov  3,   1786." 

Mr.  Hibbert's  long-continued  intemperate  habits  had  finally 
occasioned  his  discharge  from  the  First  church,  but,  as  usual 
in  such  cases,  a  minority  adhered  to  its  former  pastor.  A  new 
society  was  organized,  a  new  meeting  house  built  and  Mr.  Hib- 
bert  installed  as  pastor.  Mr.  Hibbert  now  styles  himself  a 
Presbyterian  and  the  society  takes  that  name.  The  town,  how- 
ever, had  taxed  him,  and  it  was  to  get  rid  of  these  taxes  that 
the  suit  was  commenced. 

Previous  to  the  building  of  the  new  church,  "the  town  called 
a  .meeting  to  remonstrate  against  its  erection,  for  the  following 
reasons :  "Whereas  this  meeting  are  informed  that  Messers 
David  Tuxbury,  Thomas  Boardman  and  Joseph  Adams  all  of 
Salisbury  &  others  are  about  to  erect  a  house  for  public  Wor- 
ship in  this  town  and  as  the  Meeting  houses  are  sufficient  to 
accommodate  all  the  inhabitants  for  public  worship  therefore 
Voted  that  the  Selectmen  remonstrate  to  the  said  David  Tux- 
bury and  others  against  their  erecting  said  house  for  public 
worship  as  illegal  and  tending  to  disturb  the  peace  and  good 
order  of  the  regular  and  legal  religious  society  in  this  town  and 
as  we  apprehend  contrary  to  peace  of  the  Commonwealth." 

Whether  the  Commonwealth  was  in  peril  from  David  Tuxbury 
or  not,  the  contest  is  not  yet  settled,  for  Mr.  Hibbert's  friends 
are  determined,  and  we  shall  again  find  them  troubling  the 
town. 

Oct.  13th.  The  Rev.  Benjamin  Bell  was  ordained  as  pastor 
over  the  First  church  by  an  ecclesiastical  council. 

1785. 

At  the  annual  meeting  ^150  were  raised  to  repair  the  high- 
ways, and  3  s.  per  day  for  "man  and  ox"  were  allowed.  The 
selectmen  were  allowed  £6  each  for  their  services. 

The  question  of  making  the  Merrimac  river  the  dividing  line 
between  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire,  seems  to  have  been 
contemplated  and  the  town  "  voted  to  choose  a  Committee  to  Join 
with  Salisbury  and  the  other  towns  to  see  what  method  to  take 


294  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

to  be  set  off  to  the  State  of  New  Hampshire."  The  river 
would  form  a  very  natural  boundary  and  should  have  been  the 
original  line,  but  no  change  was  effected  by  this  effort. 

Early  in  the  year  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  "  Mrs. 
Widow  Easther  Colbys"  to  organize  the  militia  of  the  town  in 
the  East  parish.  It  was  decided  to  make  two  companies, 
divided  as  follows:  "All  south  of  the  country  road  to  the  par- 
ish line  from  widow  Esther  Colby's  to  belong  to  the  south 
company,  and  all  that  lies  on  each  side  of  the  country  road 
above  Mr.  Bell's  meeting  house,  including  the  families  of  Eph- 
raim  Weed  and  Isaac  Weed,  all  the  rest  of  the  parish  to  the 
north  of  said  country  road  belong  to  the  north  company." 

Samuel  Blaisdell  was  chosen  captain,  Nathaniel  White  first 
lieut.  and  Thomas  Worthen  second  lieut.  of  the  south  com- 
pany, but  they  resigning,  Nathaniel  White  was  chosen  captain, 
Samuel  Follansbee  first  lieut.  and  John  Blaisdell  second  lieut. 
John  Barnard  was  chosen  captain,  Ephraim  Weed  jr.  first  lieut. 
and  Isaac  Barnard  second  lieut.  of  the  north  company.  The 
companies  were  known  as  "  Mills"  and  "Ferry"  companies. 

April  4th.  At  Governor  meeting,  Hon.  Thomas  Gushing 
received  twelve  votes  for  Governor. 

April  1 3th.  Ice  in  the  Merrimac  strong  enough  for  crossing, 
and  on  the   16th,  snow  two  feet  deep  and  frozen  very  hard.* 

Moses  Chase  received  liberty  to  set  a  shop  on  the  town's 
land  at  the  Ferry,  by  keeping  the  bank  wall  in  repair. 

Elder  Moses  Chase  and  William  Bagley  were  this  year  returned 
to  the  Assessors  of  the  East  parish  as  "  Antipedo  Baptists  at 
Southampton,  N.  H." 

At  this  time  the  young  minister  Bell  was  very  popular  and  it 
was  thought  advisable  to  give  him  better  accommodations,  and 
a  lot  was  bought  opposite  the ,  store  of  the  late  William  Bart- 
lett,  and  the  erection  of  a  parish  house  and  barn  commenced. 
This  house,  which  many  well  remember,  and  which  is  yet  stand- 
ing, cost  the  parish  ,£236,  2  s.,  9  d.  The  barn  cost  ^"21, 
14  s.,  5  d.  They  were  not  completed  this  year,  but  were  so  far 
finished  as  to  be  occupied. 

The  lot  and  buildings  are  now  owned  by  Mr.  Daniel  Hunt- 
ington. *  David  Lowell's  Diary. 


HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY.  295 

A  new  meeting-house  was  built  this  year  at  Rocky  Hill  in 
Salisbury,  which  is  yet  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  as  will 
be  seen  by  the  engraving.  At  present  there  are  few  belonging 
to  the  society,  and  meetings  are  only  held  during  warm  weather. 


ROCKY    HILL    MEETING-HOUSE. 

1786. 

Rev.  Thomas  Hibbert's  proposition  for  the  abatement  of  his 
taxes  came  up  at  an  adjournment  of  the  annual  meeting,  and 
it  was  very  emphatically  settled   as  follows  : 

"  Voted  that  we  will  not  take  off  any  Rates  that  are  against 
him  said  Hibbard  or  shall  be  made  for  the  time  to  come." 

Mr.  Hibbert's  society  again  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  an 
act  of  incorporation  as  a  Presbyterian  society,  and  met  with  the 
same  determined  opposition  from  the  town  as  in  1 784.  A 
committee  was  chosen  consisting  of  Capt.  John  Barnard,  En- 
sign Simeon  Bartlett,  Lieut.  Willis  Patten,  Capt.  William  Bayley 
and    Capt.    Robert   Rogers    to    consider    the    matter    and    make 


296  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

report  to  the  town  at  an  adjourned  meeting.  This  was  a  strong 
committee,  and  their  report  was  well  drawn  and  presented  the 
strongest  points  of  objection  in  the  clearest  light.  The  report 
was  accepted,  but  its  length  must  exclude  it  from  this  work. 
It  set  forth  very  plainly  the  fact  that  the  two  parishes  had  in 
past  times  as  well  as  at  present  maintained  teachers  of  piety  and 
religion,  complying  with  every  obligation  of  duty  laid  upon 
them.  It  further  set  forth  the  sufferings  of  the  East  parish  in 
consequence  of  Mr.  Hibbert's  long  continued  habits  of  immor- 
ality, until  January  14th,  1783,  when,  as  many  times  before,  he 
became  guilty  of  "  gross  immorality"  and  the  people  were  com- 
pelled to  stand  up  for  their  rights  which  had  been  invaded  so 
long.  This  lengthy  and  able  report  was  forwarded  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court  by  Peleg  Challis,  the  representative. 

Specific  charges  were,  also,  made  and  sworn  to  and  the  whole 
matter  brought  before  the  Presbytery.  Mr.  Hibbert,  after  prom- 
ising to  acquit  the  parish  on  certain  conditions,  agreeing  not  to 
disturb  it  by  attempting  to  preach  in  the  meeting-house,  had, 
after  very  inconsistent  manceuvering,  utterly  failed  to  keep  his 
promise.  That  after  several  parish  meetings  it  was  found  that 
two  to  one  were  against  him,  and  yet  that  he  claimed  that  a 
majority  of  the  church  was  in  sympathy  with  him  and  that  he 
was  the  legal  pastor  still ;  but  that  he  knew  better,  and  an  eccle- 
siastical council  had  so  decided  against  him.  That  they  had 
settled  an  able  minister,  that  their  house  was  large  enough  to 
hold  all  the  people,  and  that  the  experiment  of  granting  every 
new  society  would  prove  a  very  dangerous  one,  dividing  the 
public  into  numerous  sects ;  that  there  would  have  been  no 
trouble  if  Salisbury  people  had  not  interfered  in  the  matter ; 
that  said  meeting-house  is  no  more  than  sixty-two  rods  from 
the  parish  meeting-house.  Various  other  objections  were  urged 
and  reasons  given  why  the  society  should  not  be  incorporated. 
It,  also,  sets  forth  that  a  remonstrance  was  made  by  the  town 
before  the  house  was  raised,  June  7th,   1784. 

The  house  was  built  on  Ferry  street,  between  the  house  of 
Daniel  Huntington  and  the  late  Ezekiel  Barnard's,  and  is  now 
occupied    by  Mr.   Huntington    for    a    barn.     It  is  a  hopper-roof 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


297 


building    and  was    moved    to    its    present    position   soon  after  it 
was  built.     It  was  commonly  known  at  the   time  as  the  "Still." 

Mr.  Hibbert  owned  the  farm  at  Whitehall  recently  known  as 
the  "Goodhue  farm,"  and  lived  there  until  his  death.  He  was 
an  able  preacher  and  sound  in  the  doctrine  of  those  times,  and 
but  for  his  habits  of  intemperance,  would  have  been  very  pop- 
ular. He  had  the  name  of  being  harsh  in  his  sermons,  denounc- 
ing the  use  of  spirituous  liquors  in  even  rash  terms ;  but  it  was 
under  the  influence  of  this  curse  that  he  did  so.  He  was  a 
man  of  strong  will,  but,  unlike  Rev.  Thomas  Wells,  he  was  not 
apt  to  control  it  properly.  His  bad  habit  made  him  oblivious 
to  promises  made  with  the  parish  in  good  faith.  The  last  of 
his  days  could  not  be  said  to  have  been  "his  best."  He 
owned  a  slave  by  the  name  of  "Scipio,"  who  was,  probably, 
very  black,  which  gave  rise  to  the  common  adage  :  "black  as 
Scip  Hibbert."  Scip  was  one  of  those  cunning,  sly  negroes, 
who  understood  perfectly  how  to  play  the  shirk  and  get  along 
easily.  Occasionally  he  was  intentionally  so  careless  that  his  mas- 
ter had  to  drive  him  out  of  the  field  for  cutting  up  corn  instead 
of  weeds. 

The  vote  for  governor  was  again  very  small,  John  Hancock 
receiving  nine  and  James  Badwine  eight  votes. 

There  seemed  to  be  strong  opposition  to  sending  a  represent- 
ative, and  it  had  to  be  decided  "by  drawing  out  of  the  meet- 
ing house." 

The  sum  of  ^200  was  raised  for  town  expenses,  and  3  s. 
were  allowed  for  labor  on  the  highways. 

The  proposition  to  build  an  almshouse  in  connection  with 
Salisbury  came  before  the  town  and  was  decided  in  the  affirm- 
ative. 

The  subject  of  a  union  workhouse  has  several  times  been 
before  the  town  and  always  approved,  but  other  towns  failed  to 
join  in  the  measure. 

A  family  of  negroes,  by  the  name  of  Mingo,  were  living  in 
town  at  this  time  and  needed  some  assistance.  The  town 
"Voted  that  the  Selectmen  put  out  the  on  Nigar  Boy  for  2  s., 
6  d.  a  week."     This  was,  probably,  one  of  the  family. 

38 


298  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

"  Voted  to  give  William  Barnard  six  shillings  a  week  to  keep 
negro  Fanny  before  she  is  sick  and  1 1  s.,  6  d.  per  week  for  4 
weeks  after  she  is  brought  a  bed." 

A  movement  was  made  in  1784  towards  opening  a  road 
along  the  river  side  from  Eliphalet  Martin's,  through  Pleasant 
valley  on  to  Clapboard  landing.  This  road  would  seem  indis- 
pensible  to  us  at  the  present  day,  but  not  so  to  many  people 
a  century  ago.  It  was  strongly  opposed  by  the  town,  and,  to 
defeat  the  measure,  a  town  meeting  was  held  June  26th,  when 
it  was  "Voted  that  the  town  will  show  cause  why  the  prayer 
of  the  petition  should  not  be  granted." 

It  was  thought  to  be  a  very  expensive  undertaking,  as  well 
as  difficult  to  make  a  road  along  those  precipitous  banks,  over 
creeks  and  marshes  for  several  miles,  and  a  majority  were  deter- 
mined to  stop  the  proceedings. 

A  committee  was  chosen,  consisting  of  Nehemiah  Davis. 
Capt.  John  Barnard,  Enoch  Rogers,  Capt.  Matthias  Hoyt  and 
Isaac  Merrill,  Esq.,  to  report  at  an  adjourned  meeting  the  rea- 
sons why  the  road  should  not  be  laid  out. 

The  report,  which  contained  but  few  sound  reasons  against 
the  road,  was  made  and  accepted.  The  first  reason  against  its 
being  built  was  the  inability  of  the  town  on  account  of  the 
large  town  debt.  This  was  the  best  and  only  reason  offered  by 
the  committee  which  could  have  weight. 

Second :  That  it  would  do  more  hurt  than  good  to  land- 
holders in  that  vicinity,  as  they  now  have  as  good  privileges  as 
the  town  in  general,  having  a  road  at  one  end  of  their  lots  and 
a  i-iver  at  the  other  end,  with  three  cross-roads  within  the 
length  of  the  proposed  road. 

Third  :  The  plea  that  it  was  needed  to  encourage  ship  build- 
ing was  fallacious,  for  there  was  no  need  of  more  ship-yards  or 
carpenters,  as  one-half  the  ship-yards  were  idle  at  present. 
That,  a  plan  which  had  been  made  of  the  old  road  from  Hav- 
hill  showed  that  this  road  was  but  thirty-three  rods  nearer  and. 
also,  that  the  main  road  was  a  mile  nearer  than  this  one  ;  that 
both  of  said  roads  were  open  and  in  good  repair. 

Fourth  :     That  the  way  will    require    many  expensive    bridges 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 


299 


and  the  low,  soft  land  must  be  raised,  requiring  bank  walls,  and 
the  steep  bluffs  will  wash  down,  filling  the  road  at  every  storm 
which,  with  the  causeways  needed,  will  swell  the  expense  to  a 
very  great  sum. 

Fifth  :  One  hundred  and  sixty  rods  of  interval  land  is  over- 
flowed in  the  Bradstreet  farm  occasionally,  and  must  be  raised 
and  stones  and  wood  must  be  brought  for  that  purpose  at  great 
expense. 

In  the  foregoing  I  have  given  the  substance  of  the  principal 
objections,  as  the  length  of  the  report  prevents  its  insertion 
entire. 

The  committee  took  the  worst  possible  view  of  the  route, 
as  the  facts  subsequently  showed.  Instead  of  crossing  the  inter- 
vale on  the  Bradstreet  farm,  it  was  located  on  the  high  ground 
where  it  was  easily  worked  without  stones  and  timber.  In  fact, 
many  difficult  points  were  shunned,  and  the  road  proved  less 
expensive  than  was  anticipated,  and  more  desirable. 

Aug.  26th.  A  town  meeting  was  held  and  Deacon  Orlando 
Sargent  was  engaged  to  keep  Fanny  Mingo's  son,  who  was 
about  five  years  old,  till  twenty-one  years  of  age  for  nine  pounds, 
and  the  boy  was  bound  to  him  by  the  town. 

Nov.  3d.  At  a  town  meeting  this  day  the  trouble  with  Mr. 
Hibbert  was  settled  by  his  abating  his  writ  and  the  town 
abating  his  unpaid  taxes. 

The  following  are  the  principal  supporters  of  Mr.  Hibbert 
under  the  name  of  Presbyterians,  viz.  :  Benjamin  Lurvey,  Wil- 
liam Lurvey,  Benjamin  Merrill,  Joseph  Hoyt,  Timothy  Currier, 
Barnard  Currier,  Enoch  Currier,  Daniel  Tuxbury,  Daniel  Quinby, 
Eliphalet  Lowell,  Timothy  Challis,  Ebenezer  True,  Oliver 
Titcomb,  Richard  Morrill,  Thomas  Moody,  David  Tuxbury, 
Isaac  Tuxbury,  Daniel  Wait,  Moses  Tuxbury  and  Marchant 
Cleaves. 

It  is  possible  that  some  of  Mr.  Hibbert's  followers  had  been 
induced  to  leave  the  old  society  in  consideration  of  his  preach- 
ing without  pay,  which  he  had  agreed  to  do.  It  was  known  as 
the  "Free  Society,"  which  feature  sustained  it  for  a  while.  The 
old  society  could  not  afford  to  lose  so  many  paying  members, 
and  this  fact  added  to  the  bitterness  of  the  contest. 


300  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

The  famous  Shay's  rebellion  happened  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  year  and  caused  great  excitement,  A  call  was  made  for 
soldiers  and  the  town  responded  by  enlisting  sixteen  men,  viz.  : 
Samuel  Merrill,  Samuel  Barnard,  Simeon  Bartlett,  jr.,  Ichabod 
Titcomb,  Thomas  Colby,  Samuel  Foot,  Barnard  Lowell,  John 
Colby,  Ephraim  Gale,  David  Currier,  Enoch  Bartlett,  Jacob 
Sargent,  Robert  Sargent,  Moses  Sargent,  Nathaniel  Proctor  and 
Jacob  Hoyt. 

In  a  petition  for  pay,  they  stated  that  they  had  a  hard  time 
by  reason  of  cold  and  night  marches.  It  was  in  winter  time 
and,  no  doubt,  they  spoke  the  truth. 

The  West  parish  refused  to  pay  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wingate  his 
salary  in  1784  and  he  commenced  a  suit  which  was  kept  in 
court  till  this  year,  when  he  obtained  judgment  and  an  execu- 
tion against  it. 

Mr.  Wingate  was  quite  aged,  having  preached  to  the  people 
for  fifty-eight  years,  only  four  years  less  than  Mr.  Well's  long 
pastorate  in  the  East  parish,  and  it  may  have  been  that  his  ser- 
vices were  not  as  acceptable  as  in  his  younger  days. 

A  petition  was  sent  to  the  General  Court  for  leave  to  sell 
the  parsonage  land,  and  a  resolve  was  passed  authorizing  the 
sale. 

The  pasture  land  near  Maj.  Barnard  Hoyt's  was  sold  to 
Thomas  Lanckester  for  ^27.  The  marsh  owned  with  the  East 
parish  was  sold  to  Deacon  Orlando  Sargent  for  ^15,  18  s.,  and 
the  "  acer  Peace  of  Marsh  to  Christopher  Sargent  for  £8,  8  s." 

It  was  decided  that  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  should 
be  laid  out  by  the  committee  "  for  the  School  House  Lote  so 
called  containing  about  eighteen  acers  to  be  kept  for  the  use  of 
the  Ministry  of  said  Parish  for  ever  hereafter  which  Land  cost 
the    sum    of   51 — 6 — o." 

The  parish  changed  their  minds  very  suddenly,  however, 
and  the  next  meeting  decided  to  sell  the  "School  house 
lot"  and,  also,  the  "small  pox  house"  which  they  owned, 
and  take  the  money  to  pay  Mr.  Wingate.  Deacon  Orlando 
Sargent  bought  the  pasture  for  ^51,  6  s.,  and  Robert  Hoyt 
the    "small   pox    house"    for  ,£13,    10  s. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  3OI 

1787. 

"Voted  that  the  Soldiers  which  have  been  in  the  service  the 
winter  past  shall  have  the  dollar  each  which  they  received  of 
the  Selectmen  as  a  bounty  from  the  town,  and  that  it  shall  not 
be  deducted  from  their  wages."  These  soldiers  had  been  called 
out  to  assist  in  quelling  the  Shay  rebellion.  The  condition  of  the 
country  at  this  time  was  anything  but  satisfactory,  and  the  rebell- 
ion simply  showed  the  ill  feeling  which  very  generally  prevailed. 
In  fact,  the  times  were  believed  to  be  so  critical  that  a  town 
meeting  was  called  for  the  purpose  of  instructing  the  represent- 
ative-elect, Mr.  Peleg  Challis  ;  and  Lieut.  Ezra  Worthen,  Doctor 
Aaron  Sawyer,  Moses  Chase,  Capt.  Benjamin  Lurvey  and  John 
Kelley  were  chosen  to  draft  the  instructions.  They  were 
reported  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  and  as  they  embody  a  large 
amount  of  practical,  common-sense  doctrine,  they  will  be  given 
entire  : — 

"  To  Mr  Peleg  Challis  Sir : 

You  being  chosen  to  represent  this  town  in  the  great  and 
General  Court  for  the  year  1787  and  as  the  said  court  is  to  be 
convened  and  held  at  Boston  on  the  31st  of  January  1787 
therefore  the  following  instructions  are  presented  to  you  from 
this  town  as  part  of  the  Rule  of  your  conduct  in  said  General 
Court  during  your  continuing  a  member  of  said  Court : — 

First :  You  are  not  to  act  nor  consent  to  anything  against 
the  present  constitution  as  we  look  upon  it  to  be  the  basis  or 
foundation  of  security  to  every  individual  for  life,  liberty,  pros- 
perity and  character. 

Secondly :  For  obvious  reasons  we  recommend  and  desire 
you  to  use  your  influence  to  have  the  General  Court  removed 
from  the  town  of  Boston. 

Thirdly  :  The  court  of  Common  Pleas  is  viewed  by  many  to 
be  rather  a  burden  than  a  public  benefit  therefore  we  desire 
you  to  use  your  influence  in  case  this  subject  should  come 
before  the  General  Court  to  have  them  set  aside. 

Fourthly:  Another  thing  calls  for  your  attention  that  is. the 
scarcity  of  cash  and  the  low  ebb  of  trade  and  the  want  of 
employment    for    Mechanics    of   almost    every    branch    and    the 


302  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

heavy  taxes  that  we  now  labor  under  are  grievous  and  burden- 
some, therefore  it  is  the  opinion  of  many  we  might  say  of  most 
all  that  the  Salaries  of  some  of  the  principal  Officers  of  Gov- 
ernment having  been  granted  at  a  time  when  the  circulation  of 
cash  was  vastly  greater  than  at  present,  therefore  they  now 
become  excessive  and  disproportionate  to  the  ability  of  the 
people  to  pay  therefore  we  think  ought  to  be  reduced  which 
we  think  may  be  done  without  infringing  on  the  Constitution 
by  voting  all  Government  salaries  on  the  last  sittings  of  the 
General  Court  for  the  next  insuing  year  therefore  you  are  to 
use  your  best  endeavors  to  have  them  salaries  voted  at  the  next 
sitting  of  the  General  Court  and  that  they  are  reduced  to  a 
reasonable  sum. 

Fifthly  :  And  we  could  wish  that  a  system  of  laws  might  be 
adopted  as  would  tend  to  diffuse  virtue  and  industry,  and  the 
cultivation  of  our  own  manufactures  of  every  kind  as  much  as 
possible,  as  we  conceive  that  this  is  the  only  means  of  extri- 
cating us  out  of  our  present  difficulty  and  embarrassed  situation. 

Sixthly :  In  the  present  dangerous  and  critical  situation  of 
affairs  we  feel  ourselves  under  the  most  sacred  obligations  of 
duty  to  enjoin  on  you  that  you  use  your  utmost  endeavor  that 
the  difficulties  that  has  arisen  in  this  State  may  and  that  if 
possible  brought  to  a  happy  conclusion  without  the  shedding  of 
blood  we  depricate  the  unhappy  situation  of  this  State  when  we 
find  many  of  our  fellow  citizens  in  arms  in  a  most  tumultuous 
manner  which  we  fear  may  be  our  ruin. 

Seventhly  :  We  apprehend  that  the  present  mode  of  appro- 
priating the  import  and  excise  is  not  the  most  eligible  but  was 
it  to  be  applied  towards  the  discharge  of  the  foreign  debt  it 
would  answer  a  much 'more  necessary  and  important  purpose. 

Eighthly  :  Another  thing  calls  for  your  attention  that  is  for 
you  to  use  your  influence  that  all  petitions  that  may  be  pre- 
sented or  brought  before  the  General  Court  may  be  duly 
attended  to. 

But  sir  we  relying  on  your  good  conduct  make  no  doubt  but 
that  you  will  pay  the  utmost  regard  to  these  our  desires  so  as 
may  lay  in  your  power  and  concest  with  the  spirit  of  the  con- 
stitution." 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  303 

April  2d.  Votes  for  Governor  as  follows  :  John  Hancock  45. 
James  Bowdoin  4. 

May  14th.  "  Voted  to  raise  two  hundred  pounds  to  defray 
the  charges  of-  the  town." 

"  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  sell  the  shovels,  Axes  and  Pick 
axes  at   the  best  advantage." 

"  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  look  up  the  town  guns  and  if 
any  person  refuse  to  deliver  them  up  when  called  for  to  pro- 
ceed to  prosecution." 

The  guns  were  lent  during  war  time^  to  those  who  had  none. 
Most  of  them  came  in  chests  from  France,  aud  were  distributed 
through  the  towns,  and  one  or  more  chests  were  had  and  dis- 
tributed in  Amesbury,  some  of  which  may  still  be  found  in  fam- 
ilies and  one  or  more  at  the  Natural  History  rooms  at  the 
Mills. 

Dec.  10th.  The  river  road  having  become  a  fixed  fact  the 
town  instructed  the  selectmen  to  settle  the  damages  for  land, 
but  they  were  unable  to  do  so  and  the  receipts  show  that  the 
Court  of  Sessions  made  the  award.  Congress  made  a  grant  for 
lights  on  Plum  Island  this  year. 

West  Parish.  A  new  meeting  house  has  been  built  this  or 
last  year,  as  we  find  on  the  parish  record,  "  Nov.  19  ordered 
to  Stephen  Clemens  for  making  provision  for  the  dedication  of 
the  Meeting  House  jQi — o — o." 

This  house  was  removed  after  the  new  church  was  built,  pro- 
bably about   1842   or   1848. 

1788. 

One  hundred  pounds  were  raised  for  repairs  of  highways, 
and  three  shillings  allowed  per  day  for  work. 

Three  hundred  pounds  were  raised  for  town  expenses. 

April  7th.  The  Governor  vote  was,  for  John  Hancock  32. 
for  Elbridge   Gerry  14. 

July  7th.  A  meeting  was  held  in  regard  to  a  new  valuation, 
and  the  selectmen  were  ordered  to  take  a  new  valuation,  and 
allowed  2  s.  6d.  per  day,  6  d.  less  than  for  work  on  the  road. 

Dec.  18.  This  is  a  noted  day  for  the  election  of  the  first 
President  of  the  United  States.     The  meeting  was  called  at  Mr. 


3°4 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 


Bell's  meeting-house,  but  before  proceeding  to  business  an  ad- 
journment was  ordered  to  widow  Esther  Colby's.  It  may  have 
been  a  cold  day  and  a  little  of  her  warm  flip  would  be  very 
acceptable  and  comforting.  The  few  in  attendance  thought  it 
advisable  to  adjourn  again,  and  this  time  to  meet  on  the  2 2d 
at  the  West  meeting  house.  Strange  as  it  may  seem  the  privi- 
lege of  voting  for  the  first  president  did  not  awaken  much 
enthusiasm,  and  the  meeting  was  again  adjourned  back  to  Mr. 
Bell's  meeting  house  on  the  23d.  With  all  this  accommodation 
the  two  electors  only  received  22  votes  each,  and  the  repre- 
sentative to  Congress  24. 

The  West  parish  meeting  house  dedicated  last  year  but  not 
wholly  completed,  was  painted  this  year,  and  it  required  33  2-3 
bushels  of  flax  seed  to  make  the  "  oyl."  Deacon  Orlando  Sar- 
gent and  Capt.  Robert  Rogers  made  the  oil  and  received^i,  4  s.  6  d. 
for  their  services.  At  this  time  there  were  oil  mills  in  town  and 
linseed  oil  was  made  at  home.  It  was  customary  for  every 
farmer  to  raise  flax,  and  few  if  any  neglected  to  do  so. 

1789. 

This  year  is  specially  noted  for  the  visit  of  President  Wash- 
ington to  Amesbury  while  on  his  northern  tour.  On  leaving 
Newburyport  he  passed  up  High  street  to  the  ancient  ferry  oppo- 
site Amesbury,  where  he  crossed  the  Merrimac,  landing  at  the 
foot  of  the  court  between  the  houses  of  Nathan  Nutter  and 
Jonathan  Morrill  (  the  latter  then  being  the  tavern  of  Ebenezer 
Pearson )  and  passed  up  to  the  main  street.  The  north  side 
of  the  street,  where  the  block  now  stands,  was  then  an  open 
field  and  was  lined  with  soldiers  to  receive  his  Excellency. 
According  to  tradition  there  was  a  foreign  vessel  lying  in  the 
stream  with  her  flag  floating  above  the  stars  and  stripes,  which 
was  noticed  by  Washington.  Numbers  immediately  rushed  to 
their  boats  and  in  a  few  moments  the  flag  was  hauled  to  the 
deck,  leaving  the  American  flag  above  all,  as  it  should  have 
been  at  first.  From  the  Ferry  he  crossed  the  Powow  river, 
passing  through  the  Point  to  Rocky  Hill,  where  several  com- 
panies of  soldiers  were  drawn  up  to  receive  him.  A  soldier 
who  stood  in  the  ranks  that    day  informed  me  "  that  he   passed 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  305 

through  the  soldiers  filed  on  either  side,  with  his  hat  in  his 
hand,  a  tall  noble  looking  man."  Many  of  the  soldiers  who 
had  served  under  him  were  living  at  this  time  and  were,  no 
doubt,  eager  to  see  this  great  chief.  Capt.  Currier,  who  dined 
with  him  at  Cambridge,  was,  no  doubt,  there  to  pay  his 
respects. 

On  the  3d  of  June  the  Rev.  Francis  Welch  was  ordained 
pastor  of  the  Second  church  in  Amesbury.  The  services  were 
conducted  as  follows  :  Prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Cummings  ;  sermon 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Merrill ;  second  prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Noyes ;  charge 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Webster ;  right  hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Adams ;  concluding  prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Peabody ;  benediction 
by  the  pastor. 

Since  the  termination  of  Mr.  Wingate's  pastorate  the  follow- 
ing ministers  supplied,  viz.  :  Messrs.  Noyes,  Bradford,  Allen, 
Parish,  Parker,  True,  Marsh,  Porter,  Wilder  and  Welch.  Mr. 
Welch  was  a  young  man,  being  only  twenty-three  years  old 
when  ordained  pastor  of  this  church. 

1790. 

The  town  voted  to  raise  ,£250  for  current  expenses  this 
year. 

Schools  were  provided  for  by  the  following  vote  : — 

"Voted  that  the  Selectmen  shall  procure  a  Reading  and  writ- 
ing school  as  the  law  directs." 

For  the  repairing  of  highways  it  was  "Voted  to  raise  a  tax 
of  one  shilling  and  six  pence  on  a  pole  and  the  estates  in 
proportion  as  other  town  taxes  is  made  to  repair  the  highways." 

The  selectmen  were  ordered  to  provide  timber  and  complete 
the  bridge  over  Goodwin's  creek  "  as  soon  as  may  be."  So  it 
would  seem  that  the  Pleasant  Valley  road  was  not  yet  passable, 
though  it  was  now  three  years  since  the  first  attempt  to  locate 
a  public  road  there.  There  ought  to  have  been  a  road  by  the 
river  side  a  century  before. 

Abraham  Morrison,  a  very  original  and  eccentric  person, 
applies  to  be  admitted  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends  at 
Amesbury,  but  is  not  at  present  successful.  He  lived  in  Salis- 
bury and  at  a  later  period  became  somewhat  noted  for  his 
oddities. 


306  HISTORY     OK     AMESBURY. 

1791. 

The  following  will  serve  to  show  the  interest  felt  in  elections 
at  this  time  :  — 

April  4th.  John  Hancock  received  thirty-five  votes  for  gov- 
ernor. 

Stephen  Choate  received  thirty  votes  for  county  treasurer. 

John  Pickering  received  twenty-nine  votes  for  register  of 
deeds. 

May  9th.  "Voted  to  raise  two  hundred  pounds  to  defray 
the  charges  this  present  year." 

"  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  impowered  to  let  out  the 
town's  ferry  that  is  kept  acrost  Merrimac  River  near  Sargent's 
Creek  so  called  for  a  term  of  time  as  they  shall  think  proper 
to  the  highest  bidder." 

"Voted  to  choose  a  committee  to  inspect  and  regulate  the 
Schools  in  the  town  of  Amesbury  this  present  year,  and  the 
following  persons  were  chosen  :  Rev.  Francis  Welch,  Capt. 
John  Barnard,  Capt.  Joseph  Hoyt,  Ens.  Simeon  Bartlett,  Eph- 
raim  Weed,  jr.  Willis  Patten,  Matthias    Hoyt  and  John  Kelley." 

During  the  latter  part  of  this  year  the  question  of  a  bridge 
across  the  Merrimac  was  agitated  and  the  town  called  a  meet- 
ing to  oppose  the  project.  A  committee  was  chosen  to  draw 
up  a  remonstrance  against  an  act  of  incorporation,  which  the 
representative  was  to  present.  Should  this  bridge  be  built,  it 
would  render  useless  the  ferry,  which  had  for  more  than  a  cen- 
tury been  the  general  resort  of  all,  and  about  which  Capt.  Hook 
gave  so  much  trouble  to  the  town. 

The  petition  for  leave  to  build  the  bridge  at  Deer  island  was 
from  Nathaniel  Carter  and  eight  others,  and  they  were  success- 
ful in  obtaining  a  charter. 

The  canal  across  the  meadows,  connecting  Black  Rock  creek 
and  a  creek  from  Hampton  river,  was  dug  this  year  and  is  one 
mile  and  a  quarter  long. 

1792. 

This  annual  meeting  voted  to  sell  the  collectorship  to  the 
lowest  bidder,  which  practice  has  occasionally  prevailed  in  later 
times. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  307 

rFhe  presidential  election  was  held  November  2d  and  only 
fourteen  votes  were  cast,  which  were  unanimous  for  George 
Washington.     It  was  a  very  small  vote  for  such  an  occasion. 

The  town  raised  ^"200  for  town  expenses  the  current  year. 

The  Essex  Merrimac  bridge,  chartered  last  year,  was  completed 
during  the  month  of  November.  Its  length  is  one  thousand 
and  thirty  feet  and  the  highest  arch  is  thirty- seven  feet  above 
high  water.  It  was  seven  months  in  building,  and  was  under 
the  superintendency  of  Timothy  Palmer. 

The  town  granted  Ebenezer  True  leave  to  set  up  a  mill  on 
the  stream  now  occupied  by  the  Merrimac  Hat  Company.  This 
grist  mill  was  standing  in  a  dilapidated  condition  as  late  as 
1825.  The  stones  were  brought  across  the  river  from  near 
Annis'  rocks,  where  a  mill  was  in  operation  some  years  previ- 
ous. 

1793. 

Two  hundred  pounds  were  raised  for  town  charges  the  pres- 
ent year. 

The  small-pox  made  its  appearance  again  in  town,  and  in 
October  a  meeting  was  held  and  measures  taken  to  build  a 
house  "to  receive  those  persons  in  that  shall  have  the  misfor- 
tune to  be  taken  with  the  small  pox."  The  matter  soon 
became  so  alarming  that  a  second  meeting  was  called  Novem- 
ber 15th,  when  it  was  decided  to  set  up  a  hospital  to  receive 
those  who  should  be  inoculated  for  the  small  pox,  provided  a 
suitable  place  could  be  found  which  would  not  damage  any 
one.  The  selectmen,  assisted  by  Capt.  Joseph  Hoyt,  Peleg 
Challis,  Deacon  Orlando  Sargent,  Christopher  Sargent  and  Capt. 
Robert  Rogers,  were  authorized  to  establish  rules  and  regula- 
tions in  regard  to  the  management  of  the  hospital. 

Various  petitions  for  roads  were  laid  before  the  town,  but 
none  were  granted,  with  the  exception  of  the  change  of  loca- 
tion at  or  near  John  Sawyer's,  jr.,  to  the  bank  of  the  river. 

Dec.  15th.  Rev.  Francis  Welch  died,  aged  twenty-eight 
years,  having  spent  about  four  years  in  the  ministry  at  the  West 
parish. 


308  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURV. 

1794. 

The  small-pox  still  prevailed  and  the  selectmen  took  the 
house  of  Elijah  Jones,  situated  on  the  east  side  of  the  Kimball 
road,  midway  between  the  houses  of  David  Currier  and  Moses 
Tuxbury  for  a  pest-house.  The  cellar  may  yet  be  seen  partially 
filled  with  small  stones.  A  few  years  later  the  house  was 
bought  by  the  late  Joseph  Merrill  and  removed  to  the  corner 
of  the  Martin  road,  where  George  W.  Bartlett  now  lives. 

Mr.  Hastings  then  lived  in  the  house  torn  down  a  few  years 
ago  by  David  Currier,  and  his  pasture  joined  Mr.  Jones'  land, 
so  that  he  was  sometimes  obliged  to  go  within  some  thirty  or 
forty  rods  of  the  pest-house  for  his  cows.  In  doing  this  he 
caught  the  disease  and  died  with  it. 

Oct.  13th.  A  town  meeting  was  held  to  make  provisions  for 
the  soldiers  whom  the  town  had  been  called  upon  to  furnish, 
and  who  were  liable  to  march  at  a  moment's  warning.  It  was 
decided  to  offer  a  bounty  of  12  s.,  and,  in  case  of  marching,  to 
make  up  their  pay  to  eight  dollars  per  month.  For  what  pur- 
pose these  soldiers  were  inlisted  does  not  fully  appear ;  but  the 
country  was  nearly  in  open  war  with  England  and  in  actual 
hostilities  with  the  western  Indians. 

The  Powow  river  bridge  was  in  need  of  repairs  and  a  com- 
mittee was  chosen  to  prepare  stones  for  its  re-building. 

Joseph  Wingate,  a  son  of  Rev.  Pain  Wingate,  was  this  year 
a  candidate  for  Congress,  receiving  most  of  the  votes  in  his 
native  town. 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Cleaveland  commenced  his  labors  in  the  East 
parish  in  the  early  part  of  this  year.  February  10th  he 
received  £6  for  preaching. 

William  Bayley  recorded  the  deed  of  the  Sandy  Hill  meeting- 
house lot,  which  was  executed  in   1757. 

AMESBURV    AND    SALISBURY    ARTILLERY    COMPANY. 

There  are  yet  many  living  who  remember  this  noted  com- 
pany, which  always  attracted  special  attention  on  muster  days. 
The  company  was  organized  this  year  by  order  of  the  com- 
mander-in-chief, dated  February  20th.  Major-General  Fish  was 
authorized    to    raise    one  other  company  of   artillery  in  the  sec- 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  309 

ond  brigade,  and,  on  die  20th  of  March,  the  officers  of  die 
new  company  were  commissioned  as  follows,  viz.  :  William  Lur- 
vey,  captain ;  Ephraim  Morrill,  first  lieutenant ;  James  Lowe, 
second  lieutenant.  Soon  after,  a  battalion  was  formed  includ- 
ing this  company,  and  Capt.  William  Cross,  of  the  Newbury- 
port  artillery,  was  elected  major  and  Jonathan  Webster,  of  Ames- 
bury,  was  appointed  adjutant.  The  uniform  adopted  was  blue, 
trimmed  and  faced  with  red,  and  further  ornamented  with  gilt 
buttons.  The  caps  were  bell-topped  and  glazed,  with  more  or 
less  trimming,  somewhat  according  to  rank,  surmounted  with  a 
fine  scarlet  plume.  In  1800  Capt.  Lurvey  was  elected  major. 
The  head-quarters  of  the  company  was  at  the  gun  house,  .near 
"Gun  House"  lane  at  Bartlett's  corner,  where  two  brass  field 
pieces  were  kept  ready  for  use  at  general  musters.  From  all 
sections  of  the  towns  came  these  showy  soldiers  on  muster  days, 
and  "  Bartlett's  Corner"  was  then  a  very  lively  place. 

1795. 

The  town  appropriated  .£250  for  the  repairing  of  highways 
and  agreed  to  allow  4  s.  per  day  for  men  and  the  same  for 
oxen. 

The  towns  of  Salisbury  and  Amesbury  were  ordered  to  re-build 
the  Powow  river  bridge,  and  Amesbury  voted  to  comply  with 
the  order. 

A  committee  was  chosen  to  view  the  burying  place  near 
David  Ring's,  and  to  see  if  it  would  be  convenient  to  exchange 
a  piece  with  Enoch  Rogers  and  accept  the  burying  place  as 
now  fenced  in.  This  was  the  cemetery  adjoining  the  late 
Mr.    Lunt's  on  the  plain. 

Capt.  Robert  Rogers  and  others  petitioned  the  town  to 
straighten  the  road  from  the  Hibbert  house  to  the  foot  of 
Straw  hill.  This  was  on  Whitehall  street,  commencing  near  the 
Goodhue  house,  running  south  to  the  low  ground.  The  old 
road  wound  around  to  the  westward  near  Mr.  Skinner's,  and 
over  the  hill  southerly  to  the  low  ground,  a  crooked  and  hilly 
route.  It  seems  that  the  hill  near  Joseph  Jewell's  was  form- 
erly called  "Stevens'  hill."  The  road  was  straightened  as  peti- 
tioned for. 


310  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

The  revised  constitution  of  Massachusetts  was  submitted  to 
the  town  May  6th  and  resulted  in  four  votes  in  favor  and  for- 
ty-seven against. 

Jan.  28th.  Rev.  David  Smith  was  this  day  ordained  pastor 
of  the  Second  church  in  Amesbury.  Dr.  Dana  preached  the 
sermon. 

There  was  a  tornado  in  March  which  did  considerable  dam- 
age in  various  places  and  unroofed  a  part  of  the  Sandy  Hill 
meeting-house.  We  take  the  following  from  the  East  parish 
collector  and  treasurer's  book  : — 

"March  25 — 1795.  paid  to  Joseph  Bartlett  $10  for  finding 
material  and  mending  the  Meeting  house  when  the  wind  did 
unroofe  part  of  said  house."  Also,  "paid  Benjamin  Swett  j£d— 
0-0  hired  of  him  to  pay  for  land  the  meeting  house  stands 
on."  Thirty-eight  years  ago  the  parish  bought  the  land,  but  it 
was  not  paid  for  till  this  year. 

1796. 

May  2d.  The  town  met  for  the  purpose  of  adopting  a 
memorial  to  Congress  in  regard  to  carrying  out  the  treaty  with 
Great  Britian  concerning  the  fisheries.  The  memorial  was 
approved  and  signed  by  one  hundred  and  thirty  persons  who 
were  present.  This  is  the  largest  number  on  record  at  a  town 
meeting.  There  has  always  been  a  great  deal  of  interest  shown 
in  the  fishing  business.  It  not  only  brought  gain  from  the  sale 
of  the  fish,  but  kept  the  carpenters  busy  in  the  ship-yards  along 
the  river.     It  was  an  important  branch  of  business. 

At  the  May  meeting  a  proposition  was  brought  before  the 
town  to  move  the  Mills  bridge  down  about  twenty  feet,  and  it 
was  approved  by  the  meeting,  provided  Salisbury  joined  in  the 
arrangement.  Jonathan  Osgood  and  David  Osgood  petitioned 
in  1753  for  leave  to  move  the  bridge  on  their  own  cost,  but 
the  town  would  not  consent.  Their  reason  for  the  change  was 
that  it  was  "difficult  to  pass  said  bridge  as  it  now  stands  with 
large  teams."  Forty-three  years  later  the  town  virtually  acknowl- 
edged that  the  Messrs.  Osgood  were  right. 

The  selectmen  were  ordered  to  apportion  the  school  money 
in  the  districts  according  to  the  tax  they  pay  after  the  new  val- 
uation is  taken,  which  was  ordered  at  the  annual  meeting. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  311 

At  the  election  for  governor,  Samuel  Adams  received  fifty-two 
votes  and  state  senators  thirty-six  votes  each,  except  Christopher 
Sargent,  who  had  but  thirty.  At  the  presidential  election  held 
November  7th,  the  whole  number  of  votes  cast  was  twenty- 
nine. 

David  Tuxbury  still  lives  and  comes  forward,  to  the  great 
annoyance  of  the  town,  with  his  favorite  idea  of  a  Presbyterian 
society.  He  had  forwarded  to  the  General  Court  a  petition  for 
an  act  of  incorporation,  and  an  order  of  notice  had  been  served 
on  the  town  to  show  cause  why  the  petition  should  not  be 
granted. 

The  town  "Voted  to  choose  a  Committee  to  give  their  rea- 
sons why  the  prayer  of  David  Tewksbury  and  others  should  not 
be  granted."  The  idea  of  dividing  the  people  into  so  many 
religious  societies  never  met  the  approval  of  the  early  settlers. 
The  town  is    now  supporting    thirteen    persons  at  an  expense 

of  $358-84- 

The  new  valuation  cost  the  town  $54. 

