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HISTORY 

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NEWBURY,    MASS. 


1635-1902 


JOHN  J.  CURRIER 

Author  of  '^OuIJ  Neivburf  ":    Historical  and  Biographical  Sketches 


WITH   MAPS   AND  ILLUSTRATIONS 


BOSTON 

D  A  M  R  E  L  L    &    U  P  H  A  M 

1902 


COFVKIGHT,    Ig02 
BY 

John   J.   Ci'  r  k  i  e  k 


Press  of 

Geo.  H.  Ellis  Co. 

Boston 


TO  AdY  WIFE 


A   NATIVE   OF  NEWBURY 

AND   A   DESCENDANT   OF   HENRY   LUNT 

ONE     OF     THE     FIRST    SETTLERS     OF     THE     TOWN 

THIS   BOOK    IS   DEDICATED 


PREFACE. 

Although  Joshua  Coffin  prepared  his  history  of  New- 
bury, in  1845,  ^^'ith  considerable  care  and  minuteness,  and 
George  J.  L.  Colby,  in  the  History  of  Essex  County,  in  1878, 
and  Hon.  William  T.. Davis,  in  a  similar  work,  ten  years  later, 
published  historical  sketches  of  the  town,  the  reader  will  find 
in  the  following  pages  some  additional  facts,  with  foot-notes 
and  references  for  the  convenience  of  those  who  wish  to 
consult  the  authorities  quoted. 

My  thanks  are  especially  due  to  Sidney  Perley,  esq.,  of 
Salem,  and  to  Mr.  George  F.  Dow,  secretary  of  the  Essex 
Institute,  for  advice  and  assistance  in  preparing  this  volume 
for  the  press;  to  Mr.  C.  W.  Ernst,  of  Boston,  foi*  valuable 
hints  and  suggestions  in  regard  to  the  early  postal  service  in 
Newbury;  to  Rev.  Rufus  Emery,  Capt.  James  O.  Knapp,  and 
:^Mr.  Oliver  B.  Merrill,  of  Newburyport,  for  interesting  genea- 
logical and  historical  facts ;  and  to  Messrs.  William  Little  and 
Isaac  W.  Little,  of  Newbury,  for  information  obtained  from 
town  and  parish  records. 

Many  of  the  maps  and  illustrations  in  this  volume  are  re- 
productions of  old  prints ;  but  most  of  the  views  of  local 
scenery  were  taken  expressly  for  this  work  by   Messrs.  Ed- 


6  PREFA CE 

ward    E.  Bartlett,    William    C.    Thompson,    and    Selwyn    C. 
Reed,  photographers,  of  Newbury  port. 

I  have  been  compelled  to  leave  some  of  the  minor  events 
and  incidents  in  the  history  of  Newbury  vmnoticed,  and  have 
found  it  absolutely  impossible  to  include  valuable  papers  and 
documents,  relating  to  the  social  and  commercial  life  of  New- 
buryport,  without  increasing  the  number  of  pages  in  this  book 
beyond  a  reasonable  limit.  I  hope,  however,  in  a  few  years, 
to  publish  in  a  separate  volume  the  history  of  Newburyport 
from  its  incorporation  in  1764  to  the  present  time. 

John  J.  Curriek. 

Newburyport,  December  i,  1902. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Chapter  Pagb 

I.  The  Early  Explorers  and  Settlers  of  New  England,  13 

II.  The  Settlement  at  Parker  River,  1635-1645     ....  28 

III.  The  Settlement  at  Merrimack  River,  1645-1685  ...  87 

■  IV.  The  Settlement  at  Merrimack  River,  168 5-1 765  .     .     .  194 

V.  The  Settlement  at  Merrimack  River,  i 765-1902  .     .     .  269 

VI.     Churches  and  Pastors 311 

VII.     Schools  and  Schoolmasters 395 

VIII.     Highways 413 

IX      Ferries 431 

X.     Postal  Service 465 

XI.     Commercial  Affairs  and  Ship-building 475 

XII.     Military  Organizations  and  Indian  Wars 493 

XIII.  French  and  Indian  Wars 514 

XIV.  LouisBOURG,  Crown  Point,  and  Quebec 547 

XV.     Revolutionary  War 581 

XVI.     Soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  War 600 

XVII.     The  Embargo  and  the  War  of  1812 620 

XVIII.     War  of  the  Rebellion 631 

APPENDIX. 

I.     Town  Clerks 639 

II.     Oath  of  Allegiance  to  the  King 642 

III.  Kent's  Island 643 

IV.  Richard  Dummer 647 

V.     Cart  Creek 653 

VI.     First  Parish  Meeting-house 654 

VII.     Second  Parish  Church 655 

VIII.     Schools  and  Schoolmasters 656 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

Page 

IX.     Woodwell's  Ship-yard 658 

X.     Military  Organizations  during  the  French  and  Indian 

Wars 659 

XI.     Revolutionary  War 661 

XII.     Physicians   in   Newbury  from   the   First   Settlement 

OF    the    Town,    in    1635,   to    the    Incorporation    of 

Newburyport,  in  1764 ■.     .     .  662 

XIII.  "  Pierce  House  at  the  Uper  End  of  Chandler's  Lane,"  670 

XIV.  The  Sewall  House,  near  "  Trayneing  Green"      .     .     .  672 
XV.     Deputies  to  the  General  Court 675 

Index 689 


MAPS  AND   ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Plum  Island  River  and  Parker  River,    Frontispiece 

Page 

Capt.  John  Smith i6 

Map  of  the  South  Part  of  New  England,  1634 24 

The  Lower  Green .  37 

The  Burying  Ground 59 

Fac-suiile  Town  of  Newbury  Records,  1638 63 

Map  of  Newbury,  Mass.,  1640 83 

Oak  Tree  in  "the  Gerrish  Pasture" 130 

Samuel  Sewall 190 

Fac-simile  of   the  Title-page  of  "The  New  Heaven    upon  the 

New  Earth  " 192 

Map  of  the  Merrimack  River,  1741 198 

A  Freehold  Lot  in  "the  Upper  Woods" 211 

Newbury  Marshes 221 

Deputy  Governor  William  Dummer 232 

Map  of  Newbury  —  Parish  Lines  —  1795 239 

Landing  Place  at  Pine  Island 263 

Rocks  Bridge,  from  West  Newbury 278 

Fire  Engine,  1850 288 

Map  of  Newbury — Boundary  Lines — 1902 308 

Fac-simile    Title-page    of   "  The    Temple    Measured,"   by   Rev. 

James  Noyes 312 

Fac-simile    Title-page    of    "The    Visions    and    Prophecies    of 

Daniel,"  by  Rev.  Thomas  Parker 323 

Fac-simile  Title-page  of  a  Pamphlet   entitled  "A  Letter  to 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Avery,"  by  Rev.  Thomas  Parker  ....  325 
Fac-simile   Title-page   of  "  Moses   and   Aaron,"  by    Rev.  James 

Noyes 326 


I O  J/A PS  A XD  ILLi ^9 TKA  TJOXS 

Page 

Fac-simile  ok  Introductory  Page  to  "Moses  and  Aaron"     .     .  327 

Facsimile  of  Dedication  to  "  Moses  and  Aaron  " 329 

First  Parish  Meeting-house 346 

Second  Parish  Meeting-house 363 

Byfield  Congregational  Meeting-house 367 

Fourth  Parish  Meeting-house 380 

School-house  on  "  Trayneing  Green  " 409 

Stone  Wall  on  Highway  from    Parker    River  to  "Trayneing 

Green  " 414 

Bridge  over  Artichoke  River  on  the  Bradford  Road      .     .     .  423 

Ferry  Routes,  Carr's  Island,  1641,  1655  . 438 

Amesbury  Ferry  Landing  Place 440 

March's  Ferry  Landing  Place 454 

Post-rider,  1734 471 

Stage-coaches,  1793 473 

Stage-coach,  1820 474 

Shape  and  Rig  of  Vessels,  1800 487 

Brig  "Olive"  from  a  Water  Color  Sketch  Painted  in  1819  .  490 

King  Philip  by  Paul  Revere 509 

Casco  Fort,  1713 525 

Map  of  Port  Royal,  1744 532 

Map  of  the  Island  of  Cape  Breton,  1746 548 

Siege  of  Louisbourg,  1745 551 

Battle  of  Lake  George,  1755 558 

Lake  George,  Ticonderoga,  and  Crown  Point 561 

General  James  Wolfe 577 

Bronze  Tablet 594 

Joshua  Coffin 641 

Dr.  John  Clarke 663 

Sewall  House 673 


HISTORY   OF   NEWBURY. 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY. 


CHAPTER    I. 

THE    EARLY    EXPLORERS    AND    SETTLERS    OF    NEW    ENGLAND. 

For  more  than  a  century  after  the  discovery  of  America  by 
Christopher  Columbus,  that  portion  of  the  continent  extend- 
ing from  Newfoundland  to  Virginia  was  seldom  visited  by 
European  explorers,  and  its  rivers  and  harbors  were  practically 
unknown. 

In  1602,  Capt.  Bartholomew  Gosnold,  in  a  small  ship 
called  the  "  Concord,"  sailed  from  Falmouth,  England,  well 
supplied  with  men  and  provisions,  intending  to  make  a  settle- 
ment in  the  New  World  between  the  fortieth  and  fiftieth 
degrees  of  north  latitude. 

Instead  of  following  the  usual  route  by  the  Canary  Islands 
and  the  West  Indies,  he  steered  directly  across  the  Atlantic, 
and  in  seven  weeks  reached  the  coast  of  Maine,  in  all  proba- 
bility, at  or  near  the  point  of  land  now  known  as  Cape 
Elizabeth.  Following  the  coast  in  a  southerly  direction,  he 
anchored  at  Cape  Cod,  within  a  league  of  the  shore,  where  he 
found  fish  in  abundance,  and  gave  to  that  prominent  head- 
land the  name  that  it  still  bears.  Continuing  his  voyage 
around  the  cape,  he  landed  at  the  mouth  of  Buzzard's  Bay  ;  and 
on  an  island  of  the  Elizabeth  group,  now  known  as  Cuttyhunk, 
he  built  a  fortified  house  and  attempted  to  plant  a  colony. 
A  few  weeks  exposure  to  the  hostility  of  the  Indians,  supple- 
mented by  serious  quarrels  and  dissensions  among  the  men 
who  were  to  remain  in  the  new  settlement,  induced  him  to 
abandon  the  enterprise ;  and,  loading  his  ship  with  sassafras 
root,  cedar  timber,  furs,  and  other  commodities,  he  re-em- 
barked his  whole  company,  and  returned  to  England.      On  his 


T4  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

arrival  there  July  23,  1602,  great  interest  was  awakened  in  the 
country  he  had  visited ;  and  the  merchants  of  Bristol  raised 
the  sum  of  one  thousand  pounds  sterling  for  the  purpose 
of  sending  out  another  exploring  expedition. 

April  10,  1603,  Martin  Pring,  in  command  of  two  vessels, 
one  fifty  and  the  other  twenty-six  tons  burthen,  and  a  crew 
of  forty-four  men  and  boys,  sailed  from  Milford  Haven,  and 
arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Penobscot  river  June  seventh. 
Cruising  along  the  coast  to  the  southward,  he  entered  Massa- 
chusetts Bay,  and  came  to  anchor  in  Plymouth  harbor, 
seventeen  years  before  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims.*  For  six 
weeks  he  explored  the  woods  in  that  neighborhood,  where  he 
found  sassafras  in  abundance  ;  and,  having  loaded  his  vessels 
with  that  fragrant  product  of  the  forest,  he  returned  to 
England,  where  he  arrived  October  2,  1603. 

Sieur  de  Monts  with  Samuel  de  Champlain  sailed  from 
Havre  de  Grace  April  7,  1604,  on  a  voyage  of  discovery,  and 
landed  on  the  shores  of  Nova  Scotia  May  8,  1604.  Together 
they  explored  the  bay  of  Fundy,  entered  and  examined 
Annapolis  harbor,  and  during  the  following  winter  found 
shelter  on  an  island  in  St.  Croix  river,  where  they  built  a 
few  rude  houses  and  formed  a  temporary  settlement.  Con- 
tinuing their  explorations  the  following  summer,  they  sailed 
along  the  coast,  and  at  sunset,  July  15,  1605,  were  near  Little 
Boar's  head,  with  the  Isles  of  Shoals  directly  east  of  them. 
They  saw  in  the  distance  the  dim  outline  of  Cape  Ann, 
whither  they  directed  their  course,  and  before  morning  came 
to  anchor  near  its  eastern  extremity  in  sixteen  fathoms  of 
water.  At  an  early  hour  the  next  day  Champlain,  with  a  few 
men  taken  from  his  ship's  crew,  went  on  shore  to  confer  with 
the  natives  and  obtain  information  needed  in  order  to  continue 
his  voyage  farther  south.  He  drew  a  map  of  the  coast  along 
which  he  had  sailed.  The  Indians  added  to  the  sketch  an 
accurate  outline  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  and  also  inserted  the 
Merrimack  river,  which  he  had  not  seen,  its  mouth  or  entrance 
having  been  concealed  by  the  low  sand-hills  of   Plum  island. f 

•  Narrative  and  Critical  History  of  America,  vol.  iii.,  p.  174. 

t  Publications  of  the  Prince  Society,  1880.     Voyages  of  Samuel  de  Champlain,  vol.  i.,  p.  51. 


EARLY  EXPLORERS  AND   SETTLERS  1$ 

Capt.  George  Weymouth  sailed  from  Dartmouth,  Eng- 
land, on  Easter  Sunday,  May  15,  1605  ;  and  June  18  he  an- 
chored on  the  north  side  of  the  island  of  Monhegan,  at  the 
mouth  of  Penobscot  bay,  on  the  coast  of  Maine.  He  after- 
wards explored  the  Kennebec  river,  planting  a  cross  at  one 
of  its  upper  reaches ;  and,  capturing  five  Indians,  he  took 
them  by  force  with  him  to  England  on  his  return. 

King  James  I.  ordered  in  1606  that  the  American 
territory  claimed  by  England  should  hereafter  be  known  as 
South  Virginia  from  Cape  Fear  to  the  Potomac  and  North 
Virginia  from  the  mouth  of  the  Hudson  to  Newfoundland. 

Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  having  obtained  from  the  king  a 
patent,  or  grant,  of  the  territory  extending  from  the  thirty- 
eighth  to  the  forty-fifth  degree  north  latitude,  attempted  to 
establish  a  permanent  colony  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sagadahoc, 
now  the  Kennebec  river.  On  the  last  day  of  May,  1607, 
two  small  vessels,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  George  Pop- 
ham  and  Capt.  Rawleigh  Gilbert,  were  sent  out  with  men  and 
supplies  to  begin  the  new  settlement.  Early  in  the  month 
of  August  following  they  reached  the  island  of  Monhegan, 
called  by  them  the  island  of  St.  George.      And  there 

Sondaye  beinge  the  9th  of  August,  in  the  morninge  the  most  part  of 
our  hoU  Company  of  both  our  shipes  landed  on  this  Illand,  the  wch  we 
call  St.  Gerge's  Illand  whear  the  crosse  standeth  ;  and  there  we  heard 
a  sermon  delyvred  unto  us  by  our  preacher,  gyuinge  God  thanks  for 
our  happy  metinge  and  saffe  aryvall  into  the  Contry  ;  and  so  retorned 
abord  aggain.* 

The  Rev.  Richard  Seymour,  a  minister  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, accompanied  the  expedition,  and,  undoubtedly,  preached 
the  sermon  and  read  the  prayers  of  this  the  first  religious 
service  conducted  by  a  clergyman  within  the  present  limits 
of  New  England. 

A  favorable  situation  on  the  peninsula  of  Sabino,  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Sagadahoc  river,  was  selected  as  the  site  of 
the  new  colony.  They  built  a  church,  a  fort,  a  storehouse, 
and  some  dwellings.      During  the  winter  that   followed  Cap- 

*  Narrative  and  Critical  History  of  America,  vol.  iii. ,  p.  176. 


(2.  i^lxefe  arc  tiie  Lined  that  Jliew  th_y  TaCe .hut  thofe 
nTiatjltew  thy  GraCC  and  Cjlory  brighter-  hee: 
^nChy  Fair e-Dijcoiieries  and  Fowle  -  Over  thro  wes 
OJ  Salvages, much  CivUlizd  hy  thec^Kjy" 
Beji  /hew  thy  Spirit; and  io  it  Glof^Y  (tih/rvy. 
So,thou  art  Bni/se  without, hut  ^olde  -WTtkirt 
'^fJo.in.Hmpe^too /o/t  sniilhd  t^cls  to  beare  ) 
I  Ji^  thy  JP'ame ,to  mak &  Braise  Steele  out  wear-c, 

(Hfiitte,  as  tliou  art  "^'irtxces. 
^o4}t  (^auici .  jeirgr: 


EARLY  EXPLORERS  AND   SETTLERS  1 7 

tain  Popham  died,  and  their  storehouse  was  destroyed  by  fire. 
In  the  spring,  when  a  ship  came  out  with  supplies,  the 
colonists,  discouraged  and  disheartened  by  misfortunes  and 
illness,  decided  to  abandon  the  enterprise  and  return  to  Eng- 
land. Subsequently  Sir  Francis  Popham,  and  others  who 
were  interested  with  him  in  the  fur  trade  that  had  been 
established  with  the  Indians,  sent  one  or  more  vessels  annu- 
ally to  the  coast  of  Maine,  and  for  many  years  carried  on  a 
brisk   trade. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1614,  Capt.  John  Smith,  the  fa- 
mous navigator,  arrived  at  Monhegan  with  two  small  ships, 
intending  to  engage  in  whale-fishmg  there  ;  but,  finding  the 
conditions  unfavorable,  he  decided  to  load  his  vessels  for  the 
homeward  voyage  with  codfish  and  furs.  Taking  eight  men 
in  a  small  boat,  he  left  the  ships,  with  the  rest  of  the  party 
employed  in  catching  and  curing  fish,  while  he  cruised  along  the 
coast,  collecting  furs,  from  the  mouth  of  the  Penobscot  to  Cape 
Cod.  He  explored  every  island,  headland,  and  harbor  between 
the  two  points  named,  and  made  a  map  of  the  country,  which 
he  published,  with  his  account  of  the  voyage,  in  London  in 
1616.  This  map,  although  defective  in  many  respects,  gave 
the  configuration  of  the  coast  with  greater  accuracy  than  any 
map  issued  from  the  press  previous  to  that  date.  The  coun- 
try known  to  the  earlier  voyagers  as  "Norumbega,"  "North 
Virginia,"  or  "  Canada,"  he  called  "  New  England,"  a  name 
that  it  still  bears.*  To  that  group  of  rocky  islands  now 
called  the  Isles  of  Shoals  he  gave  the  name  of  Smith's  Isles, 
and  in  his  description  of  New  England  says,  "  Smith's  Isles 
are  a  heape  together,  none  neere  them  against  Accomintycas." 
The  prominent  headland  known  as  Cape  Ann  appears  upon 
the  map  ;  and  on  the  northerly  side  of  it,  close  to  the  shore, 
is  an  unnamed  island  that  twenty  years  later  the  first  settlers 
of  Newbury  named  Plum  Island. 

In  his  description  of  this  locality,  Smith  says  :  "  There  are 
many  sands  at  the  entrance  of  the  Harbour  [of  "  Angoan  " 

*"  I  took  the  description,"  he  says,  "  of  the  coast  as  well  by  map  as  writing,  and  called  it 
New  England.  At  my  humble  suit,  Charles,  Prince  of  Wales,  was  pleased  to  confirm  it  by  that 
title."  Voyages  of  Capt.  John  Smith,  republished  in  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  Col- 
lections, vol.  xxiii..p.  20. 


1 8  HISTORY  OF  NEWIWRY 

or  "  Aggawoni,"  now  Ipswich]  and  the  worst  is,  it  is  em- 
bayed too  farre  from  the  deepe  sea ;  here  are  many  rising 
hills,  and  on  their  tops  and  descents  are  many  corne  fields 
and  delightfull  groues ;  on  the  East  an  He  of  two  or  three 
leagues  in  length  [Plum  Island]  the  one  halfe  plaine  marish 
ground,  fit  for  pasture  or  salt  Ponds,  with  many  faire  high 
groues  of  mulbery  trees  and  Gardens ;  there  is  also  Okes, 
Pines,  Walnuts  and  other  wood  to  make  this  place  an  excel- 
lent habitation  being  a  good  and  safe  Harbour,"  from  thence 
"doth  stretch  into  the  sea  the  faire  head  land"  now  called 
Cape  Ann,  "fronted  with  three  isles,"  named  "the  three 
Turks  heads." 

Soon  after  the  return  of  Capt.  John  Smith  to  England, 
new  schemes  of  colonization  were  zealously  advocated.  As 
early  as  September,  1617,  the  Pilgrim  exiles  settled  at  Ley- 
den,  Holland,  commenced  negotiations  for  liberty  to  plant  a 
colony  in  America.  November  11-21,  1620,  the  "May- 
flower" anchored  in  Provincetown  harbor.  Cape  Cod;  and 
December  11-21  the  Pilgrims  landed  at  Plymouth. 

Meanwhile  the  king  had  granted  to  Sir  Ferdmando  Gorges 
and  others  a  patent  covering  the  territory  of  North  America 
between  the  fortieth  and  forty-eighth  degrees  of  latitude  ;  and 
the  gentlemen  interested  in  this  grant  were  incorporated  as 
"the  Council  established  at  Plymouth,  in  the  County  of 
Devon,  for  the  planting,  ruling,  ordering,  and  governing  of 
New  England  in  America."  The  settlement  at  Plymouth 
was  included  in  this  grant,  and  the  colonists  were  subse- 
quently authorized  and  empowered  by  the  council  to  take  a 
certain  quantity  of  land  and  set  up  a  government  there. 
Other  portions  of  this  vast  territory,  imperfectly  described 
and  incorrectly  bounded,  were  conveyed  to  various  indi\-id- 
uals  and  corporations,  which  ultimately  led  to  vexatious  dis- 
putes and  law-suits. 

March  9,  162 1-2,  the  president  and  council  granted  to 
Capt.  John  Mason,  under  the  name  of  Mariana,  "all  the  land 
lying  along  the  Atlantic  from  Naumkeag  River  to  the  Merri- 
mack River,  and  extending  back  to  the  heads  of  those  rivers, 
...  to  ireather  with  the  Great   Isle  or  Island  henceforth  to 


EARLY  EXPLORERS  AND   SETTLERS  19 

be  called  Isle  Mason  lying  neere  or  before  the  Kay,  Harbor 
or  y'^  river  Aggavvom."  * 

This  grant  included  nearly  all  the  terrritory  within  the 
present  limits  of  the  county  of  Essex,  but  no  settlements 
were  made  under  it.  The  patent  granted  the  colony  of  Mas- 
sachusetts Bay,  several  years  later,  covered  the  same  ter- 
ritory, and  added  to  it  the  land  lying  between  the  Charles  and 
the  Naumkeag  rivers. 

On  the  tenth  day  of  August,  1622,  the  Council  for  New 
England  granted  Capt.  John  Mason  and  Sir  Ferdinando 
Gorges,  jointly,  all  the  land  lying  between  the  Merrimack  and 
Sagadahoc  (now  Kennebec)  rivers,  extending  sixty  miles  in- 
land and  including  all  islands  within  five  leagues  of  the  shore. 
With  the  aid  of  several  wealthy  merchants  of  London  a  com- 
pany was  organized,  under  the  name  of  the  Laconia  Com- 
pany ;  and  plans  were  matured  for  the  development  of  the 
country  and  the  establishment  of  a  fishing  station  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Piscataqua  river.  In  the  spring  of  1623, 
David  Thompson,  a  Scotchman,  with  a  small  company,  com- 
menced a  settlement  there,  and  erected  the  first  house  at  a 
place  called  Little  Harbor. 

Capt.  Myles  Standish,  having  been  sent  by  the  governor  of 
Plymouth  Colony  "  to  buy  provisions  for  the  refreshing  of  the 
colony,  returned  wdth  the  same  [July,  1623]  accompanied 
with  one  Mr.  David  Tomson,  a  Scotchman,  who  also  that 
spring  began  a  plantation  twenty-five  leagues  northeast  from 
us,  near  Smith's  Isles,  at  a  place  called  Pascatoquack,  where 
he  liketh  well."  f 

In  1626,  Governor  Bradford  and  Edward  Winslow,  with 
some  others  of  Plymouth  Colony,  were  at  Little  Harbor,  and 
in  company  with  Mr.  Thompson  visited  the  settlement  at 
Monhegan,  where  they  purchased  from  the  colonists  there, 
and  from  a  P'rench  vessel  wrecked  near  that  island,  various 
articles  of  merchandise  valued  at  five  hundred  pounds. J 

*  Memoir  Capt.  John  Mason,  by  Charles  W.  Tuttle,  printed  by  the  Prince  Society,  18S7,  p. 
173.  Felt,  in  his  Historj-  of  Ipswich  (p.  36)  says  that  the  great  island  mentioned  in  the  grant  to 
Captain  Mason  must  have  been  the  island  now  known  as  Plum  Island. 

t"  Good  Newes  from  New  England,"  by  Edward  Winslow.  Published  in  London  in  1624. 
Reprinted  in  the  "Chronicles  of  the  Pilgrims,"  by  Alexander  Young,  p.  350. 

X  Bradford's  History  of  Plimoth  Plantation,  printed  by  order  of  the  General  Court  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, pp.  251,252. 


2  0  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

At  this  time  there  were  several  small  settlements  scattered 
along  the  New  England  coast,  and  trade  with  the  Indians  was 
steadily  increasing. 

The  catching  and  curing  of  fish  furnished  employment  for 
a  large  number  of  men  and  ships.  Capt.  John  Smith,  in  his 
account  of  "New  Plimouth,"  published  in  1624,  says, 

la  1620  six  or  seven  ships  went  from  the  west  of  England  to  fish 
on  the  Northeastern  coast  of   New   England;  in  162 1   ten  or  twelve ;  in 

1622  thirty-five  ;  in  1623  about  forty;  and  in  1624  fifty  or  more. 

The  Council  for  New  England,  desiring  to  increase  the  value 
of  its  property,  decided  to  distribute  to  each  of  its  share- 
holders a  certain  portion  of  its  territory  not  otherwise  dis- 
posed of.  The  region  about  Cape  Ann,  extending  probably 
to  the  Merrimack  river,  fell  to  the  lot  of  Lord  Sheffield,  who 
conveyed  it  by  charter  January  i,  1623-4,  to  Robert  Cushman 
and  Edward  Winslow  and  their  associates  of  Plymouth  Colony, 
who  were  authorized  to  eject  any  person  building  or  settling 
there  without  permission.  * 

Late  in  the  autumn  of  1624  a  ship,  "  caled  y^  Charitie  " 
arrived  at  Plymouth  with  a  cargo  of  provisions  and  household 
supplies.  She  was  hastily  discharged  and  sent  to  Cape  Ann, 
with  some  of  the  prominent  planters  of  the  colony,  who  were 
instructed  to  build  a  fishing  stage  there  to  be  used  in  the 
catching  and  curing  of  fish.f 

More  than  twelve  months  previous  to  that  date,  the  Rev.  John 
White,  a  Puritan  minister  of  Dorchester,  England,  with  some 
merchants  and  other  gentlemen  of  that  town,  organized  a 
company  for  the  purpose  of  establishing"  a  colony  on  the  New 
England  coast,  where  men  engaged  in  fishing,  when  not  other- 
wise employed,  might  cultivate  the  soil  or  carry  on  a  lucrative 
trade  with  the  Indians.  Cape  Ann  was  selected  as  a  favor- 
able location  for  the  new   enterprise  ;  and  in  the  autumn  of 

1623  fourteen  men,  from  a  vessel  about  to  return  to  England 
with  a  full  cargo  of  fish  and  furs,  were  landed  at  or  near  the 
present  city  of  Gloucester,  and  left  there  to  build  during  the 

*  Palfrey's  History  of  New  England,  vol.  i.,  p.  285. 

t  Bradford's  History  of  Plimoth  Plantation,  published  by  order  of  the  General  Court  of 
Massachusetts,  pp.  190,  202. 


EARLY  EXPLORERS   AND   SETTLERS  21 

winter  dwelling-houses,  salt-works,  and  other  structures 
required  in  the  catching  and  curing  of  fish.  In  the  spring 
of  1624  the  same  vessel  arrived  at  Cape  Ann  with  men  and 
supplies  sent  out  by  the  Dorchester  Company  for  the  en- 
couragement and  support  of  the  feeble  colony.  In  the  fall  of 
that  year,  however,  Robert  Cushman  and  Edward  Winslow 
having  obtained  a  grant  of  all  the  land  in  that  neighborhood, 
the  planters  of  Plymouth  decided  to  build  a  fishing  stage 
there.  In  1625  the  officers  and  crew  of  a  vessel  sent  out  by 
the  Dorchester  Company,  "  getting  y''  starte  of  y^  ships  that 
came  to  the  plantation,  they  tooke  away  their  stage,  &  other 
necessary  provisions  that  they  [the  Plymouth  people]  had 
made  for  fishing  at  Cap  Anne  y^  year  before,  and  would  not 
restore  y^  same,  excepte  they  would  fight  for  it.  But  y"  Gov"" 
sent  some  of  y^  planters  to  help  y^  fishermen  to  build  a  new 
one,  and  so  let  them  keepe  it."* 

The  Rev.  William  Hubbard,  of  Ipswich,  in  his  History  of 
New  England,  says  that  the  Plymouth  people  built  a  fishing 
stage  at  Cape  Ann  in  1624  ;  and  when  they  went  there  in 
1625,  to  cure  fish,  they  found  the  stage  occupied.  Capt. 
Myles  Standish  demanded  possession  of  the  property  but  was 
met  with  a  peremptory  refusal. 

The  dispute  grew  to  be  very  hot  and  high  words  were  passed  between 
them  which  nnight  have  ended  in  blows,  if  not  in  blood  and  slaughter, 
had  not  the  prudence  and  moderation  of  Mr  Roger  Conant,  at  that  time 
there  present,  and  Mr  Pierse's  interposition,  that  lay  just  by  with  his 
ship,  timely  prevented.  ...  A  little  chimney  is  soon  fired ;  so  was  the 
Plymouth  captain,  a  man  of  very  little  stature,  yet  of  very  hot  and  angry 
temper.  The  fire  of  his  passion  soon  kindled  and  blown  up  into  aflame 
by  hot  words,  might  easily  have  consumed  all,  had  it  not  been  seasonably 
quenched. t 

Subsequently  Roger  Conant,  who  had  been  living  at  Plym- 
outh, was  employed  as  superintendent  of  the  company  at 
Cape  Ann.  He  sent  several  cargoes  of  fish  to  England,  but 
they  were  sold  at  prices  barely  sufficient  to  pay  the  wages  of 
the  seamen.     He  remained  in  charge  of  the   enterprise  for 

•Bradford's  History  of  Plimoth   Plantation,    published  by  order   of  the    General   Court  of 
Massachusetts,  p.  237. 
t  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  Collections,  Second  Series,  vol.  v.,  p.  no. 


2  2  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

nearly  twelve  months.  At  the  close  of  the  year  1626  the 
Dorchester  Company  decided  to  sell  its  ships,  abandon  the 
new  settlement,  and  pay  for  the  transportation  to  England  of 
all  who  desired  to  return.  Roger  Conant  and  a  few  of  his 
friends  remained,  and  the  following  year  removed  to  Naum- 
keag,  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Salem. 

March  19,  1627-8,  the  Council  for  New  England  granted 
Sir  Henry  Roswell,  John  Endicott,  and  others  a  tract  of  land 
extending  from  a  line  three  miles  north  of  the  Merrimack  river 
to  a  line  three  miles  south  of  the  Charles  river,  and  east  and 
west  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  September  6, 
1628,  John  Endicott  with  a  small  company  landed  at  Naum- 
keag,  where  he  found  Roger  Conant,  and  a  few  others  who  had 
come  with  him  from  Cape  Ann,  comfortably  settled,  and  in- 
clined to  resist  any  attempts  to  interfere  with  their  rights  or 
privileges.  There  was  much  ill  feeling,  but  the  questions  in 
dispute  were  satisfactorily  adjusted  ;  and  in  commemoration  of 
the  peaceful  measures  and  methods  adopted  to  bring  about  the 
reconciliation  the  place  was  called  "Salem." 

The  following  year  a  charter  from  the  king  confirmed  the 
grant  made  to  Sir  Henry  Roswell  and  his  associates,  and  pro- 
vided that  they  and  their  successors  should  be  and  remain  a 
corporation  under  the  name  of  "  the  Governor  and  Company 
of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England."  A  portion  of  the 
land  conveyed  by  this  charter  had  previously  been  granted 
to  Capt.  John  Mason,  and  now  forms  a  part  of  the  State  of 
New  Hampshire.  A  long  controversy  in  regard  to  the  boun- 
dary line,  "  three  miles  north  of  the  Merrimac  river,"  has  only 
recently  been  settled  by  commissioners  appointed  by  the  chief 
executive  officers  of  the  two  states  mentioned. 

The  government  of  the  colony  in  Massachusetts  Bay  was 
intrusted  to  the  members  of  the-corporation  residing  in  Eng- 
land, but  the  question  of  transferring  to  the  plantation  in 
America  the  full  and  complete  control  of  its  affairs  was  care- 
fully considered  and  discussed  during  the  summer  of  1629. 
Legal  advice  favorable  thereto  was  obtained  and  August 
twenty-ninth  of  that  year  it  was  determined  "  by  the  general 
consent  of  the    Company  that  the    government  and   patent 


EARLY  EXPLORERS  AND   SETTLERS  23 

should  be  settled  in  New  England."  June  12,  1630,  John 
Winthrop  arrived  at  Salem,  bringing  the  charter  with  him. 
Before  the  close  of  the  year,  settlements  were  made  at  Charles- 
town,  Dorchester,  Boston,  Watertown,  Roxbury,  Mystic  (Med- 
ford),  and  Saugus  (Lynn).  The  first  court  of  assistants,  af- 
terwards called  "the  Great  and  General  Court,"  was  held  at 
Charlestown  August  23,  1630.  At  a  meeting,  held  Septem- 
ber seventh,  it  was  ordered  that  no  one  should  settle  within 
the  limits  of  the  colony  without  having  first  obtained  permis- 
sion from  the  governor  and  assistants,  and  a  warrant  was  is- 
sued to  command  those  who  had  settled  at  Agawam,  now  Ips- 
wich, to  leave  the  place.  In  January,  1633,  the  court  ordered 
"that  a  plantation  should  be  begun  at  Agawam,  being  the  best 
place  in  the  land  for  tillage  and  cattle,  lest  an  enemy,  finding  it 
void,  should  possess  and  take  it  from  us."* 

In  the  month  of  March  following,  John  Winthrop,  Jr., 
with  Mr.  George  Carr,  who  was  afterwards  appointed  to  keep 
the  ferry  between  Newbury  and  Salisbury,  and  ten  or  twelve 
others,  commenced  a  settlement  there.  August  5,  1634, 
the  General  Court  at  New  Town  (Cambridge)  "ordered  that 
Aggawam  shalbe  called  Ipswich." 

William  Wood,  author  of  "New  England's  Prospect,"  pub- 
lished in  London  in  1634,  says: — - 

Agowamme  is  nine  miles  to  the  North  from  Salem,  which  is  one  of  the 
most  spatious  places  for  a  plantation  being  neare  the  sea,  it  aboundeth 
with  fish,  and  flesh  of  fowles  and  beasts,  great  Meads  and  Marshes  and 
plaine  plowing  grounds,  many  good  rivers  and  harbours  and  no  rattle 
snakes.  In  a  word,  it  is  the  best  place  but  one,  which  is  Merriniacke^ 
lying  8  miles  beyond  it,  where  is  a  river  20  leagues  navigable :  all  along 
the  river  side  is  fresh  Marshes,  in  some  places  3  miles  broad.  In  this 
river  is  Sturgeon,  Sammon,  and  Basse,  and  divers  other  kinds  of  fish. 
To  conclude,  the  Countrie  hath  not  that  which  this  place  cannot  yeeld. 
So  that  these  two  places  may  containe  twice  as  many  people  as  are  yet 
in  New  England;  there  being  as  yet  scarce  any  inhabitants  in  these  two 
spacious  places.  Three  miles  beyond  the  river  Merriinacke  is  the  out- 
side of  our  Patent  for  the  Massachusetts  Bay.  These  be  all  the  Townes 
that  were  begun,  when  I  came  for  England,  which  was  the  1 5  of 
August  1633.1 

•Winthrop's  History,  vol.  i.,  pp.  98,  99;  also,  Coffin's  Historj-  of  Newbun-,  p.  10. 

t"  New  England's  Prospect,"  reprinted  by  the  Prince  Society  of  Boston,  1865,  chap,  xi.,  p.  49. 


Hie  South  part  of  New-England,  as  it  is 
Planted  this  yeare,  1 6  54. 


EARLY  EXPLORERS  AND   SETTLERS  25 

Although  there  was  no  settlement  between  Ipswich  and 
the  boundary  line  of  the  colony  on  the  north,  it  is  evident 
that  the  land  afterwards  laid  out  and  incorporated  as  the 
town  of  Newbury  was  not,  even  at  that  early  date,  an  un- 
known wilderness,  while  it  is  equally  certain  that  the  "  Sam- 
mon  and  Basse "  in  Merrimack  River  were  a  source  of 
revenue  to  the  fishermen  who  came  from  many  and  distant 
places. 

The  sturgions  be  all  over  the  Countrey,  but  the  best  catching  of  them 
be  upon  the  shoales  of  Cape  Codde  and  in  the  River  of  Mirritnacke 
where  much  is  taken,  pickled  and  brought  for  England,  some  of  them 
be  12,  14,  18  foote  long.* 

The  map  of  the  coast  from  Narragansett  Bay  to  "  Aco- 
menticus,"  published  in  the  first  edition  of  *' New  England's 
Prospect,"  and  reproduced  herewith,  gives  the  location  of 
Cape  Ann,  Boar's  Head,  and  the  "  Hand  of  Shoulds,"  also 
the  rivers  "  Quasacunqud,"  "  Piscataque,"  "Merrimack,"  and 
an  island,  not  named,  at  the  mouth  of  the  last-named  river, 
now  known  as  Plum  Island.  On  the  southerly  bank  of  the 
Merrimack  river,  at  or  near  the  easterly  end  of  a  small 
island  (evidently  Deer  Island),  the  Indian  camping  ground  or 
fishing  station  "  Pentucket  "  is  located.  Possibly,  John  Win- 
throp,  Jr.,  may  have  established  a  trading  house  there  after 
the  adoption  of  the  following  order  by  the  General  Court  :  — 

September  (3)  1633  There  is  liberty  granted  to  Mr.  John  Winthrop 
Junr,  &  to  his  assignes,  to  sett  vpp  a  trucking  howse  vpp  Merrimack 
Ryver.f 

The  map  drawn  by  Capt.  John  Smith,  and  published  in 
16 1 6,  gives  a  fairly  accurate  outline  of  the  New  England 
coast  from  Mount  Desert  to  Cape  Cod,  but  does  not  give  the 
location  of  the  Merrimack,  Piscataqua,  Saco,  and  some  other 
large  rivers  between  those  two  points.  Probably  they  were 
not  seen  by  the  bold  and  enterprising  explorer  as  he  sailed 
along  the  shore  in  a  small  boat,  although  he  evidently  as- 
cended the  Kennebec,  and  named  it  "The  River  Forth. "| 

*  "  New  England's  Prospect,"  reprinted  by  the  Prince  Society  of  Boston,  1865,  chap.  ix. ,  p.  37. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  108. 

+  See  map  in  Narrative  and  Critical  History  of  .America,  vol.  iii.,  p.  198. 


26  HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 

February  28,  1633-4,  King  Charles  I.,  greatly  dis- 
turbed by  the  report  that  a  large  number  of  his  disaffected 
and  discontented  subjects  were  about  to  leave  England  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  civil  and  religious  liberty  beyond  the 
sea,  ordered  the  ofificers  of  the  crown  to  detain  ten  ships, 
then  in  the  river  Thames,  until  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
king  could  be  administered  to  all  persons  intending  to  em- 
bark for  New  England.  The  masters  of  the  ships  were 
placed  under  bonds  to  observe  certain  rules  and  regulations, 
and  especially  to  see  that  the  prayers  of  the  Church  of 
England  were  read  daily  on  the  voyage  to  the  New  World. 

Matthew  Cradock,  the  first  governor  of  the  Massachusetts 
Company,  was  summoned  to  appear  before  the  king  and  the 
lords  of  the  Privy  Council,  and  ordered  to  bring  the  charter  of 
the  company  with  him.  He  replied  that  the  charter  was  in 
New  England.  This  was  probably  the  first  intimation  the 
king  had  received  that  the  powers  and  privileges  granted 
the  company  in  London  had  been  transferred  to  the  colony 
in  Massachusetts  Bay.  Immediate  steps  were  taken  to  se- 
cure a  return  of  the  charter,  and  the  appointment  of  a  gov- 
ernor-general to  supervise  and  control  the  administration  of 
public  affairs  in  New  England  was  strongly  urged  by  the  ofifi- 
cers  of  the  crown. 

At  a  meeting  held  "at  the  Earl  of  Carlisle's  Chamber  at 
Whitehall,"  April  25,  1635,  the  Council  for  New  England  de- 
cided to  relinquish  all  its  rights  and  privileges  under  the 
charter  granted  November  3,  1620,  upon  condition  that  the 
territory,  of  which  a  large  portion  had  already  been  conveyed 
to  various  individuals  by  its  own  corporate  action,  should  be 
divided  and  distributed  by  lot  among  the  members  of  the 
council. 

June  seventh,  the  "Great  Charter"  was  surrendered  to  the 
king,  and  the  distribution  of  the  land  was  made  in  accord- 
ance with  the  terms  and  condition  of  the  act  providing  for  its 
repeal. 

The  council  declared  that  it  was  compelled  "  because  of 
many  discouragements"  to  abandon  the  attempt  to  rule  and 
govern  New  England,  and  attributed  its   ill  success  chiefly  to 


EARLY  EXPLORERS   AXD   SETTLERS  27 

the  interference  of  the  charter  of  the  Massachusetts  Com- 
pany, which,  it  alleged,  had  been  "surreptitiously  gotten"  in 
derogation  of  the  rights  of  Capt.  Robert  Gorges  and  others. 
A  writ  of  quo  ivarranto  was  issued  in  September,  1635,  ^^id 
served  on  the  members  of  the  company  in  England.  All 
but  Cradock  pleaded  "  not  guilty "  to  the  charges  brought 
against  them;  but,  in  the  opinion  of  the  court  they  had  made 
use  of  powers  and  privileges  not  granted  them  in  the 
charter,  and  were  therefore  prohibited  from  intermeddling 
with  its  affairs.  Cradock  was  defaulted,  convicted  of  usurpa- 
tion, and  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  franchise  were  re- 
voked and  restored  to  the  king. 

While  these  proceedings  were  pending  in  the  Privy  Coun- 
cil and  law  courts  of  England,  the  town  of  Newbury  was  in- 
corporated by  "the  Great  and  General  Court  of  Massachu- 
setts," and  the  settlement  at  Parker  river  began. 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE    SETTLEMENT    AT    PARKER    RIVER, 
1635-1645. 

Among  the  vessels  detained  in  the  river  Thames  by  order 
of  the  king's  Privy  Council,  February  14,  1633-4,  was  the 
ship  "  Mary  and  John,"  Robert  Sayres,  master. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  and  twenty-sixth  of  March  following, 


William  Moudey 
Thomas  Swede 
Thomas  Savery 
Phillip  Fowler 
Robert  Coker 
John  Godfrey 
Nicholas  Noyce 
Richard  Littlehall 
John  Whelyer 
Robert  Newman 
Nicholas  Easton 
Abraham  Mussey 
Matthew  Gillett 
John  Mussev 
Thomas  Parker 
John  Spencer 
Henry  Shorte 
John  Newman 
Thomas  Newman 


Henry  Travers 
John  Woodbridge 
Christopher  Osgood 
John  Bartlett 
William  Savery 
George  Browne 
Richard  Browne 
William  White 
W^illiam  Clarke 
Stephen  Jurden 
Richard  Kent 
William  I5allard 
William  Franklin 
Thomas  Cole 
James  Noyce 
William  Spencer 
Richard  Kent,  Jun 
Henry  Lunt 
John  Anthony 


whose  names  are  found  among  the  early  settlers  of  New- 
bury, and  others,  took  the  oath  of  supremacy  and  allegiance 
to  the  king,  and  were  allowed  to  sail  in  the  ship  for  New 
England.* 

They  arrived  at  Boston  in  the  month  of  May,  1634,  and 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Parker,  with  most  of  the  persons  named  in 
the  above  list,  with  their  families,  to  the  number  of  about  one 

*  New  England  Genealogical  and  Historical  Register,  July,  1855,  p.  265. 
(28) 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  PARKER   RIVER  29 

hundred  removed  to  Agawam  (Ipswich),  where  they  re- 
mained during  the  following  winter. 

At  the  General  Court  held  at  Boston,  May  14,  1634, 
deputies  or  representatives  from  eight  towns  in  the  colony 
participated  in  its  proceedings.  Previous  to  that  date  the 
laws  were  made  and  executed  by  the  governor  and  his 
assistants  without  consultation  or  conference  with  the  free- 
men ;  but  some  controversy  having  arisen  in  regard  to  the 
abrogation  of  an  order  for  the  "killing  of  swine,  etc.," 
Governor  Winthrop  consented  to  the  election  of  a  certain 
number  of  deputies  annually  from  each  town  to  aid  and 
assist  in  the  enactment  of  laws  and  the  administration  of 
justice. 

Ipswich  was  not  represented  at  the  General  Court  held 
May  14,  1634;  but  at  the  session  held  at  Newe  Town 
(Cambridge),  March  4,  1634-5,  three  persons  claimed  election 
as  deputies  from  that  town.  Only  one,  however,  was  admitted 
to  membership. 

Vpon  a  certificatt  of  5  comissioners,  chosen  by  the  Court  to  con- 
sider of  the  elecon  of  the  deputyes  of  Ipswich  it  did  appeare  to  the 
Court  that  two  of  them  viz  :  Mr  Easton  &  Henry  Shorte  were  vnduely 
chosen,  whoe  were  forthwith  dismissed  :  soe  Mr  John  Spencer  onely 
stands  legally  elected  in  the  opinion  of  the  Court.* 

The  territory  lying  between  Ipswich  and  the  Merrimack 
river  was  well  situated,  and  covered  an  area  of  more  than 
thirty  thousand  acres  of  upland  and  marshland.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1634  it  had  been  carefully  examined  by  an  agent  sent 
over  by  "  divers  gentlemen  of  Scotland,"  who  "  wrote  to  know 
whether  they  might  be  freely  suffered  to  exercise  their  pres- 
byterial  government  amongst  us  ;  and  it  was  answered  affirm- 
atively that  they  might. "f 

In  May  of  that  year  the  Rev.  Thomas  Parker  and  his  com- 
pany arrived  in  Boston  ;  and,  in  the  month  of  June  following, 
fourteen  ships  arrived  there,  bringing  passengers  and  letters. 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  \t.  135.  The  persons  named  in  the  above  certificate 
were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Newburi,'. 

t  Chronicles  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers,  p.  403. 


30  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

We  received  letters  from  a  godly  preacher,  Mr  Levinston,  a 
Scotchman  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  whereby  he  signified  that  there  were 
many  good  Christians  in  those  parts  resolved  to  come  hither,  if  they 
might  receive  satisfaction  concerning  some  questions  and  propositions 
which  they  sent  over.* 

September  25,  1634,  the  General  Court  ordered  "that  the 
Scottishe  &  Irishe  gentlemen  w^''  intends  to  come  hither  shall 
haue  liberty  to  sitt  doune  in  any  place  vpp  Merrimacke  Ryver, 
not  ppossessed  by  any."  f 

The  company  embarked  for  New  England,  "but,  meeting 
with  manifold  crosses,"  abandoned  the  enterprise  and  returned 
home.  Before  the  failure  of  the  expedition  was  known,  how- 
ever, the  town  of  Ipswich,  in  the  exercise  of  its  authority  over 
the  unoccupied  territory  still  under  its  control,  made  the 
following  conditional  grant  :  — 

December  29th  1634  Itt  is  consented  unto  that  John  Pirkins,  junior, 
shall  build  a  ware  [fish  trap]  upon  the  river  of  Quasycung  [now  river 
Parker]  and  enjoy  the  profitts  of  itt,  but  in  case  a  plantation  shall  there 
settle  then  he  is  to  submitt  himself  unto  such  conditions,  as  shall  by  them 
be  imposed.  J 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Parker  and  his  friends  from  Wiltshire, 
England,  remained  in  Ipswich  until  the  following  spring, 
when  they  applied  to  the  General  Court  for  liberty  to  settle 
on  the  Ouascacunquen  river. 

Some  of  the  chief  of  Ipswich  desired  leave  to  remove  to  Quasca- 
cunquen,  to  begin  a  plantation  there  which  was  granted  them,  and  it 
was  named  Newberry.  § 

May  6,  1635,  the  following  orders  were  passed  by  the 
General  Court  :  — 

Wessacucon  is  allowed  by  the  Court  to  be  a  plantacbn  &  it  is  re- 
ferd  to  Mr  Humfry,  M>-  Endicott,  Capt  Turner  and  Capt  Traske  or 
any  three  of  them,  to  sett  out  the  bounds  of  Ipswich  &  Wessacucon, 
or  soe  much  thereof  as  they  can  &  the  name  of  the  said  plantacon  is 
changed  &  hereafter  to  be  called  Neweberry. 

*Winthrop's  History  (edition  1853),  vol.  i.,  p.  160. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Record,  vol.  i.,  p.  129. 

t  See  records  of  the  town  meeting  held  in  Ipswich,  December  29,  1634, 

§  Winthrop's  History  (edition,  1S53),  vol.  i.,  p.  191. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  PARKER   RIVER  31 

Farther,  it  is  ordered,  that  it  shal  be  in  the  power  of  the  Court  to 
take  order  that  the  said  plantacon  shall  receave  a  sufficient  company  of 
people  to  make  a  competent  towne.* 

It  is  referd  to  Mr  Humfry,  M^  Endicott,  Capt  Turner  &  Capt 
Traske  to  sett  out  a  fferme  for  M""  Dumer,  aboute  the  falls  of  Neweberry, 
not  exceeding  the  quantity  of  500  acres,  pvided  also  it  be  not  piuditiall 
to  Neweberry.  f 

The  territory  laid  out  and  incorporated  as  the  town  of 
Newbury  was  included  in  the  grant  made  to  Capt.  John 
Mason,  March  9,  162 1-2,  by  the  Council  for  New  England; 
and  this  territory  was  again  assigned  to  him  February  3, 
1634-5,  just  previous  to  the  dissolution  of  the  company  and 
the  surrender  of  its  charter  to  the  king.  April  22,  1635, 
the  grant  was  confirmed  by  the  company  ;  and  two  deeds,  of 
nearly  the  same  tenor,  were  executed,  conveying  to  Capt. 
John  Mason  and  his  heirs  all  that  portion  of  the  main  land 
of  New  England  "  beginning  from  the  Middle  part  Nahum- 
kege  River  &  from  thence  to  proceed  Eastward  along  the 
sea  Coast  to  Cape  Ann  &  round  about  the  same  to  Pischa- 
taqua  harbour,"  etc.  These  conveyances  were  subsequently 
recorded  in  the  Registry  of  Deeds,  York  County,  Maine, 
book  II.,  pp.  14-17.I 

Governor  Winthrop,  and  the  men  associated  with  him  in 
the  administration  of  public  affairs,  were  evidently  anxious  to 
extend  the  settlement  of  the  colony  to  its  extreme  northern 
limit,  in  order  that  they  might  hold  the  disputed  territory 
against  all  claimants  under  the  Mason  grant.  Vigorous 
measures  were  taken  to  accomplish  this  result.  Most  of  the 
passengers  who  came  to  New  England  in  the  ship  "  Mary 
and  John  "  were  induced  to  remove  to  Newbury  early  in  the 
year  1635.  Tradition  asserts  that  they  came  by  water  from 
Ipswich,  and  landed  on  the  north  shore  of  the  Ouascacunquen 

♦Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  146.  The  Indian  name  "  Wessacucon  "  was 
sometimes  spelled  "  Wessacumcon."  In  Winthrop's  History  of  New  England,  quoted  on  page 
30,  it  was  written  "Quascacunquen."  In  the  town  records  of  Ipswich  it  was  "  Quasycung,"  as 
stated  on  the  preceding  page.  On  the  map  published  in  "  New  England's  Prospect,"  by  William 
Wood,  in  1634,  "  Quascunqud  River"  is  the  name  given  to  what  is  now  known  as  Parker 
river. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  146. 

J  Certified  copies  of  these  conveyances  may  be  found  in  the  Prince  Society  Publications, 
"Captain  John  Mason,''  pp.  209-215. 


32 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


(now  Parker)  river,  about  two  or  three  hundred  rods  below 
the  bridge  that  connects  the  "  Lower  Green  "  with  the 
"  Great  Neck  "  and  the  town  of  Rowley.  They  were  soon 
joined  by  Henry  Sewall,  Richard  and  Stephen  Dummer, 
and  others,  who  were  interested  in  stock-raising  and  actively 
engaged  in  the  importation  of  sheep  and  cattle. 

June  3,  1635,  ^wo  Dutch  ships,  loaded  with  horses,  heifers, 
and  sheep,  arrived  at  Boston  ;  and  the  same  day  the  ship 
"  James,"  three  hundred  tons  burthen,  arrived  at  the  same 
place  with  cattle  and  passengers.*  The  last-named  vessel 
sailed  from  Southampton,  England,  about  the  fifth  of  April, 
1635,  and  is  said  to  have  delivered  her  cargo  in  good  order 
and  condition.     Among  her  passengers  were 


Thomas  Browne       of  Malford, 
Hercules  Woodman  "         " 


Thomas  Colman 
Anthony  Morse 
William  Morse 
Nicholas  Batt 
John  Knight 
Richard  Knight 
Nicholas  Holt 
John  Emery 
Anthony  Emery 
John  Pike 
John  Musselwhite 
t  Anthony  Thetcher 


Marlborouirh 


"  Devyes 
"  Roms^y 


weaver, 
mercer, 
husbandman, 
shoemaker. 

linen  weaver, 
taylor. 

tanner, 
carpenter. 


Langford  laborer. 

Sarm  (Salisbury)  taylor. 


Most  of  the  persons  named  in  the  above  list  came  to  New- 
bury soon   after  their   arrival  at   Boston  ;  and,  July  8,  1635, 

*Winthrop"s  History  (edition,  1853),  vol.  i.,  pp.  igi,  192. 

t  New  England  Genealogical  and  Historical  Register,  October,  1S60,  p.  333.  In  a  foot-note 
on  page  ig6,  vol.  i.  of  Winthrop's  Histor>',  Anthony  Thaclier  and  Ms.  Avery  are  said  to 
have  come  to  New  England  in  the  ship  "James";  but  in  the  list  printed  in  the  Genea- 
logical Register  and  quoted  above,  Mr.  Avery's  name  does  not  appear.  It  is  also  stated  that 
his  baptismal  name  was  John  ;  and  in  Book  III.,  Part  Second,  Chap,  ii.,  of  Mather's  "  Mag- 
nalia,"  there  is  an  account  of  "  the  death  of  Mr.  John  Avery."  This  is  evidently  an  error.  In 
the  records  of  the  General  Court,  vol.  i.,  p.  154,  under  date  of  September  i,  1635,  he  is  called 
Mr.  Joseph  Aver\',  and  Mr.  Anthony  Thacher  is  appointed  administrator  of  his  estate.  In  the 
inventory  of  personal  property  signed  by  Mr.  Tliacher,  a  few  weeks  later,  "  Joseph  "  is  given  as 
the  baptismal  name;  and  "  Richard  Kniglit,  Nicholas  Holt  &  John  Knight,  all  three  of  New- 
burrj',"  are  mentioned  as  witnesses  to  a  debt  said  to  be  due  the  estate  from  John  Emery. 

Young's  Chronicles  of  Massachu.setts,  chap,  .\xiii.,  p.  485,  and  Increase  Mather's  "  Remarkable 
Providences,"  chap,  i.,  give  the  details  of  the  terrilile  shipwreck  at  Cape  .Ann,  .August  14,  1635, 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  PARKER  RIVER  ZZ 

the  General  Court  ordered  "that  there  shall  be  a  convenient 
quantity  of  land  sett  out  by  Mr  Dumer  and  M""  Bartholemewe, 
within  the  bounds  of  Newbury,  for  the  keeping  of  the  sheepe 
and  cattell  that  came  over  in  the  Dutch  shipps  this  yeare, 
and  to  belong  to  the  owners  of  said  cattell."  * 

This  joint  stock-raising  enterprise  met  with  many  discour- 
agements, and  after  a  few  months'  trial  was  reluctantly  aban- 
doned. November  3,  1635,  the  General  Court  passed  the 
following  order  :  — 

Whereas  Thomas  Coleman  hath  contracted  with  S''  Richard  Salton- 
stall  &  dyvers  other  gentlein  in  England  &  here  for  the  keepinge  of  cer- 
taine  horses,  bulls  &  sheepe  in  a  gen'all  stocke,  for  the  space  of  three 
yeares,  &  nowe,  since  his  comeing  hither,  hath  bene  exceeding  necligent 
in  discharging  the  trust  coiiiitted  to  him,  absenting  himselfe  for  a  longe 
tyme,  from  the  said  cattell,  as  also  neclecting  to  provide  howseing  for 
them,  by  reason  whereof  many  of  said  cattell  are  dead  already,  &  more 
damage  like  dayly  to  accrue  to  the  said  gentlem,  it  is  therefore  ordered, 
that  it  shal  be  lawfuU  for  the  said  gentlein  to  devide  the  oates  &  hay 
provided  for  the  said  cattell  amongst  themselves  &  soe  euery  one  to  take 
care  of  their  owne  cattell  for  the  winter.f 

At  this  time  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay  was  greatly 
disturbed  by  the  mutilation  or  defacement  of  the  national  en- 
sign by  the  order  of  Capt.  John  Endicott.  The  Court  of 
Assistants  met  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Dudley,  governor,  No- 

which  resulted  in  the  loss  of  Mr.  Avery,  his  wife,  six  children,  and  all  who  were  on  board  the 
vessel,  except  Mr.  Thacher  and  his  wife. 

Mr.  Avery  was  a  minister,  and  cousin  to  Anthony  Thacher,  who  was  a  tailor  from  Salisbury, 
England.  They  came  to  Newbury  soon  after  the  incorporation  of  the  town ;  but,  being  strongly 
urged  to  go  to  Marblehead,  they  embarked  with  their  families  at  Ipswich  in  a  small  pinnace,  and 
during  a  terrific  storm  were  dashed  upon  the  rocks,  and  the  crew,  with  all  the  passengers  except 
two,  were  drowned.  The  place  where  this  catastrophe  occurred  was  called  "  Thacher's  Woe"  (now 
Thacher's  Island)  and  "  Avery  his  Fall  "  (now  Avery's  Rock).  The  "  Swan  Song  of  Parson 
Avery,"    by  John   G.   Whittier,   describing    the    shipwreck  and  the   storm,   closes  with   these 

lines:  — 

"  There  was  wailing  on  the  mainland,  from  the  rocks  of  Marblehead; 
In  the  stricken  church  of  Newbury  the  notes  of  prayer  were  read  ; 
And  long,  by  board  and  hearthstone,  the  living  mourned  the  dead. 

"  And  still  the  fishers  outbound,  or  scudding  from  the  squall, 
With  grave  and  reverent  faces,  the  ancient  tale  recall. 
When  they  see  the  white  waves  breaking  on  the  Rock  of  Avery's  Fall." 

"  March  9,  1636-7  Mr  Anthony  Thacher  had  granted  him  the  small  iland  at  the  head  of  Cape 
Ann  (vpon  wch  hee  was  p'served  from  shipwrack)  as  his  pp  inheritance."  Massachusetts  Colony 
Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  191. 

♦Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  149.  tibid.,  p.  155. 


34  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

vember  27,  1634,  "  to  advise  about  the  defacing  of  the  cross 
in  the  ensign  at  Salem." 

The  magistrates  agreed  to  write  to  Mr.  Downing  in  Eng- 
land, expressing  their  disapprobation  of  the  act  and  their  pur- 
pose to  punish  the  offenders,  "with  as  much  wariness  as  we 
might,  being  doubtful  of  the  lawful  use  of  the  cross  in  an 
ensign."  * 

January  19,  1634-5,  ^^1  the  ministers  except  M""  Ward  of  Ipswich, 
met  at  Boston,  being  requested  by  the  governour  and  assistants,  to 
consider  of  these  two  cases :  1 .  What  we  ought  to  do  if  a  general  gov- 
ernour should  be  sent  out  of  England  ?  2.  Whether  it  be  lawful  for  us 
to  carry  the  cross  in  our  banners?  In  the  first  case,  they  all  agreed, 
that,  if  a  general  governour  were  sent,  we  ought  not  to  accept  him,  but 
defend  our  lawful  possessions,  (if  we  were  able);  otherwise  to  avoid  or 
protract.  For  the  matter  of  the  cross,  they  were  divided,  and  so  de- 
ferred it  to  another  meeting. f 

At  a  meeting  of  the  General  Court  held  at  New  Towne 
(Cambridge),  March  4,  1634-5, 

M''  Endicott  was  called  to  answer  for  defacing  the  cross  in  the  en- 
sign; but  because  the  court  could  not  agree  about  the  thing,  whether 
the  ensigns  should  be  laid  by,  in  regard  that  many  refuse  to  follow 
them,  the  whole  cause  was  deferred  till  the  next  general  court ;  and  the 
commissioners  for  military  affairs  gave  order,  in  the  meantime,  that  all 
the  ensigns  should  be  laid  aside.J 

At  the  General  Court  held  May  6,  1635,  the  town  of  New- 
bury was  incorporated  ;  and  the  same  day  a  committee  was 
appointed  "  to  consider  the  act  of  M""  Endicott,  in  defacing 
the  cola's  &  to  reporte  to  the  Court  howe  farre  they  judge  it 
sensurable."§ 

Mr.  John  Spencer,  a  deputy  from  Ipswich,  who  was  one  of 
the  first  settlers  of  Newbury,  served  on  this  committee, 
which  was  composed  of  one  member  from  each  town,  nine  in 
all,  and  four  additional  elected  by  the  Court  of  Assistants. 
This  committee  reported,  after  a  few  hours'  deliberation,  that 
a  great  offence  had  been  committed,  that  it  was  done  with- 

*  Winthrop's  History  (edition  1853),  vol.  i.,  p.  179. 

t  Winthrop's  History,  vol.  i.,  p.  183.  +  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  186. 

§  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  145. 


THE   SETTLI'IMEXT  AT  PARKER   RIVER  35 

out  the  advice  or  consent  of  the  General  Court,  and  that  John 
Endicott  should  be  admonished  and  disabled  from  holding 
public  office  for  one  year,  "  declining  any  heavier  sentence 
because  they  were  persuaded  he  did  it  out  of  tenderness  of 
conscience,  and  not  of  any  evil  intent."  * 

The  following  year  Thomas  Milward,  mate  of  the  ship 
"Hector,"  then  in  Boston  harbor,  denounced  the  colonists 
as  rebels  and  traitors  because  they  did  not  display  the  king's 
colors  at  the  fort  on  Castle  Island.  For  this  offence  he 
was  seized  and  brought  before  the  General  Court  and  com- 
mitted for  trial.  But  the  next  day,  having  signed  the  follow- 
ing certificate,  he  was  released,  and  subsequently  came  to 
Newbury,  where  he  lived  for  many  years  :  — 

Whereas  I,  Thorn  :  Millard,  have  given  out  most  false  &  repchfuU 
speaches  against  his  maties  loyall  &  faithfuU  subjects  dwelling  in  the 
Massachusetts  Bay,  in  America,  saying  that  they  vi^ere  all  trayto^s  & 
rebells  &  that  I  would  afifirme  so  much  before  the  Goveno""  himselfe, 
well  expressions  I  do  confes  (&  so  desire  may  bee  conceived)  did 
pceed  from  the  rashnes  &  distemper  of  my  owne  braine,  wthout  any 
just  ground  or  cause  so  to  thinke  or  speake,  for  wdi,  my  vnworthy  & 
sinful!  carriage  being  called  in  question,  I  do  justly  stand  committed  ; 
my  humble  &  [  ]  request  yfore  is  y*  vpon  ys  my  free  &  ingenious  re- 
cantation of  ys  my  grosse  failing  it  would  please  ye  Govenor  &  ye  rest  of 
ye  assistants  to  accept  of  this  my  humble  submission,  to  passe  by  my 
fault  &  to  dismisse  me  fro  further  trouble ;  &  ys,  my  free  &  volentary 
confession  I  subscribe  wth  my  hand  ys  9th  June  1636. 

Thomas  MiLLERD.f 

Notwithstanding  this  acknowledgment  of  submission  on 
the  part  of  Thomas  Milward,  it  is  evident  that  the  governor 
and  his  Court  of  Assistants  were  somewhat  uneasy  for  fear 
their  conduct  might  give  offence  to  the  king.  Some  captains 
in  the  harbor  of  Boston  being  consulted  upon  the  subject. 

They  answered,  that,  in  regard  that  they  should  be  examined  upon 
their  return,  what  colors  they  saw  here,  they  did  desire  that  the  king's 
colors  might  be  spread  at  our  fort.  It  was  answered  that  we  had  not 
the  king's  colors.  Thereupon  two  of  them  did  offer  them  freely  to  us. 
We  replied  that  for  our  part  we  were  fully  persuaded,  that  the  cross  in 
the   ensign   was   idolatrous,  and  therefore   might  not  set  in  our  ensign  ; 

*  Winthrop's  History,  vol.  i.,  p.  i8q.         t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  178. 


36  HISTORY   OF    NEWBURY 

but  because  the  fort  was  the  king's  and  maintained  in  his  name,  we 
thought  that  his  own  colors  might  be  spread  there.  So  the  governour 
accepted  the  colors  of  Capt.  P'almer,  and  promised  they  should  be 
set  up  at  Castle  Island.* 

During  the  summer  of  1635,  while  the  excitement  caused 
by  the  defacing  of  the  colors  and  the  failure  to  re-elect 
Endicott,  a  member  of  the  Court  of  Assistants,  was  at  its 
height,  the  Avork  of  clearing  and  preparing  the  soil  for  culti- 
vation was  prosecuted  with  undisturbed  vigor  in  the  settle- 
ment at  Parker  river,  Newbury.  House  lots,  planting  lots, 
and  meadow  lots  were  granted  and  laid  out  according  to  the 
rule  established  in  London  by  the  company  organized  for  the 
encouragement  of  emigration  and  the  development  of  the  re- 
sources of  the  colony  in  Massachusetts  Bay.  A  house  lot  of 
four  acres,  with  the  right  of  pasturage,  was  assigned  to  the 
poorest  settlers  ;  fifty  acres  were  allotted  to  every  person  who 
paid  for  his  own  transportation  to  New  England ;  two  hun- 
dred acres  to  every  one  contributing  fifty  pounds  to  the 
common  stock  ;  and  a  larger  or  smaller  number  to  other  cash 
contributors  in  proportion  to  the  amount  invested  by  them. 
Dwelling-houses  were  erected,  and  a  church  organized  (the 
tenth  in  the  colony)  "in  the  open  air,  under  a  tree"  that 
stood  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Parker  river,  at  or  near  the 
Lower  Green.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Parker  was  chosen  pastor, 
and  the  Rev.  James  Noyes,  teacher.  Prudential  men  —  after- 
ward called  "the  seven  men"  and  "the  selectmen" — were 
elected  to  attend  to  the  ordinary  business  affairs  of  the  town. 
The  population  steadily  increased  in  numbers  and  improved, 
slowly,  in  worldly  condition.  Only  two  months  after  the  in- 
corporation of  the  town  it  was  called  upon  to  assess  and 
collect  its  proportion  of  a  tax  of  two  hundred  pounds  levied 
by  the  General  Court,  one-half  of  this  tax  to  be  paid  at  once, 
and  the  other  half  before  the  next  meeting  of  the  General 
Court. f 

Richard  Dummer  was  a  member  of  the  Court  of  Assistants 
from  Roxbury,  and  John  Spencer  was  a  deputy  from  Ipswich, 
at  the  time  this  tax  was  levied,  July  8,  1635.     The  same  day 

•  Winthrop's  History,  vol.  ).,  p.  224.  t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  149. 


38  HISTORY   OF  XEIVBURY 

the  General  Court  granted  liberty  "  to  M''  Dumer  &  ]\r 
Spencer  to  builcle  a  myll  &  a  weire  att  the  falls  of  Neweberry, 
to  enioy  the  said  myll  &  weire,  with  such  preuilidges  of 
ground  &  tymber  as  is  expressed  in  an  agreem^  betwixte  them 
&  the  towne  to  enioy  to  them  &  their  heires  foreuer."  * 

This  mill  was  probably  erected  in  1636,  although  evidently 
not  completed  until  two  or  three  years  later.f  In  1637, 
Richard  Dummer  and  John  Spencer,  with  more  than  sixty 
other  followers  of  Mrs.  Anne  Hutchinson  and  the  Rev.  John 
Wheelwright,  were  condemned  and  disarmed  for  holding 
erroneous  religious  opinions.  Vexed  and  humiliated  by  this 
arbitrary  act  of  the  General  Court,  they  decided  to  abandon 
their  business  enterprises  in  Newbury,  and  seek  a  more  con- 
genial dwelling-place  elsewhere.  They  evidently  sailed  for 
England  at  the  first  convenient  opportunity.  Mr.  Spencer 
died  in  London  previous  to  1648.  Mr.  Dummer  apparently 
returned  to  Newbury  in  1638,  bringing  his  wife  and  family.  :|: 
He  probably  found  it  advisable  to  pursue  this  course  in 
order  to  avoid  great  pecuniary  loss,  and  thereafter  seems  to 
have  suppressed  his  own  personal  views  and  opinions  on 
religious  matters  so  far  as  possible,  and  submitted  quietly 
to  the  laws  and  orders  passed  and  approved  by  the  General 
Court. 

He  made  an  agreement  with  Edward  Woodman,  Edward 
Rawson,  John,  Knight,  and  Richard  Brown  that  was  entered 
upon  the  records  of  the  town  of  Newbury,  August  6,  1638, 
which  reads  as  follows  :  — 

It  is  agreed  wth  M''  Richard  Dummer  of  Newbury  by  the  psons  whose 
names  are  hereunto  subscribed  that  in  case  M""  Dummer  doe  make  his 

♦Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  149.         t  Winthrop's  Historj',  vol.  :.,  p.  234. 

t  Among  the  passengers  in  the  ship  "  Bevis,"  150  tons,  from  Southampton  for  New  England, 
May,  1638,  were 

"  Richard  Dumer  of  New  England  aged  40 
Alee  Dumer  "      35 

Thomas  Dumer  "      19 

Joane  Dumer  "      19 

Jane  Dumer  "      10 

Stephen  Dumer  Husbandman  (probably)  29 
Dorotliee  Dumer  6  ^ 

Ricliard  Dumer  4 

Thomas  Dumer  27  " 

—  Massachusetts  Historical  Collections,  Third  Series,  vol.  x.,  p.  145. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  PARKER   RIVER  39 

mill  fitt  to  grynd  corne  &  doe  so  maintayne  the  same,  as  also  doe  keepe 
a  man  to  attend  the  grynding  of  corne,  then  they  for  their  pts  will  send 
thither  all  the  corne  that  they  shall  have  ground ;  &  doe  likewise  pmise 
that  all  the  rest  of  the  Toune  (if  it  lye  in  their  power  to  p'cure  the  same) 
shall  also  bring  their  corne  from  tyme  to  tyme  to  be  ground  at  the  said 
mill ;  and  it  is  further  agreed  that  (the  'fore  menc'oned  condic'on  being 
observed  by  M""  Dummer)  there  shall  not  any  other  mill  be  erected  wtinn 
the  said  Toune. 

The  exact  location  of  the  meeting-house,  built  probably 
during  the  summer  of  1635,  is  somewhat  uncertain.  It  was 
probably  erected  on  the  triangular  lot  of  land  now  known  as 
the  Lower  Green,  or,  possibly,  a  hundred  rods  farther  north, 
at  or  near  the  burying-place  mentioned  in  the  grant  to  John 
Emery  May  18,  1647.*  -^^  "^  events,  the  houses  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Newbury  were  in  that  immediate  vicinity  ;  and 
the  General  Court  ordered,  September  6,  1635,  that  "noe 
dwelling  howse  shalbee  builte  above  halfe  a  myle  from  the 
meeting  howse  in  any  newe  plantacon,  granted  att  this  Court, 
or  hereafter  to  be  granted,  without  leaue  from  the  court, 
(except  myll  howses  &  fferme  bowses  of  such  as  have  their 
dwelling  howses  in  some  towne),  Ipsw'^'^  Hingham,  Newberry 
&  Waymothe  to  be  included  in  this  order."  f 

This  law,  though  oppressive  and  annoying,  was  strictly  en- 
forced until  May  13,  1640,  when  it  was  repealed. 

The  boundary  line  between  Ipswich  and  Newbury  was  set- 
tled and  agreed  upon  by  special  committees  appointed  for 
that  purpose :  — 

Sept.  3,  1635.  John  Winthrop  Sen^  &  John  Humfry,  Esq.  are  in- 
treated  by  the  court  to  vewe  the  bounds  of  Ipswch  &  Neweberry,  &  to 
informe  the  nexte  court  howe  they  may  conveniently  be  bounded. J 

March  3,  1635-6.  It  is  referd  to  John  Humfry,  Esq  &  Capt  Turner 
to  sett  out  the  bounds  betwixte  Salem  &  Ipswch  &  betwixte  Ipswch  & 
Newberry,  before  midsumer,  nexte,  as  also  to  vewe  &  informe  the  nexte 
Gen'all  Court  if  there  may  not  be  another  towne  conveniently  setled  be- 
twixte them ;  &  it  is  agreed,  that  the  bounds  of  the  said  townes  shall 
run  sixe  rnyles  apeece  into  the  country. § 

*See  "  Ould  Newburj',"  p.  24. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  157. 

+  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  159.  §  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,   p.  167. 


40  HISTORY  OF  XEWBURY 

The  General  Court  also  licensed  Francis  Plumer  to  keep  an 
ordinary,  and  authorized  '•  M'  Dumer  to  sweare  a  constable  at 
Nevveberry."  *  At  the  same  session,  September  3,  1635,  the 
General  Court  "ordered,  that  the  high  waves  betwixte  Ipsw'^'^ 
&  Saugus  &  betwixte  Ipsw*^''  &  Neweberry,  shalbe  mended  by 
the  inhabitants  of  the  townes,  where  they  are,  before  the  next 
p'ticular  court."  f 

A  tax  was  also  levied,  to  be  paid  the  treasurer  of  the  colony 
before  the  next  session  of  the  court.  The  amount  assessed 
upon 

£    s    d  £    s    d 

Newbury  was     7.    10.  00  Waymothe  4.  00.  00 

Ipswch               14.  00.  00  Hingham  6.  00.  00 

Salem                16.  06.  00  Meadford  9.    15.  00 

Saugus              II.  00.  oc  Boston  J  25.    10.  00 

March  3,  1635-6,  the  General  Court  "ordered,  that  there 
shalbe  three  hundred  pounds  levyed  out  of  the  seu'all  planta- 
cons  for  public  uses."  § 

Of  this  amount,  Newbury  was  called  upon  to  pay  the  sum 
of  £\\  5^-. ;  Ipswich,  ^25  ;  Boston,  ^37  \os. ;  etc.  § 

For  the  admistration  of  justice  and  the  enforcement  of  the 
laws,  civil  and  criminal  courts  were  established  in  the  colony  ; 
and  March  3,  1635-6,  the  General  Court  "ordered  that 
there  shall  be  ffoure  courts  kept  eu''y  quarter  :  i.  att  Ipsw'-'^ 
to  which  Neweberry  shall  belonge ;  2.  att  Salem,  to  w'='' 
Saugus  shall  belonge;  3.  att  Newe  Towne  to  w^''  Charlton, 
Concord,  Meadford  &  Waterton  shall  belonge ;  4th.  att 
Boston  to  w'^''  Rocksbury,  Dorchesf,  Weymothe  &  Hingham 
shall  belonge."  || 

The  governor,  deputy  governor,  and  members  of  the  Court 
of  Assistants  were  elected  by  the  "freemen  "  of  the  colony, 
who  were  required  by  law  to  meet,  annually,  in  the  month  of 
May  at  the  General  Court  for  that  purpose.  Those  living  in 
towns  remote  from  Boston  finding  this  law  burdensome  and 
oppressive,  the  court  ordered  March  3,  1635-6, 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  159.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  160. 

t  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  158.  §  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  164.  ||  Ibid.,  vol.  i  ,  p.  169. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  PARKER  RIVER  41 

That  the  Genall  Court,  to  be  holden  in  May  nexte,  for  the  eleccon  of 
Magistrates  &c  shalbe  holden  att  Boston,  &  that  the  tovvnes  of  Ipswch, 
Neweberry,  Salem,  Saugus,  Waymothe,  &  Hinghain  shall  have  libertie 
to  stay  soe  many  of  their  ffreemen  att  home,  for  the  safty  of  their  towne, 
as  they  judge  needeful  &  that  the  saide  ffreemen  that  are  appoyneted  by 
the  towne  to  stay  att  home  shall  have  liberty  for  this  court  to  send  their 
voices  by  pxy.* 

At  the  General  Court  held  in  Boston  May  25,  1636,  Sir 
Henry  Vane  was  elected  governor,  and  John  Winthrop,  deputy 
governor. 

The  ffreemen  of  Neweberry  are  ffined  vid  a  peece  for  chusing  & 
sending  to  this  court  a  deputy  wch  was  noe  ffreeman.  f 

"  M--  Dudley,  M-"  Dufher,  M""  Bradstreete,  M-"  Saltonstall  & 
M''  Spencer"  were  appointed  magistrates  for  the  county 
courts  for  Ipswich  and  Newbury,  and  "  M""  Dumer "  was 
chosen  treasurer  of  the  colony  "  for  this  year  nexte  ensueing 
&  till  a  newe  be  chosen."  \ 

May  17,  1637,  John  Winthrop  was  elected  governor,  and 
Thomas  Dudley,  deputy  governor.  Among  those  who  were 
made  freemen  at  Newe  Towne  (Cambridge)  that  day,  and 
took  the  oath  established  by  order  of  the  General  Court,  were  : 

Edmond  Marshall  John  Bartlet 

Henry  Seawall  Junior  Robert  Pike 

Nicholas  Holt  Thomas  Coleman 

Nicholas  Noise  John  Cheney 

Archelaus  Woodman  Thomas  Parker 
James  Browne 

In  the  year  1635,  the  Election  was  held  at  Cambridge:  so  twas  again 
May  17,  1637,  upon  the  Plain  in  the  open  Aer.  Gov  Vane  was  there, 
and  had  the  Mortification  to  see  the  excellent  John  Winthrop  preferd 
before  him,  and  chosen  Governour  (who  had  been  Governour  1 630-1 -2- 
3).  Indeed  Mr  Vane  seemed  to  stand  so  hard  for  being  chosen  again,  as 
to  endeavor  to  confound  and  frustrat  the  whole  business  of  the  Election, 
rather  than  that  he  himself  should  fail  of  being  chosen.  There  was  a 
great  struggle,  he  being  the  principal  Magistrate,  for  managing  the  Elec- 
tion. My  father  has  told  me  many  a  time  that  he  and  others  went  on 
foot  from  Newbury  to  Cambridge,  fourty  miles,  on  purpose  to   be  made 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  1O6. 

t  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  174.  +  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  175. 


42  HISTORY  OF  NEWS  CRY 

free,  and  help  to  strengthen   Govr  Winthrop's    Party.     And  I   find  his 
name  in  the  Record  accordingly.* 

WINNACUNNET. 

In  order  to  hasten  the  settlement  of  the  territory  supposed 
to  be  withm  the  jurisdiction  of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts 
bay,  the  General  Court  ordered,  March  3,  1635-6,  "that  there 
shalbe  a  plantacon  settled  att  Wenicunnett  &  that  M""  DuiTier 
&  M""  John  Spencer  shall  have  power  to  presse  men  to  builde 
a  howse  forthw"'  in  some  convenient  place  ;  &  what  money 
they  lay  out  aboute  it  shalbe  repaide  them  againe  out  of  the 
treasury,  or  by  those  that  come  to  inhabite  there."  f 

"  Winnacunnett  "  was  afterwards  called  Hampton  ;  |  and  the 
house  ordered  by  the  General  Court  was  probably  erected  not 
far  from  the  boundary  line  that  now  divides  the  towns  of  Sea- 
brook  and  Hampton  Falls,  N.  H.  It  was  evidently  on  the  path 
or  way  leading  from  Newbury  to  Piscataqua  (now  Portsmouth), 
and  for  many  years  was  known  as  the  "Bound  House," 
although  it  was  undoubtedly  intended  as  a  mark  of  possession, 
rather  than  of  limit,  by  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  bay. 

At  a  later  date,  however,  when  the  colony  was  urging  its 
claim  to  a  large  portion  of  the  territory  now  included  in  the 
state  of  Maine,  Robert  Carr,  Samuel  Mavericke,  and  George 
Cartwright,  commissioners  from  King  Charles  II.,  replied, 
July  16,  1665,  in  answer  to  this  claim  :  — 

The  fixing,  nameing,  and  owning  a  Bound  house  3  large  miles  north 
from  Merrimack  River  about  1 2  yeares  together,  by  the  corporation  of 
Massachusetts  (after  the  fixing  of  which  Bound  house  many  other 
patents  were  granted  by  the  Council  of  Plymouth  &  by  the  King,) 
must  necessarily  determine  the  limits  of  the  said  Corporation,  and 
answer  all  the  false  and  fraudulent  expositions  of  their  Charter.  § 

The  disputed  claim  was  finally  settled  by  an  act  of  Parlia- 
ment creating  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire,  and  restrain- 
ing the  colony  of  Massachusetts  from  exercising  its  authority 
over  the  towns  of   Portsmouth,  Dover,  Exeter,  and  Hampton. 

*  Samuel  Sewall's  Letter  Book,  vol.  i.,  p.  295. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  167.  +  September  4,  1639. 

§  Provincial  Papers  of  New  Hampshire,  vol.  i.,  p.  249. 


THE   SETTLRMEXT  AT  PARKER   RIVER  43 

March  9,  1636-7,  the  Rev.  John  Wheelwright  was  adjudged 
"guilty  of  contempt  and  sedition  "  by  the  General  Court ;  and, 
November  2,  1637,  he  was  disfranchised  and  ordered  to  de- 
part  beyond  the  jurisdiction  of  the  colony  within  fourteen 
days.  The  same  day  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  received 
a  conditional  grant  of  Winnacunnet,  and  those  who  removed 
there  within  one  year  were  to  have  "three  years  imunity," 
beginning  March  i,  1637-8.*  Mr.  Wheelwright,  after  his 
banishment,  "settled  just  beyond  the  Bound  House,"  and  sub- 
sequently bought  of  the  Indians  a  tract  of  land  thirty  miles 
square,  extending  from  three  miles  north  of  the  Merrimack 
to  the  Piscataqua  river,  and  including  Winnacunnet. 

Richard  Dummer,  John  Spencer,  and  Nicholas  Easton 
were  supposed  to  sympathize  with  the  Rev.  John  Wheelwright 
in  his  religious  opinions ;  and,  November  20,  1637,  they  were 
ordered  to  deliver  up  to  the  constable  of  Newbury  their 
"guns,  swords,  pistols,  powder,  shot,  and  match."  Soon 
after  the  promulgation  of  this  order,  Mr.  Dummer  and  Mr. 
Spencer  went  to  England  ;  but  Mr.  Easton  evidently  remained 
in  Newbury,  although  he  had  asked  and  obtained  liberty  to 
remove  beyond  the  jurisdiction  of  the  colony.  March  12, 
1637-8,  the  General  Court,  having  information  that  he  and 
others  who  had  been  disarmed  intended  only  to  withdraw 
themselves  for  a  season,  in  order  to  avoid  the  censure  of  the 
court,  ordered  them  to  depart  according  to  the  license  given 
them. 

Mr.  Easton  had  probably  been  employed  as  architect  or 
superintendent  of  the  workmen  "pressed"  by  Mr.  Dummer 
and  Mr.  Spencer  to  build  the  house  at  Wiiinacunnett,  and 
was  doubtless  well  acquainted  with  the  agricultural  resources 
and  advantages  of  that  locality. f  W^hen  he  found,  by  order 
of  the  General  Court,  that  he  must  remove  from  Newbury,  he 
decided  to  go  to  Winnacunnet  and  settle  there.  His  plans, 
however,  were  frustrated  by  the  adoption  of  a  peremptory 
order,  May  16,  1638,  "that  the  magistrates  of  Ipswich  shall 
have  power  to  discharge  M""  Eason  &  M'  Geoffry  fro'"  build- 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  205. 

t  Belknap's  History  of  New  Hampshire,  vol.  i.,  p.  38. 


44  HISTORY   OF  XEIVBURY 

ing  at  Winnacunnct  &  if  they  will  not  take  warning,  to  cleare 
the  place  of  y"\"  * 

Whether  the  magistrates  of  Ipswich  were  obliged  to  use 
force  in  order  to  "  cleare  the  place  of  ym  "  is  unknown  ;  but 
it  is  certain  that  Nicholas  Easton  was  soon  after  in  Rhode 
Island,  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  He  was  governor 
of  that  state  in  the  years  1672  and    1673. 

Although  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  were  granted  in 
November,  1637,  the  privilege  of  removing  to  Winnacunnet, 
no  effort  was  made  on  their  part  to  obtain  possession  of  that 
territory  until  the  autumn  of  1638,  when  a  petition  signed 
by  a  number  of  Newbury  men  was  presented  to  the  General 
Court  for  confirmation  of  the  grant  and  for  liberty  to  begin 
a  settlement  there.  At  the  session  held  in  Boston,  Sep- 
tember 6,  1638, 

The  Court  grants  that  the  petitionesr  Mr  Steven  Bachiler,  Christo  : 
Hussey,  Mary  Hussey,  vidua,  Thorn:  Crumvvell,  Samuel  SkuUard,  John 
Osgood,  John  Crosse,  Samu :  Greenfield,  John  Molton,  Tho :  Molton, 
Willi:  Eston,  Willi:  Palmer,  Willi:  Sergant,  Richrd  Swayne,  Willi: 
Sanders,  Robrt  Tucke,  wt'i  diverse  others  shall  have  liberty  to  begin  a 
plantation  at  Winnacunnet:  &  M^  Bradstreete,  Mr  Winthrope  Junior 
&  Mr  Rawson,  or  some  two  of  them,  are  to  assist  in  setting  out  the 
place  of  the  towne,  &  apportioning  the  severall  quantity  of  land  to  each 
man,  so  as  nothing  shalbee  done  therein  wt'^out  alowance  from  them, 
or  2  of  them.f 

Some  of  the  petitioners,  with  others  whose  names  are  un- 
known, availed  themselves  of  the  privileges  granted  by  this 
order,  and  during  the  winter  and  spring  removed  thither  in 
such  numbers  that  the  General  Court  acknowledged  and  de- 
clared, June  6,  1639, 

Winnacunnet  is  alowed  to  bee  a  towne,  &  hath  power  to  choose  a 
cunstable  &  other  officers,  &  make  orders  for  the  well  ordering  of 
their  towne,  &  to  send  a  deputy  to  the  Court,  &  Christo :  Hussey, 
Willi :  Palmer  &  Rich'd  Swaine  to  end  all  businesses  vnder  2osiis  for 
this  yeare ;  the  laying  out  of  land  to  bee  by  those  expressed  in  the 
former  order.f 

Edward  Rawson,  one  of  the  committee  appointed  to  lay 
out  the  land  at  Winnacunnet,  was  a  deputy  to  the  General 

•Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  231. 

t  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  236.  +  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  259 


THE   SETTLEMEiXT  AT  PARKER  RIVER  45 

Court  from  Newbury.  The  Rev.  Stephen  Bachiler  had  been 
a  minister  at  Saugus  (Lynn)  for  several  years ;  but,  in  conse- 
quence of  some  contention  among  the  people  there,  he  re- 
moved to  Ipswich,  then  to  Cape  Cod,  and  then  to  Newbury, 
where  he  was  living  in  1638.  His  son-in-law,  Christopher 
Hussey,  probably  came  to  Newbury  twelve  months  earlier. 
After  the  incorporation  of  Winnacunnet  Mr.  Bachiler  and 
Mr.  Hussey  disposed  of  their  real  estate  in  Newbury,  and  ac- 
knowledgment of  the  same  was  entered  upon  the  records  as 
follows  :  — ■ 

It  was  acknowledged  by  Mr  Richard  Dufrier  and  William  Wake- 
field *  being  authorized  by  Mr  Stephen  Bachelour  and  Christopher 
Hussey  to  have  sold  both  theyr  house  Lotts  and  arable  lands,  meadows, 
marsh,  orchard,  fences,  priviledges  &  conions  and  Whatsoever  Rights 
they  had  to  any  Lands  in  the  Towne  of  Newbury  for  and  in  consideration 
of  six  score  pounds  already  paid.  I  say  they  did  acknowledge  to  have 
full  power  to  sell  it  unto  Mr  John  Oliver  of  Newbury  to  remaine  abide 
and  continue  to  him  and  his  heyrs  forever  June  5th  1639  as  by  a  bill  of 
sale  doth  appeer  bearing  the  same  date  and  subscribed  by  Mr  Stephen 
Bachelour  &  William  Wakefield. f 

Witness  Edward  Woodman  &  Richard   Lowle. 

The  path  from  Newbury  through  the  woods  of  Winna- 
cunnet to  the  settlement  on  the  Piscataqua  river  was  the 
scene  of  a  terrible  crime.  Soon  after  the  "Bound  House" 
was  built  in  1636,  the  General  Court  ordered  the  constable 
of  Newbury,  June  6,  1637,  to  arrest  William  Schooler  and 
bring  him  to  Ipswich  court.  William  Schooler  was  a  vintner 
from  London, 

He  lived  with  another  fellow  at  Merrimack,  and  there  being  a  poor 
maid  at  Newbury,  one  Mary  Sholy,  who  had  desired  a  guide  to  go  with 
her  to  her  master,  who  dwelt  at  Pascataquack,  he  inquired  her  out,  and 
agreed  for  fifteen  shillings,  to  conduct  her  thither.  But,  two  days  after, 
he  returned  and,  being  asked  why  he  returned  so  soon,  he  answered  that 
he  had  carried  her  within  two  or  three  miles  of  the  place  and  then  she 
would  go  no  farther.  Being  examined  for  this  by  the  magistrates,  at 
Ipswich,  and  no  proof  found  against  him  he  was  let  go. J 

*  The  first  town  clerk  of  Winnacunnet. 

t  Newbury  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  48. 

X  Wiiitlirop's  History,  vol.  i.,  p.  289. 


46  HISTORY  OF  KEWBURY 

Nearly  six  months  after  his  release  the  body  of  Mary 
Sholy  was  found  by  an  Indian  in  a  thick  swamp  ten  miles 
from  the  place  where  he  said  he  had  left  her.  He  was  again 
arrested,  and  arraigned  on  the  charge  of  murder.  He  told 
many  contradictory  stories.  "  He  said  he  went  by  Winicowett 
House,  which  he  said  stood  on  the  contrary  side  of  the  way." 
He  denounced  his  accusers,  and  solemnly  declared  his  inno- 
cence ;  but  the  *'  Quarter  Courte,"  held  at  Boston  on  the 
nineteenth  day  of  September,  1637,  adjudged  him  guilty.* 
He  was  hung  at  Boston  September  28,  1637.  "Yet  there 
were  some  ministers,  and  others,  who  thought  the  evidence 
not  sufficient  to  take  away  his  life."  f 

TOWN    RECORDS    AND   TOWN    OFFICERS. 

The  records  of  the  town  of  Newbury  previous  to  the  year 
1637  are  exceedingly  meagre  and  incomplete.  Many  leaves 
are  missing  from  the  first  volume ;  and  on  the  pages  that 
remain  votes  and  grants  are  recorded  without  order,  and 
often  without  dates.  The  day  of  the  week  or  month  is 
sometimes  given  when  figures  used  to  designate  the  calen- 
dar year  are  wanting.  A  careful  inspection  of  these  entries 
is  necessary  in  order  to  determine,  even  approximately,  when 
the  recorded  events  took  place.  After  the  election  of  Edward 
Rawson  as  town  clerk  in  1638,  the  records  are  fuller  and 
more  comprehensive,  and  dates  are  given  with  more  regularity 
and  exactness.  For  many  years  the  books  containing  these 
valuable  and  important  records  were  neglected  and  shamefully 
defaced,  but  recently  they  have  been  repaired  and  rebound 
under  the  direction  of  the  selectmen  of  Newbury. 

March  3,  1635-6,  the  management  of  local  affairs  in  the 
various  towns  of  the  colony  was  intrusted  to  the  freemen  of 
the  several  towns  by  the  General  Court.  They  were  autho- 
rized to  dispose  of  land  and  wood  belonging  to  the  town  ;  to 
make  orders  not  repugnant  to  the  laws  and  orders  established 
by  the  General  Court ;  to  impose  fines  and  penalties,  not  ex- 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  202. 
t  Winthrop's  History,  vol.  i.,  p.  290. 


THE   SETTLEMEXT  AT  PARk'ER    RIVER  47 

ceeding  twenty  shillings,  for  disobedience  of  those  orders  ; 
and  to  choose  constables,  surveyors  of  highways,  and  other 
officers  necessary  for  the  supervision  of  town  affairs. 

John  Woodbridge  was  undoubtedly  the  first  town  clerk  of 
Newbury  ;  but  there  is  no  record  of  his  election,  and  his  sig- 
nature is  not  affixed  to  the  votes  and  grants  that  are  supposed 
to  be  in  his  handwriting.  He  was,  however,  legally  elected 
to  the  office  previous  to  November  30,  1636,  and  was  super- 
seded by  Edward  Rawson  in  1638,  as  appears  by  the  follow- 
ing votes : — 

It  is  likewise  agreed  that  the  order  made  the  3otii  of  the  9th  mo 
1636  that  John  Woodbridge  should  bee  freed  from  all  rates  and  pay- 
ments while  he  is  the  towne  Register,  is  now  by  his  owne  free  consent 
repealed,  the  annuall  stipend  of  5-^  remaining  still  according  to  former 
order.* 

Nov.  19,  1638.  It  was  ordered  that  Edward  Rawson  shall  supply  the 
place  of  Mr  Woodbridge  &  be  the  publicke  Notary  and  Register  for 
the  towne  of  Newbury  &  whilst  he  so  remains  to  be  allowed  by  the 
towne  after  the  rate  of  ^5  per  annum  for  his  paynes.  * 

In  order  to  avoid  calling  the  freemen  together  on  unimpor- 
tant occasions,  "seven  men"  were  chosen  or  selected  to  at- 
tend to  the  ordinary  business  affairs  of  the  town.  These 
"seven  men,"  or  selectmen,  as  they  are  now  called,  were 
elected  quarterly,  and  were  required  to  render  an  account  of 
their  service  to  the  freemen  of  the  town  once  in  three 
months.  "On  the  8"^  day  of  the  8*'^  month"  [1637.?]  the 
seven  men  previously  elected  to  manage  the  affairs  of  the 
town  made  a  report  which  was  accepted  and  approved. 

It  was  likewise  desired  by  the  generall  consent  that  the  same  persons, 
to  witt,  Edward  Woodman,  Jo.  Woodbridge,  Henry  Short,  Christopher 
Hussey,  Richard  Kent,  Richard  Browne,  &  Richard  Knight,  who  were 
chosen  by  papers  to  perform  the  same  service  for  one  quarter  longer  & 
to  labor  in  the  case  according  to  what  ye  Lord  shall  direct,  to  do  ac- 
cording to  what  is  prescribed.* 

"The  5""  of  the  1 1^'^  mo  "  [1637  '>']  the  whole  body  of  free- 
men met,  and  examined  the  accounts  of  the  seven  men  "  from 
the  8"'  of  the  8^"^  mo,"  and  approved  the  same. 

*■  Town  of  Newburj'  Records,  vol.  i. 


48  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Edward  Woodman,  Jo :  Woodbridge,  Hen:  Short,  Rich.  Kent,  Rich. 
Browne,  William  Moody  &  Jo:  Pike,  Jun.  were  chosen  by  papers  &  de- 
sired to  manage  the  towne  affairs  for  one  whole  quarter  &  till  new  be 
chosen,  &  to  do  their  endeavors  according  to  what  is  prescribed.* 

April  6,  163S.  The  towne  being  mett  together  did  freely  consent  to 
the  acts  made  &  registered  the  last  quarter  &  the  seven  men  were  dis- 
charged.* 

On  the  same  day,  M""  Rawson,  Mr  Woodman,  Jo :  Woodbridge, 
Henry  Short,  Jo  :  Knight,  Rich.  Knight  &  Rich.  Browne  were  chosen 
&  deputed  by  the  towne,  for  one  whole  quarter,  &  till  new  be  chosen.* 

July  6,  1638.  It  is  ordered  for  the  present  that  there  shall  bee  but 
iive  men  deputed  to  the  publick  manageing  of  the  towne  busynesses  for 
this  quarter  next  ensuing. 

Mr  Woodman,  Mr  Rawson,  Abrah  :  Toppin,  Rich  :  Browne,  &  John 
Knight  were  chosen  for  one  whole  quarter  &  till  new  bee  chosen.* 

Subsequently,  however,  six  and  sometimes  eight  men  were 
elected  to  manage  the  business  affairs  of  the  town  ;  but  at  a 
still  later  date  the  number  was  reduced  to  three,  and  the 
term  of  service  lengthened  from  three  months  "  to  one  whole 
yeere." 

The  earliest  records  relating  to  constables,  surveyors  of 
highways,  and  lot  layers  are  as  follows  :  — 

April  19,  1638.  John  Knight  &  James  Browne  were  chosen  con- 
stables for  one  whole  yeere  &  till  new  bee  chosen  &  Rich.  Browne  the 
last  constable  is  discharged.* 

It  was  likewise  ordered  that  the  constables  for  the  time  being  shall 
have  halfe  their  rates  abated,  in  consideration  of  their  paines.* 

John  Baker  &  Nicholas  Holt  were  chosen  surveyors  of  the  high- 
wayes  for  one  whole  yeere  &  till  new  bee  chosen  &  Henry  Shorte  is  dis- 
charged.* 

April  21,  1638.  It  is  ordered  that  all  land  all  ready  granted  shall 
be  laid  out  about  the  midst  of  the  next  mo.  May,  begining  the  i6«h 
day  of  the  say'd  mo  &  so  continuing  till  it  be  done.  And  that  all  the 
seven  men  shall  goe  along  with  the  lotters  for  advice.* 

July  23,  1638.  Henry  Short  &  Rich.  Kent  were  released  from 
being  lott  layers.* 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  PARKER  RIVER  49 

The  towne  hath  appoynted  Rich.  Knight  &  Thomas  Coleman  to  be 
lott  layers  in  their  roomes  to  lay  out  lands  &  to  attend  upon  the  same 
for  any  man  that  hath  a  lawful  grant  of  land,  upon  3  days  warning.* 

Dec.  22,  1645.  Thomas  Coleman  having  taken  a  farme  so  that  he 
cannot  attend  to  lay  out  lotts,  John  Pemberton  was  appointed  lott  layer 
in  his  roome  and  to  joyne  with  Richard  Knight  and  to  have  four  pence 
per  acre  and  what  they  are  not  paid  for  the  towne  is  to  see  them  satisfyed 
for,  the  legall  means  being  first  used  to  obtayne  it.  * 

ADMISSION  OF  INHABITANTS. 

In  October  [1637?],  Richard  Singleterry,  William  Palmer, 
John  Moulton,  William  Easton,  Thomas  Moulton,  Nicholas 
Busbee,  and  Abraham  Toppan  were  received  as  inhabitants 
of  the  town  of  Newbury. 

Abraham  Toppan  being  licensed  by  John  Endicott,  esqr.  to  live  in 
this  jurisdiction  was  received  into  the  towne  of  Newberry  as  an  inhabi- 
tant thereof  and  hath  heere  promised  under  his  hand  to  be  subject  to 
any  lawful  order,  that  shall  be  made  by  the  towne.* 

Abraham   Toppan. 

It  was  ordered  in  a  lawfuU  meeting  November  the  5tli  [1637]  that  who 
soeuer  is  admitted  into  the  towne  of  Newberry  as  an  inhabitant  thereof 
shall  have  the  consent  &  approbation  of  the  body  of  the  ffreemen  of  the 
sayd  towne.* 

A  written  obligation,  similar  to  the  one  printed  above  was 
signed  by  each  person  receiving  the  approbation  of  the  free- 
men, and  entered  upon  the  records  of  the  town. 

TOWN  MEETINGS. 

For  several  years  after  the  incorporation  of  the  town  the 
freeholders  and  inhabitants  were  accustomed  to  assemble  as 
often  as  once  in  three  months  for  the  transaction  of  public 
business,  and  every  person  entitled  to  vote  was  expected  to  be 
present  at  the  time  and  place  appointed. 

February  24,  1637-8.  It  was  voted  that  Thomas  Cromwell,  Samuel 
Scullard,  John  Pike,  Robert  Pike  and  Nicholas  Holt,  are  fined  two 
shillings  and  sixpence  apiece  for  being  absent  from  towne  meeting  at 
eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  having  due  and  fitt  warning.* 

*To\vn  of  Newburj'  Records,  vol.  i. 


5°  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

April  21,  1638.  Henry  Short,  John  Cheney,  Francis  Plumer,  Nicho- 
las Noyes  and  Nicholas  Holt  are  fined  two  shillings  and  sixpence  apiece 
for  being  absent  from  the  tovvne  meeting,  having  lawful  warning.  * 

ffrancis  Plumer  &  Jo :  Cheney  having  sufficient  excuse  for  their  ab- 
sence had  their  fines  remitted.* 

Rules  were  adopted,  providing  for  the  prompt  and  orderly- 
transaction  of  business  ;  and  those  who  neglected  or  violated 
these  rules  were  liable  to  a  fine.  Every  freeholder  speaking 
in  town  meeting  was  required  to  stand  up,  take  off  his  hat, 
address  the  moderator  in  respectful  language,  and  resume  his 
seat  again  at  the  close  of  his  speech.  No  one,  unless  ex- 
cused by  special  vote,  could  leave  the  meeting  until  the  busi- 
ness for  which  it  was  called  together  was  completed  and  the 
meeting  adjourned. 

May  5,  1638.  It  is  ordered  that  John  Pike  shall  pay  two  shillings  and 
sixpence  for  departing  from  the  meeting  without  leave  and  contemptu- 
ously. * 

Notwithstanding  the  fines  and  penalties  imposed,  there 
seems  to  have  been  considerable  confusion  at  several  subse- 
quent meetings,  which  led  to  the  adoption  of  the  following 
order,  July  6,  1638:  — 

Whereas  there  hath  bin  notice  taken  of  much  disorder  in  publick 
towne  meeting  by  reason  of  divers  speaking  at  one  and  the  same  time, 
some  walking  up  and  downe,  some  absent,  and  divers  other  miscarriages, 
it  is  henceforth  ordered  that  if  any  person  shall  offend  against  any 
order  prescribed  in  this  case  there  shall  be  exact  notice  of  such  offence 
in  this  respect,  and  hee  shall  be  censured  accordingly.* 

April  27,  1648.  At  a  general  meeting  of  the  freemen  of  the  towne  it 
was  ordered  that  from  henceforth  from  yeare  to  yeare  the  meeting  for 
the  choyse  of  towne  officers  shall  be  upon  the  first  Monday  in  March 
upon  publick  warneing.  * 


MEETINGS    OF   THE    SELECTMEN. 

For  the  consideration  and  settlement  of  questions  arising 
from  the  levying  of  taxes,   the  granting  of  house  lots,  the 

*  Town  of  Newburj'  Records,  vol.  i. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  PARKER  RIVER  51 

building  of  fences,  and  the  appointment  of  keepers  of  sheep 
and  cattle,  frequent  meetings  were  held  by  the  "seven  men," 
and  the  votes  passed  or  decisions  agreed  upon  were  entered 
upon  the  records  and  approved  in  the  margin  by  a  majority 
of  those  who  were  present,  the  minority,  in  matters  of  im- 
portance, recording  their  dissent.  Uncertainty  in  regard  to 
the  time  when  and  place  where  these  meetings  were  to  be 
held  occasioned  considerable  inconvenience,  and  led  to  the 
adoption  of  the  following  order,  December  21  [1637?],  ^-P" 
proved  by  "  Edward  V/oodman,  Jo  :  Woodbridge,  Hen  :  Short, 
Richard  Kent,  Richard  Browne,  and  Richard  Knight"  :  — 

For  the  better  ordering  of  all  towne  affaires  it  is  thought  that  certain 
times  &  places  of  meeting  should  be  appoynted  which  may  be  pub- 
lickly  knowne  to  the  end  that  not  only  those  to  whom  the  charge  of 
towne  affairs  is  committed  may  make  their  constant  &  careful  attend- 
ance but  likewise  that  any  other  that  hath  any  occasion  of  business  with 
the  towne  may  know  where  &  when  to  make  their  desires  knowne. 
And  for  the  present  it  is  agreed  that  there  shall  be  a  constant  meeting 
kept  (till  further  order  be  taken)  everj- second  Thursday  at  Henry  Short's 
house,  beginning  at  8  of  the  clock  in  the  morning  &  so  to  be  continued 
as  the  times  &  seasons  shall  require.  And  for  the  more  orderly  &  con- 
siderate proceeding  it  was  likewise  ordered  that  what  things  are  pro- 
posed any  one  meeting  day  shall  not  ordinarily  be  answered  till  the 
next  meeting  unless  in  cases  of  some  moment  or  in  cases  that  require 
speedy  answer.* 

TAXES. 

The  appropriation  of  money,  and  the  assessment  of  taxes, 
frequently  led  to  prolonged  controversies  relating  to  ques- 
tions of  law  and  equity.  In  order  to  secure  an  impartial  and 
just  distribution  of  the  burdens  of  taxation,  the  inhabitants 
of  Newbury  voted  in  the  month  of  October,  1637,  "That 
from  henceforth  when  there  is  any  towne  rate  or  country 
rate  to  be  made  that  all  the  men  that  are  deputed  by  the 
towne  to  manage  all  other  publick  affairs  of  the  towne  shall 
have  a  hand  in  it."  * 

On  the  twentieth  day  of  November  following,  the  General 
Court  passed  the  following  order  :  — 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 


52  II I  STORY   OF  XEIVBCRY 

Wliereas  it  appeareth  vnto  this  Court  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  towne 
of  Neweberry  are  indebted  to  diverse  psons  neare  the  sume  of  60^, 
wch  hath  bene  expended  vpon  publike  &  needfull  occations  for  the  benefit 
of  all  such  as  do  or  shall  inhabite  there,  as  buildinoj  of  houses  for  their 
minisfs,  and  whereas  such  as  are  of  the  church  there,  are  not  able  to 
beare  the  whole  charge,  &  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  there  do  or  ma}' 
enjoy  equall  benefit  thereof  w'h  them,  yet  they  do  refuse,  against  all 
right  &  justice,  to  contribute  wti>  them,  it  is  therefore  ordered,  that  the 
freemen  of  the  said  towne,  or  such  of  them  as  vpon  publicke  notice 
shall  assemble  for  that  end,  or  the  greater  number  of  them,  shall  raise 
the  said  sume  of  60^,  by  an  equall  &  pportionable  rate  of  every  inhabi- 
tant there,  haveing  respect  both  to  lands  &  other  personall  estate,  as 
well  of  such  as  are  absent  as  of  those  that  are  dwelling  there  psent  &. 
for  default  of  payment  shall  have  povv  to  levy  the  same  by  distres  & 
sale  thereof  by  such  person  as  they  shall  appoint;  &  the  same,  being  so 
collected,  shall  satisfy  their  said  debts  &  if  any  remainder  bee,  the 
same  to  bee  implied  vpon  other  occations  of  the  towne.* 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newbury, 
held  April  21,  1638,  it  was  ordered 

That  every  man  within  the  towne  shall,  vpon  warning  given  or  left  at 
their  houses,  bring  in  the  value  of  their  estates  to  Jo :  Knight,  constable, 
on  Tuesday  next  by  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  on  the  penalty  of  2s  6d 
apeice  for  default  herein,  to  the  intent  that  those  who  make  the  rate  may 
have  cleare  [  ]  &  ground  in  making  the  same.f 

It  is  likewise  ordered  that  all  accounts  betweene,  &  fines  which  are 
formerly  not  brought  in  by  the  constable  and  others  shall  be  brought 
in  to  John  Woodbridge  &  Richard  Knight  at  Hen  :  Shorts  house  halfe 
an  houre  by  sunn  the  second  day  of  the  next  weeke  on  the  several 
penaltyes  formerly  mentioned  &  imposed  the  lo'''  of  the  fifth  month.  \ 

May  13,  1640,  the  General  Court  levied  a  tax  of  ^1,200 
on  all  the  towns  in  the  colony  :  of  this  amount  Newbury  was 
called  upon  to  pay  ^^65.  "And  it  was  ordered  ;  that  in  pay- 
ment silver  plate  should  passe  at  5^  the  ounce ;  good  ould 
Indian  corne,  growing  heare,  being  clean  &  marchantable,  at 
5^  the  bushell ;  sumer  wheate  at  7^  the  bushell ;  rye  at  6  sh^ 
the  bushell."  \  "  M"^  Rawson,  M""  Woodman  &  Goodm  Haule  " 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  appraise  the  cattle,  horses, 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  216.         fTown  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 
t  Massacluisetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  294. 


THE   SETTLE  ME  XT   AT  PARKER  RIVER  53 

hogs,  and  goats  in  Newbury,  and  were  ordered  "  to  valewe 
them  under  their  worth  rather  than  above  their  worth."  * 

FENCES    AND    PASTURES. 

In  order  to  protect  the  growing  crops  of  hay  and  grain 
from  the  intrusion  of  horses  and  cattle 

It  was  agreed  [February  24,  1636/7]  that  all  generall  ffences  about 
the  house  lotts  shall  be  made  by  the  last  day  of  March  on  the  penalty 
of  5s  for  each  default  provided  that  every  ones  portion  shall  be  layd  out 
&  bounded  by  stakes  by  men  appoynted  for  this  purpose  in.  convenient 
time.f 

It  was  likewise  agreed  that  Wm  Moody,  James  Browne,  Nic.  Holt, 
ffrancis  Plummer,  Na  Noyse  shall  lay  out  all  the  generall  fences  in  the 
towne  that  are  to  be  made,  as  likewise  tenn  rod  betweene  man  &  man, 
for  garden  plotts,  this  to  be  done  by  the  5th  of  March  on  the  penalty  of 
5s  apeice.f 

Octob  16,  1637  Wee  whose  names  are  heere  vnderwritten  have  taken 
account  of  the  fines  for  defect  of  ffences  of  Richard  Browne  Jo :  Knight 
&  Jo :  Pike  and  wee  find  it  thus.  That  the  men  heere  vnderwritten 
have  promised  vnder  their  hands  to  pay  according  as  is  sett  downe  for 
defect  of  fences  when  they  shall  be  called  on  for  it  viz :  f 


Nic.  Batt 

0. 

1 0.0 

Anth.  Morse 

0. 

lO.O 

ffran.  Plumer 

0. 

10. 0 

Wm  Morse 

0. 

5.0 

Ja  :  Rawlins 

0. 

1 0.0 

Mr  Hussey 

0. 

lO.O 

Jo  :  Pike.  Jun. 

0. 

5.0 

Anth.  Short 

0. 

5-0 

Ja  :  Browne 

0. 

5.0 

Hen  Lunt 

0. 

5.0 

Arch.  Woodman 

0. 

5.0 

Geor.  Browne 

0. 

50 

Rich  Knight 

0. 

5.0 

Rich.  Browne 

0. 

5-0 

February  23,  1641/2  By  the  Generall  consent  of  all  the  ffreemen  the 
stinting  of  the  Cofnons  was  Referred  to  Henry  Short,  M""  [Edward] 
Woodman,  Edward  Rawson,  Thomas  Hale  &  Mr  [John]  Woodbridge 
according  to  their  best  judgments  &  discretions.  % 

On  the  twelfth  day  of  March  they  made  the  following 
report  :  — 

We  whose  names  are  heer  underwritten  being  appoynted  by  the  ffree 
men  to  proportion  to  ever3M-nan  his  severall  and  particular  right  in  all  the 

•Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  294.      tTown  of  Newburj'  Records,  vol.  i. 
+  Newbury  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  2. 


54 


HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 


Towns  conions  according  to  the  full  power  and  authority  committed  to 
us  in  the  behalf  do  order  &  determine  as  followeth  : 

1  That  the  severall  numbers  of  pastures  heerafter  expressed  shall 
lye  and  be  perpetualy  to  the  sd  persons  to  whom  they  are  allowed  as 
theyre  own  propper  &  due  right  and  that  it  shall  not  be  in  the  liberty 
or  power  of  the  ffreemen  to  alter  or  take  away  any  mans  right  in  the 
cofnons  according  to  the  stint  heer  under  because  it  is  his  propriety 
&  Inheritance. 

2  That  no  person  or  persons  whatsoever  not  expressed  in  there 
stint  hath  or  shall  have  any  propriety  in  the  Comons  in  p^sent  or  here- 
after but  what  he  shall  gett  by  purchase  or  some  other  way  legally 
obtaine. 

3  That  all  the  comons  wthin  the  limets  of  the  Towne  shall  be 
equally  divided  vnto  three  severall  parts  and  that  the  same  number  of 
cattell  that  are  allowed  in  the  stint  of  the  cows  &  oxen  shall  be  allowed 
in  the  heifer  comon  &  a  third  like  quantity  of  young  cattell  in  the 
cofnon  above  Mi"  Rawson  farme.* 

THE    STINT    OF    THE    OX    &    COW    CO.MOX. 


Mr  Richard  Dumer 

ezyi 

Joseph  Carter 

4 

Mr  Sewall  Senr 

ZMi 

Nicholas  Holt 

IH 

Mr  Clark 

25X 

Mr  Edward  Rawson 

23 

Mr  Cutting 

i6 

Mr  John  Woodbridge 

26,34' 

Nicholas  Noyes 

4 

Mr  John  Spencer 

42^ 

Richard  Badger 

1% 

Richard  Browne 

6 

Richard  Kent  Jun 

12 

Stephen  Dumer 

■2.\yz 

Stephen  Kent 

io-i( 

John  Pike  Jun 

4X 

j — John  Merrill 

4 

Thomas  Smith 

zy. 

John  Kelly 

I 

Richard  Bardet 

I 

John  Poore 

^% 

John  Bartlet 

I 

John  F^ry 

I 

William  Titcomb 

1%' 

Abel  Huse 

2X 

Nicholas  Batt 

^y 

Daniel  Thirston 

IX 

Robert  Coker 

2X 

the  ffery  lot 

I 

William  White 

I 

John  Goff 

2 

Henry  Palmer 

IX 

Thomas  Browne 

2X 

William  Palmer 

^Yz 

Gyles  Abott 

I 

ffrancis  Plumer 

5 

William  Ilsey 

IK 

Abraham  Toppan 

4X 

Anthony  Somerby 

IX 

Thomas  Davis 

I 

Richard  Fitts 

1 

Thomas  Coleman 

^y 

Richard  Littlehale 

I 

George  Browne 

I 

Archelaus  Woodman 

2^ 

Jno  Pike  Sen 

8 

Edward  Woodman 

8>^ 

Widdow  Stevens 

2X 

*To%vii  ol  Nfwliiiry  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  2. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  PARKER   RIVER 


55 


Henry  Lunt 

IX 

William  ffrankling 

I 

James  Browne 

II 

Lewis  &  Mattox 

IX 

Percivall  Lowle 

6 

Mr  Miller 

Nathaniel  Wier 

iK 

John  Swett 

John  Knight 

7 

The  Towne  House 

I 

Joseph  Peasley 

2X 

Giles  Badger 

2 

Anthony  Morse 

2 

Edmund  Greenleaf 

4X 

William  Morse 

^y^ 

Thomas  Blumfield 

IX 

Henry  Rolfe 

8^ 

Mrs  Oliver 

1 1 

SamWTGuile 

I 

John  Lowle 

6X 

Walter  Allen 

I 

Anthony  Short 

6X 

Thomas  Silver 

I 

John  Hutchins 

I 

Thomas  Cromwell 

6X 

John  Cheney 

2;^ 

Samuel  Scullard 

ly^ 

John  Stephens 

3X 

Richard  Kent  Sen 

3% 

Richard  Knight 

S% 

John  Emery 

z% 

Henry  Short 

14K 

Henry  Travers 

I 

Thomas  Hale 

i>X 

Thomas  Dow 

I 

Mr  James  Noyes 

I4X 

William  Barr 

I 

Mr  Thomas  Parker 

13;^ 

John  Osgood 

4 

John  Pemberton 

^y 

William  Moody 

(^)i 

to  lye  at  the  Towns  appoynt- 

Nathanile  Badger 

^% 

mnt     for      them     that     be 

John  Bond 

I 

schoolmasters  successively 

3 

John  Woodbridge 

Thomas    Hale 

Henry    Short 

Memorandum  that  March  12,  1641  the  orders  above  written  and  the 
proportion  of  pasturing  allowed  to  every  one  as  is  above  expressed  were 
publiquely  &  distinctly  read  to  the  General  Body  of  the  ffreemen  who 
generally  by  their  vote  did  confirm  the  same  and  further  wth  the  consent 
of  sd  persons  deputed  did  order  as  followeth  : 

1  That  whosoever  shall  at  any  time  transgress  this  order  by  putting 
any  of  his  cattell  in  any  or  either  of  those  comons  more  than  is  here 
mentioned  as  due  to  him  or  that  he  shall  make  sufficiently  evident  to 
have  lawfully  purchased  or  otherwise  legally  obtained  from  any  which 
hath  due  right  according  as  is  expressed  shall  forfeit  twenty  shillings 
for  every  Beast  that  by  the  Hay  ward  of  the  Towne  shall  be  found  go- 
ing in  any  of  those  comons  and  by  him to  be  levied  on  the  goods 

of  every  such  offender  by  the  Constable  for  the  use  of  the  Towne. 

2  The  execution  of  this  stint  is  stayed  till  the  major  part  of  the 
freemen  shall  see  cause  to  put  it  in  use. 

3  That  no  man  shall  under  any  pretense  or  colour  whatsoever  re- 
ceive any  cattell  into  the  Towne  or  keep  any  mans  in  the  Towne  that 


S6  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

hath  no  right  in  the  cofiion,  to  stock  the  comon  so  much  as  that  the 
Towne  should  be  forced  to  make  use  of  the  stint  provided  this  relate 
not  to  cattail  which  any  one  shall  Buy  or  Hyre  out  of  the  Towne  for  his 
owne  necessary  use  &  imployment. 

A  large  tract  of  land  was  also  set  apart  for  the  pasturage 
of  sheep.  Keepers  were  appointed  to  look  after  the  cattle 
and  sheep,  and  enforce  the  rule  made  and  adopted  for  the 
"stinting  of  the  commons." 

Nicholas  Batt,  who  came  to  New  England  in  the  ship 
"James"  from  Southampton  in  April,  1635,  was  keeper  of 
the  herd  of  cows  from  March  16  to  November  16,  1638,  at 
a  salary  of  ^18,  "to  be  paid  partly  in  money  and  partly  in 
corn  at  4''  6'^  per  bushel  provided  he  is  to  keepe  them  but  one 
Lord's  day  &  the  towne  two,"  *  and  William  Morse,  who  was 
also  a  passenger  in  the  same  ship,  was  keeper  of  the  herd  of 
sheep  and  goats. 

LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES. 

March  12,  1637-8,  the  General  Court  ordered  the  freemen 
of  every  town  to  make  a  list  of  laws  necessary  for  the  protec- 
tion of  life  and  property  in  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 
and  send  a  copy  of  the  same  to  the  governor  and  council,  to 
be  presented  to  the  General  Court  for  approval  or  rejection, 
"as  the  Court  shall  adjudge."  f 

April  6,  1638  Mr  Rawson  &  Jo:  Woodbridge  were  deputed  by  the 
towne  to  labour  to  compile  a  body  of  laws  &  present  them  to  the  towne 
that  they  may  be  presented  to  the  Governmt  according  to  order  of 
Court. t 

The  General  Court  also  provided,  March  3,  1635-6,  that 
any  person  building  a  house,  without  permission,  in  any  town 
in  the  colony,  "the  inhabitants  of  the  said  towne  shall  have 
power  to  demolishe  the  said  howses  &  remove  the  p'sons."  * 
The  following  order,  adopted  and  approved  August  6,  1638, 
by  Edward  Woodman,  Edward  Rawson,  John  Knight,  and 
Richard  Brown,  in  their  official  capacity  as  executive  officers 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  i6S.  +  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  222. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  PARKER  R/J'ER  57 

of  the  town,  seems  to  indicate  that  the  provisions  of  this  law 
were  partially,  if  not  rigorously,  enforced  within  the  limits  of 
Newbury  :  — 

It  was  agreed  that  Edward  Rawson  Rich.  Browne  &  John  Knight 
shall  goe  and,  according  to  former  agreement  which  the  towne  had 
with  Thomas  Cromwell,  take  possession  of  the  half  acker  whereon  he 
hath  builded  a  cowe  house  without  their  leave.* 

March  9,  1636-7,  the  General  Court  ordered,  as  a  precau- 
tionary measure  against  danger  from  the  attacks  of  Indians, 
"  that  the  military  ofificers  in  every  towne  shall  pvide  that 
watches  bee  dewly  kept  in  places  most  fit  for  comon  safetie,"  and 
at  the  same  court  Mr.  John  Spencer  was  appointed  captain  for 
the  town  of  Newbury. f  At  a  meeting  held  by  the  freemen 
of  Newbury  subsequently  to  the  adoption  of  this  order,  the 
following  vote  was  passed  :  — 

Itt  is  agreed  and  appoynted  that  there  shall  be  a  walk  of  sixteen  foott 
broad  on  the  topp  of  the  great  hill  from  one  end  to  the  other  and  a  way 
to  great  point  of  fower  foott  broad  through  Stephen  Kent  his  lott.* 

It  is  uncertain  when  this  walk  "  on  the  topp  of  the  great 
hill "  was  decided  upon,  as  neither  the  day  of  the  month  nor 
of  the  year  is  given  m  the  record  above  quoted.  But  the 
location  was  well  chosen,  and  gave  to  the  sentinels  on  duty 
there  a  broad  and  extended  view  of  the  surrounding  country. 
Tradition  asserts  that  the  walk  ran  in  an  easterly  and  westerly 
direction  on  the  crest  of  the  hill,  while  the  "  fower  foott  "  way 
extended  from  the  summit  in  a  southerly  direction  to  the 
open  field  or  common  land,  now  known  as  the  "  Lower 
Green."  At  or  about  the  time  that  these  precautionary  meas- 
ures were  taken  and  sentinels  were  stationed  on  the  top  of 
Great  hill,  the  freeholders  of  Newbury,  in  town  meeting 
assembled,  "  ordered  that  M""  Woodman  shall  have  a  house  lott 
between  M""  Rawson's  &  the  River  Provided  that  if  there  be 
a  fort  built  by  the  water  side  heere  after  that,  then  his  lott 
shall  give  way."* 

There  was  evidently  an  effort  made  at  that  time  to  build  a 

♦Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  pp.  icp,  191. 


58  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

fortification  of  some  kind  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Parker  to 
protect  the  approach  to  the  settlement  by  water ;  but  the  fort 
was  probably  never  built. 

BIRTHS,    DEATHS,    AND    MARRIAGES. 

December  10,  1641,  the  General  Court  "ordered  that 
in  every  towne  one  shal  bee  appointed  to  grant  sumons  & 
attachments  in  all  civil  cases "  and  "  to  bee  clarks  of  the 
writtes."  * 

"  M""  Lowle "  was  appointed  for  the  town  of  Newbury. 
June  14,  1642,  the  clerks  of  writs  were  ordered  "  to  find  out  in 
their  several  towns  who  hath  bene  borne  &  who  hath  died 
since  the  first  founding  of  their  tovvnes  &  to  record  the 
same."  f 

March  7,  1643/4,  certificates  of  births,  deaths,  and  mar- 
riages in  every  family  in  the  colony  were  ordered  to  be 
brought  "to  the  clarks  of  the  writtes  "  from  month  to  month 
and  year  to  year,  to  be  by  them  recorded.  J 

October  27,  1647,  the  General  Court  appointed  "Anthony 
Somersby  to  be  clarke  of  the  writs  at  Newberry  &  to  record 
births,  deaths  &  marriages  in  place  of  John  Lowle  de- 
ceased." § 

Apparently,  no  effort  was  made  to  collect  and  record  the 
names  of  those  who  were  born  or  who  had  died  in  Newbury 
until  after  the  adoption  of  the  order  passed  June  14,  1642, 
directing  the  "  Clarke  of  the  writs  "  to  attend  to  that  duty. 
It  is  therefore  impossible  to  state  with  certainty  whether 
Mary  Brown,  Joshua  Woodman,  or  Shubael  Dummer,  was  the 
first  white  child  born  in  the  town.|| 

A  written  statement,  evidently  prepared  for  Samuel  Sewall, 
chief  justice  of  the  province  of  Massachusetts,  now  in  the 
possession  of  the  New  England  Historic  Genealogical  Society, 
claims  that  Shubael  Dummer  is  entitled  to  that  honor.  The 
statement  is  as  follows  :  — 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  344. 

t  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  15.  J  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  59. 

§  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  198.     John  Lowell  died  June  29,  1647. 
II  See  Coffin's  History,  pp.  ig,  21 ;  also  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  23,  297. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  PARKER   RIVER 


59 


Newbury  Aprill  ye  2d  1717 

Thre  persons  claim  ye  right  of  ye  first  born  in  this  Towne,  viz  :  — 
Joshua  Woodman,  Caleb  Moody  &  ye  wife  of  Peter  Godfre,  these  being 
not  to  be  found  in  ye  Record  :  it  must  be  given  to  M""  Shubael  Uummer, 
as  appears  by  ye  following  account. 

A  Record  of  ye  Births  of  Children  born  in  Newbury  —  in  ye  County 
of  Essex;  in  ye  Province  of  ye  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England  Ano. 
Dom  :    1635  — 

1635  Shubael  ye  son  of  M^  Richard  Duiiier  born  february  17th 

1636  Elizabeth  Holt  ye  daughter  of  Nicholas  Holt  was  born  Mar. 


THE    BURYING   GROUND. 
In  that  parcel!  of  land  called  the  [meeting  house]  greene." 


The  burying-groimd  was  evidently  near  the  meeting-house, 
on  a  lot  of  land  "  called  the  greene,"  of  which  twenty  rods 
were  reserved  when  the  remainder  was  sold  to  Mr.  John 
Emery    in    1647.!      A    few    weather-worn    and    dilapidated 

*  New  England  (Genealogical  Register,  October,  iSSo,  p.  390. 

tTown  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i.  John  Emery  sold  to  his  son  Jonathan  Emery,  April  9, 
1679,  one-half  the  land  conveyed  to  him  by  the  town  of  Newbury.  (Essex  Deeds,  Ipswich  Series, 
vol.  iv.,  p.  246.)  February  4,  1728-9,  Jonathan  Emery  sold  to  William  and  Richard  Dole  about 
seventeen  and  one-half  acres  of  land,  "  excepting  and  Reserving  the  Twenty  Rods  of  land  reserved 
for  a  Burying  place  formerly  laying  within  the  Bounds  of  said  Tenement  or  Tract  of  land  for  the 
End  for  which  it  was  proposed  by  the  Town  of  Newbury."  (Essex  Deeds,  vol.  liv.,  p.  66.) 
March  21,  1728-9,  William  Dole  conveyed  one-half  this  estate  to  Joseph  Ilsley.    (Essex  Deeds, 


6o  HISTORY  OF  XEinn'h'V 

gravestones  mark  the  place  where  some  of  the  first  settlers 
of  Newbury  were  buried. 

The  record  of  deaths  and  marriages  previous  to  1645  is 
very  imperfect.  It  was  kept  by  John  Lowle,  clerk  of  the 
writs.  The  first  death  where  the  name  and  date  are  given  in 
full  is  that  of  John  Kent,  son  of  John  Kent,  who  "  dyed  ye 
7"^  of  February  1641."  The  earliest  marriage  recorded  is 
that  of  "Christopher  Bartlet  to   Mary  April  17,  1645." 

Commissioners  or  magistrates,  appointed  by  the  General 
Court,  were  authorized  to  join  persons  in  marriage  in  New- 
bury, but  nowhere  in  the  colony  were  ministers  granted  or 
allowed  that  pri\ilege. 

June  14,  1642  Mr  William  Bellingham  was  appointed  to  see  Mar- 
riages solemnized  at  Rowley  &  Neweberry  &  to  keepe  record  thereof* 

Nov  4,  1646  The  Corte  hath  granted  comission  to  M""  Edwd 
Rawson  to  see  people  joine  in  Marriage  in  Newberry  dury  the  pleasure 
of  the  Cone  f 

Oct.  14,  1 65 1  In  answer  to  the  petition  of  the  towne  of  Newberry 
Capt  William  Gerrish  is  hereby  authorized  to  marry  such  there  as  shall 
be  legally  published.  J 

May  14,  1656  It  is  ordered,  by  this  court,  that  from  henceforth  any 
one  of  the  three  comissionrs  for  the  endinge  small  causes  in  the  severall 
townes  where  no  magistrate  dwells  shall  be  &  hereby  are  authorized  &. 
empowered  to  solemnize  Marriage  betweene  p'tyes  legally  published, 
p'vided  two  of  the  sd  commissionrs  be  p'sent  &  all  other  comissions  in 
this  case  are  hereby  made  voyd  § 

Two  years  later  the  above  order  was  modified,  and  the 
county  courts  were  authorized  to  appoint  one  of  the  three 
commissioners  for  small  causes  in  any  town,  and  allow  him 
to  officiate  at  marriage  ceremonies,  even  though  the  other 
commissioners  were  not  present.  |1 

September  28,  1658  M"-  Edward  Woodman  of  Newbury  allowed  to 
marry  and  to  take  oaths  in  civill  cases  Tl 

vol.  liii.,p.  58.)  April  y,  1729,  the  land  was  divided,  and  in  1793  the  heirs  of  Joseph  Usley 
deceased,  conveyed  to  Paul  llsley  their  right,  title,  and  interest  in  the  property.  (Essex  Deeds, 
vol.  clvii.,  p.  204.)  The  land  "surrounding  the  burying  place"  is  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Joseph 
llsley. 

•Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  14.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  166. 

t  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  part  i.,  p.  65.  §  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  part  i.,  p.  255. 

II  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  part  i.,  p.  322.  IT  Ipswich  Court  Records,  Bock  I.,  p.  60. 


THE   SETTLEMEXT  AT  PARk'ER  RIVER  6i 

For  more  than  twenty-five  years  this  order  continued  in 
force,  and  appointments  were  annually  made  by  the  county 
courts  at  Ipswich  and  Salem.  June  4,  1685,  however,  the 
General  Court,  in  answer  to  a  motion  made  by  Richard  Bart- 
lett,  who  was  then  a  deputy  from  Newbury,  appointed  Mr. 
John  Woodbridge  "to  administer  oaths  &  joyne  persons  in 
marriage  there  who  desire  it  being  published  according  to 
lawe."  * 

December  24,  1690,  the  General 'Court  appointed 

....  Mr.  John  Woodbridge  and  Capt  Daniel  Pierce  of  Newbury  to 
join  Persons  togetlier  in  marriage  in  tliat  Town  according  to  the  Direc- 
tion of  ye  Laws  in  that  behalf  made.f 

Under  the  laws  of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 
established  after  the  charter  of  the  colony  had  been  annulled, 
justices  of  the  peace  in  the  counties  where  they  resided, 
and  ministers  in  the  towns  where  they  were  settled,  were 
authorized  to  unite  in  marriage  "  any  two  persons  legally 
published. "  \ 

The  privilege  granted  to  ministers  was  enlarged  December 
I,  iyi6;  and  they  were  allowed  to  officiate  at  weddings  be- 
yond the  limits  of  the  towns  in  which  they  were  settled,  pro- 
vided certain  rules  and  regulations  were  complied  with.§ 


MEETING-HOUSE. 

The  first  building  erected  within  the  limits  of  Newbury 
dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God  was  probably  begun  soon 
after  the  organization  of  the  church  in  the  summer  of  1635, 
but  it  was  not  wholly  completed  until  September  or  October, 
1638.  Services,  however,  were  held  in  the  unfinished  struct- 
ure, and  a  special  tax  was  levied  upon  the  freeholders  of  the 
town,  on  or  before  October,  1637,  for  the  support  of  public 
worship.  The  earliest  votes  and  orders  relating  to  the  as- 
sessment and  collection  of  this  tax  are  as  follows  :  — 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  v.,  p.  483. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xxxvi.,  p.  260. 

t  Province  Laws,  vol.  i.,  p.  61.  §Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  60. 


62  HISTORY  OF  XEWBURY 

It  is  agreed  that  all  the  moneys,  goods  or  chattells  that  shall  bee 
gathered  or  distrained  for  the  rate  of  the  meeting  house  shall  bee  deliv- 
ered into  the  hands  of  Jo :  Woodbridge  who  shall  receive  all  &  pay  all 
&  give  up  account  to  the  towne  when  they  call  for  it.* 

Dec.  1 1,  [1637?]  It  is  ordered  that  the  meeting  house  rate  shall 
bee  gathered  at  two  .several  &  distinct  payments  the  one  presently,  the 
other  when  the  towne  sees  necessary  use  of  it  and  requires  it.  * 

January  18,  1637-8  It  is  ordered  that  Richard  Knight,  James 
Browne,  &  Nicholas  Holt  shall  gather  up  the  first  payment  of  the  meet- 
ing house  rate  &  |he  towne  rate  within  one  fourteenight  on  the  penalty 
of  6s  8d  a  piece."* 

March  9,  1636-7,  the  General  Court  enacted  a  law  requiring 
every  able-bodied  man  above  eighteen  years  of  age  to  attend 
meeting  on  the  Lord's  Day  "with  their  musketts,  or  other 
peeces  fit  for  servise,  furnished  w"'  match,  powder,  &  bullets, 
vpon  paine  of  12^^  for  every  default."!  This  law  was  re- 
pealed May  2,  1638,  except  the  clause  "about  carrying  armes 
to  the  meeting  house,"  which  was  referred  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  several  towns  in  the  colony  to  take  such  action  as  they 
might  deem  advisable.  In  the  month  of  June,  1638,  all  the 
able-bodied  men  of  Newbury  were  enrolled  and  formed  into 
four  companies,  under  the  command  of  John  Pike,  Nicholas 
Holt,  John  Baker,  and  Edmund  Greenleafe.  They  were  re- 
quired "to  bring  their  armes  compleat  one  Sabbath  day  in 
a  month  and  the  lecture  day  following,"  and  "stand  sentinell 
at  the  doores  all  the  time  of  the  publick  meeting."  | 

At  a  legal  meeting  held  September  4,  1638,  the  free- 
holders of  the  town  ordered 

.  .  .  that  a  rate  of  twenty-eight  pounds  shall  be  made  speedily 
and  gathered  within  one  fourteenight  for  the  JinisJii)ig  of  the 
meeting   house.  * 

The  towne  appoynted  Mr  Woodman  &  Ed :  Rawson  to  make  this 
rate. 

The  towne  appoynted  the  Constables  to  gather  this  rate. 

The  towne  hath  appoynted  Henry  Short  &  Rich  :  Kent  to  receive 
this  rate  &  survey  the  worke.* 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  190. 

X  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  pp.  26,  27. 


^T 


r#*  ?«^ 


-r 


f  -> 


?■ 


^T^i  tfl  let  F"^ 


64  HISTORY  OF  .YEWBURY 


LAND   GRANTS. 


For  more  than  fifty  years  after  the  incorporation  of  the 
town  of  Newbury,  all  votes  and  orders  relating  to  the  grant- 
ing of  land  or  the  management  of  town  affairs  by  the  free- 
men and  freeholders  were  recorded  in  a  book  also  used  by 
the  "seven  men"  for  a  similar  purpose.  After  the  election 
of  Henry  Short  as  town  clerk,  March  20,  1685-6,  the 
grants  made  before  and  after  that  date  were  copied  into  a 
separate  volume,  called  the  "  Proprietors'  Book,"  which  is 
still  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  Most  of  the  early  grants 
consisted  of  house  lots  and  planting  lots  of  about  four  acres, 
each  located  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Quascacunquen, 
now  Parker  river.  A  few  large  farms,  however,  several  miles 
away  from  the  meeting-house,  were  granted  to  men  of  wealth 
and  influence  who  resided  in  the  town.  In  1635  ^  large 
tract  of  land  "at  the  Falls,"  now  Byfield  Parish,  was  laid  out 
to  Richard  Dummer  by  order  of  the  General  Court ;  and  the 
next  year  the  freeholders  of  Newbury  made  an  allotment  of 
five  hundred  acres  in  the  same  neighborhood  to  Henry 
Sewall,  sr.  Other  grants,  of  considerable  magnitude,  re- 
corded previous  to  1645,  ^^^  '^s  follows  :  — 

To  Mr  John  Cutting  "  a  ffarme  of  two  hundred  acres  be  it  more  or 
less  of  upland  &  meadow  as  it  is  laid  out  in  length  sixteen  score  rods 
&  in  breadth  fifty  rods,  bounded  by  the  falls  River  South,  the  comon 
on  the  north,  Mr  Greenleaf  west  &  Thomas  Coleman  on  the  east."* 

To  James  Browne  "  a  ffarme  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
upland  and  meadow,  be  it  more  or  less,  bounded  by  several  marked 
trees,  by  the  comon  round."* 

The  location  of  the  last  grant  is  somewhat  uncertain.  It 
was  evidently  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  common,  or  undi- 
vided, land.  In  1655,  it  was  sold  to  Hugh  March,  and  was 
then  bounded,  in  part,  by  the  "  birchen  meadow," 

There  was  Granted  to  Mr  Stephen  Duiiier  three  hundred  acres  of 
upland  &  meadow  at  Turkey  Hill,  that  is  sixty  acres  of  meadow  joyn- 
ing  to  the  Hill  and  two  hundred  &  forty  acres  of  upland  to  enjoy  to 
him  &  his  heyrs  forever.f 

*Town  of  Newbury  Proprietors'  Records,  pp.  20,  29,  36.  t  Ibid.,  p.  18. 


7 HE   SETTLEMENT  AT  PARKER   RIVER  65 

Laid  out  to  Thomas  Browne  &  George  Little  in  the  behalfe  of  Mr 
Stephen  Dumer  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  upland  at  Turkey  Hill, 
joyning  to  Mr  Stephen  Dumers  meadow  called  by  the  name  of  Birchen 
Meadow.* 

To  Richard  Kent,  jr.,  "A  ffarme  lott  of  one  hundred  acres 
of  upland  and  meadow  on  an  Island  over  the  Little  River 
and  about  it,  be  it  more  or  less,"  and  several  other  lots  of 
upland  and  marsh,  making  in  all  about  two  hundred  and 
forty-eight  acres,  granted  February  7,  1646-7,  "at  a  meeting 
of  y^  8  men  deputed  to  order  the  Towne  Affairs,"  and  de- 
scribed as  follows  :  — 

.  .  .  bounded  w'h  ye  great  River  on  ye  South  &  South  West,  w'h  a 
creeke  [issuing]  out  of  ye  greate  River  northward  &  ye  little  River  on 
ye  East  &  a  creeke  issuing  out  of  ye  said  little  River  Running  West- 
ward meeting  ye  other  Creeke  yt  Issued  out  of  ye  greate  River  w'hin 
thirty  Rods  &  so  making  an  Iland.f 

There  is  a  farm  of  200  acres  granted  to  Mr  Edward  Rawson  [both] 
of  up  land  and  meadow  [at]  the  birchen  mead  [ow]  the  whole  parcell  of 
meadow  there  to  be  divided  into  three  equall  portions,  Mr  Rawson  to 
take  his  choice. J 

On  the  twenty-second  day  of  December,  1637  {)),  the  fol- 
lowing vote  was  adopted  by  the  freeholders  of  the  town  :  — 

It  is  likewise  agreed  that  Jo  :  Woodbridge  shall  have  an  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  lying  to  the  northward  of  Mr  Spencers  farme,  on  the  right 
hand  of  the  ridge  going  to  Merrimack  &  fifty  acres  of  fresh  &  salt 
marish  to  be  added  more  vnto  it,  in  some  convenient  place,  neere  adjoyn- 
ing,  to  be  layd  out  according  to  the  townes  disposing  &  this  instead  of 
his  200  acres  formerly  granted  at  the  great  hill  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river,  to  enjoy  to  him  &  his  heires  for  ever.i? 

This  grant  was  subsequently  laid  out  to  Mr.  Woodbridge, 
as  appears  from  the  following  record  :  — 

One  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  upland  as  it  is  laid  out,  be  it  more  or 

*  Proprietors'  Records,  p.  18.  May  10,  1648,  Mr.  Stephen  Dumnier,  then  in  England,  wrote 
"  to  his  very  loving  friend,  Henry  Short,  living  at  Newbury,*'  instructing  him  to  sell  the  farm  at 
birchen  Meadow.     (See  Ipswich  Deeds,  vol.  iii.,  p.  256  (193).) 

t  Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i.  ;  also,  Proprietors'  Records,  p.  16. 

$  This  grant  was  made  February  24,  1637.  For  additional  grants  to  Edward  Rawson  see 
"  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  50,  51. 

§Town  of  Newbiity  Records,  vol.  i. 


66  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

less,  Bounded  by  Mr  Spencers  on  the  South,  John  Pike  senior  and  John 
Moulton  on  the  north,  the  cofnon  on  the  west  and  the  Great  Street  Joyn- 
ing  to  Merrimack  River  on  the  East.* 

In  1636,  probably,  the  freeholders  granted  to  Mr.  John 
Spencer 

...  a  ffarme  of  four  hundred  acres  of  upland  &  meadow,  be  it  more  or 
less,  bounded  by  Mr  Woodbridge  on  the  north,  Mr  Parker  on  the  south, 
the  street  of  eight  rods  in  breadth  next  Merrimack  River  on  the  east,  and 
the  cofnon  on  the  west,  and  two  hundred  &  fifty  acres,  be  it  more 
less,  lying  on  the  left  hand  of  Merrimack  Ridge  in  breadth  of  the 
breadth  of  that  on  the  right  hand  of  the  ridge,  in  length  six  Score 
Rods. 

October  20,  1637,  Mr.  Spencer  was  granted  a  mill  lot  of 
fifty  acres  "at  Newbury  falls,"  and  November  20,  1637,  he 
was  condemned  and  disarmed,  by  order  of  the  General  Court, 
for  holding  erroneous  religious  opinions.  On  the  eleventh 
day  of  December  following,  Edward  Woodman,  John  Wood- 
bridge,  Henry  Short,  Richard  Kent,  Richard  Browne,  and 
Richard  Knight,  having  the  care  and  management  of  town 
affairs,  gave  their  assent  and  approval  to  the  following 
order  :  — 

.  .  .  fforasmuch  as  it  appeared  vnto  us  on  sufficient  grounds  &  evident 
testimony  that  Mr  John  Spenser  notwithstanding  his  intention  and  reso- 
lution to  Hue  away  from  us  &  so  to  deprive  us  of  his  usuall  helpe  & 
counsell  in  managing  &  ordering  or  greatest  &  weightiest  affaires 
yet  did  so  secretly  carry  things  thai  he  gott  a  promise  of  the  towne  of 
farther  enlargement  wee  thought  fit  therefore  to  make  this  publick  dec- 
laration of  or  minds  &  intention  in  the  case  that  wee  judge  according 
to  our  best  light  &  understanding  that  he  hath  no  right  nor  just  claime 
to  any  more  land  but  what  hath  been  formerly  layd  out  confirmed 
&  the  bounds  thereof  entered  into  the  towne  book,  seeing  that  hee 
desired  it  in  relation  to  the  service  which  he  had  &  was  likely  still  to 
doe  for  the  towne  &  the  townes  promise  was  on  such  [  ]  condi- 

tion which  they  are  defeated  off.     The  present  order  [  ]  there- 

fore doth  declare  that  the  ground  lying  to  the  northward  of  Mr  Spensers 
farme  (the  bounds  whereof  are  already  entered  into  the  book)  is  at  the 
townes  disposing  to  be  given  to  whom  they  see  fitt  &  convenient.! 

Subsequently  this  order  was  rescinded ;  and,  September 
4,    1638,     Edward    Woodman,    Abraham    Toppan,    Richard 

*  Proprietors'  Records,  p.  ii.  t  Town  of  Newburj'  Records,  vol.  i. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  PARKER  RIVER  67 

Browne,  and  John  Knight,  in  behalf  of  the  town,  signed  the 
following  agreement  :  — 

It  is  agreed  that  the  letters  shall  lay  out  150  acres  of  upland  & 
meadow  to  Mr  Spenser  on  the  north  side  of  his  farme  lying  in  manner 
&  order  as  his  farme  dotli  that  is  aliready  layd  out  &  150  acres  of  land 
lying  next  Mr  Spensers  on  the  right  hand  of  the  ridge  to  John  Wood- 
bridge,  according  to  former  order,  to  enjoy  to  them  &  theirs  for  euer.* 

A  farme  granted  to  Mr  Clarke  of  400  acres  next  to  Mr  Sewalls  : 
The  bounds  of  Mr  Clarke  his  fairme  begin  at  the  mouth  of  Carte 
creeke  thence  running  easterly  ten  score  rodd  abutting  on  the  Mayne 
river  toward  the  South  &  thence  it  runs  up  sixteene  score  rodds  into  the 
country  upon  a  line  north  &  by  west  to  two  birchen  trees  marked,  stand- 
ing on  a  banke  of  rocks,  thence  it  runs  in  a  straight  line  westerly  tenn 
score  rodd  to  a  marked  tree  on  a  mount  &  thence  in  a  straight  line  east 
&  by  South  to  the  mouth  of  Cart  creeke  againe,  taking  in  all  the 
meadow  on  the  east  side  of  the  Pine  Swamp, 
the  23rd  of  the  I  i*h  mo.  1637. 

Edward  Woodman  Henry  Short 

Richard  Browne  Richard  Kent 

John  Woodkridge  Richard  Knight 

Memoranda:  This  writing  was  recorded  for  Mr  John  Clarke  now  of 
Ipswich,  late  of  Newbury,  8th  day  of  March,  1647.! 

The  towne  being  desired  to  express  themselves  whether  they  were 
willing  that  Mr  Bacheler  &  Mr  Hussy  should  take  the  land  at  ye  new 
meadow  lately  given  to  Mr  Woodman  &  Mr  Rawson  upon  their  willing 
resignation  of  the  same  &  the  towne  would  promise  them  satisfaction, 
the  towne  did  generally  express  themselves  willing  to  both  &  Hen: 
Short  &  Wm  :  Moody  were  joyned  to  the  three  of  the  former  five  to 
manage  the  towne  busynesse  to  judge  &  determine  what  shall  satisfy  the 
sayd   Mr  Woodman  &   Mr   Rawson   for  [what  loss  ]  &   the  land 

henceforth  to  remaine  as  the  proper  right   &  inheritance  of  the  sayd  Mr 
[Stephen]  Bacheler  «&:  Mr  [Christopher]  Hussey.* 

*  Town  of  Newburj'  Records,  vol.  i. 

t  Ipswich  Deeds,  vol.  i.,  p.  37  (126).  Dr.  John  Clark  was  an  eminent  physician.  He  came  to 
Newbury  in  1637,  removed  to  Ipswich  in  1647,  and  two  or  three  years  later  purchased  a  dwell- 
ing-house in  Boston,  where  he  resided  until  his  death  in  the  month  of  January,  1664-5.  -At  a  gen- 
eral town  meeting  held  in  Newbury,  September  28,  163S, 

"It  was  granted  that  Mr  Clarke  in  respect  of  his  calling  should  be  freed  and  exempted  from 
all  publick  rates  either  for  the  country  or  the  towne  so  long  as  he  shall  remayne  with  us  and  exer- 
cise his  calling  among  us." 

December  I,  1651.  "John  Clarke  of  Boston,  Chirurgeon,  &  Martha  his  wife,  in  considera- 
tion of  the  house  they  now  accupy  in  Boston  and  a  certain  lot  of  land  adjoining,"  convey  to  Mat- 
thew Chaffey  of  Boston,  shipwright,  the  farm  of  four  hundred  acres  at  Cart  Creeke  in  Newbury 
(Ipswich  Deeds,  vol.  i.,  p.  99  (294),  and  the  same  day  INIatthew  Chaffey  of  Boston  and  Sarah, 
his  wife,  sold  the  farm  "  with  the  housings  and  buildings  thereon  "  to  Richard  Thorlay  of  New- 
bury.   (Ipswich  Deeds,  vol.  i.,  p.  100  (297).) 


68  HISTORY  OF  XEWnURY 

SALISBURY. 

September  6,  1638,  the  General  Court  granted  Sjmpn 
Bradstreet  and  Capt.  Daniel  Dennison,  of  Ipswich,  John 
Clarke  and  Christopher  Batt,  of  Newbury,  and  others, 
liberty  "to  begin  a  plantation  at  Merrimack."  A  location 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Merrimack  river  was  selected  early 
in  the  spring  of  1639,  ^.nd  house  lots  were  laid  out  and 
assigned  to  the  new  settlers.  Christopher  Batt,  John  San- 
ders, Robert  Pike,  Thomas  Macy,  Richard  Singletary,  and 
Anthony  Sadler,  of  Newbury,  received  grants  of  land  "  in  the 
first  division." 

September  4,  1639,  the  General  Court  ordered  that  the 
"  plantation  beyond  Merrimack  shalbee  called  Colechester  "  ;  * 
and  October  7,  1640,  the  governor,  with  the  consent  of  the 
Court  of  Assistants  and  House  of  Deputies,  declared  that 
"Colechester  is  henceforward  to  bee  called  Salsbury."  f 

The  new  name  was  probably  suggested  by  Christopher 
Batt,  who  came  from  Salisbury,  England,  with  his  wife  Anne, 
and  five  children  under  ten  years  of  age,  in  the  ship  "  Bevis," 
in  the  month  of  May,  1638.I 

ROWLEY. 

In  the  spring  of  1639,  Rev.  Ezekiel  Rogers,  with  a  com- 
pany of  about  twenty  families  from  Yorkshire,  England,  was 
allowed  to  begin  a  new  settlement  between  Ipswich  and  New- 
bury. From  the  records  of  the  General  Court  under  date  of 
March  13,  1638-9,  it  appears  that  "  M""  Ezechi :  Rogers,  M"" 
John  Philips  &  their  Company  had  granted  them  8  miles 
every  way  into  the  Countrey,  where  it  may  not  trench  vpon 
other  plantations  already  setled. "  § 

Several  farms  that  had  been  granted  by  the  General  Court 
to  various  individuals  in  Ipswich  and  Newbury  were  pur- 
chased, for  the  better  accommodation  of  the  new  settlement, 

♦  Massacliu.'-etts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  271.  +  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  305. 

%  Drake's  "  Founders  of  New  England,"  p.  60. 
§  Massachufetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  253. 


THE   SETTLEMENT   AT   TARKER    RIVER  69 

by  the  payment  of  nearly  eig,ht  hundred  pounds  ;  *  and  the 
freemen  of  Newbury  voted  that  the  Rev^  Ezekiel  Rogers  and 
his  company  should  have  undisturbed  possession  of  all  the 
common  and  undivided  lands  within  certain  specified  limits,  as 
follows  :  — 

The  towne  being  assembled  together  and  being  desirous  to  manifest 
theyr  earnest  desires  and  willingness  to  give  due  incouredgment  unto  the 
worthy  gentlemen  who  desire  to  set  down  between  us  and  Ipswich  as  to 
part  with  such  a  portion  of  land  as  cannot  any  way  be  expected  from 
them,  or  may  without  endangering  their  present  necessityes  afford. 
Hoping  on  good  grounds  it  may  fully  answer  their  desires  and  expecta- 
tions they  have  determined  as  followeth  : 

By  the  common  and  general  suffrages  of  the  body  of  freemen,  none 
excepted,  there  was  granted  to  the  said  gentilmen  all  the  upland  and 
meadow  and  marish  between  us  and  Ipswich  incompassed  by  the  line 
heer  underwritten,  namely  : 

That  their  line  shall  begin  from  the  head  of  the  great  Creek  between 
the  neck  over  the  great  river  and  Mr.  Dummers,  running  due  west  as  we 
come  to  the  great  Creek,  being  the  bounds  of  John  Osgoods  farm,  which 
issues  into  Mr  Eastons  river  and  above  that  creek  all  the  lands  south- 
ward of  Mr.  Eastons  river,  and  from  that  river  from  the  path  leading  to 
the  falls  to  run  a  due  west  line  into  the  country  a  mile,  and  afterwards 
to  run  on  a  north  west  line  so  as  it  come  not  within  half  a  mile  of  the 
side  line  of  Mr.  Dummers  farm.  Likewise  it  comes  two  miles  distant  of 
Merrimack.  Provided  that  if  after  they  have  entered  by  buildings  or 
otherwise  on  this  part  of  land  granted  to  them  and  leave  off  from  going 
on  with  a  plantation  or  a  towne  between  us,  that  then  the  grants  above- 
said  shall  be  void  to  all  intents  and  purposes  and  to  remaine  the  pro- 
prietyes  and  inheritances  of  the  towne  of  Newbury  in  as  ample  a  manner 
as  before  the  grant  hereof  in  all  respects. f 

September  4,  1639,  the  General  Court  ordered  that  "Mr 
Ezechi :  Rogers  plantation  shalbee  called  Rowley."  % 

May  13,  1640,  the  company  was  released  from  the  pay- 
ment of  ta.xes  for  two  years  "  because  of  their  great  losse  & 
charge  by  purchasing  of  land  &  hindrance  of  planting  the 
last  yeare."  § 

November  13,  1655,  the  General  Court,  "with  the  consent 
of  the  deputy  of  Rowley  and    Capt   Gerrish  and  M""  Wood- 

*Winthrop's  History,  vol.  i.,  p.  354. 

t  Proprietors'  Records,  pp.  7,  8;  Coffin's  Histor\-  of  Newbury,  p.  zg. 

I  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i. ,  p.  271.  §Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  289. 


70  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

man  o£  Newbury,"  appointed  a  committee  to  consider  and 
determine  where  the  division  line  between  the  two  towns 
should  run.  May  14,  1656,  the  committee  agreed  upon  a 
line,  beginning  at  a  white  oak-tree  standing  upon  the  north- 
west side  of  Easton's  river,  and  thence  running  westerly  one 
mile  to  a  heap  of  stones  "  laid  there  according  to  the  courts 
order,"  and  thence  in  a  northwesterly  direction  to  the 
Merrimack  river.  * 

Subsequently  the  General  Court  confirmed  and  established 
this  division  line,  although  an  attempt  was  made  to  modify 
it,  as  stated  in  the  next  chapter. 

HAVERHILL 

March  13,  1640,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  General 
Court  for  liberty  to  begin  another  plantation  on  the  Merri- 
mack river.  In  answer  to  this  petition,  the  General  Court 
voted  that 

The  desires  of  M''  Ward  &  Newbury  men  is  coiiiitted  to  the  Gov- 
enor,  Deputy  Governor,  &  Mr  Winthrope,  Senior,  to  consider  of  Pa- 
tucket  &  Coijchawick  (now  Andover)  &  grant  it  them,  p'vided  they  re- 
turne  answer  w'h  in  three  weeks,  fro  the  2it'i  psent,  &  that  they  build 
there  before  the  next  Courte.f 

Pentucket  was  selected  as  the  most  convenient  place  for 
the  new  settlement;  and,  June  2,  1641,  the  General  Court 
passed  the  following  order  :  — 

Mr  John  Woodbridge,  Alatthewe  Boyse,  John  Crosse  &  George  Git- 
tings  they  4,  or  any  3  of  them,  are  appointed  to  set  out  the  bounds  be- 
tween Salsbery  &  Pantucket,  ali :  Haverell.  They  are  to  determine 
the  bounds  wch  Mr  Ward  &  his  company  are  to  inioy  as  a  towne  or 
village  if  they  have  6  houses  up  by  the  next  Genrall  Court  in  the  S'h 
mo.ij: 

Although  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Ward,  of  Ipswich,  author  of 
"The  Simple  Cobbler  of  Agawam,"  Was  active  and  earnest  in 
his  efforts  to  organize  a  company  for  the  settlement  at  Pen- 
tucket, he  did  not  remove  there  ;  but  his  son,  the  Rev.  John 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  i.,  pp.  249,  263.         t  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  290. 
X  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  319. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  PARKER  RIVER  71 

Ward,  who  was  born  in  Haverhill,  Essex  county,  England, 
was  evidently  one  of  the  most  zealous  supporters  of  the  en- 
terprise, and  ultimately  became  prominent  as  pastor  of  the 
first  church  in  the  town,  named  "  Haverhill,"  in  honor  of  his 
birthplace.  Among  the  men  who  were  associated  with  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Ward  in  organizing  the  new  settlement  were  William 
White,  Samuel  Gile,  James  Davis,  Henry  Palmer,  John  Rob- 
inson, Christopher  Hussey,  John  Williams,  and  Richard  Little- 
hale,  of  Newbury.*  Tristram  Coffin  also  resided  there  for 
several  years,  and  his  name  appears  as  witness  to  a  deed, 
dated  November  15,  1642,  conveying  to  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town  all  the  land  within  its  limits  belonging  to  the  Indian 
chieftains  Passaquo  and  Saggattew.  Mr.  Coffin  was  licensed, 
May  26,  1647,  to  keep  an  ordinary,  and  also  to  keep  a  ferry 
over  Merrimack  river  in  connection  with  Mr.  George  Carr. 
He  probably  removed  to  Newbury  about  the  time  his  license 
was  granted  by  the  General  Court. 


PUBLIC    HOUSES. 

March  4,  1634-5  the  General  Court  ordered 

.  .  .  that  noe  pson  whatsoeuer  shall  keepe  a  comon  victualing  howse, 
without  licence  from  the  Court,  vnder  the  penalty  of  XXs  a  weeke.f 

September  3,  1635,  Francis  Plumer,  who  came  to  New- 
bury soon  after  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  was  licensed 
"to  keep  an  ordinary";  June  6,  1637,  John  Knight,  of 
"  Newebery,"  was  granted  liberty  "to  keepe  an  ordinary  and 
give  intertainment  to  such  as  neede  "  ;  and.  May  22,  1639, 
"  Edmond  Greenlyf  of  Newberry"  was  permitted  "to  keepe 
a  house  of  intertainment." 

In  order  to  provide  for  the  accommodation  of  strangers  on 
special  occasions,  the  law  relating  to  the  keeping  of  ordinaries 
was  modified  November  5,  1639,  ^s  follows:  — 

In  regard  of  the  greate  inconvenience  that  is  found  for  want  of  fit 
places  of  intertainment  of  people  vpon  occasion  of  great  assemblies,  & 
arrivall  of  ships  wth  passengers,  it  is  declared,  that  vpon  such  occasions, 

*  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  33.         t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  140. 


72  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

it  is  lawful!  for  an)'  person,  in  any  towne  where  such  great  resort  of 
people  shall  happen  to  bee,  to  give  intertainement  to  such  people  &  to 
affoard  them  lodging  &  dyot  at  reasonable  rates,  though  they  bee  not 
allowed  to  kepe  comon  ordinaries  &c.* 

May  14,  1645,  the  General  Court  ordered 

.  .  .  yt  no  man  shal  be  alowed  to  keepe  publicke  houses  of  intertain  m 
for  strangrs  or  travellers,  nor  shall  any  one  be  a  comon  victualler,  in- 
keeper,  or  keeper  of  a  cookes  shop,  vintner,  taverner,  or  public  seller 
of  wine,  ale,  beare,  strong  water,  wthout  alowance  in  some  Q^f  Co^t  in 
ye  sheire  where  such  do  dwell,  upon  paine  of  forfeiture  of  20s  p  week 
while  they  continue  wthout  ye  said  licence ;  nor  shall  any  such  pson  as 
have  publicke  houses  of  intrtainmt  &  have  licence,  sell  beare  for  above 
2d  an  ale  qi't;  &c.t 

While  this  law  was  in  force,  Tristram  Coffin,  sr.,  peti- 
tioned the  General  Court  for  liberty  to  keep  an  ordinary,  and 
also  a  ferry  on  the  Newbury  side  of  Merrimack  river.  His 
petition  was  granted  May  26,  1647;  ^^^  ^^^  same  day  the 
General  Court  ordered,  that  "henceforth  all  such  as  are  to 
keepe  houses  of  cofnon  intertainm'  &  to  retaile  wine,  beere 
&c"  shall  apply  for  license  to  the  courts  of  the  shire  in 
which  they  live  in  order  that  the  time  of  the  deputies  may  be 
devoted  to  matters  of  more  importance.  | 


SALE   OF   WINE,  BEER,  AND    OTHER    LIQUORS. 