The  Ferry  people  were  this  year  somewhat  troubled  about 
building  a  new  school-house,  being  unable  for  some  time  to 
agree  how  or  what  should  be  done.  The  first  meeting  was 
called  May  6th  "to  agree  on  some  method  to  build  a  new 
school  house,"  and  resulted  in  an  adjournment  after  choosing  a 
moderator  and  clerk.  Another  meeting  was  warned  on  the  13th 
to  be  held  on  the  16th  inst.,  at  which  time  a  committee  was 
chosen,  with  Capt.  William  Lurvey  as  chairman,  to  advise  on  a 
plan.  The  committee  was  instructed  "to  inform  themselves  of 
the  expense  and  best  dimensions  either  for  a  brick  or  a  wooden 
one  and  inform  the  proprietors  at  an  adjournment  of  the  meet- 
ing," and  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the   20th  inst. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  it  was  voted  to  build,  and  then 
immediately  voted  to  do  nothing.  But,  presto  change.  "Then 
again  went  on  and  signed  for  shares  to  build  a  new  school 
house  and  ordered  the  committee  to  go  on  and  purchase  mate- 
rials and  workmen  to  build  sd  house."  "And  the  committee 
went  on  and  built  the  house  in  part,  according  to  the  dimen- 
sions agreed  on    by  the    District."     The  house  was  nearly  com- 


312  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

pleted  by  the  last  of  December,  and  on  the  26th  David  Lowell. 
Joseph  Morse  and  Benjamin  Swett  were  chosen  to  receive  the 
key  in  the  name  of  the  district.  The  amount  required  was 
^200,  and  this  was  divided  into  shares  of  £2  each,  making 
one  hundred  shares,  which  were  taken  up  by  subscription.  A 
committee  consisting  of  Nathan  Long,  William  Bagley  and 
James  Bailey  was  chosen  to  receive  the  school  money  from  the 
selectmen  and  to  hire  a  master.  At  an  adjourned  meeting  held 
January  2d,  1797,  the  committee  reported  that  they  had  hired 
Master  "Burrows"  to  keep  school  seven  months. 

"Mr.  Burrows  began  his  School  January  16th  1797  on  Mon- 
day The  First  School  that  was  Teached  in  this  house." 

"Mr  Burrows"  received  $18  per  month  for  his  services. 

1797. 

One  thousand  dollars  were  raised  for  town  charges  and  five 
hundred  for  the  repairing  of  highways. 

Thirty  votes  were  cast  at  the  election  for  governor. 

Aug.  4th.  Hon.  Bailey  Bartlett  received  seven  votes  for  rep- 
resentative to  Congress,  which  included  all  that  were  cast. 

The  town  voted  to  revise  the  school  districts,  and  the  select- 
men with  Capt.  John  Barnard  and  James  Bayley  were  appointed 
to  do  it. 

The  old  habit  of  selling  the  poor  was  still  practiced,  and  this 
year  they  were  "put  out  to  the  best  advantage,"  which  means 
the  cheapest,  if  not  the  best  place. 

A  brick  school-house  having  been  built  on  the  town's  land 
at  the  Ferry,  the  annual  meeting  granted  a  piece  of  land  so 
long  as  the  house  remained  thereon. 

David  Tewksbury  again  comes  to  the  front  with  his  favor- 
ite society,'  and  the  representative  is  instructed  to  oppose  the 
incorporation  of  the  new  society. 

1798. 

The  sum  of  $500  was  voted  for  the  repairing  of  highways, 
and  the  surveyors  were  to  allow  4  s.  per  day  for  each  man  or 
yoke  of  oxen. 

"Voted  To  lay  out  a  highway  from  the  Indian  Creek  to  the 
road    by  Mr    James    Bailey's    farm."    .This    road    started    at  the 


HISTORY     OF     AMESEURV.  313 

river  road  near  the  creek  now  owned  by  John  Huntington, 
just  west  of  his  mill  house  ( then  called,  as  from  the  first  set- 
tlement of  the  town,  Indian  creek )  and  northerly  to  the  old 
Hunt  road,  near  the  house  of  the  late  Jonathan  Morrill,  Esq.  It 
was  never  worked  and  remained  unopened  till  1828,  when  it 
was  discontinued  in  consequence  of  some  discussion  about 
obliging  the  town  to  open  it. 

April  2d.  At  the  state  election  to-day  seventy-five  votes  were 
cast  for  governor,  viz.  :  Increase  Sumner  twenty-three  and  James 
Sullivan  fifty-two. 

May  17th.  A  town  meeting  was  held  and  $900  were  raised 
to  defray  town  charges.  The  poor  were  again  to  be  put  out 
by  the  selectmen. 

June  nth.  At  the  meeting  this  day  it  was  "Voted  That  the 
Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  send  an  Address  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  to  let  him  know  the  towns  approba- 
tion of  the  measures  taken  by  our  Executive."  This  vote,  no 
doubt,  has  reference  to  the  course  taken  by  President  Adams 
in  regard  to  the  trouble  with  France,  which  came  near  involv- 
ing the  country  in  war. 

Nov.  5th.  A  meeting  was  held  for  the  choice  of  representa- 
tive to  Congress  and  Bailey  Bartlett  received  eleven  votes, 
Josiah  Smith  two,  Joseph  Wingate  three  and  Christopher  Sar- 
gent one. 

The  winter  of  1 797-1 798  was  very  severe,  commencing  early 
and  holding  till  late  in  the  spring.  The  river  was  frozen  over 
November  28th  and  the  ice  continued  above  the  Ferry  till 
March   29th,   1798. 

All  dogs  in  town  were  taxed  one  dollar  each  at  this  time. 

Joseph  Harvey  kept  school  at  the  Pond  hills  and  River,  Ben- 
jamin Guile  at  the  River  and  Sarah  Challis  at  the  Pond. 

Abraham  Morrison,  mentioned  in  1 790,  was  this  year  admitted 
into  the  Society  of  Friends. 

1799. 

Dec.  4th.  Ex- President  Washington  died  after  a  short  illness, 
mourned  by  the  whole  country. 

40 


314  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Cleaveland's  ministry  terminated  the  latter 
part  of  last  year  or  the  early  part  of  this. 

In  July  Rev.  Elias  Hull  received  $6  for  preaching  one  day. 
Rev.  Mr.  Tappan,  James  Thurston  of  Exeter,  N.  H.,  Nathan 
Tilton  and  Stephen  Hull  preached  during  the  season.  Stephen 
Hull  was  settled  in  the  course  of  the  year. 

Oct.  29th.  A  parish  meeting  was  held  and  it  was  decided 
to  repair  the  East  parish  meeting-house. 

1800. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  century  it  may  be  well  to  pause  and 
briefly  note  the  progress  made  during  the  last  hundred  years. 
One  hundred  and  forty-six  years  have  passed  since  the  famous 
Agreement  of  1654  was  signed,  and  many  and  great  have  been 
the  changes  during  that  long  period.  Within  the  last  century 
many  of  the  dangers  which  surrounded  our  ancestors  at  its 
beginning  have  disappeared,  and  many  difficulties,  deprivations 
and  hardships  attendant  on  pioneer  life  have  vanished  and 
peace  and  plenty  everywhere  prevails. 

The  revengeful  red  man  has  died  out  and  the  fear  of  the 
tomahawk  and  scalping  knife  no  longer  terrifies  the  peaceful 
inhabitants,  nor  are  they  compelled  to  flee  to  forts  and  garri- 
sons for  safety  and  protection.  Tradition  perpetuates  the  mem- 
ory of  their  atrocious  deeds  and  heartless  cruelties.  As 
mementos  of  that  "reign  of  terror"  we  have  numerous  stone 
implements  of  their  time  and,  also,  the  Indian  ground  at  the 
river,  where  they  loved  to  build  their  wigwams.  We  have  the 
"  Willows  "  near  Tappan  Emery's  :  their  famous  workshop,  where 
their  arrow  heads  were  made  and,  perhaps,  many  of  their  tools. 
Their  relics  and  traditions  linger,  but  the  race  has  gone  to  the 
"happy  hunting  ground"  and  no  one  mourns  their  departure. 

New  branches  of  business  are  becoming  prominent  and  will, 
eventually,  rank  as  the  leading  industries  of  the  town.  The 
steady  progress  of  the  last  century  has  accomplished  much, 
physically  and  morally,  but  only  the  initiatory  step  has  been 
taken,  leaving  much  for  the  present  century  to  complete.  Edu- 
cation has  been  established  upon  a  firm  basis,  being  provided 
for  among  the  annual  appropriations  of  the  town,  as  other  indi- 
spensable items. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


315 


The  wild,  rough  scenery  of  the  first  century  has  given  place 
to  cultivated  fields  and  cheerful  villages,  well-graded  highways 
have  taken  the  place  of  "  cart  paths  spotted  through  the 
woods,"  and  modern  machinery  is  beginning  to  supplant  the 
slow  hand  work  of  the  olden  time.  The  sons  may  now  reap 
the  benefit  of  the  institutions  which  their  fathers  founded,  and 
feel  thankful  that  they  are  surrounded  with  so  many  conven- 
iences and  comforts. 

Last  year  the  East  parish  decided  to  repair  the  meeting- 
house and  a  tax  of  $402.43  was  now  assessed  for  that  purpose 
and  committed  to  David  Weed  to  collect.  The  three  largest 
tax  payers  were  Capt.  Joseph  Hoyt,  $19.18;  Nathan  Long,  Esq., 
$19.04;  Capt.  John  Barnard,  $6.58.  Capt.  Hoyt's  tax  was 
more  than  treble  that  of  any  other,  excepting  Long  and  Barn- 
ard.    The  repairs  were  not  fully  completed  this  year. 

May  2 2d.  A  council  was  called  to  consider  the  expediency 
of  dismissing  Rev.  David  Smith,  pastor  of  the  Second  church, 
and  he  was  dismissed. 

Capt.  Eli  Gale  and  William  Goodrich  received  grants  of  land 
near  the    Ferry  school-house. 

Dr.  Elias  Weld  attended  the  town's  poor  in  the  West  parish 
this  year. 

Moses  Sawyer,  Richard  K.  Sawyer,  Benjamin  Guile  and  Enos 
George  were  appointed  as  teachers.  The  pay  was  small,  Rich- 
ard K.  Sawyer  receiving  but  $28  for  thirteen  'weeks  and  Moses 
Sawyer,  an  experienced  teacher,  but  $4  per  week. 

The  town  pound  was  re-built  and  Deacon  Orlando  Sargent 
received    $50    for    work    and    material. 

The  town  was  very  much  alarmed  at  the  appearance  of  the 
small-pox  in  the  early  part  of  the  year,  and  the  selectmen  took 
John  Welch's    house  for    a    pest-house,  paying  him  $8  therefor. 

"An  extensive  iron  factory  was  established  at  the  Mills  in 
1800,  where  one  thousand  tons  of  iron  have  been  wrought  in 
a  year."* 

About  this  time  the  carriage  business  was  started  at  West 
Amesbury    by   Michael    Emery    and    William    Little.     From  this 

*  Gazetteer  of  Massachusetts,  printed  in  1828. 


3 16  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

small  beginning  the  business  has  gradually  increased  till  Ames- 
bury  has  become  noted  the  world  over  for  its  carriages.  From 
Amesbury  and  Merrimac  carriages  are  shipped  to  California, 
South  America,  Australia  and  hundreds  of  other  places. 

Mr.  Emery  was  a  wood-worker  and  Mr.  Little  a  plater,  the 
former  living  at  South  Amesbury  and  the  latter  at  West  Ames- 
bury.  Mr.  Stephen  Bailey  was  the  trimmer.  The  several  parts 
were  made  in  different  shops  and  it  was  quite  a  task  to  get 
them  together  by  way  of  exchange.  In  fact,  it  was  a  slow 
process  to  complete  a  carriage.  It  is  believed  that  the  first 
carriage  was  built  at  West  Amesbury,  although  that  point  is  not 
fully  settled.  The  business  was  commenced  at  Newbury  a  few 
years  earlier  on  a  small  scale. 

1801. 

There  seems  to  have  been  two  parties  at  this  time,  as  on  the 
election  of  representative  we  find  Christopher  Sargent  receiving 
79  votes  and  John  Merrill  64.  At  the  Governor  meeting  Caleb 
Strong  received  67  votes  and  Elbridge  Gerry  56.  There  was 
evidently  some  excitement  in  politics. 

July  2d.  The  East  parish  held  a  meeting  and  voted  to  lay 
out  #400  on  the  meeting-house  in  conjunction  with  the  pew 
holders,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  ascertain  what  repairs 
were  needed.  No  doubt  work  had  commenced,  but  there  was 
a  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  extent  of  the  repairs.  This 
seemed  to  have  caused  most  of  the  trouble.  The  meeting 
was  adjourned  to  the  26th  inst.,  when  the  committee  were 
instructed  to  proceed  with  the  repairs,  and  the  Assessors 
instructed  to  pay  over  the  tax  to  the  committee.  At  a  further 
adjournment  it  was  decided  to  hire  the  money  and  the  com- 
mittee "  to  go  on  and  repair  the  meeting  house  as  fast  as  in 
their  judgment  may  be  thought  beneficial  to  the  parish." 

Sept.  9th.  A  warrant  was  issued  to  notify  the  parish  to  meet 
on  the  24th  inst.  "  to  see  the  minds  of  the  parish  concerning 
building  a  Cubaloe  or  spire  to  the  meeting  house." 

The  people  assembled  agreeable  to  call  and  "voted  that  the 
parish  approve  of  what  the  committee  has  done  in  building  the 
steeple,  and    they    proceed    to    build  a  spire  as  they  shall  think 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  317 

best,  ever  relying  on  the  judgment  of  the  committee,  therefore 
we  submit  the  whole  affair  to  them  wishing  them  to  proceed 
and  finish  the  meeting  house  as  soon  as  it  can  conveniently  be 
done." 

Eli  Gale,  Joseph  Bartlett  and  Joseph  Morse  were  the  com- 
mittee, and  they  took  the  liberty  to  build  a  spire  or  "  cubaloe" 
without  special  instructions  on  that  point.  The  puritanical 
spirit  of  the  times  was  opposed  to  all  ornamental  work,  and 
hence  the  opposition  in  this  matter.  But  the  committee  were 
fully  sustained,  and  their  work  approved  by  the  meeting,  which 
having  passed  a  vote  of  confidence,  bade  them  go  on  as  fast  as 
possible.  When  built  at  the  parsonage  in  1 7 15  it  was  a  plain 
building  without  porch  or  spire,  the  western  porch  being  added 
when  rebuilt  in  1761.  The  repairs  were  not  carried  forward 
very  rapidly  and  this  year  saw  but  a  small  part  of  the  work 
done. 

At  the  Mills  a  district  tax  was  assessed  to  raise  $249.52  to 
pay  for  a  school-house.  The  whole  number  of  persons  taxed 
was  sixty-two  and  the  heaviest  tax  payer  was  Capt.  John  Barn- 
ard. This  was  probably  the  old  brick  school-house  on  Friend 
street,  which  is  still  standing  near  its  first  location,  and  occupied 
as  a  dwelling  house. 

Capt.  John  Sawyer  of  the  West  parish  died  July  7th.  He 
was  a  prominent  man,  having  served  as  selectman  several  years 
and  in  various  other  offices. 

The  male  teachers  this  year  were  Moses  Atwood  at  the  Ferry, 
Moses  Sawyer  at  the  River.  Josiah  Palmer  at  the  Mills,  and 
Benjamin  Guile  at  Pleasant  Vallev. 

1802. 

The  selectmen  were  ordered  to  "  inquire  upon  what  condi- 
tion the  highway  by  Davis'  mill  can  be  exchanged  and  make 
report  next  meeting."  This  mill,  standing  very  near  the  site  of 
the  present  hat  factory,  was,  probably,  in  grinding  order  at  this 
time.  The  writer  can  remember  it  standing  in  a  shattered  con- 
dition some  fifty-five  years  ago. 

Feb.  2 2d.  Snow  and  hail  began  to  fall  and  lasted  a  week, 
making  the  crust  so  hard  that  teams  could  pass  over  the  fences 
anywhere.      This  was  one  of   the  winters  which  old  people  fifty 


3i» 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


years  ago  were  wont  to  tell  of,  when  no  roads  were  broken 
out  and  people  went  to  mill  with  their  hand-sleds  across  the 
fields,  through  the  woods  and  over  the  fences,  which  were 
nowhere  seen. 

Rev.  Stephen  Hull  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  First  church  in 
Amesbury. 

At  the  East  parish  meeting,  Thomas  Goodwin,  Enoch  Hoyt 
and  William  Currier  were  chosen  "to  take  care  of  the  boys  on 
the  Sabbath,"  and  David  Webster  "to  drive  the  boys  into  the 
meeting  house  on  the  Sabbath."  * 

The  repairs  on  the  Sandy  Hill  meeting-house  were  not  yet 
fully  completed,  although  the  appropriation  was  exhausted. 
More  money  being  needed,  a  meeting  was  held  and  the  sum 
of  $400  raised  to  finish  the  work.  Mr.  Joseph  Bartlett  was  the 
contractor  for  the  work  and  was  but  poorly  paid.  The  total 
sum  raised  was  $800.  The  following  cut,  although  not  a  per- 
fect picture  of  the  venerable  church,  has  a  general  resemblance 
of  the  house  and  adjacent  grounds. 


SANDY    HILL    MEETING-HOUSE. 

Oct.  8th.  Isaac  Merrill,  son  of  Jacob  Merrill,  who  owned 
the  farm  where  Lewis  B.  Davis  lives,  was  instantly  killed  by 
lightning  about  nine  o'clock,  P.  M.  He  was  unloading  his 
father's  freight  of   salt  hay,  which  occupied    the    day  and    even- 

*  Parish   records. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  319 

ing.  It  was  one  of  those  sultry  days  of  autumn,  which  seem 
to  linger  after  summer  has  gone.  As  night  approached,  the 
clouds  hung  thick  and  dark  in  the  west,  gradually  advancing 
till  overhead,  when  there  seemed  no  cessation  of  the  rattling 
thunder  and  forked  lightning.  He  drove  his  team  through  the 
Ferry  street,  singing  some  familiar  psalm  tune,  until  coming 
near  Sandy  Hill  meeting-house,  when  he  was  instantly  killed 
by  lightning  and,  also,  his  four  cattle.  The  cattle  were  buried 
the  next  day  on  the  sand  lot  now  owned  by  R.  W.  Patten, 
Esq. 

Oct.  8th.  Maj.  William  Lurvey  died.  He  was  a  sea  cap- 
tain, having  followed  the  sea  in  his  younger  days.  He  held 
many  offices  in  town  and  was  elected  representative  in  1798. 
He  was  a  son  of  Benjamin  Lurvey,  Esq.,  and  lived  at  the 
Ferry  in  the  house  subsequently  owned  by  Eliphalet  Graves, 
Esq.,  and  which  has  recently  given  place  to  Mr.  Savage's  new 
house.  In  1794  he  was  elected  the  first  captain  of  the  Ames- 
bury  and  Salisbury  artillery  company  and  major  of  the  reg- 
iment  in    1800. 

A  school  district  tax  was  assessed  in  district  No.  2  in  the 
West  parish,  amounting  to  $200.8  7,  to  pay  for  a  new  school- 
house.  Of  the  forty-five  persons  taxed,  fourteen  were  descend- 
ants  of  William    Sargent   and   bore    that   name. 

Until  within  some  twenty- five  years  a  powder  house  was 
standing  upon  one  of  the  Pond  hills,  commonly  known  as 
"Capt.  Weed's  hill."  It  was  a  small  round  building  very  much 
like  the  one  on  Brown's  hill  in  Salisbury,  which  has  recently 
been  repaired.  About  a  quarter  of  a  century  since,  the  "town 
stock"  (as  the  amunition  was  called)  was  kept  in  Deacon 
Orlando  Sargent's  corn  house,  but,  at  this  time,  it  was  deemed 
prudent  to  place  it  at  a  distance  from  other  buildings.  William 
Currier  and  Ebenezer  Weed  supplied  the  bricks  to  build  the 
new  house,  which  were,  probably,  made  near  the  brook  just  west 
of  the  house  of  Mr.  Currier.  This  house,  now  demolished,  was 
last  occupied  by  the  late  David  BlaisdelL  The  following  order 
was  found  with  the  records  of  this  year:  "Oct.  12th  Ordered 
to    Wm    Currier    Eleven  dollars  &   2c   in  full  it  being  for  bricks 


320  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

he  supplyd  to  build  the  powder  house  11.25."  Ebenezer  Weed 
recived  a  similar  order  and  the  total  cost  of  the  bricks  was 
$22.50.  Ephraim  Weed  received  $10.40  for  labor  and  hauling 
materials.  William  Sawyer  received  $12  for  lime.  Maj.  Isaac 
Whittier  received  "$20  for  labor  and  stuff,"  and  this,  probably, 
included  the  mason's  work.*     The  total  cost  was  $64.90. 

Moses  Sawyer  kept  school  thirteen  weeks  at  the  River  and 
eleven  weeks  at  the  Highlands.  Samuel  Balch  kept  school 
eight  weeks  and  Daniel  C.  Stevens  six  weeks  at  the  Mills. 

Thorough  repairs  were  made  on  Powow  river  bridge  this  year, 
and  the  bridge  at  Goodwin's  creek  was,  also,  repaired. 

1803. 

A  committee  was  this  year  chosen  to  consider  an  exchange 
of  the  highway  at  Davis'  mill  and  report  at  a  future  meeting. 
Mr.  E.  Pearsons,  the  noted  "toll  keeper"  at  Deer  Island  bridge, 
owned  the  land  here,  and  the  move  was  probably  to  straighten 
the  road  which  run  south  of  the  present  one,  over  the  north 
cant  of  the  bluff.     This  is  the  date  of  the  present  location. 

The  following  table  will  throw  some  light  on  the  conditon  of 
schools  in  town  at  this  time  : 

"The  Ferry  District  pays     $301    16  which  gives  23  weeks  o  day. 
The  Mills         "  "  198  53       " 

Pondhills  "         "  120  67 

Pond  "         "  54  44 

Pleasant  Valley"  "  85   53 

WEST    END. 

River  "  "  174  49       " 

Esq.  Sargent     "  "  181    17        " 

Burcha  Medow "         "  135    10       " 

Highland  "         "  92  55       " 

At  this  time  the  Ferry  paid  a  larger  tax  and  had  more  school- 
ing than  the  Mills  or  any  other  section  of  the  town. 

Ship-building  was  the  most  important  mechanical  branch  pur- 
sued  and  in   connection  with  fishing  was    fast    building   up    this 
section  of  the  town.     There  was  also  some  shipping  owned  here, 
and  engaged  in  the  West  India  trade  which  was  then  profitable. 
*  Willis  Patten,  jr.,  made  the   hinges. 


*5 

'      1     ' 

9 

'      1      ' 

4 

'       1      ' 

6 

'      3     ' 

*3 

3 

M 

"      1      ' 

10 

"      3     ' 

7 

3 

HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  32  I 

There  was  some  trouble  this  year  about  parish  taxes.  The 
Episcopalians  wished  to  pay  for  the  support  of  Mr.  Bass,  at 
Newburyport,  and  the  Baptists  protested  against  paying  for  the 
support  of  preaching  which  they  did  not  believe  in.  The  East 
parish  voted  a  committee  to  inquire  into  the  matter.  The  law 
requiring  all  to  support  the  regular  church  was  fast  becoming 
unpopular  and  destined  to  fall   before  public  opinion. 

April  3d.  Orlando  Sargent,  Esq.  died.  He  had  taken  a  very 
prominent  part  in  town  affairs,  especially  during  the  critical 
times  of  the  revolution.  His  first  appearance  as  a  town  officer 
was  in  1762,  when  he  was  chosen  Warden,  and  from  this  date 
he  was  repeatedly  chosen  to  fill  various  positions.  He  was  one 
of  the  committee  to  build  the  pound  in  1772,  and  held  the 
office  of  selectman  in  1773-4-83,  and  representative  in  1781- 
3.  He  was  repeatedly  chosen  moderator  of  meetings,  and  was 
on  various  committees.  In  1777  he  allowed  the  town  to  build 
a  place  in  his  corn  house  to  keep  the  powder  and  other  amu- 
nition,  which  was  rather  a  dangerous  experiment.  He  lived  a 
few  rods  east  of  the  new  house  built  by  his  grandson,  the  late 
Orlando  Sargent.  He  was  the  son  of  Moses  Sargent,  and  of 
the  fourth  generation  from  William  1st. 

March  17th.  Ichabod  March  died.  He  was  a  descendant 
of  John  March,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Salisbury.  In  1768 
he  obtained  leave  and  built  a  house  on  the  corner  opposite 
the  residence  of  Geo.  W.  Bartlett,  on  the  spot  where  the  Sandy 
Hill  meeting-house  was  built,  and  the  hills  where  he  planted 
his  corn  may  yet  be  seen  very  distinctly. 

There  was  a  school  district  tax  assessed  on  the  Ferry  dis- 
trict this  year,  amounting  to  $681.89,  and  the  largest  tax  payers 
were  Capt.  Joseph  Hoyt,  $67.15,  Nathan  Long,  $47.36,  Willi - 
bee  Hoyt,  $18.52,  Joseph  Morse,  $18.17,  Capt.  William  Bart- 
lett, $17.98,  David  Lowell,  $17.79,  Jacob  B.  Currier,  $16.85, 
John  Bartlett,  $14.10,  James  Bailey,  $13.88,  Timothy  Challis, 
$13.87,  Jacob  Merrill,  $12.49,  Benjamin  Merrill,  $11.45,  Sam- 
uel Kendrick,  $10.26.  The  school-house  was  built  by  subscrip- 
tion a  few  years  since,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  district  now 
paid  for  it  by  this  tax.  The  whole  number  of  persons  taxed 
was  124.  41 


322  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

"March  25,  1803.  Ordered  to  Sargent  Bagley  four  Dollers 
8  cents  it  being  for  Rum  found  the  Surveyors  on  the  Briges  at 
Nichols  creek." 

Moses  Sawyer  kept  school  in  "  Esq.  Sargent's  district,"  Thomas 
Archibald  at  the  Lion's  Mouth,  Moses  Merriman  at  Birchen 
Meadow,  and  Solomon  Gage  at  the  Highlands. 

In  1798  the  Friends  in  town  began  to  think  about  enlarging 
and  repairing  their  meeting-house,  and  advice  was  asked  of  the 
Seabrook  monthly  meeting.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  con- 
sult with  Friends  here,  and  the  advice  given  was  "  to  build 
new."  But  the  work  seems  not  to  have  been  commenced  till 
this  year.  The  Amesbury  preparative  meeting  now  appointed  a 
committee  to  purchase  a  suitable  lot,  and  the  house  formerly 
standing  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  the  Free  Baptist  church 
was  built  the  latter  part  of  this  year  or  the  first  of  1804. 

1804. 

The  selectmen  were  this  year  ordered  to  take  a  new  valua- 
tion and,  also,  "  to  put  out  the  poor  to  the  best  advantage," 
which  means  the  least  expense. 

It  was  decided  to  fence  the  burying  ground  in  the  West  par- 
ish, and  a  committee  was  chosen  for  that  purpose. 

Nov.  5th.  Presidential  election  occurred  and  nineteen  elec- 
tors were  to  be  voted  for,  to  which  Massachusetts  and  Maine 
were  entitled.  The  Federal  ticket  received  fifty-eight  votes  and 
the  Republican  forty-six.  This  was  President  Jefferson's  second 
election,  and  the  excitement  which  attended  his  first  election 
had  evidently  died  away,  judging  by  the  small  vote  cast.  At 
this  date  the  population  was  more  than  seventeen  hundred, 
and  there  may  have  been  three  hundred  and  fifty  voters  in 
town.     If  so,  less  than  one-third  were  at  the  meeting. 

The  Second  church  having  been  without  a  settled  minister 
since  the  dismissal  of  Mr.  Smith  in  1800,  now  extended  a  call  to 
Rev.  Samuel  Mead,  which  was  accepted,  and  he  was  installed  the 
first  Wednesday  in  June.  Rev.  Mr.  Wadsworth  preached  the 
sermon. 

A  school  district  tax  was  this  year  assessed  at  Pleasant 
Valley  to  pay    for    the    school-house    which    had    recently   been 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  323 

built.  The  sum  assessed  was  $307.23,  of  which  amount  Thomas 
Worthen  paid  $21.77,  J°hn  Huntington  $18.69,  Elijah  Clough 
$18.29,  John  Clough  $18.27,  Amos  Huntington  $16.48,  Ephraim 
Goodwin  $21.28,  Thomas  Goodwin  $13.41,  Aquilla  Martin  $13.66, 
Isaac  Martin  $12.56,  David  Huntington  $11.89,  William  Worthen 
$11.19,  William  Goodwin.  $10.59,  and  Elijah  Huntington  $10.05. 
The  Pond  Hills  district  purchased  the  school-house  built  a 
few  years  ago  on  private  ground,  and  a  tax  of  $203.58  was 
assessed  to  pay  for  it. 

1805. 

Last  year  an  effort  was  made  to  establish  an  academy  at 
Bartlett's  Corner  for  the  benefit  of  Amesbury  and  Salisbury.  It 
was  proposed  to  raise  $2000  by  subscription,  as  the  capital 
needed  to  carry  out  the  design  of  the  friends  who  were 
interested  in  the  measure.  This  capital  was  divided  into  two 
hundred  shares  of  $10  each,  which  were  readily  taken  in  the 
two  towns.  The  company  was  organized  September  10th,  1804, 
by  the  choice  of  Jonathan  Ireland,  clerk,  Nathan  Long,  treas- 
urer and  collector,  John  Barnard,  Nathan  Long,  Joseph  Hoyt, 
Samuel  Nye,  David  Currier,  Isaac  Whittier,  Christopher  Sargent, 
Ebenezer  Pearley  and  Ezekiel  Evans,  committee.  The  plan  was 
to  convert  the  Presbyterian  meeting-house,  which  was  built  for 
Mr.  Llibbert  some  years  since,  into  a  school-house  for  the  use 
of  the  company.  The  premises  were  accordingly  purchased  of  Dea- 
con David  Tewksbury  and  others,  and  preparations  made  to  fit 
the  church  for  the  use  of  the  school.  There  was,  however,  some 
dissatisfaction  in  regard  to  the  location,  which  was  damp  and 
thought  to  be  unfit  for  school  purposes.  Capt.  Joseph  Hoyt 
and  Nathan  Long,  Esq.,  asked  and  obtained  leave  of  the  com- 
pany to  move  the  building  across  the  road  from  its  location, 
near  the  late  Ezekiel  Barnard's,  to  land  which  they  had  contracted 
for  of  William  Barnard  and  William  Bartlett,  provided  it  should 
be  done  without  expense  to  the  company.  An  exchange  of 
land  was,  also,  allowed,  and  the  beautiful  location  now  known 
as  the  "Academy  lot"  thus  secured.  But  to  remove  this  large 
church  up  the  hill  on  to  the  desired  spot  was  found  to  be  no 
very  easy  or  desirable  task,  and  the  measure  was  abandoned. 


324 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


The  company  now  authorized  the  committee  to  build  a  suit- 
able house,  and  measures  were  immediately  taken  to  carry  this 
determination  into  effect.  In  the  mean  time  Messrs.  Hoyt 
and  Long  had  sold  the  church,  and  it  was  subsequently  con- 
verted into  Capt.  Valentine  Bagley's  barn,  a  much  more  appro- 
priate use.  Thus  after  various  changes  the  right  conclusion  was 
reached,  and  a  nice,  tasty  and  commodious  building  secured 
which  was  a  credit  to  the  town  and  company. 

There  is  little  doubt  that  Capt.  Hoyt  and  Mr.  Long  were 
entitled  to  a  large  share  of  the  credit  of  securing  this  fine  loca- 
tion and  building  for  the  school.  Although  the  organization 
was  completed  last  year,  the  many  changes  had  delayed  the 
work  till  the  spring  of  this  year,  and  the  building  was  not  raised 
till  June  1 8th.  It  was  completed  by  October  ist,  when  a  pro- 
prietors' meeting  was  held  in  it  and  measures  taken  to  secure 
the  services  of  an  efficient  preceptor.  Mr.  Jabez  P.  Fisher  was 
offered  the  position,  but  declined,  and  Mr.  Abner  Emerson  was 
chosen,  and  accepted. 

Mr.  Emerson  was  given  full  charge  of  both  male  and  female 
departments,  being  authorized  to  employ  a  preceptress  and 
receive  the  tuition  of  that  portion  of  the  school  to  compensate 
him.  Thus  after  a  little  more  than  a  year  from  the  first  meet- 
ing, the  school  was  in  operation  under   efficient  instructors. 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY 


[91 
pn§M§  p|H 

,ri« i  i    "i         i 


ACADEMY. 


326  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

A  fire  was  discovered  at  4  a.  m.  on  December  24th  on  the 
premises  of  the  Nail  factory,  which  burnt  that  building,  a  grist 
mill,  two  blacksmith  shops  and  three  hundred  cords  of  wood. 
It  was  described  as  the  greatest  conflagration  then  known.  The 
damage  was  estimated  at  $80,000,  which  in  those  times  was  a 
very  large  sum. 

Susanna  Goodwin's  house  was  sold  by  the  town  for  $3.50 
and  turned  into  a  pig  pen  by  the  purchaser.  She  was  a  poor 
woman,  helped  by  the  town  for  many  years,  and  lived  on  the 
bank  of  the  river,  near  Thomas  Page's. 

Dr.  Samuel  Ordway  died  July  6th  and  Dr.  Aaron  Sawyer  on 
the  30th  of  August,  the  former  living  in  the  East  parish  and 
the  latter  in  the  West  parish.  They  had  both  been  prominent 
men  for  many  years  and  popular  physicians  in  town.  Their 
descendants  are  not  numerous,  but  mostly  reside  in  town. 

1806. 

June  1 6th.  A  total  eclipse  of  the  sun  occurred  at  noon,  and 
the  stars  were  visible  in  the  heavens.     It  was  a  solemn  scene. 

Oct.  6th.  Enoch  Colby  and  James  Reas  were  drowned  on 
their  passage  home  from  Labrador  with  Capt.  William  Colby. 

Widow  Judith  Colby  died  March  2d,  aged  98  years,  5  months. 

Moses  Bagley  died  May  6th,  aged  90  years,  8  months. 

Capt.  John  Currier  died  Dec.  2 2d,  aged  80  years,  1  month,  5 
days.  Capt.  Currier's  first  appearance  as  a  soldier  on  duty  was 
in  1756,  when  he  received  a  lieutenant's  commission  from  the 
royal  governor  to  fight  in  defence  of  his  king  at  Lake  George. 
Here  he  was  faithful  to  the  cause  he  had  undertaken  to  defend. 
Subsequently  when  matters  between  the  mother  country  and  col- 
onies grew  serious  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  organize  minute 
men  for  the  preservation  of  their  liberties.  Immediately  after 
the  fight  at  Lexington  he  hastened  with  his  company  to  the 
scene  of  action  ready  to  defend  the  cause  with  his  life,  if  need 
be.  His  company  did  good  service  at  Bunker  Hill,  and  he  was 
honored  and  respected  by  Gen.  Washington.  Through  the 
long  struggle  which  followed,  his  labors  and  influence  were  given 
to  the  cause  which  was  dear  to  his  heart,  and  he  was  largely 
instrumental  in  obtaining  men  and  money  to  meet  the  numer- 
ous calls  which  were    made    upon    the    town.     He    was    chosen 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  327 

chairman  of  the  board  of  selectmen  in  1768,  which  was  his 
first  term  of  service,  and  was  again  chosen  to  the  office  in  1769 
-73-75-76-79.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer  and  shoe- 
maker, living  on  the  homestead  of  his  father  at  the  Pond  hills, 
where  his  grandson  and  namesake,,  John  Currier,  now  lives. 
He  was  of  the  fourth  generation  from  Richard  1st,  and  married 
about   1 75 1,  Mary  Wells,  granddaughter  of  Rev.  Thomas  Wells. 

1807. 

March  28th.  Capt.  Barnard  Lowell  died  at  sea  on  board  the 
schooner  Daniel,  and  three  days  afterward  the  vessel  was  cast 
away  on  Plum  Island.  Truly  this  was  an  unlucky  voyage. 
Capt.  Lowell  lived  at  the  Ferry,  and  like  many  others  there, 
followed  the  sea  for  many  years.  He  was  born  Jan.  21st,  1760, 
and  was  47  years  old.     His  father's  name  was  William. 

May  24th.  Six  men  were  drowned  in  the  Merrimac.  They 
were  going  after  a  freight  of  hay  with  a  gondola,  and,  having 
a  fair  wind  and  plenty  of  it,  crowded  on  all  sail,  which  caused 
the  boat  to  run  under  and  upset  sufficiently  to  throw  all  hands 
into  the  river.  This  was  Sunday  afternoon  and  happened  in 
the  vicinity  of  Pleasant  Valley.  Joshua  Weed  and  William  Hoyt 
were  among  the  number  drowned. 

1808. 

On  the  2d  of  July  last  year  President  Jefferson  issued  his 
proclamation  interdicting  all  British  vessels  from  the  harbors  and 
waters  of  the  United  States.*  This  embargo  bore  heavily  upon 
the  shipping  interest  of  the  country,  and  was  felt  to  some 
extent  in  Amesbury,  and  to  give  expression  to  public  feeling  a 
meeting  was  held  August  24th,  and  the  following  vote  was 
passed  :  "  Voted  to  petition  the  President  of  the  United  States 
praying  him  to  suspend  the  operation  of  the  law  laying  an 
embargo  on  vessels  of  the  United  States."  "  Voted  to  accept 
the  petition  that  was  then  read  in  the  meeting,  and  that  the 
Selectmen  forward  the  same  to  the  President."  The  embargo 
was  anything  but  popular  in  Amesbury  as  it  stopped  ship-build- 
ing, and  the  ship-yards  were  idle  and  the  many  carpenters  out 
of  employ. 

*  Congress  at  the  Extra  Session  1807  passed  a  law  called  the  "  Embargo 
Act." 


328  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

June  27th.  A  tempest  of  wind  and  rain  did  much  damage 
to  buildings  in  town,  and  blew  down  two-thirds  of  the  pines  at 
the  laurel  ground  across  the  river. 

Capt.  Robert  Sargent  died  January  28th  in  the  9 2d  year  of 
his  age.  He  was  born  in -the  West  parish  in  1716,  and  served 
the  town  in  various  offices,  being  selectman  in  1758  and  1769. 
He  was  a  man  of  some  note,  having  held  commission  in  the 
militia  for  some  years. 

Col.  Isaac  Whittier  died  February  10th,  at  the  West  parish, 
aged  53,  having  served  as  selectman  in  1791  and  ten  subse- 
quent years.  He  was  chosen  chairman  of  the  board  at  his  first 
term,  and  served  as  such  six  years.  He  was  also  quite  a  mili- 
tary man,  rising  to  the  rank  of  colonel,  which  was  a  great 
mark  of  distinction  at  that  time.     He  lived  at  the  River. 

Sept.  20th.  Levi  Blaisdell  was  drowned  in  the  river  near 
Pressy's  creek. 

1809. 

March   12th.     Widow   Lurvey  died,  aged  ninety-four  years. 

Sept.  14th.  Moses  Goodwin  died,  aged  ninety-one  years,  five 
months. 

April  27th.  Capt.  Isaac  Randall  died,  aged  eighty-two  years. 
He  was  an  innholder  for  many  years  on  Water  street  at  the 
Ferry,  and  his  tavern  house  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr. 
Jonathan  Morrill.  He  served  on  the  board  of  selectmen  in  1770, 
1772  and  1773,  and  was  chosen  moderator  at  one  or  more  meet- 
ings. Where  he  was  born  we  have  no  means  of  knowing,  the  only 
mention  of  the  name  on  the  early  records  being  the  marriage 
of  "  John  Randall  &  Lydia  Muzzy  of  Cape  Porpos,  July  23, 
1689."  The  name  does  not  appear  again  till  1 75 1,  when  a 
daughter  was  born  to  Capt.   Isaac  Randall. 

April  23d.  Dr.  Nathan  Huse  died,  aged  ninety- two  years. 
Dr.  Huse  came  from  West  Newbury  about  the  year  1739,  when 
he  was  about  twenty-two  years  old,  and  settled  at  the  High- 
lands on  the  old  road  south  of  Isaac  W.  Hoyt's,  where  he 
bousrht  a  place  and  established  his  home.  Towards  the  middle 
or  latter  part  of  his  life  he  built  a  large  house  on  the  hill  not 
far    from    his    old  one,  which    gave    a    fine  view  of  the  country 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  329 

round  about.  His  practice  lay  in  all  directions,  scattered  among 
the  sparse  inhabitants.  For  about  seventy  years  Dr.  Huse  was 
in  practice  more  or  less,  respected  by  all,  and  dying  at  a  good 
old  age,  which  few  attain.  After  his  death,  the  house  was  sold 
and  removed  to  Newton,  N.  H.,  leaving  the  cellar  to  mark  the 
old  spot.  The  Doctor  was  the  father  of  eleven  or  twelve  child- 
ren, and  one  of  his  grandchildren,  Stephen  Huse,  is  now  living 
in  Merrimac. 

1810. 

Appropriations  :  Repairing  of  highways,  $1200. ;  town  charges, 
$1600. 

No    appropriation    for   schools    is    found    on    the    record. 

The  town  "Voted  that  no  highway  tax  be  laid  out  in  liq- 
uor,"   and,    of  course,    each   man   must   find   his    own    "grog." 

Ship-building  had  again  revived  and  the  carpenters  were  busy 
in  all  the  yards.  There  were  built  on  the  river  this  year  twenty- 
one  ships,  thirteen  brigs,  one  schooner  and  seven  other  vessels  of 
various  dimensions,  making  forty-two  in  all.  This  business  was 
building  up  the  Ferry  faster  than  any  other  section  of  the  town. 
Ship-yards  were  dotted  along  the  river,  several  at  the  Ferry,  one 
at  Thomas  Goodwin's — now  William  E.  Worthen's — one  at  Isaac 
Martin's,  near  John  Brown's,  one  near  David  Huntington's — 
now  John  Huntington's — and  one  in  front  of  Moses  Hunting- 
ton's. Farther  up  the  river  were  several  yards,  where  occasion- 
ally vessels  were  built  and  floated  down  to  Newburyport  for  sale. 

On  the  morning  of  August  26th,  about  four  o'clock,  Nathan 
Long's  bakery  at  the   Ferry  was  burnt,  probably  by  accident. 

July  27th.  Anna  Cottle  died  in  the  eighty-eighth  year  of  her 
age. 

In  1723  the  inhabitants  of  Jamaco  were  terribly  frightened 
by  the  report,  which  had  been  suddenly  spread,  that  the  Indi- 
ans were  coming  down  on  the  settlement.  All  fled  to  the  fort 
for  their  lives,  expecting  to  be  butchered  before  they  got  there. 
Among  the  number  was  Anna  Cottle's  mother,  and  while  there 
this  puny  child  was  ushered  into  the  world,  where  she  was  des- 
tined to  remain  nearly  a  century.  Who,  at  that  time,  could  have 
imagined  the  scenes  through  which  she  lived   to  pass? 

42 


$$0  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

The  population  of  the  town,  as  given  by  the  census,  was 
one  thousand,  eight  hundred  and  ninety. 

Deacon  David  Tuxbury,  one  of  the  principal  men  who, 
some  years  since  built  Mr.  Hibbert  a  Presbyterian  church, 
this  year  sold  half  an  acre  of  land  at  the  Pond's  Mouth, 
embracing  the  outlet,  to  the  Nail  Factory  company,  of  which 
Ebenezer  Felton  was  agent.  From  this  time  forth,  the  flowage 
of  the  pond  has  been  controlled  by  the  companies  owning  the 
water  power  at  the  Mills.  Mr.  Tuxbury  lived  where  Mr.  Nathan. 
Wells  now  lives,  and  was  a  very  extensive  land-holder. 

1811. 

Robert  Quinby  and  others  were  this  year  set  off  from  the 
Mills  district  and  annexed  to  the  Pond  Highway  district. 

May  31st.  One  of  the  most  extensive  conflagrations  known 
occurred  at  Newburyport.  Hundreds  of  people  were  left  home- 
less and  destitute.  Amesbury  people  were  there,  rendering  all 
the  assistance  possible ;  but,  with  the  means  of  those  days,  lit- 
tle effective  service  could  be  done.  The  business  portion  of  the 
town  was  nearly  destroyed  by  this  "  great  fire." 

Amesbury,  ready  to  assist  the  sufferers,  called  a  town  meet- 
ing to  consider  what  should  be  done,  and  "Voted  that  the 
Selectmen  furnish  the  School  Committee  of  Each  district  with 
a  subscription  paper  and  that  the  Committee  Man  of  each  dis- 
trict is  requested  to  go  around  to  the  people  of  his  own  dis- 
trict and  see  what  they  will  give  towards  the  relief  of  the  suf- 
ferers of  Newburyport  by  the  late  fire." 