In  1637,  the  keepers  of  ordinaries  were  not  allowed  "to 
sell  either  sack  or  strong  water,"  §  and  could  make  or  keep 
in  their  houses  only  a  mild  kind  of  wine  or  beer :  — 

Provided  that  it  may  bee  lawfull  for  any  such  inkeeper  or  victualler 
to  have  in  their  houses  some  small  quantity  of  strong  water  for  their 
owne  private  &  necessary  use.|| 

March  12,  1637-8,  the  law  imposing  a  duty  on  wine  and 
strong  water  imported  into  the  colony  from  beyond  the  sea 
was  repealed  ;  "  &  it  is  ordered,  that  every  town  shall  p'sent 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  271;.  tlbid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  100. 

Jlbid.,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  188,  194.  For  additional  ijarticulars  relating  to  inns  and  taverns,  see 
"  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  108,  109,  175-188,  493-507. 

§  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  205.  II  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,p.  2r4. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  PARKER   RIVER  73 

a  man  to  bee  alowed  to  sell  wine  &  stroni^  water  made  in  the 
country  &  no  other  strong  water  is  to  be  soiild. "  * 

Edward  Woodman  was  appointed  by  the  General  Court 
agent  for  the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors  in  Newbury,  and  con- 
tinued to  hold  that  ofifice  for  several  years.  November  i  3, 
1644,  the  law  was  again  changed,  and  licenses  were  granted 
to  various  individuals  in  the  colony  "to  draw  wine"  upon  the 
payment  of  a  tax  to  be  assessed  and  collected  in  proportion 
to  the  number  of  gallons  sold.f  In  order  to  secure  the  en- 
forcement of  this  law,  these  taxes  or  license  fees  were 
sold  to  Edward  Rawson  for  a  stated  sum  ;  and  the  govern- 
ment was  relieved  of  all  further  trouble  and  expense  in  regard 
to  them. 

The  following  agreement  was  recorded  November  1 3, 
1644:  — 

Mr  Edward  Rawson  hat'i  hired  to  farme  ye  rent  due  for  wine  drawn 
in  ye  countrey  for  107^  lo^  for  a  yeare.J 

May  6,  1646,  the  General  Court  ordered 

.  .  .  that  Mr  Rawson  ye  officer  appointed  to  receive  ye  custome  of  wine 
ye  last  yeare,  shalbe  alowed  one  fourth  part  of  what  is  due  to  ye  country 
on  that  ordr,  in  satisfaction  of  his  charge  &  expense  of  time  expended 
on  ye  p'secuting  of  that  order,  he  giving  ye  auditor  gemall  an  account 
there  of  yt  so  he  may  p'cure  it  in  to  defray  ye  country  charges. § 

In  1652,  the  law  regulating  the  sale  of  wine  and  beer  was 
again  amended,  and  after  that  date  the  excise  duties  were 
sold  for  a  term  of  five  years  to  the  highest  bidder. | 


COCHICHAWICK  (ANDOVER). 
March  4,  1634-5,  the  General  Court  ordered 

.  .  .  that  the  land  aboute  Cochichowicke  shalbe  reserved  for  an  inland 
plantacbn  &  that  whosoever  will  goe  to  inhabite  there  shall  have  three 
yeares  iiiiunity  from  all  taxes,  levyes,  publique  charges  &  services  what- 
soever (military  dissipline  onely  excepted)  John  Winthrop,  Rich  :  Bell- 
ingham  &  Milton  Coddington,  Esq.  are  chosen  a  Comittee  to  licence 

•Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  221.  +  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  82. 

X  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  87.  §  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  150.  H  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  part  i.,  p.  in. 


74  HJSrOKY   OF  KEIVBUKY 

any  that  they  tliinke  meete  to  inhabite  there,  &  that  it  shalbe  lawfull 
for  noe  peson  to  goe  thither  without  their  consent,  or  the  Major  pte  of 
them.* 

May  13,  1640,  the  magistrates  and  deputies  of  the  General 
Court  voted  that 

The  desires  of  Mr  Ward  &  Newberry  Men  is  coiTiitted  to  the 
Governor,  Deputy  Governor  &  Mr  Winthrope,  Senior,  to  consider  of 
Pa  tucket  &  Coijchawick  &  to  grant  it  them,  p'vided  they  returne 
answer  w<hin  three  weeks  fro  the  2itli  p'sent  &  that  they  build  there 
before  the  nexte  courte.f 

The  Rev.  John  Woodbridge,  in  a  letter  to  "  Hon.  John 
Winthrop,  Sen.  Esq.,"  dated  "  Newberry  this  22"'  of  i  mo 
1640"  (March  22,  1 640-1),  says, 

"  Some  of  us  have  desired  to  plant  at  Quichichwick  &  accordingly 
notwithstanding  all  the  oppositions  and  discouragements  that  wee  have 
had,  having  viewed  the  place  since  y«=  court,  were  intending  this  spring 
to  have  built  there  " ;  but  have  been  prevented  by  the  claim  of  the  Rev. 
Ezekiel  Rogers  that  a  portion  of  that  territory  should  be  granted  the 
town  of  Rowley.  A  number  of  families  were  ready  to  remove  to  tlie 
new  settlement.  "  And  the  reason  why  I  desire  your  speedy  advice  is 
because  some  of  o'  company  have  sold  themselves  out  of  house  and 
home  &  so  desire  to  bee  settled  as  soone  as  may  be."t 

Satisfactory  arrangements  were  made  during  1641  or  1642 
with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Woodbridge  and  his  friends  ;  and  May  10, 
1643,  when  the  county  of  Essex  was  formed,  "  Cochichwicke  " 
was  one  of  the  towns  named  in  the  act  of  incorporation.  § 

In  October,  1645,  the  Rev.  John  Woodbridge  was  ordained 
minister  of  the  new  town. 

At  a  General  Court  held  in  Boston,  May  6,  1646, 

Cutshamache  Sagamo''  of  ye  Massachusetts  came  into  ye  Corte  & 
acknowledged  yt  for  the  sum  of  ^6,  &  a  Coat  which  he  had   already   re- 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  141.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  290. 

{Massachusetts  Historical  Society  Collections,  Fifth  Series,  vol.  i.,  p.  317. 

§The  General  Court  ordered,  May  lo,  1643,  tliat  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay  .should  be 
divided  into  four  shires,  or  counties  ;  namely,  Middlesex,  Suffolk,  Essex,  and  Norfolk.  The 
following-named  towns  composed  the  county  of  Essex  :  — 

Salem  Ipswich  Glocester 

Linn  Rowley  Cochichawick  (Andover) 

Enon  (Wenham)  Newberry 

—  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  38. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  PARKER  RIVER  75 

ceived  he  had  sold  to  Mr.  John  Woodbrid<^e  in  behalfe  of  ye  inhabit- 
ants of  Cochichawicke  now  called  Andover  all  his  right,  interest  & 
privilege  in  ye  land  6  miles  southward  from  ye  towne,  two  miles  eastward 
to  Rowley  bounds  be  ye  same  more  or  lesse,  and  northward  to  Merri- 
mack river  &c.* 

Among  the  Newbury  men  who  accompanied  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Woodbridge  to  Cochichawicke,  and  settled  there,  were  John 
Osgood,  Joseph  Parker,  John  Stevens,  Nicholas  Holt,  Benja- 
min Woodbridge,  John  Frye,  Nathan  Parker,  John  Aslett, 
William  Ballard,  and  John  Russ,  sr. 

GUNPOWDER. 

June  6,  1639,  the  General  Court  authorized  the  importa- 
tion of  a  quantity  of  saltpetre  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  and 
encouraging  the  manufacture  of  gunpowder  in  the  colony. 
It  is  evident,  from  a  careful  perusal  of  the  following  votes  and 
orders,  that  arrangements  had  been  made  with  Edward  Raw- 
son  to  begin  the  manufacture  as  soon  as  the  materials  could 
be  supplied. 

Mr  Peters  is  desired  to  write  to  Holland  for  ^500  worth  of  peter 
&  40^  worth  of  match,  &  to  give  order  vpon  the  receit  of  the  salt  peter 
&  match  heare  in  good  condition,  to  charge  bylls  vpon  the  Governor  & 
the  country  doth  p'mise  to  save  the  Govrnoi"  harmelesse  f 

It  was  ordered,  that  if  the  salt  peter  come  not,  M^  Rawson  shal  bee 
considered  according  to  such  damage  as  hee  shall  sustaine.| 

Mr  Edward  Rawson  is  granted  500  acres,  at  Pecoit,  so  as  hee  go 
on  wth  the  business  of  powder,  if  the  salt  peter  come.§ 

Mr.  Rawson  brought  with  him  to  Newbury,  in  1636  or 
1637,  a  servant  named  Richard  Crane,  who  was  evidently 
familiar  with  the  process  of  making  gunpowder.  A  letter 
dated  Steaston,  England,  March  15,  1638-9,  from  Dorothy 
Crane  "  To  Hir  very  loveinge  husband  Richard  Crane,  servant 
to  M""  Edward  Rawson,  at  his  house  at  Newberry,"  will  be 
found  among  the  "  Winthrop  Papers  ";  ||  and  also  a  letter  from 

♦Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iii.,  p.  73. 

t  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  259.  +  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  260.  §  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  263. 

II  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  Collections,  Fifth  Series,  vol.  i.,  p.  87. 


76  HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 

Richard  Crane  to  Governor  Winthrop,   dated   May  9,    1640, 
containing  the  following  statement  :  — 

My  master  intended  to  imploy  niee  to  make  powder.  I  am  sorry 
I  could  not  have  materials  whereby  to  improve  my  skill  for  the  good 
of  the  land.* 

Subsequently,  efforts  were  made  to  procure  a  supply  of 
saltpetre  from  domestic  sources.  June  14,  1642,  an  order  was 
adopted  by  the  General  Court  requiring  every  town  in  the 
colony  to  provide  a  suitable  house  for  the  making  of  salt- 
petre,! ^^*^^  September  27,  1642,  this  order  was  amended; 
and  the  selectmen  of  every  town  were  required  to  see  that 
every  householder,  or  every  two  or  three  householders  joined 
together,  should  provide  "  for  the  breeding  of  salt  peeter  in 
some  out  house  for  poultry,  or  the  like,"  \  the  annual  prod- 
uct to  be  delivered  to  the  agents  of  the  colony  and  paid  for 
at  a  reasonable  price.  Mr.  Edmund  Greenleaf  was  appointed 
superintendent  of  the  business  for  the  town  of  Newbury. 

October  27,  1648  "The  Cone  haveing  taken  into  their  serious  con- 
sidration  the  great  forwardness  &  readiness  of  Mr  Edwd  Rawson  to  ad- 
vance so  hopefull  a  designe  as  the  makeing  of  salt  peter  wt'nn  this  juris- 
diction, who  for  that  end  &  purpose  hath  disbursed  certain  monyes  to 
his  great  losse  &  damage  p'sented  to  us  at  large  in  his  petition  delived 
into  this  p'sent  co'te,  have  therefore,  in  consideration  of  the  p'mises,  & 
answere  to  his  said  petition,  given  &  granted  to  him  &  his  heires  500 
ac  of  land  at  Pequot,  to  be  layd  out  by  the  appointmt  of  the  Cofte  as 
also  five  pounds  to  be  paid  him  out  of  the  treasury."  § 

May  2,  1649  Mr  Edwd  Rawson  haveing  resigned  up  his  500  acres  of 
land  formrly  granted  him  in  p't  of  recompence  of  his  damage  sustained 
about  ye  salt  peeter,  the  corte  have  thought  meete  to  alow  him  thirty 
pounds,  in  full  satisfaction,  whereof  the  five  pound  formrly  granted  is 
accounted  a  part.|| 

October  10,  1666,  the  General  Court  ordered  the  selectmen 
of  every  town  to  take  such  steps  as  may  be  necessary  to  pro- 
vide the  makers  of  gunpowder  with  an  increased  supply  of 
saltpetre.^ 

♦Massachusetts  Historical  Society  Collections,  Fifth  Series,  vol.  i.,  p.  2qi. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  14.  X  Uiid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  29. 

§  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  261.  II  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  283.  II  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  part  ii.,  j).  .?2o. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  PARKER  RIVER  77 

Walter  Everenden,  of  Boston,  stated,  in  a  petition  addressed 
"  To  the  Honoured  Goveno"",  Deputy  Goveno"^,  with  the 
Magestrates  &  Deputies  now  assembled  and  sitting  in 
Boston,"  May  28,  1672,  that  he  desired  to  commence  the 
manufacture  of  gunpowder,  but  had  been  prevented  by  the 
enactment  of  laws  in  England  and  Holland  prohibiting  the 
shipment  of  saltpetre  to  America.  He  therefore  humbly 
requested  "the  honoured  court"  to  order  the  inhabitants  of 
every  town  in  the  colony  to  furnish  their  proportionate  share 
of  saltpetre  without  further  delay.* 

In  the  year  1675  a  powder-mill  was  erected  in  the  town  of 
Dorchester.  Previous  to  that  date  the  materials  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  powder  were  coarsely  ground  or  pulverized  in 
mortars  made  for  that  purpose,  and  afterward  roughly 
cleared  of  impurities,  and  mixed  without  the  aid  of  machinery. 
The  importance  of.  the  new  enterprise  was  thoroughly  ap- 
preciated by  the  General  Court ;  and  two  watchmen  were 
appointed,  October  13,  1675,  one  from  Dorchester  and  one 
from  Milton,  to  guard  the  property  and  protect  it  from  the 
danger  of  fire  to  which  it  was  exposed. 

Walter  Everden,  or  Everenden,  was  employed  as  manager 
or  superintendent  of  the  manufacturing  department.  He 
subsequently  became  the  owner  of  the  mill,  and  for  nearly 
fifty  years  was  a  successful  manufacturer  of  gunpowder.f 

ARMS  AND  AMMUNITION. 

September  3,  1634,  the  General  Court  elected  Richard 
Dumer,  then  living  in  Roxbury,  and  Nicholas  Easton,  of 
Ipswich,  with  other  freemen  of  the  colony,  "  ouerseers  of  the 
powder  &  shott  &  all  other  afhunicon,  in  the  siiall  plantacons 
where  they  lyve.  "  | 

Subsequently  every  person  capable  of  bearing  arms  was 
obliged  to  furnish  himself  with  a  musket,  and  also  with 
powder  and  shot. 

March  13,  1638-9,  the  General  Court  ordered  that 

*  Massachusetts  Arcliives,  vol.  lix.,  p.  124.  tHistor>'  of  Dorchester  (1859),  pp.  607-611. 

J  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  125. 


78  HISTORY   OF    XEIVBUKY 

Neweberry,  Linn,  Hingham  Waymoth  each  of  them  shall  have  one 
barrell  of  gunpowder,  wdi  shalbee  sould  out  to  those  that  find  muskets, 
at  2s  the  pound,  wt'i  money  shall  bee  returned  to  the  Treasurer,  &  for 
want  thereof,  the  Treasurer  shall  levy  it  of  the  towne,  &c.* 

In  consequence  of  the  warlike  attitude  of  the  Indians  the 
General  Court  distributed,  September  8,  1642,  a  certain 
quantity  of  gunpowder  to  every  town  in  the  colony.  Hamp- 
ton, Salisbury,  Newbury,  and  Rowley  received  one  barrel 
each  ;  and  the  record  further  says  "  that  Hampton  &  Newe- 
berry had  each  of  them  a  barrell  before,  w'^''  they  are  to  alow 
for,  besides  the  barrell  w*^''  is  now  alowed  to  each  of  them  by 
this  order."  f 

It  is  evident  that  arms  and  ammunition  were  not  abundant 
in  the  colony  at  that  time,  and  the  following  orders  indicate 
that  the  colonial  authorities  were  careful  and  prudent  in 
distributing  them. 

September  7,  1643  It  is  ordered  that  Ipswich,  Salem  &  Newberry 
shall  answere  for  the  powder  or  armes  they  have  had.J 

It  is  ordered  that  the  souldiers  of  Ipswich,  Rowley  &  Newberry,  wcH 
were  sent  to  the  Indians,  should  each  man  bee  alowed  one  pound  of 
powder.J 

May  29,  1644  It  was  ordered  that  the  surveyor  of  amies  shall  de- 
liver to  the  deputies  of  Newberry  two  snaphance  muskets  instead  of 
those  wee  had  of  them,  &  not  of  lesse  valewe.§ 

May  14,  1645,  ths  several  towns  in  the  colony  were 
ordered  to  send  to  the  general  surveyor  of  arms  "  at  Richard 
Fairbanks  howse  in  Boston  "  a  true  report  of  the  number  of 
fire  arms  in  their  possession  "w^''in  a  fortnight  after  y^  sit- 
ting of  y'^  Courte."|| 

A  barrel  of  powder  having  been  delivered  to  Mr.  Edward 
Rawson  for  the  town  of  Newbury,  and  a  portion  of  it  having 
been  used  in  the  public  service,  the  General  Court  ordered, 
May  2,  1649,  "that  EdvV^  Rawson  should  onely  satisfy  y^ 
survey""  gen''all  5^  for  y^  barrell ;  &  the  towne  of  Newbury  & 
himself e  is  hereby  discharged  therefrom."  ^ 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  255.     t  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  26.     }  Und.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  46. 
§  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  72.  I!  Ibid.,  vol.  iii.,  p.  14.  IT  Ibid.   vol.  ii.,  p.  270. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  PARKER  RIVER  79 


COMMISSIONERS    OF   SMALL   CAUSES. 

Magistrates  elected  to  the  General  Court  were  authorized, 
September  6,  1638,  to  hear  and  determine  all  questions 
"where  the  debt  trespas  or  damage  &c  doth  not  exceed  20^" 
in  the  towns  where  they  resided,  "and  in  towns  where  no 
magistrate  dwells,  the  Generall  Court  shall  from  time  to  time 
nominate  3  men,  two  whereof  shall  have  like  powej  to  heare 
&  determine  all  such  actions  vnder  20^"  * 

The  same  day  "  M""  Edward  Rawson,  M'  John  Woodbridge 
&  M""  EdW^  Woodman  were  chosen  "  commissioners  for  the 
town  of  Newbury. 

June  2,  1 64 1  for  to  order  small  causes  at  Newberry,  Mr  Woodman, 
Mr  John  Oliver  &  M""  John  Woodbridge  are  appointed. f 

October  7,  1641,  Mr.  Edward  Rawson  was  chosen  com 
missioner  in  place  of  Mr.  John  Oliver  ;|  June  14,  1642, 
"  M''  Greenleiffe  is  appointed  instead  of  M""  Woodman  to  end 
small  businesses  in  Neweberry  "  ;§  and,  September  27,  1642, 
"  Mr  Clarke  is  appointed  in  M""  Rawsons  place  to  end  small 
causes  at  Newberry."  || 

May  29,  1644,  the  General  Court  ordered  "that  M''  Rich''d 
Dumer,  James  Browne,  &  Henry  Short  shall  end  small  con- 
troversies at  Newberry."  ^[ 

May  14,  1645  Mr  Edward  Woodman,  Mr  John  Lowle,  &  Richrd 
Knight  are  chosen  to  end  small  causes  under  20s  in  Neweberry.** 


FINES    AND    PUNISHMENTS. 
At  a  cjuarterly  court  held  in  Boston  December  4,  1638, 

The  towne  of    Neweberry  was   fined    5   shs  for  want  of  a  paire  of 
stocks  &  time  was  given  them  till  the  nexte  courte  to  make  them,  ff 

June   2,   1640   Neweberry,  for  want  of    towne   weights   &  measures, 
fined  6s  8ci.++ 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  239.        t  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  328.         %  Ibid.,  p.  339. 
§  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  14.  II  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  28.  H  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  72. 

**  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  98.  tt  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  248.  %%  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  297. 


8o  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

March  3,  1639,  40  M^  Henry  Seawall  for  his  contemptuous  speach 
&  carriage  to  M""  Saltonstal)  was  enjoyned  to  acknowledg  his  fault  pub- 
likely  at  Ipswich  court  &  to  bee  of  good  behavio''  &  was  enjoyned  to 
appear  at  the  next  Quarter  Court  &c.  .  .  .  hee  bound  him  selfe  in  66^ 
13s  41!  for  his  appearance  &  good  behavic.* 

June  2,  1640  Ml'  Rich'd  Duilier  for  want  of  weights  &  scales,  wch 
were  supplied,  5s. f 

March  2,  1640/41  M^  Rich^d  Duilier  had  his  fine  of  5s  remitted,  the 
p'sentmt  being  upon  a  mistake,  as  was  testified.  J 

William  Franklin,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Newbury, 
was  accused  of  excessive  cruelty,  which  resulted  in  the  death 
of  a  boy  whom  he  had  taken  as  an  apprentice.  He  was  tried 
at  the  Court  of  Assistants  in  April,  1644  (?),  and  "was  found 
guilty  of  murder  ;  but  some  of  the  magistrates,  doubting  of  the 
justice  of  the  case,  he  was  reprieved  till  the  next  court  of  as- 
sistants." §  May  29,  1644,  the  General  Court,  after  further 
consideration  of  the  case,  declared  :  — 

Willi :  Francklin  is  refered  to  the  matrats  j  if  they  see  cause  hee 
may  have  a  second  triall  for  his  life  the  next  Quarter  Cor't.|| 

The  governor  and  magistrates  having  met  at  Salem,  May 
30,  1644,  were  not  disposed  to  grant  the  condemned  man  a 
second  trial,  and  promptly  sentenced  him  to  be  hanged  for 
murder. 

A  warrant  was  signed  by  the  governor  a  week  after,  which  was  not 
approved  by  some  in  regard  of  his  reprieval  to  the  next  court  of  assist- 
ants.1j 

JOHN    EALES,   BEEHIVE    MAKER. 

The  making  of  beehives  was  evidently  not  a  lucrative  busi- 
ness in  Newbury  in  1644.  Flowers  were  growing  in  abun- 
dance in  the  woods  and  fields,  but  skill  and  ability  in  the 
management  of  bees  was  necessary  in  order  to  turn  them  into 
a  possible  source  of  revenue. 

Hive  or  honey  bees  were  brought  to  America  by  the  early 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  2S6.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  297. 

J  Ibid,  vol.  i,  p.  315.  §Wintlirop's  History,  vol.  ii,  p.  225. 

II  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  71.  1  Winthrop's  History,  vol.  ii.,  p.  226. 


THE   SETTLEAIEXT  AT  PARKER   RIVER  5i 

settlers  of  New  England.  They  followed  the  pioneers  of 
civilization  to  Ohio  and  Kentucky,  but  as  late  as  1797  they 
were  practically  unknown  in  the  vast  uninhabited  territory 
lying  west  of  the  Mississippi  river. 

The  inhabitants  of  Newbury  were  evidently  disposed  to 
favor  bee-keeping,  as  a  new  and  profitable  industry  ;  and  John 
Eales  was  engaged  to  assist  them  in  their  efforts  to  make  the 
business  a  financial  success,  as  appears  from  the  following 
petition  to  the  General  Court  :  — 

To  the   Honnored  Courte  now  assembled.     The  humble  petition  of 
John  Lowle  &  Edward  Woodman  in  the  name  &  on  the  behalfe  of  the 
Towne  of  Newberrj'. 
Humbly  Showeth 

That  whereas  one  John  Eales  aged  upwards  of  70  years  on  or  about 
August  last  came  to  Newberry  to  one  John  Davis  a  Renter  of  a  farm 
there  wth  ye  expectation  of  his  doing  service  which  the  Towne  was  not 
acquainted  with,  being  found  unable  to  gett  his  living  &  going  from  us 
was  stayed  by  ye  constable  of  Ipswich.  Ye  Honnor'd  Courte  thereup- 
pon  sent  him  back  to  ye  constable  of  Newbury  to  be  found  at  the  Coun- 
treyes  charge  untill  this  Courte  sh'ld  determine  the  waye  to  dispose  of 
him.  Now  our  humble  desire  is  yt  ye  worships  would  be  pleased  to  dis- 
pose of  him  where  it  may  be  least  chargeable  to  ye  countreye  &  most 
beneficial  to  himself,  wth  what  &  where  ye  constable  shall  pay  out  ye 
worships  shall  Judge  meete  for  his  so  long  abiding  with  him,  &  your 
peiiconers  shall  pray  &c 

John  Lowle 
Edward  Woodman  * 

In  answer  to  this  petition  the  General  Court  ordered,  May 
14,  1645  :  — 

It  is  conceived  John  Eales  should  be  placed  in  some  convenient 
place  where  he  may  be  implied  in  his  trade  of  beehive  makeing,  etc.  ;  & 
ye  towne  of  Neweberry  to  make  up  what  his  work  wanteth  of  defraying 
ye  charge  of  his  livelyhood.f 

*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  i.,  pp.  4,  5. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  loi.  May  14,  1634,  "John  Eales"  was  made 
a  freeman  at  the  General  Court  (Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  369).    As  early  as 

1640,  perhaps  earlier,  he  was  living  at  Fox  Point,  Dorchester.  He  had  a  son  Samuel,  baptized 
May  3,  1640.  In  the  note-book  of  Thomas  Lechford,  pages  418  to  424,  there  is  a  covenant  or 
agreement  between  "  Thomas  Allen  of  Barnstable  and  John  Eells  of  Dorchester,"  made  July  8, 

1641,  in  regard  to  house  and  land  in  the  county  of  Devon,  England.  "  John  Eeles  "  is  said  to 
have  removed  from  Dorchester  to  Hingham,  and  may  afterwards  have  settled  as  bee-hive  maker 
in  Newburj'. 


82  UTS  TORY  OF  NEWBURY 

REMOVAL   FROM    PARKER    RIVER   TO    MERRIMACK   RIVER. 

The  map  on  the  opposite  page  gives  the  bounds  and  limits 
of  Newbury  after  the  incorporation  of  Rowley  in  1639,  ^^^^ 
the  location  of  some  of  the  prominent  hills.  The  line  ex- 
tending from  the  landing-place  on  Parker  river  to  Mr.  John 
Spencer's  farm  gives  the  general  direction  of  the  path  or  way 
that  was  subsequently  extended,  as  shown  by  the  dotted  line, 
to  the  ferry  landing  on  Merrimack  river.  The  way  from 
Frog  pond  to  Watts's  cellar  is  now  State  street,  New- 
bury port. 

The  limited  supply  of  arable  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Parker 
river  induced  many  of  the  inhabitants  to  favor  a  removal 
to  a  new  location  three  or  four  miles  distant.  No  definite 
action  was  taken,  however,  until  1642,  when  a  board  of 
commissioners  was  appointed  to  lay  out  and  assign  to  the 
freeholders  of  the  town  all  the  undivided  land  between  the 
narrow  winding  path,  or  way,  now  known  as  Parker  Street,  or 
Low  gtreet,  and  the  Merrimack  river,  extending  from  John 
Spencer's  farm  on  the  southeast  to  the  mouth  of  the  Arti- 
choke on  the  northwest.  Many  serious  difficulties  and  com- 
plications delayed  the  work  of  the  commissioners.  A  strong 
and  vigorous  minority  opposed  the  removal  of  the  meeting- 
house, and  otherwise  obstructed  the  organization  of  the  new 
settlement.  After  a  long  and  severe  struggle  the  opposition 
was  weakened,  and  conciliated  by  special  grants  and  conces- 
sions ;  and  the  important  question  that  had  disturbed  the  town 
for  four  years  was  definitely  settled. 

The  first  order  relating  to  the  proposed  removal  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Newbury  is  found  in  the  Proprietors'  Records, 
and  reads  as  follows  :  — 

Generall  and  perticular  orders  made  by  the  men  Deputed  for  the 
Managing  of  those  things  that  concerne  the  ordering  of  the  New  Tovvne 
from  Decem'l)  yth  1642.* 

•Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  fol.  44. 


2  ?# 


84 


HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 


Mr  Richard  Duirier 
Mr  Henry  Sewall 
Mr  Edward  Ravvson 
Mr  John  Lo'wle 
Henry  Short 
Thomas  Cromwell 
Nicholas  Holt 
Henry  Rolfe 
John  Merrill 
Thomas  Hale 
Joseph  Peasly 
William  Morss 
John  Goff 
John  Stevens 
Anthony  Short 
John  Pemberton 
John  Pike  Senr 
John  Musselwhite 
John  Emery 
Anthony  Soiiierby 
Richard  Bartlet 
William  Moodey 
William  Franckling 
Abraham  Topan 
Henry  Sofnerby 
Walter  Allen 
Thomas  Silver 
Henry  Travers 
Richard  Litleale 
Gyles  Badger 


Mr  John  Spencer 
Mr  John  Clark 
Mr  John  Woodbridge 
Mr  John  Cutting 
Mr  James  Browne 
Richard  Knight 
Richard  Browne 
Mrs  Oliver 
Stephen  Kent 
John  Cheney 
Richard  Badger 
Anthony  Morss 
William  Thomas 
Nicholas  Noyes 
Widdow  Stevens 
Nath  Wier 
Mr  Woodman 
John  Kelly 
John  Fry 
Francis  Plunier 
John  Bartlet 
Robert  Coker 
Richard  Fitts 
William  Palmer 
Thomas  Blumfield 
Thomas  Coleman 
George  Browne 
Nath  Badger 
John  Bond 
William  Berry 
Mr  Miller 
Jo  Russ 

It  is  declared  and  ordered  hereby  according  to  the  former  intentions 
of  the  Towne  that  the  persons  only  above  mentioned  are  acknowledged 
to  be  free  holders  by  the  Towne  and  to  have  proportionable  Right  in 
all  waste  lands,  comons  &  Rivers  undisposed,  and  such  as  by,  from  or 
under  them,  or  any  of  ym,  or  theyr  Heyrs,  have  Bought,  Granted 
and  Purchased  from  them  or  any  of  them  theyr  Right  &  title  there- 
unto &  none  else.  Provided  also  that  no  freeholder  shall  bring  in  any 
cattle  of  other  mens  or  towns  on  the  Towns  common,  above  or  beyond 
their  proportions  otherwise  than  the  freemen  shall  permit.* 

The  names  of  the  freeholders  and  the  accompanying 
order,  acknowledging  their  "proportionable  right  in  all  waste 

♦Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  fol.  44. 


Mr  Thomas  Parker 
Mr  James  Noyes 
Mr  Percival  Lowle 
Mr  Stephen  Dumer 
Richard  Kent  Junr 
Samuel  Scullard 
Mr  Edmund  Greenleaf 
John  Osgood 
Abell  Huse 
Joseph  Carter 
John  Knight 
Henry  Lunt 
Thomas  Browne 
John  Hutchens 
Daniel  Thirston 
John  Poer 
John  Pike  Junr 
Henry  Palmer 
William  Titcomb 
Nicholas  Batt 
Thomas  Smith 
William  White 
Thomas  Davis 
Wi»  Elmesley 
Samuel  Guile 
Thomas  Dow 
Archelaus  Woodman 
Jo  Swett 
Christopher  Bartlet 


THE   SETTU'IMEXT  AT  PARKER   KIVEK  85 

land,"  were  evidently  copied,  when  the  Proprietors'  Book  was 
compiled,  from  records  that  are  not  now  in  existence.  There 
IS  no  doubt,  however,  that  the  order,  as  printed,  was  adopted 
by  the  commissioners  soon  after  their  appointment  ;  and  it  is 
certain  that  a  year  or  two  later  they  placed  on  record  the 
following  statement  relating  to  the  proposed  removal  of  the 
inhabitants  from  Parker  river  :  — 

Whereas  the  towne  of  Newbury,  well  weighing  the  streights  they 
were  in  for  want  of  plough  ground,  remoteness  of  the  common,  scarcity 
of  fencing  stuffe,  and  the  like,  did  in  the  year  1642  grant  a  commission 
to  Mr.  Thomas  Parker,  M^  James  Noyes,  Mr  John, Woodbridge,  M^ 
Edward  Rawson,  Mr.  John  Cutting,  Mr.  John  Lowle,  Mr.  Edward 
Woodman,  and  Mr.  John  Clark,  for  removing,  settleing,  and  disposeing 
of  the  inhabitants  to  such  place  as  might  in  their  judgements  best  tend 
to  theyr  enlargements,  exchanging  theyr  lands,  arid  making  such  orders 
as  might  bee  in  theyr  judgements  for  the  well  ordering  of  the  town's 
occasions  and,  as  in  their  commission  more  largely  appeareth,  the  said 
deputed  men  did  order  in  their  first  meeting  and  appoint  John  Merrill, 
Richard  Knight,  Anthony  Short  and  John  Emery  to  go  to  all  the  in- 
habitants of  the  towne,  taking  a  true  list  of  all  the  stock  of  each  inhabi- 
tant, and  make  a  true  valuation  of  all  their  houses,  improved  land,  and 
fences,  that  thereby  a  just  rule  might  be  made  to  proportion  each  in- 
habitant his  portion  of  land  about  the  nev/  towne,  and  removing  of  the 
inhabitants  there. 

It  was  ordered  at  a  meeting  of  the  eight  deputed  men  above  men- 
tioned that  each  freeholder  should  have  a  house  lott  of  foure  akers.  It 
was  further  ordered,  in  respect  of  the  time  for  the  inhabitants  removeing 
from  the  place  they  now  inhabit  to  that  which  is  layd  out  and  appointed 
for  their  new  habitations,  each  inhabitant  shall  enjoy  their  house  lotts 
foure  years  from  the  day  of  the  date  of  this  commission.* 

There  is  nothing  to  indicate  when  this  statement,  with  the 
accompanying  orders,  was  entered  upon  the  record  ;  but  the 
freeholders  of  the  town,  at  a  meeting  held  January  10,  1643- 
4,  voted  "y'  eu''y  house  lott  shall  be  ffoure  acres,"  and  on 
the  same  day  ordered  "y'  he  y'  hath  least  land  in  the  New 
Towne  shall  have  8  acres  y'  [except]  John  Swett,  Tho : 
Silver,  Jo  :  Russe."  * 

The  adoption  of  these  votes  and  orders  induced  those  who 
were  dissatisfied  to  appeal  to  the  governor  and  the  House  of 

•Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 


86  HISTORY   OF  NEIVBUKY 

Deputies  for  protection  and  assistance.  June  ii,  1644,  the 
General  Court  ordered  "  (in  ans""  to  ye  peticon  of  pte  of  y* 
inhabitants  of  Newberry)  that  noe  village  or  towne  shalbee 
erected  w"Un  the  bounds  of  y*^  said  towne  vntill  such  time  as 
y^  peticon^  bee  ans'''-'''  by  way  of  comission  or  otherwise."  * 

What  further  action  was  taken  in  regard  to  this  petition 
is  unknown  ;  but  it  is  certain  that  the  place  first  selected 
for  the  new  meeting-house,  "  upon  the  hill  by  the  little  pine 
swamp,"  was  subsequently  changed  "  at  a  Towne  meeting  of 
y^  8  men  the  2^^  of  January  1645-6,"  as  appears  by  the 
following  record  :  — 

Wee,  whose  names  are  in  ye  margent  expressed  (James  Noyes,  Ed- 
ward Woodman,  John  Cutting,  Jolin  Lowle,  Richard  Knight  and  Henry 
Short,)  for  ye  settleing  ye  distraceons  yt  yett  remayne  about  ye  setling 
and  placeing  ye  meeting  house  yt  all  men  may  cheerfully  goe  on  to  im- 
prove their  lands  at  ye  new  towne  doe  determine  yt  ye  meeting  house 
shall  be  placed  &  sett  up  at  or  before  ye  twentieth  of  October  next  in, 
or  upon,  a  knowle  of  upland  by  Abraham  Toppans  barne  wthin  a  sixe 
or  sixteen  Rodd  of  this  side  of  ye  gate  posts  yt  are  sett  up  in  ye  high- 
way by  said  Abraham  Toppans  barne. 

Edward  Rawson  contradicents  this  order.f 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iii.,  p.  8. 
t  Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 


CHAPTER    III. 

THE    SETTLEMENT    AT    MERRIMACK    RIVER, 
1645-1685. 

Although  the  location  of  the  new  meeting-house  was  defi- 
nitely fixed  and  settled  by  the  vote  recorded  January  2, 
1645-6,  a  long  remonstrance,  signed  by  Edmund  Greenleaf, 
Daniel  Thurston,  Stephen  Kent,  John  Poore,  and  others,  was 
presented  to  the  General  Court,  denouncing  the  vote  as  ille- 
gal and  unjust,  and  proposing  that  the  church,  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Thomas  Parker,  should  be  divided, 
one  of  the  elders  to  remain  with  the  old  church,  the  other 
to  go  with  the  new  one.* 

To  this  petition,  or  remonstrance,  the  General  Court  re- 
turned the  following  answer,  PvTay  26,  1647:  — 

1.  It  is  conceived  meete,  yt  it  be  declared  by  ye  authority  of  this 
Co^te,  yt  ye  comission  granted  to  ye  major  pt  of  ye  towne  of  Newberry 
&:  ye  p'ceedings  thereupon,  to  be  legall  &  warrantable. 

2.  That  if  any  errors  were  in  ye  said  coinission  &c  or  any  dissent 
from  ye  same  by  any  of  ye  minor  pt  &c  yet  they  are  all  concluded  iro"^ 
taking  any  exception  thereto,  in  regard  of  their  acceptance  of  ye  recom- 
pence  ord^ed  for  satisfaction. 

3.  That  ye  petition's  of  ye  minor  pt  have  failed  in  not  submiting  to 
their  owne  covenant. 

4.  That  a  letf  be  written  from  this  Co^te  to  the  two  eld^s  &  those 
brethren  of  ye  major  pt,  yt  for  peace  sake  they  would  please  by  turnes 
to  supply  ye  other  pt  &c.t 

The  petitioners,  however,  were  dissatisfied  with  the  deci- 
sion of  the  General  Court,  and  did  not  attempt  to  conceal 
their  ve.xation  and  disappointment.  Several  of  them  removed 
from  Newbury  ;  and  those  who  remained  reluctantly  acqui- 
esced in  the  removal  of  the  meeting-house  "  to  a  knowie  of 
upland  by  Abraham  Toppans  barne." 

♦Coffin's  History  of  Newburj',  PP-  44-46-  • 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  iq6. 

[87I 


88 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


House  lots  and  farm  lots  were  laid  out  in  the  new  settle- 
ment, and  assigned  to  the  freeholders  of  the  town  of  New- 
bury as  early  as  1645.  An  order  was  adopted  which,  though 
somewhat  vague  and  confusing,  gives  some  of  the  details  of 
the  assignment,  as  follows  :  — 

It  is  ordered  (S:  determined  by  tlie  orderers  of  the  Towne  affairs 
that  the  plan  of  the  new  Towne  is  &  shall  be  layd  out  by  the  lott  lays 
as  ye  house  lotts  were  determined  by  their  choice  beginning  from  the 
farthermost  on  the  south  street  thence  running  threw  the  Pine  swampe 
then  up  the  high  street  numbering  the  lotts  in  the  south  street  from  the 
first  to  John  Bartlett's  lott  the  27th  then  through  the  west  side  of  the 
high  street  to  Mr  Lowles  ye  28th  &  so  to  the  end  of  the  streete  then  run- 
ning thro'  field  streete  to  Mr  Woodmans  ye  41st  thence  to  the  end  of 
that  street  to  John  Cheneys  ye  50th  then  turning  to  the  first  Cross  street 
the  west  side  of  John  Emery  51st  thence  coming  up  from  the  River  side 
on  the  East  side  of  the  same  street  to  the  other  street  the  west  side  to 
Daniel  Pearses  ye  57th  &  so  to  the  River  side  on  yt  side  the  streete  to 
Mr  Clarke,  whence  from  ye  water  side  up  the  street  on  the  East  side  to 
ffrancis  Plumer  66th  as  hereunder  by  names  &  figures  appended.* 


Mr.  Thomas  Parker 

33 

Daniel  Pearson 

57 

Mr  James  Noyes 

32 

Thos :  Blumfield 

Mr  Woodman 

41 

Nath.  Badger 

58 

John  Knight 

09 

John  Bond 

Richard  Knight 

10 

John  Swett 

26 

John  Pike  Junior 

SS 

Wm  Hilton 

Arch :  Woodman 

42 

Robt  Lewis 

Jo  :  Pemberton 

46 

Gyles  Badger 

63 

Rich.  Little  Ale   ' 

49 

Mr  Greenlefe 

07 

Rich,  ffitts 

50 

Mrs  Oliver 

17 

Widdow  Stevens 

13  &  14 

Lt  John  Lowle 

28 

John  Stevens 

14 

Anth  :  Short 

08 

Anth  :  Somerby 

44 

Jo  :  Hutchins 

34 

Richard  Bartlett 

25 

Mr  Clarke 

60 

John  Bartlett 

27 

Mr  Rawson 

31 

Wm  Titcomb 

24 

Jos :  Cheney 

30 

Nich :  Batt 

47 

VVydd :  Goffe 

Robt  Coker 

53 

Tho  :  Browne 

56 

Tho.  Dowe 

23 

Wm  Elnsley 

Rich :  Badger 

04 

Nich.  Noyse 

06 

Hen :  Travers 

01 

Hen:  Lunt 

49 

John  Emery  • 

51 

Mr  Browne 

18 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i.,  p   26. 


TIIK   SETTLEMEXT  AT  MEk'E/AElCA'  KIl'ER  89 


Hen.  Palmer 

M'-  John  Cutting 

30 

Rich  :  Kent  Senr 

Mr  Lowle  Senr 

29 

Wm  Palmer 

Sam :  Plumer 

65 

Thomas  Cromwell 

A  nth  :  Morse 

54 

Sam  :  Scullard 

45 

Wm  Morse 

II 

Tho :  Silver 

Hen  Rolfe 

II 

^  Walter  Allen 

Dan :  Thurston 

39 

ffrancis  Plumer 

66 

Able  Huse 

39 

Abraham  Toppan 

20 

Jo  :  Poore 

35 

John  Musslewte 

Jo  :  Merrill 

40 

Thos.  Haile 

Abr.  Merrill 

36 

Tho :  Coleman 

72 

Jo:  ffits 

Wyddow  Browne 

19 

fferry  lott 

Jo  :  Pike  Senr 

02 

Jo  :  Indian 

61 

The  house  lots  were  assigned  to  the  persons  above  named 
in  exchange  for  land  previously  granted  them  at  Parker 
river,  and  many  of  the  transfers  and  conveyances  were 
promptly  recorded  by  the  town  clerk.  Some  of  them,  how- 
ever, were  forgotten  or  overlooked,  while  others  were  not 
presented  for  approval  and  registration  until  several  years 
later  :  *  "  William  Mors  in  consideration  of  his  resigning  up 
an  house  lot  in  the  old  town  is  granted  one  at  the  new  town 
joyning  to  the  new  street "  ;  f  Anthony  Mors  for  the  same 
consideration  "  is  granted  an  house  lot  at  the  new  town 
joyning  Cross  street"  ;  Joseph  Peasle  "  is  granted  an  house 
lot  in  the  new  town  joyning  ffish  street  "  ;  John  Knight,  "  an 
house  lot  at  the  new  town  joyning  South  Street "  ;  Samuel 
Plumer,  "an  house  lot  at  the  new  town  joyning  New  Street  "  ; 
Percivell  Lowle,  "an  house  lot  at  the  new  town  joyning  Hill 
Street"  ;  John  Cutting,  "an  house  lot  at  the  new  town  joyn- 
ing Hill  Street "  ;  PZdmund  Mooers,  "an  house  lot  at  the  new 
town  joyning  South  Street  "  ;  James  Browne,  "an  house  lot 
at  the  new  town  joyning  Hill  Street";  Henry  Lunt,  "an 
house  lot  at  the  new  town  joyning .  Merrimack  Street  "  ; 
William  Stevens,  "an  house  lot  at  the  new  town  joyning 
South  Street";  Nicholas  Noyes,  "an  house  lot  at  the  new 
town  joyning  South  Street"  ;  Thomas  Brown,  "an  house  lot 

*"  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  94. 

t  Town  of  Newbury  Proprietors'  Records,  pp.  56-5S,  inclusive. 


9°  HISTORY  OF  XEIVBUKY 

at  the  new  town  joyning  Cross  Street"  ;  Widdow  Goff,  "an 
house  lot  at  the  new  town  joyning  Hill  Street  "  ;  Thomas 
Smith,  "an  house  lot  at  the  new  town  joyning  Merrimack 
Street  "  ;  John  Pemberton,  "  an  house  lot  at  the  new  town 
joyning  Merrimack  Street";  John  Emery,  "an  house  lot  at 
the  new  town  joyning  Cross  Street  "  ;  Henry  Travers,  "  an 
house  lot  at  the  new  town  joyning  South  Street  and  Merri- 
mack Street";  Richard  Ba'dger,  "an  house  lot  at  the  new 
town  joyning  South  Street";  Thomas  Dow,  "an  house  lot 
at  the  new  town  joyning  to  the  way  by  ffrogg  pond  "  ;  Gyles 
Cromlon,  "  an  house  lot  at  the  new  town  joyning  New  Street  "  ; 
Samuel  Scullard,  "an  house  lot  at  the  new  town  in  the  nine 
lots";  Anthony  Somerby,  "an  house  lot  at  the  new  town 
joyning  to  Merrimack  Street  in  the  nine  lots";  Richard 
ffitts,  "an  house  lot  at  the  new  town  joyning  to  Merrimack 
Street  in  the  nine  lots"  ;  Richard  Littlehale,  "an  house  lot  at 
the  new  town  joyning  to  Merrimack  Street  in  the  nine  lots  "  ; 
Thomas  Blumfield,  "an  house  lot  at  the  new  town  joyning  to 
ffish  street";  Percivall  Lowle,  "four  acres  of  land  in  the 
Little  field  "  ;  John  Lowle,  "  four  acres  of  land  in  the  Little 
field";  Archelaus  Woodman,  "an  house  lot  joyning  to  Mer- 
rimack Street "  ;  Edward  Woodman,  "  forty  acres  of  land 
joyning  to  Merrimack  Streete  and  the  way  going  to  the  Aspen 
Swamp";  Abraham  Toppan,  "four  acres  of  land  joyning  to 
Hill  Street";  Gyles  Badger,  "four  acres  of  land  joyning  to 
ffish  Street  "  ;  John  Fry,  "four  acres  of  land  joyning  to  ffish 
Street."  * 

The  commercial  advantages  of  the  new  settlement  were 
developed  and  strengthened  in  many  ways.  Mr.  John  Cut- 
ting, "shipmaster,"  removed  from  the  old  town  to  the  new 
town;  Mr.  Thomas  Millward,f  who  owned  a  "shallop,"  came 

*  Fish  street,  also  called  "  New  Street  "  and"  the  way  to  Watts  Sellar  "  in  the  early  records,  is 
now  State  street,  Newburyport.  Cross  street,  afterward  called  "  Ord way's  Lane,"  is  now 
Market  street,  Newburyport.  Hill  street  extends  from  Parker  to  Pond  streets,  Newbur\'port, 
and  still  retains  its  old  name.  South  street  is  now  Parker  street,  Newbury.  And  Merrimack 
street,  also  called  "  the  country  road,"  is  now  known  as  High  street  (in  Newbury  and  Newbury- 
port) ,  beginning  at  Parker  river  and  extending  to  the  Three  Roads,  so  called. 

t  "  Thomas  Millward,  seaman,"  bought  of  Stephen  Kent  of  Newbury,!  March  i6,  1O45-6, 
"  ten  acres  of  upland  as  it  is  sitluate  on  Merrimack  River." 

"  Richard  ffitts  of  Newbury"  sold  March  26,  1645-6,  "  to  Thomas  Millward,  mariner,  live 
acres  of  upland  scituate  on  Merrimack  River." 


THE   SETTLEMEXT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  9 1 

to  Newbury  from  Cape  Ann  ;   and  Aquilla  Chase,  who  was 
evidently  a  good  boatman,  came  from  Hampton. 

In  1646,  the  freeholders  of  Newbury  granted  Aquilla 
Chase  four  acres  of  land  for  a  house  lot  at  the  new  town, 
and  six  acres  for  a  planting  lot,  "  on  condition  that  he  do  goe 
to  sea  and  do  service  in  the  towne  with  a  boate  for  four 
years."  * 

Laid  out  to  Aquilla  Chace  four  acres  of  land  for  a  house  lott,  be  it 
more  or  less,  in  the  new  Towne  joyning  to  Henry  ffays  land  on  the 
South  West  and  the  street  on  the  South  East  and  the  way  by  Merri- 
mack River  on  the  North  East  and  David  Wheelers  land  on  the 
West.f 

The  building  of  houses  in  the  new  town  and  the  clearing 
of  land  for  cultivation  progressed  rapidly  during  the  summer 
of  1646,  and  was  continued  with  unabated  vigor  the  following 
year. 

Decembe>"  10,  1646.  The  towne  being  informed  that  Mr  Thomas 
Parker  was  unwilling  to  act  any  longer  in  any  matters  concerning  the 
new  Towne  &  that  M""  Cutting  was  going  to  sea,  they  were  apprehensive 
of  the  weighty  occasions  of  the  towne  that  are  likely  to  bee  retarded, 
did  make  choyse  of  Nicholas  Noyes  &  William  Titcomb  in  their  roome 
to  be  added  to  the  rest  of  the  new  towne  men  for  sixe  weeks  that  so 
things  may  with  more  speed  be  dispatched.  % 

At  the  meeting  of  the  eight  men  December  16,  1646,  they  made  these 
orders  and  grants  as  follows  :  — 

It  is  ordered  that  whatsoever  land  is  falne  already  or  hereafter  may 
fall  into  the  townes  hands  vpon  the  necke  ouer  the  great  River  shall  per- 
petually remaine  for  the  townes  use  to  be  let  out  for  defraying  public 
charges. 

It  is  ordered  that  all  men  that  hold  land  on  the  necke  over  the  great 
River  shall  not  sell  nor  lett  out  the  same  for  any   time   whereby   it   may 

Mr.  Richard  Doyle  of  Newbury  sold  March  16,  1645-6,  "to  Mr.  Thomas  MilKvard,  mariner, 
five  acres  of  upland  that  he  bought  of  William  Morss  as  it  is  scituate  on  Merrimack  River." 
Newbury  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  43. 

*''0uld  Newbury,"  pp.  22,  123,  I4g. 

tTown  of  Newbury  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  67.  Aquilla  Chase  was  living  in  Hamp- 
ton, N.H.,  March  7,  1643.  He  was  one  of  the  petitioners  to  the  General  Court  who  asked  for  a 
modification  of  the  law  regulating  military  drill  in  that  town.  (See  New  Hampshire  Provin- 
cial Papers,  vol.  i.,  p.  166.) 

The  house  owned  and  occupied  by  Aquilla  Chase  in  Newbury  was  located  on  the  north- 
easterly corner  of  Chandler's  lane  (now  Federal  street,  Newburyport)  and  the  way  by  Merri- 
mack river,  now  Water  street.  , 

$Town  of  Newbury  Records  (1637  to  1692),  p.  60. 


92  HISTORY   OF  XElVnUkY 

bee  alienated  from  the  towne :  (this  last  order  was  made  on  this  consid- 
eration, viz  :  —  because  the  necke  men  have  consented  to  yeld  to  the 
remoueing  of  the  towne,  and  accordingly  have  received  satisfaction  at 
the  new  towne  in  land,  for  their  land  on  the  necke,  and  therefore  have 
yelded  up  their  land  in  the  necke  to  the  Towne). 

It  is  ordered  that  all  those  that  do  accept  of  any  lands  between  the 
great  River  and  Stephen  Dufiiers  farme  shall  have  and  hold  it  on  this 
condition  that  they  goe  not  about  to  divide  the  church,  or  oppose  the 
first  order  or  agreement  about  the  moveing  of  the  towne.* 

On  the  margin  of  the  page  where  the  above  orders  are  re- 
corded is  the  following  memorandum  :  — 

P'snt  at  this  meeting  James  Noyes,  Edward  Woodman,  John  Lowle, 
Hen  :  Short,  Rich  :  Knight,  Nich.  Noyes,  Will  Titcomb.  These  orders 
were  published  Decemb  :   iSth,  1646. 

February  7,  1646-7,  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
of  upland  and  marsh  "  on  y*^  Hand  over  the  little  River  "  were 
granted  to  Richard  Kent,  jr.,  by  the  selectmen,  he 
having,  after  a  long  contest,  consented  to  the  removal  of  the 
town. 

FREEHOLDERS. 

A  person  entitled,  by  grant,  purchase,  or  inheritance,  to  a 
share  in  the  common  and  undivided  lands  of  Newbury  was 
called  a  freeholder  or  proprietor.  Frequent  mention  is  made 
of  the  sale  and  purchase  of  freehold  rights  in  the  first  volume 
of  the  Proprietors'  Records  :■ — 

John  Bond  acknowledges  to  have  sold  to  Christopher  Bartlet  the 
priviledg  of  a  ffreehold  in  the  year  1643.! 

It  was  acknowledged  by  Mr  Edward  Rawson,  Mr  Edward  Woodman, 
and  Richard  Knight,  before  the  three  Townsmen,  Febr  20,  1649,  being 
John  Sanders,  William  Titcomb  &  Archelaus  Woodman,  that  the  hous 
lot  that  Richard  Bartlet  bought  of  M""  William  Thomas,  was  acknowl- 
edged to  have  the  priviledge  of  a  freehold  altho'  it  was  not  sett  downe 
in  the  list  of  the  ffreeholders  they  all  acknowledged  that  it  was  forgott 
and  accordingly  gave  me  order  to  record  it. 

Witness,  Anthony  Somerby,  Recorder.\ 

*Town  of  Neubmy  Records,  1637  to  i6g2,  p.  60. 

t  Town  of  Newbury,  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  53.  +  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  33. 


THE   SETTLEMEXT  AT  A/EA'kVMACK   RfVKR  93 

March  i,  165 1,  a  committee  was  chosen,  consisting  of  the 
selectmen,  "three  commissioners  for  small  causes,"  and 
Richard  Knight,  to  settle  all  claims  arising  from  the  sale  or 
purchase  of  freehold  rights.     The  committee  reported  :  — 

These  persons  heer  under  mentioned  are  acknowledged  to  be  ffree- 
holders  and  to  have  an  interest  in  all  comons  belonging  to  the  Towne 
as  having  lawfully  purchased  they  priviledges  from  such  as  had  the 
priviledges  estated  on  them  by  the  Towne. 

Capt  Gerrish  hath  a  freehold  from  Mr.  Rawson.* 

William  Hilton  from  Mattox  (sold  to  John  Wright). 

James  Jackman  from  Giles  Abbots. 

John  Tilletson  from  Nath  Wyers. 

Samuel  Plumer  from  one  of  John  Lowls. 

William  Ilsley  from  William  Whites. 

Hugh  March  from  George  Browns. 

Christopher  Bartlet  from  John  Bond  one  wch  Stephen  Greenleaf 
hath. 

Richard  Thurlo  from  M''  Clarks. 

John  Chater  from  Henry  Palmers.  , 

George  Little  hath  John  Osgoods. 

Henry  Jaques  from  Walter  AUens^^^-^ 

Ml"  Woodman  from  John  Pembertons. 

Richard  Petengall  from  Mr  Thomas. 

Stephen  Swet  from  John  ffry. 

Joseph  Plumer  from  John  Kelly. 

Edmund  Moers  from  John  Stevens. 

Richard  Browne  from  Giles  Badger. 

Edmund  Moers  hath  Richard  Brownes. 

John  Wheeler  was  acknowledged  to  have  a  priviledg,  and  also  Danie 
Wheeler  and  Aquilla  Chase  &  NathanieLM.exr]ll-  ^ 

Stephen    Greenleaf   from     William    ffracnkling   sold    now    to    John 
Webster. 
-  _-^aiui  Bayley  from  Joseph  Peasly. 

John  Bayley  another  from  W'"  Ilsley. 

William  Titcomb  besides  his  owne  hath  M""  James  Brownes. 

Richard  Bartlet  besides  his  owne  hath  M""  Henry  Sewall  Jun''. 

George  Little  hath  the  other  of  Mr  John  Lowls  freeholds. 

John  Bartlet  besides  his  owne  hath  Samuel  Guiles. 

William  Moody  hath  John  Gofts. 

*  "  Atalegall  meeting  of  the  Towne  March  3,  1661-2  Capt.  William  Gerrish  produced  a  deede  of 
the  purchas  of  Mr  Rawsons  farm  &  ffreehold  in  Newbury  and  the  Towne  Granted  the  said  Capt. 
Gerrish  to  be  recorded  a  ffreeholder  uppon  the  said  Purchas  in  all  the  Towns  Comons  belonging 
to  Newbury.  per  Anthony  Somf.rby,  C/ifrt." 

—  Newbury  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  4g. 


94  HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 

Mr  Sevvals  little  farme  hath  for  pembertons  house  from  Mr  Wood- 
mans  Priviledge  Amos  Stickny. 

Widdow  Keyes  on  Richard  Badger. 
— r  John  Bishop  besides  the  Mill  Lott  hath  Samuel  Scullards  Priviledg. 

John  Emery  Jnr  hath  Daniel  Peirces. 

Mr.  Coffin  hath  Mr  Snellings. 

W>n  Chandler  hath  William  Berries. 

Benjamin  Rolfe  from  Nathaniel  Badger. 

Richard  Dole  from  Mr  Greenleaf. 

Edward  Richardson  purchased  Nathaniel  Wyers  ffreehold  of  John 
Tilletson. 

Feb.  23,  1653  James  Browne  from  his  Grandfather  Mr  Cuttings 
ffreehold. 

Robert  Long  for  four  acres  of  dividend  land  and  four  acres  which  he 
purchased  of  Capt.  Gerrish,  bought  of  the  towns  men  the  right  &  privi- 
lege of  a  freehold.* 

The  towns  men  with  the  rest  of  the  Committee  above  said,  meeting 
January  the  loth  1652  about  their  comission  found  that  all  inhabitants 
was  freeholders  according  to  towne  order  except  those  whose  names  are 
here  under  written  and  these  also  the  committee  according  to  their 
power  do  order  that  they  may  purchase  the  priveledge  of  Commonage, 
each  man  Conditionally;  every  man  do  either  lay  eight  akers  of  divident 
land  to  the  Comon  which  they  may  do  by  purchase  or  else  pay  fifty 
shillings  to  the  townsmen  to  purchase  such  land  for  the  towns  use,  and 
no  other  person  upon  any  Condition  whatsoever. 
John  Knight  Jun.  William  Sawyer 

Robert  Longe  William  Morse 

Edward  Richardson  Robert  Rogers  hath  purchased 

Nath.  Wyres  of  John  Tilletson 
Robert  Morse  Henry  ffay 

Robert  Adams  '  Francis  Ordway  hath  not  of  his 

owne  but  at  pr'sent  he  hath  one  he  buyes  of  John  Bartlet 
John  Hall 

Joseph  Downer  hath  his  father  John  Knights  freehold 
William  Randall  \ 

William  Mitchil    r  hath  not  liberty  to  purchase 
William  Trotter  ) 

Edward  Woodman  hath  Thomas  Davis  freehold 
John  Knight  Junr  hath  purchased  Richard  Littlehale  freehold   as  by  a 

bill  of  sale  appears  Novemb :  23.! 

Edward  Rawson  and  Anthony  Somerby  in  an  affidavit 
dated  August  18,  1654,  state  that  Richard  Bartlet,  senior,  of 

*  Newbury  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  45.  t  Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  95 

Newbury,  "in  consideration  of  a  certain  number  of  bushels  of 
corne  in  hand  paid  and  received  &  for  ten  bushels  a  year 
during  his  natural  life,"  sold  and  conveyed  to  his  son  Richard 
Bartlet  "his  freehold  &  four  acre  lot  at  new  towne,  six 
acres  of  marsh  land  &  five  acres  meadow  land  near  the  ox 
comon,  &  seven  acres  dividend  land  in  the  year  1646." 
The  deed  being  lost,  this  affidavit  was  signed  and  acknowl- 
edged on  the  day  above  named,  and  afterwards  recorded  in 
the  Registry  of  Deeds.* 

March  3,  1661  laid  out  for  M""  Henry  Sewall  for  the  two  freeholds 
he  doth  enjoy,  one  was  for  his  fathers  and  the  other  was  Mr  Edward 
Woodmans,  ten  acres  of  Marshland  being  the  ninth  and  tenth  lots  &c.* 

Mr.  Henry  Sewall  acknowledged  unto  me,  January  3,  1683,  to  have 
given  his  son  John  Sewall  his  freehold  Priviledg  of  Comon  wch  he  pur- 
chased of  Mr.  Woodman.  Anthony  Somerby 

Cler  for  Newbtiry.* 

The  same  day  Mr  Henry  Sewall  acknowledged  to  have  given  his 
son  Stephen  Sewall  the  freehold  of  Comon  which  was  granted  to  his 
father,  Henry  Sewall  deceased. f 

David  Wheeler,  of  Rowley,  planter,  for  twenty-eight  pounds 
sold  to  Caleb  Moody  of  Newbury,  maltster,  all  his  common 
right  or  freehold  belonging  to  the  house  lot  "  lying  near  to 
Watts  his  seller  in  Newbury,"  conditionally,  upon  the  pay- 
ment of  fourteen  pounds  to  the  said  Caleb  Moody  before 
April  I,  1675.  The  bill  of  sale,  dated  February  13,  1672, 
to  be  void  and  of  no  effect,  if  the  said  fourteen  pounds  is 
paid.  I 

FREEMEN. 

The  charter  granted  "  The  Governor  and  Company  of  the 
Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England "  in  1629  provided  for 
the  organization  of  the  company  and  the  orderly  management 
of  its  affairs,  "for  the  imposition  of  lawful  fines,  mulcts,  im- 
prisonment, or  other  lawful  correction,  according  to  the  course 
of  other  Corporations  §  in  this  our  realm  of   England,"  and 

*  Essex  Deeds  (Ipswich  Series) ,  vol.  i.,  p.  184  (500). 

+  Town  of  Newbury  Proprietors'  Records,  p.  66.       %  Ibid,  vol.  i. 

§The  charter  evidently  conveyed  the  rights,  privileges,  and  powers  granted  to  other  corpo- 
rations, organized  and  governed  in  England,  but  did  not  expressly  confer  upon  the  company  the 
right  to  transfer  its  government  to  New  England,  to  levy  taxes,  organize  towns,  or  establish 
courts  of  justice  there. 


96  HISTORY  OF  XEWliURY 

conferred  upon  the  governor,  deputy  governor,  and  their 
assistants  power  and  authority  to  choose  or  appoint  such 
persons  "as  they  shall  think  fit"  to  be  freemen  of  the  com- 
pany, to  aid  and  assist  in  making  "laws  and  ordinances  for 
the  good  and  welfare  of  said  company,  .  .  .  not  contrary  or 
repugnant  to  the  laws  and  statutes  of  this  our  realm  of 
England." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  officers  and  freemen  of  the  company 
held  in  London  October  29,  1629,  it  was  voted  to  transfer 
the  government  and  control  of  the  company  to  New 
England. 

The  first  Court  of  Assistants  was  held  August  23,  1630,  at 
Charlestown.  The  first  session  of  the  General  Court  was 
held  October  19,  1630,  at  Boston.  The  law-making  power 
was  intrusted  by  the  charter  to  the  freemen,  who  were  to 
meet  four  times  each  year  to  decide,  by  a  majority  vote,  all 
questions  relating  to  public  affairs.  The  governor,  deputy 
governor,  and  assistants,  constituted  a  majority,  if  not  all,  of 
the  members  who  were  present  at  the  first  session  of  the 
General  Court.  They  passed  an  order  "  for  the  establishing 
of  the  government "  limiting  the  power  and  authority  of  the 
freemen,  and  giving  to  the  assistants  the  exclusive  right  or 
elect  a  governor  and  deputy  governor,  "  who,  with  the  assist- 
ants, should  have  the  power  of  making  laws  and  choosing  of- 
ficers to  execute  the  same."  No  one  Avas  made  a  freeman  at 
this  session  of  the  court,  although  one  hundred  and  nine  per- 
sons applied  for  admission.* 

May  18,  1 63 1,  the  General  Court  ordered  that  "no  man 
shalbee  admitted  to  the  freedome  of  this  body  polliticke  but 
such  as  are  members  of  some  of  the  churches  within  the 
lymitts  of  the  same."  f 

At  this  session  one  hundred  and  sixteen  persons,  including 
most  of  those  who  applied  in  October,  1630,  took  the  oath, 
and  were  admitted  as  freemen. 

May  9,  1632,  the  order  adopted  October  19,  1630,  in  re- 
gard to  the  election  of  officers  was  modified  and  made  accept- 
able to  the  people  by  an  agreement   that   the  governor  and 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  pp.  79,  So.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  S7. 


THE   SEJ'TLEMKXT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIl'ER  97 

deputy  governor  should,  after   that   date,    be  chosen   by   the 
freemen,  and  not  by  the  assistants.* 

May  14,  1634,  it  was,voted  that  "none  but  the  General 
Court  hath  power  to  chuse  and  admitt  ffreemen  "  ;  f  and  Sep- 
tember 3,  1635,  all  questions  relating  to  the  admission  of  in- 
habitants, or  to  the  granting  and  laying  out  of  house  lots  in 
towns,  were,  by  order  of  the  General  Court,  referred  to  the 
freemen  of  the  several  towns  for  settlement. J 

March  3,  1635—6,  the  General  Court  ordered  "that  noe 
p'son,  being  a  member  of  any  cliurche  which  shall  hereafter 
be  gathered  without  the  approbation  of  the  Magistrates  & 
the  greater  p'te  of  the  said  churches,  shalbe  admitted  to  the 
ffreedom  of  this  comonwealthe."  § 

After  March  9,  1636-7,  every  military  officer  or  civilian 
holding  a  position  of  honor  or  trust  was  compelled  to  take 
the  oath  of  a  freeman  ;  "  for  it  is  the  intent  and  order  of  the 
court  that  no  person  shall  henceforth  be  chosen  to  any  office 
in  the  Commonwealth  but  such  as  is  a  freeman."  || 

In  answer  to  a  petition  presented  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
county  of  Middlesex,  the  General  Court  ordered.  May  3 1, 
1660,  "that  no  man  whosoeuer  shall  be  admitted  to  the  free- 
dom of  this  body  politic  but  such  as  are  members  of  some 
cluirch  of  Christ,  and  in  full  com'nion,  w^'^  they  declare  to  be 
y^  true  intent  of  y*  anncient  lawe  enacted  May  18,  163 1."  ^ 

King  Charles  II.,  in  a  letter  to  the  General  Court  dated 
June  28,  1662,  objected  to  the  arbitrary  provisions  of  this 
law.  It  was  repealed  August  3,  1664,  3-'""^l  3.  new  one  en- 
acted, admitting  to  the  freedom  of  the  Commonwealth,  by 
a  majority  vote  of  the  members  of  the  General  Court,  all 
Englishmen  presenting  a  certificate  from  the  minister  of  the 
place  where  they  dwell  "  that  they  are  orthodox  in  religion 
&  not  vitious  in  theire  Hues,"  and  also  a  certificate  from  the 
selectmen  that  they  are  freeholders  and  pay  a  tax  of  ten 
shillings,  or  more,  annually.*  * 

Col.  Richard  Nicolls,  Sir  Robert  Carr,  George  Cartwright, 
Esq.,  and  Samuel  Maverick,  Esq.,  commissioners  sent  by  the 

•Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  95.         t  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  117.  Jlbid. ,  vol.  i., 

p.  161.        §  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  168.  11  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  18S.  H  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  420. 

*•  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  part  II.,  p.  117. 


98  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

king  to  confer  with  the  colonial  authorities  in  regard  to 
alleged  abuses  in  the  administration  of  government  in  New 
England,  endeavored  to  secure  a  modification  of  this  law,  and 
especially  the  tax  qualification  which  they  severely  criticised 
and  denounced.  In  a  communication  addressed  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court  they  state  their  objections  to  the  law,  and  say  :■ — 

When  the  King  shall  be  enformed,  as  the  trueth  is,  that  not  one 
church  member  in  an  hundred  payes  so  much  &  yt  in  a  towne  of  an 
hundred  inhabitants  scarse  three  such  men  are  to  be  found,  wee  feare 
the  King  will  rather  finde  himself  deluded  than  satisfied  by  your  late 
act.  Though  you  commend,  to  the  ministry  &  people,  the  record  of  the 
Lord  for  their  rule,  yet  you  did  it  with  a  provisoe  that  they  have  the 
approbation  of  the  Court  as  appears  in  the  same  page ;  and  wee  have 
great  reason  both  to  thinke  &  say  that  the  King  &  his  council  &  the 
church  of  England,  vnderstands  &  follows  the  rules  in  Gods  word  as 
much  as  their  corporation.* 

A  few  months  before  the  above  protest  was  presented  by 
the  commissioners  the  county  courts  were  authorized,  Octo- 
ber 19,  1664,  to  administer  the  freeman's  oath  to  any  person 
approved  by  the  General  Court. f  After  a  long  delay  and 
a  somewhat  acrimonious  discussion  the  commissioners  re- 
turned to  England.  The  king  was  occupied  with  political 
troubles  and  dissensions  at  home,  and  for  many  years  paid 
but  little  attention  to  colonial  affairs. 

The  law  remained  in  force,  notwithstanding  the  serious 
objections  raised  agamst  it,  until  the  charter  of  the  colony 
was  annulled,  October  23,  1684. 

A    LIST    OF  THE    FREEMEN    OF    NEWBURY. 

As  the  residence  of  the  freemen  is  not  always  given  in  the 
records,  it  is  possible  that  some  names  that  should  appear  in 
the  following  list  have  been  overlooked. 

N'ame.                                             Admitted.  Mass.  Colony  Records. 

Frauncis  Plumer.  May  14,  1634.  Vol.  i.,  pp.  368,  369. 

Thomas  Hale.  May  14,  1634.  Vol.  i.,  pp.  368,369. 

John  Eales.  May  14,  1634.  Vol.  i.,  pp.  368,369. 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv. ,  part  II.,  p.  205. 
t  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  134. 


THE   SETTLEMEXT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER 


99 


Name. 

Admitted. 

Mass 

.  Colaity  Records. 

Christopher  Hussey. 

May  14,  1634. 

Vol. 

L,  pp.  368,  369. 

Mr  John  Spencer. 

Sept.  3,  1634. 

Vol. 

i.,  pp.  369,370. 

Henry  Shorte. 

Sept.  3,  1634. 

Vol. 

i.,  pp.  369,370. 

Phillip  Fowler. 

Sept.  3,  1634. 

Vol. 

.,  pp.  369,370. 

Mr  Tho :   Parker. 

Sept.  3,  1634. 

Vol. 

i.,  pp.  369,  570. 

Mr  Nicholas  Easton. 

Sept.  3,  1634. 

Vol. 

i.,pp.  369,370. 

Mr  James  Noise. 

Sept.  3,  1634. 

Vol. 

i.,  pp.  369,370. 

John  Webster. 

March  4,  1634-5. 

Vol. 

i.,  p.  370. 

Rich:   Kent. 

March  4,  1634-5. 

Vol. 

.,  p.  370. 

John  Gierke. 

May  6,  1635. 

Vol.  1 

•,  PP-  370,371. 

Rich  Browne. 

May  6,  1635. 

Vol. 

.,  pp.  370,371- 

Willm  Moody. 

May  6,  1635. 

Vol. 

I.,  pp.  370,371. 

Mr  Steven  Batchelr 

May  6,  1635. 

Vol. 

!.,  pp.  370,371. 

Willm  Mosse. 

March  3,  1635-6. 

Vol. 

•,  p.  371. 

Richrd  Knight. 

May  25,  1636. 

Vol. 

i-,  P-  371 

Anthony  Mosse. 

May  25,  1636. 

Vol.  1 

.,  p.  371 

John  Saunders. 

May  25,  1636. 

Vol.] 

•,  p.  371 

James  Browne. 

May  25,  1636. 

Vol.  1 

•,  P-  371 

Edmond  Marshall. 

May  17,  1637. 

Vol.  i 

•,  P-  373 

Henry  Seawall,  Junior. 

May  17,  1637. 

Vol.  1 

•,  P-  373 

Thomas  Smythe. 

May  17,  1637. 

Vol. 

-,  P-  373 

Nicolas  Holt. 

May  17,  1637. 

Vol. 

•,  P-373 

Nicolas  Noise. 

May  17,  1637. 

Vol. 

•,  P-  373 

Archelaus  Woodman. 

May  17,  1637. 

Vol. 

•,  P-  373 

James  Browne. 

May  17,  1637. 

Vol. 

•,P-  373 

John  Bartlet. 

May  17,  1637. 

Vol. 

M  P-  373 

Robert  Pike. 

May  17,  1637. 

Vol. 

mP-  373 

Thomas  Coleman. 

May  17,  1637. 

Vol. 

•,  P-  373 

John  Cheney. 

May  17,  1637. 

Vol.  1 

•,  p.  373 

Edward  Rawson. 

March,  1637-8. 

Vol.  i 

M  p.  374 

Daniell  Peirce. 

May  2,  1638. 

Vol.  i 

•,P-  374 

Abraham  Tappin. 

May  2,  163S. 

Vol. 

M  P-  374 

Henry  Lunt. 

May  2,  1638. 

Vol.  1 

-,  P-  374 

Thomas  Hale. 

Sept.  7,  1638. 

Vol.  1 

-.  p.  374 

Richrd  Singletery. 

Sept.  7,  1638. 

Vol.  i 

•,  p.  374 

Christopher  Batte. 

March  13,  1638-9. 

Vol.  i 

•,  P-  375 

Edmond  Greenliffe. 

March  13,  1638-9. 

Vol.  i 

•,  P-  375 

Thomas  Moulton. 

March  13,  1638-9. 

Vol.  i 

•,  P-  375- 

Steven  Dumer 

May  22,  1639. 

Vol.  i 

mP-  375- 

John  Osgood. 

May  22,  1639. 

Vol.  i 

•,  P-  375- 

John  Goffe. 

May  22,  1639. 

Vol.  i 

-,  P-  375- 

John  Mussellwhit. 

May  22,  1639. 

Vol.  i 

•,  P-  375- 

Steven  Kent. 

May  22,  1639. 

Vol.  i 

•.  P-  375- 

John  Rimington. 

May  22,  1639. 

Vol.  i 

•,  P-  375- 

HISTORY  OP'  XFAVBURY 


A'avie. 
Thomas  Browne. 
John  Moulton. 
John  Clarke. 
John  Koffe. 
Anthony  Sadler. 
Thomas  Masie. 
John  Oliver. 
John  Saunders. 
John  Lowell. 
Thorn  :   Davies. 
John  Emery. 
Samu :    Plumer. 
John  March. 
Richi'd  Knight. 
John  Cooper. 
John  Stevens. 
Willi:   Stevens. 
Antho  :   Sommersbey. 
Henry  Sommersbey. 
William  Berry. 
Samu  :   Guil. 
Abell  Hews. 

William  Gerrish. 

Christopher  Bartlet. 
John  Fore. 

John  .Saunders. 

Tho :    Milward. 

John  Knight. 

Ben:   Swet. 

John  Chattor  (Cheater.''). 

William  Hilton. 
John  Kent. 

Nath  :   Weare,  Senior. 
Rich:   Dole. 
John  Emery,  Jr. 
Rich  :    IJartlett. 
Will:   Bartlett. 
Will:   Cottell. 


Admitted. 
May  22,  1639. 
May  22,  1639. 
May  22,  1639. 
Sept.  6,  1639. 
Sept.  6,  1639. 
Sept.  6,  1639. 
May  13,  1640. 
May  13,  1640. 
June  2,  1 641. 
June  2,  1 64 1. 
June  2,  1 64 1. 
June  2,  1641. 
May  18,  1642. 
May  18,  1642. 
May  18,  1642. 
May  18,  1642. 
May  18,  1642. 
May  18,  1642. 
May  18,  1642. 
May  18,  1642. 
May  18,  1642. 
May  18,  1642. 

July  9,  1645. 

Sept.  29,  1646. 
March  28,  1648. 

May  22,  1650. 

Sept.  7,  1650. 
Sept.  7,  1650. 
Sept.  7,  1650. 
March  25,  165 1. 

May  18,  1653. 
May  3,  1654. 

March  28,  1654. 
March  28,  1654. 
March  28,  1654. 
March  28,  1654. 
March  28,  1654. 
March  28,  1654. 


Mass.  Colony  Records. 
Vol.  i.,  p.  375. 
Vol.  i.,  p.  375. 
Vol.  i.,  p.  375. 
Vol.  i.,  p.  376. 
Vol.  i.,  p.  376. 
Vol.  i.,  p.  376. 
\'ol.  i.,  p.  376. 
Vol.  i.,  p.  376. 
Vol.  i.,  p.  378. 
Vol.  i.,  p.  378. 
Vol.  i.,  p.  378. 
Vol.  i.,  p.  378. 
Vol.  ii.,  p.  291. 
Vol.  ii.,  p.  291. 
Vol.  ii.,  p.  291. 
Vol.  ii.,  p.  291. 
V'ol.  ii..  p.  291. 
Vol.  ii.,  p.  291. 
Vol.  ii.,  p.  291. 
Vol.  ii.,  p.  291. 
Vol.  ii.,  p.  291. 
Vol.  ii.,  p.  291. 

Salem  Court  Records. 
Book  II.,  leaf  174. 

Ipswich  Court  Recoras. 
Book  I.,  leaf  4. 
Book  I.,  leaf  1 1. 

Mass.  Colony  Records. 
Vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  459. 

Ipswich  Court  Records. 
Book  I.,  leaf  21. 
Book  I.,  leaf  21. 
Book  I.,  leaf  21. 
Book  I.,  leaf  23. 

Mass.  Colony  Records. 
Vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  460. 
\'ol.  iv..  part  I.,  p.  460. 

Ipswich  Court  Records. 
Book  I.,  leaf  44. 
Book  I.,  leaf  44. 
Book  I.,  leaf  44. 
Book  I.,  leaf  44. 
Book  1.,  leaf  44. 
Book  I.,  leaf  44. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER 


Admitle<i. 
March  28,  1654. 
March  28,  1654. 
March  28,  1654. 
March  28,  1657. 
March  31,  1657. 
March  31,  1657. 
Sept.  29,  1657. 
Sept.  28,  1658. 
March  29,  1659. 
March  29,  1659. 
March  27,  1660. 
Sept.  30,  1662. 


Ipswich  Court  Records. 
Book  I.,  leaf  44. 
Book  1.,  leaf  44. 
Book  I.,  leaf  44. 
Book  I.,  leaf  44. 
Book  I.,  leaf  59. 
Book  I.,  leaf  59. 
Book  I.,  leaf  63. 
Book  I.,  leaf  69. 
Book  I.,  leaf  72. 
Book  I.,  leaf  72. 
Book  I.,  leaf  84. 
Book  I.,  leaf  109. 
Mass.  Colony  Records. 


iXaine. 
Tho  :   Bloom  field. 
Tho     Seers. 
Will:  Chandlour. 
John  Davis. 
Joseph  Noyes. 
Joseph  Muzzey. 
John  Webster. 
Tho:    Hale. 
-John  Allen. 
Solomon  Keyes. 
Robert  Addams. 
Abraham  Merrill. 

Dani :   Pearse. 
Shubal  Dumer. 
Samuel  Moody. 
Caleb  Moody. 
\Vm  Peelsbury.* 
James  Ordaway.* 
Nath  :   Clarke.* 
Tristram  Coffin. f 
James  Kent.  :|: 
J  no  Kent. 
Jno  Bartlet,  Jun. 
Jno  Wells. 
Abiel  Somersby.  % 
Henry  Jacquish.  % 

*  William  Pilsbun',  James  Ordway,  and  Nathaniel  Clarke,  "  church  members  of  Newbury 
desire  ye  priveledge  to  be  made  freemen."  "Attest,  Henry  Sewall."  Admitted  May  14,  1668 
(Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cvi.,  p.  4S5.) 

"  W"i  Pilsburj'  took  the  oath  of  a  freeman  Sept.  29,  1668."  (Ipswich  Court  Records,  book 
II.,  leaf  79-) 

James  Ordway  was  sworn  before  Robert  Pike,  commissioner,  February  26,  166S-9.  (Nor- 
folk Deeds,  book  II.,  p.  143.) 

t  "  To  the  Honored  Gov.  Deputy  Gov.  Magistrates  &  Deputj'es  in  Generall  Court  assem- 
bled the  29  of  April   166S. 

"  We  hereby  certify  that  Tristram  Coffin  is  an  Orthodox  member  of  the  church  of  Newbury 
and  a  householder  in  all  respects  qualified  for  admission  to  the  freedom  of  this  jurisdiction  as 
the  Law  directeth. 

"  I  judge  the  foresaid  Tristram  Coffin  to  be  orthodox,  and  he  also  is  a  member  of  our 
church.  Thomas  parker. 

"  Admitted  to  freedom  "  Richard  Kent. 

"22.3nio68  "  Richard  Dole. 

"E.  R[awson]  S  [ecretary]  "John  Knight. 

"  Daniel  pierce." 
—  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cvi.,  p.  4S7. 
+  "  James  Kent,  Abiell  Som.erby,  and  Henry  Jaquis  admitted  to  be  freemen   by  the  general 
Court  took  the  freeman's  oath  .April  18,  1671  at  the  Ipswich  Court."     (Book  II.,  leaf  142.) 

"  To  the   Honoured  Court  :   Wee  the  selectmen  of    Newburj-  according   to  law  do  present 


May  27, 

1663. 

Vol.  iv. 

part  1 

,p.58i. 

May  3,  I 

665. 

^'ol.  iv. 

part  ' 

p.  582. 

May  23, 

1666. 

Vol.  iv. 

part  I 

p.  582. 

May  23, 

1666. 

Vol.  iv. 

part  ] 

,p.  582. 

April  29, 

1668. 

Vol.  iv. 

,  part 

,p.  583. 

April  29 

1668. 

Vol.  iv. 

part 

P-583- 

April  29, 

1668. 

Vol.  iv. 

part  ] 

,p.583- 

April  2g 

1668. 

Vol.  iv. 

,  part  I 

P-  583- 

May  19, 

1669. 

Vol.  iv. 

,  part 

,P-583- 

May  19, 

1669. 

\o\.  iv. 

,  part 

,  P-583. 

May  19, 

1669. 

Vol.  iv. 

part] 

,P-583- 

May  19, 

1669. 

Vol.  iv. 

,  part 

,  P-583 

May  19, 

1669. 

Vol.  iv. 

part  I 

P-583- 

May  19, 

i66g. 

Vol.  iv. 

,  part  ] 

,  P-583- 

HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


Name. 

Admitted. 

Mass. 

Colony  Records. 

Benja :   Lowell. 

May  19 

1669. 

Vol.  iv. 

part  II., 

P-583- 

John  Bayley.* 

May  19 

i66g. 

Vol.  iv. 

part  II. 

P-  583- 

Joseph  Plumer.f 

May  1 1 

1670. 

Vol.  iv. 

part  II. 

P-  584- 

Renj:   Rolfcf 

May  1 1 

1670. 

Vol.  iv. 

part  II. 

p.  584. 

John  Poore  Jun.f 

May  1 1 

1670. 

V'ol.  iv. 

part  II. 

p.  584. 

Franc :  Thurlo.f 

May  1 1 

1670. 

Vol.  iv. 

part  II. 

p.  584. 

Nicho:  Batt.f 

May  I  r, 

1670. 

Vol.  iv. 

part  II. 

p.  584. 

Job  Pilsbury.f 

May  1 1 

1670. 

Vol.  iv. 

part  II. 

p.  584. 

Paul  White. 

May  31 

1671. 

Vol.  iv. 

part  II. 

P-585. 

Tho :   Noyes. 

May  31 

1671. 

Vol.  iv. 

, part  II. 

p.  585. 

Jonathan  Morse. 

May  31 

1671. 

Vol.  iv. 

,  part  II. 

P-585. 

James  Smith. 

May  31 

1671. 

Vol.  iv. 

,  part  II. 

p.  585. 

John  Smith. 

May  31 

,  1671. 

Vol.  iv. 

,  part  II. 

P-585- 

John  Knight,  Jun. 

May  31 

1671. 

Vol.  iv. 

part  II. 

P-585- 

Mr.  Joseph  Gerrish. 

May  7, 

1673. 

\^ol.  iv. 

part  II. 

p.  586. 

Elisha  Elsie  (Ilsley?) 

May  7, 

1673- 

Vol.  iv. 

,  part  II. 

,p.586. 

James  Bayley. 

May  7, 

1673- 

\'ol.  iv. 

part  II. 

,p.586. 

Dani :   Cheny. 

May  7, 

1673. 

\'ol.  iv. 

,  part  II. 

,p.586. 

Joseph  Browne. 1 

May  7, 

1673. 

\'oL  iv. 

,  part  II. 

,p.586. 

Sam  :  Poore. 

May  7, 

1673. 

Vol.  iv. 

, part  II. 

,p.586. 

Moses  Pilsbury. 

May  7, 

1673. 

Vol.  iv. 

,  part  II. 

,p.586. 

Benja:   Morse. 

May  7, 

1673. 

Vol.  iv. 

,  part  II. 

,  p.  586. 

Sam:   Bartlet. 

May  7, 

1673. 

Vol.  iv 

,  part  II. 

,  p.  586. 

John  No3'es.J 

Jan.  9, 

1673-4- 

Vol.  iv. 

,  part  II. 

,P-587- 

Cutting  Noyes. t 

Jan.  9, 

1673-4. 

Vol.  iv 

,part  II. 

,P-587- 

John  Lunt.J 

Jan.  9, 

1673-4- 

Vol.  iv 

,  part  II. 

,p.  587. 

Abra :   Adams.  J 

Jan.  9, 

1673-4- 

Vol.  iv 

.part  II. 

,P-587- 

John  Badger.:|: 

Jan.  9, 

1673-4 

Vol.  iv 

,part  II. 

,P-587. 

Joseph  Gerrish. t 

Jan.  9, 

1673-4- 

Vol.  iv. 

,  part  II 

,P-587- 

Henry  Jacquish,  John  Kelly,  Benjamin  Rolfe  [  .  .  .  ]  being  in  ffuU  communion  with  the  church 
in  Newbury  And  Orthodox  in  Religion,  Desire  to  be  made  free  "  Richard  Dole. 

"6th  May '69.  "John  Knight. 

"  Allowed  June  2,  i66g.  "  Tristram  Coffin." 

—  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cvi.,  leaf  490. 

*  John  Bayley,  Benjamin  Lowell,  John  Wells  and  John  Bartlet,  jr.,  took  the  oath  before 
Robert  Pike,  commissioner,  October  2,  1669.    (Norfolk  Deeds,  book  11.,  leaf  143.) 

"To  the  honored  Court:  John  Bayley  an  Ancient  inhabitant  and  member  in  full  communion 
with  the  church  of  Newbury  desires  admi.ssion  to  the  freedom  of  this  jurisdiction. 

"  That  John  Bayley  is  as  above  exprest  is  attested  by  me 

"  May  22,  1669."  "Joseph  Hills. 

—  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cvi.,  leaf  489. 

t  "  Benjamin  Roffe,  John  Poore,  Jun,  ffrances  Thurlay,  Nicholas  Batt,  Job  Pilsbury-  & 
Samuel  (?)  Plumer  of  Newbury  being  returned  by  the  Secretary  took  the  oath  of  freeman,  Sept. 
27,  1670."    (Ipswich  Court  Records,  book  II.,  leaf  125.) 

t "  Jno  Badger,  Jno  Lunt,  John  Noyes,  Cuting  Noyes,  Jos  Gerrish,  Jos  Browne  of  Newbury 
being  admitted  to  the  freedom  this  colony  took  the  freemans  oath  March  31,  1674.."  (Ipswich 
Court  Records,  book  II.,  leaf  240.) 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RJVER 


103 


N'ame. 

Admitted. 

Mass.  Colony  Records. 

John  Sewall. 

May  12,  1675. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  536. 

John  Richardson. 

May  12,  1675. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  536. 

Sam :  Sayer. 

-May  12,  1675. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  536. 

Benja  Morse. 

May  12,  1675. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  536. 
Ipswich  Court  Records 

Tho:  Wells. 

Sept.  28,  1675. 

Book  II.,  leaf  271. 

Joseph  Morse. 

Sept.  28,  1675. 

Book  II.,  leaf  271. 
Mass.  Colony  Records. 

Rich.  Dumer  Jun.* 

May  23,  1677. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  537. 

Hen:  Short.* 

May  23,  1677. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  537 

Steph  :  Greenleaf. 

May  23,  1677. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  537. 

Jacob  Topan.* 

May  23,  1677. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  537. 

Rich:  Bartlet,  Jun.* 

May  23,  1677. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  537. 

Jno  :  Dole. 

Oct.  15,  1679. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  539. 
Ipswich  Court  Records 

John  Sewall. 

April  15,  1679. 

Book  II.,  leaf  340. 

Charles  Annis. 

April  15,  1679. 

Book  II.,  leaf  340. 

John  Pengitta  (Pettingell 

?)  April  IS,  1679. 

Book  II.,  leaf  340. 

Caleb  Boynton. 

March  29,  1681. 

Book  II.,  leaf  362. 
Mass.  Colony  Records. 

Daniel  Lunt. 

Feb.  7,  1682-3. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  541. 

Daniel  Merrill. 

Feb.  7,  1682-3. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  541. 

Wm.  Moody. 

F"eb.  7,  1682-3. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  541. 

George  March. 

May  16,  1683. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  542. 

Joseph  Knight. t 

Feb.  13,  1683-4. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  542. 

Tymothy  Noys. 

Feb.  13,  16S3-4. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  542. 

James  Jackman. 

Feb.  13,  16S3-4. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  542. 

Wm  Elsly.f 

Feb.  13,  1683-4. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  542. 

Dane'  Merrill. 

May  7,  1684. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  542. 

Jno  Bartlet. 

May  7,  1684. 

Vol.  v.,  p.  542. 

COMMISSIONERS   TO   END    SM.\LL   CAUSES. 

May  6,  1646,  the  General  Court  adopted  the  following 
order  :  "  Mr.  Edvv^  Raw.son,  M""  Woodman,  &  Hen  :  Shorte, 
whom  Newbu''y  have  chosen  to  be  ord''ers  of  their  affaires,  are 
authorized  to  end  small  causes;  "J;  and  the  next  year,  under 
the  date  of  May  26,    1647,   "Mr.  James  Browne,  Mr.  John 

•"  Jacob  Topan,  Rich:  Bartlet  Rich:  Dumer  Jun  and  Henry  Short  took  the  freemens  oath 
March  26,  1678."     (Ipswich  Court  Records,  book  II.,  leaf  300). 

t"  Joseph  Knight,  William  EUsly  &  John  Gilbert  (?)  of  Newburj'  being  by  the  certificate 
from  ye  secretary  allowed  to  be  freemen,  took  ye  oath  March  25,  1684  "  (Ipswich  Court  Records 
book  III.,  leaf  22) 

+  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  148. 


I04  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Lowlc,  &  Henry  Shorte  "  were  appointed  to  end  small  causes 
at  Newbury.* 

Subsequently  the  county  courts  and  Court  of  Assistants 
were  authorized  to  license  the  commissioners  for  small 
causes  "  w"'  clarks  of  y'-'  writs."  f 

April  27,  1648,  "  M""  James  Browne,  M""  William  Gerrish 
&  William  Titcombe"  were  chosen  by  the  inhabitants  of 
Newbury  "for  the  ending  of  small  causes  in  this  town  for 
this  year."  % 

At  a  general  town  meeting  held  April  19,  1649,  "M"" 
William  Gerrish,  M""  W^oodman,  &  John  Pike  were  chosen  to 
end  small  causes  in  this  towne  for  the  year  ensuing."  \ 

May  23,  1650,  "vppon  the  request  of  the  towne  of  New- 
berry, Edward  Woodman,  William  Gerrish  &  Richard  Kent 
are  appoynted  to  end  small  causes  there  according  to  law."  § 

At  the  county  court  held  in  Ipswich  March  25,  165 1, 
William  Gerrish  and  John  Pike,  jr.,  appeared,  and  were  sworn 
"  commissioners  to  end  small  causes  at  Newberry."  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Woodman  was  also  named  commissioner,  but  was  not 
sworn  at  that  date.  || 

March  29,  1653,  "  Capt.  Gerrish  sworn  commissioner  to 
end  small  causes  in  Newbury."  ^ 

"March  28,  1654,  Cap^  Gerrish,  Nicholas  Noyes,  and  John 
Pike  were  sworn  commissioners  to  end  small  causes  in 
Newberry."  ** 

"March  27,  1655,- William  Tittcum  and  Harchales  Wood- 
man sworn  commissioners  for  Newbury."  ff 

March  25,  1656,  Edward  Woodman,  Nicolas  Noyce,  and 
John  Pike  sworn  commissioners  to  end  small  causes  in 
Newbury.  %% 

November  26,  1656,  Capt.  William  Gerrish  sworn  commis- 
sioner, etc.,  for  Newbury."  §§ 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  igi. 

John  Lowell  died  June  29,  1647.  "Sept.  2S,  1647  John  Saunders  appointed  to  be  in  the 
room  of  Mr  Lole  to  end  small  causes  at  Newberry."     (Ipswich  Court  Files,  vol.  i.,  p.  10.) 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  188. 

tTown  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 

§  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iii.,  p.  194 

II  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  23.  II  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  32.  **  Ibid.,  vol.  i. ,  p.  44. 

tt  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  49.  ++  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  55. 

§§  Salem  Court  Records,  vol.  iv.,  p.  20. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  105 

March  31,  1657,  Nicholas  Noyse  and  John  Pike  sworn  com- 
missioners for  Newbury.  * 

March  27,  1659,  Mr.  Nicolas  Noyse  sworn  commissioner, 
etc.,  for  Newbury,  f 

September  25,  1660,  Mr.  Edward  Woodman,  Capt.  Will- 
iam Gerrish,  and  Lieut.  Jc^hn  Pike  sworn  commissioners,  etc., 
for  the  year  ensuing.  | 

March  26,  1661,  Capt.  William  Gerrish  sworn  commissioner 
to  end  small  causes  at  Newbury.  § 

March  25,  1662,  Capt.  William  Gerrish  and  Mr.  Edward 
Woodman  and  Nicolas  Noyse,  chosen  to  end  small  causes  at 
Newbury. 

Capt.  Gerrish  and  Nicholas  Noyse  sworn. || 

March  7,  1663,  "  M"'  Woodman,  Cap*  Gerrish  &  Nicholas 
Noyes  chosen  commissioners  for  small  causes  for  the  year 
ensuing."  ^ 

March  6,  1664-5,  Mr.  [Edward]  Woodman,  Capt.  [Will- 
iam] Gerrish,  and  Nicholas  Noyes  were  chosen.** 

March  5,  1665-6,  Capt.  [William]  Gerrish,  Mr.  [Joseph] 
Hills,  and  Nicholas  Noyes  chosen.** 

March  4,  \666-y,  Capt.  [William]  Gerrish,  Mr.  [Joseph] 
Hills,  and  Nicholas  Noyes  chosen.** 

March  2,  1667-8,  Capt.  [William]  Gerrish,  Mr.  [Joseph] 
Hills,  and  Nicholas  Noyes  chosen.** 

March  i,  1668-9,  Capt.  Gerrish,  Mr.  Hills,  and  Nicholas 
Noyes  chosen.** 

March  7,  1669-70,  Mr.  Woodman,  Mr.  Dumer,  and  Will- 
iam Titcomb  chosen.** 

September  19,  1670,  "  M""  Rich:  Dumer,  M""  Edw  :  Wood- 
man, &  Will.  Titcomb  nominated  as  commissioners  to  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  county  court."  ** 

March  6,  1670-71,  Archelaus  Woodman,  William  Titcomb, 
and  Samuel  Plumer  chosen  commissioners  for  small  causes,  to 
be  approved  by  the  county  court.** 

March  4,  1671-2,  Mr.  Richard  Dumer,  sr.,  Lieut.  Arche- 
laus Woodman,  and  William  Titcomb,  nominated  as  commis- 
sioners of  small  causes  to  the  county  court.** 

*  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  59.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  76.  +  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  88. 

§  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  93-  II  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  loS. 

IT  Town  of  Newbury  Records.        **  Ibid.,  vol.  i. 


io6  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

March  3,  1672-3,  Capt.  Gerrish,  Nicholas  Noyes,  and 
Lieut.  Woodman  were  nominated  commissioners.  * 

March  2,  1673-4,  Capt.  Gerrish,  Lieut.  Woodman,  and 
Nicholas  Noyes  were  nominated  commissioners.* 

March  i,  1674-5,  Capt.  Gerrish,  Lieut.  Woodman,  and 
Nicholas  Noyes  were  nominated  commissioners.  * 

March  6,  1675-6,  Capt.  Gerrish,  Nicholas  Noyes,  and 
Lieut.  Archelaus  Woodman  were  nominated  commissioners.* 

March  5,  \6'j6-'j,  Mr.  John  Woodbridg,  Nicholas  Noyes, 
and  Daniel  Peirce,  jr.,  were  nominated  commissioners.* 

March  27,  1677,  Mr.  John  Woodbridge,  Nicholas  Noyes, 
and  Daniel  Pearce,  jr.,  are  allowed  to  be  commissioners  to  end 
small  causes  at  Newbury.f 

Salem,  29:  9:  1681  This  court  receiving  a  motion  of  the  Constable 
of  Newbury  for  persons  to  be  allowed  for  commissioners  of  small  causes 
in  that  towne,  the  Court  doth  appoint  Capt  Daniell  Pearce,  Mr  Nicholas 
Noyes  &  Sergt  Tristram  Coffin  to  be  commissioners  in  said  causes  ac- 
cording to  law  for  this  year,  they  taking  the  oath  appointed  by  the 
general  court  before  any  magistrate.  % 

March  16,  1685-6,  Capt.  Daniell  Peirce,  Lieut.  Stephen 
Greenleaf,  sr.,  and  Capt.  Thomas  Noyes  were  nominated  as 
commissioners  for  small  causes. § 

SPECIAL    MAGISTRATES. 

May  19,  1669,  tl'^G  General  Court  appointed  special  magis- 
trates for  the  towns  of  Dover  and  Portsmouth,  to  try  criminal 
cases,  take  testimony  on  oath,  swear  constables,  take  acknowl- 
edgments of  deeds,  and  officiate  at  marriages.  The  same  day 
Capt.  Nathaniel  Saltonstall  of  Haverhill,  Capt.  Robert  Pike 
of  Salisbury,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Dalton  of  Hampton  were  au- 
thorized to  do  "w"'in  their  respective  townes  where  they  Hue 
&  not  elsewhere,  whateuer  any  magistrate  may  legally 
doe  "  II 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  287. 

X  Salem  Court  Records,  vol.  v.,  p.  24. 

§Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

II  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  424. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  107 

Twelve  months  later  the  selectmen  of  Newbury  presented 
the  following  petition  to  the  General  Court,  dated  May  i  i, 
1670 :  — 

To  ye  Honobe  Generall  Court  assembled  at  Boston. 

The  Humble  request  of  the  Selectmen  at  Newbury  is  that  inasmuch 
as  their  Towne  is  remote  from  any  Towne  where  a  magistrate  dwells  : 
that  Mr  Woodman  may  be  Impowd  with  Magisterriall  pow^  in  this 
Towne  as  other  Townes  have  to  the  Elastward. 

John  Bartlet. 

William  Chandler. 

Edm.  Morse. 

Sam.  plumer. 

Caleb  Moody.* 

The  indorsement  on  this  petition  indicates  that  it  failed  to 
receive  the  approval  of  the  General  Court  :  "  The  deputies 
consent  "  ;  "the  magistrates  consent  not." 

June  I,  1677,  Mr.  John  Woodbridge,  sr.,  was  authorized 
by  the  General  Court  to  take  acknowledgments  of  deeds 
and  serve  as  magistrate  in  the  town  of  Newbury  for  the  year 
ensuing  ;  and  this  appointment  was  renewed  May  9,  1678, 
for  one  year.f 

May  28,  1679,  Mr.  John  Woodbridge's  commission  as 
magistrate  for  Newbury  was  again  renewed ;  and  he  was  also 
appointed,  at  the  same  time,  one  of  the  associate  magistrates 
for  the  county  of  Essex  for  the  year  ensuing.  J 

May  26,  1680,  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Woodbridge  was 
again  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  General  Court.  The 
magistrates  adopted  the  following  order  :  — 

This  court  considering  the  remoteness  of  Newbury  from  any  author- 
ity to  act  as  a  magistrate  &  the  benefit  that  they,  by  their  information, 
have  found  in  the  help  they  have  had  by  Mr  Jno.  Woodbridge  being 
invested  with  magistraticall  authority  do  hereby  renew  his  said  com- 
mission. § 

The  deputies  declined  to  concur  with  the  magistrates  in 
the  adoption  of  this  order,  and  the  office  remained  vacant 
during  the  year  1680. 

•  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xxxix.,  p.  376. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  v.,  pp.  145  and  187         +  Ibid.,  vol.  v.,  p.  226. 

§  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xxxix.,  leaf  659. 


io8  HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 

At  a  legal  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury,  held 
October  19,  168 1,  it  was  voted  that  the  name  of  Mr.  John 
Woodbridge  should  again  be  presented  to  the  General  Court, 
and  "that  the  selectmen,  in  behalf  of  the  town,  should  peti- 
tion the  Court  for  granting  him  magistratical  powers."  * 

October  11,  168  i,  John  Richardson,  Daniel  Poore,  Richard 
Dummer,  Tristram  Cofifin,  Caleb  Moody,  Thomas  Noyes, 
Anthony  Somerby,  Francis  Brown,  and  other  inhabitants  of 
the  town  of  Newbury  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  the 
appointment  of  John  Woodbridge  as  magistrate,  to  take 
depositions  and  acknowledgments,  and  also  to  have  authority 
to  reform  abuses  and  solemnize  marriages.  "  In  consequence 
of  the  largeness  of  the  town  and  the  frequent  concours  of 
vessels,"  they  consider  the  appointment  of  a  special  magis- 
trate necessary,  and  recommend  "  Mr.  John  Woodbridge  as  ye 
fittest  and  most  able  person  for  such  a  work  in  this  place." 
The  magistrates  voted  to  grant  this  petition,  but  the  deputies 
"consented  not."  f 

In  a  petition  dated  February  15,  168 1-2,  "to  the  court 
now  sitting  in  Boston,"  Samuel  Plumer,  Joseph  Pike,  George 
March,  and  Moses  Gerrish,  selectmen,  state  that  the  town  of 
Newbury  is  greatly  inconvenienced  for  want  of  a  magistrate, 
and  therefore  ask  that  one  of  the  three  commissioners  ap- 
pointed to  end  small  causes  in  Newbury  may  be  authorized 
to  punish  criminals,  and  do  what  any  other  magistrate  may 
do.|  This  petition  was  not  agreed  to  by  the  magistrates  and 
deputies. 

May  16,  1683,  John  Woodbridge  was  chosen  an  "assist- 
ant "  to  the  General  Court,  and  by  virtue  of  that  office  was 
invested  with  magisterial  power. §  May  7,  1684,  he  was  again 
chosen  ;  and,  June  4,  1685,  upon  motion  of  Richard  Bartlet, 
deputy  from  Newbury,  "  Mr.  John  Woodbridge  was  author- 
ized to  administer  oaths  and  join  persons  in  matrimony."  || 

"December  24,  1690  Mr.  John  Woodbridge  and  Capt. 
Daniel  Pierce  of  Newbury,  and  each  of  them  are  impowered 

*  Town  of  Newliury  Records. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cxii.,  leaf  328.         }  Ibid.,  vol.  xxxix.,  leaf  726. 

§  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  v.,  p.  407. 

II  Ibid., vol.  v.,  p.  4543. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  109 

to  join  Persons  together  in  marriage  in   that  Town  according 
to  the  Direction  of  ye  Laws  in  that  behalf  made."  * 


TOWN    OFFICERS. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  held  in  April, 
1647,  Abraham  Toppan,  Anthony  Somerby,  Henry  Short, 
Nicholas  Noyes,  Richard  Kent,  jr.,  John  Pike,  jr.,  and 
Stephen  Kent  were  chosen  "  to  act  in  y'^  Prudential  affaires  of 
y®  Towne  for  one  whole  yeare  from  ye  date  hereof."  f 

John  Pemberton  was  chosen  constable ;  and  Nicholas 
Noyes,  William  Titcomb,  and  Stephen  Kent  were  chosen  way- 
wardens, or  surveyors  of  the  highway. 

April  27,  1648,  John  Pike,  jr.,  Nicholas  Noyes,  and  Wil- 
liam Titcomb  were  chosen  to  attend  to  the  prudential  affairs 
of  the  town.  Archelaus  Woodman  was  chosen  constable, 
William  Moody  and  John  Bartlett,  way  wardens,!  and  William 
Ilsly  and  Robert  Coker,  haywards. 

The  same  day,  "  It  was  ordered  that  the  meeting  for  the 
election  of  town  officers  should  be  held  hereafter  on  the  first 
Monday  in  March  of  each  year."  f 

April  19,  1649,  John  Saunders,  William  Titcomb,  and 
Archelaus  Woodman  were  chosen  "  to  act  in  y*"  prudential 
affaires  of  the  town  according  to  the  former  commission  given 
them  from  the  Towne,  for  this  yeare  ensuing."  f 

The  same  day  John  Bartlett  was  chosen  constable,  John 
Pemberton,  Henry  Short,  and  William  Ilsley,  way  wardens, 
and  John  Swett,  leather  searcher. 

It  was  also  ordered  that  such  men  as  are  cliosen  to  bee  way  wardens 
should  have  such  power  as  the  Towne  can  conferre  upon  them  to  im- 
pose any  line,  under  ten  shillings,  upon  any  person  or  persons  that  are 
delinquent  about  the  services  of  the  highway,  the  one  halfe  to  bee  to 
the  use  of  the  way  wardens  &  the  other  halfe  to  such  as  doe  the  work 
provided  that  they  give  sufficient  warning. f 

There  is  no  record  of  the  election  of  officers  nor  of  any 
meeting  of  the  freemen  of  the  town,  with  one  or  two  excep- 

*  Mass.  Archives,  vol-  xxxvi.,  p.  260. 
tTown  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 


1 1  o  HIS  TOR  V  OF  A  '£  IVB  UR  V 

tions,  from  the  year  1649  to  1663.  The  pages  on  which  the 
votes  and  orders  were  recorded  for  nearly  fifteen  years  have 
probably  been  destroyed,  by  accident  or  design,  and  therefore 
a  complete  list  of  the  town  officers  cannot  be  given. 

"March  7,  1663-4,  there  was  chosen  to  act  the  prudentialls  of  the 
Towne  for  this  yeare  Archelaus  Woodman,  William  Titcomb,  Henry 
Jaques,  Leift  John  Pike  &  John  Cheny  Sen""."  William  Chandler  chosen 
constable. 

March  6,  1664-5,  Iphi^  Merrill,  Daniel  Peirce,  Sen^,  John  Knight, 
Junr,  Samuel  Plumer,  &  ThiDfnas  Hale,  Juni",  chosen  to  attend  to  the 
prudential  affaires  of  the  town.  Samuel  Moody  constable.  Capt.  Ger- 
rish  &  Daniel  Peirce,  way  wardens. 

March  5,   1665-6,  John   Poore,  William    Ilsley,  Leift   Pike,  Robert 
Coker,  and  Richard  Kent,  Selectmen.     Caleb  Moody,  Constable.     John_ 
Baily,  Samuel  Moody,  &  Edward  Richardson,  Surveyors  of  Highways. 

March  4,  1666-7,  Leift  Pike,  William  Ilsley,  Abraham  Tappan,  Wil- 
liam Titcomb,  &  Archelaus  Woodman,  Selectmen.  Thomas  Hale  Senr, 
William  Pillsbury,  &  Robert  Coker,  Surveyors  of  Highways.  William 
Chandler,  Culler  of  Staves. 

March  2,  1667-8,  Richard  Dole,  Tristram  Coffin,  Richard  Kent,  John 
Knight,  Junr,  &  Daniel  Peirce,  Selectmen.  Nathaniel  Clarke,  Constable. 
John  Webster,  Robert  Adams,  John  Merrill,  &  John  Emery,  Sen"",  Sur- 
veyors of  Highways. 

March  i,  1668-9,  John  Poore,  Sen^,  Richard  Dole,  John  Knight,  Tris- 
tram Coffin,  &  John  Bartlet,  Sem,  Selectmen.  Daniel  Peirce,  junior. 
Constable. 

March  7,  1669-70,  John  Bartlett,  Sen^,  William  Chandler,  Edward 
Moores,  Samuel  Plumer,  &  Caleb  Moody,  Selectmen. 

May  21,  1670,  Daniel  Peirce,  Senr,  Thomas  Hale,  Sen"",  &  Hugh 
March,  Surveyors  of  Highways.  "  Ordered  to  mend  only  the  country 
hy-ways." 

Sept.  19,  1670,  Capt.  Gerrish,  and  Daniel  Peirce  Senior,  Surveyors 
of  Highways. 

March  6,  1670-71,  Mr.  Richard  Duiner,  Steven  Greenleaf,  Caleb 
Moody,  John  Emery,  Junior,  &  Samuel  Moody  chosen  to  attend  to  the 
prudential  affairs  of  the  town. 

Sept.  20,  1 67 1,  Samuell  Pluiiier  chosen  constable. 

March  4,  167 1-2,  Mr.  Richard  Dumer,  Sen^,  Thomas  Hale,  Jun"",  En- 
sign Greenleafe,  Richard  Partlet,  &  Jojin  Bajdy  chosen  to  attend  to  the 
prudential  affairs  of  the  town.  Capt.  Gerrish,  Mr.  Peirce,  &  Peter 
Cheny,  way  wardens. 

Sept.  17,  1672,  Benjamin  Rolfe,  Constable. 

March  3,   1672-3,  Samuell    Plumer,    Daniel    Peirce,    Jum,    Anthony 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  AIERRIMACK  RIVER  I II 

Somerby,  Richard  Bartlet,  Rich  :  Dole,  chosen  to  attend  to  the  pruden- 
tial affairs. 

Aug.  29,  1673,  John  Baily,  Constable. 

March  2,  1673-4,  Daniel  Peirce,  Jun^,  John  Emery,  Jun"",  Samuel 
Moody,  Ensign  Greenleafe,  &  Anthony  Somerby  chosen  to  attend  to 
the  prudential  affairs. 

March  18,.  1673-4,  John  Baily,  John  Webster,  Robert  Coker,  & 
Thomas  Hale,  Senior,  way  wardens,  "and  such  persons  as  have  bin  be- 
hind these  two  years  shall  attend  when  Capt  Gerrish  calls  them  to  it 
to  mend  the  way  from  the  meeting-house  to  the  mill." 

March  i,  1674-5,  Anthony  Somerby,  Ensign  Greenleafe,  Daniel 
Pierce,  Jun^,  Robert  Long,  &;  Nicholas  Noyes  chosen  to  attend  to  pru- 
dential affairs. 

March  6,  1675-6,  William  Titcomb,  Henry  Jaques,  ffirancis  Browne, 
Benjamin  Rolfe,  &  Peter  Cheney,  Selectmen.  Joseph  Pike,  Constable. 
Henry  Jaques,  Thomas  Hale,  Sen"",  &  James  Ordway,  Surveyors  of  High- 
ways. 

March  5,  1676-7,  Mr  Thomas  Noyes,  Henry  Jaques,  Peter  Cheny, 
Joseph  Baily,  &  Anthony  Somerby,  Selectmen.  Joseph  Pike,  Constable. 
Thomas  Hale,  Sen"",  George  Little,  William  Sawyer,  &  Robert  Coker, 
Surveyors  of  Highway.  John  Poore,  Sen"",  Surveyor  Highways  on 
ye  necke.     Anthony  Morse  &  Steven  Swett,  Sealers  of  Leather. 

March  4,  1677-8,  Nicholas  Noyes,  Anthony  Somerby,  Thomas 
Hale,  Jun"",  Daniel  Peirce,  «&  Henry  Short,  Selectmen.  Joseph  Pike, 
Constable. 

March  3,  1678-9,  Henry  Jaques,  Capt.  Daniel  Peirce,  Peter  Cheney, 
ffrancis  Browne,  &  Anthony  Somerby,  Selectmen.  Joseph  Pike,  Con- 
stable. 

March  26,  1679,  Closes  Pillsbury  and  Steven  Swett,  Sealers  of 
Leather. 

June  18,  1679,  Abraham  Adams,  Thomas  Hale,  Jun"",  William  Pils- 
bury,  &  Robert  Coker,  Surveyors  of  Highways. 

March  i,  1679-80,  Mr  Richard  Dufner,  Capt.  Daniel  Peirce,  Tristram 
Coffin,  Peter  Cheny,  &  Anthony  Somerby,  Selectmen.  Joseph  Pike.* 
Constable. 

March  24,  1679-80,  John  Emery,  John  Webster,  Abraham  Adams, 
Thomas  Hale,  Jun"",  and  John  Knight,  Surveyors  of  Highways. 

Aug.  30,  1680,  Hugh  March,  Senf,  chosen  dark  of  the  market  to  seal 
weights  and  measures,  "  and  see  that  they  be  according  to  the  standard." 

March  7,  1680-81,  Joseph  Pike,  Samuel  Plumer,  George  March, 
Nicholas  Noyes,  &  Moses  Gerrish  chosen  Selectmen.  Mr.  Richard 
Dumer,  Tristram  Coffin,  &  James  Ordway,  Way  Wardens. 

•  Mr.  Thomas  Noyes  was  chosen  constable,  but  evidently  did  not  wish  to  serve.  "The 
Towne  voted  that  Joseph  Pike  should  serve  the  Towne  this  yeare  in  the  office  of  constable,  Mr. 
Noyes  giving  him  forty  shillings  &  the  towTie  twenty  shillings."     (Town  of  Newbury  Records.) 


112  HISTORY  OF  XEIVBURY 

March  i.  1 68 1-2,  Nathaniel  Clarke,  John  Bartlet.  Sen.,  Francis 
Browne.  Joseph  Bailey,  &  James  Ordway  chosen  Selectmen. 

March  13,  1682-3,  M""  Henry  Short,  Mr  Thomas.  Noyes,  M'-  Richard 
Dumer,  Joseph  Bj,Uy^  &  Capt.  Daniel  Pcirce,  Selectmen. 

"Mr.  Dumer,  Tristram  Coffin  &  Ensign  Steven  [Coffin?]  appointed 
standing  way  wardens  to  see  that  every  inhabitant  do  their  part  on  the 
hye  wayes." 

March  11,  16S3-4,  M"-  Nicholas  Noyes,  Abraham  Adams,  Abraham 
Merrill,  Joseph  Pike,  &  Robert  Long.  Selectmen. 

March  10,  1684-5,  Capt.  Thomas  Noyes,  Abraliam  Merrill,  Caleb 
Moody,  Ensign  Greenleaf,  John  Kent,  Sen^,  chosen  Selectmen.  John 
Badger,  Constable. 

March  9,  1685-6,  Henry  Short,  Sergt  John  Badger,  Benjamin  Morse, 
Sergt  Joseph  Little,  &  Sergt  Cutting  Noyes  were  chosen  Selectmen. 

March  16,  1685-6,  Joseph  Ilsley  and  Moses  Pilsbery,  Constables. 

October  26,  16S6,  Henry  Jaciues,  Sergt  John  Emery  and  Corp.  Abra- 
ham Adams,  way  wardens. 

April  22,  1690,  the  following  persons  were  chosen  Surveyors  of  the 
highways :  "  Joseph  Knight  for  the  old  Towne,  Joshua  Mors  for  the 
midle  sd  Towne,  John  Emery,  Junr  for  ye  new  Towne,  &  Joseph  Good- 
ridge  for  the  farms."  * 

SELECTMEN. 

The  duties  and  responsibilities  of  the  selectmen  were  evi- 
dently undefined  and  unlimited  until  May  21,  1669,  when  the 
town  adopted  the  following  rules  and  regulations  :  — 

1.  The  Selectmen  shall  have  power  to  call  the  town  together. 

2.  To  order  the  business  for  the  herds  and  to  make  M^  Parkers  Rate 
of  ^80  pr  ann. 

3.  They  shall  prohibit  of  all  felling  of  the  Towns  timber  for  trans- 
port. 

4.  They  shall  make  Rates  for  the  necessary  expenses  of  the  Towne 
&  also  to  make  the  County  &  Country  Rates. 

5.  To  repair  the  meeting  house,  pound  &  stocks. 

6^  To  looke  that  all  strangers  that  come  into  the  Towne,  that  they 
may  have  warning  to  depart  in  due  season  and  to  serve  it  according  to 
law  in  &  about  the  Towne. 

7.  They  shall  do  nothing  else  without  calling  the  Towne  together  to 
have  their  approval. 

8.  They  are  to  give  up  their  accounts  at  the  [end  of  the  year]  to  the 
Towne.     And  also  to  [  ]."  f 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  i. 


THE  SETTLE  ME  XT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  113 

In  1677,  the  sixth  rule  was  amended,  and  the  selectmen 
were  instructed  "  To  prohibit  all  stranjj^ers  from  setling  in  the 
Towne  w"'out  y^  Towns  consent  "  ;  and  the  following  additional 
rules  were  adopted  :  — 

They  shall  not  build  any  seats  in  the  meeting  house  nor  alter  them 
without  the  Towns  consent. 

They  shall  prohibit  any  Inhabitant  from  takeing  in  any  sheep,  cattle, 
or  horses  of  the  Inhabitants  of  other  Towns  to  keep  on  the  Towns 
Conions  &  to  make  orders  for  that  end. 

These  rules,  with  a  few  unimportant  changes,  were  annually 
adopted  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  for  nearly  twentv 
years. 

March  9,  1685-6,  It  was  voated  as  an  Adition  to  ye  Selectmens  In- 
structions that  the  Selectmen  from  time  to  time  shall  make  up  ye  ac- 
counts wtii  him  who  was  constable  ye  year  before  by  the  first  of  May, 
annually.  The  constables  are  hereby  ordered  to  give  up  they  accounts 
to  ye  Selectmen  by  ye  ■sA  time  accordingly.* 

Constables  were  made  collectors  of  taxes  April  16,  1673. 

It  was  voted  that  hence  forth  there  shal  bee  but  one  Rate  made  for 
one  yeare  every  yeare  in  the  month  of  October  and  the  payment  to  bee 
made  one  halfe  in  English  graine,  as  wheat,  barley  Rye  and  pease  good 
and  merchantable  at  or  before  the  last  weeke  in  October  &*  the  other 
halfe  in  good  merchantable  Indian  corne  at  or  before  the  last  week  in 
March  next  after  every  yeare  under  penalty  of  paying  five  shillings  more 
than  their  Rates  come  to,  to  be  levyed  by  the  Constable  if  it  be  not 
paid,  discounted,  or  agreed  for  to  be  paid  suddenly  upon  that  time.* 

The  rules  and  regulations  defining  the  duties  and  powers 
of  the  selectmen,  revised  and  adopted  by  the  inhabitants  of 
Newbury  March  14,  1726-7,  read  as  follows  :  — 

1  That  they  keep  the  Towns  pound  in  repair. 

2  That  they  observe  the  directions  in  ye  Law  relating  to  ye  admission 
of  inhabitants  into  Towns  and  that  they  warn  out  all  strangers  accord- 
ing to  the  directions  in  ye  Law  &  prosecute  all  such  as  do  not  depart 
when  so  warned. 

3  That  they  supply  the  wants  of  ye  poor. 

I  That  they  bind  out  ye  children  of  ye  poor  as  ye  Law  directs. 

*To\vn  of  Newburv  Records. 


1 1 4  HIS  TOR  Y  OF  NE  WB  UR  Y 

5  That  they  observe  the  directions  in  the  Law  relating  to  rei)uted 
drunkards,  cofnon  tipplers  &  such  as  mispend  their  time  and  estates  in 
publick  houses  &  prosecute  such  as  transgress  the  Laws  in  that  case. 

6  That  they  set  to  work  such  as  live  idle  and  disorderly  lives  as  ye 
Law  directs. 

7  That  they  take  care  of  and  improve  the  estates  of  such  as  are 
neither  able  to  take  care  of  or  improve  them  themselves  that  they  may 
be  preserved  for  the  maintainance  of  such  persons  as  need  may  require 
as  ye  Law  directs. 

8  That  they  be  aiding  and  assisting  to  Tything  men  &  other  officers 
in  suppressing  of  vice,  prophaness  &  imorality  &  vigorously  exert  them- 
selves herein  as  ye  Law  directs. 

9  That  they  give  not  their  approbation  for  any  to  renew  or  have  a 
licence  for  ye  keeping  of  publick  houses  but  to  such  as  are  qualified  as 
ye  Law  directs.* 

LOT-LAYERS. 

When  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  decided  in  1645  to  begin 
a  new  settlement  on  the  westerly  bank  of  the  Merrimack  river, 
they  appointed  lot-layers  to  survey  and  lay  out  all  the  un- 
divided land  between  the  farm  previously  granted  to  John 
Spencer  and  the  mouth  of  the  Artichoke  river.  These  lot- 
layers  and  their  successors  were  continued  in  office  until  June 
22,  1 66 1. 

The  selectmen  takeing  into  consideration  that  there  is  no  more  land 
to  be  granted  by  the  Towne,  &  that  there  is  no  need  of  standing  Lott- 
layers  they  doe  hereby  order  that  they  do  discharge  &  release  Richard 
Knight  &  William  Titcomb  from  that  service  of  Laying  out  any  more 
Land  from  this  day  &  henceforth  until  the  towne  sec  caus. 

John  Emery,  Sen. 

John  Cheney,  Sen. 

Abraham  Toppan. 

Archelaus  Woodman. t 

Subsequently,  however,  it  became  necessary  to  reappoint 
the  lot-layers,  and  Sept.  21,  1677,  "Tristram  Coffin  was 
chosen  to  joyne  with  Richard  Knight  to  be  a  Lott  layer  in 
the  Roome  of  William  Titcomb  deceas^ed."  * 

FENCE    VIEWERS. 

March  7,  1663  There  was  chosen  fence  viewers.  At  old  Towne  Rich  : 
Dole,  Francis  Plunier,  &  Tho :   Blomfield  :   In  the  middle  of  the  Towne 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records.        f  Ibid.  (Coffin's  copy). 


THE   SETTLEMENT   AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  115 

Anthony  Mors,  Sen"',  Tristram  Coffin,  John  Webster;  at  the  farther  end 
WilUam  Pilsbury,  Will :  Sawyer,  Lionell  Worth.* 

April  2,  1666  There  is  chosen  by  the  Selectmen  for  fence  viewers  for 
the  year  ensuing  William  Sawyer,  William  Pilsbury  for  the  further  end 
of  the  new  town  to  frog  pond,  Anthony  Morse  Sen^  &  John  Webster 
from  thence  to  Goodman  Moodys  lane,  &  John  Emery  Sen""  and  ffrancis 
Flumer  &  Tho :  Hale  Sen^  from  thence  all  at  old  Towne  &  Thomas 
Hale  &  Samuell  Plumer  for  the  necke.* 

March  23,  1669-70.  Thomas  Hale  and  WilHam  Ilsly  were 
chosen  fence  viewers  for  the  old  town,  Robert  Coker  and 
John  Webster  for  the  middle  of  the  town,  William  Pilsbury 
and  James  Ordway  for  the  farther  end. 

April  3,  1 67 1.  Thomas  Hale,  Sen"",  and  William  Ilsly  fence 
viewers  "  over  the  water  in  the  necke  &  at  the  old  Towne  to 
goodman  Moodys  land."  "Abraham  Toppan  &  Edward 
Richardson  from  Goodman  Moodys  land  to  John  Bartlets 
Barne."  William  Sawyer  and  Edward  Woodman,  Junior, 
"from  John  Bartletts  barne  to  the  farther  end  of  the  new 
Towne." 

March  20,  1671-72.  Thomas  Hale,  Sen',  and  William 
Ilsly  were  chosen  for  the  old  town  to  Moody's  lane.  An- 
thony Morse,  Sen'',  and  Richard  Pettingell  from  Moody's 
lane  to  J.  Bartlet's  barne.  Edward  Richardson  and  James 
Ordway  to  the  end  of  the  town  and  also  at  the  Falls. 

March  19,  1672-3.  William  Sawyer  and  James  Ordway, 
for  the  new  towne.  Richard  Pettingell  and  John  Webster, 
for  the  middle.  Thos.  Hale,  Sen'',  and  Joseph  Pike,  for  the 
neck  and  old  town. 

March  25,  1674.  "Joseph  Plumer  in  ye  necke."  William 
Ilsly  and  Benjamin  Rolfe  at  old  town  to  Moody's  lane.  John 
Webster  and  Robert  Coker  to  J.  Bartlet's  barn.  Benjamin 
Morse  and  Peter  Godfry  to  the  end  of  the  town. 

March  6,  1674-5.  "Thomas  Hale,  Sen',  in  ye  necke." 
William  Ilsley  and  John  Knight,  Jun',  in  old  town  to  Moody's 
lane.  Anthony  Morse,  Sen',  and  Richard  Browne  to  J. 
Bartlet's  barn.  James  Ordway  and  Israel  Webster  from 
thence  to  the  Artichoke  river. 

March    22,   1676-7.      "Thomas  Hale,  Jun',  at  the  necke." 

*To\vn  of  Newbur)'  Records. 


Ii6  HISTORY   OF  XElVBi'RY 

William  Ilsly  and  John  Badger  at  old  town.  John  Webster 
and  James  Smith  in  the  i-fiiddle.  Moses  Pilsbury  and  Daniel 
A  Merrill  at  the  farther  end. 

March  31,  1679.  Thc^mas  Hale,  Sen'',  and  Joseph  Knii;ht 
at  old  town.  Joseph  Coker  and  Joshua  Brown  in  the  centre  of 
the  town.     William  Pilsbury  and  John  Swett  at  the  farther  end. 

March  24,  1679-80.  Samuel  Plumer  and  John  Knight  at 
old  town.  Peter  Toppan  and  James  Smith  in  the  centre. 
Samuel  Poore,  Sen',  and  John  Sawyer,  at  the  upper  end. 

March  23,  1680-81.  John  Kelly  and  Cutting  Noyes  at 
old  town.  Robert  Long  and  Richard  Brown  in  the  centre. 
James  Ordway  and  Jacob  Toppan  at  the  upper  end  of  the 
town. 

March  27,  1683.  John  Knight  and  Richard  Dole,  Jun.,  at 
the  old  town.  John  Webster  and  John  Smith  in  the  centre 
of  the  town,  Daniel  Morrill  and  John  Swett  at  the  upper 
end,  Joseph  Goodridge,  Benjamm  ( ?)  Pearson,  and  Duncan 
Stewart,  at  the  farms, 

March  18,  1683-4.  John  Kely  and  John  Badger  at  the 
old  town.  Richard  Browne  and  Matthew  Pettingell  at  the 
centre.  Moses  Pilsbery  and  Aquila  Chase  at  the  upper  end. 
Joseph  Goodridge  and  Benjamin  Pearson  at  the  farms. 

April  6,  1685.  Joseph  Ilsley  and  Joseph  Knight  at  old 
town.  John  Webster,  Jun.,  and  Matthew  Pettingell  at  the 
centre.  Serg'  Richardson  and  James  Ordway,  Sen"",  at  new 
town.  John  Emery,  Sen"",  and  Benjamin  Moore  at  the  upper 
end  of  the  new  town.  Joseph  Goodridge  and  Benjamin  Pear- 
son at  the  farms. 

March  22,  1685-6.  Jonathan  Emery  and  James  Jackman 
for  old  town  neck.  Richard  Brown  and  Joshua  Morse  for 
the  middle  of  the  town.  Serg'  Jno.  Hale  and  Beniah  Titcomb 
for  the  new  town.  Joshua  Brown  and  Abraham  Merrill  for 
the  upper  end.  Duncan  Stuart  and  Benjamin  Goodridge  for 
the  farms. 

TITHING  MEN. 

May  24,  1677,  the  General  Court  ordered  that  one  tithing 
man  to  every  ten  families  in  the  town  should    be  appointed 


TflE   SETTLE  ME  XT  AT  M  ER  REM ACK  RIVER 


117 


by  the  selectmen  to  apprehend  all  Sabbath-breakers,  "those 
who  absent  themselves  from  tlie  public  worship  of  God  on 
the  Lord's  day,"  disorderly  children  and  servants,  night 
walkers,  and  tipplers,  and,  in  the  absence  of  a  constable,  take 
them  before  a  magistrate  or  commit  them  to  prison.* 

In  compliance  with  this  law  the  selectmen  of  Newbury,  at 
a  meeting  held  March  31,  1679,  appointed  the  following  per- 
sons to  serve  as  tithinu"  men  :  — 


Richard  Dumer  Jun 
Abraham  Adams 
William  Ilsey  Jun 
Robert  Long 
Thomas  Hale  Jim 


Richard  Knight 
Nicholas  Noyes 
Tristram  Coffin 
Nathaniel  Clark 
Ensign  Greenleafe 


James  ordway 
Lieut  Woodman 
John  Emery,  Jun. 
William  Sawyer 
Abraham  Merrill.X 


A  notice  sent  by  the  selectmen  to  the  person  named  last 
in  the  above  list  reads  as  follows  :  f  — 

To  DEACON  Abraham  Merrill  X' 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Selectmen  March  thirty- first  1679. 

You  are  hereby  required  to  take  notice  that  you  are  chosen  according 
to  court  order  by  the  selectmen  to  bee  a  tithing  man  to  have  inspection 
into  and  look  over  these  families  that  they  attend  the  publick  worship 
of  God,  and  do  not  break  the  Sabbath,  and  further  you  are  to  attend 
as  the  court  order  declares. 

The  names  of  the  families  are  Edward  Woodman,  Junior,  Samuel 
Bartlet,  Richard  Bartlet,  Abel  Pilsbury,  John  Stevens,  Christopher 
Bartlet,  Thomas  Chase,  goodman  Bailey,  John  Chase. 

By  order  of  the  Selectmen 

Anthony   Somerbv  Reco7-der. 


"March  24,  1679,  there  were  chosen  for  Tithing  men  for 
this  year  1680" 

Henry  Jaques 
Nicholas  Noyes 
Samuell  Plumer 
William  Sawyer 
Robert  Lons; 


John  Emery  Jun"" 
'^  John  Bailey 
Lieut  Woodman 
Ensign  (ireenleafe 
Sergt  Coffin 
Sergt  Clarke 


James  Jackman 
Thomas  Hale  Jun"" 
Edward  Moores 
James  Ordway 
Joseph  Goodridge 


April  25,  168 1,  the  selectmen  appointed  for  "  tything  men" 


Mr  Richard  Dumer 
Mr.  Henrv  Short 
Tristram  Coffin 


John  Noyes 
James  Jackman 
Robert  Long 


Thomas  Hale  Ju"" 
Daniel  Cheny 
Richard  Pettengall 


*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol. 
t  Coffin's  History  of  Ke\vbur\'.  pp.  12 


122. 


ii8 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


Ensign  Greenleafe 
Mr  John  Sewall 
John  Emery  Jun"" 


Nathanel  Clarke 
Samuel  Poore  Sen 


"Tithina"  men  for  1682  "  as  follows 


Ml"  Richard  Dumer 
Samuel  Plumer 
Joseph  Pike 
Serj :   Coffin 
Serj :   Clarke 
Serj :   Tappin 


Benjamin  Rolfe 
John  Webster 
John  Badger 
•5^ John  Baily 
■/Abraham  Merril 
Benjamin  Lowle 


Tithing  men  for  1683 

Mr  Richard  Dole 
Serjeant  Coffin 
Robert  Long 
John  Hale 
Abraham  Merrill 
John  Poore  Jur 

Tithing  men  for  1684  :  — 

Mr  Richard  Dumer 
Elisha  Ilsly 
James  Jackman 


Nicholas  Noyes 
Beniah  Titcomb 
Mr  Moses  Gerrish 
Abraham  Adams 
Joshua  Brown 


Capt  Daniel  Peirce 
Lieut  Tristram  Coffin 
Lieut  Woodman 
John  Emery  Sen 
Samuel  Bartlet 
Edward  Richardson 


Joseph  Knight 
John  Bartlet  Jur 
James  Ordway  Jur 


Tithing  men  March  22,  1685-6:  — 

John  Poor  Dunkan  Stuart 

Samll  Bartlet  SamuH  Plumer 

Ser:    Hale  W>"  Sawyer 

Abram  Adams  Ser  :   Moodey 


Benj.  Rolfe 
Penii  Titcomb 
y Abram  Merrill 


Georg  March 
Deacon  Noyes 
James  Ordway  Jr. 


Caleb  Moody 
John  Baily 


Abraham  Adams 
William  Morse 
Sergt  Richardson 
francis  Browne 
Joseph  Plumer 
Rich:   Pettengall 


Anthony  Somerby 
William  Pilsbury 
James  Jackman  Senr 
John  Easton 
Richard  Bartlet  Jr 


Capt  Thomas  Noyes 
Edmund  Moores  Sen 
Samuel  Plumer 
Thomas  Hale  Senr 
Anthony  Somerby 
James  Myrrick 


Lieut  Coffin 

Corpll  Edward  Mores 

Joseph  Pike 

John  Swett 

Ben :   Morse 

Richd  Browne 


Tithing  men  appointed  May  7,  168  [7 
Joseph  Little 


?]: 


John  Sawyer 
>  John  Baily 
'j.  Daniel  Morrill 

Ens  Jacob  Toppan 

Joseph  Ilsley 

Jonathan  Moore 


John  Kent  Jun 
Beniah  Titcomb 
John  Bartlet  Jur 
Sergt  Nathl  Clarke 
Henry  Lunt 
Silvanus  Plumer 
Joseph  Goodridge 


John  Webster  Senr 
Mr  Moses  Gerrish 
Henry  Jaques 
John  Knight 
William  Moody 
Joseph  Plumer  Senr 
Mr  Will  Longfellow 


THE   SETTLE  ME  XT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  119 

Under  the  new  charter  of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts 
Bay  tithing  men  were  required  to  carry  a  black  staff,  two  feet 
long,  tipped  at  one  end  with  brass  about  three  inches  wide, 
as  a  badge  of  authority.  They  were  sworn  to  a  faithful  dis- 
charge of  their  duties  before  a  justice  of  the  peace.* 

Subsequently  the  law  providing  for  their  appointment  by 
the  selectmen  was  amended,  and  they  were  afterwards  elected 
annually  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  until  1838.  After 
that  date  they  were  evidently  considered  superfluous  officers, 
and  for  several  years  none  were  chosen. 

March  14,  1848,  the  town  voted  to  elect  three  tithing  men 
in  place  of  eighteen  or  twenty  as  heretofore  ;  and  Benjamin  G. 
Evans,  John  Atkinson,  and  Michael  Floyd  were  chosen. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town  held  March  13,  1849,  strong 
efforts  were  made  to  secure  the  appointment  of  competent 
and  discreet  persons  who  could  be  depended  upon  to  serve  as 
tithing  men  ;  but  a  motion  to  omit  action  on  that  article  in  the 
warrant  prevailed,  and  when  the  subject  was  again  brought 
to  the  attention  of  the  voters,  April  i,  1850,  and  March  29, 
1852,  it  was  disposed  of  in  substantially  the  same  way.  At 
the  annual  meeting  in  March,  1854,  John  N.  Kent,  Joseph 
Longfellow,  Alfred  Poor,  John  Kent,  and  Richard  S.  Bray 
were  elected.  The  following  year  no  tithing  men  were 
chosen  ;  and  since  that  date  good  order  has  been  maintained 
in  the  town  of  Newbury,  and  in  the  church  during  divine  ser- 
vice, without  their  aid  or  influence. 

OTHER  OFFICERS. 

Cullers  of  fish,  cullers  of  staves,  hog  reeves,  informers  of 
deer,  clerks  of  the  market,  and  many  other  officers  whose  ser- 
vices are  not  now  required,  were  elected  annually  by  the  in- 
habitants of  the  town. 

Cullers  of  staves  selected  and  classified  the  staves  that 
were  cut  in  large  quantities  for  wine  casks  and  hogsheads  and 
shipped  from  Newbury  to  the  West  Indies.  It  was  the  duty 
of  hog  reeves  to   see  that  the  law   "  concerning  the  yoking 

*  Province  Laws,  vol.  i  ,  p.  15;. 


I20  •         11 /STORY  OF  XEU'BCRY 

and  ringing  of  hogs  "  was  properly  executed  wlien  they  were 
allowed  to  run  at  large.  Clerks  of  the  market  regulated 
weights  and  measures  as  well  as  prices  when  provisions  or 
produce  were  offered  for  sale ;  and  informers  of  deer  were  ex- 
pected to  prosecute  all  persons  violating  the  law  in  regard  to 
the  killing  of  deer,  or  give  to  the  magistrates  the  information 
needed  in  order  to  secure  the  arrest  and  punishment  of  the 
offenders. 

FINES  AND  PUNISHMENTS. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  held  April  — , 
164(5)? 

It  was  ordered  y'  all  such  as  absented  themseh'es  from  this  meeting 
should  be  fined  twelve  pence  a  peece,  and  the  constable  to  levy  the  sane 
&  Retourne  wt  he  gathers  of  such  as  ye  prudential  men  shall  judge  their 
excuse  is  not  sufficient,  y^  one  half  thereof  to  the  ord'ers  of  y^  Tovvne 
affaires  ye  other  to  keepe  himself  for  a  Recompense  for  his  paynes. 

Itt  is  ordered  yt  ye  constable  for  p'sent  &  all  constables  for  future 
shall  stand  ingaged  from  time  to  time  for  one  half  of  ye  fines  yt  any  de- 
linquent shall  be  fined  for  absenting  himself  from  any  publicke  meeting 
wch  is  to  be  IS  a  peece.* 

April  8,  1646,  Mr.  Woodman,  Hen:  Lunt,  Arch:  Woodman  and  AI^ 
Sewall  for  their  absence  from  ye  generall  Towne  meeting  are  fyned 
twelve  pence  a  peece  : 

Steven  Kent  for  his  absence  from  ye  same  meeting  was  fyned  two 
shillings. 

At  this  meeting  the  constable  was  ordered  to  collect  the 
above-mentioned  fines  within  ten  days,  and  bring  them  to  the 
town  officers.  "  In  case  he  bring  it  not  in  by  that  time  An- 
thony Mors  is  appointed  to  Distreine  on  y*"  constable  for  all 
the  fines."  * 

Aquilla  Chase,  his  wife,  and  David  Wheeler,  of  Hampton, 
were  presented  September  29,  1646,  to  the  court  at  Ipswich, 
"for  breach  of  the  Sabbath  ingathering  pease."  "  Witnesses 
William  Sanburne  and  William  Fifield."  f 

Under  the  date  of  March  30,  1647,  the  record  states  that 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol   i. 
t  Court  Files  (Salem),  vol.  i.,  leaf  55. 


THE  SETTLEMKA-r  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  12  i 

they  "appeared  not,  to  answer  their  presentment,  being  not 
at  Hampton  when  the  constable  received  his  warrant." 

In  a  volume  containing  notes  and  memoranda  made  by  the 
clerk  of  the  court,  for  his  own  convenience,  and  afterwards 
written  out  and  entered  in  full  upon  the  records,  the  facts  re- 
lating to  this  presentment  and  to  the  return  made  by  the  con- 
stable are  stated  as  follows  :  — 

Ipswich  Court  March  30,  1647,  Aquilla  Chase  &  his  wife  &  David 
Wheeler  being  presented  at  the  last  court  for  gathering  pease  on  the 
Lord's  day.  Summons  sent  to  Hampton.  The  constables  return  states 
they  were  not  at  Hampton  but  were  gone  to  Newberry.* 

Another  summons  was  served  upon  them  at  Newbury. 
They  appeared  at  the  next  session  of  the  court,  held  March  28, 
1648,  and  were  "admonished  and  discharged  after  the  pay- 
ment of  fees  and  costs  of  court."'  f 

March  28,  1648,  the  town  of  Newbury  was  presented  "for 
want  of  a  convenient  safe  way  from  the  new  town  to  the  ferry 
side."  "  Witnesses  Tristram  Coffin  of  Newbury  and  John 
Stevens  of  Salisbury."  And  at  the  same  court  the  town  was 
also  presented  "  for  want  of  a  bridge  over  the  falls  river  in 
the  way  betwixt  Newbury  and  Andover."  \ 

At  the  court  held  in  Ipswich,  November  13,  1649,  John 
Bartlet,  constable  of  Newbury,  was  presented  for  not  providing 
weights  and  measures  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town.  § 

May  23,  1650,  the  General  Court  ordered  that  "John  Bart- 
let, the  constable  of  Newbery,  beinge  vnder  a  fine  of  forty  shil- 
lings for  not  p'vidinge  weights  &  measures  according  to  law, 
vppon  a  petition  p'fred  to  this  Court,  hath  his  fine  remitted : 
the  Court  havinge  received  satisfactory  information  that  he  did 
his  vttmost  endeauour  to  p'cure  the  same."  || 

November  13,  1649,  the  town  of  Newbury  was  presented  at 
the  Ipswich  court  for  want  of  a  pound.  ^ 

♦County  Court  Records,  1645  to  1663,  "Ipswich,"  vol.  i,  l;af  8. 
t  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  !.,  leaf  12. 
+  Court  Files  (Salem),  vol.  i.,  leaf  97. 
§  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  i. ,  p.  18. 
II  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iii.,  p.  194. 
^   V,  •»  .         H  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  18. 


1-2  HISTORY  OF  NEWBCRY 

March  26,  1650,  Jolin  Perrye,  of  Newbury,  for  abusive  car- 
riage to  his  wife  and  child,  was  ordered  to  give  bonds  for  his 
good  behavior  and  "to  sit  one  hour  in  the  stocks  at  New- 
bury." * 

On  the  same  day  (March  26,  1650)  Anthony  Morse,  of 
Newbury,  was  fined  £^  "■  for  digging  a  pit  &  not  filHng  it  up 
whereby  a  child  was  drowned."  f 

Dr.  William  Snelling  was  presented  for  denouncing  his 
enemies  with  intemperate  zeal.  His  friends  William  Thomas 
and  Thomas  Milward  signed  and  filed  with  the  clerk  of  the 
court  the  following  statement  :  — 

This  is  to  certify  whom  it  may  concern  that  we,  the  subscribers,  being 
called  upon  to  testify  against  M^  William  Snelling  for  words  by  him 
uttered,  affirm  that  being  in  way  of  merry  discourse,  a  health  being 
drunk  to  all  friends,  he  answered 

I'll  pledge  my  friends 

And  for  my  foes 
A  plague  for  their  heels 

And  a  poxe  for  their  toes. 

Since  when  he  hath  affirmed  that  he  only  intended  the  proverb  used 
in  the  west  country,  nor  do  we  believe  he  intended  otherwise. t 

Affixed  to  this  statement  was  the  following  acknowledg- 
ment :  — 

March  12,  1651-2,  all  which  I  acknowledge  and  I  am  sorry  I  did  not 
express  my  intent,  or  that  I  was  so  weak  as  to  use  so  foolish  a  proverb. 

GuiLiELMUs  Snelling. 

Notwithstanding  this  humble  apology  it  appears  from  the 
court  records  that  on  the  thirtieth  day  of  March,  1652,  ''Mr 
William  Snelling  upon  his  presentment  for  cursing  is  fined 
10^  and  fees  of  court."  § 

"September  27,  1653,  the  wife  of  Nicholas  Noyes  being 
presented  for  wearing  a  silk  hood  and  scarf,  upon  proof  that 
her  husband  is  worth  above  two  hundred  pounds  is  cleared  of 
her  presentment." 

The  wife  of  Hugh  March  and  the  wife  of   Richard  Knight 

*  Ipswich  Court  Records, vol.  i.,  p.  20.         f  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  leaf  30. 
X  Court  Files  (Salem) ,  vol.  ii.,  leaf  28. 
§  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  i.,  leaf  28. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  A  T  MERRIMACK  RIVER  i  23 

were  charged  with  the  same  offence,  but  were  discharged  or 
proof  that  their  husbands  were  worth  two  hundred  pounds 
each.* 

The  wife  of  John  Hut  chins  was  discharged  "  upon  testi- 
mony of  her  being  brought  up  above  the  ordinary  ranke."  * 

At  the  same  court  the  wife  of  Joseph  Swett  and  the  wife 
of  William  Chandler  were  convicted  and  fined  ten  shillings 
"for  wearing  a  silk  hood  and  scarf e."  * 

The  law  under  which  these  presentments  were  made  was 
enacted  October  14,  165  i.  It  provided  that  "men  of  meane 
condition"  should  not  take  upon  themselves  "the  garbe  of 
gentlemen  by  wearing  gold  or  silver  lace  or  buttons "  ;  and 
women  of  the  same  rank  were  forbidden  "  to  weare  silke  or 
tiffany  hoodes  or  scarfes  "  unless  they  or  their  husbands  pos- 
sessed an  estate  of  at  least  two  hundred  pounds,  under  a 
penalty  of  ten  shillings  for  each  offence,  f 

In  September,  1653,  "Tristram  Coffin  and  ux  [Dionis] 
presented  for  selling  beer  at  3^*  a  quart."  "  Upon  the  testimony 
of  Samuel  Moores  that  she  put  six  bushels  of  malt  into  the 
hogshead  she  was  discharged." :|:  The  law  regulating  the  sale 
of  beer  provided  that  "  all  such  as  put  beere  to  sale  shall 
be  able  to  prove  that  they  put  into  every  hogshead  of  beere 
that  they  sell  for  three  pence  the  quart  into  the  brewing 
thereof  six  bushells  of  good  barley  mault,  &  into  every  hogs- 
head of  beere  sould  at  two  pence  the  quart  fower  bushells  of 
mault  ;  &  into  every  hogshead  of  beere  sould  at  a  penny  a 
quart,  two  bushells  of  like  good  mault  &  so  proportionably  in 
greater  or  smaller  quantities."  Whosoever  failed  to  comply 
with  the  provisions  of  this  law  should  "forfeite  for  the  first 
offence  forty  shillings  &  for  the  second  offence  shall  forfeite 
theire  licence."  § 

March  28,  1654,  the  town  of  Newbury  was  presented  "for 
defects  in  a  country  highway  near  goodman  Adams  his  farm."  || 

"September    1654    John     Emery    senior   was     chosen    to 

*  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  i.,  leaf  34. 
t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  61. 
X  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  36. 
§  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iii.,  p.  241. 
II  Court  Files  (Salem),  vol.  ii.,  leaf  130. 


124  HISTORY   OF    XEWBURY 

answer  at  the  next  court  at  Ipswich  concerninge  the  jj'sent- 
ment  about  the  waye  to  Andover."  *  At  a  session  of  the 
court  held  at  Ipswich  September  26,  1654,  the  town  of  New- 
bury was  "ordered  to  repair  the  highway  by  next  court  or 
pay  forty  shilHngs. "  f 

"May  6,  1658  Newbury  upon  their  presentment  for  want 
of  a  latin  scoole  is  to  pay  five  pounds  to  Ipswich  lattin  Scool, 
unles  they  by  the  nexte  Court  provyde  a  lattin  scoole  master 
according  to  law."  \ 

March  31,  1663,  the  grand  jury,  sitting  at  Ipswich,  indicted 
"  Lydia  Wardwell  the  wife  of  Eliakim  Wardwell  for  coming 
naked  into  y^  meeting  house  of  Newbury." §  May  5,  1663, 
she  was  sentenced  "to  be  severely  whipt  and  to  pay  costs  & 
fees  to  the  Marshall  of  Hampton  for  bringing  her."|| 

At  the  same  court,  May  5,  1663,  "Elizabeth  Webster  for 
taking  a  false  oath  was  sentenced  to  stand  at  the  meeting 
house  dore  at  Newbury,  the  next  lecture  day  from  the  ringing 
of  the  first  bell  until  the  minister  be  ready  to  begin  prayer, 
with  a  paper  on  her  head  written  in  capital  letters  FOR 
TAKING  A  FALSE  OATH  IN  COURT,  the  constable 
to  see  it  done  :  or  else  to  pay  a  fine  of  five  pounds  and  to  be 
disabled  from  taking  an  oath,  and  pay  costs  and  fees.  She 
made  choise  to  stand  at  the  doore,"  etc.  || 

WOLVES,  BLACKBIRDS,  AND  CROWS. 

May  15,  1645,  the  General  Court  ordered 

Y'  any  p"son,  eithf  English  or  Indian,  that  sliall  kill  any  wolfe  or 
wolues  w'liin  ten  miles  of  any  plantation  in  ys  jurisdiction,  shall  have  for 
every  wolfe  by  him  or  ym  so  kiled  10  sh*  to  be  paid  out  of  ye  treasury  of 
ye  country. T[ 

At  a  general  meeting  of  the  Towne  [of  Newbury]  April  271'!  1648 
Ther  was  granted  to  Thomas  Marvyn  two  acres  of  land  lying  neer  to 
the  new  pond  on  the  back  side  of  Mr.  Noyes  house  lott  at  the  new 
Towne  for  encouragement  to  him  to  kill  woolves.  ** 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 

t  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  i.,  leaf  47.         +  Uiid.,  vol.  i.,  leaf  68. 
§Court  Files  (Salem),  vol.  ix.,  leaf  13. 
II  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  i.,  leaf  117. 
H  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii  ,  page  103. 

**  Newbury  (Proprietors')  Records,  vol.  i.,  page  46.  The  laud  granted  Thomas  Marvyn  was 
on  the  southwesterly  side  of  South  (now  Parker)  street,  near  the  "  training  green." 


THE   SETTLEMEXT   AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  i^S 

March  6,  1664-5  ^^  was  ordered  that  those  wolves  that  hath  bin 
killed  since  the  six  wolves  order  hath  bin  out,  those  that  hath  killed  them 
shall  have  forty  shillings  for  euery  wolfe  for  those  that  is  past,  and  also 
such  as  shall  kill  wolves  for  the  time  to  come  shall  have  forty  shillings 
for  euery  wolfe  to  be  paid  out  of  the  next  Towne  Rate  after  they  shalbe 
killed  provided  tliat  due  proof  be  made  that  they  be  killed  within  the 
limitts  of  the  Towne.* 

January  24,  1682-3,  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants 
of  the  town  voted 

That  whereas  there  was  an  order  made  and  voted  at  a  Generall  meet- 
ing of  the  Towne  March  13,  16S0-1  that  gave  to  such  persons  as  should 
kill  wolves  in  the  bounds  of  Newbury  to  have  twenty  shillings  for  every 
old  wolfe  and  ten  shillings  for  every  young  wolfe  to  be  paid  out  of  the 
Town  rate,  and  it  was  not  found  in  the  town  books,  the  Town  did  confirm 
that  order  and  gave  order  it  should  be  recorded  for  it  was  endorsed  by 
John  Ordway  and  many  others.* 

March  9,  1702-3  voted  to  pay  four  pounds  to  those  who  killed  two 
•wolves  at  the  Ipswich  end  of  Plum  Island.* 

September  i,  1714  voted  to  pay  forty  shillings  for  every  wolfe 
killed  within  the  limits  of  the  town.* 

May  3,  1715  voted  to  give  five  pounds  per  head  for  every  grown 
wolfe  which  shall  be  killed  within  the  town  of  Newbury.* 

March  13,  1721-22  It  was  voted  that  ye  selectmen  shall  pay  to 
Mark  Moers  &  his  brother  Jonathan  Moers  twenty  shillings  equally 
between  them  for  a  gratification  for  killing  a  wolfe  in  Bradford  this 
last  winter.* 

At  the  annual  meeting,  held  March  16,  1724-5,  the  town 
voted  to  pay  Thomas  Bartlet  and  Seth  Bartlet  the  sum  of 
fifteen  shillings  for  killmg  a  wolf  in  Merrimack  river ;  and 
as  late  as  February  23,  1 741-2,  the  selectmen  paid  George 
Thurlow  five  pounds  for  killing  "a  woolf  &  wild  cat."  * 

In  1779,  Moses  Adams  killed  a  wolf  in  Newbury.  Since 
that  date  none  have  been  seen  within  the  limits  of  the  town.f 

As  a  protection  against  loss  and  damage  to  the  growing 
crops  of  wheat  and  corn,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury,  at  a 
meeting  held  Dec.  19,  1650,  ordered  "that  what  soeuer 
Inhabitants  of  this  towne  shall  kill  blacke  birds,  jays,  wood- 
peckers or  Crowes  shalbe  paid  by  the  constable  out  of  the 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Coffin's  History  of  Newbur^',  p.  256. 


1.26  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

towne  rate  for  eucry  dozen  of  blacke  birds  one  shilling,  and 
for  euery  dozen  of  woodpeckers  and  jays  heads  so  brought  to 
the  constable  or  townsmen  two  shillings,  and  for  euery  dozen 
of  Crowes  three  shillings  and  so  proportionable  for  any  less 
number."  * 

WOOD   AND   TIMBER. 

The  cutting  and  removing  of  wood  and  timber,  from  land 
owned  by  the  freeholders  in  common,  was  carefully  guarded 
and  regulated  by  the  early  settlers  of  the  town.  They 
adopted  strong  and  vigorous  measures  for  the  protection  and 
preservation  of  forest  trees.  As  early  as  1638,  when  the 
settlement  at  Parker  river  was  less  than  three  years  old,  they 
publicly  declared :  "  The  Trees  before  Richard  Knights 
house  are  reserved  for  the  Towns  use  and  so  in  all  the 
streets  of  the  Towne  &  none  is  to  cutt  them  downe  on  the 
penalty  of  ten  shillings  forfeiture  to  the  Towne."  f 

When  arrangements  were  being  made  for  the  removal  of 
the  inhabitants  from  Parker  river  to  the  "  new  town  "  on 
Merrimack  river,  the  freeholders  ordered  that  a  fine  of  two 
shillings  and  sixpence  should  be  imposed  upon  any  person 
cutting  or  removing  a  tree  without  permission,  and  providing 
further  that  all  trees  cut  down,  within  the  limits  of  the  pro- 
posed new  town,  previous  to  Jan.  11,  1643-4,  "shall  lye  & 
remayne  on  the  ground  till  the  person  be  known  to  whom  the 
land  belongs  that  so  paying  for  the  labour  he  may  have  them 
to  serve  his  occasions." 

March  3,  1668-9,  the  selectmen  ordered  that  all  pipe 
staves,  or  barrel  staves,  found  upon  the  commons,  or  at  the 
river  side,  "  shall  be  seized  and  sold,  and  no  one,  not  an  in- 
habitant of  the  town,  shall  be  allowed  to  employ  any  person 
to  cut  or  draw  timber  upon  the  commons  under  penalty  of 
forfeiting  all  the  timber  so  cut." 

Evasions  of  this  order  were  so  frequent  and  annoying  that 
the  freeholders  declared  October  1 8,  1 670,  "  that  sundry  orders 
have  been  made  for  the  preservation  of  the  Towns  Timber  as 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 

t  Newbury  (Proprietors')  Records,  p.  35. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  127 

by  order  of  Sept.  18,  1649  "^"^^  other  wise  may  appeare/'  and 
many  trees  have  recently  been  cut  into  boards,  plank,  pipe 
staves,  and  fence  rails  without  perrriission.  The  selectmen  are 
therefore  directed  to  imjDose  a  fine  of  twenty  shillings  on  any 
person  aiding  or  assisting  in  loading  or  transporting  these 
materials  beyond  the  limits  of  the  town  "on  a  raft,  boat,  or 
canoe." 

All  dwelling-houses  or  cottages  erected  in  Newbury  after 
October  12,  1670,  contrary  to  the  law  passed  by  the  General 
Court,  May  30,  1660,  were  liable  to  be  condemned  and  con- 
fiscated, "  unless  the  same  have  been  or  shall  hereafter  be 
accepted  by  the  freeholders.  "*  The  owners  or  builders  of 
such  houses  were  not  allowed  to  use  the  common  or  undivided 
land  for  the  pasturage  of  cows,  horses,  or  sheep  ;  nor  were 
they  allowed  to  cut  or  remove  any  timber  or  wood,  under 
penalty  of  twenty  shillings  for  every  load  so  cut  or  conveyed 
away. 

"May  22,  1671,  the  town  granted  Mr.  John  Lowle  liberty 
to  cut  out  of  the  dead  timber  on  the  commons,  so  much  as  will 
serve  to  build  him  a  house ;  the  timber  to  be  taken  from  the 
point  of  land  above  Holt's  rocks."  f 

At  a  general  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  held 
March  3,  1672-3,  the  following  order  was  adopted:  — 

...  no  person  Shall  fell,  girdle,  Lopp  or  in  any  way  deface  any  tree 
standing  upon  the  training  place  or  the  grounds  appointed  for  that  use 
on  penalty  of  five  pounds  for  every  tree  so  felled,  girdled,  Lopped  or 
defaced.:}: 

The  selectmen  were  authorized  and  instructed  to  see  that 
the  rules  and  regulations  adopted  for  the  preservation  of 
useful  and  ornamental  trees  were  strictly  and  impartially 
enforced.  July  5,  1673,  they  ordered  the  following  vote  to 
be  recorded  :  "  That  whereas  John  Webster  &  Peter  Toppan 
is  complained  of  for  cutting  Downe  trees  in  the   Land  that 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  417.  "  Itt  is  ordered  that  hereafter  no 
cottage  or  dwelling  place  shalbee  admitted  to  the  privelege  o£  commonage  for  wood,  timber  & 
herbage  or  any  other  of  the  priviledges  that  lye  in  comon  in  any  towne  or  peculyar,  but  such  as 
already  are  in  being  or  hereafter  shalbee  erected  by  the  consent  of  the  towne." 

tTown  of  Newbury  Records  (Coffin's  copy). 

X  Town  of  Newburj'  Records. 


128  HISTORY  OF  NFAVnURY 

is  called  the  burying  place,  we  the  selectmen  do  order  that 
Richard  Dole  &  Samuel  Plumer  shall  levy  ten  shillings  upon 
John  Webster  &  five  shillings  upon  Peter  Tappan  for  cutting 
dovvne  the  trees  without  order  &  John  Webster  for  cutting 
downe  a  tree  upon  the  hyway."  * 

March  5,  1676-7,  the  freeholders  voted :  "That  such  per- 
sons that  shall  fell  downe  &  make  use  of  Timber  of  the 
Towns  Comons  for  the  building  of  ships  or  vessels  shall  from 
henceforth,  from  time  to  time,  have  liberty  from  the  Select- 
men and  shall  pay  for  the  Townes  use  two  shillings  a  tun 
according  to  the  burden  of  the  vessel  and  if  any  shall  take 
timber  out  of  the  Townes  Comons  without  leave  as  above 
said  shall  pay  foure  shillings  a  Tun  to  the  Townes  use  to  be 
levyed  by  y^  constable."  * 

"October  12,  i68r,  L'  Steven  Greenleaf  proposed  for  a 
parcell  of  timber  to  make  plank  for  a  vessell  &  engaged  to 
pay  to  the  Townes  use  by  the  tun  according  to  the  Towne 
order."  * 

The  selectmen  granted  the  petition  of  Mr.  Greenleaf,  and 
March  3,  168 1-2,  appointed  Thomas  Hale,  jr.,  and  Joseph 
Plumer  "  to  search  out  any  p'son  or  p'sons  that  have  cut 
downe  any  of  the  townes  timber  in  the  upper  comons  & 
bring  in  their  names  to  the  Selectmen  between  this  &  the 
next  Generall  town  meeting."  * 

"March  9,  1685-6  Job  Pilsbery  petitioned  the  towaie  that 
a  white  oak  tree  standing  on  the  highway  against  his  fathers 
barne  might  not  be  cut  downe  but  y*  he  might  have  liberty 
to  preserve  y^  same."     "The  town  granted  his  petition."  * 

At  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  held  March  9,  1685-6,  it 
was  voted :  "  The  Towne  being  sensable  of  a  great  deale 
of  Damage  y'  may  happen  to  y^  Towne  by  persons  cutting 
trees  in  the  Towns  comons  and  high  wayes  contrary  to  Towne 
order.  The  Towne  do  therefore  Appoynt  and  Authorize 
Joseph  Pike  of  Newbury  to  prosecute  all  such  person  or  per- 
sons that  have  transgressed  any  such  order."  *  The  appoint- 
ment to  remain  in  force  until  revoked. 

In  the  month  of    April  following  "Constable  Moses   Pils- 

*To\vn  of  Newbury  Records. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  129 

bury  seized  and  delivered  to  Joseph  Pike  twenty  one  red  oak 
trees  and  sixteen  white  oak  trees  at  the  south  east  end  [of 
the  town's  commons]  near  Savages  rock  and  the  westerly 
end  of  Long  hill  near  Merrimack  river."  * 

December  19,  1695,  the  sheriff  was  ordered  to  seize  all 
timber  that  had  been  cut  on  the  common  land  without  per- 
mission. The  same  day  James  Brown,  deputy  sheriff,  seized 
between  two  and  three  thousand  staves  and  a  large  quantity 
of  cut  and  hewn  timber  which  he  marked  "  with  the  Broad 
Arrow,"  and  delivered  to  the  selectmen  of  Newbury.* 

March  12,  17 16-7,  Lieut.  John  March  and  Mr.  Henry  Rolfe 
were  authorized  to  prosecute  *'  all  persons  who  have,  or  shall 
hereafter,  cut  down  or  deface  any  tree  or  trees  standing  on 
any  of  the  Highways  or  training  places  within  the  limits  of 
the  town  :  and  shall  do  all  things  needful  for  preserving  all 
trees  on  the  said  ways."  * 

An  oak-tree  that  was  perhaps  a  century  old  when  Newbury 
was  settled,  in  1635,  is  still  standing  on  land  now  owned  by 
William  Little  and  others.  On  the  next  page  will  be  found 
a  photographic  view  of  this  venerable  representative  of  the 
primeval  forest. 

"  What  tales,  if  there  be  '  tongues  in  trees,' 

This  giant  oak  could  tell 
Of  beings  born  and  buried  here, — 
Tales  of  the  peasant  and  the  peer, 
Tales  of  the  bridal  and  the  bier, 

The  welcome  and  farewell." 

"  The  Gerrish  pasture  "  where  this  ancient  oak  tree  stands 
was  the  property  of  the  First  Parish  of  Newbury  for  more 
than  two  centuries.  At  an  auction  sale,  April  6,  1875,  it  was 
purchased  by  Robert  A.  Smith,  Joseph  W.  Bartlett  and 
others. 1 

The  underbrush,  small  limbs  and  boughs  cut  from  tree-tops, 
valueless  wood  and  decaying  timber  that  interfered  with  the 
growth  of  the  herbage  and  the  pasturage  of  cattle,  was  annually 
gathered  in  convenient   nooks  and   consumed  by  fire.     The 

•Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Essex  Deeds,  vol.  cmxxx.,  p.  274,  and  vol.  cmxxxiv. ,  p.  217. 


THE   SETTLEME.VT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  131 

selectmen  were  authorized  to  employ  suitable  men  for  that 
purpose.  The  earliest  appointment  recorded  is  as  follows  : 
"March  10,  1674-5  John  Emery  J  un""  undertakes  the  burning 
of  the  woods  &  making  the  dry  herd  hedg  sufficient."  * 

March  22,  168 1-2,  the  selectmen  agreed  with  William 
Bolton  to  keep  the  dry  herd  ;  "  and  he  is  to  burne  the  woods 
and  make  up  the  flatts  fence  and  for  that  he  shall  be  paid 
fourteen  shillings."  * 

April  6,  1685,  the  selectmen  "agreed  with  William  Bolton 
for  ten  shillings  to  burn  the  woods  this  yeare."  * 

March  22,  1685-6,  the  selectmen  appointed  Benjamin 
Morss  "  to  burn  the  woods  this  year  above  Artichoak  River 
and  to  have  for  his  pains  ten  shillings  out  of  y^  nexte  towne 
Rate."  * 

HORSES,    CATTLE,    AND    SWINE. 

Stock-raising  was  an  important  industry  in  the  town  of 
Newbury  for  more  than  fifty  years  after  its  incorporation.  At 
first  horses,  cattle,  and  swine  were  allowed  to  run  at  large ;  and, 
in  order  to  keep  them  from  trespassing  upon  cultivated  fields 
and  gardens,  it  became  necessary  to  employ  herdsmen,  and 
also  to  provide  a  suitable  enclosure  where  they  could  be  con- 
fined, if  vicious  or  unruly,  and  released  by  the  owners  on  the 
payment  of  a  certain  fixed  and  definite  sum. 

February  i  [1637-8],  the  freeholders  ordered  "that  Jn°  : 
Emery  shall  make  a  sufficient  Pound  for  the  towne  two  rod 
&  halfe  square  by  the  last  of  this  present  month  if  he  cann, 
the  towne  affording  him  what  helpe  they  can,  when  he  calls 
for  it ;  &  when  it  is  finished,  that  the  towne  &  hee  shall  agree 
about  the  price  &  if  they  cannot  that  then  it  shall  bee  judged 
by  two  indifferent  men  to  be  chosen  one  by  the  towne,  the 
other  by  himself e."  f 

Evidently,  Mr.  Emery  was  unable  or  unwilling  to  undertake 
the  task  of  building  a  pound,  and  therefore  the  town  ordered 
April  14  [1638]  "that  Richard  Brown,  the  constable,  shall 
cause  a  sufficient  pound  to  be  made  by  the  twenty-first  of  this 
moneth  to  impound  swyne  and  other  cattcll,  in  the  place  that 

*Town  of  Newbury  Record?.         t  Ibid.,  vol.  i. 


132  II IS  TORY  OF  NEWBURY 

shall  be  shewed  him  and  of  that  largeness  which  shall  be 
thought  fitt,  this  to  be  done  on  the  penalty  of  20^  The  men 
to  appoint  the  place  and  manner  of  the  pound  are  M""  Rawson, 
Henry  Short,  John  Knight  and  Rich  :  Knight."  * 

On  the  fourteenth  day  of  April,  1638,  the  selectmen 
agreed  "  that  Nich  :  Batt  shall  keepe  the  heard  of  kine  be- 
gining  the  16"^  of  March,  8  months  thence  till  the  16"^  of 
November,  &  that  he  shall  have  18  pounds  for  his  labor,  w'^^ 
is  to  be  payd  40  bushells  of  corne  at  4^  6^  the  bushell,  three 
months  after  harvest ;  &  nine  pounds  in  money  whereof 
[  ]  is  to  be  payd  presently  &  4"^  the  first  of  July,  &  the 

rest  at  the  end  of  the  terme  of  eight  months  provided  he  is  to 
keepe  them  [out]  one  Lords  day  &  the  towne  two."  * 

On  the  margin  of  the  above  record  the  names  of  Jno : 
Woodbridge,  Edward  Rawson,  Edward  Woodman,  Henry 
Short,  and  Richard  Knight  are  inscribed  in  token  of  their 
assent  to  the  agreement. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  held  August 
25,  1638,  it  was  ordered  "that  Tho :  Halle  and  John  Baker 
shall  be  hay  wards  till  the  town  shall  appoint  new,  &  that 
they  shall  have  a  speciall  care  of  the  impounding  of  swine  ac- 
cording to  order.  And  farther  it  is  ordered  that  whatsoever 
swine  is  impounded,  if  it  be  not  known  whose  it  is,  that  then 
it  shall  be  kept  by  the  hay  wards,  the  person  satisfying  when 
he  is  knowne :  if  it  bee  knowne  &  the  owner  thereof  shall 
not  satisfy  for  it  within  twenty  foure  hours  that  then  it  shall 
be  lawfull  for  the  hay  wards  to  sell  them  according  to  order."  * 

March  12,  1641-2,  the  freeholders  voted  "that  all  the 
commons  within  the  limits  of  the  towne  shall  be  equally 
divided  into  three  several  parts  and  that  the  same  number  of 
cattle  that  are  allowed  in  the  stint  of  the  cows  and  oxen  shall 
be  allowed  in  the  heifer  common  and  a  third  like  quantity  of 
young  cattle  above  Mr.  Rawson's  farme."  f 

In  compliance  with  this  vote  the  cow  common,  the  ox  com- 
mon, and  the  heifer  common  were  laid  out,  and  five  hundred 
and  sixty-three  "  rights  "  in  each  pasture  were  divided  among 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 
*  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i. 


THE   SETTLEMENT   AT   MERRIMACK  RIVER  133 

the  freeholders  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  acres  of  land 
owned  by  them. 

Two  years  later,  when  arrangements  were  being  made  for 
the  removal  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  to  the  new  settle- 
ment (now  Newburyport),  suitable  fences  in  the  new  town 
were  considered  necessary  for  the  convenience  of  householders 
and  the  protection  of  gardens  and  fields  from  the  intrusion  of 
cattle.  January  10,  1643-4,  the  freeholders  ordered  "that 
all  fences  generall  and  particular  at  the  first  setting  up  shall 
be  made  and  always  kept  so  sufficient  as  to  keepe  out  all  man- 
ner of  swyne  and  other  cattle  great  or  small,  and  at  whose 
fence  or  part  of  fence  any  swyne  or  other  cattle  shall  break 
through,  the  person  owning  the  fence  shall  not  only  beare  and 
suffer  all  the  damages,  but  shall  further  pay  for  each  rod  so 
insufficient  the  somme  of  two  shillings,  w'^'',  by  the  constable 
for  the  time  being  shall  be  gathered  by  order  from  the  order- 
ers  of  the  Towns  affairs  &  at  their  dispose."  * 

On  the  same  day  the  town  also  ordered  "  that  the  owners 
of  all  such  cattle  as  the  towne  shall  declare  to  be  unruly  and 
excessively  different  from  all  other  cattle  shall  pay  all  the 
damages  their  unruly  cattle  shall  doe  in  breaking  through 
fences."  * 

At  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders,  held  December  19,  1650, 
it  was  ordered  "  that  all  swine  shalbe  Yoaked  and  Ringed 
and  if  any  be  not  and  do  trespass  in  corn  fields,  gardens,  mead- 
ows, pasture  grounds,  and  comons,  the  owners  of  the  land, 
or  the  hay  wards,  shall  have  libertie  to  drive  them  to  the 
pound,  and  shall  have  sixepence  a  head  for  pasturage  of  the 
owners  of  such  swine,  and  [  ]  head  in  case  they  drive 

them  above  a  mile."  * 

Swine  properly  yoked  could  not  gain  access  to  cornfields 
and  gardens  protected  by  fences,  and  with  a  ring  in  the  snout 
could  do  no  damage  to  the  growing  crops  by  rooting. 

During  the  fall  and  winter  horses  and  cattle  were  allowed 
to  run  at  large  on  Plum  Island  and  in  the  upper  and  lower 
commons. 

March  7,  1663-4  the  selectmen  ordered    "that  all  horses 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 


134  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

and  dry  cattle  are  to  be  cleared  out  of  Plum  Island  &  also  out 
of  the  comons  upon  penalty  of  two  shillings  sixe  pence  p''  head 
to  any  p'son  or  p'sons  that  shall  impound  them  &  also  the  same 
penalty  of  2^  6^  p''  head  if  they  be  impounded  out  of  any  en- 
closure or  propriety  being  sufficiently  fenced."  * 

The  upper  common,  extending  from  the  Artichoke  river  to 
the  Bradford  line,  included  nearly  all  the  territory  within  the 
present  limits  of  the  town  of  West  Newbury,  while  the  lower 
commons  on  the  southwesterly  side  of  the  country  highway, 
now  High  street  and  Storey  avenue,  Newburyport,  extended 
from  the  Artichoke  to  the  Parker  river,  and  included  the 
pastures  set  apart  for  the  use  of  cows,  oxen,  heifers,  and 
sheep. 

For  the  protection  of  the  cattle  in  the  upper  common  it 
became  necessary  to  provide  additional  safeguards,  and  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  consider  the  subject  and  report  the 
result  of  their  investigations  to  the  freeholders  of  the  town. 
They  recommended 

That  there  be  forthwith  a  larg  penn  made  and  a  small  house  built 
for  the  shelter  for  herd.smen,  in  a  convenient  place  where  land  afterwards 
may  be  improved  for  tillage,  if  the  Towne  see  meet.  Also  that  two 
herdsmen  be  provided  to  attend  and  follow  the  cattle  the  whole  somer 
carefully  to  keep  the  cattle  from  coming  neare  the  lower  comons  and 
penned  every  night. 

This  was  voted  at  a  Generall  meeting  of  the  Towne,  April  25,  1665 
and  that  the  Selectmen  shall  have  full  power  to  do  what  is  above  speci- 
fied and  to  build  the  house  and  get  the  pen  made. 

Anthony  Somerby.* 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Selectmen  held  April  28,  1666 

It  was  ordered  that  all  swyne  that  are  taken  upon  any  of  the  cow 
comons  shalbee  sufficiently  Ringed  upon  penalty  of  twelve  pence  a  head 
to  any  freeholder  that  shall  Impound  them,  and  if  any  swyne  shall  take 
into  any  man's  ground  doing  damage  in  corne  pasture  or  meadow  or 
otherwise  not  being  sufficiently  yoaked  and  Ringed  the  owners  of  such 
swyne  shall  pay  all  damages  and  twelve  pence  a  head  to  any  one  that 
shall  Impound  them.* 

March  16,  1667-8,  the  above  order  was  again  adopted,  with 

*Town  of  Newburv-  Records,  vol.  i. 


IHE   SETTLEMENT   AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  l35 

this  additional  clause  :  "provided  the  fence  viewers  do  judge 
the  fence  is  as  ordered  against  Great  Cattle." 

Horses,  and  cattle  belonging  to  the  dry  herd,  were  not  al- 
lowed to  feed  on  the  lower  commons  during  the  summer  sea- 
son. They  were  to  be  fettered,  confined  in  private  enclosures, 
or  placed  in  charge  of  the  herdsman  and  clriven  to  the  upper 
common. 

June  12,  1666,  the  Selectmen  "Ordered  that  all  horses, 
mares  &  geldings  (except  yearlings)  that  are  in  the  home 
Comons  (as  at  Old  Towne,  the  necke  &  on  this  side  the 
Mill  River  &  so  within  a  mile  of  the  house  lots  at  new  towne) 
shall  within  three  days  forthwith  of  the  date  hereof,  be  cleared 
away  from  the  said  comons  and  not  to  be  suffered  to  continue 
to  feed  thereon  under  the  penalty  of  two  shillings  p""  head  unto 
any  freeholder  that  doth  impound  them,  excepting  also  such 
as  the  freeholders  do  constantly  make  use  of  for  their  neces- 
sary Imployment,  the  which  are  also  to  be  sufficiently  fettered 
or  else  not  to  go  upon  the  said  comons  under  the  penalty  of 
three  shillings  per  head  unto  any  freeholder  that  doth  Impound 
any  such  horsebeast  from  off  the  said  conions  :  also  all  dry 
cattell  (except  such  as  are  permitted  to  go  in  the  home 
comons)  shall  bee  cleared  out  of  the  said  comons  within  two 
days  of  the  date  hereof  under  penalty  of  twelve  pence  p''  head 
to  any  freeholder  that  doth  impound  them  provided  they  be 
not  such  as  have  bin  delivered  to  the  keeper."  * 

At  a  meeting  of  the  selectmen  held  May  27,  1668,  it  was 
"  ordered  that  all  dry  Cattell,  that  is  to  say  all  cattell  except 
milk  cowes  &  working  oxen  &  yearlings  shalbe  cleared  out 
of  the  cow  comons  to  morrow  under  penalty  of  paying  two 
shillings  for  every  beast  that  shall  be  found  upon  the  cow 
comons  after  to-morrow  [  ]  drive  them  up  into 

the  dry  herd  comons  &  every  Inhabitant  are  hereby  injoyned 
to  pay  to  the  dry  herdsman  for  all  such  cattell,  as  well  the 
farmers  as  others,  whether  their  cattell  go  up  to  the  herdsman 
or  not,  if  they  go  in  any  part  of  the  Townes  comons  and  every 
Thursday  in  every  weeke  the  herdsman  is  to  attend  to  drive 
up  all  such  cattell  if  any  come  down  after  they  be  put  up."  * 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 


136  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

April  27,  1670,  the  selectmen  ordered 

All  dry  cattle  to  be  cleared  out  of  the  coiTions  between  this  and  the 
sixteenth  of  May  next  under  penalty  of  two  shillings  a  head  to  be  levyed 
upon  the  owners  of  such  cattell  that  shalbe  found  vpon  the  comons  after 
that  day,  except  such  as  shall  come  doune  againe  from  the  dry  herd  & 
if  any  come  doune  the  herdsman  is  to  attend  every  thursday  to  drive  up 
such  as  shall  come  doune,  and  the  farmers  are  to  pay  for  their  cattell  as 
well  as  others  whether  they  be  drove  up  or  not. 

Also  all  horses  &  horse  kind  are  to  be  cleared  out  of  the  comons  by 
the  twentieth  of  May  .  .  .  except  such  horses  as  are  in  comon  vse  for 
mens  necessityes  and  they  are  to  be  fettered  and  clogged.  * 

Similar  orders  were  annually  issued  until  the  upper  com- 
mons were  divided  among  the  freeholders  of  the  town  in  1686. 
The  order  for  1676  reads  as  follows  :  — 

All  Dry  Cattle  shalbe  cleared  out  of  the  Cow  Comons.  And  the 
Day  appointed  for  the  heardsman  to  Drive  them  up  is  thursday  .  .  .  the 
tenth  day  of  this  p^sent  month  and  all  from  the  pound  to  the  old  Towne 
shall  then  be  brought  to  the  pound  and  all  the  rest  to  meet  the  heard  in 
the  way  as  they  shall  go  along.  And  such  dry  Cattle  as  shalbe  found 
on  the  Cow  Cornons  after  the  tenth  Day  of  May  above  said,  their  own- 
ers shall  pay  two  shillings  a  head  to  the  keeper,  except  it  be  such  as  had 
bin  drove  up  &  doe  come  down  againe  and  they  to  be  presently  drove 
up  againe  by  the  16*  of  May.* 

April  19,  1677,  the  selectmen  issued  the  following 
notice  :  — 

Whereas  there  was  an  order  published  March  27,  1677  that  all 
horses  &  horsekind  should  have  bin  cleared  out  of  the  Cow  Comons 
by  the  tenth  day  of  April  last  past  &  there  is  nothing  done  about  it, 
This  is  to  give  notice  to  the  Towne  that  next  Munday  there  is  appointed 
men  to  Drive  to  the  said  Comons  &  to  Impound  all  such  horses  or  hors- 
kind  that  are  not  fettered  or  clogged  (according  to  that  order)  that  are 
found  upon  the  Cow  Comons  then,  &  their  owners  shall  pay  two  shil- 
lings a  head  to  the  Impounders  for  every  head  that  are  so  Impounded.* 

At  a  meeting  of  the  selectmen  held  May  31,  1680,  "It 
was  ordered  that  all  dry  cattle  that  goes  in  the  Towne  Com- 
ons shall  pay  to  the  Dry  herdsman  as  much  as  they  doe 
that  are   driven   up  to  Artechokc     And   all    Inhabitants   are 

*Town  of  Newburv  Records,  vol    i. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  137 

hereby  required  to  drive  all  their  dry  cattell  up  to  Artechoke 
Comons  And  John  Webster  &  Moses  Little  &  Henry 
Somerby  are  appointed  to  cleare  the  Cow  Comons  &  to  im- 
pound all  horses  &  horsekind  that  are  found  unfettered  upon 
the  Cow  Comons  &  to  have  two  shillings  a  head  according  to 
Towne  order  to  be  paid  by  the  owners,  or  else  in  case  of  re- 
fusall  to  be  Leavyed  on  their  estate  by  the  Constable."  * 

In  the  spring  of  1672,  William  Bolton  was  employed  "to 
keep  the  dry  heard,  as  formerly,  and  drive  up  the  cattle  when 
they  come  down,  receiving  from  the  owners  twelve  pence  a 
head  for  his  services."  He  evidently  continued ,  to  serve  in 
that  capacity  for  ten  years  or  more.  March  22,  168 1-2,  the 
selectmen  agreed  with  him  to  begin  the  first  day  of  May  next 
to  drive  the  cattle  to  the  upper  commons  "for  sixpence  a 
head  to  be  paid  in  Malt  or  Indian  Corne "  ;  and  May  20, 
1685,  he  was  chosen  "to  keep  the  dry  cattell  in  the  upper 
Commons  above  the  hedge,  and  to  take  care  for  y^  repayring 
of  such  breaches  as  should  be  in  the  hedg  from  time  to  time." 

In  order  to  prevent,  if  possible,  the  taking  of  wood  and 
timber  from  the  comons,  and  the  pasturing  of  cattle  there,  by 
persons  not  entitled  to  that  privilege,  "  Capt.  Gerrish,  Left 
Woodman  Sen""  &  John  Knight  were  chosen  "  at  a  meeting  of 
the  freemen  and  freeholders  held  May  8,  1674,  "  to  Joyne  with 
the  selectmen  to  agree  upon  &  prosecute  an  order  against 
non-freeholders  for  this  year  ensuing  for  their  fire  wood,  tim- 
ber, feed  for  their  cattle,  horses,  sheep  &  swyne  going  on  the 
Comon,  and  the  non-freeholders  are  hereby  warned  to  appeare 
next  Wednesday  come  seavenight  at  seaven  of  the  clocke  in  the 
morning  at  the  Ordinary."  * 

June  18,  1675,  this  committee,  having  in  the  mean  while 
been  authorized  to  make  all  needful  rules  and  regulations  for 
the  protection  of  the  wood,  timber,  and  pasturage  of  the  com- 
mons, ordered  "  that  every  non-freeholder  shall  pay  for  every 
horse,  or  horsekind,  going  upon  the  comon,  five  shillings  to  the 
Towne  &  two  shillings  &  sixpence  a  head  for  every  neat  beast, 
and  five  shillings  for  every  score  of  sheep  &  twelve  pence  a 
head  for  every  swyne  to  be   paid   to    the  constable    for    the 

•Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 


138  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Townes  use  every  year,  and  two  &  sixpence  for  every  load  of 
wood,  to  be  paid  In  when  the  Towne  Rate  is  &  in  case  they 
do  not  pay  then  they  shalbe  distrained  by  the  Constable  & 
pay  double  what  is  above  expressed."  * 

SHEEP   AND    SHEEP    PASTURES. 

Previous  to  the  year  1665  the  freeholders  of  Newbury  paid 
little  attention  to  the  raising  of  sheep,  but  subsequently  sev- 
eral large  flocks  were  kept  near  the  centre  of  the  town. 

May  27,  1668,  they  ordered  "that  every  Inhabitant  of 
this  Towne  whose  sheep  goeth  upon  the  Comons  shall  mark 
his  sheep  with  a  peculiar  pitch  marke  when  they  are  shorne 
under  penalty  of  twelve  pence  the  head  for  every  such  sheep 
that  shall  be  found  unmarked,"  etc.* 

April  27,  1670,  the  selectmen  ordered  that  in  consequence 
"  of  the  great  Damag  that  sheep  doth  in  Meadowes,  pastures 
&  corne  fields"  .  .  .  "all  sheep  that  goes  upon  the  Comon 
shall  go  under  a  keeper  &  after  they  are  shorne  they  shall 
have  the  peculiar  pitch  mark  of  their  owners  set  upon  them."  * 

April  19,  1677,  they  ordered  "that  the  two  flocks  of 
sheep  that  goes  in  the  middle  part  of  the  Towne  (viz  :)  the 
flock  which  was  called  Henry  Shorts  flock  shalbe  kept 
within  the  bounds  of  Henry  Jaques  corner  of  his  pasture  over 
to  the  end  of  Amos  Stickneys  land  next  Trotters  Bridge  as 
far  as  the  Pine  Swamp  &  stony  brooke.  And  that  flock  that 
was  called  M""  Peirces  flocks  shall  go  from  the  said  Jaquesses 
pasture  &  Sticknyes  corner  as  far  as  James  Smiths  &  so  over 
Trotters  Bridge  so  far  as  stony  brooke.  And  the  sheepards 
are  to  looke  to  their  flocks  that  they  Do  no  Damage  in  any 
man's  propriety  on  penalty  of  paying  the  Damage,  and  they 
are  hereby  forbidden  to  medle  with  any  other  sheep  that  do 
not  belong  to  their  flock  unless  by  accident  they  shall  mixe, 
and  in  such  a  case  they  shall  part  them  againe  with  speed  & 
returne  them  or  else  they  shall  pay  all  Damages  the  owners 
may  or  shall  sustaine  by  it."  * 

May    14,    1677,  the  freeholders  of  the  town  ordered   that 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  139 

sheep  bcl()n^L;iiii;"  to  the  iiihal^itants  of  nci|:^hboring  towns  "  shall 
not  be  allowed  to  feed  on  the  commons  but  shall  be  removed 
forthwith." 

March  14,  168 1-2,  the  bounds  and  limits  of  the  sheep 
pastures  were  defined  as  follows  :  — 

All  sheep  shall  be  kept  in  that  part  of  the  coirions  where  their  owners 
live.  The  inhabitants  of  the  old  town  to  keep  their  sheep  there.  The 
next  flock  to  be  kept  from  Lob's  pound  and  over  the  mill  bridge  to 
Henry  Jaques  his  pasture.  And  the  next  flock  from  thence  to  James 
Smith's  and  over  Trotter's  bridge.  And  the  inhabitants  from  James 
Carrs  to  Mr  John  Sewalls  and  Jacob  Toppanes  are  the  frog  pond  flock 
and  their  range  shall  be  the  Aps  swamp  from  James  Smith  to  George 
Marches  bridge  and  dismall  ditch  and  Robin's  pound,  and  Moses  Pils- 
bury  and  the  further  end  of  the  towne  are  to  have  the  plaines  for  their 
flock."  * 

"  Lob's  pound  "  was  near  the  residence  of  the  late  Hall  J. 
Leigh  ;"  Mill  bridge,"  now  Four  Rock  Bridge,  was  over  Little 
river ;  Henry  Jaques's  pasture  was  at  a  bend  in  the  road  lead- 
ing to  the  mill,  now  known  as  Morse's  corner ;  James  Smith's 
farm  was  near  the  brick-yards;  and  "Trotter's  bridge"  was 
over  a  branch  of  Little  river  in  Floyd's  lane. 

hi  1683,  seven  hundred  and  four  sheep,  owned  by  sixteen 
persons,  were  pastured  in  the  "third  range,"  extending  from 
Henry  Jaques'  pasture  to  James  Smith's  farm  and  Trotter's 
bridge. f 

At  a  meeting  of  the  selectmen  held  May  31,  1688,  the 
bounds  and  limits  of  the  sheep  pastures  were  readjusted. 

It  was  then  ordered  that  for  the  old  Towne  flock  ye  bounds  are  vv''>in 
the  Compas  of  the  old  Towne  as  far  as  ye  Widdow  Knights. 

And  for  that  flock  yt  is  known  by  ye  name  of  Henry  Shorts  flock  the 
bounds  on  the  Towne  side  at  the  River  is  from  Henry  Shorts  land  on 
the  southeast,  all  the  comons  as  far  as  a  run  of  water  that  runs  out  of 
Mr  Gerrishs  pasture  running  by  Stephen  Jaques^  pasture  &  so  into  Capt 
Noyes^  meadow  wc''  s^  run  of  water  is  the  northwest  bounds  of  s^  ftlock 
&  on  the  other  side  of  the  Mill  River  the  Stony  Brooke  at  the  mouth  of 
it  is  the  Bounds  &  so  upwards  into  the  woods  by  that  branch  of  it  that 
runs  by  Abram  Adams  his  field  &  so  by  the  great  Black  ash  swamp  & 
so  up  into  the  woods. 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Coffin's  History   of  Newburj-,  p.  139. 


I40  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

For  the  flock  known  by  the  name  of  Capt  Peircess  flock  ye  southerly 
bounds  is  bounded  by  the  flock  aforesd  &  ye  northwest  bounds  as  far  as 
James  Smiths  on  this  side  of  the  River  &  over  the  Mill  River  at  Trotters 
Bridg  the  northwest  bounds  is  the  slough  that  runs  into  John  Atkinsons 
meadow  &  so  up  into  the  woods  westerly 

For  the  fifrogg  pond  flock  ye  southerly  bounds  is  the  slough  wch  is  the 
northerly  Bounds  of  the  flock  aforesd  &  from  thence  to  James  Smiths  & 
ye  northerly  bound  is  to  run  uppon  a  straight  line  from  Moses  pilsburyes 
to  Joseph  Littles. 

For  the  Artichoak  flock  the  southerly  bounds  is  from  Moses  pils- 
buryes to  Joseph  Litlles  on  a  Straight  Line."  * 


DOCTOR  HENRY  GREENLAND. 

March  31,  1663,  John  Emery  was  presented  to  the  court 
at  Ipswich  "  on  suspicion  of  breaking  y'^  law  in  entertaining 
Mr.  greenland  foure  months. "f  At  the  session  held  May  5, 
1663,  "he  was  fined  four  pounds  and  costs  &  fees  for  enter- 
taining strangers."  %  May  21,  1663,  he  sent  the  following  pe- 
tition to  the  General  Court,  signed  by  himself,  the  selectmen 
of  Newbury,  and  other  inhabitants  of  the  town  :  — 

To  the  Honrfi  Generall  Court  now  assembled  at  Boston,  the  Humble 
petition  of  John  Emery  humbly  sheweth  : 

That  your  petitioner  dwelling  in  Newbury,  It  so  fell  out  by  the  provi- 
dence of  God  that  a  certaine  gentleman  (namely  M^  Henry  Greenland) 
coming  from  England  upon  his  occasion  was  by  reason  of  his  Aquaint- 
ance  with  Capt  Barefoote  &c  inclinable  to  settle  in  ye  country  if  hee 
liked  &  to  make  use  of  his  practice  of  phisick  &  chirugery  amongst  us : 
But  beeing  as  yet  unsettled  &  uncertaine  where  to  fix  until  his  wife 
(whom  he  hath  sent  for)  did  come,  By  reason  of  some  employment  by 
ye  providence  of  God  presented  itself  to  him,  He  was  necissarily  put 
upon  it  to  reside  neer  such  patients  as  had  put  themselves  into  his  hands 
for  cure :  Among  which  one  being  more  than  ordinarily  dependent  Hee 
desired  entertainment  And  your  petititioner  did  for  ye  reason  above 
mentioned  Receive  &  entertain  him  this  winter  past  for  which  I  am  fined 
foure  pounds  by  ye  honrd  court  at  Ipswich  for  Breach  of  a  Law,  not  hav- 
ing (at  first)  License  under  the  hand  of  a  magistrate.  Hee  himself  being 
a  stranger  &  not  knowing  the  Law  nor  your  petitioner  .  .  .  The  Humble 
request  of  your  petitioner  is  That  this  honrd  Court  would  be  pleased  to 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Court  Files  (Salem) ,  vol.  ix.,  leaf  13. 

X  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  i.,  leaf  118. 


THE  SE  TTLEMENT  A  T  ME  R  RIM  A  CK  RIVER  1 4 1 

retnitt  ye  saide  fine  (It  Being  not  done  in  Contempt,  but  only  as  neces- 
sarily occasioned  as  above  s<l)  wherein  ye  gentleman  hath  (by  God's 
blessing)  been  Instrumentall  of  much  good  by  his  calling  both  in  Physick 
and  Chyrurgery  and  your  poor  petitioner  shall  ever  pray  : 

We  the  Selectmen  &  such  others  as  are  subscribed,  Considering  the 
usefulness  of  Mr  Greenland  in  respect  of  his  practice  in  our  towne  do 
humbly  desire  the  same  if  this  honrd  court  please. 

John  Pike  Richard  Loell 

Richard  Thurlo  Antony  Somerby 

Abraham  Toppan  John  Mearell 

John  Bayley  Archelaus  Woodman 

Thomas  Blumfield  Sam  :  Poore 

Peter  Godfrie  Edw  :  Richardson 

James  Ordway  Robert  Coker 

Lionel  Worth  Richard  Fits 

Stephen  Swett  John  Cheney,  Jun 

Anthony  Morse,  Sen  John  Wilcutt 

Willi :  Sayor  Robt  Adams 

Abell  Huse  Lanslet  Granger 

John  Cheney,  Sen  Anthony  Short 

James  Jackman  John  Knight 

Joseph  Plumer  Peter  Toppan 

John  Parker,  Sen  Jeremy  Gutridge 

Thomas  Brown  Thomas  Hale  Jun 

William  Titcomb  John  Poore,  Sen 

Richard  Bartlet  William  Morse 

(And  others  whose  names  are  illegible). 

(28)  3.  63  The  Mag's  have  considered  the  grounds  of  this  Pet"  & 
consent  not  to  any  revision  of  the  Coun :  Courts  sentence. 

Tho.  Daxforth,  pi".,  E.  R.  S. 

Consented  to  by  ye  deputys  provided  they  may  have  ye  ten  shillings 
agayne.  William  Torrey,  Clerk. 

The  M agists  Consentyes 

Edw  :  Rawson,  Secry* 

The  indorsements  on  this  petition  indicate  that  the  fine  of 
four  pounds  was  remitted,  while  the  costs,  amountini;  to  "  ten 
shilHngs,"  were  retained  hy  the  court,  although  there  is  no 
mention  of  the  petition,  or  of  any  action  upon  it,  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts Colony  Records  for  the  session  beginning  May  27 
and  ending  June  12,  1663. 

•Massachusetts  Archives,  voL  A  15,  p.  10. 


142  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Dr.  Greenland  was  evidently  a  skilful  physician,  but  pas- 
sionate, unprincipled,  and  quarrelsome.  March  31,  1663,  he 
was  charged  with  making  indecent  proposals  to  Mary,  wife  of 
John  Rolfe.  He  was  convicted  and  sentenced  "  to  go  from 
hence  to  the  prision,  there  to  remain  until  the  next  session 
of  the  court  and  then  to  be  brought  forth  and  whipt  unless  he 
pay  a  fine  of  thirty  pounds."  * 

He  appealed  to  the  Court  of  Assistants,  and  gave  a  bond  of 
two  hundred  pounds,  with  Capt.  Walter  Barefoot  and  George 
Goldwire  as  sureties,  to  prosecute  his  appeal.  Whether  his 
sentence  was  revoked  or  modified  in  any  way  is  uncertain,  as 
the  records  of  the  Court  of  Assistants  for  that  year  cannot 
now  be  found. 

September  27,  1664,  he  and  Capt.  Walter  Barefoot  were 
both  convicted  of  an  assault  on  William  Thomas  and  Richard 
Dole  in  the  ordinary  kept  by  Stephen  Swett  in  Newbury,  for 
which  they  were  fined  five  pounds  each.| 

January  12,  1665-6,  Dr.  Greenland  sold  to  Israel  Webster 
his  house  with  an  acre  and  a  quarter  of  land  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  Ordway's  lane,  now  known  as  Market  street, 
and  the  way  by  the  river,  now  Merrimac  street,  Newburyport ; 
and  February  28  his  wife,  Mary,  released  her  right  of  dower.:): 

He  probably  removed  to  Portsmouth  soon  after  the  sale  of 
this  property,  and  resided  there  or  in  that  vicinity  for  several 
years.  George  Fountain,  captain  of  the  ship  "  Marmadin,"  at 
the  Isle  of  Shoals,  wrote,  under  date  of  May  28,  1670,  to 
Mr.  Richard  Cutts,  of  Portsmouth,  that  Mr.  Henry  Greenland 
came  on  board  his  vessel,  and  pretended  to  have  some  acquaint- 
ance with  one  of  the  seamen  named  Robert  Gardner,  to  whom 

*  Ipswich  Court  Records  (at  Salem) ,  vol.  i.,  leaf  115. 

t  Salem  Court  Files,  vol.  x.,  p.  38.  Capt.  Walter  Barefoot  was  appointed  deputy  governor 
of  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire  in  i68o,  to  attend  to  the  clearing  and  entering  of  vessels  at 
Portsmouth.  Stephen  Swett's  ordinary  was  afterwards  known  as  "the  Blue  .Anchor  Tavern." 
See  "  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  176. 

Among  the  Provincial  Papers  relating  to  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire  are  two  deposi- 
tions, dated  July  17  and  July  24,  1665,  made  by  Robert  Carr,  Samuel  Mavericke,  and  George 
Cartwright,  commissioners  from  King  Charles  the  II.,  in  relation  to  some  expressions  of 
disloyalty  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Richard  Cutt  of  Piscataqua  river.  In  these  depositions,  or  certifi- 
cates, the  commissioners  promise  to  protect  Mr.  Cutt  against  prosecution  "2  the  said  Richard 
Cutt  never  molest  Thomas  Wigin  of  Dover  or  Doctor  Greenland  of  Newbury  for  giving  in  evi- 
dence again.st  him."     New  Hampshire  Provincial  Papers,  vol.  i.,  pp.  278,  279. 

+  Ijiswich  Deeds,  book  IV.,  leaf  7. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  A  T  MERRIMACK  RIVER  i  43 

he  disclosed  a  scheme  that  he  said  could  be  made  profitable. 
Enclosed  in  the  letter  was  the  deposition  of  Robert  Gardner, 
who  made  oath  May  27,  1670,  that  Mr.  Henry  Greenland  en- 
deavored to  induce  him  and  other  members  of  the  crew  to 
seize  the  person  of  Mr.  Richard  Cutts,  and  carry  him  to  Eng- 
land, "  say'^  that  a  small  number  of  men  might  take  him  and 
compel  his  servants  to  carry  down  on  their  backs  such  money 
and  goods  as  was  sure  to  be  found  there ;  and  farther  that  he 
would  maintain  the  doing  thereof  in  point  of  law  for  the  said 
Cutts  had  spoken  treason  against  the  King."  * 

What  action  was  taken  in  regard  to  the  proposed  seizure 
and  abduction  of  Mr.  Richard  Cutts  is  uncertain.  Subse- 
quently Capt.  Walter  Barefoot  and  Dr.  Henry  Greenland 
were  involved  in  a  law-suit  with  Abraham  Drake,  Benjamin 
Swett,  and  Henry  Green  ;  and  the  court,  held  at  Hampton  "  y^ 
lo'*^  day  8"°  167 1,"  ordered  the  marshall  to  levy  on  the 
"goods,  chattels  and  land"  owned  by  Capt.  Walter  Barefoot, 
"at  Kittery  Point  over  against  y^  great  ysland,"  and  also  upon 
two  thousand  feet  of  pine  boards  owned  by  Dr.  Greenland.! 

December  10,  1671,  Jochen  Jansen,  formerly  of  Amster- 
dam, Holland,  sold  to  Job  Clement,  of  Dover,  and  Dr.  Henry 
Greenland,  of  Kittery,  "  a  good  Pinke  or  Ship  called  ye 
Sancta  Maria  now  riding  att  ancho''  neare  y^  great  Island  in 
y^  River  of  Piscataqua."  % 

The  following  year  Dr.  Greenland  was  accused  of  disloyalty 
to  the  government  of  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  and 
was  denounced  as  an  impracticable,  over-zealous  supporter  of 
the  king.     He  was  arrested  and  imprisoned. 

May  7,  1673,  the  County  Court  at  York  was  ordered  to  pay 
the  expenses  and  charges,  amounting  to  four  pounds,  incurred 
by  Mr.  Edward  Rushworth  in  seizing  Henry  Greenland. § 

In  answer  to  a  petition  from  the  inhabitants  of  Dover  and 
Portsmouth  for  the  release  of  Henry  Greenland  the  General 
Court  declared  that  "  it  sees  no  cause  to  grant  their  request."  || 

*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  Ix.,  p.  283.  The  letter  and  deposition  are  certified  copies  of 
original  papers  on  file  in  the  County  Court  at  Dover,  where  Dr.  Greenland  evidently  made 
answer  to  the  charge  brought  against  him  by  Mr.  Richard  Cutts,  who  was  one  of  the  magistrates 
appointed  by  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay  for  the  towns  of  Dover  and  Portsmouth. 

t  Norfolk  County  Deeds,  vol.  ii.,  p.  342   (228,  229) .        +  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  363  (243). 

§  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  II.,  p.  555.  II  Ibid.,  p.  557. 


144  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

At  the  same  session,  in  answer  to  the  petition  of  Mary- 
Greenland,  the  General  Court  ordered  "that  Henry  Green- 
land haue  liberty  to  returne  into  this  jurisdiction  &  abide  here 
vntill  the  first  of  September  next,  for  the  disposing  his  estate 
&  remooving  his  family,  prouided  he  doe  in  other  respects  ob- 
serve the  order  of  the  court  of  assistants  and  depart  after  the 
tyme  expired."  * 

LAWS    RELATING   TO    THE    PUNISHMENT    AND    ENTERTAIN- 
MENT  OF    QUAKERS. 

The  first  Quakers  that  came  to  New  England  were  two 
female  preachers,  Mary  Fisher  and  Ann  Austin,  who  arrived 
at  Boston  in  July,  1656,  bringing  with  them  a  considerable 
number  of  books  advocating  and  defending  their  peculiar  relig- 
ious views  and  opinions.  The  books  were  taken  from  them 
and  publicly  burned  in  the  market-place.  The  women  were 
thrown  into  prison,  and  not  long  after  sent  back  to  England. 

The  General  Court  in  vigorous  language  declared,  October 
14,  1656,  "Whereas  there  is  a  cursed  sect  of  hereticks  lately 
risen  vp  in  the  world  w"^^  are  comonly  called  Quakers  who 
take  vppon  them  to  be  imediately  sent  of  God,  and  infallibly 
asisted  by  the  spirit  to  speake  &  write  blasphemouth  opinions, 
despising  government  &  the  order  of  God  in  church  &  comon- 
wealth,  speaking  evill  of  dignities,  reproaching  and  reviling 
magistrates  and  ministers,  seeking  to  turne  the  people  from 
the  faith  &  gaine  proselites  o  theire  pernicious  wayes,"  etc., 
the  master  of  any  vessel  bringing  "  any  knoune  Quaker  or 
Quakers,  or  any  other  blasphemous  hereticks,"  into  any  town 
or  harbor  within  the  limits  of  the  colony,  shall  pay  a  fine  of 
one  hundred  pounds  for  each  offence,  and  the  Quakers  them- 
selves shall  be  severely  whipped  and  sentenced  to  hard  labor 
in  the  house  of  correction.  The  importation  of  Quaker 
books  was  also  prohibited,  and  any  person  concealing  one  of 
these  books  in  his  house  was  liable  to  a  fine  of  five  pounds,  f 

October  14,  1657,  this  law  was  amended,  and  a  fine  of  forty 
shillings  imposed  upon  any  person  or  persons  entertaining  or 
concealing  Quakers,  knowing  them  to  be  such.     Constables 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  II.,  p.  557.        t  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  277. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  145 

and  magistrates  were  vigilant  and  active  in  arresting  and  pun- 
ishing offenders.  Quakers  banished  from  the  colony,  return- 
ing without  the  consent  of  the  General  Court,  were  liable  to 
be  severely  whipped,  to  have  their  ears  cut  off,  or  their 
tongues  bored  through  with  hot  irons.* 

In  1659,  Thomas  Macy,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  New- 
bury, who  removed  to  Salisbury  in  1639,  was  summoned  to 
appear  at  the  General  Court  and  answer  to  the  charge  of  en- 
tertaining Quakers. f 

He  was  unable,  on  account  of  illness,  to  appear  at  the  Gen- 
eral Court  on  the  day  and  hour  appointed,  but  in  a  letter 
dated  October  27,  1659,  wrote  as  follows  :  — 

This  is  to  entreat  the  honored  court  not  to  be  offended  because  of 
my  non-appearance.  It  is  not  from  any  slighting  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,  desirous  to  appear,  have  done  my  utmost  endeavour  to  hire  a  horse, 
but  cannot  procure  one  at  present.  I  being  at  present  destitute  have 
endeavoured  to  purchase  but  at  present  cannot  attaine  it,  but  I  shall 
relate  the  truth  of  the  case  as  my  answer  should  be  to  ye  honored  court 
and  more  cannot  be  proved  nor  so  much.  On  a  rainy  morning  there 
came  to  my  house  Edward  Wharton  and  three  men  more  ;  the  said 
Wharton  spoke  to  me  saying  they  were  traveling  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  I 
thought  they  might  be  quakers  and  told  them  so,  and  therefore  desired 
them  to  passe  on  their  way,  saying  to  them  I  might  possibly  give  offence 
in  entertaining  them,  and  as  soon  as  the  violence  of  the  rain  ceased  (for 
it  rained  very  hard)  they  v/ent  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  afifirm  it  was  not  an  houre.  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. J 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  308. 

t  Previous  to  1648  "  Thomas  Macy  was  granted  an  house  lot  of  five  acres  on  the  neck  over  the 
great  River."     (Proprietors  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  39.) 

X  This  letter,  by  order  of  the  governor  and  council  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  was  delivered 
to  the  Hon.  Barker  Buswell,  of  Nantucket,  June  13,  1831.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire,  with  other 
valuable  documents,  when  the  Nantucket  Athenseum  was  burned  in  July,  1846.  A  copy  of  the 
original  letter  is  in  the  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  x.,  p.  255. 


146  HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 

Notwithstanding  this  humble  apology  the  General  Court  or- 
dered November  12,  1659,  "That  Thomas  Macy  pay  as  a 
fine  the  some  of  thirty  shillings  and  be  admonished  by  the 
Gouerno'' "  ;  and  Edward  Wharton,  who  accompanied  the 
Quakers  and  piloted  them  from  place  to  place,  was  ordered 
"to  be  whipt  w"'  twenty  stripes  &  comitted  to  prison."  * 

The  severity  and  injustice  of  this  sentence  induced  Thomas 
Macy,  a  few  months  later,  to  abandon  his  home  in  Salisbury, 
and  remove,  with  his  wife  and  children,  beyond  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  colony  to  the  island  of  Nantucket,  then  a  part  of  the 
Province  of  New  York,  where  he  lived  for  the  remainder  of 
his  life.f 

May  22,  1 66 1,  the  law  providing  for  the  punishment  of 
"  heretics  and  blasphemers  "  was  again  amended  and  made 
still  more  stringent.  Quakers  not  having  a  legal  settlement 
in  the  colony  were  liable  to  be  seized  by  constables,  "  stripped 
naked  from  the  midle  upwards,  &  tyed  to  a  carts  tayle  & 
whipped  thro'^  the  towne."  %  In  this  manner  they  were  taken 
from  town  to  town,  and  condemned  to  imprisonment  or  death, 
if  they  ventured  to  return. 

Some  of  the  prominent  Quakers  residing  in  London,  aroused 
by  these  acts  of  cruelty,  sought  and  obtained  an  audience  with 
King  Charles  II.,  and  induced  him  to  issue  the  following  man- 
damus, addressed  to  "John  Endicot,  Esq.,  and  to  all  and  every 
other  Governour  or  Governours  of  our  Plantation  of  New 
England  "  :  — 

Trusty  and  Well  beloved,  we  greet  you  well.  Having  been  informed 
that  several  of  our  Subjects  among  you,  called  Quakers,  have  been  and 
are  imprisoned  by  you,  whereof  some  have  been  executed  and  others  (as 
hath  been  represented  unto  us)  are  in  Danger  to  undergo  the  Like :  We 
have  thought  fit  to  signify  our  Pleasure  in  that  Behalf  for  the  future, 
and  do  hereby  require  that  if  there  be  any  of  those  people  called  Quak- 
ers amongst  you,  now  already   condemned  to    suffer    Death,  or  other 

♦Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  407. 

t  He,  with  Tristram  Coffin,  Christopher  Hussey,  R.  Swain,  Peter  Coffin,  Stephen  Greenleaf, 
Thomas  Barnard,  John  Swain,  William  Pile,  and  others,  formed  a  company  for  tlie  purchase  and 
settlement  of  the  island  of  Nantucket,  then  inhabited  by  a  tribe  of  Indians.  (New  England 
Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  vol.  ii.,  p.  340.)  "The  Exiles,"  a  poem  by  John  G. 
Whittier,  is  founded  on  this  incident  in  the  life  of  Thomas  Macy.  (See  Whittier's  Complete 
Poetical  Works,  Cambridge  edition,  p.  14.) 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  II.,  p.  2. 


THE    SETTLEMENT   AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  147 

Corporal  Punishment,  or  that  are  imprisoned  or  obnoxious  to  the  like 
Condemnation,  you  are  to  forbear  to  proceed  any  farther  therein:  but 
that  you  forthwith  send  the  said  Persons  (whether  condemned  or  im- 
prisoned) over  to  this  our  Kingdom  of  England,  together  with  the  re- 
spective Crimes  or  Offences  laid  to  their  charge,  to  the  End  that  such 
Course  may  be  taken  with  them  here,  as  shall  be  agreeable  to  our  Laws 
and  their  Demerits.  And  for  so  doing  these  our  Letters  shall  be  your 
sufficient  Warrant  and  Discharge.  Given  at  our  Court  at  Whitehall 
the  Qt'i  day  of  September,  1661,  in  the  thirteenth  Year  of  our  Reign.* 

This  mandatory  letter,  or  order  from  the  king,  was  in- 
trusted to  Samuel  Shattuck,  a  Quaker  of  Salem,  who  was  then 
in  England,  having  been  banished  from  the  colony  on  account 
of  his  obnoxious  religious  views.  When  Shattuck  arrived  in 
Boston,  he  was  admitted  to  the  council  chamber  in  the  gover- 
nor's house.  He  evidently  neglected  or  declined  to  remove 
his  hat  when  brought  face  to  face  with  the  governor. 

"  Off  with  the  knave's  hat !  "     An  angry  hand 
Smote  down  the  offence;  but  the  wearer  said 
With  a  quiet  smile,  "  By  the  King's  command 
I  bear  his  message  and  stand  in  his  stead." 

In  the  Governor's  hand  a  missive  he  laid, 
With  the  Royal  arms  on  its  seal  displayed ; 
And  the  proud  man  spake  as  he  gazed  thereat, 
Uncovering,  "  Give  Mr.  Shattuck  his  hat." 

He  turned  to  the  Quaker,  bowing  low : 

"  The  King  commandeth  your  friends'  release. 

Doubt  not  he  shall  be  obeyed,  although 
To  his  subjects'  sorrow  and  sin's  increase. 

"What  he  here  enjoineth  John  Endicott, 
His  loyal  servant,  questioneth  not. 
You  are  free  !  —  God  grant  the  spirit  you  own 
May  take  you  from  us  to  parts  unknown."  f 

The  letter  from  the  king  was  read  to  the  deputies  and  mag- 
istrates of  the  General  Court,  November  27,  1661  ;  and  the 
following  order  was  then  adopted  :  — 

Although  wee  hope  &  doubt  not  but  that  if  his  Majty  were  rightly  in- 
formed he  would  be  farre  from  giving  them  [the   Quakers]  such  favor, 

*  Ecclesiastical  Histon'  of  New  England,  by  Joseph  B.  Felt,  vol.  ii.,  p.  282. 
t"  The  King's  Missive,"  by  John  G.  Whiltier. 


1 4°  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

or  weakening  his  authority  here  so  long  &  orderly  settled,  yet  that  we 
may  not  in  the  least  offend  his  Maj'y,  the  Court  doth  hereby  order  & 
declare  that  the  execution  of  the  laws  in  force  against  Quakers  as  such 
so  far  as  they  respect  corporall  punishmt  or  death  be  suspended  until 
this  Court  take  further  order.* 

June  28,  1662,  the  king,  in  reply,  notified  his  "loyal  sub- 
jects in  New  England  "  that  certain  laws  and  ordinances  "  con- 
trary and  derogatory  to  his  authority  and  government "  must 
be  annulled  or  repealed.  He  also  declared  "  that  such  as  desire 
to  use  the  Booke  of  Comon  Prayer  &  performe  their  devotions 
in  the  manner  established  in  England  "  should  be  allowed  that 
privilege,  "&  that  all  persons 'of  good  &  honest  Hues  &  con- 
uersations  be  admitted  to  the  sacrement  of  the  Lords  Supper, 
according  to  the  Booke  of  Comon  Prayer  &  their  children 
to  baptisme.  Wee  cannot  be  understood  hereby  to  direct  or 
wish  that  any  indulgence  should  be  granted  to  those  persons 
comonly  called   Quakers,  whose   being  [  ]    inconsistent 

wi"'  any  kind  of  government.  Wee  have  found  it  necessary, 
by  the  advice  of  our  Parliament  here,  to  make  sharpe  lawes 
against  them,  and  are  well  contented  that  you  doe  the  like 
there."  f 

With  this  assurance  from  the  king  that  severe  measures, 
adopted  for  the  government  and  control  of  Quakers,  would 
not  be  annulled  by  Parliament,  the  General  Court,  October  8, 
1662,  revived  the  law  passed  in  May,  1661,  with  some  modi- 
fications, providing  that  Quakers  should  be  whipped  through 
not  more  than  three  towns,  and  that  the  number  of  stripes  to 
which  they  should  be  subjected  should  be  limited  by  the 
magistrates.  \ 

Under  the  provisions  of  this  law  the  following  order  was 
issued  by  Capt.  Richard  Waldron,  magistrate  at  Dover:  — 

To  the  constables  of  Dover,  Hampton,  Salisbury,  Newbury,  Rowley, 
Ipswich,  Windham,  Linn,  Boston,  Ro.xbury,  Dedham,  and  until  these 
vagabond  Quakers  are  out  of  this  jurisdiction.  ■* 

You  and  every  of  you  are  required  in  the  Kings  Majestys  name 
to  take  these  vagabond  Quakers,  Anna  Colman,  Mary  Tompkins  and 
Alice  Ambrose,  and  make  them  fast  to  the   carts   tail,  and   drawing  the 

•  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  II.,  p.  34. 

t  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  part  II.,  p.  165.        X  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  part  II.,  p.  59. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  149 

cart  through  your  several  towns,  to  whip  them  upon  their  naked  backs 
not  exceeding  ten  stripes  apiece  on  each  of  them  in  each  town,  and  so 
convey  them  from  Constable  to  Constable  till  they  are  out  of  this  jurisdic- 
tion,  as  you  will  answer  it  at  your  peril,  and  this  shall  be  your  warrant. 
Per  me  Richard  Waldron. 

At  Dover,  dated  Dec.  22,  1662.* 

In  Dover,  Hampton,  and  Salisbury  the  above  order  was 
executed ;  but  in  Newbury,  Walter  Barefoot,  afterwards 
deputy  governor  of  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire,  put  a 
stop  to  the  fvu'ther  punishment  of  "  these  vagabond  Quakers," 
and  sent  them  out  of  the  colony,  claiming  that  under  the  law 
they  could  not  be  whipped  in  more  than  three  towns. 

Two  of  the  Quakers  named  in  the  above  order,  Mary 
Tompkins  and  Alice  Ambrose,  visited  Newbury  on  their 
way  to  Dover,  and  were  then  entertained  by  John  Emery,  as 
appears  from  the  following  statement :  — 

Edward  and  George  Preston,  and  Mary  Tompkins  and  Alice  Am- 
brose, alias  Gary,  passed  eastward  to  visit  the  seed  of  God  in  those 
parts,  and  in  their  way  through  Newbury,  they  went  into  the  house  of 
one  John  Emery,  (a  friendly  man,)  who  with  his  wife  seemed  glad  to  re- 
ceive them,  at  whose  house  they  found  freedom  to  stay  all  night,  and 
when  the  next  morning  came,  the  priest,  Thomas  Parker,  and  many  of 
his  followers  came  to  the  man's  house,  and  much  reasoning  and  dispute 
there  was  about  truth ;  but  the  priest's  and  many  of  the  people's  ears 
were  shut  against  the  truth.  And  in  the  time  of  their  discourse,  the 
wind  striving  in  Mary  Tompkin's  stomach,  making  some  noise,  she  hav- 
ing received  no  sustenance  for  the  space  of  near  forty  eight  hours,  one 
Joseph  Pike,  after  they  were  departed  the  town,  said  "  she  had  a  devil 
in  her." 

After  a  while  the  priest  perceiving  that  the  battle  might  be  too  hard 
for  him,  rose  up  and  took  the  man  of  the  house  and  his  wife  out  of  doors 
with  him  and  began  to  deal  with  them  for  entertaining  such  dangerous 
people.  They  replied  they  were  required  to  entertain  strangers.  The 
priest  said  it  was  dangerous  entertaining  such  as  had  plague  sores  upon 
them.  Which  the  woman  hearing  began  to  take  the  priest  to  do  for 
saying  such  false,  wicked  and  malicious  words  but  he  hasted  away. 
Mary  Tompkins  called  him  to  come  back  again  and  not  to  show  him- 
self to  be  one  of  those  hirelings  that  tlee  and  leave  their  flocks  behind 
them,  but  he  would  not  turn :  and  a  while  after  most  of  the  People  de- 
parted :  and  when  Ipswich  Court  came  thither  he  was  had  and  fined  for 
Entertaining  the  Quakers. f 

*New  Hampshire  Provincial  Papers,  vol.  i.,  p.  243. 

t"  New  England  Judged,"  by  George  Bishop  (edition,  1702),  p.  400. 


150  HISTORY  OF  NEW  BURY 

It  appears  from  an  examination  of  the  papers  on  file  at  the 
court-house  in  Salem  that  the  grand  jury  on  the  thirty-first 
day  of  March,  1663,  presented  John  Emery  for  entertaining 
Quakers,  and  also  for  inviting  neighbors  to  come  to  hear  them. 
May  5,  1663,  the  case  was  referred  to  the  next  court  for 
settlement.* 

The  following  depositions  indicate  that  John  Emery  had  on 
several  occasions  entertained  Quakers,  and  asserted  his  right 
to  supply  them  with  food  and  lodging  regardless  of  the  restric- 
tions and  penalties  imposed  by  the  General  Court :  — 

The  testimony  of  Henry  Jaques  aged  about  44  years  saith  that  I 
heard  Joseph  Noyes  say  that  after  that  time  that  the  Quakers  had  their 
meeting  at  John  Emerys  that  he  saw  two  Quakers  at  John  Emerys  house, 
and  John  Emery  bade  ym  welcome,  and  further  saith  that  I  heard  Joseph 
Noyes  say  that  John  Emery  had  entertained  Quakers,  both  to  bed  and 
table,  after  the  time  they  had  their  meeting  at  John  Emerys  house,  and 
this  he  testified  before  the  church  at  Newbury,  and  farther  I  do  testify 
that  I  heard  John  Emery  and  his  wife  say  that  he  had  entertained 
Quakers  and  that  he  would  not  put  them  from  his  house,  and  used 
argument  for  the  lawfulness  of  it.  Henry  Jaques. 

Sworn  in  Court,  May  7,  1663        Before  Robert  Lord,  Clerk.\ 

The  Deposition  of  John  rolfe,  being  about  the  age  of  28  years,  this 
Deponent  saith  that  where  as  John  Emery  senior  did  afirme  before  the 
honoured  Court  that  he  had  not  entertained  any  quakers  in  his  house 
since  that  time  that  the  meeting  was  there  when  M""  parker  was  sent  for 
&  came  to  them.  I  Doe  testifie  that  I  being  at  John  Emerys,  S""  house 
about  3  weeks  after  that  time  did  see  two  Quakers  there  &  I  herd  him 
say  to  them  &  som  others  that  were  there  yt  Joseph  noyce  came  to  his 
house  &  told  him  that  there  were  two  quakers  coming  towards  his  house 
&  wisht  him  not  to  entertain  them  ;  he  sayd  if  they  came  to  his  house 
they  should  be  welcom  &  he  would  not  forbid  them  ;  there  they  were 
when  I  cam  in  &  there  I  left  them.  I  was  there  upon  occasion  neare  an 
houer  &;  there  were  p^sent  in  goodman  Emerys  house,  wil  Ilsley,  sen,  & 
John  Muselwhite. 

Sworne  in  Court  at  Ipswich  7  May,  1663 

p  me  Robert  Lord,  Cleric.\ 

The  Deposition  of  Joseph  Noyes  aged  26  years :  This  Deponent 
saith  yt  as  he  was  agoing  to  Goodman  Emeries,  senior,  he  overtook  two 
women  Quakers,  and  supposing  they  would  call  at  ye  house  of  ye  fore- 
mentioned    John    Emmery,  he  desired  him    not  to  entertain   y'".     But 

*  Salem  Court  Files,  vol.  ix.,  leaf  13.         t  Ibid.,  vol.  ix.,  folio  10. 


THE   SETTLE AIEjVT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  151 

whilst  he  was  in  discourse,  they  came  into  ye  house  and  there  staid  until 
he  went  away.  Goodman  Emmery  was  in  ye  chamber  (as  he  knows 
because  he  y"  upon  an  occasion  called  out  to  his  wife)  his  wife  being  in 
y^  same  room  with  y-*  Quakers.  Ys  was  after  ye  meeting  of  ye  quakers 
at  his  house  w"  Mr  Parker  was  y.  Farther  he  had  understood  by  those 
yt  w  eye  witnesses  y'  two  men  quakers  w^  y  entertained  very  kindly  to 
bed  and  table  &  John  Emmerie  shook  ym  by  ye  hand  and  bid  y"  wel- 
come :  Ye  substance  of  ys,  he,  or  his  wife  in  his  presence  told  him,  and 
owned  it  (according  to  his  best  remembrance)  more  y"  once.  This  also 
ws  severl  days  after  ye  meeting  above  said. 

Taken  upon  oath  24,  4,  1663  before  me  Simon  Bradstreet.* 

What  disposition  was  made  of  this  case  is  uncertain.  There 
is  no  evidence  in  the  records  of  the  courts  held  at  Ipswich, 
Salem,  and  Boston  that  a  verdict  was  rendered  for  or  against 
the  defendant.  March  31,  1663,  John  Emery  was  fined  four 
pounds  for  entertaining  Dr.  Henry  Greenland,  "a  stranger" 
not  having  a  legal  residence  in  the  town  of  Newbury  ;  and  that 
sentence  probably  led  the  author  of  "  New  England  Judged," 
and  other  writers  since  that  date,  to  assert  that  he  was  fined 
for  entertaining  Quakers. 


SUBSCRIPTIONS  IN  AID  OF  HARVARD  COLLEGE. 

September  8,  1636,  the  General  Court  appropriated  four 
hundred  pounds  for  the  establishment  of  a  school  or  college  at 
Newtowne  (now  Cambridge);  and  in  1638  the  Rev.  John  Har- 
vard bequeathed  one-half  his  property  and  his  entire  library  for 
its  encouragement  and  support. 

In  1642,  overseers  were  appomied  ;  and  November  13,  1645, 
the  General  Court  ordered  the  deputies  of  the  several  towns 
to  recommend  that  "  one  peck  of  corne,  or  1 2^  in  money  or 
oth""  comodity  be  sent  to  y^  Treasurer  for  the  Colledge  at 
Cambridge"  from  every  family  in  the  colony. f 

In  1650,  "the  President  and  Fellows  of  Harvard  College" 
were  incorporated,  and  a  charter  granted  under  the  seal  of  the 
Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay. 

October   19,  1652,  the   General  Court  ordered  the  inhabi- 

*  Salem  Court  Files,  vol.  ix  ,  folio  10. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  86. 


152 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


tants  of  the  several  towns  in  the  colony  to  choose  one  or 
more  persons  to  solicit  subscriptions  for  the  support  of  the 
college,  and  to  render  an  account  of  the  same  to  the  governor 
and  deputies  at  the  next  session  of  the  court.* 

Many  towns  responded  promptly  to  this  appeal,  and  prom- 
ised to  contribute  in  proportion  to  their  means.  A  few  asked 
for  further  time. 

Newberry  hath  p'mised  }"=  sum  of  ^15.0.0 
Salisbury  will  return  in  two  months 
Salem  will  give  answer  to  ye  committee  in  2  months 
Wenham  subscribes  the  sum  of  ^6.10.0 
Reading  subscribes  the  sum  of  / 16. 13.0 
Haverhill  will  give  answer  in  two  months 
.  Lin  will  give  (to  be  pd  next  year)  6.0.0 
Hampton  subscribes  y^  sum  of  17. 19.0 
Kowley  subscribes  the  sum  of  38.0.0 

Boston,  Roxbury,  Ipswich,  and  other  towns,  with  more 
wealth  and  resources,  pledged  larger  and  more  substantial 
sums.f 

The  collection  of  the  money,  however,  seems  to  have  pro- 
ceeded with  considerable  difficulty,  the  total  receipts  falling 
far  short  of  the  promised  contributions.  The  Rev.  Henry 
Dunster,  president  of  the  college  at  that  date,  gives  the  various 
amounts  received  from  the  towns  in  Essex  County,  as  fol- 
lows :  —  X 


Lynn 
Salem 
Ipswich 
Gloucester 
Rowley   . 


£1.  0.0  Newbury ^i.io.o 

o.  0.0  Salisbury o.   0.0 

5.   0.0  Hampton o.  0.0 

0.12.0  Andover o.  0.0 

7.  8.7  Haverhill o.  0.0 


May  15,  1654,  the  General  Court  again  ordered  the  towns 
that  had  not  contributed  to  the  support  of  the  college  to  ap- 
point some  suitable  person  to  receive  subscriptions,  and  for- 
ward them  to  Increase  Nowell,  a  member  of  the  Court  of 
Assistants,  "  in  order  that  the  work  of  the  college  may  not  be 
retarded." 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  loi. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  Iviii.,  p.  23. 

t  History  of  Harvard  University,  by  Josiah  Quincy,  vol.  i.,  p.  456. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  153 

In  answer  to  this  appeal  some  of  the  towns  responded  with 
small  gifts  and  contributions.  Among  these  gifts  were  a 
number  of  sheep,  a  pewter  flagon,  a  fruit-dish,  a  sugar-spoon, 
and  sums  of  money  from  five  shillings  to  five  pounds. 

In  1669,  the  financial  condition  of  the  college  was  extremely 
discouraging.  The  buildings  were  old  and  out  of  repair. 
Better  and  more  commodious  accommodations  were  needed, 
and  its  invested  funds  amounted  to  less  than  one  thousand 
pounds. 

In  this  emergency,  John  Cutt,  Richard  Cutt,  and  Joshua 
Moody  notified  the  General  Court  that  the  inhabitants  of 
Portsmouth  would  contribute  sixty  pounds  annually  for  seven 
years,  "  to  be  improved  by  the  overseers  of  the  college  for  the 
advancement  of  good  literature  there."  * 

Donations  and  contributions  to  be  used  in  the  construction 
of  a  new  library  building  were  urgently  solicited  by  friends  of 
the  institution  in  every  town  in  the  colony. 


Lynn 

subscribed 

^20.  0.0 

Gloucester 

subscribed 

Ls-  o-o 

Ipswich 

60.   3.2 

Andover 

12.10.0 

Rowley 

40.  8.5 

Wenham 

4.11.5 

Newbury 

21,  4.0 

Haverhill 

18.10.6 

Marblehead 

8.19.6 

Bradford 

9.  3.0 

Salisbury 

17.  0.0 

Beverly 

13.  0.0 

Topsfield  "  6.  0.0 1 

The  collection  of  these  subscriptions  was  delayed,  however, 
from  year  to  year  ;  and  the  selectmen  of  delinquent  towns  were 
at  length  ordered.  May  19,  1680,  by  the  General  Court  to 
provide  for  their  payment  before  September  3,  1680,  under 
penalty  of  twenty  pounds. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  selectmen  of  Newbury,  held  February 
6,  1679-80,  "Joseph  Pike  constable  and  Daniel  Lunt  were 
chosen  to  gather  the  rest  of  the  contribution  for  the  Col- 
ledg."  X 

Work  was  begun  on  the  library  building,  otherwise  known 
as  Harvard  Hall,  in  1672  ;  but,  owing  to  the  delay  in  the  col- 

•  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  II.,  p.  433. 
t  History  of  Harvard  University  (Quincy),  vol.  i.,  p.  508. 
X  Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 


154  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

lection  of  subscriptions,  it  was  not  completed  until  ten  years 
later.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  i  764,  and  with  it  the  most 
valuable  library  and  philosophical  apparatus  in  America. 

Subsequently  Nathaniel  Carter,  Tristram  Dalton,  Jonathan 
Jackson,  Rev.  John  Lowell,  and  Patrick  Tracy,  of  Newbury, 
with  other  friends  of  the  college  in  Boston,  Salem,  Gloucester, 
and  elsewhere,  contributed  books  and  money  to  repair  the 
loss  the  college  had  sustained  ;  and  the  General  Court  ap- 
propriated the  sum  of  two  thousand  pounds  toward  the  cost 
of  rebuilding  Harvard  Hall. 

LEATHER  DRESSERS. 

Nicholas  Easton,  who  came  with  the  first  settlers  to  New- 
bury in  1635,  was  probably  the  first  person  who  carried  on 
the  business  of  tanning  in  the  town.  He  owned  a  dwelling- 
house,  with  the  land  under  and  adjoining  the  same,  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  river  Parker,  and  lived  there  until  1637, 
when  he  was  disfranchised  by  the  General  Court,  and  soon 
after  removed  to  Rhode  Island.  Richard  Dole,  a  dealer  in 
hides  and  leather,  purchased  the  property,  and  continued  in 
business  there  until  1705.* 

After  the  settlement  of  the  new  town  in  1646,  repeated  ef- 
forts were  made  to  induce  some  competent  leather  dresser  to 
establish  himself  in  trade  in  the  vicinity  of  the  "  trayneing 
green." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  ffreemen  April  19,  1649  There  was  granted  that 
Job  Clements  should  have  that  freehold  that  the  Towne  bought,  formerly 
being  William  Berry  his  ffreehold,  to  remaine,  abide  and  continue  to 
him  &  his  heyrs  forever,  conditionaly  yt  he  live  w"i  us  heere  in  Newbury 
exercising  his  trade  four  years,  or  as  long  as  he  shall  live  wtinn  that 
Tearme,  and  also  let  the  shoemakers  of  this  Towne  have  the  first  proffer 
or  the  forsaking  of  his  leather  making  him  as  good  pay  as  others. f 

This  offer  did  not  prove  acceptable  to  Mr.  Clements,  and 
he  decided  to  remain  in  Haverhill,  where  he  was  then  residing. 

November  10,  1663  Leift  Pike  proposed  for  his  brother  Thomas 
Turvill  for  an  acre  of  land  near  some  spring  (so  that  it  do  not  prejudice 

•  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  17  and  18. 

t  Newbury  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  49. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  155 

the  Towne)  for  to  set  up  tanning  of  Leather  &  Richard  Kent  &  Henry 
Short  were  appointed  to  look  out  a  convenient  place  neere  some  spring.* 

March  14,  1663-4,  at  a  ii^cneral  meeting  of  the  townsmen 
"It  was  voted  that  there  should  he  an  acre  of  land  given  to 
Thomas  Turvill  between  George  Littles  &  Henry  Jaquesses 
provided  he  follow  his  trade  of  Tanning,  and  in  case  he  leave 
it  in  seaven  years  he  shall  resigne  it  up  to  the  Towne,  the 
Towne  paying  to  him  all  necessary  charge  he  bestows  upon 
it,  but  hereby  they  grant  him  no  freehold."  * 

In  1664,  Richard  Knight  and  William  Titcomb  "laid  out  to 
Thomas  Thurvill  according  to  the  grant  of  the  town  an  acre 
of  land  on  the  way  to  the  mill."  * 

On  account  of  physical  inability  to  support  himself  at  his 
trade  the  selectmen  were  ordered  September  19,  1670,  to 
send  Thomas  Turvill  to  his  "kinsman,"  Henry  Short,  to  be 
maintained  at  the  expense  of  the  town  until  his  death. 

January  24,  167 1—2,  he  conveyed  to  Ensign  Greenleaf  and 
Caleb  Moody,  selectmen  of  the  town  of  Newbury,  the  land 
that  he  had  received  from  the  town,  upon  condition  that  he 
carry  on  the  trade  of  leather  dresser.  Being  unable  by  weak- 
ness to  perform  the  condition  agreed  upon,  and  feeling 
obliged  to  call  upon  the  town  for  aid  and  support,  he  relin- 
quished his  right  and  title  to  the  land  in  part  payment  of  the 
charges  that  had  been,  and  were  to  be,  incurred  for  his 
benefit.* 

November  27,  1675  the  Selectmen  Reckoned  with  Henry  Short  for 
keeping  Tho :  Turvill  &.  there  was  due  to  him  fourteen  pounds  &  seaven 
shillings  the  last  day  of  November.* 

Ten  years  later  John  Bartlet  was  a  tanner  of  hides  at 
Bartlet's  Cove.  In  an  agreement  made  March  19,  1686-7, 
Samuel  Bartlet  and  John  Bartlet  mention  a  way  "  from  the 
north  west  side  of  the  Cove  to  the  Bark  house  then  standing."  f 
The  business  was  continued  in  that  locality  for  nearly  two 
centuries. 

Anthony  Somerby,  grandson  of  the  first  schoolmaster  of 

•Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 

t  Recorded  in  May,  1694,  by  Henry  Short,  town  clerk. 


156  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Newbury,  was  a  leather  dresser  in  the  vicinity  of  the  "  New 
Pond  and  Trayneing  Green." 

Anthony  Somerby  having  proposed  to  the  town  for  three  rods  square 
of  Ground  at  a  place  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  Claddings  spring, 
so  as  may  be  Convenient  for  Dressing  of  leather.  The  towne  by  vote 
granted  said  proposition  viz :  The  land  proposed  for,  to  the  said 
Anthony  Somerby.* 

Tristram  Coffin  and  Henry  Short,  lot-layers,  "  according 
to  a  grant  of  the  town  of  March  8"',  1696-7,"  laid  out  on  the 
eleventh  day  of  March  following,  "  to  Anthony  Somerby  a 
piece  of  ground  of  three  rods  square  lying  at  a  place  com- 
monly known  by  the  name  of  Claddings  spring  •}•  bounded  by 
the  common  or  undivided  land  of  Newbury  on  every  side. 
Bounded  with  a  small  rock  at  every  corner."  :j: 

March  27,  1699,  Ebenezer  Knowlton  was  granted  a  lot  of 
land  on  the  Bradford  road  "  for  the  purpose  of  setting  up  a 
tanners  trade  "  near  the  land  formerly  owned  by  Benjamin 
Lowell,  "  bounded  westerly  by  a  brook  and  northerly  by  the 
land  of  Stephen  Emery."  § 

MILLS    FOR   GRINDING    CORN. 

In  1645,  the  only  grist-mill  in  Newbury  was  at  the  falls  of 
the  Ouascacunquen,  now  Parker  river.  In  that  year,  or 
the  year  immediately  preceding,  Thomas  Nelson  built  a  mill 
in  Rowley,  near  the  dividing  line  between  that  town  and  New- 
bury, on  the  Mill  river,  a  branch  of  the  Quascacunquen.  He 
died  in  1648  ;  and  on  the  first  day  of  July,  1654,  Richard 
Dummer,  of  Newbury,  executor  of  the  will  of  Thomas  Nelson, 
"sometime  of  Rowley  deceased,"  sold  to  John  Pearson  "one 
half  part  of  the  corn-mill  at  Rowley  "  with  land  adjoining  the 
same  "  surrounded  with  a  salt  creeke  which  cometh  out  of 
Newbury  river."  || 

Some  doubt  having  arisen  in  regard   to   the   right  of  the 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Claddings  spring  is  a  few  rods  southwesterly  from  the  house  formerly  owned  and  occupied 
by  the  Rev.  James  Noyes. 

X  Town  of  Newbury  Proprietors'  Records. 

§Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

II  Ipswich  Deeds,  book  II.,  p.  300. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  157 

executor  to  sell  the  above-described  property,  a  board  of  ar- 
bitrators was  chosen  to  adjust  the  questions  in  dispute  and 
determine  the  amount  due  from  Richard  Dummer  to  Philip 
and  Thomas  Nelson,  "  sons  of  Thomas  Nelson,  deceased." 
They  reported  October  30,  1657,  and  again  on  the  twenty- 
sixth  day  of  November,  1658.*  Subsequently,  the  questions 
in  dispute  were  referred  to  the  magistrates  and  deputies  of 
the  General  Court.     October  16,  1660,  they  declared, 

In  the  case  now  depending  betweene  John  Peirson  of  Rowley  &  M"" 
Richard  Dummer,  referring  to  the  sale  of  a  mill  &  certaine  lands,  some- 
tjmes  possessed  by  Mr  Nelson  of  Rowley,  deceased,  &  now  sold  by 
the  sajd  Mr  Dummer  to  ye  sd  Peirson  for  the  vse  of  the  sajd  Mr.  Nel- 
sons children,  the  Court  judgeth  it  meet  to  confirme  the  sale  of  the  sajd 
mill  &  land.f 

From  the  testimony  of  witnesses  given  in  a  suit  brought 
by  Philip  Nelson  to  recover  possession  of  the  property,  at 
the  Court  held  in  Ipswich  March  29,  1692,  it  appears  that 
there  was  a  saw-mill  "  neer  ye  south  end  of  ye  above  said  grist 
mill,  upon  ye  land  y*  ye  fulling  mill  [now]  stands  on  the  south- 
erly end  of  said  Grist  Mill."  \ 

After  the  death  of  Philip  Nelson  his  widow  and  executrix 
sold  all  her  right  and  interest  in  these  mills  to  John  Pear- 
son, jr.,  son  of  John  Pearson,  sr.,  who  retained  possession  of 
them  for  many  years.  They  were  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr. 
Pearson's  descendants  until  1840.  Since  that  date  they  have 
been  practically  rebuilt ;  and,  supplied  with  new  and  im- 
proved machinery,  they  are  now  known  as  the  "  Glen  Mills  " 
of  Rowley. 

MILL    ON    LITTLE   RIVER. 

For  the  convenience  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury,  who 
were  to  remove  from  the  old  town  on  Parker  river  to  the 
new  town  on  the  Merrimack  river,  in  1645,  the  erection  of  a 
grist-mill  near  the  place  now  known  as  "  Four  Rock  Bridge," 
was  authorized  by  the  following  vote  passed  at  a  town  meet- 
ing held  December  18,  1645  :  — 

*  Ipswich  Deeds,  book  I.,  pp.  221,  222  (591-595). 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  book  IV.,  part  I.,  p.  440. 

+  Ipswich  Deeds,  book  V.,  p.  502. 


158  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Whereas  the  Inhabitants  of  ye  Towne  of  Newbury  at  a  publique 
meeting  have  chosen  William  Gerrish,  John  Lowle,  Richard  Knight, 
Henry  Short,  Richard  Kent,  Jn^,  John  Pike,  Jnr,  and  William  Titcomb 
for  to  procure  a  water  mill  for  to  be  built  and  set  up  in  sd  Towne  to 
grind  they  corne  the  sd  men  have  accordingly  covenanted  &  agreed  with 
John  Emery  &  Samuel  ScuUard  to  effect  &  perfect  the  same  on  these 
terms  following : 

1.  That  the  s^  John  Emery  &  Samuel  Scullard  Do  Covenant  & 
promise  that  the  sd  Mill  shall  be  sufficiently  built  &  made  ready  for  the 
Townes  use  to  grind  the  Townes  grists  at  or  before  the  twenty  ninth  of 
September  following. 

2.  They  likewise  promise  that  the  sd  mill  shall  be  sett  up  between 
Nicholas  Holts  poynt  &  Edward  Woodmans  Bridge,  or  near  there- 
abouts, this  they  promise  to  perform  &  make  good  &  do  hereby  firmly 
bind  y"iselves  &  theyr  heyrs  under  the  penalty  of  forty  pounds  forfeiture 
if  not  done.* 

The  committee  in  behalf  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury 
agreed  to  pay  John  Emery  and  Samuel  Scullard  the  sum  of 
twenty  pounds  in  merchantable  goods  ;  to  grant  them  ten  acres 
of  upland  and  six  acres  of  meadow  land  ;  to  exempt  the  mill 
from  taxation  for  seven  years,  and  acknowledge  it  to  be  a  free- 
hold to  them  and  their  heirs  forever. f 

Samuel  Scullard  died  previous  to  October,  1647,  and  his 
widow  married  John  Bishop,  who  purchased  John  Emery's  in- 
terest in  the  mill  property.  As  the  lawful  successor  of  Sam- 
uel Scullard,  deceased,  the  committee  "  confirmed  upon  John 
Bishop  his  heirs  and  assigns  "  all  the  rights  and  privileges 
originally  conveyed  by  the  above-described  agreement. 

June  18,  1663,  he  sold  the  mill  to  Peter  Cheney. J  Thirty 
years  later  there  was  some  controversy  in  regard  to  the  deed 
of  conveyance  ;  and  John  Bishop  denied.  May  30,  1682,  selling 
the  freehold  when  he  sold  the  mill.§ 

*  Newbury  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  folio  5.  See  also  Suffolk  Court  Files,  Pemberton 
Square,  Boston,  vol.  i..  No.  86  and  No.  12513,  for  certified  copies  of  above  agreement  signed  by 
Nathaniel  Coffin,  "  clerc  for  ye  commoners  in  ye  Towne  of  Newbury." 

t"  In  consideration  of  John  Emery  his  full  satisfaction  for  his  part  of  the  mill  land,  the 
Towne  Granted  unto  John  Emery  ten  acres  of  land  lying  in  the  neck,  below  the  House  lotts, 
which  John  Bishop  resigned  to  the  Towne  for  his  mill  land,  to  be  to  ye  said  John  Emery  his 
heyrs  &  assigns  forever  provided  yt  there  be  a  way  in  the  most  convenient  place  according  to  the 
agreement  the  Towne  made  wtli  Samuel  Scullard."     Newbury  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  26. 

t  "  Ould  Newburj',"  p.  104. 

§  Newbury  Proprietors'  Records,  folio  5. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  159 

MILL  AT  ARTICHOKE   RIVER. 

The  freeholders  granted,  November  22,  1678,  to  John 
Emery,  jr.,  "  twelve  acres  of  land  on  the  west  side  of  Arti- 
choke River  adjoyneing  to  his  owne  land,  Provided  that  he 
build  and  maintaine  a  corne  mill  to  grind  the  Townes  corne 
from  time  to  time,  and  to  build  it  within  one  yeare  and  one 
halfe  after  the  Date  hereof.  And  the  Inhabitants  of  the 
Towne  to  have  their  corne  ground  accordii"ig  to  their  Turnes 
before  any  of  another  towne."  * 

This  mill  was  probably  built  during  the  year  1679  or  1680. 
December'  13,  1686,  the  town  appointed  a  committee  "to  lay 
out  a  convenient  highway  of  such  breadth  as  they  shall  see 
meet  thro'  the  plaines  to  Sergeant  Emerys  mill."  For  more 
than  two  centuries  the  dam  with  the  mill  privileges  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Artichoke  river  have  been  maintained  in  good 
order  and  condition  for  the  grinding  of  corn.f 

MILL  AT  PINE  ISLAND. 

Upon  the  petition  of  John  Badger,  the  town  of  Newbury, 
March  8,  1 680-1,  granted  him  liberty  to  use  "two  rods  of 
land  over  against  his  house  to  set  up  a  mill  to  make  oat- 
meale.'"!  The  mill  was  soon  after  erected,  two  or  three 
hundred  rods  in  a  northerly  direction  from  Little  Hill,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  highway  leading  from  Parker  river  to  the 
Merrimack,  and  was  operated  by  horse  power. 

May  12,  1 71 5,  Nathaniel  Badger  sold  to  his  brother-in-law 
Joseph  Lunt  the  house  where  he  then  lived,  with  buildings 
and  utensils  belonging  to  his  "  oat  mill  or  mault  mill,"  and  the 
land  appertaining  to  the  homestead  of  his  honored  father,  John 
Badger.'  § 

Cutting  Lunt,  Nathaniel  Lunt,  and  Lois  Lunt,  children  of 
Joseph  Lunt,  owned  and  operated  the  mill  from  1750  to  1785. 

Afterwards  Nathan  Lunt,  son  of  Cutting  Lunt,  became 
owner  of  one-half  the  property  ;  and  March  2,  1 791,  he  sold 

*To\vn  of  Newbun,'  Records. 

t  For  further  details  relating  to  this  mill  see  "Ould  Newburj-,"  pp.  26g  to  274. 

X  Town  of  Newburj'  Records. 

§  Essex  Deeds,  book  XXVII.,  leaf  182. 


l6o  IIISTOKY  OF  NEWBURY 

his  interest  in  the  land  and  buildings  to  Nicholas  Lunt,  who 
continued  the  manufacture  of  oatmeal  and  malt  there  until  the 
year  1810.* 

THE    MERRIMACK  RIVER. 

The  northern  boundary  of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  by  a  strict  construction  of  its  charter,  extended  from  a 
point  three  miles  north  of  the  most  northerly  part  of  the  Mer- 
rimack river  and  in  an  easterly  and  westerly  direction  from  sea 
to  sea.  As  early  as  September  6,  1638,  the  General  Court 
passed  the  following  order  :  - — - 

Goodman  Woodward,  Mr  John  Stretlon  wt'^  an  Indian  &  2  others, 
appointed  by  the  magistrates  of  Ipswich,  are  to  lay  out  the  line  3  mile 
northward  of  the  most  northermost  part  of  Merrimacke  for  wch  they  are 
to  have  5s  a  day  a  peece.f 

June  6,  1639,  Goodm  Nathaniell  Woodward  was  ordered  to  have  three 
pounds  for  his  journey  to  discover  the  ruhing  vp  of  Merrimacke:  iqs 
more  was  aded  by  order  of  the  Governor  &  Deputies. 

And  they  wch  went  with  him,  Tho  :  Howlet,  Sargent  Jacob,  Tho  : 
Clarke  &  John  Manning  to  have  50s  a  peece  for  their  10  days  a  peece 
spent  according  to  the  former  order;  and  John  Clarke  to  have  [  ]  for 
going  wth  them  &  staying  for  them  till  their  returne.  % 

In  October,  1641,  the  government  of  the  colony  of  Mass- 
achusetts Bay  was  extended  to  the  Piscataqua  riv^er  by  the 
adoption  of  the  following  order  :  — 

Whereas  it  appeareth  that  by  the  extent  of  the  line,  (according  to  o"" 
patent,)  that  the  ryver  Pascataquack  is  w«'nn  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
Massachusetts,  &  conference  being  had  (at  severall  times)  w'^  the  said 
people,  &  some  deputed  by  the  Generall  Court,  for  the  setteling  &  estab- 
lishing of  order  in  the  administration  of  justice  there,  it  is  now  ordered, 
by  the  Genrall  Court,  houlden  at  Boston,  the  9th  day  of  the  8*  mo,  1641 
&  wth  the  consent  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  ryver  as  followeth  : 

Impi":  That  from  henceforth  the  said  people  inhabiting  there  are  & 
shalbee  accepted  &  reputed  under  the  government  of  the  Massachusetts, 
as  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  wt'nn  the  said  jurisdiction  are  lic.  § 

The  heirs  of  Capt.  John  Mason  protested  against  this  as- 
sumption of  authority,  and  claimed  control  of    the  territory 

*See  Essex  Deeds,  book  XCIX.,  leaf  163  ;  book  GIL,  leaf  33  ;  hook  CIX.,  leaf  12  :  book 
CXXIV.,  leaf  204;  book  CXLV.,  leaf  148;  book  CLII.,  leaf  242;  book  CCIX.,  leaf  154  :  Cof- 
fin's History  of  Newbury,  p.  134. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  237.         X  Ibid.,  p.  261.         §  Ibid.,  p.  342. 


THE   SE  TTLEMENT  A  T  MERE  IMA  CK  RIVER  1 6 1 

from  the  Merrimack  river  to  the  Kennebec  river,  under  a 
charter  granted  by  King  James  I.  in  1622.  The  General 
Court,  however,  reasserted  its  claim  to  the  disputed  territory, 
and  appointed,  June  i,  1652,  Capt.  Symon  Willard  and  Capt. 
Edward  Johnson  commissioners  "  to  p'cure  such  artists  & 
other  assistants  as  they  shall  judge  meete  to  goe  w"'  them,  to 
finde  out  the  most  northerly  p'te  of  the  Merrimacke  Riuer,  and 
that  they  be  supplyed  withall  maher  of  necessaries  by  the 
Treasurer  fitt  for  their  journey,  and  that  they  use  their  vttmost 
skill  and  abillitie  to  take  a  true  observation  of  the  latitude  of 
the  place  and  that  they  doe  it  withall  convenient  speed  and 
make  returne  thereof  at  the  next  session  of  this  Court."  * 

The  commissioners  employed  Serjeant  John  Sherman,  of 
Watertowne,  and  Jonathan  Ince,  a  student  at  Harvard  Col- 
lege, to  accompany  and  assist  them  in  their  investigations. 
October  19,  1652,  they  reported  to  the  General  Court  that 
by  careful  astronomical  observations  they  found  the  head  of 
the  Merrimack  river  "  where  it  issues  out  of  the  lake  called 
Winnapuscakit  "  was  in  the  latitude  of  forty-three  degrees, 
forty  minutes,  and  twelve  seconds  (43°  40'  12"),  and  that  the 
boundary  line  of  the  colony,  begining  three  miles  north  of  that 
point,  extended  in  an  easterly  direction  to  the  sea.f 

In  1654,  Mr.  Jonas  Clark  and  Samuel  Andrews,  "both  well 
skilled  in  Mathematics,"  were  appointed  to  mark  with  a  heap 
of  stones,  or  in  some  other  suitable  way,  the  northern  boun- 
dary, or  limit,  of  the  colony  on  the  seacoast.  They  reported 
that  a  line  from  lake  Winnipiseogee  to  the  Atlantic  ocean, 
three  miles  north  of  the  latitude  given  above,  would  fall  upon 
an  island  called  the  "  Upper  Clapboard  Hand,  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  from  the  mayne  in  Casco  Bay."  \ 

Over  this  vast  territory  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay 
claimed  jurisdiction  until  the  year  1679,  when  the  province  of 
New  Hampshire  was  created  by  an  act  of  Parliament,  and  the 
towns  of  Dover,  Exeter,  Hampton,  and  Portsmouth  became  a 
part  of  that  province.  Subsequently,  the  boundary  line  be- 
tween New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts  was  the  occasion 
of  a  long  controversy  that  was  not  finally  adjusted  and  settled 
until  1899. 

•Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  98.        t  Ibid.,  p.  109.        %  Ibid.,  p.  207. 


1 62  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

PETITION    FOR   THE    RELEASE   OF  ROBERT   PIKE. 

The  General  Court  passed  an  order,  May  i8,  1653,  declar- 
ing it  to  be  unlawful  for  any  person  to  preach  in  any  town  in 
the  colony  without  the  consent  of  the  elders  of  four  neighbor- 
ing churches  or  by  the  approval  of  the  county  court.  Robert 
Pike,  of  Sahsbury,  boldly  denounced  this  act  as  an  unjustifia- 
ble interference  with  the  personal  rights  and  privileges  of 
freemen,  and  farther  said  "  several  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  Gen- 
erall  Court  about  it."  * 

August  30,  1653,  Lieut.  Pike  was  ordered  to  appear  at  the 
General  Court  and  answer  for  his  intemperate  zeal  and  sedi- 
tious speech.  He  was  disfranchised  September  7,  1653,  and 
prohibited  from  holding  public  office  in  the  town  or  in  the 
colony.  A  fine  of  twenty  marks,  equal  to  thirteen  pounds, 
six  shillings,  and  eightpence,  was  imposed  as  an  additional 
penalty ;  and  he  was  required  to  give  bonds  for  his  good  be- 
havior during  the  court's  pleasure.* 

The  prompt  and  vigorous  measures  adopted  by  the  General 
Court  to  assert  its  rights  and  protect  its  members  from  criti- 
cism and  censure  aroused  a  strong  feeling  of  indignation  among 
the  inhabitants  of  Newbury,  Haverhill,  Andover,  Hampton, 
and  Salisbury.  Petitions  were  prepared  and  circulated  in 
these  towns  asking  that  the  fine  and  punishment  imposed  upon 
"  Lieutenant  Robert  Pike "  be  remitted.  Several  of  these 
petitions  are  on  file  at  the  State  House  in  Boston,  but  many 
of  the  signatures  can  hardly  be  deciphered  and  some  are  illeg- 
ible.    The  petition  from  Newbury  reads  as  follows  :  f — 

The  humble  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury,  to  the  honored 
General  Court  now  assembled  at  Boston,  showeth  : 

That  whereas  our  loving  friend,  Lieutenant  Robert  Pike,  of  Salisbury, 
hath  by  occasion,  as  it  is  witnessed  against  him,  let  fall  some  words  for 
which  the  honored  Court  hath  been  pleased  [to  censure  him]  we  having 
had  experience  that  he  hath  been  a  peaceable  man  and  a  useful  instru- 
ment ...  do  therefore  humbly  desire  this  honored   Court  that  the  said 

*  Massaclmsetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  156. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  x.,  leaf  2gg.     See  also  "  The  New  Puritaa,"  pp.  44  and  45. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER 


163 


sentence  may  be  [revoked]  and  that  the  said   Lieutenant  Pike  be 
restored  to  his  former  liberty.     So  .  .  .  pray  &c. 


Richd.  Kent,  Jun. 
Wni  Moody 
Daniel  Peirce 
Geo.  Little 
Saml  Moody 
Richd.  Dole 
John  Poore 
Dan  Thurston 
Joseph  Plummer 
Richd  Thurly 
John  Wolcot 
John  Hull 
Rob.  Adams 
W™  Chandler 
John  Tillotson 
John  Baily 
John  Wheeler 
Rob.  Cooper 
Richd.  Kent,  Sen. 


Wm  Titcombe 
John  Bartlett 
Tho.  Browne 
Richd.  Bartlett 
Gyles  Cromlome 
Aquilla  Chase 
Edw.  Richard.son 
W"i  Richardson 
John  Bishop  -   -^  V 
Sam  Poore 
John  Hutchins 
Wm  Sawyer 
Richd.  Fitts 
John  Bond 
Chris  Bartlett 
James  Ordway 
Edwd.  Woodman 
Stephen  Swett 
Wni  Ilsly 
Tho   Smith. 


Benj  Swett 
Joseph  Swett 
Steph.  Greenleaf 
Anthony  Morse 
Henry  Lunt 
Solomon  Kyes 
Tristram  Coffin 
Francis  Plummer 
Sam.  Plummer 
Dan  Thurston 
Wni  Cottle 
John  Rolfe 
John  Muslewhite 
John  Emery,  Sen. 
John  Emery,  Jun. 
Sam  Moore 
Nich.  Batt 
John  Cheney 
Daniel  Cheney 


This  petition,  with  several  other  petitions  from  neighboring 
towns,  was  presented  to  the  General  Court  at  a  session  held 
May  14,  1654.  The  deputies  as  well  as  the  magistrates  were 
evidently  disturbed  and  irritated  by  this  unexpected  display  of 
friendship  for  Lieut.  Robert  Pike,  and  promptly  appointed  a 
committee  of  investigation. 

In  answer  to  the  peticon  of  Hampton,  Salisbury,  Newbery,  Haverill 
&  Andover,  subscribed  by  severall  in  each  toune,  this  Court  cannot  but 
deeply  resent  that  so  many  psons  of  seuerall  tounes,  condicons  &  rela- 
tions, should  combine  together  to  psent  such  an  vnjust  &  vnreasonable 
request  as  the  revoaking  the  sentance  past  the  last  Court,  agt  Left  Rob* 
Pike  &  the  restoring  of  him  to  his  former  libertie,  wt'^out  any  peticon  of 
his  oune,  or  least  acknowledgment  of  his  great  offence,  fully  proved 
against  him,  which  was  no  lesse  then  defaming  this  Court,  and  charging 
them  w'b  breach  of  oath  &c  w^h  the  peticoners  call  some  words  lett  fall 
by  occasion.  The  court  doth  therefore  order  in  this  extraordinary  case, 
that  Mr  Bradstreet  for  Hauerill  &  Andover,  Capt  Wiggins  for  Hampton, 
Capt  Gerrish  &  Nicho  Noies  for  Newbery,  &  Mr  Winsly  &  Mr  Brad- 
bury for  Salisbury,  shall  &  heereby  are  appointed  Comisioners  to  call 
the  said  peticoners  in  the  seuerall  tounes  together,  or  so  many  of  them 


164  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

at  a  time  as  they  shall  think  meete  &  require  a  reason  of  theire  vnjust 
request  &  how  they  came  to  be  induced  to  subscribe  the  sd  peticon  &  so 
make  theire  retourne  to  the  next  sessions,  that  the  Court  may  consider 
how  to  pceed  farther  therein.* 

In  October,  1654,  Capt.  William  Gerrish  and  Nicholas 
Noyes  reported  to  the  General  Court  the  reasons  given  for 
signing  the  petition  by  the  men  of  Newbury  :  — 

Francis  Plummer  and  Robert  Morse  say  the  reason  is  because  he  is 
a  useful  man,  and  thought  they  might  petition  without  offence.  It 
was  in  the  liberty  of  the  Court  to  accept  it  or  reject  it  and  .  .  .  they 
could  not  see  they  had  done  amiss  in  petitioning. 

John  Bishop  being  desired  to  go  into  the  meeting  house  to  explain 
.  .  .  about  the  petition  he  said  he  could  not  stay,  but  the  constable  said 
he  must.  He  came  into  the  house  before  us ;  said,  would  the  General 
Court  have  the  reasons,  they  are  in  the  petition,  and  that  was  all  he 
would  say,  and  so  turned  his  back  and  away  he  went. 

Benjamin  Swett  saith  every  free  subject  hath  liberty  to  petition  for 
any  that  had  been  in  esteem,  without  offence  to  any. 

John  Emery  demanded  our  Commission  and  the  sight  of  the  petition, 
and  then  would  answer.  Being  produced,  he  answered  we  had  no  power 
to  demand  who  brought  him  the  petition ;  and  hearing  John  Bond  make 
answer,  told  him  he  was  a  wise  man  in  a  bold,  flouting  manner.  His 
carriage  we  conceive  was  [insulting]. f 

Others  said  they  were  friends  of  Robert  Pike  and  out  of  respect  for 
him  they  petioned  for  his  release,  while  others  confessed  that  they  were 
ignorant  of  the  words  spoken  by  him  &  sentence  imposed  upon  him 
by  the  Gen.  Court  and  intended  no  offence  to  that  honorable  body  in 
asking  for  his  release. 

After  a  careful  examination  of  the  answers  returned  by  the 
men  from  Newbury  and  other  towns  in  the  vicinity,  the  Gen- 
eral Court  ordered  November  i,  1654,  the  petitioners  whose 
answers  were  not  satisfactory  to  appear  at  the  county  court 
and  give  bonds  in  the  sum  of  ten  pounds  to  answer  for  their 
several  offences.  The  names  of  the  Newbury  men  "  to  be 
summoned  by  warrant  from  the  dark  of  the  court  "  were  : 
"Jno  Emery,  Sen,  Jno  Hull,  Jn°  Bishop,  Benjamin  Swett, 
Daniell  Thirston,  Jun.  Joseph  Plomer,  Daniell  Cheny,  Jn° 
Wilcott."  X 

*  Massachustts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  i<)4. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  x.,  p.  299.     "  The  New  Puritan,"  pp.  44  and  45. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  215. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  165 

The  objectionable  order  relating  to  public  preaching  in  the 
colony  was  repealed  August  30,  1653  ;  but  at  the  same  time 
it  was  enacted  "  that  every  person  that  shall  publish  and  main- 
taine  any  hetrodoxe  and  erronjous  doctorine  shalbe  lyable  to 
be  questioned  and  censured  by  the  County  Court  where  he 
liveth  according  to  the  meritt  of  his  offence."  * 

The  sentence  imposed  upon  Lieut.  Pike  was  not  revoked 
until  several  years  later,  as  appears  from  the  following  order 
adopted  by  the  General  Court  October  23,  1657  :  — 

In  ansr  to  the  peticon  of  Robert  Pike,  humbly  desiring  ye  courts 
favo""  his  fine  being  paid,  to  remitt  to  him  &  release  him  from  the  other 
pte  of  the  Courts  former  sentence  against  him,  M""  Worcester  ye  pastor 
of  ye  church  at  Salisbury  appearing  on  ye  behalfe  of  the  peticoner  and 
acknowledging  himself  much  bound  to  the  court  if  they  would  be 
pleased  to  graunt  ye  said  Pikes  request,  the  court  grants  his  request. f 


NEWBURY    IN  1654. 

In  the  thirty-first  chapter  of  the  history  of  New  England, 
otherwise  known  as  "  Wonder  Working  Providence  of  Sions 
Saviour,"  by  Edward  Johnson,  printed  in  London  in  1654,  is 
the  following  description  of  Newbury  :  — 

In  the  latter  end  of  this  yeare  (1634)  two  sincere  servants  of  Christ 
inabled  by  him  with  gifts  to  declare  his  minde  unto  his  people,  came 
over  this  broad  Ocean,  and  began  to  build  the  Tenth  Church  of  Christ 
at  a  Towne  called  Newberry,  their  names  being  Mr.  James  Noise  and 
Mr.  Thomas  Parker,  somewhat  differing  from  all  the  former,  and  after 
mentioned  Churches  in  the  preheminence  of  their  Presbytery,  and  it 
were  to  be  wished  that  all  persons  who  have  had  any  hand  in  those  hot 
contentions,  which  have  fallen  out  since,  about  Presbyterian  and  Inde- 
pendent Government  in  Churches,  would  have  looked  on  this  example, 
comparing  it  with  the  Word  of  God,  and  assuredly  it  would  have  stayed 
(all  the  godly  at  least)  of  either  part  from  such  unworthy  expressions  as 
have  passed  to  the  grief  of  many  of  Gods  people  ;  And  I  doubt  not 
but  this  History  will  take  of  that  unjust  accusation  and  slanderous  im- 
putation of  the  rise  of  that  floud  of  errors  and  false  Doctrines  sprung  up 
of  late,  as  flowing  from  the  Independent  or  rather  Congregationall 
Churches.  But  to  follow  on,  this  Town  is  situate  about  twelve  miles 
from  Ipswitch,  neere  upon  the  wide  venting  streames  of  Merrimac  River, 

♦Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  151.         tibid.,  p.  313. 


1 66  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

whosp  strong  current  is  such  that  it  hath  forced  its  passage  through  the 
mighty  Rocks,  which  causeth  some  sudden  falls,  and  hinders  Shipping 
from  having  any  accesse  far  into  Land,  her  bankes  are  in  maay  places 
stored  with  Oken  Timber  of  all  sorts,  of  which  that  which  they  com- 
monly call'd  white  Oke  is  not  inferiour  to  our  English  Timber;  in  this 
River  lie  some  few  Islands  of  fertill  Land,  this  Towne  is  stored  with 
Meddow  and  upland  which  hath  caused  some  Gentlemen  (who  brought 
over  good  Estates,  and  finding  then  no  better  way  to  improve  them,)  to 
set  upon  husbandry,  amongst  whom  that  Religious  and  sincere  hearted 
servant  of  Christ  Mr.  Richard  Dummer,  sometime  a  Magistrate  in  this 
little  Common-wealth,  hath  holpen  on  this  Town ;  their  houses  are  built 
very  scattering,  which  hath  caused  some  contending  about  removall  of 
their  place  for  Sabbath-Assemblies  ;  their  Cattell  are  about  foure  hun- 
ared  head,  with  store  of  Corne-land  in  tillage,  it  consists  of  about  sev- 
enty families ;  the  soules  in  Church  fellowship  are  about  an  hundred, 
the  teaching  Elders  of  this  Congregation  have  carried  it  very  lovingly 
toward  their  people,  permitting  of  them  to  assist  in  admitting  of  persons 
into  Church-society,  and  in  Church-censures,  so  long  as  they  Act  regu- 
larly, but  in  case  of  their  male-administration,  they  assume  the  power 
wholly  to  themselves,  their  godly  life  and  conversation  hath  hitherto 
been  very  amiable,  and  their  paines  and  Care  over  their  flock  not  in- 
feriour to  many  others,  and  being  bound  together  in  a  more  stricter 
band  of  love  than  ordinary  with  promise  to  spend  their  dayes  together 
(if  the  Lord  please)  *  .  .  . 

In  the  fourteenth  chapter,  Book  Second,  the  Merrimack 
river  is  described  as  follows  :  — 

Salsbury  being  seated  upon  the  broad  swift  torrent  of  Merrimack,  a 
very  goodly  River  to  behold  were  it  not  blockt  up  with  some  suddaine 
falls  through  the  rocks :  over  against  the  Towne  lyeth  the  Towne  of 
Newberry,  on  the  Southern  side  of  the  River,  a  constant  Ferry  being 
kept  between  ;  for  although  the  River  be  about  half  a  mile  broad,  yet, 
by  reason  of  an  Island  that  lies  in  the  midst  thereof,  it  is  the  better 
passed  in  troublesom  weather ;  the  people  of  this  Towne  have  of  late 
placed  their  dwellings  so  much  distanced  the  one  from  the  other,  that 
they  are  likely  to  divide  into  two  churches ;  the  scituation  of  this  Towne 
is  very  pleasant,  were  the  River  Navigable  farre  up,  the  branches  thereof 
abound  in  fair  and  good  medowes  with  good  store  of  stately  Timber 
upon  the  uplands. f 

NEWBURY    IN  1660. 

When  Governor  Winthrop  arrived  in  New  England  in 
1630,  Samuel  Maverick   was   settled  at   Noddle's  Island,  now 

*  Massachusetts  Historical  Collections,  Second  Series,  vol.  iii.,  p.  144. 
t  Ibid.,  vol.  vii.,  p.  18. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  167 

East  Boston,  and  had  been  there  for  several  years.  In  1660, 
Maverick  is  supposed  to  have  written  the  following  account 
of  Newbury  and  other  towns  on  the  Merrimack  river :  — 

Seven  Miles  to  the  Southward  of  Hampton  is  Meromack  River  on 
the  Mouth  of  which  on  the  North  side  is  seatted  a  Large  Towne  called 
Sallisbury,  and  3  miles  above  it  a  village  called  old  Salisbury  where 
ther  is  a  Saw  Mill  or  two.  The  commodities  this  Towne  affords  are 
Come,  Cattle,  Boards  and  Pipe  Staues. 

Four  leagues  up  this  River  is  Haverell,  a  pretty  Towne  &  a  few  miles 
higher  is  the  Towne  of  Andouer,  both  these  Townes  subsist  by  Hus- 
bandry. 

At  the  mouth,  on  the  southside  of  Meromeck  and  upwards,  is  seated 
the  Towne  of  Newbury.  The  Houses  stand  at  a  good  distance  from 
each  other,  a  feild  and  Garden  between  each  house,  and  so  on  both  sides 
the  street  for  4  miles  or  therabouts ;  betweene  Salisbury  and  this  Towne 
the  river  is  broader  than  the  Thames  at  Deptford,  and  in  the  sumer 
abounds  with  sturgeon,  salmon,  and  other  ffresh  water  fish.  Had  we 
the  art  of  takeing  and  saveing  the  sturgeon  it  would  prove  a  very  great 
advantage,  the  Country  affording  vinegar  and  other  materialls  to  do  it 
withall.  In  this  Towne  and  old  Newbury  adjoining  are  2  ■  meeting- 
houses.* 


DIVIDING    LINE    BETV^EEN    NEWBURY    AND    ROWLEY. 

A  farm  of  three  hundred  acres  was  granted  Edward  Wood- 
man, in  1660,  by  the  General  Court ;  but  it  was  subsequently 
claimed  that  the  land  had  previously  been  gi'anted  to  the  in- 
habitants of  Newbury,  that  it  was  wholly  within  the  limits  of 
the  town,  and  that  the  order  of  the  court  should  be  reconsid- 
ered and  repealed. 

The  order,  adopted  October    1 6,  1 660,  reads  as  follows  : — 

In  anwsr  to  ye  petition  of  M^  Edward  Woodman,  humbly  desiring  the 
favour  of  this  Court  in  graunting  him  a  parcell  of  land  lying  betweene 
Rowley  &  Newbury  lynes,  the  Court  judgeth  it  meete  to  graunt  him 
three  hundred  acres  there. f 

May  21,  1 66 1,  the  subject  was  again  brought  to  the  atten- 
tion of  the  General  Court,  and  the  following  order  was  then 
passed  :  — 

*  New  England  Genealogical  Register,  January,  1S85,  p.  33. 
t  Massacliusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  440. 


1 68  ///STORY  OF  NEWBURY 

In  answer  to  the  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of  ye  toune  of  Newbury, 
the  Court,  having  heard  the  petitioners  in  behalfe  of  the  toune  of  New- 
bury «&  Mr  Woodman,  relating  to  Newbury  Ijne  &  this  Courts  grant  of 
a  farme  of  three  hundred  acres  of  land  in  October  last,  finding  that  the 
Ijne  of  Newbury  bounds  being,  for  at  least  twenty  years,  lajd  out  ad- 
joyning  to  Rouley  Ijne  &  perambulated  according  to  order  of  this  Court, 
shall  be  &  remajne  to  Newbury  wti'out  any  farther  challenge  or  clajme 
from  any  toune  or  person,  and  that  M^  Woodman's  grant  as  to  yt  place 
is  heerby  declared  null  &  vojd,  Mr  Woodman  hauing  consented  thereto, 
yet  are  willing  to  allow  Mr  Woodman  his  three  hundred  acres  formerly 
granted  in  any  free  place  not  formerly  graunted  &  not  hindering  a  plan- 
tation.* 

At  a  meeting  of  the  selectmen  of  Newbury,  held  May  3, 
1669,  it  was  voted  "that  ffrancis  browne  &  John  Emery, 
Jim"",  shall  go  next  Munday  to  meet  Rowley  men  at  Rowley 
Mill  to  go  with  John  Knight  or  John  Poore  to  run  the  lyne 
between  our  bounds  &  Rowley."  f 

John  Peirson,  sr.,  and  Philip  Nelson,  who  were  appointed 
April  9,  1672,  by  the  inhabitants  of  Rowley,  to  run  the  line 
between  that  town  and  Newbury,  "  did  so  do  on  Monday, 
April  15,  1672."  f 

PENNACOOK,   N.H.,   AND    WOODBRIDGE,   N.J. 

Although  land  in  Newbury  was  abundant,  the  soil  fertile, 
and  the  "  upper  woods  "  undivided  until  the  close  of  the  year 
1686,  many  of  the  early  settlers  were  induced,  by  various 
considerations,  to  remove  with  their  families  to  places  more 
or  less  remote,  where  they  could  unite  with  others  in  the 
organization  and  development  of  new  towns.  They  were 
prominently  identified  with  the  settlement  at  Salisbury,  at 
Hampton,  at  Rowley,  at  Haverhill,  and  at  Andover,  previous 
to  the  close  of  the  year  1645.  In  1659,  they  obtained  the 
right  to  establish  a  town  "at  a  place  called  Pennecooke,"  now 
Concord,  N.H. ;  and  the  same  year  they  were  granted,  condi- 
tionally, a  tract  of  land  large  enough  for  a  township  on  the 
banks  of  the  Saco  river. 

The  petition  for  liberty  to  settle  at  Pennacook  reads  as 
follows  :  — 

*  Massacliusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  1 1.,  p.  7. 
t  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  169 

To    THE    HONERED    COURTE    NOW    ASSEMBLED    AT    BoSTON  : 

The  humble  petecyon  of  us  whose  names  are  underwritten,  beinge 
inhabytant  of  this  jurisdiction,  and  beinge  senseable  of  the  need  of 
multiplyinge  of  towneshippes  for  the  inlargemeant  of  the  contrey  and 
accommodateinge  of  such  as  want  opportunity  to  improve  themselves, 
have  taken  into  consideration  a  place  which  is  called  Pennecooke,  which 
by  reporte  is  a  place  fit  for  such  an  one.  Now  the  humble  request  of 
your  petitioners  to  this  honred  Courte  is,  that  we  may  have  the  grant 
of  a  tracke  of  land  there  to  the  quantity  of  twelve  miles  square,  which, 
being  granted,  we  shall  give  up  ourselves  to  be  at  the  cost  and  charge 
of  vewinge  it,  and  consider  fully  about  it,  wheather  to  proceed  on  for 
the  settlinge  of  a  towne  or  noe,  and  for  that  end  shall  crave  the  liberty 
of  three  yeares  to  give  in  our  resolution;  and  in  case  that  wee  doe  pro- 
ceed, then  our  humble  request  is,  that  we  may  have  the  grant  of  our 
freedome  from  publique  charge  for  the  space  of  seaven  yeares  after  the 
time  of  our  resolution  given  into  the  Honerd  Courte  for  our  encourage- 
ment to  settle  a  plantation  soe  furr  remote  as  knowinge  that  many  will 
be  our  inconvenyences  (for  a  long  time)  which  we  must  expeckt  to  meet 
with,  all  which  desires  of  ours  beinge  ansered,  your  petetioners  shall 
ever  pray  for  the  happyness  of  this  Honred  Courte,  and  rest  your  humble 
petitioners. 

Richard  Walderne        John  Bayley 
Vall:  Hill  John  Cheiney 

Peter  Coffin  Nathaniel  Weare 

^'is  Robard  Coker 

John  X  Hird 

mark  JOHN    POORE 

William  Ffurbur  Robert  Rogers 

Roger  Plaisteed  Edward  Richardson 

Edward  Woodman  William  Cotton 

John  Pike  John  Wolcott 

Abraham  Toppan  John  Bond 

Benja  :  Swett  William  Titcomb  * 
George  Littell 

May  18,  1659,  a  committee  consisting  of  Thomas  Danforth, 
Edward  Johnson,  and  Eleazer  Lusher  reported  in  favor  of 
granting  the  petitioners  a  plantation  eight  miles  square,  pro- 
vided they  report  to  the  General  Court  in  October,  1660,  their 
resolution  to  carry  on  the  work,  "  and  that  within  two  years 
then  next  ensuing  there  be  20  families  there  settled."  The 
deputies  and  magistrates  accepted  this  report,  "  and  consented 

*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cxii.,  pp.  117,  118.  Richard  Walderne,  Vall:  Hill,  Peter 
Coffin,  John  Hird,  William  Furber,  and  Roger  Plaisted,  who  signed  the  above  petition,  were  from 
Dover,  N.H.  :  the  other  petitioners  were  from  Newbury. 


lyo  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

thereto";  but  the  conditions  imposed  upon  the  petitioners 
were  not  complied  with,  and  the  grant  was  subsequently  de- 
clared forfeited.  Concord  was  not  settled  until  nearly  seventy 
years  later.  January  17,  1725-6,  the  General  Court  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, "William  Dummer,  Lieut  Governor,  consenting 
thereto,"  appointed  a  committee  of  nine  to  lay  out  a  township 
at  Pennacook  "  where  Contocook  river  falls  into  Merrimack 
river."  Rev.  Enoch  Coffin,  son  of  Nathaniel  Coffin,  of  New- 
bury, accompanied  the  committee  as  chaplain,  and  encamped 
with  them  at  a  place  called  "  Sugar  Ball  plain  "  Friday,  May 
14,  1726,  and  on  the  Sunday  following  "performed  divine 
service  both  parts  of  the  day."  House  lots  were  laid  out  and 
surveyed,  and  in  1727  they  were  assigned  to  proprietors  who 
had  previously  been  appointed  or  elected  by  the  committee. 
February  27,  1733-4,  the  plantation  was  incorporated  "a 
separate  and  distinct  township  by  the  name  of  Rumford." 

In  1 740,  the  northern  boundary  of  Massachusetts  was  defi- 
nitely fixed  and  established,  by  the  king  and  his  council, 
"  beginning  at  a  point  three  miles  north  of  the  Merrimack  river 
at  its  mouth  and  thence  following  the  course  of  that  river  to 
a  point  due  north  of  Pawtucket  Falls."  By  this  decision  the 
town  of  Rumford,  now  Concord,  fell  within  the  limits  of  the 
province  of  New  Hampshire. 

Among  those  who  received  six  acres  or  more  in  the  first 
division  of  land  made  at  Pennacook,  in  1727,  were  the  follow- 
ing men  from  Newbury  :  Rev.  Enoch  Coffin,  Rev.  Bezaleel 
Toppan  (son  of  Rev.  Christopher  Toppan),  Thomas  Coleman, 
Joseph  Hale,  Andrew  Mitchell,  Henry  Rolfe,  and  Samuel, 
son  of  Samuel,  and  grandson  of  Dr.  Peter  Toppan.* 

A  petition  in  regard  to  a  new  plantation  on  the  Saco  river 
was  granted  by  the  General  Court  November  12,  1659,  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

In  ansr  to  the  peticon  of  Mr  Edward  Woodman  &  other  inhabitants 
of  Newbury,  humbly  craving  the  favo'"  of  this  Court  to  graunt  them  a 
new  plantation  on  Saco  River  westward  of  the  bounds  of  Saco  &c.  the 
Court  judgeth  it  meete  to  graunt  the  petitioners  eight  miles  square  in 
the  place  desired,  provided  they  giue  in  theire  resolutions,  as  is  exprest 
in  theire  peticon,  in  one  year  ensuing  this  date.f 

*  History  of  Concord  (Bouton),  pp.  57-140. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  402. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  171 

May  31,  1660,  Mr.  Edward  Rishworth  and  Robert  Booth 
were  authorized  to  lay  out  and  determine  the  bounds  of  the 
new  plantation  ;  and  the  petitioners  were  freed  from  the  pay- 
ment of  taxes  for  six  years,  "  provided  that  they  have  twenty 
families  &  an  able  minister,  such  as  shall  be  approved  of  by 
this  Court,  setled  there  in  fower  yeeres."  * 

March  12,  1664,  King  Charles  II.  issued  a  royal  decree 
granting  to  James,  Duke  of  York,  a  large  tract  of  land  now 
known  as  New  Jersey.  February  10,  1664-5,  Philip  Carteret 
was  appointed  governor  of  the  territory ;  and  every  freeman 
who  settled  there  was  given  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
land,  provided  he  brought  with  him  six  months'  provision,  a 
good  musket,  ten  pounds  of  powder,  "  and  not  less  than  twenty 
pounds  of  bullets,  twelve  bullets  to  the  pound." 

Daniel  Pierce,  Joshua  Pierce,  John  Pike,  John  Pike,  jr., 
Thomas  Blomfield,  Thomas  Blomfield,  jr.,  John  Blomfield, 
John  Cromwill,  Samuel  Hale,  Jonathan  Haynes,  Elisha 
Ilsley,  Henry  Jaques,  Henry  Jaques,  jr.,  Stephen  Kent, 
Stephen  Kent,  jr.,  George  Little,  Hugh  March,  Samuel 
Moore,  Matthew  Moore,  John  Smith,  Abraham  Toppan,  Na- 
than Webster,  Obadiah  Ayres,  Richard  Worth,  and  others 
went  from  Newbury  to  New  Jersey,  where  they  laid  out  and 
settled  the  town  of  "  Woodbridge,"  so  called  in  honor  of  the 
Rev.  John  Woodbridge,  assistant  minister  of  the  first  church 
of  Newbury. f  Some  of  the  persons  named  in  the  above  list 
took  an  active  part  in  the  organization  of  the  town  govern- 
ment, and  were  afterwards  prominent  in  the  management  of 
its  affairs  ;  but  a  few,  dissatisfied  with  the  apportionment  of 
land  and  the  assessment  of  taxes,  remained  there  for  two  or 
three  years,  and  then  returned  to  Newbury. 

The  town  of  Woodbridge  still  retains  the  name  it  received 
in  1668.  It  is  on  the  Perth  Amboy  &  Woodbridge  Rail- 
road, in  Middlesex  County,  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  about 
five  miles  south  of  Railway  and  twenty-four  miles  southwest 
of  New  York  City.| 

•Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  421. 

t  New  Jersey  Colonial  Documents,  vol.  i.,  p.  50;  also,  Early  History  of  Perth  Amboy 
(Whitehead),  pp.  355-367. 

X  Nearly  a  century  later  a  township  in  the  Coos  country  on  the  Connecticut  river  was  granted 
Capt.  Jacob  Bayley  for  services  in  the  French  war.     Capt.  Bayley  was  born  in  Newbury,  Mass., 


172  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

OATH  OF  ALLEGIANCE  TO  KING  CHARLES  II. 

Oliver  Cromwell  died  September  3,  1658.  His  son  Richard 
succeeded  him  as  lord  protector.  In  the  confusion  that  fol- 
lowed the  downfall  of  the  government,  the  resignation  of 
Richard  Cromwell  and  his  retirement  to  private  life,  Charles 
II.  was  proclaimed  King  of  England  May  8,  1660.  He  ar- 
rived in  London  May  29,  1660,  having  left  the  Hague  six  days 
before. 

This  event  occasioned  considerable  an.xiety  in  the  colony  of 
Massachusetts  Bay;  and,  December  19,  1660,  the  General 
Court  addressed  a  letter  "To  the  high  &  mighty  Prince 
Charles  the  Second  by  the  grace  of  God,  King  of  Great 
Britajne,  Fraunce  &  Ireland,  Defender  of  the  Faith  &c.,"  be- 
seeching him  to  favor  and  protect  the  colony  in  its  chartered 
rights  and  privileges,  and  also  a  letter  "  to  the  Lords  &  Com- 
mons in  Parliament  assembled,"  urging  them  to  provide  for 
an  amicable  adjustment  of  the  differences  relating  to  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  territory  between  the  Merrimack  river  and 
Casco  bay. 

These  letters  were  intended  to  convey  to  his  Majesty  and 
to  Parliament  assurances  of  loyalty  and  fidelity,  and  also  to 
explain  and  apologize  for  some  measures  that  it  had  been 
thought  necessary  to  adopt  for  the  protection  and  government 
of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay.  In  April,  1661,  when 
it  became  known  that  an  order  had  been  received  from  the 
king  for  the  apprehension  of  Col.  Edward  Whalley  and  CoL 
William  Goffe,  two  of  the  judges  who  signed  the  warrant  for 
the  execution  of  King  Charles  I.,  then  supposed  to  be  living 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Boston,  the  inhabitants  of  the  colony 
were  greatly  alarmed. 

July  19,  1726.  He  married  Prudence  Noyes  October  i6,  1745,  and  removed  to  Hampstead, 
N.H.,  two  years  later,  where  he  organized,  in  1756,  a  company  for  service  in  the  expedition  to 
Lake  George.  May  18,  1763,  he  obtained,  by  the  advice  and  assistance  of  his  brother-in-law,  Col. 
Moses  Little,  a  grant  of  land,  now  in  the  State  of  Vermont,  on  the  westerly  side  of  the  Connecti- 
cut river,  where  he  began  the  settlement  of  a  town  to  which  he  gave  the  name  Newbur)'.  He  was 
afterwards  prominent  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  served  as  quartermaster-general  in  the 
Continental  army. 

Col.  Moses  Little,  born  in  Newbury,  May  8,  1724,  was  also  an  officer  in  the  army  during  the 
Revolutionary  war.  He  owned,  with  others,  a  large  tract  of  land  in  New  Hampshire,  extending 
fifteen  miles  along  the  Connecticut  river.  In  1784,  this  land  was  surveyed,  and  divided  between 
the  towns  of  Littleton,  named  for  him,  and  IJalton,  named  for  Hon.  Tristram  Dalton,  of  New- 
buryport,  who  was  also  one  of  the  original  grantees. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  173 

Petitions  from  Newbury,  Ipswich,  Sudbury,  Boston,  and 
other  towns  were  presented  to  the  General  Court,  asking  for 
a  prompt  compliance  with  the  demands  of  the  king.  June  10, 
1 66 1,  the  General  Court  declared,  in  answer  to  the  petition- 
ers, that  it  had  not  been  altogether  negligent  in  providing  for 
the  enforcement  of  the  laws  against  criminals,  and  therefore 
desiring  the  petitioners  to  rest  satisfied  with  what  had  been 
done.* 

The  same  clay  a  special  committee,  that  had  been  appointed 
several  days  before,  reported,  in  regard  to  the  condition  of  af- 
fairs in  the  colony  and  the  rights  and  duties  of,  freemen,  that 
certain  laws  and  privileges  should  be  asserted  and  maintained, 
and  also  that  "Wee  further  judge  that  the  warrant  &  letter 
from  the  kings  maj'y  for  the  app'hending  of  Col  Whalley  & 
Col  Goffe,  ought  to  be  diligently  &  faithfully  executed  by 
the  authority  of  this  country.  And  also,  that  the  Generall 
Court  may  doe  safely  to  declare  that  in  case  (for  the  future) 
any  legally  obnoxious,  &  flying  from  the  civil  justice  of  the 
state  of  England,  shall  come  ouer  to  these  partes,  they  may 
not  heere  expect  shelter."  * 

Intimations  having  been  received  from  England  that  the 
public  acknowledgment  of  the  king,  in  the  colony  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay,  should  be  no  longer  delayed,  the  General  Court 
at  a  special  session  held  August  7,  1661,  ordered  the  procla- 
mation to  be  made  the  next  day.f  August  eighth,  Edward 
Rawson,  then  secretary  of  the  colony,  in  the  presence  of  the 
governor,  deputy  governor,  magistrates,  deputies,  and  elders, 
with  "  ffower  ffoote  Companjes,  one  troope  of  horse,  &  mas- 
ters of  shipps  in  harbo""  attending,"  assembled  in  Boston,  pro- 
claimed and  acknowledged  submission  to  Charles  II.,  "  lauf ull 
King  of  Great  Brittajne,  France  &  Ireland  &  all  other  the 
territorjes  &  dominions  thereunto  belonging." 

April  25,  1664,  Col.  Richard  Niccolls,  Sir  Robert  Carr, 
George  Cartwright,  Esq.,  and  Samuel  Maverick,  Esq.,  were 
appointed  by  the  king  to  visit  the  colonies  in  New  Eng- 
land, to  examine  and  determine  all  complaints,  and  hear 
appeals  from  all  military,  criminal,  and  civil  courts.     Two  of 

•Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  II.,  p.  26.        t  Ibid.,  p.  50. 


174  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

the  commissioners  arrived  in  Boston  July  23,  1664,  and  were 
graciously  received  by  the  governor  and  his  council. 

The  members  of  the  General  Court,  however,  were  much 
disturbed  by  the  appointment  of  these  royal  commissioners, 
and,  October  19,  1664,  voted  to  make  an  address  or  statement 
of  their  grievances,  beginning  as  follows  :  — 

To  THE  Kings  Most  Excellent  Majty 

The    humble    supplication  of  the  Gen '11  Court   of   the    Massachusetts 

colony  in  New  England. 
Dread  Sotieraigne :  — 

If  your  poore  subjects,  who  haue  remooved  themselves  into  a  remote 
corner  of  the  earth  to  enjoy  peace  w«h  God  &  man,  doe  in  this  day  of 
theire  trouble  prostrate  themselves  at  your  royal  feete  &  begg  you"" 
favor,  wee  hope  it  will  be  graciously  accepted  by  your  majestie,  and  that 
as  the  high  place  you  sustejne  on  earth  doeth  number  you  here  among 
the  gods,  so  you  will  imitate  the  God  of  heaven  in  being  ready  to  main- 
teyne  the  cause  of  the  afflicted  &  the  right  of  the  poore,  &  to  receive 
their  crjes  and  addresses  to  that  end.* 

After  quoting  the  favorable  opinions  expressed  by  his 
Majesty  in  several  le.tters  addressed  to  the  colony  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay,  they  beseech  him  to  listen  to  their  grievances 
and  to  restrain  and  limit  the  power  and  authority  conferred 
upon  the  commissioners.  They  assert  that  the  proposed 
changes  in  the  administration  of  justice  and  the  management 
of  public  affairs  will  force  his  subjects  in  New  England  to 
seek  new  homes  elsewhere,  *'  or  sink  &  faint  under  burdens 
that  will  be  to  them  intollerable."  In  conclusion  they  say,  "at 
our  request  let  our  government  Hue,  our  patent  Hue,  our  mag- 
istrates Hue,  our  lawes  and  Hbertjes  Hue,  our  religious  enjoy- 
m'ents  Hue  ;  so  shall  wee  all  haue  yet  further  cause  to  say 
from  our  heart,  '  Let  the  king  Hue  forever  : '  and  the  bless- 
ing of  them  that  were  ready  to  perish  shall  come  vpon  your 
majesty,  hauing  deliuered  the  poore  that  cryed  &  such  as  had 
none  to  help  them." 

May  3,  1665,  the  commissioners  presented  to  the  General 
Court  the  letters  and  instructions  received  from  the  king  in 
regard  to  the  condition  of  affairs  in  the  colony  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  examine  them 

•Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  II.,  p.  izg. 


THE  SE  TTLEMENT  A  T  MERRIMA  CK  RIVER  1 7  5 

and  consider  what  answer  should  be  made.  Newbury  was 
not  represented  at  this  session  of  the  General  Court,  and  was 
fined  ten  pounds  for  not  sending  a  deputy.  Although  the 
freemen  of  Newbury  were  evidently  reluctant  to  antagonize 
the  views  and  wishes  of  the  king  as  expressed  in  his  instruc- 
tions to  the  commissioners,  and  were  anxious  to  avoid  a  contest 
that  was  likely  to  prove  embarrassing,  there  is  no  evidence 
that  they  attempted  to  evade  their  political  duties  or  re- 
sponsibilities. At  all  events,  the  fine  was  remitted  by  the 
General  Court  October  16,  1666. 

Meanwhile  the  negotiations  between  the  commissioners  and 
the  General  Court,  having  been  conducted  with  considerable 
vigor  for  more  than  twelve  months,  were  abruptly  terminated, 
the  commissioners  left  Boston  for  the  province  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  soon  after  returned  to  England.  April  10, 
1666,  Sir  William  Morrice,  secretary  of  state  under  King 
Charles  II.,  notified  Richard  Bellingham,  governor  of  the 
colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  that  his  Majesty  was  displeased 
with  the  condition  of  affairs  and  had  decided  to  recall  his 
commissioners,  and  request  the  General  Court  to  elect  two 
or  three  suitable  persons  to  go  with  Governor  Bellingham 
and  Major  William  Hawthorne  to  England,  in  order  to  ex- 
plain to  his  Majesty  why  they  refused  to  accept  the  amend- 
ments to  the  charter  and  the  revision  of  the  laws  proposed 
by  the  commissioners.* 

A  special  session  of  the  General  Court  was  held  in  Boston, 
September  11,  1 666,  to  consider  this  important  communica- 
tion. The  elders  of  the  churches  were  desired  to  be  present 
and  give  their  advice  in  the  weighty  matters  under  discussion. 
A  letter  was  prepared  and  ordered  to  be  sent  to  his  Majesty's 
secretary  of  state,  criticising  the  conduct  of  the  commissioners 
and  declining  to  send  representatives  to  England,  having 
already  submitted  in  writing  their  objections  to  the  proposed 
amendments  to  their  charter,  "  and  therefore  cannot  expect 
that  the  ablest  persons  among  us  could  be  in  a  capacity  to 
declare  our  cause  more  fully."  f 

•Hutchinson's  History  of  Massachusetts,  vol.  i.,  Appendix  xix. 
t  Massacliusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  II.,  p.  317. 


176 


HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 


At  the  same  session  of  the  court,  petitions  favoring  the 
adoption  of  conciUatory  measures  and  the  repeal  of  all  legisla- 
tive acts  displeasing  to  the  king  were  presented  from  several 
towns  in  the  colony. 

"The  humble  Petition  of  the  town  of  Newberry"  states 
that  the  petitioners  have  been  informed  that  his  Majesty  has 
lately  sent  to  the  governor  and  council  letters  expressing  dis- 
satisfaction with  the  result  of  the  commissioners  visit  to  New 
England,  and  that  he  has  ordered  the  governor,  with  several 
other  persons  to  be  elected  by  the  General  Court,  to  proceed 
forthwith  to  England  to  assist  in  the  discussion  and  final 
settlement  of  the  differences  relating  to  the  rights  and  duties 
of  freemen  in  the  colony.  In  conclusion  the  petitioners  ex- 
press the  hope  that  conciliatory  counsels  will  prevail,  and  that 
it  will  not  be  necessary  for  them  "  to  make  their  particular 
address  to  his  majesty,  and  declaration  to  the  world,  to  clear 
themselves  from  the  least  imputation  of  so  scandalous  an  evil, 
as  the  appearance  of  disaffection  or  disloyalty  to  the  person 
and  government  of  their  lawful  prince  and  sovereign."  This 
petition  was  signed  by 


Nicholas  Batt 
James  Browne 
John  Atkinson 
Joshua  Browne 
John  Badger 
Hugh  March 
William  Chandler 
Thomas  Parker 
John  Woodbridge 
William  Gerrish 
Daniel  Peirce 
Richard  Lowle 
Henry  Short 


Benjamin  Woodbridge 
Nathaniel  Clark 
Stephen  Swett 
James  Mirrick 
Joseph  Muzzy 
James  Jackman 
Thomas  Hale,  Sen 
Anthony  Sommerby 
William  Thomas 
Francis  Brown 
Anthony  Short 
Abiel  Sommerby 
Nicholas  Noyes 


Daniel  Thurston 
Tristram  Coffin 
Percival  Lowle 
Samuel  Lowle 
John  Knight,  Sen 
John  Knight,  Jun 
Paul  White 
Abel  Huse 
Richard  Kent 
James  Kent 
John  Kent 
Richard  Knight 
Thomas  Silver* 


The  General  Court,  "  hauing  read  &  taking  into  considera- 
tion the  contents  of  the  petitions  presented  from  Newbery, 
Ipswich,  Salem  &  Boston  being  for  substance  but  one,  &  find- 
ing that  the  peticoners  doe  therein  vnjustly  charge,  threaten 
&    reflect  vpon  this   court,  to  the  dishono""  of  the  members 

•  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cvi.,  p.  168. 


THE  SE  TTLEMENT  A  T  MERRIMA  CK  RIVER  1 7  7 

thereof,  .  .  .  ordered,  that  Captaine  William  Gerrish,  of  New- 
bery,  Capt.  John  Apleton,  of  Ipswich,  M'  Edmond  Batter,  of 
Salem,  Capt  Thomas  Sauage,  M""  Tho.  Bratle  M""  Habbacuck 
Glouer  &  M""  Thomas  Deane,  of  Boston,  all  of  them  principal! 
persons  in  the  sajd  peticons,  some  of  them  persons  in  publicke 
trust,  all  saue  one  freemen  of  this  colony  &  members  of 
churches,  be  by  the  secretary  warned  to  attend  this  Court  in 
October  next,  to  answer  for  the  same."  * 

At  the  appointed  time  the  petitioners  appeared,  and  made 
answer  to  the  charges  brought  against  them.  The  committee 
to  whom  the  subject  was  referred,  after  hearing  the  testi- 
mony, reported  that  there  were  unwarrantable  passages  and 
expressions  in  the  petitions  that  a  well-ordered  government 
could  not  allow  to  pass  unnoticed,  but,  inasmuch  as  the  peti- 
tioners did  not  intend  to  transgress  the  laws,  they  should  be 
admonished  and  released,  except  Capt.  John  Appleton,  of 
Ipswich,  who  was  censured  "for  saying  that  he  hoped  the 
Court  would  not  be  his  judge."  The  deputies  voted  that  the 
report  of  the  committee  be  kept  on  file  and  not  recorded : 
"consented  to  by  the  magistrates."! 

The  commissioners  from  King  Charles  II.,  in  a  communica- 
tion to  the  General  Court,  dated  May  i8,  1665,  complained 
that  the  provisions  of  the  charter  of  the  colony  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay,  requiring  the  inhabitants  thereof  to  take  the  oath 
of  allegiance  to  the  king,  were  not  complied  with.  Edward 
Rawson,  secretary  of  the  colony,  replied  the  next  day,  "  wee 
shall  forthwith  order  the  taking  of  the  oath  of  allegiance  ac- 
cording as  the  charter  commands."  \  It  is  evident,  however, 
from  subsequent  proceedings,  that  the  order  was  not  strictly 
enforced,  although  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  were 
called  upon  to  take  the  oath  in  a  modified  form,  as  appears 
from  the  following  record  :  — 

NEWBERIE. 

Joseph  Coker  :  John  Kent :  Israeli  Webster :  Job :  Pilsberie,  Joseph 
Bayly  :  Benjamin  Lowell,  Nath"  Merrill :  Daniell  Merrill  Abell :  Merrill : 
J  no  Attkinson. 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  II.,  p.  317. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cvi.,  pp.  174-178. 

X  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  II.,  pp.  200-206. 


178  HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 

These  men  aboue  written  haue  taken  ye  oath  of  ffidelitie  vnto  this 
gouerment  ye  25  of  february  sixty  eight : 

before  mee  Robert  Pike  Comiss"" : 

Jonathan:  woodman:  Benjamin  Moss  «&  Isaac  Brown  tooke  ye  oath 
of  fidellity  to  this  govermt :  &  James  Ardway  tooke  ye  oath  of  a  free- 
man of  this  Jurisdicon:  ye  26:  of  ye  i2tli  mo  :    1668 

before  mee  Robert  Pike  Comissr : 

Henry  Tuxberie  &  Isaac :  Brown  tooke  ye  oath  of  fidelity  to  this 
govermt  this  13  :  day  of  May  1669 

before  mee  Robert :   PikeComiss^: 

Jno  wells  :  Pennell :  Tittcom  :       Richard  Bartlett,  jun  : 

Tho:  wells:  John  Stevens:  william  Ilsly  jun 

Jno  Swett :  Jonathan  Wedgwood  Joseph  Ilsley 

Moses  Pilsbery  :  Jacob  Tappin  James  Ardway  jun: 

Tho  :  west :  John  Ilsly  Tho  :  stickney 

Josuah  Richison  :  Sam:   Bartlett 

Tooke  ye  oath  of  fidelitie  to  ||  yegouerm^  of  ||  this  Jurisdicon  this  25* 
day  of  May,  69 

Peter  Cheny  Nath'i  Cheny  &  Amos  Stickny  of  Nubery  tooke  ye  oath 
of  fidelity  to  this  Comon  wealth  this  25th  of  ye  3d  mo  69  bfore  mee 

Robert  Pike  Comissr 

Jno  Bayly :   Benjamin  Lowell  Jno   Bartlet  jun  :   &  John  wells :   all  of 
nuberie  tooke  ye  freemens  oath  ye  2d  of  Octob""  1669 
before  me  Robert  Pike  Comiss''  * 

Political  complications  in  England  occupied  the  time  and 
attention  of  the  king  and  his  legal  advisers  for  the  next  four 
or  five  years ;  and  soon  after  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay 
was  involved  in  a  fierce  contest  with  the  Indians,  which  ter- 
minated in  King  Philip's  War. 

The  heirs  of  Capt.  John  Mason  and  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges 
continued,  however,  to  press  their  claims  to  the  territory 
under  the  control  of  the  colony  lying  beyond  the  Merrimack 
river.  The  open  violation  of  the  Navigation  Act  in  the  colony 
was  severely  denounced  and  condemned  by  the  Privy  Council, 
and  the  law  officers  of  the  crown  advised  the  issuing  a  quo 
zvarranto  in  order  to  secure  a  repeal  of  the  charter  granted  in 
1629. 

In  this  emergency  some  concessions  were  considered  neces- 
sary ;  and  the  General  Court  ordered,  October  2,  1678,  that  as 

*  Norfolk  Registry  of  Deeds,  book  II.,  leaf  143. 


THE    SETTLEMEiXT  AT  MERRIMACK'  RIVER 


179 


it  hath  pleased  his  Majesty,  by  letter  dated  April  27,  1678,  to 
notify  the  authorities  of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New 
England  "  to  give  forth  orders  that  the  oath  of  Allegiance 
as  it  is  by  law  established  w"Hn  the  Kingdome  of  England, 
be  ministered  and  taken  by  all  his  subjects  within  this  colony 
who  are  of  years  to  take  an  oath,"  that  the  secretary  of 
the  colony  be  instructed  to  send  to  every  magistrate,  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  constable  in  every  town  printed  copies  of 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  be  by  them  administered  to  every 
male  inhabitant  sixteen  years  of  age  and  upward,  the  names 
of  the  inhabitants  to  be  taken  in  writing,  and  returned  to  the 
recorders  of  the  county  courts,  to  be  by  them  enrolled.  Any 
one  refusing  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  was  liable  to  a  fine 
or  imprisonment.* 

A  list  of  their  names  who  have  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance 
at  Newbury,  1678  :f — 


Aged 

Aged 

John  Emery  jun 

SI 

John  Ordoway 

20 

Jonathan  Emery 

27 

^  John  Bayly 

65 

Israeli  webster 

35 

^  Isaac  Bayly 

24 

wm  Bolton 

48 

Ephraim  Plummer 

1:24 

Abraham  merrill 

41 

John  Emery  iun. 

22 

Joseph  wheeler 

16 

Tho :  Halle  jun 

45 

Wm  Longfellow 

27 

Hen.  Short 

26 

Jacob  Topan 

31 

Joseph  Bayly 

30 

John  Sewall 

24 

mathew  Petengall 

30 

ffrancis  Browne 

46 

Joseph  Little 

25 

James  Smith 

33 

Sam.  Poore  sen 

55 

John  Emery  sen 

80 

Sam.  Poore  jun 

25 

James  Ordoway 

60 

John  Poore  sen. 

63 

John  Topan 

28 

Jerem.  Dauis 

28 

Isaac   Ilesley 

26 

Nich.  Rawlins 

32 

Rich.  Bartlett  jun 

30 

John  Dauis 

30 

John  Bartlett  jun 

23 

Edward  Poore 

23 

Tho:  Bartlett 

25 

40  James  Carre 

25 

Joseph  knight 

26 

—-Joshua  Bayly 

20 

20  Sam.  Sayer 

29 

Cornelius  Dauis 

25 

Steph.  Greenleafe  jun: 

26 

cutting  Noyes 

29 

Jam.  Ordoway  jun 

26 

Wm  Ilesley  jun 

28 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  v.,  p.  193. 

t  Original  on  file  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  courts  at  Salem,  Quarterly  Court  Files,  book 
XXX.,  leaf  56.     Recorded  in  the  Registry  of  Deeds  (Ipswich  series) ,  book  iv.,  leaf  254. 
$  These  figures  are  indistinct,  and  may  be  "  26." 


i8o 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


Silvanus  Plummer 
Zeck.  Dauis 
Rich.  Dummer  jun 
Moses  Geerish 
Joseph  Poore 
Edmund  moores  sen 
Rich,  woolworth 
Nath.  Brickett 
Nathan  Parker 
Nath.  Aires 
Abeil  Long 
Shubael  Long 
Wm  Worham 
Tristram  Coffin 
Wm  Chandler 
60  John  Badger 
Christopher  Bartlett  jun 
Rich :  Lowle 
Tho :  Woodridge 
Caleb  Moody 
Jonathan  wheeler 
Nathan  wheeler 
Hugh  march  jun 
Ephraim   Dauis 
John  Herricks 
Joshua  woodman 
John  Rolfe 
Tho  :  Lowle 
Jonathan  woodman 
Curmac  Annis 
Edmund  marshall 
Joseph  Poore 
James  Burrell 
Percivall  Lowle 
Rob*  Coker 
80  Hen.  Sewall 
John  Webster  sen 
John.  Webster  jun 
Dan.  Lunt 
John  Atkinson 
John  Halle  sen 
Wm  Randall 
Joseph  Richardson 
Ben  :  Lowle 


Aged 

Aged 

20 

Tho  :  Halle  sen 

74 

29 

Antho.  morse 

72 

28 

Joseph  Coker 

38 

23 

Joseph  Dole 

22 

24 

ffrancis  willett 

43 

64 

Joseph  moring 

22 

30 

Hen.  Jaques 

60 

29 

John  Kelly 

37 

28 

Tho  :  ffollinsby 

41 

22 

Joseph  mirick 

18 

29 

John  Richardson  CI"" 

31 

17 

100  daniel  Perse 

40 

26 

Tho :  Noyes 

3° 

47 

John  wooUcott  sen 

45 

62 

John  woolcott  jun 

18 

36 

Sam  :  Pettingall 

33 

23 

John  Granger 

24 

76 

Wm  Noyes 

25 

29 

Andrew  Godfry 

22 

41 

Henry  Somersby 

16 

20 

James  Brading 

16 

18 

Edward  woodman  jun 

50 

22 

waiter  Taylor 

SS 

23 

Wm  morse 

64 

28 

Rich.  Petingall 

60 

41 

Tho :  Rogers 

26 

18 

Tho :  Browne 

72 

27 

Benajah  Titcomb 

25 

35 

Beniamin  Coker 

26 

40 

George  maior 

31 

29 

ffrancis  Thurley 

48 

17 

120  Auth.  Somersby 

68 

21 

Abel  Hewes 

74 

40 

Wm  Sayer 

65 

72 

Peter  Godfry 

48 

66 

Rich.  Bartlett  sen 

SI 

46 

John  Bartlett  sen 

6S 

22 

John  Bartlett  jun 

39 

36 

Daniel  Massiloway 

33 

44 

Hugh  Pike 

21 

42 

Edward  Richardson  jun 

27 

65 

Tho  :  Titcomb 

17 

23 

Tho  Silver  jun 

26 

37 

Nathaneel  Merrill 

40 

rilE   SETTLEMRXT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER 


Aged 

Peniel  Titcomb 

27 

George  Hardy 

Augustine  Studman 

40 

Elisha  Ilesley 

Joseph  Ilesley 

27 

Dan.  Thurston  jun 

Richard  Jaques 

22 

John  Poore  jun 

Staph  :  Jaques 

17 

Aquila  chase 

John,  ffirman 

31 

John  Chase 

James  Coffin 

19 

Joseph  Goodridge 

140   Increase  Pillsbury 

18 

Edmund  moores  jur 

Archelaus  Woodman 

60 

Dan.  Cheney 

Peter  Topan 

44 

W"i  mitchell 

Edward  Richardson  sen 

61 

John  Hoeg 

Joshua  Richardson 

28 

Steph.  Swett 

Ben.  Richardson 

18 

Benj.  Goodridge 

John  Swett 

30 

180  George  march 

John  Deeker 

32 

John  Steevens 

Tho  :  Silver  sen 

56 

Job  Pillsbury 

James  Jackman  jun 

22 

Caleb  Pillsbury 

Richard  Jackman 

•9 

Abel  Pillsbury 

John  mighill 

42 

Daniel  Chase 

Daniell  merrill 

34 

Dauid  Chily 

Abel  merrill 

32 

Hen.  Lucas 

Joseph  Downer 

40 

Benj.  morse 

Joshua  Browne 

36 

Robt.  Adams 

John  knight 

30 

Tho:  Chase 

Robt  Beedle 

36 

Wm  Pillsbury  jun. 

Rich.  Browne 

27 

Jerem.  Goodridge 

Joseph  Pike 

39 

John  Kent  jun. 

160  Dan.  Thurston 

40 

John  Tucker 

Sam.  Bartlett 

32 

Abraham  Adams 

Henry  Poore 

26 

John  mitchell 

Henry  Bodwell 

24 

Sam.  Plummer 

Ebenezer  Hills 

19 

Isaac  Adams 

Jonathan  moores 

32 

Jacob  Adams 

James  Dauis 

20 

On  the  back  of  the 

sheet 

containing  this  list 

lowing  names  :  — 

Aged 

Richard  Knight 

77 

Sam.  youngloue 

Hugh  march  sen 

56 

Robt.  Rolinson 

John  Kent  sen 

37 

Benj.  Plummer 

Joshua  Bointon 

30 

Joseph  Plumer  jun 

John  Huggins 

26 

Tho  :  Halle  iun. 

Wm  Dam  ford 

30 

James  ffreezes 

Aged 
17 
30 
17 
36 
26 

23 

39 

27 

43 
24 

35 
58 
36 
32 
30 

35 
24 
26 
16 
28 
18 
37 

n 

24 
22 
42 

34 
28 

37 
28 
60 
33 
23 


are  the  fol- 

Aged 

40 
40 

22 
23 

37 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Aged  Aged 


Joseph  muzzy 

50 

John  Thurley 

19 

James  Jackman  sen 

60 

Jonathan  Thurley 

17 

Hen.  Acres 

26 

John  Noyes 

33 

James  Noyes 

21 

Moses  Little 

21 

Wm  moody 

17 

Nath.  Cheney 

31 

Joseph  morse 

40 

John  Glading 

37 

John  Guile 

23 

Wm  Pilsbury 

73 

George  Perse 

17 

W"!  Ilesley  sen. 

70 

John  Halle  jun. 

17 

Steph  Greenleaf  sen. 

50 

Daniel  moody 

17 

Benj.  Rolfe 

40 

Robt  Long 

58 

Tho.  Thurley 

47 

John  Smith 

31 

Peter  Cheney 

*39 

INDIANS  AND  INDIAN  DEEDS. 

The  territory  granted  the  first  settlers  of  Newbury  in  1635 
by  the  General  Court  was  uninhabited,  except  by  a  few  Ind- 
ians at  the  Falls,  on  the  Quascacunquen  river,  and  a  some- 
what larger  number  that  came  from  the  woods  and  hills  of 
the  north  during  the  summer  months  to  hunt  and  fish  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Merrimack. 

The  laws,  customs,  and  habits  of  these  migratory  and  some- 
times hostile  Indians,  the  bounds  and  limits  of  their  camping 
grounds,  and  the  location  of  their  villages  are  described  with 
considerable  minuteness  by  Rev.  William  Hubbard,  pastor 
of  the  church  at  Ipswich,  in  his  History  of  New  England,  writ- 
ten previous  to  1682.  He  says  :  "  Betwixt  Kenebecke  and  Con- 
necticut were  observed  to  be  about  twenty  societies,  or  com- 
panies of  these  savages  when  the  English  first  came  upon  this 
coast."  f  One  of  these  societies,  or  tribes,  called  the  Tarra- 
tines,  occupied  the  territory  round  about  the  Kennebec  river. 
There  were  other  Indian  settlements  at  Casco  bay  and  on 
the  Saco  and  Piscataqua  rivers.  Inland,  from  twenty  to  fifty 
miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Merrimack,  the  Wamoneset, 
Pentucket,  Amoskeag,  and  Pennacook  Indians  lived,  some- 
times in  peace,  but  frequently  at  war  with  each  other.  "  At 
the  falls  of  Newbury  there  was  a  noted   plantation  of  them, 

*  "  A  list  of  those  that  have  taken  the  oath  of  Alegance  &  fidelity  of  Newbury  before  Mr  John 
Woodbridge,  Commissioner,  in  Dec  &  Feb.  1677,"  will  be  found  in  the  Registry  of  Deeds  (Ips- 
wich series),  book  IV.,  leaf  189. 

t  Massachusetts  Historical  Collections  (Second  series),  vol.  v.,  p.  31. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  183 

by  reason  of  the  plenty  of  fish  that  almost  at  all  seasons  of 
the  year  used  to  be  found  there,  both  in  winter  and  sum- 
mer." *  At  Agawam,  also,  now  Ipswich,  was  another  noted 
settlement,  "  to  which  belonged  those  of  Newbury  falls  that 
lies  in  the  midway,  betwixt  Merrimack  and  Agawam."  * 

When  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  decided  to  remove  from 
the  Parker  to  the  Merrimack  river,  in  1645,  a  house  lot  was 
assigned  to  John  Indian. f  Soon  after  that  date  "  Great  Tom, 
Indian,"  conveyed  to  the  selectmen  thirty  acres  of  planting 
land,  "  and  all  his  right,  title  and  interest "  in  the  common  and 
undivided  land  and  woods  within  the  limits  of  the  town  of 
Newbury,  on  the  following  terms  and  conditions  :  — 

Witness  by  these  presents  that  I,  Great  Tom,  Indian,  for  and  in  con- 
sideration of  three  ponnds  in  hand  paid  by  and  received  of  the  towns- 
men of  Newbury,  have  given,  granted,  covenanted,  and  fully  bargained, 
and  for  and  by  these  presents  do  give,  grant,  convey,  confirme,  bargain, 
and  sell  all  that  my  thirty  acres  of  planting  land  as  it  is  fenced  in  one 
entire  fence  in  Newbury,  lying  neere  Indian  hill,  with  all  my  right,  title, 
and  interest  in  all  the  woods,  commons,  and  lands  that  I  have  in  the 
township  of  Newbury  to  have  and  to  hold,  all  the  said  premises  Respec- 
tively to  bee  to  the  proper  use  and  behoof  to  the  said  Inhabitants  of  the 
Said  Towne  of  Newbury,  their  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  and  as- 
signes  for  ever,  and  I,  the  said  Great  Tom,  Indian,  doe  hereby  engage 
and  bind  myself,  mine  heirs,  executors,  and  assignes  unto  Mr.  William 
Gerish,  Abraham  Toppan,  and  Anthony  Somerby,  being  Townsmen  in 
the  behalf  of  Said  Towne,  to  warrantize  the  said  Bargained  premises  to 
the  said  Towne  and  for  ever  defend. 

In  witness  whereof  I  the  said  Great  Tom,  Indian,  have  sett  my  hand 
and  seale  April  16,  1650. 

Witness  the  mark  x  of  Great  Tom,  Indian. 

John  bartlet, 

William  titcomb. 

This  is  a  true  coppy  of  a  deed,  as  is  abovesayd,  taken  from  the 
originall.  Attest  Anthony  Somerby, 

Clerk  of  Newbury. X 

The  title  to  land  owned  by  Henry  Sewall,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Newbury  Falls,  was  in  dispute  for  more  than  twenty  years. 
In  June,  1661,  the  General  Court  ordered  :  — 

•Massachusetts  Historical  Collections  (Second  series),  vol.  v.,  p.  32. 

t  See  ante,  p.  89. 

tTown  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 


1 84  HISTORY   OF    N^EWBUKY 

Whereas  some  Indians,  as  wee  are  informed  pretend  an  interest  in 
some  part  of  the  lands  of  Henry  Sewall,  wc''  lyeth  at  Newbury  Falls, 
sometime  M'  John  Spencers,  wch  lands  were  purchased  of  the  sajd 
Spencer,  &  also  haue  binn  confirmed  by  the  toune  of  Newbury  vnto  the 
sajd  Henry  Sewall,  it  is  therefore  ordered,  by  this  Court,  that  if  it  shall 
appeare  vnto  the  sajd  Henry  Sewall  that  the  sajd  Indians,  or  any  other, 
haue  any  legall  right  vnto  any  part  of  the  sajd  land,  the  sajd  Henry 
Sewall  shall  heereby  haue  liberty  to  purchase  the  same  of  the  sajd 
Indians.* 

Subsequently,  the  grandson  of  "  Old  Will  "  brought  a  suit 
to  recover  land  in  the  possession  of  Henry  Sewall.  June  23, 
1679,  the  depositions  of  Moses  Bradstreet,  Alice  Homes,  and 
John  Todd,  favoring  the  claim  of  the  plaintiff,  were  taken  and 
sworn  to  before  Daniel  Denison,  of  Ipswich. f  Further  con- 
sideration of  the  case  was  probably  postponed  until  the  next 
session  of  the  court.  Meanwhile  some  concessions  were  made  ; 
and,  eventually,  a  settlement  satisfactory  to  all  persons  inter- 
ested was  agreed  upon. 

June  14,  1 68 1,  Job  Indian,  grandson,  Kate  Indian,  and 
Mary  Indian,  daughters,  of  Old  Will  Indian,  of  Newbury  Falls, 
in  consideration  of  six  pounds,  thirteen  shillings,  and  fourpence 
paid  to  each  of  the  above-named  Indians,  Job,  Kate,  and 
Mary,  conveyed  to  Henry  Sewall,  of  Newbury,  a  tract  of  land 
"  of  which  a  part  is  known  by  the  name  of  the  Indian  field 
in  Newbury,  aforesaid,  bounded  as  followeth  ;  on  y^  northerly 
side  with  the  great  brooke  which  runeth  along  the  side  of  the 
greate  field,  on  the  westerly  side  with  a  line  runn  by  said 
Seawell  from  y^  head  of  s^  farme  unto  Newbury  river  at  or 
neere  the  upper  fales  &  on  y*^  Southerly  side  with  y^  said 
river,  as  alsoe  all  the  right,  title  and  interest  they,  y*^  s'^  Job, 
Kate  &  Mary  Indians  have  or  ought  to  have  to  land  at  or 
neere  Indian  hill,  or  anywhere  else  within  the  township  of 
Newbury  abovesaid,  as  they  are  heires  to  old  Will  Indian 
aboves**,  or  otherwaise."  % 

Soon  after  the  charter  of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay 
was  vacated  in  1684,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  and  other 
towns  in  Essex  county  were  greatly  disturbed  by  rumors  that 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  II.,  p.  21. 
t  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  363. 
X  Essex  Deeds,  vol.  vi.,  p.  23  (134). 


THE  SETTLE  ME  XT  AT  ME  RK /MAC A'  RIVER  185 

they  were  to  be  deprived  of  land  granted  to  them  by  the 
General  Court.  In  order  to  strengthen  their  title  to  the  prop- 
erty, and  prevent  its  seizure  by  the  officers  of  the  crown,  the 
towns  of  Newbury,  Bradford,  Boxford,  Gloucester,  and  Bev- 
erly, boug-ht  of  the  grandchildren  of  Masconomo,  "  the  saga- 
more of  Agawam,"  all  the  land  within  their  territorial  limits. 

The  deed,  dated  January  10,  1 700-1,  to  the  selectmen 
of  the  town  of  Newbury,  is  substantially  as  follows  :  Sam- 
uel English,  "  grandson  and  heir  of  Masconomet,  the  Saga- 
more of  Agawam,  an  Indian,"  in  consideration  of  the  sum 
of  ten  pounds  in  current  money  of  New  England,  paid  by 
Cutting  Noyes,  Joseph  Knight,  Richard  Dole,  John  Worth, 
and  Joseph  Pike,  for  and  in  behalf  of  said  town,  conveyed  to 
the  above-named  selectmen  "  a  tract  of  land  containing  ten 
thousand  acres  more  or  less  "  lying  within  and  including  the 
whole  of  the  township  of  Newbury,  "  bounded  easterly  by  y^ 
sea  northerly  &  north  westerly  by  Merrimack  river,  westerly 
by  Bradford  Line  &  Southerly  by  Rowley  Line,  together  with 
all  y^  wood,  timber,  lands,  grounds,  soyles,  waters,  streams. 
Rivers,  Ponds,  fishings,  huntings,  stones,  mines,  minerals, 
heriditaments  and  all  the  appurtances  belonging  to  y^  same 
and  to  every  part  thereof  within  the  said  Township."  *  In 
acknowledgment  of  this  deed  of  conveyance 

Samuel  English  ye  surviving  heir  of  ye  Masconomet  ye  Sagamore 
of  Agawam  appeared  before  us,  ye  subscribers,  ye  Tenth  day  of  Janu- 
ary in  the  Twelfth  yeare  of  his  majnes  Reign,  Anno  Domini  1 700-1, 
and  acknowledged  the  above  written   Instrument  to   be   his  act  &  deed, 

before  us  "1  justices 

Daniel  Pierce  ^  , 

Thomas  Noyes       p 

The  same  day  Joseph  Foster  made  oath  "  that  he  did 
know  Sarah  y^  Daughter  of  Maschanominet  the  Sagamore  of 
Agawam,  &  father  that  Samuel  English  was  reputed  to  be 
her  eldest  sonne  now  surviving."  f 

Moses  Parker,  also,  made  oath  the  same  day  "  That  he 
very  well  knoweth  that  Samuel  English  is  y^  reputed  son  of 
Sarah  the  Daughter  of  y^  Sagamore  Maschanominet  &  eldest 
son  now  surviving."  t 

*  Essex  Deeds,  vol.  xiv.,  p.  67.  t  Ibid.,  p.  68. 


1 86  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


WITCHCRAFT    IN    NEWBURY. 


"December  3,  1679,  Caleb  Powell  being  complained  of  for 
suspicion  of  working  with  the  Devill  to  the  molesting  of  Will- 
iam Morse  and  his  family  "  was  brought  before  John  Wood- 
bridge,  commissioner  or  special  magistrate  at  Newbury,  for 
examination  ;  and,  after  the  accusation  and  testimony  had  been 
read,  the  case  was  adjourned  until  the  Monday  following. 

The  second  hearing  was  held  December  8,  1679,  before  the 
commissioners  and  William  Morse  was  ordered  to  bring  the 
case  to  the  attention  of  the  county  court  to  be  held  at  Ipswich 
in  the  month  of  March  following.  Caleb  Powell  was  com- 
mitted to  the  care  of  the  constable  "  till  he  find  security  of 
twenty  pounds  for  the  answering  of  the  sayd  complaint."  * 

The  testimony  of  William  Morse  and  his  brother  Anthony 
Morse,  of  John  Badger,  Sarah  Hale,  Joseph  Mirick,  and  Mary 
Tucker,  will  be  found  on  file  in  the  court-house  at  Salem. f 
Notwithstanding  the  strange  and  extraordinary  character  of 
the  evidence  submitted,  it  was  not  considered  sufficient  to  con- 
vict Caleb  Powell  of  an  offence  against  the  laws  of  God  and 
man ;  and  he  was  therefore  discharged. 

Upon  hearing  the  complaint  brought  to  this  court  against  Caleb 
Powell  for  suspicion  of  working  by  the  devill  to  the  molesting  of  the 
family  of  William  Morse  of  Newbury,  though  this  court  cannot  find  any 
evident  ground  of  proceeding  farther  against  the  sayd  Powell,  yett  we 
determine  that  he  hath  given  such  ground  of  suspicion  of  his  so  dealing 
that  we  cannot  so  aquit  him  but  that  he  justly  deserves  to  beare  his  owne 
shame  and  the  costs  of  prosecution  of  the  complaint. 

It  is  referred  to  Mr.  Woodbridge  to  hear  and  determine  the  charges. f 

The  mysterious  disturbances  in  and  about  the  house  of 
William  Morse  evidently  continued  while  Caleb  Powell  was 
a  prisoner  and  after  he  was  set  at  liberty.  Vague  and  contra- 
dictory reports  in  regard  to  the  frivolous  speech  and  malicious 
conduct  of  Elizabeth  Morse,  wife  of  William  Morse,  were  cir- 

•Court  Files  (Salem),  vol.  xxxii.,  pp.  130-133,  inclusive. 

t  The  reader  will  also  find  on  pages  131  to  133,  inclusive,  of  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury, 
the  substance  of  the  testimony  given  by  William  Morse;  on  page  123,  the  testimony  of  John  Badger 
and  Anthony  Morse  ;  and  on  page  125,  the  testimony  of  Sarah  Hale,  Joseph  Mirick,  and  Mary 
Tucker. 

t  Court  Files  (Salem),  vol.  xxxii.,  p.  132. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  187 

Ciliated,  and  served  to  fasten  suspicion  upon  her  as  one  insti- 
gated by  an  evil  spirit,  and  ultimately  led  to  her  indictment 
and  arrest.  She  was  brought  to  the  Court  of  Assistants,  sit- 
ting in  Boston,  for  trial,  and  was  adjudged  guilty.  The  record 
reads  as  follows  :  — 

at  A  Court  of  Adjourment  held  at  Boston  20'''  May,  1680: 

The  Grand  Jury  presenting  Elizabeth  morse  y*=  wife  of  Wm  morse, 
Sr  i|she||  was  indicted  by  the  name  of  Elizabeth  morse  for  that  she  not 
hauing  the  feare  of  God  before  hir  eyes  being  Instigated  by  the  divil  & 
having  had  familiarity  wi*  the  divil  contrary  to  the  peace  of  our 
Souaigne  Lord  the  King  his  crowne  &  dignity  ye  lawes  of  God  &  of  this 
Jurisdiction  :  After  the  prison^  was  at  ye  barre  and  pleaded  not  Guilty  & 
put  hirself  on  God  &  ye  country  for  triall  ye  evidences  produced  were 
read  &  committed  to  ye  Jury. 