1812. 

Jan.  19th.  Isaac  Huntington  died.  He  lived  south  of 
Clough's  hill,  back  of  Pleasant  Valley, — a  beautiful  place,  com- 
manding a  splendid  view  of  the  river  and  surrounding  country. 
The  house  was  torn  down  nearly  fifty  years  ago. 

March  31st.  The  East  parish  held  a  meeting  to  consider  the 
request  of  Rev.  Stephen  Hull  for  dismission.  His  reasons 
assigned  were  :  "  1st  Because  of  the  difficulties  and  objections 
which  have  and  do  still  attend  his  support  in  this  place  by 
which  his  feelings  have  been  greatly  hurt.  2d  That  in  conse- 
quence of  these  things  he  thinks  he  has  great  reason  to  appre- 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  33] 

hend  that  his  usefulness  has  been  obstructed  and  will  continue 
to  be  impeded  in  this  place.  Therefore  for  these  reasons  & 
others  which  he  will  assign  at  the  meeting  of  the  parish  he 
requests  a  dismission."  He  requested  the  use  of  the  parsonage 
a  year,  and  six  month's  salary  in  case  of  dismission.  His 
request  was  finally  granted,  with  the  exception  of  the  six 
month's  salary.  His  dismission  by  council  was  ordered  at  the 
expense  of  the  parish.  Mr.  Hull  found  strong  opposition  in 
the  parish  for  two  or  three  years  past,  and  sometimes  his  oppo- 
nents had  control  of  the  meetings.  At  the  annual  meeting 
April  10th,  1 8 10,  it  was  voted  to  raise  $400,  which  was  his 
original  salary,  and  hardly  enough  to  live  on  at  the  unusually 
high  prices  which  prevailed,  and  "  not  to  give  Mr  Hull  one 
cent."  But  the  meanest  vote  which  his  enemies  could  pass 
was  "not  to  pay  Mr  Hull  for  building  a  necessary  house." 
The  majority  of  the  parish  were,  however,  fully  aware  of  the 
need  of  raising  his  salary,  and  called  a  meeting  July  23d  and 
voted  him  a  salary  of  $500  during  his  ministry. 

At  the  May  meeting,  the  town  ordered  the  selectmen  to  pro- 
vide a  dinner  for  the  soldiers  on  general  muster  day.  Train- 
ings were  popular  at  this  time  and  afforded  a  good  time  for 
the  young  and  even  the  aged.  May  drill,  when  the  company 
turned  out  for  inspection,  was  to  the  boys  a  great  day ;  but 
the  regimental  drill  on  "Ben  Merrill's  plain,"  or  near  the  Mid- 
dle cemetery  on  that  large  plain,  was  looked  forward  to  with 
the  greatest  impatience. 

The  first  engine  men  found  on  the  records  are  Theophilus 
Gould,  Ebenezer  Rand,  Nathan  Nutter,  William  Trussell,  James 
Morse,  Aquilla  Martin,  jr.,  William  Swett,  Enoch  Wells,  Nathan 
Kimball,  Philip  Currier,  Thomas  Currier,  Nathan  Wells,  Charles 
Boyles,  Orlando  S.  Bayley,  Joseph  Davis  and  Ephraim  Blasdell, 
jr.     These  were  appointed  by  the  selectmen. 

June  1 8th.  War  was  declared  against  Great  Britain.  After 
the  declaration  of  war,  the  militia  was  drilled  and  put  in  order 
for  any  call  which  might  be  made.  The  Ferry  company  was 
drilled  twice  each  week  on  the  "wolf  peet"  hill  near  Goodwin's 
creek,  and  the  company  in  the  West  parish  was  drilled  on 
their  parade  ground  near  the  meeting-house. 


332  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

There  was  strong  opposition  to  the  war  from  the  Federal 
party  in  town,  and  the  writer  has  more  than  once  heard  the 
remark  that  nothing  was  gained  by  it.  It  was,  however,  excit- 
ing times  even  here,  as  preparations  went  on  for  active  service. 
But  very  few  records  are  found  relating  to  this  war,  and  we  are 
unable  to  give  a  full  account  or  complete  list  of  the  soldiers 
in  the  service  at  this  time. 

July  1 8th.  The  East  parish  "voted  to  hire  Nathaniel  Ken- 
nedy to  preach  with  them  three  months  on  probation,"  and 
raised  $100  to  pay  him.  This  was  a  singular  move,  as  Mr. 
Hull  was  not  yet  formally  dismissed  by  the  council,  which  was 
not  held  till  early  in   1813. 

A  new  branch  of  business  was  this  year  introduced  at  the 
Mills,  which  has  since  become  the  principal  business  of  the  vil- 
lage. A  company  was  organized  for  the  manufacture  of  satinet, 
and  a  brick  mill  built  on  Mill  street.  The  company  consisted 
in '  part  of  the  following  persons  :  Ezra  Worthen,  Paul  Moody, 
Thomas  Boardman,  Jacob  Kent,  Mr.  Rundlett  and  Mr.  Wiggles- 
worth.  Ezra  Worthen  was  the  agent.  The  mill  was  two  stories 
high  at  first,  but  raised  to  three  and  afterwards  greatly  enlarged. 
During  war  times  a  good  business  was  done  here,  and  it  was 
a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  place.  It  is  now  known  as  No.  6. 
According  to  tradition,  when  the  bricks  were  being  made,  a 
young  lady  and  her  beau  had  the  curiosity  to  visit  the  yard. 
and  the  former  taking  a  little  stick  wrote  her  name  and  the 
year  on  several  bricks,  which  were  spread  out  to  dry.  The 
bricks  were  laid  in  the  wall  of  this  mill  and  the  date  may  yet 
be  seen  there. 

1813. 

Widow  Judith  Bagley  died  at  the  Pond  Hills  August  1st,  aged 
ninety-seven  years,. four  months,  and  four  days.  She  was  the  great- 
granddaughter  of  William  Sargent,  1st  and  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Judith  Sargent,  who  lived  at  Bear  Hill  on  land  now  owned 
by  Mr.  Cyrus  Sargent.  Her  birth  occurred  October  1st,  1716, 
and  her  marriage  with  Capt.  John  Bagley  took  place  in  1734, 
when  she  was  sixteen  years  old,  and  she  became  the  mother  of 
thirteen  children.     Joseph,  her  second  son,  died  at  Lake  George 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  333 

in  1760  while  in  the  service  of  the  king,  and  Philip,  her  young- 
est son,  is  said  to  have  been  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  He 
was  afterwards  sheriff  and  jail  keeper  at  Newburyport  for  about 
forty  years,  dying  at  the  great  age  of  ninety-five  years.  During 
the  last  years  of  her  life  she  was  blind,  but  retained  her  mem- 
ory and  hearing.  She  recollected  the  time  when  the  road  over 
the  Pond  Hills  was  nothing  but  a  cart  path  spotted  through  the 
woods. 

The  continuance  of  the  war  with  England  prevented  the 
importation  of  foreign  cloths,  which  created  a  demand  for  home 
manufactures  to  clothe  the  people  and  army.  This  demand 
encouraged  the  erection  of  a  second  mill  by  Jonathan  Morrill, 
Esq.,  of  Salisbury,  (commonly  known  as  Ensign  Morrill.)  The 
mill  was  located  on  Mill  street,  a  few  rods  south  of  the  one 
built  last  year,  and  was  a  two-story  brick  building.  It  was  sub- 
sequently raised  to  three  stories  and  greatly  enlarged,  and  is  now 
known  as  No.  5.  Large  quantities  of  cloth  were  made  in  this 
mill,  more  especially  designed  to  clothe  the  soldiers,  but  suitable 
for  all.  Mr.  Morrill  sold  out  after  a  few  years  and  the  mill 
became  the  property  of  the  Amesbury  company. 

Capt.  Matthias  Hoyt  died  the  latter  part  of  October  or  the 
first  of  November  at  West  Amesbury.  He  was  a  descendant 
of  John  Hoyt,  1st,  and  was  of  the  fifth  generation.  He  was 
prominent  in  town  affairs  for  many  years  about  the  revolution- 
ary period,  holding  various  offices  of  trust.  He  was  somewhat 
of  a  soldier,  served  as-  collector  for  the  West  parish  in  1775. 
and  was  on  the  committee  of  correspondence  and  safety  in 
1777.  In  1782,  1783  and  1784  he  was  on  the  board  of  select- 
men and  was  chairman  in  1783.  At  one  period  he  kept  tav- 
ern where  the  late  Capt.  J.  W.  Sargent  lived,  but  finally 
removed  to  the  Highlands,  where  he  resided  till  his  death. 

A  council  was  convened  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  to 
consider  the  propriety  of  dismissing  Rev.  Stephen  Hull,  pastor 
of  the  First  church.  After  due  deliberation  his  request  was 
granted  and  the  parish  paid  the  expense  of  the  council.  Sev- 
eral ministers  were  employed  during  the  remainder  of  the  year, 
but  no  one  settled  permanently. 


334  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

The  town  gave  the  soldiers  twenty  cents  on  muster  day 
instead  of  the  usual  dinner. 

1814. 

"  Voted  that  each  soldier  be  allowed  by  the  town  twenty-five 
cents  on  General   Muster  day." 

The  idea  of  building  a  poorhouse  with  Salisbury  was  dis- 
cussed at  the  annual  meeting  and  a  committee  chosen  to  meet 
a  committee  from  that  town,  but  nothing  came  of  the  attempt. 

A  fearful  epidemic  fever  made  its  appearance  in  town  this 
spring.  At  Pleasant  Valley  there  were  eighteen  deaths  in  six 
weeks.  On  the  West  parish  records  are  found  fifteen  deaths 
marked  "fever,"  and  it  was  generally  believed  to  be  "spotted 
fever." 

"This  year  many  died  with  spotted  fever."* 

Feb.   7th.     There  were  five  deaths  in  town  this  day. 

March  2d.     Capt.  Richard  Hoyt  died  at  the  West  Indies. 

March  10th.  Widow  Sarah  Sargent  died,  aged  eighty-four 
years. 

Dec.  29th.     Deacon  Obadiah  Colby  died  at  the  Ferry. 

The  committee  chosen  by  the  East  parish  to  supply  the  pul- 
pit, reported  to  the  adjourned  meeting  that  they. had  agreed 
with  Rev.  Benjamin  Sawyer,  of  Cape  Elizabeth,  for  the  year. 

The  record  of  soldiers  who  served  in  the  war  of  181 2  is  very 
scant  and  but  few  names  have  been  found.  The  following 
received  pay  from  the  town  for  services  performed  mostly  at 
Fort  Phillips,  Plum  island,  viz.  :  Stephen  Gorden,  ( musician ) 
Joseph  Chandler,  Richard  Merrill,  William  Vickery,  Charles  Bur- 
roughs, Enoch  Flanders,  John  Pressey  3d,  James  Nichols,  son 
of  Jacob  Hoyt,  William  Colby,  Daniel  Gale,  William  Saunders, 
Samuel  Ordway,  Timothy  Currier,  Thomas  Colby  3d,  James 
Foot,  Thomas  Huntington  and  Thomas  Goodwin.  No  doubt 
there  were  more  in  the  service,  although  volunteers  were  not 
numerous  in  this  section,  the  war  being  unpopular,  more  espec- 
ially with  the  Federal  party. 

1815. 

Sept.  23d.  An  easterly  gale,  commonly  known  as  the  "Sep- 
tember Gale,"  did    great    damage,  blowing    down  houses,  barns, 

*  West  Parish   Records. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  335 

fences  and  acres  of  pine  woods  in  many  places.  It  was  a  ter- 
riffic  gale  and  long  remembered  by  the  people  who  experienced  it. 

Soldiers  were  allowed  twenty-five  cents  on  general  muster 
day. 

On  the  1 8th  of  May,  the  selectmen  ordered  "To  Hezekiah 
Colby  seventy  five  cents  it  being  for  two  quarts  of  gin  for  the 
funeral  of  Sukey  Lane." 

Times  change  with  the  years,  and  habits  deemed  right  at  one 
period  would  be  a  disgrace  at  another.  To-day  the  selectmen 
who  should  furnish  seventy-five  cents  worth  of  gin  for  a  funeral 
would  be  politically  dead.  Two  of  this  board  which  supplied 
gin  at  the  funeral  were  re-elected  several  times  and,  also,  served 
as  representatives  to  the  General  Court  afterwards,  and  one  as 
county  commissioner. 

Capt.  Abner  Lowell  died  April  4th. 

1816. 

July  2d.  A  town  meeting  was  held  to  take  some  action  in 
regard  to  a  separation  from  Massachusetts,  and,  with  other 
towns  north  of  the  river,  to  join  New  Hampshire.  Willoughbee 
Hoyt,  Lowell  Bagley  and  John  Morse,  jr.,  were  chosen  as  a 
committee  to  consider  the  matter  and  consult  with  other  towns 
"that  request  a  separation  to  see  what  method  is  most  proper 
to  be  taken  for  that  purpose."  This  was  no  fanciful  movement, 
but  there  was  a  strong  feeling  that  the  river  should  be  the 
boundary  between  the  states.  It  was  occasioned  in  part  by  the 
fact  that  taxes  were  then  lighter  in  New  Hampshire  and,  in  all 
probability,  would  continue  to  be  so.  The  measure,  however, 
was  not  successful. 

April  1  st.     The  Belleville  church  was  struck  by  lightning. 

June  19th.  Rev.  Benjamin  Sawyer  was  installed  pastor  of 
the  East  parish  society,  with  a  salary  of  $400  and  the  parson- 
age. He  was  born  in  Boothbay,  Me.,  in  1782  and  graduated 
at  Dartmouth  college  in  180S. 

March  30th.     The  widow  of  Capt.  Isaac  Randall  died. 

Sept.   12th.     Deacon  Willis  Patten  died  at  the  River. 

Peter,  a  man  of  color,  died  this  year  in  the  West  parish. 

The  season  was  extremely  cold    and    attended    by  frost  every 


336  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

month  in  the  year.  Very  little  ripe  corn  was  found  in  the  fall. 
Mr.  James  Chase  commenced  the  manufacture  of  earthen 
ware  at  the  River  this  year,  which  business  he  continued  for 
about  forty  years  at  the  same  location  on  the  river's  bank.  At 
his  death  in  1858,  his  son  Phineas  continued  the  business  at 
his  pottery  on  the  new  highway. 

1817. 

The  northern  tour  of  President  Monroe  was  the  most  noted 
event  of  the  year.  He  passed  through  the  Ferry  at  3  o'clock, 
p.  m.,  stopping  at  the  Mills  long  enough  to  visit  the  two  fac- 
tories and  inspect  the  goods  being  manufactured.  Southern 
presidents  were  very  much  interested  in  ship-building  and  man- 
ufactures. In  1789  Washington  visited  the  Ferry  while  on 
his  way  to  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  There  was  no  special  provision 
made  for  display  on  this  occasion,  although  the  President  was 
treated  with  due  respect  and  all  flocked  to  see  him. 

The  brigade  muster  was  held  at  Rowley  on  the  9th  of  Octo- 
ber and  the  soldiers  were  allowed  one  dollar  each  towards  their 
expenses. 

Widow  Hannah  Hunt,  formerly  of  this  town,  died  at  New- 
buryport  April  27th,  aged  eighty-seven  years. 

1818. 

"  Voted  That  a  committee  be  chosen  for  the  purpose  of 
informing  themselves  relative  to  the  Iron  &  Nail  Factory  tax  or 
the  personal  property  thereof  for  the  years  1816  &  181 7." 

It  was  thought  by  the  meeting  that  the  personal  property  of 
the  Iron  and  Nail  company  was  not  fully  taxed,  and  in  order 
to  ascertain  the  facts  in  the  case,  the  above  committee  was 
chosen.  After  due  investigation  the  committee  reported  that  the 
property  was  all  taxed  and   nothing  more  was  done. 

At  the  governor's  meeting,  held  April  6th.  it  was  voted  by  a 
poll  of  seventy-five  votes  in  favor  to  fifty  against,  to  hold  future 
town  meetings  two  years  at  the  East  parish  to  one  year  at  the 
West  parish.  This  arrangement  occasioned  great  dissatisfaction 
at  the  west  end  and,  at  the  representative  meeting  in  May,  the 
vote  was  reconsidered    and    the  old    alternate  system  continued. 


HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY.  337 

Hezekiah  Nichols,  collector  of  the  town,  being  sick  and  infirm, 
Maj.  Daniel  Weed  was  appointed  to  complete  the  collection. 

March  4th.  There  was  a  great  freshet  in  the  Merrimac, 
which  carried  away  the  Rocks  bridge  and  did  a  great  deal  of 
damage  along  the  river. 

Benjamin  Lurvey,  Esq.,  died  January  24th,  aged  eighty-three 
years.  He  lived  at  the  Ferry,  his  house  standing  just  north  of 
the  old  school-house.  There  was  hardly  an  office  in  town  with 
which  he  had  not  been  honored.  He  had  been  representative 
five  years,  selectman  twelve  years,  was  a  candidate  for  senator 
in  1798,  was  frequently  chosen  moderator,  and  in  short,  had 
served  the  town  and  parish  in  nearly  every  capacity.  His  prin- 
cipal business  seems  to  have  been  writing  deeds  and  wills  and  set- 
tling estates.  He  was,  also,  a  teacher  of  navigation  to  private 
pupils.  The  diary  which  he  kept  for  many  years  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  contains  much  valuable  information. 

1819. 

The  policy  of  allowing  a  discount  for  the  prompt  payment  of 
taxes  was  inaugurated  this  year  by  the  allowance  of  six  per  cent, 
for  thirty  days,  four  per  cent,  for  sixty  days  and  three  per  cent, 
for  ninety  days. 

The  first  instance  of  setting  the  collectorship  up  at  auction  is 
also  found  on  the  record  this  year. 

A  new  school  district  was  ordered,  as  follows:  "Voted  to 
set  off  from  the  Pond  School  district,  the  Pond  highway  dis- 
trict as  a  separate  school  district." 

Rev.  Moses  Welch  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Second  church 
in  June.  The  ordination  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Tompkins,  and  Rev.  Benjamin  Sawyer,  of  the  First  church,  made 
the  concluding  prayer. 

Marchant  Cleaves  died  April  27th.  He  was  by  trade  a  tailor 
and  lived  at  the  Mills,  his  house  and  little  red  shop  standing 
near  the  Dr.  Sparhawk  place.  In  1767  he  petitioned  the  town 
for  a  piece  of  land  at  the  Ferry  to  put  a  tailor  shop  on,  that 
section  then  being  the  most  populous  part  of  the  town.  In 
1787,  1888  and  1/90  he  served  as  selectman  and  seems  to 
have   been    prominent    in    parish   affairs.     During  the  latter  part 

43 


338  HISTORY     OF  AMESBURY. 

of   his    life    he    appears    to    have    been    engaged   in  the  grocery 
business  at  the  Mills. 

1820. 

Appropriations:  Schools,  $800;  town  charges,  $1400 ;  repair- 
ing of  highways,  $900. 

Nov.  6th.  Presidential  election  occurred  without  much  inter- 
est, only  sixteen  votes  being  cast. 

The  population  of  the  town  has  increased  from  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  ninety  in  the  year  18 10  to  one  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  fifty-six  the  present  year. 

.The  mill  known  as  No.  3,  at  the  Mills,  standing  on  the  Salis- 
bury side  of  the  Powow  river  at  the  bridge,  was  built  this  year. 

A  post-office  was  this  year  established  at  the  Mills  and  Capt. 
Jonathan  Morrill  appointed  postmaster. 

1821. 

Thomas  Huntington,  son  of  the  pensioner  William  Hunting- 
ton, disappeared  on  the  night  of  November  2  2d  and  no  trace 
of  him  could  be  found.  It  was  thought  that  he  had  been  mur- 
dered and  some  arrests  were  made,  but  no  proof  was  found  of 
foul  play. 

1822. 

March  2d.  The  body  of  Thomas  Huntington,  who  mysteri- 
ously disappeared  last  November,  was  found  in  the  Powow 
river,  and  it  was  thought  probable  that  he  accidently  fell  in 
while  crossing  a  plank  connected  with  a  foot  path  over  some 
part  of  it. 

Warren  Lodge  of  Accepted  Masons  was  chartered  this  year 
and  the  following  are  the  names  of  the  charter  members : 
Benjamin  Sawyer,  Edward  Dorr,  Lowell  Bagley,  John  Colby, 
Nathaniel  Fifield,  William  O.  Mills,  Valentine  Bagley,  George 
W.  Bagley,  Daniel  Long,  James  Horton,  David  Nayson,  Ben- 
jamin R.  Downes,  William  H.  Bagley  and  Samuel  Walton. 

Oct.  28th.  Valentine  Colby  (father  of  the  late  Deacon  Peter 
Colby)  sold  the  right  to  flow  his  land  around  the  pond  to  the 
"  Amesbury  Nail  Company,  Amesbury  Woolen  and  Cotton  Man- 
ufacturing Company,  Amesbury  flannel  Manufacturing  Company, 
Salisbury  woolen    Manufacturing  Company — David  Nayson,  Bar- 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  339 

zilla  Lombard  and  David  Currier"  limited  to  the  height  of  the 
dam  at  the  Pond's  mouth.*  Manufacturing  had  already  become 
an  important  branch  of  business  at  the  Mills,  and  the  above 
shows  the  number  of  companies  in  the  village. 

The  "Amesbury  flannel  Manufacturing  Company"  was  incor- 
porated this  year  with  a  capital  of  $200,000,  and  annually  made 
fifteen  hundred  pieces  of  flannel,  containing  forty-six  yards  each, 
five  thousand  pieces  of  satinet,  containing  twenty-five  yards  each, 
and  employed  one  hundred  and  sixty  operatives.  Joshua  Aubin, 
Esq.,  was  the  agent. 

1823. 

This  year  the  hotel  at  the  Mills,  now  known  as  the  American 
house,  was  built  by  Mr.  John  Oilman.  The  old  wooden  build- 
ing, which  had  been  occupied  by  Mr.  Daniel  Long  as  a  tavern, 
was  removed  to  make  room  for  the  new  brick  building  that  was 
needed  for  the  accommodation  of  the  village. 

The  general  muster  was  this  year  held  at  Rowley  and  embraced 
a  full  brigade,  as  in  181 7.  The  regimental  muster,  which  was 
formerly  held  on  Benjamin  Merrill's  plain,  Brown's  hill,  Salis- 
bury, the  plain  at  the  middle  cemetery,  West  Amesbury,  or  at 
the  plain  below  the  chain  bridge  in  Newbury,  was  superceded 
by  the  one  muster  of  the  entire  brigade.  This  year  the  town 
gave  the  soldiers  fifty  cents  each  towards  their  expenses. 

April  7th.  John  Blaisdell  was  drowned  in  the  Merrimac  river 
by  the  upsetting  of  his  boat. 

Feb.   28th.     Pegg,  a  black  woman,  died  at  the  Pond  Hills. 

1824 

The  common  land  near  the  house  of  Joseph  Merrill,  where 
the  meeting-house  stood,  and  subsequently  the  house  of  Col. 
March,  was  this  year  sold  to  David  Currier. 

A  portion  of  the  landing  at  the  Mills  was,  also,  sold  to  the 
Amesbury  Flannel  company,  of   which  Joshua  Aubin  was  agent. 

The  necessity  of  a  bridge  across  the  river  at  the  Ferry  was 
pretty  freely  discussed,  and  Robert  Patten,  Esq.,  and  others,  by  the 
approval  of  the  town,  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  a  char- 
ter. 

*  Colby  papers. 


34-0  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

Nov.  i  st.  Presidential  election  was  held  and  the  small  vote 
of  fifty-seven  and  twenty-nine  showed  the  interest  taken  in  the 
contest. 

The  noted  event  of  the  year  was  the  arrival  of  General 
La  Fayette  in  this  country.  No  little  enthusiasm  was  awakened 
by  the  reception  of  this  friend,  who  had  rendered  such  valu- 
able services  nearly  half  a  century  since,  in  the  cause  of  free- 
dom. He  arrived  at  Newburyport  August  13th  and  spent  the 
night  there.  He  was  welcomed  with  every  sign  of  joy.  Trium- 
phant arches  lined  his  way  and  thousands  flocked  to  see  him. 
Amesbury  people  were  there  in  large  numbers  to  catch  a  glimpse 
of  this  French  general  and  patriot,  who  had  so  nobly  assisted 
their  fathers. 

April  1 7th.  Dr.  Jonathan  French  died.  His  practice  in  town 
was  very  successful.  He  lived  in  the  house  now  owned  by 
James  Follansbee  previous  to  his  temporary  absence  at  New 
York. 

A  post-office  was  this  year  established  at  West  Amesbury  and 
Col.  Edmund  Sargent  appointed  postmaster. 

1825. 

One  dollar  was  voted  to  each  officer  and  soldier  doing  duty 
at  the  brigade  muster  at  Rowley. 

The  selectmen  were  chosen  a  committee  to  widen  and 
straighten  the  road  from  Charles  Ramsey's  to  the  Haverhill  line. 

The  town  having  become  satisfied  that  putting  out  the  poor 
was  not  the  best  way  to  support  them,  instructed  the  selectmen 
to  buy  or  hire  a  suitable  farm  for  the  purpose.  The  farm  form- 
erly owned  by  Matthias  Merrill,  near  Saunders'  hill,  was  accord- 
ingly purchased  and  fitted  to  accommodate  the  poor. 

Dr.  Philip  Towle  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  at  the 
Ferry,  taking  the  place  of  Dr.  Rufus  Hill,  who  removed  to  the 
West.  He  was  somewhat  noted  as  a  violin  player  of  sacred 
music,  and  for  many  years  assisted  the  choir  at  the  Sandy  Hill 
church,  as  many  elderly  persons  well  remember.  He  was  highly 
esteemed  as  a  physician. 

Maj.  Thomas  Hoyt  died  January  14th.  He  was  a  son  of  Capt. 
Matthias    Hoyt,  who    lived  at  the    Highlands,  and  was  a  prom- 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  34 1 

inent  man  in  the  West  parish.  He  served  as  selectman  seven 
years,  representative  three  years  and  belonged  to  the  sixth  gen- 
eration from  John  Hoyt,   ist. 

The  erection  by  the  Salisbury  company  of  the  large  mill  on 
High  street,  Salisbury,  now  known  as  No.  2,  gave  additional 
impetus  to  business  at  the  Mills.  Its  foundation  was  laid  upon 
the  ledge  which  underlies  the  surface  in  this  vicinity,  and  a 
great  deal  of  blasting  had  to  be  done  in  preparing  the  race 
course.  One  person  was  killed  and  several  houses  were  damaged 
by  the  falling  stones,  which  perforated  the  roofs  and  sunk  to 
the  ground  floor,  greatly  frightening  the  occupants. 

The  old  Nail  factory  was  sold  to  the  Salisbury  Manufacturing 
company  about  this  time  and  converted  into  a  weaving  room. 

1826. 

A  proposition  was  submitted  to  the  annual  meeting  for  the 
formation  of  a  new  county,  but  the  town  disapproved  of  the 
measure  by  a  vote  of  one  hundred  and  twelve  nays  to  five 
yeas. 

Alice  Colby  lived  for  many  years  in  a  small  house  stand- 
ing beside  the  burying  ground  at  Bartlett's  Corner,  and  was 
helped  by  the  town.  She  was  now  dead  and  the  town  sold 
her   house   at   auction. 

The  town  this  year  ordered  the  bridge  at  Pressey's  creek 
to  be  re-built  with  stone,  but  the  order  was  not  carried  into 
effect. 

At  the  annual  meeting  it  was  "voted  to  raise  fifty  dollars 
in  addition  to  the  sum  already  raised  to  support  the  poor 
and  be  applied  towards  the  support  of  the  Bagley  Boys." 
There  were  three  brothers  and  a  nephew  non  compos,  viz.  : 
William,  Enoch  and  John  Bagley  and  Thomas  Lane.  These 
were  for  many  years  maintained  by  Susan  and  Polly  Bagley, 
sisters  of  the  Bagley  boys  and  aunts  of  Thomas  Lane,  and 
living  on  Ferry  street  in  the  house  across  the  lane  from  J. 
E.  Cowden,  Esq.  Many  will  remember  these  simple  old  men 
(although  always  called  "Boys")  who  were  always  together 
and  always  lived  in  peace.  They  were  constant  attendants 
at   church,    occupying   the   long   front   seat   in   the   west   gallery 


342  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

of  the  Sandy  Hill  meeting-house.  Their  oddities  were  some- 
times very  amusing,  but  people  were  very  kind  to  them. 
During  the  latter  part  of  their  lives  the  town  partly  supported 
them. 

The  Second  church  extended  an  invitation  to  Rev.  Peter 
S.  Eaton  to  become  their  pastor,  which  was  accepted,  and 
he   was   ordained   September    20th. 

John  Huntington  died  at  Pleasant  Valley  March  2d,  in  the 
eighty-ninth  year  of  his  age.  He  lived  on  the  homestead  of 
his  ancestors,  and  some  claim  in  the  house  built  by  William,  1st. 
The  farm  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Joel  H.  Davis. 

1827. 

The  town  held  a  meeting  January  29th  to  remonstrate  against 
the  petition  of  the  Newburyport  Bridge  company  to  lower  the 
bridge  below  the  height  specified  in  the  charter.  A  strong  res- 
olution was  passed  condemning  the  bridge  as  an  infringement 
upon  the  rights  of  the  public  generally,  and  a  committee  was 
chosen  to  remonstrate  against  the  petition. 

The  chain  bridge  at  Deer  island,  which  had  stood  for  nearly 
forty  years,  broke  down  February  6th,  while  being  crossed  by  a 
team  loaded  with  timber,  and  precipitated  David  Jackman  and 
Frederick  Carleton  with  their  load  and  two  yoke  of  oxen  into 
the  swift  current  below.  The  men  were  rescued,  but  the  oxen 
were  drowned. 

The  ferry  at  Patten's  creek  was  rented  to  Col.  Stephen  Bai- 
ley for  five  years  at  one  dollar  per  year.  It  was  never  rented 
again  and  has  now  become  entirely  worthless. 

The  road  from  Charles  Ramsay's  at  the  Duck  Hole  was  wid- 
ened and  straightened  to  the  Haverhill  line. 

St.  James  Episcopal  church  at  the  Mills  was  organized  this 
year. 

1828. 

The  Congregational  society  at  the  Mills  was  incorporated  this 
year,  being  the  third  of  that  denomination  in  town. 

Rev.  David  Damon  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Unitarian 
society  at  the  Mills  June  25  th. 

At  the  presidential  election,  November  1st,  the  vote  stood: 
Whig,  one  hundred  and  twenty ;  Democrat,  seventy-eight. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  343 

In  1798  a  road  was  laid  out  from  Indian  creek,  near  John 
Huntington's,  to  the  Bailey  farm  on  the  old  Hunt  road,  run- 
ning nearly  parallel  with  the  Buttonwood  road ;  but  it  was  never 
opened  for  public  use  and  was  this  year  discontinued. 

The  Provident  Institution  for  savings  in  Salisbury  and  Ames- 
bury  was  incorporated  this  year.  Jacob  Brown,  Esq.,  was 
chosen  president  and  Robert  Patten,  Esq.,  treasurer.  The  office 
was  at  the  counting  room  of  the  factory. 

1829. 

At  the  annual  meeting  the  selectmen  were  ordered  to  divide 
the  River  highway  district.  Their  doings  in  widening  "  Daniel 
Weeds  lane''  were  laid  before  the  town  and  accepted. 

The  famous  breakwater  across  Joppa  flats  was  commenced 
this  year  and  thousands  of  tons  of  stone  were  boated  down  the 
river  from  Pleasant  Valley  by  Mr.  John  Huntington  and  Mr. 
David  Goodwin  to  fill  in  between  the  timbers.  Mr.  Hunting- 
ton lived  to  see  it  all  disappear. 

The  first  steamer  on  the  Merrimac  river  made  her  trial  trip 
this  year.  She  was  named  Merrimac  and  was  of  about  seventy 
tons  burthen. 

1830. 

Appropriations:  Schools,  $1000  ;  town  charges,  $2000;  high- 
ways, $900. 

A  committee  was  chosen  at  the  annual  meeting  to  ascertain 
whether  or  not  the  burying  ground  in  the  East  parish  belonged 
to  the  town,  and  report.  The  committee  reported  in  the  affirm- 
ative. The  one  acre  bought  of  Edmund  Elliott  in  1663  had 
been  enlarged  from  time  to  time  by  the  town  and  there  could 
be  no  doubt  about  the  ownership.  It  needed  fencing  and  the 
town  decided  to  build  the  fence. 

A  meeting  was  held  x\pril  5  th  to  take  measures  to  make  a 
survey  of  the  town,  agreeable  to  an  act  of  the  legislature.  The 
selectmen  were  intrusted  to  manage  the  matter. 

May  12th.  A  meeting  was  called  to  divide  school  district 
No.  9,  and  the  following  vote  was  passed  :  "Voted  to  sett  off 
that  part  of   No  9  school    district  which  lies  to  the  west  of  the 


344  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

dwelling    house    of  Mr   Joseph    Hoyt  including  said  Hoyt  as  a 
separate  district." 

At  the  November  election,  the  famous  contest  between  Caleb 
Cushing  and  Gayton  P.  Osgood  began.  Each  was  willing  to 
represent  this  Congressional  district  in  Congress.  The  vote 
stood :  Cushing  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine,  Osgood  one 
hundred  and  thirty-six,  and  fifty- eight  scattering.  Some  twelve 
or  fifteen  meetings  were  held  to  determine  the  matter. 

The  population  of  the  town,  according  to  the  fifth  census 
taken  this  year,  was  two  thousand,  four  hundred  and  forty-five. 

Christopher  Sargent,  Esq.,  died  November  ioth,  being  more 
than  ninety  years  of  age.  He  was  the  son  of  Moses  and  Sarah 
Sargent  and  was  born  May  18th,  1740.  William,  1st,  was  his 
greatgrandfather.  For  nearly  half  a  century  he  was  a  very 
prominent  man,  holding  all  the  offices  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 
He  was  first  chosen  selectman  in  1771,  and  subsquently  served 
the  town  in  that  capacity  for  thirteen  years,  his  last  term  being 
in  1 8 1 3.  He  was  representative  for  fourteen  years  and  town 
clerk  for  nine  years.  During  the  revolutionary  struggle  he  was 
one  of  the  few  who  directed  affairs,  and  gave  his  whole  influ- 
ence to  the  cause  of  freedom.  His  home  was  the  residence 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  grandson,  Moses  Sargent,  near 
Bear  hill.  He  not  only  managed  his  large  farm,  but,  as  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  wrote  deeds  and  wills,  settled  estates  and 
performed  many  other  duties  which  were  connected  with  the 
office  in  those  days.  He  was  the  owner  of  the  famous  negro 
"Forte,"  whom  he  bought  at  West  Newbury  for  ^30.  Forte 
was  a  jolly  fellow,  a  good  fiddler  and  popular  with  the  young- 
folks,  who  generally  consulted  him  in  regard  to  the  manage- 
ment of  their  frolics,  as  without  him  and  his  fiddle  but  lit- 
tle could  be  done  in  that  line.  But  his  promotion  in  this 
direction  rather  unfitted  him  for  waiting  upon  the  esquire, 
and,  in  fact,  he  finally  became  more  independent  than  his 
master.  His  fiddle  brought  him  into  such  general  notice  that 
he  found  it  necessary  to  buy  a  horse,  which  he  kept  at  the 
esquire's,  and,  like  the  old-fashioned  aristocracy,  generally  gave 
some   boy   a   four-pence    half  penny   to    saddle   and   bring   him 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


345 


to   the    door.      What    became    of    him   is    not    known,    as    he 
spent   the   last   part  of  his   life   at   the   eastward. 

1831. 

The  town  concluded  to  fix  the  compensation  of  the  school 
committee  as  follows :  "Voted  that  the  School  Committee 
who  shall  serve  in  future  shall  each  be  allowed  six  dollars 
a  year  as  a  compensation  for  his  services." 

William  Nichols,  Esq.,  of  West  Amesbury,  was  this  year 
chosen  state  senator. 

Oct.  ioth.  A  town  meeting  was  held  to  consider  the  peti- 
tion before  the  county  commissioners  for  a  new  road  from 
Moses  Sawyer's,  at  the  River,  to  Joseph  Merrill's.  The  meet- 
ing took  strong  ground  against  this  new  road,  offering  all  the 
opposition  possible,  but  without  effect,  as  it  was  laid  out  by  the 
commissioners  and  ordered  to  be  built. 

Jacob  Bagley  Currier,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  died  August 
3d,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  He  owned  and  lived  in  the 
house  now  owned  by  John  E.  Cowden,  Esq.,  at  the  Ferry. 

On  the  28th  of  December  Ephraim  Weed  died  at  the  Pond 
Hills,  where  he  was  born  December  29th,  1750,  being  eighty- 
one  years  old  lacking  one  day.  He  was  town  clerk  twenty- 
seven  years  and  selectman  three  years.  The  old  house  in 
which  he  was  born  and  died  stood  just  south  of  Mr.  O.  Everett 
Sargent's.  It  was  a  very  ancient  house  and  may  have  been 
built  by  the  first  Ephraim  Weed,  son  of  John  Weed,  1st.  It 
was  torn  down  soon  after  his  death. 

The  organization  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Salisbury 
and  Amesbury  Mills  was  completed  December  6th.  Eleazer  A. 
Johnson  was  chosen  clerk  and  held  the  office  more  than  forty 
years.  Jonathan  A.  Sargent  and  George  Perkins  were  chosen 
deacons.     No  minister  was  settled  at  this  time. 

1832. 

The  "middle  road,"  laid  out  last  year  by  the  commissioners, 
was  unpopular  with  a  large  majority  of  the  people  and  it  was 
determined  to  get  rid  of  it  if  possible.  At  the  annual  meeting 
the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  build  it,  but,  in  May,  the 
selectmen  were    ordered    to    notify  the    commissioners    that   the 

44 


346  HISTORY     OF  AMESBURY. 

town  refused  to  build  it.  Many  people  thought  that  there  was 
no  occasion  for  cutting  the  farms  to  their  great  damage 
and  compelling  the  town  to  be  at  great  expense  in  working  it. 
But  the  town  became  satisfied  that  there  was  no  way  to  get  rid 
of  it,  and  July  2d  a  meeting  was  called  and  Jonathan  Morrill, 
jr.,  and  Lowell  Bagley  were  chosen  a  committee  to  build  it.  It 
is  really  a  very  convenient  road  and  could  hardly  be  spared  at 
present. 

A  very  general  alarm  spread  through  the  land  at  this  time,  in 
consequence  of  the  appearance  of  the  Asiatic  cholera  in  some 
of  the  large  cities.  Stringent  sanitary  measures  were  adopted 
and  every  precaution  taken  to  prevent  its  spread.  In  this  town 
a  meeting  was  held  and  a  board  of  health  chosen  to  take 
charge  of  the  whole  matter.  A  circular  was  adopted  by  the 
meeting  and  printed  for  distribution  through  the  town.  A  very 
general  "cleaning  up  time"  followed:  cellars  and  rooms  were 
whitewashed,  lime  sprinkled  on  cesspools  and  all  foul  places, 
and,  in  short,  no  such  extensive  sanitary  measures  had  been 
enforced  since  the  settlement  of  the  town.  The  health  commit- 
tee were  empowered  to  provide  a  hospital  for  the  reception  of 
all  who  might  be  taken  with  this  plague,  and  to  draw  on  the 
treasury  for  a  sum  not  exceeding  $300.  Nothing  since  the  old 
small-pox  days  had  produced  so  much  excitement  as  this  dreaded 
Asiatic  cholera.  It  did  not  spread  as  expected  and  there  were 
no  cases  in  town. 

At  the  presidential  election  in  November  there  were  three 
hundred  and  fifty-five  votes  cast,  divided  as  follows :  Whigs, 
one  hundred  and  ninety-four ;  Democrats,  one  hundred  and 
sixty-one. 

Dr.  Philip  Towle  died  March  4th  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  whither 
he  had  gone  for  his  health.  He  was  a  very  amiable  person  and 
highly  esteemed  by  those  who  knew  him. 

July  nth.  Eliphalet  Barnard's  barn  was  burnt,  but  the  cause 
of  the  fire  has  never  been  fully  ascertained. 

1833. 

The  house  of  the  late  Elijah  Weed  at  the  Pond  Hills,  stand- 
ing where  Mr.  Daniel  O.  Weed  built  a  few  years  ago,  was  pur- 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  347 

chased  by  Mr.  John  C.  Bartlett,  to  be  removed  to  Bartlett's 
Corner;  but  bad  luck  prevented  its  arrival  there.  On  its  way, 
near  Daniel  Weed's  lane,  Mr.  Joseph  Boardman  was  accident- 
ally killed  while  assisting  in  the  removal.  With  a  great  deal  of 
labor  it  was  hauled  opposite  the  late  Joseph  Merrill's  and  there 
sold  to  Mr.  Jonathan  Ring,  who  took  it  down  and  re-built  it 
near  Ring's  bridge  for  his  son  George.  It  is  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  Mr.  Jonathan  Ring,  grandson  of  the  first-named 
Jonathan  Ring. 

At  the  November  meeting  the  articles  of  amendment  to  the 
Constitution  of  Massachusetts,  in  relation  to  compulsory  support 
of  any  particular  sect  of  religion,  came  before  the  meeting  and 
were  adopted  by  a  vote  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  yeas  to 
two  nays. 

Nov.  13th.  This  evening  is  remarkable  for  the  great  number 
of  meteors  which  fell  thick  and  fast  to  the  number  of  three 
hundred,  causing  much  alarm. 

1834. 

The  selectmen  were  instructed  not  to  approbate  the  sale  of 
wine,  cider  or  other  fermented  liquors,  and  it  was  voted  to 
request  the  commissioners  not  to  license  any  person  to  sell  the 
same  in  town. 

A  new  apportionment  of  the  school  money  was  made  as  fol- 
lows, viz.  : — 

Ferry  district, 

Mills  district, 

Lion's  Mouth  district, 

Pleasant  Valley  district, 

Pond  Hills  district, 

River  district, 

The  foregoing  may  serve  to  illustrate  the  change  of  popula- 
tion which  had  taken  place  during  the  last  forty- five  years.  At 
this  date  the  River  district  received  $40  more  than  the  Corner 
district,  but  this  has  long  since  been  reversed.  Birch  Meadow 
district  received  $4  more  than  Bear  Hill  district,  but,  at  present, 
the  latter  district  has  more  than  treble  the  number  of  scholars  of 
the  former. 


$185. 

Highland  district, 

$79- 

296. 

Birch  Meadow  district, 

86. 

58. 

Bear  Hill  district, 

82. 

72. 

Pond  district, 

40. 

72. 

Corner  district, 

95- 

J35- 

348  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

June  9th.  Benjamin  R.  Hutchinson  was  drowned  in  the  river 
near  the  landing  while  bathing.  He  was  a  teacher,  having 
taught  at  the  Pond  Hills  during  the  past  winter. 

On  the  5th  of  March  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Towne  was  installed 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  and  society  at  the  Mills. 

A  return  of  the  crops  in  town  was  this  year  made  to  the 
legislature,  from  which  the  following  is  taken :  "  raised  8000 
bushels  of  corn,  2500  bushels  of  rye  and  barley  and  900  tons 
of  upland  hay."  In  the  West  parish  five  hundred  and  fifty 
carriages  were  built,  mostly  chaises,  employing  one  hundred  and 
fifty  hands  and  requiring  a  capital  of  $30,000. 

For  some  five  or  six  years  past  the  idea  of  introducing  the 
cultivation  of  silk  has  been  entertained  by  a  few  persons,  and 
the  cultivation  of  the  Chinese  Mulberry  tree  has  been  com- 
menced in  various  towns  in  the  county.  In  this  town  Capt. 
Thomas  Bailey,  a  ship-builder,  at  the  Ferry,  owning  the  wharf 
and  buildings  recently  owned  by  the  late  A.  S.  Bailey,  Esq., 
had  planted  a  large  number  of  trees  on  land  favorably  situated 
for  that  purpose.  At  this  time  he  had  five  thousand  trees  in 
fine  condition,  and  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  wonns 
within  ten  days  of  maturity.  His  large  store-house  had  been 
fitted  for  feeding  the  wonns  and  everything  seemed  to  promise 
success.  But  some  evil-disposed  persons  broke  into  the  prem- 
ises and  satisfied  their  malice  by  throwing  down  the  benches  and 
destroying  nearly  all  the  worms.  This  was  fatal  to  the  silk  cul- 
ture in  Amesbury,  and  only  the  scattered  trees  on  various  farms 
remained  in  a  few  years  to  preserve  the  memory  of  the 
"silk  fever." 

1835. 

Several  petitions  were  this  year  presented  to  the  county  com- 
missioners for  widening  and  straightening  roads,  one  of  which 
was  by  William  Pecker  and  others  for  improving  the  River  road 
from  the  Ferry  westward  through  Pleasant  Valley.  The  town, 
as  usual,  opposed  the  measure,  but  without  success. 

The  aged  Revolutionary  soldier,  William  Huntington,  died 
February  15  th.  He  lived  on  the  road  now  known  as  Highland 
street  in  a  one-story  house,  which    is  yet    standing   near   Simon 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  349 

Phillips'.  He  was  in  the  army  for  some  length  of  time  and 
was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne.  For  many  years  he 
drew  a  pension  of  eight  dollars  per  month,  which  was  his  main 
support.     He  was  nearly  eighty  years  of  age. 

The  new  meeting-house  at  Salisbury  Point  was  raised  Septem- 
ber 1st  and  dedicated  December  31st,  when  Rev.  John  Gunni- 
son was  installed  pastor.  The  society  adopted  the  title  of 
"Union  Evangelical  Church  of  Salisbury  and  Amesbury,"  and  is 
largely  composed  of  Amesbury  people. 

Rev.  Benjamin  Bell,  for  several  years  pastor  of  the  First 
church,  died  December  31st.  In  his  young  days  he  was  an 
eloquent  preacher  and  drew  full  houses.  He  was  a  strong  Cal- 
vinist,  believing  in  infant  damnation  and  seldom  failed  to  preach 
his  sentiments  pretty  plainly.  In  old  age  he  was  dependent 
upon  the  town  for  support  and  died  in  the  almshouse. 

A  steamer  from  Boston  was  this  year  engaged  to  carry  excur- 
sion parties  on  the  Merrimac  river  during  the  warm  season. 

Rev.  Benjamin  Sawyer  resigned  the  pastorate  of  the  First 
church  in  Amesbury,  where  he  had  labored  since  1814.  Other 
societies  in  the  villages  had  drawn  away  the  members  to  such 
an  extent  that  money  for  stated  preaching  could  hardly  be 
raised.     Mr.  Sawyer  was  the  last  minister  settled. 

1836. 

The  petition  of  Josiah  B.  Gale  and  others,  filed  last  year  for 
the  improvement  of  the  main  street  at  the  Mills  and,  also,  a 
new  bridge,  was  successful,  and  the  selectmen  were  ordered  to 
build  a  new  stone  bridge,  provided  Salisbury  consented  to  the 
arrangement. 

The  petition  of  William  Pecker  and  others  was,  also,  success- ' 
ful,  and  the    River  road  received  important  alterations  in  numer- 
ous   places.      The    order,    however,    was    not   fully    carried    out, 
causing  some  trouble  forty  years  afterwards. 

Capt.  Thomas  Bailey  was  allowed  by  the  town  to  build  a 
dam  across  the  brook  which  divides  the  Ferry  and  Pleasant 
Valley  school  districts,  near  the  late  Ira  Miles',  "provided  he 
dont  injure  the  road."  Mr.  Bailey  subsequently  built  a  dam 
and  mill  here  for  grinding  and  other  purposes,  and  the  road 
was  changed  to  the  south,  over  the  heavy  dam. 


35  O  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

The  town  having  assisted  Aaron  Colby  while  living,  agreed 
after  his  death  to  acquit  all  claims  to  his  estate,  provided  suffi- 
cient security  was  given  for  the  support  of  Abigail  Colby,  his 
widow. 

Nov.  14th  was  presidential  election  day  and  the  vote  stood  : 
Whigs,  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine ;  Democrats,  one  hundred 
and  fifty-five. 

The  Universalist  society  of  West  and  South  Amesbury  built  a 
meeting-house  this  year.  It  was  located  at  West  Amesbury, 
opposite  the  residence  of  Jonathan  B.  Sargent,  Esq.,  on  the 
main  street. 

The  Ferry  school  district  at  the  annual  meeting  voted  that 
the  rear  fence  be  pulled  up  and  sold,  and  the  proceeds  laid 
out  on  or  about  the  house,  and  David  L.  Dearborn  was  chosen 
to  carry  the  vote  into  effect.  In  1834  the  sum  of  $150  was 
expended  on  the  premises,  and,  probably,  this  fence  was  built 
then,  and,  perhaps,  contrary  to  the  notions  of  some  portion  of 
the  district. 

Primas  Hale,  a  colored  man,  died  November  2  2d.  He  was, 
many  years  ago,  Deacon  Orlando  Sargent's  slave,  but  where  or 
when  he  bought  him  has  not  been  ascertained.  He  lived  at 
the  Pond  Hills  in  a  small  house  nearly  opposite  the  new  house 
of  Mr.  B.  F.  Huntington,  a  while  after  leaving  his  master,  and 
the  cellar  is  yet  to  be  seen.  He  afterwards  removed  the  house 
to  the  Ferry,  at  the  foot  of  Goodridge's  lane,  where  he  lived 
many  years.  He  was  a  constant  attendant  at  church,  occupying 
the  north  front  pew  in  the  east  gallery  of  the  Sandy  Hill  church. 
Mrs.  Hale  died  in  1828  and  the  aged  widower  lived  alone  till  his 
death. 

Since  the  resignation  of  Rev.  Benjamin  Sawyer  at  the  East 
parish,  the  project  of  disposing  of  the  old  meeting-house  has 
been  discussed,  and  an  article  was  inserted  in  the  warrant  for 
the  annual  meeting  to  see  what  measures  should  be  taken  for 
the  erection  of  a  new  house.  The  decision  of  the  meeting  was 
"that  it  is  expedient  to  build  a  new  house."  The  meeting  was 
adjourned  for  two  weeks,  and,  on  re-assembling,  it  was  "voted 
that  the  parish  take  the  money  that  is  subscribed   and  the  par- 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  35 1 

ish  meeting  house  and  build  a  new  house  and  if  there  is  any 
deficiency  to  sell  the  parish  house  to  make  up  the  deficiency." 
A  committee,  consisting  of  Valentine  Bagley,  Amos  Weed  and 
Robert  Patten,  Esq.,  was  chosen  to  carry  the  vote  into  effect. 
The  plan  was  feasible  and  might  have  been  carried  out,  but 
it  was  allowed  to  fall  through  for  want  of  resolution. 

Oct.  30th.  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Towne  was  dismissed  from  the 
pastorate  of  the  Congregational  church  at  the  Mills,  and  on  the 
7th  of  December  Rev.  Seth  H.  Keeler  was  installed. 

The  Powow  River  bank  was  incorporated  this  year  with  a 
capital  of  $100,000.  The  corporators  were  Seth  Clark,  Robert 
Patten,  Jonathan  B.  Webster  and  their  associates.  Seth  Clark, 
sen.,  was  chosen  president  and  Nathaniel  White  cashier. 

St.  James  Church  was  consecrated  October  2 2d.  It  was  a 
small  building,  occupying  the  site  of  the  present  church.  The 
society  had  previously  worshipped  in  Washington  hall,  and  Rev. 
Joseph  H.  Price  was  pastor  in  1833.  Rev.  Henry  M.  Davis 
was  now  engaged  to  supply  the  pulpit  for  one  year. 

This  year  people  were  very  much  alarmed  by  the  appearance 
of  small-pox  in  town.  Several  cases  occurred  and  Jonathan 
Morrill,  Esq.,  gave  up  his  house  for  a  pest-house.  There  proved 
to  be  but  few  cases  and  the  excitement  soon  died  away. 

The  removal  of  John  Greenleaf  Whittier  to  Amesbury  is  one 
of  the  prominent  events  of  the  year.  He  was  born  in  Haver- 
hill on  the  homestead  of  his  ancestor,  Thomas  Whittier,  in  1808. 
Although  born  and  reared  on  a  farm,  Mr.  Whittier  showed  no 
special  inclination  to  follow  the  calling  of  his  ancestors,  but 
early  manifested  a  taste  for  literary  pursuits.  When  but  twenty 
years  of  age,  he  became  editor  of  a  paper  in  Boston  entitled 
the  "American  Manufacturer,"  and  some  two  years  later  he 
assumed  the  responsible  position  of  editor  of  the  "New  England 
Review,"  printed  at  Hartford,  Connecticut,  which  connection 
continued  for  two  years.  Subsequently  he  became  corresponding 
editor  of  the  Washington  "National  Era,"  which  position  he 
filled  with  marked  ability  for  several  years. 

His  thorough  knowledge  of  New  England  scenery,  early  tra- 
ditions and  habits  of   the    people    have    given  to  his  home  bal- 


352 


HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY. 


lads  a  charm  which  no  other  poet  can  claim.  In  the  poem 
entitled  the  "Witch's  Daughter,"  we  find  very  touchingly  por- 
trayed the  feelings  of  the  disgraced  daughter  in  consequence  of 
the  frowns  and  jeers  of  those  with  whom  she  is  obliged  to  asso- 
ciate. His  love  of  toleration  and  freedom  is  conspicuous  in 
every  line  of  the  "Exiles."  Other  poems  of  local  scenery  are 
equally  interesting  and  appropriate,  sparkling  with  gems  of 
thought  which  endear  them  to  the  descendants  of  those  early 
pioneers,  who  settled  this  romantic  valley. 

Mr.  Whittier  established  his  home  on  Friend  street,  at  the 
foot  of  "Whitcher's"  hill,  to  which  he  removed  the  present  year. 
Most  of  his  popular  poems  have  been  written  since  his  removal 
to  Amesbury. 


_  .  ^--:  _.____.__  ^  _________ 


'     W.- 


MR, whittier's  residence. 

1837. 

The  River  road  was  widened  last  year  by  the  commissioners, 
and  the  town  now  ordered  the  selectmen  to  make  the  required 
repairs. 

The  River  school  district  was  divided  by  order  of  the  town 
and  the  Landing  district  designated  as  No.  Eleven. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


353 


This  year  is  specially  noted  for  the  sharp  contest  in  regard 
to  the  town's  share  of  the  "  Surplus  Revenue."  For  several 
years  the  country  had  enjoyed  great  prosperity,  business  of  all 
kinds  had  been  good,  revenue  had  accumulated  in  the  Treas- 
ury, the  national  debt  had  been  extinguished,  and  yet  many 
millions  remained  in  the  Treasury  for  which  government  had 
no  use.  Under  the  apprehension  that  it  might  be  used  for  bad 
purposes  Congress  very  properly  decided  to  deposit  it  with  the 
states.  This  state  carried  the  idea  further  and  deposited  it 
with  the  towns.  It  soon  became  a  bone  of  contention,  dividing 
the  people  into  two  classes,  the  one  favoring  an  equal  distribu- 
tion, the  other  strongly  opposed  to  any  division  of  the  money. 
Mr.  Daniel  Sargent,  treasurer,  was  authorized  to  receive  this 
town's  share,  having  given  bonds  for  the  faithful  discharge  of 
that  trust.  The  first  instalment  was  received  and  the  question 
of  its  disposition  at  once  forced  itself  upon  the  town.  Excite- 
ment ran  high,  and  bitter  feeling  very  generally  prevailed. 

April  3d.  A  town  meeting  was  held,  and  it  was  decided  to 
deposit  the  Surplus  Revenue  among  the  inhabitants  according  to 
population  (paupers  excepted),  and  Jonathan  B.  Sargent,  Jon- 
athan Morrill,  jr.,  Benjamin  Rowell,  William  Nichols  and  Daniel 
Weed  were  chosen  a  committee  to  carry  the  vote  into  effect. 
The  treasurer  was,  however,  opposed  to  this  division,  and  was 
not  inclined  to  pass  the  money  over  to  this  committee  for  such 
a  purpose,  and  thus  the  matter  rested  till  May  2 2d,  when  a 
second  meeting  was  held  and  the  whole  matter  reconsidered. 
It  was  decided  to  loan  it  to  voters  in  sums  not  larger  than 
$100,  good  security  being  taken,  with  interest,  to  be  paid 
annually.  The  ascendant  party  were  of  opinion  that  it  might 
be  called  for  at  some  future  time,  and  should  be  where  it 
could  be  called  in. 

A  strong  rally  of  the  divisionists  followed  June  5  th  when 
the  whole  doings  of  the  last  meeting  were  set  aside  and 
the  division  policy  reaffirmed.  But  here  an  unexpected  diffi- 
culty was  met.  The  treasurer  had  possession  of  the  money, 
and,  backed  by  the  selectmen  and  a  strong  party,  refused  to 
give  it  up  to  agents    appointed    to    receive    it.     The  agents  im- 

45 


354  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

mediately  commenced  a  suit  in  behalf  of  the  "  Inhabitants  of 
the  Town  Amesbury  against  Jacob  Gove  and  others,  Selectmen 
of  Amesbury,"  to  recover  the  money.  Thus  stood  matters  at 
the  close  of  1837. 

The  selectmen  were  authorized  to  purchase  two  hearses  for 
the  use  of  ^he  town,  and  also  to  provide  suitable  houses. 

By  request  of  Peter  S.  Eaton,  pastor  of  the  2d  church,  a 
council  was  held  May  10th  to  consider  his  request  for  a  dis- 
mission. Mr.  Eaton's  request  having  been  granted  an  invita- 
tion was  extended  by  the  church  to  Rev.  Lucius  W.  Clark,  which 
was  accepted,  and  he  was  installed  Nov.   1st. 

The  West  Amesbury    Universalist    Society    was    organized  this  • 
year,  and  Rev.  E.  G.  Brooks  was  ordained  pastor. 

Rev.  Charles  C.  Taylor  was  called  to  supply  the  pulpit  of  the 
Episcopal  society,  and  retained  till  1840. 

The  manufacture  of  shoes  at  Haverhill  having  become  an 
extensive  and  lucrative  business,  employment  was  given  to  a 
very  great  number  of  workmen  in  the  adjoining  towns.  The 
work  employed  a  large  number  of  shoemakers  in  this  town,  and 
also  binders,  and  seemed  to  be  one  of  the  chief  branches  of 
industry.  The  town  was  literally  dotted  with  shoe  shops,  and 
it  had  really  come  to  be  an  age  of  shoemakers.  For  some 
years  it  had  been  a  very  profitable  employment,  but  during  the 
latter  part  of  the  year  a  financial  crash  came  which  swept  away 
this  branch  among  others  for  a  season.  General  bankruptcy 
prevailed  among  the  manufacturers. 

1838. 

The  old  contest  in  regard  to  the  disposition  of  the  surplus 
money  was  again  renewed  at  the  annual  meeting,  and,  the  anti- 
division  party  being  in  the  ascendency,  it  was  decided  to  appro- 
priate it  to  school  purposes.  The  interest  was  to  be  paid  annu- 
ally to  the  prudential  committees  of  the  districts.  This  was  a 
wise  measure,  but  destined  to  come  to  naught. 

i\.pril  2d.  The  divisionists  called  a  meeting  which  was  nearly 
equally  divided.  The  opposing  parties  marshalled  their  forces 
on  the  choice  of  moderator  and  William  Nichols,  Esq.,  received 
one    hundred    and    fifty-six    votes,  which  was    just    the  required 


HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY.  355 

number  for  a  choice,  thus  giving  the  divisionists  a  slight  advan- 
tage. This  was  rather  a  faint  victory,  but  the  meeting  proceeded 
to  undo  the  work  of  the  preceding  one,  and  soon  things  wore 
an  entirely  different  aspect. 

For  the  third  time  depositing  with  the  inhabitants  was  ordered 
and  all  necessary  measures  to  carry  the  vote  into  effect  were 
passed.  A  committee,  consisting  of  Jonathan  B.  Sargent,  Dan- 
iel Weed  and  Benjamin  Rowell,  was  chosen  to  loan  the  money 
to  the  inhabitants,  taking  notes  payable  when  called  for  by  the 
government. 

The  contest  was  given  up  by  the  opposing  party  and  two 
dollars  per  head  (paupers  excepted)  were  loaned  to  the  inhab- 
itants, parents  taking  for  those  under  them.  Thus  ended  this 
bitter  contest,  although  it  was  not  soon  forgotten. 

Sept.  20th.  Rev.  James  B.  Hadley  was  ordained  pastor  of 
the  Union  Evangelical  society  at  the  Ferry  and  Point. 

July  12th.  Joseph  Stockman  in  attempting  to  swim  across 
the  Merrimac  river,  near  William  E.  Worthen's,  was  drowned. 
In  his  younger  days  he  followed  the  sea  and  was  an  excellent 
swimmer ;  but,  at  eighty  years  of  age,  he  was  not  able  to  swim 
the  Merrimac.  He  lived  where  Mr.  Trustum  Hobson  now 
resides  and  was  a  descendant  of  John  and  Sarah  ( Bradbury ) 
Stockman,  of  Salisbury,  who  were  married  "ioth  3  mo  167 1." 
For  many  years  he  lived  in  the  little  cottage  under  "ye  Wolf 
Peet,"  since  occupied  by  Jonathan  Goodwin,  but  torn  down 
several  years  ago. 

1839. 

Daniel  Weed,  Esq.,  died  October  10th,  having  held  the 
office  of  town  clerk  for  the  last  twenty  years.  He  was  a  good 
penman  and  the  records  were  neatly  and  faithfully  kept.  For  many 
years  he  taught  school  winters  and  occasionally  summers.  x\s  a 
disciplinarian  he  was  very  successful,  and  roguish  boys,  who 
were  disposed  to  play,  under  his  magic  influence  changed  their 
minds  and  concluded  to  "play  no  more."  He  served  as  chair- 
man of  the  selectmen  in  1838  and  was  for  many  years  treas- 
urer and  collector.  He  was  a  son  of  Capt.  Ephraim  Weed, 
who  served  as  town  clerk  nearly  thirty  years  previous  to  his  term. 


356  HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY. 

Mr.  Amos  Weed  was  appointed  clerk  and  afterwards  elected 
to  the  office  till  1844. 

Capt.  John  Blaisdell,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  died  August  21st 
at  the  Ferry.  He  was  in  the  service  some  time  and  for  many 
years  received  a  pension  from  the  government.  He  died  at  the 
great  age  of  eight- two  years.  The  old  French  gun  which  he 
used  against  the  "red  coats  on  the  run,"  and  which  was  very 
dear  to  him  towards  the  last  of  his  days,  is  now  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  writer. 

Capt.  Valentine  Bagley  died  January  19th.  He  will  be 
remembered  by  the  older  portion  of  the  people  at  the  Ferry 
as  the  landlord  of  the  tavern  house  at  Bartlett's  Corner,  which 
he  kept  for  many  years  in  the  good  old  style  of  those  times. 
The  tavern  is  now  the  private  residence  of  Mr.  Daniel  Hunt- 
ington. A  large  open  yard  was  then  left  for  public  use,  and  it 
was  a  lively  place  during  the  May  trainings.  The  sign  post 
with  its  swinging  sign  stood  at  the  street  end  of  the  house, 
nearly  in  the  road,  warning  the  weary  traveller  that  here  he 
might  find  a  home. 

In  his  young  days  Mr.  Bagley  followed  the  sea  and  was  once 
cast  away  on  the  Desert  of  Arabia,  where  he  narrowly  escaped 
with  his  life.  His  terrible  sufferings  commenced  July  10th, 
1792,  when  the  vessel  was  found  to  be  ashore  on  the  sandy 
coast  of  Arabia.  But  few  of  the  crew  which  started  to  cross  the 
desert  lived  to  perform  the  journey.  The  rough  treatment  from 
the  wandering  Arabs,  the  burning  sands  and  want  of  water  was 
more  than  ordinary  constitutions  could  endure.  Mr.  Bagley' s 
strong  constitution  carried  him  through  this  fiery  trial  and  he 
arrived  home  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  peace  and 
plenty.  It  has  been  said  that  he  dug  his  well  near  the  street 
that  all  might  drink  and  not  suffer  as  he  had  done  in  his  wan- 
derings across  the  desert. 

The  River  district  built  a  new  school-house  this  year  and  the 
citizens  subscribed  a  sufficient  sum  for  a  hall  in  the  upper 
story  for  the  accommodation  of  the  village.  At  a  later  date 
this  hall  was  purchased  for  a  school-room. 

The    Congregational    society   at   West    Amesbury  built   a  new 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  357 

meeting-house  this  year,  which  was  located  where  the  present 
church  stands. 

The  Universalist  society  at  West  Amesbury  settled  Rev.  J.  S. 
Barry  as  their  pastor  this  year. 

On  the  7th  of  October  Rev.  Seth  H.  Keeler  was  dismissed 
from  the  pastorate  of  the  Congregational  church  and  society 
at  the  Mills. 

1840, 

Appropriations:  Schools,  $1500;  Poor,  etc.  $2500 ;  Highways, 
$1200.  At  the  annual  meeting  a  committee  was  chosen  to  con- 
sider the  expediency  of  selling  the  poor-farm.  It  was  located 
on  Saunders'  hill,  and  the  soil  was  wet  and  heavy,  which  ren- 
dered it  unfit  for  old  people  to  work  on,  and  hence  the  neces- 
sity of  selling  it. 

April  6th.  A  meeting  was  held  and  the  selectmen  were 
instructed  to  sell  the  farm. 

The  necessity  of  a  Town  House  was  beginning  to  be  felt, 
and  at  the  annual  meeting  a  committee  was  chosen  to  consider 
the  matter  and  report  a  suitable  location.  But  at  the  April 
meeting  the  town  voted  to  take  no  action  in  regard  to  the 
matter,  and  the  subject  was  dropped  temporarily. 

The  White  Hall  road  having  been  widened  and  straightened 
to  the  New  Hampshire  line  by  the  commissioners,  the  select- 
men were  ordered  to  work  and  repair  the  same. 

The  proprietors  of  the  Essex  "Merrimac  bridge  having  peti- 
tioned for  an  extension  of  their  charter,  the  town  authorized  the 
selectmen  to  employ  counsel  to  defeat  the  petition. 

This  year  is  more  specially  known  for  the  "  hard  cider  cam- 
paign" and  election  of  William  Henry  Harrison  to  the  Presi- 
dency. The  vote  in  Amesbury  was  493,  being  the  largest  ever 
cast.  Harrison  had  269,  Van  Buren  213,  and  the  Abolition 
ticket  11. 

Sept.  1 6th.  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Merrill  was  installed  as  pastor 
over  the  Congregational  church  and  society  at  the  Mills. 

A  porch  and  spire  was  this  year  built  to  the  Congregational 
church  at  the  Mills  at  an  expense  of  about  $1500. 

Mr.  James  H.  Davis  opened  a  school    in    the    Academy  this 


358  HISTORY     OF  AMESBURY. 

spring  and  was  liberally  patronized  by  the  public.  For  several 
years  this  school  had  languished,  sometimes  being  discontinued 
altogether  for  a  season,  and  again  being  revived  under  some 
transient  teacher.  Mr.  Davis  proved  a  popular  teacher,  and 
continued  his  labors  during  the  summer  seasons  until  1850,  some- 
times  having  more  than  seventy  scholars. 

The  population  of  the  town  is  2,471,  as  given  by  the  last 
census. 

1841. 

The  new  road  from  the  pound  winding  along  under  the  hill 
to  Orlando  Sargent's  was  built  this  year.  The  old  one  over  the 
hill  past  Davis  Mason's  had  been  a  source  of  great  expense 
on  account  of  being  blocked  with  snow  every  winter.  By  this 
new  route  the  hill  and  snow  were  both  avoided. 

The  Universalist  society  at  West  Amesbury  settled  the  Rev. 
J.  J.  Locke  as  pastor  the  present  year. 

Rev.  Silas  Blaisdell  was  engaged  as  minister  by  the  Episcopal 
society  this  year  and  retained  till  1844. 

A  sad  accident  occurred  on  the  13th  of  January  which 
resulted  in  the  death  of  Mr.  Enoch  Wells,  a  highly  respected 
resident  of  this  town.  Mr.  Wells  was  standing  in  front  of  a 
picker  machine  which  he  was  tending  in  the  large  mill  of  the 
Salisbury  Company,  when  it  suddenly  burst,  killing  him  instantly. 
Mr.  William  Foot  was  leaning  against  the  side  of  the  machine 
at  the  time,  but  escaped  urihurt.  Mr.  Wells  was  53  years  of 
age,  and  by  trade  a  hatter,  but  entered  the  service  of  the  Sal- 
isbury Company  soon  after  the  completion  of  the  large  mill  on 
High  street.  He  was  a  descendant  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Wells, 
the  faithful  pastor  for  more  than  sixty  years. 

1842. 

The  report  of  the  committee  chosen  in  1840  to  consider  the 
propriety  of  selling  the  poor-farm  was  received  and  accepted 
and  the  committee  was  authorized  to  execute  a  deed  of  sale.  It 
was  subsequently  sold  to  John  Evans,  Esq.,  of  Salisbury,  who 
occupied  it  till  his  death.  Having  disposed  of  the  farm,  it 
became  necessary  to  return  to  the  old  system  of  putting  out 
the  poor  to  the  "best  advantage"  for  the  town. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  359 

July  27th.  Nathan  Nutter,  Thomas  Osgood  and  Isaac  Mar- 
tin, all  living  at  the  Ferry,  went  out  over  the  bar  in  a  sail  boat 
for  a  fare  of  fish,  as  they  had  often  done  before  ;  but,  either 
by  accident  or  a  sudden  squall,  they  were  upset  and  drowned. 
They  were  well-known  residents,  somewhat  past  the  middle  age 
and  not  so  well  calculated  to  manage  a  sail  boat  as  in  their 
younger  days.     The  boat  was  not  considered  a  safe  one. 

Aug.  31st.  A  council  was  called  for  the  dismission  of  Rev. 
Lucius  W.  Clark  from  the  pastorate  of  the  Congregational 
church  of  West  Amesbury.  His  connection  with  this  church 
being  dissolved,  a  unanimous  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Henry 
B.  Smith,  which  was  accepted,  and  he  was  ordained  as  pas- 
tor   December    29th. 

A  fine  toned  bell  was  placed  in  the  tower  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  at  the   Mills,  costing  $400. 

1843. 

This  year  it  was  decided  to  build  a  town  house,  and  its  loca- 
tion was  fixed  "between  the  houses  of  Josiah  D.  Challis  and 
Thomas  Hoyt."  One  thousand  dollars  were  appropriated  and  the 
selectmen  were  appointed  to  oversee  the  work.  The  ancient 
meeting-house  at  West  Amesbury  had  been  taken  down  and  no 
convenient  place  could  be  had  there  for  the  alternate  meetings. 

Jonathan  Ring  and  others,  inhabitants  of  "little  Salisbury," 
as  it  was  called,  petitioned  the  legislature  to  be  annexed  to 
Amesbury,  and  their  petition  was  granted. 

James  Horton  and  others  petitioned  the  General  Court  for 
leave  to  construct  a  railroad  from  the  Eastern  road  to  the  Mills, 
and  leave  was  granted. 

Jonathan  Elliott  petitioned  for  leaye  to  construct  a  railroad 
from  the  Mills  to  New  Hampshire  line.  Both  of  these  routes 
were  approved  by  the  town,  but  only  the  Salisbury  branch  built. 

The  Powow  River  bridge  at  the  Ferry  was  re-built  with  two 
stone  arches  in  a  substantial  manner  at  great  expense. 

The  Universal ist  society  at  West  Amesbury  settled  Rev.  G.  G. 
Strickland  as  pastor  this  year. 

March  5th.  The  house  of  Jonathan  Morrill,  Esq.,  at  the 
Buttonvvood,  was  burnt  to  the  ground  this  day.     It  was  a  bitter 


360  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

cold  day  with  a  stiff  breeze  from  the  northwest,  and  in  about 
thirty  minutes  after  the  fire  broke  out  not  a  timber  remained 
standing.  It  caught  from  a  defect  in  the  chimney  in  the  attic, 
and  had  made  such  progress  before  discovery  that  very  little  of 
its  contents  were  saved.  Among  the  valuable  articles  destroyed 
were  thirty  bushels  of  wheat,  thirty  bushels  of  rye,  forty  bushels 
of  corn  and  more  than  one  hundred  bushels  of  potatoes  and 
a  large  amount  of  furniture  and  clothing.  It  was  a  very  ancient 
house,  built,  probably,  previous  to  1700. 

1844. 

Presidential  election  this  year,  and  the  vote  stood  Whig  207, 
Democrat  167.  The  town  was  divided  into  three  parties  which 
prevented  the  choice  of  a  representative  to  General  Court,  the 
vote  standing  Joseph  Kingsbury  (W.)  149,  Joseph  Merrill,  jr. 
(D.)  140,  John  G.  Whittier  (Ab.)  105.  A.  L.  Bailey,  Esq.  had 
95  votes  for  representative  to  Congress.  Joseph  Merrill,  jr. 
was  this  year  chosen  town  clerk,  and  retained  the  office  till 
1880. 

Nov.  5th.  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Merrill  was  dismissed  from  the 
pastorate  of  the  Mills  Congregational  church  and  society,  and 
Rev.  John  H.  Merdough  was  engaged  as  stated  supply  Dec. 
15th,  and  was  retained  till  1849. 

Rev.  D.  Gordon  Estes  was  elected  rector  of  St.  James  church, 
and  officiated  till  1850. 

1845. 

For  some  years  the  people  at  the  Pond  and  Bear  Hill  had 
been  discussing  the  need  of  a  road  west  of  the  pond  to  con- 
nect the  Bear  Hill  and  Pond  roads  and  open  direct  communi- 
cation with  Southampton.  A  petition  was  now  presented  to  the 
Commissioners  to  locate  such  road.  The  town  strongly  opposed 
the  measure,  and  by  their  committee,  chosen  for  the  purpose, 
defeated  the  petitioners. 

At  the  June  meeting  the  committee  appointed  to  work  the 
White  Hall  road  were  instructed  to  finish  it  to  the  acceptance 
of  the  commissioners. 

A  Universalist  society  was  incorporated  under  a  general  stat- 
ute of  the  Commonwealth  at  the  Mills  April  8th.     This   society 


HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY.  36  I 

was  started  in  Washington  Hall  some  two  years  ago,  and  may 
be  considered  a  continuation  of  the  society  which  existed  here 
many  years  ago,  probably  as  early  as  1800.  The  small  house 
occupied  by  the  Episcopal  society  was  purchased  and  moved  to 
Friend  street,  where  it  was  refitted  and  occupied  by  this  society. 
Rev.  George  G.  Strickland  was  the  first  pastor. 

The  first  planing  machine  in  town  was  set  up  by  Thomas 
Bailey  in  his  mill  at  the  Ferry  this  year. 

1846.- 

The  peculiarity  of  this  year  was  the  mania  for  building  rail- 
roads although  none  were  built.  The  first  project  was  a  railroad 
from  the  Mills  to  Plaistow,  N.  H.  which  the  town  heartily 
endorsed  by  way  of  approving  resolutions,  and  the  second  was 
from  the  Mills  by  way  of  South  Amesbury  to  the  Boston  and 
Maine.  This  also  received  the  town's  approval,  no  preference 
being  given  to  either  route.  Both  were  endorsed  and  both  came 
to  naught. 

Stephen  Kendrick  was  this  year  appointed  to  take  charge  of 
the  East  parish  burying  ground  which  office  he  held  till  his 
death  in  1875. 

Nov.  5th.  The  new  Episcopal  church  was  this  day  conse- 
crated. Its  location  is  on  the  site  of  the  small  church  of  1836, 
on  Main  street.  A  committee  was  appointed  last  year  to 
commence  the  work.  A  stone  was  taken  from  the  foundation 
of  the  ancient  church  at  Pond  Hills  and  placed  in  the  founda- 
tion here  to  denote  a  continuance  of  the  same  church. 

1847. 

At  the  annual  meeting  $100  was  appropriated  to  repair  the 
Centre  burying  ground  and  $200  to  repair  the  East  parish  bury- 
ing ground. 

May  17th.  A  meeting  was  held  to  consider  the  petition  for 
"widening  and  straightening  the  road  from  Tappan  Sargent's  to 
the  post-office "  at  South  Amesbury.  A  committee  was  chosen 
to  oppose  the  measure,  but  without  success,  and  the  road  was 
finally  worked  according  to  the  order  of  the  commissioners. 

The  subject  of  a  new  town  was  pretty  freely  agitated  at  the 
East  end  and  a  petition  sent  to  the  legislature  for  an  act  incor- 

46 


362  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

porating  the  territory  as  far  west  as  the  Kimball  road  into  a 
separate  town. 

To  check  and  defeat  this  measure,  a  town  meeting  was  called 
December  9th  and  the  following  resolutions  passed  almost 
unanimously  : — 

"  Resolved,  That  the  citizens  of  the  town  of  Amesbury  in 
their  collective  capacity  do  agree  that  they  cannot  under'  exist- 
ing circumstances  consent  to  allow  any  portion  of  their  territo- 
rial limits  to  be  assumed  or  surrendered  for  the  creation  of  any 
new  town  within  her  original  borders." 

"Resolved,  That  having  met  in  town  meeting  pursuant  to  a 
notice  from  the  State  Legislature  in  reference  to  a  petition  to 
that  body  from  some  of  our  citizens  asking  for  a  new  town  to 
embrace  a  considerable  portion  of  our  territory  and  likewise  to 
embrace  the  most  densely  inhabited  part  of  it— we  do  solemnly 
protest  against  the  measure  as  uncalled  for  on  the  part  of  the 
petitioners  and  in  direct  opposition  to  the  feelings  and  views 
of  a   very  large   proportion   of  our   citizens." 

"Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  go 
before  the  committee  of  the  Legislature  at  the  time  and  place 
appointed  and  have  such  a  hearing  as  may  subserve  the  cause 
and  import  of  the   foregoing   resolutions." 

"Voted   That   the   Committee    employ    counsel    if  they  deem 

it    expedient." 

Patten    Sargent,       \ 

Abner  L.    Bailey,  ,-   Committee. 

William    Nichols,  ) 

The  measure  was  defeated  and  the  good  old  town  saved 
from    mutilation. 

Rev.  Henry  B.  Smith  of  the  Congregational  church  at  West 
Amesbury   was   dismissed    by   a   council   held    September    29th. 

Rev.  S.  C.  Hewitt  was  this  year  installed  as  pastor  of  the 
Universalist    society    at    the    Mills. 

1848. 

A  code  of  by-laws  was  adopted  regulating  the  police  affairs 
of  the  town,  and,  also,  a  stringent  dog  law  requiring  every  owner 
to  pay  $2.00  for  a  license  each  year. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  363 

The  question  of  buying  a  poor-farm  was  again  agitated,  and 
at  a  meeting  held  April  7th  a  committee  was  chosen  to  look 
out  a  suitable  place.  But  at  the  November  meeting  a  large 
committee  was  chosen  to  report  to  the  town  the  expense  of 
keeping  the  poor  ten  years  with  and  ten  years  without  a  farm. 
The  move,  whatever  its  intention  might  have  been,  delayed 
matters  so  that  nothing  was  accomplished  this  year. 

Since  the  dismissal  of  Rev.  Benjamin  Sawyer  in  the  East 
parish  no  minister  had  been  settled,  although  occasional  preach- 
ing had  been  obtained  and  lay  brethren  had  held  sendees  dur- 
ing warm  weather.  Deacon  Hezekiah  Colby  was  a  constant 
and  faithful  exhorter,  collecting  a  few  of  the  older  people  who 
were  strongly  attached  to  this  ancient  house  and  unwilling  to 
change  their  place  of  worship.  The  attendance,  however,  grew  less 
each  succeeding  season  and  the  house  was  evidently  growing 
worse  for  wear,  for  a  deserted  building  is  always  a  target  for 
mischievous  boys  and  evil-minded  persons.  To  allow  it  to 
remain  to  be  riddled  by  stones  and  torn  piece-meal  away  was 
hardly  desirable,  and,  accordingly,  a  meeting  was  called  and  a 
vote  passed  authorizing  its  sale.  Thus  in  one  hnndred  and 
thirty-three  years  from  its  first  erection  at  the  parsonage  and 
eighty-eight  years  after  its  rebuilding  at  Sandy  Hill,  this  ven- 
erable house  was  removed  to  be  seen  no  more.  A  single  sketch 
by  Mr.  Daniel  Nayson  is  all  that  has  saved  its  once  familiar 
form  from  oblivion.  The  site  is  now  owned  by  A.  S.  Adams, 
Esq.,  and  Robert  W.  Patten,  Esq. 

The  Congregational  church  at  West  Amesbury  extended  a  call 
to  Rev.  Albert  Paine  to  settle  as  pastor,  and  he  was  ordained 
September  7  th. 

A  company  was  incorporated  at  West  Amesbury  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  wheels,  with  a  capital  of  $40,000.  Thomas  T.  Mer- 
rill was  appointed  agent.  Hitherto  wheels  had  been  made  by  hand 
process,  and  its  slow  work  gave  employment  to  many  wheel- 
wrights. At  this  factory  nicely  adjusted  machinery  performed 
nearly  all  the  work.  At  a  later  date  the  manufacture  of  car- 
riage parts  was  added  to  the  business.  The  factory  was  located 
on  Cobler's  brook,  near  Humphrey  Nichols'  mill. 


364  HISTORY     OF   AMESBURY. 

1849. 

The  town  having  decided  to  purchase  a  poor-farm,  chose  a 
committee  consisting  of  William  Nichols,  Robert  Patten  and 
Lowell  Bagley  to  carry  the  measure  into  effect.  After  due  exam- 
ination of  various  localities  they  decided  to  purchase  part  of  the 
homestead  of  Deacon  Isaac  Tuxbury,  at  the  Lion's  Mouth.  The 
premises  were  properly  fitted  for  an  almshouse  by  the  town, 
and  the  poor  removed  to  their  new  home  where  they  have 
been  kindly  cared  for. 

The  new  Free  Baptist  meeting-house  on  Friend  street  being 
completed  was  dedicated  September  26th.  This  house  was 
built  on  the  site  occupied  for  many  years  by  the  Friends.  The 
old  house  was  sold  and  removed  to  Pond  street,  where  it  has 
since  been  occupied  as  a  tenement  house.  The  church  has  had 
fourteen  pastors,  viz.  :  Rev.  Messrs.  Hanscom,  McMurphy,  Mer- 
rill, Davis,  Hurling,  Rand,  Haines,  Baker,  Blake,  Locke,  Hough- 
taling,  Maddox,  George  and  Waldron. 

Rev.  E.  Howe  was  engaged  to  supply  the  pulpit  of  the 
Universalist  society  at  West  Amesbury,  and  Rev.  Josiah  Oilman 
at  the  Mills. 

1850. 

Appropriation  for  Schools,  $2000,  Poor,  $4000,  Highway, 
$1000. 

Ship-building  to  a  limited  extent  was  carried  on  at  the  Ferry 
by  Osgood  &  McKay,  and  the  town  granted  them  part  of  the 
landing  for  their  accommodation. 

At  the  November  meeting  the  sum  of  $2000  was  appropriated 
to  purchase  four  fire  engines,  to  be  located  at  the  four  villages, 
to  protect  them  from  fires.  This  was  on  condition  that  the 
villages  furnish  suitable  buildings  to  keep  them  in.  This  action 
on  the  part  o'f  the  town  was  induced  by  the  burning  of  the 
house  of  William  Chase,  at  South  Amesbury,  the  preceding 
October.  The  town  was  awakened  to  the  fact  that  no  protec- 
tion had  been  given  to  the  four  villages  against  fire  and  also  to 
the  necessity  of  such  protection. 

April  17th.  Rev.  Rufus  King  was  ordained  as  pastor  of  the 
Congregational  church  and  society  at  the  Mills. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  365 

Rev.  W.  Williams  was  elected  rector  of  St.  James  church, 
and  continued  till  1852. 

Mr.  J.  H.  Davis  having  erected  a  commodious  school  room 
at  the  Mills  on  Friend  street,  removed  his  school  from  the 
Academy  to  his  new  room,  where  he  continued  to  labor  with 
abundant  success  for  many  years. 

The  society  of  Friends  having  disposed  of  their  old  meeting- 
house and  lot,  purchased  a  lot  of  Eliphalet  Barnard,  on  Friend 
street,  and  built  the  present  convenient  house  this  year. 

The  population  of   the    town    by    the  census  taken  this  year, 

is  3>!43- 

1851. 

In  1836  Thomas  Bailey  built  a  mill  for  grinding  and  other 
purposes  south  of  the  road  near  the  Merrimac  Hat  factory,  as 
now  located,  and  the  road  was  changed  over  the  hill,  running 
close  by  the  north  side  of  the  mill,  where  a  heavy  dam  was 
built.  A  second  dam  was  built  a  little  north  of  the  house  of 
Ira  Miles,  which  formed  the  large  meadow  into  a  reservoir  con- 
taining a  large  body  of  water.  Early  this  spring  (April  2d)  a 
sudden  heavy  rain  swelled  the  pond  to  an  unusual  height,  when 
the  second  dam  gave  way,  precipitating  the  water  against  the 
first  one  near  the  river,  and  mill  and  dam  were  washed  into 
the  Merrimac.  The  road  was  restored  to  its  ancient  location, 
where  it  has  since  remained. 

The  question  of  calling  a  convention  to  revise  the  constitution 
was  acted  upon  at  the  November  meeting  and  decided  in  the 
negative  by  a  vote  of  two  hundred  and  one  yeas  and  two  hund- 
red and  ninety-eight  nays. 

The  road  located  at  West  Amesbury  by  the  selectmen,  from 
Humphrey  Nichols'  past  the  wheel  factory  to  the  new 
highway,  and,  also,  one  at  South  Amesbury,  from  the  house 
of  Ephraim  Goodwin  to  that  of  Charles  L.  Rowell,  were 
accepted  by  the  town  and  became  public  highways.  Also, 
one  other  road  from  near  the  house  of  William  H.  Haskell 
on   Main   street   to   the   last   mentioned   street. 

On  the  1 6th  of  April  a  storm  raged  from  the  north-east, 
which     caused    a    heavy    freshet    in    the    river    and    the    shores 


366  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

were  swept  by  the  rapid  current.  The  old  "  Buttonwood  tree  " 
standing  snug  by  the  tide,  on  a  little  bank  near  Thomas 
Page's,  was  swept  away,  floating  down  the  river  with  its  roots 
upwards.  This  had  been  a  famous  tree,  and  mentioned  as 
a  bound  nearly  back  to  the  year  1700.  It  had  been  some- 
what decayed  for  many  years,  the  top  branches  gradually 
falling  off,  and  the  river  had  washed  nearer  and  nearer  its 
roots  till  it  yielded  to  the  tide.  It  was,  probably,  quite  a  tree 
when  the  town  was  first  settled,  and  gave  name  to  the  district. 

The  Ferry  built  a  new  school-house  this  year  and  located  it 
on  the  homestead  of  the  late  Benjamin  Lurvey,  Esq.  The  old 
brick    house    built  in  1796  was  taken  down  and  the  lot  sold. 

Rev.  H.  P.  Cutting  was  settled  by  the  Universalist  society  at 
West  Amesbury  during  the  year. 

1852. 

A  stringent  code  of  by-laws  in  relation  to  dogs  was  passed 
and  approved  by  the  court,  which  required  all  dogs  to  be  muz- 
zled and  collared  under  a  penalty  of  not  less  than  five  dollars 
nor  more  than  ten,  and  to  continue  in  force  till  rescinded  by 
the  town. 

The  most  prominent  and  saddest  event  of  the  year  was  the 
strike  of  the  operatives  in  the  Salisbury  mills.  Mr.  Derby,  the 
agent,  abolished  the  ancient  privilege  of  leaving  the  mill  at 
luncheon  time  and  thereupon  a  very  general  dissatisfaction  arose, 
which  soon  ended  in  a  general  stoppage  of  business.  The 
privilege  was  trifling  and  worth  no  contention,  many  of  the 
workmen  seldom  availing  themselves  of  it,  and  yet  it  was  deter- 
mined to  contend  for  the  right. 

The  town  took  sides  with  the  operatives  and,  at  a  meeting 
held  for  the  purpose,  strong  resolutions  were  passed  and  the 
sum  of  $2000  appropriated  to  assist  those  out  of  employment. 
The  company  refused  to  yield  and  the  contest  was  finally 
given  up,  but  not  till  great  damage  had  resulted  to  the  village. 
And  to-day  the  population  of  the  village  is  not  what  it  would 
have  been  but  for  the  strike. 

Nov.  2d.  Presidential  election  occurred,  at  which  the  Whigs 
cast  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven  votes,  Democrats  one  hund- 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  367 

red  and  ninety-two,  and  Abolitionists  one  hundred  and  twenty-five. 

Rev.  J.  Davenport  was  settled  by  the  Universalist  society  at 
West  Amesbury. 

Rev.  Benjamin  Austin  was  elected  rector  of  St.  James  church 
and  continued  till  1854. 

Rev.  J.  E.  Pomfret  was  engaged  as  present  supply  by  the 
Universalist  society  at  the  Mills. 

Mr.  Alfred  Bailey  built  a  carpenter's  shop  on  the  brook  near 
the  old  location  of  "  Goodwin's  mill,"  which  was  subsequently 
sold  to  the  Merrimac  Hat  Company  and  used  as  a  dye  house 
after  being  enlarged.  Mr.  Bailey  during  the  fall  placed  another 
building  on  the  stream,  nearer  the  river  for  mechanical  purposes. 

1853. 