The  Jury  brought  in  their  virdict  &  they  found  Elizabeth  Morse, 
the  prisoner  at  the  barre,  Guilty  according  to  Indictmt.  The  Govern"" 
on  27th  May  after  ye  lecture  pronounced  ye  sentence  :  Elizabeth  Morse 
you  are  to  goe  from  hence  to  the  place  from  whence  you  came  &  thence 
to  the  place  of  execution,  there  to  be  hanged  by  the  neck  till  you  be 
dead,  And  the  Lord  have  mercy  on  your  Soul. 

This  Court  was  adjourn^  diem  per  diem  &  on  ist  June  1680  The 
Gouvni"  &  magists  voted  Reprieving  of  Elizabeth  Morse,  condemn^,  till 
the  next  session  of  the  Court  in  October.* 

as  Attest  Ew''  Rawson,  Secretary* 

Subsequently,  an  effort  was  made  to  still  farther  delay  pro- 
ceedings, and  secure  a  second  reprieval  for  the  wife  of  William 
Morse.  November  3,  1680,  the  following  order  was  passed 
by  the  House  of  Deputies,  but  failed  to  receive  the  approval  of 
the  magistrates  :  — 

The  deputies  on  perusal  of  the  acts  of  the  honorable  Court  of  As- 
sistants relating  to  the  woman  condemned  for  witchcraft  doe  not  under- 
stand why  execution  of  the  sentence  given  against  her  by  said  court  is 
not  executed  and  that  her  second  repreevall  seems  to  us  to  be  beyond 
what  the  law  will  allow  and  doe  therefore  judge  meete  to  declare  our- 
selves against  it  with  reference  to  the  concurrence  of  our  honored  magis- 
trates hereto.  Wm  Torrey   Clerk. 

Not  consented  to  by  the  magistrates. 

Edward  Rawson  Secretary.^ 

•Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cxxxv.,p.  18;  Court  of  Assistants  (manuscript  records),  p. 
II ;  Court  of  Assistants  (printed  records),  p.  159;  CoflBn's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  126. 
t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cxxxv.,  leaf  18. 


1 88  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

When  the  General  Court  assembled  in  May,  1681,  a  petition, 
dated  "Newbury  May  14,  1681,"  signed  by  William  Morse, 
was  presented  to  the  deputies  and  magistrates,  asking  for  a 
review  of  the  evidence  given  in  the  Court  of  Assistants,  impli- 
cating Elizabeth  Morse  in  the  charges  brought  against  her.* 

At  the  same  session  William  Morse  also  presented  the  fol- 
lowing petition  :  — 

To  the  honored  governor,  deputy  governor,  magistrates  and  deputies 
now  assembled  in  Court  May  the  eighteenth  1681. 
The  most  humble  petition  and  request  of  William  Morse  in  behalf e 
of  his  vvif  (now  a  condemned  prisoner)  to  this  honored  court  is  that  they 
would  be  pleased  so  far  to  hearken  to  the  cry  of  your  poor  prisoner,  who 
am  a  condemned  person,  upon  the  charge  of  witchcraft  and  for  a  witch, 
to  which  charge  your  poor  prisoner  have  pleaded  not  guilty,  and  by  the 
mercy  of  God,  and  the  goodness  of  the  honored  governor,  I  am  reprieved 
and  brought  to  this  honored  court,  at  the  foot  of  which  tribunal  I  now 
stand  humbly  praying  your  justis  in  hearing  of  my  case  and  to  deter- 
mine therein  as  the  Lord  shall  direct.  I  do  not  understand  law,  nor  do 
I  know  how  to  lay  my  case  before  you  as  I  ought  for  want  of  which  I 
humbly  beg  of  your  honors  that  my  request  may  not  be  rejected,  but 
may  find  acceptance  with  you  it  being  no  more  but  your  sentence  upon 
my  triall  whether  I  shall  live  or  dy,  to  which  I  shall  humbly  submit  unto 
the  Lord  and  you, 

William  Morse  in  behalf 
of  his  wife  Elizabeth  Morse. f 

The  deputies,  in  General  Court  assembled,  voted  to  grant 
the  prayer  of  the  petitioner ;  but  the  magistrates  declined  to 
give  their  consent. 

The  deputies  judge  meet  to  grant  the  petitioner  a  hearing  the  next 
sixth  day  and  that  warrants  goe  forth  to  all  persons  concerned  from  this 
Court  then  to  appear  in  order  to  her  farther  triall,  our  honored  magis- 
trates hereto  consenting.  Wm  Torrey   Clerk. 

May  24,  1 68 1  not  consented  to  by  the  magistrates 

Edward  Rawson,  Secretary.\ 

No  farther  action  was  taken  by  the  General  Court,  and  a 
few  days  later  the  Court  of  Assistants  issued  the  following 
decree  :  — 

•Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cxxxv.,  leaf  i8.  See  also  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  pp. 
127-129. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cxxxv.,  leaf  19;  also,  CoiTin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  130. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  189 

Att  a  Court  of  Assistants  held  at  Boston  ist  June  1681 

present 
Symon  Bradstreete 

In  Ansr  to  the  peticon  of  W'"  morse  in  be-  Esqr  Go 

half  of  his  wife  Elizabeth  morse  &  of  hirs  also.       Tho  Danforth  Esqr 
The   Court  Judgeth    it  meet  to    Reprieve  the  dept  Gou 

sajd  Elisabeth  morse  the  Condemned  prisoner      Dani :  Gookin  Esq' 
to  the  end  of  the  next  session  in  Octobc  and  majr  Gen 

in  the  meantime  order  hir  dismission  from  the      Dani  Dennison  Esqr 
prison  in  Boston  to  Returne  home  wt'>  hir  hus-      Jno  Pynchon 
band  to  Newbery  Prouided  she  goe  not  aboue      Joseph  Dudley 
sixteen  Rods  from  hir  Oune  house  ||  &  land  ||       Nath  Saltonstall 
at  any  time  except  to  the    meeting  house   in      Tho  Sauage 
Newbery  nor  remoove  from  the  place  Appointed      Jno  Hull 
hir  by  the  minister  &  selectmen  to  sitt  in  whilst      James  Russell 
there  Peter  Tilton 

past  E.  R.  S.* 

Although  Elizabeth  Merse  was  not  pardoned,  but  only- 
reprieved  until  the  end  of  the  October  session  of  the  General 
Court  in  1681,  she  returned  to  Newbury,  where  she  remained 
until  her  death,  in  the  house  owned  and  occupied  by  her  hus- 
band, on  the  southeasterly  side  of  what  is  now  known  as 
Market  square,  Newburyport.f 

William  Morse  died  November  29,  1683.  His  wife  was 
living  at  that  time,  and  was  appointed  one  of  the  executors  of 
his  will.  She  made  oath  January  8,  1683-4,  to  the  in- 
ventory of  his  estate.  The  date  of  her  death  is  unknown, 
but  at  her  decease  the  old  homestead  became  the  property 
of  her  daughter  Abigail,  wife  of  John  Hendricks.  June  19, 
1696,  Moses  Pingry  and  wife  Abigail  (formerly  Abigail  Hen- 
dricks) sold  the  house  and  land  to  Daniel  Davison. 

SAMUEL   SEWALL. 

The  worthy  and  upright  judge  who  sat  on  the  bench  at  the 
witchcraft  trials  in  Salem  in  1692  was  closely  identified 
with  the  early  history  of  Newbury,  and  manifested,  during  a 
long  and  eventful  life,  a  deep  and  abiding  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare and  prosperity  of  the  town. 

•Records  of  the  Court  of  .Assistants,  p.  133  ;  Ibid,  (printed  copy))  p.  189. 
t"  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  627-629. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  191 

His  father,  Henry  Sewall,  came  to  Newbury  in  1635.  In 
1646  or  soon  after,  Henry  Sewall  and  his  wife  Jane  (Dum- 
mer)  Sewall  returned  to  England,  where  they  remained  for 
several  years.  In  1659,  Henry  Sewall  came  again  to  New- 
bury, and  two  years  later  his  wife  and  children  followed 
him. 

Samuel,  the  eldest  son  of  Henry  and  Jane  (Dummer) 
Sewall,  was  born  at  Bishop  Stoke,  Hampshire,  England,  and 
came  with  his  mother  to  Newbury  in  1661.  He  was  fitted  for 
college  by  Rev.  Thomas  Parker,  and  graduated  from  Har- 
vard in  1671.  He  married,  February  25,  1675-6,  Hannah, 
daughter  and  sole  heir  of  John  Hull,  goldsmith  and  master  of 
the  mint  at  Boston.  He  was  a  member  of  the  governor's  coun- 
cil, under  the  colonial  and  provincial  charters,  for  nearly  forty 
years,  and  for  ten  years  chief-justice  of  the  province  of  Mas- 
sachusetts Bay.* 

In  his  diary,  which  is  an  interesting  and  valuable  con- 
tribution to  the  history  of  New  England,  he  recorded  with 
great  care  and  fidelity  the  events  and  incidents  that  came  to 
his  notice,  and  did  not  neglect  to  mention  the  visits  made 
and  the  advice  given  to  relatives  and  friends  in  Newbury. 
In  a  book  that  he  published  in  1697,  entitled  "The  New 
Heaven  upon  the  New  Earth,"  f  he  gave  expression  to  his 
hopes  and  fears  in  words  that  Whittier  has  incorporated  and 
immortalized  in  "The  Prophecy  of  Samuel  Sewall." 

It  is  remarkable  that  Mr.  [Thomas]  Parker,  who  was  a  successful! 
schoolmaster  at  Newbury  in  Berkshire  in  the  happy  days  of  Dr.  [Wil- 
liam] Twisse  ;  was  much  about  this  time  [1634]  preaching  and  proving 
at  Ipswich,  in  Essex,  [Mass.]  That  the  Passengers  came  over  upon  good 
Grounds,  and  that  God  would  multiply  them  as  He  did  the  Children  of 
Israel.  His  text  was  Exod :  i,  7.  [And  the  Children  of  Israel  were 
fruitful  and  increased  abundantly,  and  multiplied  and  waxed  exceeding 
mighty :  and  the  land  was  filled  with  them.]  As  Mr.  Nicholas  Noyes 
who  was  an  Auditor,  and  is  yet  living,  lately  informed  me,  Mr.  Parker 
was  at  this   time,    1634,  principally  concerned  in  beginning   Newbury 

*"  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  245-259. 

t  "Phenomena  gucedam  Apocalyptica  ad  Aspecium  Novi  Orbis  Configurata.  Or,  some  few 
Lines  towards  a  description  of  the  New  Heaven  as  It  makes  to  those  who  stand  upon  the  New 
Earth."  First  edition  (Boston),  1697,  pp.  59,  60.  Second  edition,  1727.  (Both  editions  in 
Boston  Public  Library  ) 


Phaenomena   quaedam 

APOCALYPTICA 

Ad  AfpeHum    mVl    ORBIS    configurata. 
Or,  fome  few  Lines  towards  a  defcription  of  the  New 

HEAVEN 

As  It  makes  to  thofe  wjio  (land  upon  the 

NEW  EARTH 

By  Samuel  Seivall  fometime  Fellow  of  Harvard  Colledge  at 
Cambridge  in   New-England. 


Pfalm,  45.  10,  Forget  alfo  thy  oxtn  people^  and  thy  father  s'h'yufe. 

Ifai   I  I   14.  But  the) (hall  fly  upn  thefoovlders  of  the  Phttifiins  toward  the  vfefl. 

A61.  1.6  —  8   Lordy  wilt  thou  at  this  time  rejiorc  ^tg.tin  the  kingdom  to  Ifrael  ? 

. je  (hall   (^e    witnc(!es  unto     me   unto  the  utterm^Ji   parts  of  the  earth -^ 

hafta  lo  ultimo  dc  la  tierra.      Spanifj  Bible. 

Luke,   I  5    X4.  For  this  My  Son  vcas  dead,  and  is  alive  again  \   he  "vas  lojlp  and 

is  found.     V    9  X.     For  this  thy  Brother   C?c, 

!lle%c>n  deeric  PromilTis;   refliruet  Rrgrum  Jfraeli;    fed  fuo  inodo,  loco,  ac 
tem^iojfe.  Bul'ingcr        Ncquis  ifta  a  me  di6Va,  aur  adducba  accipiar,  quair  con- 
tf-ndendv3Qt  adverfandi  fludio  i    ac  noa  difcendi  potius,  ac  cor.icjcndi  gratia 
Fux  Med-i  Apoc    p.  :}7I.       adPhialam  Scxtam. 


BOSTON,  Printed  by  Barthohmeiv  Green,  and  John  Alhn, 
And  are  to  be  fold  by    Richard  Wilkius,    16^7 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  193 

where  the  Learned  &  Ingenious  Mr  Benjamin  Woodbridge,  Dr.  Tvvisse's 
successor  had  part  of  his  Education  under  his  Uncle  Parker.  Mary 
Brown  (now  Godfrey)  the  First  born  of  Newbury  is  yet  alive,*  and  is 
become  the  Mother  and  Grandmother  of  many  children.  And  so  many 
have  been  born  after  her  in  the  Town  that  they  make  three  or  four 
large  Assemblies  wherein  God  is  solemnly  worshipped  every  Sabbath, 

As  long  as  Plum  Island  shall  faithfully  keep  the  Commanded  Post; 
Notwithstanding  the  hectoring  words  and  hard  Blows  of  the  proud  and 
boisterous  Ocean  ;  As  long  as  any  Salmon,  or  Sturgeon  shall  swim  in 
the  streams  of  the  Merrimack  ;  or  any  Perch  or  Pickeril  in  Crane  Pond  ; 
As  long  as  the  Sea  Fowl  shall  know  the  Time  of  their  Coming,  and  not 
neglect  seasonably  to  visit  the  Places  of  their  Acquaintance  ;  As  long 
as  any  Cattel  shall  be  fed  with  the  Grass  growing  in  the  meadows, 
which  do  humbly  bow  themselves  before  Turkie  Hill;  As  long  as  any 
Sheep  shall  walk  upon  Old  Town  Hills,  and  shall  from  thence  pleasantly 
look  down  upon  the  River  Parker,  and  the  fruitful  Marishes  lying  be- 
neath ;  As  long  as  any  free  and  harmless  Doves  shall  find  a  White  Oak 
or  other  Tree  within  the  Township  to  perch,  or  feed,  or  build  a  careless 
Nest  upon ;  and  shall  voluntarily  present  themselves  to  perform  the 
office  of  Gleaners  after  Barley-Harvest ;  As  long  as  Nature  shall  not 
grow  old  and  dote ;  but  shall  constantly  remember  to  give  the  rows  of 
Indian  Corn  their  education  by  Pairs ;  So  long  shall  Christians  be  born 
there ;  and  being  first  made  meet,  shall  from  thence  be  Translated  to  be 
made  partakers  of  the  Inheritance  of  the  Saints  in  Light.  Now,  seeing 
the  Inhabitants  of  Newbury,  and  of  New  England,  upon  the  due  Observ- 
ance of  their  Tenure,  may  expect  that  their  Rich  and  gracious  Lord 
will  continue  and  confirm  them  in  the  Possession  of  these  invaluable 
Privileges ;  Let  Jis  have  ^race  whereby  we  may  serve  God  acceptably 
with  Reverence  and  godly  Fear.  For  our  God  is  a  consuming  Fire. 
Hebrews  12:   28,  29. 

*  In  1697.     She  died  April  14,  1716. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

1685-1765. 

In  1679,  New  Hampshire  was  created  a  royal  province, 
with  John  Cutts,  Esq.,  of  Portsmouth,  as  its  first  president. 
In  1680,  Robert  Mason,  grandson  of  Capt.  John  Mason,  came 
over  from  England  to  look  after  his  estates.  He  claimed, 
under  the  grant  made  to  his  grandfather  before  the  settle- 
ment of  Massachusetts,  all  the  land  from  Naumkeag  (Salem) 
to  the  Merrimack  river,  and  proceeded  to  give  leases  and 
demand  rents  for  the  occupation  of  the  same,  under  a  threat 
of  seizure  and  sale. 

February  16,  168 1-2,  the  inhabitants  of  Gloucester  and 
other  places  adjacent  addressed  a  petition  "To  the  Kings 
most  excellent  Majesty,"  stating  that  for  more  than  fifty 
years  they  and  their  predecessors  had  owned  and  occupied 
the  land  now  claimed  by  Mr.  Robert  Mason,  and  had  never, 
until  now,  been  molested  or  disturbed  in  the  possession  of 
the  same,  and  humbly  imploring  his  Majesty  to  interpose  his 
royal  authority  and  protect  his  loyal  and  obedient  subjects  in 
the  maintenance  of  their  legal  rights.  The  Newbury  men 
who  signed  this  petition  were  Caleb  Moody,  Daniel  Pearce, 
Tristram  Coffyn,  Nicho  :  Noyce,  Joseph  Pike,  Richard  Dumer, 
Henry  Sewall,  Jno.  Hale,  and  Jno.  Woodbridge.* 

At  a  meeting  held  at  Whitehall  July  20,  1683,  the  Privy 
Council  of  the  king  decided  to  issue  a  quo  warranto  against 
"  the  Governor  and  Company  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,"  and 
ordered  that  "  Mr.  Edward  Randolph  be  sent  to  New  England 
with  the  notification  of  the  said  quo  warranto!'  June  21, 
1684,  the  Court  of  Chancery,  to  which  the  business  had  been 
transferred,  made  a  decree  vacating  the  charter.f  Counsel 
for  the   colony  moved   for   an    arrest  of  proceedings  on  the 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  v.,  pp.  334-336. 
t  Palfrey's  History  of  New  England,  vol.  iii.,  p.  390. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  19$ 

ground  that  time  had  not  been  allowed  for  procuring  a  power 
of  attorney  between  the  issuing  of  the  writ  of  scire  facias 
and  the  day  appointed  for  its  return  ;  but  the  court  ordered, 
October  23,  1684,  final  judgment  to  be  entered,  and  the 
charter  annulled.* 

Charles  II.  died  February  6,  1685.  In  December,  1686, 
Sir  Edmund  Andros  became  governor  of  all  New  England ; 
and  Robert  Mason  was  a  member  of  his  council. 

Perplexed  with  doubt  and  anxiety,  the  inhabitants  of  New- 
bury, anxious  to  retain  possession  of  the  land  that  then, 
according  to  English  law,  reverted  to  the  crown,  evidently 
endeavored  to  establish  and  maintain  friendly  relations  with 
the  new  government. 

Robert  Mason  on  his  way  from  Boston  to  Portsmouth 
often  stopped  in  Newbury  for  consultation  and  conference 
with  some  of  its  most  prominent  citizens,  and  occasionally 
exerted  his  influence  with  the  governor  to  secure  appoint- 
ments for  his  friends  in  various  positions  of  honor  and  trust, 
as  the  following  letter  indicates  :  — 

Great  Island  (Portsmouth),  Aug.  13,  1687. 

To  his  excellency  Edmund  Andros, 
Sir, 

Your  excellency  may  please  to  remember  I  proposed  some  persons 
as  fitting  to  serve  his  majesty  in  the  town  of  Newbury  both  in  civil  and 
military  affairs.  In  my  return  to  this  place  I  had  discourse  with 
several  persons,  the  most  considerable  of  that  town,  that  by  want  of 
justices  of  the  peace,  nothing  hath  been  done  at  the  meeting  of  those 
inhabitants  for  settling  the  rates  and  other  concerns  of  the  publick. 
Mr.  Woodbridge,  one  of  the  justices  is  very  ancient  and  crazy  and 
seldom  goes  abroad.  Mr.  Dummers,  the  other  justice,  lives  six  miles 
from  the  place  and  therefore  very  unfit  for  that  service  for  the  town  of 
Newbury,  besides  his  other  qualities  in  not  being  of  the  loyal  party  as 
he  ought  to  be.  I  doe  therefore  intreat  of  your  excellency,  that  in  the 
commission  of  the  peace  my  two  friends,  Daniel  Pierce  and  Nathaniel 
Oarke  may  be  put,  which  I  assure  myself  will  be  for  his  majestys 
service  and  to  your  excellencys  satisfaction. 

There  are  no  military  commissions  sent  to  that  place  and  therefore  I 
doe  intreat  your  excellencys  favor  that  commissions  be  sent  these  fol- 
lowing persons : 

•Palfrey's  History  of  New  England,  vol.  iii.,  p.  394. 


196  HISTORY  UF  NEWBURY 

Daniel  Davison  to  be  Cap'  of  Horse  for  the  Town  of  Newbury  and 
Rowley,  Stephen  Greenlif,  Junior,  Lieut.,   George  March,  Cornet. 
Thomas  Noice  Capt  of  ffoot  ^ 
Stephen  Greenlif,  Sen.  Lieu«     -  first  company 
James  Noice,  Ensign  ) 

Nathaniel  Clarke,  Capt  of  ffoot"\ 
John  March,  Lieut  ^  second  company 

Moses  Gerrish,  Ensign  ) 

I  shall  desire  your  excellency  that  Mr.  Davison  may  have  his  com- 
mission first  for  raising  the  troops  there  being  many  young  men  that  will 
list  themselves  under  him  if  not  before  listed  by  the  Captain's  ffoot. 
He  is  very  well  beloved  and  I  presume  will  have  the  completes!  troops 
in  the  country. 

I  shall  be  extreem  glad  to  heare  of  my  good  ladys  safe  arrival,  which 
so  soon  as  I  shall  understand,  I  will  make  a  speedy  journey  to  Boston  to 
kiss  her  hand.  I  came  last  night  to  this  place.  I  hope  all  things  will 
go  easy  so  that  I  may  have  no  occasion  of  using  the  former  severities 
of  the  law  against  my  tenants.  I  had  rather  see  them  rich  than  poor. 
I  humbly  kiss  your  excellencys  hands  and  am 

Your  excellencys  servant, 

Robert  Mason.* 

In  1688,  Robert  Mason  died  suddenly  at  Kingston,  on  the 
Hudson  river,  while  on  a  journey  from  New  York  to  Albany 
in  company  with  Sir  Edmund  Andros. 

After  his  decease  his  two  sons,  finding  it  difficult  to  estab- 
lish their  claim  to  the  disputed  territory,  and  impossible  to 
collect  from  the  inhabitants  anything  by  the  way  of  rent,  sold 
to  Samuel  Allen,  a  merchant  of  London,  "  All  that  Province 
or  tract  of  land  in  New  England  in  America  commonly  called 
New  Hampshire,  lying  between  the  Rivers  of  Namekeke  and 
Piscattaqua,  and  the  ground  &  soil  therein,  and  also  the  South 
half  of  y^  Isles  of  Shoals. "f 

The  charter  of  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  granted 
by  King  William  and  Queen  Mary  October  7,  1691,  pro- 
vided "that  nothing  herein  conteyned  shall  extend  or  be 
understood  or  taken  to  impeach  or  prejudice  any  right  title. 
Interest  or  demand  which  Samuel  Allen  of  London,  merchant, 
claiming  from  and  under  John  Mason,  Esq.,  deceased  or  any 
other  person  or  persons,  hath  or  have,   or  claimeth   to  have, 

*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cxxvii.,  pp.  20  and  21. 

t  Memoir  of  Capt.  Jolin  Mason,  published  by  the  Prince  Society,  1887,  p.  51. 


THE   SErrLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  197 

hold  or  enjoy   of,   in   to  or  out  of  any  part   or   parts  of  the 
premises  scituate  within  the  hmitts  above  menconed."  * 

The  dividing  Hne  between  Massachusetts  and  New  Hamp- 
shire remained  unsettled  for  many  years.  August  10,  I737> 
the  legislatures  of  the  two  provinces  met  by  adjournment,  one 
at  Salisbury,  Mass.,  and  the  other  at  Hampton  Falls,  N.H. 
A  cav^alcade  of  mounted  horsemen  escorted  Governor  Belcher 
and  the  members  of  the  Massachusetts  legislature  from  Bos- 
ton to  Newbury,  another  company  accompanied  them  to  the 
dividing  line,  and  three  additional  companies  led  the  proces- 
sion to  Hampton  Falls.  The  occasion  was  one  of  consider- 
able excitement,  and  the  pomp  and  parade  of  the  governor's 
escort  was  humorously  described  and  mildly  ridiculed  in  the 
following  lines  :  — 

"  Dear  Paddy,  you  ne'er  did  behold  such  a  sight 
As  yesterday  morning  was  seen  before  night, 
You  in  all  your  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  higher  house  pranc'd  after  the  low ; 
Then  the  Governor's  coach  gallop'd  on  like  the  wind. 
And  the  last  that  came  foremost  were  troopers  behind ; 
But  I  fear  it  means  no  good,  to  your  neck  nor  mine ; 
For  thej^  say  'tis  to  fix  a  right  place  for  the  line."  f 

The  members  of  the  two  provincial  legislatures  were  unable 
to  agree  upon  the  details  of  the  plan  submitted  to  them  for 
the  settlement  of  the  questions  in  dispute,  and  adjourned, 
after  several  weeks  of  deliberation  and  discussion,  without  ac- 
complishing the  object  for  which  they  assembled. 

In  1740,  the  dividing  line  was  fixed  and  established  by  the 
"  King  and  the  Lords  of  the  Privy  Council,"  but  some  ques- 
tions of  importance  in  regard  to  the  laying  out  and  surveying 
of  the  same  were  left  undecided  until  the  close  of  the  nine- 
teenth century. 

In  1785,  the  heirs  of  Samuel  Allen  and  the  descendants  of 
Robert  Mason  were  contending  in  the  courts  of  Massachusetts 

*  Province  Laws,  vol.  i.,  p.  10. 

t  Belknap's  History  of  New  Hampshire,  vol.  ii.,  p.  139. 


^  /rrin  </fn  ^K^rmninWer  in  Cfi^-m  ifcrer  y/rj\ 


200  I  ITS  TORY  OF  NEWBURY 

and  New  Hampshire  for  the  land  granted  Capt.  John   Mason 
in  1622.* 

In  1899,  the  marks  and  bounds  between  the  two  states  were 
adjusted  and  completed  under  the  supervision  of  a  board  of 
commissioners,  of  which  the  Hon.  George  W.  Gate,  of  Ames- 
bury,  was  a  member. 

January  5,  1686-7,  the  selectmen  of  Newbury  presented 
the  following  petition  :  — 

To  S""  Edmond  Andrewes,  Knight  Governor  of  his  majesties  posses- 
sions and  Dominions  in  New  England  in  America. 

The  Humble  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Towne  of  Newbury 
in  the  County  of  Essex  in  New  England  sheweth  : 

Whereas  our  Sovereign  Lord  King  James  the  Second  of  his  most 
gracious  favor  hath  been  pleased  to  Send  your  Excelency  to  be  Gover- 
nour  over  us  in  these  his  majesties  Territories  and  Dominions  in  Amer- 
ica, and  hath  nominated  sundry  prticular  Gentlemen  of  this  Country 
to  be  your  excelencys  Honourable  Councill  for  the  right  management  of 
affairs  for  the  ease  and  good  of  his  subjects  here,  and  there  not  being 
one  of  the  sd  Councill  that  doth  inhabite  neerer  unto  us  than  twenty 
miles,  and  this  Towne  wth  the  rest  of  the  Townes  Cittuate  uppon  ye 
River  Merrimack  (being  none  of  the  inferior  parts  of  this  Country)  are 
found  to  be  at  greater  charg  than  other  places  for  want  of  such  officers 
'as  are  very  needfull  &  yt  other  Townes  are  priveledged  with. 

Wee  therefore  humbly  crave  that  your  excellency  would  be  pleased 
•  to  take  it  into  your  consideration  to  appoint  &  impower  some  man  or 
men  to  take  the  acknowledgment  of  deeds  and  give  oaths  and  a  dark  to 
issue  forth  all  such  warrants  and  writts  as  are  usuall  and  needfull  for 
County  Courts,  w^h  will  be  of  a  great  ease  to  us  of  that  burthen 
which  of  late  wee  have  sustained  and  your  petitioners  shall  be  forever 
bound  to  pray  for,  and  are 

Your  excelencys  most  Humble  servants 

Henry  Short  Selectmen  of  ye 

John  Badger  Towne  of  New- 

Benj.  Morse  bury  in  ye  name 

Cutting  Noyes         &  by  vote  of  ye 
Joseph  Little  ■sA  Towne. f 

What  action  was  taken  by  the  governor  and  council  in 
answer  to  this  petition  is  uncertain.     Probably  a  commissioner 

*  Memoir  of  Capt.  John  Mason,  p.  130. 

tTown  of  Newbury  Record.s,  vol.  ii.  (1680-92),  p.  57. 


THE   SETTLEMENT   AT  MERRIMAC K  N fVER  20i  • 

was  appointed  to  attend    to    the   acknowledgment   of  deeds, 
the  issuing  of  writs,  and  the  punishment  of  crime. 

Revenue  was  needed  for  the  support  and  maintenance  of 
the  colonial  government  ;  and,  January  20,  1686-7,  ^^  ^o^' 
lowing  notice  was  sent :  — 

To  the  Selectmen  and  Constables  of  Newbury. 

His  Excelency  y^  Govnour  and  Councill  having  by  y  order  of  the 
1 2th  of  this  instant  January  directed  the  Treasurer  to  give  forth  his  war- 
rants prsuant  unto  an  order  of  councill  of  y^  4th  of  ye  above  said  Janu- 
ary for  a  single  Country  Rate  of  one  penny  in  ye  pound  to  his  Majesty 
for  support  of  ye  Government  to  be  assessed  levied  &  collected  accord- 
ing to  former  usage. 

You  are  therefore  Required  in  his  Majesties  name  to  assess  and 
levie  upon  ye  severall  inhabitants  of  your  Towne  equally  &  proportion- 
ally according  to  ye  severall  Rates  and  according  to  former  usuage  and 
custom  for  ye  raising  &  levying  of  publick  charges,  ye  full  sum  of  one 
penny  in  the  pound  making  a  p^ticular  account  &  list  thereof  under  ye 
severall  hands  of  you  ye  selectmen,  certifying  ye  sum  totall  into  ye 
Treasurer  and  ye  said  list  deliver  unto  ye  constables  of  your  Towne 
who  are  alike  required  to  levie  and  collect  ye  same  forthwith  making 
distress  where  need  shall  bee  (according  to  former  mahnr)  taking  up 
severall  sorts  of  Grain  at  such  prices  as  were  lately  set  forth  by  ye 
president  and  Councill  viz  :  Wheet  at  5s,  Rye  &  pease  at  4s,  Indian  Corn 
at  2s  gd  &  oats  at  2^  per  bushell  &  in  case  any  pay  money  in  lieu  of 
country  pay  they  are  to  be  abated  one  third  of  all  which  ye  Constables 
are  required  to  make  good  Account  &  speedy  payment  to  ye  Treasurer,  or 
his  order.  See  y'  all  sorts  of  Graine  Be  merchantable  &  yt  you  receive 
no  leane  cattell  nor  horses.  Hereof  faill  not  as  you  will  answer  ye  con- 
trary at  your  perill. 

Dated  in  Boston  20th  day  of  January  An.  Do.  1686-7  i^  y^  second 
yeare  of  his  Majestys  Reigne  Jno  Usher  Treasurer* 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  February  following,  the  selectmen 
levied  a  tax  upon  all  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury,  which  was 
entered  in  full  upon  the  records  of  the  town,  and  a  return 
thereof  made  to  the  treasurer  of  the  colony  as  follows  :  — 

Worshipful  s"",  according  to  your  warrant  bearing  date  January  20, 
1686-7  we  have  made  a  rate  according  to  former  usage  and  custome  ye 
sum  of  which  ^40  &  ids  (heads  being  rated  by  us  at  20^  A  head  as  for- 
merly) well  rate  we  have  now  delivered  to  ye  Constables  of  our  Towne  in 

•Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  ii.  (1680-^2),  p.  64. 


2  02  HISTORY  OF  XEWBURY 

two  pts  viz:  to  Joseph  Ilsley  constable  ye  sum  of  twenty  three  pounds 
&  ten  shillings  &  to  Moses  pillsbury  constable  ye  sum  of  Seaventeen 
pounds  both  wdi  we  have  ordered  to  be  forthwith  gathered  and  deliv- 
ered to  yourself  according  to  your  warrant. 

y  humble  servants 

ye  selectmen  of  Newbury, 

Hexry  Short 
John  Badger 
Bexj  Mors 
Cutting  Noyes 
Joseph  Little  * 

At  a  meeting-  held  in  Boston  June  i,  1687,  "His  Excel- 
lency Sir  Edmund  Andros,  Knt,"  being"  present  with  the 
following  councillors, 

Joseph  Dudley  Jno  Usher 

Wm  Stoughton  Jno  Hinks 

Robert  Mason  Richard  Arnold 

Waite  Winthrop  Edward  Randolph, 
Richd  Wharton 

it  was  "  ordered  that  all  publique  Records  in  the  late  Govern- 
ment now  annexed  under  this  Dominion  be  brought  to  this 
towne  and  put  into  y^  custody  of  y^  Secr>'  or  his  Deputy."  | 

June  22,  1687,  his  Excellency  "  ordered  that  the  records 
of  Essex  county  be  delivered  into  the  hands  of  Stephen 
Sewall  who  is  commissioned  to  be  clerk  of  the  Inferiour  Courts 
in  the  County  of  Essex."  \ 

At  this  time  John  Usher  was  treasurer  and  receiver-general 
of  New  England.  He  was  ordered  to  send  out  warrants  for 
the  as.sessment  and  collection  of  taxes  to  meet  the  annual 
expenses  of  the  government. 

Many  inhabitants  of  the  colony  refused  to  pay  these  taxes, 
and  the  treasurer  was  compelled  to  purchase  arms  and  am- 
munition for  the  expedition  against  the  Penobscot  Indians 
with  his  private  funds  or  by  the  use  of  his  personal  credit. 
After  the  Revolution  of  1689  he  was  sued  for  the  recovery 
of  a  lai-ge  sum  of  money  due  on  several  unsettled  accounts. 
The  case  was  decided  against  him.     He  was  imprisoned,  and 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  ii.  (1680-3),  PP-  (^z.  ^3- 

t  Massachusetts  Arcliives,  vol.  cxxvii.,  leaf  12S.         X  Ibid.,  vol.  cxyvi.,  leaf  364. 


THE   SETTLExMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER 


203 


his  property  seized  and  sold.  Among  the  papers  that  remained 
in  his  possession  until  his  death  was  the  following  tax  list 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  in  1688,  fourteen  years  of  age 
and  upwards  :  * — 

TAXES    UNDER   GOV.   ANDROS. 

Town  Rate  of  Newbury,  16SS. 


An  Invoyes  of  Augiist, 
Newbuky. 


K     ffi 


4     30     50       40 


4 

12 

40 

40 

4 

40 

50 

100 

0 

2 

6 

20 

30 

4 

•5 

30 

40 

1 
I 

12 

5 

20 
10 

30 
0 

I 

5 

10 

0 

4 

16 

30 

4 

3 

4 

14 

16 

10 

3 

4 

14 

12 

I 

I 

2 

6 

10 

0 

Jno  Woodbridg,  Esqr     .     .     . 
Capt  Richil  DuiTier,  Esqr   .     . 

Capt  DH  Peirce 

Mr  Richd  Kent 

Mr  Richd  Dole 

Henry  Short 

]\Ir  Perc  Lowle 

Mrs  Lowle  &  Thomas   .     .     . 

Dec.Noyes 

Ensign  Clark 

Uoctr  Toppan T 

Mr  Longfellow 

Serj  Richardson o      2     12     i6        32 

Serj  Moodey 3       4     18      8        23 

Serj  Coker 3       2     12     12         03 

Serj  Badger 2       3     10     18        4       2 

Serj  Noyes        i       2     10     12         81 

Serj  Hale 3270        02 

Corpl  Edmund  &  Jonath"  Moers 

Mr  Lunt 

Mr  Wm  Moodey 

Mr  Moses  Gerrish 

Mr  Will  Noyes 

Richd  Jacknian 

Abra  Addams i      2     12    30 

Edmund  Moers,  Jur       .     .     . 

Joseph  Goodridg i       i       815 

Dunkan  Stuard 

Charts  Stuard 

Wm  Chandler 114 

Jno  Bartlet,  Senr 2      2     10 

Joshua  Richdson 106 

Wm  Danford 

Joshua  Boynton i      o     10    20        3 

John  Kent  Senr i       2     14    30      80 

Georg  ilv  Moses  Little    ....         i       2     12     34        S 
James  Jackman  Senr  it  Junr  .     .         126.9        2 

Josepih  Downer i       i      6      8        3 

Benj  Coker i       i      60        o 

Mr  Jos  Woodbridg   .... 

Nathn  Wheeler 

Benj  Wheeler i       i      3      5       10 

*  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register, 


0 

U 

« 

n 

- 

w 

K 

6 

8 

3 

6 

6 

34 

2 

8 

0 

4 

6 

30 

2 

8 

14 

3 

7 

7 

60 

12 

2 

2 

0 

0 

0 

20 

3 

4 

12 

4 

10 

10 

40 

6 

4 

5 

3 

2 

I 

30 

5 

4 

4 

I 

I 

I 

10 

2 

4 

4 

I 

I 

I 

10 

2 

4 

9 

5 

3 

3 

33 

6 

4 

5 

0 

0 

0 

30 

3 

3 

4 

6 

2 

4 

50 

3 

0 

I 

2 

I 

I 

10 

2 

2 

3 

I 

0 

0 

10 

I 

4 

6 

0 

I 

3 

30 

4 

4 

4 

2 

0 

0 

30 

I 

4 

8 

0 

2 

2 

25 

4 

2 

5 

2 

2 

I 

20 

4 

4 

4 

2 

2 

0 

16 

5 

2 

3 

4 

I 

0 

iS 

I 

2 

4 

2 

0 

2 

6 

4 

6 

0 

30 

3 

6 

3 

16 

0 

April,  1878,  pp.  156-164,  inclusive. 


204 


HISTORY  OF  XEWBCRY 


An  Invoyes  of  August,  '88. 
Xewbiry. 


<^  hIh        S 


Thomas  Titcomb 

I 

o 

3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Richd  Petengall    .     .     .     .   , 

o 

o 

4 

6 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2 

3 

Samll  Petengall 

o 

o 

4 

6 

0 

I 

0 

0 

2 

3 

Mattw  Petengall 

o 

2 

I 

0 

0 

I 

0 

0 

2 

4 

Comt  March 

I 

14 

8 

12 

6 

0 

0 

4 

9 

Tho:  Thurlo 

2 

i6 

16 

20 

3 

0 

0 

0 

4 

ffrancThurlo 

2 

iS 

10 

18 

0 

0 

0 

2 

2 

John  Thurlo 

I 

2 

0 

0 

I 

0 

0 

2 

I 

Steph"  Jaques        .     . 

2 

iS 

20 

10 

2 

0 

0 

4 

6 

Thomas  Hale  Sen""    .... 

I 

7 

20 

5 

2 

0 

0 

2 

4 

Thomas  Hale  Junr    .... 

I 

7 

20 

5 

I 

0 

0 

2 

3 

Richd  Dole  Junr 

I 

6 

ID 

0 

I 

0 

0 

2 

2 

Wid«-  Poer 

O 

4 

6 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

John  Poer 

I 

6 

8 

12 

I 

0 

0 

I 

5 

Henrj'  Poer 

I 

2 

6 

0 

I 

0 

0 

2 

4 

Joseph  Poer  Senr      .... 

I 

2 

4 

0 

I 

0 

0 

0 

4 

Danill  Thirston 

2 

12 

20 

6 

2 

0 

0 

2 

5 

Jos  :  Plufiier  Sen^      .... 

2 

14 

24 

10 

I 

0 

0 

2 

4 

SamU  Plumer 

I 

7 

■5 

6 

, 

0 

0 

2 

4 

Ephrara  Pluitier 

I 

3 

10 

6 

I 

0 

I 

2 

3 

James  Browne 

2 

6 

12 

0 

2 

0 

0 

2 

3 

Widw  Knight 

I 

S 

18 

8 

2 

0 

0 

4 

3 

John  Knight 

I 

8 

12 

6 

I 

0 

0 

2 

3 

Joseph  Knight       .... 

I 

6 

12 

4 

3 

0 

I 

5 

7 

Benj  Rolfe 

4 

26 

22 

20 

3 

0 

0 

4 

4 

John  Xoyes       ...          .     . 

2 

5 

12 

0 

I 

0 

0 

2 

4 

ffrances  Willet        

2 

I 

0 

0 

I 

0 

0 

0 

I 

Nicho  Rawlince 

o 

2 

I 

0 

I 

0 

0 

0 

I 

Samll  Hills 

2 

0 

0 

0 

I 

0 

0 

0 

I 

Jno  Hendrick 

4 

10 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2 

Mr  Tucker 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

I 

James  Carr 

6 

10 

0 

I 

0 

0 

2 

2 

Joseph  Mayo 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

I 

William  Worum 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Benj  Person 

6 

0 

0 

I 

0 

0 

2 

3 

Joseph  Moring 

0 

0 

0 

I 

0 

0 

2 

3 

Rob*  Mingo 

0 

4 

4 

I 

0 

0 

0 

I 

Timo'h  Noyes 

4 

c 

0 

I 

0 

0 

2 

4 

Jonath  Clark 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

I 

Joshua  -Mors     ..... 

II 

16 

0 

I 

0 

0 

4 

5 

John  Kelly 

14 

20 

7 

4 

0 

0 

3 

5 

Jonathn  Emery 

6 

6 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2 

3 

Jno  Atkin  Senr                ... 

6 

6 

0 

I 

0 

0 

2 

4 

Jno  Webster  Ju' 

2 

4 

0 

I 

0 

0 

0 

2 

Elisha  Ilsley 

6 

10 

0 

2 

0 

0 

0 

3 

Isaack  Ilsley 

3 

5 

0 

I 

0 

0 

2 

2 

Peter  Cheny  Senr      .... 

4 

2 

6 

0 

I 

0 

0 

0 

2 

Danll  Cheny  (Constable)    .     . 

2 

10 

20 

•4 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Joseph  Pike 

2 

8 

iS 

6 

2 

0 

0 

4 

4 

Jno  Wicomb 

2 

8 

6 

0 

2 

0 

I 

2 

4 

George  White 

O 

o 

0 

10 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

JnO  prson  Senr  Jur     .      .     .      . 

O 

o 

0 

12 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Jno  Moodey 

I 

o 

6 

6 

0 

I 

0 

0 

0 

I 

Phillip  fflood 

I 

o 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2 

Wm  Molten 

I 

2 

0 

0 

0 

I 

0 

I 

0 

2 

THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RTVER 


205 


An  Invoyhs  of  August,  'S 
Newbury. 


X     ffi 


Collen  ffrazer 

Antho.  Mors 

JnO  Hale  Jur 

Jose]>h  plumer  Junr  .     .     . 
Peter  Cheny  Ju''    .     .     . 
George  hardee       .... 
Thomas  Green       .... 

James  Stuart 

Ben  Goodridg  Ju""  .  .  . 
Hugh  Mathews  .  .  .  . 
Silvanus  PUimer  .  .  .  . 
Samll  Greenleaf     .... 

James  March 

Nath  Clark  Jur  ...  . 
Edward  Ordway    .     .     .     . 

JnO  March 

Abell  Huse  Ju'     .     .     .     . 

Wm  Huse 

Danll  Peirce  Jur   .... 

JnO  Stickney 

Joseph  Wheeler    .     .     .     . 

Mr  L.  Hart 

Steph  Emery 

Cap'Tho:   Noyes      .     .     . 

Mr  H.  Sewall 

Levt  Woodman  .  .  .  . 
Lev'  Greenlef  Senr  .  .  . 
Lev'  Greenlef  Jur  .  .  . 
Ensign  Toppan     .     .     .     . 

Serj  Browne 

Serj  Emery 

Serj  Webster 

Serj  Little 

Mr  Woodman  &  Jonathan 
Mr  JnO  Sewall       .     .     .     . 

Dec"  Long 

Decn  Coffin 

Dr  Dole 

Mrs  White 

Corpll  Smith 

JnO  &  Joseph  Bayley  .  . 
Henry  Somerby     .     .     .     . 

Isaac  Bayley 

Richd  Bartlet  Senr    .     .     . 

Samll  Bartlet 

Richd  Bartlet  Jur 
Mr  H.  March  Senr   .     .     . 
AbraiTi  Merrill       .     .     .     . 
Daniel  Merrill       .     .     .     . 

Abell  Merrill 

JnO  Merrill 

Penu"  Titcomb      .     .     .     . 

Wm  Titcomb 

Caleb  Rich'lson  .  .  .  . 
Josepli  kich'lson  .     .     . 


16    30 


14  16 

24 

12  20 

.5  6 

7  4 

4  2 


10 

3 

25 

3 

0 

4 

25 

0 

20 

I 

20 

5 

20 

2 

30 

5 

'5 

0 

30 

4 

30 

2 

20 

3 

2o6 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


An  Invoybs  of  August,  'S 
Newbury. 


Pen"  Titcomb 

Jnfi  Kent  Junr       .... 
James  Ordway       .... 

John  Ordway 

Peter  Marshall      .... 
Jno  Badger  Junr  .... 
Jno  Kingsbuiy      .... 
Joseph  Rowleson       .     . 
Mr  Wm  Nisbitt     .... 

John  Browne 

John  Davis 

Zach  Davis 

Ephrni  Davis 

Jeremiah  Davis     .... 

Coniis  Davis 

Edwrd  Woodman       .     .     . 

Samll  Poer 

Joseph  Poer  Junr      .     .     . 

Edwrd  Poer 

Aquilla  Chace 

Danll  Mussilloway     .     . 

Benj  Lowle 

Charls  Anis 

Hugh  March  Junr      .     .     . 

John  Swett 

Abiell  Long 

Widw  Rebe  Browne        .     . 

Jno  Browne 

Peter  Godfrey 

Richd  Browne        .... 
Joshua  Browne  (Constable) 

Henry  Lunt 

Wni  Bolton        

Wm  ffaiiing 

Tho:  Rodgers  .     . 

Jno  Mitchill 

Tho  Chace 

Tho  :  HoHnsbee    .... 

Abell  Huse       

Moses  Chace 

Hugh  Pike 

Wm  Muffit 

Jno  Emery  Junr    .... 

Wm  Sawyer 

Steph.  Sawj'er       .... 

Jno  .Sawyer 

Samuell  Sawyer     .... 

Jno  Chace 

Benj  Mors 

Zach  Ayers 

Tho:  Bartlet 

Jno  Greenleaf 

Jno  Worth 

Abell  Pilsburj'       .... 
Job  Pilsbury 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER 


207 


An  Invoyes  of  August,  '8 
Newbury. 


0)       o       o 
I     K     5 


Oh        X 


Wm  Pilsbury 

David  Kily 

James  Coffin 

Joseph  Ilsley 

Tobi  Coleman 

Jonath  Thurlo 

Richd  Thurlo   . 

Ayres 210672103 

Samll  Ayres i       112     40        5      3      o      04      51      4      o      16 

John  Craw 

Henry  Toltwood 

Henry  Dole 2200        0100020-00        53 

Total 269 

By  virtue  of  a  warrant  from  Jno  Usher  Esqr  Receiyr  Gen'l  of  his  Majes  Revenues  wthin  his 
Territory  and  Dominion  in  Newe  England  bearing  date  July  14,  in  ye  fourth  year  of  his  Majes 
Reigne  Annoq  Dom'  16SS.  We  ye  subscribed  Comissioner  &  Selectmen  of  Newbury  being  mett 
together  this  30  of  August  16S8  have  made  a  list  of  the  male  prsons  of  our  Towne,  from  foreteen 
years  old  &  upwards  &  a  true  estimation  of  all  Reall  &  prsonall  estate,  according  to  ye  act  of 
Councill  according  as  is  contained  in  these  five  sheets  &  ye  sum  is  Sixty  pounds  two  Shillings  & 
sixpence. 

Thomas  Noyes,  Com 


Indorsed. 


Newberry  Rate 
£(xi    2     6 


\     of  Newbury. 


D.  Davison  .       „  ,     . 

_    _  ]       Selectmen 

D.  Peirck  f 

--         „  ^  ,>  for  the  Towne 
NathU  Clarke 

Jacob  Toppa> 


Daniel  Cheny     \ 

T     L       T.  (  Constab. 

Joshua  Browne  ) 


Newberry  Rates 


(The  rate  was  written  on  six  sheets.  The  second  sheet  begins  with  the  name  of  Rich'd  Pet- 
engall,  the  third  with  that  of  Jonath'n  Emery,  the  fourth  with  that  of  Capt.  Tho.  Noyes,  the  fifth 
with  that  of  John  Davis,  and  the  sixth  with  that  of  Benj.  Mors.) 


PROVISIONAL   GOVERNMENT. 

When  it  became  known  that  King  James  II.  had  been 
compelled  to  leave  England,  and  that  William,  Prince  of 
Orange,  had  entered  London  in  triumph,  the  inhabitants  of 
the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  irritated  and  exasperated 
by  the  arbitrary  laws  and  illegal  taxes  to  which  they  had  been 
subjected  under  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  determined  to  submit 
no  longer  to  his  despotic  rule.  April  i8,  1689,  they  de- 
manded the  surrender  of  the  fort  on  Castle  island  in  Boston 
harbor,  seized  and  imprisoned  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  and  in  the 
month  of  July  following  sent  him  to  England  by  order  of 
King  William  III. 

A    committee    of  safety,   composed  of  some    of   the  most 


2o8  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

prominent  citizens  of  Boston,  was  appointed  to  correspond 
with  the  authorities  of  other  towns  in  the  colony  in  regard 
to  the  organization  of  a  temporary  government. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  JSTewbury, 
held  May  6,  1689,  Capt.  Thomas  Noyes  and  Lieut.  Stephen 
Greenleaf,  sr.,  were  chosen  to  consult  with  the  Committee 
of  Safety  in  Boston,  "  and  consider  with  them  what  may 
be  best  for  the  conservation  of  the  peace  of  the  country."  * 
Plans  for  a  provisional  government,  with  all  the  powers  and 
privileges  needed  for  such  an  emergency,  were  matured,  and 
submitted  to  the  freemen  of  the  colony  for  approval. 

May  20,  1689,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  voted  that 
"  we  freely  now  give  our  consent  to  the  freemen  of  this 
Towne  to  make  choyce  of  the  Gov"",  Dept.  Gov"",  and  the  As- 
sistants chosen  and  sworn  in  the  year  1686  to  be  our  Lawfull 
authority,  and  desire  our  Representatives  which  we  make 
choyce  of  to  attend  this  business  this  weeke  or  so  long  as 
they  necessiarily  may  be  detained  in  settling  this  matter  and 
that  the  ffreemen  choose  and  send  down  their  deputys  as 
formerly."  * 

At  a  meeting  held  June  3,  1689,  Capt.  Thomas  Noyes  and 
Lieut.  Stephen  Greenleaf,  sr.,  were  again  chosen  to  rep- 
resent the  freemen  of  Newbury  in  Boston  in  compliance  with 
an  order  received  from  the  Committee  of  Safety,  dated  May 
30,  1689. 

June  21,  1689,  "by  order  of  the  Governm*  &  Committee 
of  Safety  dated  June  14,  1689,"  a  meeting  was  held  for  the 
election  of  town  officers  in  Newbury.  Richard  Dummer  was 
chosen  moderator,  Moses  Little  and  Benjamin  Morse  con- 
stables. 

Moses  Gerrish,  Joseph  Pike,  Abraham  Adams,  Joseph 
Knight,  and  John  Emery,  selectmen. 

John  Noyes,  Richard  Brown,  Daniel  Merrill,  and  John 
Badger,  way  wardens.  It  was  also  "  voted  to  allow  the 
selectmen  only  twenty  shillings  a  piece  for  this  years  ser- 
vice." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  held  July  i, 
1689, 

*TowTi  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  Ui.,  p.  loi. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  209 

.  .  .  ffor  the  settling  of  our  millitia  for  the  prsent  exegences  it  was 
voted  that  our  desire  is  that  all  our  milletery  ofificers  that  were  in 
comission  upon  May  12,  1686  do  take  y^  care  and  conduct  of  us  in 
peace  and  war,  as  they  in  their  discresion  shall  see  meete  untill  we 
shall  have  time  and  opportunity  for  a  farther  choyce.* 

It  was  also  voted  yt  the  selectmen  shall  forthwtii  provide  eight  bushels 
of  wheat  &  get  it  amediately  made  into  biskit  to  be  disposed  of  accord- 
ing to  ye  discression  of  the  Captains  to  such  souldiers  as  shall  go  out 
against  ye  Indians  or  for  ye  use  of  the  Towne  otherwise,  if  y  be  not 
occasion  for  ye  end  afores^.* 

Also  we  desire  &:  empower  ye  sd  Committee  of  militia  to  appoynt  so 
many  houses  to  be  fortified  among  us  as  they  shall  see  cause  &  to  pro- 
portion so  many  familys  to  each  fortification  according  to  they  dis- 
cression.* 

The  new  charter  establishing  the  province  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay  was,  after  considerable  delay,  granted  by  the  king 
in  September,  1691  ;  and  Sir  William  Phips  was  appointed 
royal  governor.  He  arrived  in  Boston  May  14,  1692  ;  and  a 
few  days  later  the  new  government  was  inaugurated  with  an 
imposing  civil  and  military  parade.  Writs  were  issued  for  an 
election  of  deputies  to  the  General  Court  to  be  held  on  the 
eighth  day  of  June  following.  Capt.  Daniel  Pierce  and  Capt. 
Thomas  Noyes  were  chosen  to  represent  Newbury  in  the  first 
legislative  assembly  convened  under  the  new  charter. 

DIVISION    OF   THE   UPrER   COMMONS. 

As  early  as  May  21,  1679,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Mr. 
John  Woodbridge,  Mr.  Richard  Dumer,  jr.,  Henry  Jaques, 
Tristram  Coffin,  John  Emery,  jr.,  Francis  Brown,  John 
Baily,  Robert  Long,  Richard  Bartlett,  James  Ordway,  Tho. 
Hale,  jr.,  and  Capt.  Daniel  Peirce,  was  appointed  to  devise,  if 
possible,  a  way  or  plan  for  the  division  among  the  freeholders 
of  the  "  upper  commons,"  or  the  "  upper  woods  "  as  they  were 
sometimes  called,  from  Artichoke  river  to  the  Bradford  line. 

In  consequence,  however,  of  some  dissatisfaction  among 
the  inhabitants,  who  were  not  freeholders,  and  therefore  not 
directly  benefited  by  the  proposed  distribution,  no  definite 
plan  was  adopted  until  several  years  later.     At  a  legal  meet- 

*Town  of  Newburj'  Records,  vol.  iii. 


2  I  o  HIS  TOR  V  OF  NE IV B  UR  Y 

ing  of  the  freemen  and  freeholders,  held  January  i6,  1683-4, 
it  was  voted  '*  that  six  thousand  acres  of  the  upper  common 
shall  be  lotted  out,  namely,  one  thousand  acres  to  the  non- 
freeholders,  and  soldiers,  and  five  thousand  acres  to  the  free- 
holders, to  every  freeholder  alike,  with  an  addition  to  some 
few  men  that  have  deserved  more,  and  this  shall  not  be  a 
precedent  to  the  future  in  the  ordering  or  dividing  of  any 
other  part  of  the  common."  * 

Further  proceedings  were  delayed  until  the  freemen  and 
freeholders  could  agree  upon  the  size  of  the  lots  and  the 
number  of  persons  to  whom  one  or  more  of  these  lots  should 
be  assigned. 

May  5,  1686,  a  committee  consisting  of  John  Woodbridge, 
Esq.,  Capt.  Richard  Dumer,  Capt.  Daniel  Peirce,  Capt. 
Thomas  Noyes,  Lieut.  [Tristram]  Coffin,  Deacon  [Cutting] 
Noyes,  Deacon  [Robert]  Long,  Ensign  [Nathaniel]  Clarke, 
Mr.  Richard  Bartlet,  Lieut.  [Stephen]  Greenleaf,  Mr.  Richard 
Dole,  sr.,  Sergt.  [Caleb]  Moody,  James  Ordway,  sr.,  Sergt. 
John  Emery,  jr.,  Joseph  Pike,  George  March,  and  Henry 
Short,  was  chosen  "  to  agree  upon  a  meete  way  of  dividing 
the  commons  and  bring  in  they""  result  and  conclusion  to  the 
towne."  * 

The  committee  reported  October  20,  1686;  and  the  town 
voted  "  that  the  upper  commons  be  divided  in  the  following 
manner ;  namely,  the  six  thousand  acres,  one-half  of  them  in 
quantity  and  quality  be  divided  amon^  the  freeholders,  to 
every  freeholder  a  like  share,  and  the  other  half  of  said  com- 
mons be  divided  among  all  such  inhabitants  of  this  towne, 
and  freeholders  as  have  paid  rates  two  years  last  past,  propor- 
tionable to  what  each  man  paid  by  rate  to  the  ministers  rate 
in  the  year  1685."  * 

October  twenty-first,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  lay  out 
the  land.  At  a  town  meeting  held  November  twenty-sixth 
the  lots  were  drawn,  and  December  second  the  lot-layers 
were  ordered  to  give  the  freeholders  possession  of  the  lots 
"  in  the  name  of  ye  town." 

On  the  first  page  of  the  Proprietors'  Book,  volume  second, 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


212  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

the  bounds  and  dimensions  of  these  lots,  witli  the  names  of 
the  freeholders  to  whom  they  were  assigned,  are  recorded, 
and  also  the  following  statement :  — 

Whereas  the  freeholders  &  inhal)itants  of  the  Towne  of  Ncwhurv  did 
by  a  vote  of  theyrs  dated  October  20,  1686  pass  a  vote  y'  the  upper 
cofnons  be  divided  that  is  the  six  thousand  acres,  the  one  half  to  ye  free- 
holders, to  every  freeholder  a  like  share  as  in  ye  s^  vote  may  appear 
more  at  large  And  whereas  ye  Town  at  a  Legal  meeting  October  2r, 
1686  did  then  apoint  and  choose  Capt  Danll  pearce,  Lieut  Greenleaf. 
Lieut  Cofifin,  Ensign  Clark,  Joseph  Pike,  and  Serjent  John  Emery  & 
Henry  Short  to  be  a  committee  to  laye  out  ye  above  s^  six  thousand 
Acres  to  ye  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  Newbury  according  to  the 
rule  above  mentioned 

The  freehold  lotts  being  laid  out  by  ye  sd  Committee,  and  ye  free- 
holders meeting  Nov.  26,  1686  they  did  then  draw  ye  lotts  yt  is  the  free- 
hold lotts  as  is  hereafter  expressed. 

And  at  a  legall  meeting  of  the  freeholders  I3ec.  2,  1686  and  of  the 
whole  Towne  it  was  voted  yt  ye  two  lott  layers  viz.  Lieut  Coffin  &  Henry 
Short  should  lay  out  to  ye  freeholders  and  give  them  possession  in  the 
name  of  ye  Towne  of  y  freehold  lotts  according  as  they  were  drawne 
which  is  done  and  Bounded  as  followeth  together  wit'i  ye  high  wayes 
which  were  appointed  by  the  Committee  the  second  of  Dec.  1686 

The  first  range  of  lotts  for  the  freeholders  begining  at  Serj  John 
Emerys  ffarm*  and  so  running  up  Merrimack  river  unto  Mr.  Gerrish  his 
farme.f 

One  hundred  and  six  lots  were  recorded  as  laid  out  by  the 
committee  appointed  December  2,  1686;  but  the  record  was 
declared  to  be  imperfect,  and  it  was  made  \^oid  at  a  town 
meeting  held  September  26,  1687.  On  that  day  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  town  appointed  Tristram  Coffin,  Joseph  Pike, 
John  Emery,  and  Capt.  Thomas  Noyes  to  make  a  new  list  of 
the  lots,  giving  their  bounds  and  limits  and  the  names  of 
the  freeholders  by  whom  they  were  drawn.  The  same  com- 
mittee was  chosen  January  27,  1687-8,  at  a  meeting  of  the 
freeholders  ;  but,  Capt.  Noyes  declining  to  serve,  Richard  Dole 
was  elected  in  his  place. 

The  committee  reported  in  detail  March  2,  1687-8,  care- 
fully describing  each  lot  as  follows  :  — 

*  At  Artichoke  river. 

t  Mr.  Jolin  Gerrish's  farm  was  at  or  near  tlie  dividing  line  lietween  tlie  town  of  Newbury  and 
Bradford. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  213 

Tlie  first  lot  figr  (i)  being  in  estimation  thirty  rods  broad  at  Brad- 
ford rode  &  twenty  nine  rods  broad  at  the  end  next  the  River  be  it 
more  or  less,  Laid  out  to  the  originall  right  of  Samuel  Scullards 
freehold  drawn  or  claimed  by  ensign  Nathaniel  Clark  Bounded  by  Serj 
Emerys  land  easterly,  Bradford  Rode  southerly,  by  the  Second  lott 
westerly,  by  the  highway  of  four  rods  broad  next  Merrimack  River 
northerly. 

The  Second  Lott  fig^  (2)  being  in  estimation  eighteen  rods  broad 
at  Bradford  rode  &  at  ye  river  and  twenty  five  rods  broad  be  it  more 
or  less  Laid  out  to  the  original  right  of  Thomas  Colemans  freehold 
drawn  or  claimed  by  Serj  ffrancis  Browne  bounded  by  the  first  lott 
easterly,  Bradford  Rode  southerly,  by  the  third  lott  westerly,  &  by 
the  high  way  of  four  rods  broad  next  Merrimack  River  northerly. 

One  hundred  and  eleven  lots,  with  one  additional  to  Peter 
Cheney  "for  the  Mill  freehold,"  were  recorded,  and  also  the 
statement  of  the  committee  made  December  2,  1686,  and 
printed  on  the  preceding  page,  to  which  a  clause  was  added 
laying  out  "  a  highway  or  Rode  thru'  our  s''  land  to  Bradford 
line,  begining  at  Artichoak  River  and  so  continuing  to  Brad- 
ford line,"  four  rods  wide.* 

DIVISION    OF   THE    LOWER   COMMONS. 

The  committee  appointed,  May  5,  1686,  to  agree  upon  a 
plan  for  dividing  the  common  land  belonging  to  the  free- 
holders of  Newbury,  recommended,  October  20,  1686,  that 
eleven  hundred  acres  of  the  lower  commons  be  divided  into 
five  general  pastures,  and  the  rest  of  the  commons  into  wood 
lots,  according  to  the  rule  adopted  in  the  division  of  the  upper 
commons. 

October  twenty-first,  the  freeholders  voted  to  allow  the 
w^ood  lots  to  remain  undivided  "  for  feeding,  burning,  and 
carting,"  and  December  13,  1686,  Capt.  Thomas  Noyes, 
Thomas    Hale,    sr.,    Ensign    [  ]    Toppan,    Joseph  Ilsley, 

and  Abraham  Merrill  were  appointed  a  committee  to  lay  out 
the  five  pastures.! 

January  13,  1701— 2,  the  freeholders  voted  to  divide,  "ac- 
cording to  former  rule,  eighteen  hundred  acres  of  the  lower 

*Town  of  Newbur)'  (Proprietors')  Records,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  22-40,  inclusive, 
t  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  17. 


2  14  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

commons,  reserving  pasturage  for  four  cows  for  the  ministry 
in  the  east  end  of  the  towne,  three  for  the  ministry  in  the 
west  end,  three  for  the  free  school,  and  the  herbage  of  twenty 
cows  for  the  benefit  of  the  towns  poor."  * 

January  21,  170 1-2,  a  committee  was  appointed  "to  stint 
as  to  herbage"  all  the  common  land  remaining  undivided, 
and  also  to  apportion  among  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants, 
according  to  the  rule  previously  adopted,  all  the  wood  and 
timber  standing  on  the  said  land.  The  committee,  "  consist- 
ing of  John  Pike,  Jacob  Toppin,  Aquila  Chace,  Stephen 
Jaques,  Henry  Somerby,  John  Ordway,  Henry  Short,  and 
Thomas  Hale,"  completed  their  work  December   12,  1702.! 

June  22,  1708,  the  herbage  on  the  wood  lots  and  on  other 
land  lying  in  common  was  again  divided  among  the  freehold- 
ers and  inhabitants  of  the  town  in  proportion  to  the  tax  that 
each  man  paid  for  the  support  of  the  ministry  in  1685. 

July  6,  1708,  a  committee  appointed  for  that  purpose  re- 
ported in  favor  of  dividing  the  wood  lots  into  two  general 
pastures,  and  the  other  common  lands  into  four  pastures,  to 
be  held  by  the  persons  to  whom  they  were  assigned  for  their 
sole  use  and  benefit. J 

March  14,  1714-1  5,  the  town  granted  Joseph  Ilsley,  Richard 
Kelly,  John  Pike,  and  others  "  liberty  to  build  a  pound  by 
the  country  road  near  John  Hales  house  for  the  impounding  of 
cattle  trespassing  upon  the  general  pasture  at  old  town." 

RIVER    LOTS    AND    PUBLIC    LANDINGS. 

When  the  new  town  was  laid  out  in  1645,  there  was  evi- 
dently a  narrow  strip  of  land  along  the  bank  of  the  Merri- 
mack river  that  was  not  divided  among  the  freeholders. 

March  14,  1698-9  the  lottlayers  wt'i  Majr  Thomas  Noyes,  Mr  George 
March,  Cap'  Stephen  Greenleaf,  &  Mr  William  Noyes  were  chosen  a 
committee  to  measure  the  Bank  of  Merrimack  River  belonging  to  the 
Towne  from  Capt  John  Kents  to  Col'  Peirces  little  meadow  §  and  bring 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records  ;  also.  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  S6-100,  inclusive. 
t  Town  of  Newbury  (Proprietors')  Records,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  47-85,  inclusive. 
X  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  110-125. 

§Capt.  John  Kent's  land  was  at  the  foot  of  what  is  now  Kent  street,  Newburyport,  and  Col. 
Peirce's  little  meadow  was  near  the  comer  of  Ocean  avenue  and  Plum  Island  turnpike. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  215 

an  acct  to  the  Towne  as  also  to  examine  the  Records  who  they  are  who 
have  a  right  to  said  lands.* 

January  19,  1703-4,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  divide  the 
land  on  the  bank  of  the  Merrimack  river  into  lots ;  and  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1704-5,  it  was  voted  to  number  the  lots,  beginning 
at  "  Mr  pearces  meadow." 

Voted  yt  one  man  shall  draw  for  every  proprietor.  Voted  y'  ye  high- 
way above  s^  lotts  shall  be  left  two  rods  broad. f  Voted  that  Sergt 
William  Titcomb  should  draw  the  lotts  for  every  proprietor  which  was 
then  done.-j: 

On  pages  105  to  108,  second  volume  of  the  Proprietors' 
records,  the  numbers  and  dimensions  of  these  lots  are  given, 
with  the  names  of  the  persons  to  whom  they  were  allotted ; 
the  ways,  or  landing  places,  from  four  to  sixteen  rods  wide, 
leading  to  the  river  ;  also,  the  following  statement :  — 

Whereas  at  a  legal  nieeting  of  the  proprietors  of  ye  coinons  of  the 
town  of  Newbury,  January  19,  1703-4  Lieut  Col  Thomas  Noyes  Esq. 
Maj.  Daniel  Davison,  Esq.  Capt  Stephen  Greenleaf,  and  Capt  Henry 
Somerby  were  by  vote  chosen  to  divide  the  bank  against  Merrimack 
river  to  ye  proprietors  of  Newbury,  by  ye  same  rule  as  ye  six  thousand 
acres  in  ye  upper  woods  was.  Only  the  rate  proportion  and  freehold 
proportion  of  ever)'  proprietor  be  laid  together,  ye  said  gentlemen  hav- 
ing finished  ye  said  work  and  presented  it  to  ye  town  at  ye  meeting  on 
March  9,  1707-8.  The  town  y"  by  y  vote  order^  ye  recording  of  it 
which  is  as  foUoweth :  .  .  . 

The  number  of  ye  river  lots,  begining  near  Mr  Pierces  farm  and 
ending  at  Mr  Woodman's  lane.§ 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  held  May  20,  171 5,  the 
committee  named  above  was  ordered  to  make  a  more  perfect 
record  of  the  bounds  and  dimensions  of  the  river  lots  and 
landing  places  ;  and  this  order  was  complied  with  January  28, 
1715-16.il 

STRANGERS  AND  PAUPERS. 

In  the  articles  of  confederation  between  the  colonies  of 
Massachusetts  Bay,  Plymouth,  and  Connecticut,  approved  by 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  This  highway  is  now  Water  street  in  Newbury  and  Newburyport. 

+  Town  of  Newbury  Records.  §  Woodman's  lane  is  now  Kent  street,  Newbur>'port. 

II  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  193-223.  There  were  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  lots 
in  this  division,  and  ten  ways,  or  landing  places,  from  the  river. 


2l6  HISTORY   OF    XEWnURY 

the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  October  12,  1670,  and 
ratified  and  confirmed  by  a  board  of  commissioners  assembled 
at  Plymouth  September  5,  1672,  "It  is  ordered  that  where 
any  person  or  persons  shall  be  found  in  any  jurisdiction  to 
have  had  their  aboadc  for  more  than  three  months,  and  not 
warned  out  by  the  authority  of  the  place,  .  .  .  every  such  per- 
son or  persons  shall  be  accounted  an  inhabitant  where  they 
are  so  found."  * 

Great  care  was  taken  to  see  that  only  persons  of  good 
reputation  and  ability  obtained  a  legal  settlement  in  New- 
bury. March  14,  168 1-2,  Sergt.  Nathaniel  Clark  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  selectmen  "  to  warne  Evan  Morris  out  of  the 
towne  of  Newbury."  f 

This  notice,  if  served,  was  probably  disregarded.  At  all 
events,  the  freeholders  voted  June  21,  1689,  "that  Aquila 
Chace  who  hath  now  undertaken  to  keep  Evan  Morris  from 
this  time  for  the  space  of  half  a  year  and  to  provide  for  him 
wholesome  food  and  attendance  suitable,  upon  his  perform- 
ance thereof  the  Towne  engages  to  give  the  said  Aquila 
Chace  ten  shillings  per  weeke  in  good  country  pay  if  the  said 
Morris  shall  live  so  long  with  him,  but  if  said  Morris  shall 
dye  w"'in  that  time  the  said  Chace  shall  have  proportionally, 
to  be  paid  monthly."  % 

April  6,  16S7  a  warrant  was  granted  to  warne  out  of  ye  towne  Wm 
Nisbett,  Edw.  Badger  and  one  David  tliat  lives  at  Mr.  Thurlos.J 

Householders  were  not  allowed  to  admit  or  entertain 
"either  as  inmates,  boarders  or  tenants"  any  person  or 
persons  for  more  than  twenty  days,  without  giving  notice  to 
the  selectmen  or  town  clerk,  under  a  penalty  of  forty  .shil- 
lings. § 

Frequent  violations  of  this  law  occurred  within  the  limits 
of  the  town,  and  the  payment  of  the  fine  imposed  was  in 
many  cases  acknowledged  and  recorded  substantially  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  II.,  p.  481. 

t  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  137. 

X  Town  of  Newbury  Records.  \ 

§  Province  Laws,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  386,  616. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  217 

July  23,  1734  Then  received  of  Mr  James  Badger  the  sum  of  forty 
shillings  for  Breach  of  the  Law  in  taking  in  a  tenant  and  not  Informing 
ye  town  clerk  nor  selectmen  of  y-'  town  of  his  so  doing;  the  tenants  name 
is  Nathan  presly  with  his  wife  and  four  children. 

William   Ilsley  \  Selectmen 
Moses  Gerrish   v      for 
Joseph  Coffin     )  Newbury  * 

November  25,  1734  Received  of  Moses  Titcomb  forty  shillings  for 
taking  in  a  tenant  and  not  Informing  ye  town  clerk  nor  Selectmen  of  ye 
town  of  his  so  doing;  the  tenants  name  is  Stephen  Jackinan  with  his 
wife  and  several  children.* 

MERCHANDISE    LOST    AND    FOUND. 

The  General  Court,  in  a  law  passed  June  15,  1698,  pro- 
vided that  any  person  finding  horses,  sheep,  cattle,  money,  or 
goods  "  shall  give  notice  thereof  in  writing  unto  the  clerk  of 
the  town  in  which  they  were  found,  to  be  entered  in  a  book 
to  be  kept  for  that  purpose  :  and  shall  also  cause  the  same  to  be 
cryed  by  the  constable  or  publick  cryer  in  such  town,  on  three 
several  days,  at  a  publick  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  thereof ; 
and  to  be  posted  up  in  some  publick  place."  f 

A  few  of  these  legal  notices,  recorded  by  the  town  clerk 
of  Newbury,  are  as  follows  :  — 

In  the  month  of  April,  17 14,  Peter  Coffin  reported  having 
found  "a  sword  or  rapier." 

May  16,  171 5,  Mr.  Fawn  Clement  found  a  lot  of  ship 
timber  "  to  ye  number  of  about  seaventy  sticks  which  are 
hewed  and  suitable  for  fuddocks  and  naval  timbers  and 
knees." 

June  15,  171 5,  Major  D.  Davison  reported  having  found 
"a  wallet  with  about  nine  pounds  of  cotton  wool  in  it  &  a 
small  bag  with  about  eight  pound  of  sugar  in  y^  s'^  bag." 

March  30,  1718,  Joseph  March  reported  as  found  "in 
September  last  a  cannoo  of  about  twelve  foot  in  length  and 
about  three  foot  in  wedth  with  a  bolt  and  Ring  in  y^  hed  of 
s'^  cannoo  and  a  piece  of  plank  across  y^  stern  :  y^  cannoo  was 
very  much  shaken." 

*  Records  of  the  Selectmen  of  Newbury, 
t  Province  Lans,  vol.  i.,  p.  326. 


2l8  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

October  15,  1719  Mr.  Joseph  Boynton  of  Rowle  informed  of  his 
finding  three  pounds,  one  shilling  &  six  in  paper  money. 

November  30,  i  727  a  gold  ring  was  found  in  the  town  of  Newbury 
by  John  Bradbury  of  Salisbury. 

April  20,  172S  a  little  before  sun  sett  found  in  ye  Towne  of  Newbury 
a  wash  leather  deerskin  by  Enos  Bartlet  without  any  mark. 

April  18,  1736  Found  by  Mr  John  Noyes  one  silver  seal  in  ye  Town 
of  Newbury  with  the  letters  H.  I.  marked  in  said  seal. 

January  12,  1736-7  Joseph  Lunt  informed  that  he  &  John  Moodey 
Junr  found  a  pine  mast  of  about  fifty  three  foot  long  on  plumb  Hand. 

November  30,  1760  taken  up  by  Richard  Kent  one  barrell  of  Cyder 
supposed  to  be  Drove  on  Shore  near  his  house,  by  stress  of  weather, 
no  owner  as  yt  appears. 

MORTGAGE    LOANS   AND    BILLS    OF   CREDIT. 

September  20,  1721,  the  town  of  Newbury  voted  to  receive 
its  proportion  of  the  bills  of  credit  issued  by  the  treasurer 
of  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  under  the  act  passed 
by  the  General  Court  July  13,  1720;  and  Deacon  Nathaniel 
Coffin,  Ensign  William  Titcomb,  and  Lieut.  Henry  Rolfe 
were  appointed  trustees  to  take  charge  of  the  same. 

They  shall  also  let  out  &  improve  s^  money  for  ye  benefit  of  sd 
Towne  at  five  per  cent  per  annum  to  settled  substantial  inhabitants  of 
our  Towne  &  they  shall  lett  to  no  person  less  than  ten  pounds  &  shall 
lett  to  no  one  person  more  than  thirty  pounds  at  one  time  &  that  upon 
good  personal  security  &  they  shall  not  lett  s^  money  for  longer  time 
than  one  year  at  a  time, —  and  we  do  allso  give  s^^  trustees  or  ye  major 
part  of  them  full  power  to  receive  and  gather  in  all  ye  money  which 
they  shall  so  lett  out  with  ye  interest  which  shall  become  dew  for  ye 
same  &  they  shall  pay  into  ye  Towne  or  their  order,  yearly  ye  interests 
of  sd  money  as  it  shall  become  due  &  shall  render  to  ye  Towne  yearly  a 
faire  &  Just  account  of  their  doings  in  this  afaire  in  writing  under  their 
hands,  so  long  as  they  are  continued  in  s^  office  of  Trustees :  allso  ye 
Towne  reserves  liberty  to  Release  sd  trustees  &  chuse  others  when  they 
se  cause  to  do  it :  &  s^  Towne  reserves  liberty  to  give  sd  trustees  other 
instructions  to  act  by  in  this  business  which  sd  Trustees  shall  conform 
to :  when  given.* 

November  22,  1727,  the  General  Court  provided  for  another 
loan  of  sixty  thousand  pounds  in  bills  of  credit  to  the  various 
towns  in  the  province.     April    16,  1728,  "  Maj""  Joseph  Ger- 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


THE  SE  TTLEMENT  A  T  MERRIMA  CK  RIVER  2 1 9 

rish,  Deacon  Abiel  Somerby  and  Deacon  Caleb  Moody  "  were 
chosen  trustees  by  the  town  of  Newbury  to  receive  and  take 
charge  of  bills  of  credit  to  the  amount  of  ;^i,328,  \^s.,  and 
to  manage  and  invest  the  same  upon  the  following  terms  and 
conditions  :  — 

1.  They  shall  let  to  no  one  man  more  than  thirty  pounds  or  less  than 
ten  pounds  of  our  bills  of  credit. 

2.  They  shall  take  good  &  substantial!  sureties  or  personal  security 
according  to  y^  province  act. 

3.  They  shall  let  out  none  of  s^  Bills  of  Credit  for  a  longer  time  than 
one  year  &  shall  let  none  of  said  Bills  of  Credit  out  of  this  Towne. 

4.  They  shall  gather  in  &  pay  in  unto  ye  Treasurer  of  ye  province 
four  per  cent  annually  according  to  y^  province  act. 

5.  That  no  man  be  taken  as  a  surety  for  more  than  one  man  at  a 
time. 

6.  The  said  Trustees  shall  act  in  this  afaire  as  they  shall  receive  in- 
structions from  ye  Towne. 

7.  They  shall  give  to  ye  Towne  a  plain,  just  &  true  account  of  their 
doings  herein  under  their  hands  from  time  to  time  when  it  shall  be 
called  for.* 

February  25,  1729-30,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  voted 
"  that  one  hundred  pounds  of  this  Towns  bills  of  credit  which 
are  in  y*  hands  of  Henry  Rolf,  Esq,  Ensign  WilHam  Titcomb 
&  Nath"  Cofifin  (as  they  are  a  committee  imployed  by  s^  Town, 
ect.)  for  &  toward  y^  paying  of  Francis  Wilks,  &  Jonathan 
Belcher,  Esq.  for  what  cost  &  charge  they  have  been,  or  may 
be  at,  in  doing  business  (at  y*  court  of  great  Britain)  for  &  in 
behalf  of  his  Majesties  province  of  y^  Massachusetts  Bay  in 
New  England  ;  y^  selectmen  are  hereby  ordered  to  draw  said 
money  out  of  y^  hands  of  said  committee  &  send  it  to  y^ 
speaker  of  y^  House  of  Representatives  to  be  by  him  disposed 
of  for  y^  use  &  servis  above  mentioned  if  y*  selectmen  se  cause 
to  do  it."  t 

Subsequently  a  part  of  the  interest  received  from  these 
bills  of  credit  was  used  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  Third 
Parish  Church  in  Newbury.^ 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Ibid.     "  Passed  in  the  affirmative,  and  not  one  man  was  known  to  vote  against  it." 

f'Ould  Newbury,"  p.  433. 


HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 


PLUM    ISLAND. 


For  nearly  fifteen  years  after  the  incorpurati(;n  of  the  town 
of  Newbury  the  General  Court  retained  possession  of  the  low, 
narrow  island  that  extends  from  the  mouth  of  the  Ipswich 
river  to  the  mouth  of  the  Merrimack.  The  following  order 
was  passed  March  13,  1639:  — 

Plum  Island  is  to  remaine  in  the  Courts  power  only  for  the  present 
Ipswich,  Newebury,  and  the  newe  plantation  (Rowley)  between  them 
may  have  the  use  of  it,  till  the  Court  shall  see  cause  otherwise  to  dis- 
pose of  it.* 

At  a  meeting  of  the  freemen  of  Newbury  held  March  6, 
1648-9,  "...  there  was  chosen  Mr.  William  Gerrish,  John 
Saunders,  Daniel  Pierce,  Henry  Shorte,  Richard  Knight, 
Robert  Coker,  William  Titcomb,  Archelaus  Woodman  and 
John  Merrill,  to  bee  a  committee  for  the  towne  to  view  the 
passages  into  Plum  Island  and  to  informe  the  courte  by  way 
of  petition  concerning  the  rights  the  towne  hath  to  the  sayd 
island  and  to  have  full  power  with  M''  Edward  Rawson  to 
draw  forth  a  petition  and  present  it  to  the  next  general 
courte."  f 

Mr  Edward  Rawson,  Mr  John  Spencer  and  Mr  Woodman  was 
chosen  by  the  towne  to  joyne  with  those  men  of  Ipswich  and  Rowley, 
that  was  appointed  to  bee  a  committee  about  Plum  island. f 

At  the  next  session  of  the  General  Court,  Thomas  Parker, 
Percival  Lowle,  John  Spencer,  John  Saunders,  James  Noyes, 
William  Gerrish,  Edward  Woodman,  Henry  Shorte,  and 
Richard  Knight  (or  Kent.?)  presented  a  petition  "in  the 
name  of  the  whole  town,"  in  which  they  set  forth  the  claims 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  to  the  free  and  unrestricted 
use  of  the  whole  island.  The  General  Court,  however,  granted 
October  19,  1649,  "two  parts  to  Ip.swich,  two  to  Newbury, 
and  one  to  Rowley."  % 

September  23  and  26,  1661,  all  the  marsh  land  in  New- 
bury bordering  on   Plum    Island  river  was  divided  among  the 

♦Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  252. 

t  Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 

t  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  pp.  50,  51  ;    Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cxii.,  pp.  24,  25. 


2 

c 

S.    ^    —         v^ 

3.-0)      ;^ 

u,    5-  n        > 

a  s-  3    >^ 

s  ^  a     tC 

n    -■  °        W 

s)   M    -      r/^ 


2  22  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

freeholders  of  the  town.*  The  first  division  extended  from 
Rowley  bounds  to  Sandy  beach,  in  lots  of  four  acres  each 
numbered  from  one  to  fifty-one,  and  the  second  division  from 
one  to  thirteen,  inclusive ;  also,  about  one  hundred  acres  "  be- 
ginning at  the  upland  next  Merrimack  Barre  and  so  extend- 
ing to  Sandy  Beach,"  seventeen  lots  in  all,  of  varying  size, 
from  four  to  ten  acres  each  ;  "  also  the  marsh  land  in  the 
neck  over  the  Great  River,"  fourteen  lots  of  five  acres  each.f 

The  incoming  tide,  with  the  salty  flavor  of  the  sea,  fre- 
quently overflowed  the  low,  level  marshes  and  rendered  them 
productive  and  valuable.  Large  crops  of  salt  hay  were  cut 
from  them  every  year  without  fear  of  impoverishing  the  soil. 
Mowing  machines  and  horse-rakes  had  not  then  been  invented, 
and  hand  scythes  were  used  in  cutting,  and  small  wooden 
rakes  in  turning  and  making  the  hay  that  was  piled  in  cone- 
shaped  stacks  or  ricks  until  it  could  be  removed. 

Although  the  northerly  end  of  Plum  island  is  only  a  suc- 
cession of  sandhills,  with  a  few  straggling  bushes  and  thin 
patches  of  coarse  grass  scattered  here  and  there,  the  southern 
extremity  is  more  fertile.  Horses  and  cattle  belonging  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Ipswich,  Newbury,  and  Rowley,  were  pastured 
there  during  the  summer  months  ;  and  sometimes  the  number 
was  so  large  that  the  scanty  herbage  growing  there  was  in- 
sufficient to  support  them.  In  answer  to  the  petition  of  the 
selectmen  of  Ipswich,  the  General  Court  ordered.  May  30, 
1679,  "that  no  horses  or  cattle  be  put  upon  said  island  with- 
out the  consent  of  the  major  part  of  the  proprietors  of  the 
said  island."  % 

At  that  date  all  the  land  on  the  northerly  side  of  the 
Rowley  line,  on  Plum  island,  was  held  in  common  by  the  in- 
habitants of  Newbury,  except  about  eighty  acres  previously 
granted  Richard  Dole  and  Henry  Jaques  in  exchange  for  a 
certain  number  of  acres  of  marsh  land. 

"June  10,  1662,  there  was  laid  out  unto  Richard   Dole  & 

*  The  statement  in  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  64,  and  in  "  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  213,  that 
the  island  was  divided  at  that  time,  is  incorrect,  as  the  division  evidently  included  only  the  marsh 
land  along  Plum  Island  river. 

t  Newbury  (Proprietors')  Records,  vol.  i.,  pp.  67-74,  inclusive. 

X  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  v.,  p.  232;  also,  "  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  213. 


THE  SETTLEAfENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  223 

Henry  Jaques  a  parcell  of  upland  in  plumb  island  joyning  to 
Rowley  bounds  on  the  south  and  Newbury  marsh  on  the 
west"  *  by  Richard  Knight,  John  Knight,  William  Titcomb, 
Archelaus  Woodman,  and  Hugh  March  for  the  town  of  New- 
bury. November  12,  1675,  the  same  persons,  with  the  ad- 
dition of  John  Emery,  sr.,  consented  to  a  revision  of  the 
bounds  and  limits  of  the  above-described  land.f 

April  5,  1 7 14,  the  town  of  Newbury  "voted  to  grant 
liberty  to  M''  Benjamin  Woodbridge  and  M""  Henry  Somerby 
to  cut  timber  on  Plum  Island  to  finish  two  wharfs  with."  \ 
It  was  also  voted  May  8,  17 17,  "that  all  neat  cattle  and 
horses  shall  be  kept  off  Plum  Island  from  May  first  to  Octo- 
ber first  every  year."  §  In  1739,  the  General  Court  passed 
an  act  to  prevent  horses,  cattle,  sheep,  and  swine  from  run- 
ning at  large  on  Plum  island.  This  act  was  renewed  from 
time  to  time  until  the  year  1792. 

March  25,  1755,  the  proprietors  of  that  portion  of  the 
island  lying  within  the  limits  of  Newbury  met  at  the  town- 
house  in  Newbury.  A  committee  was  chosen  to  prosecute 
all  persons  trespassing  upon  the  property  of  the  proprietors, 
and  the  same  committee  was  instructed  to  take  charge  of  all 
merchandise  thrown  upon  the  beach  by  the  force  of  the  wind 
or  the  action  of  the  sea.  Similar  committees  were  appointed 
at  meetings  held  in  1756,  and  subsequently. § 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  held  September  2,  1827, 
the  standing  committee,  consisting  of  Daniel  Adams,  3d, 
Anthony  Davenport,  and  Josiah  Little,  were  instructed  to  sell 
at  public  auction  "  all  the  lands  belonging  to  the  said  Proprie- 
tors in  the  town  of  Newbury  "  ;  and  December  29,  1827,  "as 
agents  for  the  Freeholders  &  Proprietors  of  common  and  un- 
divided land  in  Newbury,  West  Newbury,  and  Newburyport," 
they  sold  and  conveyed  by  quitclaim  deed  for  the  sum  of  six 
hundred  dollars  to  Moses  Pettingell,  of  Newbury,  "  That  part 
of  Plumb  Island  lying  &  situate  in  said  town  of  Newbury, 
containing  twelve  hundred  acres,  more  or  less,"  "  reserving 
for  public  use  the  public  buildings  and  the  way  leading  to  the 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  S9.         t  Ibid.,  p.  67. 

+  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  185.  §Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


224  HISTORY  OF  XEIVBCRY 

same  :  also  a  privilege  for  the  dwelling  house  &  for  the  light 
houses  belonging  to  the  United  States."  * 

SMALL-POX  AND  OTHER  CONTAGIOUS  DISEASES. 

Stringent  rules  and  regulations  were  adopted  by  the  town 
of  Newbury  to  prevent  the  introduction  of  contagious  dis- 
eases. 

March  lO,  1 690-1,  the  selectmen  were  ordered  to  see  that 
all  persons  infected  with  small-pox  were  removed  to  some 
isolated  place,  and  provided  with  nurses  and  attendants. 
They  were  also  ordered  to  supply  food  and  clothing  to  the 
persons  so  removed,  and  to  the  families  of  those  who  were 
unable  to  take  care  of  themselves. f 

March  24,  1729-30,  the  selectmen  were  instructed  "to  use 
their  utmost  endeavors  to  prevent  persons  &  goods  being 
brought  from  Boston  into  this  Towne  whereby  we  may  be  in 
danger  of  having  ye  small-po.\  brought  among  us."  f 

March  10,  175  1-2,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  inspect  all 
vessels  that  came  into  the  Merrimack  river,  "  to  see  whether 
there  are  any  cases  of  small-pox  on  board  "  ;  and  the  same 
committee  was  instructed  to  give  immediate  notice  to  the 
selectmen  if  they  found  any  person  sick  with  small-pox  in 
any  dwelling-house  within  the  limits  of  the  town.  On  the 
twenty-seventh  day  of  March  following,  the  selectmen  were 
authorized  to  prohibit  the  passing  and  repassing  of  boats  over 
Parker  river  containing  goods  liable  or  supposed  to  be  in- 
fected with  small-pox.  They  were  also  instructed  to  build 
a  dwelling-house  on  Plum  island,  "  near  the  upper  end  of  said 
island,"  for  the  town's  use ;  to  order  all  vessels  coming  into 
Merrimack  river  "  to  anchor  below  Hook's  Point  until  they 
are  Properly  examined  ;  and  to  publish  the  substance  of  these 
votes  in  the  newspapers  of  the  day."  f 

Bills  for  labor,  glass,  and  lumber  "  for  ye  house  on  Plum 
Island,"  were  charged  in  the  account  of  disbursements  ren- 
dered by  the  selectmen  for  the  year  1752. 

In  November,    1759,  several    cases   of   small-pox  were  re- 

*  Essex  Deeds,  book  ccxivi.,  p.  270.  tTowti  of  Newbury  Records. 


THE   SETTLE  ME  XT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  225 

ported  in  the  West  parish,  "  near  the  plains  "  ;  and,  before 
the  disease  could  be  stayed,  thirty-six  persons,  all  but  two  of 
them  adults,  died. 

March  28,  1763,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  appointed  a 
committee  to  select  a  convenient  place  for  a  "  Pest  House," 
and  ascertain  the  cost  of  building  the  same ;  and  May  1 2, 
1763,  they  voted  "to  build  the  Pest  House  in  the  great  pas- 
ture, to  be  38  feet  long,  28  feet  wide  and  one  story  high."  * 

January  27,  1763-4,  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  pro- 
vide gates  for  the  old-town  bridge  and  Thorley's  bridge,  and 
also  gatemen,  or  guards  "  to  prevent  any  person  infected  with 
the  small  pox  from  coming  into  the  town."  * 

May  15,  1764,  the  town  voted  that  the  selectmen  of  New- 
buryport  be  notified  that  the  guards  appointed  to  prevent  the 
spread  of  small-pox  had  been  discharged,  and  that  travellers 
could  pass  the  gates  at  the  bridges  without  inspection.* 

AMMUNITION    AND   POWDER-HOUSE. 

The  selectmen  of  Newbury  were  required  to  provide 
powder  and  ammunition  for  the  militia,  and  were  instructed 
to  keep  a  reasonable  supply  on  hand  at  all  times. 

September  2,  1670,  John  Bartlett,  William  Chandler,  Ed- 
mund Moores,  Samuel  Plummer,  and  Caleb  Moody,  selectmen, 
"  received  of  Nathaniel  Clarke  a  barrell  of  powder  for  the 
Townes  use  for  which  they  agree  to  pay  ten  pounds."  * 

January  9,  1676,  the  selectmen  ordered  "  that  a  barrel  of 
powder  be  purchased  &  also  fifteen  hundred  flints."  * 

Under  the  law  enacted  by  the  General  Court  November 
22,  1693,  every  town  in  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay 
was  required  to  provide  "  a  barrel  of  good  powder,  two  hun- 
dred weight  of  bullets  and  three  hundred  flints  for  every 
sixty  listed  souldiers."  f 

In  1722,  the  selectmen  of  Newbury  had  on  hand  seven 
bags  and  two  casks,  containing  five  hundred  and  forty-three 
pounds  of  bullets,  and  eight  casks,  containing  three  hundred 
and  fifty-seven  pounds  of  powder. J 

*  Town  of  Newbun-  Records.  t  Province  Laws,  vol.  i.,  p.  131. 

X  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  192. 


2  26  HISTORY  OF  XEIVBUKY 

May  15,  1 74 1,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  voted  to  divide, 
in  equal  proportions,  among  the  organized  parishes  all  the 
ammunition  belonging  to  the  town,  and  to  instruct  the  select- 
men to  see  that  it  was  safely  stored  and  kept.* 

May  16,  1743,  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  agree 
with  some  suitable  person  to  build  a  convenient  house  "  in 
which  to  keep  the  town's  stock  of  ammunition  "  ;  but  they 
evidently  did  not  avail  themselves  of  the  privilege  granted 
them,  for  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  voted,  October  30,  1745, 
that  the  selectmen  provide  a  suitable  place  "  in  which  to 
keep  the  Town's  stock  of  powder,"  and,  March  12,  1753-4, 
ordered  the  selectmen  "  to  build  a  powder  house."  * 

February  19,  1754-5,  the  selectmen  paid  Abiel  Somerby 
;^6,  5^-.  4^.  "  for  bricks  for  y^  Powder  House"  ;  and  a  few 
weeks  later  they  paid  several  small  bills  for  shingles  and 
rocks  and  for  labor  on  the  building. 


SECOND    PARISH. 

As  early  as  1685  the  inhabitants  of  the  west  end  of  the 
town,  living  four  or  five  miles  from  the  meeting-house,  asked 
permission  and  help  to  enable  them  to  establish  and  maintain 
the  public  worship  of  God  near  their  own  dwellings.  Three 
or  four  years  later  a  few  individuals  erected  a  meeting-house 
on  land  at  or  near  the  place  where  "  the  way  to  the  mill,  at 
the  mouth  of  Artichoke  river  "  crosses  the  road  leading  to 
Bartlett's  cove,  marked  X  on  the  map  on  page  239.  They 
invited  Mr.  Edward  Thompson  to  officiate  as  minister  there ; 
but  the  town  objected  to  his  coming,  and  protested  against 
his  being  allowed  "to  set  up  a  lecture  and  preach."- 

After  a  long  and  bittter  contest  between  the  zealous 
friends  and  vigorous  opponents  of  Mr.  Thompson,  a  compro- 
mise was  effected,  and  a  committee  appointed  December  21, 
1 694,  "  to  draw  up  articles  and  proposals  in  order  to  setting 
off  part  of  the  west  end  of  the  towne  "  as  a  separate  parish. 

January  i,  1694-5,  the  town  voted 

.  .  .  that  Pipe  Stave  Hill,  near  Daniel  Jaques'  house  shall  be  the 
place  for  the  meeting  house,  and  those  that  live  nearest  to  the  place 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  227 

shall  pay  to  the  ministry  there,  and  those  that  live  nearest  to  the  old 
meeting  house  shall  pay  there :  the  inhabitants  of  the  west  end  to 
choose  a  minister  for  themselves,  only  Mr  Thompson  excepted.  The 
meeting  house  to  stand  where  it  do  until  the  major  part  of  them  see 
cause  to  remove  it. 

It  is  not  to  be  understood  that  any  of  those  that  are  usually  called 
the  ffarms,  or  those  lands  commonly  called  the  ffalls  are  to  belong  to 
the  west  part  of  the  Towne  as  to  the  maintaining  of  a  minister  but  the 
dividing  line  shall  be  from  the  middle  way  between  the  proposed  place 
on  pipe  stave  hill  to  the  old  meeting  house  and  from  the  s^l  midle  way 
in  the  Rode  to  run  on  a  streight  line  to  ffrancis  Brownes  house  neer 
birchen  meadow  &  so  streight  to  the  Little  pond.* 

The  dividing  line  between  the  First  and  Second  parishes 
shown  on  the  map  on  page  239  extends  from  A  to  C,  and 
thence  to  a  point  on  the  Merrimack  river,  nearly  opposite 
Deer  island,  numbered  25. 

During  the  summer  of  1696  the  building  erected  by  the 
inhabitants  of  the  west  end  of  the  town  in  1689  or  1690  was 
enlarged  and  repaired.  About  an  acre  of  land  adjoining  was 
enclosed  with  a  stone  fence  or  wall,  and  is  now  known  as 
"  the  burying  ground  at  Sawyer's  hill."  f 

May  17,  1700,  Deacon  Benjamin  Morss  was  instructed  to 
prepare  a  petition  to  be  presented  to  the  General  Court  for 
authority  to  levy  taxes  and  to  elect  assessors,  collectors,  and 
other  officers  necessary  to'  carry  on  the  work  of  the  parish  ;  :j: 
and  January  25,  1710-11,  Sergt.  John  Ordway  and  Sergt. 
Joseph  Pike  were  appointed  a  committee  "  to  desire  y^  town 
of  Newbury  to  choose  men  to  join  with  them  to  run  y^  line 
between  y^  Town  &  y^  West  precinct  and  also  to  settle  y^ 
bounds  according  to  the  Towns  vote."  § 

March  13,  1710-11  Major  Henry  Somerby  and  the  two  lot  layers 
chosen  a  committee  to  run  the  line  between  ye  Town  and  the  West 
precinct.  II 

Samuel  Sewall  states  in  his  diary,  under  the  date  of  May 
10,  1709,  that  he  "visited  cousin  Jacob  Toppan  and  laid  a 
stone  in  the  foundation  of  y^  meeting  house  at  Pipe  Staff 
hill."     The  building  of  this  new  house  of    worship    created 

•Town  of  Newbury  (Proprietors')  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  23. 

t  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  363-367.  +  Newbury  (Second  Pari.sh)  Records,  p.  15. 

§  Ibid.,  p.  29.  II  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


2  28  HISTORY  OF  XEWBURY 

considerable  dissatisfaction  in  the  parish  ;  and  some  pf  the 
inhabitants  li\-ing  in  the  vicinity  of  Sawyer's  hill,  by  the 
advice  and  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  John  Bridger,  of  Ports- 
mouth, N.H.,  erected  in  171 1  "Queen  Anne's  Chapel."  On 
Sundays  and  holy  days  they  held  service  there  "  according  to 
the  rubrics  and  ritual  of  the  established  Church  of  England  " 
until  the  close  of  the  year  1766.  The  land  upon  which  the 
chapel  stood  now  forms  a  part  of  Belleville  cemetery,  New- 
buryport.* 

November  11,  1734,  the  inhabitants  of  the  First  parish  in 
Newbury,  in  answer  to  the  petition  of  Lieut.  Joseph  Pike  and 
others,  voted  to  enlarge  the  Second  parish  (which  had  been 
reduced  by  the  incorporation  of  the  Fourth  parish),  and  make 
some  changes  in  the  dividing  line,  as  follows  :  — 

Beginning  at  the  midway  between  the  two  meeting  houses  in  said 
parishes,  in  the  road  near  where  John  Chace  formerly  dwelt,  thence 
running  to  the  westerly  end  of  Thomas  Browns  house,  formerly  called 
John  Browns  upper  house,  and  on  the  same  line  to  the  way  on  ye 
southerly  side  of  said  House,  and  thence  by  said  way  running  south- 
easterly to  the  way  leading  from  John  Coffins  to  the  way  called  Ash 
street  and  thence  to  run  westerly  by  said  way  to  the  way  by  which  Dea. 
Thomas  Chace  dwells,  called  Wheat  street,  being  the  bounds  between 
the  second  and  fourth  parishes :  on  condition  said  second  parish  abate 
the  money  which  they  have  assessed  on  Andrew  Downer  as  to  poll 
and  estate  within  said  line,  and  the  said  Downer  and  his  estate,  Real 
and  personal,  are  reserved  to  the  first  parish  during  their  pleasure, 
which  is  to  be  abated  if  accepted  by  said  second  parish  and  entered  Jn 
their  Records  as  accepted  on  the  aforementioned  conditions. f 

December  31,  1734,  the  inhabitants  of  the  Second  parish 
voted  "  to  accept  the  addition  which  the  first  parish  in  New- 
bury granted  to  the  second  parish  by  their  vote  on  the  11"' 
day  of  November  1734."  % 

As  originally  laid  out,  the  parish  covered  a  large  area,  and 
included  many  picturesque  hills  within  its  limits.  Crane 
Neck  hill,  Ilsley's  hill,  Turkey  hill,  and  Archelaus  hill  lifted 
their  dome-shaped  summits  above  the  level  of  the  surround- 
ing country,  while   Indian   hill    and  Pipe-stave  hill    were   con- 

•"Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  sbj-jqo.  t  Nesvbury  (First  Parish)  Records,  p.  24. 

X  Newbury  (Second  Parish)  Records,  p.  75. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  229 

spicuous  landmarks  often  mentioned  in   the   early   records  of 
the  town.  * 

Only  a  few  months  after  the  organization  of  the  parish  the 
inhabitants  were  greatly  alarmed  by  an  attack  on  the  house 
of  Mr.  John  Brown,  then  standing  on  the  southwesterly  side 
of  Turkey  hill.  October  7,  1695,  a  party  of  Indians,  who 
had  secreted  themselves  in  that  vicinity,  seized  and  carried 
away  nine  captives,  all  women  and  children. f 

BYFIELD    PARISH. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  New- 
bury, held  December  9,  1701,  "Upon  y^  request  of  Mrs 
Elizabeth  Dumer,  M""  John  Dumer,  Mr  Joshua  Woodman,  M"" 
William  Moody,  John  Tricomb,  Nathan  Wheeler,  Mrs.  Jane 
Gerrish  in  behalf  of  her  Tenant  M""  Richard  Dumer,  John 
Smith,  Philip  Goodridge  Joshua  Woodman,  M""  John  Cheney, 
rollen  ffraiser,  Philip  de-lane,  Robert  Mingo  y*  the  one  half  of 
their  ministry  rate  heere  may  be  abated  for  the  next  rate  that 
is  to  be  made,"  |  it  was  voted  to  grant  their  request,  as  the 
petitioners  were  then  living  at  "  the  falls,"  on  Parker  river, 
four  or  five  miles  away  from  the  First  Parish  meeting-house, 
and  somewhat  farther  from  the  recently  organized  church  in 
the  Second  parish.  December  16,  1701,  about  the  same 
number  of  persons  residing  in  the  adjoining  town  of  Rowley 
asked  and  obtained  an  abatement  of  one-half  the  tax  imposed 
upon  them  for  the  support  of  the  minister  in  that  town.  In 
1 702  a  few  individuals,  owning  property  in  the  vicinity,  erected 
a  meeting-house  on  or  near  the  dividing  line  between  New- 
bury and  Rowley,  and  invited  Rev.  Moses  Hale  to  become 
their  pastor.  He  accepted  the  invitation,  and  a  parsonage 
was  built  for  him  in  1703. 

At  a  legal  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Rowley,  held 
March  i6,  1702-3,  it  was  voted  : 

.  .  .  that  the  inhabitants  of  Rowley  living  on  the  northwest  side  of  the 
Bridge  called  Rye  Plain  Bridge,  and  on  the   northwest  side  of  the  hill 

*"  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  339-356. 

t  Ibid.,  pp.  287-290  ;  also  pp.  392-393.       House  No.  184,  on  map  of  West  Parish,  p.  39a, 
"  Ould  Newbury,"  was  owned  and  occupied  by  John  Brown  in  1695. 
%  Newbury  Town  Records. 


230  IIJS'rORY  OF  NEWBURY 

called  Long  hill  and  joined  with  the  farmers  of  Newbury  that  doth 
border  on  us  in  building  a  new  meeting  house  for  the  worship  of  God 
shall  be  abated  their  rates  in  the  ministry  rate  in  the  town  of  Rowley  if 
they  maintain  with  the  help  of  our  neighbours  at  Newbury  an  Athoro- 
dox  minister  to  belong  to  and  teach  in  the  meeting  house  that  they  have 
built,  until  such  time  as  it  is  judged  that  there  is  sufificient  number  to 
maintaine  in  the  northwest  part  of  our  towne  a  minister  without  the  help 
of  our  neighbours  of  Newbury  that  doth  border  on  us.* 

February  20,  1703-4,  the  inhabitants  of  the  parish,  having 
met  for  consultation  at  the  residence  of  Rev.  Moses  Hale, 
decided  to  call  the  place  "  Byfield  "  in  honor  of  Col.  Nathaniel 
Byfield,  of  Boston. f  The  Newbury  part  of  the  parish  was 
set  off  October  21,  1706. 

Upon  reading  the  petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  The  falls  in  ye  town 
of  Newbury,  It  was  voted  yt  ye  Dividing  Line  in  reference  to  their  pro- 
curing and  maintaining  a  minister  amongst  themselves  and  for  yt  only, 
said  Line  shall  begin  att  Rowley  Rivers  mouth,  and  so  up  said  River  to 
Rowley  line  &  so  all  thence  of  the  Southwardly  side  of  the  falls  River 
&  of  the  Northwardly  side  of  the  falls  River,  taking  in  John  Cheney 
wth  his  land  he  lives  on,  and  Mr  Moodeys  ffarm,  and  the  ffarm  corn- 
only  called  Ml"  Longfellows  ffarm,  and  M""  Gerishes  farm,  and  the 
westerly  part  of  ye  farm  called  Thirlow  farm  until  it  comes  to  the 
Dividing  line  between  Francis  Thirlow  farm  &  Thomas  Thirlow  farm, 
—  for  so  long  a  time  as  they  shall  maintain  an  orthodox  minister 
amongst  them,  f 

May  13,  1707,  the  bounds  and  limits  of  the  parish  on  the 
Rowley  side  were  established. 

Beginning  at  the  great  rock  in  Newbury  line,  at  the  head  of  the  great 
swamp  lots,  and  so  along  by  the  northwest  end  of  those  lots  to  Thomas 
Jewett's  land,  and  so  on  between  said  Jewett's  land  and  Rye  plain  land 
to  the  bridge  called  Rye  plain  bridge  and  so  [on]  the  way  that  runs  to 
Long  hill,  being  at  the  path  this  side  of  Francis  Nelson's  house,  and  so 
to  Long  Hill,  and  so  along  to  the  road  at  the  elder's  plain  that  goeth  to 
Samuel  Brocklebank's  farm  and  following  on  to  the  farm  laid  out  as 
the  right  of  Thomas  Barker  and  so  to  Bradford  line,  and  along  as  Brad- 
ford line  runs  to  Newbury  line.§ 

The  parish  was  incorporated  in  answer  to  a  petition  signed 
by  John   Dummer  in  behalf  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury 

*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xi.,  pp.  344,  345.  t  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  291-300. 

JTown  of  Newbury  Records.  §  History  of  Rowley,  by  Thomas  Gage,  p.q6. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  R/VEK  231 

and  Rowley  "  of  the  Parish  or  Precinct  upon  Newbury  Falls 
commonly  called  Byfield."  The  petition  states  that  the 
parish  has  been  set  off  by  the  consent  of  both  towns,  and  a 
church  organized.  He  therefore  asks  that  its  inhabitants  may 
be  further  established  by  an  act  or  order  of  the  General 
Court,  and  granted  the  privileges,  immunities,  and  powers 
usually  granted  to  such  parishes,  and  that  they  may  be  author- 
ized to  choose  assessors  and  collectors  to  levy  and  collect 
taxes,  etc.* 

October  28,  17 10,  the  General  Court  ordered 

.  .  .  that  the  Precinct  or  District  upon  Newbury  Falls,  sett  off  by 
Newbury  &  Rowley,  commonly  called  Byfield,  be  an  established,  ac- 
knowledged Precinct  within  the  Intent  of  the  Law,  To  have,  use  & 
Exercise  the  Powers  and  Privileges  by  law  granted  to  such,  for  the 
Maintenance  &  Support  of  the  public  Worship  of  God  there :  And  for- 
asmuch as  the  Time  for  the  anniversary  choice  of  Officers  for  this  Year 
is  past.  The  Clerk  of  the  said  Precinct  is  hereby  impowered  that  not- 
withstanding to  warn  a  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants,  and  they  to  proceed 
to  choose  assessors  &  a  Collector  for  ye  same.f 

The  Newbury  part  of  Byfield  parish  is  shown  on  the  map 
on  page  239,  "  beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Rowley  river,"  num- 
ber 9  on  the  map,  running  up  that  river  to  the  Rowley  line, 
marked  R,  and  thence  in  a  northwesterly  direction  to  a  bound 
of  stakes  and  stones,  numbered  15,  and  thence  by  a  broken 
line  to  a  point  on  a  branch  of  the  river  Parker,  marked  N, 
and  thence  by  the  branch  of  said  river  to  the  bound  begun  at. 

Several  changes  have  been  made  in  the  boundary  lines 
since  1785,  to  suit  the  convenience  of  the  inhabitants  of  that 
neighborhood.  Since  the  incorporation  of  Georgetown  in 
1838  the  parish  has  formed  a  part  of  three  towns;  namely, 
Newbury,  Rowley,  and  Georgetown. 

In  the  burying-ground  adjoining  the  meeting-house  erected 
by  the  inhabitants  of  Byfield  parish  there  is  a  gravestone 
sacred  to  the  memory  of  Mehetable,  wife  of  William  Moody, 
who  died  August  8,  1702.  "She  was  the  first  interred  in 
this  place." 

When  the    parish    was  incorporated,  Stephen  Longfellow, 

*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xi.,  p.  344. 

t  Massachusetts  .Arcliives  (Court  Records),  vol.  ix.,  p.  74. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  235 

son  of  William  Longfellow,  paternal  ancestor  of  the  poet,. 
Henry  Wadsworth  Longfellow,  was  living  at  Newbury  Falls, 
"at  the  place  commonly  known  as  ye  high  field,"  and  Richard 
Dummer,  jr.,  owned  the  farm,  bounded  on  the  northeast 
and  the  northwest  by  the  river  Parker  (subsequently  sold  to 
Mr.  Eben  Parsons,  brother  of  Theophilus  Parsons),  now 
known  as  the  P'atherland  farm.* 

William  Dummer,  grandson  of  Richard  Dummer,  sr., 
was  appointed  deputy  governor  of  the  province  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay  June  15,  17 16,  and  held  that  office  for  fourteen 
years.  From  January  i,  1723,  to  July  28,  1728,  while 
Samuel  Shute,  governor  of  the  province,  was  in  England, 
William  Dummer  occupied  the  gubernatorial  chair  ;  and,  after 
the  death  of  governor  William  Burnet,  September  7,  1729,  he 
was  again  at  the  head  of  the  government  for  nearly  twelve 
months.  He  gave  his  dwelling-house  and  farm  in  Byfield 
parish  to  a  board  of  trustees,  with  instructions  that  the  an- 
nual income  thereof  should  be  "appropriated  and  set  apart 
towards  the  maintenance  of  a  grammar  school  master."  A 
school-house  was  erected  on  the  Dummer  farm,  and  dedicated 
February  28,  1763.  The  next  day  the  school,  under  the 
charge  of  Samuel  Moody,  of  York,  Me.,  as  master,  com- 
menced its  regular  sessions.  It  is  still  in  successful  operation, 
under  the  charge  of  Mr.  Perley  L.  Home,  A.M.  In  1782  an 
act  of  incorporation  was  passed  by  the  General  Court,  provid- 
ing for  the  management  and  control  of  the  school,  under  the 
title  of  "  The  Trustees  of  Dummer  Academy  in  the  County 
of  Essex."  f 

The  photo-engraving  on  the  opposite  page  is  taken,  by  per- 
mission of  Mr.  Joseph  N.  Dummer,  of  Rowley,  from  a  half- 
tone plate  in  his  possession.  The  portrait,  painted  previous 
to  1750,  probably,  from  which  the  plate  was  taken,  is  the 
property  of  the  trustees  of  the  academy. 

THIRD    PARISH. 

At  a  legal  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  First  parish  in 
Newbury,  held  September  19,  1722,  it  was  voted 

*"  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  305-312  and  327-330.  t  Ibid.,  pp.  313-325. 


234  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

.  .  .  that  all  the  Inhabitants  that  Desire  it,  on  the  Northerly  side  of 
ye  Lane  called  Chandler's  Lane,  and  from  the  uper  End  of  said  Lane  on 
a  Strait  Line  to  y^  Northerly  side  of  Capt  John  Marchs  farm  and  thence 
on  a  strait  Line  to  John  Browns  house  untill  it  comes  to  ye  Line  of  ye 
Second  Parish  for  said  Town,  Shall  Have  Liberty  to  Build  a  meeting 
house  for  them  selves  In  ye  most  Reasonable  Place  for  the  Convenience 
of  said  Inhabitants,  and  when  they  are  Duly  Quallified  for  it  In  ye 
Judgment  of  said  Parish,  are  to  be  set  off  and  freed  from  the  Ministry 
for  this  Part  of  said  Parish.* 

The  boundary  line  of  the  Third  parish,  beginning  at  the 
lower  end  of  Chandler's  lane  (now  Federal  street,  Newbury- 
port),  marked  E  on  the  map  on  page  239,  runs  in  a  south- 
westerly direction  to  Capt.  John  March's  farm,  marked  D, 
and  thence  to  the  line  of  the  Second  parish,  marked  C,  and 
thence  by  the  line  of  that  parish  to  a  point  on  the  Merrimack 
river,  numbered  25. 

June  9,  1725,  the  inhabitants  of  the  First  parish  voted  that 
all  persons  living  within  the  bounds  and  limits  named  in  the 
order  adopted  September  19,  1722,  that  are  willing  to  be  set 
off,  shall  be  freed  from  the  maintenance  of  the  ministry  in 
the  First  parish.  At  this  date  a  meeting-house  had  been 
erected  in  the  centre  of  a  triangular  piece  of  land  now  known 
as  Market  square,  Newburyport.  It  was  dedicated  June  25, 
1725. 

A  few  individuals  in  the  vicinity  of  Chandler's  lane,  and 
a  considerable  number  residing  in  the  northerly  part  of  the 
new  parish,  objected  to  the  bounds  and  limits  agreed  upon,  and 
appealed  to  the  General  Court  for  relief.  A  committee  ap- 
pointed by  the  house  of  representatives  November  26,  1725, 
the  governor  and  council  concurring,  after  careful  investiga- 
tion reported  in  favor  of  incorporating  the  parish,  eight  fam- 
ilies living  beyond  the  dividing  line,  on  the  southerly  side  of 
Chandler's  lane,  to  be  set  off  with  their  estates  to  the  new 
parish.  This  report  was  read  and  accepted  at  a  session  of 
the  General  Court  held  December  18,  1725.! 

March  22,  1726-7,  the  inhabitants  of  the  First  parish  voted 

•  First  Parish  Records,  p.  3. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives  (Court  Records),  vol.  xiii.,  pp.  40,  87. 

The  report  is  printed  in  full  on  pp.  430  and  431,  "  Ould  Newbury  "  ;  but  the  date  of  its  pres- 
entation to  the  General  Court  was  December  18,  1725,  not  November  3,  1720,  as  there  stated. 


THE   SETTLEMEXT   AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  235 

.  .  "  that  the  tliird  parish  (called  y^  water  side  parish)  should 
have  the  first  Parishes  right  in  y'^  old  bell  w'^''  was  formerly  im- 
proved for  y^  old  meeting  house."  * 

Although  this  vote  was  passed  at  the  request  of  a  commit- 
tee appointed  by  the  Third  parish,  no  further  action  seems  to 
have  been  taken  in  regard  to  it.  Possibly  the  consent  and 
co-operation  of  the  inhabitants  living  within  the  limits  of  the 
Second  parish  could  not  be  obtained.  At  all  events,  the  Third 
parish  voted  May  23,  1727,  to  purchase  a  bell  weighing 
about  four  hundred  pounds,  and  also  "  voted  that  Jonathan 
Woodman  should  treat  with  some  gentlemen  in  Boston  to 
send  a  bell  for  said  parish." 

In  1730,  about  an  acre  of  land  on  the  southwesterly  side  of 
Frog  pond,  now  known  as  "The  Old  Hill  Burying-ground," 
Newburyport,  was  enclosed  with  a  board  fence  and  set  apart 
as  a  burial-place  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  Third  parish. f 

In  1736,  the  meeting-house  was  enlarged;  and  September 
30,  1740,  Rev.  George  Whitefield  preached  his  first  sermon 
in  Newbury  to  an  immense  congregation,  that  occupied 
every  available  seat  and  filled  to  overflowing  the  aisles  and 
galleries  of  that  spacious  building^ 

During  the  war  between  France  and  England,  Col.  Moses 
Titcomb,  who  was  in  command  of  a  battery  at  the  capture  of 
Louisburg  in  1745,  re-enlisted  in  the  English  army  when 
hostilities  were  renewed,  in  1755,  between  those  powers. 
From  the  same  pulpit  Rev.  John  Lowell,  pastor  of  the 
church,  delivered  a  sermon.  May  22,  1755,  before  Col.  Tit- 
comb  and  the  men  under  his  command  previous  to  their  de- 
parture for  the  seat  of  war.  Four  or  five  months  later  me- 
morial exercises  were  held  in  the  same  place  to  commemorate 
the  life  and  character  of  Col.  Titcomb,  who  was  killed  in  the 
battle  at  Crown  Point  September  8,  I755.§ 

On  the  unoccupied  land  on  the  westerly  side  of  the  meet- 
ing-house a  huge  gridiron  was  erected  after  the  surrender  of 
Quebec,  September  19,  1759;  and  there  with  demonstrations 
of  joy  an  ox  was  broiled  or  roasted,  and  songs  were  sung  com- 
memorating the  victories  of  the  year.|| 

•  First  Parish  Records,  vol.  i.  t  "  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  453.  t  Ibid.,  p.  526. 

§  Ibid.,  pp.  464-473.  II  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  224. 


236  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


FOURTH  PARISH. 


At  a  legal  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Second  parish, 
held  August  26,  1729,  it  was  "voted  to  answer  the  petition 
that  was  put  in  to  ye  General  Court  by  some  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  y^  west  precinct  in  Newbury  on  August  ye  20*^  1729, 
to  have  ye  precinct  divided  into  two  parishes."  * 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  prepare  a  statement  to  be 
presented  to  the  General  Court ;  and  John  Brown,  surveyor, 
was  employed  to  make  a  map  of  the  parish,  showing  the  pro- 
posed line  of  division.!  After  considerable  discussion  and 
delay  the  freeholders  consented,  January  12,  1 730-1,  to  the 
organization  of  the  new  parish,  and  appointed  a  committee, 
consisting  of  Nathaniel  Cofifin,  Joseph  Gerrish,  and  Henry 
Rolfe,  to  take  such  steps  as  might  be  necessary  to  carry  the 
vote  into  effect. 

May  20,  1 73 1  voted  to  desire  ye  Honourable  General  Court  to  con- 
firm and  establish  ye  division  which  they  [the  committee]  have  made.ij: 

June  I,  1 73 1,  Benjamin  Hills  and  others  opposed  the  re- 
port of  the  committee,  and  petitioned  the  General  Court  to 
give  the  new  parish  more  territory  and  straighten  the  divid- 
ing line,  "which  is  now  very  crooked  and  inconvenient." 
The  petitioners,  however,  after  a  prolonged  hearing  were  given 
"  leave  to  withdraw "  ;  and  the  bounds  and  limits  of  the 
Fourth  parish  were  established  as  follows  :  — 

Begining  at  the  southerly  end  of  the  way  that  runs  on  the  north- 
easterly side  of  Deacon  Thomas  Chases  homestead  where  he  now  liveth 
&  running  up  said  way  [Whit  street  or  Merrill's  lane]  until  it  comes  to 
Abel  Merrill's  land  where  he  now  dwelleth  &  thence  to  run  on  the 
southerly  side  of  said  Merrill's  land  until  it  comes  to  the  next  way 
[Downer's  lane]  which  lies  on  the  northeasterly  side  of  .said  Merrill's 
land,  and  thence  on  the  said  way  until  it  comes  to  the  south  way,  so 
called,  and  then  to  run  up  said  south  way  until  it  meets  with  the  land  of 
Mr  John  Carr  or  Mr  Thomas  Noyes  and  then  to  run  across  to  the  Brad- 
ford road  so  as  to  take  in  all  the  land  of  the  homestead  of  the  said  Mr 
John  Carr  and  Mr  Thomas  Noyes'  land  on  the  westerly  side  of  said  line 

*  Newbury  (Second  Parish)  Records,  p.  66. 

t  "  Ould  Newbury,''  pp.  391-395. 

%  Newbury  (Second  Parish)  Records,  p.  68. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  A  T  MERRIMACK  RIVER  237 

and  from  thence  to  run  down  the  lane  called  Baylys  lane  to  Merrimack 
river,  which  line  is  to  the  westward  of  Mr  Joshua  Bailey's  dwelling  house 
and  that  the  inhabitants  of  such  Precinct  be  vested  with  the  Powers, 
Privileges  and  Immunities  whicli  other  Precincts  within  the  Province 
have  or  by  law  ought  to  have.* 

The  division  line  between  the  Second  and  Fourth  parishes 
begins  at  the  point  B  on  the  map  on  page  239,  and  runs  in 
a  northerly  direction  to  J,  thence  easterly  to  I,  northerly  to 
H,  westerly  to  G,  and  thence  northerly  to  F  on  the  Merri- 
mack river. 

December  4,  1733,  this  line  was  slightly  changed  in  answer 
to  the  petition  of  Thomas  Chase  and  others. f 

Rev.  William  Johnson  was  the  first  minister  of  the  Fourth 
parish.  He  was  settled  September  15,  1731,  and  retained 
his  office  until  his  death,  February  22,  1772. 


FIFTH    PARISH. 

May  21,1 760,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  General  Court, 
asking  that  a  portion  of  the  Second  parish,  on  the  easterly 
side  of  Artichoke  river,  and  a  portion  of  the  Third  parish,  on 
the  westerly  side  of  Toppan's  lane  extending  to  the  Merri- 
mack river  on  a  line  to  be  agreed  upon,  might  be  set  off  and 
made  a  new  parish. 

There  was  considerable  dissatisfaction  in  the  Second  parish 
at  this  time  on  account  of  the  location  of  the  meeting-house 
built  during  the  summer  of  1759.  November  18,  1760,  the 
inhabitants  of  the  parish  "  voted  y*  Mr  Enos  Bartlet,  Deacon 
James  Brown,  and  Tristram  Coffin  are  a  commi"  to  trye  to 
remove  the  uneasiness  from  any  if  they  can  ...  on  ye 
account  of  placing  ye  meeting  house."  | 

February  18,  1761,  the  inhabitants  of  the  Second  parish 
appointed  a  committee  to  draw  up  a  statement  of  reasons  why 
the  petition  of  Moses  Little  and  others  to  be  set  off  and  in- 
corporated as  a  separate  paiish  should  not  be  granted,  and 
Mr.   William   Foster  and  Deacon  Edmund  Bayley  were  in- 

*  Massachusetts  Archives  (Court  Records),  vol.  xv.,  pp.  82,  83  ;  also,  "  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  392. 
t  Newburj'  (First  Pari.sh)  Records.  X  Newbury  (Second  Parish)  Records,  p.  131. 


238  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

structcd  t(j   present   the  same  to  the  General    Court   in   the 
month  of  March  next.* 

At  a  legal  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Third  ])arish, 
held  February  11,  1761,  it  was  voted 

.  .  .  that  Daniel  Farnham,  Esq  Mr  Timothy  Pike  &  Mr  Charles 
Hodge  be  a  committee  to  make  answer  at  the  next  setting  of  the  gen- 
eral court  to  a  petition  lately  preferred  to  s^  court  by  a  number  of  the 
second  &  third  parishes  wherein  they  pray  that  the  general  court  would 
set  them  off  all  the  westerly  part  of  ?A  parish  as  far  as  Mr  Moses 
Moody's  land  on  the  north  side  of  the  highway  and  as  far  as  Toppan's 
lane  on  the  south  side  of  said  way.  f 

The  General  Court,  however,  after  due  deliberation  granted 
the  prayer  of  the  petitioners,  April  17,  1761,  and  established 
the  bounds  of  the  new  parish,  as  follows  :  — 

.  .  .  begining  at  the  north  east  Corner  of  Mr  Moses  Moody's  land  by 
Merrimack  river,  thence  by  said  Moody's  land  on  the  southerly  side  to 
the  country  road  [now  High  street,  Newburyport]  J  thence  eastwardly 
to  Toppan's  lane  and  down  to  the  westerly  end  of  the  said  lane,  thence, 
upon  a  straight  line  to  the  southeast  corner  of  Francis  Brown's  land,  to 
the  South  way,  so  called,  thence  westerly  by  the  said  way  to  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  Second  Parish,  thence  by  said  Parish  to  Stephen 
Sawyer's  land  on  the  northerly  side,  thence  by  said  Sawyer's  land  to  the 
Road  nigh  his  dwelling  house,  thence  to  John  Rogers'  mill  dam,  thence 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Artichoke  river  at  the  river  Merrimack,  together 
with  Capt.  Stephen  Ordway  and  his  estate. § 

All  persons  living  within  the  above-named  limits,  except 
"  Edward  Toppan,  Samuel  Cook,  John  Poor,  Mary  Morga- 
ridge,  Elizabeth  Pilsbury,  William  Weed,  John  Downing, 
Joseph  Downer,  Andrew  Downer,  John  Rogers,  junior,  Peter 

*  Newbury  (Second  Parish)  Records,  p.  132.  t  Newbury  (Third  Parish)  Records. 

X  Moses  Moody  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  between  the  Merrimack  river  and  the  country 
road,  now  High  street,  Newburyport,  extending  from  Moody's  lane,  now  Woodland  street,  to 
a  way  subsequently  laid  out  and  named  North  street,  now  Oakland  street,  Newburyport. 

When  the  Fifth  parish  was  incorporated,  the  southerly  side  of  Mr.  Moody's  land  was  taken  as 
the  boundary  line.  North  street  was  evidently  not  laid  out  until  1815,  perhaps  later.  In  a  deed 
of  conveyance  to  Thomas  Emery,  dated  November  21,  1796,  Moses  Moody  mentions  "land  I 
have  reserved  lor  a  road  two  rods  wide  "  ("  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  687)  ;  and  Timothy  Osgood  sold 
to  .Samuel  Osgood,  April  15,  1S15,  laud  and  buildings  in  Newburyport  bounded  "northeasterly 
on  Merrimack  street,  northwesterly  on  a  new  street  to  be  laid  down  two  and  one  half  rods  wide" 
(Essex  Deeds,  vol.  ccv.,  p.  272).  June  7,  1837,  John  Pearson,  3rd,  conveyed  to  True  Choate  the 
same  property,  "  bounded  northeasterly  by  Merrimack  street  and  northwesterly  by  North 
street"  (Essex  Deeds,  vol.  ccc,  p.  265). 

§  Massachusetts  Archives  (Court  Records),  vol.  xxiii.,  p.  705. 


2  40  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Rogers,  and  Al)icl  Rogers,"  were  declared,  by  order  of  the 
General  Court,  inhabitants  of  the  Fifth  parish. 

The  boundary  Hne  of  the  parish,  beginning  at  a  point 
on  the  Merrimack  river  marked  L  on  the  map  on  page  239, 
runs  by  a  broken  Hne  to  the  letter  K,  thence  to  C,  thence  to 
B,  thence  to  the  Artichoke  river,  thence  by  said  river  to  its 
mouth,  and  thence  by  the  Merrimack  river  to  the  bound 
begun  at. 

A  meeting-house  was  erected  on  Meeting-house  lane,  now 
Noble  street,  Newburyport ;  and  a  church  was  organized 
July  22,  1762.  The  first  and  only  minister  of  the  parish  was 
settled  September  i,  1762,  and  dismissed  April  28,  1784. 
Subsequently,  a  new  religious  society  was  formed  in  the 
parish,  now  known  as  '*  The  Belleville  Congregational  Church 
and  Society  of  Newburyport  "  ;  and  a  new  meeting-house  was 
erected  on  High  street,  near  Moody's  lane,  now  Woodland 
street,  Newburyport. 

The  map  on  the  preceding  page  is  reproduced  from  a  draw- 
ing made  by  E.  March  for  the  town  of  Newbury  in  1795.* 
A  few  lines  showing  the  metes  and  bounds  of  the  several 
parishes  have  been  added  :  otherwise  it  is  an  exact  copy,  upon 
a  reduced  scale,  of  the  original  now  on  file  at  the  State 
House  in  Boston. 

The  location  of  any  house  or  place  named  in  the  following 
list  can  be  found  by  its  corresponding  number  on  the  map  :  — 

1.  Light  Houfes  on  Plumb  island       12.   Dumer  Accadamy. 

Point.  13.  Thurla's  Mill. 

2.  Little  Pine  Island  River.  14.  Byfield  Meeting  House. 

3.  Great  Pine  Island  River.  15.  Bound  of   Newbury,  Bradford 

4.  Pine  Island  Mills.  &  Rowley. 

5.  Pa[r]ker  River.  16.  Meeting    House    in    the  third 

6.  Pa[r]ker  River  Bridge.  Parish. 

7.  Little  River.  17.  Indian  River. 

8.  Pearsons  Mills.  18.  Bridge  over  Indian  River. 

9.  Rowley  River.  19.  Meeting  House  in  the  second 

10.  Newburyport  Woollen   Manu-  Parish. 

factory  and  Moody's  Mill.         20.  Artichoke    River   &    Hoopers 

11.  Thurla's  Bridge.  Mill. 

*  Massachusetts  Archives  (Town  Plans),  vol.  ix.,  plan  30. 


THE    SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  241 

21.  Artichoke  Bridge.  27.   Meeting    Houfe    in    the    first 

22.  Meeting  Hou.se  in  the   fourth  Parisli. 

Parish.  28.  Meeting  House  Pond. 

23.  Amesbury  ferrey.  29.  Mill  Bridge. 

24.  Sweats  ferrey.  30.  Trotters  Bridge. 

25.  Efsex  Merrimack  Bridge.  31.  New  Bridge. 

26.  Friends  Meeting  Houfe. 

The  double  prick'd  lines  exhibit  the  roads. 

Reputed  distance  from  the  Centre  of  the  Town  to  Salem,  24  Miles; 
to  Boston,  42  Miles. 

Area  of  Water  in  the  Town. 

A  cres. 

Flats  around  Woodbridge's  Island 853 

Plumb  jsland  River 359 

Little  Pine  Island  river 25 

Great  Pine  Island  river 30 

River  Parker 490 

Little  River "]"] 

Indian  River 19 

Artichoke  River 38 

Meeting  Houfe 5 

1896 
TOWN-HOUSE   AND    COURT-HOUSE. 

A  new  meeting-house,  the  third  one  "  sett  up  on  the 
knowle  of  upland  by  Abraham  Toppan's  barne,"  was  erected 
during  the  year  1700.  July  22,  1702,  the  selectmen  were 
instructed  "  to  consider  and  report  what  it  will  cost  to  re- 
move the  old  meeting  house  farther  from  the  new  meeting 
house,  and  to  fitt  it  up  for  a  court  house,  towne  house  and 
scht)ol  house."  * 

March  17,  1702-3,  the  town  voted  to  repair  the  building 
and  make  such  alterations  as  were  necessary  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  and  the  pupils  of 
the  town  school ;  but  after  further  consideration  this  plan  was 
abandoned,  and  May  23,  1705,  "the  old  meeting  house  was 
granted  to  Richard  Brown  with  liberty  to  remove  it."  * 

Twenty  years  later,  February  25,  1724-5,  the  freeholders 
voted  to  build  a  town-house  at  the  upper  end  of  Greenleaf's 

*Town  of  Ne\vbur\'  Records 


242  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

lane,  now  State  street,  and  appointed  a  committee  to  make  an 
estimate  of  the  cost  of  the  land,  labor,  and  materials  needed. 

At  a  meeting  held  May  13,  1728,  the  subject  was  again 
under  consideration  ;  but  no  definite  action  was  taken  at  that 
time.  February  22,  1 730-31,  the  town  reconsidered  its  vote 
to  build  a  town-house  "at  ye  uper  end  of  Greenleaf's  lane," 
and  voted  to  build  it  in  Chandler's  lane,  now  Federal   street. 

The  estimated  cost  of  the  new  building  and  the  dissatis- 
faction arising  from  the  change  of  location  created  a  strong 
feeling  of  opposition  to  the  measure.  Subscription  papers 
were  circulated  for  the  purpose  of  raising  money  to  build  a 
court-house  and  town-house  near  the  tavern  at  the  head  of 
Muzzey's  lane,  now  Marlborough  street;  and  May  11,  1733, 
the  First  parish  of  Newbury  was  granted  "  liberty  to  build  a 
convenient  town  house  within  two  years  at  their  own  cost  and 
charge  near  lieutenant  John  March's  house."  * 

May  7,  1734,  Benjamin  Morse,  jr.,  sold  to  the  First  parish 
a  lot  of  land  "  bounded  westerly  &  northerly  by  land  of  the 
said  Mors,  easterly  by  a  way,  and  southerly  by  land  reputed 
to  be  Mr.  Fowlers,"  to  build  a  town-house  upon.f 

September  18,  1734,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  voted 
that  the  interest  received  from  the  bills  of  credit  issued  by 
the  state  should  be  applied  "toward  the  finishing  the  Towne 
House  now  in  building,  provided  the  inhabitants  of  ye  first 
parish  go  on  &  finish  said  House  without  asking  anything 
more  of  the  Towne  and  that  said  House  shall  be  made  sure 
to  the  Towne  and  County  by  a  vote  of  the  first  parish  as  may 
be  reasonable  after  it  is  finished."  * 

November  11,  1734,  the  parish  voted  that  the  town  house 
"  now  standing  in  Newbury  near  y^  Dwelling  house  of  Lieu* 
John  March  shall  be  for  y^  use  of  the  town  of  Newbury  and 
for  y^  use  of  the  County  of  Essex  for  y^  keeping  and  holding 
of  Courts  &c."  :j: 

January  28,  1734-5,  James  Noyes  and  John  Pearson  con- 
veyed to  a  committee  of  the  First  parish  in  Newbury,  consist- 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Essex  Deeds,  vol.  Ixix.,  p.  3  ;  vol.  cxxxii.,  p.  34  :  and  "  Ould  Nevvbur>',"  pp.  ig8-2oo. 

X  Newbury  (First  Parish)  Records. 


THE  SETTLE  ME  XT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  243 

ing  of  Joseph  Gcrrish,  Henry  Rolf,  John  March,  and  Charles 
Pierce,  "one  Town  House,  so  called,  standing  in  Newbury 
aforesaid  on  a  piece  of  land  sold  by  Benjamin  Mors,  jun,  to 
the  First  Parish  in  Newbury."  * 

February  27,  1734-5,  Mr.  John  Pearson  was  authorized  to 
receive  from  John  Appleton,  treasurer  of  the  county  of 
Essex,  the  sum  of  two  hundred  pounds  in  settlement  for  the 
town  and  court  house  built  by  the  parish. f 

Twenty-five  years  later,  when  the  building  needed  repairs, 
an  effort  was  made  to  remove  it  to  a  more  convenient  loca- 
tion. May  20,  1760,  Dr.  Nathan  Hale  and  several  other  pe- 
titioners applied  to  the  town  for  an  appropriation  for  repair- 
ing or  removing  the  town-house.  This  petition  was  not 
granted,  and  on  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  May  following  an  un- 
successful effort  was  made  to  authorize  the  selectmen  to  erect 
a  new  building  nearer  the  centre  of  the  town. 

In  1762,  the  county  of  Essex  appropriated  two  hundred 
pounds  for  a  new  court-house  in  Newbury,  "  provided  the  town 
raise  a  like  sum  for  the  same  purpose."  This  proposal  was 
not  acceptable  to  the  legal  voters  of  Newbury  ;  and  they  de- 
clined March  29,  1762,  to  co-operate  with  the  county  in  the 
erection  of  the  proposed  building.  Some  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  Third  parish,  however,  subscribed  a  sum  sufficient  to 
defray  the  cost  of  "  a  court  house  for  ye  use  of  said  county 
and  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newbury"  ;  and  July  7, 
1762,  Daniel  Farnham,  Michael  Dalton,  Jonathan  Bayley, 
Thomas  Woodbridge,  and  others  purchased  of  Joseph  Clem- 
ents eleven  rods  of  land  "on  Fish  Street  adjoining  his  dwell- 
ing house,"  and  conveyed  the  same  to  John  Choate,  treasurer 
of  Essex  County  "  for  the  uses  and  purposes  above  expressed 
and  for  no  other  use  or  purpose  whatever."  \  On  this  land, 
at  the  corner  of  Fish,  now  State,  and  Essex  streets,  a  com- 
modious town  and  court  house  was  erected  within  the  pres- 
ent limits  of  the  city  of  Newburyport. 

The  old  town-house,  on  High  street,  at  the  head  of  Marl- 
borough street,  was  sold  in  1780,  and  removed. 

*  Essex  Deeds,  vol.  Ixviii.,  p.  11. 
t  Newbury  (First  Parbh)  Records. 
X  Essex  Deeds,  book  cxi.,  p.  i  n. 


244  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

ALMSHOUSE. 

May  17,  1682,  the  town  "voted  that  the  selectmen  shall 
have  power  to  take  care  that  the  poore  may  be  provided  for, 
and  to  build  a  cottage  or  cottages  for  them  according  to  their 
discretion."  * 

February  6,  1704-5,  the  selectmen  were  ordered  to  ascer- 
tain and  report  at  a  subsequent  meeting  the  probable  cost 
of  a  building  suitable  for  an  almshouse.  The  estimates  sub- 
mitted were  evidently  unsatisfactory  ;  and  no  further  action 
was  taken  until  March  12,  1722-3,  when  "  Ensigne  William 
Titcomb,  Richard  Kent,  Esq,  &  Cap'  Henry  Rolfe  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  view  a  place  for  an  alms  house  &  make 
an  estimate  of  the  cost  of  land  &  of  the  building  to  be  built."  f 
The  report  of  the  committee  was  not  acceptable  to  the 
legal  voters  of  the  town,  and  further  consideration  of  the  sub- 
ject was  indefinitely  postponed.  March  12,  1733-4,  a  com- 
mittee, consisting  of  Doctor  Nathan  Hale,  Joseph  Atkins, 
Esq.,  Jonathan  Poor,  Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq.,  and  Deacon 
Joshua  Moody,  was  chosen  to  select  a  suitable  lot  of  land  and 
procure  plans  for  the  proposed  new  almshouse ;  but  the  loca- 
tion selected  and  the  plans  agreed  upon  were  vigorously 
opposed  by  some  of  the  inhabitants,  and  after  a  heated  de- 
bate the  recommendations  of  the  committee  were  defeated. J 

At  a  town  meeting  held  March  8,  1736-7,  the  question 
was  again  discus.sed  ;  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  con- 
sider the  advisability  of  erecting  a  building  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  poor  of  the  towns  of  Newbury,  Amesbury,  and 
Salisbury,  "  also  to  ascertain  what  proportion  of  the  prob- 
able cost  each  of  the  above  named  towns  will  pay."  % 

The  committee  was  unable  to  secure  the  co-operation  of 
Amesbury  and  Salisbury  upon  terms  and  conditions  that  were 
considered  mutually  advantageous ;  and,  after  several  inef- 
fectual attempts  to  harmonize  conflicting  views  and  interests, 
the  plan  was  abandoned,  although  an  unsuccessful  effort  was 
made  to  revive  it  in  the  spring  of  1743.  § 

December    13,    1743,  Joseph   Gerrish,   Henry    Rolfe,    and 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  p.  217. 

$Town  of  Newbury  Record.s,  vol.  iv.  §  MeniU's  History  of  Amesbur>',  p.  206. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  245 

John  Greenlcaf  were  instructed  "  to  buy  land  to  set  a  gaol 
&  work  house  upon  &  to  provide  materials  &c  for  said  build- 
ings." * 

February  4,  1743-4,  they  purchased  a  lot  of  land,  four 
rods  wide,  on  King  street,  now  Federal  street,  Newburyport. 
May  15,  1750,  the  selectmen  were  ordered  "to  view  the 
work  house  and  see  that  it  is  properly  finished."  * 

Maixh  14,  1757-8,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  see 
whether  a  suitable  addition  could  be  made  to  the  work- 
house for  the  accommodation  of  the  poor  of  the  town,  or 
whether,  upon  the  whole,  it  would  be  more  advantageous  to 
buy  another  lot  of  land  and  erect  a  new  building.  This  com- 
mittee reported  March  twenty-seventh  ;  and  after  some  dis- 
cussion another  committee  was  appointed  to  purchase,  for  the 
use  of  the  town,  the  dwelling-house  of  Caleb  Moody  on  Cot- 
tle's lane,  now  Bromfield  street,  Newburyport. 

May  23,  1758,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  sell  to  the  county 
of  Essex  the  prison  house  and  land  in  Newbury,  and  pur- 
chase with  the  proceeds  a  building  suitable  for  a  workhouse 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  poor. 

For  some  reason  unknown  the  dwelling-house  on  Cottle's 
lane  was  not  purchased  ;  and  May  8,  1760,  Thomas  Wood- 
bridge  and  Robert  Roberts  conveyed  to  the  selectmen  of 
Newbury  half  an  acre  of  land  on  the  southeast  side  of  King 
street,  now  Federal  street,  Newburyport,  and  there  the  new 
workhouse  was  built. f 

October  20,  1763,  the  town  voted  to  build  a  small  house  in 
the  rear  of  the  workhouse  for  the  insane. 

COURT  OF  COMMON  PLEAS  AND  GENERAL  SESSIONS. 

Under  the  charter  granted  by  King  William  and  Queen 
Mary  in  1691,  courts  of  justice  were  established  in  every 
county  in  the  province  of  Mas.sachusetts  Bay.  The  fourth 
section  of  the  thirty-third  chapter  of  the  Acts  and  Resolves 
of  the  General  Court,  passed  November  25,  1692,  provided 
that  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  should  be  held  "  for  the 

•Town  of  Newbury  Records.  t  Essex  Deeds,  book  cxiv.,  p.  252. 


246  IIISTOKY  OF    XEIVBURY 

county  of  Essex,  at  Salem,  on  the  last  Tuesdayes  in  June 
and  December :  at  Ipswich,  on  the  last  Tuesday  in  March, 
and  at  Newbury  on  the  last  Tuesday  in  September."  * 

The  first  session  of  the  court  in  Newbury  was  held  in  the 
meeting-house  of  the  First  parish  September  26,  1693.  The 
presiding  judges  were  Hon.  Bartholomew  Gedney,  of  Salem, 
Hon.  John  Hawthorne,  of  Salem,  Hon.  Samuel  Appleton,  of 
Ipswich,  and  Hon.  Jonathan  Corwine,  of  Salem. 

A  large  number  of  criminal  and  civil  cases  were  disposed 
of  at  this  term  of  the  court.  The  most  important,  from  a 
local  point  of  view,  was  an  action  of  trespass  brought  by 
James  and  Richard  Carr  against  Capt.  Edward  Sargent  for 
carrying  men  and  horses  over  the  Merrimack  river.  The  de- 
fendant stated  in  his  answer  that  Capt.  John  March  was  the 
proper  owner  of  the  ferry,  and  that  he  was  then  in  the  king's 
service  on  the  eastern  frontier.  The  case  was  continued  to 
the  next  inferior  court  in  the  county. f 

All  laws  enacted  in  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 
under  the  charter  of  1692,  were  submitted,  in  compliance  with 
the  provisions  of  that  charter,  to  the  King  and  Queen  of  Eng- 
land, or  to  their  successors  in  office,  for  approval.  Some  ex- 
ceptions were  taken  to  the  act  passed  November  25,  1692  ; 
and  it  was  disallowed  by  the  Privy  Council  August   22,  1695. 

On  the  third  day  of  October,  1696,  the  General  Court 
revived  and  continued  in  force  until  the  month  of  May 
following  the  act  ■  establishing  courts  of  justice  in  the  prov- 
ince. J  June  19,  1697,  another  act  was  passed,  providing  for 
the  trial  "  of  all  matters  and  issues  in  fact  arising  or  happen- 
ing in  any  county  or  place  within  the  province,  by  a  jury  of 
twelve  men."  §  Both  these  acts  were  disallowed  November 
24,  1698. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  June,  1699,  two  acts,  one 
appointing  the  times  and  places  "for  holding  of  courts  of 
general  sessions  of  the  peace,"  and  the  other  establishing 
"  inferiour  courts  of  common  pleas  in  the  several  counties  of 
the    province,"    were    passed  by  the  General   Court  and  ap- 

*  Acts  and  Resolves  of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  vol.  i.,  p.  73. 
t  Records  of  the  Court  of  Common   Pleas  (Salem),  vol.  i.,  p.  286. 
tProvhice  Laws,  vol.  i.,  p.  248.  §Ibid.,  286. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  247 

proved  by  the  governor.  Under  these  acts  courts  were  held 
"  for  the  county  of  Essex,  at  Salem,  on  the  last  Tuesdays  in 
June  and  December ;  at  Newbury  on  the  last  Tuesday  in 
September;  and  at  Ipswich  on  the  last  Tuesday  in  March."  * 
No  objections  were  raised  by  the  Privy  Council  to  the  acts 
passed  in  1699,  re-establishing  the  courts  of  justice  in  the 
province ;  and  no  alteration  in  the  time  or  place  of  meeting 
was  made  until  January  28,  1764,  when  the  town  of  New- 
buryport  w^as  incorporated,  and  "  an  act  for  erecting  a  part  of 
the  town  of  Newbury  into  a  new  town  by  the  name  of  New- 
buryport  "  was  passed,  defining  its  powers  and  privileges  and 
expressly  providing 

.  .  .  That  the  inferior  court  of  common  pleas,  and  the  court  of 
general  sessions  of  the  peace,  by  law  appointed  to  be  held  at  Newbury 
on  the  last  Tuesday  of  September  annually,  shall  for  the  future  be  held 
in  Newburyport  on  the  last  Tuesday  of  September  annually  and  to  all 
intents  and  purposes  shall  be  considered  as  when  held  in  the  town  of 
Newbury  as  aforesaid,  any  law  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.  \ 


WATCH-HOUSE   AND    JAIL. 

For  the  detention  of  criminals  or  persons  accused  of  dis- 
orderly conduct  a  watch-house  was  built  at  a  very  early  date 
in  Newbury.  It  was  evidently  located  near  the  meeting-house. 
The  selectmen  were  ordered  April  8,  1673,  to  keep  it  in 
good  repair.  \ 

January  4,  1705-6,  Capt.  Henry  Somerby,  Capt.  Stephen 
Greenleaf,  Capt.  Edward  Sargent,  and  others  were  granted  a 
lot  of  land  "  between  y®  watch  house  &  y^  meeting  house 
pond  joyning  to  Dr.  Toppan's  fence  to  sett  up  a  stable  w'^'^ 
they  are  to  injoy  during  the  Towns  pleasure."  % 

January  29,  1 706-7,  the  town  voted  "that  there  be  a 
gaole  or  prison  built  in  Newbury  .  .  .  provided  the  county  be 
at  one  half  of  the  cost  and  charge."  \ 

The  jail  was  erected  near  the  meeting-house,  and  was  prob- 
ably in  use  for  thirty-fi\-e  or  forty  years.     The  News  Letter, 

*  Acts  and  Resolve?,  vol.  i. ,  pp.  367-370.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  p.  677. 

J  Town  of  Xewburv'  Records. 


248  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

published   in    Boston,   under    the   date   of  August    31,    1725, 
says  :  — 

About  midnight  a  company  of  rioters  assembled  on  horseback  and 
with  crow  bars  broke  the  doors,  bolts  and  locks  of  the  gaol  in  Newbury 
and  look  off  on  spare  horses  Isaac  Brown  and  Hugh  Ditson  charged 
with  capital  offences.  Governor  William  Dummer  offered  a  reward  of 
fifty  pounds  for  their  apprehension.* 

At  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  held  at  Salem  July  9, 
1734,  Benjamin  Marston,  sheriff  of  Essex  county,  asked  "for 
the  better  security  of  the  prisoners  "  that  a  house  for  the 
jail-keeper  might  be  erected  near  the  jail  in  Newbury.  The 
court  ordered  Nathaniel  Coffin,  Richard  Kent,  and  Joseph 
Gerrish  to  ascertain  what  proportion  of  the  cost  of  the  pro- 
posed building  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  would  pay.f 

September  23,  1734,  a  committee  was  appointed  by  the 
town  to  select  a  suitable  lot  of  land  on  which  to  build  "  a 
prison  or  house  of  correction"  ;  and  September  21,  1736,  the 
judges  of  the  Essex  county  courts  were  asked  to  give  their 
consent  "  to  the  removal  of  the  gaol  now  standing  in  New- 
bury "  to  a  more  convenient  location,  "  in  order  that  it  may 
be  made  serviceable  as  a  prison  or  house  of  correction."  \ 
This  plan,  however,  did  not  meet  with  favor,  and  was  sub- 
sequently abandoned. 

At  the  General  Sessions  of  the  court  held  at  Salem  the  last 
Tuesday  in  December,  1743,  the  subject  was  again  consid- 
ered ;  and  the  court  ordered  the  erection  of  a  county  jail  and 
prison  house  "  at  or  near  the  place  where  the  old  prison 
stands  in  Newbury."  Col.  Berry,  Major  Greenleaf,  Joseph 
Gerrish,  Henry  Rolfe,  and  Thomas  Rowell  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  erect  a  strong  and  substantial  building  at  a 
cost  to  the  county  of  not  more  than  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  pounds.  § 

February  7,  1743-4,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  voted  to 
grant  "  ye  county  of  Essex  so  much  of  a  piece  of  land  as  is 
needful  for  to  build  a  prison  upon  and  a  house  for  the  keeper 

*  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  196. 

t  Court  of  General  Sessions  (Salem),  1726-44,  p.  336. 

X  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

§  Court  of  General  Sessions  (Salem),  1709-46. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  249 

of  said  prison  &  for  a  yarde,  to  be  taken  out  of  that  piece  of 
land  which  was  purchased  by  y*^  Towne  of  Newbury  of  M"^ 
Anthony  Sommerby  as  by  a  deed  dated  February  y^  4"^^ 
1743  may  appear.  Said  land  is  lying  on  y'=  northerly  side  of 
&  joyning  to  King  street."  * 

The  jail  or  prison  was  erected  during  the  summer  of  1744. 
On  the  twenty-third  day  of  May,  1758,  the  selectmen  of  New- 
bury were  authorized  and  instructed  to  sell  all  the  town's 
right,  title,  and  interest  in  the  property  on  King  street ;  and 
July  21,  1758,  they  conveyed  to  the  county  of  Essex  "the 
house  adjoining  the  Prison  which  has  been  improved  as  a 
work  house,  also  the  land  purchased  of  Anthony  Somerby 
with  all  the  buildings  thereon."  f 

THE   CURFEW. 

October  18,  1700,  the  town  appointed  Col.  Daniel  Pierce 
and  Tristram  Coffin,  Esq.,  a  committee  to  procure  a  new  bell, 
"of  about  four  hundred  pounds  weight,"  for  the  First  parish 
meeting-house. 

January  4,  1705-6,  "voted  that  fhe  new  bell  be  hanged  in 
the  turret  of  the  meeting  house  with  all  convenient  spede,"' 
also  "  that  the  bell  be  rung  at  nine  of  the  clock  every  night 
and  that  the  day  of  the  month  be  every  night  tolled."  \ 

May  14,  1707,  the  selectmen  were  authorized  "to  employ 
some  suitable  person  to  ring  the  nine  o'clock  bell  this  year."  % 

June  18,  1708,  the  town  "voted  that  the  nine  a  clock  bell 
should  be  rung  at  nine  of  the  clock  precisely,  nightly  for  the 
year  ensuing."  \ 

For  the  year  171 1  the  town  employed  Benjamin  Morse 
"  to  ring  the  bell  at  nine  o'clock  every  night,  and  sabbath 
days  and  lecture  days."  % 

November  30,  1723,  the  selectmen  paid  Henry  Lunt,  3d, 
for  ringing  the  nine  o'clock  bell,  five  pounds. 

In  1725,  a  meeting-house  was  erected,  on  what  is  now 
known  as  Market  square,  Newburyport,  for  the  Third  parish 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records.     King  street  is  now  Federal  street,  Newburyport. 
t  Essex  Deeds,  book  cv.,  p.  137;  "  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  620. 
tTown  of  Newbury  Records. 


250  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

in  Newbury.  At  a  parish  meeting  held  May  23,  1727,  a 
committee  was  appointed  "  to  purchase  a  bell  weighing  about 
four  hundred  pounds";  and  February  21,  1727-8,  the  asses- 
sors of  the  parish  were  authorized  to  agree  with  Ambrose 
Berry  to  ring  the  bell  till  the  March  meeting.  March  19, 
1727-8,  it  was  "voted  that  the  bell  of  the  Third  Parish  be 
Rung  at  nine  of  the  clock."  * 

Ambrose  Berry,  constable,  in  settlement  with  the  select- 
men of  the  town  for  the  year  1730,  is  credited  with  five  pounds 
"  for  ringing  ye  nine  o'clock  bell." 

In  1 73 1,  the  selectmen  paid  "  ^5  to  Henry  Lunt  ye  3'''^  for 
ye  nine  o'clock  bell." 

The  custom  of  ringing  the  nine  o'clock  bell  is  .still  con- 
tinued in  that  part  of  Newbury  which  was  set  off  in  1764, 
and  incorporated  as  a  new  town  by  the  name  of  Newbury  port. 

EARTHQUAKES. 

During  the  seventeenth  and  eighteenth  centuries,  earth- 
quakes occurred  with  considerable  frequency  in  the  town  of 
Newbury.  Three  years  after  the  first  settlers  landed  at 
Parker  river  a  violent  trembling  and  shaking  of  the  earth 
surprised  and  alarmed  them.  June  i,  1638,  the  following 
statement  was  entered  upon  the  town  records  :  — 

Being  this  day  assembled  to  treat  or  consult  about  the  well  ordering 
of  the  affairs  of  the  towne  about  one  of  the  clocke  in  the  afternoone,  the 
sunn  shining  faire,  it  pleased  God  suddenly  to  raise  a  vehement  earth- 
quake coming  with  a  shrill  clap  of  thunder  issuing  as  is  supposed  out  o-f 
the  east,  which  shook  the  earth  and  the  foundations  of  the  house  in  a 
very  violent  manner  to  our  great  amazement  and  wonder,  wherefore  tak- 
ing notice  of  so  great  and  strange  a  hand  of  God's  providence,  we  were 
desirous  of  leaving  it  on  record  to  the  view  of  after  ages  to  the  intent  that 
all  might  take  notice  of  Almighty  God  and  feare  his  name. 

Other  earthquakes  occurred  March  5,  1642-3,  January  26 
and  February  5,  1662-3,  and  February  8,  1684-5. 

Rev.  Mathias  Plant  noted,  with  considerable  care  and 
minuteness,   in  the  early    records  of  Queen  Anne's  Chapel, 

*"  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  432. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  251 

many  remarkable  facts  in  relation  to  the  numerous  convul- 
sions of  nature,  accompanied  by  a  loud  rumbling  noise  of 
apparently  subterraneous  origin,  that  occurred  in  the  months 
of  October,  November,  and  December,  1727,  and  for  the  next 
fifty  years  the  records  contain  frequent  references  to  similar 
occurrences  ;  but,  so  far  as  known,  the  damage  resulting  from 
the  most  severe  of  these  earthquakes  was  comparatively  slight 
and  unimportant.* 


THE  OBSERVANCE  OF  SUNDAY  AND  HOLY  DAYS. 

November  4,  1646,  the  General  Court  ordered  that  any  per- 
son living  within  the  limits  of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  who  shall  without  just  cause,  neglect  to  attend  public 
worship  "  shall  forfeite  for  his  absence  from  ev''y  such  pub- 
licke  meeting  5^''."  f 

Joseph  Peasley,  who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  New- 
bury, removed  to  Salisbury  in  1646  or  soon  after.  October 
19,  1658,  he,  with  several  other  persons  residing  in  that  town, 
was  ordered  to  appear  at  the  General  Court  to  answer  to  the 
charge  of  wilfully  neglecting  public  worship  on  the  Lord's 
day  .J  He  disregarded  the  orders  of  the  court,  and  continued  to 
teach  and  exhort  among  his  friends  and  neighbors  in  the  new 
town  of  Salisbury,  now  Amesbury,  Mass.  He  was  censured 
and  fined,  and  subsequently  forbidden  to  preach  within  the 
limits  of  the  colony.  § 

May  II,  1659,  the  General  Court  "ordered  that  whosever 
shall  be  found  observing  any  such  day  as  Christmas  or  the 
like,  either  by  forbearing  of  labour,  feasting,  or  any  other 
way,  upon  any  such  accounts  as  aforesaid,  every  such  person 
so  offending  shall  pay  for  every  such  offence  five  shillings  as 
a  fine  to  the  country."  ||  This  law  was  not  repealed  until 
May  27,  1681.^ 

May  24,  1677,  the  constables  of  every  town  were  ordered 

*  Coffin's  Histor)'  of  Newbury,  pp.  197-199;  Mrs.  E.  Vale  Smith's  History  of  Newburj-- 
port,  pp.  51-55,  404. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  178. 

t  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  part  I.,  p.  351.  §  Ibid.,  p.  390.  ||  Ibid.,  p.  366. 

IT  Ibid.,  vol.  v.,  p.  322. 


252  HISTORY  OF  NEIVBUKY 

to  make  diligent  search  on  every  Lord's  day  in  all  suspected 
places  where  Quakers  were  supposed  to  meet  for  worship,  and 
cause  them  to  be  apprehended  and  punished  according  to 
law.* 

October  15,  1679,  the  selectmen  or  constables  of  Boston 
were  authorized  to  set  a  guard  at  sunset  on  Saturday  night, 
"  to  prevent  any  footman  or  horseman  w^'out  such  good  ac- 
count of  the  necessity  of  his  business  as  may  be  to  them 
satisfactory  "  from  leaving  the  town. 

...  all  persons  attempting  to  ride  or  drive  out  of  towne  after  sun 
sett  wthout  such  reasonable  sattisfaction  given  shall  be  apprehended  & 
brought  before  authority  to  be  proceeded  against  as  Sabbath  breakers ; 
and  all  other  townes  are  impowered  to  doe  the  like  as  need  shalbe.f 

This  law  was  modified  after  the  colonial  charter  was  an- 
nulled and  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay  established ; 
but  travelling  on  the  Lord's  day  was  forbidden,  and  no  person 
could  pursue  his  journey  that  day  beyond  the  nearest  inn  or 
place  of  shelter  under  a  penalty  of  twenty  shillings.  :j: 

Samuel  Sewall,  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Superior  Court, 
having  returned  from  a  session  of  the  court  held  at  Ports- 
mouth, was  in  Newbury  Sunday,  May  13,  1716.  Li  his 
diary  he  wrote  under  that  date  :  — 

In  the  evening  1  had  an  inkling  that  two  merchants  came  from  Ips- 
wich. I  said,  How  shall  I  do  to  avoid  Fining  them?  I  examined 
Richard  Gerrish.  As  I  understood  him  they  lodg'd  at  Major  Epes's  on 
Saturday  night,  and  went  to  the  publick  worship  there  :  and  when  the 
afternoon  Exercise  was  over,  came  to  Newbury.  They  Travailed  not  in 
service  Time  :  and  had  a  ship  at  Portsmouth  ready  to  sail  which  wanted 
their  Dispatch.  Alleg'd  that  Mr  Peter  La  Blond  was  gone  sick  to  Bed. 
I  took  his  word  to  speak  with  me  in  the  morning.  I  consulted  with 
Col.  Thomas  who  inclined  to  admonish  them  as  young  and  strangers 
and  let  them  go. 

The  following  day  he  wrote  :  — 

By  long  and  by  late  I  spake  with  Mr  Richard  Gerrish,  Junr  and 
Mr.  Peter  La  Blond  by  whom  I  understood  they  were  at  Mr  Wiggles- 
worths  in  the  morning  and  at  Ipswich  Meeting  in  the  Afternoon. 
Being  in  a  strait,   I   had  pray'd  to   (iod  to  direct.      I   considered    Col. 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  v.,  p.  134.         t  Ibid.,  p.  239. 
X  Province  Laws,  vol.  i.,  p.  5S. 


'fHE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  253 

Thomas  was  not  a  Justice  there  :  that  this  Profanation  of  the  Sab- 
bath was  very  great ;  and  the  Transgressors  fleeting  from  Town  to 
Town  and  County  to  County  could  rarely  be  Censured.  On  the 
other  hand  they  were  young,  Mr.  La  Blond's  mother  my  neighbour, 
Mr.  Gerrish  had  a  smell  of  Relation  ;  both  of  them  of  another  Province  ; 
and  I  fear'd  lest  my  Cousin's  Custom  might  be  lessn'd  by  it,  because  I  had 
the  Information  from  her  Husband,  whose  wife,  my  Cousin,  was  a  Ger- 
rish, and  cousin  to  this  Richd  Gerrish,  only  Child  of  Capt  Richd  Gerrish 
of  the  Bank.  Mr.  La  Blond  apear'd  brisk  as  if  he  ail'd  nothing.  I  came 
to  this  Resolution  that  if  they  would  make  such  a  submission  as  this  I 
would  let  them  pass :  viz  ;  We  do  acknowledge  our  Transgressions  of 
the  Law  in  Travailing  upon  the  Lord's  Day,  May  13,  17 16  and  do 
promise  not  to  offend  in  the  like  kind  hereafter,  as  witness  our  Hands. 