The  state  having  decided  to  call  a  convention  to  revise  the 
Constitution,  it  became  necessary  to  choose  a  delegate  for 
Amesbury,  and  at  the  annual  March  meeting  Jonathan  Nayson, 
Esq.  was  chosen.  The  work  of  revision  was  completed  in  time 
to  be  submitted  to  the  towns  at  the  November  election.  Eight 
propositions  were  laid  before  the  town,  No.  1  receiving  255 
yeas  and  255  nays;  No.  2,  257  yeas  and  252  nays;  No.  3, 
255  yeas  and  254  nays;  No.  4,  258  yeas  and  251  nays;  No. 
5,  264  yeas  and  241  nays;  No.  6,  278  yeas  and  230  nays; 
No.  7,  258  yeas  and  251  nays;  No.  8,  257  yeas  and  251  nays. 
The  Constitution  was  rejected  by  the  state,  and  the  great 
expense  it  occasioned  was  a  perfect  waste. 

May  17th.  Rev.  Rufus  King  was  dismissed  from  the  pastor- 
ate of  the  Congregational  church  and  society  at  the  Mills,  and 
Rev.  N.  Laselle  was  engaged  as    supply  November  6th. 

A  new  and  important  branch  of  business  was  this  year  intro- 
duced at  the  Mills  by  Jacob  R.  Huntington,  Esq.,  who 
commenced  the  manufacture  of  carriages  on  a  small  scale.  Car- 
riages of  the  usual  expensive  kind  had  already  been  built  here, 
but  this  new  departure  of  Mr.  Huntington's  was  calculated  to 
supply  a  new  demand.  A  class  of  less  expensive  work  was 
needed  to  enable  all  to  ride.  The  great  expense  of  carriages 
has  hitherto  confined  this  luxury  to  the  few,  but  now  a  change 
comes  which  is   soon  destined    to    fill    our  streets  with  carriages 


368  HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY. 

and  extend  die  much  coveted  privilege  of  riding,  to  young  and 
old.  Mr.  Huntington  began  business  in  the  attic  of  Mr.  J.  N. 
Clark's  bark  mill,  where  the  large  Colchester  mill  now  stands 
in  Salisbury.  Here,  although  somewhat  troubled  by  the  dust 
from  the  mill  below,  he  managed  to  spread  his  varnish  (he 
was  a  painter)  and  give  the  finishing  touch  to  a  few  carriages 
which  found  a  ready  sale  in  the  vicinity.  But  soon  better 
accommodations  were  required  for  his  increasing  business  and  he 
built  a  carriage  factory  on  Lincoln  .court,  where  the  business  was 
continued  till  the  establishment  was  burnt  in  April,  1869.  In  May 
of  the  same  year  he  commenced  building  his  present  large  fac- 
tory at  Salisbury  Mills  (now  occupied  by  Mr.  James  Hume),  which, 
when  completed, ''-enabled  him  to  do  a  very  large  business. 
From  this  small  beginning  the  business  has  increased  till  more 
than  twenty  manufactories  have  been  established,  turning  out 
more  than  twelve  thousand  carriages  per  annum.  In  the  work- 
shops here  may  be  found  all  descriptions  of  work,  costly  and 
highly  finished  or  otherwise,  as  the  purchaser  may  desire.  Much 
modern  machinery  is  now  in  use,  and  the  long  experience  of 
those  now  engaged  in  this  business  has  enabled  them  to  put 
upon  the  market  a  superior  class  of  work  capable  of  doing 
good  service. 

May  20th.  Two  young  men  were  drowned  in  Kimball's 
pond.  They  had  obtained  a  boat  and  were  sailing  across  the 
pond  when  a  flaw  of  wind  upset  them  and  although  good 
swimmers  they  were  unable  to  swim  ashore  through  the  surf. 
These  young  men — Mosely  and  Porter — were  familiar  with  the 
sea,  having  sailed  nearly  all  over  the  world,  and  passed  through 
perilous  times,  but  were  preserved  to   perish  in  a  small  pond. 

1854. 

A  committee  was  chosen  to  negotiate  for  the  sale  of  the 
town's  landing  at  the  Mills  and  were  authorized  to  give  a  deed. 

John  S.  Morse  and  others  petitioned  the  commissioners  to 
lay  out  a  road  from  New  Hampshire  line  to  Merrimac  river. 
This  was  intended  to  avoid  the  sharp  hill  at  the  west  end 
of  Bear  hill  by  a  new  route  over  the  north  cant  of  the  hill, 
entering   the   old  road   near   the   house  of  Zacheus  P.  Thurlow 


BjdiotypePrinting  Co,2lR-emontjiBoston,. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  369 

and  continuing  with  little  change  to  Johnson's  corner,  where 
a  new  way  was  to  be  opened  to  South  Amesbury,  connect- 
ing  with   the    River   road   near   the    stone    bridge. 

The  town  opposed  the  new  measure,  but  the  petitioners 
were   finally   successful   and    the    road   was    located    and    built. 

Rev.  Albert  Paine,  of  the  Congregational  church  at  West 
Amesbury,  was  formally  dismissed  April  nth,  and  Rev.  Lean- 
der   Thompson   installed   as   pastor   September    20th. 

1855. 

The  town,  by  leave  of  the  legislature,  sold  the  ancient 
landing  at  the  Mills  to  the  Salisbury  Manufacturing  Company 
for  the  sum  of  $2045.  This  again  brought  up  the  question 
which  caused  the  bitter  strife  of  1837,  viz.:  the  division  of 
the  money  among  the  inhabitants.  This  subject  came  up  at  the 
annual  meeting,  and  the  divisionists  had  their  own  way  and 
ordered  it  to  be  divided  "equally  among  the  inhabitants 
(paupers  excepted.)"  But  this  vote  was  destined  to  be  short 
lived,  as  on  the  15  th  inst.  a  second  meeting  was  held  and 
the  former  vote  reconsidered.  The  money  was  put  into  the 
treasury   to    help   pay   the   town   debt. 

This  disposition  of  the  money  was  not  acquiesced  in  by  a 
portion  of  the  citizens,  and  on  the  29th  inst.  a  meeting  was 
held,  when  the  divisionists  met  with  a  signal  defeat,  the  vote 
standing  sixty-six  in  favor  of  division  and  two  hundred  and 
thirty-six  against. 

May  23d.  A  town  meeting  was  held  to  act  upon  six  articles 
of  amendment  to  the  constitution  of  Massachusetts.  The  vote 
stood  twenty-five  in  favor  and  five  against. 

The  first  article  embraced  the  plurality  system  in  elections, 
which  has  since  become  very  popular  and  beneficial.  The 
articles  were  all  rejected,  however,  by  the  commonwealth. 

Rev.  Robert  F.  Chase  was  elected  rector  of  St.  James 
church  and  retained  till  1858. 

1856. 

The  town  remonstrated  against  the  extension  of  the  charter 
of  the  Essex  Merrimac  bridge,  but  without  effect. 

This  is  the  ever  memorable    "  Know    Nothing "   year  and  the 

47 


370  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

vote  at  the  fall  election  was  very  large.  Henry  J.  Gardner,  who 
was  the  Know  Nothing  candidate  for  governor,  received  four 
hnndred  and  twenty-eight  votes  and  all  others  one  hundred  and 
fifty-three. 

The  whole  number  of  votes  for  presidential  electors  was 
five  hundred  and  ninety-six,  being  the  largest  number  ever  cast. 

Rev.  William  P.  Colby  was  engaged  as  pastor  of  the  Univer- 
salist  society  at  West  Amesbury. 

Rev.  A.  C.  Childs  was  installed  pastor  over  the  Congrega- 
tional church  and  society  at  the  Mills  November  19th. 

The  Amesbury  and  Salisbury  Agricultural  and  Horticultural 
society  was  organized  this  year. 

1857. 

A  town  meeting  was  held  to  make  a  new  apportionment  of 
the  school  money,  and  a  plan  was  adopted,  but  changed  at  a 
subsequent  meeting.  It  was  found  very  difficult  to  make  a  just 
apportionment. 

Articles  of  amendment  to  the  constitution  were  submitted  to 
the  March  meeting  and  approved  by  a  large  majority.  These 
were  the  20th,  21st,  and  2 2d  articles.  The  20th  is  the  one  requir- 
ing the  reading  and  writing  qualifications  for  voting,  and  was 
designed  to  disqualify  illiterate  persons.  The  21st  and  22d  were  in 
regard  to  a  new  organization  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives. 

In  1856  a  law  was  passed  for  the  preservation  of  fish,  one 
requirement  of  which  was  the  building  of  a  sufficient  sluiceway 
over  the  Lawrence  dam  for  fish  to  pass.  Amesbury  was  inter- 
ested in  this  matter  on  account  of  the  shad  which  were  annu- 
ally caught  on  the  shores  of  the  Merrimac,  and  which,  without 
the  means  of  reaching  their  spawning  grounds,  would,  probably, 
leave  the  river.  The  Essex  company  at  Lawrence  was  loth  to 
build  a  fish-way  and  petitioned  for  its  repeal.  The  annual 
meeting  passed  a  lengthy  remonstrance  against  the  repeal.  The 
fishing  in  the  Merrimac  had,  from  time  immemorial,  been  car- 
ried on  and  was  really  of  much  importance  to  the  town.  It 
had  been  restricted  to  three  days  per  week,  but  these  had 
afforded    a    good    supply  of   shad    and    sometimes    salmon.      At 


HISTORY     OF   AMESBURY.  371 

Pleasant  Valley,  Buttonwood  and  other  places  on  the  shores  of 
the  river,  fishing  grounds  were  owned,  which  were  valuable 
during  some  three  months  of  the  year.  But  the  erection  of 
the  Lawrence  dam  was  destined  to  damage,  if  not  wholly 
destroy  this  valuable  privilege,  unless  a  good  and  sufficient  fish- 
way  was  built. 

From  the  days  when  old  John  Bailey  had  the  exclusive  con- 
trol of  fishing  in  the  Powow  till  the  present  time,  the  spring 
fishing  in  the  Merrimac  has  afforded  a  good  supply  of  shad  to 
the  adjacent  country. 

Jan.  20th.  Hezekiah  Challis,  a  well-known  resident  of  the 
Ferry,  died  at  this  date.  He  was  born  at  the  Buttonwood 
April  13th,  1778,  and  the  house  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
Miss  E.  C.  Trussell,  was  built  by  him  and  his  brother  Timothy. 
He  was  a  skillful  mechanic,  and,  when  manufacturing  first  com- 
menced at  the  Mills,  he  was  employed  in  constructing  looms 
and  other  machinery.  He  will  long  be  remembered  for  his 
sterling  integrity  and  faithful  devotion  to  duty.  After  his  death 
there  were  but  two  male  descendants  of  Philip  Watson  Challis 
in  town  bearing  the  family  name. 

The  "  Salisbury  Mills  Co."  was  organized  this  year,  the  whole 
property  of  the  former  company  being  purchased  by  the  new 
company  for  $225,000.  Work  was  again  resumed  and  con- 
tinued prosperous  through  the  war,  the  stock  ranking  very  high 
in  the  market. 

A  post-office  was  established  at  South  Amesbury  in  February 
and  Mr.  Ebenezer  Fullington  appointed  postmaster. 

1858. 

Rev.  Calvin  Damon  was  this  year  settled  as  pastor  of  the 
Universalist  society  at  West  Amesbury. 

Rev.  A.  C.  Childs  was  dismissed  from  the  pastorate  of  the 
Congregational  chnrch  and  society  at  the  Mills  August  nth. 

Rev.  D.  G.  Estes  was  elected  rector  of  St.  James  church  and 
retained  till  1872. 

On  the  27th  of  February,  Robert  Patten,  Esq.,  died,  aged 
eighty-one  years  and  four  months.  He  was  born  at  South 
Amesbury  October  28th,  1776,  when  the  great  struggle  of  Inde- 


372 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


pendence  was  progressing.  About  1807,  he  bought  the  original 
homestead  of  John  Hoyt,  sen.,  of  one  of  his  descendants  and 
removed  to  the  Mills,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  was  frequently  called  into  town  business,  holding  the  office 
of  selectman  nine  years  and  was  three  times  elected  represent- 
ative to  the  General  Court.  In  1841  he  was  elected  county 
commissioner  for  three  years  and  he  served  the  town  in  various 
capacities  during  his  long  life.  His  principal  business  was 
farming  and  brick  making,  which  he  pursued  for  more  than  half 
a  century.  For  many  years  he  furnished  all  supplies  in  that  line, 
there  being  no  other  brick-yard  in  this  section  of  the  town. 
No  doubt  this  is  the  oldest  yard  in  town,  and  was  first  used  by 
John  Hoyt,  sen.,  and,  in  fact,  the  remains  of  an  ancient  yard 
was  to  be  seen  when  Mr.  Patten  removed  there,  so  ancient  that 
the  "oldest  inhabitant"  knew  nothing  about  it. 

The  well-known  physician,  Israel  Balch,  died  at  the  Ferry  this 
year,  aged  sixty-nine  years,  ten  months.  He  was  born  in  Tops- 
field,  Mass.,  in  1788.  When  a  lad  of  thirteen  he  went  to  Salem 
to  live  with  Capt.  Benjamin  Hodges.  He  there  showed  a 
decided  taste  for  study  and  was  encouraged  to  prosecute  his 
studies.  He  recited  in  Latin  to  Rev.  Dr.  Bently  during  his 
three  years'  stay.  Returning  home  at  the  end  of  that  time,  he 
continued  his  studies,  although  receiving  but  little  help  from 
his  parents.  While  preparing  for  college,  he  recited  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Huntington,  but  unfortunately  neglected  navigation,  possibly  from 
his  inability  to  buy  "  Bowdich  on  Navigation,"  and  was  obliged 
to  supply  the  deficiency  by  his  mechanical  genius.  He  set 
himself  about  manufacturing  various  small  articles,  which  he  sold 
for  enough  to  purchase  the  desired  book.  Having  completed 
his  preparatory  studies,  he  entered  Dartmouth  college  in  1807 
and  graduated  in  181 1.  He  studied  medicine  three  years  with 
Dr.  French,  teaching  school  a  portion  of  the  time  in  various 
places.  About  1820  he  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine 
in  town  and  soon  became  known  as  a  faithful  physician  and 
eminent  surgeon. 

His  great  mechanical  genius  specially  fitted  him  for  the 
department  of  surgery.     In  the  amputation  of  limbs  he  was  very 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  373 

successful  and  gained  a  wide  reputation.  Many  of  his  surgical 
instruments  were  of  his  own  invention,  and  he  received  four 
patents  on  that  account.  He  occasionally  lectured  on  electric- 
ity, chemistry  and  galvanism,  as  well  as  other  subjects. 

At  one  period  he  devoted  his  spare  moments  to  clock  mak- 
ing. One  of  them  was  of  singular  construction,  noting  the  year, 
months,  weeks,  days  and  hours,  and,  also,  the  phases  of  the 
moon  and  changes  of  the  tides.  The  venerable  "Master  Walsh" 
(who  taught  private  pupils  for  many  years)  purchased  one  of 
his  noted  clocks. 

His  practice  extended  over  a  period  of  nearly  forty  years.  His 
house,  now  occupied  by  his  daughter,  was,  probably,  built  by 
Gideon  Lowell  at  an  early  date. 

M.  D.  F.  Steere,  Esq.,  was  this  year  appointed  agent  of  the 
Salisbury  mills. 

1859. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  establish  a  high  school  in  town,  but 
without  success,  the  matter  being  indefinitely  postponed. 

A  piece  of  new  road  was  laid  out  near  Patten's  creek,  which 
rendered  the  old  bridge  and  road  useless,  and  it  was  subse- 
quently discontinued. 

The  school  districts  were  again  defined  by  order  of  the  town. 

At  the  November  meeting  the  high  school  question  again 
came  before  the  town,  and  was  referred  to  the  selectmen  to 
establish  such  school  if  deemed  proper. 

The  Congregational  church  at  West  Amesbury  was  this  year 
sold  and  removed,  to  be  fitted  for  a  public  hall,  and  a  new 
house  built,  larger  and  more  costly.  It  is  a  very  fine,  tasty 
building. 

1860. 

Appropriations  :  Schools,  $2500  ;  Poor,  etc.,  $4000  ;  High- 
ways, $1000. 

The  town  established  a  high  school  this  year  and  ordered  it 
to  be  kept  ten  months,  five  months  at  each  end  of  the  town. 
The  first  term  was  kept  at  the  Academy  and  the  west  end 
alternated  between  the  River  and  Corner. 

In  January,  Elbridge  G.  Colby,  Esq.,  resigned  his  seat  in  the 


374  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

legislature  and  Orlando  S.  Baley  was  chosen  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

A  new  street  was  located  east  of  the  Congregational  church 
at  West  Amesbury  and  accepted. 

Rev.  T.  D.  P.  Stone  was  installed  pastor  over  the  Congre- 
gational church  and  society  at  the  Mills  October  ist. 

There  were  several  cases  of  small-pox  at  West  Amesbury  this 
spring,  three  of  which  proved  fatal,  viz.  :  Mr.  Ezra  B.  Clark 
and  Elizabeth  M.  Clark,  his  daughter,  and  Mrs.  Rhoda  Nichols, 
wife  of  Hon.  William  Nichols.  At  the  Ferry,  Mrs.  Dolly  Hoyt, 
wife  of  Thomas  Hoyt,  formerly  of  Pond  Hills,  died  of  the  same 
disorder. 

Jan.  1 2th.  The  new  church  built  last  year  at  West  Amesbury 
was  this  day  dedicated  with  appropriate  services. 

The  population  of  the  town,  by  the  census  taken  this  year, 
is  three  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-seven,  an  increase 
of  seven  hundred  and  thirty-four  in  ten  years.  The  number  of 
houses  is  six  hundred  and  twenty-seven,  and  of  families  seven 
hundred  and  forty-eight. 

1861. 

Open  rebellion  against  the  authority  of  the  United  States  in 
the  South  was  now  causing  great  excitement  and  alarm,  especially 
as  a  call  for  seventy-five  thousand  volunteers  had  been  made  by 
the  President  to  restore  peace  and  enforce  the  laws  of  the 
country. 

A  town  meeting  was  called  April  27th  to  take  measures  to 
raise  volunteers  to  meet  the  call,  and  the  patriotism  and  sense 
of  the  meeting  was  very  fully  expressed  by  the  following  pre- 
amble and  resolutions  offered  by  William  C.  Binney,  Esq.,  and 
unanimously  adopted  by  the  meeting : — 

"Whereas  the  constitutional  government  of  our  beloved  country 
is  in  danger  of  being  overthrown  by  the  assaults  of  armed  trai- 
tors who,  having  solemnly  sworn  fealty  and  allegiance  to  that 
glorious  Constitution,  formed  by  the  wisdom  of  our  fathers,  and 
having  entered  into  a  solemn  compact  with  all  the  people  of 
the  United  States  'in  order  to  form  a  more  perfect  union, 
establish  justice,  insure  domestic  tranquility,  provide  for  the 
common    defense,  promote    the    general  welfare  and    secure  the 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  375 

blessings  of  liberty  to  themselves  and  their  posterity,'  without 
any  legal  or  justifiable  cause,  have  attempted  to  annul  that 
solemn  compact  and  transfer  their  allegiance  to  a  Confederacy 
of  Southern  traitors.  And,  whereas,  the  President  of  the  United 
States  has,  by  proclamation,  commanded  those  engaged  in  this 
unholy  insurrection  to  submit  themselves  to  the  constitutional 
authorities  within  a  limited  time,  now  almost  expired,  and  has, 
also,  called  upon  the  governors  of  those  states  which  still  remain 
true  to  the  Constitution  and  the  Union,  to  furnish  aid  and 
assistance  to  put  down  this  wicked  and  unnatural  rebellion. 

And,  whereas,  the  governor  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massa- 
chusetts, which  now,  as  ever  heretofore,  has  been  foremost  to 
rally  in  defense  of  constitutional  liberty  and  to  shed  the  precious 
blood  of  her  noble  sons  upon  the  field  of  battle  in  support 
thereof,  has  called  upon  all  those  of  her  patriotic  citizens  dis- 
posed to  offer  their  services  as  part  of  the  volunteer  militia  of 
Massachusetts  to  respond  to  any  requisition  of  the  President  in 
this  national  crisis. 

Therefore  be  it  resolved  by  the  citizens  of  the  town  of  Ames- 
bury  in  legal  town  meeting  assembled,  that  we  pledge  our 
united  aid  and  assistance  to  our  beloved  Commonwealth  and  to 
his  Execellency  the  Governor  to  the  utmost  extent  of  our  abil- 
ity, both  men  and  money,  to  enable  him  to  respond  promptly 
and  efficiently  to  the  present  or  any  future  requisition  of  the 
Government  of  the  United  States  to  put  down  rebellion  against 
its  authority  and  to  enforce  the  laws  of  the  land. 

Resolved,  that  we  hereby  vote  to  raise  or  hire,  as  the  select- 
men think  most  expedient,  a  sum  not  exceeding  five  thousand 
dollars,  to  be  expended  under  the  direction  of  the  selectmen 
or  a  committee  specially  chosen  therefor,  for  the  purpose  of 
equipping,  uniforming  or  assisting  such  of  the  inhabitants  of 
this  town  as  shall  enlist  and  be  accepted  and  enrolled  as  part 
of  the  volunteer  militia  of  this  Commonwealth,  and  for  the 
support  and  maintenance  of  their  families  during  the  time  they 
are  called  into  active  service  by  command  of  the  governor 
thereof." 

The  following  order  was  adopted  unanimously  : — 

"Ordered  That  the  town  pay  $10  per  month  over  and  above 


376  HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY. 

the  Government  emoluments,  to  every  single  man  and  $20  to 
every  married  man  that  joins  the  Militia,  and  that  the  Select- 
men be  authorized  to  advance  one  month's  pay  as  soon  as  a 
company  is  organized  and  commences  to  drill." 

The  greatest  enthusiasm  prevailed  and  the  proceedings  were 
harmonious,  evincing  a  most  commendable  spirit  of  patriotism. 
The  people  were  fully  awakened  from  their  dream  of  peace  by 
the  bombardment  and  capture  of  Fort  Sumpter  on  the  12  th  of 
x\pril  and  the  call  of  the  President  on  the  14th  for  seventy-five 
thousand  volunteers.  The  Sixth  Massachusetts  regiment  was 
attacked  while  passing  through  Baltimore  on  the  19th  and  three 
soldiers  killed  and  eight  wounded. 

Under  the  excitement  caused  by  such  startling  events,  volun- 
teers were  forth-coming,  and  already  a  company  had  been  formed, 
which  marched  to  the  meeting  in  fine  style  under  the  command 
of  Capt.  Joseph  W.  Sargent.  After  pretty  thorough  drill  the 
company  was  mustered  into  service  July  5  th  and  attached  to 
the  Fourteenth  regiment. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Atkinson,  of  West  Amesbury,  died  October  2  2d. 
He  was  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin  college,  Brunswick,  Maine, 
where  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine,  which  he  after- 
wards completed  at  Newburyport  with  his  brother  Dr.  John 
Atkinson.  He  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in  town 
about  1830,  and  by  his  gentlemanly  bearing  and  good  success 
soon  gained  the  confidence  of  the  public.  For  many  years  his 
field  of  labor  embraced  the  entire  surrounding  country  west  of 
the  parish  line  for  several  miles.  His  labors  were  such  as  to 
"wear  him  out"  before  old  age  had  firmly  set  its  seal  upon  him. 

1862. 

The  sum  of  $15  was  voted  to  fence  the  family  burying  ground 
near  Peter  Colby's. 

July  19th.  A  call  having  been  made  for  soldiers,  a  meeting 
was  held  and  the  following  vote  passed  : — 

"Resolved  that  the  town  pay  each  volunteer  who  may  enlist 
in  the  service  of  the  United  States  to  serve  for  the  term  of 
three  years  if  not  sooner  discharged,  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
dollars  in  addition  to  the  bounty  offered    by  Government  to  be 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  377 

paid  to  them  when  duly  sworn  into  said  service,  provided  the 
number  shall  not  exceed  forty-one." 

The  selectmen  were  instructed  to  procure  the  men  as  soon  as 
possible  and  were  authorized  to  hire  the  needed  money.  The 
bounty,  however,  proved  insufficient,  and  a  meeting  was  held 
August  14th,  when  an  addition  of  $200  was  made  to  the  bounty 
of  the  three  years'  men. 

In  the  mean  time  a  call  for  nine  months'  men  had  been 
made,  and  it  became  necessary  to  provide  some  bounty  to  pro- 
cure the  men  to  fill  this  call.  The  bounty  was  fixed  at  $150 
and  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  hire  the  money  to  pay 
this  bounty.  Under  this  offer  a  large  number  joined  the  Forty- 
Eighth  regiment,  commanded  by  Col.  E.  F.  Stone  of  Newbury- 
port,  and  served  near  New  Orleans. 

Dec.  4th.  Two  boys  were  drowned  while  skating  on  Patten's 
pond.  One  was  a  son  of  Mr.  William  Foot,  aged  nine  years, 
and  the  other  a  son  of  Mrs.  Schofield,  aged  ten  years. 

On  the  1 8th  of  September  it  was  voted  to  extend  the  bounty 
to  as  many  more  in  addition  to  the  forty- two  men  in  camp  as 
might  enlist,  to  be  reckoned  on  the  next  call.  There  was  no 
lack  of  determination  to  supply  all  the  men  needed  for  the 
suppression  of  this  monster  rebellion. 

The  commissioners  having  issued  an  order  for  the  re-building 
of  Powow  River  bridge,  a  town  meeting  was  held  October  13th 
and  the  selectmen  ordered  to  act  with  Salisbury  in  carrying  on 
the  work. 

July  30th.  Rev.  T.  D.  P.  Stone  was  dismissed  from  the 
pastorate  of  the  Congregational  church  and  society  at  the  Mills, 
and    November  2d  Rev.  George  E.  Freeman  was  engaged. 

The  brisk  demand  for  woolen  goods  induced  the  Salisbury 
mills  to  extend  their  works  by  removing  the  old  Nail  Factory 
and  Rolling  Mill  and  erecting  the  large  mill  now  known  as 
No.  8.  The  mill  was  dedicated  by  a  soldiers'  levee,  which 
called  out  a  very  large  assemblage,  nearly  filling  its  spacious 
rooms.  This  was,  probably,  the  largest  entertainment  ever  held 
in  town. 

Jonathan    Morrill,    Esq.,    died    June    29th,    aged    seventy-two 


37$  HISTORY     OF   AMESBURY. 

years.  He  was  a  descendant  of  Abraham  Morrill,  who  built  the 
first  corn  mill"  on  the  Powow,  and,  like  most  of  the  family,  was 
a  blacksmith  by  trade,  being  formerly  connected  with  the  Iron 
Works  at  the  Mills.  In  the  war  of  1812  he  sailed  as  master- 
at-arms  in  the  privateer  Decatur,  which  his  father  (Jonathan 
Morrill,  Esq.,)  built  at  the  Mills  landing.  This  fine  little  vessel  was 
fitted  out  at  Newburyport  with  fourteen  guns,  and  put  in  charge 
of  Capt.  William  Nichols,  and  did  good  service  against  the 
enemy.  He  was  in  several .  sharp  engagements  and  assisted  in 
taking  many  valuable  prizes. 

He  was,  also,  interested  in  the  factory  built  in  18 13  by 
"Ensign  Morrill  and  his  two  sons"  on  Mill  street.  About  1825 
he  became  a  resident  of  Amesbury,  locating  on  the  Bailey  farm, 
and  residing  there  till  the  house  was  burnt  in  1843.  He  was 
chosen  representative  in  1833  and  again  in  1835,  and  served 
on  the  board  of  selectmen  several  years.  For  many  years  he 
was  engaged  in  fishing  at  the  Shoals  and  at  the  eastward.  He 
was  a  firm,  unwavering  Democrat,  believing  and  practicing  the 
doctrine  he  professed,  but  no  politician  in  the  modern  sense  of 
that  word. 

1863. 

April  6th.  A  town  meeting  was  held  to  take  into  considera- 
tion the  propriety  of  issuing  town  bonds  to  secure  the  large 
town  debt.  The  meeting  decided  to  issue  bonds  to  the  amount 
of  $20,000  at  five  per  cent,  interest,  payable  semi-annually,  and 
redeemable  at  any  time  after  five  years,  and   payable  in  twenty. 

Many  of  the  prominent  citizens  at  the  Mills  felt  the  necessity 
of  greater  facilities  for  extinguishing,  fires,  and  accordingly  peti- 
tioned the  town  to  set  off  school  district  No.  2  ( Mills )  into  a 
fire  district.  The  petition  was  not  granted,  and  the  citizens 
proceeded  according  to  law  to  organize  such  district  and  to 
take  such  precautionary  measures  as  were  deemed  necessary. 

The  almshouse  at  the  Lion's  Mouth,  not  being  large  enough 
to  conveniently  accommodate  the  town  paupers,  was  enlargad 
by  the  addition  of  a  large  wing. 

June  29th.  A  meeting  was  held  in  answer  to  Abner  L.  Bai- 
ley's   petition,  asking   the    town    to    sell    to    the    Amesbury   Hat 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  379 

Company  the  landing  at  the  Ferry.  The  meeting  voted  to  sell 
as  petitioned  for.  * 

Dec.  14th.  A  meeting  was  called  to  devise  some  measures 
for  raising  the  town's  proportion  of  three  hundred  thousand  men 
called  for  by  the  Government.  It  was  voted  to  advance  money 
to  recruits,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  assist  the  selectmen 
in  procuring  them. 

On  the  15th  of  June  the  Mills  school  district  held  a  meeting 
and  appropriated  $3500  to  purchase  a  lot  and  build  a  new 
school-house,  and  the  present  high  school  building  was  soon 
after  built. 

Rev.  P.  S.  Eaton  died  March  13th  at  Chelsea.  He  was 
formerly  pastor  of  the  Second  church  in  Amesbury. 

S.  S.  Tuckwell,  Patten  Sargent,  Willis  P.  Sargent  and  James 
Whittier  obtained  leave  from  the  legislature  to  build  a  wharf  at 
South  Amesbury,  to  extend  into  the  river  a  distance  "not 
exceeding  one  hundred  and  fifteen  feet  from  high  water  mark," 
and  to  collect  wharfage  and  dockage.  This  was  a  move  in  the 
right  direction. 

Thus  far  during  the  war,  manufacturing  business  has  been 
remarkably  good,  the  profits  being  very  large.  Under  this  con- 
dition of  things  a  company  was  formed  for  the  manufacture  of 
woolen  goods  and  organized  by  the  choice  of  Elbridge  G. 
Colby,  Robert  Fowler,  O.  S.  Patten,  N.  M.  Horton  and  Joseph 
N.  Clark  as  directors.  E.  G.  Colby  was  chosen  president  and 
L.  F.  Burrill  agent.  This  company  commenced  immediately  to 
build  the  mill  now  known  as  "  The  Hollow  Mill."  It  was  com- 
pleted during  the  winter  and  went  into  operation  soon  after, 
running  eight  sets  of  woolen  machinery,  which  were  driven  by 
an  engine  of  one  hundred  horse  power. 

The  death  of  Lowell  Bagley,  Esq.,  occurred  February  26th. 
He  lived  at  the  Ferry  and  was  widely  known  for  his  ability  as 
a  justice  and  conveyancer,  which,  with  settling  estates,  constituted 
his  principal  business.  He  held  the  office  of  selectman  five 
years  and  served  as  representative  to  the  General  Court  two 
years. 

Early  this  year  a  company  was   organized   under   the   title    of 


380  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

Amesbury  Hat  Company  for  the  manufacture  of  wool  hats.  The 
company  purchased  the  town  landing  and,  also,  the  estate  on 
the  corner  next  Powow  River  bridge,  and  erected  a  large  fac- 
tory on  the  wharf  for  this  purpose.  Previous  to  going  into 
operation,  the  company  was  consolidated  with  the  Merrimac 
company,  becoming  part  and  parcel  of  the  same. 

1864. 

At  the  annual  meeting  it  was  decided  to  purchase  two  hearses 
for  the  use  of  the  town.  Additional  by-laws  for  the  protection 
of  sidewalks,  etc.,  were,  also,  passed. 

April  1 8th.  A  meeting  was  held  to  authorize  the  selectmen 
to  hire  money  to  pay  recruits,  who  might  be  called  for  previ- 
ous to  March  1862,  at  the  rate  of  $125  each,  and  they  were 
so  authorized.  It  had  become  very  difficult  to  fill  the  repeated 
calls  of  the  Government  and  a  draft  was  ordered,  being  the 
last  resort  to  sustain  the  Union  army.  It  was  regarded  with 
fear  and  alarm  and  carried  dismay  into  many  families.  The 
following  is  the  list  of  persons  drafted  from  Amesbury  : — 
Charles  Lehman,  Alvah  B.  Currier, 

Luther  G.  Thompson,  Thomas  S.  Tuson, 

Edwin  H.  Merrill,  Samuel  C.  Pease, 

Moses  P.  Huntington,  Thomas  W.  Colby, 

Charles  Paul,  Enoch  Hoyt, 

James  W.  Briggs,  Otis  Sargent, 

Joseph  C:  Colby,  Richard  F.  Briggs, 

Joseph  Merrill,  jr.,  Franklin  R.  Page, 

John  W.  Dennett,  Winthrop  A.  Collins, 

William  Brown,  Laburton  W.  Colby, 

John  F.  Merrill,  Edwin  Dawson, 

Ephraim  A.  Goodwin,  Mark  T.  Currier, 

Ichabod  S.  Bartlett,  Andrew  J.  Heath, 

George  W.  Osgood,  John  F.  Tozier, 

Page  Ring,  James  S.  Barry, 

John  Foster,  Miles  C.  M.  Place, 

Littlefield  Winn,  Thomas  A.  Cushing, 

Charles  A.  Burlingame,  George  N.  Bird, 

Bailey  Sargent,  Alexander  M.  Huntington, 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


38l 


Alfred  M.  Goodwin, 
Moses  C.  Flanders, 
George  T.  Davis, 
James  Foot, 
Joseph  H.  Boncher, 
Daniel  M.  Curtis, 
Stephen  H.  Morse, 
Dennis  Smith, 
John  S.  Hays, 
Samuel  H.  Collins, 
Morton  B.  Merrill, 
Horace  S.  Bailey, 
Charles  T.  Lewis, 
Gayton  M.  Tukesbury, 
Charles  Emery, 
Frank  I.  Snell, 
Charles  A.  Stevens, 
Charles  W.  Morrill, 
James  E.  Tuckwell, 
Patrick  Freeman, 
French  Ordway, 
Patrick  Nealton, 
Daniel  Follansbee, 
Asa  F.  Pattee, 
Albert  Coombs, 


John  Mungin, 
Thomas  Cobb, 
Moses  W.  Sargent, 
Moses  N.  Huntington, 
James  W.  Prescott, 
John  Hundling, 
William  Brown, 
John  S.  Clement, 
Wallace  Colby, 
George  W.  Daniel, 
Christopher  Bowman, 
Alexander  Churchill, 
Benjamin  F.  Huntington, 
Benjamin  D.  Kendrick, 
James  B.  Morse, 
Francis  A.  Sargent, 
Josiah  D.  Little, 
Joseph  W.  Gale, 
Isaac  B.  Little, 
Hezekiah  Perry, 
Elbridge  C.  Sawyer, 
James  D.  Pike, 
John  F.  Langmaid, 
Charles  H.  Noyes, 
Laban  M.  Bailey. 


Of  the  above  eighty-eight,  a  selection  of  fifty-nine  able-bodied 
men  was  to  be  made. 

May  25th.  A  town  meeting  was  held  to  take  measures  to 
fill  the  town's  quota  on  the  next  call.  A  committee,  consisting 
of  Joseph  W.  Sargent  and  John  O.  Currier,  was  chosen  to 
assist  the  selectmen  in  enlisting  recruits. 

A  tract  of  land  purchased  for  a  cemetery  at  West  Amesbury 
being  found  unfit  for  that  purpose,  it  was  voted  to  sell  it  and 
purchase  land  of  Jonathan  B.  Sargent  adjoining  the  old  cemetery. 

Nov.  8th.     Presidential  election  occurred,  but  not  a  large  vote. 

The  selectmen  were  ordered  to  continue  the  recruiting  ser- 
vice and  $10,000  were  appropriated  for  that  purpose. 


382  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

Abner  L.  Bailey  was  authorized  by  the  legislature  to  continue 
his  wharf  at  the  Ferry  and  extend  the  same  easterly  on  the 
Merrimac  and  Powow  rivers  to  low  water  mark,  and  to  lay  ves- 
sels at  its  head  and  receive  wharfage. 

An  effort  was  made  this  year  to  unite  the  towns  of  Amesbury 
and  Salisbury.  An  act  was  obtained  from  the  legislature  for 
that  purpose,  authorizing  the  union  under  the  name  of  Merri- 
mac. ,  But,  as  the  act  required  the  consent  of  both  towns  at  a 
meeting  held  for  that  purpose,  the  project  failed.  Both  towns 
decided  against  the  union.  This  was  the  second  attempt  to 
alter  the  limits  of  these  towns. 

A  charter  was  obtained  for  the  construction  of  a  horse  rail- 
road from  Newburyport  to  Amesbury  with  a  capital  of  $120,000, 
to  be  divided  into  shares  of  $100  each,  and  the  road  was  sub- 
sequently built  and  has  proved  a  profitable  investment. 

The  Horton  Hat  Company  was  organized  this  year  by  Mr. 
Alfred  Bailey  and  others,  and  commenced  the  manufacture  of 
hats  in  Mr.  Bailey's  building  at  the  Ferry,  which  was  fitted  for 
that  purpose. 

A  national  bank  was  this  year  organized  at  West  Amesbury 
with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  which  has  since  been  increased  to 
$200,000.  The  directors  were  Patten  Sargent,  Thomas  T.  Mer- 
rill, John  S.  Poyen,  Benjamin  F.  Sargent,  William  Gunnison. 
President,  Patten  Sargent;   cashier,  William  H.  Haskell. 

1865. 

Two  roads  were  accepted  as  laid  out  by  the  selectmen  at 
West  Amesbury,  extending  from  the  Landing  road  to  School 
street. 

Aug.  2d.  A  town  meeting  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  pur- 
chasing hose  for  the  engines,  and  the  selectmen  were  instructed 
to  purchase  one  thousand  feet. 

By-laws  prohibiting  fast  driving  were  adopted,  with  a  fine  of 
$20  attached,  and  were  approved  by  the  superior  court. 

The  Great  Rebellion  closed  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  and 
the  soldiers,  who  had  so  nobly  fought,  "came  marching  home" 
crowned  with  victory  and  honor.  But  in  the  hour  of  triumph 
there  was  sadness,  for   some    came    not   again  and  many  hearts 


HISTORY     OF   AMESBURY.  383 

now  realized  their  great  loss.  Amesbury  furnished  about  four  hun- 
dred men.  As  near  as  we  can  ascertain,  her  officers  were  one  col^ 
onel,  one  major,  four  captains,  seven  lieutenants  and  one  ser- 
geant-major. At  the  draft  in  1863,  sixteen  hired  substitutes  and 
eleven  paid  $300  each  as  commutation  money.  From  the 
record  it  appears  that  twenty  died  of  sickness,  seven  were 
killed,  thirteen  wounded  and  six  were  confined  in  Andersonville 
prison.  Two  of  these  died  from  the  effects  of  their  long  impris- 
onment and  starvation  after  reaching  home. 

A  Catholic  church  was  built  at  the  Mills  this  year  on  the 
site  now  occupied  by  the  present  large  brick  structure. 

Rev.  E.  A.  Rand  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
church  and  society  at  the  Mills  March  2d. 

1866. 

The  four  grammar  schools  were  raised  to  the  grade  of  high 
schools  and  the  committee  were  instructed  to  hire  teachers 
qualified  for  teaching  the  required  branches.  This  was  the  first 
permanent  establishment  of  the  high  school  system  in  town, 
which  has  since  proved  of  great  value. 

An  addition  was  made  to  the  East  burying  ground,  which  was 
properly  laid  out  in  lots  to  be  disposed  of  as  needed. 

July  6th.  A  meeting  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  authorizing 
the  selectmen  to  purchase  fifteen  hundred  feet  of  hose  for  the 
four  engines,  and  to  make  an  appropriation  for  the  sufferers  by 
the  great  Portland  fire.  The  selectmen  were  authorized  to  pur- 
chase the  needed  hose,  and  $1,000  were  appropriated  for  the 
poor  who  suffered  in  that  terrible  conflagration,  which  destroyed 
nearly  half  of  the  city  of  Portland,  Maine. 

Aug.  26th.     The  Catholic  church  was  this  day  dedicated. 

The  Horton  Hat  Company  sold  out  to  the  Merrimac  Hat 
Company  July  18th  and  the  two  companies  were  consolidated. 

1867. 

Greenwood  street,  as  laid  out  by  the  selectmen,  was  accepted 
by  the  town.  Several  nice  houses  had  already  been  built  here 
and  the  locality  bids  fair  to  become  one  of  the  best  portions 
of  the  town. 

At  the  fall  election,  seven  hundred  and  thirty-one  votes  were 
cast,  being  the  largest  number  ever  cast  in  town. 


3$4  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

Rev.  Leander  Thompson,  of  the  West  Amesbury  Congrega- 
tional church,  was  dismissed  May  2d. 

Rev.  E.  A.  Rand  was  dismissed  from  the  pastorate  of  the 
Congregational  church  and  society  at  the  Mills  May  3d,  and 
Rev.  W.  F.  Bacon  was  ordained  September  26th. 

April  5th.  A  Baptist  church  was  this  day  organized  at  West 
Amesbury. 

Rev.  John  Brady  was  assigned  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Catho- 
lic church  the  present  May. 

Cyrus  Blaisdell,  son  of  James  Blaisdell,  jr.,  at  the  Ferry,  was 
found  dead  on  the  morning  of  June  15th  on  the  hill  north  of 
Pleasant  Valley.  He  went  out  gunning  the  day  before,  and, 
getting  over  the  wall,  his  gun  was  accidently  discharged,  killing 
him  instantly,  it  was  thought. 

1868. 

At  a  meeting  held  June  30th,  Aubin  street  was  accepted  as 
a  public  highway.  Also,  a  part  of  the  landing  at  the  Ferry 
was  sold  to  the  Merrimac  Hat  Company.  The  selectmen  were, 
also,  ordered  to  sell  the  town's  wood  land  in  the  West  parish 
and  to  purchase  a  pasture  for  the  town's  use.  A  large  tract  of 
pasture  and  wood  land  was  accordingly  purchased  of  Page  Ring, 
lying  near  the  house  of  Moses  Flanders  in  Southampton,  N.  H. 
It  was  a  wise  exchange. 

The  town  being  unable  to  purchase  land  to  enlarge  the  East 
End  cemetery,  directed  the  selectmen  to  petition  the  commis- 
sioners to  lay  out  the  lot  owned  by  Patrick  Spillane  as  a  cem- 
etery, which  was  accordingly  done.  At  the  same  time  the 
road  near  Samuel  Bolser's  was  widened  and  straightened  and, 
also,  at  the  Pond  Hills,  near  John  Blackstock's  at  Gill's  corner. 

This  year  will  long  be  remembered  for  the  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature ordering  the  bridges  to  be  made  free,  like  all  public 
highways.  But  to  do  this  a  large  expense  must  be  incurred,  to 
be  .borne  by  the  adjoining  towns  and  the  county.  Amesbury 
objected  to  being  burdened  with  this  tax,  as  no  one  of  these 
bridges  touched  her  territory. 

A  town  meeting  was  held  August  18th,  when  it  was  decided 
not  to  pay  any  costs    arising    on    this    account,  but   to    employ 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  385 

counsel  in  defence  of  the  views  of  the  town.  At  an  adjourned 
meeting  the  town  firmly  refused  to  raise  money  to  pay  her  por- 
tion of  the  cost  of  the  bridges,  according  to  court  order. 

Rev.  Lewis  Gregory  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church   at  West  Amesbury  October  15  th. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Kling  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church 
and  society  at  West  Amesbury  in  July  of  this  year. 

The  River  district  decided  to  build  a  new  school-house  this 
year  and  the  sum  of  $5,000  was  raised  for  that  purpose.  A  lot 
was  purchased  adjoining  the  old  school  premises,  and  the  pres- 
ent commodious  Grammar  School  building  was  erected. 

Hon.  William  Nichols  died  at  West  Amesbury  November 
30th.  Mr.  Nichols  was  by  trade  a  plater  and  pursued  that 
calling  for  many  years,  until  becoming  the  owner  of  considerable 
valuable  land,  when  he  nearly  abandoned  the  business.  He 
was  for  many  years  a  justice  of  the  peace,  writing  deeds,  wills 
and  other  legal  papers,  and  frequently  surveying  land  and  roads. 
In  1 83 1  he  was  elected  state  senator,  and  afterwards  served  on 
the  board  of  selectmen  ten  years.  He  was  frequently  elected 
moderator  of  town  meetings  and  served  on  many  important 
committees.  His  homestead  was  purchased  of  David  Moulton 
and  was  known  as  the  "  Moulton  house."  Many  years  ago  he 
purchased  the  "Merrill"  orchard,  then  the  largest  in  town.  He 
was  •  a  man  of  large  executive  ability  and  highly  esteemed. 

The  West  Amesbury  Branch  R.  R.  was  incorporated  May  8th, 
with  a  capital  of  $114,000.  This  road  was  intended  to  connect 
with  the  Boston  and  Maine  railroad  at  some  point  on  that  road. 

1869. 

The  legislature,  by  act  of  March  24th,  summarily  abolished 
the  school  districts  in  the  state,  and  it  became  necessary  to  call 
a  town  meeting  to  take  measures  for  appraising  all  school  prop- 
erty in  the  districts,  the  amount  of  which  the  town  must  pay 
for.  This  being  done,  the  town  assumed  control  and  it  came 
under  the  supervision  of  the  school  committee. 

School  accommodations  at  West  Amesbury  were  insufficient 
for  the  large  number  of  scholars  there,  and  a  town  meeting 
was    held    May  24th    to  take  some  action  toward  enlarging   the 

49 


386  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

old  house  or  building  a  new  one.  It  was  decided  to  enlarge 
the  old  house  by  a  large  addition  in  front,  and  the  sura  of 
$8,000  was  appropriated  to  carry  the  vote  into  effect.  The 
house  was  completed  and  accepted  by  the  town,  and  is  a  very 
fine  building. 

The  project  of  a  railroad  from  the  Mills  to  West  Amesbury 
was  pretty  freely  discussed  at  this  time  and  a  petition  pre- 
sented to  the  legislature  by  William  C.  Binney  and  others,  asking 
for  a  charter,  which  was  readily  granted.  The  act  authorized 
the  town  to  subscribe  for  stock  to  the  amount  of  two  per  cent, 
on  the  town  valuation. 

Oct.  13th.  A  meeting  was  held  to  see  if  the  town  would 
thus  subscribe,  but  the  measure  was  defeated  by  a  vote  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty-nine  yeas  to  two  hundred  and  seventy  nays. 

Josiah  B.  Gale,  William  C.  Binney  and  others  petitioned  the 
legislature  to  be  incorporated  under  the  title  of  "Amesbury  and 
Salisbury  Academy  Incorporation,"  with  power  to  hold  real 
estate  to  the  amount  of  $10,000.  The  ancient  academy  and 
beautiful  lot  on  which  it  was  built  needed  some  legal  protection 
to  prevent  its  being  appropriated  to  private  uses.  Already  the 
premises  had  been  plowed  and  planted  under  assumed  title  and 
some  of  the  heirs  of  the  original  owners  thought  it  time  to  move 
in  the  matter.  Under  the  act  of  incorporation  now  obtained, 
the  proprietors  organized  and  have  continued  to  hold  annual 
meetings. 

Rev.  William  F.  Potter  was  this  year  settled  as  pastor  of  the 
Universalist  society  at  West  Amesbury. 

July  13th.  The  corner  stone  of  the  new  Baptist  church  was 
this  day  laid  by  the  society  organized  in  1867  at  West  Amesbury. 

The  present  post-office  building  was  built  this  year  by  the 
Salisbury  Mills  Company  and,  also,  the  block  of  stores  occu- 
pied by  J.  F.  Johnson  and  others  at  the  Mills. 

Mr.  Jacob  R.  Huntington's  carriage  factory  in  Lincoln  court 
was  burned  April  23d.  Mr.  Huntington  commenced  building 
his  large  factory  in  Salisbury  the  following  May. 

1870. 

Appropriations :  Schools,  $6,600 ;  highways,  $2,500 ;  poor 
and  town  charges,  $7,000  ;    interest  on  debt,  $3,000. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 


387 


The  number  of  scholars  at  the  Ferry  having  largely  increased, 
it  was  found  necessary  to  provide  additional  accommodations  and 
the  town  appropriated  $8,000  to  be  expended  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  school  committee  and  selectmen  in  building  a  new 
house.  A  lot  was  purchased  near  the  late  James  Blaisdell's,  and 
the  present  convenient  and  substantial  house  built  during  the 
year.     The  expense  was  about  $7,000,  including  furniture. 


■  :  :   !l  ■ 


-;;:i.-|  v.  T^ 


FERRY    SCHOOL-HOUSE. 


The  cattle  disease  made  its  appearance  in  the  Commonwealth, 
spreading  alarm  among  the  fanners  on  account  of  its  fatality. 
At  the  November  meeting  precautionary  measures  were  taken 
to  prevent  its  introduction  into  town. 


388  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

Jan.  12th.  The  new  Baptist  church  at  West  Amesbury  was 
this  day  dedicated  with  appropriate  services.  It  is  located  on 
Church  street  and  is  a  very  neat  and  tasty  structure. 

May  nth.  The  old  house  of  Capt.  John  Currier,  which  was, 
probably,  built  by  his  father,  David  Currier,  about  1720  at  the 
Pond  Hills,  was  this  day  torn  down  to  give  place  to  a  modern 
structure.     It  was  an  oaken  frame. 

This  year  the  old  store  occupied  by  J.  W.  Briggs,  Esq.,  and 
formerly  by  Babson  and  Stacy,  at  the  Mills,  was  removed  and 
the  present  brick  block  erected  by  the  Salisbury  Mills  Company 
on  the  site. 

The  death  of  Abner  L.  Bailey,  Esq.,  at  the  Ferry,  on  the 
15th  of  September,  was  a  loss  not  only  to  his  family  and  friends, 
but  to  the  public.  Mr.  Bailey  was  born  at  the  Ferry  very  near 
the  spot  where  he  died,  and  was  a  descendant  of  John  Bailey, 
1  st,  whose  location  will  be  found  on  the  map  of  the  town  as 
laid  out  at  East  Salisbury  in  1639.  By  trade  he  was  a  mason 
and  for  a  while  followed  that  occupation,  but,  about  1853,  he 
commenced  the  experiment  of  manufacturing  hats,  which  event- 
ually proved  a  success.  Subsequently  the  Merrimac  Hat  Com- 
pany was  organized  and  large  additions  made  to  the  factory  at 
the  Point,  which  enabled  the  company  to  enter  largely  into  the 
business.  Before  his  death  Mr.  Bailey  had  built  up  an  exten- 
sive business,  which  kept  three  mills  busy  in  filling  the  com- 
pany's orders,  and  afforded  employment  to  a  large  number  of 
workmen. 

At  one  period  Mr.  Bailey  became  somewhat  noted  for  his 
abolition  principles  and  was  in  1844  a  candidate  for  Congress 
from  this  district.  He  was  energetic  and  persevering,  and  objects 
which  would  have  discouraged  most  men  were  but  small  hin- 
drances to  him.  He  was  not  forgetful  of  the  poor,  but  always 
ready  to  aid  them.  As  a  financier  he  was  eminently  successful, 
the  stock  of  the  company  ranking  very  high  in  the  market.  He 
was  strongly  attached  to  the  Union  Evangelical  church  at  the 
Point  and  gave  it  a  liberal  support. 

On  the  4th  of  February  a  most  destructive  fire  occurred  at 
West  Amesbury.     The  wheel  factory  of    Foster  and  Howe,  with 


AS£^>/,    ^^v^yL^yU 


TkeSeiiaiyptPn/ihnoaMTmmyntsaioston. 


HISTORY     OF   AMESBURY.  389 

the  adjoining  buildings,  were  burned  to  the  ground,  together 
with  wheels  and  carriage  parts  in  all  stages  of  manufacture,  and 
a  large  lot  of  seasoned  lumber.  A  large  amount  of  valuable 
machinery  was,  also,  destroyed.  The  total  damage  was  estimated 
at  $28,000.     The  fire  was  accidental. 

.1871. 

The  newly  located  roads  around  Sargent's  square  at  West 
Amesbury  were  accepted  by  the  town  and,  also,  Pleasant  street 
at  the   Mills. 

The  town  voted  to  purchase  two  thousand  and  fifty  feet  of 
hose  for  the  four  engines  in  town. 

The  subject  of  organizing  a  fire  district  at  West  Amesbury 
was  laid  before  the  town  and  rejected,  which  gave  the  proposed 
district  the  right  to  organize,  which  was  accordingly  done. 

Rev.  N.  R.  Wright  was  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Universalist 
society  at  West  Amesbury. 

Rev.  Pliny  S.  Boyd  was  installed  pastor  over  the  Congrega- 
tional church  and  society  at  the  Mills  December  27th. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Kling  was  dismissed  from  the  pastorate  of  the 
Baptist  church  and  society  at  West  Amesbury  January  1st. 

June  2d.  The  stable  of  Mr.  C.  W.  Little  was  entirely  con- 
sumed by  fire  set  by  boys  in  the  hay  loft.  The  contents  were 
mostly  saved.  Several  members  of  the  Agile  Engine  Company 
were  badly  hurt  by  falling  timbers. 

July  20th.  Sometime  during  the  night  there  was  a  slight 
shock  of  an  earthquake,  which  is  thus  described  by  one  who 
heard  it:  "It  came  as  a  heavy  rumbling  noise,  which  shook  the 
windows  and  made  things  rattle  for  a  short  time.  It  awoke  me 
out  of  a  sound  sleep  and  was  quite  heavy." 

Rev.  Benjamin  Sawyer,  pastor  of  the  Rocky  Hill  church  at 
Salisbury,  died  March  26th.  He  was  born  in  Boothbay,  Maine, 
September  2 2d,  1782,  and  pursued  his  studies  there  preparatory 
to  entering  Dartmouth  college,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1808.  He  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Abijah  Wines,  of  New- 
port, N.  H.,  and  was  ordained  at  Cape  Elizabeth,  where  he 
continued  in  the  ministry  till  18 14,  when  he  came  to  Amesbury 
as  a  candidate  at  the    First  church  and  continued  to  supply  till 


39° 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


1816,  when  he  was  installed  pastor.  His  labors  were  continued 
at  Sandy  Hill  till  1835,  wnen  he  resigned.  The  new  Congre- 
gational church  at  the  Mills  drew  largely  on  this  ancient  soci- 
ety, and,  in  connection  with  that  at  the  Point,  was  the  principal 
means  of  destroying  it.  He  removed  to  Layman,  Maine,  where 
he  preached  five  months,  when  he  returned  and  was  engaged 
at  Rocky  Hill,  where  he  labored  faithfully  during  the  last  thirty 
years  of  his  life.  In  his  fiftieth  anniversary  sermon,  May  5th, 
1859,  he  stated  that  all  the  members  who  officiated  at  his  set- 
tlement were  dead,  except  one,  and  that  all  the  members  of  the 
First  church  in  Amesbury  were,  also,  dead.  During  his  labors 
in  Amesbury  and  Salisbury  he  attended  eleven  hundred  funerals 
and  officiated  at  fourteen  hundred  marriages. 

He  represented  Salisbury  in  the  legislature  in  1844  and  1845 
and  served  on  the  school  board  there  twenty-one  years  and  sev- 
eral years  in  Amesbury.  Although  in  his  eighty-ninth  year  at 
his  death,  his  hair  was  hardly  specked  with  gray  and  his  mem- 
ory and  reason  he  retained  to  the  last.  His  eye  sight  was 
remarkably  good,  so  that  he  used  no  glasses  for  several  of  his 
last  years,  either  in  the  desk  or  elsewhere.  He  was  a  faithful 
laborer  in  his  Master's  vineyard. 

West  Amesbury  organized  a  fire  district  the  present  year, 
including  the  Corner  village. 

Capt.  Thomas  Bailey  died  at  the  Ferry  May  30th,  aged  eighty- 
two  years.  He  was  a  native  of  Deering,  N.  H.,  and  settled  in 
town  about  18 10.  In  early  life  he  taught  school  in  town  and 
at  a  later  period,  was  engaged  largely  in  building  vessels  at  the 
Ferry.  He  served  on  the  board  of  selectmen  nine  years  and 
was  elected  representative  in  1828. 

1872. 

By  a  recent  act,  towns  were  authorized  to  choose  road  com- 
missioners to  take  the  place  of  highway  surveyors  and  to  exer- 
cise all  the  powers  of  selectmen  and  surveyors.  The  town 
adopted  the  act  and  chose  Nathan  Huse,  David  A.  Moulton 
and  Charles  A.  Nayson  as  commissioners.  It  was  an  experi- 
ment and  an  unsuccessful  one,  and  short  lived,  lasting  but  one  year. 

A  code  of  truant  by-laws  for  the  regulation  of  school  matters 
was  adopted  in  May  and  duly  approved  by  the  court. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


391 


At  the  presidential  election  in  November  there  were  four 
hundred  and  seventy-five  Republican  and  one  hundred  and 
ninety-five  Democratic  votes  cast. 

An  appropriation  of  $200  was  made  to  paint  the  Merrimac 
Engine  house. 

Rev.  E.  M.  Bartlett  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church 
and  society  at  West  Amesbury  in  October  of  this  year. 

Rev.  Samuel  S.  Spear  was  elected  rector  of  St.  James  church 
and  retained  till  1877. 

The  Salisbury  Mills  Company  commenced  building  a  dam  late 
in  the  season  last  year  and  completed  the  work  this  year.  It 
is  a  massive  dam,  substantially  built,  and  will  not  be  likely  to 
wash  away  soon.  It  is  situated  a  little  below  the  Joppa  dam, 
crossing  the  Powow  river  at  the  base  of  Powow  hill,  and  is  of 
sufficient  height  to  flow  back  to  the  state  line,  making  a  pond 
of  some  three  hundred  acres,  known  as  lake  "  Gardner."  The 
erection  of  this  dam  affords  the  company  an  opportunity  to 
build  one  or  more  mills,  which  if  built  would  greatly  advance 
the  price  of  real  estate  in  that  section.  A  long  period  of  pros- 
perous business  had  enabled  the  company  to  lay  by  a  large 
surplus,  some  $60,000  of  which  was  expended  in  the  erection 
of  this  dam  and  expense  of  flowage. 

Lake  Gardner  in  the  summer  season  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of 
water  and  a  place  of  very  general  resort.  It  is  well  stocked 
with  fish  of  various  kinds. 

The  Merrimac  Opera  hall  at  the  Mills  was  built  this  year  by 
Messrs.  Kelley  and  Woods  at  an  expense  of  $19,242.  It  is  very 
generally  used  for  lectures  and  exhibitions,  and  is  of  sufficient 
capacity  to  hold  a  very  large  assembly.  Town  meetings  are,  also, 
held  in  it  and  it  supplies  a  want  not  before  provided  for. 

1873. 

The  interior  of  the  Congregational  church  at  the  Mills  was 
greatly  improved  this  year  by  new  walls,  frescoing  and  reseating. 
The  exterior  was,  also,  repaired  and  the  whole  expense  was 
about  $7,000. 

The  history  of  this  house  is  not  without  interest  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  It  was  built  by  the  Unitarians,  some  of  whom  had 
been    holding   meetings  in   the    Academy    and,    probably,    some 


392 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


time  in  the  year  1826,  as  the  subscription  paper  bears  date 
"March  29th  1826."  Rev.  David  Damon  was  engaged  to  preach 
and  was  retained  about  two  years,  when  the  society,  finding 
itself  hardly  able  to  support  preaching,  sold  out  to  a  new  Con- 
gregational society,  which  had  been  holding  meetings  in  Frank- 
lin hall.  Some  of  those  previously  worshipping  here  remained 
with  the  new  society,  and  among  the  number  was  James  Hor- 
ton,  Esq.,  who  became  a  very  valuable  member.  The  house 
was  originally  mueh  smaller  than  at  present.  The  spire  was 
added  in  1840,  the  bell  in  1842,  and  in  1849  ^  was  greatly 
enlarged,  since  which  time  the  exterior  has  undergone  but  little 
change. 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH. 


HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY.  393 

May  nth.  The  Amesbury  and  Salisbury  Christian  Society 
organized  a  church  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  George  T.  Ridlon, 
and  D.  L.  Bartlett  and  Stephen  Dickens  were  chosen  deacons. 
The  society  holds  meetings  in  Merrimac  Opera  hall. 

The  small-pox  again  made  its  appearance  in  town  and  sev- 
eral cases  proved  fatal. 

The  road  commissioners  were  discharged  and  the  highway 
districts  re-established,  one  year's  trial  having  satisfied  the  town 
that  the  measure  was  expensive  and  but  poorly  calculated  to 
promote  its  interests. 

A  street  at  West  Amesbury,  leading  from  George  W.  Currier's 
to  Mrs.  Little's,  was  accepted  as  a  public  highway. 

May  15  th.  On  petition  of  the  school  committee  a  meeting 
was  held  to  provide  additional  school  accommodations  at  the 
Mills.  The  selectmen  and  school  committee  were  authorized 
to  purchase  a  lot  and  build  a  house  suitable  to  the  wants  of 
the  schools,  and  the  sum  of  $6,000  was  appropriated  for  that 
purpose.  An  eligible  lot  was  accordingly  purchased  on  Friend 
street  and  the  present  convenient  house  built  at  a  cost  of  about 
$5,000,  including  furniture. 

The  town  being  called  upon  to  assist  in  building  the  "Ames- 
bury Rail  Road,"  voted  to  do  so  in  a  sum  not  exceeding 
$50,000,  but  the  road  has  not  been  built. 

Nov.  3d.  This  evening  at  thirty  minutes  past  nine  o'clock, 
the  Town  house  was  discovered  on  fire  and  beyond  the  power 
of  those  who  first  saw  it  to  extinguish.  Several  engines  were 
soon  on  the  ground,  but  the  advanced  state  of  the  flames  and 
the  scant  supply  of  water  rendered  the  efforts  of  the  firemen  of 
little  account.  In  a  few  minutes  nothing  was  left  to  mark  the 
spot  but  the  ashes  and  black  remains  of  timber. 

The  West  Amesbury  Axle  Company  having  suspended  opera- 
tion, the  machinery  and  stock  on  hand  was  sold  October  25th. 
This  branch  was  started  many  years  ago  by  Jonathan  B.  Sar- 
gent, Esq.,  and  subsequently  a  company  was  formed  and  pros- 
ecuted a  large  and  profitable  business. 

The  horse  railroad  from  Newburyport  to  Amesbury,  chartered 
in   1864,  was  completed  the  present  year. 

5° 


394  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

November  4th  was  the  annual  election,  and  the  destruction 
of  the  Town  house  the  night  before  left  the  town  without  a 
place  to  hold  the  meeting,  but  the  people  were  notified  to 
assemble  on  the  ruins,  which  they  did,  and  adjourned  to  the 
house  of  Joseph  Merrill,  the  clerk,  and  there  completed  the 
election  in  due  form.  The  fire  was  the  work  of  an  incendiary, 
without  doubt,  but  no  clue  has  been  found  to  lead  to  detection. 

The  Representative  district  was  composed  of  Amesbury,  Salis- 
bury and  West  Newbury  at  this  time,  with  the  right  to  choose 
two  representatives.  At  the  annual  election  but  one  was  chosen, 
and  it  became  necessary  to  hold  a  second  meeting  on  the 
24th  of  November  for  the  choice  of  a  second  representative. 
The  meeting  was  again  held  at  the  town  clerk's  house. 

Rev.  W.  D.  Corkin  was  engaged  as  pastor  of  the  Universalist 
society  at  West  Amesbury. 

The  foundation  of  the  new  Catholic  church  was  laid  and  the 
work  commenced  this  year. 

1874. 

Dr.  Thomas  Sparhawk  died  at  Newburyport  May  17th.  A 
short  time  before  his  death  he  removed  from  town  against  the 
wishes  of  his  numerous  friends,  who  were  unwilling  to  lose  his 
valuable  services.  After  his  removal,  his  generous  nature  would 
not  permit  him  to  turn  away  from  the  numerous  calls  here,  and 
he  continued  his  practice  over  town  till  stricken  with  par- 
alysis while  riding  through  the  Pond  Hills.  When  suffering 
humanity  called  for  his  services  he  could  never  refuse,  and  not 
only  his  professional  services,  but  his  purse  and  whatever  he 
might  have  was  freely  given  to  the  needy.  He  was  emphatically 
the  poor  man's  doctor  and  ever  at  their  service.  But  he  was 
popular  with  the  rich  as  well  as  the  poor,  his  long  and  success- 
full  practice  having  endeared  him  to  all.  A  monument  has 
been  erected  over  his  grave  in  Amesbury  by  his  friends,  and 
very  properly  inscribed  "To  the  memory  of  our  beloved  Phy- 
sician." 

An  appropriation  of  $500  was  this  year  made  by  the  town 
for  the  erection  of  a  Soldiers'  monument.  The  monument  was 
procured  and  placed  in  a  central  position  in  the  cemetery  with 
appropriate   dedicatory  services. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  395 

1875. 

For  reference,  the  entire  appropriations  for  the  year  are 
given,  it  being  the  last  one  which  the  town  was  destined  to 
enjoy,  as  originally  incorporated  :— 

Appropriations:  Schools,  $11,000;  poor,  etc.,  $3,000;  town 
debt,  $5,000 ;  interest,  $4,500 ;  repairing  Mills  high  school 
house,  $500;  incidental  expenses,  $1,000;  state  and  county 
taxes  and  discount,  $10,000  ;  fire  companies  and  sewers,  $4,000. 
Total,  $39,000. 

On  the  nth  of  October  Rev.  Lewis  Gregory  was  dismissed 
from  the  pastorate  of  the  Congregational  church  and  society  at 
West  Amesbury,  where  he  was  called  to  labor  in   1868. 

1876. 

The  most  noted  event  of  the  year  was  the  division  of  the 
town  by  the  legislature.  The  act  received  the  approval  of  the 
governor  April  nth.  For  two  hundred  and  ten  years  the  town 
had  maintained  its  corporate  existence  with  no  material  change 
of  territory,  although  several  attempts  had  been  made  to  change 
its  boundaries.  The  present  dividing  line  was  drawn  from  the 
mouth  of  "Pressey's  Creek  to  the  most  northerly  point  of  land 
on  the  southerly  side  of  Kimball's  Pond  and  thence  north-west- 
erly to  a  point  on  the  line  dividing  Amesbury  and  Newton,  N. 
EL,  2.050  ft.  west  from  the  monument  on  the  State  line  near 
Arthur  Robertshaws."  This  act  reduced  the  territory  of  the 
old  town  about  one-half,  or  to  three  miles  square.  Strong 
opposition  to  this  measure  was  felt  by  the  old  town,  and  meas- 
ures taken  to  defeat  the  scheme,  but  without  success,  as  the 
event  shows. 

The  annual  election  had  been  postponed  from  March  6th  to 
April  1 7th,  when  the  following  appropriations  were  made,  viz.  : 
Schools,  $6,200;  highways,  $1,800;  poor  and  town  charges, 
$2,500;  town  debt,  $1,000;  interest  on  debt,  $3,500;  town 
officers,  $550;  incidental  expenses,  $800;  state  and  county  taxes, 
$4,550;  fire  companies,  $1,500,  making  a  total  of  $22,400  for 
town  expenditures. 

During  the  summer  the  Salisbury  mills  stopped  operations, 
which  threw  hundreds  of  persons  out  of  employment,  causing  a 


396  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

general  stagnation  of  the  ordinary  branches  of  business.  The 
farmers'  market,  the  grocers'  business  and  most  trades  were 
greatly  depressed,  and  the  outlook  was  of  a  gloomy  shade. 

1877. 

The  general  depression  of  business  was  felt  severely  in  town 
this  year.  The  ordinary  business  was  at  a  stand  and  help  could 
be  obtained  at  less  than  living  prices,  and  many  were  unable 
to  find  employment  at  any  price.  The  carriage  business,  how- 
ever, was  a  fortunate  exception  to  the  general  stagnation,  con- 
tinuing active  through  the  whole  period  of  depression. 

On  the  17th  of  May  Mr.  E.  M.  Huntington,  a  native  of 
Amesbury,  but  for  many  years  a  resident  of  Philadelphia,  died 
at  his  home  at  the  Pond  Hills.  For  many  years  he  had  charge 
of  the  Friends'  Institute,  at  ■  Philadelphia,  and  was  a  successful 
teacher.  He  will  be  remembered  as  a  teacher  in  this  town  and 
vicinity,  previous  to  his  long  services  there.  He  was  sixty  years 
of  age. 

1878. 

During  the  latter  part  of  1877,  the  Merrimac  Hat  Company 
commenced  laying  the  foundation  of  a  new  mill  on  the  river 
road  at  the  small  stream  where  Goodwin's  mill  once  stood. 

The  old  mill  at  Salisbury  Point,  where  A.  L.  Bailey,  Esq., 
commenced  business  many  years  ago,  had  become  unfit  for  the 
present  wants  of  the  company  and  it  was  decided  to  build  on 
this  stream,  which  is  supplied  in  part  by  large  springs  on  the 
north  side  of  Bailey's  pond.  The  building  was  completed  in 
the  early  part  of  the  year  and  dedicated  March  21st  by  hold- 
ing a  fair  for  the  benefit  of  the  Old  Ladies'  Home.  It  was 
largely  attended  and  the  net  proceeds  were  about  $1,000.  The 
mill  is  built  of  brick  and  is  a  most  substantial  building.  Every- 
thing about  it  is  well  arranged,  and  its  neat,  tidy  appearance 
adds  greatly  to  the  beauty  of  the  locality.  The  value  of  prop- 
erty in  this  vicinity  has  greatly  increased  since  its  erection  and 
already  several  houses  have  been  built  in  that  section. 

In  May  the  Salisbury  mills  were  sold  to  John  Gardner  and 
others  for  $160,000,  but  the  change  of  hands  was  of  no  benefit  to 
the  operatives,  for  they  were  still  allowed  to  stand  idle.  These 
were  now  designated  "Essex  Mills." 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  397 

Aug.  9th.  A  fearful  hail  storm  passed  over  the  Pond  Hills 
and  northern  part  of  Merrimac,  doing  great  damage  to  the  crops. 
It  swept  over  Mr.  Mason's  hill,  nearly  ruining  all  the  corn  and 
other  vegetables.  Apples  were  so  bruised  as  to  be  unfit  for 
market,  and  dents  that  were  made  on  buildings  and  fences  may 
yet  be  seen. 

Mr.  E.  H.  Rowell,  a  graduate  of  the  Amesbury  high  school, 
graduated  from  Dartmouth  college  June  26th. 

1879. 

Two  of  the  graduates  of  the  Amesbury  high  school,  viz.  : 
Herbert  W.  and  Willard  P.  Boyd,  entered  Oberlin  college  in 
September,  passing  the  prescribed  examination  without  condi- 
tions. This  fact  speaks  well  for  the  reputation  of  the  school. 
The  above  were  sons  of  Rev.  P.  S.  Boyd  and  aged  seventeen 
and  sixteen  years  respectively. 

Dr.  Henry  S.  Dearborn  died  August  25th,  aged  sixty-six 
years.  He  was  a  botanical  physician,  and  by  his  skill  and 
attention  to  his  profession  acquired  an  extensive  practice,  not 
only  here  but  in  adjoining  towns.  He  was  born  at  Wakefield, 
N.  H.,  and  came  from  Maine  to  Amesbury  about  thirty  years 
ago,  where  he  practiced  medicine  some  time  previous  to  his 
removal  here. 

1880. 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Lasell  died  at  his  residence  on  Walnut  hill 
February  4th. 

On  the  20th  of  March  two  small  boys,  Harry  and  Willie 
Babb,  sons  of  Thomas  R.  Babb,  were  drowned  in  Bailey's  pond 
within  a  few  feet  of  the  road  at  the  Merrimac  Hat  Factory. 
They  were  playing  on  the  rotten  ice  and  fell  through. 

Jonathan  Nayson,  Esq.,  died  April  23d.  Mr.  Nayson  was 
born  in  Weare,  N.  H.,  but  early  in  life  removed  with  his  father 
to  this  town  and  served  as  an  apprentice  in  a  drug  store. 
This  business  he  afterwards  pursued  for  nearly  half  a  century. 
He  was  a  Jeffersonian  Democrat,  and  in  that  notable  campaign 
of  Gayton  P.  Osgood  against  Caleb  Cushing  he  did  good  ser- 
vice for  his  party.  He  and  his  brother-in-law,  John  Caldwell, 
started  a  paper  called  the  "Amesbury  Chronicle,"  which  was  spec- 


398  HISTORY     OF   AMESBURY. 

ially  devoted  to  the  election  of  Andrew  Jackson  to  the  presidency 
and  Mr.  Osgood  to  Congress.  He  soon  retired  from  the  edi- 
torial department  of  that  paper  and  took  the  stump  for  his 
party.  In  1836  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature,  being  but 
twenty-seven  years  of  age  and  the  youngest  member  of  the 
House.  In  1852  he  was  again  elected,  and  by  his  devotion  to 
the  interests  of  the  laboring  classes  gained  the  hearty  approval 
of  his  fellow  citizens,  who  subsequently  elected  him  to  the  constitu- 
tional convention,  of  which  he  became  a  prominent  member. 
He  was  twice  called  to  the  chair  and  was,  also,  placed  on 
important  committees. 

Under  Pierce's  administration  he  was  appointed  weigher  and 
gauger  in  the  Boston  custom  house  and  served  in  that  capacity 
till  the  close  of  Buchanan's  term  of  office.  He  served  a  short 
time  as  assessor  of  internal  revenue  in  this  district  and,  also,  on 
the  board  of  selectmen  several  years.  To  those  too  poor  to 
employ  a  lawyer,  he  frequently  volunteered  his  services  and 
was  well  posted  in  legal  affairs.  He,  also,  held  the  office  of 
postmaster  under  Van  Buren's  administration. 

On  the  3d  of  May  Dr.  Thomas  McAllister  died  at  the  age 
of  thirty-two  years.  He  was  born  in  Londonderry,  N.  H., 
where  he  attended  the  common  schools  until  entering  the  Derry 
academy,  where  he  qualified  himself  for  his  medical  studies  at 
Bowdoin  college,  Maine,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1872. 
Soon  after  that  date  he  commenced  to  practice  in  this  town 
and  his  strict  devotion  to  his  professional  duties  gained  for  him 
a  large  share  of  public  patronage. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  the  business  prospects  of  the  town 
have  very  much  improved  and  few  people  are  idle  from  necessity. 

On  the  1 6th  of  last  March  the  Essex  mills,  including  the 
entire  property,  were  sold  for  $300,000  to  the  Hamilton  Com- 
pany. This  event  was  hailed  with  joy  by  all,  as  being  the 
forerunner  of  more  prosperous  times.  Nor  was  the  public  dis- 
appointed, for  a  large  number  of  hands  were  at  once  set  to 
work  making  thorough  repairs  and  getting  ready  as  fast  as  pos- 
sible to  commence  operations.  Under  the  careful  and  skillful 
management    of   M.    D.    F.    Steere,    Esq.,  who    for    more    than 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 


399 


twenty  years    has    been    in  charge,  we  may  reasonably  look  for- 
ward to  a  long  period  of  prosperous  times. 

Carriage  manufacturers  generally  are  enlarging  their  business 
and  making  preparations  to  turn  out  more  work  the  coming 
season  than  ever  before.  Amesbury  will,  no  doubt,  soon  become 
what  it  was  ten  years  ago  :  a  busy,  thriving  town  with  some- 
thing for  all  to  do. 


GENERAL  MATTERS. 


AMESBURY    AND    SALISBURY    NEWSPAPER. 

The  first  paper  was  the  "Amesbury  Chronicle,"  published 
every  Thursday  morning  by  Nayson  and  Caldwell.  The  first 
number  was  printed  January  28th,  1832,  at  $2.00  per  year.  It 
was  a  six-column  page  paper  and  advocated  the  election  of 
Gayton  P.  Osgood  to  represent  District  No.  3  in  Congress. 
June  6th,  1833,  Mr.  Nayson  dissolved  his  connection  with  the 
paper  and  Mr.  John  Caldwell  continued  its  publication  under 
the  title  of  the  "Evening  Chronicle,"  and  was  neutral  in  poli- 
tics. In  1834  the  paper  changed  again  to  the  "Morning 
Courier,"  J.  Caldwell,  editor  and  proprietor,  and  was  cut  down 
to  a  five-column  page  paper.  November  23d,  1837,  the  name 
was  changed  to  "  News  and  Courier,"  C.  E.  Patten,  editor, 
and  John  Caldwell  and  T.  J.  Whittem,  publishers,  being  pub- 
lished simultaneously  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  and  Amesbury,  so 
continuing  until  January  4th,  1838.  In  1839  Mr.  Caldwell 
again  resumed  full  control  of  the  paper  and  changed  its  name 
to  the  "Evening  Transcript,"  continuing  its  publication  up  to 
near  1840,  when  he  sold  out  to  Robert  Rich.  Mr.  Rich  pub- 
lished a  few  numbers  and  sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  Joseph  M. 
Pettengill,  who  took  control  in  February,  1840.  September,  25th, 
1840,  the  paper  changed  to  "Village  Transcript." 

Mr.  Pettengill  retained  the  management  of  the  paper  up  to 
1845,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  J.  E.  Hood  and  the 
paper  was  changed  to  the  "Essex  Transcript"  and  made  the 
organ  of  the  old  Liberty  party  in  Essex  county.  Mr.  Hood 
withdrew  from  the  editorial  chair  after  a  few  months  and  G.  J. 
L.  Colby  was  announced  as  the  editor,  but  after  a  few  months 
he  left.  In  1848  Mr.  Pettengill  sold  the  paper  to  Daniel  F. 
Morrill,  now  of  Vineland,  N.  J.,  who  continued  the  Transcript 
for  one  year  and  changed  its  name  to  "Villager."  He  pub- 
lished six  numbers  and,  failing  to  secure  due  support,  stopped 
its  publication.  51 


402  HISTORY     OF   AMESBURY. 

The  present  publisher,  then  a  printer  in  the  office,  was  urged 
by  the  citizens  to  continue  its  publication,  but  declined  at  first, 
then  finally  consented  to  try  the  experiment.  Commencing 
May  24th,  1849,  he  has  continued  as  editor  and  publisher  up 
to  the  present  time,  a  period  of  thirty-two  years.  The  paper, 
it  may  be  said,  has  had  a  continuous  existence,  under  its  various 
titles,  of  forty-nine  years. 

In  the  intervening  years  several  attempts  to  start  competing 
journals  have  been  made,  but  all  have  failed.  The  first  of 
these  was  the  "Essex  Mirror,"  by  Page  and  Gilman  in  1839. 
It  had  a  brief  existence  of  four  weeks.  About  this  time  the 
same  parties  started  a  little  daily  sheet,  which  found  a  compet- 
itor in  "The  Sheep's  Foot,"  and  "Reservoir  of  Science."  Mr. 
Currier,  of  The  Villager,  also  published  a  daily  paper  for  four 
weeks,  which  failed  of  support. 

POST-OFFICE. 

Amesbury  had  no  post-office  till  about  1820,  the  nearest 
office  being  at  Salisbury  Point.  This  was  in  the  time  of  mail 
stages,  and  the  one  running  from  Newburyport  to  Portsmouth, 
N.  H.,  came  through  the  Point  and  over  Rocky  hill  to  the 
Mills,  and  all  mail  matter  belonging  there  was  taken  from  the 
Salisbury  office  by  this  stage  and  left  at  Clark  Maxfield's  store, 
where  the  Powow  National  Bank  building  now  stands.  Mr.  Seth 
Clark  was  for  many  years  postmaster  at  the  Point,  which,  at 
that  time,  was  a  place  of  extensive  business.  About  1820  an 
office  was  established  at  the  Mills  and  Capt.  Jonathan  Morrill 
was  appointed  postmaster.  A  writer  in  the  Villager  some  years 
ago  said :  "We  remember  well  the  advent  of  the  first  mail 
into  our  village.  The  mail-carrier,  a  mere  youth,  mounted  on 
horseback,  with  saddle  bags  stuffed  full  of  letters  and  papers, 
drove  up  the  yard  of  Capt.  Morrill's,  (now  enclosed  in  the 
grounds  of  Mr.  Steere's  residence,)  dismounted  and  poured  the 
same  on  the  floor  of  the  old-fashioned  kitchen.  They  were 
there  sorted  and  then  displayed  in  the  window,  the  superscrip- 
tions facing  the  yard,  into  which  people  stepped  to  see  if  they 
had  letters  or  papers. 

The  only  furniture  of  the  office  was  an  old,  pine  desk, 
unpainted    and  without    partitions,  in  which    the    entire  contents 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  403 

of  the  establishment  were  safely  kept."  Capt.  Morrill's  son, 
Nathaniel,  succeeded  him  and  established  a  more  respect- 
able office  in  the  basement  of  the  next  building  •  and  he,  also, 
farther  improved  the  service  by  causing  the  mail  to  be  brought 
from  the  Point  in  a  two-wheel  chaise,  which  he  kept  for  that 
purpose.  The  salary  of  the  office  at  this  time,  including  bring- 
ing the  mail  from  the  Point,  was  about  $50  per  annum. 

About  the  year  1836  Jacob  Carter  was  appointed  postmaster, 
and  he  removed  the  office  to  the  northerly  end  of  Wadleigh's 
block,  where  it  remained  during  the  last  of  Jackson's  adminis- 
tration. President  Van  Buren  appointed  Philip  Osgood  as  Mr. 
Carter's  successor,  and  he  removed  the  office  to  a  small  build- 
ing on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Friend  streets,  which  had  form- 
erly been  used  as  a  counting  room  by  the  Rolling  Mill  and 
Nail  Factory  Company.  Near  the  close  of  Van  Buren's  admin- 
istration, Mr.  Osgood  resigned  and  Jonathan  Nayson  was  appointed 
postmaster,  he  removing  the  office  to  a  room  built  on  to  the 
factory  at  the  bridge,  opposite  its  present  location.  When  Har- 
rison was  president,  John  Walsh  was  appointed  postmaster  and 
the  office  was  removed  to  a  building  standing  where  No.  7  mill 
now  stands.  After  the  accession  of  John  Tyler  to  the  presi- 
dency, Daniel  Blaisdell  was  appointed  postmaster,  and  he  removed 
the  office  to  the  small  building  on  the  corner  of  Friend  street 
again. 

David  Bagley  was  appointed  postmaster  by  President  Pierce 
in  1853  and  retained  the  office  until  Lincoln's  election,  when 
David  Batchelder  was  appointed  and  held  the  office  through 
Johnson's  administration.  He  removed  the  office  to  the  store 
of  David  French,  opposite  the  hotel.  In  1869  W.  H.  B.  Cur- 
rier was  appointed  postmaster  and  the  office  was  soon  after 
removed  to  its  present  location.  On  the  15th  day  of  March 
1870,  the  mails  were  brought  to  town  by  the  cars  for  the  first 
time.  J.  T.  Clarkson  was  appointed  postmaster  in  1873  and 
re-appointed  in  1877  by  President  Hayes. 


4°4 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


STATISTICS    OF   THE    CARRIAGE    BUSINESS    IN    AMESBURY   AND 
SALISBURY    MILLS    FOR     l88o. 


Names. 


R.  F.  Briggs  &  Co., 
James  Hume, 
Foster  Gale, 
A.  M.  Huntington, 
E.  S.  Felch, 
William  W.  Smart, 
A.  M.  Parry, 
T.  W.  Lane, 

D.  E.  Gale  &  Co., 
A.  P.  Boardman, 

E.  S.  Lane, 
Seth  Clark,  jr., 
Charles  Rowell  &  Son, 
George  W.  Osgood, 
John  Hume, 

C.  A.  Burlingame. 
C.  N.  Dennett, 
George  J.  Hunt, 
Samuel  Rowell, 

F.  D.  Parry, 
Locke  &  Jewell, 
William  G.  Ellis, 
Charles  E.  Stone, 


,  200,000 
170,000 
38,000 
45,000 
80,000 
45,000 
50,000 
30,000 
15,000 
45,000 
23,000 
80,000 
40,000 
65,000 
50,000 
15,000 
50,000 
20,000 
46,576 
50,000 

63,000 
20,000 


1800 
1200 
450 
500 
500 
420 
450 
420 
140 
500 
325 
660 
400 
*475 
500 
150 
300 
220 
620 
817 
600 
600 
200 


e  s 


125 

52 
20 
19 
45 
26 
25 
20 
15 
21 
16 
'  30 
25 
25 
30 
15 
25 
16 
32 
25 

23 
15 


1856 
1859 
1868 
1867 
1859 
1877 
1875 
1874 
1878 
1867 
1869 
1860 
1873 
1870 
1S69 
1871 
1873 
1876 
1870 
1859 

1867 
1875 


The  wheel  factory  of  Locke  &  Jewell  at  Patten's  Hollow 
was  established  in  1867  and  is  doing  a  large  business  in  manu- 
facturing wheels  and  carriage  parts,  and  have  recently  added  to 
their  other  branches  the  manufacture  of  carriages.  The  whole 
amount  of  business  for  1880  was  $100,000,  and  the  number  of 
workmen  employed  was  fifty-two.  During  the  year  they  have 
manufactured    six    hundred    carriages. 

Mr.  William  E.  Biddle  &  Company,  of  Amesbury,  commenced 
the  manufacture  of  carriage  parts  at  their  planing  mill  in  Salis- 
bury,   and    in    1880   the    whole    amount   of  their    business    was 

*  Including  one  hundred  and  fifty  sleighs. 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  405 

$125,000.  During  the  year,  five  thousand  sets  of  carriage  parts 
were  completed,  in  addition  to  a  large  amount  of  other  work, 
giving  employment  to  sixty  workmen.  Their  business  was  estab- 
lished in  1869. 

The  Merrimac  Hat  Company  at  the  Ferry  are  doing  a  large 
business  and  employ  a  large  number  of  workmen.  The  capital 
stock  is  $  1 00,000.  The  amount  of  business  done  in  1880  was 
$400,000.  The  number  of  hats  made  reached  fifty-one  thousand 
dozen.  One  hundred  and  eighty  males  and  fifty  females  are 
employed.  Operations  were  commenced  in  the  new  mill  in 
1878.     R.  B.  Hawley,  agent. 

AMESBURY    AND    SALISBURY    EXPRESS. 

In  1840  Mr.  David  Batchelder  commenced  this  business  by 
running  a  stage  to  Newburyport  to  connect  with  the  Eastern 
railroad,  and  continued  the  line  till  the  completion  of  the  Salis- 
bury Branch  railroad  in  1848,  when  the  express  business  was 
transferred  to  the  cars  and  the  stage  line  sold  to  Stephen  H. 
Bagley.  Mr.  Batchelder  continued  in  the  business  till  1859,  when 
Joseph  T.  Merrill  succeeded  him.  Mr.  James  H.  Wells  started 
an  express  in  1858  and  continues  on  the  route.  There  are 
now  two  express  lines,  viz.:     "Wells'"  and  "Prevaux's." 

SALISBURY    AND    AMESBURY    PROVIDENT    INSTITUTION    FOR    SAVINGS. 

The  whole  amount  of  deposits  is  $1,261,776.61.  The  num- 
ber of  depositors  is  three  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  fifty. 
The  interest  on  hand  amounts  to  $31,057.63.  The  guarantee 
fund  is  $28,776.65.     Mr.  Alfred  C.  Webster,  treasurer. 

POWOW    RIVER    NATIONAL    BANK. 

This  bank  was  incorporated  in  1836  with  a  capital  of  $100,000. 
It  was  changed  to  National  May  1st,  1865.  The  total  earnings 
since  May  1st,  1865,  amount  to  $220,235.27.  Total  dividends, 
$168,000;  undivided  profits,  $62,175.92;  loans,  $277,907.34; 
deposits,  $179,212.77.  George  F.  Bayley  is  president  and  Albert 
B.  Brown,  cashier. 

AMESBURY    AND    SALISBURY    MILLS    PUBLIC    LIBRARY. 

The  generous  donation  of  some  six  hundred  volumes  by 
Joshua  Aubin,  Esq.,  for  many  years  the  agent  of  the  Amesbury 


406  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

mills,  laid  the  foundation  for  the  library  in  1856.  This  is  not 
a  free  library,  those  taking  books  being  required  to  pay  one 
dollar  per  year  for  the   privilege. 

It  now  numbers  four  thousand,  nine  hundred  and  sixty-one 
volumes,  embracing  a  wide  range  of  subjects.  The  officers 
for  1880  are  J.  W.  Briggs,  president;  John  Hume,  vice  presi- 
dent ;  F.  W.  Merrill,  secretary ;  William  Allen,  treasurer ;  C.  M. 
Brown,  Aaron  Sawyer,  J.  H.  Swett,  G.  W.  Gate,  J.  A.  Perkins, 
H.  L.  Kingsbury,  executive  committee ;  Miss  Fannie  M.  Bin- 
ney,  librarian.  The  rooms  are  on  Friend  street.  In  connec- 
tion with  the  library  is  the  collection  of  the  Natural  History 
Society. 

AMESBURY    AND    SALISBURY    ACADEMY. 

This  institution  was  organized  in  1804  and  incorporated  in 
1869.  Its  fund  amounts  to  $565.98.  Its  officers  are  president, 
Patten  Sargent ;  clerk  and  treasurer,  James  H.  Davis ;  trustees, 
O.  S.  Bailey,  Joseph  Merrill,  J.  N.  Clark,  D.  S.  Dearborn  and 
David  M.  Tewksbury. 