Richard  Gerrish. 
Peter  La  Blond. 
This  offer  they  rejected  with  some  Disdain  and  Mr.  La  Blond  paid 
me  a  30^  and  iqs  Bill  of  Credit  for  both  their  Fines.     I  imediately  paid 
it  to   Samuel    Moodey   Selectman  of    Newbury   (they    have    no  Town 
Treasurer).  .  .   . 

All  fines  and  penalties  imposed  and  collected  under  this 
law  of  the  province  were  to  be  used  for  the  benefit  and  relief 
of  the  poor  of  the  town  where  the  offence  was  committed, 
"  and  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  selectmen  or  overseers 
of  the  poor  for  that  end." 

At  the  Superior  Court  at  Ipswich,  May  19,  Judge  Sewall 
wrote :  — 

Here  Mr.  Hern  informs  me  that  Gerrish  and  La  Blond  went  from 
Piatt's  at  Salem  on  the  Lord's  Day  morn  ;  He  spake  to  them  against 
it ;  They  said  they  could  but  pay  5s.  Ferryman  told  me  Two  were 
carried  over  about  the  time  of  going  to  meeting.  Crompton  informs 
me  that  they  were  at  his  house,  and  went  not  to  meeting  at  Ipswich  : 
went  away  late  in  the  Afternoon :  So  that  they  Travail'd  22  Miles  or 
more  that  day.  I  hope  God  heard  my  Prayer,  and  directed  me  to  do 
Right  and  accepted  me.* 

SLAVES    AND    SLAVEHOLDERS. 

Negroes  and  Indians  were  held  in  ser\itude  and  recognized 
as  property  in  the  colony  and  in  the  province  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay  until  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war  and  the 
adoption  of  the  State  constitution  in  1780. 

•Diary  of  Samuel  Sewall,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  81-83. 


2  54  HISTORY  OF  A'EWBURY 

In  Newbury,  the  number  of  slaves  was  never  very  large  ; 
but  as  early  as  December  29,  1649,  William  Hilton  conveyed 
and  assigned  "James  my  Indian  &  all  y^  interest  I  have  in 
him  "  to  George  Carr  in  payment  for  one-quarter  part  of  a 
vessel.  Abraham  Tappan,  John  Bond,  and  Edmund  Green- 
leaf  were  witnesses  to  the  bill  of  sale  to  which  "James  y^  In- 
dian "  gave  his  consent  by  afifixing  his  mark.* 

Capt.  Paul  White,  who  died  July  22,  1679,  owned  "one 
negrow,"  valued  by  the  appraisers  of  his  estate  at  thirty 
pounds. 

Subsequently  many  other  inhabitants  of  the  town,  engaged 
in  agricultural,  industrial,  or  mercantile  pursuits,  found  it  con- 
venient to  employ  slave  labor,  and  frequently  imported  negro 
servants  from  the  Barbadoes  or  other  islands  in  the  West 
Indies. 

The  inventory  of  the  estate  of  Henry  Rolfe,  taken  in  the 
month  of  April,  171 1,  has  the  following  item:  "An  old 
negroe  man  valued  at  ;^io."  In  the  settlement  of  the 
estate  of  Moses  Gerrish  "an  Indian  Slave"  is  valued  at 
twenty  pounds.  Similar  items  are  frequently  found  in  old 
books  of  account  as  well  as  in  wills  and  deeds  of  conveyance, 
recorded  previous  to  the  year  1780.! 

Cutting  Noyes  sold  to  Richard  Kelly,  of  Newbury,  Jan- 
uary 15,  1 71 3,  "a  Spanish  ingon  boy  named  Sesor  by  our 
judgmente  under  10  yers  old"  for  the  sum  of  thirty-eight 
pounds. J 

Joshua  Bayley,  Sr,,  of  Newbury,  in  his  will  dated  June  fif- 
teenth and  proved  August  6,  1722,  gave  to  his  negro  servant, 
Robert,  several  lots  of  land  and  also  his  freedom  : 

Said  Robert  shall  not  be  sould  or  be  disposed  of  to  any  person,  but 
said  Robert  shall  faithfully  serve  my  said  wife  Elizabeth  during  the 
term  of  her  natural  life,  and  after  Her  Decease  said  Robert  shall  have 
his  freedom,  and  Injoy  said  Real  Estate  during  the  term  of  his  natural 
life.  .  .  .  And  as  concerning  my  Black  Servant  Robert,  I  do  give  him  a 
surname  and  that  is  freeman,  so  that  his  name  is  Robert  freeman. § 

*  Norfolk  County  Records  (Salem) ,  book  ii. ,  leaf  197. 

t  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  pp.  336-339. 

X  Coffin  Papers  (Essex  Institute,  Salem)  vol.  i.,  pp.  61-76. 

§  Probate  Records  (Salem),  book  cccxiii.,  p.  4S7  ;  Essex  .Antiquarian,  vol.  v.,  p.  123. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  255 

November  4,  1725,  Jonathan  Poorc  sold  "to  M""  Richard 
Kelly  a  narrow  man  called  Reuben"  for  one  hundred  pounds 
in  "Billes  of  Credet."  * 

Rev.  Matthias  Plant,  minister  at  Queen  Anne's  Chapel, 
in  his  will  dated  February  25,  1751,  and  proved  May  7,  1753^ 
makes  the  following  bequest  :  — 

I  give  unto  my  negro  garl  Luce  all  but  seventeen  acres  of  a  lott  of 
Land  laid  out  to  the  original  right  of  James  George,  called  the  great 
Farms  in  Almsbury  [now  in  New  Town,  N.H.].  I  also  give  her  her 
Freedom  after  the  Decease  of  my  widow  Lydia  Plant.  But  my  will  is 
that  my  negro  garl  Luce  shal  not  come  into  possession  of  said  Land 
untill  the  decease  of  my  said  widow,  But  my  said  widow  shal  have  the 
Improvement  and  profit  of  it  During  the  term  of  her  natural  life  in  as 
full  and  ample  a  manner  as  if  I  had  made  no  Bequest  of  said  land  to  s^ 
negro  garl  Luce.  Moreover  if  said  wid^  Lydia  Plant  shall  Declare  be- 
fore three  or  four  I ndif rent  persons  of  good  ability  and  understanding, 
or  give  a  sartificat  in  writing  from  under  her  own  Hand  (or  if  she  does 
not  give  it  from  under  her  hand  but  sais  nothing  against  her)  That  the 
said  negro  garl  Luce  hath  in  all  Fidelity,  from  time  to  time,  both  in 
Word  and  Deed  behaved  herself  very  respectfully  and  Dutifully  as  an 
Honist  and  faithful  servant,  she  ye  s^  Luce  shal  be  Intitled  to  the  above 
Privelidge  &  Bequest.  But  on  the  contrary  if  her  behaver  be  disonist,. 
stubourn  to  what  she  ought  to  be  to  me  or  her  s<i  mistres,  then  this  my 
Bequest  of  freedom  and  Land  given  to  her  &  her  assigns  shal  be  void 
and  of  none  effect,  and  the  said  Luce  in  this  case  shal  be  my  s^  wid^s 
and  she  shal  Dispose  of  her  at  her  own  Discresion  Tho  I  would  not 
have  my  s"^  wid™  make  a  slave  of  her  if  she  should  be  gilty  of  some 
common  fallings,  but  such  faults  shall  be  lookt  over.  But  in  case  my 
negro  garl  Luce  should  forfet  her  rite  to  her  freedom  and  Land  which 
I  have  Bequested  her,  Then  in  that  case  I  give  and  Bequeath  the 
same  to  and  for  the  use  of  the  minister  of  Queen  Ann's  Chapel,  in  New- 
bury, for  the  time  being  :  and  I  give  it  By  the  name  of  Gleeb  Lands. 

Lydia  Plant,  widow  of  Rev.  Matthias  Plant,  in  her  will 
dated  September  29,  1753,  and  proved  October  22,  1753, 
gave  her  negroes,  "  Robin  and  Lucy,"  their  freedom,  and 
liberty  also  to  live  for  four  years  in  the  house  that  she  owned 
and  occupied  at  the  time  of  her  decease,  with  the  use  of  house- 
hold utensils,  beds,  sheets,  blankets,  etc. 

Samuel  Morgaridge,  shipwright,  in  his  will  dated  October 
30j  1753)  proved  April  8,  1754,  gave  his  wife  the  use  of  the 

*Coffin  Papers  (Essex  Institute,  Salem),  vol.  i.,  pp.  61,  76. 


256  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

d\vcllinf:^-house  where  he  then  lived,  and  the  service  of  negro 
Peter  "if  he  behaves  well."  The  executors  of  his  will  w^ere 
authorized  to  let,  sell,  or  use  his  negroes  Primus  and  Lucy ; 
"  also  to  sell  my  negroe  Peter  if  he  proves  unruly  and  dis- 
obedient to  my  wife."  In  the  inventory  of  his  estate  "three 
negroes  "  were  valued  at  ;^I33,  6j.  Zd. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1754  there  were  thirty-four  male 
and  sixteen  female  slaves  in  Newbury  sixteen  years  of  age 
and  upwards,  according  to  the  census  taken  by  order  of  the 
governor  of  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay.* 

January  29,  1765,  Mary  Morgaridge,  widow,  sold  to  Enoch 
Sawyer,  of  Newbury,  physician,  her  life  interest  in  the  dwell- 
ing-house bequeathed  to  her  by  the  will  of  her  late  husband, 
Samuel  Morgaridge,  and  also  "  a  molat  man  called  Peter,  and 
a  negro  woman  called  Luce."  f 

The  following  items  are  credited  in  her  account  as  execu- 
trix filed  March  12,  1765  .%  — 

Received  for  negro  Primus ^31.12.  o 

For  the  use  of  Primus  for  eight  years      .  37.  6.  8 

For  the  use  of  Negro  Lucy 5.  o.  o 

Negro  Peter  valued  at 44.  8.10 

Negro  for  use  of  children 44.  8.10 

Sarah,  widow  of  John  Weed,  gave  a  bond  for  fifty  pounds 
to  the  selectmen  of  Newbury,  September  22,  1768,  as  security 
for  the  support  of  her  negro  "Joel,"  in  case  he  was  unable  to 
support  himself  after  he  was  given  his  freedom. § 

Marriages  were  not  uncommon  among  the  slaves  of  New- 
bury, and  were  usually  recorded  in  manner  and  form  substan- 
tially as  follows :  — 

October  13,  1749  married  Scipio  negroe  servant  of  M""  Samuel 
Moody,  Junr  of  Newbury,  and  Rose  negroe  servant  of  Mr  Benja  Harris 
of  Newbury.  II 

October  24,  1754  married  John  &  Elizabetli  servants  of  M""  Henry 
Rolfe.ll 

June  20,  1779  md  Cambridge  servant  to  Col  Little  &  Cate,  servant  of 
Mrs  Hannah  Sawyer  widow  both  of  Newbx. || 

*  Massachusetts  Historical  .Society  Collections,  Second  .Series,  vol.  iii.,  p.  45. 

t  Essex  Deeds,  book  cxv.,  leaf  163. 

X  Probate  Records  (Salem) ,  book  cccxlii.,  p.  62. 

§  Eseex  Institute  Historical  Collections,  vol.  xxxv.,  11.  157  ;  also,  "  Ould  Newhury,"  p.  137. 

II  First  Parish  (Church)  Records. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  /UVEA  257 

Two  articles  in  the  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  to  be  held 
August  8,  1775,  read  as  follows:  — 

Article  3.  To  see  if  the  town  will  signify  by  their  vote  their  Disap- 
probation of  Slavery,  or  of  keeping  slaves,  and,  if  voted,  then 

Article  4.  To  see  if  the  Town  by  their  vote  will  instruct  their  Rep- 
resentative to  use  his  utmost  Endeavors  in  the  General  Court  that  all 
Slaves  in  this  Colony  may  be  set  at  Liberty.* 

No  definite  action  was  taken  by  the  legal  voters  of  New- 
bury at  that  date.  When  the  articles  were  reached  in  the 
order  of  business,  they  were,  in  the  words  of  the  record,  "  dis- 
missed." 

Rev.  Moses  Parsons,  who  was  settled  as  minister  in  Byfield 
parish,  June  20,  1744,  was  the  owner  of  three  slaves, —  two 
men  and  one  woman.  He  was  a  faithful  and  devoted  pastor; 
but  during  the  last  years  of  his  life  he  was  involved  in  a  con- 
troversy with  one  of  the  deacons  of  his  church,  Benjamin  Col- 
man,  who  bitterly  opposed  the  holding  of  men  and  women  in 
bondage,  and  publicly  asserted  that  "  Mr  Parsons  was  guilty 
of  the  wicked  practice  of  man  stealing." 

Several  communications  were  published  in  the  newspapers 
of  the  day  by  Deacon  Colman,  condemning  in  vigorous  lan- 
guage the  buying  and  selling  of  slaves ;  and  December  2 1 , 
1780,  the  parish  voted  to  suspend  him  "from  the  fellowship 
and  communion  of  the  church  till  he  does  by  repentance  and 
confession  give  christian  satisfaction  for  the  offence  he  has 
committed." 

October  26,  1785,  two  years  after  the  death  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Parsons,  Deacon  Colman  acknowledged  that  in  his  controver.sy 
with  the  late  worthy  minister  of  the  parish  he  had  urged  "  his 
arguments  against  the  slavery  of  the  Africans  with  excessive 
vehemence  and  asperity  "  ;  and  he  was  thereupon  restored  to 
membership  in  the  church,  and  reappointed  to  the  office  of 
deacon. f 

*To\vn  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  CofSn's  Historv-  of  Newbury,  pp.  340-350,  inclusive;  also,  Memoir  of  Chief  Justice  Par- 
sons by  his  son,  Theophilus  Parsons,  pp.  17-19. 


258  HISTORY  OF  NEWBUJiY 

GRIST-MILLS,  WIND-MILLS,  AND    SAW-MILLS. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1685  there  were  three  grist-mills 
and  one  oatmeal  or  malt  mill  in  the  town  of  Newbury,  but 
they  were  evidently  overcrowded  with  work;  and  March  16, 
1685-6,  "The  Towne  being  sensable  of  y^  great  want  of 
another  corn  mill  they  did  by  a  vote  desire  Cap'  Daniell 
Peirce,  Cap'  Thomas  Noyes,  Ensign  Nath^  Clark,  Mr.  Richard 
Dole  and  Samuell  Plumer,  at  y*"  owne  charg  to  view  such 
place  or  places  as  may  be  most  convenient  for  y^  setting  up 
of  a  Mill ;  as  also  to  treat  w"'  such  persons  that  may  be  dam- 
nified thereby,  and  to  bring  report  to  y^  Towne."  * 

January  5,  1686-7,  a  committee  was  appointed  "to  treat 
with  Peter  Cheney  about  setting  up  a  corne  mill  and  a  fulling 
mill  upon  the  Falls  river."  * 

Peter  Cheney,  who  purchased  of  John  Bishop  the  mill  near 
Four  Rock  bridge  on  Little  river  in  1663,  proposed,  February 
15,  1686-7,  "to  build  and  maintaine  a  good  and  sufficient 
grist  or  corn  mill  within  two  years,  and  a  fulling  mill  within 
three  yeares  at  ye  upper  falls  [Quascacunquen  river]  and 
to  full  ye  townes  cloth  on  the  same  terms  that  Mr.  John 
Pearson  I  doth  full  cloth,  and  resign  up  his  interest  in 
Little  river  on  condition  that  the  town  give  him  fifty  acres  of 
land  joyning  to  Falls  river."  \ 

This  proposal  was  accepted  by  the  town.  December  25, 
1689,  "  Peter  Cheney  was  allowed  one  year  longer  in  which 
to  finish  his  fulling  mill."  After  his  decease  a  portion  of  the 
land,  with  the  buildings  thereon,  was  sold  to  Benjamin  Pear- 
son, who  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  woollen  goods 
in  that  locality  until  his  death  in  1731.  For  nearly  a  cen- 
tury after  that  date  the  business  was  continued  by  the  chil- 
dren and  grandchildren  of  Mr.  Pearson,  and  the  property 
still  remains  in  the  possession  of  his  Hneal  descendants. § 

In  1688,  the  building  of  another  grist-mill  on   Little  river 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Mr.  John  Pearson  had  a  fulling  mill,  and  carried  on  the  clothier's  trade  at  or  near  the 
present  location  of  the  Glen  Mills,  Rowley. 

jTown  of  Newbury  Records;   also,  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  i8. 
§"Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  301-303. 


I 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  259 

was  authorized  by  the  town  ;  but  for  various  reasons  the  work 
was  delayed,  and  the  mill  was  not  completed  until  six  or  eight 
years  later. 

May  25,  1688  The  Towne  Grants  theyre  interest  in  the  stream  of 
the  Little  River  to  the  mouth  of  it  whear  it  vents  into  the  great  River 
to  Henry  Short  for  to  build  a  Grist  Mill  uppon  for  the  Townes  use 
provided  he  build  it  in  such  place  as  may  Answer  the  Townes  end  & 
grind  theyr  corne  for  them  from  time  to  time,  provided  he  build  it 
within  one  yeare,  and  if  he  do  not  build  it  he  is  to  pay  to  the  Towne 
five  pounds  &  the  Towne  to  have  theyre  interest  in  the  streame  again. 
The  Mill  to  be   set   at  the  cart  place  or  at  the  mouth   of  the   River.* 

December  26,  1689  The  Towne  having  now  relinquished  any  former 
obligation  of  Henry  Short  to  the  Towne  uppon  ye  account  of  Building 
a  Mill  not  by  him  performed  Do  hereby  give,  grant  and  empower  all 
theyr  right,  title  &  interest  in  the  stream  of  the  Little  River  to  Henry 
Short  his  heyrs  and  Assigns  so  long  as  he  his  heyrs  &  assigns  shall 
build  and  maintain  a  sufficient  corne  mill  for  the  Townes  use  and  to 
grind  for  the  Towne  of  Newbury  before  any  other  Towne.  But  pro- 
vided through  defect  of  the  Dam  or  Mill  the  said  Mill  should  faile  of 
grinding  for  the  Townes  use  the  above  said  stream  shall  not  be  for- 
feited provided  it  faile  not  a  yeare  or  two.* 

March  10,  1695-6,  Granted  to  Henry  Short  thirty  five  acres  of  land 
towards  the  building  of  his  mill  to  be  laid  out  in  the  comon  land  of 
Newbury.* 

August  II,  1708,  John  Short  sold  to  Lieut.  Jeremiah 
Pearson,  of  Rowley,  nine  acres  of  land  on  the  easterly  side  of 
Little  river,  "together  with  ye  dwelling  house  and  ye  grist  mill 
standing  on  said  River"  and  the  water  privilege,  "as  it  was 
granted  to  my  honored  father  Henry  Short  late  of  Newbury 
decased  at  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  held  Dec. 
26,  1689."! 

Mr.  Silas  Pearson,  a  descendant  of  Lieut.  Jeremiah  Pear- 
son, owned  the  mill  and  two  other  grist-mills,  with  an  unfin- 
ished saw-mill,  when  they  were  all  destroyed  by  fire  June  12, 

18134 

Subsequently,  a  new  mill  was  built  by  Mr.  Silas  Pearson 
about  one  hundred  rods  farther  to  the  westward  on  the  same 
stream.     January  15,  1 831,  he  petitioned  the  General  Court 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Essex  Deeds,  vol.  xxxii.,  p.  204. 

jNewburyport  Herald,  June  15,  1813. 


2  6o  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

to  legalize  the  removal  of  his  mill  and  dam,  "  doubts  having 
arisen  whether  he  had  a  right  to  remove  his  said  Dam  and 
Mill  without  the  consent  of  the  Legislature."  * 

"  An  act  to  confirm  Silas  Pearson  in  the  location  of  his 
Dam  across  Little  River  in  the  town  of  Newbury  .  .  .  for  the 
purpose  of  retaining  water  to  carry  a  tide  mill,  agreeably  to  a 
grant  from  the  said  town  (in  the  year  1689)  in  as  full  and 
ample  a  manner  as  if  the  said  dam  had  been  erected  by  the 
authority  of  this  court,"  was  passed  March  fourteenth,  and 
approved  by  the  governor  March  15,  1 8  3 1 . 

In  1843,  the  property  was  sold  to  Mr.  James  B.  Knight,  who 
operated  a  grist-mill  there  until  the  close  of  the  year  1874. 

WINDMILL   AT   FROG    POND. 

"July  9,  1703  Ensign  Stephen  Jaques,  M""  Benjamin  Wood- 
bridge,  &  Henry  Jaques  petitioned  the  Towne  to  grant  them 
a  sut cable  piece  of  land  to  sett  a  windmill  on  that  Hill 
neere  penuel  Titcombs."  This  petition  was  granted,  "  Pro- 
vided when  the  windmill  fails  or  is  unservisable  the  land  shall 
rcturne  to  the  Towne  w^'^in  three  years  after  the  failure  of  s'^ 
mill  if  a  windmill  be  not  rebuilt  againe  w^^in  s^  time."  f 

This  mill  was  built  near  the  southeasterly  end  of  Frog 
pond,  and  was  probably  used  for  the  grinding  of  corn  and 
wheat  until  1774,  when  the  slight  eminence  on  which  it  stood 
was  graded  to  a-  level  with  the  land  in  that  vicinity,  and  made 
available  as  a  training  field. J 

March  29,  1771,  Abraham  Larkin  was  crushed  to  death 
while  examining  the  machinery  in  the  top'of  this  windmill. § 

SAW-MILL    AT    LSTDIAN    RIVER. 

For  ten  or  fifteen  years  after  the  division  of  the  upper 
commons  Indian  river  was  navigable  for  small  boats.  In 
1 706,  perhaps  earlier,  a  temporary  dam  was  built  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  and  a  saw-mill  erected  there. 

*See  advertisement  of  petition  in  Newburyport  Herald,  January  iS,  1831. 

t  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

X  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  610-612. 

§  Coffin's  History  of  Newburj',  p.  239. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  261 

November  26,  1686,  the  i^roprietors  of  the  common  lands 
in  Newbury  voted  "that  Indian  River  shall  be  free  so  far  as 
the  tide  flows  for  passing  &  repassing  of  Boates  and  Canoos  at 
all  times  :  it  is  to  be  accounted  a  highway  free  for  all  men  to 
transport  by  water."  * 

October  30,  1706,  the  proprietors  authorized  the  selectmen 
to  lay  out  a  highway  on  the  westerly  side  of  Joseph  Knight's 
lot,  and  at  the  same  meeting  voted  to  employ  "  Serjeant  Jos- 
eph Pike  to  build  a  bridge  over  Indian  river  near  his  saw 
mill."  t 

"The  highway  near  Indian  river  running  four  rods  wide  to 
Joaeph  Pike's  mill  and  thence  over  the  river  below  said  mill  " 
was  laid  out  by  the  selectmen  November  i,  1706.I 

Joseph  Pike,  having  given  an  obligation  to  build  the  bridge 
near  his  saw-mill,  "  he  was  released  from  the  conditions  of  his 
obligation  provided  he  agrees  to  repair  all  damage  at  his  own 
cost  that  may  happen  to  said  bridge  by  reason  of  his  impound- 
ing the  water  above  it."  § 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  Newbury,  held  June  18, 
1707,  he  was  granted  "the  liberty  of  hanging  two  gates  one 
at  the  upper  end  of  the  way  "  near  the  Bradford  road,  and  the 
"  other  is  to  be  hung  near  the  mouth  of  Indian  River  across 
the  s"^  Riv"",  y*  last  s'^  Gate  to  be  so  conveniently  hung  y'  it 
may  open  w^^  the  flood  &  shut  w"'  the  ebb."  || 

SAW-MILL   AT   CART   CREEK. 

March  9,  1707-8,  Edmund  Goodridge  and  John  Noyes,  jr., 
petitioned  the  proprietors  for  liberty  to  set  up  a  saw-mill  on 
Cart  creek.  The  committee  appointed  to  view  the  place 
made  a  favorable  report,  and  the  petition  was  granted  June 
22,  1708.^ 

MILLS    AT   PINE    ISLAND. 

January  13,  1756-7,  the  town  granted  Nathaniel  Lunt,  Ben- 
jamin Rolfe,  Jonathan  Plumer,  and  Stephen  Ilsley  liberty  to 
erect  a  grist-mill  and  saw-mill  at  Pine  Island  creek  on  certain 

•  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  15.  §Town  of  Newbury  Records, 

t  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  173.  ||  "  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  341. 

$  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  29         \  Ibid.,  p.  32. 


2  62  HISTORY   OF    NEWBURY 

conditions,  the  grantees  giving  bonds  to  save  the  town  harm- 
less from  damage  arising  from  the  overflowing  of  the  banks  or 
meadows  on  said  creek.* 

September  lo,  1760,  Nathaniel  Lunt  sokl  to  Benjamin  Rolfe 
and  Ste})hen  Ilsley  "  all  his  right  title  and  interest  in  the  mills 
lately  erected  at  the  Landing  Place  at  Pine  Island  Creek."  f 

The  half-tone  print  on  the  opposite  page  gives  a  view  of  the 
landing-place  as  it  now  appears.  A  mill-stone,  formerly  used 
for  the  grinding  of  corn,  is  the  only  memorial  left  of  the  mills 
that  were  destroyed  by  fire  December  5,  1797. 

DISTILLERIES    AND    MALT-HOUSES. 

Cattle-raising,  farming,  and  fishing  were  the  most  prom- 
inent industries  in  Newbury  fifty  years  after  its  first  settle- 
ment ;  but,  in  addition  to  the  saw  and  grist  mills,  of  which 
mention  has  already  been  made,  several  distilleries  and  malt- 
houses  were  in  operation. 

August  25,  1653,  Edmund  Greenleaf  sold  a  dwelling-house 
and  one  acre  of  land,  with  a  still-house  and  the  fixtures  con- 
nected therewith,  to  Capt.  Paul  White. J 

In  1662,  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  at  Salem  licensed 
Capt.  Paul  White  "to  still  strong  waters  for  a  yeare  and  sell 
by  the  quart  "  ;  and  March  5,  1677,  he  petitioned  the  town  of 
Newbury  "  for  about  a  rod  of  land  at  the  hanging  of  the  hill 
before  his  still-house  on  the  street."  ij: 

Col.  Daniel  Pierce  had  two  or  more  malt-houses  on  land  at 
the  southeasterly  corner  of  Chandler's  lane,  now  Federal 
street,  and  the  way  by  Merrimack  river,  now  Water  street, 
Newburyport,  previous  to  the  year  I700,§  and  on  the  north- 
westerly corner  of  the  same  streets  or  highways  Caleb  Moody 
built  a  malt-house  as  early  as  1673. ||  In  1692,  James  Ord- 
way,  sr.,  owned  a  dwelling-house  and  malt-house  on  the  north- 
westerly corner  of  Ordway's  lane  (now  Market  street)  and  the 
way  near  the  river,  now  Merrimack  street,  Newburyport.^ 

At  a  later  date  other  malt-houses  and  distilleries  were  estab- 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records.  t  Essex  Deeds,  liook  cxi.,  p.  23. 

J"  Quid  Newbury,"  p.  177.         §  Ibid.,  p.  123.         ||  Ibid.,  p.  149.         H  Ibid.,  p.  3117. 


I 


264  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

lished.  May  18,  1738,  the  selectmen  of  Newbury,  with  Henry 
Rolfe  and  Charles  Pierce,  justices  of  the  peace,  granted  Joseph 
Lunt,  jr.,  "  liberty  to  erect  a  still  house  on  the  corner  of 
Thomas  Moodeys  lane  by  the  end  of  his  Malt  house  for  the 
distilling  of  strong  liquors,"  *  This  grant  was  recorded  Au- 
gust 24,  1738. 

LIME-KILNS    AND    ROPEWALKS. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century  the  tanning  of 
leather  was  well  established,  ship-building  was  carried  on  quite 
extensively,  and  a  large  and  profitable  trade  had  been  de- 
veloped between  Newbury  and  the  West  India  islands. 

This  Summer  [1697]  Ensign  James  Noyes  hath  happily  discovered 
a  Boddy  of  Marble  at  Newbury,  within  half  a  mile  of  the  navigable  part 
of  Little  River;  by  which  means'very  good  Lime  is  made  within  the 
Province.! 

Several  kilns  were  built  for  the  burning  of  lime  within  the 
limits  of  the  town,  and  for  many  years  the  business  was  pros- 
perous and  profitable. I 

Cordage  was  probably  manufactured  in  Newbury  pre- 
vious to  1748.  John  Crocker,  in  a  petition  presented  March 
8,  1747-8,  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  makes  the  follow- 
ing statement  :  — • 

Whereas  his  present  occupation  of  Rope  making  has  been  found  for 
time  past  very  beneficial  not  only  for  the  sea  faring  business  of  this 
Towne  but  also  as  thereby  many  poor  people  are  imployed  he  there- 
fore asks  permission  to  set  up  a  rope  walk  between  Abiel  Somerby's 
land  and  the  windmill  for  such  a  term  of  years  as  they  [the  freeholders 
of  the  town]  shall  think  proper. § 

The  petition  was  granted  ;  and  the  selectmen  were  author- 
ized to  lay  out  the  land  for  the  purpose  designated,  the  peti- 
tioner to  have  the  use  of  it  for  ten  years. || 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Ph,-cnomena  qusdain  Apocalyptica,  etc.,  or,  The  New  Heaven  and  the  New  Earth,  by 
Samuel  Sewall,  first  edition  (>697),  p.  60,  in  Boston  Public  Library. 

X  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  421-423. 

§Town  of  Newbury  Records,  p.  74. 

II  "Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  610,  611.  In  1803,  there  were  five  cordage  manufactories  in  New- 
bur>',  employing  from  forty  to  fifty  men  and  boys,  and  producing  annually  from  two  to  three  hun- 
dred tons  of  cordage,  valued  at  about  $70,000  (History  of  Newburyport,  by  Caleb  Cushing,  p.  88) . 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  265 

From  1724  to  1737,  Capt.  Crocker  was  master  of  a  vessel 
that  made  many  voyages  between  Boston  and  London.  He 
was  a  member  of  Christ   Church,   Boston,  and  married,  April 

12,  1727,  Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mehitable  Savage, 
of  that  town.*  He  removed  to  Newbury  in  1737,  probably. 
"  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Capt  John  Crocker  &  Mary  his  wife," 
was  baptized  by  Rev.  Matthias  Plant  August  8,  1737.  Capt. 
Crocker  was  one  of  the  wardens  of  Queen  Anne's  Chapel  in 
1739  and  a  vestryman  in  1740.  He  was  afterwards  a  prom- 
inent member  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  and  was  annually  elected 
to  the  office  of  warden  or  vestryman  of  that  church  from 
1743  to  1753.  He  died  March  19,  1763,  and  was  buried 
in  St.  Paul's  churchyard,  then  in  Newbury,  now  within  the 
limits  of  the  city  of   Newburyport. 

The  Massachusetts  Gazette,  published  in  Boston,  April 
7,  1763,  contains  the  following  obituary  notice  :  — 

Newbury  March  19,  1763  This  Day  died  here  in  the  71st  year  of  his 
Age  Capt  John  Crocker  a  gendeman  that  was  well  known  in  the  town  of 
Boston  where  he  formerly  lived  and  was  many  years  in  the  London 
Trade.  He  was  universally  beloved  and  esteemed  for  his  re-markable 
Honesty  and  good  Nature,  and  other  amiable  Qualities.  The  memory 
of  the  Just  is  blessed. 

HAY   SCALES.  ' 

Ponderous  scales  for  weighing  hay,  grain,  and  other  heavy 
merchandise  were  erected  at  a  very  early  date  near  the  centre 
of  the  town,  on  Fish  street,  now  State  street,  Newburyport. 

May  23,  1753  the  town  granted  liberty  to  Samuel  Titcomb  and  John 
Harris  to  build  a  substantial  engine  to  weigh  hay,  to  stand  where  the 
old  engine  stood  near  the  head  of  Fish  street.f 

A  petition,  signed  by  James  Knight  and  others,  "  inhabi- 
tants of  Newbury,"  for  liberty  to  erect  hay-scales  on  the 
highway,  nearly  opposite  the  town-house,  at  the  head  of 
Muzzey's  lane,  now  Marlborough   street,  was  granted  March 

13,  1758-94 

*  Rev.  Anson  Titus,  of  Tufts  College,  who  has  given  much  attention  to  genealogical  research, 
says  that  Thomas  Savage  was  a  goldsmith  by  trade ;  that  he  was  for  many  years  in  Barbadoes, 
but  subsequently  came  to  Newburj',  where  he  died  August  23,  1749.  His  grave  and  the  grave  of 
his  wife  "  Mehitable,"  who  died  June  6,  xtkt,  are  in  the  Old  Hill  Burying  ground,  Newburyport. 

t  Town  of  Newbur>'  Records  (1731-S5),  p.  94.        +  Ibid.,  p.  117. 


266  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

MANUFACTURE    OF   COMBS. 

The  manufacture  of  combs  was  established  in  Newbury  in 
1759  by  Mr.  Enoch  Noyes.  The  business  is  still  carried  on 
successfully  in  West  Newbury  and  in  Newburyport.* 

THE   INCORPORATION    OF    NEWBURYPORT. 

June  10,  1763,  a  petition,  signed  by  William  Atkins,  Dan- 
iel Farnham,  Michael  Dalton,  Thomas  Woodbridge,  Patrick 
Tracy,  and  many  other  inhabitants  of  Newbury,  living  at  or 
near  the  water  side  between  Cottle's  lane,  now  Bromfield 
street,  Newburyport,  and  the  dividing  line  of  the  Fifth  parish, 
now  Oakland  street,  Newburyport,  was  presented  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  asking  that  a  portion  of  the  town  of  Newbury 
might  be  set  off  and  incorporated  as  a  separate  town. 

Many  reasons  why  this  request  should  be  granted  were 
stated  in  the  petition.  Considerable  emphasis  was  laid  upon 
the  fact  that  the  farming  population  persistently  opposed  any 
and  all  measures  advocated  by  "the  merchants,  traders  and 
mechanics"  living  at  the  water  side;  that  the  petitioners 
were  obliged  to  provide  fire  engines  at  their  own  cost,  for  the 
protection  of  their  property ;  that  there  were  no  fixed  and 
stated  schools,  but  only  movable  ones,  and  no  public  school- 
houses  within  the  limits  of  the  proposed  new  town ;  that 
there  was  no  town  treasurer,  the  selectmen  serving  in  that 
capacity  in  violation  of  the  law  of  the  province ;  that  the 
taxes  were  illegally  assessed  ;  and  also  that  the  new  town- 
house  on  Fish  street,  now  State  street,  lately  built  by  some 
of  the  petitioners,  with  the  aid  and  consent  of  the  courts  of 
Essex  county,  had  not  been  used  by  the  town  on  account  of 
complaints  and  objections  to  its  location. 

The  General  Court  ordered  "that  the  town  clerk  of  New- 
bury be  served  with  a  copy  of  the  j^etition,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants be  notified  to  appear  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  the 
next  sitting  of  the  Court  to  show  cause  why  the  prayers  of 
the  petitioners  should  not  be  granted."! 

*  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  225. 

t  Acts  and  Resolves  of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  vol.  iv.,  p.  6g8. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  267 

On  the  t\venty-cii;hth  clay  of  January,  1764,  the  General 
Court  passed  "  an  act  for  erecting  part  of  the  town  of  New- 
bury into  a  new  town  by  the  name  of  Newburyport,"  which 
was  approved  by  Francis  Bernard,  governor  of  the  province, 
February  4,  1764.  The  first  section  of  this  act  gives  the 
bounds  and  limits  of  the  new  town  as  follows :  — 

Where  As  the  Town  of  Newbury  is  very  large,  and  the  Inhabitants 
of  that  Part  of  it  who  dwell  by  the  Water-side  there,  as  it  is  commonly 
called,  are  mostly  Merchants,  Traders,  and  Artificers,  and  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  other  Parts  of  the  Town  are  chiefly  Husbandmen,  by  means 
where  of  many  Difficulties  and  Disputes  have  arisen  in  managing  their 
publick  Affairs  : 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Governor,  Council  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives, That  that  Part  of  the  Town  of  Newbury,  and  the  Inhabitants 
thereof  included  within  the  following  Line :  namely,  begining  at  Mer- 
rimack River,  against  the  North-easterly  End  of  the  Town  way  Com- 
monly called  Cottle's  Lane,  and  running  as  the  said  Lane  doth  on  the 
easterly  side  of  it,  to  the  highway  commonly  called  High  Street ;  and  so 
westerly  as  the  said  highway  runs,  on  the  northerly  side  thereof,  till  it 
comes  to  a  town  way  known  by  the  name  of  Fish  Street ;  and  thence 
southwesterly  as  the  way  goes,  and  on  the  easterly  side  thereof,  leading 
by  Benjamin  Moodey's  to  a  place  called  the  West  Indies,  until  it  inter- 
sects a  streight  line  drawn  from  the  southerly  side  of  the  highway 
against  Cottle's  Lane  aforesaid,  to  a  rock  in  the  great  pasture  near  the 
dividing  line  between  the  third  and  fifth  parishes  there ;  and  so  as  the 
said  streight  line  goes,  until  it  comes  to  the  dividing  line  aforesaid  ;  and 
from  thence  as  the  said  dividing  line  runs,  by  the  said  fifth  parish,  down 
to  the  Merrimack  River,  and  thence,  along  said  river  to  the  place  first 
mentioned, —  be  and  hereby  are  constituted  and  made  a  [separate  and] 
distinct  Town  by  the  name  of  Newburyport,  and  vested  and  endowed 
with  all  the  Powers,  Priviledges  and  Immunities  that  the  Inhabitants  of 
any  of  the  Towns  within  this  Province  do  or  ought  by  Law  to  enjoy; 
save  that  they  shall  have  the  Right  of  chusing  and  sending  from  time  to 
time  but  one  Person  to  represent  them  in  the  Great  and  General  Court 
of  this  Province.* 

The  act  provided,  also,  that  only  one  representative  should 
be  elected  annually  from  the  remaining  part  of  the  town  of 
Newbury  ;  that  the  boundary  lines  between  the  several  par- 
ishes should  remain  as  heretofore  by  law  established ;  that 
public  buildings  and  other  public  property  should  be  equitably 

•Acts  and  Resolves  of  tlie  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  vol.  iv.,  p.  676. 


268  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

divided,  accounts  adjusted,  and  settlement  made  according  to 
the  valuation  fixed  by  the  last  tax  levy. 

June  6,  1765,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  confer  with  a  committee  from  Newburyport  in  re- 
gard to  the  value  of  the  public  buildings,  within  the  limits  of 
Newbury,  belonging  to  the  inhabitants  of  both  towns ;  and 
March  11,  1766,  this  committee  was  authorized  to  demand 
and  receive  from  the  town  of  Newburyport  all  sums  due  in 
settlement  of  claims  to  that  date.* 

The  dividing-line  between  Newbury  and  Newburyport  can 
be  traced  on  the  map  on  page  239,  beginning  at  the  point 
marked  M  on  the  Merrimack  river,  thence  running  to  the 
point  marked  T,  thence  to  S,  thence  to  K,  thence  to  L,  and 
thence  by  the  Merrimack  river  to  the  bound  begun  at. 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


CHAPTER   V. 

1765-1902. 

After  the  incorporation  of  Newburyport  the  inhabitants 
of  Newbury  voted,  September  19,  1764,  to  hold  the  next 
annual  town  meeting  in  Rev.  Moses  Hale's  meeting-house 
in  the  Second  parish,  "  provided  the  inhabitants  of  that  parish 
consent  thereto."  * 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Second  parish,  held 
October  16,  1764,  liberty  to  use  the  meeting-house  for  the 
transaction  of  public  business,  "in  the  month  of  March  next," 
was  granted  without  debate. f  The  annual  meetings  of  the 
town  were  held  there  until  May  19,  1767,  when  it  was  voted 
"  that,  hereafter,  the  town  house  in  the  first  parish  shall  be 
the  place  of  meeting  until  further  orders."  * 

March  8,  1768,  the  subject  was  again  under  considera- 
tion ;  and  the  town  voted  that  "  the  next  annual  meeting 
shall  be  held  in  the  second  parish."  The  town-house  at  this 
time  was  very  much  out  of  repair,  and  repeated  efforts  were 
made  to  improve  its  condition.  Votes  passed  at  one  meeting, 
authorizing  the  selectmen  to  make  the  necessary  repairs,  were 
reconsidered  and  declared  null  and  void  a  few  weeks  later. 

March  13,  1770,  the  town  voted  that  hereafter,  until  other- 
wise ordered,  "  one  half  the  town  meetings  shall  be  held  in 
the  second  parish."  March  10,  1772,  the  inhabitants  again 
assembled  in  the  town-house  ;  but,  after  choosing  a  modera- 
tor, they  voted  to  adjourn  to  the  meeting-house  in  the  First 
parish,  where  the  regular  order  of  business  was  taken  up  and 
disposed  of.  Subsequently,  town  meetings  were  held  alter- 
nately in  the  First  parish  and  the  Second  parish  meeting- 
houses until  March  10,  18 18,  when  the  inhabitants  were 
notified  to  meet  in  the  Newburyport  Academy,  then  within 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records.  t  Second  Parish  Records,  p.  139. 

269 


270  HISTORY  OF  XEWBUKY 

the  limits  of  the  town  of  Newbury,  the  old  town-house 
having  been  sold  at  jDublic  auction  to  John  Mycall,  Esq.,  in 
1780.* 

At  a  meeting  held  in  the  academy  April  6,  18 18,  a  com- 
mittee was  chosen  to  select  a  suitable  place  for  a  town-house ; 
and  a  few  weeks  later  land  owned  by  Dudley  A.  Tyng,  Esq., 
at  the  corner  of  the  Bradford  road  and  the  way  to  the  Ames- 
bury  ferry,  now  in  Newburyport,  was  purchased,  and  the 
building  of  a  new  town-house  decided  upon.  June  18, 
181 8,  the  legal  voters  of  the  town  were  summoned  to  at- 
tend a  meeting  to  be  held  in  the  Second  parish  meeting- 
house, "  to  see  if  they  will  suspend  building  the  town  house 
until  the  determination  of  the  Legislature  is  known  respect- 
ing the  division  of  the  town."  f 

At  this  meeting  229  votes  were  cast  in  favor  and  309 
against  discontinuing  the  work  ;  but  in  the  month  of  July 
following,  at  a  meeting  held  in  the  Newburyport  Academy, 
the  town  voted  to  reconsider  its  action  in  regard  to  building  a 
town-house  in  the  Fourth  parish,  and  decided  that  it  should 
be  erected  in  the  First  parish  between  the  head  of  Green- 
leaf's  lane,  now  State  street,  and  the  toll-house  on  the  New- 
buryport turnpike.  October  i,  18 18,  the  selectmen  were 
authorized  by  an  unanimous  vote  (241  persons  voting  in  favor 
of  the  motion  and  no  one  opposing  it)  to  purchase  a  lot  of 
land  near  the  turnpike,  owned  by  Moses  Brown,  and  to 
remove  from  the  Fourth  })arish  to  this  land  all  the  lumber  and 
other  materials  that  could  be  used  in  the  construction  of  a 
town-house. 

The  building  was  completed  during  the  following  winter, 
and  March  9,  18 19,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  assembled 
for  the  first  time  in  the  new  town-house,  and  continued  to 
meet  there  annually  until  April  17,  185 1,  when  the  General 
Court  ordered  that  a  portion  of  the  town  of  Newbury,  includ- 
ing the  town-house,  should  be  set  off  and  annexed  to  the 
town  of  Newburyport. I 

*"  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  198-200,  649. 

tTown  of  Newbury  Records,  also  Essex  Deeds,  book  ccxvii.,  p.  204. 

tThe  town-house  is  still  standing  nearly  opposite  the  entrance  to  the  Oak  Hill  Cemetery. 
For  several  years  it  was  used  by  the  city  of  Newburyport  for  the  accommodation  of  the  pujnls 
of  the  Brown  High  school.     It  was  afterwards  sold  and  converted  into  a  dwelling-house. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  271 

During  the  next  two  or  three  years  pubHc  meetings  were 
held  in  the  high-school  building  near  the  First  parish  meeting- 
house and  at  the  vestry  in  Pearson's  Mills  village.  March 
20,  1854,  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  purchase  a  lot  of 
land  and  build  a  town-house  in  the  farms  district  between 
the  estates  of  Luther  Noyes  and  John  N.  Kent.  The  first 
meeting  in  this  new  town-house  was  held  November  13, 
1854- 

PRIVATE   AND    PUBLIC    CONVEYANCES. 

Heavy  carts  for  the  transportation  of  merchandise  and 
agricultural  products,  drawn  by  oxen  or  horses,  were  in  use 
in  Newbury  as  early  as  1670,  and  perhaps  earlier;  but  men 
and  women,  travelling  for  business  or  pleasure,  went  on  foot 
or  rode  on  horseback.  Carriages  or  coaches  for  the  trans- 
portation of  passengers  were  considered  a  costly  luxury  in  the 
province  of  Massachusetts  Bay  previous  to  the  year  1700. 
Jonathan  Wardell  set  up  the  first  hackney  coach  in  Boston 
in  1712.* 

The  improvement  in  roads,  and  the  gradual  increase  of 
wealth  in  the  province,  led  to  the  introduction  of  the  calash, 
a  low,  two-wheeled  carriage,  with  a  top  that  could  be  thrown 
back  or  raised  at  pleasure,  drawn  by  one  horse.  The  pas- 
senger chair,  or  chaise,  having  two,  sometimes  four,  wheels, 
came  into  use  about  the  same  time.  Sulkies  and  gigs,  for 
carrying  a  single  person,  soon  followed.  At  a  later  date  the 
curricle,  a  two-wheeled  carriage,  with  seats  for  three  or  four 
persons,  drawn  by  two  horses,  was  a  popular  conveyance  on 
long  lines  of  public  travel. 

Judge  Sewall,  having  sailed  in  the  sloop  "  Samuel  and 
Hannah  "  from  Boston  for  York,  was  forced  by  head  winds 
to  land  at  Marblehead.  In  his  diary,  under  the  date  of  May 
13,  1 7 18,  he  wrote:  "Went  to  Salem  in  a  Calash  my  Bro"" 
provided.  From  thence  with  the  Post  got  to  Newbury  that 
night."  t 

For   the  better  accommodation  of  travellers    the    General 

•Memorial  History  of  Boston,  vol.  ii.  (note),  p.  452. 
t  Diary  of  Samuel  Sewall,  vol.  iii.,  p.  184. 


272  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Court  ordered,  June  23,  1718,  "that  at  Charlestown.  W'inui- 
simmet  [Chelsea]  Salem  and  Newbury  ferries  there  be  hence- 
forth ]5rovided  and  kept  on  each  side  of  the  water,  by  the 
ferr)'  men  of  the  respective  ferries,  a  pair  of  planked  trucks  of 
a  sufficient  breadth  for  the  Safe  and  more  convenient 
passing  of  coaches,  colashes,  horses  and  cattle,  in  and  out  of 
the  ferry  boats,  on  penalty  of  ten  shillings  for  every  three 
months  neglect,"  etc.* 

In  1737,  a  tax  of  thirty  shillings  per  annum  on  the  owner 
of  a  coach  or  chaise  having  four  wheels,  and  twenty  shillings 
per  annum  on  the  owner  of  a  chaise,  calash,  or  chair  having 
two  wheels,  was  imposed  by  order  of  the  General  Court.  A 
memorandum  on  the  fly-leaf  of  the  records  of  the  town  of 
Newbury  gives  the  names  of  some  of  the  persons  taxable 
under  this  law,  as  follows  :  — 

Joseph  Atkins,  chaise,  May  26,  1738.  , 

Lieut  Joseph  Pike,  calash,  June  12,  1738. 

Edmund  Greenleaf  ordered  his  new  chaise  to  be  entered  July,  1738. 
Joseph  Moulton  informed  the  town  clerk  that  he  owned  a  chaise  July 

31,  1739- 

Lieut  John  Emery,  chaise,  March  20,  1739-40. 

Benjamin  Moody  paid  for  his  chaise  for  one  year  past  twenty  shillings, 
March  24,  1739-40. 

Rev.  Matthias  Plant,  minister  at  Queen  Anne's  Chapel, 
noted  in  his  memorandum,  or  account  book,  the  following 
items  :  — 

Aug.  12,  1748  I  pd  Jacob  Chaice  for  painting  my  chair  i.io.o. 
Aug.  25,  1748  pd  Pearson  for  oil  &  paint  for  chair  0.17.0 

He  also  acknowledged  at  a  subsequent  date  the  receipt  of 
ten  shillings  for  the  use  of  his  chair,  or  chaise,  from  Newbury 
to  Boston  and  return. 

F"rom  the  tavern  kept  by  John  Stavers  in  Portsmouth  the 
first  stage,  or  passenger  chair,  with  two  horses,  and  capable  of 
carrying  four  persons  besides  the  driver,  started  on  Monday, 
April  20,  1 76 1,  for  Bo.ston,  passing  through  Newbury  on  the 
way,  returning  in  season  to  reach  Portsmouth  P'rida)'  night. 
For  many  years  this  stage  continued  to  make  one  trip  every 

*  Province  Lavv.s,  vol.  ii.,  p.  102. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  273 

week  to  Boston  and  back,  leaving  Portsmouth,  however,  on 
Tuesckiy  instead  of  Monday,  and  returning  on  the  Saturday 
following.  Bartholomew  Stavers,  brother  of  John  Stavers, 
published  in  May,  1763,  the  following  notice  :  — 

The  Portsmouth  Flying  Stage  Coach 

Is  now  finished,  which  will  Carry  Six  persons  inside:  runs  with  four 
or  six  horses:  each  person  to  pay  13s  (3'^  to  Boston  and  4s  6^  to  New- 
bury. Sets  out  from  the  sign  of  the  Earl  of  Halifax,  every  Tuesday 
morning  between  7  and  8  o'clock,  goes  thro'  Newbury  to  Boston,  and 
will  put  up  at  inns  on  the  road  where  good  entertainment  and  attendance 
are  provided  for  tlie  passengers  in  the  coach.  The  subscriber,  Master 
of  the  Stage  coach,  is  to  be  spoke  with  from  Saturday  night  to  Monday 
night,    at    Mr.    John    Stavers',    innholder,    at  the  Sign    of   the  Earl  of 

Halifax. 

Bartholomew  Stavers.* 

In  1774,  the  following  advertisement  appeared  in  the 
Massachusetts  Gazette  :  — 

Stavers  Stage  Coach 
number  one 

Continues  to  ply  from  Portsmouth  to  Boston  with  Four  Horses 
equal  to  any  in  America :  sets  out  from  Portsmouth  on  Tuesday  morn- 
ings, reaches  Boston  next  Day :  Leaves  Boston  Friday  mornings  reaches 
Portsmouth  next  day,  at  said  Staver's  House,  where  is  good  accommo- 
dations for  Carriages  and  Horses.  He  takes  Care  and  provides  good 
Drivers.  His  Carriages  for  twelve  years  have  never  been  overset  nor 
Passengers  met  witli  any  Hurt. 

N.B.  Such  as  want  a  Passage  from  Boston  are  desired  to  apply  to 
Mrs.  Bean's  in  King  Street.f 

During  the  same  year  Mr.  Ezra  Lunt  commenced  to  run  a 
line  of  coaches  from  Newburyport  through  Newbury,  Ipswich, 
and  Salem  to  Boston,  making  two  trips  a  week  each  way.  In 
The  Essex  Journal  and  Merrimack  Packet,  a  newspaper 
printed  in  Newburyport,  in  the  month  of  May,  1774,  is  the 
following  advertisement :  — 

Stage  Coach 

That  constantly  plies  between  Newburyport  and  Boston  sets  out 
with  four  horses  every  Monday  morning,  at  7  o'olock,  from  Newbury- 

*  "  Rambles  about  Portsmouth,"  p.  187. 

t  Putnam's  Monthly  Magazine,  July,  1892,  p.  76. 


2  74  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

port,  and  arrives  at  Boston  the  same  day  ;  leaves  Boston  every  Thursday 
morning,  and  reaches  Newburyport  the  same  day.  Such  ladies  and 
gentlemen  as  want  a  passage  from  Newburyport  to  Boston,  are  desired 
to  apply  at  the  house  of  the  subscriber,  opposite  to  tlie  Rev.  Mr.  Par- 
son's Meeting  House.  And  those  from  Boston  to  Newburyport,  at  the 
house  of  Mrs.  Beal,  in  King  Street. 

It  is  hoped  this  very  expensive  undertaking  will  meet  with  encourage- 
ment from  all  ladies  and  gentlemen  as  they  may  depend  on  the  punctual 

performance 

Of  tlie  people's  most  obedient  servant 

Ezra  Lunt.* 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  Mr.  Lunt 
sold  his  horses,  carriages,  and  stable  fixtures,  and  enlisted  in 
the  Continental  army.  April  21,  1795,  Jacob  Hale  and  son 
announced  that  they  would  run  a  line  of  stages  through  the 
towns  of  Newbury  and  Ipswich  to  Boston,  "  twice  a  week,  on 
Mondays  and  Thursdays,  returning  Wednesdays  and  Satur- 
days," Seats  to  be  secured  at  Mr.  Hale's  house  on  Federal 
street,  Newburyport,  "near  Mr.  Dana's  meeting-house."  f 
April  22,  1800,  Joseph  and  Benjamin  Hale  advertised  in  the 
Newburyport  Herald  and  Country  Gazette  that  "  the  stage 
formerly  run  by  Mr.  Jacob  Hale"  "will  leave  Federal  street 
opposite  Mr.  William  Bartletts  "  once  a  week  for  Boston. 

In  1 81 8,  the  Eastern  Stage  Company  was  organized;  and 
under  the  management  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Hale,  Dr.  Nehemiah 
Cleaveland,  and  others,  a  line  of  stages  was  established  and 
maintained  from  Dover  to  Portsmouth,  N.H.,  and  from 
thence  to  Newburyport,  Newbury,  Ipswich,  Topsfield,  and 
Boston. 

April  14,  1836,  the  Eastern  Railroad  Company  was  in- 
corporated by  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts.  The 
road  was  opened  from  Boston  to  Newbury  on  the  nineteenth 
day  of  June,  1840,  and  to  Newburyport  on  the  twenty-eighth 
day  of  August  following. 

In  1850,  the  road  from  Newburyport  through  Byfield  was 
built  to  Georgetown,  and  from  thence,  in  185  i,  to  Bradford. 
Two  years  later,  it  was  extended  from  Georgetown  through 
Topsfield  and  Wakefield,  and  leased  to  the  Boston  &   Maine 

•Gage's  History  of  Rowley,  p.  465  ;  also,  Putnam's  Monthly  Magazine,  July,  1802,  p.  77. 
t  Impartial  Herald,  April  21,  1795. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  275 

Railroad  Company.  In  1884,  the  Eastern  and  the  Boston  & 
Maine  railroads  were  consolidated,  and  are  now  under  the 
management  of  one  board  of  directors. 

These  roads,  in  connection  with  the  street  railway  from 
Parker  river  to  Newburyport,*  and  the  street  railway  through 
Byfield,  operated  by  the  Georgetown,  Rowley  &  Ipswich 
Railroad  Company,!  give  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  oppor- 
tunity to  enjoy  frequent  and  easy  communication  with  other 
towns  in  Essex  county. 

TURNPIKES. 

In  order  to  shorten  the  distance  between  Newburyport  and 
Boston,  and  render  it  possible  for  travellers  to  make  the 
journey  more  expeditiously,  the  building  of  a  turnpike  was 
proposed  and  zealously  advocated ;  but  the  inhabitants  of 
Newbury,  believing  that  it  would  divert  travel  from  the  old 
road,  via  Parker  river  bridge  to  Ipswich  and  Boston,  voted, 
May  II,  1802,  to  oppose  the  project.  The  General  Court, 
however,  on  the  eighth  day  of  March,  1803,  authorized 
"  Micajah  Sawyer,  William  Coombs,  Nicholas  Pike,  Arnold 
Wells,  William  Bartlet,  John  Pettingell,  William  Smith,  John 
Codman  and  James  Prince  and  all  such  persons  as  are  or 
shall  be  associated  with  them  under  the  name  of  the  Newbury- 
port Turnpike  Corporation"  to  lay  out  and  build  a  turnpike 
road,  four  rods  wide,  from  the  head  of  State  street  in 
Newburyport,  through  Newbury,  Rowley,  and  Ipswich,  to 
Topsfield,  and  thence  in  a  southwesterly  direction,  in  as  nearly 
a  straight  line  as  possible,  to  Chelsea  bridge,  with  liberty  to 
erect  turnpike  gates  and  establish  tolls,  to  be  collected  from 
every  person  travelling  in  a  coach,  cart,  or  other  carriage  over 
that  road.  The  company  organized,  and  ordered  the  pre- 
liminary surveys  to  be  made  without  delay.  During  the 
summer  of  1803  the  work  of  construction  was  begun.  The 
turnpike  was  completed  in  1806  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $420,000. 

*  Completed  and  operated  July  10,  1S90,  as  a  horse  railroad  from  Newburj'port  to  "  tra>^leing 
green,"  Newbury,  extended  to  Parker  river.  May  30,  1S91,  equipped  and  first  used  as  a  street 
electric  railway  June  27,  189 1. 

t  Supplied  with  electric  motive  power  and  opened  for  the  transportation  of  passengers  April 
30,  1900. 


276  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

It  was  never  popular  with  the  travelling  public,  and  proved  to 
be  an  unprofitable  investment  for  the  capitalists  who  built  it. 
February  24,  1806,  the  General  Court  passed  "An  Act  to 
establish  Plum  Island  Turnpike  and  Bridge  Corporation." 
Although  the  subscribers  to  the  capital  stock  of  this  corpo- 
ration were  nearly  all  citizens  of  Newburyport,  the  turnpike, 
about  two  miles  long,  extending  from  the  northeast  end  of 
Rolfe's  lane,  now  Ocean  avenue,  Newburyport,  to  a  point 
on  Plum  island  about  one  mile  north  of  Sandy  beach,  so 
called,  together  with  the  bridge  over  Plum  Island  river,  were 
wholly  within  the  limits  of  the  town  of  Newbury.  The 
turnpike  and  bridge  were  completed  before  the  close  of  the 
year.  The  corporation  has  been  several  times  reorganized  ; 
and  visitors  are  now  transported  to  and  from  Plum  island  over 
this  bridge  and  turnpike  in  cars  connected  with  the  Citizens' 
Electric  Street  Railway  system  of  Newburyport. 

BRIDGES. 

For  the  accommodation  of  travellers  on  their  way  from 
Newbury  to  Rowley  and  thence  to  Boston,  a  bridge  was 
built  over  the  Parker  river,  near  the  residence  of  Richard 
Thorlay,  previous  to  the  year  1654.  It  was  one  of  the 
earliest  bridges  erected  in  New  England,  and  the  first  one 
over  navigable  waters  within  the  limits  of  the  town  of  New- 
bury.    It  has  been  several  times  enlarged  and  repaired. 

In  September,  1660,  a  committee  was  appointed  by  the 
court  at  Ipswich  to  view  the  bridge  and  highway  between 
Newbury  and  Rowley.  This  committee  reported  June  25, 
1661  ;  and  the  court  ordered  the  county  treasurer  to  pay  the 
sum  of  forty  pounds  to  Ezekiel  Northend  and  John  Pickard, 
provided  they  build  "a  sufficient  horse  bridge  six  foot  wide" 
over  the  Parker  river.*  Messrs.  Northend  and  Pickard 
evidently  assigned  or  sublet  their  contract  to  John  Woolcott. 

When  the  bridge  was  completed,  the  committee  reported 
that  it  was  inadequate  and  unsatisfactory.!  November  25, 
1662,  John  Woolcott,  who  built  the  bridge,  agreed  to  make  it 

*  Salem  Court  Records,  vol.  iv.,  p.  71.  t  Salem  Court  Files,  vol.  viii.,  p.  q\. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT    MERRIMACK  RIVER         277 

stront;-  and  substantial;*  and  June  30,  1663,  the  court 
ordered  the  county  treasurer  to  pay  him  the  balance  due 
according  to  the  terms  of  the  contract. f 

In  1758,  a  larger  and  more  serviceable  bridge  over  the  same 
river  from  Newbury  neck  to  Oldtown  ferry  landing,  was 
built  with  funds  raised  by  means  of  a  lottery  authorized  by 
an  act  of  the  General  Court  passed  January  29,  1 750-1, 
It  was  maintained  as  a  toll-bridge  until  1850,  when  the  rights 
and  privileges  of  the  corporation  were  surrendered  to  the 
commonwealth.  In  1853,  it  was  rebuilt  by  the.  county  of 
Essex  and  made  a  free  bridge.  Since  that  date  the  annual 
charges  for  repairs  and  maintenance  have  been  paid  by  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newbury .| 

The  Essex-Merrimack  Bridge  Company  was  incorporated 
February  24,  1792,  and  built,  during  the  following  summer,  a 
bridge  over  the  Merrimack  river  connecting  Deer  island  with 
the  towns  of  Newbury  and  Salisbury.  In  the  year  18 10  the 
main  portion  of  this  bridge  was  taken  down,  and  a  chain  sus- 
pension bridge  erected  in  its  place.  February  6,  1827,  some 
of  the  chains  supporting  this  structure  gave  way,  and  the 
bridge,  with  a  loaded  team,  two  men,  four  oxen,  and  one  horse, 
fell  into  the  river  below.  The  horse  and  men  were  saved,  but 
the  oxen  were  drowned.  During  the  following  summer  the 
bridge  was  rebuilt  and  maintained  as  a  toll-bridge  until  the 
fourth  day  of  August,  1868,  when  it  was  laid  out  as  a  public 
highway  under  the  provisions  of  an  act  passed  by  the  General 
Court  in  the  month  of  June  preceding. § 

June  14,  1794,  Enoch  Sawyer,  William  Coffin,  Joshua 
Wingate,  Jacob  Brown,  Joseph  Newell,  Amos  George, 
Ephraim  Elliot,  Moses  Moody,  William  L.  Abbot,  and  William 
Cutler,  "  with  such  other  persons  as  may  be  associated  with 
them,"  were  made  and  constituted  a  corporation  by  the 
General  Court,  and  authorized  to  build  a  bridge  over  the  Mer- 
rimack river  "  from  the  public  landing  at  Swett's  ferry  in 
Haverhill  to  the  opposite  shore  in  Newbury."  The  bridge 
was  built  at  or  near  Holt's  rocks,  and  was  known  as  the  Rocks 

*  Salem  Court  Records,  vol.  iv.,  p.  107.         t  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  p.  118.     For  a  more  extended 
account  of  Thorlay's  bridge  the  reader  is  referred  to  "  Ould  Newbury,"'  pp.  201-211. 
+  "  Ould  Newbury,"'  pp.  530-539.        §  Ibid.,  pp.  593-604. 


:il->'^'^"**^^^W? 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  279 

bridge  by  the  travelling;"  public,  although  "  Merrimack  bridge  " 
was  the  name  given  to  it  in  the  act  of  incorporation.  It  was 
one  thousand  feet  in  length,  and  connected  Rocks  village  in 
East  Haverhill  with  the  upper  parish  in  Newbury,  now  a  part 
of  the  town  of  West  Newbury. 

The  bridge,  built  in  a  substantial  manner,  supported  by 
five  piers  and  two  abutments,  was  completed  on  the  twenty- 
sixth  day  of  November,  1795.  The  event  was  celebrated  by 
the  display  of  flags,  the  ringing  of  bells,  the  firing  of  cannon, 
and  by  a  procession  of  workmen,  officers  of  the  corporation, 
and  citizens  generally,  who  marched  in  military  order  over 
the  bridge,  escorted  by  a  troop  of  horsemen  under  the  com- 
mand of  Captain  Boardman.* 

A  heavy  freshet,  that  raised  the  water  in  the  Merrimack  river 
to  an  unprecedented  height,  with  the  floating  ice  that  formed 
a  temporary  dam  between  the  piers,  swept  the  bridge  away 
in  the  spring  of  18 18,  completely  destroying  it.  No  effort 
was  made  to  rebuild  it  until  the  year  1828,  when  the  General 
Court  granted  "  the  proprietors  of  the  Merrimack  Bridge " 
liberty  to  build  a  bridge  "  upon  the  old  foundations  at  or  near 
Holt's  rocks."  The  work  of  reconstruction,  begun  in  April, 
1828,  was  completed  early  in  the  month  of  November  follow- 
ing. It  was  maintained  as  a  toll-bridge  until  1868,  when  it 
was  made  free  and  laid  out  as  a  public  highway  by  order  of 
the  General  Court. 

In  1883,  it  was  repaired  and  supplied  with  a  new  swinging 
draw  of  modern  construction.  In  1892  it  was  strengthened 
by  the  addition  of  two  new  piers,  and  in  1894  a  portion  of 
the  bridge  on  the  Haverhill  side  was  removed  and  replaced 
by  a  new  iron  structure. 

The  half-tone  print  on  the  opposite  page  gives  a  view  of 
the  covered  way  as  it  was  in  1828  and  as  it  appears  from  the 
Newbury,  now  West  Newbury  side  of  the  river. 

Several  years  previous  to  the  rebuilding  of  Rocks  bridge 
some  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Amesbury  became  interested 
in  a  plan  to  revive  and  restore,  if  possible,  the  popularity  of 
the  old    route  of    travel    over    Hook's    ferry    by    building   a 

*  Impartial  Herald  (Newburyport),  December  i,  i795« 


2  8o  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

brid<^c,  across  the  Merrimack  river,  from  the  mouth  of  Powow 
river  to  the  old  ferry  landing-place  on  the  opposite  shore,  in 
Newbury. 

Robert  Patten,  and  other  persons  who  were  interested 
with  him,  presented  a  petition  to  the  General  Court,  May 
27,  1824,  asking  for  an  act  of  incorporation  for  the  purpose 
named,  subject  to  such  restrictions  as  the  General  Court  might 
consider  necessary.  On  the  seventh  day  of  June  the  Senate 
concurred  with  the  House  of  Representatives  in  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  committee  to  view  the  location,  and  investigate  the 
claims  set  forth  by  the  petitioners  as  well  as  the  objections 
urged  by  the  opponents  of  the  measure.  A  strong  remon- 
strance from  the  inhabitants  of  Haverhill,  and  other  towns  on 
the  river,  undoubtedly  induced  the  committee  to  recommend 
"  that  further  consideration  of  the  subject  be  referred  to  the 
next  General  Court."  This  recommendation,  adopted  Febru- 
ary 15,  1825,  although  unsatisfactory  to  the  petitioners,  was 
accepted  by  them  ;  and  no  further  attempt  was  made  to  secure 
the  coveted  charter.  During  the  following  summer  a  new 
movement  was  inaugurated  that  resulted  in  the  building  of  a 
bridge  two  or  three  miles  below  the  place  selected  by  Robert 
Patten  and  his  associates. 

As  early  as  February  27,  1802,  William  Bartlet  and  Nicho- 
las Pike  applied  to  the  General  Court  for  liberty  to  build  a 
bridge  from  Newburyport  to  Salisbury,  and  also  a  road  to 
connect  it  with  a  proposed  turnpike  from  Portsmouth  to 
Boston.  On  the  eleventh  day  of  May  the  town  of  Newbury 
voted  to  oppose  the  erection  of  a  bridge  over  the  Merrimack 
river  from  Newburyport,  and  also  voted  to  oppose  the  build- 
ing of  a  turnpike  to  Boston.  The  inhabitants  of  other  towns 
on  the  river  objected,  on  the  ground  that  the  proposed  bridge 
would  be  an  obstruction  to  navigation. 

June  12,  i8'02,  a  special  committee  was  appointed  by  the 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  to  visit  Newburyport, 
hear  the  testimony  of  the  petitioners  as  well  as  tlie  remon- 
strants, and  report  the  result  of  their  investigations  at  the 
next  session  of  the  General  Court.  February  28,  1803,  this 
committee  reported  "  inexpedient  to  grant  the  prayer  of  the 


THE  SETTLEMENT  A  T  ME  A' R /MAC A'  RIVER  281 

petitioners,"  and,  ai)parently,  no  farther  action  was  taken  for 
nearly  twenty-five  years. 

March  4,  1826,  James  Prince,  John  Wood,  Stephen  Froth- 
ingham,  "and  all  other  persons  associated  with  them"  were 
authorized  to  erect  a  bridge  over  the  Merrimack  river,  from 
Newbury  port,  between  Market  and  Kent  streets,  to  some 
convenient  point  in  the  town  of  Salisbury ;  and,  also,  to  lay 
out  and  make  a  road  four  rods  wide  from  the  bridge  on 
the  Salisbury  side  to  the  county  road  leading  to  the  meeting- 
house in  East  Salisbury.  The  bridge  was  built  during  the 
summer  of  1,827.  It  rested  on  four  stone  piers  and  two 
abutments,  and  was  supported  in  part  by  chains  that  ex- 
tended from  the  top  of  a  high  wooden  arch,  built  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  river,  to  the  centre  of  the  span  between  the  stone 
abutment  and  the  first  pier,  and  thence  over  the  top  of  a 
second  arch,  built  on  that  pier,  to  the  centre  of  the  second 
span,  and  so  continuing  until  the  Salisbury  shore  was  reached. 

LAWS    AND    ORDERS    FOR   THE    PROTECTION    OF    FISH. 

William  Wood,  in  his  description  of  New  England  published 
in  London  in  1634,  says,  "In  this  river  [Merrimack]  is  stur- 
geon, Sammon  and  Basse,  and  divers  other  kinds  of  fish."  * 
"The  sturgions  be  all  over  the  countrey,  but  the  best  catch- 
ing of  them  be  upon  the  Shoales  of  Cape  Coddc  and  in  the 
River  of  Mii-riviackc  where  much  is  taken,  pickled  and 
brought  for  England,  some  of  them  be  12,  14,  18  foote 
long."  * 

On  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  March,  1642,  the  town  of 
Salisbury  "  granted  to  Robert  Ring  two  acres  of  upland  upon 
the  island  f  over  against  Watts  sellar  %  to  be  employed  about 
fishing  for  two  years."  § 

At  that  date  there  was  no  settlement  on  the  southwesterly 
bank  of  the  Merrimack  river.  The  name  "Watts  Sellar" 
was  probably  applied  to  a  shallow  excavation  or  pit  that 
marked  the  spot  where  a  house  for  the  accommodation  of 
fishermen  once  stood  ;  subsequently  the    new  town,  which  in- 

*A?ite,  p.  25.  t  Ring's  Island,  opposite  foot  of  State  street,  Newburj'port. 

t  In  rear  of  the  present  police  station,  Newburyport.       §  Coffin's  History  of  Newbuiy,  p.  37. 


282  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

eluded  all  the  territory  within  the  present  limits  of  New- 
buryport,  was  laid  out  and  occupied  by  the  early  settlers  of 
Newbury. 

The  catching  and  curing  of  sturgeon  soon  became  an  im- 
portant and  profitable  industry.  Large  quantities  were  boiled, 
pickled,  packed  in  kegs,  and  shipped  every  season  to  Boston, 
London,  and  elsewhere.  May  7,  1673,  William  Thomas,  of 
Newbury,  then  seventy-four  years  of  age,  petitioned  the  Gen- 
eral Court  to  prohibit  the  pickling  or  putting  up  of  sturgeon 
by  any  person  for  transportation,  "  except  such  as  by  lawful 
authoritie  shall  be  licensed  thereto."  *  In  answer  to  this  pe- 
tition the  county  courts  were  authorized  "  to  license  able  and 
fitt  persons  to  boyle  and  pickle  sturgeon  for  sale,"  and  also  to 
appoint  searchers,  or  inspectors,  to  examine  the  kegs  when 
packed,  and  mark  the  weight  and  quality  of  the  contents 
thereon. I 

Regulated  and  controlled  by  the  provisions  of  this  law,  the 
business  continued  to  grow  and  thrive  in  Newbury  for  many 
years.  During  the  summer  months,  sturgeon  were  abundant, 
and,  when  taken  fresh  from  the  water  and  properly  cooked, 
were  esteemed  a  great  luxury.  Samuel  Sewall,  on  his  way 
from  Boston  to  Hampton  and  Portsmouth,  "  Stopped  in  New- 
bury, July  8,  1 70 1,  and  eat  sturgeon  at  Major  Davison's."  \ 

Salmon  were  also  caught  in  large  numbers  ;  and  tradition 
asserts  that  they  were  so  plentiful  at  certain  seasons  of  the 
year  that  apprentices  stipulated  in  their  articles  of  agreement 
that  they  should  not  be  compelled  by  their  employers,  who 
supplied  them  with  food  and  clothing,  "  to  eat  salmon  more 
than  three  times  a  week."  Before  the  close  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,  however,  a  more  extended  market  reduced 
the  overabundant  supply  ;  and  baked  or  boiled  salmon  became 
a  popular  and  favorite  dish  with  farmers  and  laborers  as  well 
as  with  men  of  prominence  in  the  province  of  Massachusetts 
Bay. 

In  May,  1695,  Judge  Sewall,  returning  from  a  special  court, 
"held  at  Mr  Shaplighs    just    over    against    Dover,"   invited 

*  Coffin's  History  of  Newbnry,  p.  114. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  II.,  p.  553. 

+  Samuel  Sewall's  Diary,  vol.  ii.,  p.  38. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  283 

Mr.  Thomas  Danforth,  Mr.  Elisha  Cook,  Col.  Hutchinson, 
and  other  gentlemen  who  accompanied  him,  to  dine  at  his 
expense,  on  salmon,  at  Capt.  Edward  Sargeant's  tavern,  at 
the  water-side,  in  Newbury.* 

May  13,  17 18,  the  town  of  Newbury  granted  Moses  Chase, 
Abraham  Annis,  Joseph  Pike,  William  Morse,  and  others 
liberty  to  use  the  flats  near  Holt's  rocks,  on  condition  that 
they  give  one  salmon  per  year  to  Rev.  Christopher  Toppan, 
pastor  of  the  First  church,  and  one  to  Rev.  John  Tufts, 
pastor  of  the  Second  church  in  Newbury,  "if  they  catch 
them."  f 

"  An  act  to  prevent  the  destruction  of  salmon  and  other 
fish  in  Merrimack  river  "  was  passed  by  the  General  Court, 
February  28,  1765, J  but  the  fines  and  penalties  imposed 
by  this  act  were  evaded,  and  the  business  of  catching  and 
curing  salmon  was  continued  until  the  growth  of  large  manu- 
facturing cities,  the  impurity  of  the  water,  the  erection  of 
dams  at  Lowell  and  Lawrence,  seriously  interfered  with  the 
movements  and  habits  of  fish  coming  from  the  sea,  at  the 
spawning  season,  and  ultimately  led  them  to  seek  purer 
streams. 

For  the  protection  and  preservation  of  bass  in  the  Parker 
river  the  General  Court,  in  answer  to  a  petition  from  the  in- 
habitants of  Newbury,§  provided  by  a  law  passed  April  26, 
1 77 1,  that  fish  should  not  be  taken  from  that  river,  at  certain 
seasons  of  the  year,  under  severe  penalties.  ||  The  provisions 
of  this  law  were  not  strictly  enforced;  and  March  2,  1793, 
"  An  act  to  enable  the  town  of  Newbury  to  regulate  and  order 
the  taking  of  Fish  called  Shad,  Bass  and  Alewives  in  the  river 
Parker  within  the  limits  of  said  Town,"  and  providing  further 
"  that  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  at  their  annual  meeting 
may  determine  and  order  in  what  manner  and  at  what  time  fish 
may  be  taken  from  said  river,"  was  passed  by  the  General 
Court. 

May  7,  1793,  the  town  of  Newbury  "voted  that  no  person 
be  allowed   to  put  a  seine,  hedge,  weir  or  drag   net   into  the 

*  Samuel  Sewall's  Diary,  vol.  i.,  p.  406.  t  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Province  Laws,  vol.iv.,  p.  741.  §Towd  of  Newbury  Records,  May  24,  1770. 

II  Province  Laws,  vol.  v.,  p.  134. 


284  HISTORY   OF  XEWBURY 

river  Parker,  at  any  season,  for  the  purpose  of  fishing  for  or 
catching  of  any  Bass,  shad  or  alewives  in  s^  river,"  and  also 
"  voted  that  no  person  be  allowed  to  catch  any  of  s^  Fish 
with  a  Dip  net  or  any  other  way  from  the  First  day  of 
December  to  the  First  day  of  April."  * 

The  enforcement  of  these  rules  and  regulations  was 
intrusted  to  Capt.  Stephen  Kent,  David  Dole,  jr.,  and 
Stephen  Adams,  jr.  Although  faithful  and  diligent  in  the 
discharge  of  their  duties,  they  failed  to  accomplish  the  purpose 
for  which  they  were  appointed  ;  and  the  power  and  authority 
of  the  General  Court  was  again  invoked  to  prevent  the 
wholesale  destruction  of  fish  in  Newbury.  February  22, 
1797,  another  act,  more  stringent  in  its  provisions,  was 
passed,  prohibiting,  under  severe  penalties,  the  sale  of  bass 
caught  in  the  Parker  river,  and  providing  for  the  election  of 
fish  wardens  to  enforce  the  act ;  but  the  results  were  un- 
satisfactory, and  the  General  Court  endeavored  to  improve 
the  condition  of  affairs  by  another  act,  passed  March  8,  1806, 
requiring  mill-owners  to  make  a  sufficient  way  for  the  passage 
of  fish  over  their  mill-dams,  and  directing  them  to  keep  the 
fish-way  open  and  well  supplied  with  water  from  the  fifteenth 
day  of  April  to  the  first  day  of  June.  Additional  acts  were 
passed  March  4,  1809,  February  26,  181 3,  and  April  18, 
1837,  without,  however,  increasing  the  number  of  fish  in 
Parker  river  to  any  appreciable  extent. 

Committees  were  chosen  from  time  to  time  to  carry  the 
provisions  of  these  acts  into  effect,  but  violators  of  the  law 
continued  to  escape  arrest  and  prosecution.  Many  of  the 
offenders  were  from  neighboring  towns ;  and  the  inhabitants 
of  Newbury,  in  order  to  keep  out  all  intruders,  voted,  April 
19,  1858,  to  prohibit  the  taking  of  fish  from  Parker  river  or 
its  branches,  at  any  time,  by  any  person  not  ha\-ing"  a  legal 
residence  within  the  limits  of  the  town.  In  1869,  the  law 
was  again  modified ;  and  now  the  catching  of  fish  in  the 
ponds,  streams,  or  rivers  of  Massachusetts,  is  controlled  and 
regulated  by  commissioners  appointed  by  the  State. 

*To\vn  of  Newbury  Records. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  285 

FIRE-ENGINES    AND    FIREMEN. 

For  more  than  a  century  after  the  settlement  of  Newbury 
disastrous  fires  were  subdued  or  extinf^uished  by  the  primitive 
apphances  and  methods  then  in  use.  Ladders  borne  upon 
the  shoulders  of  men  from  the  nearest  workshop  or  farm- 
house were  raised  to  the  roof  of  the  burning  building ;  and 
water,  by  means  of  buckets  passed  from  hand  to  hand,  was 
thrown  with  more  or  less  dexterity  upon  the  devouring 
flames. 

When  fire-engines  were  first  introduced,  they  were  rude 
and  clumsy  affairs,  consisting  mainly  of  a  square  or  oblong 
cistern  on  wheels,  fitted  with  pumps  worked  by  levers  and 
supplied  with  water  brought  in  buckets  from  the  nearest 
available  source  of  supply. 

In  1744,  the  General  Court  authorized  the  appointment  in 
every  town  in  the  province  "  of  a  suitable  number  of  persons 
not  exceeding  ten  who  shall  be  denominated  iirewards  and 
have  each,  for  a  distinguishing  badge  of  the  office,  a  staff  of 
five  feet  long  painted  red  and  headed  with  a  bright  brass 
spire  six  inches  long."  * 

March  13,  1753,  Nathan  Hale  and  others  presented  a 
petition  to  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  "about  a  fire  engine." 
It  is  evident  that  the  prayer  of  the  petitioners  was  promptly 
granted  ;  for  "  Will™  Richards,  John  Brett,  Enoch  Plumer, 
Samuel  No  well,  Benjamin  Cole,  Eliphalet  Noyes,  Benj^ 
Sweet,  Jonathan  Titcomb,  Henry  Friend,  Somerby  Moody, 
and  John  Sewall,"  having  built  an  engine-house  at  their  own 
expense,  and  taken  care  of  the  fire-engine  for  several  years 
previous  to  May  21,  1759,  were  then  "excused  from  other 
service  in  town  affairs  so  long  as  they  continue  to  take 
proper  care  of  said  engine  and  faithfully  attend  in  case  of 
fire."  t 

March  9,  1762,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  town  of 
Newbury,  stating  that  a  company  had  been  formed  to  take 
care  of  the  fire-engine,  that  Gideon  Wood  well  had  been  chosen 
captain,  and  that  he  and  his  associates  desired  to  be  released 

*  Province  Laws,  vol.  iii.,  p.  214.        tTown  of  Ne\vbur>'  Records  (1731-85) ,  pp.  g3,  118. 


286 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


from  certain  minor  duties  while  serving  as  firemen.     The  pe- 
tition was  signed  by  the  following  persons  :  — 


Jonathan  Marsh 
Benjamin  Knight  Jun 
Jacob  Rolfe 
Thomas  Cross 
Francis  Hodgekins 
John  Nowell 
Benjamin  Gerrish 
Jonathan  Wliitmore 


Joshua  Norton 
John  Follinsby 
William  Johnson 
Hezekiah  Coleby  Jun 
Gideon  Woodwell 
Jonathan  Parsons  Jun 
Ebenezer  Swasey 
Charles  Cook 


The  prayer  of  the    petitioners    was    granted 
twenty  of  s^   Petitioners  'from    highway    rates 
town.  * 


Richard  Smith 
Bulkley  Emerson 
David  Whitmore 
Joseph  Rolfe 
NatW  Hunt 
Moses  Nowell 
Thomas  Rogers 
Nath'  Knapp  Jun 
so    far    as    to    exempt 
&    petty    affairs  in   the 


At  the  same  meeting  the  town  voted  to  organize  a  company 
to  take  charge  of  the  fire-engine  imported  by  Michael  Dalton 
and  others  from  London  in  May,  1761.  The  following  per- 
sons were  appointed  members  of  the  company  :  — 


Richard  Titcomb 
Isaac  Johnson  Ju^ 
Benjamin  Pidgeon 
Abraham  Gallashan 
Michael  Tappan 
Jacob  Gideon 
Obadiah  Horton 


John  Sewall 
Joseph  Collins 
Samuel  Nowell 
John  Stone 
Samuel  Greenleaf 
Joseph  Titcomb  3d 
Joseph  Remick 


Offin  Boardman 
Jacob  Toppan 
Joseph  Rowell 
Benjamin  Pike 
Leonard  Smith 
John  Stickney  Jr 
Samuel  Coker 


They  were  also  excused  from  serving  as  subordinate  officers 
of  the  town,  and  were  by  a  special  vote  exempt  from  the  pay- 
ment of  highway  taxes. f 

Voluntary  associations  were  also  formed  to  assist  the  fire- 
men in  the  performance  of  their  duties.  Every  member  of 
the  "  Dernier  Resort  Fire  Society,"  organized  in  1 761,  was 
required  to  provide  himself  with  "  two  good  leather  buckets,, 
two  strong  bags,  and  a  knapsack  for  food  or  clothing." 

These  fire-engines  were  located  in  the  centre  of  the  town^ 
and  were  set  off  and  transferred  to  Newburyport  when  that 
town  was  incorporated  in  1764. 

February  7,  1786,  the  selectmen  of  towns,  "that  are  or 
may  be  provided  with  fire  engines,"  were  authorized  by  the 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records  (1731-85),  p.  133.  tibid.,  p.  132. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  287 

General  Court  to  appoint  suitable  persons,  not  exceeding  fif- 
teen to  any  one  engine,  to  be  under  the  direction  of  the  fire- 
wards  of  the  town,  "  and  subject  to  such  rules  and  regulations 
as  they  shall  adopt."  The  firemen  were  placed  in  charge  of 
the  engines  to  which  they  were  appointed,  and  were  required 
to  respond  quickly  at  every  alarm  of  fire,  and  assist  in  sub- 
duing the  flames. 

Previous  to  1803  that  part  of  Newbury  known  as  "Belle- 
ville "  was  provided  with  a  fire-engine.  One  article  in  the 
warrant  for  the  town  meeting  held  April  4,  1803,  reads  as 
follows  :  — 

To  see  if  the  town  will  erect  a  suitable  building  to  cover  an  engine 
which  has  been  lately  purchased  by  Enoch  Sawyer  and  others. 

No  definite  action  was  taken  in  regard  to  the  erection  of  an 
engine-house  during  that  year  ;  and  the  subject  was  not  again 
brought  to  the  attention  of  the  voters  until  another  engine 
had  been  purchased  by  some  of  the  prominent  citizens  resid- 
ing in  the  vicinity  of  Marlborough  street,  at  the  lower  end  of 
the  town. 

At  the  annual  meeting  held  May  9,  1805,  the  selectmen 
were  authorized  to  expend  two  hundred  dollars  to  build  two 
engine-houses,  and  provide  sixty-four  buckets,  to  be  equally 
divided  between  the  two  engine  societies. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  April  7,  1806,  the  following  per- 
sons were  appointed  fire-wards  :  — 

FOR    ENGINE    NUMBER  ONE. 

John  Rollins  Farnum  How  Robert  Dodge 

Orlando  B.  Merrill  Jacob  Litde  Eben^r  Whitmore 

FOR    ENGINE    NUMBER  TWO. 

Capt  David  Little  Richard  Pike  Philip  Coombs 

Stephen  Ilsley  Capt  Ebenezer  Stocker     Samuel  Goodwin 

Joseph  Lunt  Colby 

May  9,  1808,  the  following  fire-wards  were  appointed  :  — 

FOR    ENGINE    NUMBER    ONE. 

Jacob  Litde  Robert  Dodge  Orlando  B.  Merrill 

John  Rollins  Farnum  How  Eben^r  Whitmore 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


Benjamin  Perkins 
Jacob  Swett 
Capt  David  Little 
Philip  Coombs 


FOR    ENGINE    NUMHER  TWO. 

Mayo  Gerrish 
Isaiah  Ilsley 
Major  Benj  Stickney 
Richard  Pike 


Samuel  Goodwin 
Stephen  Ilsley 
Moses  Adams  Jun 
Abram  Wheel wrisjht 


When  "Belleville"  and  "Joppa"  were  annexed  to  New- 
buryport  in  1 8  5 1 ,  engines  numbered  one  and  two  were  trans- 
ferred, with  other  public  property  from  the  town  of  Newbury, 
and    subsequently    under    the    name    of     "Torrent,    number 


FIRE    ENGINE,    1850. 

seven,"  and  "Neptune,  number  eight,"  they  were  united 
with  the  fire  department  of  the  city  of  Newburyport.  Since 
that  date,  owing  to  the  sparseness  of  the  population  and  the 
isolation  of  the  dwelling-houses,  it  has  not  been  considered 
necessary  or  advisable  to  keep  or  maintain  fire-engines  within 
the  present  territorial  limits  of  Newbury. 


THE   ADOPTION    AND    RATIFICATION    OF   THE    CONSTITU- 
TION   OF   THE    STATE    OF    MASSACHUSETTS. 

During  the  year  1777  the  General  Court,  acting  as  a  con- 
vention, })repared  a  constitution  for  the  government  of  the 
State  of  Massachusetts,  and  on  the  twenty-eighth  day  of 
February,  1778,  submitted  it  to  the  people  for  their  approval. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  KIVEK  289 

On  the  tenth  clay  of  March  the  town  of  Newbury  appointed 
a  committee  to  examine  the  proposed  constitution,  and  report 
the  result  of  their  investigations  at  a  subsequent  meeting  to 
be  called  by  the  selectmen.  June  second,  this  committee 
recommended  that  the  legal  voters  of  the  town  refuse  to 
accept  or  adopt  the  constitution  on  account  of  its  many  and 
serious  defects.* 

Meetings  were  held  in  every  town  throughout  the  state, 
and  after  an  exciting  canvass  the  proposed  constitution  was 
rejected  by  a  large  majority  of  the  votes  cast. 

February  20,  1779,  the  General  Court  passed  a  series  of 
resolutions  directing  the  selectmen  of  towns  to  ascertain 
whether  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  their  respective 
towns  favor  the  "  calling  of  a  State  Convention  for  the  sole 
purpose  of  forming  a  new  Constitution,"  and  to  return  to  the 
Secretary  of  State,  previous  to  the  first  Wednesday  in  June 
following,  the  number  of  persons  voting  for  or  against  the  pro- 
posed measure.  On  the  twenty-first  day  of  May  the  town  of 
Newbury  voted  "that  in  case  a  major  part  of  the  People  of 
this  State  shall  appear  to  be. for  a  new  form  of  government  at 
this  time  then,  in  that  case,  this  Town  instruct  their  Repre- 
sentatives to  act  for  a  Convention  to  be  called  in  such  a  way 
and  manner  that  all  the  good  People  in  the  State  (as  nearly 
as  may  be)  may  have  an  equal  voice  in  forming  the  said  con- 
stitution." f 

Having  ascertained  that  the  inhabitants  of  more  than  two- 
thirds  of  the  towns  in  the  state  were  in  favor  of  the  proposed 
convention,  the  General  Court  recommended,  June  17,  1779, 
that  delegates  from  every  town  should  be  elected  to  meet 
in  Cambridge  "  on  the  first  day  of  September  next  ...  for  the 
sole  purpose'  of  framing  a  new  Constitution." 

August  fourth,  Mr.  Richard  Adams,  Enoch  Sawyer,  Esq., 
and  Mr.  Ebenezer  March  were  chosen  to  represent  New- 
bury, and  with  many  eminent  men  from  other  towns  in  the 
state  assembled  at  the  time  and  place  designated.  The  con- 
vention organized  by  the  choice  of  Hon.  James  Bowdoin, 
president,  and  Samuel  Barrett,  Esq.,  secretary.     Rules  were 

•Town  of  Newbury  Records  (1731-85),  p.  382.  t  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


290  HISTORY   OF  XEWBURY 

adopted,  several  important  committees  appointed,  and  the 
general  principles  of  the  proposed  declaration  of  rights  dis- 
cussed. The  convention  continued  its  deliberations  until 
the  seventh  day  of  September.  It  assembled  again  October 
twenty-eighth,  for  another  session  of  nearly  two  weeks,  when 
it  adjourned  to  meet,  January  5,  1780,  in  the  representatives' 
chamber  in  the  state  house  at  Boston. 

March  2,  1780,  the  members  of  the  convention  agreed 
upon  the  constitution  that  was  soon  after  printed  and  sub- 
mitted to  the  legal  voters  of  the  state  for  their  approval  or 
rejection.  They  also  recommended  that  the  votes  cast  for  or 
against  the  constitution  should  be  examined  and  counted  by 
the  delegates  to  another  convention  to  be  held  in  Boston 
June  7,  1780. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  May,  Enoch  Sawyer,  Esq., 
Mr.  Richard  Adams,  and  Mr.  Ebenezer  March  were  re-elected 
to  represent  Newbury  in  the  examination  of  the  returns  ;  and 
at  the  same  meeting  it  was  also  voted,  "  that  the  Delegates 
from  this  Town  be  authorized  to  Joyn  with  their  Brethren  in 
Convention  &  Determine  when  the  Constitution  shall  take 
Place,  Provided  that  two  Thirds  of  the  male  inhabitants  of 
this  state  vote  for  the  same."  * 

On  the  sixteenth  day  of  June,  1780,  the  convention  de- 
clared that  the  constitution  had  been  adopted  by  the  requisite 
number  of  votes,  and  "  Resolved,  that  the  said  Constitution  or 
Frame  of  Government  shall  take  place  on  the  last  Wednesday 
in  October  next." 

PARISH    TAXES    AND    PUBLIC    WORSHIP. 

As  early  as  May  24,  1770,  an  effort  was  made  to  secure 
for  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  "  liberty  to  attend  public 
worship  in  any  meeting  house  in  Newbury  or  Newburyport 
and  pay  taxes  where  they  attend."  f  This  effort,  however, 
was  unsuccessful  ;  and  no  further  action  was  taken  until 
March  10,  1794-5,  when  the  town  of  Newbury  voted  "that 
the  inhabitants  of  this  town  have  liberty  to  attend  Publick 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records.  t"  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  516. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  291 

worship  where  they  choose  and  be  subject  to  the  Rules  and 
Regulations  of  that  Society  where  they  generally  attend  and 
be  exempted  from  taxation  elsewhere  for  the  support  of 
publick  worship."  * 

Major  Samuel  Noyes,  Lieut.  Nathaniel  PImery,  Deacon 
Solomon  Haskell,  and  Capt.  Paul  Moody  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  petition  the  General  Court  for  the  enactment  of 
a  law  legalizing  the  vote  and  providing  for  the  assessment 
and  collection  of  taxes  in  the  manner  proposed. 

An  act  authorizing  the  First  parish  in  Newbury  to  "  ex- 
empt from  taxation  those  persons  who  produce  a  certificate 
from  any  incorporated  religious  society  stating  that  they  are 
members  of  that  society  and  are  willing  to  be  taxed  therein  " 
was  passed  June  17,  1796.!  This  act,  however,  did  not 
exempt  the  inhabitants  of  other  parishes  in  Newbury  from 
the  payment  of  taxes  for  the  support  of  public  worship  in  the 
parishes  where  they  resided,  even  though  they  were  faithful 
and  devout  members  of,  and  regular  contributors  to  religious 
societies  elsewhere. 

The  subject  was  again  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  legal 
voters  of  Newbury  at  a  meeting  held  May  9,  1808;  and  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  prepare  and  present  a  petition  to 
the  General  Court  for  such  amendments  or  modifications  of 
the  law  as  were  necessary  to  give  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town  "liberty  to  attend  publick  worship  where  they  please."* 
But  the  liberty  asked  for  was  not  obtained  until  the  third 
article  of  the  declaration  of  rights  established  by  the  con- 
stitution of  the  state  was  amended  in  1833.! 

INOCULATING    HOSPITAL. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolutionary  war  the  inhabitants 
of  Newbury  were  greatly  alarmed  by  the  prevalence  of  small- 
pox. The  art  or  practice  of  vaccination  was  then  unknown ; 
but  many  persons  were  voluntarily  inoculated  with  the  disease 
in  its  most  virulent  form,  in  order  that  its  ravages  might  be 
mitigated  under  the  care  and  attention  of  experienced 
physicians. 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records.  t"  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  517. 


292  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

It  is  evident,  however,  that  the  legal  voters  of  the  town 
were  opposed  to  the  unrestricted  and  unguarded  use  of  that 
privilege.  November  26,  1773,  they  appointed  a  committee 
of  five  persons  "  to  take  such  measures  as  may  be  necessary 
to  prevent  Inoculation  of  the  small  pox  at  the  house  of  Capt 
Moses  Little,  or  elsewhere  in  the  town."  * 

July  9,  1776,  the  General  Court  passed  "an  act  Im- 
powering  the  Justices  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the 
Peace  in  the  Several  Counties  in  this  Colony  to  permit  one  or 
more  Inoculating  Hospitals  to  be  erected  in  each  of  Said 
Counties."  April  11,  1777,  this  act  was  amended,  and  some 
important  regulations  and  restrictions  added. f 

March  10,  1777-8,  the  town  of  Newbury  voted  to  petition 
the  General  Court  for  liberty  to  provide  a  suitable  place 
within  the  limits  of  the  town  "for  inoculation  for  small  pox."* 

This  vote  was  subsequently  reconsidered,  but  after  a  delay 
of  some  weeks  was  again  passed  and  again  reconsidered. 

In  the  mean  while  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  for  the 
county  of  Essex  authorized  the  erection  of  an  inoculating 
hospital  on  Kent's  island  ;  and  Stephen  Cross  and  other  citi- 
zens of  Newbury  and  Newburyport  united  in  a  petition  to  the 
General  Court,  asking  that  the  directors  of  the  hospital  might 
be  allowed  to  retain  possession  of  the  property  and  manage 
its  affairs  without  interference. 

April  II,  1778,  the  General  Court  adopted  a  series  of  reso- 
lutions, in  substance  as  follows  :  — 

Moses  Frazier,  Samuel  Tufts,  Jonathan  Marsh,  Ebenezer  March, 
John  Pearson,  Junior,  Joseph  Stanwood  and  Paul  Lunt,  appointed  by  the 
last  Court  of  the  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  holden  for  the  County  of 
Essex,  as  Directors  of  an  inoculating  Hospital  then  allowed  by  said 
Court  of  Sessions  to  be  erected  and  established  on  Kent's  Island  in  the 
town  of  Newbury,  are  hereby  permitted  to  continue  said  Hospital,  they 
to  be  Directors  till  the  further  order  of  the  General  Court: 

And  as  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Newbury  Port  join  in  the 
expense  of  erecting  and  furnishing  said  Hospital,  [It  is]  further  resolved, 
that  no  preference  be  given  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Newbury 
but  that  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Newbury  Port  have  equal  right 
to  admission  into  said  Hospital  with  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Newbury  &c  &c.  X 

*To\vn  of  Newbury  Records.  t  Province  Laws,  vol.  v.,  pp.  554,  633. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives  (Court  Records),  vol.  xxxviii.,  p.  429. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  293 

Subsequently,  the  report  that  several  persons  had  been  in- 
oculated for  small-pox  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Josiah  Little 
created  considerable  excitement ;  and,  June  8,  1778,  a  commit- 
tee was  chosen,  and  instructed  to  prosecute  any  person  who 
had  aided  or  assisted  in  communicating  the  disease  at  the 
time  and  in  the  manner  designated.  The  committee  was 
also  directed  to  prosecute  any  doctor  "  that  shall  attend  said 
persons  or  administer  medicine  to  any  of  them  contrary  to 
law."  * 

How  long  the  hospital  on  Kent's  island  was  used  for  the 
accommodation  of  patients  who  desired  to  be  inoculated  with 
small-pox  is  uncertain.  On  the  twenty-second  day  of  August, 
1778,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  General  Court,  asking 
that  the  practice  might  be  discontinued  in  Newbury. 

Ten  or  fifteen  years  later  Newburyport  built  and  main- 
tained a  hospital  in  the  common  pasture,  where  persons  volun- 
tarily inoculated  with  the  virus  of  small-pox  were  allowed  to 
remain,  under  the  care  of  experienced  physicians,  until  fully 
recovered. 

WOOLLEN    FACTORY   AT   BYFIELD. 

In  1793,  William  Bartlet,  Benjamin  Greenleaf,  and  other 
Newburyport  capitalists  became  interested  in  a  plan,  proposed 
by  John  and  Arthur  Schofield,  two  Englishmen  who  came  to 
Newburyport  that  year,  for  manufacturing  blankets  and  other 
woollen  goods  by  machinery. 

January  29,  1794,  Benjamin  Greenleaf,  Philip  Aubin,  Will- 
iam Bartlet,  Richard  Bartlett,  Offin  Boardman,  jr.,  Moses 
Brown,  David  Coffin,  William  Coombs,  John  Coombs,  Mark 
Fitz,  Abel  Greenleaf,  John  Greenleaf,  Andrew  Frothingham, 
Michael  Hodge,  Nicholas  Johnson,  Nathaniel  Knapp,  Peter 
Le  Breton,  Joseph  Moulton,  Theophilus  Parsons,  Ebenezer 
Wheelwright,  Edward  Wigglesworth,  and  others  were  in- 
corporated as  "  The  Proprietors  of  the  Newburyport  Woolen 
Manufactory."  f 

As  water  power  was  needed  to  move  the  machinery,  the 
proprietors  by  their  agent  purchased  of  Paul  Moody,  of  New- 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Special  Laws,  State  of  Massachusetts,  Acts  of  1794. 


294  HISTORY  OF  NEIVIWRY 

bury,  March  26,  1794,  about  six  acres  of  land  partly  covered 
with  water,  on  both  sides  of  the  Falls  river,  in  Byfield  parish, 
also  a  grist-mill  on  the  premises,  with  all  its  privileges,  and 
there  erected  a  factory  suitable  for  manufacturing  purposes.* 
The  carding-machines  used  in  the  factory  were  made  by  the 
Schofield  Brothers  in  Newburyport,  and  the  other  machinery 
by  Messrs.  Guppy  &  Armstrong,  of  the  same  town. 

It  is  said  that  the  company  was  the  first  one  incorporated 
for  the  manufacture  of  woollen  goods  in  the  United  States. 
It  was  not  successful,  however,  financially.  In  1803,  the 
original  shareholders  sold  their  stock  to  William  Bartlet ;  and 
in  1804  he  sold  the  property  to  John  Lees,  an  Englishman, 
who  converted  it  into  a  factory  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton 
cloth.f 

August  24,  1824,  the  property  was  sold  at  public  auction 
to  Gorham  Parsons,  of  Brighton,^  who  conveyed  it.  May  29, 
1826,  to  Paul  Moody  of  Lowell. §  April  16,  1832,  the  heirs 
of  Paul  Moody  reconveyed  the  property  to  Gorham  Parsons,  || 
who  leased  it  for  a  term  of  seven  years  to  William  N.  Cleave- 
land,  of  Newbury,  and  Solomon  Wildes,  of  Boston,  "  partners 
in  trade  and  manufacturers  under  the  firm  name  of  William 
N.  Cleaveland  &  Co."  ^  August  2,  1842,  Mr.  Parsons  sold 
the  factory  to  Theophilus  Parsons,  of  Boston,**  who  conveyed 
it  May  12,  1846,  to  Moses  Emery  Hale  and  others,  of  New- 
buryport. ff 

May  20,  1848,  Francis  V.  Noyes  purchased  the  factory,^ 
and  subsequently  leased  it  to  Alfred  Durant  and  to  his  brother, 
Rev.  Henry  Durant,  who  manufactured  bedsteads  and  other 
household  furniture  there.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1859 ; 
and  the  land,  "  with  several  small  buildings  thereon,"  was 
sold  to  Daniel  Lunt,  of  Newbury,  March  3,  i86o,§§  who  con- 

*  Essex  Deeds,  vol.  clvii.,  leaf  153.  The  land  upon  which  this  factory  was  erected  was  granted 
by  the  town  of  Newbury  in  1636  to  John  Spencer  and  Richard  Dummer  to  build  a  grist-mill 
upon.  November  10,  1710,  Nathaniel  Dummer  sold  to  William  Moody,  giandfather  of  Paul 
Moody,  all  his  right,  title,  and  interest  "in  ye  River  in  yc  Township  of  Newbury  called  ye  Falls 
River  which  was  granted  unto  my  Grandfather  Mr  Richard  Dumer  by  ye  sd  Towne  of  New- 
bury," with  the  land  on  which  the  saw-mill  of  Mr.  Dummer  then  stood  (Essex  Deeds,  vol.  xxv. , 
leaf  133).  tibid.,  book  clxxv.,  leaf  190.  J  Ibid.,  book  ccxxxix.,  leaf  210.  §  Ibid.,  book 
cclxi.,  leaf  63.  ||  Ibid.,  book  cclxiv.,  leaf  121.       U  Ibid.,  book  cclxiii.,  leaf  igo.       **  Ibid., 

book  cccxxxii.,  leaf  281.  tt  Ibid.,  book  ccclxviii.,  leaf  106.  XX  Ibid.,  book  cccxcviii.,  leaf  72. 
§§Ibid.,  book  dciii.,  leaf  257. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  295 

vcyed  the  property  May  9,  i860,  to  Leonard  A.  Morrison 
and  Horatio  M.  Howard.*  On  the  first  day  of  June,  1863, 
the  land,  including  the  water  privilege,  etc.,  was  transferred  to 
Leonard  Morrison,  of  Methuen,  who  rebuilt  the  factory  and 
fitted  it  with  machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  yarn.f 

Leonard  Morrison  died  April  26,  1875  ;  and  Leonard  A. 
Morrison  died  previous  to  February  10,  1880.  Amanda  R. 
Savage,  guardian  of  William  H.  Morrison  and  InaB.  Morrison, 
minors,  "  children  of  Leonard  A.  Morrison,  late  of  Newbury," 
sold  May  4,  1880,  three  undivided  fourth  parts,  and  Henry 
P.  Chaplin  and  others,  of  Georgetown,  sold  one  undivided 
fourth  part  of  the  factory  at  Byfield,  including  the  mill  privi- 
leges and  water  power,  to  James  A.  C.  Whittier  and  Hugh 
U.  Ewing,  of  Boston. J 

Mrs.  Lizzie  M.  Adams,  wife  of  George  W.  Adams,  conveyed 
all  her  right,  title,  and  interest  in  the  property  to  Messrs. 
Whittier  &  Ewing,  April  26,  i88o.§  James  A.  C.  Whittier 
sold  his  one  undivided  half  of  the  land,  buildings,  water  power, 
etc.,  to  Hugh  U.  Ewing,  of  Boston,  March  17,  i886.|| 

C.  A.  E.  Ewing  and  Hugh  Ewing,  copartners  under  the 
firm  name  of  Hugh  U.  Ewing  &  Co.,  purchased  the 
property  July  9,  1892,^  and  August  3,  1893,  made  an  as- 
signment, for  the  benefit  of  their  creditors,  to  Henry  A.  Cow- 
ing, trustee,**  who  sold  the  buildings,  water  privileges,  etc., 
December  8,  1893,  to  Jacob  F.  Brown,  of  Brookline.  The 
same  day  Mr.  Brown  gave  a  deed  of  the  property  to  Samuel 
Williams, ft  who  sold  one  undivided  half  December  25,  1894, 
to  Alfred  S.  Williams. JJ  On  the  second  day  of  July,  1897, 
Samuel  and  Alfred  S.  Williams  conveyed  all  their  right,  title, 
and  interest  in  the  land  and  the  buildings  thereon  to  the  By- 
field  Woollen  Company,  the  present  owners. §§ 

*  Essex  Deeds,  book  dcix.,  leaf  179.  t  Ibid.,  book  dclii.,  leaf  99.  }  Ibid.,  book  mxxxvii., 
leaves  3  and  4.  §  Ibid.,  book  mxxxv.,  leaf  261.  II  Ibid.,  book  mclxix.,  leaf  234.  ^  Ibid., 
book  mcccxlix.,  p.  i.  **  Ibid.,  book  mccclxxxv.,  p.  501.  tt  Ibid.,  book  mcccxcvii.,  p.  37. 
tX  Ibid.,  book  mccccxlix.,  p.  367.        §§Ibid.,  book  mdxv.,  p.  133. 


296  HISTORY  OF  NEWIWRY 

SALT    WORKS. 

The  tax  imposed  by  Parliament  in  i  "j^y  on  paper,  glass,  tea, 
and  other  articles  of  merchandise  imported  into  the  province 
of  Massachusetts  was  regarded  as  burdensome  and  unjust. 
September  19,  1768,  the  legal  voters  of  Newburyport  elected 
Benjamin  Greenleaf  delegate  to  a  convention  to  be  held  in 
Boston  for  consultation  and  conference  in  regard  to  the  meas- 
ures that  should  be  adopted  to  stop  the  importation  of  mer- 
chandise from  England.* 

The  merchants  and  traders  of  Newbury  and  Newburyport 
were  in  the  habit  of  importing  large  quantities  of  salt  from 
Great  Britain  at  that  date.  In  order  to  promote  and  encourage 
its  manufacture  and  provide  an  adequate  supply  for  home  con- 
sumption, the  inhabitants  of  Newburyport,  immediately  after 
the  election  of  Benjamin  Greenleaf  at  the  town  meeting  held 
September  nineteenth,  "Voted  to  exempt  Capt  James  Hud- 
son from  the  payment  of  Town,  County  and  Province  taxes 
for  1767  and  1768,  in  answer  to  his  petition,  for  encourage- 
ment to  go  on  with  his  salt  works."  * 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury,  held  on  the 
fourteenth  day  of  March,  1768-9,  a  petition  from  Capt.  James 
Hudson  was  presented,  asking  for  a  loan  of  one  hundred 
pounds  for  two  or  three  years.  The  amount  of  the  loan  and 
the  time  fixed  for  its  repayment  were  discussed  at  some 
length,  and  aroused  some  opposition  ;  but  at  the  close  of  the 
debate  it  was  unanimously  voted,  "  that  the  town  will  let  out 
to  Cap*  James  Hudson  a  certain  sum  of  money  to  Enable  him 
to  Carry  on  his  salt  works."  f 

September  4,  1769,  the  town  of  Newburyport  voted  to  ap- 
prove the  agreement  made  with  the  merchants  and  traders  of 
Boston  in  regard  to  the  importation  of  goods  from  Great 
Britain;  and  September  19,  1769,  the  town  of  Newbury  voted 
to  give  Capt.  James  Hudson,  of  Newburyport,  the  sum  of  twenty 
pounds  to  enable  him  to  carry  on  and  complete  his  salt  works. f 
Eight  pounds  were  also  appropriated  by  the  town  of  Ipswich 
"  to  assist  James  Hudson  to  carry  on  the  salt  works  he  has 
lately  erected."  % 

*Town  of  Newburyport  Records,  p.  125.  t  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

X  Felt's  History  of  Ipswich,  p.  gS. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIiMACK  RIVER  2()'j 

The  manufacture  of  salt  at  that  date  was  a  slow  and  difficult 
process.  Sea  water  was  evaporated  by  means  of  large  boil- 
ers, under  which  fires  were  kept  burning  night  and  day. 
After  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war  improved  methods 
of  making  salt  were  introduced.  Water-tight  vats,  twenty 
feet  square  and  ten  or  twelve  inches  deep,  were  so  arranged 
that  water  could  be  pumped  from  the  ocean  by  means  of  a 
windmill  into  the  first  vat,  and  then  conducted,  after  suffi- 
•cient  exposure  to  the  heat  of  the  sun,  to  a  second  vat,  and 
then  to  a  third  and  fourth,  until  a  strong  brine  was  formed 
and  crystals  of  salt  appeared. 

In  1830,  a  Frenchman  by  the  name  of  Gilshenon,  with  a  few 
Newbury  and  Ipswich  men  who  were  interested  with  him, 
commenced  the  manufacture  of  salt  at  the  southerly  end  of 
Plum  island.  He  bought  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
land,  laid  out  and  dug  a  canal  about  one-third  of  a  mile  long, 
eight  feet  wide,  and  ten  feet  deep,  which  he  connected  with 
twenty-eight  vats  that  were  supplied  with  water  pumped  from 
the  canal  by  means  of  windmills.  He  constructed  also  an 
overshot  wheel,  fifteen  feet  in  diameter  and  five  or  six  feet  in 
width,  which  was  made  to  revolve  by  the  strong  and  vigorous 
efforts  of  a  large  bull,  walking  in  treadmill  fashion,  within  the 
wheel,  which  was  suspended  in  an  upright  position  from  a 
heavy  wooden  frame.  On  the  outer  rim  of  this  revolving 
wheel  shallow  buckets  were  attached  that  lifted  the  water 
from  the  canal  into  the  vats  on  calm,  still  days,  when  the  wind- 
mills were  unable  to  do  the  work.* 

The  business  was  not  a  financial  success  ;  and  the  property, 
consisting  of  eighty  acres  of  upland,  one  hundred  and  se^'enty- 
five  acres  of  salt  marsh,  two  dwelling-houses,  two  barns,  "  with 
a  dam  across  a  creek  running  through  the  place  by  means  of 
which  with  but  little  expense  a  good  water  power  may  be  ob- 
tained," "  also  six  wind  mills  with  pumps  and  apparatus  entire," 
was  advertised  February  20,  1832,  to  be  sold  by  George  W. 
Heard,  of  Ipswich.  It  was  probably  purchased  by  Francis  J. 
Oliver,  of  Boston,  who  conveyed  it  September  22,  1834,  to 
Daniel  Dole,  of  Ipswich. f 

*  Historical  Address  by  Mr.  Philip  D.  Adams  (Newburyport  Daily  News),  October  26,  1900. 
t  Essex  Deeds,  book  cclxxviii.,  leaf  62. 


298  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

MANUFACTURE   OF   NAILS   AND    BRADS. 

The  manufacture  of  cut  nails  and  brads  was  begun  in  New- 
bury in  1795.  Jacob  Perkins,  son  of  Matthew  and  Jane 
(Dole)  Perkins,  of  Newburyport,  was  the  inventor  of  a 
machine  for  cutting  and  heading  nails,  for  which  he  was 
granted  a  patent  January  16,  1795.  He  became  acquainted 
with  Samuel  Guppy,  of  New  York,  and  John  Warren  Arm-, 
strong,  of  Boston ;  and  with  their  aid  and  assistance  he  pro- 
duced at  Byfield  the  first  nails  that  were  cut  and  headed  at 
one  operation,  in  America.* 

In  the  Impartial  Herald,  November  24,  1795,  the  propri- 
etors, "  Messrs  Guppy  &  Armstrong  and  Jacob  Perkins,  in- 
ventor," announce  that  they  have  three  machines  in  opera- 
tion "at  Byfield  six  miles  from  Newburyport,"  and  will 
have  a  supply  of  brads  and  nails  for  sale  within  two  weeks, 
"  much  superior  and  twenty  per  cent  cheaper  than  imported 
nails." 

On  the  day  that  this  announcement  was  made  in  the 
Herald,  Ebenezer  Stocker,  Abraham  Wheelwright,  and  Eben- 
ezer  Wheelwright,  directors  of  the  Newburyport  Woollen 
Manufactory,  conveyed  to  Jacob  Perkins  a  lot  of  land  with  a 
corn-mill  thereon  in  Amesbury,  "  Commonly  called  Waits 
Mill."  f  The  power  needed  for  driving  the  nail  machinery 
was  secured  by  the  purchase  of  this  mill,  then  standing  on 
the  south  bank  of  the  Powow  river ;  and  early  in  the  spring 
of  1796  the  manufacture  of  nails  in  Byfield  was  discontinued, 
and  the  machinery  removed  to  the  mill  or  factory  in 
Amesbury. 

ALMSHOUSE. 

April  4,  1808,  the  town  of  Newbury  voted  to  purchase  the 
house,  barn,  and  about  seventeen  acres  of  land,  formerly 
owned  and  occupied  by  Rev.  Matthias  Plant,  at  or  near  the 
corner  of  the  road  leading  to  Amesbury  ferry  and  the  way  to 
Essex  Merrimack  bridge,  now  Spofford  street,  Newburyport. 
This  property  was  placed  under  the  care  of  the  overseers  of 

*The  Essex  Antiquarian,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  69-74.  +  Essex  Deeds,  vol.  clxiv.,  leaf  93. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  299 

the  poor,  and  for  many  years  was  made  serviceable  and  useful 
as  an  almshouse  and  town  farm.* 

At  a  meetmg  held  March  17,  1828,  the  legal  voters  of  the 
town  authorized  the  purchase  of  a  farm  in  Byfield,  owned  by 
Enoch  Moody,  "  containing  two  hundred  acres  of  land  more 
or  less  with  the  buildings  thereon,"  to  be  placed  under  the 
care  and  control  of  the  overseers  of  the  poor ;  and  April  7, 
1828,  they  ordered  that  all  persons  receiving  aid  from  the 
town  should  be  removed  to  the  town  farm,  and  that  all  the 
stock  and  agricultural  implements  needed  to  carry  it  on  suc- 
cessfully should  be  provided  forthwith.-}- 

On  the  sixteenth  day  of  May,  1829,  "the  former  Poor 
Establishment  owned  by  the  town  of  Newbury  and  known  by 
the  name  of  the  Plant  Place"  was  sold  to  Elias  Jackman ;  J 
and  after  that  date  all  persons  dependent  upon  the  town  for 
assistance  were  supplied  with  food  and  shelter  at  the  farm  in 
Byfield  parish. 

February  2,  1852,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  voted  to  sell 
the  town  farm  (at  Byfield),  and  appointed  a  committee  to 
make  the  necessary  arrangements  and  attend  to  the  sale  of 
the  property. §  March  29,  1852,  the  overseers  of  the  poor 
were  authorized,  "  in  case  the  town  farm  is  not  speedily  sold, 
to  lease  the  same  for  the  ensuing  year."  §  April  30,  1852, 
Daniel  Lunt,  treasurer  of  the  town  of  Newbury,  conveyed  to 
Calvin  Noyes  "  about  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land 
with  all  the  buildings  thereon,  formerly  owned  by  Enoch 
Moody"  ;  ||  and,  February  7,  1874,  a  supplementary  deed,  con- 
firming and  perfecting  the  title  from  the  town  of  Newbury  to 
Calvin  Noyes,  was  recorded.^ 

Since  the  sale  of  the  almshouse  and  the  farm  at  Byfield,  all 
persons  dependent  upon  the  town  for  support  have  been  pro- 

*  Essex  Deeds,  vol.  clxxxv.,  leaf  69.  Anthony  Davenport,  of  Newburyport,  for  two  thousand 
dollars,  sold,  April  14,  1808,  to  Thomas  Hale,  treasurer  of  the  town  of  Newbury,  in  trust  for  said 
town,  about  fifteen  acres  of  land,  with  dwelling-house  and  other  buildings  thereon,  bounded  as  fol- 
lows :  beginning  on  the  westerly  comer  of  the  road  leading  from  the  road  to  Aniesbury  ferry  to  Deer 
Island  bridge,  thence  northwesterly  by  the  road  leading  to  Amesbury  ferry,  thence  northeasterly 
by  land  of  David  Jackman  and  others,  thence  southeasterly  by  land  of  Joseph  Jackman,  thence 
southwesterly  by  the  road  first  named,  to  the  bounds  begun  at. 

tTown  of  Newbury  Records  :  also,  Essex  Deeds,  vol.  ccxlviii.,  leaf  107. 

X  Essex  Deeds,  vol.  cclviii.,  leaf  g6.  §Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

II  Essex  Deeds,  book  dclxv.,  leaf  25.  IF  Ibid.,  book  dcccxlvii.,  leaf  181. 


300  HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 

vided  for  in  private  families  by  the  payment  of  a  fixed  sum 
for  board  and  clothin<r. 


THE   INCORPORATION    OF   THE    TOWN  OF    WEST  NEWBURY. 

As  early  as  March  30,  1777-8,  a  petition  was  presented  to 
the  town  of  Newbury,  asking  that  all  the  territory  on  the 
westerly  side  of  Artichoke  river  to  the  Bradford  line  might 
be  set  off  and  made  a  separate  township. 

.  .  .  begining  at  the  mouth  of  Artichoak  river  running  southerly  by 
.said  river  to  Littles  meadow  and  from  thence  on  a  straight  line  to  the 
bridge  in  the  road  near  John  &  Stephen  Browns,  and  from  the  bridge  by 
the  brook  to  the  South  Way,  then  running  by  the  northerly  side  of  the 
South  Way  to  Johnsons  corner,  so  called,  and  from  thence  on  a  straight 
line  to  a  white  oak  marked  tree,  the  bounds  between  Newbury,  Rowley 
&  Bradford,  and  from  thence  on  Bradford  line  to  Merrimack  river  and 
by  Merrimack  river  to  the  mouth  of  the  Artichoak  river,  tlie  bound  first 
mentioned.* 

The  prayer  of  the  petitioners  was  at  first  favored  by  a  ma- 
jority of  the  legal  voters  of  the  town  ;  but,  after  further  con- 
sideration, the  subject  was  indefinitely  postponed. 

February  19,  1793-4,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  see  what 
terms  and  conditions  could  be  made,  "  provided  the  inhab- 
itants of  Newbury  agree  to  set  off  the  three  northwesterly 
parishes,"  and  petition  the  General  Court,  at  its  next  session, 
to  incorporate  the  said  parishes  as  a  separate  and  distinct 
town.  On  the  seventh  day  of  April,  Col.  Samuel  Gerrish, 
Stephen  Hodge,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Stephen  Brown  were  author- 
ized and  instructed  to  prepare  and  present  a  petition  asking 
the  General  Court  to  consent  to  the  incorporation  of  the  new 
town.  This  action,  however,  was  reconsidered  on  the  twenty- 
third  day  of  April ;  and  on  the  fifth  day  of  June  another  at- 
tempt to  set  off  and  organize  a  new  town  "  on  the  northerly 
side  of  a  line  begining  on  the  Merrimack  river  and  running  by 
a  way,  now  known  as  Oakland  street  (at  that  time  the  divid- 
ing line  between  Newbury  and  Newburyport),  to  a  marked 
stone  in  common  pasture,  thence  in  a  westerly  direction  to  the 

♦Town  of  Newbury  Records,  (1731-85)  p.  374. 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  301 

Bradford  line,  and  by  said  line  to  the  Merrimack  river,  and 
thence  easterly  by  said  river  to  the  bounds  first  named,"  was 
defeated  by  a  vote  of  216  opposed  to  145  in  favor  of  the 
measure.* 

No  further  action  was  taken  until  June  11,  18 18,  when  the 
inhabitants  of  Newbury  were  again  asked  to  give  their  consent 
to  a  division  of  the  town  on  substantially  the  same  lines  as 
had  been  previously  proposed  ;  but  the  opponents  of  the  meas- 
ure, after  a  long  and  fierce  struggle,  were  able  to  defeat  it.* 

A  few  months  later,  however,  Samuel  Woodman  and  others 
presented  a  petition  to  the  General  Court,  asking  that  all  the 
territory  between  the  mouth  of  the  Artichoke  river  and  the 
Bradford  line,  within  the  limits  of  the  Second  and  Third  (for- 
merly the  Fourth)  parishes,  might  be  set  off  and  incorporated 
as  a  separate  town;  and  November  2,  18 18,  at  a  meeting  of 
the  legal  voters  of  Newbury,  the  representatives  of  the  town 
were  instructed  to  oppose  the  petition,  and  prevent,  if  possible, 
any  further  consideration  of  the  subject.* 

Although  active  and  vigorous  measures  were  adopted  to 
counteract  the  earnest  and  determined  efforts  of  the  petition- 
ers, the  General  Court,  after  a  prolonged  hearing,  passed  Feb^ 
ruary  18,  1 8 19,  "  An  act  to  incorporate  the  town  of  Parsons  "  ;  f 
and  March  9,  18 19,  the  legal  voters  of  Newbury  elected  Jo- 
siah  Little,  Esq.,  Silas  Little,  Esq.,  Moses  Little,  Esq.,  Jacob 
Gerrish,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Eben  Pearson  a  committee  to  adjust 
the  debts  and  make  a  settlement  with  any  committee  that  may 
be  appointed  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Parsons.* 

Subsequently,  a  change  in  the  name  of  the  new  town  was 
made  by  an  act  of  the  General  Court,  passed  June  14,  1820, 
providing  that  "  the  said  town  shall  hereafter  be  called  and 
known  by  the  name  of  West  Newbury."  | 

*Town  of  Newburj'  Records. 

tThis  act  is  printed  in  full  on  p.  1863,  vol.  ii.,  Historj'  of  Essex  County,  J.  W.  Lewis  &  Co., 
publishers. 

+  Histor)'  of  Essex  County,  J.  W.  Lewis  &  Co.,  publishers,  vol.  ii.,  p.  1864. 


3° 2  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

WATER    SUPPLY    FOR    MANUFACTURING    PURPOSES. 

In  1844,  the  James  Steam  Mill,  for  the  manufacture  of 
cotton  goods,  was  erected  in  Newburyport.  During  the 
following  year,  Gen.  Charles.  T.  James,  Charles  J.  Krockway, 
Esq.,  and  other  prominent  citizens  petitioned  the  General 
Court  for  an  act  of  incorporation  to  enable  them  to  erect  and 
maintain  a  bleachery  in  the  town  of  Newbury,  and  also  to 
provide  an  adequate  supply  of  water  for  manufacturing  and 
domestic  purposes. 

The  original  plan  of  the  petitioners  contemplated  the  erec- 
tion of  a  bleachery  at  Bartlett  springs  and  the  laying  of 
pipes  through  the  streets  of  Newbury  and  Newburyport  for 
the  purpose  of  supplying  both  towns  with  pure  water.  A 
committee,  appointed  by  the  inhabitants  of  Newburyport  to 
examine  the  plan  and  make  such  suggestions  and  recom- 
mendations as  they  considered  advisable,  reported  in  favor  of 
granting  the  prayer  of  the  petitioners  ;  and  February  13,  1846, 
the  town  voted  to  give  its  consent  to  the  incorporation  of  the 
company  by  the  General  Court.  The  estimated  cost  of  the 
bleachery  and  water-works,  however,  rendered  some  modifica- 
tion of  the  plan  necessary  ;  and  after  further  consideration  a 
new  source  of  supply  was  agreed  upon,  and  incorporated  in  the 
act  passed  March  7,  1846. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  February  1 3,  1 846,  the  inhabitants 
of  Newbury  voted  to  favor  the  prayer  of  the  petitioners,  and, 
also,  voted  to  allow  the  company,  when  organized,  to  lay  water 
pipes,  under  certain  restrictions,  through  the  principal  streets 
of  the  town.*  On  the  seventh  day  of  March,  1846,  the 
General  Court  passed  an  act  incorporating  "  The  Newbury 
Spring  Bleaching  Company";!  and  the  town  of  Newbury 
voted,  August  i,  1846,  "to  grant  the  James  Steam  Mill 
Company  the  privilege  of  laying  a  water  pipe  along  High 
street,  from  the  head  of  State  street  to  Federal  street,  upon 
condition  that  the  town  have  the  right  to  put  in  fire  plugs,  at 
its  own  expense,  in  such  places  as  it  may  think  proper."  * 

Land  on    the    southwesterly  side    of    Oak    Hill    cemetery, 

*To\vn  of  Newbury  Records.  t  Acts  and  Resolves  for  1846,  chap.  S5. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  303 

with  a  small  pond  adjoining,  was  purchased,  a  pumping-  station 
erected,  and  water  for  extinguishing  fires  and  for  manufactur- 
ing purposes  was  conveyed  in  pipes  down  the  turnpike,  now 
State  street,  Newburyport,  to  High  street,  thence  to  Federal 
street,  down  Federal  to  Ann,  now  Atwood  street,  thence 
through  Purchase  to  Charles  street,  and  thence  to  the  James 
Steam  Mill,  Newburyport,  now  owned  by  the  Peabody  Manu- 
facturing Company.  Sixty-four  hundred  feet  of  iron  pipe  was 
laid,  at  a  cost  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  the  work  com- 
pleted previous  to  December  i,  1846.* 

Subsequently,  the  pipe  at  the  corner  of  Ann  and  Federal 
streets,  Newburyport,  was  connected  with  the  property  now 
owned  by  the  Peabody  Manufacturing  Company,  on  Federal 
street,  formerly  known  as  the  Globe  Steam  Mills. 


ANNEXATION    OF   A    PART   OF   NEWBURY    TO    NEW^- 
BURYPORT. 

Although  the  town  of  Newbury  after  the  incorporation  of 
Newburyport  in  1764,  and  West  Newbury  in  18 19,  was 
greatly  reduced  in  population  as  well  as  in  taxable  property, 
repeated  attempts  were  made  to  still  further  reduce  the  area 
and  population  of  the  town  by  many  persons,  residing  within 
its  limits,  who  were  engaged  in  mercantile  or  commercial  pur- 
suits, and,  therefore,  not  in  full  sympathy  with  the  farmers, 
who  practically  controlled  the  administration  of  municipal 
affairs. 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Wheelwright  and  several  other  prominent 
merchants  of  Newbury  earnestly  advocated  the  adoption  of 
a  plan  that  would,  if  accepted,  take  a  narrow  strip  of  land  on 
the  westerly  side  of  High  street,  "  with  the  dwelling-houses 
thereon,"  and  make  it  a  part  of  Newburyport.  The  subject 
was  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  General  Court ;  and  an 
order  of  notice  was  served  on  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury, 
April  23,  1 82 1,  to  appear  and  make  answer  to  the  prayer  of 
the  petitioners.  At  a  town  meeting  held  on  the  twenty-sec- 
ond  day   of  May  a  committee  was  appointed  to  attend  the 

•Newburyport  Herald,  December  i,  1846,  and  January  26,  1847. 


304  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

hearing,  and  oppose  any  further  division  of  the  town.*  The 
General  Court,  after  a  full  and  careful  consideration  of  the 
subject,  granted  the  petitioners  "leave  to  withdraw." 

Seven  years  later  the  inhabitants  of  Belleville  parish, 
formerly  the  Fifth  parish,  desired  to  be  set  off  and  incorpo- 
rated as  a  separate  town  ;  and  March  17,  1828,  the  legal  voters 
of  Newbury  consented  to  the  proposed  plan  of  separation, 
and  agreed  to  set  off  all  the  territory  on  the  westerly  and 
northwesterly  side  of  a  line  beginning  on  Merrimack  river,  at 
or  near  the  foot  of  North  street,  thence  on  the  line  of  New- 
buryport  to  the  bound  stone  in  the  common  pasture,  and 
thence  on  a  straight  line  to  West  Newbury.*  On  the  seventh 
day  of  April  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  confer  with  the 
inhabitants  of  that  part  of  Newbury  includefi  within  the 
bounds  and  limits  of  the  proposed  new  town,  and  agree,  if 
possible,  upon  the  terms  and  conditions  of  separation.* 

The  opponents  of  the  plan,  however,  were  active  and  per- 
sistent in  their  efforts  to  defeat  it.  On  the  eighth  of  May, 
1828,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Wheelwright  and  others  presented  a  peti- 
tion asking  that  a  part  of  Newbury,  "  Begining  at  the  Bound 
Stone  in  the  Common  Pasture,  between  the  towns  of  New- 
bury &  Newburyport  thence  on  a  straight  line  to  the  most 
Eastwardly  corner  of  West  Newbury,  thence  on  a  straight 
line  to  Plumb  Island  Bridge,  thence  on  the  same  straight  line 
to  the  Sea,  thence  by  the  Sea  and  Merrimack  River  to  the 
most  Eastwardly  bound  of  Newburyport,  thence  by  Newbury- 
port line  to  the  first  Bound,"  *  might  be  set  off  and  annexed 
to  Newburyport.  The  legal  voters  of  the  town  declined  to 
grant  the  prayer  of  the  petitioners,  and,  December  15,  1828, 
voted  to  oppose  the  petition  of  Mr.  Ebenezer  Wheelwright  at 
the  General  Court,  and  favor  the  petition  of  Mr.  Henry  Mer- 
rill and  other  inhabitants  of  Belleville  parish  to  be  set  off  as 
a  town  by  themselves.*  The  committee  on  towns,  to  whom 
both  petitions  had  been  referred,  reported  January  twenty- 
ninth ;  and  P'ebruary  5,  1829,  their  report  was  accepted, 
"granting  the  petitioners  leave  to  withdraw."  f 

Three  years  later,  another  attempt  was  made  to  set  off  all 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives  (Journal  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  vol.  xlix.). 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  305 

the  land  on  the  easterly  side  of  a  line  begining  at  the  bound 
stone  in  the  common  pasture,  and  extending  southeasterly  to 
Plum  island  bridge,  and  thence  to  the  sea.  December  29, 
183 1,  the  town  of  Newbury  voted  to  favor  the  petition  of  Mr. 
John  Wills  and  others,  and  also  voted  to  give  its  consent  to 
the  separation  asked  for  "  on  such  terms  and  conditions  as 
the  General  Court  may  establish."  * 

On  the  fourth  day  of  January  following,  the  subject  was 
again  under  consideration  ;  and  a  motion  to  choose  a  com- 
mittee to  attend  the  General  Court  and  oppose  the  prayer  of 
the  petitioners  was  carried  by  a  vote  of  174  in  favor  to  152 
against  the  measure.*  April  9,  1832,  John  Merrill,  Esq., 
Moses  Little,  Esq.,  and  Daniel  Adams,  3d,  Esq.,  were  ap- 
pointed to  defend  the  interests  of  the  town  and  protest 
against  any  farther  consideration  of  the  petition  of  John  Wills 
and  others.  February  11,  1832,*  the  General  Court  granted 
the  petitioners  "  leave  to  withdraw." 

November  19,  1834,  the  town  of  Newbury  was  notified 
that  Mr.  Roger  S.  Howard  and  others  had  filed  a  petition 
praying  that  all  persons  residing  within  certain  bounds  and 
limits  named  in  said  petition  might  be  set  off  and  annexed  to 
the  town  of  Newburyport.  A  committee  was  appointed  to 
CQnfer  with  the  petitioners  and  induce  them,  if  possible,  to 
make  some  concessions  in  regard  to  the  proposed  division  of 
the  town.* 

This  committee  reported  December  10,  1834,  that  the 
division  lines  asked  for  by  the  petitioners,  though  to  some 
extent  indefinite  and  uncertain,  were  substantially  the  same 
as  those  named  in  the  petition  of  1832.  Instead  of  dividing 
the  town,  as  requested,  the  committee  recommended  that 
Newbury  and  Newburyport  should  be  again  united ;  and  a 
committee,  consisting  of  John  Merrill,  Moses  Little,  John 
Chickering,  Jacob  Gerrish,  and  Daniel  Plumer,  was  appointed 
to  confer  wath  the  town  of  Newburyport  and  endeavor  to 
bring  about  the  desired  result.*  The  conference  was  held, 
but  the  plan  of  reunion  was  defeated  after  an  animated  dis- 
cussion by  the  legal  voters  of  Newburyport. 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


3o6  HISTORY  OF    NEWBURY 

A  few  years  later  another  attempt  was  made  b)'  PIbenezer 
Wheelwright  and  others  to  induce  the  General  Court  to  set 
off  a  portion  of  the  town  of  Newbury  to  be  annexed  to  the 
town  of  Newburyport.  January  4,  1843,  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  oppose  the  prayer  of  the  petitioners.*  After  a 
prolonged  hearing  the  subject  was  referred,  February  28, 
1843,  to  the  next  General  Court. 

February  13,  1846,  the  petition  of  John  Porter  and  others 
to  the  General  Court,  asking  that  Newbury  and  Newburyport 
might  be  made  one  town,  was  under  consideration ;  and  the 
town  of  Newbury  voted,  191  to  134,  not  to  favor  the  plan 
proposed  by  the  petitioners.*  But  on  the  twenty-third  day  of 
February  a  committee,  consisting  of  Micajah  Lunt,  Daniel 
Plumer,  Josiah  Little,  Daniel  Noyes,  Enoch  Hale,  Stuart 
Chase,  and  John  Currier,  jr.,  was  chosen  "  to  consider  the 
expediency  of  uniting  the  towns  of  Newbury  and  Newbury- 
port." This  committee  reported  March  2,  1846,  in  favor  of 
the  measure ;  but  the  legal  voters  declined,  by  a  vote  of  1 76 
to  235,  to  adopt  the  recommendation  of  the  committee. 

January  4,  1847,  the  town  of  Newbury  voted  to  consent, 
upon  such  conditions  as  the  General  Court  may  impose,  to 
the  passage  of  an  act  providing  that  the  territory  and  in- 
habitants within  the  following  described  lines  may  be  set  off 
and  annexed  to  the  town  of  Newburyport,  namely  :  — 

Beginning  at  the  line  of  Newburyport  on  the  South  Westerly  side 
of  High  street  near  the  Newburyport  Turnpike,  thence  Southeasterly 
by  the  Southerly  side  of  High  street  to  a  point  opposite  the  head  of 
South  street ;  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  the  most  Southerly  bend  in  the 
Plum  Island  Turnpike  and  parallel  therewith  to  the  ocean ;  thence  by 
the  ocean  and  Merrimack  River  to  the  line  of  Newburyport.* 

Mr.  Abner  Keniston  and  others,  having  petitioned  the 
General  Court  "  to  set  off  that  part  of  the  town  called  Belle- 
ville," the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  voted,  February  8,  1850, 
not  to  oppose  the  petition.*  The  General  Court,  however,  de- 
clined to  grant  the  prayer  of  the  petitioners  ;  and  the  follow- 
ing year  William  Goodwin  and  others  presented  a  similar 
request,  and  Moses  Pettingell  and  others,  in  behalf  of  the  in- 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRIMACK  RIVER  307 

habitants  residing  between  South  (now  Bromfield  street)  and 
Marlborough  streets,  asked  to  be  annexed  to  Newburyport. 

March  11,  1 851,  the  town  agreed  to  favor  the  passage  of 
an  act  by  the  General  Court  providing  for  the  annexation  of  a 
portion  of  Newbury  to  Newburyport,  and  voted  to  appoint  a 
committee  to  adjust  the  line  of  separation  and  make  arrange- 
ments for  an  equitable  division  of  the  town  property.  The 
bounds  and  limits  agreed  upon  included  all  the  territory  on 
the  westerly  side  of  Newburyport  to  the  Artichoke  river,  and 
a  large  tract  on  the  easterly  side,  extending  to  the  light- 
keeper's  house  on  Plum  island.  These  bounds  are  given  in 
detail  in  the  first  section  of  "  An  Act  to  Annex  a  Part  of  the 
Town  of  Newbury  to  the  town  of  Newburyport,"  approved 
by  his  Excellency  George  S.  Boutwell,  governor  of  the 
commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  April  17,  185 1.* 

Since  that  date  there  has  been  no  change  in  the  territorial 
bounds  and  limits  of  the  town  of  Newbury.  The  northern 
boundary  line  runs  from  the  point  marked  A,  on  the  Map,  on 
the  next  page,  to  B ;  thence  to  C,  D,  E,  F,  and  G.  The 
dividing  line  between  Newbury  and  Georgetown  runs  from  G 
to  H,  and  the  line  between  Newbury  and  Rowley  from  H  to 
I,  and  thence  to  the  point  marked  J  on  Plum  island. 

SILVER  MINES. 

In  1874,  traces  of  silver  ore  were  found  in  a  few  scattered 
rocks  lying  on  the  surface  of  a  pasture  owned  by  Mr.  Rich- 
ard Jaques,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  "Birchen  meadow,"  not 
more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred  rods  in  a 
southeasterly  direction  from  the  oak-tree  now  standing  in  the 
"  Gerrish  pasture,"  to  which  reference  is  made  on  page  130. 

The  mineral  deposits  of  that  neighborhood  were  carefully 
analyzed,  and  in  1875  "The  Chipma'n  Silver  Mining  Com- 
pany "  was  organized  to  make  further  explorations  and  devise 
ways  and  means  for  a  thorough  and  systematic  development 
of  the  property.! 

*Acts  and  Resolves  for  1851,  chap.  54. 
t  Newburyport  Herald,  May  27,  1875. 


^v 


THE   SETTLEMENT  AT  MERRLMACK  RIVER         309 

Workshops  were  erected,  steam  drills  and  pumping  ma- 
chinery provided,  and  a  shaft  forty  feet  deep  was  sunk  through 
solid  rock,  exposing,  according  to  the  report  of  experts,  rich 
veins  of  lead  and  silver.  Excavations  in  other  parts  of  the 
town  were  made  with  gratifying  results.  Land  that  had  been 
almost  worthless  was  eagerly  bought  or  bonded  at  fabulous 
prices.  The  excitement  reached  its  height  when  the  schooner 
"  Nadab  "  was  chartered  to  take  a  cargo  of  ore  to  New  York 
to  be  smelted  and  assayed.  June  2,  1875,  the  last  few  loads 
needed  to  make  up  the  cargo,  on  the  way  from  the  mines, 
were  met  at'  the  junction  of  Auburn  and  Pond  streets  in 
Newburyport,  and  escorted  down  State  street  to  Commercial 
wharf  by  a  procession  of  citizens  carrying  flags  and  banners, 
accompanied  by  a  military  band  playing  the  popular  airs  of 
the  day. 

The  reports  received  several  months  later  from  this  cargo 
of  ore  were  somewhat  conflicting  and  discouraging ;  but  the 
directors  of  the  mining  company  were  hopeful,  and  continued 
operations  with  more  or  less  activity  during  the  following 
season.  The  business,  however,  was  found  to  be  unprofitable  ; 
and  work  at  the  mines  was  temporarily  suspended.  At  inter- 
vals during  the  next  two  or  three  years  attempts  were  made 
by  the  introduction  of  new  machinery  to  increase  the  produc- 
tion of  crude  ore,  and  reduce  the  cost  of  taking  it  from  the 
mines;  but  the  results  were  not  satisfactory.  In  1880,  the 
machinery  was  sold,  and  the  attempt  to  establish  silver  mining 
in  Newbury  was  abandoned. 

ANNIVERSARY  CELEBRATIONS. 

The  first  centennial  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  New- 
bury was,  according  to  tradition,  "  duly  noticed  in  the  front 
yard  of  Colonel  Joseph  Coffin's  house,"  in  1735. 

The  second  centennial  was  celebrated  May  26,  1835. 
Public  exercises  were  held  in  the  meeting-house  of  the  First 
Religious  Society  on  Pleasant  street,  Newburyport ;  and 
dinner  was  served  in  a  temporary  pavilion  erected  on  land 
near    the    Newbury    town-house,    now    included    within    the 


3IO  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

limits  of  Oak  Hill  cemetery,  Newburyport.  Interesting  and 
eloquent  speeches,  appropriate  to  the  occasion,  were  made  by 
Hon.  Edward  Everett,  Hon.  Robert  C.  Winthrop,  Hon. 
Caleb  Gushing,  Hon.  George  Lunt,  and  other  distinguished 
guests  who  were  present. 

On  the  tenth  day  of  June,  1885,  the  two  hundred  and 
fiftieth  anniversary  was  celebrated,  under  the  direction  of  the 
Historical  Society  of  "  Ould  Newbury,"  in  city  hall,  New- 
buryport. A  chorus  of  male  and  female  voices,  led  by  Mr. 
Norman  McLeod,  accompanied  by  an  orchestra  of  skilled 
musicians,  rendered  several  appropriate  selections.  An 
original  ode  by  Mrs.  Louisa  P.  Hopkins  was  read ;  and  Rev. 
Samuel  Colcord  Bartlett,  president  of  Dartmouth  Gollege, 
delivered  an  able  historical  address. 

At  the  close  of  the  exercises  in  the  hall,  dinner  was  pro- 
vided for  over  one  thousand  guests  in  a  spacious  tent  erected 
on  vacant  land  on  High  street,  near  the  head  of  Bromfield 
street,  Newburyport.  Brief  after-dinner  speeches  from  men 
prominent  in  the  social  or  political  life  of  "  Ould  Newbury" 
occupied  the  time  and  attention  of  the  assembled  company 
until  seven  o'clock  p.m. 

In  the  evening  a  reception  or  levee  was  held  at  the  city  hall 
where  many  citizens  from  Newbury  and  the  neighboring 
towns  gathered  to  listen  to  the  music  of  a  small  but  well- 
trained  orchestra,  to  greet  old  friends  and  acquaintances,  and 
to  examine  the  large  and  valuable  collection  of  paintings 
loaned  for  that  occasion  and  hung  for  that  da)'  and  evening 
on  the  walls  of  the  common  council  chamber.  * 

*  Report  of  the  Celebration  of  the  Two  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  the  settlement 
of  Newburj',  published  in  1SS5. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

CHURCHES    AND    PASTORS. 

Tradition  asserts  that  Rev.  Thomas  Parker  preached 
his  first  sermon  in  Newbury  under  the  branches  of  an  oak- 
tree  that  stood  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Quascacunquen 
(Parker)  river  ;  that  a  covenant  to  walk  together  according  to 
the  precepts  of  the  gospel,  in  brotherly  love,  was  agreed  upon 
at  the  close  of  the  sermon  ;  that  Rev.  Mr.  Parker  was  chosen 
pastor,  and  that  other  church  officers  were  then  elected,  "ye 
members  expressinge  their  voats  therein  by  lifting  up  the 
hande."  * 

Thomas  Parker  was  the  only  son  of  Rev.  Robert  Parker, 
an  eminent  clergyman  of  Wiltshire,  England.  He  came  to 
Boston  in  1634,  in  the  ship  "  Mary  and  John,"  with  his  cousins 
Nicholas  Noyes  and  Rev.  James  Noyes.f  During  the  follow- 
ing winter  he  was  at  Agawam,  now  Ipswich,  Mass.,  and  organ- 
ized a  company  there  for  the  settlement  of  Newbury,  on  the 
Quascacunquen  river,  to  which  place  he  removed  with  a  few 
personal  friends  and  acquaintances  in  the  spring  of   163 5. J 

Rev.  James  Noyes,  assistant  pastor,  or  teacher,  of  the 
church,  was  the  son  of  Rev.  William  Noyes,  who  married 
Anne,  sister  of  Rev.  Robert  Parker. §  He  came  to  America 
in  1634  with  his  wife,  Sarah  Brown,  eldest  daughter  of  Joseph 
Brown,  of  Southampton,  in  the  same  ship  with  his  cousin 
Rev.  Thomas  Parker.  He  preached  for  a  year  at  Watertown, 
and  came  to  Newbury  in  1635. 

*Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  17. 

tNew  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  vol.  ix.,  p.  267. 

}"  At  this  general  court  [May,  1635]  some  of  the  chief  of  Ipswich  desired  leave  to  remove  to 
Quascacunquen  to  begin  a  town  there,  which  was  granted  them,  and  it  was  named  Newberry." 
(Winthrop's  History  of  New  England,  edition  1853,  vol.  i.,  p.  igi.) 

§  Mather's  "  Magnalia,"  edition  1853,  vol.  i.,  p.  481. 

The  statement  that  Rev.  William  Noyes  married  Anne  Stephens,  daughter  of  Nicholas 
Stephens,  printed  on  page  165,  "Ould  Newbury,"  is  probably  incorrect. 

Nicholas  Noyes,  who  came  with  his  brother.  Rev.  James  Noyes,  to  Boston  in  1634,  evidently 
returned  to  England  in  163S,  and  came  again  to  America  the  next  year,  bringing  Anthony  Som- 
erby  with  him  (New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  vol.  xxxii.,  p.  411) . 

(311) 


The  Temple  meafured  : 

q  R, 

A  brief  Survey  of  the  7emple  myjlical, 

which  is  the  Inftitutfd 

CHURCH  of  CHR  1ST. 

Wherein  are  folidly  and  mbdcftly  difcuffcd, 

Moft  of  the  maceFial  Queftions  touching  the 
Conftiiution  and  Government  of  the  Vifiblc 
Church  Miiitanc  here  on  Earth. 

Together  with 

The  folution  of  all  forts  of  Objections  which 

are  ufually  framed  againfk  ihe  Model  acd  Plitform  of  Ecclefi- 

aftical  Policy,  which  is  hete  afferted  and  maincaiaed. 

In  particular  here  are  debated* 

The  points  of  fb  much  Controveific,  touching 

the  Unity  of  the  Church,  The  Members  of   the 

Church,  The  Form  of  the  Church,  and  Church  Covenant, 

The  Power  of  the  Church,  The  Officers  of  the  Churchy 

aJid  their  Power  in  Church- Government ,  The  Power  of 

Magiftrates  about  the  Church,and  feme  Church  A&s» 

as  Admiflion  of  Members,  and  other  things  fet 

down  in  the  Table  before  the  Book. 

By  James    Noyes  Teacher  of  the  Church  at 
Ncwbery  in  New  England, 


L    O   N  "D  0    N  ^ 

Printed  for  E  o  m  u  n  d    P  a  x  t  o  n,  and  are  to  be  fold  at  hi»  Shop  in  Pauls 

chain  ,  oter  againft    the  Caftle  Tavern  neer  to  the  Dtftors 

Commons.    1647. 


CHUKCHKS  AND   PASTORS  313 

He  was  a  strong  and  vigorous  supporter  of  ecclesiastical 
rights  and  privileges,  and  published  "  The  Temple  Meas- 
ured," a  book  devoted  mainly  to  the  discussion  of  questions 
relating  to  church  government.  From  a  copy  of  this  book, 
now  in  the  Boston  Public  Library,  a  photograph  of  the  title- 
page  is  here  reproduced.  As  a  specimen  of  typographical 
art  connected  with  the  early  history  of  Newbury,  it  cannot 
fail  to  interest  the  reader. 

The  first  meeting-house  in  Newbury  was  probably  erected 
on  or  near  the  three  acres  of  land  afterwards  sold  to  John 
Emery,  from  which  twenty  rods  were  reserved  "  for  a  burying 
place  as  it  is  bounded  with  stakes  with  a  way  to  it  from  the 
street."  * 

The  church  was  composed  of  earnest  and  devout  men  and 
women,  who  were  evidently  more  liberal  in  their  views  of 
church  fellowship  and  discipline  than  the  inhabitants  of  other 
towns  in  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay.  Thomas  Lech- 
ford,  "  an  attorney  and  solicitor  of  Clements  Inne,  in  the 
county  of  Middlesex,  England,"  after  a  residence  of  three  or 
four  years  in  Boston,  Mass.,  wrote  and  published  in  London, 
in  1642,  "  Plain  Dealing  or  Newes  from  New  England,"  in 
which  he  says  :  "  Of  late  some  Churches  are  of  opinion  that 
any  may  be  admitted  to  Church  fellowship,  that  are  not  ex- 
tremely ignorant  or  scandalous  :  but  this  they  are  not  very 
forward  to  practice  except  at  Neivbeny." 

In  1643,  there  was  an  assembly  of  all  the  churches  of  the 
colony  at  Cambridge.  *'  The  principal  occasion  was  because 
some  of  the  elders  went  about  to  set  up  some  things  ||accord- 
ingll  to  the  presbytery,  as  of  Newbury,  etc.  The  assembly 
concluded  against  some  parts  of  the  presbyterial  way,  and  the 
Newbury  ministers  took  time  to  consider  the  arguments, 
etc."  t 

In  all  essential  particulars,  however,  the  inhabitants  of 
Newbury  conformed  to  the  order  of  public  worship  estab- 
lished at  Boston  and  elsewhere,  except  that  for  many  years 
they  assembled  at  the  beating  of  a  drum  or  the  raising  of  a 
flag  instead  of  the  "  wringing  of  a  bell." 

*"  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  i6  and  24. 

t  Winthrop's  History  of  New  England,  edition  1853,  '^o'-  "•>  P-  •''S- 


314  HISTORY  OF  XEWBUKY 

Every  Sal)l)ath  or  Lords  day,  they  come  together  at  Boston,  by 
wringing  of  a  l)ell,  aljout  nine  of  the  clock  or  before.  The  Pastor 
begins  with  solemn  prayer  continuing  about  a  quarter  of  an  houre. 
The  Teacher  then  readeth  and  expoundeth  a  Chapter :  Then  a  Psalm 
is  sung,  which  ever  one  of  the  ruling  Elders  dictates.  After  that  the 
Pastor  preacheth  a  Sermon,  and  sometimes  ex  tef/ipore  exhorts.  Then 
the  Teacher  concludes  with  prayer,  and  a  blessing. 

Once  a  moneth  is  a  Sacrament  of  the  Lords  Supper,  whereof 
notice  is  given  usually  a  fortnight  before,  and  then  all  others  departing 
save  the  Church,  which  is  a  great  deale  less  in  number  thqn  those  that 
goe  away,  they  receive  the  Sacrament,  the  Ministers  and  ruling  Elders 
sitting  at  the  Table,  the  rest  in  their  seat.s,  or  upon  forms :  .  .  .  Then 
a  Psalme  is  sung,  and  with  a  short  blessing  the  congregation  is  dis- 
missed. .  .  .  About  two  in  the  afternoone,  tliey  repaire  to  the  meeting- 
house againe :  and  tlien  the  Pastor  begins,  as  before  noone,  and  a 
Psalme  being  sung,  the  Teacher  makes  a  Sermon.  He  was  wont,  when 
I  caiTle  first,  to  reade  and  expound  a  Chapter  also  before  his  Sermon  in 
the  afternoon.     After  and  before  his  Sermon,  he  prayeth.* 

Then  came  the  baptism  of  children  and  the  gathering  of 
money  or  goods  for  the  maintenance  of  the  minister  or  the 
support  of  the  poor  of  the  church,  "  one  of  the  Deacons 
saying,  Brethren  of  the  congregation,  now  there  is  time  for 
contribution,  wherefore  as  God  hath  prospered  you,  so  freely 
offer." 

This  done,  then  follows  admission  of  members,  or  hearing  matters 
of  offence,  or  other  things,  sometimes  till  it  be  very  late.  If  they  have 
time,  after  this,  is  sung  a  Psalme,  and  then  the  Pastor  concludeth  with 
a  Prayer  and  a  blessing.f 

The  removal  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  from  Parker 
river  to  the  "new  town"  on  Merrimack  river  led  to  a  pro- 
longed discussion  in  regard  to  the  removal  of  the  meeting- 
house. It  was  ordered  to  be  taken  down  and  a  new  one  set 
up  on  or  before  the  twentieth  day  of  October,  1647,  "  i"  o'' 
upon  a  knowle  of  upland  by  Abraham  Toppans  barne."  % 

The  land  upon  which  this  second  house  of  worship  stood 
now  forms  a  part  of  the  burying-ground  near  the  "  trayneing 
green "  in  the  First  parish  of  Newbury.  There  were  no 
pews  on  the  floor  of  the  house  or  in  the  gallery,  but  seats  or 

♦Lechford's  "  News  from  New  England,"  pp.  i6,  i8.         t  Ibid.,  p.  ig. 
t"  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  gj. 


CHURCHES  AA'D   PASTORS  315 

benches  were  provided;  and  January  24,  165  i,  the  selectmen 
ordered  "  that  every  householder,  both  men  and  women,  shall 
sit  in  those  seats  that  are  appointed  for  them  during  their 
lives." 

September  21,  1654  it  was  ordered  that  the  Townes  men  select  shall 
forthwith  Examine  &  require  an  account  of  the  money  or  goods  that 
hath  bin  gathered  to  purchas  a  bell  in  whose  hands  it  is  &  to  make 
report  to  the  towne.* 

May  14,  1658,  a  committee  was  appointed  by  the  in- 
habitants of  Newbury  to  lay  out  to  Mr.  Woodman  ten  or 
twelve  acres  of  marsh  near  Plum  island,  Mr.  Woodman 
having  agreed  to  pay  for  the  same  in  boards  or  nails  for  the 
meeting-house .  * 

A  more  commodious  building,  dedicated  to  the  public  wor- 
ship of  God,  was  erected,  early  in  the  spring  of  1661,  on  the 
southerly  side  of  the  old  meeting-house,  which  was  allowed 
to  stand  until  the  new  one  was  completed.  In  June,  seats 
were  assigned  to  all  the  adult  inhabitants  of  the  town  ac- 
cording to  their  social  rank  and  condition.  Into  this  new 
meeting-house  Lydia  (Perkins)  Wardwell,  wife  of  Eliakim 
Wardwell,  of  Hampton,  N.H.,  came  naked  to  answer  those 
who  accused  her  of  teaching  false  doctrines  and  separating 
herself  from  the  church.  For  this  offence  she  was  ordered 
to  be  severely  whipped  and  pay  the  cost  and  fees  of  the 
court  at  Salem,  May  5,  1663.! 

A  bell,  probably  purchased  with  the  money  gathered  in 
1654,  served  to  call  tne  inhabitants  together  on  Sundays  and 
lecture  days.  Elizabeth  Webster  was  sentenced,  in  1663, 
"  to  stand  at  the  meeting  house  dore  at  Newbury  the  next 
lecture  day  from  the  ringing  of  the  first  bell  until  the 
minister  be  ready  to  begin  prayer  with  a  paper  on  her  head, 
written    in    capital    letters  :  for  taking    a    false  oath   in 

COURT."  t 

December  25,  1665,  Anthony  Morse  was  employed  to  ring 
the  bell  and  also  "  to  see  that  the  meeting  house  be  cleane 
swept  and  the  glasse  of  the  windows  be  carefully  lookt  unto, 
if  any  should  happen  to  be  loosed  with  the  wind,  to  be  nailed 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records,  tSeen^/*,  chap,  iii.,  p.  124. 


3i6  lUSrOKY   OF  XEIVBURY 

close  again.  .  .  .  For  this  service  he  shall  have  ;!^3,  for  every 
year."  * 

Rev.  Thomas  Parker  officiated  as  pastor  of  the  churchy 
without  an  assistant  or  colleague,  for  six  or  seven  years  after 
the  death  of  Rev.  James  Noyes  in  1656. 

Rev.  John  Woodbridge,  who  came  to  New  England  in  the 
ship  "Mary  and  John,"  with  his  uncle.  Rev.  Thomas  Parker, 
was  clerk  of  the  town  of  Newbury  from  1635  to  1638.  In 
1639,  hs  married  Mercy,  daughter  of  Thomas  Dudley,  gover- 
nor of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay.  He  studied  for  the 
ministry  while  a  school-teacher  in  Boston  and  was  ordained 
pa^or  of  the  church  organized  at  Andover,  October  24,  1645. 
He  returned  to  England  in  1647  with  his  wife  and  family, 
and  remained  there  sixteen  years. f 

In  1663,  he  came  again  to  New  England,  and  was  elected 
assistant  pastor  of  the  church  at  Newbury,  with  a  salary  of 
thirty  pounds  for  the  first  half-year. 

October  26,  1664,  "  the  towne  voted  that  Mr.  Parker  should 
have  but  sixty  pounds  per  year."  This  sum,  however,  was 
increased  to  eighty  pounds  a  year,  June  3,  1665  ;  and  the 
same  day  the  annual  salary  of  Rev.  John  Woodbridge  was 
fixed  at  sixty  pounds.* 

At  this  time  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  were  greatly  dis- 
turbed by  questions  relating  to  the  government  of  the  church 
and  to  the  exercise  of  ecclesiastical  authority  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Parker.  They  manifested  in  various  ways  their  disapproba- 
tion of  the  doctrines  taught  by  the  pastor  and  his  worthy  col- 
league. 

November  i,  1665  It  was  voted  whether  Mr.  Woodbridge  should 
be  chosen  by  papers  to  preach  to  the  towne  for  one  year.  There  were 
four  votes  in  the  affirmative  and  thirty  one  blanks.* 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted:  that  Mr.  Woodbridg  should 
have  the  last  spring  Rate  and  that  the  Selectmen  shall  have  power  to 
make  another  Rate  for  this  halfe  yeare  past  of  thirty  pounds  more.* 

It  was  also  ordered  that  Mr.  Woodbridges  Rates  for  the  two  years 
past  shall  be  paid  within  two  months  after  this  day,  and  then  the  select- 
Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  His  farm  in  Newbury  was  on  the  easterly  side  of  "  trayneing  green.'"  Capt.  Benjamin 
Swett  and  his  brother-in-law  Nathaniel  Weare  had  a  lease  of  this  farm  for  seven  years,  from  1655 
to  1662.     (See  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  vol.  vi.,  p.  50.) 


CHURCHES  AND   PASTORS  317 

men  shall  go  to  Mr.  Woodbridge  and  see  who  hath  not  paid,  and  such 
as  are  delinquent  the  select  men  shall  have  power  to  sumons  them 
before  the  commissioners  to  recover  it.* 

During  the  long  controversy  that  divided  the  church  into 
two  nearly  equal  parties  the  salary  of  Rev.  Thomas  Parker 
was  regularly  paid,  but  there  was  evidently  a  contest  over 
the    amount    raised    annually  for  the    benefit    of    Rev.    Mr. 

Woodbridge. 

April  25,  1666  It  was  voted  that  Mr.  Parkers  four  score  pounds  by 
the  yeare  should  be  continued  to  be  paid  to  him  yearely.  And  Mr  Wood- 
bridge  to  have  sixty  pounds  a  yeare  till  the  Towne  take  further  order.* 

March  4,  1666-7  voted  that  Mi"  Woodbridge  should  have  three 
score  pounds  for  the  yeare  as  he  had  formerly.* 

March  2,  1667-8  Mr  Woodbridge  was  voted  by  counting  man  for 
man,  called  over,  to  have  sixty  pounds  a  yeare  for  his  preaching.* 

May  21,  1670  It  was  voted  that  the  order  in  the  Towne  booke  that 
gives  Mr  Woodbridge  three  score  pound  a  yeare  for  his  preaching  is 
made  voyd.* 

At  a  meeting  of  the  selectmen  held  February  4,  1667-8, 
the  seats  in  the  meeting-house  were  rearranged  and  assigned 
to  the  members  of  the  church  according  to  their  social  rank 
and  condition. 

Daniel  Lunt  proposed  for  a  seat  for  severall  women  [his  wife  and 
her  sister  Smith  &  John  Kent,  Jun.  his  wife  .  .  .  Peter  Chenyes  wife, 
John  Lunts  wife  &  John  Poore,  Jun.  his  wife]  the  Selectmen  ordered  that 
the  2  short  seats  neere  [  ]  should  be  for  them  to  be  made 

into  one.* 

Dec.  3,  1668  the  selectmen  granted  Liberty  to  Nathaniel  Clarke,  M"" 
Edward  Woodman,  Benjamin  Lowle,  John  Kelly  &  John  Kent,  Jun.  to 
build  a  pew  for  their  wives  at  their  own  charg :  in  the  meeting  house 
from  the  east  end  of  the  South  gallery  to  the  pulpit  to  be  &  remaine  to 
them  &  their  heirs  forever.* 

This  pew  was  probably  the.  first  one  built  in  the  meeting- 
house at  Newbury,  and  ultimately  led  to  the  building  of 
others  under  the  supervision  of  the  selectmen.  Seats  or 
benches,  however,  were  in  general  use ;  and  new  ones  were 
occasionally  provided  for  the  accommodation  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of   the  town.     February    25,  1668,  Richard    Dummer, 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


3lB  HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 

Jr.,  Thomas  Waodbridge,  and  fifteen  or  eighteen  other  per- 
sons were  authorized  by  the  selectmen  to  occupy  certain 
specified  seats,  "  provided  that  they  do  pay  their  equal  shares 
&  proportions  for  the  building  of  them."  * 

John  Woolcott  and  Peter  Toppan  were  presented  to  the 
court  held  at  Ipswich,  April  28,  1669,  "for  disorderly  going 
and  setting  in  a  seat  belonging  to  others"  in  the  meeting- 
house. For  this  offence  they  were  admonished,  and  ordered 
to  pay  the  costs  of  court. f 

February  21,  1669-70,  the  selectmen  ordered  "that  a  paire 
of  staires  be  made  in  the  porch  to  go  up  &  downe  into  the 
gallery."  * 

May  21,  1670,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  voted  to  pro- 
vide additional  seats  for  the  north  and  south  galleries  of  the 
meeting-house  ;  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  see  that  the 
work  was  promptly  done. 

Notwithstanding  the  ecclesiastical  difficulties  that  divided 
the  church  at  this  time,  the  number  of  worshippers  was  con- 
stantly increasing. 

September  ig,  1670  it  was  voted  that  the  selectmen  should  have 
liberty  to  place  such  as  wanted  seats  in  the  meeting  house  &  to  procure 
a  bason  for  the  church  &  to  order  Thomas  Turvill  to  his  kinsmans,  also 
to  be  helpful  to  the  poor.* 

January  31,  1670-71,  the  selectmen  authorized  Caleb 
Moody,  John  Hale,  Benjamin  Rolfe,  John  Webster,  Abel 
Somerby,  Nathaniel  Clarke,  Percivall  Lowle,  Jonathan 
Woodman,  Daniel  Thurston,  Benjamin  Lowle,  and  John 
Swett  to  build  at  their  own  charge  "  a  pew  in  the  south  east 
corner  of  the  meeting  house"  to  be  assigned  to  them  for  the 
use  of  their  wives  and  daughters.* 

The  ecclesiastical  difificulties  and  dissensions  that  disturbed 
the  church  for  nearly  twenty-five  years  culminated  in  an 
appeal  to  the  county  court  in  1669  and  to  the  Great  and 
General  Court  in  1671.J  Mr.  Edward  Woodman  was  accused 
of  publicly  denouncing  Rev.  John  Woodbridge  as  a  preacher 

**  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 
t  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  94. 

X  For  a  full  and  detailed  account  of  this  prolonged  controversy  see  Coffin's  History  of  New- 
bury, pp.  72-112. 


CHURCHES  AND   PASTORS  3^9 

retained  in  the  church  by  craft  and  subtilty  and  Rev.  Mr. 
Parker  "as  an  apostate  and  backsHder  from  the  truth,"  who 
would  set  up  a  prelacy,  and,  though  unsupported  by  a  council 
of  cardinals,  would  exercise  more  power  than  the  pope. 

From  the  evidence  presented  to  the  court  it  appears  that 
Mr.  Woodman  was  interrupted  in  his  speech,  on  the  occasion 
referred  to,  by  Capt.  Gerrish,  who  made  some  reference  to 
his  gray  hairs.  Mr.  Woodman  in  answer  said,  "  Capt. 
Gerrish,  my  gray  hairs  will  stand  in  any  place  where  your 
bald  head  will  stand." 

After  a  careful  examination  of  the  evidence  submitted,  the 
following  decree  was  entered  upon  the  records  of  the  court :  — 

March  30,  1669. 
Having  heard  the  complaint  p^sented  to  this  Court  agst  Mr  Edward 
Woodman  do  judge  some  passages  relating  to  M""  Parker  &  M^  Wood- 
bridge  to  be  faulse  and  scandalous  and  that  concerneing  Cap*  Gerish, 
rep'chfull,  and  p'voking  and  the  whole  gen^Hy  offensive,  And  hath  ther- 
fore  ordered  that  the  sayd  M""  Woodman  shall  be  seriously  &  solemnely 
admonished  and  enjoyned  to  make  a  publique  Confession  at  the  next 
publique  Towne  or  church  meeting  at  Newbury  of  his  sinfull  expres- 
sions «&  just  offence  that  he  hath  given  or  else  to  pay  five  pounds  &  to 
pay  costs  and  fees. 

I   dissent  from  this  sentance         Samuell  Symonds 
And  I  dissent         Wm  Hathorne 

Wee  conceive  the  law  allows  not  liberty  to  the  members  of  this  Court 
to  enter  their  dissent  in  this  Case,  being  a  criminal  case,  &  not  properly 
concerneing  religion  or  any  other  qualifiecation  mentioned  in  ye  law 

Symond    Bradstreet  Daniell  Denison. 

Mr  Edward  Woodman  appealed  from  this  Judgmt  to  the  next  court  of 
Assistants  at  Boston 

He  recognized  in  the  sum  of  £2.0  with  William  Titcomb  surety  to 
prosecute  his  appeal  and  be  of  good  behavior  in  meantime.* 

A  council  composed  of  delegates  from  eight  or  nine 
churches  was  held  in  Newbury,  November  5,  1669,  to  consider 
the  questions  involved  in  this  unfortunate  controversy,  and 
settle,  if  possible,  the  differences  that  threatened  to  disrupt 
the  church.  Some  advice  was  given  in  a  spirit  of  kindness 
and  brotherly  love,  that  seemed  to  allay  the  excitement  tem- 

*  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  92. 


32 o  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

porarily  ;  but  the  contest  was  renewed  a  few  months  later 
with  increased  vigor,  and  April  19,  1670,  a  second  council 
assembled  at  the  meeting-house  in  Newbury.  After  a  pro- 
longed hearing  and  careful  deliberation,  articles  of  agreement 
were  drawn  up  and  signed  by  Rev.  Mr.  Parker  for  himself 
and  his  friends  and  supporters,  "  and  by  Mr.  Edward  Wood- 
man and  the  brethren  that  were  with  him." 

These  articles  of  agreement  expressly  declared  "  that  the 
platform  of  discipline  established  by  the  general  court " 
should  be  the  rule  or  standard  of  the  church  at  Newbury, 
and  that  all  matters  of  controversy  should  be  brought  to  the 
church  for  settlement.*  It  soon  became  evident,  however, 
that  the  work  of  reconciliation  was  incomplete,  and  that  the 
condition  of  affairs  was  very  discouraging.  Meetings  called 
for  the  discussion  of  matters  relating  to  church  membership 
or  discipline  were  exciting  and  boisterous.  On  one  occasion 
Mr.  Woodman  and  his  friends  "  raised  an  hubbub,  knocking, 
stamping,  hemming,  gaping  to  drown  the  reading  "  of  charges 
preferred  against  them  by  their  pastor. f  A  few  months  later 
the  same  persons,  or  a  majority  of  them,  having  met  together 
and  chosen  a  moderator,  proceeded  to  admonish  Rev.  Mr. 
Parker,  "and  to  suspend  him  from  the  exercise  of  his  office."  % 
Thereupon  complaint  was  entered  in  the  court  held  at  Ips- 
wich in  the  month  of  April,  1671,  accusing  Mr.  Edward 
Woodman,  Mr.  Richard  Dummer,  William  Titcomb,  Richard 
Bartlet,  and  others,  to  the  number  of  forty-one  in  all,  of  dis- 
orderly conduct,  dishonoring  the  holy  ordinances  of  the 
church,  and  speaking  contemptuously  and  reproachfully  of 
their  pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  Parker. § 

On  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  May,  1671,  the  court  found 
the  defendants  "  guilty  of  very  great  misdemeanors,  though 
in  different  degrees,"  and  imposed  a  fine  varying  in  amount 
from  one  noble  (six  shillings  and  eightpence)  to  twenty 
nobles  upon  the  persons  named  in  the  indictment,  together 
with  the  charges  of  witnesses  and  the  fees  of  court. 

Two  days  later,  however,  the  questions  in  dispute  were 
brought    to    the    attention   of    the    General   Court ;    and  the 

*Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  SS.         t  Ibid.,  p.  94.       X  Ibid.,  p.  gg.       §  Ibid.,  p.  go. 


CHURCHES  AND  PASTORS  321 

churches  at  Charlestown,  Boston,  Dedham,  and  Roxbury 
were  ordered  "  to  send  their  elders  and  messengers  to  the 
church  at  Newbury,"  and  advise  with  the  pastor  and  people 
there,  "  and  make  such  suggestions  as  may  be  necessary  to 
re-unite  them  in  the  bonds  of  brotherly  love."  * 

Rev.  Thomas  Parker  and  his  friends  were  evidently  op- 
posed to  the  order  of  the  General  Court,  which  practically 
annulled  the  decision  of  the  county  court,  and  called  a  coun- 
cil of  the  churches  to  meet  at  Newbury. 

In  answer  to  an  Address  exhibited  by  the  Reverend  Mr  Thomas 
Parker  of  the  ch  at  Newbury  referring  to  the  act  of  the  Councill  sent  by 
Sundry  Chhs  according  to  the  appoyntment  of  the  Hond  General  Court 
in  May  last,  Sundry  writings  &  pposals  having  been  agitated  and  it 
appearing  difficult  to  have  a  right  understanding  of  the  matter  unless 
the  parties  concerned  be  admitted  their  lawful  plea,  This  Council  do 
not  judge  it  expedient  to  exr't  their  pow  to  any  present  interposition 
therein,  but  do  advise  them  to  attend  to  councills  of  peace  &  therein  to 
the  submitting  themselves  one  to  another  in  the  feare  of  ye  Lord  accord- 
ing to  ye  practice  of  the  congregational  chh.  here  settled. 

past  September  12,  1671.! 

The  council  assembled  in  due  time ;  and,  after  hearing  the 
testimony  of  the  elders  and  prominent  members  of  the  church, 
and  making  such  inquiries  and  personal  investigations  as  the 
circumstances  of  the  case  warranted,  a  report  was  agreed 
upon,  and  presented  to  the  General  Court,  severely  criticising 
Mr.  Edward  Woodman  and  his  supporters,  but  at  the  .same 
time  declaring  that  his  suspension  from  membership  in  the 
church  was  made  in  violation  of  the  letter  and  spirit  of  the 
gospel,  and,  therefore,  null  and  void.  The  report  also  re- 
quested and  advised  Rev.  Mr.  Woodbridge  "  not  to  im- 
pose himself  or  his  ministry  upon  the  church,"  nor  obstruct 
the  members  in  their  choice  of  an  assistant  pastor,  provided 
they  observe  "the  gospel  rule  and  approved  church  order." 
Preachers  and  hearers,  although  divided  upon  questions  of 
doctrine  and  discipline,  were  exhorted  "  to  walk  according  to 
the  rule  of  faith,  love  and  the  order  of  the  gospel,"  and  to 
manifest  "  a  mutual,  hearty  and  free  forgiveness  of  each  other 
according  to  the  rule  of  Christ." 

•Massachusetts   Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  ii.,  p.  487  ;   Coffin's  History  of    Newbury, 
p.   loi  :  Slassachusetts  Archives,  vol.  x.,  pp.  59,  60. 
t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  x.,  p.  107. 


2,22  HISTORY  OF  NEVVBUJ^Y 

May  15,  1672,  the  General  Court  accepted  and  adopted  the 
report  made  by  the  council  of  churches,  and  ordered  Edward 
Rawson,  secretary  of  the  colony,  to  notify  the  church  at  New- 
bury, "  pastor  and  people,  preachers  and  hearers,  however 
before  divided,"  to  conform  to  its  requirements  and  heed  its 
admonitions,  if  they  would  avoid  further  difficulties  and  com- 
plications.* 

This  communication,  although  firm  and  resolute  in  tone, 
did  not  secure  the  unanimity  expected  ;  and  the  General  Court, 
October  23,  1672,  appointed  a  committee,  consisting  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Danforth,  Mr.  William  Stoughton,  Dr.  Leonard 
Hoar,  Capt.  Thomas  Clarke,  Mr.  Joshua  Moody,  and  others, 
to  confer  with  the  pastor  and  people  at  Newbury,  and  urge 
them  to  submit,  with  meekness  and  humiliation,  one  unto  the 
other,  "  and  in  case  there  shall  appear  any  refractoriness  in 
any  amongst  them  that  the  persons  so  sent  cannot  prevail 
with  them  that  they  then  make  return  to  the  next  court  of 
election  what  they  find  and  do  therein."  f 

Although  no  report  of  the  conference  has  been  discovered, 
some  compromises  and  concessions  were  probably  suggested 
by  the  committee,  and  promptly  accepted  by  the  church  at 
Newbury.  The  questions  in  dispute  were  adjusted  without 
further  legislative  action  on  the  part  of  the  General  Court. 

Rev.  John  Woodbridge  did  not  probably  retain  his  office 
as  teacher  in  the  church  after  the  close  of  the  year  1672. 

He  still  continued  to  reside  in  Newbury,  however  ;  and  June 
I,  1677,  he  was  authorized  by  the  General  Court  to  take  depo- 
sitions and  acknowledgment  of  deeds.  Subsequently,  he 
was  appointed  one  of  the  associate  magistrates  for  the  county 
of  Essex;  and  in  1683  he  was  elected  "assistant"  to  the 
General  Court,  and  by  virtue  of  his  office  was  qualified  to 
punish  criminals  and  solemnize  marriages. J  He  died  March 
17,  1695. 

♦Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part,  ii.,  pj).  521-524;  also,  Coffin's  History  of 
Newbury,  pp.  no,  in. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  ii.,  p.  549;  also,  Coffin's  Historj-  of  Newbury, 
p.  112. 

jMr.  John  Woodbridge,  of  Newbury,  was  granted  by  the  General  Court,  October  n,  1682, 
"  the  priviledge  that  other  teaching  elders  have  as  to  freedome  from  rates,  so  long  as  he  shall  be 
imployed  in  constant  preaching."    Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  v.,  p.  379. 


THE 

Vifions  and  Prophecies 

DANIEL 

EXPOUNDED: 

Wherein  the    Miftakes  of   Former 

INTER  PRETERS 

arc  modeftly  difcovcred  y  and  the  true 

TDeaning  of  the  T  t  x  T  made  plain  by 

the  Words  and  Circumflances  of  if. 

The  fame  alfo  illuftrated  by  clear  Inftances  taken 

out  of  Histories  which  relate  the  Events 

of  time  myftically  foretold  by  the  holy  Prophet. 

Amongfl:  other  things  of  Note ,   touching  the 

Tw9Witr)f(fes^  the  Nejv  ^erufalem ,  the  Thufaftd jeers ^Si.c. 

here  is  propounded  a  new  Way  for  the  finding  out  of  the  deter. 

minate  time^  fignified  by  Da  n  i  e  l  in  his  Seventy  weeks ; 

when  it  did  begin,  sn4  when  we  are  to  expeft  the  end  thereof. 
Very  conliderabIe,in  refped  of  the  great  ftirs  and  tu- 
mults e£  this  prefcnt  Age  wherein  we  liyc. 

By  Thomas' Parker,  fometimcof  Newborj  in  Beri^ihiT^  ,  and  now 
Pador  to  the  Church  at  Newberj  in  NewEngUnd. 

Dan- 1 2.4.    Bw  thoK^O  Daniel./i^Mf  up  the  wtrds^andfed  the  bool^^  even  to  thetime  •/  the 

end :  Many /ha  ff  run  to  and  fro,  and  kpovpled^e /haO  be  encreafed. 
Joh.  f .  5  9.     Search  the  Scrtpfuret. 
I  Thcfr.^.2 1.    Prove aOthingj,  htd^^/ajfthtt  rohirh  Ugood. _^ 

Lmdon,  Printed  toT  Edmund  Paxtonyitii  are  to  he  fold  by  NathamelfVebbMd 
WiBiam  Grsntham,  .»t  the  Grey-hound  in  PohIj  Church-yard.    1646. 


324  HISTORY  OF  XEIVBURY 

In  January,  1672-3,  Rev.  John  Richardson  was  employed 
to  assist  Rev.  Mr.  Parker  in  the  ministry.  He  was  the  oldest 
son  of  Amos  and  Mary  Richardson,  of  Stonington,  Conn.* 
He  was  ordained  "  teacher  to  the  church  of  Christ  in 
Newbury "  October  20,  1675,  and  pastor  December  25, 
1675.1 

Rev.  Thomas  Parker  died  April  24,  1677.  For  several 
years  previous  to  his  death  he  was  totally  blind.  Although 
old  and  infirm,  he  was  able  to  prepare  students  for  college, 
and  taught  them  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew  from  memory. 

About  a  year  and  half  before  he  died,  that  which  he  had  long  feared 
befel  him,  viz:  the  palsey  in  his  tongue:  and  so  he  became  speechless, 
and  thus  continued  until  his  death :  having  this  only  help  left  him,  that 
he  could  pronounce  letters,  but  not  syllables  or  words.  He  signified  his 
mind  by  spelling  his  words,  which  was  indeed  a  tedious  way,  but  yet  a 
mercy  so  far  to  him  and  others. J 

During  his  life  he  published  "  The  Visions  and  Prophecies 
of  Daniel,"  and  "  A  Letter  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Avery  touch- 
ing Sundry  Opinions  by  her  Professed  and  Maintained." 
He  also  wrote  the  dedication  and  introduction  to  a  posthu- 
mous work  of  Rev.  James  Noyes,  entitled  "  Moses  and 
Aaron,  or  the  Rights  of  Church  and  State." 

The  title-pages  of  these  books,  as  well  as  a  portion  of  the 
introduction  to  and  dedication  of  Rev.  Mr.  Noyes'  post- 
humous work,  "Moses  and  Aaron,"  are  here  reproduced 
from  original  copies  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Boston 
Public  Library.  They  reveal,  in  visible  form  and  shape, 
something  of  the  religious  thought  and  life  that  prevailed  in 
Newbury  in  the  seventeenth  century,  and  are  especially  in- 
teresting and  valuable  to  the  student  of  local  history. 

•History  of  New  London,  Caulkins,  p.  302. 

t  Newbury  (First  Parish)  Records. 

X  Mather's  Ma.^nalia  (ed.  1853),  vol.  i.,  p.  486. 


a.M 

^g  The  Cop  Y  of  a  ^ 


LETTE 


i-OV*'' 

rev* 


^1  Mr.  Thomoi'  Tar{er,  ^^ 


rev* 


4M  Written  by  ^i. 

"r^  Paflor  of  the  Church  of  Newbury  in  Kf 

^^.  N  E  W-En'G  L  AN  D,  ^'"^ 

'-rax  _  ^  ^^ 

m  TO  ^5. 

t^  His  Sirter,  M"  Elizabeth  ^Jverj,  it 

^^       Sometimes  of  Newhury  in  the  County       W^^ 


of  B  E  R  K  S.  »«<■ 

S  Touching  fundry  ^f^ 


OPINIONS 


4|\^  r   1   IN  i  ^^  iN   Dm- 

^^  BY  HER  Sf 

iS  ProfefTed  and  Maintained.  ^ 


,.^  ProfefTed  and  Maintained.  ^ 

^>3^ ., ^^* 

^e^    Novemh.ii.  JmprirmitHr  ^|» 


4^  J  O  H   K     D  O  W  N  A  M   E  .       ^^ 


fc^ 


^3» 

^«^ 


*<rj\ 


)^i^ 


<^  LoMdoyt,  Printed  by  John  Field  iov  SdmurJTaxt on,  at  gs» 
4^  TdHls-ChAin,  over  againft  the  ^.i//^ Tavern,  near  ^1^ 
-1^  .the  Doclors  Commons.     1650.  ^^ 


Mofes  "<)  Aaron: 

Or,  The  Rights  of 

CHURCH  and  STATE; 

Containing    two 

DISPUTATIONS 

The  former  concerning  the  Church  ,  in  which 

are  examined  the  principles  of  Separation,  and  their 

inconliftency-with  truth  and  peace  demonftratc!d  : 

and  the  Government  of  the  Churchvihdicated 

into  ihe  hands  of  herproper  Rulers. 

The  latter  aflerts  the  facredneffe  of  the  perfons  and  autho- 
rity of  Kings  a^-ainft  Sacrilegious  usurpation  and  King- killing. 

By  that  judicious  and  faithful  MinifterofChrift,Mr, 
James  notes,   rometimesofAVH'W/in 
NE^V    E  Ng  L^A  ND. 

Publifhed  by  Benj,  modbrid^e ,  Re6tor  of  "Kevphry 
in  the  County  ol3  E  RK  S., 


Numb.i5.5.  And  they  gathered  themfelws  together  againjl^  Mol'es 
and  Agaiaft  Aaron,  and  [aid  unta  ihemy  Te  takj  too_  much,  ufon 
jeuy  feeing  all  the  Congregation  are  holy  evcyy  one  of  them  ,  and 
the  Lord  u  among  thm  :  fvhereftre  then  lift  je  up  ydur  f elves 
above  the  Cor.gregation  of  the  Lord  } 

Jude  ver.i  l.    Pertjhed  in  the  gain-fajing  of  Coreh. 

Printed  by  T.J?.    For  Edmund  Paxton,  in  Paah-chain^  o\cr 
asainft  the  Cafile  Tavern,  near  Donors  Commops  i6  6i. 


TO  THE 

READER. 

Gentle  Reader , 

HcH  mayeH  net  expeB  thk 
work^p^ould  be  fo  perfeSi 
and  exaSi^as  if  the  Jnthor 
hadbeen  Iwing  to  put  it 
mt  himfelf.  The  original 
Copy  alfo  was  lately  loft  in 
aJhipfoHndredat  Seayand 
he  wrote  this  Treatife  in  the  laft  half  year  of 
his  life  tVi^hich  was  a  time  oj  continual  rveahpefs 
andpckaejje  ending  in  bis  death,  1  did  often  pre fs 
him  long  before  to  fet  down  his  notions  in  writings 
but  he  jvasfliU  averfe^  until  the  foref aid  half  year 
of  his  lajl  vontinnance  on  earth.  Notwitflandinji 
all  thefe  difconragements,  I  thought  it  not  meet  fo 
deprt've  thee  of  the  nfe  of  this  bis  laft  labour ,  be- 
caufe  I  conceived  it  would  be  *very  ujeful  for  the 
prefcnt  time.  a  3 


328  HISTORY   OF    NEWBURY 

The  Author  M''  James  Noyes  (my  worthy  collegue 
in  the  mi7iistry  of  the  Gospel  here)  was  a  man  of  Siii- 
gular  qualifications,  in  piety  excelling,  an  implacable 
enemy  to  all  herisie  and  schism,  and  a  most  able  war- 
rior against  the  same. . .  .  //e  was  couragiotis  in  danger 
and  still  was  apt  to  believe  the  best,  and  made  faire 
weather  in  a  storm,.  He  was  much  honoured  and 
esteem^ed  in  the  Countj^ey^  and  his  death  was  m^ich 
bewailed.  I  tJiink  he  may  be  reckoned  among  the 
greatest  worthies  of  this  age.  Upon  the  rising  of  our 
late  usurpers,  and  the  beheading  of  07ir  most  graciotts 
and  m.ost  excellent  King  Charles  the  first,  of  blessed 
mem.ory,  by  a  villanous  stroke  and  under  a  wicked  pre- 
tence of  Justice  &  upon  the  defeating  of  our  renowned 
King  Charles  the  Second  (whom  God  preserve)  lie  fell 
into  such  a  depth  of  sadness  and  sorrow  of  heart  that 
it  hastened  his  death  as  was  believed.  So  he  died  in 
the  48*''  year  of  his  age  Octob.  22,  16^6.  He  left  be- 
hind him  this  posthume,  imperfect  ajid  incompleat, 
which  if  he  had  lived  he  would  have  perfected  with  the 
addition  of  many  rare  a7id  excellent  notions,  for  the 
enlightning  and  discovery  of  truths 

Thine  in  the  Lord 

Tho:  Parker 
Pastor,  tJiotigh  unworthy,  of  the  church  in  Newbury 
in  N.  E.* 

*  Introduction  to  "  Moses  and  Aaron,"  published  in  1661. 


^ 


zurui  uLinTmnrriTnL 


Bkkuikmuihm^ikmfii 


To  the  moft 

HIGH  and  MIGHTY 

PRINCE  CHARLES  thefreond, 

by  the  Grace  of  God   KING  of 

great  Britain,  France  and  Ireiand, 

Defender  of  the  Faiths  &e. 


Now  as  toiicJiing  this  work  tJiat  followetJi  I  Jiave  presumed 
to  dedicate  the  same  to  your  Royal  Majesty,  because  the  matter 
of  it  pcrtainetJi  to  yo7ir  consideration  and  because  of  the  singu- 
lar joy  and  hopes  I  have  of  your  asccjidijig  into  the  TJwone, 
and  because  the  Author  zoas  a  special  lover  of  your  Royal 
FatJier  {of  blessed  memory)  and  of  your  majesty,  the  fall  of 
zvJiom  stuck  so  close  and  neer  unto  him  and  ivronght  in  him  so 
deep  sorroiv  and  affliction,  that  it  is  thought  to  have  been  the 
principal  cause  of  his  death.  Let  your  Majesties  Gracio?is 
acceptation  Countenance  the  work.  .  .  . 

Now  the  God  of  all  Grace  and  Mercy,  zvho  hath  raised  up 
your  Majesty  into  the  Throne  of  Royal  Government  .  .  .  con- 
firni  and  establish  you  upon  your  TJirojie,  and  crown  you  with 
grace,  prosperity  and  glory,  unto  his  ozvn  everlasting  praise, 
the  bea?tty  and  e7ilaigement  of  the  Church  and  to  the  laying 
a  foundation  of  JiigJier  advancement  of  yourself  in  the  future 
world  than  can  be  here  expected.  This  is,  and  shall  be  the 
constant  prayer  of 

Your  Majesties  Most  Loyal 

Scj-vant  and  Subject 

THOMAS  PARKER. 

A  minister  of  the  Gospel,  though  unworthy,  and  Pastor  to 
the  Church  of  Newbury  in  A^eiv  England. 

Writtcji  from  Newbury  in  Neiv  England  August  6,  1660.* 

*  Dedication  of  "  Moses  and  Aaron,"  published  in  1661. 


S3°  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Rev.  John  Richardson  came  to  Newbury,  as  previously- 
stated,  in  1673  ;  but  he  was  not  ordained  pastor  until  two 
years  later.  He  was  evidently  an  earnest  and  faithful 
preacher,  and  was  successful  in  healing  the  dissensions  that 
had  disturbed  the  church  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a 
century. 

January  31,  1672-3,  a  committee,  consisting  of  "  Capt 
Gerrish,  Richard  Dole  &  Ensigne  Greenleaf,"  was  chosen  "  to 
build  a  house  for  the  ministry  the  same  dimensions  every 
way  according  as  Nath  :  Clarkes  house  is  with  an  addition  of 
a  porch,"  to  be  paid  for  by  a  town  vote.* 

December  3,  1673,  the  committee  above  named  was  au- 
thorized and  directed  to  superintend  "  the  building  of  Mr 
Richardsons  house  &  to  carry  it  on  to  the  finishing  of  it  & 
the  selectmen  were  ordered  to  make  a  Rate  for  the  building 
of  it."  * 

"March  2,  1673-4  It  was  voted  that  the  finishing  of  the 
house  for  the  ministry  &  the  alteration  of  it  is  left  to  the 
selectmen,"  who  were  also  ordered  "  to  see  that  six  acres  of 
land  be  laid  out  for  the  ministry  between  Rich  :  Brownes 
pasture  and  Capt  Gerrishes  land,"  and  also  to  buy  glass  and 
nails  for  the  house.* 

December  6,  1674,  Rev.  John  Richardson  was  admitted  to 
membership  in  the  church  at  Newbury ;  f  and  March  i, 
1674-5,  Nathaniel  Clark  and  Henry  Jaques  were  appointed 
a  committee  "  to  complete  the  ministry  house  "  according  to 
the  plans  agreed  upon,  and  the  selectmen  were  instructed  to 
notify  all  persons  owning  carts  or  oxen,  suitable  for  hauling 
lumber  or  stone,  to  bring  them  to  the  committee,  with  such 
other  implements  and  tools  as  were  needed  or  could  be  used 
in  building  a  fence  or  wall  about  the  house  and  the  pasture 
adjoining.* 

At  the  same  meeting  (March  i,  1674-5)  it  was  voted  that 
a  salary  of  one  hundred  pounds  should  be  paid  Rev.  John 
Richardson  annually,  each  person  to  pay  his  proportion  on  or 
before  the  first  day  of  November,  "  one  half  in  merchantable 

•Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  115. 


CHURCHES  AA'D   PASTORS  33 1 

barley  at  the  malt  houses  of  Daniel  Pierce  or  Caleb  Moody  " 
and  the  other  half  in  pork,  wheat,  butter,  or  Indian  corn,  to 
the  satisfaction  of  Mr.  Richardson.* 

May  7,  1675  Daniel  Peirce  Senr  Nath :  Clarke  &  John  Bartlet  Sen"- 
were  chosen  to  compleat  the  finishing  &  fencing  of  the  ministry 
house.* 

In  the  summer  of  1676  permission  to  build  a  new  seat 
in  the  meeting-house,  "  in  the  south  corner  of  the  womens 
gallery,"  led  to  an  exciting  episode,  which  ultimately  resulted 
in  the  indictment  of  Joshua  Richardson,  Caleb  Richardson, 
and  Edward  Ordway  "  for  breaking  into  the  meeting  house  at 
Newbury,  breaking  of  a  pew  and  chairs  &c."  They  were 
tried  and  convicted  at  the  court  held  at  Ipswich,  March  27, 
1677,  and  sentenced  to  be  severely  whipped  or  pay  a  fine  of 
ten  pounds  with  costs  and  fees,  and  also  to  give  bonds  for 
their  future  good  behavior.  Richard  Carr,  who  was  accused 
of  being  associated  with  them  in  the  commission  of  this  unlaw- 
ful act,  was  found  ''not  guilty,"  and  discharged.! 

August  18,  1680,  the  selectmen  ordered  that  Anthony  Morse  should 
every  Sabbath  day  go  or  send  his  boy  to  Mr.  Richardson  and  tell  him 
when  he  is  going  to  ring  the  last  bell  every  meeting  and  for  that  service 
is  to  have  ten  shillings  a  year  added  to  his  former  annuity.* 

Aug  29,  1 68 1  The  selectmen  agreed  with  James  Mirricke  to  keep  the 
meeting  house  &  sweep  it  and  Ring  the  bell  twice  every  meeting  accord- 
ing to  former  custome  in  season,  and  to  bring  a  bason  of  water  to  the 
meeting  house  when  children  are  to  be  baptized,  and  to  give  notice  to 
Mr  Richardson  when  he  goes  to  Ring  the  last  bell  every  meeting  both 
Sabath  days  &  lecture  days,  and  for  this  service  the  selectmen  do 
engage  in  the  behalfe  of  the  Towne,  that  the  said  James  Mirricke  shall 
have  yearly  paid  to  him  out  of  the  Towne  Rate  the  sum  of  three  pound.s 
&  10  shillings.  And  the  said  James  Mirrick  is  hereby  engaged  also  to 
dig  graves  as  occasion  may  be,  for  which  he  is  to  have  three  shillings 
for  every  man  &  womans  Grave  in  the  somer  &  when  the  frost  is  out  of 
the  Ground,  but  also  in  winter  he  is  to  have  foure  shillings  for  .such 
graves  &c  &.C.* 

At  a  town  meeting  held  January  23,  1684-5,  "Richard 
Bartlet    not    appearing,  he  being    a    deputy    to    the    general 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  290;  also,  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  119. 


332  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

court,"  Nicholas  Noyes  was  chosen  moderator,  and  the  follow- 
ing vote  was  then  passed  :  — 

The  towne  taking  into  consideration  tiie  Lord  hath  bin  pleased  to 
disable  our  Reverend  Teacher  by  fever  &  that  he  is  not  able  to  carry  on 
the  worke  of  the  ministry  at  present.  It  was  therefore  voted  that  the 
towne  will  allow  twenty  shillings  in  pay  every  Sabbath  to  such  as  shall 
carry  on  the  worke  of  the  ministry  During  the  time  of  M'  Richardsons 
sickness.     And  also  desire  the  Deacons  to  take  [  ]  for  such 

as  may  preach  among  us  from  one  Sabbath  to  another  untill  god  pro- 
vide otherwise  for  our  help.* 

During  the  following  summer  the  inhabitants  at  the  west 
end  of  the  town  were  exceedingly  anxious  to  erect  a  house  of 
worship  in  that  neighborhood,  and  asked  liberty  to  employ  a 
suitable  person  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  ministry  among 
them.  This  humble  request,  however,  was  not  granted. 
Nevertheless,  the  petitioners  proceeded  to  build,  without  per- 
mission, a  meeting-house  in  the  vicinity  of  Sawyer's  hill,  and 
employed  Mr.  Edward  Thompson  to  preach  there.  A  long 
and  serious  contest  followed,  which  ultimately  led  to  setting 
off  part  of  the  west  end  of  the  town  as  a  separate  parish. f 

Mr.  John  Clark  was  invited  to  assist  Rev.  John  Richardson 
in  the  discharge  of  his  ministerial  duties,  and  also  to  keep  a 
grammar  school  at  the  west  end  of  the  town.  He  declined 
the  invitation,  and  Rev.  Christopher  Toppan  was  asked  to 
undertake  the  work.  May  28,  1694,  Mr.  Toppan  replied  that 
he  could  not  give  an  afifirmative  answer  to  the  proposal  sub- 
mitted to  him,  but  expressed  his  willingness  "  to  help  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry  in  Newbury  for  a  year  in  order  to  fur- 
ther settlement  as  Gods  providence  shall  make  way."  * 

Rev.  Mr.  Richardson  died  April  27,  1696;  and,  on  the  fif- 
teenth day  of  May  following,  the  church  invited  Rev.  Christo- 
pher Toppan  to  take  the  entire  charge  of  the  parish.  May 
twenty-fifth,  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the  town  voted 
to  give  him  forty  pounds  a  year  in  money  and  forty  pounds  a 
year  in  provision,  so  long  as  he  carried  on  the  whole  work  of 
the  ministry  among  them.* 

In  the  month  of  July  following,  the  town  granted   him  two 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  P'or  the  details  of  this  prolonged  controversy  .see  pp.  T.v^rZ^b. 


CHURCHES  AND   PASTORS  333 

acres  of  land  to  be  laid  out  in' some  convenient  place  near  the 
meeting-house,  "  provided  that  he  be  ordained  and  settle  in 
the  town."  * 

He  accepted  the  office  of  pastor  of  the  church,  and  was 
ordained  September  9,  1696.  For  more  than  twenty  years 
he  occupied  the  parsonage  built  for  Rev.  Mr.  Richardson,  on 
Floyd's  lane,  now  Hanover  street,  Newbury. f 

Services  in  the  meeting-house  on  Sundays  and  lecture  days 
were  announced  by  the  ringing  of  a  bell ;  but  persons  living  at 
a  distance  were  not  satisfied  with  that  way  of  calling  the  in- 
habitants together,  and  the  town  voted,  November  8,  1697,  to 
authorize  the  selectmen  "  to  procure  a  flagg  for  the  meeting 
house  to  be  put  out  at  the  ringing  of  the  first  bell  and  taken 
in  when  the  last  bell  is  rung."  % 

In  the  month  of  July  following,  "  the  worshipf ull  Coll  Daniel 
Pierce,  Esq.  Cap'  Thomas  Noyes  and  Serj.  Stephen  Jaques  " 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  prepare  plans  and  ascertain  the 
probable  cost  of  a  new  meeting-house.  J  December  21,1 698,  an 
agreement  was  made  with  Sergt.  Stephen  Jaques  to  furnish 
the  labor  and  materials  for  the  new  building,  to  be  con- 
structed according  to  plans  and  specifications  submitted,  for 
the  sum  of  five  hundred  and  thirty  pounds  :  "  Sixty  foote  in 
length  &  fifty  foote  in  breadth  and  twenty  foote  in  the  stud, 
or  post."  February  8,  1698-9,  it  was  voted  to  increase  the 
length  of  the  posts  and  studs  to  twenty-four  feet,  and  to  pay 
Sergt.  Jaques  not  over  twenty  pounds  additional  for  this 
extra  work.§ 

December  18,  1699  Coll  Dan'  Peirce  &  Majr  Thomas  Noyes  were  by 
vote  desired  &  impowered  to  imploy  ye  Honrble  Cap'  Samuel  Sewall  of 
Boston,  Esq.  To  procure  a  good  and  sufficient  meeting  hous  Bell  for 
the  Towne  of  Newbury  suitable  for  our  Towne  considering  ye  Remote- 
ness of  our  dwellings. 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Rev.  Christopher  Toppan  was  born  December  15,  167 1,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 
i6qi.  He  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Peter  Toppan,  of  Newbury.  July  17, 1718,  he  purchased  of  Nathaniel 
Clark  seven  and  a  half  acres  of  lacd,  with  a  dwelling-house  thereon,  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
Capt.  Moses  J.  Milliken,  Newburyport  (Essex  Deeds,  book  xxxvi.,  leaf  8g).  April 2g,  1746,  he  sold 
to  his  grandson,  Christopher  Toppan,  son  of  Edward  Toppan,  of  Hampton,  N.H.,  "land  in  New- 
bury with  the  house  I  now  dwell  in,  bounded  westerly  on  the  country  road,  easterly  on  New 
Lane,  so  called  flkc."  (Essex  Deeds,  book  Ixxxvii.,  leaf  26g).  The  country  road,  is  now  High 
street  and  New  lane  is  now  Allen  street,  Newburyport. 

+  Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  iii.,  p.  48.        §  Ibid.,  p.  50. 


334  HISTORY  OF  A'EWBURY 

It  was  also  voted  y«  a  new  pulpitt  should  be  made  for  the  new  meet- 
ing hous.* 

There  was  evidently  some  delay  in  procuring  a  new  bell, 
and  April  22,  1700,  the  town  voted  "  y*  Serj*  Jaques  shall 
forthwith  hang  the  [old]  meeting-house  bell  in  the  New 
Terrett."t    . 

August  21,  1700  voted  yt  ye  Selectmen  are  apoynted  to  desire  and 
imploy  Capt  Jeremiah  Duiiier,  of  Boston,  Esqr  to  procure  a  good  meet- 
ing hous  Bell  for  the  east  pt  of  the  Towne  of  Newbury  of  about  400 
waite.J 

October  18,  1700  voted  that  Coll.  Dan'  Pierce,  Esq.  &  Tristram 
Coffin,  Esq.  be  impowered  to  procure  a  meeting  house  bell  for^the  new 
meeting  house  of  about  four  hundred  waite.§ 

April  30,  1 701  voted  that  when  the  East  pt  of  the  Towne  of  Newbury 
shall  be  supplyed  wth  a  new  meeting  house  Bell,  that  then  the  present 
meeting  house  Bell  shall  be  &  remaine  to  be  a  schoole  Bell  &  improved 
for  yt  use.  II 

January  4,  1705-6  voted  that  the  new  Bell  be  hanged  in  the  Terret 
of  the  meeting  house  &  yt  the  selectmen  se  that  it  be  done  with  all  con- 
venient speede,  also  to  take  care  that  the  Bell  be  Rung  at  nine  of  the 
clock  every  night,  and  that  the  day  of  the  month  be  every  night  tolled.TI 

October  1 8,  1 700,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  assign  seats 
in  the  new  meeting-house  to  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants 
of  the  town ;  and  the  same  day  "  It  was  also  voted  y^  a  pew 
be  built  for  y«  ministers  wife  next  y*  pulpit  stayrs,  .  .  .  also 
y^  Coll  Dan'  Peirce,  Esq.  should  have  his  first  choyce  of  a 
pew  &  Maj""  Thomas  Noyes,  Esq  shall  have  the  next  choyce 
for  a  pew."  § 

In  the  month  of  November  following,  Henry  Short,  Henry 
Somerby,  Tristram  Coffin,  Nathaniel  Coffin,  Capt.  Edward 
Sargent,  Dr.  Humphrey  Bradstreet,  and  many  others  were 
granted  liberty  to  build  pews,  at  their  own  charge,  for  the 
accommodation  of  their  wives  and  families ;  and  on  the 
sixteenth  day  of  December  the  committee  appointed  "  to 
seat  the  meeting  house  "  reported  the  names  of  three  hun- 
dred and  thirteen  persons,  inhabitants  of  the  First  parish  in 
Newbury,  to  whom  they  had  assigned  seats.     The  location  of 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  iii.,  p.  55.  t  Ibid.,  p.  58.  +  Ibid.,  p.  62.  §  Ibid., 

p.  65.        II  Ibid.,  p.  77.        H  Ibid.,  p.  120. 


CHURCHES  AA'D   PASTORS  335 

these  seats  and  the  names  of  the  persons  assigned  to  them 
were  entered  in  full  upon  the  records  of  the  town.* 

January  19,  1702-3,  Ensign  Jaques  and  Richard  Kelly 
were  appointed  a  committee  "  to  build  a  convenient  porch  to 
the  west  dore  of  the  meeting  hous  heere  at  the  east  p*  of 
Newbury  and  sutible  and  convenient  Gutters  to  s^  meeting 
house."  f 

March  17,  1702-3,  the  town  voted  that  the  old  meeting- 
house "  be  repayred  and  fitted  for  a  Court  House  &  Schoole 
House"  ;  but  this  vote  was  afterwards  reconsidered,  and  May 
23,  1705,  "the  old  meeting  house  [was]  then  Granted  to 
M"'  Richard  Brown,  Junior,  w''^  liberty  to  remove  it." 

The  new  edifice,  erected  during  the  summer  and  winter  of 
1699,  was  large  and  commodious. 

The  body  of  the  house  was  filled  with  long  seats.  Contiguous  to 
the  wall  were  twenty  pews.  The  spaces  for  the  pews  were  granted  to 
particular  persons,  who  appear  to  have  been  principals.  Before  the 
pulpit  and  deacon's  seat  was  a  large  pew  containing  a  table,  where  sat 
the  chiefs  of  the  fathers.  The  young  people  sat  in  the  upper  gallery, 
and  the  children  on  a  seat  in  the  alley,  fixed  to  the  outside  of  the  pews. 
The  floor  measured  60  by  50  feet.  The  roof  was  constructed  with  four 
gable  ends,  or  projections,  one  on  each  side,  each  containing  a  large 
window,  which  gave  light  to  the  upper  galleries.  The  turret  was  in  the 
centre.  The  space  within  was  open  to  the  roof,  where  was  visible 
plenty  of  timber,  with  great  needles  and  little  needles  pointing  down- 
wards, which  served  at  once  for  strength  and  ornament.  There  were 
many  ornaments  of  antique  sculpture  and  wainscot.  It  was  a  stately 
building  in  the  day  of  it,  but  it  was  not  my  lot  to  see  it  in  all  its  ancient 
glory.  Long  ago  a  wall  was  spread  overhead,  and  the  floor  was  occu- 
pied by  pews.  The  roof  was  made  plain,  the  four  very  steep  sides  ter- 
minating in  a  platform  which  supported  a  steeple. J 

All  questions  relating  to  the  temporal  affairs  of  the  First 
church  in  Newbury  were  discussed  and  settled  at  the  annual 
or  special  meetings  of  the  town,  and  appropriations  of  money 
for  the  minister  or  for  building  the  meeting-house  were  re- 
corded on  the  same  page  with  the  election  of  constables, 
fence-viewers,  surveyors  of  highways,  and  other  officers  of  the 

•Town  of  Newbur>'  Records,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  69-72.         t  Ibid.,  p.  92. 

+  Appendix  to  a  sermon  preached  September  17,  1806,  by  Rev.  John  S.  Popkin,  of 
Newbury. 


33 6  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

town.  But  after  the  Second  church  was  organized  and 
parish  hnes  estabhshed,  meetings  for  the  consideration  of 
town  affairs  and  meetings  of  the  parish  for  the  consideration 
of  church  affairs  were  held  independently  of  each  other,  and 
separate  books  of  record  were  kept  by  the  town  and  parish 
clerks. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1722,  the  inhabitants  of  the  First 
parish  in  Newbury  invited  Mr.  Daniel  Holbrook  "  to  assist 
Rev.  Christopher  Toppan  in  the  ministry."  Some  objections 
were  made  to  the  proposed  settlement  of  an  assistant  pastor ; 
and,  April  6,  1722,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  confer  with  Mr. 
Toppan  and  Mr.  Holbrook  in  order  to  remove  the  objections, 
if  possible.* 

On  the  twelfth  day  of  July,  the  church  voted  to  invite  Mr. 
Holbrook  to  accept  the  office  of  teacher,  or  assistant  pastor ; 
and,  on  the  nineteenth  day  of  September  following,  the  parish 
voted  to  unite  with  the  church  in  the  invitation  and  make  an 
effort  to  secure  a  favorable  answer. 

At  this  time  the  division  of  the  parish  and  the  organization 
of  a  new  church  was  earnestly  advocated  by  the  inhabitants 
of  Newbury  living  in  the  vicinity  of  Greenleaf's  lane,  now 
State  street,  Newburyport. 

September  19,  1722  it  was  voted  that  If  ye  Inhabitants  at  y^  west- 
erly end  of  said  [First]  Parish  Uo  obtain  a  meeting  house  and  be 
orderly  set  off  from  this  Parish;  that  then  sd  Inhabitants  at  sd  westerly 
end  shall  be  reimbursed  what  money  they  shall  disburse  towards  ye  set- 
tlement of  the  said  Mr  Holbrook  besides  his  yearly  Sallery,  and  that  all 
the  Inhabitants  that  desire  it,  on  the  Northerly  side  of  y*^  Lane  called 
Chandlers  Lane,  and  from  the  uper  end  of  said  Lane  on  a  Strait  Line 
to  y;  Northerly  side  of  Cap'  John  Marches,  from  and  thence  on  a  strait 
Line  to  John  Browns  house  untill  it  Comes  to  ye  Line  of  y^  Second 
Parish  In  said  Towne,  Shall  Have  Liberty  to  Build  a  meeting  house  for 
them  selves  In  ye  most  Reasonable  Place  for  the  Conveniency  of  said 
Inhabitants.  And  when  they  are  duly  Qualified  for  it  In  ye  Judgment 
of  said  Parish  To  be  set  off  and  freed  from  the  ministry  In  this  Part  of 
said  Parish  (as  many  of  y"'  as  are  willing  for  it  and  desire  it)  as  to  their 
polls  and  estates  that  Lay  on  ye  northerly  side  of  sd  Line.f 

*  Newbury  ■  First  Parish)  Records,  p.  i. 

tNewbury  (First  Parish)  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  3.  Three  years  later  a  meeting-house  was 
erected  on  a  triangular  lot  of  land,  now  known  as  Market  square,  Newburyport ;  and  December 
18,  1725,  the  General  Court  adopted  an  order  establishing  the  Third  parish  of  Newbury  ("  Ould 
Newbury,"  p.  430). 


CHURCHES  AND   PASTORS  337 

November  6,  1722,  the  inhabitants  of  the  First  parish 
voted  to  pay  Mr.  Daniel  Holbrook  eighty  pounds  a  year  for 
his  services, 

•  •  •  the  said  M'  Holbrook  to  preach  a  lecture  once  a  month  (if  the 
Rev.  Mr  Toppan  agree  thereunto)  and  that  he  take  due  care  to  visit  his 
Parishoners  and  to  see  tliat  ye  head  &  masters  of  families  take  due 
care  to  catachise  their  children  and  servants  as  may  be  thought  need- 
full.* 

Mr.  Holbrook  evidently  entered  upon  his  duties  without 
delay,  and  would  undoubtedly  have  been  ordained  assistant 
pastor  of  the  church  at  Newbury,  had  his  life  been  spared. 
He  was  seized  with  a  sudden  illness,  while  preaching,  on  Sun- 
day, April  14,  1723,  and  was  obliged  to  leave  the  pulpit.  He 
died  five  days  later.f 

March  22,  1725-6,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  attend  to 
the  repairing  of  the  meeting-house  and  making  it  more  com- 
fortable ;  and,  July  thirteenth,  the  parish  voted 

.  .  .  that  the  four  Gable  ends  In  ye  Roof  of  ye  meeting  House  be 
Taken  Down  and  that  each  Part  opened  thereby  be  well  Timbered  and 
Boarded  and  Shingled  up  and  made  tite  &  Sound  up  to  ye  Platform  In 
ye  same  form  on  Each  side  as  ye  hip  Rafters  now  stand,  and  that  Mr. 
James  Noyes  should  undertake  and  Perform  ye  above  said  work.  § 

It  is  evident,  however,  from  subsequent  votes  of  the  parish 
that  two  of  these  "gable  ends"  were  left  standing  for  ten  or 
fifteen  years.  May  20,  1729,  it  was  voted  to  shingle  the 
back  side  of  the  meeting-house,  divide  the  large  window  into 
two  parts,  put  in  new  window  glass  where  necessary,  and 
make  other  needed  repairs. 

March  13,  1729-30  voted  that  those  who  live  remote  from  ye  meet- 
ing house  should  have  liberty  to  go  Into  ye  schoolhouse  on  Sabath  days 
for  their  comfort  In  wet,  cold  or  hot  seasons,  as  they  may  have  occasion 
to  use.§ 

March  22,  1730-31  William  Ilsley  and  Joseph  Morse,  Junior,  were 
chosen  and  appointed  to  tune  the  psalm  In  ye  meeting  house  In  time  of 
Publick  worship  and  take  their  Turn  In  that  work  that  it  may  be  done 
with  ye  more  ease  and  cheerfulness.     And  the  said  Morse  is  appointed 

*  Newbury  (First  Parish)  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  4. 

t  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  193.         §  Newbury  (First  Parish)  Records. 


338  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

to  sit  in  the  fore  seat  of  ye  south  body  with  ye  said  Ilsley  for  ye  manag- 
ing said  work.* 

May  6,  1740,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  provide  an 
upper  floor  or  ceiling  for  the  meeting-house,  "  either  over  ye 
Beams  or  under  as  the  Com"''^  think  most  proper  "  ;  and  Sep- 
tember r  7,  1 740,  the  parish  v^oted  "  that  the  two  gables  now 
standing  on  y^  meeting  house  be  taken  down  and  the  places 
where  they  stand  be  well  timbered,  Boarded  &  shingled  as 
the  other  sides  of  said  house  are,"  provided  the  carpenters 
employed  to  repair  the  meeting-house  will  do  this  extra  work 
without  charge.* 

In  1742,  the  religious  excitement  in  Newbury  was  intense. 
Revival  preachers  attracted  large  crow^ds  of  attentive  listeners, 
and  meeting-houses  were  frequently  occupied  without  the  con- 
sent or  approbation  of  the  conservative  orthodox  ministers  of 
the  town.  In  an  anonymous  communication,  published  in  the 
Boston  Evening  Post,  May  3,  1742,  "the  reverend  N. 
Rogers  of  Ipswich,  Mr.  Daniel  Rogers  and  Mr.  Bewell,  candi- 
dates for  the  ministry,"  are  charged  with  having  come  into 
Newbury  "and  taken  possession  of  Mr.  Lowell's  meeting 
house  without  his  knowledge,  or  asking  leave  of  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  house,  or  the  consent  of  the  church  or  congrega- 
tion. .  .  .  An  attempt  of  the  like  factious  nature  was  made 
upon  the  reverend  Mr  Toppan's  meeting  house,  but  Mr. 
Toppan  being  present  the  party  was  repulsed." 

In  the  Boston  Gazette  or  Weekly  Journal,  published  May 
I7(.?),  1742,  the  statements  made  in  the  communication 
quoted  above  were  denied.  A  newspaper  contro\'ersy  fol- 
lowed that  lasted  several  months.  In  the  Boston  Evening 
Post,  July  12,  1742,  the  facts  as  stated  in  the  article  pub- 
lished on  the  third  day  of  May  were  reiterated,  and  the  truth 
established  by  a  certificate  signed  by  Abraham  Titcomb  and 
Humphrey  Richards,  and  sworn  to  before  Henry  Rolfe,  justice 
of  the  peace. f 

Disorderly  and  irreverent  boys  occasionally  disturbed  the 
sanctity  of  the  Sabbath,  and  aroused  the  indignation  of  the 
older  and  more  sedate  inhabitants  of  the  town. 

*  Newbury  (First  Parish)  Records. 

t  See  Boston  Kvening  Post  ;  also,  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  212. 


CHURCHES  AND   PASTORS  339 

At  a  meeting  of  the  selectmen  held  July  6,  (663  Gyles  Cromlom 
was  chosen  for  this  yeare  to  look  that  the  boyes  be  kept  in  order,  & 
take  notice  of  such  as  are  out  of  order  &  give  notice  to  the  selectmen 
&  he  shall  have  six  shillings  out  of  the  next  towne  vote.* 

October  9,  171 1,  voted  that  ye  select  men  shall  forthwith  imploy 
severall  persons  to  take  care  ye  Boyes  be  kept  in  order  on  Sabath  days 
&  satisfie  sd  persons  out  of  y^  money  of  ye  parish  to  which  they  belong 
for  their  service. f 

March  25,  1723  M""  Joseph  Knight  and  Mr  Nathan  Noyes  were 
chosen  to  take  care  of  ye  youth  in  said  Parish  that  they  be  kept  In 
order  on  Sabath  Days  &  Especially  In  time  of  Publick  worship. J 

March  22,  1730-31  Mr.  John  Lunt  was  chosen  to  sit  In  ye  Gallery  to 
take  care  and  keep  ye  youth  still  In  time  of  Publick  worship  and  to 
Inform  parents  &  masters  of  such  as  are  found  to  be  unruly. § 

February  6,  1745-6  voted  that  the  stairs  that  lead  into  the  upper 
galleries  shall  be  stopped  up  so  that  the  boys  cannot  go  up  in  said 
galleries  on  Sabbath  days  and  the  committee  of  the  parish  are  hereby 
impowered  to  see  it  done  speedily. § 

July  16,  1745,  Rev.  John  Tucker  was  invited  to  assist 
Rev.  Christopher  Toppan  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  the 
First  church  in  Newbury.  This  invitation  was  vigorously 
opposed  by  some  of  the  most  influential  men  in  the  parish, 
and  finally  resulted  in  the  withdrawal  of  a  large  number  of 
disaffected  brethren  and  the  organization  of  a  new  religious 
society.  Although  greatly  perplexed  and  disturbed  by  the 
lack  of  harmony  in  the  parish,  Rev.  Mr.  Tucker  accepted  the 
call  October  11,  1745,  and  on  the  twentieth  day  of  November 
following  he  was  ordained  assistant  pastor  of  the  church. || 

January  19,  1745-6,  fifteen  or  twenty  persons  who  had 
opposed  the  settlement  of  the  new  minister  were  notified  to 
appear  at  a  meeting  to  be  held  four  days  later,  and  answer  to 
the  accusations  brought  against  them.  This  notice  was  evi- 
dently ignored  by  the  disaffected  brethren,  and  subsequently 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i.         t  Ibid.,  vol.  iii.,  p.  157. 

+  Newbury  (First  Parish)  Records,  p.  7.         §  Newbury  (p'irst  Parish)  Records. 

II  Rev.  John  Tucker  was  bom  iu  Amesbury,  September  20,  1719.  The  services  at  his  ordina- 
tion were  simple  and  impressive.  After  the  singing  of  a  psalm,  prayer  was  offered  by  Rev. 
William  Johnson,  of  the  Fourth  church  in  Newbury,  now  the  Second  in  West  Newbury,  which 
was  followed  by  a  sermon  from  the  text  (2  Corinthians  vi:i)  :  "We  then  as  workers 
together  with  him  beseech  you  also  that  ye  receive  not  the  grace  of  God  in  vain,"  by 
Rev.  Payne  Wingate,  of  Amesbury.  Rev.  Caleb  Gushing,  of  Salisbury,  gave  the  charge  to  the 
people.  Rev.  John  Lowell,  of  the  Third  church  in  Newbury,  now  the  First  in  Newburyport, 
gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  and  Rev.  Thomas  Barnard,  of  the  .Second  church  in  New- 
bury, now  the  First  in  West  Newbury,  made  the  closing  prayer. 


34°  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

they  were  solemnly  admonished  for  contemptuous  behavior 
and  wilful  neglect  of  public  worship  by  the  elders  of  the 
church.  Every  person  who  had  voluntarily  abstained  from 
communion,  or  had  openly  denounced  the  doctrinal  views  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Tucker,  was  called  upon  to  confess  his  misdeeds  and 
manifest  a  spirit  of  penitence  and  contrition.  The  perverse 
and  obdurate  brethren,  however,  persisted  in  their  schismatical 
opinions,  and  soon  after  organized  a  new  church,  and  invited 
Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons,  of  Lyme,  Conn.,  to  become  their 
pastor.* 

After  this  date,  the  communion  service  was  usually  omitted 
during  the  winter  months,  from  the  first  day  of  December  to 
the  first  day  of  April  following.  The  male  members  of  the 
church  were  assessed  twelve  pence  and  the  female  members 
ninepence  every  year,  "  to  provide  bread  and  wine  for  the 
communion  table,"  but  the  deacons  were  authorized  to 
excuse  all  poor  and  needy  persons  from  paying  this  assess- 
ment.! 

Sins  of  omission  and  commission  were  frequently  confessed 
by  penitent  transgressors  of  the  moral  law  at  the  close  of 
divine  service  on  Sundays  and  lecture  days.  In  many  instances 
"for  a  gross  breach  of  the  seventh  commandment"  the 
offenders  were  admonished,  "restored  to  charity,"  and  their 
children  admitted  to  the  rites  of  baptism."  f 

Although  a  large  proportion  of  the  congregation  came  on 
foot  to  the  meeting-house,  many  who  lived  at  a  distance  rode 
on  horseback.  Frequently,  the  great  number  of  horses  tied 
near  the  doorway  were  a  serious  inconvenience  to  the  devout 
worshippers;  and  March  12,  175 1-2,  the  parish  voted  that 
"  the  sexton  inform  those  People  that  hitch  or  tie  their  horses 
near  the  South  Door  of  the  meeting  House  so  that  they  move 
said  horses  that  they  shall  not  Discomode  the  women  getting 
on  their  horses."  f 

The  parish  also  voted,  June  17,  1761,  "to  make  use  of 
Mr.  Tates  &  Dr.  Bradys  version  of  the  Psalms,  together  with 
a  number  of  Dr.  Watts  Hymns  usually  bound  up  there  with, 
in     their     publick     singing,"   and    on     the     twelfth     day    of 

*  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  50S-525.  t  Newbury  (First  Parisii)  Records. 


CHURCHES   AA'D   PASTORS  341 

November  following  "voted  to  build  a  pew  in  some  con- 
venient jDlace  in  the  meeting  house  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  singers."  * 

The  reading  of  the  Bible  in  the  pulpit  without  words  of 
comment  or  explanation  from  the  minister  was  considered 
unprofitable  and  dangerous  ;  but  April  19,  1769,  the  subject 
was  thoroughly  discussed,  and,  after  a  prolonged  debate,  it 
was  voted  *'  that  it  is  agreeable  to  y^  church  the  scriptures  be 
read  in  publick."  * 

Soon  after  this  date  extensive  repairs  were  made  on  the 
meeting-house.  A  committee  appointed  to  examine  the  roof 
reported  in  October,  1763,  that  it  was  in  an  unsafe  condition, 
that  the  "  turret  "  should  be  removed  and  the  bell  taken 
down.  This  report,  after  considerable  discussion,  was  ac- 
cepted;  and  the  parish  voted,  November  28,  1763,  "that  the 
bell  should  be  hung  in  the  highway  near  John  Brown,  Esq's 
land  &  nearly  opposite  to  the  porch  of  the  meeting  house." 
On  the  second  day  of  December,  Mr.  Brown  signed  a  written 
agreement  giving  the  parish  permission  to  erect  on  his  land 
a  suitable  tower  or  frame  for  the  support  of  the  bell,  "  to 
remain  there  until  removed  to  some  other  place  by  vote  of 
the  parish." 

In  1772,  the  roof  of  the  meeting-house  was  strengthened, 
and  a  tower  or  turret  erected  thereon,  "  with  a  copper  weather 
cock  on  top  of  the  Piremid."  The  bell  was  then  hung  in 
the  place  provided  for  it  in  the  turret. 

All  persons  residing  within  the  limits  of  the  First  parish  in 
Newbury  were  taxed  for  the  support  of  public  worship  in  that 
parish.  February  4,  1773,  the  inhabitants  "voted  not  to 
release  any  of  the  pretended  churchmen  from  the  payment  of 
taxes."  At  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  held  at  Ipswich  in 
the  month  of  March,  1773,  Rev.  Edward  Bass,  rector  of  St. 
Paul's  church,  Newburyport,  brought  a  suit  against  the 
treasurer  and  collectors  of  the  parish,  "  to  recover  taxes  paid 
said  parish  by  Nicholas  Short  and  John  Dole  both  inhabitants 
of  the  First  Parish  in  Newbury,  but  regular  communicants  of 
St.    Paul's    Church."     John    Lowell,  Esq.,  of  Newburyport, 

•Newbun' (First  Parish)  Records. 


342  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

appeared  as  attorney  for  the  defendants,  and  Daniel  Farnham, 
Esq.,  also  from  Newburyport,  for  the  plaintiff.  The  jury  ren- 
dered a  verdict  in  favor  of  the  parish,  and  the  plaintiff  appealed 
to  the  Superior  Court  of  Judicature  for  the  county  of  Essex. 
Upon  a  review  of  the  case  in  the  Superior  Court  in  the 
month  of  June,  1774,  the  defendants  were  held  liable  to  pay 
the  sum  of  ^1,  \s.  %d.  upon  certain  conditions,  but  were  al- 
lowed to  deduct  witness  fees,  costs  of  court,  etc. 

In  consequence  of  the  extraordinary  high  price  of  wine  in 
1777,  every  male  member  of  the  church  was  expected  to  pay 
three  shillings  and  every  female  two  shillings  and  sixpence 
for  the  support  of  the  communion  table.  In  1779,  the  tax 
was  raised  to  $6.50  for  every  man  and  $5.50  for  every 
woman.  In  1780,  the  men  were  called  upon  to  pay  twenty 
dollars  and  the  women  sixteen  dollars  each  to  meet  the  ex- 
penses of  the  communion  table  for  that  year. 

After  the  death  of  James  Mirrick,  who  was  sexton  of  the 
church  for  twenty-five  or  thirty  years,  the  selectmen  made  the 
following  agreement  July  11,  171 1  :  — 

Benj  Mors  ye  3^  is  to  ring  ye  Bell  and  sweep  the  meeting  house  for 
one  year,  the  year  to  begin  the  ist  of  July  T71 1,  sd  Mors  is  to  Ring  the 
Bell  at  nine  of  the  clock  every  night  and  Sabath  days  and  Lecture  day 
and  such  like.  And  sd  Mors  is  to  winge  or  Rub  down  the  principle 
seats  the  day  after  sweeping  of  the  meeting  hous.  And  s^  Mors  is  to 
have  for  his  years  service  about  ye  meeting  hous  eight  pound  and  ten 
shillings,  one  half  to  be  paid  in  money  and  the  other  half  as  money. 
Also  to  toule  the  Bell  till  the  minister  comes.* 

March  28,  1732,  Henry  Lunt  was  chosen  sexton,  and 
allowed  eighteen  pence  a  week  for  sweeping  the  meeting- 
house and  twelve  pence  a  week  for  ringing  the  bell.  He 
served  until  March  1 5,- 1736-7,  when  Humphrey  Richards 
was  elected.     Henry  Lunt  died  August  9,  1737. 

Humphrey  Richards  was  chosen  sexton  annually  until 
March  15,  1784,  when  a  committee  was  appointed  to  provide 
a  sexton  for  the  year  ensuing.  Mr.  Richards  died  previous 
to  February  i,  1785.! 

*  Town  of  Newbury  (Selectmen's)  Records,  1693-1728,  p.  162. 
t  Moses  Short's  Book  of  Burials. 


CHURCHES  AND   PASTORS  343 

Moses  Short  was  probably  appointed  sexton  in  1784.  His 
first  burial,  according  to  the  record,  was  made  December  30, 
1784.     He  served  as  sexton  until  1836. 

Reuben  Jackman  was  sexton  from  April,  1836,  to  April, 
1841. 

Elisha  Bean  was  sexton  from  1 841  to  1850,  and  Jeremiah 
C.  Young  from  1850  to  1857. 

Hiram  Young  was  chosen  sexton  in  March,  1857,  and 
served  until  March,  1874. 

Elisha  Bean  was  sexton  in  1874,  and  Moses  Young  from 
1875  to  1885. 

In  March,  1885,  Albert  Tilton  was  chosen,  but  declined  to 
serve,  and  George  W.  Haskell  was  appointed  to  fill  the  va- 
cancy.    Mr.  Haskell  retained  the  office  until  1889. 

William  Rogers  was  sexton  from  1889  to  October  or 
November  in  1890,  when  Moses  Young  was  appointed  to  fill 
out  the  unexpired  term.  From  that  date  to  the  present 
Mr.  Young  has  been  annually  elected  sexton  of  the  First 
parish  in  Newbury. 

Rev.  Christopher  Toppan  died  July  23,  1747.  After  his 
death,  Rev.  Mr.  Tucker  remained  in  sole  charge  of  the  parish 
for  nearly  fifty  years.  In  1766,  a  few  dissatisfied  members 
of  the  church  proceeded  to  organize  a  new  society,  and  made 
preparations  to  erect  a  new  meeting-house,  nearly  opposite 
the  old  one,  on  land  purchased  of  Mr.  John  Brown.*  The 
house  was  raised  and  boarded,  but  for  some  reason  was  never 
finished.  In  a  violent  storm  of  thunder,  lightning,  wind,  and 
rain  it  was  blown  down,  February  9,  1771. 

In  the  summer  of  1766  an  attempt  was  made  to  call 
a  council  of  churches  to  consider  the  disorganized  condition 
of  affairs  in  the  parish,  but  the  effort  was  unsuccessful. 
March  29,  1767,  the  subject  was  again  discussed,  and  the  re- 
fusal of  the  pastor  to  unite  with  his  unfriendly  critics  in  call- 
ing a  council  of  churches  was  sustained.! 

♦February  24,  1766,  John  Brown  sold  to  Joshua  Coffin,  Nicholas  Short,  Jacob  Knight, 
Samuel  Noyes,  John  Dole,  jr.,  Joseph  Jaques,  Moses  Noyes,  jr.,  Isaac  Noyes,  and  Nathan 
Peirce  a  lot  of  land  in  Newbury  "  to  erect  a  meeting  house  upon  for  the  Publick  Worship  of 
God."     Essex  Deeds,  book  cxix.,  leaf  63  ;  also.  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  233. 

t  Newbury  (First  Parish  Church)  Records. 


344  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Rev.  John  Tucker  died  March  22,  1792,  in  the  seventy- 
third  year  of  his  age.  For  several  years  after  that  date  the 
church  remained  without  a  pastor,  although  an  effort  was 
made  to  secure  the  services  of  Rev.  Samuel  Mead  in  1793 
and  of  Rev.  Phineas  Randall  in  1795  ;  but  both  gentlemen 
declined  the  call  extended  to  them.  On  the  twenty-eighth 
day  of  January,  1796,  Rev.  Abraham  Moor  was  invited  to 
take  charge  of  the  parish.  He  accepted  the  invitation,  and 
was  ordained  on  the  twenty-third  day  of  March  following.* 
Theological  differences  had  not  then  separated  churches  that 
were  strictly  orthodox  from  those  holding  a  more  liberal  faith  ; 
and  Rev.  Thomas  Gary  and  Rev.  John  Andrews,  pastor  and 
assistant  pastor  of  the  First  Religious  society  of  Newbury- 
port,  although  not  believers  in  the  Calvinistic  creed,  were 
among  the  clergymen  invited  to  attend  and  participate  in  the 
ordination  exercises. 

Rev.  Mr.  Moor  was  not  at  that  time  strong  and  vigorous, 
and  soon  after  was  taken  seriously  ill.  He  died  of  pulmonary 
consumption  June  24,  1801.  Rev.  Nathaniel  Noyes  supplied 
the  pulpit  until  the  spring  of  1 804 ;  and  Rev.  John  Snelling 
Popkin,  of  Boston,  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church  on  the 
nineteenth  day  of  September  following. f  In  the  exercises 
on  that  occasion.  Rev.  John  Andrews,  of  Newburyport,  gave 
the  right  hand  of  fellowship. 

November  9,  180-5,  the  parish  voted  to  build  a  new  meeting- 
house;  and  May  4,  1806,  Rev.  Mr.  Popkin  preached  for  the 
last  time  in  the  old  one  before  it  was  taken  down.f  The 
frame  of  the  new  building  was  raised  June  17,  1806.  It  was 
sixty-one  feet  long  and  fifty-one  feet  wide.  It  was  completed 
and  dedicated  with  appropriate  exercises  September  17,  1806. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Mr.  Popkin  the  church  was 
united  and  prosperous.  On  the  twenty-seventh  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1 81 5,  having  been  invited  to  accept  a  professorship 
in  Harvard  College,  he  asked  to  be  released  from  his  pastoral 

*Rev.  Abraham  Moor,  the  son  of  Deacon  John  and  Mary  (Cochrane)  Moor,  was  bom  in 
Londonderry  (in  that  part  of  the  town  now  Derry),  N.H.,  September  8,  1768. 

t  Rev.  Mr.  Popkin  was  ordained  in  Boston  in  ijgg.  Previous  to  his  settlement  in  New- 
bury, he  officiated  for  several  years  at  Wenham,  Mass.,  and  at  Londonderry,  N.H. 

{From  the  sermons  preached  May  fourth  and  September  seventeenth,  1806,  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Popkin,  many  facts  incorporated  in  this  sketch  have  been  taken. 


CIIUKCHKS   AND   PASTORS  345 

duties.  On  the  fifth  day  of  October  following,  a  council  was 
called,  at  which  the  First  Religious  society  of  Newbury  port 
was  represented  by  Rev.  John  Andrews. 

After  long  deliberation  the  council,  with  great  unanimity, 
voted  to  advise  Rev.  Mr.  Popkin  to  accept  the  professorship 
and  take  up  the  important  work  to  which  he  had  been  called, 
but  at  the  same  time  earnestly  exhorted  him  to  retain  his 
office  as  pastor  of  the  church  at  Newbury.  Yielding  to  the 
advice  of  the  council  and  the  solicitation  of  friends,  he  re- 
mained in  charge  of  the  parish  until  September  3,  18 16,  when 
he  tendered  his  resignation,  which  was  duly  accepted.* 

Meanwhile  the  parish  and  church  united  in  extending  an 
invitation  to  Rev.  Leonard  Withington  to  become  their 
pastor.  He  was  unwilling  to  accept  the  position  unless  some 
changes  were  made  in  the  church  covenant  and  in  the  ordi- 
nances relating  to  the  baptism  of  children  whose  parents  were 
not  in  full  communion  with  the  church.*  These  changes 
were  agreed  to;  and  October  16,  18 16,  at  the  suggestion  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Withington,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  confer 
with  the  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  in  New- 
buryport  in  regard  to  the  animosities  and  misunderstandings 
that  had  resulted  from  the  organization  of  that  church  in 
1745.  A  reconciliation  was  effected,  past  differences  "were 
buried  in  oblivion,"  and  October,  31,  18 16,  Rev.  Leonard 
Withington  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  First  church  in  New- 
bury. Rev.  Daniel  Dana,  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church,  and  Rev.  John  Andrews,  pastor  of  the  F"irst  Relig- 
ious society  of  Newburyport,  were  among  the  ministers  in- 
vited to  assist  in  the  ordination  exercises.* 

For  more  than  forty  years  Rev.  Mr.  Withington  served  the 
parish  as  preacher  and  pastor  with  great  acceptance  and 
ability.  He  resigned  the  active  duties  of  that  office  October 
31,  1859,  but  remained  senior  pastor  of  the  church  until  his 
death,  April  26,  1885. 

January  20,  1859,  Rev.  John  R.  Thurston  was  ordained 
assistant  pastor.  January  26,  1868,  the  meeting-house, 
built  in  1806,  was  destroyed  by  fire.     A  new  house  of  wor- 

*  Newbury  (First  Parish  Church)  Records. 


346 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


ship  was  erected  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  and  dedi- 
cated on  the  fourth  day  of  March,  1869.  The  land  upon 
which  the  old  house  stood  now  forms  a  part  of  the  burying- 
ground  near  "the  trayneing  green." 

Rev.  Mr.  Thurston  resigned   his  office  as  assistant  pastor, 
and  was  dismissed   March    28,    1870,    at    his    own    request. 


FIRST    PARISH    MEETING-HOUSE. 
Ruir.T  IN  1806.  Destroyed  by  fire  :n  i86S. 


Since  that  date  the  pastors  of  the  church  have  been  :  Rev. 
Omar  W.  Folsom,  settled  October  31,  1872,  resigned  June  5, 
1884;  Rev.  Francis  W.  Sanborn,  settled  November  20,  1884, 
resigned  October  20,  1896;  Rev.  Charles  S.  Holton,  settled 
May  1 1,  1897. 


CHURCHES  AND   PASTORS  347 

SECOND    CHURCH    IN    NEWBURY. 

In  1685,  fifty  years  after  the  first  settlers  landed  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ouascacunquen  river,  and  one  year  before  the 
common  land  in  the  "  upper  woods  "  beyond  the  Artichoke 
river  was  divided,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  inhabitants 
of  Newbury  for  the  employment  of  a  suitable  person  to  attend 
to  the  work  of  the  ministry  at  the  west  end  of  the  town.  Al- 
though the  petitioners  lived  at  some  distance  from  the  meet- 
ing-house, and  could  not  "  with  any  comfort  or  convenience 
come  to  the  public  worship  of  God,"  their  request  was  not 
complied  with  ;  and  four  years  later  a  few  individuals  built,  at 
their  own  expense,  a  building  thirty  feet  square,  at  or  near 
the  place  now  known  as  the  burying-ground  at  Sawyer's  hill, 
for  the  accommodation  of  those  who  desired  to  attend  public 
worship  in  that  neighborhood.* 

At  a  town  meeting  held  February  25,  1689-90,  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  confer  with  Rev.  John  Richardson, 
pastor  of  the  First  church  in  Newbury,  in  regard  to  the  pro- 
posed settlement  of  a  minister  at  the  west  end.  This  com- 
mittee reported  that  Rev.  Mr.  Richardson  declined  to  give 
any  advice  ;  and,  considering  the  difficulties  and  disadvantages 
that  would  be  likely  to  result  from  the  organization  of  a  new 
religious  society  in  the  town,  the  committee  recommended 
that  the  privilege  asked  for  should  not  be  granted  at  that 
time. 

On  the  eleventh  day  of  March  following, 

John  Emery  Abraham  Merrill  Joseph  Bayley 

John  Emery  Jun.  Samuel  Bartlet  Richd  Bartlet 

Benj  Lowle  Jno  Bartlet  Joseph  Richardson 

Jno  Orclway  Stephen  Emery  Jno  Merrick 

Jno  Chace  Joshua  Browne  Stephen  Sawyer 

in  behalf  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  west  end  of  the  town,  sub- 
mitted two  proposals. 

I.  That  the  Towne  would  agree  to  make  a  rate  for  the  maintenance 
of  two  ministers  so  that  we  at  the  new  Towne  might  have  the  word  of 
God  preached  among  us  at  the  West  meeting  house  and  that  by  a  Lov- 

•  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  363-366. 


348  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

ing  agreement  of  the  towne  together,  wliich  wee  your  friends  &  broathers 
have  long  wished  for,  and  now  would  hope  that  we  may  Lovingly 
agree  in.  But  now  if  the  Towne  will  not  grant  us  that  proposition,  our 
second  is, 

2.  That  the  Towne  would  grant  us  their  free  consent  [to  establish] 
the  ministry  among  us  upon  our  own  charg  &  that  the  Towne  would 
Lovingly  agree  to  a  Dividing  line  between  us  so  we  may  know  what 
families  may  now  belong  to  the  West  meeting  house  &c.* 

These  proposals'  were  not  favorably  received,  and  after  some 
delay  the  inhabitants  of  the  west  end  extended  a  call  to  Mr. 
Edward  Tompson  to  be  their  minister.  The  town  objected 
to  this  unauthorized  display  of  authority  ;  and  on  the  fourteenth 
day  of  July,  1691,  "did  by  vote  manifest  their  dislike  against 
it,  or  against  any  other  minister  whom  they  should  call,  until 
ye  church  and  towne  are  agreed  upon  it,  looking  upon  such 
a  thing  to  be  an  intrusion  upon  ye  church  and  towne."  * 

From  this  decision  a  few  individuals  residing  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  newly  erected  meeting-house  appealed  to  the  General 
Court;  and  the  town,  at  a  meeting  held  December  2,  1691, 
passed  the  following  resolve  :  — 

Whereas  divers  of  the  inhabitants  of  our  Towne  presented  to  the 
Honoured  Genii  Court  a  petition  dated  Octo.  i  1691  to  be  established 
a  people  by  themselves  for  the  maintainance  of  the  ministry  amongst 
them  &  whereas  the  Honoured  Genrii  Court  at  a  session  of  ys  in  Boston 
14th  of  Octobr  1 69 1  ordered  yt  a  copy  of  s^  petition  be  sent  to  the  Towne 
of  Newbury  and  that  oportunity  be  given  them  at  the  next  sitting  of  the 
Court  to  present  what  they  have  to  offer  why  the  petioners  should  not 
be  granted  what  they  move  for,  if  they  have  anything  against  it. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  Towne  did  then  by  vote  manifest  y'"selves 
against  the  new  Townes  men  having  yr  petition  granted  &  did  then 
desire  ye  vvor.shippful  J  no  Woodbridg  Esq.  Capt  Peirce,  Capt  Noyes, 
Deacon  Noyes  and  ye  selectmen  to  draw  up  a  petition  to  ye  next  ses- 
sions of  ye  Genii  Court  in  the  behalf  of  the  Towne  in  way  of  answer  to 
ye  new  Towne  mens  petition  &  that  Capt  Noyes  should  manage  ye  s^l 
afare  in  the  behalfe  of  ye  Towne  at  ye  next  session  of  ye  Genii  Court.* 

In  December,  1692,  the  town  voted  to  call  another  minister 
to  preach  at  the  west  end,  and  keep  school  there. 

May  10,  1693  It  was  voted  y'  Mr  John  Clarke  be  chosen  to  Asist 
Mr  John  Richardson  in  the  worke  of  the  ministry  «S:  to  help  at  the  west 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


CHURCHES  AND   PASTORS  349 

end  of  the  Tovvne  of  Newbury  to  preach  to  them  for  one  yeare  in  order 
to  further  settlement  as  the  Church  &  Towne  shall  agree  &  also  to  keepe 
a  Gramer  Schoole  for  wch  the  s^  Towne  engages  to  allow  s^  Mf^  Clarke 
Rational!  satisfaction  if  he  except  of  the  worke.* 

In  a  petition  presented  to  the  General  Court  May  31,  1693, 
William  Moody,  Henry  Somerby,  Joseph  Kittel,  and  Joseph 
Pike,  selectmen  of  Newbury,  state  that  Mr.  Clarke  had  ac- 
cepted the  call ;  but  several  inhabitants  of  the  west  end  of  the 
town  refused  to  receive  him,  claiming  that  they  were  bound 
by  their  agreement  to  aid  and  support  Mr.  Edward  Tompson, 
who  was  then  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  among 
them,  and  the  petitioners  humbly  requested  the  honored  court 
to  take  such  action  as  might  be  necessary  to  restore  order  and 
reconcile  conflicting  interests  in  the  church. f 

To  this  petition  John  Emery,  John  Emery,  jr.,  Abraham 
Morrill,  and  John  Ordway,  in  behalf  of  the  west  end  people, 
replied  that  they  had  been  endeavoring  for  more  than  five 
years  to  have  the  public  worship  of  God  estabUshed  among 
them  ;  that  many  of  them  lived  four,  and  some  of  them  six  or 
seven,  miles  from  the  old  meeting-house ;  and  that  the  old  and 
infirm,  especially  in  the  winter  time,  were  unable  to  travel 
that  distance.  They  therefore  asked  the  General  Court  for 
liberty  to  maintain  a  minister  of  their  own  choice,  at  their  own 
cost,  and  also  asked  to  be  released  from  the  payment  of  taxes 
for  the  support  of  public  worship  elsewhere.  In  order  that 
they  might  live  in  peace  and  harmony  with  their  neighbors, 
they  desired  to  be  set  off  into  a  separate  precinct,  and  a 
rational  dividing  line  established  between  them.  \ 

No  definite  action  was  taken  by  the  General  Court  ;  and  at 
a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  held  July  5,  1693, 
the  subject  v/as  again  considered,  and  after  a  long  discussion 
"The  Towne  gave  in  theyr  votes  for  the  choyce  of  a  minister 
for  the  west  end  of  the  Towne  in  order  to  a  full  settlement  in 
the  work  of  the  ministry  there,  the  inhabitants  then  brought  in 
theyr  votes  by  papers  &  M""  John  Clarke  was  then  chosen  & 
not  one  vote  against  him."  § 

*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xi.,  p.  75. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xi.,  p.  73  :  also,  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  158. 
X  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xi.,  p.  74  ;  also,  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  159. 
§  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


35°  IIISl'ORY  OF  NElVIiUKY 

The  west  end  men  evidently  refrained  from  voting',  for  the 
same  day  twenty-five  persons  protested  against  the  settlement 
of  Mr.  Clarke  "  because  the  new  towne  people  have  a  minister 
already."  Subsequently,  Mr.  Christopher  Toppan  was  invited 
to  preach  at  the  west  end,  Mr.  Clarke  having  declined  to  carry 
on  the  work  of  the  ministry  there;  and  September  5,  1694, 
Joshua  Brown,  John  Ordway,  and  Samuel  Bartlett  petitioned 
the  General  Court  "  in  behalf  of  the  Company  that  had  erected 
a  meeting  house  and  supplied  themselves  with  a  minister,"  and 
yet  were  subjected  to  many  annoyances  and  indignities  be- 
cause they  desired  to  attend  public  worship  in  their  own 
neighborhood,  some  of  their  number  having  been  imprisoned 
and  others  fined  for  not  delivering  up  the  key  to  the  meeting- 
house. In  conclusion,  they  humbly  requested  the  General 
Court  "  to  take  some  Effectual  Order,  for  the  Relief  of  your 
Petitioners  and  for  the  Quiet  of  the  whole  Towne,  the  Peace 
whereof  is  now  so  dangerously  interrupted."  * 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  held  on  the 
twenty-second  day  of  October  following,  the  election  of  a 
minister  for  the  west  end  of  the  town  was  again  considered  ; 
and  Mr.  Christopher  Toppan  received  sixty-five  votes  and 
Mr.  Tompson  seventeen. 

December  21,  1C94  Col.  Daniel  Pierce  Esq"".  Capt  Thomas  Noyes, 
Cornt  George  March  &  Abraham  Merril  &  Ensigne  Joseph  Little  were 
by  vote  chosen  to  be  a  committee  to  draw  up  such  articles  and  pro- 
posals as  they  may  think  most  convenient  in  order  to  seting  off  part  of 
the  West  end  of  the  Town  for  ye  maintaining  of  ye  ministry  among 
them  &  to  present  what  they  shall  do  therein  to  y^  Town  at  their  next 
meeting.! 

January  i,  1694-5  voted  that  Pipe  stave  hill  near  Daniel  Jaques 
house  shall  be  the  place  for  the  meeting  house,  and  those  that  live 
nearest  to  that  place  shall  pay  to  the  ministry  there  and  those  that  live 
nearest  to  the  old  meeting  house  shall  pay  there,  the  inhabitants  at  the 
West  end  to  choose  a  minister  for  themselves,  only  Mr.  Tompson 
excepted. t  The  meeting  house  to  stand  where  it  do  until  the  major 
part  of  them  see  cause  to  remove  it."  § 

•Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xi.,  p.  8i  ;  also,  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  i6o. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xi.,  p.  307. 

J  Mr.  Edward  Tompson  probably  left  Newbury  early  in  the  year  16Q5.  He  was  ordained 
minister  at  Marshfield,  Mass.,  October  14,  1696.  (See  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical 
Register  for  April,  i86i,p.  113.) 

§Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


CHURCHES  AND   PASTORS  351 

Tristram  Coffin,  Henry  Short,  and  Abraham  Merrill  were 
authorized  and  instructed  to  divide  the  town  into  two 
parishes;  and  on  the  eighteenth  day  of  December,  1695,  the 
following  grants  of  land  were  recorded  :  — 

.  .  .  upon  the  request  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  West  end  of  the  town 
of  Newbury  for  the  settlement  of  the  ministry  then  amongst  them  the 
town  granted  them  five  acres  of  land  on  the  East  side  of  Artichoke 
River  to  be  Layed  out  so  as  may  be  most  convenient  for  a  pasture  for 
the  ministry  And  an  acre  of  land  near  the  West  Meeting  house  for 
the  building  of  a  ministry  house.  Both  which  parcles  of  land  to  be 
layed  out  by  a  Comte  chosen  by  the  town  for  that  end,  provided  always 
that  this  our  grant  shall  not  prejudice  the  vote  of  the  town  of  Jan.  i, 
1694-5  where  in  liberty  for  the  removal  of  the  west  meeting  house  is 
granted  And  when  a  Major  part  of  the  inhabitants  according  to  s^ 
vote  shall  see  cause  to  remove  the  sd  meeting  house  that  then  the  sd 
five  acres  of  land  here  in  allotted  for  a  pasture  for  ye  ministry  for  the 
West  end  of  the  town  shall  be  at  the  disposition  of  the  town  to  procure 
Land  for  ye  ministry  near  the  West  Meeting  house  when  removed,  and 
also  y«  It  shall  be  in  the  power  of  the  Major  part  of  ye  inhabitants  of 
y&  West  end  of  the  town  to  dispose  of  the  acre  of  land  and  housing 
yt  may  be  built  there  upon  for  the  procuring  of  a  ministry  house  near 
the  sd  meeting  house  when  removed  or  another  one  built.  The  town 
also  at  this  meeting  gives  the  West  end  power  to  choose  a  man  amongst 
them  to  make  assessment  for  the  ministry  and  for  building  and  repairing 
of  the  West  Meeting  house  and  for  ye  building  and  repairing  a  house 
for  the  ministry.* 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Second 
parish,  December  24,  1695,  a  committee  was  appointed  "to 
build  and  Repair  y^  West  meeting  house  and  to  build  and 
repair  y®  ministry  house."  f  In  the  month  of  February 
following,  twenty-four  persons  objected  to  the  repairing  or 
rebuilding  the  meeting-house  on  the  plains,  and  earnestly 
advocated  its  removal  to  Pipe  Stave  hill.  July  24,  1696,  the 
parish  "  voted  to  confirm  Rev.  Samuel  Belcher  in  the  work  of 
the  ministry  among  us."  At  that  date  the  church  had  not 
been  organized ;  but  religious  services  had  been  held  in  the 
parish,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Belcher  had  officiated  there  for  several 
months. 

November  ye  i8'h  1696   It  was   agreed  upon  that  M^   Belcher  with 
his  family  shall  forthwith  be  removed  from  Abraham  Merrils  house  unto 

*  Massachusetts  .Archives,  vol.  xi.,  p.  305.  t  Newbury  (Second  Parish)  Records. 


352  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Sam'  Sayers  Littell  Roome  and  the  Reverend  Mr  Belcher  is  to  have  the 
liberty  of  the  parlor  chamber  when  he  hath  ocation  for  it.* 

December  24,  1696,  Joshua  Brown,  John  Ordway,  Samuel 
Bartlett,  and  John  Emery  were  chosen  "  A  committee  for  this 
year  ensuing,  for  to  finish  the  meeting  house  and  the  ministry 
house  according  to  the  instructions  they  had  last  year."  * 

Twelve  months  later,  the  parish  voted  "that  Stephen 
Emery  shall  have  twenty  pounds  in  grain  as  money  for 
building  and  finishing  y''  gallaryes,"  and  Abraham  Merrill, 
John  Ordway,  and  Richard  Bartlett  were  chosen  "  to  seat  y^ 
meeting  house." 

October  26,  1698,  a  church  was  organized;  and  on  the 
tenth  day  of  November  Rev.  Samuel  Belcher  was  ordained 
pastor,!  the  ministers  and  messengers  of  the  churches  at 
Ipswich,  Rowley,  Bradford,  and  the  First  church  in  New- 
bury-participating  in  the  exercises  of  that  occasion. 

December  15,  1699  voted;  that  there  should  be  two  men  chosen  'to 
agree  with  Moses  Chase  or  any  other  person  to  dig  and  finish  a  suffi- 
tiant  well  within  eight  rods  of  the  ministry  house  now  att  the  west  end 
of  the  towne  of  Newbury  not  exceeding  in  price  eight  pounds  money. t 

Five  or  six  years  later  a  determined  effort  was  made  to 
secure  a  suitable  lot  of  land  and  build  a  new  meeting-house  at 
Pipe  Stave  hill.  This  movement,  however,  was  stoutly  op- 
posed by  the  inhabitants  of  the  parish  living  at  or  near  "the 
plains,"  and  the  work  was  consequently  delayed  for  more 
than  three  years.  The  foundation  of  the  new  edifice  was  not 
laid  until  May  10,  i709.§ 

March  21,  1709-10  voted;  that  Whereas  there  was  a  committee 
chosen  of  three  men  to  agree  with  a  man  or  men  to  build  &  finish  a 
meeting  house  upon  Pipe  Stave  hill,  att  a  meeting  of  ye  inhabitants  of 
ye  west  end  of  ye  town  of  Newbury  on  february  ye  28t'\  1705-6.  The 
inhabitants  do  now  except  &  consent  to  what  is  already  done  by  two  of 
sd  comittee  on  yt  account  And  do  by  their  vote  give  full  power  to  ye 
major  part  of  ye  comitte  yt  were  then  chosen  to  proceed  &  finish  said 
work  according  to  ye  time  mentioned  in  sfl  vote.|| 

♦Newbury  (Second  Parish)  Records,  p.  3. 

t  Diary  of  Samuel  Sewall,  vol.  i.,  p.  486.         J  Newbury  (Second  Parish)  Records,  p.  14. 
5  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  368,  369.  ||  Newbury  (Second  Parish)  Records,  p.  26. 


CHURCHES  AX  J)   PASTORS  353 

The  committee  appointed  February  28,  1705-6,  to  build 
the  meeting-house  consisted  of  Capt.  Hugh  March,  Sergt. 
John  Ordway,  and  Lieut.  Caleb  Moody ;  but,  after  long  delay 
and  repeated  efforts  to  reconcile  conflicting  views  and  opin- 
ions, Sergt.  Ordway  declined  to  co-operate  with  the  other 
members  of  the  committee.* 

February  4,  1709-10,  Abraham  Merrill,  Samuel  Sawyer, 
Joshua  Brown,  Edward  Sargent,  Richard  Bartlett,  and  others, 
numbering  fifty-five  in  all,  presented  a  petition  to  the  General 
Court  stating  that  the  parish  had  voted  to  build  a  meeting- 
house at  Pipe  Stave  hill,  had  levied  taxes  to  defray  the  cost 
of  the  same,  and  seized  the  property  of  some  who  refused  to 
pay  the  amount  assessed.  In  conclusion,  the  petitioners 
humbl)'  pray  "  y*  if  no  beter  method  may  be  found  out  for  our 
relief  y'  we  may  be  Set  of  so  far  as  may  agree  w"'  righteous- 
ness &  Religion  to  maintain  our  minister  &  ministry  amongst 
our  Selves  the  charge  whereof  we  chuse  abundantly  rather  to 
undergo  then  to  haue  our  good  ends,  designs  and  Endeuaers 
above  s''  frustrated  and  mad  voide."  f 

June  2,  1 7 10,  the  General  Court  ordered  "That  the  Select- 
men of  the  Town  of  Newbury  be  Served  by  the  Petitioners 
with  a  Copy  of  this  Petition,  And  That  the  matter  be  heard 
before  this  Court  on  ffriday  the  9"^  Curr'."  f 

On  the  twenty-second  day  of  June,  the  councillors  and 
representatives  concurred  in  the  adoption  of  a  resolution 
declaring  "  That  Pipe  Staffe  hill  in  the  West  Precinct  of 
Newbury  is  the  most  convenient  place  for  the  Establishing  of 
a  meeting  House  for  the  whole  Precinct,"  that  Rev.  Mr. 
Belcher  should  be  requested  to  remove  there  when  a  suitable 
dwelling-house  has  been  erected  for  his  accommodation,  and 
that  a  general  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  precinct 
should  be  called  to  choose  assessors  to  levy  a  tax,  according 
to  law,  and  apply  the  same  when  collected  to  the  purchase  of 
labor  and  materials  for  the  construction  of  a  meeting-house 
and  parsonage.     It  was  also  resolved 

That  the  Tax  lately  Levied  in  the  sd  Precinct  for  the   building  of  a 

•Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xi.,  p.  309;  also.  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  177. 
t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xi.,  p.  306;  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  pp.  176,  177. 


354  HISTORY  OF  A'EIVBUKY 

meeting  House  and  Ministry  House  and  all  proceedings  had  there  upon 
Be  and  hereby  is  Declared  to  be  Illegal  null  and  void:  — 

And  that  all  persons  who  have  been  Destrained  for  the  sum  or  sums 
Set  upon  them  to  the  said  Tax,  have  the  same  restored  to  them  again 
vvth  ye  necessary  cost  and  charge  they  have  sustained  thereby.* 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  held  April  4, 
1 7 10,  it  was  voted  "  y' ye  five  acres  of  land  allotted  for  a 
pasture  towards  y^  support  of  y'^  ministry  at  y^  west  end  of 
y*^  Town  shall  speedily  be  disposed  of  at  y^  discretion  of  a 
Committee  as  shall  be  chosen  for  s''  service  towards  y^  pur- 
chase of  a  parsonage  near  or  upon  pipe  stave  hill,  provided 
y'  M""  Belcher  be  not  disposest  there  of  till  such  time  as  s'^ 
parsonage  be  procured  &  prepared  suteably  &  conveniently 
for  his  reception  and  comfort."  f 

July  15,  1 7 10,  Col.  Thomas  Noyes,  Major  Henry  Somerby, 
and  Capt.  Thomas  Hale,  for  and  in  consideration  of  eight 
acres  of  land  owned  by  Capt.  Hugh  March  and  Lieut.  Caleb 
Moody,  sold  and  conveyed  to  the  said  March  and  Moody 
"  the  aforesaid  five  acres  of  land,  bounded  northerly  by  yc 
road  leading  to  Bradford,  westerly  by  Harty  Choak  river, 
southerly  &  easterly  by  common  land,  which  five  acres  of 
land  was  granted  &  given  by  y^  freeholders  and  Inhabitants 
of  Newbury  afores"*  at  a  legall  meeting  held  December  18 
Anno  Uom  :  1695,  for  a  pasture  for  a  ministry  and  upon 
removal  of  y^  meeting  House  at  y'=  West  end  of  y^  said  Towne 
this  pasture  to  be  disposed  of  to  procure  an  other  convenient 
pasture  for  y^  ministry  as  by  y^  said  vote  may  appear."  % 

At  a  legal  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Second  parisli 
held  two  days  later,  Corp.  Abel  Huse,  Hananiah  Ordwa)", 
John  Emery,  Ensign  Stephen  Emery,  and  Tristram  Greenlcaf 
were  chosen  a  committee  "to  agree  with  a  man  to  build  & 
finish  a  ministry  house  att  pipe  stave  hill  forth-with  ujion  the 
eighth  free  hold  lot." 

*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xi.,  p.  306.  t  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

+  Essex  Deeds,  book  xxiv.,  folio  256.  The  land  granted  December  iS,  1695,  "  for  a  pasture  for 
the  ministry,"  was  on  the  easterly  .side  of  Artichoke  river,  nearly  opposite  the  entrance  to  Hoyt's 
lane  from  Storey  avenue,  Newburyport.  The  house  in  which  Mr.  Belcher  lived  until  his 
removal  to  Pipe  Stave  hill  was  probably  located  at  or  near  the  Sawyer  hill  burying-ground,  on 
the  road  or  way  now  known  as  Hoyt's  lane. 


C II  UK  cup:  S  AXD   PASTORS  355 

April  19,  171  I  voted,  to  choose  a  committee  of  three  men  to  sell 
&  dispose  of  ye  ministry  house  that  Mr  Belcher  now  dwells  in.  ...  And 
allso  to  take  the  seates  and  boards  &  Glass  out  of  y<^  old  Meeting  house 
to  be  improved  in  the  New  meeting  house.  And  allso  to  remove  the 
old  meeting  house  &  sett  it  up  att  Pipe  Stave  hill  to  be  improved  for  a 
Barn  for  the  ministry  in  convenient  time.* 

This  vote  was  undoubtedly  intended  to  defeat  the  plan  that 
had  been  matured  by  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  persons  to 
maintain,  at  their  own  expense,  the  pubHc  worship  of  God  in 
the  old  meeting-house.  Without  waiting  for  definite  action 
on  the  part  of  the  committee,  however,  a  small  company  of 
men  and  boys  came  down  in  the  night  from  the  upper  part  of 
the  parish,  tore  down  the  old  meeting-house,  and  carried  away 
all  the  materials  that  were  of  value. 

Determined  not  to  submit  to  these  disorderly  proceedings, 
a  number  of  persons  residing  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
plains  made  preparations  to  replace  the  building  that  had 
been  destroyed.  A  severe  and  bitter  contest  followed,  which 
led  to  the  erection  of  Queen  Anne's  Chapel  in  the  spring  of 
1712.1 

The  meeting-house  at  Pipe  Stave  hill  was  probably  com- 
pleted before  December  7,  171 1,  when  the  parish  voted  to 
raise  the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds  "  for  defraying  part  of 
the  charg  of  building  y^  meeting  house  now  standing  upon 
pipestave  hill,"  and  March  5,  17 12-3,  "  voted  to  give  thirty- 
five  shillings  a  year  to  Isaac  Baily,  or  any  other  man,  to  take 
care  of  y^  meeting  house  and  keep  the  key  and  sweep  ye 
meeting  house  well  &  keep  it  cleane."  \ 

Rev.  Mr.  Belcher  was  at  this  time  quite  old  and  infirm. 
He  was  unable  to  attend  to  his  duties  as  pastor,  although  he 
remained  in  charge  of  the  parish  until  November,  171 3,  when 
he  removed  to  Ipswich,  his  native  place,  where  he  died 
March  10,  17 14,  aged  seventy-four. 

January  15,  1713-14  voted  to  give  Rev.  John  Tufts  seventy  pounds  a 
year  so  long  as  M""  Samuel  Belcher  lives,  and  the  use  of  the  whole  par- 
sonage,  and  after    the  decease  of    Mr  Belcher  eighty  poimds  a  year, 

*  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  369,  370.  t  Ibid.,  pp.  368-386. 

X  Newbury  (Second  Parish)  Records,  p.  38. 


356  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

provided  the   said   Mr   Tufts  accepts    the  call  to   the   ministry   in    tiie 
parish  and  preacheth  a  monthly  lecture.* 

On  the  thirtieth  day  of  June,  1714,  Rev.  Mr.  Tufts  was 
ordained  pastor  of  the  church  ;  and  a  few  months  later  he 
published  a  small  book  on  church  music  containing"  twenty- 
eight  psalm  tunes,  with  instructions  for  singing  by  note  or 
rule.  This  work,  probably  the  first  publication  of  the  kind 
in  New  England,  was  by  many  members  of  the  church  con- 
sidered a  daring  innovation ;  but  it  ultimately  led  to  the  intro- 
duction of  a  greater  variety  of  tunes  and  more  skilful  and 
harmonious  rendering  of  them. 

March  8,  1 714-5,  the  parish  voted  to  build  a  new  barn 
near  the  parsonage  house,  to  take  the  place  of  the  old  barn 
standing  there,  and  also  "voted  not  to  make  use  of  any  of 
the  old  timber  for  y^  s"^  Barn  but  such  as  is  sound  and  good."  f 
The  same  day  a  committee  was  appointed  to  attend  to  the 
seating  of  the  meeting-house,  and  to  make  such  alterations  in 
the  pews  and  benches  as  might  be  necessary  in  order  to  ac- 
commodate all  the  parishioners. J 

March  26,  1722-3,  Abel  Morss,  Daniel  Morss,  John 
Worth,  Edmund  Greenleaf,  Sergt.  Thomas  Hale,  and  Ensign 
Benjamin  Smith  were  chosen  "  to  look  after  the  boys  on  Sab- 
bath dayes  and  to  give  notice  of  their  misdemenours  to  their 
masters  or  parents  .  .  .  and  the  constable  and  Tythingmen 
are  desired  to  take  their  turns  to  look  after  y®  boyes  between 
meetings."  § 

In  1709,  a  stone  wall  was  built  about  the  burying-ground 
at  Sawyer's  hill ;  ||  and  March  17,  1723-4,  the  parish  voted 
to  give  Deacon  William  Morss  seven  pounds  and  ten  shillings 
for  half  an  acre  of  land  "for  a  burying  place  at  the  north 
end  of  his  land  adjoyning  upon  y^  highway  leading  to  Swetts 
ferry."  ^  At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  "to  buy  one 
quarter  of  an  acre  of  Ezekel  Hales  land  for  a  bur}ing  place 
at  the  rate  of  fifteen  pounds  per  acre  unless  the  neighbours 
can  find  and  procure  a  more  convenient  place  for  the  above 
said  use."  ** 

*Newbury  (Second  Parish  Cliurcli)  Kecords,  p.  41.  t  Ibid.,  p.  45.  X  Ibid.,  p.  47. 

§  Ibid.,  p  58- 

II  "  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  367.        H  Ibid.,  p.  59.       **  Newbury  (Second  Parish)  Records,  p.  go. 


CHURCHES  AND   PASTORS  357 

In  1729,  a  petition  for  liberty  to  divide  the  parish  and 
organize  a  new  church  was  presented  to  the  General 
Court.  After  some  delay  this  petition  was  granted.  June  i, 
1 73 1,  the  dividing  line  was  established;  and  a  few  months 
later  the  inhabitants  on  the  upper  or  westerly  side  of  that 
line  organized  the  Fourth  chiu-ch  in  Newbury,  now  the  Second 
in  West  Newbury. 

In  1737,  Rev.  Mr.  Tufts  was  accused  of  immorality  and 
unchristian  behavior  by  some  of  the  women  of  his  parish ; 
and  on  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  February,  1737-8,  a  council, 
consisting  of  ten  ministers  and  twenty  delegates,  was  called 
to  consider  "  the  distressed  state  and  condition  of  y^  second 
church  of  Christ  in  Newbury."  Mr.  Tufts  vehemently 
opposed  the  investigation,  and  declined  to  co-operate  with  the 
council  or  question  the  witnesses  called  upon  to  testify  against 
him.  On  the  second  day  of  March,  "in  consequence  of  the 
unhappy  differences  prevailing  in  the  parish,"  he  asked  to  be 
released  from  his  duties  as  pastor.  •  The  church  voted  to 
grant  his  request ;  and  the  council,  with  only  one  dissenting 
voice,  consented  to  the  separation,  "  hoping  thereby  to  restore 
harmony  to  the  church." 

November  27,  1738,  the  parish  voted  to  unite  with  the 
church  in  calling  Rev.  Thomas  Barnard  to  be  their  minister ; 
and  on  the  thirty-first  day  of  January,  1738-9,  he  was  or- 
dained pastor. 

June  8,  I  742  voted  to  take  down  ye  Turret  that  is  on  the  top  of  ye 
meeting  house,  and  also  voted  to  build  a  Convenient  Place  on  the 
Beams  under  the  Roof  in  ye  norvvest  corner  in  ye  meeting  house  to  hold 
our  proportion  of  the  ammunition  that  shall  be  divided  to  us  by  the 
Town.* 

From  1743  to  1747  many  members  of  the  church  habitu- 
ally absented  themselves  from  public  worship  and  from  com- 
munion. Frequent  efforts  were  made  to  induce  these  disaf- 
fected brethren  to  forsake  the  error  of  their  ways,  resume 
their  accustomed  seats  on  Sunday,  and  receive  again  the  holy 
sacrament,  but  without  success.     Disheartened  and  discour- 

*  Newbury  (Second  Parish)  Records,  p.  86. 


358  HISTORY  OF  xewbury 

aged  by  the  troubles  and  dissensions  that  disturbed  the  church, 
Rev.  Mr.  Barnard  resigned  his  office  as  pastor  March  6, 
1749-50;  but  his  resignation  was  not  accepted  until  January 
18,  1750-1. 

Meanwhile,  Rev.  Moses  Hale,  of  Rowley,  had  been  invited 
to  supply  the  pulpit  with  a  view  to  his  settlement  in  the 
parish;  and  on  the  twentieth  day  of  February,  17 50-1,  he 
was  ordained  pastor.  The  fact,  however,  that  he  wore  a  wig 
was  criticised  and  condemned  with  great  severity  by  one  of 
his  parishioners. 

May  I,  1752  The  Church  mett  together  to  Deal  with  our  Brother 
Richard  Bartlet  for  his  Known  &  pubhck  offences  which  were  exhib- 
ited against  him  in  ye  Church  meeting  as  follows,  viz. :  — 

1.  That  our  said  Brother  Bartlet  Refuses  Communion  with  ye  Chh 
for  no  other  Reason,  but  because  ye  Pastor  wears  a  Wigg  &  becaiuse  ye 
Chh  justifies  him  in  it,  herein  setting  up  his  own  Opinion  in  opposition 
to  ye  Chh,  contrary  to  that  humility  which  becomes  a  christian. 

2.  And  further  in  an  unchristian  manner  he  censures  and  condemns 
both  ye  pastor  &  Chh  as  antichristian  on  ye  aforesaid  account,  and  he 
sticks  not  from  time  to  time  to  assert,  with  ye  greatest  assurance,  that 
all  who  wear  wiggs  unless  they  repent  of  that  particular  sin  before  they 
die  will  certainly  be  damned,  which  we  judge  to  be  a  piece  of  unchar- 
itable &  sinfull  Rashness.* 

For  more  than  fifty  years  the  wearing  of  wigs  was  consid- 
ered unnatural  and-  ungodly  by  some  of  the  most  worthy 
and  devout  men  in  New  England.  Judge  Sewall  often 
alludes  to  the  subject  in  his  diary,  and  frequently  mentions 
the  names  of  those  who  "  abominate  periwigs."  Comment- 
ing on  a  sermon  preached  by  Rev.  Cotton  Mather  from  the 
text,  "  Shall  cut  him  asunder  and  appoint  him  his  portion  with 
the  hypocrites  :  there  shall  be  weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth 
(Matt,  xxiv :  51),  he  wrote,  under  date  of  March  19, 
1 690- 1, 

I  expected  not  to  hear  a  vindication  of  Periwigs  in  Boston  Pulpit 
by  Mr  Mather ;  however,  not  from  that  Text.  The  Lord  give  me  a 
good  Heart  and  help  me  to  know,  and  not  only  to  know  but  also  to  doe 
his  Will;  that  my  Heart  and  Head  may  be  his.f 

*Ne\vburj'  (Second  Parish  Church)  Records. 

t  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  Collections,  Fifth  Series,  vol.  v.,  p.  342. 


CIH'KCHKS   AND    PASTORS  359 

In  1758,  several  ineffectual  attempts  were  made  to  agree 
upon  a  location  for  a  new  meeting-house.  A  vote  to  pur- 
chase a  lot  of  land  at  the  end  of  Windmill  lane  was  passed 
at  one  meeting  and  reconsidered  at  the  next.  Similar  action 
was  taken  in  regard  to  several  other  locations  during  the 
next  six  or  eight  months.  On  the  third  day  of  April,  1759, 
however,  the  parish  "  voted  to  build  a  meeting  house  at  the 
southerly  end  of  Hanover  Street,"  and  a  month  later  '*  voted 
to  begin  to  take  down  y*^  meeting  house  the  21^^  Day  of  May 
current  and  to  proceed  Dayley  if  y*"  weather  permit  till  it  is 
taken  down."  * 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  supervise  the  erection  of 
the  new  meeting-house,  which  was  to  be,  according  to  the 
plans  and  specifications  agreed  upon,  fifty-four  feet  long, 
forty  feet  wide,  and  twenty-four  feet  high.  Forty  pews  were 
built  on  the  floor  of  the  house,  and  one  of  them  by  vote  of 
the  parish  was  given  to  the  minister  for  the  use  of  his  family. 

Rev.  Rufus  Emery,  in  an  address  delivered  October  26, 
1898,  on  the  two  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  organization 
of  the  Second  church  in  Newbury,  says  the  meeting-house 
was 

...  an  almost  square  building,  having  two  rows  of  windows.  It  stood 
facing  the  south,  on  which  side  a  wide  door  gave  entrance.  On  the 
outside  and  opposite  the  door  and  back  of  the  pulpit  was  a  large  round- 
topped  window.  Immediately  in  front  of  the  window  was  the  pulpit, 
and  over  it  a  huge  sounding-board.  The  sounding-board  was  shaped 
like  an  open  umbrella,  closed  at  the  bottom  with  panel  work  painted 
white.  The  upper  part  was  colored  blue,  and  terminated,  I  think,  with 
a  gilt  finial,  acorn-shaped.  The  pulpit  was  a  large  construction,  the 
centre  extending  out  beyond  the  sides.  The  whole  top  of  the  pulpit 
was  covered  with  a  cushion  of  blue  figured  damask,  the  edge  orna- 
mented with  a  fringe  of  ball  tassels  of  the  same  color.  The  pulpit  was 
reached  by  two  flights  of  stairs,  there  being  a  landing  between  them. 
In  front  of  the  pulpit  and  entered  from  the  landing  were  the  elders' 
or  deacons'  seats.  I  do  not  remember  seeing  any  of  the  officers  oc- 
cupving  them.  The  only  officers  I  remember  seeing  in  this  pew  were 
the  moderator  and  town  clerk  on  occasions  of  town  meeting.  In  front 
of  the  deacons'  pew  was  an  immense  table  leaf  extending  the  whole 
length  and  reaching  to  the  tioor.      It  was  only  used  on  communion  days. 

*Ne\vbiir\'  (Second  Parish)  Records,  p.  125.  This  meeting-house  was  on  Pipe  Stave  hill, 
near  the  residence  of  Mr.  Eben  Moody  Boynton,  in  West  Newbun,-. 


360  HISTORY   OF    XEWBUKY 

In  front  of  the  table  stood  the  large  wood-stove,  which  warmed  the 
house  in  winter.  There  were  galleries  on  three  sides  of  the  house. 
The  front  gallery  formed  the  singing  seats,  and  was  gained  by  stairs 
at  each  end.  At  the  head  of  the  flights  of  stairs  were  two  square  pews, 
which  seemed  of  no  use  unless  it  was  to  balance  two  similar  ones  on 
the  north  wall  of  the  house,  at  the  ends  of  the  east  and  west  galleries. 
There  was  a  row  of  pews  all  around  the  house  against  the  walls, 
which  were  raised  two  steps  higher  than  the  others.  The  side  galleries 
were  furnished  with  two  rows  of  long  wooden  seats,  under  which  in  the 
western  gallery  was  stored  the  winter's  supply  of  fuel. 

Before  the  meeting-house  was  completed,  Mr.  Moses  Little 
and  many  others,  residing  at  the  easterly  end  of  the  parish, 
applied  to  the  General  Court  for  liberty  to  organize  a  new 
church.  In  the  month  of  February,  1761,  a  committee  was 
chosen  to  prepare  and  present  to  the  councillors  and  repre- 
sentatives a  statement  of  the  reasons  why  the  prayer  of  the 
petitioners  should  not  be  granted  ;  *  but,  on  the  seventeenth 
day  of  April  following,  the  General  Court  ordered  that  a  part 
of  the  Second  and  Third  parishes,  within  certain  bounds  and 
limits,  should  be  set  off  and  established  as  the  Fifth  parish 
in  Newbury. 

October  8,  1765,  the  inhabitants  of  the  Second  parish 
voted  to  sell  "  the  land  where  the  old  meeting  house  stood 
[on  Pipe  Stave  hill]  to  Willet  Peterson  at  the  rate  of  thirteen 
pound,  six  shillings,  and  eight  pence  the  acre  and  give  a  Quit 
Claim  Deed."  f 

On  the  ninth  day  of  October,  1771,  they  voted  to  give 
Samuel  Brown  liberty  to  build  at  his  own  cost  "  A  pew  or 
seats  in  the  meeting  house  over  the  Gallery  Stairs  at  the 
South  West  Corner  of  the  meeting  house  for  the  negros  to 
set  in."  X 

Rev.  Moses  Hale  died  January  15,  1779.  The  funeral 
expenses  were  paid  by  the  parish,  and  a  suitable  tombstone 
was  provided  to  mark  his  grave.  For  more  than  three  years 
after  his  death  the  church  had  no  settled  minister.  On  the 
twentieth  day  of  November,  1782,  Rev.  True  Kimball  was 
ordained  pastor.      He  resigned  on  account  of  ill-health  April 

*  Newbury  (Second  Parish)  Records,  p.  132.         t  lliid.,  p.  141.         J  Ibid.,  p.  154. 


CHURCHES   AN  J)    PASTORS  36 1 

4,  1797,  but  was  allowed  the  use  of  the  parsonage  until 
January  i,  1798. 

Rev.  Samuel  Tomb,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman  of  Salem, 
N.Y.,  was  engaged  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  ministry  in 
the  parish  for  one  year  from  November  i,  1797  ;  and  on  the 
twenty-sixth  day  of  June  following  he  was  invited  to  become 
pastor  of  the  church.  He  was  evidently  inclined  to  accept 
the  invitation  ;  and  probably  through  his  influence  the  parish 
voted  August  2,  1798,  to  adopt  the  Presbyterian  form  of 
church  government,  and  again  invited  him  to  become  their 
pastor.  This  invitation  was  renewed  October  fifteenth,  and 
accepted  on  the  twenth-seventh.  He  was  installed  on  the 
twenty-eighth  day  of  November  following.  Many  of  his 
parishioners  were  dissatisfied  with  his  views  of  church  gov- 
ernment ;  and  after  a  stormy  pastorate  of  seven  years  he 
resigned,  and  removed  to  another  field  of  labor  in  his  native 
state. 

March  25,  1806,  a  committee  was  appointed  "to  supply  the 
vacant  pulpit";  and  February  17,  1807,  the  parish  voted  to 
return  to  the  Congregational  form  of  church  government. 
An  unsuccessful  effort  was  made  to  induce  Rev.  Josiah  Web- 
ster to  accept  the  ofifice  of  pastor,  and  on  the  eighth  day  of 
March,  1808,  the  parish  voted  to  concur  with  the  church  in 
extending  a  call  to  Rev.  Ebenezer  Hubbard.  He  accepted 
the  invitation,  and  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church. 
October  2,  181 1,  the  parish  "Voted  to  agree  with  the  Church 
in  accepting  the  resignation  of  Rev.  Mr.  Hubbard." 

After  a  vacancy  of  three  years  the  church  and  parish  in- 
vited Rev.  Gilbert  T.  Williams  to  become  their  pastor.  He 
was  installed  June  i,  18 14,  and  held  the  offlce  for  seven  years. 
On  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  September,  1821,  the  church 
voted  to  release  him  from  his  pastoral  duties  ;  and  on  the 
first  day  of  October  following  the  parish  passed  a  similar 
vote. 

When  the  town  of  Parsons  was  incorporated,  February  18, 

1 8 19,  and   the   name  changed   to   West    Newbury,    June    14, 

1820,  the  Second  church  in  Newbury  became  the  First 
church  in  West  Newbury,  a  name  that  it  still  retains. 


362  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

For  nearly  five  years  from  October  i,  182 1,  the  church 
was  without  a  pastor.  June  21,  1826,  Rev.  Henry  C.  Wright 
was  installed;  and  July  7,  1833,  he  was  dismissed  at  his  own 
request. 

Subsequently  the  pulpit  was  supplied  for  several  years  by 
clergymen  from  neighboring  towns,  who  were  invited  to  take 
charge  of  the  parish  temporarily. 

During  the  summer  of  1841  the  meeting-house,  built  in 
1 760,  was  taken  down  ;  and  a  new  house  of  worship,  that  is 
still  standing,  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  old  one  at  the 
corner  of  Hanover  street  and  the  Bradford  road.  West  New- 
bury, and  dedicated  December  22,  1841. 

Rev.  Henry  A.  Woodman  was  installed  pastor  November 
30,  1842,  and  dismissed  March  i,  1844.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  Horatio  Merrill,  who  was  installed  April  4,  1845,  and 
dismissed  in  the  month  of  August,  1847. 

After  a  long  interval,  during  which  the  church  was  again 
without  a  settled  pastor.  Rev.  Charles  D.  Herbert  was  in- 
stalled March  5,  1857,  and  dismissed  by  a  council  of  churches 
April  17,  1865.  Since  that  date  the  church  has  been  under 
the  pastoral  care  of  clergymen  employed  from  month  to 
month  or  year  to  year  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  ministry 
there.  The  names  of  those  who  occupied  the  pulpit  for  six 
months  or  more  are  as  follows  :  — 

Rev.  James  W.  Ward,  jr.,  from  July,  1865,  to  June  24,  1866. 
Rev.  Horace  Button,  from  October  21,  1866,  to  June  2,  1867. 
Rev.  Luther  H.  Angier,  from  November  10,  1867,  to  March,  1868. 
Rev.  Nathaniel  Laselle,  from  August,  1869,  to  September,  1873. 
Rev.  James  Tarlton,  from  December,  1874,  to  July,  1875.* 
Rev.  Charles  Dame,  from  January,  1877,  to  April,  1881. 
Rev.  Charles  D.  Herbert,  from  June,  1881,  to  May,  1886. 
Rev.  Ezra  B.  Pike,  from  June,  1886,  to  March,  1890.! 
Rev.  Samuel  Evans,  from  April,  1890,  to  March,  1891. 
Rev.  William  W.  Parker,  from  June,  1891,  to  May,  1892. 

*Rev.  George  Dole  officiated  from  September,  1875,  to  December,  1S75.  In  1876,  the  vesti-y 
in  the  rear  of  the  church  was  built;  and  Rev.  Daniel  P.  Noyes,  of  Byfield,  was  engaged  to  supply 
the  pulpit  from  October,  1876,  to  January,  1877. 

t  During  the  spring  and  summer  of  1886  the  meeting-house  was  repaired  and  repainted.  The 
old-fashioned  mahogany  pulpit  was  removed  and  replaced  by  a  modem  one.  The  morning  ser- 
vice at  half-past  ten  o'clock  was  discontinued  in  1S87.  The  afternoon  service  is  still  held  at  two 
o'clock,  as  usual,  preceded  by  a  Surday-school  beginning  an  hour  earlier. 


SECOND    PARISH    MEETING-HOUSE. 
Built  in  1841. 


364  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Rev.  Vincent  Moses,  from  July,  1S92,  to  June,  1896.* 
Rev.    William    B.   T.    Smith,  from    January,  1S97,  to  the  day  of  his 
death,  January  iS,  1898. 

Rev.  Charles  H.  Coolidge,  from  September,  1898,  to  April,  1901. 
Rev.  John  Graham,  from  October,  1901. 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH    AT    BYFIELD. 

In  1702,  the  farmers  of  Newbury,  near  Newbury  Falls,  and 
the  inhabitants  of  Rowley  "  living  on  the  northwest  side  of 
Rye  Plain  Bridge  "  erected  a  meeting-house  at  or  near  the 
dividing  line  between  the  two  towns,  and  soon  after  invited 
Rev.  Moses  Hale  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  ministry  there. 
The  church  probably  was  not  organized  until  three  or  four 
years  later ;  but  the  exact  date  cannot  be  given,  as  the  church 
records  previous  to  1 744  have  been  lost  or  destroyed. 

Rev.  Mr.  Hale  was  ordained  November  17,  1706;  and  the 
parish  was  incorporated  by  the  General  Court  October  28, 
1 7 10.  Subsequently,  Hon.  Nathaniel  Byfield,  of  Boston,  for 
whom  the  parish  was  named,  gave  a  bell,  weighing  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-six  pounds,  that  for  more  than  a  century 
called  the  inhabitants  together  on  Sundays  and  lecture  days. 
Rev.  Mr.  Hale  retained  his  office  as  minister  until  his  death, 
January  12,  i743-t 

On  the  twentieth  day  of  June,  1744,  Rev.  Moses  Parsons 
was  ordained  pastor  of  the  church.  The  old  meeting-house 
was  taken  down  ;  and  during  the  summer  of  1 746  a  new  one 
was  erected  on  the  same  site,  "  fifty  six  feet  long,  forty  five 
feet  wide,  with  a  steeple  surmounted  by  a  gilded  weather 
cock." 

Eben  and  Theophilus,  sons  of  Rev.  Moses  Parsons,  were 
born  at  Byfield  during  his  ministry  there.  The  first  became 
a  wealthy  merchant  of  Boston,  with  a  stately  summer  resi- 
dence at  Newbury  P^alls  that  he  named  "  Fatherland  Farm," 
and  the  latter  an  eminent  lawyer,  for  seven  years  chief- 
justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Massachusetts. 

*  Rev.  Mr.  Moses  was  the  first  occupant  of  the  new  p.trsonage,  at  the  corner  of  Chase  street 
and  the  Bradford  road,  after  its  purchase  by  the  society  in  the  spring  of  1892. 
f'Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  291-300. 


CHURCHES  AND    PASTORS    '  365 

In  1 76 1,  Lieutenant-Governor  William  Dumnicr,  who  had 
for  many  years  been  a  firm  and  i^eneroiis  supporter  of  the 
church  at  Byfield,  died,  and  by  his  will  bequeathed  the  income 
of  his  estate  in  Newbury  for  the  support  of  a  grammar 
school.  During  the  following  year  a  school-house  was  erected 
on  the  Dummer  farm  at  Byfield,  and  dedicated  February_  28, 
1763,  Rev.  Mr.  Parsons  preaching  a  sermon  appropriate  to 
the  occasion  from  the  text,  "  But  the  liberal  deviseth  liberal 
things,  and  by  liberal  things  shall  he  stand."  The  school 
is  still  in  successful  operation,  and  is  known  as  Dummer 
Academy.* 

At  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  a  fierce  controversy 
between  Rev.  Mr.  Parsons  and  Deacon  Benjamin  Colman 
led  to  the  suspension  of  the  devout  anti-slavery  deacon  "  from 
the  fellowship  and  communion  of  the  church  till  he  does  by 
repentance  and  confession  give  christian  satisfaction  for  the 
offence  he  has  committed."  At  that  time  Rev.  Mr.  Parsons 
was  the  owner  of  three  slaves,  and  Deacon  Colman  asserted 
that  his  pastor  "  was  guilty  of  the  wicked  practise  of  man 
stealing,"  "that  he  could  justly  be  called  a  thief,"  and  "that 
he  had  offered  to  sell  his  slave  '  Violet '  for  a  large  sum  of 
money." 

These  charges  were  presented  at  a  meeting  of  the  church 
held  December  21,  1780.  After  a  prolonged  hearing  the 
pastor  was  acquitted  of  either  wilfully  or  wickedly  violating 
the  divine  law ;  but  Deacon  Colman  was  suspended  from  his 
office,  and  censured  for  his  intemperate  zeal.  Rev.  Moses 
Parsons  died  December  14,  1783  ;  and  nearly  two  years  later 
the  worthy  deacon,  having  confessed  that  he  had  been 
imprudent  and  unnecessarily  severe  in  his  treatment  of  the 
late  pastor,  was  restored  to  fellowship  and  communion  with 
the  church,  and  reinvested  with  the  powers  and  privileges  that 
he  formerly  enjoyed.f 

Rev.  Elijah  Parish,  D.D.,  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  church 
December  20,  1787.  He  was  a  strong  and  earnest  advocate 
of  the  new  theology  called  "  Hopkinsianism  "  ;  and  some  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  parish,  dissatisfied  with  his  theological 

*  "Ould  Newbury,'"  pp.  313-335.  t  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  pp.  342-350. 


366  HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 

views  and  opinions,  withdrew  from  the  church  in  1794  and 
formed  a  Presbyterian  society.  After  a  precarious  existence 
of  nearly  ten  years  the  society  was  dissolved  ;  and  the  meet- 
ing-house in  which  services  were  held  was,  by  permission 
of  the  General  Court,  sold  to  Deacon  Benjamin  Colman,  who 
removed  it  to  a  more  convenient  location  near  the  old  parson- 
age, and  subsequently  converted  it  into  a  young  ladies' 
seminary.  Miss  Harriet  Newell,  Miss  Mary  Lyon,  and  other 
women  of  note  were  among  the  pupils  educated  there. 

Rev.  Dr.  Parish  was  an  able  and  interesting  preacher.  In 
1 8 10,  he  delivered  a  sermon  before  the  governor,  councillors, 
and  members  of  the  General  Court  that  created  considerable 
excitement  at  that  time.  Quotations  from  the  sermon  will 
be  found  in  a  speech  made  by  Hon.  Robert  T.  Hayne,  of 
South  Carolina,  in  the  United  States  Senate,  on  nullification, 
to  which  Hon.  Daniel  Web.ster  replied. 

Several  sermons  in  pamphlet  form  were  published  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Parish  during  his  lifetime.  He  also,  in  connection  with 
Rev.  Jedidiah  Morse,  of  Charlestown,  Mass.,  published  a 
gazetteer  of  the  Eastern  and  Western  continents,  a  sacred 
geography  and  gazetteer  of  the  Bible,  and  a  history  of  New 
England  designed  for  schools  and  private  families.* 

In  18 17  the  bell  presented  to  the  parish  by  Judge  Byfield 
was  removed,  and  a  larger  one,  the  gift  of  Eben  Parsons,  Escj., 
of  Fatherland  Farm,  was  put  in  its  place. 

During  his  ministry  Rev.  Dr.  Parish  won  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  his  parishioners.  At  his  death,  October  15, 
1825,  his  friends  asserted  that  "  there  was  not  a  more  united 
parish  in  the  State." 

Rev.  Isaac  R.  Barbour  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church 
December  20,  1827.  He  was  deeply  interested  in  the  ques- 
tions of  the  day,  and  alienated  many  of  his  friends  by  the 
vigorous  measures  that  he  favored  for  the  suppression  of  the 
sale  of  liquor  and  the  use  of  it  as   a  beverage.      His   sympa- 

*Tlie  first  edition  of  tlie  History  of  New  Kngland  was  published  in  1804,  and  the  second 
edition  in  1S09  by  Thomas  &  Wliipple,  booksellers,  No.  2  State  street,  Newburyport.  Some  of 
the  friends  of  Miss  Hannah  Adams  contended  that  this  book  was  an  infringement  of  the  copy- 
right granted  her  m  1799  for  a  similar  work.  A  long  and  bitter  controversy  followed  ;  but  it  is 
evident,  from  a  careful  examination  of  the  general  design,  style  of  treatment,  and  subdivision  of 
subjects  in  the  two  histories,  that  the  charge  cannot  be  sustained. 


CHURCHES  AND   PASTORS 


367 


thies  were  enlisted  in  the  cause  of  temperance,  and  he  some- 
times expressed  his  views  and  opinions  in  language  that  was 
imprudent  and  indiscreet.  He  became  involved  in  a  con- 
troversy with  some  of  his  parishioners  in  regard  to  a  letter  of 
dismission  that,  after  a  long  struggle,  was  granted  by  a  vote 
of  the  church  to  a  member  who  had  been  guilty  of  "  trafficing 
in  distilled  spirits."  Although  his  efforts  to  revolutionize  and 
reform    the   habits  and  customs   of   the   people  were   not   re- 


BYFIELD    CONGREGATIONAL    MEETING-HOUSE. 

BriLT   IN    1833. 


warded  with  success,  he  still  continued  to  advocate  and  sup- 
port the  doctrines  and  principles  of  total  abstinence. 

On  the  evening  of  the  last  day  in  February,  1833,  a  meet- 
ing of  the  friends  and  supporters  of  the  temperance  cause  was 
held  in  the  meeting-house.  Early  the  next  morning,  March 
I,  1833,  the  building  was  destroyed  by  fire.  It  is  supposed 
that  hot  ashes,  taken  from  the  stove  at  the  close  of  the  even- 
ing services,  placed  in  a  wooden  barrel  or  some  other  unsafe 
receptacle,  became  overheated  during  the  night,  and  set  fire  to 
the  buildins:. 


368  HISTORY  OF  XEIVIU'RY 

A  few  weeks  later  the  parish  accepted  the  resignation  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Barbour,  to  take  effect  May  i,  1833. 

Plans  for  a  new  meeting-house  were  prepared  and  adopted 
without  delay.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  in  the  month  of 
May;  and  November  7,  1833,  the  new  house  of  worship  was 
dedicated.  A  new  bell,  weighing  over  one  thousand  pounds, 
was  i^urchased  by  the  parish,  and  hung  on  the  framework 
provided  for  it  in  the  steeple.  In  September,  1886,  through 
the  personal  efforts  of  Mrs.  A.  B.  Forbes,  of  Fatherland  Farm, 
and  other  inhabitants  of  the  parish,  another  and  larger  bell 
was  purchased  and  hung  in  the  belfry,  to  take  the  place  of 
the  old  one,  which  was  badly  worn  and  cracked. 

When  the  new  meeting-house  was  completed,  the  pews 
were  sold,  and  the  money  used  to  defray  the  cost  of  the 
building.  In  1834,  the  pew-owners  were  incorporated  by  the 
General  Court,  and  authorized  to  hold  real  estate  and  per- 
sonal property,  for  parochial  purposes,  under  the  name  and 
title  of  "  The  Proprietors  of  the  Byfield  meeting  house." 

December  25,  1833,  Rev.  Henry  Durant  was  ordained 
pastor  of  the  church.  He  resigned  September  15,  1847,  to 
take  charge  of  Dummer  Academy  ;  but  his  resignation  was 
not  accepted  until  March  31,  1849. 

Rev.  Francis  V.  Tenney,  a  native  of  Newburyport  and  a 
graduate  of  Amherst  College,  was  installed  pastor  March  7, 
1850.  He  resigned  March  22,  1857;  and  on  the  twenty-sec- 
ond of  April  following  he  was  dismissed  by  a  vote  of  the  coun- 
cil of  churches  called  to  consider  and  advise  with  him  in  regard 
to  his  proposed  removal  to  another  field  of  labor. 

June  16,  1858,  Rev.  Charles  Brooks,  the  seventh  pastor  of 
the  church  was  settled.  His  resignation  was  accepted  Novem- 
ber 1 1,  1863. 

For  nearly  twelve  years  after  that  date  the  church  was 
without  a  settled  pastor.  In  1865,  Rev.  Moses  E.  Searle  sup- 
plied the  pulpit  for  about  five  months.  He  died,  suddenly, 
January  6,  1866.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Joshua  S.  Gay, 
who  conducted  the  services  for  several  years.  From  1870  to 
1875,  Rev.  William  S.  Coggin  of  Boxford  officiated  on  Sun- 
days, and  the  deacons  of  the  church  had  charge  of  the  meet- 
ings held  on  week-days. 


CHURCHES  AND    PASTORS  369 

Rev.  James  H.  Child  was  ordained  pastor  October  7,  1875. 
He  resigned,  on  account  of  ill-health,  December  22,  1880. 
Since  that  date  the  pastors  of  the  church  have  been  :  Rev. 
George  L.  Gleason,  installed  September  20,  1882,  resigned 
October  2,  1888  ;  Rev.  David  C.  Torrey,  installed  June  i,  1892  ; 
resigned  April  twentieth  to  take  effect  May  25,  1902.* 


QUEEN    ANNE'S    CHAPEL. 

A  few  months  after  the  meeting-house  in  the  Second  parish, 
near  the  burying-ground  at  Sawyer's  hill,  had  been  torn 
down  by  a  disorderly  company  of  men  and  boys  from  "  the 
upper  or  west  end  of  the  parish,"  a  strong  and  vigorous 
effort  was  made  by  a  few  individuals  residing  in  the  vicinity 
of  Sawyer's  hill  to  erect  a  new  building  on  the  Bradford 
road,  near  the  dividing  line  between  the  First  and  Second 
parishes,  and  to  employ,  at  their  own  charge  and  cost,  a  suit- 
able person  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  ministry  there. 
Lumber  and  other  materials  needed  for  the  new  house  of 
worship  were  purchased  ;  and  the  frame  was  nearly  completed 
and  ready  to  be  set  up,  when  a  committee  from  the  church  at 
Pipe  Stave  hill,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Belcher,  remonstrating  against  the  exercise  of  unlawful  au- 
thority, appealed  to  the  General  Court  for  advice  and  assist- 
ance. 

July  19,  171 1,  "in  answer  to  the  petition  from  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  West  Precinct  in  Newbury,"  the  deputies  and 
magistrates,  with  the  approval  of  the  governor,  "  Advised  and 
Directed  that  the  Persons  named  in  the  Petition  &  others 
concerned  desist  from  their  Proceedings  to  the  Raising  their 
intended  Meeting  House  untill  there  be  a  Hearing  of  the 
Matter  before  this  Court."  f 

This  advice  was  evidently  unheeded  ;  for,  on  the  twenty- 
fourth  day  of  August,  Capt.  Hugh  March  and  others  in  a 
petition  to  the  General  Court   state    "  that   several   Persons  in 

*  See  The  History  of   tlie  Byfield  Congregational  Church,   by  Joseph  N.  Dummer,  pub- 
lished in  j888,  for  additional  facts  in  relation  to  the  organization  and  membership  of  this  church, 
t  Massachusetts  .\rchives  (Court  Records),  vol.  ix.,  p.  133. 


37°  HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 

the  West  Precinct  of  Newbury  have  raised  &  in  j)art  covered 
a  house  intended  for  a  meeting  house,  notwithstanding  the 
advice  and  direction  of  this  Court  on  the  nineteenth  of  July 
last,  to  desist  until  there  had  been  a  hearing." 

The  Court  ordered  that  Samuel  Bartlett,  John  Ordway,  Deacon 
Joshua  Brown,  Joshua  Bailey,  Skipper  Lunt,  &  Fennel  Titcomb  be  now 
served  by  the  sheriff  with  a  Copy  of  the  order  of  this  Court  of  the  ig''^  of 
July  past,  strictly  forbiding  them  &  their  associates  Proceeding  in  the 
Work  of  their  intended  Meeting  House,  untill  there  be  a  Hearing  of  that 
Affair  as  by  the  said  order  is  directed,  and  that  the  said  Persons  be 
summonded  by  the  Sheriff  to  attend  this  Court  on  the  second  Wednesday 
of  their  session  in  the  Fall  to  answer  for  their  contempt  of  the  afore- 
said order.* 

November  2,  171  1,  Upon  hearing  the  case  of  Newbury  referring  to 
the  house  late  pretended  to  be  raised  for  the  publick  worship  of  God  on 
or  near  deacon  Joshua  Browns  land,  contrary  to  the  direction  of  ye  court, 
of  wch  there  is  no  present  necessity.  It  is  ordered  that  the  building  of 
the  said  house  be  not  proceeded  in  upon  any  pretence  whatsoever  but 
that  the  division  of  the  town  into  two  precincts  between  the  old  meeting 
house  &  that  upon  Pipe  staff  Hill  be  the  present  division  of  the  auditory, 
&  is  hereby  confirmed  &  established,  &  all  Persons  concerned  are  to 
yield  obedience  accordingly;  and  that  the  Disorders  that  have  been  in 
the  proceedings  about  the  said  House  in  Browns  land  be  referred  to  the 
next  sessions  of  y*^  peace  in  Essex. f 

In  this  emergency  Abraham  Merrill,  Joshua  Brown,  Samuel 
Bartlett,  and  a  few  others,  anxious  to  finish  the  building  on 
which  work  had  been  stopped  by  order  of  the  General  Court, 
applied  to  Mr.  John  Bridger  for  advice  and  assistance.  He 
was  a  zealous  churchman,  living  at  that  time  in  Portsmouth, 
N.H.,  having  been  appointed  "  Surveyor  General  of  Woods  in 
America  "  December  24,  1705,  which  position  he  held  for  ten 
or  fifteen  years,  marking  with  the  queen's  broad  arrow  trees 
reserved  for  the  use  of  her  Majesty's  navy,  and  instructing 
the  inhabitants  in  the  art  of  "  making  pitch  and  tar,  curing 
hemp  &c."  %  Through  his  influence  a  petition  signed  by 
John  Bartlett,  Joshua  Brown,  Joseph  Annis,  and  Samuel 
Bartlett  was  presented  to  the  bishop  of  London,  humbly  be- 
seeching him  to  send  a  minister  to  officiate  in  the  church  to 

*  Massachusetts  Arcliives  (Court  Records),  vol.  i.\.,  p.  142.         tlbid.,  pp.  159,  160. 
t  Palfrey's  History  of  New  England,  vol.  iv. ,  pp.  3gg,  401. 


CHURCHES   AXD   PASTORS  371 

be  built,  and  called  Queen  Anne's  chapel  by  the  petitioners 
and  other  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newbury. 

The  building  was  probably  finished  previous  to  August  i, 
1 7 1 2  ;  and  it  was  evidently  used  for  public  worship,  according 
to  the  rubrics  and  ritual  of  the  established  Church  of  England, 
by  Rev.  Henry  Harris,  one  of  the  ministers  of  King's  chapel, 
Boston,  who  came  to  Newbury  on  several  occasions,  remain- 
ing fourteen  days  at  one  time. 

It  was  the  second  Episcopal  church  erected  in  Massachu- 
setts ;  and  the  parish  in  which  it  was  located  —  now  including 
the  towns  of  Newbury,  Newburyport,  and  West  Newbury  —  is 
at  the  present  time  the  oldest  parish  subject  to  the  Episcopal 
form  of  church  government  and  discipline  in  the  diocese. 

Rev.  John  Lambton  had  charge  of  the  services  at  Queen 
Anne's  chapel  from  November  14,  171 3,  until  the  following 
autumn,  having  been  transferred  from  her  Maj.esty's  ship 
•*  Phenix "  at  the  request  and  with  the  approval  of  Gen. 
Francis  Nicholson,  commander-in-chief  of  the  expedition 
against  Port  Royal,  and  afterwards  governor  of  Nova 
Scotia. 

During  his  ministry  the  following  petition  was  signed  by 
the  officers  and  communicants  of  the  church,  and  sent  to 
England  :  — 

To  the  Hon'ble  &  Venerable  the  Society  for  the  Propagating  the 
Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts: 
We  out  of  our  ardent  Love  and  Affection  that  we  have  for  the  Wor- 
ship of  God  now  professed  amongst  us  according  to  the  Liturgy  of  the 
Church  of  England  humbly  lay  before  you  the  necessity  we  have  of  a 
long  time  had  of  a  Minister  duly  qualified  according  to  your  instructions 
in  that  behalf  directed  to  read  and  preach  the  Word  of  God  unto  us. 
We  return  you  humble  thanks  for  the  Twenty  pounds  we  have  received 
from  General  Nicholson  whose  piety  and  unbounded  Charity  needs  no 
encomium,  whose  arrival  has  cheered  our  drooping  spirits  and  in  some 
measure  released  us  from  the  oppression  of  our  adversaries,  as  likewise 
for  the  Ten  pounds  given  to  Mr  John  Lambton.  Chaplain  to  her  Majesty's 
Ship  Phenix,  which  is  appointed  to  attend  this  Government,  who  is 
willing  to  officiate  here  till  further  orders  from  the  Hon'ble  Society 
praying  that  he  may  have  the  Salary  during  the  time  he  is  as  Mission- 
ary here.  We  are  not  so  "fixed  as  we  desire  as  to  our  number,  but 
hope  our  increase  will  answer  the  ends  expected.     For  the  present  we 


372 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


John  Lambton,  Minister 


are  only  able  to  give  Forty  pounds  per  annum,  the  Minister  but  just 
come  among  us,  but  hope  in  a  small  time  to  advance  that  sum. 

The  Books  and  other  things  which  are  usually  sent  along  with  the 
missionary  would  be  very  useful  for  the  continuance  and  establishing  us 
in  the  true  worship  of  God  and  Instrumental  in  bringing  others  over 
who  are  inclining  that  way  that  in  all  human  appearance  here  will  be  a 
flourishing  Church.  We  only  beg  your  Gracious,  speedy  and  satisfac- 
tory answer,  Beseeching  Almighty  God  to  bless  all  your  pious  under- 
takings is  the  prayer  of 

Tkistram  Brown 
JosiAH  Weaver 
Nathl  Bartlett 
RiCHD  Williams 
Thomas  Brown 
Thomas  Bartlett 
Joseph  Annis 
Skipper  Lunt 
John  Eayr 
Isaac  Rogers 
John  Bartlet 
John  Bartlett  3RD 
Richard    Bartlet 
Danl  Osilaway 
John  Merrill 

W"   HUSE 

Robert  Rogers 
NicHo  Davison 
Benja  Sawyer 
Thos  Follansba* 


Joshua  Brown 
Abraham   Merrill 


Samuel  Bartlet, 
Ariel  Long, 
Saml  Sawyer, 
Joshua  Brown,  Jun 
John  Bartlet, 
Joseph  Bayly,  J 


CJuDxh 

Wardens 


Vesiryme?i 


In  answer  to  this  petition,  "  The  Society  for  the  Propaga- 
tion of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  "  appointed  I^ev.  Henry 
Lucas  minister  of  the  church  at  Newbury.  He  arrived  Sep- 
tember 17,  171 5,  and  immediately  entered  upon  the  duties  of 
his  office.  In  spite  of  many  discouragements  and  disappoint- 
ments, he  remained  in  charge  of  the  parish  until  his  death, 
August  23,  1720.  During  his  ministry  Queen  Anne's  Chapel 
was  presented  with  a  bell  by  the  bishop  of  London.  In  a 
letter  to  Mr.  Humphreys,  secretary  of  the  above-named 
society,  John  Bridger  (or  Bridges,  as  his  name  is  sometimes 
printed)  wrote  May  19,  17 18:  — 


*  Historical  Collections  of  the  American  Colonial  Church,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  g.-?.94- 


CHURCHES  AND   PASTORS  373 

I  pray  give  my  duty  to  my  Lord  of  London  and  acknowledge  his 
favor  to  the  church  of  Newbury  for  the  I5ell  he  was  pleased  to  give 
them.* 

Rev.  Matthias  Plant,  who  succeeded  Rev.  Henry  Lucas, 
sailed  from  London  February  16,  172 1-2,  and  preached  his 
first  sermon  in  Newbury  April  29,  1722.  He  married, 
December  27,  1722,  Lydia,  daughter  of  Samuel  Bartlett, 
Rev.  David  Mossom,  of  Marblehead,  officiating  at  the  cere- 
mony. Soon  after  his  marriage  he  built  a  house  on  the  road 
leading  to  Amcsbury  ferry,  a  short  distance  from, its  junction 
with  the  Bradford  road  and  the  country  road,  now  High 
street,  Newburyport,  in  which  he  lived  until  his  death. 

Under  his  care  the  church  prospered,  and  the  number  of 
communicants  steadily  increased.  He  baptized  many  children 
and  adults,  and  during  the  first  ten  years  of  his  ministry  a 
large  proportion  of  the  persons  united  by  him  in  marriage 
were  from  Salisbury,  Rowley,  Salem,  Marblehead,  Bradford, 
Haverhill,  and  other  towns  in  Essex  county. f 

At  his  suggestion,  several  alterations  and  additions  were 
made  to  the  church  building. 

October  20,  1725  att  a  meeting  of  the  Parishioners  voted  that  A 
Pew  be  erected  at  the  east  end  of  the  Church  for  the  use  of  Masters  of 
vessels  &  strangers  &  the  same  to  be  built  by  Capt"  Atkins  at  his  Dis- 
cretion for  Conveniency  &  Decency  at  his  own  Charge  and  other  Bene- 
factors. Matt.  Plant,  Minister.X 

In  May,  1726,  the  church  was  clapboarded,  and  during 
the  same  year  "Joshua  Browne  and  John  Corney,   Church 

*  Historical  Collections  of  the  Colonial  Church,  vol.  iii.,  p.  131.  When  public  worship  was 
discontinued  in  Queen  Anne's  chapel,  the  communion  service,  Bible,  and  other  movable  prop- 
erty was  disposed  of  by  a  few  individuals  acting  upon  their  own  responsibility :  but  the  bell  was 
allowed  to  remain  undisturbed  in  the  belfry.  In  1770,  the  steeple  of  the  deserted  chapel  was 
blown  down  during  a  violent  storm.  Mr.  David  Whitmore,  an  innholder  living  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, took  possession  of  the  bell,  and  refused  to  deliver  it  up  unless  ordered  to  do  so  by  some 
person  or  persons  entitled  to  it.  Rev.  Kdward  Bass,  minister  of  St.  Paul's  church,  Newbury- 
port, at  that  time,  evidently  intended  to  bring  a  suit  in  the  Court  of  General  Se.=sions  to  recover 
the  property  belonging  to  the  chapel  ;  but  the  events  immediately  preceding  and  following  the 
Revolutionary  war  undoubtedly  rendered  that  course  unadvi.sable. 

Subsequently  the  bell  was  hung  in  the  belfry  of  a  school-house  on  Pillsbury  lane,  now  Ash- 
land street,  Newburyport.  On  the  night  before  Christmas,  1839,  it  mysteriously  disappeared,  and 
since  that  date  has  not  been  seen.  Kor  further  details  the  reader  is  referred  to  Coffin's  His- 
tory of  Newburj',  pp.  411-413,  and  Rev.  D.  I).  Addison's  ''  I^ife  and  Times  of  Edward  Bass," 
p.  126. 

t  Rev.  Matthias  Plant's  Note  Book  or  Diary. 

X  Records  of  Queen  Anne's  Chapel. 


374  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Wardens  in  the  Queen's  Chappel  in  Newbury,  builte  within 
the  South  Doore  Joyning  to  Thos.  Bartlets  pew,  a  pew  given 
to  the  above  saide  church  for  a  seate  for  the  Church  Wardens 

to  sitt  in  for  Ever."  * 

November  lo,  1726  voted  that  ye  Gallerys  be  buihe,  forthwith,  under 
the  direction  of  tlie  minister  &  church  wardens.* 

In  1738,  Rev.  Mr.  Plant  consented  to  the  erection  of  a 
new  church  near  the  business  centre  of  the  town,  and  sub- 
scribed the  sum  of  fifty  pounds  as  his  proportion  of  the  cost 
of  the  same.  A  lot  of  land  was  purchased,  and  a  building, 
"  called  St.  Paul's  Church,"  was  erected  thereon.  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1742,  Rev.  Mr.  Plant  was  chosen  minister,  and 
arrangements  were  made  with  him  to  preach  in  the  church 
every  other  Sunday.  Some  differences  of  opinion  in  regard 
to  the  appointment  of  church  wardens  and  the  control  of  the 
pulpit  led  to  a  serious  disagreement  that  was  not  settled  for 
eight  or  nine  years.  During  this  interval  Rev.  Mr.  Plant 
officiated  occasionally  in  St.  Paul's  church,  but  devoted  most 
of  his  time  and  attention  to  Queen  Anne's  Chapel.  In  a 
note-book  in  which  he  recorded  some  of  the  important  events 
of  that  time  he  wrote, 

June  3,  1743  returned  from  ye  Convention  which  was  lield  at  Rhode 
Island  and  got  home  ye  Qt'i  of  June. 

July  21,  1745  then  I  began  to  preach  in  ye  new  church  by  ye  water 
side  by  order  of  ye  society. 

During  the  remainder  of  that  year  and  the  year  following 
Rev.  Mr.  Plant  preached  in  the  new  church  once  a  month  ; 
but  the  number  of  hearers  was  small,  often  not  more  than  six 
or  eight  men  and  about  as  many  women. 

Meanwhile  the  services  in  Queen  Anne's  chapel  were  held 
on  Sundays  and  holy  days,  with  but  few  interruptions  ;  and 
many  worshippers  assembled  there  to  offer  devout  prayers, 
and  join  in  the  songs  of  praise.  In  1750,  the  chapel  was 
repaired  at  a  cost  exceeding  one  hundred  pounds.  Of  this 
sum  Rev.  Mr.  Plant   contributed  nearly  one-half.     Two  years 

*  Kfcnrds  of  (Jueeii  Anne's  Cliapcl. 


CHURCHES  AND    PAS7VRS  375 

later  he  was  taken  seriously  ill,  and  never  fully  recovered. 
He  died  April  2,  1753.  In  his  will  on  file  in  the  Probate 
Court  at  Salem  is  the  following  item  :  — 

I  give  to  the  church  (viz  :)  Queen  Ann's  Chaple  in  Newburv  Ten 
Pounds  Lawful  money  of  this  Province  to  Purchas  a  silver  Coup  for  the 
Holy  Communion  which  silver  Coup  my  executorix  shal  Emedeatly  Pur- 
chas, or  shal  pay  the  said  sum  to  the  Church  Wardens  of  said  Church 
in  Being  to  purchas  said  Silver  Coup,  and  forthwith  Deliver  it  to  ye  sd 
Church  to  be  entered  in  the  Church  Book  and  how  many  ounces  of 
silver  it  contains. 

After  the  death  of  Rev.  Mr.  Plant  the  parish  of  Newbury 
was  placed  in  charge  of  Rev.  Edward  Bass,  who  had  been 
appointed  assistant  minister,  or  curate,  to  Rev.  Mr.  Plant  in 
1752.  He  officiated  at  Queen  Anne's  chapel  once  a  month 
until  I  'J^6,  when,  the  building  having  become  old  and  dilapi- 
dated, services  were  discontinued.  A  few  persons  who  had 
been  accustomed  to  attend  public  worship  there  organized,  in 
1762,  the  Fifth  Congregational  church  in  Newbury;  but  a 
large  proportion  of  the  communicants  became  earnest  and 
devout  members  of  St.  Paul's  church. 

The  chapel,  neglected  and  deserted,  soon  began  to  show 
signs  of  decay.  Weather-worn  and  weakened  by  wind  and 
storm,  the  steeple  fell  in  1770,  considerably  damaging  the 
main  body  of  the  building,  which  was  then  taken  down,  and 
some  of  the  material  used  in  the  construction  of  pews  and 
galleries  for  the  Fifth  Parish  meeting-house. 

ST.  PAUL'S  CHURCH. 

The  second  Episcopal  church  in  Newbury  was  built  pre- 
vious to  1740  on  the  corner  of  Ordway's  lane,  now  Market 
street,  and  the  country  road,  now  High  street,  Newburyport. 
Rev.  Matthias  Plant,  who  was  then  in  charge  of  Queen 
Anne's  Chapel,  subscribed  fifty  pounds  toward  the  cost  of  the 
new  building.  When  it  was  completed  and  ready  for  use,  he 
was  chosen  minister,  and  notified  of  his  election  by  the  war- 
dens and  vestrymen  of  the  church. 

Newbury,  Feb.  3,  1741-2. 

We  the  subscribers,  members  of  the  New  Church  in  Newbury,  called 
by  the  name  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  desiring  the  worship  of  God  accord- 


376  HISTORY  OF  lYEWBURY 

ing  to  the    Rubric   of  the  Church  of  England,  do  desire   and  do   make 

choice  of  the  Rev.  Matthias  Plant  as  our  Minister  to  officiate  and  carry 

on  the  said  worship  in  said  church  of  St.  Paul's,  in  Newbury  aforesaid, 

—  in  witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  this  day  and  year 

above  written. 

Jos  Atkins  Antho  Gwynn 

Thomas  Smith  Wm  Atkins  Michael  Dalton 

Joseph  Cottle  Thos  Woodbridg  Edmund  Cottle 

Witter  Cumings  Benjn  Harris  Church  Wardens* 

Wm  Jenkins  Ambrose  Davis 

Owing  to  some  differences  of  opinion  in  regard  to  his 
rights  and  privileges  as  minister  of  the  church,  Rev.  Mr. 
Plant  was  not  inducted  into  office  until  several  years  later. 

September  30,  1747,  he  notified  the  wardens  and  vestry- 
men of  the  church  that  he  would  gladly  meet  and  confer  with 
them  in  regard  to  his  appointment  "  as  chief  minister  of  the 
whole  parish,"  *  and  two  or  three  weeks  later  received  the 
following  note  in  reply  :  — 

We  received  your  favor  of  ye  lot'i  Instant  &  many  of  y^  Church 
people  being  absent  prevented  the  answer  until  now ;  as  your  favor  is 
directed  to  ye  church  wardens  &  Proprietors  we  have  determined  to 
have  a  meeting  of  ye  Proprietors  on  friday  next  at  ten  of  ye  clock  in  ye 
forenoon  at  St  I^auls  Church  &  pray  you'll  favor  us  with  your  presence 
&  we  doubt  not  that  matters  can  be  accommodated  in  a  friendly  manner, 
as  we  have  no  views  to  answer  but  ye' good  of  ye  community  &  as 
speedily  as  possible  have  an  agreeable  gentleman  seated  in  ye  church 
which  we  shall  endeavor  shall  be  to  your  good  liking  &  satisfaction  as 
well  as  ourselves  ;    we  are  Reverend  Sir, 

Your  most  Humble  Servants 
To  the  Reverend  Thos  Tannett  )  Chh 


■f 


Mr.  Matt  Plant.  Jno  Crocker      f  Wardens* 

The  conference  evidently  did  not  result  in  an  immediate 
settlement  of  the  questions  in  dispute,  as  Rev.  Mr.  Plant  was 
not  inducted  into  office  as  rector  of  St.  Paul's  church  until 
June  24,  1751.1  Meanwhile  Mr.  Edward  Bass,  who  had 
been  studying  for  the  ministry,  was  selected  to  assist  in  the 
work  of  the  parish.  He  was  sent  to  England  and  admitted 
to    holy    orders   by    the   bishoj)    of    London    May    24,    1752. 

*  Rev.  Matthias  Plant's  Note  Book  or  Diary. 
f'Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  401,  402. 


CHURCHES   AND   PASTORS  377 

After  his  return  he  entered  upon  his  duties  as  an  assistant 
to  Rev.  Mr.  Plant,  who  was  then  in  feeble  health.  He  had 
charge  of  the  whole  parish,  preaching  one  Sunday  in  the 
month  at  Queen  Anne's  chapel  and  the  three  following  Sun- 
days in  St.  Paul's  church,  after  the  death  of  Rev.  Mr.  Plant, 
which  occurred  April  2,  1753. 

Three  years  later,  an  organ,  given  to  King's  chapel  in 
Boston  by  Thomas  Brattle  in  171  3,  was  purchased  for  use  in 
St.  Paul's  church  at  a  cost  of  five  hundred  pounds.  It  was 
removed  to  Newbury  during  the  summer  of  1756,  and  was 
probably  the  first  church  organ  set  up  within  the  limits  of  the 
town. 

In  1764,  a  portion  of  the  town  of  Newbury,  including  the 
land  upon  which  St.  Paul's  church  now  stands,  was  set  off 
and  incorporated  by  the  name  of  Newburyport.  After  that 
date  Rev.  Mr.  Bass  ceased  to  be  an  inhabitant  of  Newbury, 
and  the  church  itself  became  a  prominent  place  of  wor.ship  in 
the  newly  incorporated  town.* 

THIRD    PARISH    CHURCH. 

The  bounds  and  limits  of  the  Third  parish  were  fixed  by 
an  order  adopted  by  the  General  Court,  December  18,  1725. 
Previous  to  that  date,  however,  a  meeting-house  had  been 
erected  on  land  now  known  as  Market  square,  Newburyport. 
It  was  dedicated  June  25,  1725  ;  and  a  church  was  organized 
and  a  church  covenant  was  signed  and  approved  on  the 
twelfth  day  of  January,  1725-6.  One  w^eek  later,  Rev.  John 
Lowell  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  church.  He  was  an 
earnest  and  faithful  preacher,  with  liberal  theological  views, 
and  a  personality  that  was  attractive  and  sympathetic.  The 
congregation  to  w^hom  he  ministered  rapidly  increased  in 
numbers,  and  in  1736  the  meeting-house  was  enlarged.  It 
measured,  with  the  addition  made  at  that  time,  eighty  feet  in 
length  and  sixty  feet  in  width,  with  a  gallery  opposite  the 
pulpit,  and  probably  one  on  each  side       In   September,   1740, 

*  See  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  396-419;  also,  "The  Life  and  Times  of  Edward  Hass.  First 
Bisliop  of  Massachusetts,"  by  Rev.  Daniel  D.  Addison,  published  in  1897. 


378  HISTORY   OF  NEIVI^URY 

Rev.  George  Whitefield  preached  his  first  sermon  in  Newbury 
to  an  immense  audience  that  occupied  all  the  available  space 
in  tliis  large  and  commodious  edifice. 

The  enthusiasm  aroused  by  this  famous  preacher  led  to  the 
organization  of  a  new  religious  society;  and  in  1743  more 
than  thirty  members  asked  for  letters  of  dismissal  from  the 
Third  Parish  church,  in  order  that  they  might  join  the  new 
organization.  This  request  was  refused  ;  and  several  similar 
requests  made  during  the  next  two  or  three  years  shared  the 
same  fate.  At  length  the  "new  lights,"  or  "  new  schemers," 
as  they  were  called,  resolved  to  put  an  end  to  the  controversy  ; 
and,  acting  upon  their  own  responsibility,  they  applied  for 
admission  to  membership  in  the  First  Presbyterian  church. 
After  due  deliberation  their  request  was  granted  October  16, 
1746. 

February  9,  1754,  the  steeple  of  the  meeting-house  in 
Market  square  was  struck  by  lightning,  and  considerable 
damage  done  to  houses  in  that  neighborhood.  Benjamin 
Franklin,  who  visited  Newbury  in  the  month  of  November 
following,  wrote  an  interesting  account  of  the  effect  of  the 
lightning  upon  the  church  steeple,  and  the  protection  furnished 
by  a  small  wire  that  conducted  the  electricity  in  safety  through 
the  bell-tower,  clock,  and  pendulum  to  the  ground.  This 
account  was  communicated  by  letter  to  a  friend  in  Paris,  and 
read   before   the    Royal    Society   of    London,    December    18, 

1755- 

Rev.  John  Lowell  died  May  15,  1767;  and  his  successor, 
Rev.  Thomas  Gary,  of  Gharlestown,  was  ordained  May  11, 
1768. 

When  Newburyport  was  incorporated  in  1764,  the  name 
and  title  of  the  Third  Parish  church  was  changed  to  "  The 
Plrst  Religious  Society  in  Newbury])ort."  l^'rom  that  date 
the  history  of  this  church  or  religious  society  belongs  to  the 
municipality  of  which  it  now  forms  a  part.* 

*  For  additional  facts  and  incidents  connected  with  the  Third  Parish  church  see  "  Ould 
Newbury,"  pp.  430-447. 


CHURCHES  and  pastors  379 

P^OURTII    J'ARISH    CHURCH. 

In  1729,  the  inhabitants  of  the  westerly  or  upper  part  of  the 
Second  parish  in  Newbury  agreed  to  build  a  meeting-house, 
"  fifty  feet  by  thirty-eight  and  twenty  foot  stud,"  on  an  ele- 
vated lot  of  land,  afterwards  called  Meeting-house  hill,  near 
the  burying-ground  now  known  as  "  Walnut  hill  cemetery," 
West  Newbury. 

August  29,  1729,  they  applied  to  the  General  Court  for  a 
division  of  the  parish  ;  and  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  September, 
John  Brown,  surveyor,  submitted  to  the  committee,  to  whom 
the  petition  was  referred,  a  carefully  drawn,  map,  giving  the 
location  of  every  house  in  the  parish,  with  the  name  of  the 
owner  or  occupant.* 

After  a  long  delay  and  much  deliberation  a  line  of  division 
was  agreed  upon  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  Second  parish  ;  and 
March  29,  1731,  they  voted  to  petition  the  General  Court  to 
consent  to  and  confirm  the  division.  In  answer  to  this  peti- 
tion, the  Fourth  parish  in  Newbury  was  set  off  and  incorpo- 
rated June  I,  1731.1 

Rev.  John  Brown,  of  Haverhill,  Rev.  William  Balch,  of 
Bradford,  and  Rev.  John  Tufts,  of  Newbury,  officiated  at  the 
gathering,  or  organization,  of  the  church,  September  i,  1731. 
Rev.  William  Johnson,  born  in  Newbury  May  31,  1706,  was 
ordained  pastor  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  September,  1731. 
He  died  February  22,  1772  and  his  successor,  Rev.  David 
Toppan,  was  ordained  April  18,  1774.  He  resigned  Septem- 
ber 6,  1792,  to  accept  an  appointment  as  Hollis  Professor  of 
Divinity  at  Harvard  College.  For  si.x  years  after  the  resigna- 
tion of  Rev.  Mr.  Toppan  the  church  was  without  a  settled 
pastor.  Rev.  Leonard  Woods  was  ordained  December  5, 
1798,  and  served  until  September  28,  1808,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed Professor  of  Theology  at  the  Andover  Theological 
Seminary.  After  an  interval  of  nearly  eight  years.  Rev. 
John  Kirby  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  church  June  12,  18 16. 

Meanwhile  a  new  meeting-house  had  been  erected  on  land 

•On  this  map  the  new  meeting-house  is  numbered  120.     See  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  392,  393. 
t  Massachusetts  Archives  {Court  Records),  vol.  xv.,  p.  82. 


38o 


HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 


in  Woodman's  lane,  now  Maple  street,  West  Newbury.     This 
new  house  of  worship  was  dedicated  January  5,  18 16. 

Rev.  Mr.  Kirby  sailed  for  Charleston,  S.C,  in  18 18,  for  the 
benefit  of  his  health.     The  vessel   in   which    he  took  passage 


FOURTH    PARISH    MEETING-HOUSE. 


Built  in  1815. 


Remodelleu  and  Enlar(;ed  in  1856. 


was  wrecked  on  Ocracoke  bar  on  the  coast  of  North  Carolina, 
and  he  was  washed  overboard  and  drowned  December  5,  18 18. 
The  town  of  Parsons  was  incorporated  February  18,  1819  ; 
but  by  an  act  of  the  General  Court  i)assed  June  14,  1820, 
the  name  of  the  town  was  changed  to  West  Newbury,  and 
subsequently,  by  a  vote  of  the  parish,  the  name  of  the  Fourth 


CHURCIfKS  AND   PASTORS  381 

church  in   Newbury  was  changed  to  the    Second   church   in 
West  Newbury. 