SALISBURY    AND    AMESBURY    MUTUAL    FIRE    INSURANCE    COMPANY. 

The  total  amount  of  risks  reaches  $365,648.  The  amount  of 
premium  notes  outstanding  is  $22,838.  Officers:  Joseph  N. 
Clark,  president;    C.  L.  Allen,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

E.    P.    WALLACE    POST,    NO.    12  2,    GRAND    ARMY    OF    THE    REPUBLIC. 

This  Post  was  established  in  1869  and  now  numbers  about 
fifty  members.  Officers  :  L.  Frank  Currier,  commander ;  Albert 
Morrill,  senior  commander ;  Moses  M.  Dennett,  junior  com- 
mander ;  John  O.  Currier,  officer  of  the  day ;  Michael  Moni- 
han,  officer  of  the  guard ;  Henry  P.  Wells,  quarter-master : 
Charles  Cook,  adjutant ;  R.  W.  Wells,  quarter-master-sergeant ; 
Enoch  Morrill,  sergeant-major;  John  A.  Douglas,  surgeon;  J.  W. 
Goodrich  and  E.  Gowen,  chaplains ;  George  Thurston,  sentinel. 
Its  funds  amount  to  $259. 

The  Post  was  named  for  Edward  P.  Wallace,  a  resident  of 
Amesbury,  who,  although  not  physically  able  to  endure  the  hard- 
ships of  a  soldier's  life,  devoted  his  whole  influence  to  the 
cause.     When  the  war   broke    out    he    immediately  collected  his 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  407 

money,  which  he  had  earned  by  hard  labor,  and  freely  gave  it 
to  the  Government  to  help  sustain  the  Union.  His  small  gift 
of  $100  was  accepted  by  the  treasurer  at  Washington,  and,  very 
unexpectedly,  the  first  bond  issued  by  the  Government  was  for- 
warded to  him.  Mr.  Wallace  had  the  honor  of  holding  bond 
No.  1.  Through  the  war  he  was  aiding  and  assisting  by  his 
whole  influence  the  cause  which  was  dear  to  him. 

REFORM    CLUB. 

Officers  for  1880 :  Jason  E.  Cowden,  president ;  Daniel 
Worthen  and  Charles  Cook,  vice-presidents ;  Mrs.  George  Col- 
lins, secretary ;  John  O.  Currier,  auditor ;  Stephen  Woodman, 
treasurer.  The  membership  numbers  one  hundred,  and  Veteran 
hall  is  their  place  of  meeting. 

OLD    LADIES'    HOME. 

This  Home  was  organized  December  31st,  1874.  In  1878 
the  Pickering  estate  at  the  Ferry  was  purchased  for  the  purpose 
of  erecting  suitable  building  for  a  home.  In  1878  a  fair  was 
held  in  the  new  Merrimac  Hat  Factory  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Home,  from  which  $1011.28  were  realized.  In  1879  a  second 
fair  was  held  for  the  benefit  of  the  Home,  in  Mr.  Biddle's  new 
block,  from  which  $1206.32  were  realized.  It  may  be  proper 
to  state  that  of  the  latter  sum,  five  hundred  dollars  were  donated 
by  the  following  persons,  viz. :  Messrs.  Seth  Clark,  Nathaniel 
Currier,  J.  G.  Whittier,  Stephen  Woodman  and  Mrs.  George  W. 
Morrill,  $100.  each.  Its  present  funds  amount  to  $2159,  and 
its  officers  are  Stephen  Woodman,  president ;  George  F.  Bagley, 
treasurer ;    O.  S.  Baley,  clerk. 

WARREN    LODGE    OF    FREE    AND    ACCEPTED    MASONS. 

This  Lodge  was  chartered  December  nth,  1822,  and  now  has 
a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five.  Henry  F.  Carey 
is  the  W.  M.,  and  their  meetings  are  held  in  Union  block. 

TRINITY    CHAPTER    OF    ROYAL    ARCH    MASONS. 

This  Chapter  was  organized  in  September  1870,  and  now  has 
a  membership  of  fifty-five.  Their  place  of  meeting  is  in  Union 
block,  and  Morton  B.  Merrill  is  High  Priest. 


408  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

POWOW    RIVER    LODGE    OF   ODD    FELLOWS. 

This  Lodge  was  organized  August  23d,  1845.  It  has  one 
hundred  and .  ninety- two  members,  and  Odd  Fellows  hall,  Friend 
street,  is  their  place  of  meeting.  George  W.  Currier  is  N.  G.. 
and  their  funds  amount  to  $9000. 

HARMONY    ENCAMPMENT   OF    ODD    FELLOWS,    NO.    5 1. 

The  Encampment  was  organized  January  24th,  1877.  There 
are  forty-two  members. 

KNIGHTS    OF    HONOR. 

This  Lodge  was  organized  June  28th,  1877.  There  is  a 
membership  of  sixty-four  and  the  meetings  are  held  in  Turner's 
hall.     Joseph  O.  George  is  Dictator. 

KNIGHTS    OF    PYTHIAS. 

This  Lodge  was  organized  October  23d,  1874,  and  has  a 
membership  of  fifty-nine.  Masonic  hall  is  their  place  of  meet- 
ing.    Their  funds  amount  to  $393.28.     Thomas  M.  Bush  is  C.  C. 

ENDOWMENT    RANK,    SEC.    273. 

This  Section  was  organized  in  April,  1879,  and  has  a  mem: 
bership  of  twenty-one,  with  a  fund  of  $30.  M.  W.  Philbrook 
is  president. 

McHALE    LITERARY    ASSOCIATION. 

This  Association  has  a  membership  of  eighty  and  its  funds 
amount  to  $200. 

WHITTIER   TEMPLE    OF    HONOR. 

This  Lodge  was  organized  April  13th,  1866,  and  there  is  a 
membership  of  forty-six,  with  funds  amounting  to  $250.  G.  W. 
Titus  is  W.  C.  T.,  and  the  meetings  are  held  at  Turner's  hall. 

FIRE   DISTRICT. 

This  was  organized  April  21st,  1868.  W.  E.  Biddle  is  chief 
engineer,  Otis  C.  Hardy  and  George  J.  Hunt,  assistants.  The 
amount  of  assessments  for  1880  was  $1500. 

ATLANTIC    HOSE    COMPANY. 

E.  P.  Osgood,  captain,  with  twenty  members.  Amount  of 
hose,  eleven  hundred  feet.  Meetings  are  held  at  the  engine 
house  on  Friend  street. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  4O9 

M.    D.    F.    STEERE    HOOK   AND    LADDER    COMPANY. 

Andrew  T.  Crowther,  captain,  with  twenty-five  members. 
Meetings  are  held  at  the  engine  house  on  Friend  street. 

MERRIMAC    ENGINE    COMPANY,    NO.    I. 

This  company  was  organized  in  May,  1851.  George  F.  Hunt- 
ington is  captain,  and  there  are  twenty-nine  members.  The 
meetings  are  held  in  the  engine  house  at  the  Ferry. 

AMESBURY    AND    SALISBURY    AGRICULTURAL   AND    HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 

This  Society  was  organized  in  1856  and  is  now  in  a  flour- 
ishing condition,  having  a  fund  of  more  than  one  thousand  dol- 
lars and  a  valuable  library.  A  petition  has  been  presented  to 
the  legislature  for  an  act  of  incorporation.  President,  J.  Henry 
Hill ;    treasurer,  Aaron  Sawyer. 

VETERAN    ARTILLERY. 

A  few  years  ago  a  company  was  organized,  including  several 
who  had  been  members  of  the  old  artillery  company,  but  the 
uniform  adopted  did  not  correspond  with  that  of  the  latter 
company.     The  company  usually  holds  an  annual  parade. 

The  Amesbury  and  Salisbury  Artillery  Company  was  formed 
in  1794  and  William  Lurvey  was  the  first  captain.  In  182 1 
John  Colby,  jr.,  was  captain,  serving  till  1825,  when  the  com- 
pany was  under  the  command  of  Isaac  Whittier,  first  lieutenant. 
In  1826,  Zebedee  Morrill  was  chosen  captain  and,  probably, 
served  till  1831,  when  James  C.  Currier  was  chosen,  and  held 
command  till  1834,  when  Hiram  Collins  was  chosen  and  was 
the  last  captain  in  command. 

RELIGIOUS   SOCIETIES. 

There  are  five  religious  societies  in  town,  viz. :  Congrega- 
tional, Catholic,  Free  Baptist,  Episcopal  and  Friends.  There 
are,  also,  many  Methodists  in  town,  who  attend  the  Methodist 
church  on  Pond  street,  Salisbury.  At  the  Ferry,  many  attend 
the  Union  Evangelical  church  at  Salisbury  Point.  Many  Uni- 
versalists,  also,  attend  the  Salisbury  church.  Present  pastors : 
Congregational,  Rev.  P.  S.  Boyd ;    Catholic,  Rev.    John    Brady  ■ 

52 


4IO  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

Free  Baptist,  Rev.  J.  D.  Waldron ;    Episcopal,  Rev.  Dr.  Emery. 

Physicians  in  town :  Drs.  John  A.  Douglas,  H.  G.  Leslie 
and  Eli  Jones. 

Dentists  :  Drs.  Jared  A.  Perkins,  Arthur  T.  Brown  and  J.  E. 
Blake. 

Counsellor  and  attorney  at  law  :     Hon.  George  W.  Cate. 

Trial  justices  :     Orlando  S.  Baley  and  George  W.  Cate. 

Town  clerk :     N.  E.  Collins. 

Selectmen :     Charles   Rowell,  John  Gould    and    Hiram    Foot. 

Treasurer  and  collector :     James  H.  Davis.- 

School  committee  :  Joseph  Merrill,  H.  G.  Leslie  and  George 
W.  Cate. 

High  School  teacher :     William  D.  Mackintosh. 

soldiers'  record. 

Benjamin  C.  Atkinson,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three 
years  in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment :  was 
promoted  to  first-lieutenant  in  Company  C,  May  28th,  1862, 
and  to  captain,  October  8th,   1864.     Bounty,  $60. 

Webster  Allen,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  He  was  son 
of  Jonathan  Allen  and  born  in  Amesbury.     Bounty,  $60. 

John  Ashworth,  enlisted  March  7th,  1862,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Residence 
unknown. 

James  McAvoy,  enlisted  in  the  Twenty- Eighth  Massachusetts 
regiment. 

George  Austin,  enlisted  December  30th,  1864,  for  one  year. 
Bounty,  $125. 

Benjamin  Baxter,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty  $30. 

Richard  S.  Bailey,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
#60.  Re-enlisted  November  30th,  1863,  for  three  years  in  Com- 
pany E,    First  Massachusetts  regiment. 

George  Brown,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $30. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  411 

Re-enlisted  November  25th,  1863,  in  Company  E,  First  Massa- 
chusetts regiment. 

Winfield  S.  Blanchard,  enlisted  March  7th,  1862,  for  three 
years  in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  regiment. 

Henry  F.  Badger,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment  ■  died  of 
fever  February  2d,   1862,  at  Fort  Albany. 

John  Brown,  enlisted  November  26th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  B,  Eleventh  regiment;  badly  wounded  July  2d, 
1863,  at  Gettysburg,  by  a  bullet  through  the  top  of  the  lung; 
discharged  December  3d,   1863,  for  disability. 

Thomas  S.  Bradley,  enlisted  December  2d,  1861,  for  three 
years  in  Company  A,  Nineteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ; 
wounded  before    Richmond    and  discharged    March  12th,   1863. 

William  Burgess  enlisted  in  the  Nineteenth  Massachusetts 
regiment. 

John  F.  Bailey,  enlisted  October  27th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  B,  Second  Massachusetts  regiment ;  discharged  for 
disability  December  5th,   1862. 

Robert  J.  Burnett,  enlisted  for  three  years  in  Company  B, 
Fortieth  Massachusetts  regiment;  killed  in  the  battle  of  Fair 
Oaks,  June   1st,   1862. 

Robert  M.  Boody,  enlisted  April  20th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  B,  Fortieth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  promoted  to 
corporal,  April,  1862,  to  sergeant,  October,  1862,  to  second- 
lieutenant,  June,   1863,  and  to  first-lieutenant,  October,  1863.  * 

James  W.  Bartlett,  enlisted  August  5th,  1862,  for  three  years 
in  Company  A,  Thirty- Fifth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  promoted 
to  corporal ;  was  in  the  battles  of  South  Mountain,  Antietam  and 
Fredericksburg;  died  June  6th,  1864,  of  wound  received  in 
battle. 

Oliver  S.  Bowley,  enlisted  July  25th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty,  $100. 
Re-enlisted  December  28th,  1863,  for  three  years  in  Company 
E,  First  Massachusetts  regiment. 

William  Bellele,  enlisted  July,  1862,  for  three  years  in  Com- 
pany   E,    Fourteenth    Massachusetts    regiment.       Bounty,    $100. 


412  HISTORY     OF   AMESBURY. 

Re-enlisted  December  29th,  1863,  for  three  years  in  First  Mass- 
achusetts Heavy  Artillery. 

Augustus  S.  Bailey,  enlisted  in  1862  for  three  years  in  Com- 
pany E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $100. 

Benjamin  Buswell,  enlisted  August  14th,  1862,  in  Company 
I,  Fortieth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $300. 

John  Bahan,  enlisted  August  14th,  1862,  for  three  years  m 
Company  I,  Fortieth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  promoted  to 
lieutenant.     Bounty,  $300. 

William  S.  Brock,  enlisted  August  18th,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  C,  Forty-Eighth  Masssachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
$150. 

Michael  Bahan,  enlisted  August  22d,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  C,  Forty-eighth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  was  in 
battle  of  Port  Hudson.     Bounty,  $150. 

George  E.  Blaisdell,  enlisted  August  6th,  1862,  for  three 
years  in  Company  A,  Thirty-Fifth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  was 
in  battles  of  South  Mountain,  Antietam,  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
Knoxville  and  the  last  fight  at  Petersburg. 

Charles  D.  Blumley,  enlisted  for  three  years  in  Company  E, 
Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $100. 

John  H.  Brown,  enlisted  August  24th,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  C,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  died 
August  19th,  1863,  at  Centralia,  Illinois,  from  sun  stroke,  while 
on  his  way  home.     Bounty,  $150. 

Charles  F.  Burrill,  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Forty-Eighth  Mass- 
achusetts regiment  for  nine  months.     Bounty,  $150. 

William  Bahan,  enlisted  August,  1862,  for  nine  months  in  the 
Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment. 

William    A.  Buswell,  enlisted    November    21st,  for  three 

years  in  Company  M,  Second  Massachusetts  regiment. 

George  Bocock,  enlisted  October  nth,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  C,  Forty- Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  bounty, 
$150;  re-enlisted  August  nth,  1864,  in  Company  E,  First 
Massachusetts  Battalion  of  Heavy  Artillery.      Bounty,  $125. 

James  P.  Blanchard,  enlisted  October  1st,  1862,  for  nine 
months  in  Company  F,  Forty- Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment. 
Bounty,  $150. 


HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY.  -  413 

Richard  F.  Briggs,  enlisted  July  nth,  1863,  for  three  years 
in  Company  B,  Second  Massachusetts  regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery. 

Benjamin  Booth,  enlisted  December  8th,  1863,  f°r  three 
years  in  the  Second  Massachusetts  regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery. 

George  F.  Bailey,  enlisted  September  4th,  1862,  for  nine 
months  in  Company  C,  Forty-eighth  Massachusetts  regiment. 
Bounty,  $150. 

James  Blaisdell,  jr.,  enlisted  August  22d,  1862,  for  nine 
months  in  Company  C,  Forty-eighth  Massachusetts  regiment. 
Bounty,  $150. 

Elbridge  J.  Batchelder,  enlisted  December  17th,  1863,  f°r 
three  years  in  Company  M,  Second  Massachusetts  regiment. 

Moses  S.  Bailey,  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Fourth  Massachu- 
setts regiment  of  Cavalry. 

Timothy  J.  Breene,  enlisted  August  14th,  1863,  for  three 
years  in  the  Ninth  Company,  Third  Massachusetts  regiment ; 
was  finally  in  Company  E. 

Matthew  Barry,  enlisted  August  7th,  1864,  in  Company  E, 
Massachusetts  Heavy  Artillery.     Bounty,  $125. 

Nathaniel  Brown,  enlisted  February  20th,  1864,  in  Fourteenth 
Massachusetts  Light  Artillery. 

Jeremiah  Bartlett,  enlisted  in  Second  Company,  First  Massa- 
chusetts Heavy  Artillery. 

Horace  Brown,  enlisted  August  4th,  1863,  f°r  one  year  in 
Company  C,  Second  Massachusetts  regiment. 

Charles  H.  Blake,  enlisted  January  4th,  1864,  in  Company 
D,  Seventeenth  Massachusetts  regiment. 

George  Burlingame,  enlisted  in  Cavalry,  serving  on  Cana- 
dian frontier.     Bounty,  $125. 

Charles  F.  Bolser,  enlisted  December  31st,  1864,  for  one 
year;    served  on  Canadian  frontier.     Bounty,  $125. 

Lewis  P.  Caldwell,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  promoted 
to  second-lieutenant  May  28th,  1862,  and  to  first-lieutenant 
July  26th,  1863,  and  transferred  to  Company  F;  died  of  wounds 
June  17th,   1864.     Bounty,  $30. 

George  W.  Clark,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $30- 


414  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

Charles  W.  Currier,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  promoted 
to  corporal.     Bounty,  $30. 

William  Crane,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  promoted  to 
corporal.     Bounty,  $30. 

Augustus  Cunningham,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three 
years  in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
$60.  Re-enlisted  November  30th,  1863,  for  three  years  in  Com- 
pany E,  First  Massachusetts  regiment. 

Warren  Cowdry,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth    Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $60. 

Andrew  F.  Chaples,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three 
years  in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  pro- 
moted to  corporal. 

Emmons  B.  Christian,  enlisted,  June  24th,  1861,  for  three 
years  in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment. 
Bounty,  $30. 

Patrick  O'Connell,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.    Bounty,  $30. 

Edward  Cartier,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty,  $60. 
Re-enlisted  August  31st,  1864,  in  First  Massachusetts  regiment. 
Bounty,  $125. 

Anthony  F.  Coggen.     Bounty,  $125. 

James  M.  Colyer,  died  at  Trinity  Church  Hospital,  George- 
town, D.  C,   1862. 

Charles  H.  Cammett,  enlisted  for  three  years  in  Company  F, 
Seventeenth  Massachusetts  regiment. 

John  F.  Carlton,  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Seventeenth  Mass- 
achusetts regiment;   promoted  to  corporal. 

Charles  Christially,  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Twentieth  Mass- 
achusetts regiment ;  wounded  at  Balls  Bluff  and  discharged  after 
being  seven  months  a  prisoner  at  Richmond,  Va.,  and  Salisbury, 
N.  C. 

George  W.  Christian,  enlisted  October  4th,  1861,  for  three 
years  in  Company  D,  Thirtieth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  dis- 
charged for  disability. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  41 5 

John  F.  Currier,  enlisted  for  three  years  in  Company  B,  For- 
tieth New  York  regiment ;  killed  in  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks 
June  1  st,   1862. 

Daniel  M.  Curtis,  enlisted  April,  1862,  in  Company  B,  For- 
tieth New  York  regiment ;  promoted  to  orderly-sergeant ;  was 
in  battles  of  Fair  Oaks,  before  Richmond  and  Antietam  ;  also> 
taken  prisoner. 

William  H.  Currier,  enlisted  October  5th,  1858,  for  five  years 
in  Company  F,  Third  Massachusetts  regiment  of  the  regular 
army. 

Jason  E.  Cowden,  enlisted  August  3d,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  H,  Second  Massachusetts  regiment ;  discharged  for 
disability  December  21st,  1861.  Re-enlisted  July  25th,  1862, 
for  three  years  in  Company  E,  Second   Massachusetts  regiment. 

Rodney  H.  Currier,  enlisted  August  5th,  1862,  for  three  years 
in  Company  A,  Thirty- Fifth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  discharged 
for  disability. 

Alanson  St.  Clair  Currier,  enlisted  August  14th,  1862,  for  three 
years  in  Company  I,  Fortieth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  was  in 
twenty  battles,  including  those  of  Coal  Harbor  and  before 
Richmond  ;  taken  prisoner  at  the  latter  one.     Bounty,  $300. 

Franklin  S.  Clement,  enlisted  August  14th,  1862,  for  three 
years  in  Company  I,  Fortieth    Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty, 


John  O.  Currier  enlisted  August  18th,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  C,  Forty- Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment;  resigned 
and  discharged  March  10th,   1863.     Bounty,  $150. 

Randall  B.  Curtis  enlisted  in  1861,  for  three  years  in  Com- 
pany D,  Seventeenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $30. 

Daniel  W.  Currier  enlisted  September  1st,  1862,  for  nine 
months  in  Company  C.  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment. 
Bounty,  $150. 

Isaac  Crowther,  enlisted  September  23d,  1862,  for  nine 
months  in  Company  C.  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment. 
Bounty,  $150. 

Daniel  O.  Conner  enlisted  July  5th,  1862,  for  three  years  in 
Company  K,  Twenty-Third  Massachusetts  regiment. 

Daniel  Cammett  enlisted  April  2 2d,   1861,  for   three    years    in 


41 6  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

Company  D,  Seventeenth  Massachusetts  regiment;  died  August 
2,  1864.     Bounty,  $30. 

Leonard  F.  Currier  enlisted  December  5th,  1863,  for  three 
years  in  Company  M,  Second  Massachusetts  regiment  of  Heavy 
Artillery. 

John  O.  Connor  enlisted  December  31st,  1863,  for  three  years 
in  Company  D,  Fourth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  promoted  to 
orderly  sergent  •  in  Andersonville  prison  two  months ;  also  in 
Florence. 

Otis  S.  Currier  enlisted  1863,  in  New  Hampshire. 

Enoch  W.  Colby  enlisted  December  2  2d,  1863,  in  Company 
L,  Second  Massachusetts  regiment. 

John  R.  Chapman  enlisted  in  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Henry  W.  Crosby  enlisted  August  8th,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  C,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment. 

John  Connealey  enlisted  May  9th,  1864,  in  Second  Massa- 
chusetts regiment. 

James  Claflin  enlisted  in  Nineteenth  Massachusetts  regiment 
of  Heavy  Artillery.     Bounty,  $225. 

Warren  Clough  enlisted  May,  1864,  in  Veteran  Reserve  Corps 
of  Infantry.     Bounty,  $225. 

William  P.  Colby  enlisted  in  the  Seventeenth  regiment ;  served 
as  chaplain;  discharged  November  2d,   1863. 

William  L.  Dorsett,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  promoted 
to  sergeant;  died  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  December  8th,  1864,  from 
the  effects  of  starvation  in  a  Confederate  prison.     Bounty,  $30. 

Henry  N.  Dyke,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth    Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $30. 

John  Doherty,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $60. 

Terence  Dorsey,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment. 

Albert  F.  Dewhurst,  enlisted  in  1861  in  Company  B,  Fortieth 
New  York  regiment;  died  of  fever  at  Alexandria  August  27th, 
1862. 

John    H.  Dustin,  enlisted    August  5th,   1862,  for    three    years 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  417 

in  Company  A,  Thirty-Fifth  Massachusetts  regiment  ;  was  in  the 
battles  of  South  Mountain  and  Fredericksburg. 

Jacob  F.  Dow,  enlisted  August  6th,  1862,  for  three  years  in 
Company  A,  Thirty-Fifth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  died  in  the 
service. 

Daniel  C.  Davis,  enlisted  in  1862  for  three  years  in  Com- 
pany C,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty,  $100. 
Re-enlisted  in  Massachusetts  Heavy  Artillery. 

William  Doland,  enlisted  for  three  years  in  the  Thirty-Second 
Massachusetts  regiment. 

James  McDonald,  enlisted  August  23d,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  C,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  was  in 
all  the  battles  at  Port  Hudson.     Bounty,  $  150. 

Edmund  K.  Dewhurst,  enlisted  September  24th.  1862,  for 
nine  months  in  Company  C,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regi- 
ment.    Bounty,  $150. 

Edward  Dorsey,  corporal,  enlisted  for  three  years  in  Company 
K,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  wounded  in  the  battle 
of  Sharpsburg  and  died  at  Washington  September  18th,  1862. 
Bounty,   30. 

Philip  Dorsey,  enlisted  in  1862  for  nine  months  in  Company 
A,  Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment. 

Timothy  Donovan,  enlisted  August  14th,  1862,  for  three  years 
in  Company  I,  Fortieth  Massachusetts  regiment.      Bounty,  $300. 

Otis  P.  Danforth,  enlisted  in  1863,  for  three  years  in  Com- 
pany A,   Fourth  Massachusetts  regiment  of  Cavalry. 

John  J.  Dunn,  enlisted  August  17th,  1864,  for  one  year  in 
Company  Twenty-Sixth,  Massachusetts  Heavy  Artillery.  Bounty, 
$125. 

De  Witt  Davis,  enlisted  in  May,  1864,  m  Company  Fifteenth, 
Massachusetts  Heavy  Artillery.     Bounty,  $225. 

John  M.  Dearborn,  enlisted  in  June,  186 1,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $30. 

Albert  N.  Edwards,  enlisted  August  14th,  1862,  for  three 
years  in  Company  I,  Fortieth  Massachusetts  regiment  ;  died  at 
Fort  Schuyler  October   13th,   1863.     Bounty,  $300. 

Alpheus     Elliott,    enlisted     November     25th,    1863,    for    three 

53 


4lS  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

years  in  Company  M,  Second  Massachusetts  regiment  of  Heavy 
Artillery. 

Samuel  A.  Evans,  enlisted  in  September,  1862,  for  nine 
months  in  the  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
$150. 

Edwin  Follansbee,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment  ;  promoted 
to  corporal  and  then  to  sergeant.     Bounty,  $30. 

Ezekiel  Fowler,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $60. 

William  P.  Foster,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  promoted 
to  corporal.     Bounty,   $30. 

George  F.  Foss,  musician,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three 
years  in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  bounty, 
$30. 

Mathew  Fitzgerald,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  made  arti- 
ficer in  Heavy  Artillery.     Bounty,  $30. 

Charles  L.  Flanders,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  taken  pris- 
oner at  Richmond  and  confined  at  Andersonville  ;  died.  Bounty. 
$30. 

Jones  Frankle,  captain,  enlisted  in  1861  in  the  17th  Massa- 
chusetts regiment;  promoted  to  major  August  1st,  1861,  and 
to  colonel  of  Second  regiment  December  28th,   1863. 

Moses  C.  Flint,  enlisted  in  1861  for  three  years  in  Company 
I,  Twenty-Second  Massachusetts  regiment ;  was  in  the  battles 
before  Richmond. 

Israel  Flint,  enlisted  for  three  years  in  Company  K,  Four- 
teenth Massachusetts  regiment. 

James  Foot,  enlisted  June,  1861,  in  Company  B,  Fortieth 
New  York  regiment. 

Marcus  M.  Fullington,  enlisted  August  14th,  1862,  for  three 
years  in  Company  I,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  bounty, 
$300. 

Joshua  Follansbee,  enlisted  in  1862  for  nine  months  in  Com- 
pany C,  Forty-Eighth   Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $150. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURV.  419 

Frank  Foot,  enlisted  April  220!,  1861,  for  three  years  in  Com- 
pany D,  Seventeenth  Massachusetts  regiment. 

Edwin  Follansbee,  enlisted  December  10th,  1863,  for  three 
years  in  Company  E,  First  Massachusetts  regiment  of  Heavy 
Artillery. 

George  Firth,  enlisted  August  25th,  1864,  for  one  year  in 
Company  Sixteenth.     Bounty,  $125. 

Joseph  H.  Fish,  enlisted  in  May,   1864,  for  three  years. 

Samuel  Felton,  enlisted  November  30th,  1864,  for  one  year 
in  Cavalry  service  on  Canadian  frontier.     Bounty,  $125. 

Frank  D...  Griswold,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $30. 

George  W.  Grant,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.    Bounty,  $60. 

John  B.  Gray,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty,  $30. 
Re-enlisted  November  2 2d,   1863. 

Isaac  H.  Gould,  enlisted  in  October,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  A,  17th  Massachusetts  regiment;  died  June  29th, 
1862,  of  disease. 

Joshua  Grant,  enlisted  in  July,  1862,  for  three  years  in  Com- 
pany E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $100. 

Joseph  W.  Gray,  enlisted  for  three  years  in  Company  I, 
Fortieth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $300. 

George  F.  Gowen,  enlisted  August  14th,  1862,  for  three  years 
in  Company  I,  Fortieth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  discharged 
March  29th,   1863,  on  account  of  wound.     Bounty,  $300. 

Thomas  Gallagher,  enlisted  August  8th,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  C,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
$150. 

George  A.  Grant,  enlisted  September  4th,  1862,  for  nine 
months  in  Company  C,  Forty-  Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment. 
Bounty,  $150. 

Robert  T.  Goodwin,  enlisted  August  18th,  1862,  for  nine 
months  in  Company  C,  Forty- Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment. 
Bounty,  $150. 

Alfred  M.  Goodwin,  drafted  in  July,  1863,  and  joined  Com- 
pany  1).   Fifteenth    Massachusetts    regiment;    was  taken  prisoner 


420  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

in  front  of  Petersburg  in  1864  and  died  in  prison  at  Little  Sal- 
isbury, N.  C,  September  1st,   1864. 

James  A.  Garland,  enlisted  in  August,  1864,  for  one  year  in 
Company  E,  First  Massachusetts  Battalion  of  Heavy  Artillery. 
Bounty,-  #125. 

Nathaniel  B.  Giles,  enlisted  July,  1864,  in  the  Veteran  Reserve 
Infantry. 

Edwin  L.  George,  enlisted  August,  1862,  in  Company  I,  For- 
tieth Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $300. 

George  S.  Gorden,  enlisted  in  1862  for  three  years  in  Com- 
pany E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  died  of  dysentery 
August,    1863.     Bounty  $100. 

E.  S.  Gowen,  enlisted  October,  1862,  for  nine  months  in  the 
Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $150. 

Elmer  S.  Harris,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $30. 

William  M.  Hamilton,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three 
years  in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  pro- 
moted to  second-lieutenant  of  the  Second  Massachusetts  regi- 
ment of  Heavy  Artillery,  August   14th,   1863.      Bounty  $30. 

John  Hawksworth,  enlisted  June  24th,  186 1,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.    Bounty,  $30. 

John  Handley,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $60. 

John  D.  Huntington,  enlisted  November  26th,  186 1,  for  three 
years  in  Company  E,  Eleventh  Massachusetts  regiment. 

David  W.  Hoyt,  enlisted  in  the  Twenty-Second  Massachu- 
setts regiment. 

Timothy  Hessian,  enlisted  November,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  A,  Twenty-Fourth  Massachusetts  regiment. 

John  W.  Hunt,  enlisted  August  14th,  1862,  for  three  years 
in  Company  I,  Fortieth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  promoted  to 
corporal ;    was  in  siege  of  Fort  Wagner.     Bounty,  $300. 

Albion  Hayford,  enlisted  August  20th,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  C,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  was  in 
battle  of  Plain  Store.     Bounty,  $150. 

Y.  G.  Hurd,  surgeon,  enlisted    December  8th,   1862,  for  nine 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  42  I 

months  in  the  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
$150. 

James  Hopkinson,  enlisted  December  nth,  1863,  f°r  three 
years  in  the  Second  Massachusetts  regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery. 

Henry  Haines,  enlisted  August  18th,  1864,  for  one  year  in 
Company  Sixteenth,  Fourth  Massachusetts  regiment  of  Heavy 
Artillery.     Bounty,  $125. 

William  Hunt,  enlisted  August  19th,  1864,  for  one  year  in 
Company  Twenty-Eighth,  Massachusetts  Heavy  Artillery.  Bounty, 
$125. 

Sylvanus  M.  Hall,  enlisted  in  August,  1864,  for  one  year  in 
Company  E,  First  Battalion  of  Heavy  Artillery.      Bounty,  $125. 

Thomas  Hassan,  enlisted  in  December,  1863,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Seventeenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  was  in 
battles  of  Kingston  and  Batchelder's  Creek. 

Christopher  Hughes,  enlisted  May,  1864,  in  Company  Fif- 
teenth, Massachusetts  Unattached  Heavy  Artillery.     Bounty,  $22.5. 

Calvin  P.  Hinds,  enlisted  May,  1864,  in  the  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps.     Bounty,  $225. 

William  Hopkinson,  enlisted  May,  1864,  in  the  Nineteenth 
Massachusetts  regiment. 

Ira  Hunt,  enlisted  October  8th,  1863,  in  Company  F,  Sec- 
ond Massachusetts  regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery. 

Charles  T.  Hyde,  enlisted  September,  1862,  for  nine  months  in 
the  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $150. 

John  Jenkins,  enlisted  in  1862  for  three  years  in  Company  E, 
Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty,  #100.  Re-enlisted 
February  29th,  1864,  for  three  years  in  the  First  Massachusetts 
regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery. 

Levi  B.  Johnson,  enlisted  in  1861  for  eighteen  months  in 
Company  K,  Tenth  Maine  regiment. 

Frederick  B.  Kellogg,  enlisted  June  24th,  1S61,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $30. 

Charles  H.  Kennett,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
$30.  Re-enlisted  November  6th,  1863,  in  Company  E,  First 
Massachusetts  regiment  of   Heavy  Artillery. 


422  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

William  Kelley,  enlisted  March  7th,  1862,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment. 

Enoch  M.  Kendrick,  enlisted  November  nth,  1861,  for  three 
years  in  Company  D,  Seventeenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  dis- 
charged for  disability  September  4th,   1862. 

Ebenezer  F.  Knox,  enlisted  July  25th,  1862,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
$100. 

Thomas  Kane,  enlisted  February  25th,  1864,  in  Company 
E,  Seventeenth  Massachusetts  regiment. 

Frank  T.  Kierman,  enlisted  May,  1864,  m  the  Fourth  Mass- 
achusetts regiment  of  Cavalry. 

George  F.  Little,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  promoted  to 
sergeant.     Bounty,  $30. 

Timothy  R.  Leary,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.    Bounty,  $30. 

Charles  S.  Lunt,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $30. 

Peter  Liberty,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.      Bounty,  $30. 

Joseph  Liberty,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.      Bounty,  $30. 

Benjamin  F.  Locke,  enlisted  July  4th,  1862,  for  three  years' 
in  Company  E,  Seventeenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty. 
$100.     Re-enlisted  February  25th,   1864,  in  the  same  regiment. 

Samuel  McLaughlin,  enlisted  August,  1862,  for  three  years 
in  Company  D,  Seventeenth  Massachusetts  regiment  ;  promoted 
to  corporal.     Bounty,  $300. 

John  A.  Little,  enlisted  September  3d,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  C,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  was  in 
all  the  battles  at  Port  Hudson.     Bounty,  $150. 

Josiah  D.  Little,  enlisted  September  8th,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  C,  Forty- Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment  ;  wounded 
in  the  hand  at  the  battle  of  Plain  Store.     Bounty,  $150. 

George  Long,  enlisted  September,  1862,  for  nine  months  in 
Company  C,  Forty- Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.    Bounty,  $150. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  423 

George  H.  Lang,  enlisted  May  6th,  1S61,  for  three  years  in 
Company  D,  Seventeenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  discharged 
April  2d,   1863,  for  disability.     Bounty,  $60. 

James  B.  Lord,  enlisted  August  17th,  1864,  for  three  years 
in  First  Massachusetts  Battalion  of  Heavy  Artillery.  Bounty, 
$125. 

Michael  Lynch,  enlisted  May,  1864,  in  Second  Massachusetts 
regiment  of  Cavalry. 

Henry  N.  Lowe,  enlisted  May,  1864,  in  Company  Fifteenth, 
Third  Massachusetts  regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery.     Bounty,  $225. 

George  W.  Littlefield,  enlisted  in  the  Fortieth  Massachusetts 
regiment.     Bounty,  $300. 

Rufus  Lothrop,  enlisted  September,  1862,  for  nine  months  in 
the  Forty- Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $150. 

William  F.  Martins,  first-lieutenant,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861, 
for  three  years  in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regi- 
ment ;  promoted  to  captain  of  Company  I ;  taken  prisoner  at 
the  battle  of  Winchester,  Va.,  wounded  severely,  losing  a  leg  ; 
discharged  October  5th,   1864..    Bounty  $60. 

John  T.  Merrill,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $60. 

Henry  McQuestion,  enlisted  June  24th,  186 1,  for  three  years 
'  in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  discharged 
in  1863  for  disability.     Bounty,  $30. 

James  McAvoy,  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Twenty- Eighth  Mass- 
achusetts regiment. 

Daniel  Morrill,  enlisted  in  1862  for  three  years  in  Company 
E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $100. 

George  O.  Morrill,  enlisted  in  1862  for  three  years  in  Com- 
pany E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $100. 

Leonard  N.  Morrill,  enlisted  July  30th,  1862,  for  three  years 
in  Company  I,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty. 
Si  00. 

James  Murphy,  enlisted  August  14,  1862,  for  three  years  in 
Company  D,  Seventeenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  promoted  to 
corporal;    wounded  and  discharged.     Bounty,  $100. 

Howard  W.   Merrill,  enlisted   1864  in    Capt.  Twitchell's  Com- 


424  HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 

pany,  Seventh  Maine  Battery ;  promoted  to  orderly  sergeant  ; 
died  of  fever  before  Richmond  March  25th,   1865. 

John  McNanie,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E.  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty,  $60. 
Re-enlisted  in  November,   1863. 

Henry  E.  Marshall,  enlisted  in  1862,  for  three  years  in  Com- 
pany E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $100. 

Stephen  G.  Morse,  enlisted  September,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  C,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  died  at 
Baton  Rouge,  July  8th,  1863.     Bounty,  #150. 

Richard  McWilliams,  enlisted  August,  1863^  for  one  year  in 
the  Banks  Guard. 

William  McWilliams,  enlisted  in  June,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  D,  Seventeenth  Massachusetts  regiment. 

Enoch  Morrill,  enlisted  December  1st,  1863,  for  three  years 
in  Company  M,  Second  Massachusetts  regiment. 

John  S.  Manley,  enlisted  in  August,  1864,  for  one  year  in 
Company  Twenty-Sixth,  Fourth  Massachusetts  regiment  of  Heavy 
Artillery.     Bounty,  $125. 

Jacob  C.  Merrill,  enlisted  August,  1 684,  for  one  year  in  Com- 
pany Twenty- Eighth,  Massachusetts  Heavy  Artillery.  Bounty, 
#125. 

E.  Wingate  Morse,  enlisted  December  2d,  1864,  for  one  year 
in  Company  E,  First  Massachusetts  Battalion  of  Cavalry. 
Bounty,  $125. 

Gilman  F.  Morrill,  enlisted  in  the  Fourteenth  Massachusetts 
regiment.     Bounty,  $100. 

Eben  Norman,  enlisted  August  4th,  1862,  for  three  years  in 
Company  C,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $100. 

Francis  W.  Nichols,  corporal,  enlisted  August  1862,  for  three 
years  in  Company  I,  Fortieth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
$300. 

James  O'Neil,  sergeant,  enlisted  for  three  years  in  Twenty- 
Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment. 

Charles  O.  Nutter,  enlisted  September  5th,  1862,  for  nine 
months  in  Company  C,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment. 
Bounty,  $150. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY. 


425 


Charles  E.  Osgood,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  promoted 
to  second-lieutenant ;  wounded  severely  and  discharged  Febru- 
ary 14th,   1865.     Bounty,  $30. 

Allen  Osgood,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  taken  prisoner 
June  2 2d,  1864,  and  confined  in  Andersonville  prison  ten 
months.     Bounty,  $30. 

Joseph  Oak,  enlisted  November  19th,  1S61,  for  three  years 
in  Massachusetts  Cavalry;  discharged  December,  1862,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Moses  M.  Ordway,  enlisted  August  14th,  1862,  for  three 
years  in  Company  I,  Fortieth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  promoted 
to  corporal,  sergeant  and  sergeant-major.     Bounty,   $300. 

Edward  P.  Osgood,  enlisted  September,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  C,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
$150. 

George  W.  Patten,  enlisted  August  14th,  1862,  for  three  years 
in  Company  I,  Fortieth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $300. 

John  Page,  enlisted  September  8th,  1862,  for  nine  months  in 
Company  C,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.    Bounty,  $150. 

James  W.  Plunkett,  enlisted  September  9th,  1862,  for  nine 
months  in  Company  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment. 
Bounty,  $150. 

Dennison  B.  Page,  enlisted  July  14th,  1863,  for  three  years 
in  Company  B,  Second  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $150. 

Samuel  M.  Prescott,  musician,  enlisted  August  16th,  1864, 
for  three  years.     Bounty,  $125. 

Elbridge  A.  Ring,  corporal,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for 
three  years  in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ; 
promoted  to  sergeant.     Bounty,  $30. 

John  S.  Runnells,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  promoted 
to  quarter-master-sergeant ;  died  of  fever  at  Fort  Whipple  Sep- 
tember 1 8th,   1863.     Bounty,  $60. 

James  Ross,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  taken  prisoner 

54 


426  HISTORY    OF    AMESBURY. 

before  Richmond  and  confined  in  Andersonville  prison.  Bounty, 
$36. 

William  H.  Rand,  enlisted  December  2d,  1861,  for  three 
years  in  Company  B,  Second  Massachusetts  regiment  of  Cav- 
alry ;     discharged  for  disability  December  5th,  1862. 

Jonathan  Ring,  enlisted  August  14th,  1862,,  for  three  years  in 
Company  I,  Fortieth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $300. 

James  Rowe,  enlisted  September,  1862,  for  nine  months  in 
Company  C,  Forty- Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.    Bounty,  $150. 

James  Ryan,  enlisted  in  the  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regi- 
ment. 

Richard  Robinson,  enlisted  August  26th,  1864,  for  one  year 
in  Company  Sixteenth,  Third  Massachusetts  regiment :  appointed 
musician.     Bounty,  $125. 

Nathan  H.  Russell,  enlisted  December,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  A,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty. 
$150. 

Dennis  Ryan,  enlisted  February,   1864,  in  the  general  service. 

Joseph  W.  Sargent,  captain,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for 
three  years  in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ; 
this  company  was  transferred  to  the  First  regiment  of  Heavy 
Artillery  January  1st,  1862,  by  order  of  the  War  Department; 
resigned  December  24th,   1863,  by  reason  of  ill  health. 

Gustavus  D.  Sargent,  sergeant,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for 
three  years  in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment : 
taken  prisoner  at  Petersburg  June  2 2d,  1864,  and  confined  in 
Andersonville  prison  eight  months;  exchanged  April  2 2d,  1865. 
Bounty,  $30. 

Alexander  Smart,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  promoted  to 
second-lieutenant  November  18th,   1862.     Bounty,  $30. 

Nathaniel  J.  Spofford,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three 
years  in  Company  E.  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
$3o. 

Warren  Spear,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment :  discharged  for 
disability.     Bounty,  $30. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  427 

David  Sylvester,  enlisted  August  7th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment. 

Jesse  M.  Scott,  enlisted  June  24th,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  accidentally 
shot  at  Fort  Albany  the*  same  year.     Bounty  $30. 

Charles  H.  Sylvester,  enlisted  September,  1861,  for  three 
years  in  Company  H,  Twenty-Second  Massachusetts  regiment. 

Charles  F.  Sargent,  enlisted  July,  1862,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $100. 

Moses  Stevens,  enlisted  September  5th,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  C,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
$156. 

Bailey  Sargent,  enlisted  July  6th,  1863,  in  Company  C,  Sec- 
ond Massachusetts  regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery. 

John  Schofield,  enlisted  August  20th,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  C,  Forty-eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
$150. 

Charles  M.  Savage,  enlisted  December  4th,  1863,  f°r  three 
years  in  the  Second  Massachusetts  regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery. 

William  J.  Sanborn,  enlisted  November  24th,  1863,  in  the 
Second  Massachusetts  regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery. 

Lyman  S.  Sargent,  enlisted  October,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  A,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
$150. 

William  Smeath,  musician,  enlisted  June  15th,  1861,  for  three 
years  in  the  Second  Massachusetts  regiment ;  discharged  Octo- 
ber 6th,    1862.     Bounty,  $30. 

James  Smith,  enlisted  in  the  Twenty-Sixth  Massachusetts  regi- 
ment. 

William  A.  Springer,  enlisted  in  the  Second  Massachusetts 
regiment. 

William  W.  Smart,  enlisted  August  17th,  1864,  for  three  years 
in  the  First  Massachusetts  Battalion  of  Heavy  Artillery.  Bounty. 
$125. 

John  B.  Smith,  enlisted  August,  1864,  for  one  year  in  Com- 
pany E,  First  Massachusetts  Battalion  of  Heavy  Artillery. 
Bounty,  $125. 


428  HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY. 

Frank  I.  Snell,  enlisted  August,  1864,  for  one  year  in  Com- 
pany E,  First  Massachusetts  Battalion  of  Heavy  Artillery.  Bounty, 
$125. 

Charles  E.  Steere,  enlisted  August,  1864,  for  one  year  in 
Company  E,  First  Massachusetts  Battalion  of  Heavy  Artillery. 
Bounty,  $125. 

George  P.  Severance,  enlisted  November  5th,  1863,  for  one 
year  in  the  Massachusetts  Heavy  Artillery. 

Charles  E.  Skinner,  enlisted  August,  1864,  in  the  Veteran 
Reserve   Infantry. 

Charles  H.  Shaw,  enlisted  for  one  year  in  the  Second  Mass- 
achusetts regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery. 

George  C.  Stevens,  enlisted  for  one  year  in  the  Second  Mass- 
achusetts regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery. 

John  Saunders,  enlisted  May,  1864,  in  the  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps.     Bounty,  $225. 

Benjamin  A.  Sargent,  enlisted  February,  1864,  in  Company 
F,  Seventeenth  Massachusetts  regiment. 

George  L.  Smith,  enlisted  December,  30th,  1864,  for  one  year 
in  Company  C,  First  Massachusetts  Battalion  of  Cavalry.  Bounty, 
$125. 

Eugene  Sullivan,  enlisted  September,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  the  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $150. 

William  G.  Thompson,  orderly- sergeant,  enlisted  June  24th, 
1 86 1,  for  three  years  in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts 
regiment;  June  18th,  1862,  promoted  to  second-lieutenant; 
February  9th,  1S62,  promoted  to  first-lieutenant;  January  1st, 
1864,  promoted  to  captain;  died  of  wounds  May  20th.  1864. 
Bounty,  $60. 

Warren  V.  Tuxbury,  enlisted  August,  1862,  for  three  years  in 
Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty,  $100. 
Re-enlisted  December  29th,  1863,  in  the  First  Massachusetts 
Heavy  Artillery. 

Rufus  B.  Tuxbury,  enlisted  April,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  B,  Fortieth    New  York  regiment ;    was  taken  prisoner. 

Jonathan  B.  Tuxbury,  enlisted  August  2 2d,  1862,  for  nine 
months  in    Company  C,    Forty-Eighth    Massachusetts    regiment: 


HISTORY     OF    AMESBURY.  429 

was  in  all  the  battles  at  Port  Hudson.      Bounty,  $150.     Re-en- 
listed in  Company  B,  Head-Quarters  Guard. 

John  G.  Tuxbury,  enlisted  September,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  F,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  promoted 
to  lieutenant  December  29th,   1862.     Bounty,  $150. 

Ezekiel  F.  Tuxbury,  corporal,  enlisted  October  3d,  1862,  for 
nine  months  in  Company  F,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regi- 
ment;   was  in  the  battle  of  Plain  Store.     Bounty,  $150. 

John  F.  Tozier,  drafted  July  10th,  1863  ;  was  in  Company 
K,  Fifteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;    died. 

John  C.  Tucker,  musician,  enlisted  October  31st,  1861,  for 
three  years  in  Company  E,  Fifth  Massachusetts  Battery ;  wounded 
in  the  leg  and  discharged. 

George  Taylor,  musician,  enlisted  August  17th,  1864,  for  three 
years  in  Company  E,  First  Massachusetts  Battalion  of  Heavy 
Artillery.     Bounty,  $125. 

Edward  Thayer,  enlisted  May  12th,  1864,  in  the  Fourteenth 
Unattached  regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery.     Bounty,  $225. 

William  Towle,  enlisted  May  30th,  1864,  in  the  Fifteenth 
regiment  of  the  Third  Unattached  Heavy  Artillery.    Bounty,  $225. 

James  Tobin,  enlisted  September  23d,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  the  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $150. 

William  Tetley,  enlisted  September  23d,  1862,  for  nine 
months  in  the  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
$150. 

Joseph  R.  Thomas,  enlisted  July  6th,  1862,  for  three  years 
in  the  First  Massachusetts  regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery. 

William  H.  H.  Prescott,  enlisted  July  29th,  1863,  f°r  three 
years  in  Company  B,  Second  Massachusetts  Heavy  Artillery : 
died  at  Newburn,  N.  C,  January  26th,   1865. 

Charles  Smith,  enlisted  January  26th,  1862,  for  three  years 
in  Company  K,  Second  Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $325. 

David  Scanlan,  enlisted  July  31,  1863,  for  three  years  in  the 
Nineteenth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  discharged  for  disability 
January  26th,    1865. 

Charles  F.  Underbill,  enlisted  August,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  C,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
Sko. 


430  HISTORY    OF   AMESBURY, 

Samuel  Usher,  enlisted  July,  1861,  for  three  years  in  Com- 
pany D,  Seventeenth  Massachusetts  regiment. 

Alfred  Webendorfer,  enlisted  in  the  Twentieth  Massachusetts 
regiment. 

Andrew  J.  Wadleigh,  enlisted  June,  1861,  for  three  years  in 
Company  B,  Fortieth  New  York  regiment  ;  promoted  to  ser- 
geant. 

Walter  Wyatt,  enlisted  April,  1861,  for  three  years  in  Com- 
pany B,  Fortieth  New  York  regiment. 

William  Wilson,  enlisted  June,  1861,  for  three  years  in  Com- 
pany B,  Fortieth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  discharged  Decem- 
ber  10th,   1862,  for  disability. 

Charles  H.  Wallace,  enlisted  July  23d,  1862,  for  three  years 
in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
Sioo. 

Lewis  T.  Whittier,  enlisted  for  three  years  in  the  Fortieth 
Massachusetts  regiment.     Bounty,  $300. 

Warren  Whitcomb,  enlisted  August  14th,  1862,  for  three 
years  in  Company  I,  Fortieth  Massachusetts  regiment ;  died 
November  7th,   1862,  of  typhoid  fever.     Founty,  $300. 

Thomas  Welch,  enlisted  August  8th,  1862,  for  nine  months 
in  Company  E,  Forty-Eighth  Massachusetts  regiment.  Bounty, 
$150.  Re-enlisted  November,  1863,  in  Company  M,  Second 
Massachusetts  regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery. 

Lysander  Wyman,  enlisted  August  26th,  1S64,  f°r  one  Year 
in  Company  Sixteenth,  Unattached  Heavy  Artillery.  Bounty. 
$125. 

James  Warner,  enlisted  August  19th,  1864,  for  one  year  in 
the  Unattached  Heavy  Artillery.     Bounty,  #125. 

William  Wood,  enlisted  May  21st,  1864,  in  the  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps.     Bounty,  $225. 

Daniel  Webster,  enlisted  May  18th,  1864,  in  Company  Third, 
Unattached  Heavy  Artillery.     Bounty,  $225. 

John  F.  Waldron,  enlisted  May,  1864,  in  the  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps. 

Thomas  B.  Willey,  enlisted  September,  1861,  for  three  years 
in  Company  H,  Twenty-Second  Massachusetts  regiment. 


HISTORY     OF     AMESBURY.  43 1 

James  Wicks,  enlisted  July,  1861,  for  three  years  in  Com- 
pany D,  Seventeenth  Massachusetts  regiment. 

Charles  M.  Winslow.  enlisted  July  6th,  1864,  for  three  years 
in  the  Fifth  Massachusetts  Light  Battery,  but  never  joined. 

Lawrence  Whitman,  enlisted  July,  21st,  1864,  f°r  three  years 
in  Company  K,  Second  Massachusetts  regiment  of  Cavalry. 
Bounty,  $325. 

•     Robert    Woodbury,    enlisted    December    31st,    1S64,    for    one 
year  in  Company  B,  First  Massachusetts  Battalion.  Bounty,  $122. 

Charles  F.  York,  enlisted  March  6th,  1862,  for  three  years 
in  Company  L.  Fourteenth  Massachusetts  regiment.  ( Entered 
Company  D,  Seventeenth  Massachusetts  regiment,  August,  1861, 
and  discharged  for  disability  October   2d,  the  same  year.) 

George  W.  York,  enlisted  November  30th,  1864,  "for  one  year 
in  the  Fifth  Massachusetts  Light  Battery. 

The  population  of  Amesbury  by  the  census  of  1880  is  three 
thousand,    three    hundred    and    fifty-five. 


IhsmUntypeSrinUna  G,2tl  Tranent 'XBestm 


HISTORY 


OF 


MERRIMAC 


FROM  ITS .  INCORPORATION 


APRIL   10,   1876 


TO   THE  CLOSE    OF 


1880. 


HISTORY  OF  MERRIMAC. 

1876. 

One  of  the  marked  events  in  the  history  of  Amesbury  was 
the  incorporation  of  a  new  town,  embracing  that  portion  of 
the  old  one  commonly  known  as  the  West  parish.  Several 
attempts  had  previously  been  made  to  change  the  limits  of  the 
town,  but  without  accomplishing  the  desired  result.  Generally 
the  West  parish  had  been  unfavorable  to  any  change,  but  within 
a  few  years  various  questions  of  much  importance  to  this  sec- 
tion had  arisen,  which  had  met  with  little  favor  at  the  east  end 
of  the  town.  One  of  the  most  prominent  measures  was  the 
construction  of  a  railway  from  the  Mills  through  the  western 
part  of  the  town,  and  connecting  with  the  Boston  &  Maine 
railroad.  The  town  refused  its  credit  to  this  measure,  fearing 
to  assume  so  heavy  a  responsibility  in  that  direction.  After  the 
burning  of  the  Town  House,  the  meetings  for  town  business 
were  held  alternately  at  the  East  and  West  ends  of  the  town, 
which  was  somewhat  inconvenient.  These  and  other  considera- 
tions, in  connection  with  the  very  generous  offer  of  William  P. 
Sargent,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  but  a  native  of  West  Amesbury,  to 
build  the  new  town  an  elegant  Town  Hall,  united  the  people 
in  favor  of  a  new  town. 

A  public  meeting  was  held  at  Coliseum  Hall  January  18th, 
to  consider  the  matter,  which  kindled  much  enthusiasm  in  its 
favor.  A  mass  meeting  was,  also,  held  at  South  Amesbury  on 
the  26th  inst.  for  consultation  with  citizens  there,  which  resulted 
in  the  determination  to  proceed  without  delay  for  the  incorpor- 
ation of  the  new  town  of  Merrimac.  Immediate  action  was 
taken  by  the  presentation  to  the  legislature  of  petitions  numer- 
ously signed. 

Strong  opposition,  however,  was  shown  in  the  East  parish, 
most  of  the  citizens  disapproving  of  any  change  in  the  limits  of 
this  ancient  town.  Wanting  one  month  and  thirteen  days  only 
of  two  hundred  and  ten  years  had  the  town  remained  intact, 
and  the  associations  of  more  than  two  centuries  had  grown  to 
be  very  strong  upon  the  minds  of  many  people.  But  the  meas- 
ure was  now  in  the  hands  of  the  legislative  committee  for  inves- 


436  HISTORY     OF     MERRIMAC. 

tigation.  It  was  now  found  that  the  petitioners  had  failed  to 
do  what  Amesbury  did  in  1666  when  "Philip  Challis  was 
chosen  to  give  the  old  town  notice  of  our  petition  we  send  to 
General  Court,"  and  it  became  necessary  to  call  a  town  meeting 
to  see  if  the  town  would  waive  the  notice.  The  result  was  four 
hundred  and  nineteen  yeas  to  two  hundred  and  ten  nays. 

On  the  2d  of  March  a  committee  from  the  legislature  visited 
the  town  to  examine  the  locality  and  ascertain  the  necessity  for 
a  division.  They  were  taken  through  the  villages  and  shown 
the  situation  of  the  town.  Their  report  was  favorable,  and 
April  10th  the  act  incorporating  the  new  town  of  Merrimac 
passed  the  legislature  and  was  signed  by  the  governor  the  next  day. 

Thus,  as  by  magic,  sprang  into  existence  a  new  town  to  be 
hereafter  ranked  among  the  numerous  family  of  towns  in  this 
ancient  Commonwealth.  The  event  was -hailed  with  joy  in  the 
new  town  and  general  good  feeling  prevailed. 

The  line  of  separation  was  :  "  Beginning  at  a  point  on  the 
Merrimac  river,  at  the  middle  of  the  mouth  of  Pressey's  creek, 
( so  called )  and  thence  running  northerly  in  a  straight  line  to 
the  most  northerly  point  of  land  on  the  southerly  side  of  Kim- 
ball's pond,  thence  north-westerly  in  a  straight  line  to  a  point  on 
the  town  line  dividing  Amesbury  and  Newton,  N.  H.,  two 
thousand  and  fifty  feet  west  from  the  monument  on  the  state 
line  dividing  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire,  situated  on  a 
road  leading  from  Newton,  N.  H.,  to  Amesbury,  and  near  the 
house  of  Arthur  Robertshaw."  This  gave  Merrimac  a  terri- 
tory not  far  from  three  miles  square  and  a  population  of  two 
thousand,  one  hundred  and  seventy-one  by  the  last  census. 

April  20th.  A  town  meeting  was  held  for  the  election  of 
town  officers,  which  resulted  as  follows :  Town  clerk,  Bailey 
Sargent ;  selectmen,  William  H.  Haskell,  S.  S.  Blodgett  and 
Alexander  Smart ;  school  committee,  O.  F.  Seavey,  C.  N.  Dins- 
more  and  W.  H.  Hubbard  ;  treasurer  and  collector,  Bailey  Sar- 
gent. Thus,  in  ten  days  after  incorporation,  the  town  was 
organized  and  in  working  order. 

The  most  suitable  location  for  the  Town  Hall  was  found  on 
the  corner  of  Main  and  School  streets,  and  the  following  gentle- 
men generously  purchased  the  premises  at  an  expense  of  about 


HISTORY     OF    MERRIMAC.  437 

$5000,  viz. :  William  H.  Haskell,  Esq.,  Deacon  A.  E.  Good- 
win, John  S.  Poyen,  Esq.,  William  T.  Sargent,  Esq.,  William 
Gunnison,  Esqv  and  Moses  G.  Clement,  Esq.,  and  presented 
the  same  to  the  town.  The  buildings  were  removed  from  the 
lot  and  preparations  commenced  for  the  foundations  of  the  edifice. 

July  27th.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  by  Right  Worshipful 
Wyzeman  Marshall,  Acting  Grand  Master  of  the  Massachusetts 
Grand  Lodge,  assisted  by  Worshipful  F.  E.  Jones,  Acting  Grand 
Marshal,  and  Bethany  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of 
Merrimac. 

The  first  floor  contains  the  public  library,  selectmen's  office, 
post-office,  periodical  store,  shoe  store  and  the  National  Bank 
rooms.  The  entrance  to  the  hall,  very  properly  designated 
"Sargent's  Hall,"  is  through  the  large  tower  on  the  left,  by  a 
broad  flight  of  stairs,  which  opens  into  it  on  the  second  floor. 
It  is  a  well-furnished  hall,  capable  of  seating  about  six  hundred 
persons.  The  tower  is  surmounted  by  a  handsome1  clock,  the 
gift  of  Patten  Sargent,  Esq.,  of  Merrimacport.  Standing  on  an 
elevated  spot,  it  is  a  very  conspicuous  object  when  entering  the  town. 

In  less  than  four  months  this  substantial  and  finely  constructed 
building  was  completed  and  ready  for  occupation.  On  Mon- 
day afternoon,  November  13th,  the  dedicatory  services  took 
place.  James  D.  Pike,  Esq.,  was  appointed  master  of  ceremo- 
nies and  opened  the  exercises  with  appropriate  remarks.  Hon. 
George  B.  Loring,  of  Salem,  delivered  the  address,  which  was 
listened  to  by  a  crowded  assembly,  and  was  one  of  this  popu- 
lar orator's  best  efforts.  Its  length  forbids  its  insertion  here. 
The  remarks  of  William  P.  Sargent,  Esq.,  were  very  appropriate  and 
worthy  of  remembrance  by  all.  Remarks  were,  also,  made  ■  by 
Dr.  James  R.  Nichols,  Mr.  Brastow,  of  the  Governor's  Council, 
J.  W.  Silloway,  the  architect,  Rev.  Albert  Paine,  Patten  Sargent. 
Esq.,  and  Mr.  Wingate  P.  Sargent.  Prof.  Marshall  read  an  orig- 
inal poem  written  for  the  occasion  by  Harriet  Prescott  Spofford. 

A  social  entertainment  was  given  in  the  evening,  which  was 
made  interesting  by  readings,  speaking  and  a  promenade  con- 
cert, which  closed  the  services  of  this  interesting  occasion. 

The  cost  of  this  fine  hall,  including  the  location,  was  not  far 
from  $25,000. 


43« 


HISTORY     OF     MERRIMAC. 


SARGENT     HALL. 


HISTORY     OF    MERRIMAC.  439 

William  P.  Sargent,  Esq.,  the  liberal  donor  of  the  public  hall, 
was  born  in  Amesbury  November  24th,  181 9,  and  was  the  old- 
est son  of  Patten  Sargent,  Esq.  Mr.  Sargent  received  a  good 
education,  attending  the  public  schools  in  his  native  town  and, 
also,  the  academies  at  Atkinson,  Hampton  and  Derry,  N.  H. 
After  thus  completing  his  education,  he  served  an  apprentice- 
ship at  carriage  building  in  his  father's  shop.  After  completing 
his  term  here,  he  entered  his  father's  store  as  clerk,  and 
was  subsequently  admitted  to  a  partnership  in  the  carriage 
business  with  his  father,  which  arrangement  continued  for 
several  years.  Subsequently  he  entered  a  firm  for  manufactur- 
ing carriages  and  dealing  in  supplies  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  and 
Taunton,  Massachusetts,  of  which  he  became  the  principal  man- 
ager. He  now  formed  an  extensive  acquaintance  with  the  dis- 
tributors of  the  products  of  carriage  factories  throughout  the 
country,  and  obtained  that  kind  and  amount  of  information, 
which  gave  him  abundant  mental  capital  for  the  establishment 
of  his  own  great  enterprise. 

In  1 85 1  Mr.  Sargent  estalished  himself  in  Boston,  and,  pro- 
curing a  depot  at  the  corner  'of  Sudbury  and  Friend  streets, 
formed  a  copartnership  with  Mr.  William  Gunnison  and  Mr. 
William  H.  Haskell  under  the  firm  name  of  Sargent,  Gunnison 
&  Company,  and,  as  the  result  of  hard  work  and  great  experi- 
ence, built  up  a  large  business  and  established  an  enviable  rep- 
utation. 

His  main  office  still  remains  at  the  same  place,  although  the 
premises  have  been  enlarged  from  time  to  time,  as  his  increas- 
ing business  required,  until  they  now  show  a  frontage  of  one 
hundred  and  seventy  feet  on  Sudbury  street  and  one  hundred 
and  thirty  feet  on  Friend  street. 

Just  previous  to  the  war,  Messrs.  Gunnison  and  Haskell 
retired  from  the  firm.  Before  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Sargent 
found  his  business  extending  and  new  markets  constantly  open- 
ing. 

In  1867  the  firm  opened  a  repository  in  the  marble  block 
No.  155  Tremont  street,  one  of  the  finest  and  most  complete 
carriage  warerooms    in    the    country.     But   even    with  this  addi- 


44-0  HISTORY    OF    MERRIMAC. 

tional  capacity,  which  gave  a  floor  area  of  fifty  thousand  square 
feet,  the  requirement  for  more  room  soon  became  apparent, 
and  Mr.  Sargent,  a  few  years  later,  added  to  this  already  exten- 
sive establishment  a  capacious  brick  structure  at  Nos.  53  and 
55  Portland  street,  adjoining  and  communicating  with  the  Sud- 
bury and  Friend  street  estates. 

Several  changes  have  occurred  in  the  personnel  of  the  firm 
since  the  first  organization  of  the  company,  but,  in  all  these 
years,  Mr.  Sargent  has  retained  the  active  management  of 
affairs,  save  for  a  few  months,  while  he  was  in  Europe  not  long 
since.  During  the  last  twenty-five  years  he  has  resided  in  Boston, 
but  his  interest  in  his  native  town  has  never  in  the  least  abated. 
Having  by  his  more  than  ordinary  business  talent  and  energy 
acquired  a  competency,  and,  more  than  that,  Mr.  Sargent  has 
remembered  his  native  town  by  building  this  costly  hall,  which 
will  serve  as  a  memento  of  his  generosity  for  ages  to  come. 

The  establishment  of  a  library  for  the  use  of  the  citizens  was 
the  next  important  step  taken.  As  a  basis  for  a  future  library, 
Dr.  J.  R.  Nichols  generously  offered  to  donate  one  thousand 
volumes,  which  were  readily  accepted  at  a  public  meeting  held 
August  21st,  and  Patten  Sargent,  J.  A.  Lanckester,  John  S. 
Poyen,  James  R.  Nichols,  William  H.  Hubbard  and  William 
Chase  were  appointed  trustees. 

•     1877. 

The  public  library,  having  been  properly  prepared  for  public 
use,  was  dedicated  on  the  10th  of  May,  1877,  when  services 
were  held  in  Sargent's  Hall.  It  was  a  very  interesting  occasion 
and  the  large  number  of  citizens  assembled  were  addressed  by 
Rev.  W.  H.  Hubbard,  who  was  president  on  the  occasion,  Dr. 
J.  R.  Nichols,  Mayor  Jenness  and  Rev.  Dr.  Seeley,  of  Haver- 
hill. This  library  contains  three  thousand,  two  hundred  vol- 
umes of  well  selected  books,  well  arranged  in  the  nicely-fitted 
library  room,  in  the  rear  right  hand  corner  of  the  Town  Hall. 


HISTORY    OF    MERRIMAC. 


44' 


Dr.  Nichols,  the  founder  of  the  library,  is  the  son  of  the  late 
Stephen  Nichols,  Esq.,  of  West  Amesbury,  (  now .  Merrimac  )  and 
was  born  July  19th,  18 19.  He  worked  on  his  father's  farm  till 
he  was  seventeen  years  old,  when  he  went  to  Haverhill  and 
entered  as  clerk  the  apothecary  store  of  his  uncle,  Mr.  Moses 
Nichols.  He  had  no  opportunities  for  education,  except  such 
as  the  district  school  afforded  three  months  in  the  winter.     He 

56 


442  HISTORY     OF     MERRIMAC. 

is  self   educated    and    has    gained    knowledge  by  working  every 
hour  of  leisure,  day  and  night,  for  more  than  forty  years. 

In  1 84 1  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  and  attended 
medical  lectures  at  Dartmouth  college  in  1842.  The  degree  of 
M.  D.  was  conferred  upon  him  by  this  college,  and,  also,  in 
1867  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts.  Entering  into 
the  drug  business  in  Haverhill  in  1843,  ^e  continued  there 
until  1856,  when,  after  returning- from  a  visit  to  Europe  in 
1856-7,  he  removed  to  Boston  and  established  himself  as  a 
manufacturing  chemist,  doing  an  extensive  business  with  all  sec- 
tions of  the  country.  After  returning  from  a  second  visit  to 
Europe  in  1872,  he  relinquished  business  in  Boston  and  returned 
to  Haverhill. 

Dr.  Nichols  found  time  during  his  business  career  to  write 
books,  give  attention  to  inventions  and  discovery,  lecture  fre- 
quently upon  science,  art,  agriculture,  etc.,  and  serve  in  various 
public  and  private  capacities,  involving  trust  and  responsibility. 

He  is  the  author  of  two  well-known  books,  "Fireside  Science" 
and  "Chemistry  of  the  Farm,"  published  prior  to  1872.  The 
records  of  the  Patent  Office  show  that  nine  patents  have  been 
granted  to  him  in  twenty  years,  most  of  which  are  inventions 
in  scientific  apparatus  and  new  methods  of  chemical  manipula- 
tion. In  1865  Dr.  Nichols  established  the  popular  scientific 
journal :  "  Boston  Journal  of  Chemistry,"  which  he  has  contin- 
ued to  edit  since  that  time,  a  period  of  sixteen  years.  Since 
relinquishing  chemical  manufacturing  in  Boston,  much  of  his 
time  has  been  devoted  to  railroad  management.  He  served  as 
president  of  the  Vermont  &  Canada  railroad  for  five  years,  from 
1873  to  1878,  and  he  has  been  director  in  the  Boston  &  Maine 
railroad  since  1873.  In  1867  he  was  appointed  by  the  late 
George  Peabody,  Esq.,  of  London,  one  of  his  trustees  of  the 
Essex  fund,  and  is  now  a  trustee  of  the  Peabody  Academy  of 
Science. 

Dr.  Nichols  has  been  prominent  in  agricultural  matters  for 
many  years,  and  was  appointed  by  Governor  Rice  a  member  of 
the  Massachusetts  State  Board  of  Agriculture  in  1878.  Although 
never    in    robust  health,  the  record  of   his  life  shows  it  to  have 


HISTORY    OF    MERRIMAC.  443 

been  a  busy  one,  and  the  record  affords  interest  and  encour- 
agement to  young  men  in  indigent  circumstances  and  illustrates 
the  power  of  industry,  perseverance  and  study  to  promote  suc- 
cess in  life.  He  now  resides  at  Haverhill,  spending  the  sum- 
mers at  his  farm  near  the  city. 

The  town  is  favorably  situated  for  business,  having  a  branch 
railroad  connecting  with  the  Boston  &  Maine  railroad  at  New- 
ton Junction,  N.  H.,  which  affords  ready  communication  with 
the  great  business  centres  of  the  country.  The  principal  busi- 
ness is  the  manufacture  of  carriages,  which  are  shipped  to 
nearly  all  parts  of  the  world.  A  great  variety  of  carriages  are 
manufactured,  some  of  which  are  of  very  expensive  workman- 
ship and  finish.  The  Manufacturing  Company,  incorporated  in 
1848  for  the  manufacture  of  carriage  wheels,  many  years  since 
added  the  manufacture  of  carriage  parts,  and  the  extensive 
demand  for  their  goods  has  made  the  establishment  a  profitable 
investment.  For  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  the  late  Mr.  T. 
T.  Merrill  was  agent  of  the  company.  At  his  death  his  son. 
Mr.  F.  S.  Merrill,  was  appointed  to  the  vacant  position. 

The  Merino  Shoe  Company  is,  also,  giving  employment  to  a 
large  number  of  hands  and  producing  a  large  amount  of  goods, 
which  find  a  ready  market  in  the  country. 

Mr.  Phineas  Chase  continues  the  manufacture  of  earthen  ware, 
which  his  father  commenced  more  than  half  a  century  ago  at 
the  River. 

Merrimacport  is,  also,  the  chief  depot  for  the  large  amount 
of  coal  used  in  town,  which  is  brought  there  by  water  and 
then  carted  to  the  consumers. 

This  section  is  very  pleasant  in  summer,  when  the  river  is 
alive  with  steamers  and  boats.  More  than  a  score  of  steamers 
are  busy  on  the  river,  many  of  which  carry  pleasure  parties  from 
the  cities  up  river  to  Black  Rocks,  touching  at  the  wharf  here 
for  passengers,  and  each  succeeding  year  will  add  to  the  num- 
ber of  boats  and  passengers. 

Merrimac  has  four  meeting  houses,  viz.  :  Congregationalist, 
Baptist,  Universalist  at  the  Centre  village  and  Baptist  at  the 
Port.       There    are,    also,    Catholic    services    held    each    Sabbath 


444  HISTORY    OF    MERRIMAC. 

morning  in  town  by  the  pastor  of  St.  Joseph  church  at  the 
Mills.  At  Merrimacport  a  Methodist  society  has  recently  been 
organized,  which  holds  meetings  in  Citizens'  Hall. 

There  are  seven  school-houses  in  town,  viz. :  High  school 
building  at  Merrimac  Centre,  Bear  Hill,  Highlands,  Birching 
Meadow,  Landing  and  two  at  Merrimacport.  The  school  at  the 
Landing  has  been  discontinued,  there  not  being  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  scholars  in  the  vicinity  to  require  one.  There  are  at 
present  ten  schools  in  town. 

During  the  early  days  of  the  settlement,  "  Jamaco  "  suffered 
from  Indian  raids,  as  well  as  other  sections  of  the  town,  and  it 
has  been  asserted  that  Capt.  Foot  was  taken  prisoner  on  one 
of  their  incursions  and  tortured  to  death  ;  but  this  tradition  may 
be  considered  doubtful.  It  was  not  an  uncommon  thing  for 
the  people  to  flee  to  "Capt.  Foot's  fort"  for  protection,  when 
danger  of  this  kind  threatened.  Edward  Cottle,  one  of  the  first 
eighteen,  settled  near  Cottle's  landing,  and  was  so  much  troubled 
by  Indians  that  he  became  discouraged,  sold  out  and  left  for 
Dukes  county.  He  had  two  houses  burnt,  one  by  Indians  and 
the  other  by  accident.  On  an  alarm  by  the  Indians  in  1722, 
all  fled  to  the  fort,  and  it  was  on  this  occasion  that  a  descend- 
ant of  Edward  Cottle  :  Anna  Cottle,  was  born,  who  lived  nearly 
a  century.  John  Hoyt,  2d,  was  robbed  and  plundered  by  Indi- 
ans, he  says,  and  it  is  very  probable  that  but  scanty  accounts 
and  traditions  have  reached  us  at  the  present  day  of  those  early 
troubles  and  trials.  For  the  protection  of  "Birching  Meadow" 
people,  a  garrison  house  was  built  on  land  recently  owned  by 
the  late  Enos  Heath. 

The  surface  of  the  town  is  somewhat  broken  by  numerous 
hills  scattered  over  the  territory,  but  there  are  many  good  farms 
which  are  well  cultivated.  Near  the  Landing  district  the  ledge 
which  underlies  most  of  the  territory  in  this  region,  crops  out 
on  the  bank  of  the  river  and  affords  an  abundance  of  valuable 
material  for  building  purposes.  When  the  Chain  bridge  was 
building  at  Deer  island  in  1792,  Mr.  John  Merrill,  who  then 
lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Hon.  William  Nichols',  boated  immense 
quantities  of  stone  from  this  ledge  to  sink  the  piers.     Mr.  Mer- 


HISTORY     OF     MERRIMAC.  445 

rill  owned  the  ledge  and  planted  the  large  orchard  on  his  home- 
stead, which  was  subsequently  purchased  by  Mr.  Nichols,  and  is 
now  in  the  possession  of  his  son,  George  W.  Nichols,  Esq. 

There  are  two  extensive  plains  in  town  :  one  near  the  Con- 
gregational church,  which,  in  "  ye  olden  time,"  was  noted  for 
its  fort,  meeting-house,  burying  ground  and  training  ground, 
and  the  second  was  near  Tappan  Emery's  and  the  eastern  cem- 
etery, more  especially  noted  for  the  "Great  Trainings,"  which 
were  sometimes  held  there,  and,  also,  for  Indian  relics. 

At  one  period  the  tanning  and  currying  business  was  carried 
on  extensively  at  Merrimacport  by  Charles  L.  Rowell,  Esq.,  and 
others.  A  dam  was  built  across  the  small  stream  sometimes 
called  "Patten's  Creek,"  which  gave  good  opportunity  for  grind- 
ing bark  and  pursuing  the  business.  Lately,  however,  but  little 
has  been  done  and  the  business  with  a  few  exceptions  has  died 
out  in  the  county.  A  little  farther  up  the  stream  a  second  dam 
was  built  a  few  years  ago,  and  the  establishment  known  as 
"Wright's  Mill,"  erected  for  planing  and  mechanical  purposes. 
This  building  was  subsequently  purchased  by  Alfred  W.  Morrill 
&  Company  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  wheels.  It  has 
since  been  washed  away  by  the  breaking  of  the  dam,  and  at 
present  remains  unoccupied. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Hubbard  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  and  society  September  7th. 

John  S.  Poyen,  Esq.,  commenced  building  a  large  hotel  the 
present  fall.  It  is  a  fine  building,  three  stories  high,  and  will 
afford  such  accommodations  as  have  long  been  needed.  It  is 
now  known  as  the  Monomack  House. 

1878. 

The  Congregational  society  was  incorporated  this  year  under 
the  title  of  "The  First  Orthodox  Congregational  Society  of 
Merrimac."  The  church  was,  also,  remodeled  internally,  with 
new  walls,  re-seating  and  frescoing,  giving  it  the  appearance  of 
a  new  and  elegant  room.  It  was  re-dedicated  on  the  first  day 
of  January,  1879,  Pr°f-  H.  B.  Smith  preaching  the  sermon. 


446 


HISTORY     OF    MERRIMAC. 


MERR1MAC    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH. 


1879. 

Nov.  i  st.  The  house  of  Andrew  Brown  caught  fire  and  was 
entirely  consumed.  This  was  an  ancient  house  and  for  many 
years  known  as  the  "Joseph  Hoyt"  house,  he  owning  and  occu- 
pying it. 

1880. 
Capt.  Joseph  W.  Sargent    died    January    3d.     When    the    call 
came  for  volunteers  to  put  down  the  rebellion  which  had    com- 
menced  at    the    South,  he    at    once    offered    his    services    to    his 
country,  and  was  chosen  captain    of   the    company  organized  at 


HISTORY     OF     MERRIMAC.  447 

West  Amesbury.  The  company  was  mustered  into  service  forth- 
with and  ordered  to  the  front  in  season  to  take  part  in  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  July  21st,  and  with  the  shattered  army 
retreated  to  Washington.  January  1st,  1862,  the  company  was 
transferred  from  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  to  the  First  Regiment 
of  Heavy  Artillery  and  stationed  for  the  protection  of  Washing- 
ton. On  the  24th  of  December,  1863,  Captain  Sargent  resigned 
on  account  of  poor  health  and  was  subsequently  appointed  post- 
master at  West  Amesbury,  which  office  he  held  until  failing 
health  in  1876  compelled  him  to  resign.  He  was  frequently 
chosen  moderator  of  town  meetings,  for  which  office  he  was 
well  fitted.  He  was  one  of  the  numerous  descendants  of  Wil- 
liam Sargent,    1st. 

John  S.  Poyen,  Esq.,  a  prominent  business  man  in  town,  died 
February  2 2d,  at  Point  Petre,  Guadaloupe,  West  Indies,  whither 
he  had  gone  to  visit  his  friends.  The  news  of  his  death  was 
sad  in  the  extreme  to  his  family  and  numerous  friends,  who  were 
expecting  his  return  in  a  few  weeks.  For  many  years  he  had 
been  an  extensive  dealer  in  carriage  supplies,  and  his  strict 
devotion  to  business  had  enabled  him  to  accumulate  a  large 
property.  His  fine  residence  on  Main  street  is  among  the  best 
in  the  village.  In  matters  of  public  interest  he  was  among  the 
first  to  contribute,  and  his  loss  will  be  very  sensibly  felt.  For 
the  public  convenience  he  built  the  large  hotel  on  Main  street. 
In  various  ways  Mr.  Poyen  has  contributed  largely  towards  beau- 
tifying and  improving  the  village.  He  was  of  French  descent, 
his  father  removing  from  the  West  Indies  to  East  Haverhill 
many  years  ago,  where  Mr.   Poyen  was  born  in   18 18. 

The  population  of  Merrimac  by  the  census  of  1880  was 
two    thousand,    two    hundred    and    thirty-seven. 

POST- OFFICE    AT    MERRIMAC. 

The  post-office  here  was  established  about  1824  and  kept  in 
the  little  yellow  building  which  stood  nearly  in  front  of  Good- 
win and  Cleary's  block.  Col.  Edmund  Sargent  was  the  first 
postmaster,  holding  the  office  many  years.  His  son.  Orlando 
H.  Sargent,  rode  to  the  Mills  on  horseback  for  the  mail  and 
brought    it    along    in    his     hat.       After   a    while    the    service    was 


448 


HISTORY     OF    MERRIMAC. 


improved  by  substituting  saddle  bags  for  the  hat,  and,  finally, 
the  two-wheel  chaise  was  called  into  the  service  and  continued 
for  several  years.  Mr.  Stephen  Patten  was  the  next  incumbent,  and 
his  successor  was  Col.  Stephen  Bailey,  who  held  the  office  until 
Buchanan's  administration,  when  Mr.  J.W.  M.  Hunt  was  appointed, 
who  held  the  office  until  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Bailey  Sar- 
gent in  1 86 1.  Mr.  Sargent  held  the  office  about  two  years  and 
then  resigned  to  enter  the  army,  when  his  sister,  Miss  Jane 
Sargent,  was  appointed,  aud  held  the  office  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  Mr.  John  S.  Poyen  was  the  next  postmaster,  hold- 
ing the  office  until  the  appointment  of  Capt.  Joseph  W.  Sar- 
gent. In  1876  Capt.  Sargent  resigned  on  account  of  failing 
health,  and  Mr.  George  E.  Ricker,  the  present  incumbent, 
was  appointed.  The  office  is  now  permanently  located  in  the 
Town    Hall. 

POST-OFFICE    AT    MERRIMACPORT. 

This  office  was  established  in  1857,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Fulling- 
ton  being  the  first  postmaster.  After  about  two  years  Mr. 
Fullington  resigned,  and  Patten  Sargent,  was  appointed  post- 
master, holding  the  office  six  years,  when  he  resigned  and 
Charles  E.  Rowell,  Esq.,  was  appointed,  who  still  holds  the 
office. 


STATISTICS    OF    THE    CARRIAGE    BUSINESS    IN    MERRIMAC    FOR    I< 


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J.   A.   Lanckester, 

$  50,000 

325 

30 

1858 

J.   B.  Judkins, 

45,000 

165 

30 

1857 

C.  H.  Noyes, 

75 

15 

1846 

Gunnison  &  Co., 

25,000 

100 

15 

1879 

S.  C.  Pease  &  Son, 

60,000 

200 

40 

1860 

Elmer  P.   Sargent, 

25,000 

125 

20 

1871 

H.  G.  &  H.  W.  Stevens, 

80,000 

200 

50 

1869 

M.  G.  Clement  &  Son, 

32,000 

130 

22 

1850 

A.  M.  Colby, 

28,000 

160 

IS 

1879 

Willis  P.  Sargent, 

17,500 

100 

10 

1835 

William  Chase, 

10,000 

40 

8 

1838 

GENERAL  MATTERS. 


FIRST    NATIONAL    BANK    OF    MERRIMAC. 

This  bank  was  incorporated  in  1864  with  a  capital  of  $50,000, 
which  was  increased  to  $75,000  in  July  of  the  same  year.  In 
November,  1864,  it  was  extended  to  $100,000;  in  July,  1872, 
to  $150,000,  and  in  May,  1875,  to  $200,000.  The  total  earn- 
ings amount  to  $259,341.32;  total  dividends,  $208,250;  undi- 
vided profits,  $6,091.32  ;  loans,  $289,712.52  ;  deposits,  $76,089.28. 
William  H.   Haskell,  president ;    D.  J.   Poor,  cashier. 

MERRIMAC    SAVINGS    BANK. 

This  bank  was  incorporated  in  1871.  Its  whole  amount  of 
deposits  is  $193,556.28 ;  number  of  depositors,  1049  ;  surplus, 
$2,438,85.    William  H.   Haskell,  president;  D.  J.  Poor,  treasurer. 

MERRIMAC    MANUFACTURING    COMPANY. 

This  company  was  incorporated  in  1848,  with  a  capital  ol 
$40,250.  The  amount  of  business  done  in  1880  was  $75,266: 
number  of  hands  employed,  35  ;  number  of  sets  of  wheels  made, 
4094  ;    number    of  sets  of  parts,  3800.     F.  S.   Merrill,  agent. 

MERINO    SHOE    COMPANY. 

This  company  was  incorporated  in  1876,  with  a  capital  of 
$40,000.  Its  business  in  1880  amounted  to  $100,000;  number 
of  hands  employed,  75  ;  number  of  pairs  of  boots  and  shoes 
made,  90,000.     A.   A.   Hawley,  agent. 

AXLE    FACTORY. 

This  factory  commenced  business  about  the  year  1834.  Jon- 
athan B.  Sargent,  Esq.,  started  the  manufacture  of  axles  at  West 
Amesbury,  and  afterwards  added  the  manufacture  of  steel  car- 
riage springs.  Mr.  Richard  Stoyles  was  an  experienced  work- 
man in  the  latter  branch  and  continued  in  Mr.  Sargent's  employ 
many  years.  The  Merino  Shoe  Company  now  occupy  the  fac- 
tory where  Mr.  Sargent  managed  a  profitable  business  for  many 
years,  manufacturing  axles  and  springs. 

57 


45  O  HISTORY     OF     MERRIMAC. 

WEST   AMESBURY    BRANCH    RAILROAD. 

This  company  was  incorporated  May  8th,  1868,  with  a  capital 
of  $1 14,000.  It  was  opened  for  public  use  in  1872,  and  leased 
to  the  Boston  &  Maine  railroad  for  ninety-nine  years  from  Jan- 
uary 1st,  1873.  The  directors  are  William  H.  Haskell,  J.  S. 
Poyen,  I.  B.  Little,  Francis  Sargent  and  J.  P.  Sargent.  Presi- 
dent, William  H.  Haskell  •    treasurer,  J.  S.  Poyen. 

NIAGARA    ENGINE    COMPANY. 

There  is  a  membership  of  49  ;  number  of  feet  of  hose,  2200  ; 
captain,  Andrew  D.  Lawson. 

FIRE    DISTRICT. 

This  district  was  organized  in  1872,  and  embraces  the  entire 
centre  village.  Chief  engineer,  J.  T.  Locke ;  assistants,  E.  N. 
Sargent,  John  S.  Foster,  D.  W.  Gould  and  Bailey  Sargent ;  clerk, 
G.  E.  Ricker. 

AGILE    ENGINE    COMPANY,    MERRIMACPORT. 

This  company  has  a  membership  of  forty.  Philip  J.  Neal  is 
captain. 

BETHANY  LODGE  OF  FREE  AND  ACCEPTED  MASONS. 

This  lodge  was  chartered  in  1869.  The  membership  num- 
bers one  hundred  and  eighteen,  and  their  meetings  are  held  in 
Masonic  Hall.     R.  H.  Sargent  is  the  Worshipful  Master. 

COLONEL    C.    R.    MUDGE    POST,    NO.     I  14,    G.    A.    R. 

This  post  was  established  December  31st,  1869.  Its  present 
officers  are  Charles  I.  Churchill,  commander ;  Frank  Wiggin, 
senior  vice-commander ;  Charles  P.  Baker,  junior  vice-com- 
mander ;  W.  A.  Howe,  quarter-master ;  W.  H.  Blodgett,  officer 
of  the  day ;  H.  J.  Cushing,  surgeon ;  W.  H.  Thomas,  chap- 
lain ;  Bailey  Sargent,  adjutant ;  CO.  Roberts,  sergeant-major ; 
J.  W.  Hunt,  quarter-master-sergeant.  Their  meetings  are  held 
at  Coliseum  Hall. 

RIVERSIDE    LODGE    OF    ODD    FELLOWS. 

This  lodge  was  organized  December  3d,  1875.  It  has  a 
membership  of  one    hundred    and    thirty.     Its  funds  amount  to 


HISTORY     OF     MERRIMAC.  t  45  1 

$2534.48,  and    Masonic    Hall,  in   Goodwin  &  Cleary's  block,  is 
their  place  of  meeting.     William  M.  Chase  is  Noble  Grand. 

MERRIMACPORT   TEMPERANCE    REFORM    CLUB. 

This  club  was/  organized  in  January,  1876.  It  has  seven 
hundred  and  thirty  members.  Their  meetings  are  held  every 
Wednesday  evening. 

YOUNG    MEN'S    CHRISTIAN     ASSOCIATION. 

This  association  was  organized  January  19th,  1867.  Its  first 
officers  were  J.  D.  Pike,  president ;  B.  A.  Kelley  and  Isaac 
Jones,  vice-presidents  ;  Elmer  P.  Sargent,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer ;  A.  A.  Nichols,  corresponding  secretary.  A  free  reading 
room  was  established  and  is  yet  maintained.  Prayer  meetings 
are  held  every  Sabbath  evening  at  the  rooms. 

Clergymen  :  Congregational,  Rev.  W.  H.  Hubbard  ;  Baptist, 
(  Merrimac  centre)  Rev.  Mr.  Fish  and  ( Merrimacport )  Rev. 
J.   H.  Seaver;    Methodist,   Rev.  C.   H.  Chase. 

Physicians  :  Drs.  H.  J.  Cushing,  E.  D.  White  and  W.  H. 
Gerrish. 

Dentist :  .   Dr.   E.   Briggs. 

Trial  justice  :     M.   P.  Sargent. 

Counsellor  and  attorney  at  law  :     Thomas  H.   Hoyt. 

Selectmen :  Edmund  N.  Sargent,  Charles  E.  Rowell  and 
Albert  Sargent. 

School  committee  :  Charles  Hubbard,  Henry  Haskell  and 
H.  J.  Cushing. 

Town  clerk,  treasurer  and  collector  :      Bailey  Sargent. 

High  school  teacher  :      Frank  Wiggin.