Since  that  date  the  pastors  of  the  church  have  been  :  — 

Name.  Ordamed.  Dismissed. 

Rev.  Elijah  Demond  March  7,  1821  Septembers,  1826 

Rev.  Paul  Couch  March  27,  1827  August  14,  1828 

Rev.  John  O.  A.  Edgell  September  17,  1832  October  27,  1853 

Rev.  Davis  Foster  November  i,  1855  September  i,  1867 

In  1856,  during  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Foster,  the  meet- 
ing-house was  removed  to  its  present  location,  near  the  junc- 
tion of  Church  street  (West  Newbury)  and  the  Bradford 
road.  It  was  remodelled  and  enlarged  ;  and  on  the  twelfth  day 
of  March,  1857,  it  was  reopened  and  rededicated  to  the  wor- 
ship of  God. 

June  13,  1872,  Rev.  Seneca  M.  Keeler  was  ordained  pastor:  he  was 
dismissed  February  18,  1878. 

September  18,  1888,  Rev.  William  Slade  was  ordained  pastor:  he 
was  dismissed  April  22,  1891. 

December  2,  1891,  Rev.  F.  B.  Noyes  was  ordained  pastor:  he  was 
dismissed  December  6,  1897. 

Since  that  date  the  church  has  been  without  a  settled 
minister. 

Rev.  Elbridge  P.  McElroy  supplied  the  pulpit  from  March,  1870,  to 
July,  1 87 1. 

Rev.  M.  A.  Dougherty,  from  April,  1879,  ^o  January,  1884. 
Rev.  William  P.  Alcott,  from  February,  1884,  to  October,  1886. 
Rev.  F.  H.  Boynton,  from  November,  1886,  to  December,  1887. 
Rev.  C.  F.  Clarke,  from  January,  1898,  to  November,  1899. 
Rev.  George  A.  Martin,  from  December,  1899,  to  March,  1902. 

FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Two  years  after  the  first  visit  of  Rev.  George  Whitefield 
to  Newbury,  a  few  earnest  and  devout  friends  and  followers 
of  the  great  evangelist  erected  a  small  house  of  worship  on 
the  easterly  side  of  High  street,  a  few  rods  from  the  south- 
erly corner  of  King  street,  now^  Federal  street,  Newbury- 
port,  and  employed  Rev.  Joseph  Adams,  of  Byfield,  a  gradu- 


382  HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 

ate  of  Harvard  College,  to  carry  on  the  work  of  tlie  ministry 
there.  Although  zealous  and  faithful,  the  young  preacher 
was  sometimes  indiscreet,  and  failed  to  win  the  support  and 
confidence  of  the  people  to  whom  he  ministered. 

November  25,  1745,  more  than  one  hundred  members  of 
the  First  Parish  church,  dissatisfied  with  the  theological  views 
of  the  pastor,  Rev.  Christopher  Toppan,  and  the  assistant 
pastor.  Rev.  John  Tucker,  signed  an  agreement  to  withdraw 
from  communion  with  that  church,  and  unite  with  the 
new  society  in  extending  a  call  to  Rev.  Jonathan  Par- 
sons, of  Lyme,  Conn.,  to  become  their  spiritual  adviser  and 
teacher. 

On  the  third  day  of  January,  1745-6,  a  few  of  the  sub- 
scribers to  this  agreement  organized  a  church,  and  mutually 
covenanted  and  agreed  "  to  walk  together  as  a  church  of 
Christ  according  to  the  rules  and  order  of  the  gospel."  The 
members  of  the  First  Parish  church  who  were  opposed  to  the 
settlement  of  Rev.  Mr.  Parsons  in  Newbury,  and  "  objected 
to  his  officiating  on  the  Lord's  day  to  any  of  ye  Brethren  of 
this  and  the  neighboring  churches,"  appointed  a  committee, 
February  13,  1745-6,  to  confer  with  him  upon  the  subject, 
and  also  to  ascertain  from  the  church  at  Lyme,  Conn.,  the 
truth  or  falsity  of  some  statements  that  had  been  circulated 
in  regard  to  his  theological  views  and  the  influence  that  he 
exerted  while  in  the  ministry  there. 

Without  waiting  for  the  consent  or  approval  of  the  churches 
in  Newbury,  Rev.  Mr.  Parsons  accepted  the  invitation  that 
had  been  extended  to  him  by  the  members  of  the  newly 
organized  society  to  become  their  pastor.  The  installation 
exercises  were  simple  and  impressive.  At  a  meeting  called 
for  that  purpose  March  19,  1745-6,  the  pastor-elect  delivered 
a  sermon  appropriate  to  the  occasion.  Some  letters  and  testi- 
monials upholding  his  theological  views  were  read.  Then, 
standing  with  uplifted  hand  before  the  congregation,  he  said, 
"  In  the  presence  of  God  and  these  witnesses  I  take  this  peo- 
ple to  be  my  people  "  ;  and  the  clerk,  rising  and  speaking  for 
the  church  and  the  congregation,  said,  "  In  the  presence  of 
God  and  these  witnesses  we  take  this  man  to  be  our  minister." 


CHURCHES  AND   PASTORS  383 

Under  the  law  of  the  province  of  Massachusetts  the  mem- 
bers of  the  new  society  were  compelled  to  pay  taxes  for  the 
support  of  public  worship  in  the  parishes  where  they  resided, 
unless,  like  Quakers,  Episcopalians,  and  Anabaptists,  they 
obtained  permission  to  attend  public  worship  elsewhere.  Al- 
though vigorous  efforts  were  made  to  amend  or  repeal  the 
law,  the  General  Court  was  not  inclined  to  grant  the  relief 
asked  for. 

April  7,  1 746,  the  newly  organized  church  elected  six  ruling 
elders,  and  in  the  month  of  October  following  admitted 
thirty-eight  members  from  the  Third  Parish  church  without 
credentials  or  letters  of  dismission  from  that  church.  These 
unusual  proceedings  were  followed  by  the  adoption  of  a  reso- 
lution, September  15,  1748,  to  unite  with  the  presbytery  of 
Boston  upon  certain  specified  conditions.  These  conditions 
were  accepted  by  the  presbyters  at  a  meeting  held  a  few 
weeks  later. 

In  the  months  of  October  and  November  following,  several 
petitions  were  presented  to  the  General  Court  asking  that  the 
inhabitants  of  Newbury  might  be  released  from  the  payment 
"  of  taxes  and  charges  for  the  support  of  any  minister  of  any 
society  except  for  the  support  of  the  minister  where  they 
usually  attend  publick  worship."  Although  William  Shirley, 
then  governor  of  the  province,  endeavored  to  secure  for  them 
the  privileges  asked  for,  the  General  Court,  after  a  prolonged 
hearing,  refused  to  grant  the  prayer  of  the  petitioners. 

During  the  next  ten  or  fifteen  years  several  attempts  were 
made  without  success  to  obtain  relief  from  the  burden  of 
"double  taxation."  The  struggle  was  continued  until  after 
the  adoption  of  the  constitution  of  the  state  of  Massachu- 
setts ;  and  some  of  the  questions  involved  in  the  controversy 
were  not  finally  settled  and  disposed  of  until  June  17,  1796, 
when  the  General  Court  passed  "  An  Act  authorizing  the  First 
Parish  in  Newbury  to  discharge  from  taxation,  for  the  support 
of  Public  Worship  in  said  Parish,  such  Persons  within  the 
limits  of  said  Parish  as  attend  Public  Worship  in  any  other 
Religious  Society,  and  are  willing  to  be  subject  to  taxation  in 
such  society." 


384  HISTORY  OF  NEWIUn^y 

Meanwhile  a  larger  and  more  conxenient  meeting-house 
was  erected  on  a  lot  of  land  on  the  corner  of  Chandler's  lane, 
now  Federal  street,  "and  a  way  two  rods  broad,"  now  School 
street,  Newburyport.J  The  frame  of  this  new  house  of  wor- 
ship was  raised  July  5,  1756,  and  religious  services  were  held 
in  the  unfinished  building  in  the  month  of  August  following. 
The  steeple  was  not  completed  until  three  or  four  years  later. 
Samuel  Pcttingell,  while  at  work  upon  it,  fell  to  the  ground 
September  10,  1759,  and  was  instantly  killed. 

The  meeting-house  is  still  standing  within  the  territorial 
limits  of  Newburyport.  The  large  square  pews,  the  high  pul- 
pit, and  the  sounding-board,  hung  by  rods  from  the  ceiling, 
have  been  removed,  and  other  alterations  and  improvements 
made,  practically  transforming  the  old  edifice  into  a  new  one. 
The  heavy  oak  frame,  however,  still  remains  undisturbed, 
showing  no  signs  of  weakness  or  decay. 

Since  the  incorporation  of  Newburyport  the  church  over 
which  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons  was  installed  pastor  in  1746 
has  been,  and  still  is,  known  as  "  The  First  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Newburyport  "  ;  and  its  history  from  and  after  1764 
is  identified  with  and  forms  a  part  of  the  history  of  that  town.f 

FIFTH    PARISH    CHURCH. 

April  17,  1 76 1,  the  territorial  bounds  and  limits  of  the 
Fifth  parish  in  Newbury  w^ere  established  by  the  General 
Court.:}:  At  that  date  services  according  to  the  ritual  of  the 
Church  of  England  were  held  only  once  a  month  in  Queen 
Anne's  chapel,  which  was  located  near  the  centre  of  the  new 
parish.  Pearly  in  the  month  of  June,  1761,  a  few  persons  in- 
terested in  the  organization  of  a  Congregational  church  in 
that  neighborhood  met  in  the  chapel  without  having  asked  or 
obtained  permission  to  use  the  building.  Rev.  Edward  Bass, 
in  a  letter  dated  June  9,  1761,  protested  against  this  dis- 
orderly conduct,    and    subsequently    applied    for    advice    and 

X  Essex  Deeds,  book  cxlii.,  leaf  304. 

t  For  a  more  extended  account  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  see  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp. 
S08-525 ;  also,  "The  Origin  and  Annals  of '  the  Old  South  '  First  Presbyterian  Church  and  Parish 
in  Newburyport,"  published  in  i8g6  by  Danirell  iS:  Uphani,  Boston. 

t  See  ante,  p.  238. 


CHURCHES  AND  PASTORS  385 

assistance  to  the  governor  of  the  province,  who  recommended 
the  wardens  and  vestrymen  to  grant  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Fifth  parish  liberty  to  use  the  chapel  when  unoccupied  until 
a  new  meeting-house  could  be  erected,  "  they  disclaiming  all 
right  to  the  church  and  disavowing  the  force  that  has  been 
used  by  them."  This  recommendation  was  consented  to  and 
approved  by  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel 
in  Foreign  Parts,  in  London,  February  19,  1762.* 

During  the  following  summer  a  meeting-house  was  built  on 
Meeting-house  lane,  now  Noble  street,  Newburyport ;  and 
July  22,  1762,  the  Fifth  Parish  church  was  organized.  Rev. 
Oliver  Noble,  the  first  and  only  minister  of  the  church,  was 
settled  September  i,  1762.  The  society  was  never  very 
prosperous  and  for  many  years  maintained  a  precarious  ex- 
istence. Rev.  Mr.  Noble,  in  spite  of  many  difficulties  and 
discouragements  resulting  from  some  injudicious  business 
transactions,  in  which  he  was  involved,  retained  possession  of 
his  office  until  the  spring  of  1784,  when,  by  mutual  consent, 
a  council  was  called  to  dissolve  the  connection  between  pastor 
and  people.  Only  two  churches  responded  to  the  call.  The 
pastors  and  delegates  of  the  church  at  Hampton  Falls  and 
the  church  at  Greenland,  assembled  in  Newbury  for  consulta- 
tion and  conference,  "  not  as  an  ecclesiastical  council,"  but 
as  individual  churches,  unanimously  agreed  April  28,  1784, 
that  the  separation  should  take  place.  A  few  months  later 
Rev.  Mr.  Noble  was  ordained  or  installed  minister  of  the 
church  at  Newcastle,  N.H.,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death,  December  15,  1792. 

Religious  services  were  held  in  the  meeting-house  of  the 
Fifth  parish  for  several  years  after  the  resignation  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Noble  ;  but  the  congregation  gradually  diminished  in  num- 
bers, and  before  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century 
services  were  discontinued,  and  the  church  was  practically 
extinct.  In  1808,  during  a  violent  storm,  the  neglected  and 
weather-worn  meeting-house  was  blown  down  and  completely 
destroyed. 

Meanwhile  the  Fifth  parish,  by  the  incorporation   of  New 

*  "  Life  and  Times  of  Edward  Bass,"  by  Rev.  Daniel  D.  Addison,  pp.  65-67. 


386  HISTORY  OF  XEWBURY 

buryport  in  1764,  became  the  Fourth  parish  in  Newbury. 
A  few  individuals,  anxious  to  revive  and  re-establish  the  Con- 
gregational church  in  that  parish,  agreed,  January  8,  1807, 
to  build  a  new  meeting-house.  They  selected  a  lot  of  land, 
owned  by  Dr.  Micajah  Sawyer,  on  High  street,  near  the 
corner  of  Poore's  lane,  or  Moody's  lane,  now  Woodland  street, 
Newburyport,*  and  erected  a  house  of  worship  that  was  dedi- 
cated November  24,  1807. 

"  The  Proprietors  of  a  New  Meeting  House  in  the  Fourth 
Parish  in  Newbury  "  were  incorporated  by  a  special  act  of  the 
legislature  passed  March  4,  iSoS.f  The  old  church  was  re- 
vived, or  a  new  one  organized,  previous  to  April  2,  1808. 
Rev.  James  Miltimore  was  installed  pastor  April  21,  1808. 
The  meeting-house  was  struck  by  lightning  and  completely 
destroyed  April  i,  1816.  A  new  one  was  built  without  delay, 
and  dedicated  November  7,  18 16. 

In  18 19,  the  town  of  Parsons,  now  West  Newbury,  was  in- 
corporated ;  and  the  name  of  the  parish  in  which  Rev.  Mr. 
Miltimore  officiated  was  again  changed  to  the  Second  parish 
in  Newbury.  Rev.  John  C.  March  was  ordained  assistant 
pastor  March  i,  1832.  After  the  death  of  Rev.  Mr.  Milti- 
more, March  23,  1836,  Rev.  Mr.  March  had  entire  charge  of 
the  church  and  parish  until  his  decease,  September  26,  1846. 

Rev.  Daniel  T.  Fiske  was  installed  pastor  August  18,  1847. 
In  185 1,  the  parish,  with  some  additional  territory,  was  set  off 
from  Newbury  and  annexed  to  Newburyport ;  and  the  name 
of  the  church  was  changed  to  "  The  Belleville  Congregational 
Church  and  Society  of  Newburyport."  January  8,  1867,  the 
meeting-house  was  destroyed  by  an  incendiary  fire.  A  new 
house  of  worship  was  erected  during  the  following  summer, 
and  dedicated  December  24,  1867. 

Rev.  Dr.  F"iske  was  relieved,  at  his  request,  by  a  vote  of 
the  parish  in  1887,  from  some  of  the  burdens  and  active  duties 
of  his  office ;  but,  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  friends,  he 
consented  to  remain  as  senior  pastor  of  the  church,  and  still 
retains  that  position.     The  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  ordina- 

*  Essex  Deeds,  book  tlxxxvii.,  leaf  172  ;  also,  book  cxciii.,  leaf  79. 
t  See  chap.  86,  Acts  of  1S07-08. 


CHURCHES  AND   PASTORS  387 

tion  was  celebrated  by  appropriate  and  interesting  public  ex- 
ercises September  14,  1897. 

Rev.  Willis  A.  Hadley  was  installed  active  pastor  of  the 
church  November  30,  1887.  He  resigned  June  i,  1891,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Albert  W.  Hitchcock,  who  was  in- 
stalled December   15,  1891,  and  resigned  December  8,  1900. 

The  present  active  pastor,  Rev.  Richard  Wright,  was  in- 
stalled June  5,  1 90 1. 


FIRST    METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

Rev.  John  Adams,  commonly  called  "  Reformation  John," 
a  minister  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  a  member 
of  the  New  England  Annual  Conference,  came  to  Newbury 
in  1 8 19  and  made  many  converts,  who  subsequently  became 
connected  with  the  Salisbury  Conference,  and  assembled  for  re- 
ligious worship  from  week  to  week  in  a  school-house  then  stand- 
ing on  Marlborough  street.  Rev.  Moses  B.  Lewis,  Rev.  S.  B. 
Haskill,  Rev.  Amasa  Buck,  and  other  ministers  of  the  Metho- 
dist church  preached  to  those  who  would  listen,  and  gradually 
added  to  the  number  of  converts  until  the  year  1825,  when 
Newbury  was  made  a  station  by  the  Salisbury  Conference, 
and  Rev.  John  Adams  was  appointed  to  carry  on  the  work  of 
the  ministry  there. 

During  that  year  land  was  purchased  and  a  meeting-house 
erected  in  a  field  on  the  northwesterly  side  of  Marlborough 
street,  midway  between  that  street  and  South  street,  now 
Bromfield  street,  Newburyport.  The  building  was  completed, 
and  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God  October  5,  1825.*  A 
few  years  later  Adelphi  street,  now  a  continuation  of  Pur- 
chase street,  was  laid  out,  in  order  to  give  a  convenient  and 
unobstructed  way  to  the  meeting-house. 

Rev.  Mr.  Adams  remained  pastor  of  the  church  until 
■  1826,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Bartholomew  Otheman. 
The  ministers  who  have  been  stationed  there  since  that  date 
are  as  follows  :  — 

•The  Life  of  "  Reformation  "  John  Adams,  published  in  1853,  vol.  i.,  p.  198. 


388  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Rev.  John  Foster  in  1827. 

Rev.  Jotham  Horton  in  1828. 

Rev.  Davis  Barker  in  1829. 

Rev.  A.  B.  Kinsman  for  a  part  of  the  year  1830,  and 

Rev.  R.  D.  Easterbrook  for  the  remainder  of  that  year. 

Rev,  La  Roy  Sunderland  in  1831. 

Rev.  William  R.  Stone  in  1832. 

Rev.  Newell  S.  Spaulding  in  1833. 

Rev.  J.  E.  Risley  and 

Rev.  William  Radman  in  1834-35. 

Rev.  Fred  P.  Tracy  in  1836-37. 

Rev.  B.  F.  Lombard  in  1838-39. 

Rev.  Thomas  G.  Brown  in  1840-41. 

Rev.  Amos  Walton  in  1S42-43. 

Rev.  Horace  Moulton  in  1844. 

Rev.  Willard  Smith  in  1845-46. 

During  Rev.  Mr.  Smith's  pastorate  the  meeting-house  was 
raised,  remodelled,  painted,  and  a  new  vestry  built  in  the  base- 
ment. It  was  subsequently  moved  back  ten  or  fifteen  feet 
from  the  street,  the  stairway  and  vestibule  enlarged,  and  other 
needed  improvements  made. 

Rev.  John  M.  Merrill  was  pastor  of  the  church  in  1847-48, 
Rev.  William  R.  Stone  in  1849,  ^^^'-  Nathaniel  J.  Merrill  in 
1850,  and  Rev.  William  Gordon  in  185  i. 

March  5,  1827,  John  Adams,  Cutting  Pettingell,  Josiah  P. 
Noyes,  Joseph  L.  Thurlow,  of  Newbury,  Elias  French  and 
Caleb  Pike,  of  Salisbury,  and  Benjamin  Brown,  of  Newbury- 
port,  were  incorporated  "  Trustees  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Newbury  and  Newburyport."  The  meeting-house 
was  built  in  that  part  of  Newbury  which  was  annexed  to 
Newburyport  in  185 1.  The  legal  name  and  title  of  the 
church  was  subsequently  changed  to  "  The  People's  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  of  Newburyport."  It  is  still  flour- 
ishing and  prosperous  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Henry 
G.  Alley  ;  but  the  details  of  its  growth  and  influence  since 
185 1  are  not  given  in  this  sketch,  as  they  do  not  properly 
belong  to  the  history  of  Newbury. 


CriURCHES  AXD   PASTORS  389 

SOCIETY   OF   FRIENDS. 

Members  of  the  religious  society,  or  sect,  commonly  called 
Quakers  visited  Newbury  at  a  very  early  date,  on  their  way 
to  other  towns  in  Maine  and  New  Hampshire.  In  1663, 
Lydia  Wardwell,  of  Hampton,  N.H.,  was  sentenced  by  the 
court  at  Salem  to  be  severely  whipped  "for  coming  naked 
into  Newbury  meeting  house,"  and  at  the  same  court  John 
Emery  was  indicted  "for  entertaining  Quakers"  at  his  house 
in  Newbury.* 

The  Society  of  Friends  held  "quarterly  meetings"  in 
Hampton    as  early    as    1697,  and    "monthly    meetings"    in 

1699.1 

In  1 70 1,  they  built  a  meeting-house  in  that  town,  and  mem- 
bers of  the  society  residing  in  Salisbury,  Amesbury,  and  New- 
bury, as  well  as  Hampton,  assembled  there  on  the  first  day  of 
the  week  for  public  worship. :[: 

Judge  Sewall  wrote  in  his  diary.  May  23,  1704,  "Went 
early  to  Salem,  convers'd  with  M''  Noyes  told  him  of  the 
Quaker  meeting  at  Sam  Sawyers  a  week  ago,  profaneness  of 
the  young  Hoags  professing  that  heresy."  § 

Samuel  Sawyer  was  a  son  of  William  Sawyer,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Newbury  ;  and  "  the  young  Hoags  "  were  sons 
of  John  Hoag,  who  married  April  21,  1669,  in  Newbury,  a 
daughter  of  John  Emery. 

In  1705,  a  meeting-house  was  erected  in  Salisbury,  new 
town,  now  Amesbury,  for  the  better  accommodation  of  the 
Quakers  residing  there  and  in  the  neighboring  towns. || 

At  the  "Friends  Monthly  Meeting"  held  at  Amesbury  in 
the  year  17 14  the  members  of  that  association  were  granted 
liberty  to  meet  in  Newbury  "  every  3*^  first  day  y^  week  in 
every  month."  ^  After  that  date,  meetings  of  the  society 
were  frequently  held  in  Newbury  in  private  houses.  In  1743, 
a  meeting-house  was  erected  on  the  southwesterly  side  of  the 

•See  ante,  chap.  Ill,  pages  124,  150. 
t  History  of  Hampton  (Dow),  vol.  i.,  p.  393. 
X  History  of  Amesburj'  (Merrill),  p.  150. 

§  Samuel  Sewall's  Diary,  vol.  ii.,  p.  102  (Massachusetts  Historical  Society  Collections,  Fifth 
Series,  vol.  vi ). 

II  History  of  Amesbur\'  (Merrill),  p.  156.         •[  Ibid.,  p.  166. 


39°  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

country  road,  now  High  street,  Newburyport,  between 
Moody's  lane,  now  Woodland  street,  and  Pillsbury's  lane,  now 
Ashland  street.  June  6,  1743,  Stephen  Sawyer,  "  In  consider- 
ation of  that  good  will  &  affection  which  I  bear  to  my  well 
respected  Friends  Robert  Rogers,  Daniel  Sawyer,  Stephen 
Sawyer,  Jun.,  yeomen  &  Samuel  Fowler,  Richard  Collins, 
Hezekiah  Collins  &  Samuel  Coker,  shipwrights  &  Humphrey 
Sawyer  &  Hathorn  Coker,  Jun.,  Blacksmiths,  all  of  Newbury," 
conveyed  to  the  persons  above  named  the  land  on  which  the 
meeting-house  was  built.* 

Stephen  Sawyer  was  a  brother  of  Samuel  Sawyer,  at  whose 
house  the  Quaker  meeting  was  held  in  1704.  He  was  born 
in  Newbury,  April  25,  1663,  and  married  Ann,  daughter  of 
William  Titcomb,  March  10,  1687.  By  his  will  dated  Febru- 
ary 20,  1753,  and  proved  July  23,  1753,  he  gave  his  dwel- 
ling-house "on  the  country  road,"  with  about  forty  acres 
of  land  adjoining  the  same,  to  his  sons  Daniel  and  Enoch 
Sawyer. f 

Samuel  Coker,  shipwright,  and  Hathorn  Coker,  jr.,  black- 
smith, named  in  the  deed  of  conveyance  from  Stephen  Sawyer, 
were  owners  or  part  owners  of  about  three  square  rods  of 
land,  now  known  as  the  Quaker  burying-ground,  on  Washing- 
ton street,  Newburyport,  which  was  originally  a  part  of  the 
bequest  made  by  Richard  Bartlett  in  his  will,  dated  April 
19,  1695,  to  his  daughter,  Tirzah  Bartlett,  who  subsequently 
married  Hathorn  Coker. J 

On    the    land    owned    by   Stephen  Sawyer,  on  the   south- 

*  Essex  Deeds,  book  Ixxxvii,  leaf  263. 

t  Probate  Records,  book  cccxxxi.,  leaf  429. 

t  William  Titcomb  was  appointed  guardian  of  Tirzah  Bartlett  in  i6<)8.  He  was  discharged 
from  the  care  of  her  estate  February  S,  1708-g,  "  she  having  become  of  age,  and  married  Ha- 
thorn Coker  "  (Essex  Probate  Records,  book  cccx.,  leaf  114).  After  her  death,  suit  was  brought  in 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  Essex  County  by  Hathorn  Coker,  .Samuel  Coker,  and  others,  to 
recover  possession  of  about  four  acres  of  land  on  the  southerly  side  of  Merrimack  street,  extending 
nearly  to  High  street.  The  writ  was  returnable  at  the  court  held  in  Newburyport  the  last  Tues- 
day in  September,  1767.  An  agreement  was  then  made  "  to  dock  the  entail";  and  March  23, 
1768,  an  indenture  for  the  division  of  the  Coker  field,  so  called,  was  duly  executed. 

"  It  was  then  Covenanted  and  agreed  that  nine  rods  of  the  premises  being  three  rods  Square 
at  the  north  west  Comer  thereof  shall  be  and  enure  to  the  use  of  the  Several  Persons  to  whose 
use  the  Residue  of  the  premises  as  before  mentioned  is  to  be  recovered  for  a  Burying  Place 
for  them  and  their  heirs  forever,  for  themselves  and  their  Eamilies  who  shall  have  Liberty  to  pass 
and  repass  thereto  forever"  (Essex  Deeds,  book  cxxv.,  leaf  gi). 

April  g,  1800,  Washington  street,  extending  from  Winter  to  Boardman  streets,  was  laid  out  by 
the  selectmen  of  Newburyport,  and  accepted  by  the  inliabitants  of  that  town  at  a  meeting  held 


CHURCHES  AND   PASTORS  391 

westerly  side  of  High  street,  several  members  of  the  Sawyer 
family  were  buried  previous  to  1743.  On  the  crest  of  the 
hill,  in  the  rear  of  the  meeting-house  lot,  a  few  worn  and 
dilapidated  gravestones  are  still  standing.  The  only  inscrip- 
tion now  legible  reads  as  follows  :  — 

HERE    LYES    ye 
BODY    OF    ELIJAH 
SAWYER    SON    OF 
DANIEL    &    SARAH 

SAWYER  WHO 

DIED    NOVEMBER 

4,   1720  AGED 

12  WEEKS. 

Daniel  Sawyer  was  also  a  son  of  Stephen  Sawyer.  He 
was  born  January  28,  1689,  and  married  Sarah  Moody,  April 
2,  1 7 14.  He  was  one  of  the  grantees  named  in  the  deed  of 
conveyance  from  Stephen  Sawyer  to  the  Society  of  Friends 
in  1743.  In  the  division  of  his  father's  estate  he  came  into 
possession  of  about  twenty-five  or  thirty  acres  of  land  ad- 
joining to  and  including  the  family  burying-ground.* 

The  meeting-house  erected  by  the  Society  of  Friends  was 
a  plain,  unpretentious  structure,  about  thirty  feet  wide,  forty 
feet  long,  and  two  stories  high.  Religious  services  were  held 
in  the  lower  story,  and  occasionally  the  upper  story  was  util- 
ized for  the  same  purpose. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1825,  Paul  Adams,  of  Newbury,  and 
Stephen  Sawyer  and  Robert  Brown,  of  West  Newbury,  "  being 
a  committee  of  the  Society  of  Friends  in  Newbury,"  duly  au- 
thorized to  sell  the  Friends'  meeting-house  and   ground  under 

May  12,  1800.  The  entrance  to  the  burying-ground  is  from  the  southwesterly  side  of  Washington 
street.    A  low  granite  monument,  that  marks  the  enclosure,  bears  the  following  inscription  :  — 

THE    FAMILY   CEMETERY 

OF   HARTHOKN    COKER 

WHO   WITH    MANY-   OF   HIS   DESCENDANTS 

LIE    BURIED    HERE 

JUNE   S,    1865. 

•Subsequently,  Orlando  B.  Merrill,  guardian  of  Elijah  Sawyer,  sold  a  part  of  this  land  to 
Moses  L.  Atkinson  (Essex  Deeds,  bookccxxv. ,  leaf  244);  and  March  31,  1S21,  Enoch  Plumersold 
to  the  said  Moses  L.  Atkinson  about  six  acres  additional  land,  "  from  which  is  to  be  deducted  the 
quantity  now  improved  as  a  bur)-ing  ground,  being  about  twenty  rods "  (Essex  Deeds,  book 
ccxxxvi.,  leaf  80).  November  6,  1855,  Jolm  M.  Atkinson  sold  to  Eben  Griffin  about  ten  acres  of 
land  on  North  Atkinson  street  in  Newburyport,  "  Reserving  the  Sawyer  Burial  Ground,  so 
called,  upon  said  lot"  (Essex  Deeds,  book  dxxi.,  leaf  269) . 


392  HISTORY   OF    NEWBURY 

and  adjoining  the  same,  "  the  said  Paul  Adams  also  being  an 
overseer  of  said  society,  chosen  by  the  Seabrook  Monthly 
Meeting,"  gave  to  Josiah  Little,  of  Newbury,  a  quitclaim  deed 
"  of  the  lot  of  ground  on  High  street  in  said  town  on  which  the 
Friends  meeting  house  now  stands,"  with  the  building  thereon, 
"  being  the  same  land  which  the  Society  of  Friends  have  oc- 
cupied for  a  meeting  house  lot  for  eighty  years  past."  * 

At  or  soon  after  that  date  a  meeting-house  was  built  just 
beyond  the  limits  of  Newbury,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Turkey 
hill,  for  the  use  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  March  4,  1-829, 
Robert  Brown,  of  West  Newbury,  "  in  consideration  of  that 
good  will  &  affection  I  bear  to  my  well  respected  friends  Ed- 
ward Gove,  Jun.and  Ezekiel  Jones,  overseers  of  the  Society  of 
Friends  in  Seabrook  Monthly  Meeting  "  conveyed  to  the  said 
overseers,  and  their  successors  in  office,  land  in  West  Newbury 
on  which  a  meeting-house  was  then  standing,  "so  long  as  the 
said  society  shall  improve  it  for  a  meeting  house  and  hold  a 
meeting  for  the  worship  of  God."  f 

May  21,  1855,  Josiah  Little,  of  Newburyport,  sold  to 
"  David  Sawyer  and  Robert  L.  Brown,  overseers  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends  in  West  Newbury,"  about  one  acre  of  land 
"  on  the  road  leading  from  Newburyport  to  West  Newbury  by 
Turkey  Hill,"  which  has  been  since  that  date  used  by  the 
members  of  the  society  as  a  burying-ground.J 

A  private  school  was  kept  by  Miss  Upham  for  several 
years  in  the  meeting-house  on  High  street  after  it  came  into 
the  possession  of  Josiah  Little,  Esq.  The  second  quarter  of 
the  school  was  advertised  in  the  Newburyport  Herald  "to 
commence  August  31,  1825." 

Miss  Upham  was  a  sister  of  Thomas  C.  Upham,  Professor 
of  Mental  and  Moral  Philosophy  in  Bowdoin  College,  Bruns- 
wick, Me.  In  1827,  she  announced  that  "The  French  and 
Italian  languages,  Painting  and  other  branches  of  Education 
usual  in  Female  Seminaries  "  §  would  be  taught  in  her  school 
at  Belleville. 

Some  years  later  the  old  meeting-house  was  used  as  a  ves- 

*  Essex  Deeds,  vol.  cexxxviii.,  leaf  141.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  cclii.,  leaf  239.  }  Ibid.,  vol.  dlxiv., 
leaf  281. 

§  See  advertisement  in  Newburyport  Herald,  April  3,  1827. 


CHURCHES  AND   PASTORS  393 

try  for  the  Fourth  Parish  church  in  Newbury,  now  the  Belle- 
ville Congregational  church  of  Newburyport.  In  1857,  it 
was  removed  to  a  lot  of  land  on  the  northeasterly  side  of 
the  ferry  road,  a  few  rods  in  a  southeasterly  direction  from 
Meeting-house  lane,  now  Noble  street,  Newburyport,  and  con- 
verted into  a  dwelling  house  to  take  the  place  of  one  —  owned 
and  occupied  by  Mr.  Charles  Bartlett  —  destroyed  by  fire  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1857.  It  is  still  standing,  and  is  now  the  property 
of  Mr.  George  A.  Menut,  Newburyport. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH  IN   BYFIELD. 

In  1827,  Rev.  William  French,  of  Sandown,  N.H.,  visited 
Newbury,  and  induced  some  of  the  people  living  near  the 
"  Great  Rock "  to  form  a  class  for  the  study  of  the  Bible, 
with  special  reference  to  the  doctrines  and  principles  of  the 
Christian  religion  as  taught  by  the  Methodist  church.  For 
several  years  he  came  at  regular  stated  intervals  to  aid  and 
assist  in  the  work,  and  encourage  the  weak-hearted  and 
despondent. 

In  1830,  a  small  chapel  was  built  near  the  "Great  Rock," 
and  services  were  held  there  on  Sundays  by  Methodist 
preachers  from  the  neighboring  towns.  In  1831,  Rev.  Philo 
Bronson  was  appointed  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  there  by 
the  New  England  Conference.  In  1832,  Rev.  Joseph  Brown 
supplied  the  pulpit  for  three  or  four  months,  and  Rev.  Thomas 
W.  Gile  for  the  remainder  of  the  year.  The  church  as  well 
as  the  parish  was  organized  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Gile,  under  the  name  of  "  The  First  Parish  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  for  the  towns  of  West  Newbury  and  New- 
bury," and  Micajah  Poor  was  chosen  clerk. 

Rev.  Samuel  W.  Coggshall  was  appointed  pastor  of  the 
church  in  1833.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Hezekiah 
Thatcher,  who  remained  in  charge  of  the  parish  until  1838. 
After  that  date,  services  were  conducted  by  occasional 
preachers  from  Ipswich,  Rowley,  Salisbury,  and  other  towns 
in  the  neighborhood  until  1846,  when  the  church  was  placed 
in  chargfe  of  the  officers  and  members  of  the  Methodist  so- 


394  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

cicty  in  Newburyport,  and  a  vigorous  effort  was  made  to  in- 
crease and  strengthen  its  work  and  influence. 

In  1855,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  John  L.  Trefren,  the 
chapel  was  removed  to  its  present  location,  near  the  Boston 
&  Maine  Railroad  station,  in  Byfield  parish,  Newbury,  and 
subsequently  remodelled  and  enlarged.*  Most  of  the  minis- 
ters appointed  to  carry  on  the  work  in  the  new  chapel,  follow- 
ing the  rule  or  custom  of  the  Methodist  church,  remained 
only  one  year.  Several,  however,  were  retained  for  a  longer 
term  of  service.  Rev.  O.  S.  Butler  occupied  the  pulpit  from 
1858  to  1861  and  again  from  1863  to  1866.  In  1868,  during 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Garret  Beckman,  the  church  was  again 
remodelled  and  enlarged. 

Rev.  William  W.  Bowers  was  appointed  pastor  of  the 
church  April  14,  1900,  and  still  retains  that  office.  In  the 
month  of  September,  1901,  the  meeting  house  was  removed 
and  a  new  one  erected  on  the  same  site.  It  was  dedicated  to 
the  worship  of  God,  Sunday,  June  15,  1902. 

*  Land  was  purchased  July  24,  1855,  and  March  21,  1859.  (See  Essex  Deeds,  book  dxvii., 
leaf  88;  book  dlxxxiv.,  leaves  igg,  300.) 


CHAPTER    VII. 

SCHOOLS    AND    SCHOOLMASTERS. 

Anthony  Somerby  came  to  New  England  in  1639  in  the 
ship  "Jonathan."  *  He  was  probably  the  first  school-teacher 
employed  by  the  town  of  Newbury. 

There  was  granted  unto  Anthony  Somerby  in  the  year  1639  for  his 
encouragement  to  keepe  schoole  for  one  yeare  foure  Akers  of  upland 
over  the  great  river  in  the  necke,  also  sixe  Akers  of  salt  marsh  next  to 
Abraham  Toppan's  twenty  akers,  the  which  twenty  Akers  lyes  on  the 
south  side  of  it.f 

Soon  after  the  removal  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  from 
Parker  river  to  the  new  settlement  on  Merrimack  river, 
Anthony  Somerby  was  chosen  town  clerk,  which  office  he  held 
for  more  than  thirty-eight  years.  The  new  meeting-house 
erected  "  upon  a  knowle  of  upland  by  Abraham  Toppan's 
barne "  was  used  as  a  school-house  until  a  more  suitable 
building  was  provided.  Taxes  were  assessed  for  the  main- 
tenance and  support  of  the  school,  which  was  established  by 
vote  of  the  town,  and  placed  under  the  supervision  of  the 
committee  named  in  the  following  certificate  :  — 

At  a  town  meeting  Nov.  29  1652  There  was  voted  by  the  major  part 
of  the  towne  that  there  should  be  a  convenient  house  built  for  a  schoole. 
There  was  also  voted  that  there  should  be  twenty  pounds  a  yeare  allowed 
for  to  maintaine  a  schoolmaster  out  of  the  Towne  rate.  There  was  also 
voted  that  M""  Woodman,  Richard  Kent,  Junr,  Lieut:  Pike  &  Nicholas 
Noyes  should  be  a  committee  for  manageing  of  the  business  of  the 
the  schoole  &c 

At  a  generall  meeting  of  the  town  May  14,  1653  (?)  there  was  ordered 
&  voted  that  the  towne  should  by  an  equall  proportion  according  to 
mens  estates  by  way  of  rates  pay  foure  and  twenty  pounds  by  the  yeare 

*  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  vol.  xxxii. ,  p.  411. 
tTown  of  Newbury  Records,  p.  34 ;  also,  Proprietors'  Records,  p.  47. 

395 


396  II I  STORY  OF  NEWIWKY 

to  maintain  a  free  schoole  to  be  kept  at  the  meeting  house  &  the  master 
to  teach  all  such  inhabitants  children  as  shall  be  sent  to  him  so  soon  as 
they  know  their  letters  «S:  begin  to  read. 

A  true  coppy  taken  out  of  the  Towne  Book 

pr  Anthony  Somerby.* 

The  General  Court,  in  order  to  encourage  and  promote  the 
dissemination  of  knowledge,  ordered,  November  11,  1647, 
every  town  having  fifty  householders  to  appoint  a  suitable 
person  to  teach  reading  and  writing  in  that  town,  and  further 
ordered 

.  .  .  yt  where  any  towne  shall  increase  to  ye  numb""  of  100  families  or 
household's  they  shall  set  up  a  grafher  schoole,  ye  mr  thereof  being  able 
to  instruct  youth  so  farr  as  they  may  be  fited  for  ye  University,  prvided 
yt  if  any  towne  neglect  ye  pformance  hereof  above  one  yeare,  yt  every 
such  towne  shall  pay  5^  to  ye  next  schoole  till  they  shall  pforme  this 
order.f 

For  non-compliance  with  this  law  the  inhabitants  of  New- 
bury were  compelled  to  answer  at  the  court  held  at  Ipswich 
May  6,  1658. 

Newbury  upon  their  presentment  for  want  of  a  latin  scoole  is  to  pay 
five  pounds  to  Ipswich  lattin  scool,  unless  they  by  the  nexte  court 
provyde  a  lattin  scoole  master  according  to  law.  j 

Whether  the  fine  imposed  by  the  court  was  paid  or  a 
"lattin  scoole  master "  employed  within  the  time  named  is 
uncertain,  as  the  town  records  for  several  years  subsequent  to 
that  date  have  been  lost  or  destroyed. 

At  a  legal  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  held 
October  5,  1675,  "it  was  voted  to  have  a  schoolmaster  got  to 
teach  to  write  &  read  &  cypher  &  teach  a  gramer  schoole  "  ;  § 
and,  November  10,  1675,  the  selectmen  voted  "That  whereas 
the  Law  requires  that  our  Towne  should  maintaine  a  Gram- 
mer  schoole  &  a  schoole  master  to  teach  to  recite  &  read,  the 
Selectmen  agreed  with  Henry  Short  to  be  the  schoolmaster 
and  to  have  for  this  first  halfc  yeare  five  pounds  to  be  paid 
out  of  the  Towne  Rate  and  to  have  sixpence  a  week  for  every 
scholar."  J^ 

*  Ipswich  Court  Files,  vol.  iv.,  leaf  21. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii,,  p.  203.        X  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  i.,  leaf  68. 

§Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


SCHOOLS  AND   SCHOOLMASTERS  397 

June  21,  1676  the  selectmen  agreed  with  Henry  Short  to  keep  schoole 
for  this  yeare  from  the  first  Day  of  May  last  past  (which  time  untill  now 
he  hath  taught  children)  &  he  is  to  teach  untill  the  first  day  of  May  next 
&  the  selectmen  Do  engage  to  pay  him  ten  pounds  out  of  the  next  Towne 
Rate  and  if  the  number  be  about  twenty  scholars  &  upwards  he  is  to 
teach  them  at  the  watch  house.* 

At  a  legal  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  held 
September  21,  1677,  Daniel  Pierce,  jr.,  and  Nicholas 
Noyes  were  chosen  "  to  get  a  .schoolmaster  and  agree 
with  him  to  teach  children,  and  the  Towne  voted  for  in- 
couragement  to  give  twenty  pounds  for  a  yeare  besides  what 
they  shal  agree  upon  for  the  children  that  shall  come  to 
schoole  to  him."  * 

November  22,  1678,  the  town  again  voted  to  give  twenty 
pounds  a  year  to  maintain  the  schoolmaster,  and  April  1 3, 
1680,  voted  to  pay  twenty  pounds  out  of  the  town  rate  "to 
M''  Emerson  for  to  keep  school." 

In  answer  to  the  petition  of  several  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Newbury  the  General  Court  authorized  the  selectmen  of  the 
town,  June  11,  1680,  to  raise  the  sum  of  sixty  pounds  annually 
"  for  the  encouragement  of  learning  &  Maintenance  of  the 
schole  master  there."  f  Taking  advantage  of  this  order  of 
the  court,  Mr.  Emerson  demanded  an  increase  of  salary ;  but 
the  town  answered  that  it  had  no  further  use  for  his  services, 
and  dismissed  him.  On  the  fourteenth  day  of  September  fol- 
lowing, a  committee  was  appointed  to  see  if  he  would  accept 
twenty  pounds  a  year  for  keeping  the  school.  He  declined 
the  offer,  and  claimed  that  the  notice  of  dismissal  was  illegal.^ 

October  13,  1680,  the  General  Court  ordered  that  Mr. 
Emerson  should  continue  to  be  schoolmaster  at  Newbury  until 
the  next  session  of  the  court,  and  that  threescore  pounds 
should  be  paid  him  for  his  services. §  The  town,  however, 
voted  to  employ  Mr.  Baily  to  keep  a  school  in  the  watch- 
house,  and  appointed  a  committee  to  settle  with  Mr,  Emerson, 
if  possible.  The  question  of  salary  could  not  be  satisfactorily 
adjusted,  although  repeated  attempts  were  made  to  accomplish 

•Town  of  Newbury  Records.  t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  v.,  p.  272. 

jTown  of  Newbury  Records  ;  see  also  "  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  105. 
§  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  v.,  p.  299. 


398  HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 

that  result.     At  a  town  meeting  held  May  4,  1681,  the  sub- 
ject was  again  considered. 

Sergeant  Tristram  Coffin  and  Joseph  Pike  were  desired  by  the  Towne 
to  treat  with  Mr  John  Emerson  about  his  wages  for  keeping  schoole  this 
last  yeare  past  from  May  in  the  yeare  1680  untill  this  present  May: 
whereupon  the  said  M^  Emerson  did  promise  and  engage  to  us  above 
mentioned  that  in  case  the  Towne  pay  or  give  security  for  the  payment 
(to  the  said  M""  Emerson)  of  twenty  pounds  in  merchantable  come  or 
mault  by  the  twentieth  of  this  Instant  May,  and  by  the  last  of  October 
next  forty  pounds  more  in  the  like  merchantable  corne  &  mault  that  the 
said  Ml"  Emerson  do  engage  to  desist  from  keeping  schoole  in  Newbury 
forthwith  upon  such  engagement. 

This  proposal  or  agreement  was  accepted  without  further 
delay,  and  the  following  order  was  then  adopted  :  — 

The  Towne  having  heard  &  received  Mr  Emersons  answer  to  the 
said  Sergeant  Coffin  &  Joseph  Pike  do  consent  thereunto  and  do  hereby 
grant  the  same  and  do  hereby  order  and  empower  the  Selectmen  to  make 
a  rate  of  sixty  pounds  for  the  settlement  [with]  Mr  Emerson  according 
to  the  said  agreement,  to  be  levied  on  the  Towne  in  part,  and  the  rest 
on  the  schollars  that  have  been  Instructed  by  the  said  Mr  Emerson  this 
last  yeare,  according  to  theire  discretion.* 

The  following  petition  was  presented  to  the  General  Court 
for  the  repeal  of  the  order  requiring  the  town  of  Newbury  to 
raise  the  sum  of  sixty  pounds  annually  for  the  support  of  a 
schoolmaster. 

To  the   Honoured   Generall  Court  now  assembled   at  Boston  May  11, 
1 68 1. 
The  Humble  petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  Newbury  in  the  behalf  of 
the  Towne  Humbly  Sheweth 

That  whereas  this  Honoured  Court  was  pleased  to  order  our  Town 
to  pay  sixty  pounds  pr  Annum  to  a  schoolmaster  this  may  certify  this 
Honoured  Court  that  according  to  their  order  wee  have  taken  a  course 
for  the  paying  of  the  said  sixty  pounds  unto  Mr  Emerson  who  was  then  in 
the  place  to  his  satisfaction.  And  the  Towne  hath  agreed  with  a 
schoolmaster  and  taken  order  for  his  maintenance,  who  is  an  able  ortho- 
dox man.  Therefore  wee  humbly  desire  this  Honoured  Court  that  they 
wil  bee  pleased  to  repeale  the  order  for  the  payment  of  the  said  three 
score  pounds  pr  Annum  and  leave  our  Towne  to  the  same  Liberty  to 
make  a  bargaine  for  a  school  as  the  rest  of  the  Townes  in  the  Country 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


SCHOOLS  AND   SCHOOLMASTERS  399 

are,  we  are  all  now  agreed  and  if  that  order  should  stand  we  feare  it 
may  make  a  breach  amongst  us,  not  doubting  but  that  you  will  be 
pleased  to  consider  and  grant  our  humble  request  we  humbly  pray 

Nicholas  Noyes    ^ 
Samuel  Plumer 
Granted  by  the  deputies  Joseph  Pike  J^-  Selectmen* 

Consented  to  by  the  magistrates  George  March 

Edward  Rawson  Secretary  Moses  Gerrish     ) 

In  ansr  to  the  petition  of  Nicholas  Noyes,  Samuel  Plumer  &c  select- 
men of  Newbury,  humbly  desiring  that,  being  agreed,  the  late  order  for 
the  payment  of  sixty  pounds  p  anna  to  their  then  schoole  master,  may 
be  repealled,  the  Court  judgeth  it  meet  to  grant  the  peticon.f 

A  statement  of  Mr.  Emerson's  account,  with  the  following 
voucher,  was  recorded,  with  other  transactions  of  the  town,  a 
few  months  later: — 

Received  of  Joseph  Pike  constable  of  Newbury  according  to  accord- 
ing to  the  severall  sums  above  mentioned,  the  full  and  just  summe  of  an 
hundred  &  ten  pounds  in  satisfaction  in  full  for  whatsoever  is  due  to  me 
from  the  towne  of  Newbury  for  keeping  schoole  in  the  said  towne  of 
Newbury,  and  I  do  hereby  acquit  &  discharge  the  said  Constable  »S: 
Towne  from  all  debts  «&  demands  on  that  account  from  the  begining  of 
the  world  to  this  present  day  dated  February  22,  168 1-2  As  witness 
my  hand  Jno  Emerson.J 

On  the  ninteenth  day  of  October,  168 1,  the  town  of 
Newbury  voted  "  that  the  selectmen  shall  make  a  rate  of 
twenty  pounds  for  the  Towne  pay'  for  Mr  Baily.  And  that 
the  yeare  begine  for  M""  Baily  schooling  this  day  October  19, 
i68i."§ 

Mr.  Baily  was  probably  employed  as  schoolmaster  until  his 
successor,  Mr.  Edward  Tomson,  was  appointed.  In  1684, 
there  was  due  from  the  town  of  Newbury  "  To  M""  Edward 
Tomson  for  keeping  school  this  year  £,'^0''  § 

March  28,  1687  The  Towne  voted  that  y^  selectmen  should  agree 
wtli  Mr  Tompson  to  keepe  scoole  for  the  Towne  one  quarter  of  a  year 
from  this  time,  provided  he  will   be  pleased  to  keepe  ye  schoole  y^  s^ 

•Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  Iviii.,  p.  107. 
t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  v.,  p.  316. 

{Town  of  Newbury  Records.     Mr.  Emerson  subsequently  laught  school  in  Salem  from  1699 
to  1712.     (See  Felt's  Annals  of  Salem,  p.  354.) 
§  TowTi  of  Xewbury  Records  (1680-92). 


400  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

quarter  of  a  yeare  for  seven  pounds  &  ten  shillings.     \*^  scholars  to  pay 
pr  week  as  formerly.* 

September  6,  16S7,  The  Towne  considering  the  great  advantage  & 
benefit  that  have  been  &  may  be  to  ye  Towne  by  promoting  of  Learn- 
ing among  us  do  desire  ye  Rev^d  Mr  Richardson  and  y^  selectmen  to 
procure  an  able  schoolmaster  for  us  for  ye  Teaching  of  children  to  Read 
write  &  cipher  and  to  ffit  them  for  the  Colledg  and  for  ye  [maintenance] 
of  a  schoolmaster  we  do  promise  to  give  twenty  pounds  for  ye  first  yeare 
in  good  country  pay,  besides  what  the  schollers  shall  give,  and  also  five 
pounds  for  this  yeare  to  each  end  of  ye  Towne  to  be  disposed  of  by  ye 
selectmen  according  to  y  discretion  to  such  schoolmasters  as  shall  be 
improved  for  ye  teaching  of  children  to  Read,  write  &  cipher.  But  if 
ye  ends  of  the  Towne  shall  neglect  to  procure  a  schoolmaster  to  teach  to 
reade,  write  &  cypher  as  aforesd  that  then  ye  whole  thirty  pounds  shall 
go  to  ye  Latin  schoolmaster.* 

On  the  eighteenth  day  of  October  following,  the  committee, 
consisting  of  Rev.  Mr.  Richardson  and  the  selectmen,  re- 
ported as  follows  :  — 

Whereas  ye  Towne  of  Newbury  at  a  meeting  of  theys  Sept.  6  last 
past  did  imploy  us  ye  subscribers  a  committee  for  ye  procuring  of  a  school- 
master as  in  the  said  vote  may  appear  :  We  have  accordingly  now  agreed 
wth  Mr  Seth  Shove  to  be  ye  lattin  schoolmaster  for  ye  Towne  for  this 
present  year  &  to  performe  sd  worke  of  a  Lattin  schoolmaster  for  read- 
ing, writing  and  cyphering  according  to  sd  vote. 

Jno  Richardson 
Daniel  Pearce 
Tristram  Coffin 
Nathl  Clarke 
Richard  Bartlet 
Joseph  BAYLEV.f 

December  25,  1689  voted  that  IVT''  Seth  Shove  should  have  twenty 
pounds  for  this  last  y  for  keeping  schoole  &  after  y<  proportion  if  he 
hath  kept  schoole  above  a  ye  since  the  first  year.J 

April  22,  1690  the  Towne  voted  to  give  M""  Seth  Shove  twenty  five 
pourrds  in  Townes  pay  for  this  present  year  &  the  pay  of  the  schollers 
according  to  custom,  provided  he  keeps  a  Lattin  schoole  amongst  us 
according  to  Law  and  a  schoole  for  teaching  to  rede,  wright  & 
cypher. J 

In  May,  1691,  the  town  voted  to  pay  Mr.  Seth  Shove 
thirty  pounds  upon  the  following  conditions,  namely,  that  for 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records  (1680-92) ,  vol.  ii.,  p.  71. 
t  Town  of  Newbury  Records  ;  "  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  107. 
+  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


SCHOOLS  AND   SCHOOLMASTERS  4°! 

one  year  he  would  teach  "  readers  free,  Latin  scholars  six- 
pence per  week,  writers  and  cypherers  four  pence  per  week, 
to  keep  the  school  one  third  part  of  the  year  at  the  middle  of 
the  new  towne,  one  third  part  at  the  school  house,  and  the 
other  third  part  about  middle  way  between  the  meeting  house 
and  old  town  ferry."  * 

May  lo,  1693  voted  that  Mr.  John  Clarke  be  called  to  assist  Mr 
Richardson  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  at  the  west  end  .  .  .  and  also  to 
keep  a  grammar  schoole.* 

At  a  meeting  of  the  legal  voters  of  the  town  held  March 
26,  1694,  a  petition  presented  by  "Cap'  Dan"  Peirce,  Esq., 
Cap'  Thomas  Noyes,  Lieu'  Moses  Gerrish,  M""  Joseph  Wood- 
bridge,  M''  Nathaniel  Coffin  &  Benjamin  Morse  in  the  behalfe 
of  them  selves  &  neighbors  for  liberty  to  erect  a  little  house 
by  the  Rock  between  the  end  of  Cap'  Noyes  lane  &  M"" 
Woodbridge  for  the  accomodation  of  a  good  &  sufficient 
schoole  dame  "  ||  was  granted  upon  condition  that  the  land 
should  revert  to  the  town  if  the  building  was  used  for  any 
other  purpose  than  a  school-house.  This  land  was  laid  out 
by  the  lot-layers  July  24,  1704,  "upon  the  little  Hill  between 
the  end  of  L'  Col.  Noyes  his  lane  &  Mr.  Woodbridges 
house  according  to  s'^  grant  as  it  is  bounded  w"'  the  comon 
on  every  side  being  about  forty  foote  square."  f 

June  5,  1695,  Mr.  Christopher  Toppan  was  invited  to 
assist  Rev.  Mr.  Richardson  in  the  work  of  the  ministry ;  and 
the  town  voted  to  give  him  "  thirty  pounds  a  year  so  long  as 
he  shall  keep  a  grammar  and  a  writing  schoole,  the  scholars 
to  pay  as  they  did  to  M''  John  Clarke."  * 

July  29,  1696  for  the  encouragement  of  M'  Nicholas  Webster  for 
keeping  of  a  Gramer  school  heer  in  Newbury  the  Town  voted  to  give 
to  him  the  said  Mr  Nicholas  Webster  thirty  pounds  for  one  year  in 
country  pay,  provided  he  demand  but  four  pence  per  weeke  for  Lattin 
schollers  and  teach  all  the  Towns  children  that  come  to  him  to  read 
write  &  cipher  freely,  without  pay.* 

May  II,  1697  voted  that  the  agreement  made  with  Nicholas  Webster 
July  29,  1696  about  keeping  school  be  renewed  for  the  year  ensuing.* 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Town  of  Newbury  (Proprietors')  Records,  p.  31. 


402  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

December  i8,  1699  Lieut  Coffin,  Lieu'  Noyes  «&  Dec"  William  Noyes 
were  desired  to  discourse  w«ii  Mr  Toppan  &  Mr  Richard  Browne  for 
Mr  Browne  to  preach  a  lecture  once  a  month  &  once  every  sacramt  day 
and  to  keepe  y*-"  Grammer  Schoole  and  to  help  M^  Toppan  or  Mr  Bel- 
cher in  preaching  in  case  of  sickness,  and  if  Mr  Browne  accept  of  the 
call,  then  to  give  Mr  Webster  a  quarter  of  a  years  warning  to  Leave  ye 
schoole.* 

Mr.  Richard  Brown  was  employed  March  18,  1 700-1, 
"  to  keep  the  Grammer  Schoole  for  the  year  ensuing  on  the 
same  conditions  as  last  year  "  ;  and  two  years  later  his  salary 
was  fixed  at  thirty  pounds  per  annum.* 

March  7,  1709-10,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  voted  to 
employ  Mr.  Brown  to  keep  the  grammar  school  for  another 
year,  and  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  expend  twenty 
pounds  at  their  discretion  "  for  y^  promoting  of  writing  &  cy- 
phering in  the  remote  parts  of  y^  Town."  * 

March  13,  1710-1,  Mr.  Brown  was  again  engaged  to  keep 
the  grammar  school ;  and  it  was  also  "  voted  that  he  is  to  have 
liberty  to  leave  it  when  he  pleases."  *  The  same  day  he  was 
re-elected  town  clerk.  In  the  month  of  October  following, 
having  decided  to  remove  to  Reading,  w^here  he  was  after- 
wards ordained  as  a  minister,  he  wrote  on  a  fly-leaf  of  one  of 
the  town  books  as  follows  :  — 

I  have  served  Newbury  as  schoolmaster  eleven  years  and  an  half  and 
as  town  clerk  about  five  years  and  have  been  repaid  with  abuse,  con- 
tempt and  ingratitude.  I  have  sent  nigh  as  many  to  college  as  all  the 
masters  before  me  since  the  reverend  and  learned  Parker.  Those  I  have 
bred  think  themselves  better  than  their  master  (God  make  them  better 
still)  and  yet  they  may  remember  ye  foundation  of  all  their  growing 
greatness  was  laid  in  the  sweat  of  my  brows. 

I  pray  that  poor  unacknowledging  Newbury  may  get  them  that  may 
serve  them  better  and  find  thanks  when  they  have  done. 

If  to  find  a  house  for  ye  school  two  years,  when  ye  town  had  none, 
gratis,  if  to  take  the  scholars  to  my  own  fire  when  there  was  no  wood  at 
school  as  frequently,  if  to  give  records  to  the  poor,  and  record  their 
births  and  deaths  gratis  deserves  acknowledgements,  then  it  is  my  due, 
but  hard  to  come  by. 

Est  aliqua  ingrato  meritum  exprobare  voluptas 
Hoc  fruar,  haec  de  te  gaudia  sola  feram. 

R.  Brown. t 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  See  Record  of  Births,  Marriages,  and  Deaths  in  the  town  of  Newbury  for  tlie  years  1635-1735. 


SCHOOLS  AND  SCHOOLMASTERS  403 

October  9,  171 1  Mr.  Joshua  Moody  was  chosen  to  keep  ye  Gramar 
School  y^  remainder,  of  y«  present  year  .  .  .  also  voted  that  ye  gramar 
school  be  removed  to  (jreenleafs  Lane  or  near  there  abouts  provided  a 
convenient  place  be  forthwith  provided  by  ye  selectmen  and  the  master 
be  willing  to  keep  it  there  until  the  town  meeting  in  March  next* 

March  11,  1711-12  voted  that  a  house  for  ye  keeping  ye  Gramer 
school  in,  shall  be  bilt  and  set  up  near  ye  middle  waye,  between  ye  old 
school  house  &  ye  little  old  house  now  standing  by  ye  way  near  frog 
Pond  and  that  the  Gramer  schoole  master  shall  have  fifteen  pounds  in 
money  and  fifteen  pounds  as  money  for  keeping  the  Schollers  to  learn 
Lattin  &  to  write  &  cypher  for  the  year  ensuing.* 

March  10,  171 2-3,  John  Woodbridge,  son  of  Rev.  John 
Woodbridge,  was  chosen  to  keep  the  grammar  school  at  a 
salary  of  twenty-five  pounds.*  He  was  elected  annually 
for  eighteen  years.  In  1718,  his  salary  was  raised  to  forty 
pounds  per  annum,  and  in  17 19  sixty  pounds  additional  was 
raised  "  for  maintaining  schools  in  the  remote  parts  of  the 
town."*  March  9,  1730-1,  the  town  voted  that  Mr.  John 
Woodbridge  "  shall  have  forty  five  pounds  for  his  service  and 
shall  have  none  but  Latin  scholars."  * 

Reading  and  writing  schools  for  the  instruction  of  children 
living  in  the  Second  parish  in  Newbury  were  established 
February  12,  17 16-7;  and  the  assessors  were  authorized  "to 
agree  with  four  schoolmasters  to  teach  to  write  and  cypher,  and 
to  keep  schoole  in  four  places  in  the  precinct,  viz :  one  below 
Artechoak  River  and  one  neere  the  meeting  house,  one  neere 
Joseph  Hills  and  one  neere  Capt  Hugh  Marches,  each  schoole 
to  have  an  equal  share  of  the  ten  pounds  which  is  allotted  by 
the  Town  for  y^  schools."  f 

After  the  organization  of  the  Third  parish  in  1725,  the  town 
voted  March  11,  1728-9,  to  raise  for  the  maintenance  of 
schools  in  the  First  parish  thirty  pounds,  for  the  Second 
parish  thirty  pounds ;  and  for  the  Third  parish,  the  same 
amount ;  "  also  fifteen  pounds  for  Newbury's  part  of  the  Falls 
parish."  *  • 

At  that  date  schools  were  kept  in  private  houses,  or  in 
other  buildings  conveniently  Itjcated,  as  well  as  in  the  school- 

•  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Newbury  (.Second  Parish)  Records,  p.  53. 


404  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

house  then  standing  near  the  First  Parish  meeting-house.  In 
1 69 1  Mr.  Seth  Shove  was  employed  to  teach  "at  the  new- 
town  "  one-third  of  the  year,  **  at  the  school  house  "  one-third 
of  the  year,  and  at  a  place,  to  be  agreed  upon,  "  between  the 
meeting  house  and  old  town  ferry,"  for  the  remainder  of  the 
year.  Subsequently  the  amount  appropriated  annually  by  the 
town  for  the  support  of  schools  was  divided  among  the 
parishes,  and  they  were  authorized  and  instructed  to  provide 
convenient  school-rooms  and  suitable  teachers. 

April  22,  1729,  the  inhabitants  of  the  Second  parish  voted 
"  to  hire  a  gramer  school  master  to  keep  school  in  y^  parish 
and  to  keep  ye  school  half  ye  year  at  y^  easterly  end  of  y^ 
parish  as  neer  y^  middle,  between  Indian  river  and  Thomas 
Bartlets  as  may  be,  and  y^  other  half  of  y^  year  as  neer  y® 
middle  of  y^  West  part  of  y^  parish,  between  indian  river  and 
Bradford,  as  may  be."  * 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  First  parish  held 
March  13,  1729-30,  it  was  voted  that  the  school  be  kept  in 
the  First  parish,  at  the  usual  place,  for  nine  months,  until  the 
last  day  of  November,  at  the  "old  town"  for  the  next  two 
months  (December  and  January),  and  at  the  "  Farms  "  for  the 
month  of  February. f 

March  17,  1729-30,  the  inhabitants  of  the  Third  parish 
voted  to  build  a  school-house  on  High  street,  between  Fish, 
now  State  street,  and  Queen,  now  Market  street,  Newbury- 
port.J 

Evidently,  the  arrangements  made  in  some  of  the  parishes 
were  not  satisfactory  to  the  legal  voters  of  the  town  ;  and  the 
location  of  the  schools  was  frequently  criticised  and  con- 
demned. It  was  voted  May  12,  1732,  "that  ye  grammer 
scool  shall  be  kept  at  y^  Towns  house  by  y^  meeting  House 
in  y^  first  parish,  this  year." 

Voted  March  13,  1732-3  that  the  school  house  now  standing  neer  ye 
meeting  House  in  ye  first  parish  is  given  to  those  that  live  remote  in 
said  parish,  provided  they  will  repair  it  &  keep  it  so,  for  them  to  keep 
in  on  Sabath  days.§ 

*  Newbury  (Second  Parisli)  Records,  p.  65.  +  Newbury  (First  Parish)  Records. 

X  "Ould  Newbury,"  p.  433.  §To\vn  of  Newbury  Records. 


SCHOOLS  AXD  SCHOOLMASTERS  405 

Stephen  Sewall  was  chosen  schoolmaster  March  13, 
1732-3;  and  the  town  voted  to  keep  the  grammar  school 
'*  for  the  ensuing  year  at  or  near  Chandlers  lane."  * 

March  12,  1733-4  voted  to  raise  forty  pounds  toward  ye  support  of  a 
gramer  scoole  master  for  ye  year  insuing  to  be  kept  on  ye  west  side  of 
Artechoak  River  &  to  be  a  free  scoole  for  lattin  scollers  &  no  other  use, 
provided  some  suitable  persons  in  that  part  of  ye  Town  do  git  a  suitable 
person  as  ye  Law  directs  to  keep  said  scoole  for  this  Towne  &  take  care 
sfi  scoole  be  well  &  faithfully  kept,  ect.  and  if  ye  people  above  Arte- 
choak River  do  not  timely  provide  a  man  to  keep  scoole  as  above  said, 
then  ye  selectmen  are  desired  to  provide  a  gramer  scoole  master  for  ye 
Towne  for  ye  year  insuing.* 

March  11,  1734-5,  the  town  voted  to  pay  forty  pounds 
toward  the  cost  of  keeping  a  grammar  school  at  Newbury 
Falls  (Byfield)  ;  and  March  9,  1735-6,  a  like  sum  was  voted 
for  the  support  of  a  grammar  school  between  Chandler's  lane 
and  John  Weed,  jr.'s,  house. f  The  location  selected  for  the 
last-named  school  was  evidently  unsatisfactory.  On  the 
tenth  day  of  May  following  the  town  voted  to  pay  forty  pounds 
"  to  y^  inhabitants  of  y^  first  parish,  provided  they  get  &  keep  a 
good  &  suitable  man  to  keep  a  free  gramer  school,  in  such 
place  or  places  in  said  parish  as  they  shall  agree,  the  year 
ensuing."  *  The  inhabitants  of  the  Third  parish  were  granted 
forty  pounds  March  8,  1736-7,  "provided  they  do  procure  a 
suitable  man  for  to  keep  a  free  scoole  for  the  Towne  for  y^  year 
insuing."  * 

For  twenty-five  or  thirty  years  after  that  date  the  grammar 
school  was  annually  changed  from  parish  to  parish,  in  order 
that  all  who  desired  to  attend  might  have  opportunity.  June 
2,  1742,  the  town  voted  that  the  school  "shall  be  kept  in  y'^ 
scool  House  near  y*  meeting  House  in  y^  first  parish,"  and 
on  the  twenty-second  day  of  September  following  voted  that 
"  it  shall  be  kept  in  the  third  parish  y^  year  ensuing  at  y*= 
charge  of  this  town."  * 

May  15,  1744  voted  that  ye  gramer  school  shall  be  kept  this  year  at 
such  place  or  places  as  may  best  acomodate  ye  second  &  fourth 
parishes.  * 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  John  Weed's  house  was  on  the  southwesterly  side  of  High  street,  nearly  opposite  the  head 
of  Lime  street,  Newburyport.    (See  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  135-13S.) 


4o6  HISTORY  OF  NEWIWRY 

May  14,  1745  voted  that  the  gramer school  be  kept  in  the  first  parish 
for  one  year  next  ensuing.* 

May  26,  1746  voted  that  ye  gramer  school  shall  be  kept  in  ye  3d 
parish  ye  year  insuing.* 

May  19,  1747  voted  that  the  Gramer  School  be  kept  until  March 
next  in  that  part  of  Byfield  parish  as  may  be  most  convenient  for  the 
inhabitants  thereof.* 

March  <S,  1747-8  voted  to  employ  a  suitable  person  to  teach  the 
gramer  school  in  the  second  &  fourth  parishes  for  the  year  insuing.* 

May  14,  1752  voted  to  continue  the  town  school  at  Byfield  until  the 
inhabitants  of  that  parish,  in  the  judgment  of  the  selectmen,  have  had 
their  proportion  of  the  money  appropriated.* 

March  13,  1752-3  voted  to  provide  a  school  for  reading  and  writing 
to  be  kept  in  the  first  parish  this  year,  in  the  second  parish  next  year, 
and  in  the  third  and  fourth  parishes  the  years  next  following  ;  also  voted 
that  the  grammer  school  be  kept  in  the  most  convenient  place  for  the 
town,  and  that  the  selectmen  be  instructed  to  provide  a  good  place  and 
a  good  teacher.* 

October  20,  1 763  voted  to  build  a  house  to  keep  the  Gramer  School 
in  at  or  near  the  head  of  Fish  street.* 

March  9,  1779  voted  that  the  unanimous  thanks  of  the  town  be 
given  to  Samuel  Moody,  Esq.  for  his  generous  donation  of  one  hundred 
pounds  at  this  time,  and  of  twenty  pounds  some  time  past  for  the 
purpose  of  a  growing  fund  for  a  grammar  school  being  in  the  town  for 
the  instruction  of  youth.* 

In  1792  the  town  was  divided  into  school  districts;  and  a 
committee,  consisting  of  Ebenezer  March,  Es^.,  Stephen 
Hooper,  Esq.,  Dudley  A.  Tyng,  Esq.,  Enoch  Sawyer,  Esq., 
and  Mr.  Jeremiah  Pearson,  with  the  ministers  and  selectmen 
of  the  town,  was  appointed  to  supervise  and  inspect  the 
schools.  At  the  annual  meeting  held  March  13,  1 792,  the 
overseers  of  the  poor  were  instructed  to  provide  clothing  for 
destitute  children,  and  also  for  their  regular  attendance  at  the 
public  schools. 

The  school-houses  erected  in  Newbury  previous  to  the 
Revolutionary  war  were  square  wooden  buildings,  with  win- 
dows on  all  four  sides.  They  were  well  and  substantially 
built,  with  a  low,  hip  roof,  and  a  door  opening  from  the 
street  into  the  school-room.  The  teacher's  desk  was  on  a 
raised  platform  nearly  opposite   the    door ;  and  the  benches 

•Town  of  Newburj'  Records. 


SCHOOLS  AND   SCHOOLMASTERS  407 

on  which  the  scholars  sat  were  arranged  in  rows  at  the  right 
and  left  of  the  desk,  facing  the  stove  that  stood  in  the  centre 
of  the  room,  between  the  teacher's  desk  and  the  door.  Pupils 
attending  school  paid  sixpence  weekly,  in  addition  to  the 
amount  appropriated  by  the  town  or  parish  for  the  support  of 
the  schoolmaster.  Young  beginners  were  taught  to  read 
and  spell  from  hornbooks  imported,  probably,  from  England. 
These  books  consisted  of  a  single  leaf  or  page,  on  which  the 
alphabet,  the  syllables  "  ab,  eb,' ib,  ob,"  etc.,  the  benediction, 
and  the  Lord's  Prayer  were  printed.  To  a  thin  piece  of 
wood,  four  or  five  inches  long  and  two  inches  wide,  with  a 
short  handle  at  the  lower  end,  the  printed  page  was  securely 
fastened,  and  covered  with  a  thin  sheet  of  horn,  through  which 
the  letters  could  be  seen  and  read.  A  narrow  strip  of  brass, 
nailed  to  the  edges  of  the  wood,  held  the  horn  in  place. 

From  these  hornbooks  children  learned  the  letters  of  the 
alphabet  at  home,  and  then  were  sent  to  school  to  learn  to 
read  and  spell.  Judge  Sewall,  in  his  diary,  under  the  date 
of  April  27,  1691,  wrote  as  follows  :  — 

This  Afternoon  had  Joseph  to  school  to  Capt  Townsend's  mother's, 
his  Cousin  Jane  accompanying  him,  carried  his  Horn-book.* 

The  first  edition  of  the  New  England  Primer  was  published 
probably  in  1695.  It  rose  rapidly  in  popular  favor,  and 
before  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century  it  had  practically 
supplanted  the  hornbook  in  the  schools  of  Newbury.  Many 
editions  of  this  favorite  text-book  were  published  in  Boston, 
New  York,  Philadelphia,  and  elsewhere,  including  one  by 
John  Mycall,  of  Newburyport,  in  1795.  It  contained,  in 
addition  to  the  alphabet,  a  table  of  easy  syllables,  a  morning 
and  evening  prayer  for  children,  grace  to  be  said  before  meat, 
and  the  familiar  rhymes  beginning 

"  In  Adam's  fall 

We  sinned  all," 
and  ending  with 

"  Zaccheus  he 

Did  climb  a  tree 

His  Lord  to  see." 

*  Samuel  Sewall's  Diary,  vol.  i.,  p.  344. 


4o8  HJSTOKY   OF  NEWBURY 

For  more  than  a  century  after  the  settlement  of  Newbury, 
the  Bible  and  the  Catechism  were  the  only  reading-books 
used  in  the  schools.  Penmanship  was  taught,  but  proficiency 
in  the  art  of  writing  was  acquired  by  practice,  and  not  by 
study.  Pupils  imitated  to  the  best  of  their  ability  copies  set 
for  them  by  the  schoolmaster.  Although  considerable  time 
and  attention  was  devoted  to  spelling,  the  principles  of  ety- 
mology and  orthography  were  unsettled,  and  the  combination 
of  letters  used  to  form  words  Varied,  apparently,  according  to, 
the  idiosyncrasies  and  peculiarities  of  the  teacher.  When  a 
word  was  given  out,  the  pupils  were  expected  to  pronounce  it 
and  spell  it  in  a  loud  voice,  all  speaking  together.  On  warm 
summer  days,  when  the  windows  were  open,  the  sound  of 
their  voices  could  be  heard  a  long  distance. 

Arithmetic  was  taught  without  the  aid  of  text-books.  Sums 
in  addition,  subtraction,  multiplication,  and  division  were 
copied,  at  the  dictation  of  the  teacher,  into  books  consisting 
of  a  few  blank  sheets  of  paper  ;  and,  without  assistance,  pupils 
were  required  to  give  the  correct  answer.  The  first  arithme- 
tic published  in  America  was  compiled  by  Nicholas  Pike,  of 
Newburyport,  in  1786.  It  contained  over  three  hundred  and 
sixty  rules,  many  of  them  ambiguous  and  abstruse ;  but  only 
a  few  of  the  most  difficult  were  carefully  and  intelligently  ex- 
plained. 

Latin  grammar  was  taught  advanced  scholars,  but  there 
was  no  text-book  devoted  to  the  art  of  writing  or  speaking  the 
English  language.  The  first  English  grammar  used  in  the 
public  schools  of  Newbury  was  "  The  Young  Lady's  Acci- 
dence, or  a  Short  and  Easy  Introduction  to  English  Grammar, 
designed  principally  for  the  use  of  Young  Learners,  more 
especially  for  those  of  the  Fair  Sex,  though  Proper  for  Either." 
It  was  a  small  book  of  fifty-seven  pages,  about  the  size  of  the 
New  England  Primer,  written  by  Caleb  Bingham,  a  school- 
teacher of  Boston,  and  published  in  1789.* 

When  the  old  school-house  that  stood  in  the  First  parish 
in    Newbury  was  removed,  a  new  brick  building,   similar  in 

*  Caleb  Bingham  subsequently  published  several  other  school-books.  Two  of  them,  "The 
American  Preceptor"  and  "The  Columbian  Orator,"  were  exceedingly  popular,  and  passed 
through  many  editions. 


SCHOOLS  AND  SCHOOLMASTERS 


409 


size  and  shape,  was  erected  to  take  its  place,  on  "  the  trayne- 
ing  green,"  near  the  pond. 

The  half-tone  print  on  this  page  gives  a  view  of  the  brick 
school-house  as  it  was  thirty  years  ago.  It  is  taken  from  an 
oil  painting  now  in  the  possession  of  Hon.  Luther  Dame,  of 
Newburyport.* 

Moses  Atkinson,  in  his  will  dated  December  7,  1807,  and 
proved  July  5,  18 14,  gave  several  lots  of  land  and  other  prop- 


SCHOOL-HOUSE    ON    "TRAYNEING    GREEN,"  187; 


erty  to  "  School  District  Number  Two  in  Newbury,"  where  he 
had  lived  for  many  years,  "  for  the  support  of  a  school  for 
reading,  writing,  arithmetic  and  English  grammar."  With 
the  income  from  this  fund  an  evening  school  was  kept  two  or 
three  months  every  year  in  the  school-house  on  Pillsbury's 
lane,  now  Ashland  street,  Newburyport. 

April  23,  1849,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  voted  to  build 

*  Mr.  Dame  was  for  several  years  a  teacher  in  the  school-house  described  above.    He  painted 
the  sketch  after  the  building  was  taken  down  in  1873. 


41  o  II J  STORY  OF  NEWBURY 

a  school-house  on  land  owned  by  Rev.  Leonard  Withington, 
adjoining  the  First  Parish  burying-ground. 

This  building  was  erected  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
high  school,  established  by  order  of  the  General  Court. 
Subsequentl}'  the  law  requiring  the  town  to  maintain  a  high 
school  was  amended;  and  June  23,  1853,  the  selectmen  were 
authorized  to  sell  one-half  the  high-school  building  to  the 
ladies  of  the  First  Parish  church.  June  25,  1853,  Daniel 
Lunt,  treasurer  of  the  town  of  Newbury,  conveyed  by  deed 
to  Mrs.  Leonard  Withington,  Miss  Matilda  Plumer,  Mrs. 
George  Little,  Mrs.  Nathan  N.  Withington,  and  Mrs.  John 
Alter,  a  committee  representing  the  ladies  of  the  P'irst  parish 
in  Newbury,  "  the  Basement  half  of  said  school  house  together 
with  half  the  attic  and  half  the  cellar  beneath  the  same."  * 

October  19,  1854,  the  town  voted  to  sell  all  its  right,  title, 
and  interest  in  one  undivided  half  of  the  land  and  building ; 
and  on  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  October  following,  Daniel 
Lunt,  treasurer,  conveyed  to  Edward  Dole,  David  S.  Cald- 
well, George  Adams,  Isaac  Adams,  and  Luther  Noyes  all  the 
interest  that  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  then  had  "  in  a 
certain  tract  of  land  bought  of  Leonard  Withington  and  his 
wife  Caroline  November  24,  1849,"  and  also  in  the  high- 
school  building  standing  thereon. f 

After  the  act  establishing  the  city  of  Newburyport  had 
been  accepted  in  185 1,  a  committee,  consisting  of  the  mayor, 
Hon.  Caleb  Gushing,  Alderman  Joseph  Roberts,  and  Council- 
men  Zacheus  P.  Thurlow,  Philip  K.  Hills,  and  John  Currier, 
jr.,  was  appointed  to  adjust  and  settle  the  claims  to  property 
in  "  School  District  Number  Two,"  formerly  in  the  town  of 
Newbury.  December  6,  1851,  the  inhabitants  of  that  dis- 
trict voted  "  that  school  district  No.  2  formerly  a  part  of  the 
town  of  Newbury,  but  now  a  part  of  the  city  of  Newbury- 
port, give  and  convey  to  the  said  city  of  Newburyport  the 
schoolhouses  and  lands  under  and  adjoining  the  same,  be- 
longing to  and  owned  by  the  said  district  to  be  kept  and  used 
by  said  city  for  the  purposes  that  they  were  kept  and  used  by 
said  district,  viz  :  —  For  schooling  purposes,  said  district  re- 

*  Essex  Deeds,  book  cdlxxix.,  leaf  199.  t  Ibid.,  book  dii.,  leaf  264. 


SCHOOLS  AND    SCHOOLMASTERS  411 

scrvini;'  the  use  of  the  old  house  for  the  purpose  of  keeping 
the  Atkinson  fund  school  in  said  city  agreeing  to  keep  the 
said  property  in  repair  so  long  as  said  district  belongs  to  and 
is  a  part  of  the  said  city  of  Newburyp'ort." 

For  the  purpose  of  carrying  the  above  vote  into  effect,  a 
committee,  consisting  of  Andrew  W.  Miltimore,  George  W. 
Jackman,  jr.,  and  Nathaniel  Boardman,  was  appointed  to  con- 
fer with  the  Board  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen,  and  make  such 
arrangements  for  the  transfer  of  the  property  as  they  con- 
sidered advisable. 

March  11,  1852,  Daniel  Lunt,  treasurer  of  the  town  of 
Newbury,  and  Caleb  Gushing,  mayor  of  the  city  of  Newbury- 
port,  signed  an  indenture,  or  contract,  conveying  certain  lots 
of  land  formerly  in  the  town  of  Newbury,  with  the  school- 
houses  standing  thereon,  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  of 
Newbury  port.* 

The  General  Statutes  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachu- 
setts provided  in  1859  for  the  support  and  management  of 
public  schools,  and  also  granted  certain  rights  and  powers  to 
the  inhabitants  of  towns,  as  follows  :  — - 

A  town  may,  at  any  time,  abolish  the  school  districts  therein,  and 
shall  there  upon,  forthwith,  take  possession  of  all  the  school  houses,  land, 
apparatus  and  other  property  owned  and  used  for  school  purposes,  which 
such  districts  might  lawfully  sell  and  convey.f 

March  24,  1869,  school  districts  were  summarily  abolished 
by  the  General  Court ;  and  subsequently  the  selectmen  of 
towns  were  authorized  to  take  possession  of  the  property  used 
for  school  purposes  in  the  towns  where  they  resided.:):  In 
1870,  however,  the  school  district  system  was  re-established. § 
When  the  Public  Statutes  were  enacted,  to  take  effect  Feb- 
ruary I,  1882,  the  law  establishing  school  districts  was 
amended  to  read  as  follows  :  — 

A  town  in  which  the  school  district  system  exists  may  abolish  the 
same  by  vote.  No  town  which  has  so  abolished  said  system  shall  there- 
after re-establish  school  districts. || 

•Essex  Deeds,  book  cdlxi.,  leaf  34  :  book  cdlxvi.,  leaf  203. 

t  General  Statutes,  chap  39,  sect.  3. 

J  Acts  and  Resolves,  1869,  chaps,  no  and  423.  §  Ibid.,  1870,  chap.  196. 

II  Public  Statutes,  chap.  45,  Sect.  2. 


412  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

The  inhabitants  of  Newbury  voted  March  21,  1882,  to  ex- 
ercise the  authority  conferred  upon  them  by  the  Pubhc  Stat- 
utes, and  on  the  thirteenth  day  of  April  following  appointed 
a  committee  of  three  disinterested  persons,  one  from  George- 
town, one  from  Rowley,  and  one  from  West  Newbury,  to  ap- 
praise the  property  owned  by  the  several  school  districts,  and 
determine  the  amount  that  should  be  paid  for  the  same  by  the 
town.  The  valuation  agreed  upon  by  the  committee  was  ac- 
cepted, and  the  transfer  of  the  property  was  legally  completed 
during  the  summer  of  1882.  Since  that  date  public  schools, 
maintained  by  the  town,  have  taken  the  place  of  district  schools. 
in  Newbury. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 


HIGHWAYS. 


For  several  years  after  the  incorporation  of  Newbury  the 
roads  leading  from  the  settlement  at  Parker  river  were  only 
narrow,  winding  paths  through  the  primeval  forest.  As  early 
as  September  5,  1635,  the  General  Court  ordered  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Ipswich  and  Newbury  to  mend  the  highways  between 
the  two  towns.  April  19,  1638,  John  Baker  and  Nicholas 
Holt  were  chosen  "  Surveyors  of  the  highways  "  in  Newbury, 
but  were  evidently  unable  or  unwilling  to  make  the  repairs 
needed ;  and  therefore  complaint  was  made  to  the  quarterly 
court  held  at  Cambridge  June  5,  1638,  and  "The  towne  of 
Newbury  was  fined  6*  8^^  &  enjoyned  to  repaire  y'-"  defects 
[in  highways]  before  the  Court  in  September."  * 

A  similar  fine  was  imposed  upon  the  town  of  Ipswich  at  the 
same  court.  November  5,  1639,  a  more  comprehensive  act  in 
relation  to  the  laying  out  of  highways  was  passed  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  which  reads  as  follows  :  — 

Whereas  the  highwayes  in  this  jurisdiction  have  not  bene  layd  outwth 
such  conveniency  for  travellers  as  were  fit,  nor  was  intended  by  this 
Court,  but  that  in  some  places  they  are  felt  too  straite,  &  in  other  places 
travellers  are  forced  to  go  farr  about,  it  is  therefore  ordered  that  all 
high  wayes  shall  bee  layd  out  before  next  Generall  Court,  so  as  may  bee 
wth  most  ease  and  safety  of  travellers ;  &  for  this  end,  every  towne  shall 
choose  2  or  3  men  who  shall  joyne  wth  2  or  3  of  the  next  towne,  «&  these 
shall  have  power  to  lay  out  the  high  wayes  in  each  towne  where  they 
may  bee  most  convenient  &c.f 

Under  the  provisions  of  this  act  the  way  between  Newbury 
and  Rowley  was  relocated  and  graded,  then  the  way  between 
Rowley  and  Ipswich,  and  afterwards  between  Ipswich,  Salem, 
and  Boston. 

At  a  very  early  date,  probably  previous  to  the  year  1640, 
the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  voted 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  233.        t  Ibid.,  p.  280. 


4«4  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

.  .  .  that  the  lott  layers  shall  have  the  power  and  authority  to  lay  out 
all  convenient  highwayes  about  the  Towne  Provided  the  Towne  make 
satisfaction  for  any  lands  w^h  shall  be  out  of  any  of  the  Inhabitants 
Proprietys  taken  and  used  for  a  generall  high  vvaye  for  the  Towne,  but 
if  any  land  shall  be  taken  out  of  any  p'rtcular  persons  propriety  ffor 
others  p'ticular  benefit  &  advantage  then  the  p'sons  reaping  benefitt  & 
advantage  shall  find  p'sent  satisfaccon  to  him  or  them  from  whom  such 
land  shall  be  taken.* 

At  a  meeeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  held  April 
19,  1649,  the  way  wardens  were  instructed  to  impose  a  fine, 


ON   THE    WAY    FROM    PARKER    RIVER   TO 

"TRAYNEING    GREEN." 

not  exceeding  ten  shillings,  upon  any  person  who  failed  to 
comply  with  the  requirements  of  the  law  or  declined  to  work 
upon  the  highways  a  certain  number  of  days  annually.  At 
that  date  the  laying  out  and  grading  of  streets  in  the  new 
town  on  the  Merrimack  river  required  much  time  and  atten- 
tion. The'  country  road,  now  High  street,  was  then  a  narrow 
path  or  way  leading  to  the  ferry  at  Carr's  island.  Under  the 
direction  of  the  way  wardens,  or  surveyors  of  highways,  it 
was  laid  out,  four  rods  wide,  for  a  distance  of   si.x  miles   from 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 


HIGHWAYS  415 

the  north  bank  of  the  Parker  river.  Recently  the  road-bed 
has  been  greatly  improved  by  reducing  the  grade  in  some 
places,  and  laying  a  firm  and  solid  foundation  of  broken  rock, 
covered  with  a  finer  coating  of  the  same  material,  nearly 
the  whole  length  of  the  road.  When  the  work  is  completed, 
this  ancient  thoroughfare  will  be  under  the  care  and  control  of 
the  Board  of  Highway  Commissioners  appointed  by  the  state. 

On  the  westerly  side  of  this  ancient  highway,  between 
"Little,"  or  "Gravel,"  hill  and  "  trayneing  green,"  is  a  wall 
of  earth  and  stone,  built  more  than  two  centuries  ago,  that 
separates  the  travelled  way  from  the  cultivated  fields  beyond. 
The  outlines  of  this  interesting  memorial  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  now  overgrown  with  grass  and  moss,  can  be  seen  in 
the  photographic  view  on  the  opposite  page. 

The  grist-mill  built  at  Little  river  in  1646,  or  possibly  a 
year  or  two  later,  near  what  is  now  known  as  Four  Rock 
bridge,  was  conveniently  located ;  and  the  town  provided,  at  a 
very  early  date,  for  laying  out  a  way  to  the  mill,  and  also  to 
the  farming  district  afterwards  known  as  the  Byfield  parish. 

At  the  meeting  May  19,  1650  Mf  Woodman,  Henry  Short,  Nicholas 
Noyes  &  Richard  Knight  was  chosen  to  lay  out  a  fitt  highway  to  the 
mill  from  all  parts  of  the  Towne  &  also  to  the  farms.* 

Edmund  Moores,  in  consideration  of  "his  yealding  up  into 
the  Towns  hands  a  parcell  of  land  being  four  rods  broad  thru 
his  lot  for  a  way  going  towards  the  mill,"  was  granted  six 
acres  of  salt  marsh. f 

John  Knight,  sr.,  and  John  Knight,  jr.,  in  considera- 
tion of  "  their  yealding  up  into  the  Townes  hands  a  parcell  of 
land  which  was  formerly  Mr  Spencers  of  four  rod  broad  for 
the  country  way  to  the  Mill  as  it  is  laid  out  "  were  granted 
eight  acres  of  salt  marsh, J  and  also  two  additional  acres  in 
consideration  of  "  theyr  yeilding  up  a  parcell  of  upland  Joyn- 
ing  to  the  way  going  to  the  Mill  on  the  West  side  and  Joyning 
to  Richard  Petengalls  land  on  the  north  to  lye  for  comon."  % 

In  consideration  of  Richard  Pettingell  yielding  up  into  the  towns 
hands  a  part  of  his   land  for  a  way  in  the  most  convenient  place  ap- 

•  Town  of  Newbury  (Proprietors')  Records,  p.  5.         t  Ibid.,  p.  54.         +  Ibid.,  p.  22. 


4i6  HISTORY  OF  NEIVBUKY 

pointed  by  Henry  Shorte,  Nicholas  Noyes  &  Richard  Knight,  which  he 
doth  by  these  presents  acknowledge,  there  was  granted  to  the  said 
Richard  Pettingell  fourteene  akers  bee  it  more  or  less,  to  him  &  his 
heires  forever.* 

To  the  court  held  at  Ipswich,  March  28,  1648,  the  <^rand 
jury  reported  the  following  indictment  :  — 

Wee  doe  present  the  town  of  Newbury  for  the  want  of  a  bridge  over 
the  falls  river :  in  the  way  betwixt  Newbury  and  Andiver.  Witnesses 
John  Osgwood  Richard  Barker  of  Andyver.f 

On  the  eighteenth  day  of  October  following,  the  General 
Court  appointed  commissioners  to  lay  out  the  highways  from 
Andover  to  Newbury,  Rowley,  and  Ipswich. 

Upon  the  request  of  the  inhabitants  of  Andover,  Nath :  Boyse  of 
Rowley,  [Henry]  Shorte  of  Newberry,  Ensigne  Hovvlet  of  Ipswich  & 
John  Osgood  of  Andover,  these,  or  any  three  of  them  [are]  to  set  out  the 
highwayes  from  Andover  to  Newberry,  from  Andover  to  Rowley,  & 
from  Andover  to  Ipswich. J 

Four  years  later,  the  subject  was  again  brought  to  the  at- 
tention of  the  General  Court,  and  the  following  order  was 
passed  :  — 

Whereas  the  common  highwayes  betwixt  Andover  &  Ipswich,  An- 
dover &  Newberry,  Andover  &  Rowley,  are  not  yet  layd  out,  by  reason 
whereof  passengers  doe  suffer  great  p'judice  &  inconvenience  &  the 
wayes  vncapable  of  being  mended,  because  vnknown  where  they  wilbe 
layd  forth,  it  is  therefore  ordered  that  a  committee  consisting  of  one  or 
two  persons  from  each  town  shall  lay  out  said  highways  under  penalty 
of  five  pounds  in  case  of  neglect. § 

May  18,  1653,  the  committee  appointed  to  lay  out  the  way 
from  Andover  to  Newbury,  and  to  the  other  towns  named 
above,  reported  that  they  had  attended  to  the  duty  assigned 
them.  The  closing  paragraph  of  the  report  reads  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

.  .  .  the  way  from  Andevour  to  Newbery  goes  on  the  old  cart  way 
leaving  Rowley  way  at  the  begining  of  a  playne  by  a  little  swampe 
called  Berbery  Swampe  &  so  on  the  old  way  to  the  Falls  River  &  from 
thence  straight  vpon  the  north  side  of   Richard  Thorlyes  feild,  as  it  is 

•Town  of  Newbury  (Proprietors')  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  52. 

t  .Salem  Court  Files,  vol.  i.,  p.  97. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  258.         §  Ibid.,  vol.  iii.,  p.  283. 


HIGHWAYS  417 

now  fenced  &  so  to  Jolin  Hulls  bridge  &  so  over  the  end  of  John  Hulls 
playne  unto  Mr  Woodmans  bridge,  neere  the  Mill  at  Newberry.* 

At  the  county  court  held  at  Ipswich  in  March,  1654,  the 
town  of  Newbury  was  presented  for  defects  in  the  highway 
"  near  goodman  Adams  farm."  f 

September  21,  1654  John  Emery  Senior  was  chosen  to  answer  at  the 
next  court  at  Ipswich  concerninge  the  p'sentment  about  the  waye  to 
Andover.J 

September  26,  1654  The  Towne  of  Newbury  being  p^sented  the  last 
court  for  defect  in  the  highwayes  the  Court  ordered  if  it  be  not  mended 
by  next  court  to  pay  40s.  § 

July  5,  1673,  Robert  Adams  claimed  damages  "for  land 
taken  for  the  country  highway  through  his  farme  "  ;  and  Sep- 
tember 6,  1673,  the  selectmen  appointed  "  Samuel  Moody  and 
the  lot-layers  to  go  to  goodman  Adams'  farm  and  settle  with 
him  for  the  land  taken."  % 

Subsequently  a  more  direct  way  to  Andover  was  needed. 
A  committee  appointed  to  make  the  necessary  changes  re- 
ported as  follows  :  — 

Wee  whose  names  are  hereto  subscribed  being  A  Committee  chosen 
by  the  townes  of  Newbury  and  Andover  for  the  setling  of  a  highway 
beetween  the  said  townes  in  the  bounds  of  Newbury  aforesaid,  have 
mutually  agreed  that  the  Rode  shall  go  along  by  James  Smiths  &  so 
'by  Georg  March  his  farme  on  the  southerly  of  the  said  farme  and  from 
thence  to  the  said  Georges  high  field  and  from  thence  by  marked  trees 
to  falls  River,  upon  as  straight  a  lyne  as  can  bee  made  and  in  wittness 
that  this  is  our  mutual!  agreement  wee  have  hereto  set  our  hands  the 
2ot'i  of  June  1682.  Our  meaneing  is  that  it  shall  be  as  straight  as  the 
ground  will  admit,  by  making  bridges  &  causewayes,  but  not  to  be  put  to 
the  inconvenience  of  making  such,  only,  wa\es  passable  as  may  be  in 
a  direct  lyne. 

Newbury  Andover 

Nathaniel  Clarke  Dudley  Bradstreet 

FFRANCis  Brown  John  Osgood 

Given  in  to  be  Recorded  June  2otii  by  two  of  the  selectmen. 

Nathaniel  Clarke. 
James  Ordway.J 

*■  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iii.,  p   305.         t  Salem  Court  Files,  vol.  ii.,  leaf  130. 
tTown  of  Newburj-  Records.  §  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  47. 


41 8  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Fet)iuary  15,  1654  at  a  meeting  of  the  Townsmen  select  It  is  or- 
dered that  Richard  Knight  &  John  Pike  shall  stake  out  a  convenient 
way  &  passage  for  the  Towns  Cattell  to  make  use  of  the  Spring  of  water 
by  Henry  Shorts  wcl>  is  reserved  for  thepublicjue  use  of  the  Towne.* 

This  spring  is  about  thirty  rods  in  a  southwesterly  direc- 
tion from  the  way,  now  known  as  Low  street,  extending  from 
Hay  street  to  Pkimmer  street  in  Newbury. 

September  21,  1654,  the  inhabitants  of  the  "old  towne" 
were  granted  liberty  "  to  make  a  fence  and  hang  a  gate  across 
the  way  about  Anthony  Shorts  or  John  Knights  provided  they 
hinder  not  the  cattell  from  going  into  the  commons  there."  f 

November  19,  1654,  Richard  Knight,  John  Cheney,  and 
John  Pike  were  appointed  to  "  lay  out  the  way  from  Merri- 
macke  Street  to  the  necke  on  the  east  side  of  the  old  town 
&  through  the  said  necke  to  the  marshes  there."  :|:  On  the 
twenty-ninth  day  of  November  following,  the  way  was  laid 
out.  It  is  still  in  use,  and  extends  from  the  easterly  end  of 
the  Lower  Green,  so  called,  to  a  sandy  cove  or  beach  on  the 
Parker  river,  where  the  first  settlers  of  Newbury  landed. § 

May  26,  1647,  Tristram  Coffin  was  authorized  by  the 
General  Court  to  keep  the  ferry  over  Merrimack  river  from 
the  Newbury  side,  and  George  Carr  was  granted  "  liberty  to 
keep  his  boate  going  on  Salsberry  side."  At  that  date 
probably  the  way  to  the  ferry  had  not  been  definitely^ 
decided  upon  or  laid  out.  March  28,  1648,  the  grand  jury 
presented  to  the  court  held  at  Ipswich  "  the  towne  of 
Newbery  for  the  want  of  a  convenient  safe  way  from  the 
new  towne  to  the  fferry  side.  Witnesses  Tristram  Coffin  of 
Newbury,  John  Stevens  of  Salisbury."  || 

Poore's  lane  previous  to  1655  extended  from  the  country 
road,  now  High  street,  Newburyport,  to  the  Merrimack  river, 
and  was  the  way  to  the  old  ferry  between  Newbury  and 
Salisbury,  first  granted  to  George  Carr  in  164 1.  A  portion 
of  this  lane,  running  in  an  easterly  direction  from  the  country 
road,  is  now  Woodland  street,  Newburyport ;  while  another 
detached  portion,  near  the  river  side,  is  known  as  Merrimack 
court. 

*Tuwn  of  Newbury  (Proprietors')  Records,  p.  5.  t  Ibid.,  p.  G2. 

t  Coffin's  copy  of  Newbury  Records.  §"  Ould  Newbury."  pp.  18-20. 

II  Salem  Court  Files,  vol.  i.,  p.  g?. 


HIGHWAYS  419 

February  10,  1655-6  there  was  granted  unto  Lionell  Worth  In 
Consideration  of  his  resigning  up  to  the  towne  five  akers  of  land  for  a 
highway  to  Salisbury  ferry  by  his  house  where  hee  dwelleth  which  land 
he  formerly  purchased  of  Mr  [Tristram]  Cofifin  [Sen.]  which  was  M«" 
Rawsons  land,  there  was  laid  out  to  Lionell  Worth  eight  akers  of 
upland  beyond  the  new  towne  &c.* 

Land  was  also  taken  from  John  Kent,  jr.,  for  the  new 
highway,  now  Jefferson  street,  Newburyport,  extending  from 
the  ferry  landing  opposite  Carr's  island  to  the  country  road, 
now  High  street. 

March  20  1665  uppon  John  Kent  Junr  his  summoning  of  the  Towne 
for  to  give  him  satisfaction  for  the  land  the  Towne  hath  taken  from  him 
for  the  Country  highway  to  M^  Carr's  fferry  The  Towne  voted  that  the 
Selectmen  should  give  him  satisfaction  and  accordingly  the  selectmen 
and  John  Kent  agreed  that  the  said  John  Kent  should  have  y'  parcell  of 
land  by  the  old  ferry  place  which  was  the  old  way  and  taken  out  of  his 
ffather's  land,  so  long  as  the  Country  makes  use  of  the  way  that  now  is. 
Provided  that  John  Kent  allow  free  egress  &  Regress  for  his  neighbors 
for  carting  or  sledding  up  of  Wood,  hay  &c  and  to  fetch  water  or  to 
water  theyre  cattell  so  they  do  him  no  damage  by  theyr  cattells  feeding 
on  his  land  or  by  leaving  Downe  his  ffences. 

per  Anthony  SoMEi?BY.t 

As  early  as  1649  "Isaac  Buswell  and  George  Carr  were 
chosen  to  call  on  Newbury  to  lay  out  the  country  roade  from 
the  Island  to  Mr.  Clarks  farme."  \ 

December  i,  165 1,  "John  Clark  of  Boston  Chirurgeon  "  sold 
his  farm  in  Newbury  to  Matthew  Chaffey ;  and  the  same  day 
the  land  with  the  buildings  thereon  was  conveyed  to  Richard 
Thorlay.§  Previous  to  May  3,  1654,  Richard  Thorlay  had 
built  a  bridge  over  the  Parker  river,  near  this  farm.  Soon 
after  that  date,  the  inhabitants  of  the  towns  of  Hampton, 
N.H.,  and  Rowley,  Mass.,  petitioned  the  General  Court  "for 
a  highway  from  Mr  Carrs  ffery  to  M""  Clarkes  farme."  May 
23,  1655,  this  petition  was  referred  to  the  next  session  of 
the  court ;  and  the  deputy  from  Newbury  was  "  ordered 
to  give  notice  to  that  town  that  they  may  have  liberty  to 
speake  in  the  case."  || 

♦Coffin's copy  of  Town  of  Newburj'  Records. 

tTown  of  Newbury  (Proprietors')  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  9. 

X  Histor\'  of  Amesbury  (Merrill),  p.  41.  §  See  note,  chap,  ii.,  ante,  p.  67. 

II  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iii.,  p.  389. 


4^o  ///STONY  OF  iVEWBCRY 

,  The  road  was  probabl)'  built  soon  after  that  date.  James 
Carr,  in  a  petition  to  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  Knight,  governor  of 
New  England,  in  regard  to  his  claims  to  the  ferr}-  between 
Newbury  and  Salisbury,  granted  his  father,  George  Carr,  in 
1655,  makes  the  following  suggestion  :  — 

That  for  the  ease,  speed  &  Convenience  of  Travellers  if  yC  Excel- 
lency shall  thinke  fit  that  the  highway  may  be  laid  From  the  IJridge  by 
Thomas  Thurrells  in  Newbury  to  George  Marches  and  from  thence  to 
M""  Woodmans  which  will  save  near  three  miles  Riding  of  what  it  is  in 
the  usual  Road  &  be  much  better  way  and  effected  with  a  very  incon- 
siderable charge  to  a  publique  benefit  and  advantage:   Sept.  27,  1687.* 

In  1647,  the  town  of  Newbury  granted  Richard  Kent,  jr., 
one  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  upland  and  marsh  land  on 
the  island  over  Little  river,  now  known  as  Kent's  island.  A 
way  over  the  marsh  to  the  island  was  laid  out  b}'  order  of  the 
court  held  at  Ipswich  March  25,  1656,  as  follows:  — 

Richard  Kent  pi'  agst  John  Cheny  in  an  action  of  the  case  for  fenc- 
ing a  p'sell  of  the  Towns  comons  wdi  is  p'  of  a  highway.  By  consent  of 
ptyes  referred  to  the  lotlayers  to  laye  out  a  convenient  highway  accord- 
ing to  ye  originall  grant.f 

At  a  meeting  of  the  selectmen  of  Newbury  held  January 
26,  1656-7,  Henry  Short  and  Nicholas  Noyes  stated  that 
there  was  a  way  "through  Richard  Kents  Island  from  the 
w^ay  that  is  laid  out  thru'  John  Chenys  land  to  the  way  that 
is  laid  out  over  the  marshes."  \ 

The  bounds  and  limits  of  this  way  through  land  belonging 
to  John  Cheney  were  somewhat  vague  and  indefinite,  and  led 
to  a  legal  contest  that  was  referred  for  settlement  to  Nich- 
olas Noyes  and  Henry  Short  at  the  court  held  at  Ipswich 
September  29,  1657. 

Richard  Kent  pi'  ag-^'  John  Cheny  in  an  [action]  of  the  case  for  denye- 
ing  him  a  way  where  it  is  Layd  out  &  interrupting  &  opossing  him  in 
the  sayd  waye.  Both  pty^s  agreed  that  John  Chenye  should  make  the 
way  layd  out  by  the  Towne  Sufisient  as  Mr  Nicolas  Noyse  &  Henry 
Short  should  judge  sufisient  &  to  beare  the  action  between  them.  § 

*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cxxvii.,  p.  163.         t  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  54. 
t  Town  of  Newbury  (Proprietors')  Records,  vol.   i.,  p.   16;  also.  Coffin's  History  of  New- 
bury, p.  4S, 

§  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  i..  p.  63. 


HIGHWA  YS  42 1 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newbury 
held  November  10,  1663,  "' It  was  voted  that  the  country  way 
by  Richard  Thorlays  Bridg  should  be  by  the  Mill  Bridg."  * 

It  was  also  ordered  that  Daniell  Pierce,  sen"",  Thomas  Hale,  Senr,  & 
archelaus  Woodman  are  chosen  to  be  a  committee  to  make  the  country 
way  (according  to  court  order)  from  mill  bridge  to  the  utmost  extent  of 
our  bounds  to  Rowley  &c.t 

March  14,  1663-4  It  was  also  agreed  betweene  the  Towne  &  Daniell 
Peirce  Sen""  &  Thomas  Hale  Seni" 

In  consideration  of  their  making  a  sufficient  country  way  to  answer 
the  countrys  ends  for  cart  and  horse,  over  the  marsh  from  the  Bridg 
towards  Rowley  with  stone  and  earth  &  to  maintaine  it  so  long  as  they 
live,  the  Towne  engaged  to  pay  to  them,  in  a  towne  Rate,  thirty  pounds, 
one  halfe  between  this  &  the  last  day  of  October  in  wheat  and  barly, 
and  the  other  halfe  in  March  next  in  good  merchantable  pay,  corne  or 
cattle,  and  five  shillings  a  peice  yearly  as  long  as  they  live,  and  if  they 
trespass  upon  Mr  Sewalls  land  the  Towne  shall  beare  the  damag  &  they 
engaged  to  maintaine  it,  if  they  can  get  moveable  stone  within  sixty  Rods 
of  any  part  of  the  Marsh. f 

December  21,  1668  In  answer  to  the  petition  of  Rowley  village  men 
for  a  way  from  this  town  to  Rowley,  Ensign  John  Knight  &  Abell 
Somerby  chosen  to  lay  out  the  way ;  also  to  lay  out  a  way  from  Goodwins 
ferry  [at  the  mouth  of  Powow  river]  to  [Aymsbery]  mill  with  Amesbury 
men.f 

March  6,  1672-3  It  was  agreed  that  M^  Peirce  &  Tho  :  Hale  Senr 
should  be  released  of  their  bargaine  of  maintaining  the  causy  provided 
that  the  said  M""  Peirce  attend  the  making  vp  of  the  said  causy  sufficient 
that  the  towne  may  not  suffer  damag  &  bestow  his  owne  labour  freely  & 
bring  in  a  particular  account  to  the  Towne. f 

March  8,  1665-6,  the  lot-layers,  with  Archelaus  Woodman 
and  John  Merrill,  were  chosen  "  to  lay  out  a  way  &  to  give 
satisfaction  for  a  way  to  Salisbury  new  towne."  % 

This  way  was  laid  out  December  21,  1668,  and  extends 
from  the  ferry  landing,  opposite  the  mouth  of  Powow  river,  to 
High  street  at  its  junction  with  the  Bradford  road,  now  Storey 
avenue,  Newburyport. 

According  to  our  commission  from  the  town,  March  8t'>  1665,  we 
have  laid  out  a  country  way  unto  Salisbury  new  towne  of  four  Rod 
broad,  begining  at  Merrimack  River  side,  running  through  Christopher 

*Town  of  Newbur>'  Records  ;  also,  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  pp.  63.  68. 
tTown  of  Newbury  Records.  +  Coffin's  copy  of  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


42  2  HISTORY  OF    NEWBURY 

Bartletts  land  sixty  rods  and  likewise  through  Archelaus  Woodmans 
land,  sixteen  Rod  at  the  North  end  of  Caleb  Moodys  land  and  through 
Robert  Cokers  land  about  17  or  1 8  Rods.  Richard  Kxight 

John  Knight 
Richard  Dole 
being  selectmen  did  give  order  to  have  this  recorded 

per  Anthony  Somerby.* 

September  21,  1677  Henry  Jaques  and  Abraham  Merrill  chosen  .  .  . 
to  make  the  way  passable  to  Emsbury  ferry  upon  Munday  next.* 

At  a  legal  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  held 
October  21,  1686,  Capt.  Daniel  Pierce,  Lieut.  Stephen  Green- 
leaf,  Lieut.  Tristram  Coffin,  Ensign  Nathaniel  Clark,  Sergt. 
John  Emery,  Joseph  Pike,  and  Henry  Short  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  lay  out  and  divide,  among  the  freeholders  of  the 
town,  six  thousand  acres  of  land  in  the  "  upper  woods,"  so 
called.  This  committee  was  also  authorized  to  lay  out  a  high- 
way through  this  undivided  land  to  Bradford  ;  and  on  the 
twenty-sixth  day  of  November  they  reported  in  favor  of  taking 
"the  whole  breadth  of. land  between  the  stakes  of  the  second 
division  of  freehold  lotts  &  Emery s  land,"  from  Artichoke 
river  to  Lowell's  brook,  for  the  highway,  but  recommended 
that  for  the  remainder  of  the  distance  from  Lowell's  brook  to 
the  Bradford  line  the  highway  should  be  "  four  Rods  wide  & 
no  more."  f 

It  is  evident,  however,  that  the  proposed  way  was  not  com- 
pleted until  several  years  later. 

March  27,  1704  Coll  Thomas  Noyes,  Esq.  Joseph  Woodbrig  Esq. 
&  Henry  Short  [were]  chosten  to  be  a  comitte  to  lay  out  the  High  way 
to  Bradford  and  also  take  notice  of  incroachm's  on  the  highways  &  lay 
out  any  other  highwayes  especially  in  the  upper  woods  in  Newburj'.J 

A  wooden  bridge,  built  soon  after  that  date  on  the  Brad- 
ford road  where  it  crosses  the  Artichoke  river,  was  subse- 
quently removed,  and  replaced  by  the  stone  bridge  shown  in 
the  half-tone  print  on  the  opposite  page. 

At  a  legal  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  New- 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  i. 

t  Newbury  (Proprietors')  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  22. 

X  Town  of  Newbur)'  Records,  vol.  iii.,  p.  107. 


HIGHWA  YS 


423 


bury  held  December  13,  1686,  a  committee  was  appointed  "to 
lay  out  a  convenient  highway  of  such  breadth  as  they  shall 
see  meet  thro'  the  plaines  to  Sergeant  Emereys  Mill."  *  This 
way,  now  known  as  the  Curzon  Mill  road,  extends  from  the 
Bradford  road,  now  Storey  avenue,  Newburyport,  to  the  mill 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Artichoke  river. 

After  the  division  of  the  "upper  Commons,"  on  the  west- 
erly side  of  Artichoke  river,  in  1686,  and  the  laying  out  of 
the  Bradford  road,  it  became  necessary  to  erect  gates  across 


BRIDGE    OVER    ARTICHOKE    RIVER    ON    THE 
BRADFORD    ROAD. 


the    highways   to  prevent  horses    and    cattle    from    straying 
"from  the  upper  to  the  lower  commons." 

March  20,  1 690-1  The  proprietors  of  the  new  feild  above  Harti- 
choak  River  desired  of  the  Towne  that  they  might  have  Liberty  to  keepe 
up  the  fence  across  the  highway  that  runs  from  Bradford  Rode  to  Mer- 
rimack River  for  this  p^sent  year.     [  ]  it  was  granted  by  a  voate.f 

March  7,  1692-3  Granted  Liberty  to  ye  propriefs  of  ye  field  above 
Artichoake  To  fence  all  cross  ye  highway  at  the  upr  end  of  s^  way  for 
This  prsent  year  provided  they  hinder  no  p^son  in  carting  on  s^  way.f 

At  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  held  at  Ipswich  March 
29,  1 709,  liberty  to  place  gates  "  on  ye  road  from  Newbury 

•Town  of  Newburj'  Records,  vol.  i.  tTown  of  Newbury  Records. 


424  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

to  Bradford  near  Pilsburys,  one,  att  M""  Atkinsons  Corner, 
one,  at  ye  Mill  Bridge,  one,  on  ye  rode  to  ye  ferry  near  M"" 
Knights,  one,"  was  granted  in  answer  to  the  petition  of  Capt. 
Stephen  Greenleaf  in  behalf  of  the  town  of  Newbury.* 

John  Emery,  Archelaiis  Woodman,  Stephen  Emery,  and 
Benjamin  Sawyer  petitioned  the  town  "  for  liberty  to  set  up  a 
fence  across  the  way  to  Turkey  hill  that  we  may  keep  our 
sheep  from  running  away  before  we  have  sheared  them." 
This  petition  was  granted  March  14,  1714-5.! 

"  Col  Noyes,  Major  James  Noyes  &  Lieu^  Stephen  Jaques  " 
were  granted  liberty,  March  10,  1718-9,  to  hang  a  gate  at 
the  eastern  side  of  their  land  on  the  road  leading  to  Brad- 
ford.! 

Nathaniel  Coffin  was  granted  liberty,  March  14,  173 1-2,  to 
hang  gates  across  South  street,  near  the  residence  of  John 
Coffin ;  and  the  same  day  liberty  was  granted  John  Huse  and 
others  to  hang  gates  across  the  way  near  Brown's  Gardens, 
so  called. f 

Samuel  Bartlet  and  John  Bartlet  agreed,  March  19,  1686-7, 
to  lay  out  a  way  through  their  own  land,  in  order  to  facilitate 
the  landing  and  carting  of  hay,  wood,  or  bark  from  the  north- 
west side  of  Bartlett's  cove  to  the  ''Bark  House,"  used  for 
storing  bark  needed  for  the  tanning  of  leather. | 

This  way  from  the  ferry  road,  now  High  street,  to  Bart- 
let's  cove,  was  not  laid  out  until  1698.  It  is  now  within  the 
limits  of  the  city  of  Newburyport,  and  is  known  by  the  name 
of  Spring  lane.  The  order  adopted  by  the  selectmen  laying 
out  this  road  or  way  reads  as  follows  :  — 

Newburv,  June  3,  i6gS. 

We  the  Subscribers  Selectmen  of  the  Towne  of  Newbury,  having  re- 
ceived a  petition  signed  by  twenty  one  persons  Inhabitants  of  the  West 
end  of  the  Towne  of  Newbury  in  which  petition  said  Inhabitants  Do  re- 
quest &  desire  the  selectmen  to  lay  out  a  High  way  for  to  be  and  re- 
maine  for  the  use  &  Benefitt  of  the  Towne  from  Merremack  River 
Running  from  Bartletts  Cove  between  said  Bartletts  lands  &  the  land 
of  John  Ordway  up  to  Almsbury  Highway.  And  we  have  laid  it  out  six 
Rods  wide  by  the  River  side  from  John   Bartletts  lime   kill  six   Rods 

*Town  of  Newbury  (Proprietors')  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  126. 

tTown  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  This  agreement  was  recorded  in  the  Town  of  Newbury  Records  in  the  month  of  May,  1694. 


HIGHWAYS  425 

easterly  to  a  stake  &  a  stone  in  the  Ground  and  so  running  up  the  Hill 
to  a  stake  &  a  stone  in  the  ground  the  way  at  that  place  is  three  Rods 
&  a  half  wide  &  from  thence  as  it  is  bounded  wt''.  stakes  &  stones  three 
Rods  wide  up  to  Samuell  Bartletts  way  by  John  Bartletts  fence  &  from 
the  northeast  corner  of  John  Bartletts  fence  the  way  is  laid  out  all  a  long 
by  John  Bartletts  fence  five  Rods  wide  up  to  Almsbury  high  way  as  wit- 
ness our  hand  the  day  &  year  above  said. 

Henry  Short   T.  Clerk. 

Given  to  be  record''  pr  ye  selectniens  order  June  4'''  1698.* 

On  the  westerly  side  of  the  Artichoke  river  a  way  extend- 
ing from  the  Bradford  road  to  the  mill  at  the  mouth  of  that 
river  was  laid  out  in  1695  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the 
town  of  Newbury  for  that  purpose. 

Whereas  John  Emery  Sen""  did  agree  that  the  Towne  should  have  a 
way  through  his  land  from  the  coiiion  to  the  mouth  of  Artichoak  River 
in  the  most  convenient  place  for  passing  and  repassing,  And  according 
to  the  power  comitted  to  us,  the  subscribers,  by  the  Towne  to  go  uppon 
the  spott  for  to  determine  where  the  way  shall  be  through  said  land, 
and  we  did  this  day,  the  31st  day  of  January  1694-5,  take  a  view  of  it 
and  do  judg  the  most  convenient  way  is  uppon  the  high  land  running 
from  Bradford  Rode  up  by  the  east  end  of  John  Emerys  Barne  &  so 
running  by  the  fence,  that  is  now  standing,  down  to  the  dwelling  house 
where  John  Emery  Sen""  did  live  and  so  by  the  house  downe  the  Hill  to 
the  pasture  land  and  from  thence  to  the  poynt  at  the  River  as  the  way 
goeth  which  was  formerly  made  use  of,  as  witness  our  hands  this  3 1  st 
Day  of  January  1694-5.  Daniel  Peirce 

Tristram  Coffin 
Richard  Bartlet.I 

This  way  is  now  within  the  territorial  limits  of  the  town  of 
West  Newbury.  It  was  probably  left  ungraded  for  many 
years,  and  it  may  possibly  have  been  closed  to  public  travel 
during  a  portion  of  that  time. 

May  I,  1787,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  "voted  to  open 
the  way  to  Stephen  Hooper's  mill  through  the  land  of  Stephen 
Emery,  Esq.";  and  October  11,  1787,  they  "voted  to 
accept  the  report  of  the  committee  chosen  to  open  the  way 
from  Bradford  Road  to  Stephen  Hooper's  mill  dam."  f 

*To\vn  of  Newbury  Records, 

t  Town  of  Newbury  Records  ;  also,  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  27.  The  mill  at  the 
mouth  of  Artichoke  river  was  built  by  John  Emery  previous  to  1686*  and  was  purchased  by 
Stephen  Hooper  June  2,  1786.     See  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  271-273. 


426  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

The  way  between  Brown's  gardens,  so  called,  and  Brown's 
farm  was  relocated,  March  ii,  1739-40,  upon  condition  that 
Thomas  Brown,  the  petitioner,  "  do  accept  y*^  old  way  in  full 
satisfaction  for  the  new  way  that  is  laid  out  upon  said 
Thomas  Browns  land."  * 

Mr.  Brown  accepted  the  terms  named,  and  signed  an  agree- 
ment to  that  effect,  which  was  duly  recorded  by  the  town 
clerk. 

April  4,  1 710,  voted  to  give  eight  pounds  towards  ye  procuring  of  a 
way  proposed  for  thru'  ye  Little  field  provided  yt  sd  way  be  laid  out  two 
rods  wide  the  whole  length  from  Ezra  Cottles  house  to  ye  way  by  Henry 
Clarks  next  Merrimack  River  according  to  a  vote  of  ye  Town  Decemb'' 
iStii,  1695.1 

This  way,  called  Cottle's  lane,  now  Bromfield  street,  New- 
buryport,  was  laid  out,  March  6,  17 18-9,  from  High  street,  by 
Ezra  Cottle's  dwelling-house,  to  the  dwelling-house  of  Joseph 
Knight,  jr.,  on  the  highway  near  Merrimack  river. f 

March  7,  1709-10,  a  committee  was  chosen  by  the  in- 
habitants of  Newbury  "  to  discourse  with  Benjamin  Rolfe 
about  purchasing  the  lane  called  Rolfe' s  lane,  in  order  to 
make  it  a  highway  for  the  town's  use."  f  This  lane  extended 
from  "  trayneing  green "  to  Merrimack  river,  and  is  now 
known  as  Ocean  avenue.  It  was  not  legally  laid  out  and 
accepted  by  the  town  of  Newbury  until  December  24,  17354 

A  highway  two  rods  wide  was  laid  out  March  11,  17 14-5, 
from  Kent's  lane,  now  Kent  street,  Newburyport,  along  the 
river  side  to  James  Ordway's  malt-house,  and  thence  to  the 
landing-place  at  the  foot  of  Ordway's  lane,  now  Market 
street,  Newbury  port. f 

September  20,  1 763,  the  selectmen  laid  out  "  a  way  at  ye 
end  of  Woodmans  lane  [now  Kent  street,  Newburyport], 
Begining  thirty  feet  above  y^  lane,  in  land  formerly  belong- 
ing to  John  &  Richard  Kent,  Exchanged  for  the  Better  accom- 
dating  the  landing  there,"  six  rods  wide,  extending  to  the 
river,  f 

•Town  of  Tfewbui"}'  Records  (1731-85),  p.  45. 

tTown  of  Newbury  Records.  X  "  Quid  Newburj-,"  pp.  795-9. 


IIIGinVAYS  427 

May  II,  1725,  the  town  of  Newbury  was  divided  into  seven 
highway  districts,  in  conformity  to  a  law  enacted  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court  the  previous  year  ;  and  way  wardens,  or  surveyors, 
were  chosen  for  each  district,  and  instructed  to  keep  the 
highways  in  good  repair.* 

March  11,  1739-40,  Thomas  Pike,  John  Brown,  and  Joseph 
Titcomb,  selectmen,  laid  out  the  way  "  near  Merrimack  river 
from  peirces  farm  up  to  Ordways  Lane  formerly  so  caled  "  ;  f 
and  the  same  day  they  laid  out  a  two-rod  way  on  the  south- 
westerly side  of  the  meeting-house,  then  standing  in  Market 
square. 

The  way  from  Water  street,  near  the  foot  of  Greenleaf's 
lane,  now  State  street,  Newburyport,  to  the  lower  ferry  land- 
ing-place was  probably  laid  out  May  12,  17 19,  "bounded  on 
the  northwest  by  Nathaniel  C larks  grant,  now  in  y^  posses- 
sion of  Hugh  Pike,  and  y^  southeast  side  is  bounded  at  y^ 
Roade  by  John  Calefs  dwelling  house  &  from  the  North  cor- 
ner thereof  running  straight  with  the  west  corner  of  y^  Road 
twenty  foot  and  at  Lowater  mark  thirty  foot."  * 

July  5,  1763,  a  landing-place  for  the  use  of  the  public  was 
laid  out  by  the  selectmen  at  the  lower  end  of  King  street, 
now  Federal  street,  Newburyport,  from  Water  street  to  the 
Merrimac  river  ;  and  the  same  day  "  The  way  known  by  the 
name  of  Elbow  lane  in  Newbury  Running  Between  the  Dwell- 
ing house  of  Samuel  Sweasy  &  the  House  of  Joshua  Norton 
&  so  Northwesterly  to  the  house  of  Moses  Todd  &  y^  house 
owned  by  the  heirs  of  Jonathan  Dole  late  of  Newbury  Dec'^ 
&  South  Westerly  to  the  New  Lane  "  was  laid  out. 

The  selectmen  in  their  report  state  that  "  the  said  Lane  is 
not  accepted  of  the  town,  nor  Recorded  as  a  publick  highway, 
tho'  it  has  been  used  as  such  for  near  thirty  years."  *  This 
lane  is  now  within  the  limits  of  the  city  of  Newburyport, 
and  extends  from  Market  square  to  Liberty  street.  In  1763 
it  probably  continued  through  what  is  now  Centre  street  to 
New  lane,  now  Middle  street. 

September  23,  171 5,  a  way  "from  the  country  road 
through  M""  Thirrills  [Thorlay's]  farme  to  M""  William  Moodys 

•Town  of  Newbury  Records.  t  Town  of  Newbury  (Highway)  Records. 


428  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

land,"  in  the  Falls  village,  and  from  thence  to  the  parsonage 
of  Byfield  parish,  was  laid  out ;  and  May  lo,  1727,  the  select- 
men were  authorized  to  lay  out  another  way,  two  rods  wide, 
from  the  country  road  near  Lieut.  Gov.  Dummer's  house 
to  the  parsonage  in  Byfield.*  October  24,  1739,  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Newbury  voted  to  raise  the  sum  of  thirty  pounds  "  to 
help  pay  for  a  stone  bridge  sufficient  for  carting  over  ye  falls 
River"  between  Deacon  S'amuel  Moody's  mill  and  his  mill 
dam.* 

May  12,  1 7 19,  Lieut.  Col.  Henry  Somerby,  Capt.  Thomas 
Hale,  and  Major  James  Noyes  were  chosen  to  settle  and  de- 
termine the  bounds  and  measurements  of  the  highways  in  the 
town  of  Newbury.  On  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  May  the 
committee  reported  the  result  of  their  investigations,  and  rec- 
ommended some  changes  that  were  subsequently  adopted. 
The  country  road  from  Parker  river,  along  the  ridge,  to  "  trayne- 
ing  green,"  four  to  six  rods  wide,  was  called  "  Merrimack 
street";  from  "  trayneing  green"  to  Queen  street,  now 
Market  street,  Newburyport,  it  was  called  "  Norfolk  street "  ; 
and  from  Queen  street  to  the  Amesbury  ferry  landing,  "  High 
street." 

From  High  street  to  Artichoke  river,  the  way  now  known 
as  Storey  avenue,  Newburyport,  was  called  "  Church  street." 
It  probably  received  its  name  from  the  fact  that  Queen  Anne's 
chapel,  the  first  Episcopal  church  in  Newbury,  was  erected  on 
land  adjoining  this  street  early  in  the  summer  of  171 2. 

The  continuation  of  Church  street  from  Artichoke  river, 
over  Lowell's  brook,  at  or  near  the  place  now  known  as 
Brown's  springs.  West  Newbury,  to  the  Bradford  line  was 
called  by  the  committee  "the  Bradford  Road."  f 

In  1726,  several  streets  and  ways  in  the  upper  parish,  now 
West  Newbury,  were  laid  out  by  a  vote  of  the  town ;  and 
during  the  same  year  the  following  streets  in  the  first  and 
third  parishes  were  relocated  and  renamed  :  — 

Marlborough  street,  two  rods  broad,  from  Norfolk  street 
"  down  by  Joseph  Muzzles  into  Merrimack  street  "  (now  Water 
street),  Newburyport. 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records.  tTown  of  Newbury  (Highway)  Records. 


HIGHWA  YS  429 

King  street,  now  Federal  street,  Newburyport,  four  rods 
broad,  from  Norfolk  street  "  down  by  the  Prison  into  Merri- 
mack street"  (now  Water  street). 

Fish  street,  now  State  street,  Newburyport,  four  rods 
broad,  from  Norfolk  street  "  down  by  the  house  formerly 
Capt  Greenleafs  into  Merrimack  street  "  (now  Market  square). 

Queen  street,  now  Market  street,  Newburyport,  four  rods 
broad,  from  Norfolk  street  "  down  by  Joseph  Morses  into 
Merrimack  street." 

Low  street,  now  within  the  limits  of  the  city  of  Newbury- 
port, "  four  rods  broad  running  from  Norfolk  street  by  Will- 
iam Titcombs  and  Peter  Godfreys  and  so  along  to  the 
Plains." 

Union  street,  now  Toppan  street,  Newburyport,  "a  way  as 
it  is  now  improved,  running  by  Abraham  Toppans,  from  High 
street  to  Low  street." 

Sandy  street,  now  North  Atkinson  street,  Newburyport, 
"  a  way  as  it  is  now  improved,  running  by  Stephen  Sawyers 
from  High  street  to  Low  street." 

A  landing-place,  or  driftway,  at  the  foot  of  what  is  now 
Ashland  street,  Newburyport,  was  laid  out,  May  11,  1733,  by 
Joseph  Gerrish,  Joshua  Moody,  and  Charles  Peirce,  "  begin- 
ing  near  the  corner  of  Josiah  Pilsburys  garden  fence  &  from 
thence  on  a  straight  line  ranging  with  the  south  west  corner 
of  M""  Morgradges  dwelling  house  to  the  Brook  and  down  by 
said  Brook  to  Merrimack  River,  and  in  breadth  on  the  bank  of 
said  River  Six  Rods."  * 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  held 
March  12,  1 750-1,  a  petition  relating  to  the  alteration 
and  relocation  of  several  highways  and  landing-places  was 
opposed  by  a  committee  of  the  proprietors,  who  claimed  that 
the  said  ways  and  landing-places  were  the  property  of  the 
proprietors,  and  had  never  been  conveyed  to  the  town.* 

Boardman  street,  now  within  the  limits  of  the  city  of  New- 
buryport, was  laid  out  "from  ye  Country  Road  [now  High 
street]  Down  to  the  two  rod  way  by  Merrimack  river"  as 
stated  in  the  following  letter  from  Mr.  Offin  Boardman  :  — 

•Town  of  Newban'  Records. 


43°  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

To  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newbury,  Gentlemen :  — 

As  I  have  laid  open  a  high  way  through  my  land  from  ye  Country 
Road  Down  to  the  two  rod  way  by  Merrimack  river  I  hereby  Give  that 
way  to  the  Town  for  their  use  as  a  town  way  &  Desire  they  would  ac- 
cept it.     The  way  is  one  Rod  &  three  Quarters  in  Breadth 

Newbury  March  12,  1754.  (3ffin  Boakdman.* 

The  above  way  was  accepted  at  our  annual  meeting  held  March  ye 
12,  1754  &  ordered  to  be  recorded  &  called  by  the  name  of  Boardman's 
lane.f 

March  9,  1774-5,  a  way  was  laid  out  through  the  land  of 
Joseph  Pilsbury  and  George  Burroughs  to  the  land  of  John 
Poore,  "  which  way  opens  into  a  highway  leading  to  Newbury- 
port." 

April  7,  1783  voted  to  accept  the  road  or  highway  leading  from 
Joseph  Pilsburys  to  a  Barn  that  belongs  to  the  heirs  of  John  Poor  as 
exhibited  on  the  plan  upon  the  following  page.f 

From  the  plan  made  and  recorded  at  that  date,  it  appears 
that  this  way  extended  from  the  foot  of  Pilsbury's  lane,  now 
Ashland  street,  Newburyport,  to  the  barn,  owned  by  the 
heirs  of  John  Poor,  then  standing  between  the  foot  of  Poor's 
lane,  now  Woodland  street,  Newburyport,  and  the  way  lead- 
ing to  Merrimack  river,  now  known  as  Merrimack  court, 
Newburyport.  It  was  laid  out  four  rods  wide  in  answer  to 
the  petition  of  Josiah  Little,  John  Atkinson,  Jacob  Merrill, 
Joshua  Little,  Joshua  Ordway,  Samuel  Moody,  George 
Burroughs,  and  others,  and  now  forms  a  part  of  Merrimack 
street  which  extends  from  Market  square  to  the  Essex  Mer- 
rimack bridge,  Newburyport.  The  last  and  longest  section 
of  this  street  or  way,  extending  from  the  foot  of  Ashland 
street  to  the  bridge,  was  laid  out  and  graded  in  compliance 
with  an  order  adopted  by  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  at  a 
meeting  held  December  13,  1802. 

•Town  of  Newbury  (Highway)  Records.  t  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

FERRIES. 

As  early  as  1643,  John  Riisse  had  charge  of  the  ferry, 
established  and  maintained  for  more  than  a  century  at  or  near 
the  place  where  the  Parker  River  bridge  now  stands.  He 
was  living  in  Newbury  in  1637,*  and  his  name  appears  in  the 
list  of  freeholders  who  were  entitled  to  share  in  the  common 
and  undivided  lands  belonging  to  the  town  on  the  seventh 
day  of  December,  1642.!  Two  years  later  he  presented  the 
following  petition  :  — 

To  the  honored  Courte  now  assembled  at  Boston. 

The  humble  peticon  of  John  Russe  ferryman  of  Newbury,  Humbly 
Sheweth ; 

That  for  upwards  of  two  years  in  obedience  to  an  order  of  ye 
generall  Courte  he  has  transported  several  member^  of  ye  generall 
Courte  with  their  horses,  as  some  of  y^  honored  magistrate  going  to  the 
Courte  at  Dover  &  severall  Deputies  of  Hampton,  Strawberry  bank, 
Dover  &  Salisbury,  whc'i  comes  to  fourteen  shillings  whch  yr  poor 
peticoner  humbly  desires,  by  some  order  from  this  Courte  to  ye  treas- 
urer, he  may  be  satisfied  and  wh^h  will  encourage  y  peticoner  to  all 
farther  readines  to  serve  you  &  pray  for  yr  prosperity  &  remain  at  y 
service.  John  Russe.J 

May  14,  1645,  the  General  Court  passed  the  following 
order :  — 

In  ansvv  to  John  Russe  his  peticon  for  14s  for  fferrage  for  ys 
magisfs  &  deputs  to  Dover  &  Boston  itts  granted  yt  ye  Treasurer  shall 
pay  it  to  ye  said  John  Russe  &  call  for  ye  one  halfe  thereof  againe  from 
ye  inhabitants  of  Dover. § 

The  next  year,  however,  the  law  regulating  the  transporta- 
tion of  passengers  was  modified  ;  and  all  ferr^-men  within  the 

•Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  35.  Edward  Woodman  and  John  Russe  testified  in 
regard  to  the  sale  of  a  house  lot  March  ij,  1637. 

t  Ante,  p.  84.  t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xlviii.,  leaf  6. 

§  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iii.,  p.  15. 


432  HISTORY  OF  NEWiaUiY 

limits  of  the  colony  were  required  to  take  deputies  on  their 
way  to  and  from  the  General  Court,  with  all  necessary 
attendants,  including  horses,  etc.,  free  of  charge.* 

John  Russe,  soon  after  the  enactment  of  this  law,  removed 
to  Andover,  where  he  died  in  1692.  Samuel  Plummer  probably 
succeeded  him  in  the  management  of  the  ferry.  October  1 7, 
1649,  the  General  Court  granted  "the  petition  of  Samu : 
Plum"",  ferryman  of  Newbury,  for  to  ha'  2^  p  passing',  for 
their  transportation."!  May  18,  1664,  Samuel  Plummer  was 
granted  liberty  "  to  take  one  penny  more  than  formerly  for 
the  passage  of  each  person  &  each  beast  that  he  shall  trans- 
port over  that  ferry,"  in  order  to  compensate  him  for  the  loss 
of  travel  occasioned  by  the  building  of  Thorlay's  bridge  over 
Parker  river. J 

When  soldiers  were  needed,  during  King  Philip's  war,  for 
the  expedition  against  the  Indian  fort  at  Narragansett,  many 
Newbury  men  were  pressed  into  the  service ;  but  the  General 
Court,  October  17,  1676,  "In  ans""  to  the  peticon  of  Samuel 
Plumer  ferryman  at  Newbury  .  .  .  ordered  that  himself  &  his 
son  Ephraim  be  freed  from  the  press"  ;  §  and  in  compliance 
with  this  order  he  was  allowed  to  pursue  his  vocation  un- 
disturbed. 

March  13,  1693-4,  the  town  of  Newbury  "voted  y'  y^ 
selectmen  shall  demand  y^  fferry  of  Samuel  Plumer  y*  he  now 
keeps  for  y^  use  of  y^  Towne  &  bring  report  of  what  they  do 
in  this  matter  to  y^  Towne."  || 

Notwithstanding  this  peremptory  vote,  no  change  was  made 
in  the  management  of  the  ferry  ;  but  Mr.  Plummer  was  in- 
structed by  the  selectmen  to  provide  larger  and  more  sub- 
stantial boats  for  the  better  accommodation  of  passengers. 

The  river  over  which  this  ferry  was  maintained  for  more 
than  fifty  years  was  called  by  various  names  until  August, 
1697,  when  the  selectmen  voted 

.  .  .  that  the  river  called  by  the  Indians  Quasacuncon,  and  since 
called  by  divers  names,  as  Newbury  River,  Oldtown  River,  etc.  Be  from 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  154.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  2S3.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  iv., 
part  ii.,  p.  103.         §  Ib.d.,  vol.  v.,  p.  127.  I!  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


FERRIES  433 

this  time  called  by  the  name  of  the  River  Parker  in  remembrance  of  the 
worhty,  learned  &  Reverend  minister,  Mr  Thomas  Parker,  who  was  a 
first  planter  &  Pastor  of  y<;  church  of  Newbury  &  learned  School- 
master.* 

August  21,  1700,  Samuel  Plummer  was  granted  the  use  and 
profit  of  the  ferry  during  his  natural  life,  upon  condition  that 
he  carry  free  of  ferriage  all  persons  having  occasion  to  use  the 
ferry  on  public  business,  including  jurymen  coming  from  or 
going  to  the  court  at  Ipswich  or  Salem,  and  that  he  provide 
good  boats  with  good  attendants  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  public. t 

Mr.  Plummer  died  in  1702  ;  and  on  the  sixteenth  day  of 
September  of  that  year  "corp"  Richard  Jackman  proposed 
to  keep  y^  ferry  over  Old-Towne  River  alias  y^  River  Parker."  f 

March  9,  1703  voted  to  let  the  ferry  over  the  river  Parker  for  four 
years  at  four  pounds  a  year  to  corporal  Richard  Jackman  who  is  to 
carry  all  the  court  officers,  going  and  returning  from  court,  all  town 
officers  when  employed  by  the  town,  and  all  rams  belonging  to  the  town, 
ferry  free.f 

November  28,  1707,  the  General  Court  passed  a  resolve, 
*' allowing  and  paying  three  pounds  out  of  the  Province 
Treasury  to  Richard  Jackman  in  full  for  ferrying  done  for 
the  Province  to  date."  % 

March  9,  1707-8,  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  lease 
the  old  town  ferry  to  some  suitable  person;  and  March  11, 
171 1-2,  they  were  ordered  to  make  up  the  account  with 
Richard  Jackman  about  the  ferry  over  the  river  Parker  and 
"  lease  the  ferry  for  the  year  ensuing  on  such  terms  as  they 
think  best."  f 

March  9,  i  713-14  It  was  voated  that  Capt  Thomas  Hale  &  Daniel 
Thirston,  Jonathan  poore  &  Jonathan  Plummer  &  their  families  shall  be 
carried  over  y^  river  parker  ferriedge  free  on  Sabath  days,  lecter  days  & 
training  days.f 

May  II,  1 7 1 4,  the  town  voted  to  lease  the  ferry  over 
Parker  river  for  three  years  to  William  Dole,  on  condition 
that  he  carry   the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newbury  and 

*  Records  of  the  Selectmen  of  Newbury.  t  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

+  Province  Laws,  vol.  viii.,  p.  252. 


434  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

their  horses  free,  and  give  a  bond  to  keep  and  tend  the  ferry 
as  the  law  directs,  "  the  said  Dole  or  his  heirs  to  have  the 
refusal  of  the  ferry  after  the  expiration  of  his  lease  provided 
he  pay  as  much  as  any  one  else."  * 

March  12,  171 6-7,  William  Dole  was  granted  liberty  to 
keep  the  ferry  over  the  river  Parker,  "  provided  he  pay  five 
pounds  per  year  for  the  same  and  carry  ferry  free  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Newbury  residing  on  the  neck."  * 

September  18,  1722,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  voted  to 
grant  Richard  Dole  the  ferry  for  three  years  at  six  pounds 
per  year,  "■  he  to  carry  the  neck  men  ferry  free  "  ;  and  Septem- 
ber 21,  1725,  he  was  granted  liberty  to  keep  the  ferry  three 
years  longer  on  substantially  the  same  terms.* 

May  19,  1729,  Benjamin  Plummer  agreed  to  pay  the  select- 
men of  Newbury  forty  shillings  for  the  use  of  the  Parker 
river  ferry  for  one  year  from  that  date.* 

In  1734,  the  town  of  Newbury  gave  its  consent  to  the 
erection  of  a  bridge  over  the  river,  at  or  near  the  place'  where 
this  ferry  was  kept,  upon  certain  specified  conditions ;  but  it 
was  found  impossible  to  raise  the  money  necessary  to  defray 
the  cost  of  the  proposed  structure,  and  the  plan  was  tempo- 
rarily abandoned.  The  ferry  was  not  discontinued  until  1758, 
when  the  bridge  was  built,  under  the  supervision  of  Mr. 
Ralph  Cross,  with  funds  raised  by  a  lottery  authorized  by  the 
General  Court. | 

FERRY  AT  CARR'S  ISLAND. 

Communication  with  Colchester  (Salisbury),  Winnacunnett 
(Hampton),  Piscataqua  (Portsmouth),  and  other  settlements 
farther  to  the  eastward  was  maintained  by  means  of  a  ferry 
from  Newbury  over  the  Merrimack  river,  through  the  narrow 
passage  between  Carr's  island  and  Ram  island,  to  the  SaUs- 
bury  shore.  This  ferry  was  probably  conducted  as  a  private 
enterprise  for  several  years  before  it  was  legally  established 
by  the  General  Court.  The  following  order  was  adopted 
May  13,  1640:  — 

•Town  of  Newbury  Records.  t"  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  530-532- 


FERJ^IES  435 

Mr.  Edward  Woodman,  Mr  Christo  :  Batt,  &  John  Crosse  are  ap- 
pointed (when  the  way  is  settled)  to  settle  the  fferry  where  they  thinke 
meete.* 

July  3,  1640,  the  freemen  of  Salisbury  granted  George  Carr 
"  the  Island  where  he  now  dwells  ...  it  being  the  greatest 
Island  w''Mn  the  Towne  bounds  in  the  river  Merrimack."  In 
the  note-book  of  Thomas  Lechford,  a  prominent  lawyer  in 
Boston  at  that  date,  is  the  following  memorandum  :  — 

George  Carre  of  Salisbury  in  N.  E.  Shipwright,  releaseth  Thomas 
[coccrey]  his  apprentice  of  the  remaining  time  of  his  service  &c. 

Thomas  [coccrey]  is  to  be  bound  unto  G.  C.  in  40^  condiconed  that 
T.  C.  shall  not  intermedle  in  the  ferry  on  Merrimacke  river  w'^out  the 
consent  of  G.  C.  iSicf 

This  memorandum  indicates  that  George  Carr  had  charge 
of  the  ferry  over  Merrimack  river  at  that  time,  and  had  taken 
legal  advice  in  regard  to  the  best  method  of  restraining  an 
active  competitor  in  the  business.  The  date  is  uncertain  ;  but 
it  must  have  been  previous  to  August  3,  1641,  when  Lech- 
ford, having  become  dissatisfied  with  the  condition  of  affairs 
in  Boston,  sold  his  books  and  household  effects,  and  sailed 
for  England. 

George  Carr  was  evidently  appointed  ferryman  early  in  the 
year  1 64 1 . 

At  a  court  holden  at  Ipswich  the  28t'i  of  [the  first?]  month  [March?] 
1 64 1. 

Geo.  Carr  is  appointed  to  keep  the  Ferry  at  Salisbury  at  the  Island 
where  he  now  dwelleth  for  the  space  of  three  years,  p'vided  that  he 
finde  a  sufficient  horse  boat  and  gives  diligent  attendance.  The  ferries 
are  as  foUoweth. 


iz  :   For  a  man  present  pay 

2d 

Calves  &  yearlings  each 

2d 

For  a  horse 

6d 

Goats  each 

Id 

For  great  cattle  each 

6d 

hogs  each 

2d 

If  present  pay  be  not  made  that  he  must  book  any  ferries  then  a  penny 
apiece  more.  If  any  be  found  to  swim  over  their  Horses  for  want  of  a 
great  boat  they  shall  pay  nothing.:]: 

•Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.  p.  292.     The  first  person  named  on  this  committee 
was  from  Newbury,  the  second  from  Salisbury,  and  the  third  from  Hampton, 
t  Lechford's  Note  Book,  p.  393.  +  Ipswich  Town  Records,  vol.  i. 


43 6  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Among  the  presentments  made  to  the  grand  jury  at  the 
court  held  in  Ipswich,  1641,  is  the  following 

Item,  We  present  George  Carr  for  not  keeping  the  ferry  but  suffer- 
ing people  to  stand  wayting  at  the  water  side  three  houres  to  the 
prejudice  of  their  health  and  for  taking  4^  a  head  for  cattell  swyming 
over  the  ferry,  he  not  affording  them  his  lielp.  Jo  :  Sanders,  Grand 
jury  man,  witness.* 

At  the  Court  holden  at  Ipswich  29«'i  day  of  the  first  month  1642. 

George  Carr,  presented  last  Court  for  defect  in  keeping  the  ferry  at 
Salisbury  is  fined  Vs.* 

On  the  nineteenth  day  of  April,  1641,  the  town  of  Hampton, 
then  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  appointed  Christopher  Hussey  and  John  Moulton  "to  goe 
^yth  y[x  Dalton  &  John  Crosse  on  this  day  fortnight  to 
confer  of  y^  fferie  place. "f 

At  the  Quarterly  Court  held  at  Salem,  January  1 1,  164 1-2, 
"  George  Carr  of  Salisbury  "  brought  a  suit  against  William 
Harper  for  interfering  with  the  ferry.  The  suit  was  decided 
in  favor  of  the  plaintiff  :  — 

His  servant  to  pay  according  to  agreement  iqs  for  defalt  of  his  ser- 
vice &  Losse  of  his  tyme  &  iqs  costs  &  to  be  restrained  from  ffollowing 
ye  fferry  as  his  calHng  &  that  the  Indentures  be  made  according  to  ye 
custom  of  ould  England. J 

September  24,  1 644,  George  Carr  was  "  appointed  to  keepe 
y^  ferrie  att  Salisbury  att  the  Hand  where  hee  now  dwelleth 
for  y^  space  of  three  years "  §  This  appointment  probably 
gave  him  control  of  the  ferry  on  both  sides  of  the  Merrimack 
river.  May  26,  1647,  the  General  Court  authorized  Tristram 
Coffin  to  keep  the  ferry  on  the  Newbury  side,  and  George 
Carr  was  granted  "  liberty  to  keepe  his  boate  going  on  Sals- 
bury  side." 

This  arrangement  was  not  satisfactory  to  Mr.  Carr  ;  and  two 
years  later,  in  order  to  secure  exclusive  control  of  the  ferry, 
he  offered  to  build  a  floating  bridge  to  connect  the  island 
where  he  resided  with  the  Salisbury  shore.  April  9,  1650, 
the  "  Courte  at  Salisbury"  settled  and  disposed  of  "ye  whole 

*  Ipswich  Town  Records,  vol.  i.  t  History  of  Hampton  (Dow),  vol.  i.,  p.  26. 

t  Court  Files  (Salem),  vol.  ii.,  p.  100.  §  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cxxi.,  p.  i. 


FERRIES  437 

ferry  on  both  sides  ye  River  to  y^  s^  George  Carr,  his  heirs  & 
assigns  from  such  time  as  y^  said  Bridge  shall  be  Built  & 
Finished  &  so  long  as  it  is  sufficiently  maintained  &  repaired 
&  no  longer." 

The  bridge  was  not  completed  until  June,  1655.  Mean- 
while the  inhabitants  of  Newbury,  at  a  meeting  held  March 
21,  1652-3,  ordered 

.  .  .  that  the  ferry  over  Merrimack  should  be  kept  in  the  old  place  thru 
the  Gutt  and  that  the  way  for  driving  Cattell  should  suddenly  be  layd 
out  and  that  Mr  Coffin  should  still  continue  fferry  man  conditionally  he 
keep  sufficient  men  &  Boates  and  to  carry  the  passengers  of  our  Towne 
for  two  pence  a  person  out  and  two  pence  Back  and  four  pence  a  beast, 
and  he  shall  have  it  so  long  as  the  Towne  shall  see  cause.* 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Townsmen  (December  27,  1653)  It  was  agreed  & 
ordered  that  Samuel  Poor  should  keep  the  fferry  over  Merrimack  dur- 
ing the  time  he  doth  carefully  &  faithfully  attend  it  and  Keep  sufficient 
Boates  provided  that  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Towne  shall  pass  over  for  half 
ferriage  &  that  he  keep  the  fferry  thru'  the  Gutt  when  it  may  be,  if  not, 
yet  to  use  all  means  possible  to  convey  passengers  over.* 

In  1 64 1,  when  George  Carr  was  first  appointed  ferryman, 
travellers  on  their  way  to  Salisbury,  Hampton,  Portsmouth, 
and  Dover  followed  the  country  road,  from  Parker  river  to 
Poore's,  afterward  Moody's,  lane,  now  Woodland  street,  New- 
buryport,  and  thence  through  what  is  now  Merrimack  court, 
to  a  point  of  rocks,  subsequently  known  as  Moggaridge's 
point,  where  they  found  boatmen  to  convey  them  through  the 
narrow  channel,  between  Carr's  island  and  Ram  island,  to  the 
Salisbury  shore. 

When  the  floating  bridge  was  completed,  connecting  Carr's 
island  with  Salisbury,  Hon.  Samuel  Symonds,  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  county  court,  announced  that  "  the  ferry  on 
either  side  doth  of  right  henceforth  belong  unto  him  [George 
Carr],  and,  therefore,  the  other  ferryman  is  hereby  required 
to  cease  his  ferriage  usually  unless  he  be  employed  by  the 
said  George  Carr  and  for  his  use."  f 

A  new  way,  now  known  as  Jefferson  street,  leading  from 
the  country  road,  now  High  street,  Newbury  port,  to  the  ferry 
landing  opposite  Carr's  island,  was  laid  out  soon  after    the 

*  Proprietors'  Book,  vol.  i.,  p.  5.  fOuld  Newbury,"  p.  61. 


FERRIES  439 

bridge  was  built  in  1655.  This  highway  was  taken  in  part 
from  the  farm  owned  by  Lionel  Worth,  "  formerly  granted  by 
the  town  of  Newbury  unto  M""  Edward  Rawson." 

February  10,  1654-5,  there  was  granted  lyonel  Worth,  in  considera- 
tion of  his  resigning  to  the  Towne  live  acres  of  land  for  a  High  way  to 
Salisbury  ferry  by  his  house  where  he  now  dwelleth  wdi  land  he  formerly 
purchased  of  Mr  Coffin,  next  to  Mr  Rawson's  land  .  .  .  eight  acres  of 
upland  beyond  the  new  Towne  * 

AMESBURY   FERRY. 

The  plantation  on  the  northerly  side  of  the  Merrimack  river, 
first  called  Colchester  and  afterwards  Salisbury,  was  settled 
in  1639.  It  covered  a  large  extent  of  territory,  and  included 
land  on  both  sides  of  the  Powow  river.  The  first  settlers 
located  on  the  easterly  side  of  that  river ;  but,  previous  to 
1654,  a  few  families  had  removed  to  the  westerly  side,  and 
made  preparations  to  organize  a  new  town  there.  Early  in 
the  year  1668  an  effort  was  made  to  establish  a  ferry  over 
the  Merrimack  river,  to  connect  the  new  settlement  with  the 
town  of  Newbury. 

May  27,  1668.  In  ansr  to  the  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of  Salis- 
bury, new  towne,  humbly  desiring  the  favc  of  this  Court  that  their 
towne  may  be  named  Emesbur}',  the  Court  grants  their  request. 

In  a  further  answer  to  their  request  to  have  liberty  granted  them  to 
keepe  a  ferry  ouer  Merremack  Riuer,  about  Mr  Goodwin's  house,  the 
Court  judgeth  it  meet  to  grant  that  there  shall  be  a  ferry  kept  as  is 
desired  &  leaue  it  to  the  next  Court  of  that  county  to  appoint  both  the 
person  that  is  to  keepe  it  &  also  to  appoint  the  price. f 

The  County  Court  held  at  Hampton  ye  13th  of  ye  gt'i  mo  1668,  Mr 
Edward  Goodwin  being  presented  by  ye  Selectmen  of  ye  town  of  Ames- 
bury  to  ye  Court  to  keep  ye  ferry  over  Merrimack  river  above  ye  mouth 
of  ye  Powous  river  where  ye  s^  Goodwin  now  dwelleth  this  Court  do 
allow  &  approve  of  ye  s^  person  for  one  year  next  following  and  until 
ye  Court  shall  take  further  orders  there  in  and  for  ye  prices  to  be  as 
foUoweth  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  p^  head.  J 

•Town  of  Newbury  (Proprietors'  Records),  vol.  i.,  p.  60.     For  a  more  extended  account  of 
the  ferrj'  at  Carr's  island  see  "  Ould  Newburj',"  pp.  55-80. 
t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  ii.,  p.  376. 
+  History  of  Amesbury  (Merrill),  p.  92. 


440  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

A  few  days  later,  George  Carr  appealed  to  the  General 
Court  to  abolish,  or  place  under  his  care  and  control,  the  new 
ferry  that  had  been  established  without  his  knowledge  or 
consent. 

November  7,  1668  In  ans""  to  the  peticon  of  George  Carr  the  Court 
on  pervsell   of  the   same  together  wth   severall   court  orders  referring 


AMESBURY    FERRY    LANDING    PLACE,    NEWBURY    SIDE. 

OPPOSITE    POWOW    RIVER. 

thereunto  &  also  such  allegations  as  the  peticoner  presents  of  what 
charges  he  hath  been  at  in  erecting  of  a  bridge  :  Vnderstanding,  also, 
that  the  sajd  peticoner  hath  convenient  accommodation  of  land  at  or 
neere  the  place  where  the  new  ferry  is  to  be  kept,  the  Court  judgeth  it 
meete  to  advise  the  Court  of  that  County,  to  whom  it  was  referred,  that, 
in  regard  it  is  not  disposed  of  for  longer  than  one  yeare,  that  the  sajd 
fferry  may  be  vpon  the  sajd  Carr,  he  keeping  of  it  vpon  as  equal  termes 
as  any  other  will  doe.* 

•Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  partii.,  p.  413. 


FERRIES  44 1 

December  21,  1668,  the  selectmen  of  Newbury  laid  out  a 
way  to  this  ferry,  bei;'innin<:j  at  the  lancling--place  on  the  Mer- 
rimack river,  and  running  southeasterly  through  land  of 
Christopher  Bartlett  and  others  to  the  Bradford  road.* 

In  the  month  of  May,  1669,  George  Carr  again  petitioned 
the  General  Court  to  grant  him  exclusive  control  of  the 
ferries  over  the  Merrimack  river.  The  deputies  and  magi.s- 
trates,  after  careful  investigation,  adopted  the  following 
order  :  — 

In  ansr  to  the  petition  of  George  Carr,  the  Court,  having  heard  his 
allegations  &  pervsed  seuerall  Court  orders  referring  to  the  case,  doe 
declare  that  the  peticoner  ought  to  haue  his  couenant  made  good  accord- 
ing to  the  order  of  Salisbury  Court,  9^0,  1650,  to  haue  the  whole  dis- 
pose of  the  said  ferry  on  both  sides  of  the  river  there  being  no  Com- 
plaint of  deficiency  of  the  bridge  or  of  Carrs  attendance  by  boat  or 
otherwise  but,  contrary  wise,  desires  from  from  seuerall  selectmen  of 
the  Continuance  thereof  in  his  hands  &  therefore  can  see  no  ground 
to  allow  of  the  setting  vp  of  another  fferry  there,  but  judge  liberty  may 
be  granted  to  sett  a  ferry  or  ferryes  in  other  places  on  that  riuer  vsefull 
for  the  country,  the  said  George  Carr  having  the  refusall  of  keeping  the 
tferry  at  or  about  Powwaws  Riuer,  he  keeping  &  attending  on  it  for  the 
ease  of  the  country  &  on  the  same  ternies  that  it  was  granted  to  him 
that  now  keeps  it,  by  order  of  the  County  Court  at  Hampton  or  Salis- 
bury, liberty  of  magistrates  &  deputies  to  passe  free,  as  it  was  by  law 
settled  before  the  agreement  the  sajd  carr  made  about  the  sajd  fferry, 
which  he  excepted  not  then  against.f 

In  compliance  with  this  order  of  the  General  Court,  the 
ferry  was  placed  under  the  care  of  George  Carr.  He  re- 
tained possession  of  it  until  his  death,  April  4,  1682.  It 
was  afterwards  kept  and  maintained  by  his  heirs  until  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1695-6.  At  that  date,  Richard  Carr  sold  to  Capt. 
John  March,  of  Newbury,  "  The  Ferry  commonly  known  by 
ye  name  of  Almesbury  ferry  together  with  all  ye  privileges  to 
ye  same  belonging  which  s^  Ferry  was  by  ye  Town  of  Almes- 
bury Granted  to  my  Honoured  Father,  Mr.  George  Carr,  late 
of  Salisbury,  deceased,  and  confirmed  by  ye  General  Court, 
allsoe  ye  ferry  boates,  allsoe  a  freehold  commonage  or  common 
right  in  ye  Township  of  Almesbury,  as  my  said   Father,  M*" 

•  "  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  394.        t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  ii.,  p.  429. 


442  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

George  Carr,  was  a  free  Commoner  in  s^  Towne  as  y*  Towne 
Bookc  will  make  appeer."  * 

At  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  held  at  Newbury  Septem- 
ber 25,  171 1,  "  Richard  Goodwin  of  Almsbury  was  licensed  to 
keep  a  ferry  over  Merrimack  river  nigh  ye  mouth  of  Powow 
river  to  continue  two  years."  f 

At  the  court  held  September  27,  171 5,  Capt.  Humphrey 
Hook  was  licensed  to  keep  the  ferry  for  five  years.f  He  was 
a  son-in-law  of  Capt.  John  March,  and  served  as  ferryman 
until  his  death  in  1754.  During  his  life,  and  for  many  years 
after  his  death,  the  ferry  was  called  "  Hook's  ferry." 

May  19,  1766,  the  town  of  Amesbury  objected  to  the 
granting  of  certain  privileges  to  the  ferryman,  and  appointed 
a  committee  to  inquire  into  the  town's  right  to  the  ferry. J 
On  the  thirtieth  day  of  September  following,  at  the  Court  of 
General  Sessions  held  at  Newburyport,  Humphrey  Currier, 
grandson  of  Humphrey  Hook,  was  Hcensed  to  keep  the  ferry. § 
Two  months  later,  a  committee  was  chosen  in  the  town  of 
Amesbury  "  to  recover  the  town's  right  in  the  Ferry  and 
prosecute  the  same  in  law."  ||  After  a  prolonged  legal  con- 
troversy the  suit  was  withdrawn  ;  and  Mr.  Currier  and  other 
members  of  his  family  remained  in  charge  of  the  ferry  until 
1792,  when  the  Essex  Merrimack  bridge  was  built,  and  the 
ferry  was  discontinued. 

MARCH'S  FERRY. 

January  21,  1679-80,  Hugh  March,  for  many  years  an  inn- 
keeper in  Newbury,  conveyed  all  his  real  estate  and  personal 
property  to  his  son,  John  March,  who  was  subsequently  li- 
censed to  keep  an  ordinary  at  the  place  known  as  the  Blue 
Anchor  Tavern.^  Two  or  three  years  later,  owing  to  some 
disagreement  with  his  father,  John  March  removed  to  a  house 
then  standing  near  the  lower   end   of  Greenleaf's  lane,  now 

*  Essex  Deeds,  Ipswich  Series,  book  ii.,  leaf  i6o.         t  Court  Records  (Salem),  1696-1718. 

+  Town  of  Amesbury  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  341. 

§  Court  of  (ieneral  Sessions  Records,  1764-1777,  p.  107. 

II  Town  of  Amesbury  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  342.  f  "  Quid  Newbury,"  pp.  175-188. 


FERRIES  443 

State  street,  Ne\vbur)p()rt,  nearly  opposite  Ring's  island, 
where  he  was  licensed  by  the  court  held  at  Ipswich  in  Sep- 
tember, 1682,  "to  keep  an  ordinary  and  draw  wine  and 
liquors." 

Soon  after  the  ai^pointment  of  Sir  Edmund  Andros  as 
governor  of  the  provinces  in  New  England,  John  March  ap- 
plied for  permission  to  keep  a  ferry  over  the  Merrimack  river, 
from  warehouse  point,  so  called,  in  Newbury,  to  Ring's  island 
in  Salisbury.  At  a  meeting  of  the  council  held  September 
23,  1687,  the  following  petition  was  read:  — 

To  his  Excellence  S""  Edmund  Androsse  Knt :  Captaine  Generall  & 
Governour  in  Cheife  in  &  over  the  Territory  &  Dominion  of  New 
Eng'J 

The  Humble  petion  of  John  March  Sheweth.  That  yo«"  petitioner  is  an 
inhabitant  of  the  Towne  of  Newberry,  in  ye  County  of  Essex  within  this 
Territory,  and  keeps  the  Ordinary  there.  That  yo:""  petitioner  liveing 
Conveniently  near  ye  water  side  hath  beene  frequently  soUicited  &  is 
dayly  by  Gentlemen  travelling  that  way  &  also  by  the  inhabitants  of  y^ 
Said  Towne  &  the  Townes  adjacent  to  Obteine  yo:''  Excellencys  Grant 
for  the  keeping  of  a  fferry  from  ye  s^  Towne  of  Newberry  to  ye  Towne 
of  Salisbury  which  will  be  a  Comon  Convenience  to  all  such  Travellers 
as  shall  passe  that  way  &  likewise  a  considerable  advantage  to  the  sd 
Townes  Of  which  yo:""  petitioner  hopes  yo:""  Excellence  will  be  more 
pticulerly  informed  by  severall  Gentlemen  who  have  lately  rode  that 
way  &  Experienced  the  Convenience  such  a  fferry  will  be,  Therefore 

May  it  please  yo:""  Excellence  to  Grant  unto  yo:""  petitioner  Liberty  to 
keep  such  a  fferry  from  ye  sd  Towne  of  Newberry  to  the  sd  Towne  of 
Salisbury  which  yo:""  petitioner  Pposes  to  Doe  for  halfe  the  Charge  of 
the  old  fferry  and  yo:""  petitioner  shall  ever  pray  &c 

John  March.* 

A  copy  of  the  above  petition  was  sent  to  James  Carr,  who 
controlled  the  ferry  established  by  his  father,  George  Carr,  in 
1640.  He  was  notified  to  appear  and  show  cause  why  the 
prayer  of  the  petitioner  should  not  be  granted.  On  the  day 
appointed  for  the  hearing  he  presented  a  brief  statement  of 
his  case,  in  which  he  claimed  that  the  new  ferry  would  seriously 
interfere  with  his  rights  and  privileges,  and  prove  impassable 
at  certain  seasons  of  the  year.  Notwithstanding  his  objec- 
tions, however,  the  following  order  was  passed  :  — 

•Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cxxvii.,  p.  157  ;  Province  Laws,  vol   vii.,  p.  404. 


444  HISTORY   OF  XKlVm-RY 

Att  a  Councill  held  att  the  Councill  Chamber  in  Boston  on  Wednes- 
day the  2Sti>  day  of  September  1687, 

Present 
His  Excellencye  S^  Edmund  Andres  K"<  &c. 
Joseph  Dudley  1  Peter  Bulkley  ^  Nath  Gierke  1 

Wm  Stoughton  ^  Esqrs  John  Usher     I  Escp  Edw  Randolph       L  Esq^s 
Robert  Mason  J  John  Hincks  J  Fran:   Nicholson  J 

Upon  reading  this  day  in  Councill  the  Peticbn  of  John  March  of 
Newbury  about  a  new  Ferry  from  Newbury  to  Salisbury  to  be  kept  by 
him  neere  his  dwelling.  As  alsoe  the  Peticon  of  James  Carr  of  Salis- 
bury about  his  right  to  the  swing  bridge  and  old  Ferry  there. 

Referred  to  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  the  County  of  Essex  to  ex- 
amine the  offers  and  allegacons  of  both  the  Petitioners  and  forthwith  to 
report  to  this  Board  what  they  conceive  therein  to  be  most  suitable  and 
convenient  for  Travellers  and  the  publique  service  of  the  country.* 

William  Browne,  jr.,  John  Hathorne,  Jo:  Woodbridge,  and 
Philip  Nelson,  justices  of  the  peace,  reported  October  6,  1687, 
that  the  proposed  ferry  would  be  convenient  and  of  great 
advantage  to  the  public,  "  provided  the  s^  John  March  (or 
whom  Y  Excellency  shall  please  to  grant  the  keep  of  s'^  ferry 
unto)  be  obliged  to  make  a  good  causeway  on  Salisbury  side 
to  the  Place  where  they  take  Boat  and  that  at  the  Particular 
Charge  of  the  s*^  undertaker  of  the  ferry."  f  This  report  was 
read  and  approved,  and  the  following  order  passed  :  — 

At  a  Council  held  at  the  Council  Chamber  in  Boston  on  Tuesday  y^ 
25''i  day  of  October  1687, 

Present  His  Excellency  S""  Edmund  Andross,  Knt  &c. 


Nathl  Clarke  "^ 

Walter  Newbury      1 
Esqrs  Edward  Randolph    \-  Esq"" 

Francis  Nicholson 


Joseph  Dudley 
Wm  Stoughton 
Robert  Mason 
Jno  Usher 
Jona  Tyng 

Upon  Reading  this  Day  In  Council  ye  Report  made  by  ye  Justices  of 
ye  County  of  Essex  about  a  new  ferry  from  Newbury  To  Salisbury  ye 
same  was  approv'd  off  —  And  Ordered  That  it  be  kept  &  maintained  by 
John  March  of  Newbury  accordingly,  provided  That  James  Carr  of 
Salisbury  Do  on  notice  given  him  by  ye  said  Justices  refuse  to  under- 
take &  keep  ye  same  and  y*  ye  said  Justices  do  &  are  hereby  authoriz'd 
to  Lay  out  ye  ways  &  causeway  &  Regulate  ye  said  ferry  and  take  such 

*  Province  Laws,  vol.  vii.,  p.  405  :  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cxxvii.,  p.  157. 
t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cxxvii.,  p.  212. 


FERRIES  445 

security  or  caution  as  to  y'"  shall  seem  meet  for  y^  making  thereof  & 
keeping  and  maintaining  ye  same  in  Good  order  and  repair. 
By  order  in  Council  &c. 

John  West  Depty  Secry* 

On  the  fourteenth  clay  of  November,  John  Appleton, 
Richard  Dummer,  and  PhiHp  Nelson,  three  of  the  justices  of 
the  peace  for  Essex  county,  made  a  tender  of  the  new  ferry 
to  James  Carr,  as  required  by  the  order  of  the  governor  and 
council.  The  offer  was  declined  ;  and  the  franchise  was  then 
assigned  to  Mr.  John  March,  who  gave  bonds,  in  the  sum  of 
one  hundred  pounds,  to  provide  boats  and  keep  the  ferry  ac- 
cording to  law. 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  John  March  of  Newbury,  Taverne 
Keeper,  living  in  the  County  of  Essex  in  New  England  doth  owe  unto 
our  soveraigne  Lord  the  King  the  full  and  just  somme  of  one  hundred 
pounds  of  good  and  lawful  money  of  New  England,  to  be  levied  upon 
his  house,  lands  and  chattells  and  to  the  true  payment  thereof  he  doth 
bind  himself,  his  heirs  exequitors  administrators  and  assignes  unto  our 
saide  Soveraigne  Lord  the  King  his  heirs  and  successors,  in  witnes 
whereof  the  saide  John  March  hath  hereunto  set  his  hand  and  seale  this 
fourteenth  day  of  November,  and  in  the  third  year  of  his  majesties 
raigne.     Atiiioque  Domini  1687. 

The  condition  of  this  obligation  is  such  that  if  the  above  bounden 
John  March  doth  provide  a  good  and  sufificient  boate  for  the  carriage 
over  of  horses  and  men  over  the  ferry  granted  to  him  by  his  Excellency 
and  Counsell  at  or  before  the  sixteenth  day  of  this  Instant  November 
and  doth  also  dewly  attend  the  ferry  granted  to  him  by  carriinge  over 
horse  and  man  for  six  pence,  a  single  person  for  two  pence,  and  doth 
allwayes  while  he  doth  hold  the  saide  ferry  keepe  his  boate  or  boates  in 
good  repaire  fit  for  the  service  of  the  Country,  then  this  obligation  is  to 
be  voide  and  of  no  effect,  or  else  to  remaine  in  full  force  and  vertue,  and 
the  time  of  Keepinge  this  ferry  and  standinge  bound  as  aforesaid  is  as 
long  as  the  ferry  shall  be  confirmed  to  him  by  an  authoritie. 

Signed  Sealed  and  delivered  John  March 

in  the  presence  of  us 
Caleb  Moody 
D.  Davison. t 

In  order  to  make  the  way  to  the  ferry,  on  the  Salisbury  side 
of  the  river,  convenient  and  serviceable,  it  became  necessary 

*  Essex  Deeds,  vol.  xv.,  leaf  214;  Suffolk  County  Court  Files,  No.  2471  ;  Province  Laws, 
vol.  vii. ,  p.  406. 

t  Massachusetts  Arcliives,  vol.  cxxvii.,  p.  231  :  Province  Laws,  vol.  vii.,  p.  406. 


446  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

to  build  a  substantial  road  over  the  low,  marshy  land  that  con- 
nected Ring's  island  with  the  upland  beyond.  The  work  was 
begun  and  probably  completed  under  the  following  agreement 
made  by  John  March  with  the  town  of  Salisbury  :  — 

The  Proposition  of  John  March  to  ye  town  of  Salisbury  now  mett  ye 
22d  day  of  Novemb''  1687  To  ye  town  of  Salisbury,  Gentlemen  you  have 
been  Informed  yt  there  is  a  new  way  from  Merrimack  river  to  your  town 
Laid  out  by  authority  for  ye  use  of  ye  country  &  is  Insufficient  for  per- 
sons to  pass  &  there  is  a  ferry  granted  to  me  by  Authority  Therefore 
my  Request  is  yt  you  would  be  pleased  to  make  ye  way  Sufficient  for  ye 
use  of  ye  Country  for  wch  it  is  Laid  out,  But  I  John  March  do  Engage 
for  Quietness  Sake  to  make  ye  way  from  Merrimack  river  to  ye  South 
Side  of  ye  creek  &  half  ye  Bridge  over  ye  Said  Creek.  This  proposition 
of  John  Marches  with  his  condition  annexed  so  far  as  it  Refers  to  ye 
town  is  voted  on  ye  affirmative  &  s^  Marches  hand  signed  &  owned  to 
ye  performance  of  what  he  hath  engaged  himself  In  Reference  to  ye 
above  Country  way  as  above  manifested  John  March 

As  attest  Robert  Pike,  IMod^ 

George  Carr  &  William  Carr  enter  their  contra  Decents 
Left  William  Buswell  enters  his  Contra  Decent 

A  true  copy  taken  out  of  the  town  Book 

As  attest  Willm  Bradbury   T.  Clerk  * 

During  the  winter  of  1687-8,  complaints  were  made  that  the 
boats  used  by  John  March  for  the  transportation  of  passen- 
gers were  not  able  to  withstand  the  rough  weather  of  that 
season,  and  that  in  the  month  of  January  they  were  prevented 
for  ten  consecutive  days  from  crossing  the  river  on  account  of 
the  ice.  Taking  advantage  of  the  dissatisfaction  that  existed 
on  account  of  these  interruptions  and  delays,  James  Carr 
again  petitioned  the  governor  and  council,  under  the  date  of 
June  13,  1688,  "to  order  the  Ferry  to  be  stated  &  settled  as 
formerly,  and  the  late  Ferry  set  up  by  John  March,  which  is 
of  so  little  benefit  to  the  publique  &  very  detrimental  to  yo:"" 
Pef  to  be  laid  down."  With  this  petition  Mr.  Carr  filed  the 
following  certificate  :  — 

These  are  to  Certify  whom  it  may  or  shall  concerne  that  wee  ye  sub- 
scribers hereof  Beeing  at  Newbury ;  and  our  occations  vrgently  requir- 
ing vs  to  goe  for  Salisbury :   therevpon  wee  have  repaired  ourselfes  for 

*  Essex  Deeds,  book  xv.,  leaf  214  ;  also,  Province  Laws,  vol.  vii.,  p.  407. 


FERKIES  447 

passages  over  the  ferry  w^h  Jno  March  vndr  tooke  to  keepe  for  passages 
but  could  [not]  get  any  notwithstanding  wee  stay'd  about  4  or  5  houres 
and  at  that  tim  Mr  Mercer  that  now  Lives  at  Bescataqa  came  over  but 
could  not  bring  his  horse  for  there  was  noe  Boat  but  a  hay  Boat  and  that 
nobody  would  venture  there  Lives  at  such  weather  as  then  was  :  and 
then  after  c  Long  and  tedious  staying  at  mr  Marches  wee  came  to  m^s 
Carr  and  got  over  without  any  difficulty  at  all  ye  same  day  beeing  ye  2  of 
December  1687  as  witnese  o''  hand 

Thomas  Jackson  of  Redding 
Henry  Williams  of  Boston 

cum  multis  alts 

Mercer,  A  Jersy  man 

of  Bescatahqua  * 

The  prayer  of  the  petitioner  was  not  granted  ;  but,  after  the 
seizure  of  Governor  Andros  in  Boston,  and  his  return  to  Eng 
land  in  1689,  Mr.  Carr  petitioned  the  provisional  government 
of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  bay,  still  asserting  his  claim 
to  the  management  and  control  of  the  ferries  between  New- 
bury and  Salisbury,  and  complaining  of  the  illegality  of  the 
grant  made  to  John  March  and  the  injurious  competition 
resulting  therefrom.  The  General  Court,  having  care- 
fully considered  the  whole  subject,  passed  the  following 
order  :  — 

May  20,  1691  In  Answer  to  the  Petition  of  James  Carr  of  Salisbury, 
complaining  of  wrong  and  Injury  done  him  by  Capt  John  March  of 
Newberry,  in  keeping  up  a  ferry  upon  Merrimack  river  betwixt  New- 
berry and  Salisbury,  in  prejudice  of  a  grant  formerly  made  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court  unto  Mr  George  Carr  Father  of  the  Said  petitioner,  and  his 
Heirs  &c  The  petitioner  is  referred  to  seek  his  remedy  by  Course  of 
Cornon  Law.f 

At  that  date  John  March  was  captain  of  a  company  en- 
listed to  serve  in  an  expedition  to  Canada.  He  evidently 
made  arrangements  with  Capt._  Edward  Sargent  to  take 
charge  of  the  newly  established  ferry  and  of  the  tavern  where 
he  was  licensed  to  sell  wine  and  beer. 

August  29,  1693,  James  and  Richard  Carr  commenced  a 
suit  to  recover  damages  from  Capt.  Edward  Sargent  for  tak- 
ing passengers  over  Merrimack  river  without  legal  authority. 

*  Province  Laws,  vol.  vii.,  p.  408. 

t  Council  Records,  vol.  vi.,  p.  183  ;  Province  Laws,  vol.  vii.,  p.  408. 


448  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

In  the  writ  of  attachment,  they  made  the  following  declara- 
tion :  — 

...  ye  sd  Sargent  for  near  two  yeares  last  past  hath  Exercised  and  prac- 
tised ye  Coirion  Carrying  and  Transporting  of  men  horses  and  goods 
over  ye  River  Merrimack  in  ye  County  aforesaid  between  ye  Towns  of 
Newbury  and  Salisbury  upon  Hire  and  for  Reward  to  ye  Great  Dis- 
turbance nusance  and  Damage  of  ye  s^'  James  Carr  and  Richard  Carrs 
ferry  over  ye  s"*  River.* 

At  an  Inferior  Court  of  Pleas  held  in  Newbury,  September 
26,  1693,  Capt.  Sargent  asked  for  a  continuance  of  the  case 
on  the  ground  that  "  Capt  March  y^  proper  owner  of  y^  ffery  " 
was  engaged  in  the  king's  service  on  the  eastern  frontier- 
By  the  consent  of  both  plaintiff  and  defendant,  the  case  was 
continued  to  the  next  court  to  be  held  in  Salem,  in  the  month 
of  December  following.  Meanwhile,  December  5,  1693,  the 
General  Court  passed  the  following  order  :  — 

That  all  suits  and  actions  now  depending  between  any  persons  and 
the  said  Capt  John  March,  referring  to  any  matter  or  controversy  about 
the  ferry  or  ferries  over  the  river  of  Merrymack  between  Newbury  and 
Salisbury,  be  suspended ;  and  that  the  Court  of  Salem  be  directed  to 
continue  any  action  or  actions  so  depending  there  until  the  general 
assembly  have  determined  and  resolved  upon  the  settlement  of  the  said 
ferry  or  ferries;  and  that  the  heirs  of  George  Carr  be  notified  that  they 
may  appear  on  the  sixth  day  after  the  begining  of  the  next  sessions  of 
the  general  assembly,  and  there  offer  what  plea  and  objections  they 
have  to  make  against  the  confirmation  of  the  said  ferry  to  the  said  Capt. 
John  March. t 

No  record  of  the  hearing  appointed  for  the  sixth  day  of  the 
session,  beginning  February  14,  1693-4,  has  been  found  ;  and 
probably  no  definite  action  was  taken  in  regard  to  the  settle- 
ment of  the  claim  of  James  and  Richard  Carr  at  that  time. 
Edward  Sargent  continued  to  serve  as  ferryman ;  but  in 
1 70 1  the  way  leading  to  the  ferry  on  the  Salisbury  side  was 
so  defective  that  on  the  thirtieth  of  September  of  that  year 
the  Court  of  Sessions  ordered  the  parties  interested  to  repair 

*  Province  Laws,  vol.  vii.,  p.  408. 

Capt.  Edward  Sargent  came  from  Saco  to  Portsmouth,  and  thence  to  Newbury,  previous  to 
1693.  His  first  wife  died  in  December,  1718;  and  he  married  June  9,  1719,  Sarah,  widow  of 
Dr.  Humphrey  Bradstreet.  His  will,  dated  February  12,  1735-6.  was  proved  September  6, 
1742. 

t  Province  Laws,  vol.  vii.,  p.  35.  For  further  details  of  this  controversy  see  "  Ould  New- 
bury," pp.  65-73. 


FERRIES  449 

it  according  to  their  contract.  Tliis  order  was  evidently  un- 
heeded ;  and,  in  consequence,  the  ferry  was  neglected,  and  at 
length  temporarily  abandoned. 

March  9,  1702-3,  Major  Daniel  Davison  was  authorized 
and  instructed  by  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  to  present  a 
petition  to  the  Court  of  General  Sessions,  in  behalf  of  the 
town,  "in  relation  to  the  lower  ferry  ov^er  Merrimack  river."  * 
March  30,  1703,  the  court  at  Ipswich  appointed  Major  Francis 
Wainwright,  Capt.  John  Whipple,  and  Capt.  Joseph  Boynton 
a  committee  to  examine  the  causeway  in  Salisbury,  and  report 
upon  the  expediency  of  laying  it  out  anew,  and  at  the  same 
session  passed  the  following  order  re-establishing  the  ferry  :  — 

There  having  been  for  Several  Years  last  past  Many  complaints 
Made  to  this  Court  for  want  of  a  ferry  duely  stated  over  Merrimack 
River  Nigh  Capt.  Edward  Sarjeants  betwixt  Newbury  &  Salisbury  & 
Sundry  motions  made  from  time  to  time  Referring  to  the  Same  &  now 
renewed  applications  Made  by  Newbury  &  Salisbury  that  a  ferry  be  kept 
at  ye  place  afores^  and  yt  the  keeping  &:  profit  thereof  might  be  stated  & 
Settled  upon  the  said  Townes  &  a  Boat  to  be  constantly  kept  on  each 
side  duely  to  attend  ye  said  ferry  viz:  One  by  Newbury  &  ye  other  by 
Salisbury.  This  Court  having  Considered  ye  necessity  &  Conveniency 
of  the  premises  do  approve  of  the  same  in  manner  following. 

1.  That  there  be  a  ferry  kept  over  Merrimack  River  hence  forward 
from  Newbury  to  Salisbury  Nigh  where  Capt.  Serjeant  now  dwells. 

2.  That  there  be  Two  Sufficient  &  Suitable  ferry  Boats  for  the  Trans- 
porting of  Men  and  horses  ye  one  kept  at  Newbury  &  the  other  at  Salis- 
bury side  provided  &  Maintained  respectively  by  said  Townes  &  Suffi- 
cient skillful  Men  Constantly  to  ply  in  the  same  and  yt  each  Town  do 
on  their  Shoars  respectively  make  Convenient  Causeways  or  other 
Commodious  places  for  ye  Safe  &  easy  boarding  &  landing  horses  & 
men  &  y'  each  Town  do  give  Two  hundred  pounds  for  Two  sufficient 
men  for  ye  performance  of  this  Court  order  according  to  ye  true  intent 
&  meaning  thereof  that  the  publick  may  be  faithfully  Servi. 

3.  That  the  profits  of  the  said  ferry  shall  redound  to  the  s^  Townes 
as  their  own  particular  boats  shall  Earn. 

4.  That  the  fare  of  said  ferry  be  four  pence  for  a  horse  &  Two  pence 
for  a  man  &  proportionable  for  other  things. 

5.  That  inasmuch  as  Newbury  Comon  Land  or  high  way  comes  to 
ye  ferry  afores^i  so  yt  they  have  no  Occasion  to  purchase  a  way  thro  anv 
proprieties  &  it  being  otherwise  on  Salisbury  side  wherefore  in  regard 
Newbury  hath  halfe  the  benefit  of  ye  ferry.     Therefore  they  shall  pay 

•Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


45°  HISTORY   OF  NEWIWRY 

ye  one  lialfe  of  ye  first  purchase  of  ye  high  Way  on  Salisbury  side  as  it 
shall  h&  laid  out  from  said  ferry  to  ye  Coiiion  Road  in  Salisbury  where 
it  may  lay  thro  any  particular  proprieties  as  it  shall  l)e  apprised  accord- 
ing to  Law  but  shall  not  be  obliged  to  pay  any  part  of  making  or  re- 
.  pairing  ye  said  way  passable  either  now  or  hereafter.* 

April  12,  1703,  the  town  of  Newbury  appointed  the  board 
of  selectmen,  with  Major  Daniel  Davison  and  Mr.  Thomas 
Moody  committee,  to  provide  a  ferry  boat  and  let  out  the 
ferry  to  some  responsible  person. f  April  19,  "the  committee 
having  charge  of  the  ferry,  near  Capt.  Sargents,  lately  granted 
to  Newbury  and  Salisbury,"  were  authorized  to  prosecute  any 
person  or  persons  transporting  man  or  beast  over  said  ferry 
contrary  to  law.f 

When  Lieut.  Col.  John  March,  who  was  engaged,  with 
the  troops  under  his  command,  in  repelling  the  attacks 
of  the  French  and  Indian  forces  at  Casco  bay,  was  informed 
of  what  had  occurred  in  his  absence,  he  applied  to  the  Court 
of  Sessions  for  a  new  order  or  decree,  restoring  his  rights  and 
privileges,  and  placing  the  ferry  under  his  care  and  control. 
His  petition  was  granted  March  28,  i  704,  upon  condition  that 
he  keep  in  repair  the  way  and  bridge  on  the  Salisbury  side, 
and  pay  to  the  towns  of  Newbury  and  Salisbury  such  sum  or 
sums  as  they  advanced  while  the  ferry  remained  in  their  pos- 
session.* 

There  seems  to  have  been  some  disagreement  between 
Lieut.  Col.  John  March  and  the  selectmen  of  the  towns  named 
in  regard  to  the  transfer  of  the  ferry  and  the  amount  of  money 
to  be  paid.  May  i  5,  1 704,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  au- 
thorized the  selectmen,  with  Major  Daniel  Davison  and  Mr. 
Thomas  Moody,  "  to  provide  for  the  keeping  of  the  ferry  over 
Merrimack  River  near  Cap'  Sargents  and  to  let  out  said  ferry 
at  their  discretion."  | 

September  26,  1704,  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  confer  with  the  selectmen  of  New- 
bury and  Salisbury,  examine  the  accounts  submitted  by  them 
showing  the  expenses  incurred  and  the  tolls  recei\ed  from 
the  ferry,  and  report  the  result  of  their  investigations  in  the 
month  of  November  following. J 

*  Province  Laws,  vol.  viii.,  p.  634.  +  Ibid.,  p.  635. 

t  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


FERRIES  45 1 

December  6,  i  704,  the  town  of  Newbury  authorized  Lieut. 
Col.  Thomas  Noyes,  Major  Daniel  Davison,  and  the 
selectmen  "to  make  a  settlement  with  Lieu*.  Col.  John 
March  in  regard  to  the  ferry  over  Merrimack  river."  * 

March  26,  1705  :  Voted  that  Maj''  Daniel  Davison  Esq.  and  Mr  Wil- 
liam Titcomb  are  cho.sen  attorneys  for  the  Towne  of  Newbury  to  answer 
in  behalf  of  .s^  Towne  to  a  notification  from  ye  sessions  of  ye  peace  dated 
March  2,  1 704-5  with  respect  to  a  ferry  over  the  river  Merrimack  near  Capt 
Sargents  House  as  also  that  they  shall  have  full  power  to  appoynt  attor- 
ney or  attornyes  under  them  to  y^  end  afore  s^  as  also  they  shall  have 
full  power  to  make  a  final  agreemt  with  Lieut  March  or  his  attorneyes 
about  said  ferry  in  the  Towns  behalf  according  to  their  be.st  discretion 
as  they  shall  se  cause.* 

July  II,  1705,  Lieut.  Col.  Thomas  Noyes,  Major 
Daniel  Davison,  Mr.  William  Titcomb,  and  Lieut.  Joseph 
Little  were  appointed  a  committee  to  make  final  agreement 
with  Col.  John  March ;  and  on  the  twenty-third  day  of 
July  he  conveyed  "  for  &  in  consideration  of  y^  sum  of  Two 
Hundred  &  forty  Pounds  .  .  .  to  y^  afores"^  committee  for 
y^  said  Town  of  Newbury  "  all  his  right,  title,  and  interest 
"  in  or  to  the  ferry  Comonly  Called  Marches  ferry  over 
Merrimack  River  near  the  place  where  Cap*  Edward  Serjeant 
Now  Dwells,  .  .  .  Excepting  y^  ferridges  of  my  self  &  my 
perticular  family  &  Horses  &  Cattle,"  which  were  to  be  free 
for  a  term  of  twenty-two  years.f 

With  the  consent  of  all  the  parties  interested,  the  report  of 
the  committee  appointed  by  the  Court  of  Sessions  September 
26,  1704,  was  not  taken  into  consideration  until  the  twenty- 
fifth  day  of  September,  1705,  when  the  court  ordered  that 
Col.  March,  having  sold  all  his  right  and  interest  in  the 
ferry  to  the  town  of  Newbury,  the  inhabitants  of  said  town  or 
their  agents  "have  y^  use  and  income  of  said  Ferry  by  virtue 
of  said  Purchase  until  by  further  Order  it  be  more  fully  and 
amply  settled  at  y^  next  sessions  of  y^  Peace."  % 

September   30,  1705,  the   town   authorized   the   committee 

*To%vn  of  Newbury  Records.  %  Province  Laws,  vol.  viii.,  p.  636. 

t  Essex  Registry'  of  Deeds,  book  xix.,  leaf  48;  "  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  185.  A  copy  of 
this  deed  of  conveyance  from  Lieut.  Col.  John  March  will  be  found  in  the  Court  Files  for 
Sufielk  County,  No.  6552. 


452  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

appointed  to  settle  with  Col.  John  March  to  offer  one- 
half  the  ferry  to  the  town  of  Salisbury  for  the  sum  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  pounds,  that  being  one-half  the  purchase 
money  agreed  upon. 

At  or  about  this  time,  Richard  Carr  presented  another 
petition  to  the  General  Court,  setting  forth  his  claim  to  the 
ferries  over  Merrimack  river.  A  hearing  was  appointed  and 
held  June  5,  1706,  before  the  whole  court;  but  no  definite 
action  resulted.* 

There  was  evidently  some  reluctance  on  the  part  of  the 
town  of  Salisbury  to  accept  the  offer  of  one-half  the  ferry  on 
the  terms  and  conditions  named.  Possibly  the  friends  and 
supporters  of  Richard  Carr  were  opposed  to  the  purchase,  and 
were  numerous  enough  to  delay  and,  perhaps,  defeat  the 
project  altogether.  At  all  events,  Edward  Sargent,  who  had 
formerly  kept  the  ferry  under  a  lease  from  Lieut.  Col. 
March,  proposed,  February  19,  1705-6,  to  take  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Salisbury,  with  their  horses  and  cattle,  over  the 
Merrimack  river  free  of  charge  forever,  and  keep  the  high- 
way and  bridge  leading  to  the  ferry  in  good  order  and  con- 
dition, provided  the  town  would  agree  to  pay  one  hundred 
pounds  in  four  payments,  "  that  is  to  say  twenty  five  pounds  per 
year  for  four  years,"  and  surrender  all  its  right,  title,  and  in- 
terest in  or  to  the  ferry. f  This  proposition  was  accepted,  and 
a  committee  was  appointed  to  complete  the  agreement  and 
receive  the  bond  that  Captain  Sargent  was  required  to 
furnish. 

March  5,  1705-6,  the  town  of  Newbury  appointed  Lieut. 
Col.  Thomas  Noyes,  Major  Daniel  Davison,  and  Capt. 
Henry  Somerby  a  committee  to  see  what  arrangements  could 
be  made  with  the  town  of  Salisbury  in  regard  to  the  purchase 
of  one-half  the  ferry  for  one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds,  and 
also  to  lease  that  part  of  the  ferry  belonging  to  Newbury. J 

March  27,  1706  Lieu' Col  Thomas  Noyes,  iMajor  Daniel  Davison  and 
Capt  Henry  Somerby,  all  of  Newbury,  being  a  committee  chosen  and  ap- 
pointed by  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the  said  town  of  Newbury 

•  Province  Laws,  vol.  viii.,  pp.  146  and  538.  t  Ibid.,  p.  637. 

%  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


FERRIES  453 

at  a  legal  meeting  held  March  5'h,  current,  to  make  an  agreement  with  the 
town  of  Salisbury  about  the  ferry  over  Merrimack  river,  between  Newbury 
and  Salisbury,  near  by  Capt  Serjeants,  in  consideration  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  pounds,  sold  and  conveyed  to  Cap'  Edward  Serjeant  and  Mr 
Thomas  Moody,  both  of  Newbury,  one  half  of  the  right,  title  and 
interest  which  the  freeholders  or  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newbury 
may  or  ought  to  have  in  or  to  the  ferry  commonly  called  Marches  ferry 
over  Merrimack  river,  near  the  place  where  the  aforesaid  Capt  Edward 
Serjeant  now  dwells,  which  ferry  was  granted  by  Sir  Edmund  Andros 
and  his  Council  unto  Col.  John  March,  October  25,  1687,  confirmed  and 
setded  by  the  justices  of  the  County  of  Essex  November  14,  1687  and 
again  confirmed  unto  him  at  a  General  Session  of  the  Peace  held  at 
Ipswich,  March  28,  1704.* 

Having  thus  acquired  one-half  of  the  ferry  by  purchase 
from  the  town  of  Newbury,  and  settled  with  the  inhabitants 
of  Salisbury  for  whatever  claim  they  might  have  in  or  to  the 
franchise  granted  by  the  Court  of  Sessions,  March  30,  1703, 
Edward  Sargent  resumed  his  occupation  as  ferryman,  and  evi- 
dently carried  on  the  business  in  his  own  name,  although 
Thomas  Moody  was  for  many  years  part  owner  of  the  property 
with  him. 

The  ferry  was  conveniently  located,  and  on  many  important 
occasions  was  employed  by  the  provincial  authorities  for  the 
transportation  of  troops  and  special  post  riders.  September 
3,  1 703,  the  governor  and  council  passed  an  order  allowing 
Edward  Sargent  thirty-five  shillings  and  two  pence  "  For 
Ferriage  of  Souldiers  and  Posts  in  the  year  1 702  and  for  the 
refreshment  of  Posts."  -f 

On  the  sixth  day  of  November,  1 706,  the  General  Court 
passed  a  "  Resolve  for  allowing  and  paying  five  pounds  out  of 
the  Province  Treasury  to  Edward  Sargent  for  transporting 
Soldiers  and  Horses  over  Merrimack  river  at  Newbury"  in 
the  years  1703,  1704,  1705,  and  1706.$ 

November  28,  1707,  another  "Resolve  for  allowing  and 
paying  three  pounds  four  shillings  and  ten  pence  out  of  the 
Province  Treasury  to  Edward  Sargent  in  full  for  ferrying 
done,  etc.,  for  the  Province  to  date,"  was  passed  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court  and  paid  by  the  treasurer  of  the  province. § 

•Essex  Registry  of  Deeds,  book  xxix.,  leaf  231.     A  c»py  of  this  deed  will  be  found  in  the 
Court  Files  for  SuSolk  County  in  Pemberton  Square,  Boston.  No.  6716. 
t  Province  Laws,  vol.  viii.,  p.  633.         +  Ibid.,  p.  201.         §  Ibid.,  p.  252. 


454 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


The  town  of  Newbury,  having  sold  only  one-half  the  ferry 
to  Edward  Sargent  and  Thomas  Moody,  retained  possession 
of  the  other  half,  and  June  i8,  i  708,  authorized  the  selectmen 
to  lease  it  for  three  years  on  the  best  terms  possible.* 

Meanwhile  the  highway  leading  from  the  ferry  to  the  com- 
mon road  on  the  Salisbury  side  of  the  river  was  laid  out  anew 
and  rebuilt.  A  small  lot  of  land  belonging  to  Mary  Dole  and 
John  Dole  was  taken  at  its  appraised  value ;  and  April  22, 
1709,  John   March  received  from  the  selectmen  of   Newbury 


MARCH'S    FERRY    LANDING    PLACE,    SALISBURY    SIDE. 


"  five  pounds  ten  shillings  in  full  for  w'  w^  allowed  by  ye  Court 
for  Newburys  part  of  y^  highway  on  Salisburys  side  to  the 
ferry  &  for  y^  Landing  places,  I  say  in  full  for  my  own  part, 
Mrs.  Doles  part  &  Mr.  John  Doles  part."  * 

June  26,  171 1,  a  suit  was  brought  against  Edward  Sargent 
"for  lack  of  suitable  attendance  at  the  lower  ferry."  The 
Court  of  General  Sessions  held  at  Salem,  on  that  day,  ordered 
that  two  boats  should  be  kept,  one  on  the  Salisbury  side  and  one 
on  the  Newbury  side,  as  required  by  the  order  issued  March 
30,  I  703  ;  f  and  September  twenty-fifth  the  court  at  Newbury 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Records  of  the  Court  of  General  Session.s  (1696-1718). 


FERK/ES  455 

licensed  Capt.  Edward  Sari^ent  to  keep  the  boat  on  the  New- 
bury side  and  Capt.  Humphrey  Hook  on  the  Sahsbury  side. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newbury, 
hekl  May  3,  171 5,  objections  were  made  to  the  reappoint- 
ment of  Capt.  Sargent. 

It  was  voated  that  ye  ferre  caled  Serjeants  ferry  viz  :  Newburys  halfe 
thereof :  should  be  rented  to  Mr  Benjamin  Woodbridge,  provided  he 
will  give  as  much  as  any  man  for  s^  halfe  of  s^  ferry  for  ye  term  of  one 
year  next  after  Capt  Hooks  term  is  out  in  sd  ferry.* 

September  27,  171  5,  the  Court  of  General  Sessions,  held  at 
Newbury,  licensed  Benjamin  Woodbridge  to  keep  the  ferry  on 
the  Newbury  side  and  John  Dole  on  the  Salisbury  side  for  one 
year  from  that  date.  December  twenty-seventh  Capt.  Edward 
Sargent  asked  to  be  reinstated  as  ferryman,  but  his  petition 
was  dismissed  by  the  court. 

September  12,  1716,  the  town  of  Newbury  authorized  the 
selectmen  "  to  let  the  Newbury  halfe  of  Serjeants  ferry  for 
one  year  to  any  person  whom  the  court  will  allow";*  and 
September  twenty-fifth  the  court  licensed  Benjamin  Wood- 
bridge  to  keep  the  ferry  on  the  Newbury  side  and  Capt.  Ed- 
\varcl  Sargent  on  the  Salisbury  side  for  five  years. f 

June  18,  I  71 7,  It  was  voted  that  whereas  Cap'  Serjant  is  sewed  in  an 
action  of  trespass  by  James  Carr  &  Richard  Carr  of  Salisbury  for  carry- 
ing passingers  (and  taking  pay  for  it,)  over  ye  River  Merrimack  at  ye 
ferre  neer  Capt  Serjants.  Sd  ferre  being  owned  ye  one  halfe  by  ye  Town 
of  Newbury  &  ye  other  halfe  by  s^  Serjant  &  Thomas  Moodey ;  that  ye 
Town  of  Newbury  shall  &  will  pay  to  s^  Edward  Serjant  one  halfe  of 
ye  necessary  charges  which  ye  sd  Serjant  shall  be  at  in  defending  against 
the  sd  Carrs  in  the  above  sd  action.* 

September  18,  1722,  Voted  that  M""  Benjamin  Woodbridge  shall 
have  ye  ferre  (near  his  house)  for  ye  tearm  of  three  years,  he  giving  bond 
to  ye  selectmen  of  ye  Towne  to  pay  as  rent  for  sd  ferre  nine  pounds  a 
year  yearly  during  sd  tearm.* 

Five  years  later,  Capt.  Sargent,  who  had  charge  of  the 
ferry  on  the  Salisbury  side,  asked  to  be  released  from  his 
obligation  to    keep    the  causeway  in    repair.     The    town    of 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Records  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  (1696-17 iS),  p.  323. 


45 6  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Salisbury  granted  his  request  upon  the  following  terms  and 
conditions  :  — 

Agreement  made  December  19,  1727  between  Mr.  William  Brad- 
bury, esq.,  Mr.  Isaac  Morrill,  Capt.  Jeremiah  Stevens,  Lt.  John  Morrill, 
Mr.  William  Smith,  Mr.  Jarvis  Ring  and  Mr.  Joseph  French,  all  of 
Salisbury,  as  a  committee  and  agents  of  Salisbury,  and  Capt.  Edward 
Sargent,  esq.,  of  Newbury:  Witnesseth  that  whereas  the  town  of  Salis- 
bury did  formerly  grant  to  said  Sargent  all  their  right  and  interest  in  ye 
lower  ferry  between  Newbury  and  Salisbury  then  commonly  called 
March's  or  Sargent's  ferry  with  ye  wharf,  boat  and  ^100  in  money 
towards  his  purchasing  the  one-half  of  Col.  John  March's  pretended 
right  in  said  ferry  upon  condition  that  said  Sargent  his  heirs  and  suc- 
cessors in  said  ferry  should  from  time  to  time  and  at  all  times  forever 
carry  ye  inhabitants  of  said  Salisbury  over  said  ferry  as  their  occasions 
require  ferry  free  and  also  make  and  maintain  the  highway,  causeway 
and  bridges  from  ye  old  burying  place  in  said  Salisbury  down  to  said 
ferry  as  is  more  fully  set  forth  in  said  grant  bearing  date  Feb.  19, 
1705-6,  and  in  the  ^1000  bond  or  conditions  of  it  formerly  given  by 
said  Sargent  to  Salisbury  under  the  hand  of  said  Edward  Sargent  and 
Thomas  Moody  as  security  for  ye  faithful  performance  of  the  said  con- 
ditions bearing  date  March  11,  1706,  both  on  record  in  said  Salisbury 
town  book  ;  and  said  Sargent  after  .so  long  experience  of  ye  ferry  com- 
plaining of  it  as  too  hard  a  bargain  and  too  burdensome  for  him  to  be 
at  ye  charge  of  the  causeways,  bridges,  lic,  desiring  ye  town  to  take 
that  upon  themselves  that  so  he  may  be  ye  better  enabled  and  encour- 
aged cheerfully  and  faithfully  to  fulfill  and  perform  ye  other  conditions 
of  said  grant,  therefore  said  committee  on  behalf  of  Salisbury  agree 
that  in  case  said  Sargent  and  his  heirs  and  successors  performs  the  con- 
ditions to  carry  over  the  inhabitants  of  Salisbury  their  persons  and 
families,  their  horses,  cattle  and  other  necessaries  usually  transported 
over  ferries  ferry-free  at  all  times  as  their  occasion  may  require,  they 
will  acquitt  and  discharge  y^  sd  Edward  Sargent  his  heirs  and  assigns 
of  and  from  the  whole  care  and  charge  of  making,  repairing  and  main- 
taining ye  highway,  causeway  and  bridge  from  ye  old  burying  place  in 
sd  Salisbury  Down  to  y»  ferry  and  that  the  town  of  Salisbury  shall  and 
will  take  the  sole  care  thereof  upon  themselves.* 

On  the  same  day,  Edward  Sargent  conveyed  to  the  town  of 
Salisbury  all  his  interest  "  in  y*  lower  ferry  over  Merrimack 
river,"  provided,  however,  that,  if  the  said  Sargent  faithfully 
complies  with  the  conditions  of  the  agreement  made  with 
the   committee  named  above,   then  the  deed  of  conveyance 

*  Essex  Registry  of  Deeds,  vol.  ixvii.,  leaf  9. 


FERRIES  457 

"  is  to  be  void  and  of  none  effect  or  else  to  stand  and  abide 
in  full  force  and  vertue  forever."  * 

May  8,  1729,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newbury 
"  Voted  to  grant  Edward  Serjant  Newburys  part  of  the  lower 
ferry  over  Merrimack  river,  for  the  term  of  three  years,  upon 
condition  that  he  carry  all  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury,  ferry 
free,  and  give  a  bond  to  the  selectmen  that  he  will  keep  the 
ferry  according  to  law."  f 

Evidently  this  offer  was  not  accepted  by  Capt.  Sargent ;  for, 
on  the  eighteenth  day  of  June  following,  the  town  "  voted 
that  John  Lunt  shall  have  the  lower  ferre,  over  Merrimack 
river,  that  is  to  say,  Newburys  part  of  it,  until  next  October, 
paying  down  five  pounds  and  five  pounds  more  next  October. 
He  to  keep  one  good  &  suitable  boat  for  Newburys  part  of 
said  ferre  and  give  a  bond  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his 
duties  as  ferry  man."  f 

September  i  o,  1 729,  the  town  leased  the  ferry  to  Joseph 
Greenleaf,  for  ten  pounds  per  annum,  for  the  term  of  seven 
years. 

He  having  agreed  to  give  a  bond  to  make  &  maintain  a  good  &  suit- 
able waye  downe  to  the  River  at  ye  Easterly  end  of  his  now  dwelling 
house  at  his  owne  cost  &  charge  during  said  tearm  &  that  this  Town 
shall  have  y^  use  of  said  way  to  take  in  &  put  on  shore  such  persons 
&  things  as  shall  want  to  be  carried  over  said  ferre  (after  said  seven 
years  is  ended)  for  so  long  a  time  as  said  ferre  is  kept  at  said  place. t 

September  18,  1734,  Col.  Richard  Kent  and  HenryJLolfe, 
Esq.,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  attend  the  Court  of  Gen- 
eral Sessions  "  to  be  held  at  Newbury  on  the  last  Tuesday  in 
September,"  to  look  after  the  town's  interest  at  a  hearing  to 
be  held  on  a  petition  relating  to  the  care  and  management  of 
"  Sargents  ferry."  f 

September  24,  1734,  the  court  licensed  Joseph  Greenleaf 
to  keep  the  ferry  on  the  Newbury  side  of  the  river,  and 
Elias  Pike  and  Jarvis  Ring  on  the  Salisbury  side,  "  during  the 
pleasure  of  the  court."  % 

September  21,  1736,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  New- 
bury agreed  to  lease  the  ferry  for  seven  years. 

•  Essex  Registry  of  Deeds,  vol.  Ixvii,  leaf  lo.  t  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

X  Records  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  (1696-1718),  p.  346. 


45^  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Mr  lienjamin  Woodbridge,  Junr,  for  &  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of 
thirty  and  six  pounds  a  year,  &  so  yearly,  shall  have  Newburys  part  of 
ye  lower  ferre,  comonly  caled  Sergeants  ferre,  for  ye  tearm  of  seven 
years  time  next  after  Mr  Joseph  Greenleafs  lease  is  out.  The  said 
Woodbridge  to  give  a  bond  to  the  Selectmen  of  the  town  to  provide 
good  &  suitable  attendance.* 

September  28,  1736,  the  Court  of  General  Sessions,  in  an- 
swer to  a  petition  from  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury,  decided 
that  the  wharf  owned  by  Benjamin  Woodbridge,  jr.,  should  be 
"for  seven  years"  the  landing-place  for  the  ferry  on  the 
Newbury  side  of  the  river. f 

At  a  town  meeting  held  June  2,  1742,  Joseph  Maeres  (.-') 
presented  a  petition 

.  .  .  Concerning  a  ferry  boat  which  he  said  was  carried  a  way  by  ye 
ice  &  to  help  make  up  said  Maeres  (?)  his  loss  &  damage  it  was  voted 
ye  Town  wold  give  twenty  pounds  in  ye  olde  tenor,  which  twenty  pounds 
shall  be  abated  out  of  ye  rent  which  is  due  from  Mr  Benjamin  Wood- 
bridge  for  ye  ferre.* 

March  13,  1743-4,  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  lease 
"  Sargent's  ferry "  for  a  few  years  on  sucli  terms  as  they 
shall  judge  best  for  the  good  of  the  town  and  convenience  of 
travellers.* 

May  19,  1747,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  take  charge  of 
the  ferry,  provide  suitable  boats  and  attendants,  and  petition 
the  Court  of  General  Sessions  for  liberty  to  raise  the  rates  of 
ferriage.* 

When  Newbury  port  was  set  off  and  incorporated  as  a  sepa- 
rate town  in  1764,  all  the  right,  title,  and  interest  that  New- 
bury had  in  "  March's  or  Sargent's  ferry  "  was  transferred  to 
the  new  town.  It  remained  under  the  care  and  control  of  the 
selectmen  of  Newburyport  for  many  years. 

After  the  bridge  over  the  Merrimack  river,  connecting 
Newburyport  with  the  town  of  Salisbury,  was  built  and  opened 
to  the  public  in  1827,  the  boats  used  for  the  transportation  of 
cattle,  horses,  and  carriages,  were  withdrawn  and  replaced  with 
smaller  ones,  suitable  for  foot  passengers  only.  In  this  modi- 
fied form,  the  ferry  was  maintained  for  more  than  fifty  years. 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Records  of  the  Court  of  Cleneral  Sessions  (1726-44),  p.  460. 


FERRIES  459 

In  1880,  Mr.  Joshua  M.  Pike  was  appointed  ferryman.  He 
continued  to  serve  in  that  capacity  until  the  close  of  the  year 
1885,  when,  owing  to  the  lack  of  patronage,  he  decided  to 
give  up  the  unprofitable  business,  and  devote  his  time  to  other 
industrial  pursuits.  Since  that  date,  there  has  been  no  attempt 
to  keep  the  ferry  established  by  Capt.  John  March  in  1687. 

SWETT'S  FERKV,  NEAR  HOLT'S   ROCKS. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  Newbury, 
held  March  26,  1694,  John  Kelly,  sr.,  presented  a  petition 
for  liberty  to  keep  a  "  ffery  over  the  river  Merrimack  in  the 
place  where  he  now  dwells,"  provided  the  neighboring  towns 
and  the  authorities  of  the  province  give  their  consent  "  for  s"^ 
fferry  to  be  granted  to  the  Towne  of  Newbury." 

June  5,  1695,  Capt  Thomas  Noyes,  Cornt  George  March,  Abraham 
Merrill  &  Henry  Short  [were]  appoynted  by  the  Towne  to  vew  a  con- 
venient place  for  a  ferry  over  Merrimack  River  near  the  now  dwelling 
house  of  John  Kelly,  Senr,  together  w^h  a  Rode  thereto©  and  bring  re- 
port to  ye  Towne  at  j-e  next  meeting.* 

Two  weeks  later,  the  selectmen  of  Newbury  were  authorized 
to  petition  the  next  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  to  be 
held  at  Salem  for  liberty  to  establish  a  ferry  over  the  Mer- 
rimack river  near  the  dwelling-house  of  John  Kelly,  sr., 
and  to  appoint  the  said  John  Kelly,  sr.,  keeper  of  it  "  until 
the  towne  see  cause  to  other  wise  dispose  of  it."  *  The  se- 
lectmen were  also  instructed  to  ask  "  for  the  continuation  of 
the  fferry  so  long  as  the  Towne  shall  judg  it  beneficiall,  the 
price  of  s^  fferr}'  to  be  sixpence  money  for  horse  and  man  and 
two})ence  for  a  single  man,  and  for  our  owne  Towne  Inhabi- 
tants sixpence  in  pay  for  horse  and  man  &  twopence  in  pay 
for  a  single  person."  f 

The  petition  presented  to  the  Court  of  General  Sessions, 
June  25,  1695,  was  by  agreement  referred  to  the  next  term 
of  the  court. 

On  the  twenty  fourth  day  of  September  following  the  court  ordered 
that  the  town  of  Newbury  have  liberty  to  keep  a  ferry  over  Merrimack 

*Town  ot  Newbur\'  Records. 

tTown  of  Newbury  (Proprietors')  Records,  vol.  i.,  pp.  22,  23. 


460  HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 

river  near  ye  house  of  John  Kelley  where  they  are  to  keep  a  suitable 
boat  a  float  with  a  hand  ready  to  transport  passengers,  horses  and 
cattle  as  need  may  require  and  ye  fare  of  said  ferry  is  hereby  appointed 
to  be  a  penny  for  a  man  and  five  pence  for  a  horse  and  so  proportionable 
for  other  creatures  allwaies  provided  that  ye  town  of  Newbury  do  at 
their  own  cost  and  charge  make  and  maintain  a  sufficient  highway  from 
ye  river  up  to  ye  country  road  way,  and  ye  town  of  Almesbury  do  ye  like 
on  their  side  of  ye  river.* 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newbury 
held  October  18,  1700,  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  lay 
out  a  highway  near  the  residence  of  John  Kelly,  sr. 

It  was  also  voted  y«  in  order  to  a  Convenient  way  to  the  fferry  corn- 
only  known  by  the  name  of  Kellys  fferry  the  Towne  voted  yt  a  Bridg 
should  be  made  over  the  swamp  leading  to  sd  ferry  to  be  made  and  main- 
tained by  the  Towne  so  long  as  the  Towne  see  cause. f 

April  12,  1703  upon  the  request  of  John  Kelly,  Sen""  John  Kelly  Jum, 
Abiel  Kelly,  Jonathan  Kelly  &  John  Swett,  Jun"",  to  make  &  maintain  a 
good  &  sufficient  bridg  or  way  over  the  swamp  at  the  end  of  John  Kelly, 
Senr,  his  field  for  the  space  of  four  years  &  thereby  be  aquitted  from 
making  or  maintaining  any  other  of  the  Highways  of  Newbury,  the 
Towne  grants  theyr  proposition  on  the  conditions  aforesd  provided  yt  It 
be  used  so  long  for  a  public  highway  to  ye  ferry  now  Kept  by  sd  John 
Kelly,  Senr. J 

At  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  held  in  Newbury  Sep- 
tember 25,  171 1,  John  Swett,  jr.,  of  Newbury  was  licensed 
to  keep  the  ferry  over  Merrimack  river,  near  Holt's  rocks,  for 
the  term  of  seven  years. §  September  3,  171 2,  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  town  of  Newbury  again  ordered  the  selectmen 
"  to  lay  out  the  way  from  the  Bradford  road  to  Swett's 
ferry  "  ;||  and,  on  the  thirtieth  day  of  December  following,  the 
Court  of  General  Sessions  appointed  a  committee  "  to  view 
the  way  leading  to  the  Ferry  under  the  care  of  John  Sweat 
junior  of  Newbury."  §  Twelve  months  later,  the  selectmen 
of  Newbury  applied  to  the  General  Court  for  liberty  to  keep 
the  ferry  and  pay  over  annually  to  the  treasurer  of  the  town 
the  amount  received  for  ferriage. 

In  answer  to  the  Petition  of  the  Select  Men  of  Newbury  Praying 
that  the  Profits  of  the  Ferry  lately  granted,  by  the  Gen^  Sessions  of  the 

*  Court  Records  (Salem),  1692-1709. 

tTown  of  Newbury  Records,  vol.  iii.,  p.  65.        %  Ibid.  (»693-i7S7),  p.  gg. 

§Court  Records  (Salem),  1696-171S.  I!  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


FEKR/ES  461 

Peace,  to  be  kept  over  Merrimack   River  above   Holts   Rocks  between 
Newbury  and  Haverhill  may  be  settled  upon  the  Town  of  Newbury. 

Ordered  [June  10,  1714]  that  there  be  a  Ferry  stated  over  Merrimack 
River  in  the  Place  mentioned  in  the  Petition,  the  Profits  of  the  said  Ferry 
to  be  to  the  Towns  of  Newbury  &  Haverhil>  in  equall  Proportion;  this 
Grant  being  limited  for  ye  Space  of  forty  Years  next  coming.* 

March  4,171 8-9,  the  following  petition  was  presented  to 
the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Haverhill :  — 

John  Sweet  petitioning  to  the  Towne  as  foUoweth, — 

To  the  inhabitants  of  Haverhill  this  day  convened  at  the  meeting 
house  in  Haverhill  :  The  petition  of  John  Sweet  of  Newbury  humbly 
showeth, 

Whereas  there  has  been  a  Ferry  granted  by  the  Court  to  the  Towns 
of  Haverhill  and  Newbury  for  the  term  of  Forty  years  where  I  now 
keep  it. 

I  humbly  now  request  that  I  may  have  this  Towns  interest  therein 
during  the  whole  term,  and  I  will  carry  over  the  inhabitants  of  this 
Town  one  single  person  for  a  penny  per  time,  and  a  horse  &  man  for 
four  pence  &  oblige  myself  to  keep  good  conveniences  for  the  transport 
of  passengers,  for  which  liberality  &  kindness  your  petitioner  as  in  duty 
bound  shall  always  pray  John  Sweet. 

This  petition  granted  in  the  terms  imposed  therein,  f 

February  22,  1730-31  Deacon  Caleb  Moody,  Mr  Ezekil  Hale  &  M' 
Joshua  Bailey  were  chosen  to  let  out  ye  Towne  of  Newburys  part  of  ye 
Ferry^aIed~Swets  Ferre  for  foure  years  next  insuing  ye  date  hereof,  f 

March  9,  1 730-1,  the  selectmen  of  Newbury  received  from 
Mr.  John  Swett  of  Haverhill  the  sum  of  four  pounds  for  the 
use  of  the  ferry  for  the  two  preceding  years.§  March  5, 
1732-3,  they  received  from  Mr.  Joshua  Bailey  three  pounds 
for  the  use  of  the  ferry  for  the  year  1731,  and  subsequently 
received  from  him  three  pounds  annually  for  the  years  1732, 
1733,  and  1734. § 

March  1 1,  1734-5,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newbury 
passed  the  following  order  :  — 

Our  Townes  part  of  ye  ferre  called  Swetts  ferre  is  granted  to  Joshua 
Bailey  upon  his  giveing  to  ye  selectmen  a  bond  to  se  said  ferre  be  well 
tended  &  also  to  pay  four  pound  a  year,  yearly,  for  three  years  insuing 
for  ye  use  of  ye  Towne  of  Newbury.  || 

•Province  Laws,  vol.  ix.,  chap,  xxiv.,  p.  356;  General  Court  Records,  vol.  ix.,  p.  354. 

tTown  of  Haverhill  Records.  +Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

§  Records  of  the  Selectn\en  of  Newbury.         II  Town  of  Newbury  Records  (1731-S5),  p.  21. 


462  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

The  settlement  on  the  north  shore  of  the  river,  now  known 
as  Rock's  village  or  East  Haverhill,  was  at  that  time  quite  a 
busy  and  prosperous  place.  Salmon  and  other  fish  were 
caught  in  large  numbers  in  that  locality,  and  an  extensive 
trade  with  the  West  India  islands  was  established  and  main- 
tained for  many  years. 

March  9,  1755-6  David  Chase  was  granted  liberty  to  build  a  wharf 
at  his  own  cost  at  Swetts  ferry.* 

March  12,  1782,  the  selectmen  of  Newbury  were  author- 
ized '*  to  let  that  part  of  Sweats  ferry  belonging  to  Newbury 
and  defend  the  same  against  the  claim  made  by  the  town  of 
Haverhill."  f 

When  the  "  Merrimack  bridge,"  afterwards  known  as  the 
"Rock's  bridge,"  was  built  in  1795,  the  ferry  established  by 
John  Kelly,  sr.,  near  Holt's  rocks,  in  1695,  was  discontinued. 

FERRY    AT    SAVAGE'S    ROCK. 

July  24,  1735,  M""  Samuel  March  &  Lieut  John  Emery  were  chosen 
for  to  joyne  with  those  that  are  chosen  by  ye  Town  of  Almsbury  in  us- 
ing proper  means  to  have  a  ferre  granted  &  settled  over  Merrimack 
River  near  Savages  Rock,  so  called,  between  Almsbury  ferre  &  Swetts 
ferre. J 

Savage's  rock  is  on  the  southerly  side  of  Merrimack  river, 
between  Rock's  bridge  and  the  mouth  of  Indian  river.  West 
Newbury.  On  the  opposite  shore  is  that  part  of  Amesbury 
now  known  as  Merrimackport. 

October  16,  1735,  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  held  at 
Newbury,"  in  answer  to  the  petition  of  Newbury  &  Almsbury 
praying  that  a  ferry  be  established  over  Merrimack  river  at  or 
near  a  place  called  Savages  Rock,"  granted  the  prayer  of  the 
petitioners,  and  appointed  Thomas  Stephens,  of  Amesbury,  to 
keep  the  ferry  "  so  as  not  to  interfere  with  or  prejudice  the 
right  of  Humphrey  Hook  of  Almesbury  his  heirs  or  assigns  to 
the  right  of  Ferriage  if  any  he  has," — the  said  Stephens  to 
keep  a  good  ferry  boat  and  provide  two  able  and  experienced 
ferrymen  to  attend  upon  the  same.§ 

♦Town  of  Newbury  Records  (1731-85),  p.  103.         %  Ibid.,  p.  24. 

frown  of  Newbury  Records.         §  Court  of  General  Sessions  (1696-1718),  p.  4oq. 


FERA'/ES  463 

Humphrey  Hook,  who  had  the  management  and  control 
of  the  ferry  at  the  mouth  of  Powow  river,  was  in  Htigation  at 
that  time  with  the  town  of  Amcsbury  in  regard  to  the  rights 
and  privileges  that  he  claimed  in  the  transportation  of  men, 
horses,  and  carriages  from  the  Newbury  shore.  The  case 
was  warmly  contested,  and  finally  settled  by  compromise 
several  years  later. 

March  8,  1736-7,  the  selectmen  of  Newbury  were  desired 
"  to  agree  with  M""  Thomas  Stephens  relating  to  y^  ferre  at 
Savages  Rock  "  ;  *  and,  in  1743,  the  town  of  Amesbury  leased 
the  ferry  "  to  Deacon  Stevens  for  five  years  at  forty  shillings, 
old  tenor."  f 

March  26,  1764  It  was  also  voted  to  remove  ye  Ferry  that  is  kept 
near  Savages'  Rock  to  Sargent's  Creek  so  Called  and  Capt  Robert  Sar- 
gent was  appointed  ferryman. J 

The  ferry  was  probably  discontinued  soon  after  the  bridges 
at  Holt's  rocks  and  Deer  island  were  built. 

FERRY   AT   BARTLETT'S    COVE. 

March  10,  1761,  the  town  of  Newbury  granted  a  peti- 
tion for  a  ferry  from  the  middle  of  Bartlett's  cove  to  Salis- 
bury, on  condition  that  the  petitioners  "  obtain  a  license  for 
the  same  from  the  Court  of  General  Sessions."  *  This  grant 
was  not  confirmed  by  the  court. 

Subsequently,  several  attempts  were  made  to  secure  a  license  ; 
but  no  definite  action  was  taken  until  September,  1789,  when 
the  court  ordered  "  that  Joseph  Swasey  and  John  Webster  be 
licensed  to  keep  a  ferry  over  Merrimack  River  at  or  near  Jona- 
than Moulton's  dwelling  house  in  Newbury  in  said  County, 
and  from  thence  to  the  opposite  side  of  said  river  in  Salis- 
bury." 

It  is  said  that  Washington  was  taken  over  this  new  ferry 
in  a  barge  specially  prepared  for  the  occasion,  on  his  way 
from  Newburyport  to  Portsmouth,  October  30,  I789.§  In 
his  diary,  published  in  1858,  he  wrote  : 

•Town  of  Newbury  Records.  t  History  of  Amesbury,  p.  206. 

t  Town  of  Amesbury  Records,  p.  334.  The  entrance  to  Sargent's  creek,  from  Merrimack 
river,  was  at  Merrimackport. 

§  Putnam's  Historical  Magazine  for  March,  iSg5,  p.  77. 


464  HISTORY  OF  NEWIWRY 

Left  Newburyport  a  little  after  8  o'clock  (first  breakfasting  with  M"" 
Dalton)  and  to  avoid  a  wider  ferry,  more  inconvenient  boats,  and  a 
piece  of  heavy  sand,  we  crossed  the  River  at  Salisbury. 

It  is  possible,  however,  that  the  older  ferry,  known  as 
Amesbury  ferry,  was  the  one  used  on  that  occasion,  and  that 
Washington  landed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Powow  river  in 
Amesbury,  as  some  local  historians  assert,  and  then  proceeded 
along  the  river  road  through  Salisbury  point  to  the  Rocky 
Hill  meeting-house,  where  several  companies  of  soldiers  were 
drawn  up  to  receive  him.* 

The  new  or  middle  ferry,  as  it  was  sometimes  called,  under 
the  management  of  Joseph  Swasey,  of  Newburyport,  and  John 
Webster,  of  Salisbury,  was  successfully  maintained  until  1 792, 
when  the  Essex  Merrimack  bridge  was  built  across  the  Merri- 
mack river  at  Deer  island,  and  the  ferry  was  discontinued 
for  lack  of  patronage.f 

*  History  of  Amesbury  (Merrill),  p.  304. 

t  For  a  more  extended  account  of  this  ferry  see  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  239-246. 


CHAPTER    X. 

POSTAL    SERVICE. 

November  5,  1639,  ^^''^  General  Court  of  the  Colony  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  passed  the  following  order  :  — 

For  preventing  the  miscarriage  of  letters, —  It  is  ordered  that  notice 
bee  given  that  Richard  FairJDanks,  his  house,  in  Boston  is  the  place 
appointed  for  all  letters  which  are  brought  from  beyond  the  seas,  or  are 
to  be  sent  thither:  —  are  to  bee  brought  unto  him  and  he  is  to  take  care 
that  they  bee  delivered  or  sent  according  to  their  directions,  and  hee  is 
allowed  for  every  such  letter  i<^  and  must  answer  all  miscarriages 
through  his  own  neglect  in  this  kind ;  provided  that  no  man  shall  bee 
compelled  to  bring  his  letters  thither  except  hee  please.* 

Some  years  later,  it  was  customary  to  leave  letters  at  the 
exchange  or  the  town  hall,  "  so  that  who  will  may  take 
them  up"  and  forward  them;  but  "letters  of  great  moment 
were  frequently  lost." 

Francis  Lovelace,  governor  of  New  York,  established 
postal  communication  between  that  state  and  New  England 
early  in  the  year  1673.  In  a  letter  dated  "Fort  James  2j^^ 
December  1672,"  he  wrote  to  John  Winthrop,  governor  of 
Connecticut,  that  the  postman  would  set  out  from  New  York 
on  the  first  Monday  of  each  month, 

.  .  .  and  is  to  return  within  the  month  from  Boston  to  us  again.  The 
mail  has  divers  bags,  according  to  the  towns  the  letters  are  designed  to, 
which  are  all  sealed  up,  till  their  arrivement,  with  the  seal  of  the  Sec- 
retary's office,  whose  care  it  is  on  Saturday  night  to  seal  them  up  ;  only 
by-letters  are  in  an  open  bag  to  disperse  by  the  ways.  Thus  you  see  the 
scheme  I  have  drawn  to  promote  a  happy  correspondence.  I  shall  only 
beg  of  you  your  furtherance  to  so  universal  a  good  work :  that  is,  to 
afford  him  directions  where  and  to  whom  to  make  his  application  to 
upon  his  arrival  at  Boston,  as  likewise  to  afford  him  what  letters  you 
can  to  establish  him  in  that  employment  there.  It  would  be  much 
advantageous  to  our  design  if  in  the  interval  you  discourse  with  some  of 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  281. 
465 


466  HISTORY   OF    NEWBURY 

the  most  able  woodmen  to  make  out  the  best  and  most  facile  way  for  a 
post,  which  in  process  of  time  would  be  the  King's  best  highway,  as 
likewise  passengers  and  accommodation  at  rivers,  fords,  or  other  neces- 
sary places.* 

The  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  bay  ordered,  January 
6,  1673-4,  that  every  messenger  or  post-rider  carrying  offi- 
cial despatches  should  be  paid  threepence  a  mile  for  his 
services,  including  the  use  of  his  horse  ;  and  innholders  were 
prohibited  from  charging  such  messengers  more  than  two 
shillings  a  bushel  for  oats  and  fourpence  for  the  hay  required 
to  keep  a  horse  one  day  and  one  night. f 

May  23,  1677,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  General 
Court,  requesting  the  appointment  of  a  suitable  person  "  to 
take  in  and  convey  Letf^  according  to  direction."  |  On  the 
first  day  of  June  following,  the  court  "  made  choyce  of 
M""  John  Hayward,  the  scrivener,  to  be  the  person  for  that 
service."  § 

June  1 1,  1680,  In  ans^  to  the  peticon  of  John  Hayward,  it  is  ordered, 
that  he  be  continued  for  postmaster  to  receive  in  letters  &  take  care  for 
the  sending  of  them  to  the  ownes  according  to  superscription,  till  this 
Court  take  other  order  ;  and  that  all  masters  of  ships  or  other  vessells 
doe,  vpon  their  arrivall,  send  their  letters  that  come  in  the  bagg  to  the 
said  post  office  except  as  they  shall  particularly  take  care  to  deliver  w'h 
their  oune  hands:  that  the  said  Hayward,  or  postmaster,  be  allowed 
for  euery  single  letter  one  penny  in  money,  &  for  euery  packet  of  two 
or  more  two  pence  in  money.  || 

These  orders  and  regulations  were  evidently  intended  to 
apply  to  the  collection  and  delivery  of  foreign  letters  only. 
Other  written  communications,  relating  to  business  or  domestic 
affairs,  were  conveyed  from  town  to  town  by  the  hand  of 
friends  or  occasional  travellers. 

Strictly  speaking,  there  was  no  postal  service  in  New  Eng- 
land until  after  the  repeal  of  the  colonial  charter  and  the 
establishment  of  the  province  of  Massachusetts  bay.  Gov. 
Andros  wrote,  under  date  of  November  23,  1687,  to  the 
secretary  of  the  Connecticut  colony  that  he  proposed  to  send 

*  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  Collections,  vol.  ix.,  Fifth  Series,  p.  84. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  ii.,  p.  574. 

+  Province  Laws,  vol.  vii.,  p.  430. 

§  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  v.,  p.  147.        II  Ibid.,  vol.  v.,  p.  273. 


POSTAL   SERVICE  467 

letters  once  a  month   from   Boston   to   Hartford  during  the 
winter.     The  secretary  rephed,  December  5,  1687: 

I  believe  Perry  will  undertake  once  a  month  to  pass  from  Fairfield  to 
Boston  in  the  winter,  and  once  in  three  weeks  in  the  summer,  or  oftener 
if  your  Excellency  desire  it,  and  the  charge  of  it  upon  the  whole  will  be 
no  great  matter.  Should  it  be  put  upon  letters  at  first,  I  believe  it  will 
not  answer  the  charge  to  satisfy  the  post.  But  if  it  were  tried  one  year 
by  a  salary  the  better  guess  may  be  given  for  a  future  settlement  of  it.* 

After  the  overthrow  of  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  King  WilHam 
and  Queen  Mary  issued,  February  17,  169 1-2,  letters  patent 
to  Thomas  Neale,  Esq.,  granting  him  full  power  and  authority 
to  establish  offices  in  the  colonies  of  North  America  "  for  the 
receiving  and  dispatching  of  letters  and  pacquets."  Andrew 
Hamilton  was  appointed  deputy  postmaster-general  "  to 
govern  and  manage  the  said  general  post  office  for  and 
throughout  all  their  majesties'  plantations  and  colonies  on  the 
mainland  or  continent  of  America,  and  the  islands  adjacent 
thereunto,  pursuant  to  the  directions  of  the  said  letters 
patent."  f 

John  Usher,  deputy  governor  of  the  province  of  New 
Hampshire,  wrote  from  Boston,  March  25,  1693,  to  the  mem- 
bers of  his  council : 

Gentl"  :  —  The  Poste  Master  General  being  here  in  Boston  &  giving 
account  yt  he  has  settled  a  poste  from  Virginia  to  Boston  once  a  week, 
he  is  very  desirous  to  know  whatt  you  will  be  pleased  to  allow  either  as 
a  yearly  sallary,  or  how  much  a  letter  for  postage  of  a  single  Letter  from 
Piscataqua  to  Boston  .  .  .  Itts  desired  you  would  likewise  signifye 
whether  you  would  have  a  poste  once  a  week  or  once  in  two  weeks. t 

June  9,  1693,  the  province  of  Massachusetts  bay  passed  an 
act  establishing  a  general  letter  office  in  Boston  for  receiving 
and  despatching  letters  "from  their  majesties  dominions  be- 
yond the  seas"  to  any  colony  or  province  in  New  England. § 

♦Connecticut  Colony  Records,  vol.  iii  ,  p.  398;  and  Palfrey's  History  of  New  England,  note 
on  p.  54S. 

t  Province  Laws,  vol.  vii.,  note  p.  431. 

+  Papers  relating  to  the  Province  of  New   Hampshire,  vol.  ii.,  p.   loo. 

Samuel  Allen,  a  London  merchant,  having  purchased  all  the  land,  within  the  limits  of  the 
province  of  New  Hampshire,  belonging  to  the  heirs  of  Capt.  John  Mason,  obtained  permission 
to  organize  and  maintain  a  permanent  government  there.  He  appointed  his  son-in-law,  John 
Usher,  deputy  governor,  August  13,  1692.  Although  frequently  called  to  New  Hampshire 
on  official  business,  Mr.  Usher  continued  to  reside  in  Boston  until  his  death,  September  5,  1726. 

§  Province  Laws,  vol.  i.,  p.  115. 


468  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

The  second  section  of  this  act  provided  that  the  postage  on  a 
single  letter  from  New  York  to  Boston  should  be  twelve- 
pence,  from  Salem  to  Boston  threepence,  from  Ipswich,  New- 
bury, and  other  places  eastward  of  Salem,  within  the  province 
of  Massachusetts  bay,  fourpence,  and  from  Piscataqua 
(Portsmouth)  to  Boston  sixpence. 

This  act  was  declared  to  be  inconsistent  with  the  letters 
patent  granted  Thomas  Neale  by  King  William  and  Queen 
Mary  ;  and,  November  5,  1696,  it  was  disallowed  by  the  pri\y 
council.  While  it  remained  in  force,  however,  Duncan 
Campbell  was  appointed  deputy  postmaster  of  Boston,  by  and 
with  the  consent  of  Andrew  Hamilton,  deputy  postmaster- 
general.  On  the  twenty-third  day  of  November,  1693, 
Campbell  applied  to  the  General  Court  for  compensation  for 
his  services;  and,  June  20,  1694,  he  was  granted  an  annual 
allowance  of  twenty-five  pounds  for  two  years. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  October  following,  "  an  Act  for 
Regulating  P'erries "  was  passed.  This  act  expressly  pro- 
vided "that  the  general  post  that  is  settled  for  their  majesties 
and  the  countrys  service  be  readily  dispatched  and  set  over 
by  all  ferry  men  where  they  shall  come,  without  delay."  * 

The  following  year,  Campbell  appealed  to  the  governor  and 
council  of  the  province  of  New  Hampshire  "  for  such  assist- 
ance   as   in  their  wisdom  shall  be  judged  reasonable." 

May  21,  1695,  in  ans-wer  to  the  petition  of  Duncan  Campbell  for  al- 
lowing a  salary  for  encouragement  of  the  Post,  a  bill  past  both  Houses 
for  allowing  £\z   for  this  year,  provided  the  Post  be  kept.f 

Duncan  Campbell  died  in  1 702  ;  and  John  Campbell,  who 
succeeded  him  as  postmaster  in  Boston,  petitioned  the  Gen- 
eral Court  of  Massachusetts,  May  26,  1 703,  for  compensation 
for  his  services,  stating  that,  since  the  disapproval  of  the  act 
passed  for  the  encouragement  of  the  post-office  in  1696, 
"  there  has  been  no  action  on  the  part  of  the  province  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  to  regulate  and  control  the  postal  service." 

On  the  second  day  of  June,  this  petition,  with  the  memorial 
accompanying    it,  was   referred    to  a  committee  who  subse- 

*  Province  Laws,  vol.  i.,  p.  183.         t  New  Hampshire  Provincial  Paper.s,  vol.  ii.,  p.  156. 


POSTAL  SERVICE  469 

quently  submitted  a  report  which  was  accepted,  allowing  Mr. 
John  Campbell  the  sum  of  "  p^20  for  all  time  past  and  £,a,o 
for  y'^  year  ensuing  "  for  his  encouragement  and  support  in 
the  transmission  of  public  letters,  and  providing  "  that  the 
said  Campbell  be  freed  from  Impresses,  Trainings  &  watches 
dureing  his  employment  of  Post  Master."  This  report  was 
amended  by  making  the  compensation  ten  pounds  instead  of 
twenty,  and  twenty  pounds  in  place  of  forty,  and  as  amended 
was  agreed  to  by  the  governor  and  council  July  22,  1703.* 

On  the  ninth  day  of  September,  the  following-  order,  passed 
by  the  governor  and  council,  was  concurred  in  by  the  House 
of  Representatives  :  — 

Every  Master  of  any  ship  or  vessell  arriving  from  any  Foreign  parts 
shall  deliver  in  all  his  Letters  to  the  Post  Office  at  the  Port  of  discharge, 
or  shall  deliver  them  at  any  other  place  where  he  happens  first  to  ar- 
rive :  The  Post  Master  demanding  the  Same:  In  which  case  they  shall 
be  forthwith  expressed  to  ye  Post  office  in  Boston.  And  all  masters 
shall  be  paid  by  the  Post  Master  a  half  penny  a  Letter  for  Every  & 
so  many  Letters  as  he  shall  put  into  the  office:  and  the  Post  Master 
shall  be  paid  &  receive  the  accustomed  Rates  &  Prices  now  paid  for 
Letters  by  him  delivered  out:  The  Collector  and  Naval  Officer,  respec- 
tively, to  Give  Notice  of  this  order  to  all  masters. f 

Newbury,  at  that  date,  was  a  town  of  considerable  commer- 
cial importance,  having  an  extensive  trade  with  the  West  India 
islands  and  also  with  the  continent  of  Europe.  The  collec- 
tion and  transmission  of  letters  from  foreign  lands  required 
constant  care  and  attention.  Post-riders  from  Boston  passed 
through  Newbury  on  their  way  to  Portsmouth,  and  were  often 
delayed,  especially  in  the  winter  season,  by  bad  travelling  and 
severe  snow-storms.  The  Boston  News  Letter,  published  by 
John  Campbell,  postmaster,  makes  the  following  announce- 
ments :  — 

The  Eastern  and  Piscataqua  Post  sets  out  from  Boston  everv  Mon- 
day night  at  seven  of  the  clock  and  all  Persons  are  desired  to  bring  their 
Letters  to  the  Post  Office  before  six  a  clock.  % 

The  Eastern  Post  came  in  on  Saturday  and  sets  out  on  Monday 
night,  who  says,  There  is  no  Travailing  with  Horses,  especiallv  beyond 
Newbury,  but  with  snow  shoes  which  our  People  do  much  use  now  that 

*  Province  Laws,  vol.  viii.,  p.  285.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  420.        X  November  13  to  20,  1704. 


47°  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

never  did  before.     The  Western  Post  came  then  also  in,  and  sets  out 
on  Tuesday  morning,  who  likewise  says  'Tis  very  bad  Travailing.* 

March  25,  1 716-7,  the  snow  was  five  feet  deep  in  the 
woods,  and  in  some  exposed  places  the  roads  were  covered  to 
the  depth  of  fifteen  or  twenty  feet.  The  "post  boy,"  travel- 
hng  on  snow-shoes,  was  nine  days  in  making  his  trip  from 
Salem,  Mass.,  to  Portsmouth,  N.H.,  and  eight  days  in  return- 
ing, the  distance  between  the  two  towns  being  about  forty 
miles.f 

Lord  Cornbury,  in  a  letter  dated  New  York,  July  i,  1708, 
to  the  commissioners  for  trade  and  plantations,  in  England, 
says  : 

.  .  .  We  have  but  two  safe  ways  of  sending  into  England,  which  are 
the  Virginia  Fleet  and  the  Mast  Fleet  from  New  England.  .  .  .  From 
Boston  there  is  a  Post  by  which  we  can  hear  once  a  week  in  summer 
time,  and  once  a  fortnight  in  winter,  so  that  we  have  a  sure  conveyance 
by  the  Mast  Fleet.  The  conveyances  by  the  West  Indies  have  proved 
very  uncertain  for  several  of  our  vessels  have  been  taken  Every  Year 
during  the  War,  besides  that  several  of  the  Packet  Boats  from  England 
have  been  likewise  taken.  % 

"  A  new  and  Exact  map  of  the  Dominions  of  the  King  of 
Great  Britain  on  y^  continent  of  North  America,  By  Herman 
Moll,  Geographer,"  was  published  in  171 5.  On  the  margin 
of  this  map  is  a  notice  of  the  arrival  and  departure  of  the 
mails,  from  which  the  following  paragraph  is  taken  :  — 

.  .  .  the  Post  from  Boston  to  Piscataway,  being  70  miles,  leaves  Let- 
ters at  Ipswich,  Salem,  Marblehead  and  Newbury.  .  .  .  There  are  offices 
kept  at  Burlington  and  Perth  Amboy  in  New  Jersey,  New  London  and 
Stonington  in  Connecticut,  at  Rhode  Island,  Bristol,  Ipswich,  Salem, 
Marblehead  and  Newbury,  and  ye  3  Great  offices  are  at  Boston,  New 
York  &  Philadelphia. 

It  is  evident  that  the  postal  service  between  Boston  and 
Portsmouth  was  well  established  when  the  above  announce- 
ment was  made ;  and  Jonathan  Plummer,  in  a  deed  dated 
April  16,  17 1 6,  is  described  as  "  Postmaste""  in  y^  township  of 

♦January  29  to  February  5,  1704-5.        t  "  Historic  Storms  "  (Sidney  Perley),  p.  55. 
X  New  York  Colony  Manuscripts,  vol.  v.,  p.  55. 


POSTAL   SERVICE 


471 


Newbury."  *  There  are  no  records  to  show  who  was  post- 
master in  Newbury  previous  to  that  date,  but  Josepli  Lunt 
probably  "rode  post"  as  early  as  1708.! 

"  The  Boston  Weekly  Post  Boy,"  a  newspaper  published 
from  October,  1734,  to  December,  1754,  has  the  picture  of  a 
ship  under  full  sail,  on  the  left  hand  side  of  the  title,  at  the 
top  of  the  first  page ;  and  the  following  appropriate  device, 
on  the  right  hand  side,  representing  a  postman,  on  horse- 
back, sounding  his  horn  4 


POST-RIDER  — 1734. 


The  following  items  relating  to  newspapers  and  post-riders 
were  recorded  by  Rev.  Matthias  Plant. 

July  I,  1735,  I  received  ye  news  letter  from  ye  Postman. 

January  26,  1 741-2  Then  Paid  to  Mr  Gerrish,  Postman,  for  2  years 
&  a  quarter  for  news  Paper  carrying  &  for  taking  my  horse  from  Salem 
to  Mr.  Watts  at  Winnisimet  w''  horse  I  hired  there  1.9.6. 

June  18,  1742  then  pd  Mr.  Fleet  for  news  paper  1.4.0. 

May  30,  1746  I  pd  Mr.  Fleet  att  Boston  for  ye  News  Paper  for  ye 
year  1745.      1.8.0. 

*  Essex  Deeds,  book  liv.,  leaf  67  ;  also,  book  xxxvi.,  leaf  49. 
t  Coffin's  Histon-  of  Newbury,  p.  173. 

X  Reproduced  from  an  original  copy  of  "The  Boston  Weekly  Post  Boy  "  in  the  Boston  Pub- 
lic Library. 


472  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

June  13,  1748  I  paid  Mr  Fleet  for  2  years  News  Papers  3.0.0. 

March  23,  1749-50  then  I  paid  to  post  Gerrish  for  bringing  News 
Papers  9.  years  4.9.0. 

Then  pd  by  post  Cierrish  to  Mr.  Fleet  for  News  Papers  2.  years 
3.0.0. 

In  1753,  Benjamin  Franklin,  residing  in  Philadelphia,  and 
William  Hunter,  of  Virginia,  were  commissioned  by  the  gov- 
ernment of  England  to  take  charge  of  the  postal  service  in 
America.  During  the  summer  of  that  year,  Franklin  set  out 
on  a  tour  of  inspection,  and  visited  almost  every  post-office  in 
the  country.*  In  November,  1754,  he  was  in  Newbury,  and 
undoubtedly  improved  the  opportunity  to  examine  the  books 
and  accounts  of  the  postmaster,  and  confer  with  the  post- 
riders  in  regard  to  the  safe  and  speedy  transportation  of 
letters  intrusted  to  them.  Newspapers  were  not  considered 
mailable  matter  at  that  time,  and  it  was  only  by  rewarding 
the  post-riders  that  a  place  was  made  for  them  in  the  mail 
bag. 

In  1756,  packet  boats  were  first  employed  to  carry  the 
mail  between  Falmouth,  now  Portland,  Me.,  and  New  York, 
"  the  postage  of  each  single  letter  to  be  four  penny  weights 
of  silver."  It  was  not  until  about  the  year  1760  that  regular 
weekly  communication  was  established  between  Portsmouth 
and  Portland.  Before  that  time,  letters  were  not  sent  until 
a  sufficient  number  were  collected  to  pay  the  cost  of  trans- 
portation. 

In  I  761,  "the  first  stage,  or  passenger  chair  in  America" 
was  started  from  the  stables  connected  with  the  tavern  kept 
by  John  Stavers  in  Portsmouth,  and  under  his  management 
and  that  of  his  brother  Bartholomew  Stavers  continued  to 
make  weekly  trips  through  Newbury,  Ipswich,  and  Salem  to 
Boston,  carrying  the  mail  as  well  as  passengers  for  many 
years. 

Bulkeley  Emerson  was  probably  postmaster  at  Newbury 
when  this  stage  was  first  used  in  the  postal  service.  He  was 
a  bookseller  and  stationer ;  and  as  early  as  March  14,  1754, 
he  and  his  brother  Samuel  bought  a  house  with  a  small   lot  of 

•  Parton's  Life  of  Franklin,  vol.  i.,  p.  330. 


POSTAL   SERVICE 


473 


land  "on  the  main  street  in  Newbury,"  where  he  probably 
sold  books  and  received  and  distributed  the  letters  transmitted 
by  mail.*  The  stage  made  only  one  trip  weekly  between 
Portsmouth  and  Boston  ;  but  the  mail  was  sent  on  other  days 
by  post-riders,  as  heretofore.  January  17,  1763,  the  follow- 
ing advertisement  was  published  in  the  Boston  Evening 
Post  :  — 

Giles  Alexander,  Eastern  Post  Rider,  Hereby  informs  the  Public 
that  when  he  is  in  town,  he  puts  up  at  the  Sign  of  Admiral  Vernon,  in 
King  Street,  from  whence  he  sets  out,  for  the  future,  on  Monday  Even- 
ins:  at  6  o'clock. 


-        CV^k^L 


STAGE-COACHES—  1793.1 


December  4,  1770,  Benjamin  Hart  announced  in  the 
Essex  Gazette,  a  newspaper  published  in  Salem,  "  that  he  has 
left  riding  the  single  horse  post  between  Boston  and  Ports- 
mouth and  now  conveys  passengers  from  Boston  to  any  town 
between  it  and  Portsmouth  and  back  again,  in  the  same  Post 
Stage  lately  improved  by  John  Noble."  % 

Bulkeley  Emerson  retained,  under  the  provincial  govern- 
ment, his  office  as  postmaster  at  Newbury  and  Newburyport 
until   May    13,  1775,  when   he   was    appointed  to   the    same 

♦"Essex  Registn-  of  Deeds,  book  cxv.,  leaf  195.        %  .Annals  of  Salem  (Kelt),  1S27,  p.  479. 
t  From  an  advertisement  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Essex   Institute,  Salem,  Mass.,  an- 
nouncing the  arrival  and  departure  of  stages. 


474 


HISTORY  OF  XEWnUKY 


office  by  the  provisional  government  organized  in  Massachu- 
setts at  the  beginning  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  This 
appointment  was  confirmed  by  the  Continental  Congress  in 
the  month  of  December  following.  Mr.  Emerson  died  April 
19,  1 80 1.  Mis  son  Joseph  Emerson  succeeded  him  as  post- 
master. 

In  1818  the  mail  was  taken  daily  to  and  from  Boston  by 
the  Eastern  Stage  Company.  This  arrangement  was  con- 
tinued from  year  to  year  until  June  26,  1838,  when  the  char- 
ter of  the  company  expired  by  limitation.     Two  months  later, 


STAGE-COACH  —  1S20.* 


the  Eastern  railroad  was  completed  from  East  Boston  to 
Salem ;  and  from  the  last-named  town  the  mail  was  for- 
warded by  stage  to  Portsmouth,  and  thence  to  other  towns  in 
Maine  and  New  Hampshire.  In  June,  1840,  the  road  was 
extended  from  Salem  to  Newbury  port.  Since  that  date 
letters  sent  to  or  from  Newbury  have  reached  their  destina- 
tion through  the  Newburyport  office. 

*  From  an  advertisement  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Salem,  Mass.,  an- 
nouncing the  arrival  and  departure  of  stages. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

COMMERCIAL    AFFAIRS    AND    SHIP-BUILDING. 

A  SHIP  of  three  hundred  tons  burthen,  built  by  Richard 
Holhngsworth  in  Salem,  was  launched  in  the  month  of  June, 
1 64 1.  This  was  probably  the  first  ship  built  in  Essex  county. 
At  Medford  and  other  towns  in  the  colony,  however,  the 
building  of  small  sloops  and  shallops  had  been  carried  on  to 
some  extent  for  several  years.  For  the  protection  of  ship 
owners  and  builders  the  General  Court  passed  the  following 
order,  October  7,  1641  :  — 

When  any  ship  is  to  bee  built  w'hin  this  jurisdiction,  it  shalbee  lawful 
for  the  owners  to  appoint  «S:  put  in  some  able  man  to  survey  the  worke 
&  workemen,  from  time  to  time,  as  is  usual  in  Eno^land  .  .  .  and  upon 
complaint  to  the  Governor,  or  Deputy,  or  any  2  magistrats,  they  shall 
appoint  2  of  the  most  sufficient  ship  carpenters  of  this  jurisdiction  & 
shall  give  them  authority  from  time  to  time,  (as  needs  shall  require)  to 
take  view  of  every  such  ship  &  all  worke  thereto  belonging  &  see  that  it 
bee  pformed  &  carried  on  according  to  the  rules  of  their  arte  ...  & 
these  viewers  shall  have  power  to  cause  any  bad  timbers,  or  other  in- 
sufficient worke,  or  materialls  to  bee  taken  out  &  amended  &  all  that 
they  shall  judge  to  bee  amisse  to  bee  reformed  at  the  charge  of  them 
through  whose  default  it  growes.* 

As  early  as  1650  small  vessels  were  built  and  owned  in 
Newbury;  and  April  25,  1655,  the  town  granted  "captain 
Paul  White  a  parcell  of  land  not  exceeding  half  an  acre, 
about  Watts  his  cellar,  for  to  make  a  dock,  a  wharf  and  a 
warehouse,  provided  he  do  build  a  dock  and  warehouse  as 
aforesaid."  f 

George  Carr  and  his  son  Richard  Carr  were  early  engaged 
in  ship-building  on  Carr's  island;  and  in  1675  Jonathan 
Woodman  had  a  building-yard  at  the  foot  of  Woodman's  lane, 
now  Kent  street,  Newburyport.J 

•Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  336. 
t "  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  151.        +  Ibid.,  pp.  273-285. 

475 


476  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

The  ship  "Salamander"  was  built  by  Mr.  Woodman  pre- 
vious to  March  23,  1675-6  ;  for  on  that  day  he  brought  a  suit, 
in  the  Court  of  Admiralty  at  Boston,  to  recover  the  amount 
due  him  for  labor  and  materials  used  in  its  construction. 
Capt.  Bartholomew  Stratton  and  other  owners  of  the  ship 
protested  against  the  payment  of  the  sum  claimed,  and  in- 
sisted that  the  law  of  the  colony  providing  for  the  inspection 
of  vessels  had  not  been  complied  with.  The  court  decided  in 
favor  of  the  defendants,  and  fined  Mr.  Woodman  ten  pounds. 
In  a  petition  to  the  General  Court,  asking  to  be  released  from 
the  payment  of  this  fine,  Mr.  Woodman  stated  that  the  mas- 
ter and  owners  had  compelled  him  to  pay  twenty  pounds  for 
not  launching  the  ship  at  the  time  agreed  upon,  although  two 
carpenters  employed  by  him  were  taken  for  the  country's  ser- 
vice, and  he  was  unable  to  find  men  to  fill  their  places  in 
Rowley,  Ipswich,  Salem,  or  Boston.  He  also  claimed  that 
the  ship  was  surveyed  by  a  carpenter,  "  as  the  custom  is  with 
us,"  before  she  was  planked,  and  asserted  that  the  owners 
had  forced  him  to  take  up  the  deck  when  partially  laid,  and 
raise  it  four  feet  higher.* 

October  17,  1676,  In  answer  to  the  petition  of  Jonathan  Woodman, 
humbly  desiring  the  remittment  of  the  fine  of  tenn  pounds  imposed  on 
him  for  not  surveying  the  ship  Salamander  &c  the  Court  judgeth  it  meet 
to  grant  his  request  &  his  fine  is  remitted  accordingly.! 

In  order  to  regulate  and  control  the  importation  of  mer- 
chandise, ports  of  entry  were  established  by  the  General  Court. 

February  9,  1682-3  :  .  .  .  the  port  of  Boston  to  which  Charlestown  is 
annexed,  and  the  port  of  Salem  to  which  Marblehead,  Beverly,  Glocester, 
Ipswich,  Rowley,  Newbery  and  Salisbury  are  annexed  as  members,  are 
and  shall  be  lawfuU  ports  in  this  colony  where  all  ships  &  other  vessells 
shall  lade  or  unlade. $ 

This  arrangement  was  not  satisfactory  to  the  ship-owners 
and  merchants  of  Newbury  ;  and  in  the  month  of  May,  1683, 
they  prepared  and  signed  the  following  petition  :  — 

•  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  lix.,  p.  132. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  v.,  p.  127.        X  Ibid.,  vol.  v.,  p.  383. 


COMMERCIAL   AFFAIRS  AND   SHIP-BUILDING         477 

To  the  honored  general  court  now  sitting  in  Boston,  the  humble 
petition  of  some  of  Newbury  : 

Wee  humbly  crave  the  favour  that  your  Honors  would  be  pleased  to 
consider  our  litle  Zebulun  *  and  to  ease  us  of  that  charge  w^'i  at  present 
we  are  forced  unto  by  our  going  to  Salem  to  enter  our  vessels  and 
thereby  are  forced  to  stay  at  least  two  days  before  we  can  unloade 
besides  other  charges  in  going  &  coming.  That  some  meet  person 
might  be  appointed  to  receive  the  entryes  of  all  vessels  coming  in  here 
and  to  act  and  do  according  as  the  law  directs  in  that  case,  and  we  shall 
be  bound  ever  to  pray  for  yo""  Honrs  (S:c 

Caleb  Moody 
Thomas  Noyes 
John  Kent 
Joseph  Dole 
Benaiah  Titcomb 
William  Noyes 
William  Titcomb 
Penuel  Titcomb 
Henry  Jaques 
Henry  Wheeler 
D.  Davison 
Referred  to  the  next  general  court. f 

In  May,  1684,  when  the  subject  was  again  under  consid- 
eration, the  following  petition  was  presented  to  the  General 
Court :  — 

...  it  being  very  inconvenient  for  vesels  that  arive  at  the  towne  of 
Newbury  to  make  entry  at  Salem  it  often  is  greatly  predudiall  &  charg- 
able  to  persons  concerned :  it  is  humbly  ofered  to  this  Courts  considera- 
tion &  desired  that  this  Court  would  pleas  to  apoint  som  person  in  New- 
bury where  they  may  make  their  entry  &  not  be  put  upon  such  great 
inconvenience  as  to  go  as  far  as  Salem. 

ofered  by  mee  Richard  Bartlet 

in  behalf  of  the  town  of  Newbury  the  7*^  of  May  1684.^ 

At  the  same  session,  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Salisbury 
petitioned  as  follows  :  — 

To  The  Honored  Generall  Court  Now  Sitting  In  Boston  May  the 
7th  1684  The  Humble  Request  of  Severall  in  Habitants  of  Salisbury 
whose  names  are  hearto  subscribed  :  — 

That  wheras  by  the  p^videnc  of  god  wee  have  some  smalle  trade 
whereby  vessells  are  sent  A  Brode  out  of  Merrimack  River  Who  Accord- 

*  "  Zebulun  shall  dwell  at  the  haven  of  the  sea  ;  and  he  sliall  be  for  a  haven  of  ships,  and  his 
border  shall  be  unto  Zidon."     Gen.  xlix  :  13. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  Ixi.,  p.  254.         +  Ibid.,  p.  262. 


47 8  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

ing  to  Law  Ar  bound  to  Duty  at  going  forth  &  Returning  home  which 
by  Reson  of  ye  Remoteness  from  the  place  of  entry  grows  extreme  pre- 
judisial  &  by  ye  Loss  of  A  day  or  two  many  times  by  Reson  of  111  wether 
proves  to  our  Great  damage :  our  humble  Request  therefore  to  this 
Honored  Court  Is  That  thay  would  bee  pleased  to  Impower  som  one 
p'son  att  Newbury  or  Salisbury  to  take  entrys  &  to  give  clearing  And 
your  suplyants  thankfully  Acknowledging  the  same  shall  Ever  pray 

Thomas  Mudgett 
John  Allix 
Jacob  Merill 
Richard  Hubbard 
Henry  Wheeler* 

May  15,  1684,  the  deputies  and  magistrates  granted  the 
prayer  of  the  petitioners,  and  "  ordered  that  Nathaniel  Clarke 
be  the  naval  officer  for  Newbury  and  Salisbury  ports."  f 

During  the  excitement  and  confusion  that  resulted  from  the 
revolutionary  proceedings  in  Boston,  April  18,  1689,  and  the 
imprisonment  of  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  governor  of  the  col- 
onies in  New  England,  vessels  employed  in  the  coasting  trade 
were  exposed  not  only  to  the  danger  of  the  sea,  but  were 
liable  to  capture  by  bold  and  lawless  buccaneers. 

In  a  deposition  made  by  Thomas  Pound,  who,  with  Thomas 
Hawkins  and  others,  was  executed  for  piracy  in  1689,  is  the 
following  statement :  — 

.  .  .  about  the  Eighth  or  Tenth  day  of  August  last  past,  in  the  pres- 
ent year,  1689,  this  Examinant  togetlier  with  twelve  men  more  .  .  .  went 
off  from  Boston  in  Thomas  Hawkins  his  Boat,  tooke  water  at  the  South 
End  of  the  Town  neer  the  Signe  of  the  Bull,  haveing  agreed  and  com- 
bined together  to  take  the  first  vessell  they  should  come  up  with  and  go 
away  to  the  West  Indies  to  make  a  voyage  against  the  ffrench.  .  .  . 
wee  then  sayled  to  Martyn's  Vineyard  Sound,  and  on  or  about  the 
twentyeth  day  of  August  met  with  a  Briganteen  belonging  to  Newbury, 
John  Kent,  master,  from  New  Yorke,  and  sent  the  Boat  with  ffour  or 
ffive  hands  on  board  said  Briganteen,  and  brought  her  neer  to  o'  sloop's 
side,  out  of  which  Briganteen  wee  tooke  Eighteen  halfe  barrells  of 
Flower,  two  hogsheads  of  Sugar  and  one  hogshead  of  Rhum,  and  three 
small  arms,  and  so  dismist  the  Briganteen.  .  .  . 

From  thence  wee  removed  to  Tarpolin  Cove,  there  lay  about  fforty 
Eight  houres  intending  for  Corazo,  and  upon  ffriday  tlie  ffourth  day  of 

*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xli.,  p.  261. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  v.,  p.  439. 


COMMERCIAL   AFFAIRS  AND  SHIP-BUILDIXG  479 

October,  instant,  Cap"^  Samuel  Pease,  Coiriander  of  a  Sloop  from  Bos- 
ton, came  up  towards  us,  and  wee  came  to  Saile  and  stood  away,  but 
Cap"e  Pease  out  sayled  us  and  fired  severall  shot  towards  us  but 
did  not  strike  our  vessell,  wee  descried  their  king's  Jack  before  they 
fired :  after  wee  had  received  severall  shot  from  the  s^  Sloop  there  was 
a  red  ftiag  put  up  at  the  head  of  our  mast,  and  our  men  fired  at  them, 
and  we  continued  fireing  one  at  another  about  the  space  of  an  hour  : 
this  Examinant  received  two  shot  one  under  his  Ribs  and  an'^ther  in 
the  Arme,  ffour  of  our  men  were  slain  and  nine  wounded.* 

June  27,  1692,  the  General  Court  passed  an  act  providing 
for  the  appointment  of  a  naval  officer  at  Boston,  Salem, 
Ipswich,  Newbury,  and  other  ports,  to  enter  and  clear  vessels 
arriving  or  sailing  from  the  ports  named  and  collect  the  fees 
due  from  them.  This  act,  however,  was  disallowed  by  the 
privy  council ;  but  the  governor,  under  the  new  charter  of  the 
province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  was  authorized  to  take  such 
steps  as  might  be  necessary  to  protect  and  encourage  trade, 
and  prevent  the  illegal  importation  of  merchandise. 

Many  favorable  locations  along  the  river  side,  owned  in 
common  by  the  proprietors  or  freeholders  of  Newbury,  were 
taken  by  ship-builders,  and  used  without  permission. 

December  13,  1692,  the  town  ordered  that  whosoever  shall  build  any 
vessels  on  the  towne  common  shall  pay  to  the  town  three  pence  per  ton 
for  the  use  of  the  building  yard  that  they  shall  improve.f 

Mr.  Thomas  Johnson,  ship-wright,  having  built  a  house  &  .sett  up  a 
ship  or  ships  uppon  the  Towns  Comons  next  adjoining  to  the  River 
Merrimack  between  sd  River  &  Mr  Peirces  land,  the  s^  Johnson  doth  by 
way  of  Rent  for  the  improving  of  the  Towns  land  as  above  s^  acknowl- 
edg  himself  indebted  to  the  selectmen  of  Newbury  the  sum  of  two  shill- 
ings money  whereunto  the  s^i  Johnson  hath  sett  to  his  hand  this  30th  of 
Sept,  1695.  Thomas  Johnson. 

Tristram  Coffin,  \ 

George  March,      (  witnesses. \ 

Henry  Short,         ^ 

Ezra,  son  of  William  Cottle,  was  born  in  Newbury  May  5, 
1662.  He  married  Mary  Woodbridge  July  6,  1695.  In  the 
town  records,  under  the  date  of  1698,  is  the  following  mem- 
orandum :  — 

•  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  July,  xSgi,  pp.  216,  217. 
t  Town  of  Newburj'  Records. 


480  HISTORY  OF  NEWBUKY 

This  year  Ezra  Cottle  commenced  ship  building  at  or  near  the  foot 
of  Chandler's  lane  [now  Federal  street,  Newburyport]  where  Mr.  Will- 
iam Johnson  built.* 

March  18,  1700-1701  John  Stickney  desir'ng  liberty  of  the  Town  to 
build  a  vessel  uppon  the  Bank  by  Merrimack  River,  near  the  place 
where  Mr  Johnson  built  a  vessel,  at  the  lower  end  of  Chandlers  Lane, 
The  town  grants  his  proposition  with  this  proviso,  yt  he  damnify  not  the 
highway  there  and  that  he  pay  one  shilling  to  the  town  as  a  rent  by  way 
of  acknowledgement  if  demanded  of  him.* 

July  II,  1705  Granted  liberty  to  M^  William  Johnson  to  build  a  ves- 
sel neer  the  end  of  Chandlers  Lane  at  or  neer  the  place  wher  Mr  John- 
son formerly  built  a  shipp.* 

Among  the  vessels  registered,  "according  to  directions  of 
the  Act  of  Parhament  passed  in  the  seventh  and  eighth  year 
(1696- 1 697)  of  the  Reign  of  King  WilHam  the  Third,"  was 
"  The  Briganteen  Endeavour  of  Boston,  Edward  Ashley,  Mas- 
ter ;  a  square  sterned  vessel  of  about  20  tons,  built  at  New- 
bury, in  168 1."  f 

From  November  23,  1697,  to  October  5,  17 14,  one  hun- 
dred sloops,  ketches,  brigantines,  and  ships  built  in  New- 
bury, "whereof  Proof  hath  been  made  upon  oath,"  were 
granted  registers,  and  allowed  to  engage  in  the  coasting  trade 
or  take  lumber  and  merchandise  to  foreign  ports. | 

In  1697  the  town  of  Andover 

Granted  libertie  to  Maj.  John  March  of  Newbury  to  take  what 
timber  is  convenient  for  ye  building  of  two  vessels  not  exceeding  fifty 
tons  apiece,  provided  he  build  such  vessels  in  Andover  and  to  use  noe 
timber  that  is  fitt  for  ye  building  of  houses  or  making  of  posts,  .  .  .  what 
timber  is  to  be  felled  and  carted  for  sd  vessels,  Andover  men  shall  have 
ye  benefit  of,  provided  they  will  work  with  themselves  &  teems  as 
reasonably  as  in  other  places  they  doe.§ 

Probably  the  vessels  were  not  built  at  that  time,  and  in 
171 1  the  town  of  Andover  passed  the  following  order  :  — 

.  .  .  that  Coll  John  March  shall  have  libertie  of  trying  the  experiment 
of  building  a  sloop  in  some  convenient  place  for  launching  into  Merri- 
mack River  and  to  have  the  benefit  of  what  timber  can  be  found  already 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  vii.,  p.  125;  also,  History  of  Ship-building  on  Merrimack 
River,  by  John  J.  Currier,  1877,  p.  46. 

X  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  vii.,  pp.  85-523.  §  History  of  Andover  (Bailey),  p.  58. 


COMMERCIAL   AFFAIRS  AND  SHIP-HUILDING  401 

felled,  and  also  if  need  be  to  supply  him  with  tlie  liberty  of  cutting  half- 
a  dozen  sticks  for  some  choyse  use  for  the  vessel  if  Timber  for  such  use 
cannot  be  found  already  felled.* 

Col.  March  was  unable  to  make  the  contemplated  "experi- 
ment "  on  account  of  ill-health.  He  died  previous  to  August 
25,  1 712.  Subsequently,  Lieut.  John  Aslebe  was  granted 
"liberty  to  make  use  of  the  timber  which  was  voted  for  Coll. 
John  March  to  build  a  sloop  in  Andover  of  about  40  tons."  * 

March  11,  171 1-2,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  voted 
"  that  Major  Henry  Somerby,  Cap*  Sergant  &  Lieu'  Titcomb 
shall  have  power  to  let  y^  building  yard  near  Watts  cellar  {so 
called)  unto  Col  Patridge  and  M""  Fawn  Clement  and  M"" 
Hodge  on  such  terms  as  they  agree  for."  f 

This  yard  was  known  as  the  Middle  Ship-yard.  It  was  sold 
March  5,  1768,  to  Samuel  Gerrish  by  the  proprietors  of  the 
town  of  Newbury. I 

The  ship-owners  and  merchants  of  Newbury  had  established 
a  profitable  trade  with  Barbadoes  and  other  islands  of  the 
West  Indies  previous  to  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  June  28,  1714,  the  town  clerk  recorded  the  marks 
and  description  of  twelve  horses,  "  to  be  shiped  on  board  a 
Brigantine  belonging  to  Cap'  Pits  of  Boston,  whereof  Cap' 
Elsee  is  master,  bound  to  Barbadoes."  || 

Subsequently,  similar  items  were  recorded,  apparently  with- 
out order,  possibly  in  compliance  with  some  rule  or  regulation 
adopted  by  the  town.  A  memorandum,  dated  June  30,  1716, 
states  that  six  horses  "  are  to  be  shipt  for  Antega  §  on  board 
y*^  sloop  Ann,  whereof  M""  Benajah  Titcomb  sen""  is  master."  || 

August  4,  I  716  eight  horses  shipped  on  the  brigantine  now  lying  in 
the  harbor  of  Newbury,  bound  for  Antega,  Michael  Hodge,  master. || 

August  14,  1 716  shipped  six  horses  on  ye  ship  Pegge,  whereof  Mr. 
John  Davis  is  present  master  &  now  riding  at  anchor  in  the  harbor  of 
Newbury  &  bound  for  Barbadus.|| 

May  30,  1 724  shipped  two  horses  on  board  ye  sloop  dove  bound  to 
ye  Leeward  Islands,  Mr.  Michael  Hodge  master. || 

♦History  of  Andover  (Bailey),  p.  58. 

t  Town  of  Newbury  Records.  J  "  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  2S1. 

II  Recorded  on  a  tiy-leaf  of  the  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

§  Antigua,  one  of  the  Leeward  Islands,  included  in  the  group  known  as  the  Lesser  Antilles. 


482  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

February  4,  1724-5  shipped  two  horses  by  the  sloop  Dove  now  at 
anchor  in  the  Merrimack  bound  for  the  West  Indies,  Michael  Hodge, 
master.* 

September  1 728  Shipped  four  horses  on  board  ye  sloop  called  the 
Friends  Adventure,  bound  for  the  West  Indies.* 

March  4,  1 730-1  shipped  two  horses  on  board  a  ship  now  riding  at 
anchor  in  ye  River  Merrimack  caled  the  Falmouth  bound  to  Antega, 
William  King,  master.* 

October  25,  1736  shiped  on  board  ye  good  sloope  Elizabeth,  now  rid- 
ing at  anchor  in  ye  River  Merrimack  &  by  ye  grace  of  God  bound  for 
Antega,  Mr.  Thomas  Johnson,  master,  twelve  horses  from  four  to  eight 
years  old.* 

Liberty  to  build  a  wharf  and  dock  "  about  Watts  his  cellar  " 
was  granted  Capt.  Paul  White  in  1655  ;  and  similar  grants 
were  made  to  Richard  Dole,  Nathaniel  Clark,  Stephen  Green- 
leaf,  Daniel  Davison,  and  others  previous  to  January  i,  i/OO.f 

March  9,  1 730-1  the  town  granted  liberty  to  William  Johnson  and 
nine  others  to  build  a  wharf  at  the  foot  of  Chandlers  lane  [now  Federal 
street,  Newburyport]  on  condition  it  be  built  within  four  years  and  that 
the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  may  fasten  their  hay  boats  or  gondolas  to 
said  wharf  without  paying  for  it. J 

On  the  same  day,  Abiel  Somerby  and  others  were  granted 
liberty  to  build  a  wharf  at  the  foot  of  Queen  street,  now 
Market  street,  Newburyport,  on  similar  conditions.  The 
wharf  at  the  foot  of  Chandler's  lane  was  probably  built  within 
the  time  named  in  the  grant ;  but  Abiel  Somerby  and  the 
men  associated  with  him  failed  to  comply  with  the  conditions 
imposed  upon  them,  and  May  18,  1738,  Joseph  Atkins,  Joseph 
Titcomb,  John  Ordway,  and  many  others  were  granted  liberty 
to  build  the  wharf  "at  the  lower  end  of  Queen  street."  % 

At  that  date  there  w^as  a  ship-yard  near  the  foot  of  Muzzey's 
lane,  now  Marlboro  street,  Newburyport,  occupied  by  Gideon 
Wood  well  and  afterwards  by  his  son  and  grandson.  Ralph 
Cross  had  a  yard  between  Muzzey's  lane  and  Chandler's  lane, 
at  or  near  the  lumber  yard  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
Edward  Perkins  &  Co.,  Newburyport ;  and  Samuel  Moggaridge 
was  engaged  in  ship-building  nearly  opposite  the  southeasterly 

*  Recorded  on  a  fly-leaf  of  the  town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t"  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  151-163.  J  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


COMMERCIAL   AFFAIRS   AND   SHIT-BUILDING         483 

end  of  Carr's  island,  at  the  foot  of  what  was  then  Poore's, 
afterwards  Moody's,  lane,  now  Merrimack  court,  Newbury- 
port. 

Robert  Barrett  boui;ht  of  Thomas  Bartlett,  in  1732,  about 
an  acre  of  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Bartlett's  cove,  where  he  sub- 
sequently built  several  small  vessels.*  In  the  inventory  of 
his  estate,  dated  September  30,  1742,  his  dwelling-house, 
workshop,  "  and  Timber,  Plank  and  other  stuff  in  His  Build- 
ing Yard,"  were  appraised  at  ^300,  and  carpenter  tools  at 
;£23.t 

Samuel  Moggaridge  agreed,  November  30,  1741,  to  build  a 
vessel  for  Witter  Cummings  and  Benjamiif  Harris,:j:  to  be 
paid  for  on  the  following  terms  and  conditions  :  — 

Three  hundred  pounds  in  Cash,  three  hundred  pounds  on  good  ships 
in  Boston,  two- thirds  money;  four  hundred  pounds  by  orders  up  the 
river  for  timber  and  plank,  ten  barrels  of  flour,  fifty  pounds  weight  of 
loaf  sugar,  one  Bagg  of  cotton  wool,  one  hundred  bushels  of  corn  in 
the  spring :  one  hhd.  of  Rum,  one  hundred  weight  of  cheese ;  the 
remaining  part  to  be  drawn  out  of  the  said  Cummings  &  Harris'  shop.  .  .  . 
Three  thousand  pounds  lawful  money  of  New  England  to  be  paid  by 
the  defective  party.  § 

For  more  than  twenty  years,  Samuel  Moggaridge  was  a 
prominent  ship-builder  in  Newbury.  He  owned  several  negro 
slaves,  and  was  evidently  interested  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  had  farms  in  Salisbury,  Dracut,  and  Pelham,  and  was  also 
the  owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Narragansett  township. 
In  his  will,  dated  October  30,  1753,  and  proved  April  8, 
1754,  he  gave  to  his  wife  the  use  of  the  dwelling-house  where 
he  then  lived,  with  one-quarter  part  of  the  income  of  his  real 
estate  in  Newbury  and  Salisbury.  To  his  son  Samuel  he 
gave  the  farm  in  Dracut  and  a  silver  punch-bowl,  "  to  be  kept 
in  the  family  from  generation  to  generation."  Silver  tea- 
spoons, silver  tongs,  and  other  silver  utensils  were  divided 
among  the  children,  "  son  Stephen  excepted."  || 

*  Essex  Deeds,  book  Ixi.,  leaf  263.  t  Probate  Records,  book  cccxxv.,  p.  71. 

+  Messrs.  Cummings  and  Harris  resided  in  Newburj-,  and  were  large  importers  of  foreign 
merchandise.  They  were  prominent  members  of  St.  Paul's  church  at  its  organization  in  1738, 
and  were  elected  wardens  or  vestrj-men  of  the  church  for  m.iny  years.  ("  Ould  Newbury," 
pp.  398-400.) 

§  History  of  Newburyport  (Mrs.  E.  Vale  Smith),  p.  72. 

II  Essex  Probate  Records,  vol.  cccxx.\ii.,  p.  183. 


484  HISTORY   OF  XEIVBURY 

Oak  and  pine  timber,  suitable  for  ship-building,  was  sent 
from  Newbury  to  England  in  the  form  of  rafts,  skilfully  con- 
structed and  equipped  with  masts  and  sails,  and  manned  by 
a  crew  of  courageous  seamen.  The  following  notice,  pub- 
lished in  an  English  paper  in  1770,  announced  the  arrival  of 
one  of  these  rafts  at  London  :  — 

The  Newbury,  Capt  Rose,  from  Newbury,  in  New  England,  lies  at 
the  Orchard  House  Blackwall.  The  above  is  a  raft  of  timber,  in  the 
form  of  a  ship,  which  came  from  Newbury  to  soundings  in  twenty-six 
days,  and  is  wortliy  the  attention  of  the  curious.* 

Ship-building  iOn  the  Merrimack  river  was  very  active  at 
that  date,  and  several  new  ship-yards  were  established  in  that 
part  of  Newbury  known  as  "  Belleville." 

Benjamin  Coffin  bought  of  Moses  Coffin,  June  6,  1763, 
about  eight  acres  of  land  "  on  y^  Lane  commonly  called 
Coffins  Lane,"  now  Jefferson  street,  Newburyport,  and  built 
several  vessels  there. f 

April  17,  1770,  Isaac  Freese  sold  to  Stephen  Coffin  land 
in  Newbury  "joyning  to  Benjamin  Coffins  Building  yard,  so 
called,  by  Merrimack  River";  and  April  8,  1774,  EHzabeth 
Freeze  sold  "  to  the  said  Stephen  Coffin,  land  on  a  way  lead- 
ing to  Carrs  ferry,  so  called,"  bounded  northwesterly  "on 
Benjamin  Coffins  Building  yard."  % 

The  statement  that  Stephen  Coffin  built  two  gunboats  for 
the  United  States  government  in  18  13  is  probably  incorrect, 
as  he  became  financially  embarrassed  in  1807,  and  was 
obliged  to  dispose  of  his  real  estate  and  personal  property. § 

At  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  Jacob  Coffin  was 
engaged  in  ship-building  at  or  near  Moggaridge's  point. 
April   5,  1 78 1,  he  bought  of  Joseph  and  Samuel   Poor  land 

♦Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  236. 

t  Essex  Deeds,  book  cxii.,  leaf  192.  $Ibid.,  book  cxxviii.,  leaf  153  ;  and  book  cxliii., 
leaf  178. 

§  Essex  Deeds,  book  clxxxi.,  leaf  226;  also,  book  clxxxv.,  leaf  113.  The  gunboats  were 
probably  built  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston.  The  Newburyport  Herald  and  Country  Gazette,  pub- 
lished October  15,  1813,  makes  the  following  announcement  :  — 

"  Arrived  Thursday  [Oct.  14,  1813],  and  anchored  abreast  of  the  sloop  of  War  Wasp  at  Hor- 
ton's  wharf,  (lun  Boat  No.  81,  Capt  Cushman,  from  Bostomvia  Portsmouth  .  .  .  also  arrived  be- 
low, Gun  Boat  No.  83  Capt  Brown.  She  will  come  up  and  anchor  alongside  her  consort  next 
tide.  Each  of  them  carry  a  long  24  pounder  and  a  12  pound  Carronade  and  15  men.  We  under- 
stand they  are  to  be  stationed  here  until  next  spring." 


COMMERCIAL   AFFAIRS  AND   SHIP-BUILDING  485 

that  he  retained  in  his  possession  for  many  years,  "  it  being 
part  of  the  Morgarage  building  yard,  so  called,  adjoining  the 
Towns  landing,  being  one  third  of  what  John  Morgarage, 
John  Poor  ^^^  &  Joshua  Pilsbery,  Jun,  purchased  of  Joseph 
Ramack."  * 

Ten  years  later,  Orlando  B.  Merrill  bought  about  an  acre 
of  land,  "  with  dwelling  house  and  other  buildings  thereon," 
on  the  northwesterly  side  of  the  ship-yard  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  Jacob  Coffin.  He  built  there,  in  company  with  his 
brothers  Nathan  and  Jonathan  Merrill,  several  ships,  brigs, 
and  schooners. f  He  was  the  inventor  of  the  water-line 
model,  from  which  working  plans  were  then,  and  are  now, 
taken  and  used  in  the  construction  of  vessels.  A  model  made 
by  Mr.  Merrill  in  1794  was  presented  to  the  New  York 
Historical  Society  in  1853. 

In  the  Newburyport  Herald  and  Country  Gazette,  pub- 
lished July  27,  1798,  is  the  following  notice  :  — 

U.  S.  Brig.  Pickering  commanded  by  Jonathan  Chapman,  sailed  for 
Boston  to  take  in  her  guns  and  complement  of  men.  She  will  carry  14 
guns  and  70  men,  and  was  built  by  the  Messrs  Merrill,  who  deserve 
credit  for  the  punctual  manner  in  which  the  work  was  executed. 

The  builders  gave  bonds,  in  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars, to  construct  the  vessel  in  ninety  days ;  and  before  the 
time  expired  she  was  ready  for  sea. 

Owing  to  the  disturbed  political  condition  of  Europe  and 
the  military  successes  of  Napoleon  in  Austria  and  in  Italy, 
American  vessels  engaged  in  the  foreign  trade  were  liable  to 
capture  by  French  privateers.  They  were  frequently  seized 
and  confiscated  for  carrying  merchandise  considered  "  contra- 
band in  time  of  war." 

In  order  to  protect  the  crews  and  cargoes  of  the  ships  built 
in  Newbury  near  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  they 
were  armed  and  equipped  with  guns  and  ammunition.  The 
Newburyport  Herald  and  Country  Gazette  announced  Fri- 
day, August  23,  1799,  the  launch  of  the  ship  "  Massachusetts  " 
on  Tuesday  preceding  the  date  of  publication,  as  follows  :  — 

*  Essex  Deeds,  book  cxl.,  leaf  2. 

t  Nathan  and  Jonathan  Merrill  bought  land  near  Moggaridge's  point  August  16,  1798. 
(See  Essex  Deeds,  book  clxiii.,  leaf  196.) 


486  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

The  ship  is  six  hundred  tons,  designed  for  the  East  India  trade  and 
fitted  to  carry  twenty  four  guns.  She  was  built  by  Cap*  O.  B.  Merrill 
whose  skill  as  a  naval  architect  is  generally  acknowledged. 

Ship-yards  occupied  almost  every  a\-ai]able  site  between 
Muzzey's  lane  and  Bartlett's  cove  at  that  date,  and  they  were 
frequently  overcrowded  with  work. 

Old  inhabitants  of  the  town  can  remember  when  there  have  been  a 
hundred  Vessels  building  at  one  time  along  the  bank  of  the  river  on  the 
Newbury  side  below  the  [Essex  Merrimack]  Bridge.* 

The  shape  of  these  vessels,  and  the  number  of  masts  and 
sails  with  which  they  were  provided,  \-aried  according  to  cir- 
cumstances. Ships,  barks,  brigs,  schooners,  sloops,  and  ketches 
were  built  to  meet  the  demand  of  the  trade  in  which  they 
were  to  be  employed.  The  style  of  rig  prevalent  at  that  time 
is  shown  in  the  photographic  engraving,  reproduced  on  the 
next  page,  from  the  second  edition  of  "  The  Practical  Naviga- 
tor," published  by  Edmund  M.  Blunt,  of  Newburyport,  in  the 
year  iSoo.f 

In  1807,  a  portion  of  the  Moggaridge  yard  was  leased  to 
Mr.  Elisha  Briggs,  a  native  of  Pembroke,  who  had  been 
engaged  in  ship-building  in  Medford,  Mass.  In  1809,  Mr. 
Briggs  purchased  land  and  erected  a  house  at  the  foot  of  Pills- 
bury's  lane,  now  Ashland  street,  Newburyport,  where  he 
resided  until  he  purchased  of  the  heirs  of  Isaac  Green  Pear- 
son, in  1 82 1,  "a  certani  river  lot  of  land  in  Newbury,  in  the 
county  of  Essex,  with  a  wharf,  dwelling  house  and  other 
buildings  thereon  at  the  bottom  of  Pilsbury  street  so  called."  \ 
After  that  date,  he  occupied  the  dwelling-house,  and  used  the 
land  adjoining  for  a  ship-yard.      During  the  twenty-five  or 

♦History  of  Newburyport,  by  Caleb  Gushing  (published  in  1826),  p.  82. 

t  A  copy  of  "  The  Practical  Navigator"  can  be  seen  at  the  Essex  Institute,  Salem,  Mass. 

t  Essex  Deeds,  book  ccxxix.,  leaf  153.  Jutie  4,  1766,  Joseph  Pilsbury  conveyed  to  Edmund 
Sawyer,  apothecary,  the  above-described  land,  "  the  SSme  being  all  the  land  that  belonged  to  the 
Estate  of  my  late  Father,  Josiali  Pilsbury,  on  the  north  side  of  said  Driftway  &  landing.''  (Essex 
Deeds,  book  cxxiv.,  leaf  244.)  Edmund  Sawyer  was  evidently  a  bookseller  as  well  as  apothecary. 
The  second  edition  of  a  sermon  entitled  "  The  Nature  of  Saving  Conversion  "  was  printed  in 
Boston  in  1770,  "and  sold  by  Ednuind  Sawyer  at  his  house  in  Newbuiy."  A  sermon  preaclied 
in  the  Presbyterian  meeting-house,  Newburyport,  "by  Abraham  Keteltas,  A.M.,"  was  printed  by 
John  Mycall,  in  1777,  "  for  Edmund  Sawyer  and  to  be  sold  at  his  shop  in  Newbur)'." 

The  land  conveyed  by  Joseph  Pilsbury  in  1766  to  Edmund  Sawyer  was  sold  March  5  and 
April  q,  1802,  by  Enoch  Sawyer  and  others,  to  Isaac  Green  Pearson.  (Essex  Deeds,  book  clxxvi., 
leaf  164.) 


488  HISTORY  OF    NEWBURY 

thirty  years  that  Mr.  Briggs  Uved  in  Newbury,  he  built  seven- 
teen ships,  thirteen  brigs,  and  ten  schooners. 

In  1812,  EHas  Jackman  had  a  ship-yard  near  the  Essex 
Merrimack  bridge,  where  he  carried  on  the  business  of  ship- 
buikUng  for  several  years. 

September  18,  181 3,  the  United  States  sloop-of-war 
"Wasp"  was  launched  from  the  ship-yard  near  Moggaridge's 
point.*  As  she  entered  the  water,  a  bottle  of  wine  was  broken 
over  her  bow,  and  the  workmen  cheered,  while  her  captain 

shouted, — 

'<  From  the  rocks  and  the  sands, 
From  the  enemies'  hands, 
God  save  the  Wasp." 

She  was  1 1 7  feet,  1 1  inches  long  on  the  gun  deck,  97  feet, 
6  inches  on  the  keel,  and  measured  509!^  tons,  carpenter's 
measure.  Orlando  B.  Merrill,  of  Newbury,  and  William  Cross, 
of  Newburyport,  were  the  builders  and  contractors.  They 
received  fifty  dollars  per  ton  for  the  vessel  completed  and 
ready  for  sea,  including  masts  and  spars,  rigging,  joiner's 
work,  blacksmith  work,  painting,  etc.,  according  to  the  terms 
of  the  "  contract  made  with  Amos  Binney,  Agent  for  the 
United  States  Navy  Department,  at  Boston." 

Friday  evening,  February  18,  18 14,  the  officers  of  the 
sloop-of-war  "Wasp"  gave  a  ball  on  board  the  vessel  while 
she  was  lying  at  one  of  the  wharves  in  Newburyport,  nearly 
ready  for  sea.f  She  sailed  February  22,  18 14,  for  Ports- 
mouth, and  arrived  there  the  same  day,  where  she  received 
guns,  ammunition,  and  other  naval  supplies. J  Early  in  the 
month  of  May  following,  she  sailed  from  Portsmouth  for  the 
English  coast.  During  the  summer,  she  captured  thirteen 
merchant  vessels,  destroying  twelve  of  them  at  sea  and  send- 
ing one  into  port.  In  September,  18 14,  after  a  severe  en- 
gagement with  an  English  frigate,  it  is  supposed  that  she 
sank,  with  all  her  crew,  off  the  island  of  Teneriffe.  Two 
years  later,  an  agent  of  the  United  States  government  was 
sent    to    Newbury    with    $50,000    prize    money    and    twelve 

*  Newburyport  Herald,  September  21,  1813.  t  Ibid.,  February  22,  1S14. 

X  She  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Johnston  Blakeley,  and  most,  if  not  all,  of  her  crew  were 
from  Newbury  and  Newburyport. 


COMMERCIAL    AFFAIRS  AXD   SHIP-B UILDIXG  489 

months'  wages,  to  be  distributed  among"  the  heirs  of  the 
officers  and  men  who  were  on  board  the  "  Wasp  "  when  she 
was  lost. 

In  the  "  Newburyport  Herald  and  Country  Gazette,"  pub- 
lished Friday,  November  5,  181 3,  "a  vessel,  about  115  tons 
burthen,  now  on  the  stocks  in  John  B.  Coffin's  yard  "  was 
advertised  for  sale.  At  the  same  date,  Stephen  Button  was 
engaged  in  ship-building  at  or  near  Moggaridge's  point.  The 
brig  "  Calisto,"  "one  of  the  best  built  vessels  that  ever  sailed 
from  this  [Merrimack]  river,"  and  the  ship  "Jacob  Jones," 
"545  tons  register  and  pierced  for  20  guns,"  both  built  by 
Mr.  Button,  were  reported  as  having  arrived  at  Boston,  Be- 
cember  7,  1813.* 

The  brig  "Olive,"  built  for  Capt.  Micajah  Lunt  and 
others  in  Newbury  during  the  summer  of  18 15,  was 
engaged  for  many  years  in  the  foreign  carrying  trade. 
She  made  many  long  voyages  without  meeting  with  serious 
disaster,  although  she  was  only  157  tons  burthen.  In  the 
half-tone  print  on  the  next  page,  taken  from  a  water  color 
sketch  painted  in  18 19,  the  shape  of  her  bow,  the  cut  of  her 
sails,  and  the  style  of  her  rig  can  be  seen  and  conveniently 
studied  by  those  who  are  interested  in  the  history  and  de- 
velopment of  ship-building  on  the  Merrimack  river. 

February  16,  18 14,  Elias  Cook  sold  to  Joseph  Coffin  several 
acres  of  land  in  Newbury,  "  extending  to  a  great  rock  in 
Merrimack  river  "  ;  f  and  October  16,  1821,  Thomas  Cook  sold 
"  to  the  said  Joseph  Coffin  "  land  on  Coffin's  lane  "with  a 
dwelling  house  thereon. "J  Subsequently,  Joseph  Coffin 
bought  of  Thomas  Merrill  f  and  Moses  Brown  §  additional 
land  on  Coffin's  lane,  now  Jefferson  street,  Newburyport,  and 
built  several  vessels  there.  A  part  of  this  old  building-yard 
was  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  Joseph  Coffin,  jr.,  who 
purchased,  Becember  i,  1845,  from  the  estate  of  Moses 
Brown,  merchant,  "  one  equal  and  undivided  third  part  of 
Coffin's  ship  yard,  so  called,  at  or  near  the  foot  of  Coffin's 
lane  formerly  so  called."  || 

•Newburyport  Herald  and  Country  Gazette. 

t  Essex  Deeds,  book  ccxxxix.,  leaf  123.  %  Ibid.,  leaf  124.  §  Ibid.,  book  ccliii.,  leaf  275. 
II  Ibid.,  book  ccclxxiii.,  leaf  126. 


COMMERCIAL   AFFAIRS  AND   SHIP-BUILDING  49 ^ 

Stephen  Jackman,  jr.,  built  from  1830  to  1848,  in  the  ship- 
yard adjoining  the  Moggaridge  yard,  twenty-five  or  thirty 
vessels,  including  thirteen  brigs  for  Capt.  John  N.  Gushing,  of 
Newburyport,  and  two  steamers  for  the  coastwise  trade, — 
the  "Decatur"  and  the  "Ohio."  *  June  5,  1840,  he  bought 
of  Mary  J.  Hale,  wife  of  Jacob  Hale,  several  acres  of  land 
in  Belleville,  the  said  estate  being  at  that  time  "  occupied 
by  the  said  Stephen  Jackman,  esq.,  as  a  ship  yard."  f 

In  1 83 1,  John  Currier,  jr.,  built,  in  the  yard  previously 
occupied  by  Capt.  Orlando  B.  Merrill  and  others,  the  ship 
"  Brenda,"  375  tons  register.  He  afterwards  built  in  the 
same  yard  ship  "  Republic  "  and  bark  "  Oberlin."  In  1833, 
he  purchased  five  or  six  acres  of  land  on  the  easterly  side  of 
Poore's  lane,  now  Merrimack  court,  Newburyport,  where  he 
carried  on  the  business  of  ship-building  for  fifty  years.  In 
April,  1883,  he  launched  the  ship  "Mary  L.  Cu.shing,"  the 
last  merchant  ship  built  in  the  state  of  Massachusetts.  :|: 

William  Currier,  previous  to  1840,  was  associated  with 
Mr.  Elisha  Briggs  in  ship-building  at  the  foot  of  Pillsbury's 
lane,  now  Ashland  street,  Newburyport.  Subsequently,  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Donald  Mackay,  who  had  been 
employed  by  John  Currier,  jr.,  to  superintend  the  building  of 
the  ship  "Huntress  "  in  1839.  Messrs.  William  Currier  and 
Donald  Mackay  built  in  1842,  in  the  ship-yard  owned  by  Mr. 
Elisha  Briggs,  the  ship  "  Courier,"  380  tons,  and  the  ship 
"  Ashburton,"  449  tons  register. 

In  the  following  year,  William  Pickett  and  Donald  Mackay 
built  in  the  Moggaridge  yard  the  ship  "  St.  George,"  845 
tons  register,  and  in  the  year  1844  the  ship  "John  R. 
Skiddy,"  980  tons,  and  the  ship  "Joshua  Bates,"  620  tons 
register.  Mr.  Mackay  removed  to  East  Boston  in  1845,  and 
built  there  many  clipper  ships.  He  died  September  10, 
1880,  and  was  buried  in  Oak  Hill  cemetery,  Newburyport. 

*The  steam  propeller  "  Decatur,"  owned  by  Albert  Wood,  John  Porter,  and  John  Wood 
was  enrolled  at  the  custom-house,  April  i6,  1S45  and  sailed  for  Boston  on  the  twenty-first.  She 
was  advertised  in  the  Newburyport  Herald,  May  6,  1845,  to  make  regular  trips  between 
Newburyport  and  Boston,  "Joseph  Bartlett,  master."  The  side-wheel  steamboat  "Ohio"  was 
built  the  next  year,  and  was  advertised  May  20,  1846  to  make  two  trips  to  Boston  weekly,  "Jere- 
miah Lunt,  commander." 

t  Essex  Deeds,  book  cccxix.,  leaf  173.  +  "  Ould  Xewburj',"  pp.  2S2-285. 


492  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

William  Currier  and  James  L.  Townsend  built  in  the 
Elisha  Briggs  yard  the  bark  "  Talisman  "  in  1843,  and  the 
ship  "St.  Patrick  "  in  1844.  They  were  engaged  inactive 
business  until  1856,  and  during  that  time  launched  many 
famous  ships,  among  them  in  1853  the  "Highflyer"  (1,195 
tons)  and  the  "  Dreadnaught  "  (1,414  tons). 

December  6,  1849,  George  W.  Jackman,  jr.,  bought  of 
Mary  W.  and  Eleanor  Moggaridge  land  with  the  buildings 
thereon,  "called  the  Moggaridge  estate."*  He  also  pur- 
chased the  adjoining  ship-yard,  previously  owned  by  his  brother 
Stephen  Jackman,  jr.,  and  in  1850  built  his  first  vessel,  the 
bark  "  Hollander,"  525  tons  register.  He  afterwards  built 
in  the  same  yard  several  large  clipper  ships,  the  United  States 
gunboat  "  Marblehead,"  the  United  States  steamer  "Ascut- 
ney,"  and  the  merchant  steamships  "  Ontario  "  and  "  Erie." 

In  185 1,  when  the  ship-yards  at  Belleville  and  Joppaf 
were  set  off  and  annexed  to  Newburyport,  ship-building 
ceased  to  be  one  of  the  industries  of  Newbury.  The  business, 
however,  was  continued  for  many  years  after  that  date  in 
Newburyport. 

*  Essex  Deeds,  book  ccccxx.,  leaf  235. 

t  Soon  after  the  incorporatiou  of  Newburyport  in  1764,  that  part  of  Newbury  between  North, 
now  Oakland,  street,  Newburyport,  and  the  Artichoke  river  was  called  Belleville.  The  name 
was  frequently  mentioned  in  deeds  and  advertisements  early  in  the  nineteenth  century.  A  ser- 
mon by  Rev.  James  Miltimore,  printed  in  1807,  has  upon  the  title-page  "preached  in  Belleville 
in  the  Fourth  Parish  of  Newbury,  at  the  Dedication  of  the  New  Meeting  House  in  that  place." 

Near  the  river  side  between  Rolfe's  lane,  now  Ocean  avenue,  and  Cottle's  lane,  now  Brom- 
field  street,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  were  mainly  occupied  in  catchmg  and  curing  fish,  and  that 
part  of  the  town  was  called  Joppa,  and  is  still  known  by  that  name. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

MILITARY    ORGANIZATIONS    AND    INDIAN    WARS. 

December  13,  1636,  all  the  able-bodied  men  in  the  colony 
of  Ma.ssachusetts  Bay,  capable  of  bearing  arms,  were  divided 
into  three  regiments  :  the  first  composed  of  men  from  Bos- 
ton, Roxbury,  Dorchester,  Weymouth,  and  Hingham ;  the 
second,  from  Charlestown,  Newtowne  (Cambridge),  Water- 
town,  Concord,  and  Dedham  ;  the  third,  from  Saugus  (Lynn), 
Salem,  Ipswich,  and  Newbury.  John  Endicott  was  appointed 
colonel  of  the  third  regiment,  and  John  Winthrop,  jr.,  lieu- 
tenant colonel.* 

March  9,  1636-7,  a  watch,  or  guard,  was  established  for  the 
protection  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  from  the  attacks  of 
hostile  Indians.  John  Spencer  was  chosen  captain  of  the 
company  organized  at  that  date.f  He  was  discharged  May 
17,  1637  ;  and  John  Woodbridge  was  appointed  "surveyor  of 
amies,"  and  Edward  Woodman,  "  leif tenant. "| 

Captain  Spencer  was  evidently  a  friend  and  zealous  sup- 
porter of  Rev.  John  Wheelwright  and  Mrs.  Anne  Hutchinson, 
and  sympathized  with  them  in  their  religious  views  and 
opinions.  He  became  involved  in  the  bitter  controversy  that 
prevailed  during  the  summer  of  1637  ;  and,  on  the  twentieth 
day  of  November  following,  he  was  accused  of  disloyalty  to 
the  government,  and  was  ordered  by  the  General  Court  to  be 
disarmed.  § 

November  9,  1639,  "Edward  Grenliff "  was  appointed 
ensign  of  the  company. ||  "October  7,  1640,  Mr.  Woodman 
of  Neweberry  [was]  released  from  being  leiftenant  there."  ^ 

May  14,  1645  ^I""  Symon  Bradstreete,  Capt  Dani :  Dennison,  Leift 
Edmund  Greenleife,  Ensigne  John  Whittingham,  S^gent  John  Reming- 
ton, wth  divs  othr  gentlem"  of  Ipswich,  Neweberry,  Rowley,  Salsberry 
&  Hampton,  out  of  yi""  care  for  ye  safety  of  y^  publike  weale  having 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  187.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  pp.  190, 191.  J  Ibid., 

vol.  i.,  p.  195.         §  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  212.         1|  Ibid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  279.         Hlbid.,  vol.  i.,  p.  302. 

493 


494  HISTORY  OF  XEWBURY 

desired  of  ye  cct  to  joyn  y'"selves  in  one  company  &  to  have  liberty  to 
exercise  y^selves  at  such  times  as  yi""  occasions  will  best  p'mit  &  yt  such 
othr  librties  &  priviledges  might  be  granted  ym  as  ye  Cct  should  think 
meete,  for  y'''  better  incuragemt  &  furtherance  in  so  usefull  implimt 
wch  request  of  theirs  being  consid^ed  of  is  granted  as  followeth, 

I.  Inp.  Wee  do  ord""  yt  Mr  Symon  Bradstreete,  Capt  Denison,  Leift 
Greenleife  &  ye  above  named  gent  &  such  oth^s  as  they  shall  from  time 
to  time  take  into  ye  company,  shalbe  called  ye  Alillitary  Company  of 
Ipswich,  Neweberry  &  Rowley.* 

On  the  eleventh  day  of  November,  1647,  the  General 
Court  adopted  the  following  order  :  — 

It  is  conceived  meete  yt  ye  towne  of  Newberry  should  p'sent  anothr 
cheife  military  offic  in  ye  roome  of  Leift  Greenleafe  w'"  they  discharge 
accords  to  his  request. j 

The  religious  controversy  between  Rev.  Thomas  Parker 
and  the  members  of  his  church  in  regard  to  his  rights  and 
duties  as  minister  was  at  that  date  so  fierce  and  acrimonious' 
that  it  divided  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  into  two  nearly 
equal  parties,  and  rendered  it  impossible  to  agree  upon  a  suit- 
able person  to  serve  as  captain.  May  10,  1648,  "upon  the 
petition  of  the  townes  men  of  Newberry,"  the  General  Court 
passed  the  following  resolution  :  — 

Whereas  there  is  a  [controversy]  in  the  towne  about  the  choyce  of 
their  captaine,  for  p'venting  of  further  debate  in  co^te  (wd'  will  occasion 
expence  of  much  p'cious  time)  &  to  help  on  a  reconciliation  between  the 
now  different  parties  of  the  towne,  they  are  willing  to  consent  to  a  new 
election  as  aforesaid,  so  as  the  towne  shall  elect  two,  of  wc'i  this  Co^te 
may  alow  one,  when  they  shall  thinke  fit.J 

May  10,  1648  In  answer  to  the  pet"  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newberry 
about  the  choyce  of  a  Capt  it  was  ordered,  that  they  should  p'cede  to 
a  new  election  <&  make  choyse  of  two  men  &  p'sent  their  names,  of 
which  the  Court  might  alow  one,  whom  they  should  thinke  fitt:  and 
Major  Denison  is  hereby  desired  to  be  p'sent  at  the  election  to  se  it 
orderly  caryed  on.§ 

May  2,  1649  Upon  the  petition  of  Newberry  Men,  it  is  answered,  the 
petitionrs  not  haveing  observed  the  Co>ts  ord""  in  the   election  of  their 

♦Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  iii.  In  "The  Wonder  Working  Providence 
of  Sions  Saviour,"  the  author  states  that,  when  the  military  organization  of  Essex  and  Norfolk 
counties  were  united  in  one  regiment,  "  the  Band  of  Nuberry  [was]  led  by  Capt  Gerrish,  with  his 
antient  and  experienced  Lieutenant  Greenlife.  .  .  .  the  ma  jor  of  the  regiment  [was]  Daniel  Denison 
of  Ipswich."      (Massachusetts  Historical  Collections,  Second  Series,  vol.  vii.,  p.  55.) 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  215.  +  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  23S.  §  Ibid.,  vol. 

ii.,  p.  122. 


MILITARY  ORGANIZATIONS  AND  INDIAN  WARS      495 

officers,  the  Ccte  cannot  alow  of  their  Choyce,  but  the  said  petition's 
have  liberty  to  p'ceed  to  a  newe  election  according  to  ord""  of  Corte,  & 
to  p'sent  ye  names  of  those  whom  they  shall  so  elect  to  the  County 
Co''te  at  Salem  or  Ipswich  to  be  confirmed.* 

May  23,  165 1,  the  General  Court  passed  the  following 
order : — 

In  ansr  to  the  request  of  the  towne  of  Newberry  itt  is  ordered  that 
Mr  Wm  Gerrish  shall  be  their  Captaine,  and  John  Pike  their  leftennant 
and  that  the  said  towne  shall  goe  to  a  new  eleccon  for  an  ensigne  when 
they  see  meete.j 

October  14,  1651  Whereas  it  was  ordred,  the  last  session  of  this 
Court,  that  the  towne  of  Newbery  should  goe  to  a  new  election  for 
theire  ensigne,  in  respect  the  last  choyce  was  not  cleare,  which  accord- 
ingly they  haue  done  &  haue  legally  made  choyce  of  Benjamin  Sweate, 
which,  uppon  theire  request,  this  Court  doth  aproue  of  for  yt  place  & 
hereby  confirms  him  therin.J 

Mr.  William  Gerrish,  having  been  elected  "lieutenant  of 
the  Troop  of  horse  for  Essex,"  was  confirmed  in  that  office 
by  the  county  court  held  at  Ipswich,  March  27,  i649.§ 
Some  question  having  arisen  in  regard  to  the  validity  of  the 
election,  the  subject  was  brought  to  the  attention  of  the 
General  Court  May  26,  1658. 

In  ansr  to  the  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  &c  humbly 
craving  that  they  might  haue  the  bennefitt  of  the  law  that  no  man 
should  haue  coriiand  of  the  horse  &  ffoote  both,  that  Capt  Gerrish  may 
be  required  to  desert  the  horse  &:  wholly  attend  the  ffoote,  or  attend  the 
horse  &  medle  no  more  w'h  the  ffoote,  that  so  they  may  be  excef  by 
him  vpon  whom  they  must  depend  in  time  of  neede,  i.e.  theire  lef^nn' 
allowed  &  approved  of  by  the  Court.  The  Courte  Judgeth  it  meete  to 
graunt  their  request.  || 

On  the  same  day,  John  Emery,  John  Webster,  and  several 
other  inhabitants  of  Newbury  were  ordered  "  to  appeare 
before  the  General  Court  in  October  next,  to  answer  w'  is 
laid  ag'  them  "  ;  and  Henry  Short,  Richard  Kent,  Richard 
Knight,  Nicholas  Noyes,  and  Anthony  Somerby  were  ordered 
to  attend  as  witnesses. 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  274.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  part  i.,  p.  47.  +  Ibid., 
vol.  iii.,  p.  254. 

§  Ipswich  Court  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  14  c. 

II  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  i.,  p.  341. 


49 6  HISTORY  OF  XEU'BURY 

October  iq,  1658  the  Court  having  heard  the  case  relating  to  the 
military  company  peticon  of  Newbury,  preferred  by  J  no  Emory,  Senr 
who,  \v«h  his  sonnes,  John  Emery,  Junr  &  Jn"  Webster  &  Solomon 
Keyes,  haue  binn  so  busy  &  forward  to  disturbe  the  peace  of  the  place 
by  their  actings  in  seuerall  respects  &  occationed  much  trouble  to  this 
court  in  refference  thereto,  Judg  it  meete  to  order  that  the  said  John 
Emory,  Sen^,  Jn"  Emery,  Junr,  Jno  Webster  &  Solomon  Keyes  be 
seuerally  admonished  to  beware  of  the  like  sinful!  practizes  for  time  to 
come,  well  this  court  will  not  beare :  and  that  they  pay  the  seuerall 
chardges  of  theire  neighbors  at  the  last  Court  and  this,  in  coming  for 
releife  from  such  under  courses.  Costs  allowed  in  all,  was  fower 
pounds,  eight  shillings  &  ffees.* 

Notwithstanding  this  order  of  the  General  Court,  miUtary 
discipline  and  efficiency  was  seriously  impaired  by  the  dis- 
sensions and  disagreements  that  continued  to  disturb  the 
peace  and  harmony  of  the  church ;  and  May  1 9,  1 669,  the 
subject  was  again  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  deputies, 
assembled  in  Boston,  and  the  following  vote  was  then  passed  :  — 

In  consideration  of  the  distraccons  of  the  military  company  in  New- 
bury for  the  better  composure  &  prevention  of  the  increase  thereof 
Major  Generall  Leueret  &  Majo""  Dennison  are  hereby  desired  &  im- 
powered  to  inquire  into  the  grounds  thereof  vpon  the  place  &  to  doe 
what  to  them  shall  seeme  meet  &  necessary  for  a  peaceable  settlement, 
till  next  session  of  this  court. f 

After  many  unsuccessful  attempts  to  harmonize  the  conflict- 
ing views  and  opinions  that  distracted  the  church,  a  tempo- 
rary reconciliation  was  effected  and  military  officers  elected, 
who  were  confirmed  by  the  following  vote  :  — 

May  31,  1670  This  court  hauing  left  it  to  the  care  of  [John  Leverett 
and  Daniel  Dennison],  Majcgeneralls,  to  make  temporary  prouission  for 
military  officers  at  Newbury,  who  did  appoint  Archelaus  Woodman  to 
be  left  &  Stephen  Greenleafe  ensigne  to  the  sajd  company,  which  sajd 
appointment  being  satisfactory  to  this  court  they  are  hereby  confirmed 
&  allowed  and  are  to  haue  comissions  accordingly. J 

Daniel  Pierce,  jr.,  was  chosen  sergeant,  and  Joseph  Pike, 
corporal,  at  a  meeting  of  the  company,  held  December  14, 
1674  ;§  and  October  7,    1678,  the  General  Court  appointed 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  i.,  p.  362.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  part  ii.,  p.  425. 

X  Ibid.,  vol.  iv.,  part  ii.,  p.  454.  §  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


MILITARY  ORGANIZATIOXS   AND   INDIAN   WARS      497 

"  Daniel  Pearse  Captaine  to    the    ffoote    Company  in    New- 
berry." * 

In  1680,  an  effort  was  made  to  divide  the  soldiers  of  New- 
bury into  two  companies,  and  form  them,  with  other  companies 
from  Rowley,  Bradford,  Andover,  Topsfield,  Salisbury,  Ames- 
bury,  and  Haverhill,  into  a  regiment  under  the  command  of 
Major-general  Dennison.f  In  order  to  facilitate  the  organi- 
zation of  these  two  military  companies  in  Newbury,  the  Gen- 
eral Court  ordered,  May  16,  1683, 

.  .  .  that  Thomas  Noyce  be  captaine  of  the  second  company,  Trystram 
Coffyne,  leiftennt  &  Jacob  Tappin,  ensigne  &  that  coiTiissions  goe  out 
accordingly.^ 

The  subject  was  again  considered  by  the  deputies  February 
13,  1683-4,  when  the  following  vote  was  passed  :  — 

It  is  ordered  that  Major  Saltonstall,  w«h  the  deputy  of  Newbery,  take 
care  forthwith  to  make  division  of  the  souldjers  of  Newbery  into  two 
companjes  in  as  aequall  a  manner  as  they  can,  and  that  Cap'  Peirce  & 
his  comission  officers  shall  haue  the  first  choyce.§ 

The  cavalry,  or  mounted  dragoons,  in  Essex  county  were 
also  reorganized. 

February  13,  1683-4  The  Court,  considering  that  the  troope  belong- 
ing to  Newbury  &  Rowley  is  not  yet  compleated  with  coinission  officers 
doe,  therefore,  appoint,  M""  Richard  Dumer  captaine,  Thomas  Lambert, 
lef*,  &  Henry  Short  cornet  of  sd  troope.  || 

At  that  date  the  conflict  between  King  Charles  II.  and  the 
General  Court,  in  regard  to  the  rights  and  duties  of  the  free- 
men of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay  was  serious  and 
alarming.  It  was  considered  advisable  to  restore  the  cross 
that  John  Endicott  had  cut  from  the  flag  in  1634.  May 
31,  1684,  Capt.  Thomas  Noyes,  of  Newbury,  was  ordered  by 
Maj.  Nathaniel  Saltonstall,  of  Haverhill,  "to  provide  a  flight 
of  colours  for  the  foot  company,  y^  ground  field  or  flight 
whereof  is  to  be  green,  with  a  red  cross  with  a  white  field  in 
y'  angle,  according  to  the  antient  custome  of  our  own  English 
nation,  and  the  English  plantations  in  America  and  our  own 

*  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  v.,  p.  212.  t  Ibid.,  vol.  v.,  p.  295.  +  Ibid.,  vol. 

v.,  p.  409.        §  Ibid.,  vol.  v.,  p.  431.         II  Ibid.,  vol.  v.,  p.  432. 


49 S  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

practice  in  our  ships  and  other  vessels.  The  number  or  bul- 
lets to  be  put  into  the  colours  for  distinction,  may  be  left  out 
at  present  without  damage  in  the  making  of  them."  * 

October  23,  1684,  the  High  Court  of  Chancery  in  England 
entered  a  decree  vacating  and  annulling  the  charter  of  the 
colony.  May  29,  1685,  Archelaus  Woodman  asked  to  be 
discharged  from  the  office  of  lieutenant  in  "  Cap*  Daniel 
Pierces  company."  Stephen  Greenleaf  was  chosen  lieutenant ; 
and  Nathaniel  Clark,  "the  oldest  sergent  in  the  company," 
was  elected  ensign. f 

After  the  appointment  of  Sir  Edmund  Andros  governor  of 
New  England,  the  military  companies  of  Newbury  were  in  a 
disorganized  condition.  Meetings  for  the  election  of  officers 
were  discontinued,  and  military  drills  were  abolished,  by  order 
of  the  governor  and  council.  April  18,  1689,  Governor 
Andros  was  seized  and  imprisoned  in  Boston.  A  few  months 
later,  he  was  sent  to  England  for  trial. 

July  I,  1689,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  voted  "that  all 
our  Milletery  officers  that  were  in  comission  upon  May  12, 
1686  do  take  y^  care  and  conduct  of  us  in  peace  and  war  .  .  . 
until  we  shall  have  time  and  opportunity  for  a  farther 
choyce."  \  Vacancies  were  filled  with  commendable  prompt- 
ness, and  the  following  notices  were  sent  to  Hon.  Simon 
Bradstreet,  who  had,  in  the  mean  while,  been  elected  chief 
magistrate  of  the  provisional  government  organized  in 
Boston. 

To  the  honoured  Governour  and  Counsell  of  the  Massachusetts 
Colony  for  Newengland 

These  are  to  signifie  that  the  troop  belonging  to  Newbury  and  Rowly 
being  duly  Convened  for  that  end ;  they  did  by  theyre  votes  then  given 
in  nominate  Liftenant  Steaven  Greenleafe  Junr  to  be  Captin  of  s'l  troop 
And  quartermaster  Daniel  Wicom  for  a  lieutenant  &  Corporall  Jonathan 
Moores  to  be  Cornett ;  And  John  Peirson  Jun''  to  be  ye  quartermaster; 
desiring  that  these  persons  by   them   nominated  may  be  allowed  and 

*  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  141.  Judge  Sewall  was  evidently  in  sympathy  with  the 
ministers  and  magistrates  who  objected  to  the  use  of  the  cross,  as  savoring  of  idolatry  or  popery. 
In  his  diary,  under  the  date  of  August  20,  16S6,  he  wrote,  "  1  was  and  am  in  great  exercise  about 
the  Cross  to  be  put  into  the  Colours,  and  afraid  if  I  should  have  a  hand  in  't  whether  it  may  not 
hinder  my  Entrance  into  the  Holy  Land." 

t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  Ixx.,  p.  138.  +  Ante,  p.  2og. 


MILITAKY  ORGANIZATIONS  AND  INDIAN  WARS        499 

Confirmed    In  the  respective  places  to  have  the  conduct  of  this  troop 
July  ye  8'''  16S9 

Attest  Joseph    Pike  Clerk  of  y''  troop* 

The  2.^  December  1690  the  foot  company  under  my  command  met 
and  for  as  much  as,  by  the  providence  of  god,  Lieutenant  Stephen 
Greenleaf  &  Ensign  Nathaniel  Clark  are  deceased,  they  chose  M"" 
Cutting  Noyse  Lieutenant  and  Mr.  Joseph  Knight  Ensign  desiring  the 
Honourable  Court  to  allow  them  Daniel  Pierce,   Cap^ 

consented  to  by  the  deputies  and  Governour.* 

The  2"'i  december   1690  The  troop  In  Newbury  under  y^  command 
of  Capt  Stephen  greenleaf  being  met  together  by  order  of  sd  Cap*  they 
did  Nominate  Corporal  Daniel  Lunt  to  be  quartermaster  of  y^  troop. 
Attest  Joseph  Pike  Clerk  of  ye  troop. 

consented  to.* 

When  the  new  charter  was  granted,  and  the  province  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  was  estabUshed,  in  1692,  the  General 
Court,  by  a  special  act,  provided  for  the  reorganization  of  the 
militia.  All  the  male  inhabitants  of  Newbury  between  sixteen 
and  sixty  years  of  age,  except  ministers,  justices  of  the  peace, 
schoolmasters,  and  a  few  other  persons,  who  were  exempt  by 
law,  were  required  to  do  military  duty,  and,  unless  legally 
excused,  were  compelled  to  attend  annual  musters,  armed  and 
equipped  with  muskets,  powder,  and  shot. 

After  the  adoption  of  the  Federal  constitution.  Congress 
provdded  for  the  enrolment  of  the  militia  in  the  several 
states.  For  more  than  fifty  years  the  law  remained  in  force  ; 
but  it  gradually  fell  into  disuse,  and  was  finally  repealed. 

At  the  present  time,  the  military  organizations  of  the  state 
of  Massachusetts  are  composed  of  volunteers  who  serve  with- 
out compulsion,  not  gratuitously,  but  for  wages  that  can  hardly 
be  considered  remunerative.  The  old-fashioned  militia  com- 
panies have  passed  away,  and  none  of  the  new  organizations 
have  been  formed  within  the  present  limits  of  the  town  of 
Newbury. 

THE   TEQUOT    WAR. 

At  a  special  session  of  the  General  Court  held  April  18, 
1637,  it  was  ordered  that  "the  warr  against  the  Pecoits  .  .  . 
should  bee  seriously  p'secuted  "  ;  and  one  hundred  and  sixty 

*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xx.\vi.,  p.  238. 


500  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

men  were  chosen  out  of  the  several  towns,  and  enrolled  for 
this  service. 

The  Pequot  country  extended  from  the  Mystic  to  the  Con- 
necticut river,  a  distance  of  about  thirty-five  miles,  and  from 
Long  Island  sound  inland  about  sixty  miles. 

The  colony  of  Connecticut  organized  a  company  of  ninety 
men,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  John  Mason,  and  called 
upon  the  colonies  of  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth  for  aid. 
Arms  and  ammunition  were  provided  as  speedily  as  possible ; 
and,  May  17,  1637,  Israel  Stoughton  was  elected  captain  of 
the  Massachusetts  company.  Eight  men  were  armed  and 
equipped  in  the  town  of  Newbury  for  this  service. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  May  following,  the  Connecticut 
troops  attacked  and  burned  a  fortification  of  the  Pequots  on 
the  Mystic  river.  More  than  six  hundred  Indians  perished  in 
the  fire  or  by  the  sword.  Those  who  escaped  were  subse- 
quently overtaken  near  New  Haven  ;  and  all  but  about  seventy 
of  the  bravest  —  who,  protected  by  the  darkness,  managed  to 
steal  away  unobserved  —  surrendered  to  Capt.  Stoughton. 

PASSACONNAWAY. 

In  September,  1642,  the  inhabitants  of  the  colony  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  were  greatly  disturbed  by  the  report  that 
the  Indians  from  the  Hudson  to  the  Penobscot  rivers  had 
combined  to  make  war  upon  them.  Gov.  Winthrop  hastily 
summoned  the  magistrates  and  deputies  to  a  special  session  of 
the  General  Court,  and  ordered  that  all  Indians  within  the 
limits  of  the  colony  should  be  disarmed.  A  warrant  was 
accordingly  sent  to  Ipswich,  Rowley,  and  Newbury  "  to  dis- 
arm Passaconnaway  who  lived  by  Merrimack."  * 

The  Pcnnacooks  occupied  territory  beyond  Pentucket 
(Haverhill),  and  were  the  most  powerful  tribe  in  that  region. 
Passaconnaway  was  their  leader  and  chieftain,  "  the  great 
Sachem  of  all  the  tribes  that  dwelt  in  the  valley  of  the  Mer- 
rimack." 

Forty  armed   men  attempted  to  execute  the  order,  but  the 

*  Winthrop's  History  (edition,  1853),  vol.  ii.,  p.  96. 


MILITARY  ORGANIZATIONS  AND   INDIAN   WARS      501 

autumn  rains  and  other  difficulties  prevented.  "  They  could 
not  go  to  his  wigwam,  but  they  came  to  his  son's  and  took 
him,  which  they  had  warrant  for,  and  a  squaw  and  her  child 
which  they  had  no  warrant  for."  *  On  their  way  to  New- 
bury, they  led  Passaconnaway's  son  "  in  a  line,  but  he  taking 
an  opportunity,  slipped  his  line  and  escaped  from  them." 

Fearing  that  the  Indians  would  be  exasperated  by  these 
proceedings,  the  General  Court  considered  it  advisable  to  sur- 
render the  captives. 

[September  8,  1642]  an  order  was  sent  to  Leift  Greenleafe,  or  in  his 
absence  to  Mr  Woodman,  for  sending  home  the  Indian  woman  &  child 
from  Newberry  &  to  send  to  Passoconnaway  for  satisfaction. -j- 

"  Sergent  John  Leveret  &  Sergent  Edw'^  Hutchinson" 
were  instructed  to  go  with  guides  and  interpreters  to  the 
Indians  living  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Mystic  river,  and  explain 
to  them  why  the  order  to  disarm  Passaconnaway  and  others 
had  been  issued. 

You  are  to  informe  them  of  c  true  intent  in  disarming  the  Indians 
neare  us  &  that  wee  meane  to  render  them  their  armes  againe  when  wee 
are  satisfied  of  their  innocensy  &  that  what  was  done  to  Passaconnaway 
his  Sonne,  etc.,  was  through  his  owne  p'vocation  &  not  by  any  order 
from  us  (for  wee  intended  only  to  speake  wth  him)  &  that  wee  have 
given  order  to  have  his  squa  &  papoose  to  bee  sent  whom  to  him 
againe.:}: 

September  27,  1642,  the  General  Court  ordered  that  all 
Indian  arms  should  be  restored  to  their  former  owners,  and 
that  Passaconnaway  should  be  satisfied.  What  means  were 
taken  to  soothe  his  anger  and  regain  his  confidence  is  un- 
certain, but  he  evidently  became  a  steadfast  friend. 

May  29,  1644  Passaconnaway  &  his  sonnes  offering  &  desiring 
to  come  under  this  government,  according  to  such  articles  as  Cut- 
shamache  &  others  have  formerly  bene  accepted,  they  were  accepted  & 
he  >i  one  of  his  sonnes  subscribed  the  articles,  &  he  undertooke  for  the 
other.§ 

*\Vinthrop's  History  (edition,  1853),  vol.  ii.,  p.  96. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  23.        X  Ibid.,  p.  24,        §  Ibid.,  p,  73. 


502  HISTORY  OF  NEIVIWRY 

KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

At  the  beginning  of  King  Philip's  war,  the  Essex  county 
regiment  was  composed  of  organized  miUtary  companies 
from  the  following  named  towns,  nnder  the  command  of 
Major  Daniel  Denison  :  — 

Ipswich Capt  Daniel  Denison 

Lieut  Samuel  Appleton 
Salem  (First  company)      .     .     Capt  Joseph  Gardner 

Lieut  John  Price 
Salem  (Second  company)  .     .     Capt  John  Corwin 

Lieut  Richard  Leach 
Newbury Capt  William  Gerrish 

Lieut  John  Pike 
Rowley Capt  Samuel  Brocklebank 

Lieut  Philip  Nelson 

Marblehead Lieut  Francis  Johnson 

Andover Capt  Dudley  Bradstreet 

Lynn Ensign  John  Fuller 

Beverly Capt  Thomas  Lathrop 

Mounted  horsemen  from  Salem  and  Lynn,  under  the 
command  of  George  Corwin,  captain,  Thomas  Putnam,  lieu- 
tenant, and  Walter  Price,  cornet,  constituted  the  first  squad- 
ron ;  and  a  similar  number  from  Ipswich,  Rowley,  and  New- 
bury, under  the  command  of  John  Appleton,  captain,  and 
John  Whipple,  cornet,  were  organized  as  the  second  squadron 
of  Essex  county  troopers.* 

From  the  Suffolk,  Middlesex,  and  Essex  county  regiments, 
men  were  drawn  for  special  service  against  the  Narragansett 
Indians.  They  were  formed  into  companies,  and  officers 
chosen  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  General  Court.  In  the 
first  campaign,  the  soldiers  were  mostly  from  Boston  and  the 
towns  in  that  vicinity.  They  received  marching  orders  June 
26,  1675  ;  and  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  that  month  was 
appointed  by  the  governor  a  day  of  fasting,  humiliation, 
and  prayer,  for  the  confession  of  sins,  and  for  the  humble 
suppUcation  of  Divine  Providence  for  hcli)  to  overcome  and 
subdue  the  hostile  Indians. 

*"  Soldiers  in  King  Philip's  War"  (P.odge,  second  edition),  p.  471. 


MILITARY  ORGANIZATIONS  AND  INDIAN  WARS       503 

August  5,  1675  There  were  prest  for  the  Countreys  Service  to  go 
against  the  Indians, 

Steven  Greenleaf        Thomas  Smith 

John  Toppan  Caleb  Richardson 

Daniel  Rolf  John  Hobbs 

Daniel  Button  John  Wheeler 

and   Henry    Bodwell,  nine    men    and    fourteen   days 

provisions,  and  23  horses  with  sadles  &:  bridles.* 

August  6,  1675   There  were  prest 

Jacob  Adams,  Edmund  Moores 

William  Sawyer,         Augustine  John 
Zachary  Davis,  Samuel  Stevens 

Edward  Ordway  and  fourteen  days  provisions.* 

These  men  were  drawn  from  the  enrolled  militia  of  New- 
bury for  service  in  the  second  campaign  in  Connecticut. 
They  formed,  with  other  men  from  Essex  county,  the  com- 
pany commanded  by  Capt.  Thomas  Lathrop,  of  Beverly,  in 
the  engagement  fought  with  the  Indians,  August  25,  1675, 
*'at  Sugar  Loaf  Hill,  about  ten  miles  above  Hatfield."  In 
that  engagement,  several  members  of  the  company  were  slain  ; 
and  among  them  was  John  Plummer,  of  Newbury. f 

August  27,  1675   There  was  prest  again  : 

John  Whittier  Richard  Breyer 

Thomas  Chase  Joseph  Poore 

Thomas  Harris  Joseph  Richardson 

Mathew  Grove  and  fourteen  days  provision.* 

It  is  probable  that  all,  or  nearly  all,  the  men  drawn  from 
Newbury,  on  the  fifth,  sixth,  and  twenty-seventh  of  August, 
whose  names  are  given  above,  were  engaged  in  the  disastrous 
conflict  at  Muddy  Brook  bridge  September  18,  1675. 

A  considerable  quantity  of  wheat  being  preserved  in  stacks  at  Deer- 
field,  it  was  deemed  expedient  to  have  it  threshed  and  brought  down  to 
Hadley.  Capt.  Lathrop  and  his  company  volunteered  to  proceed  to 
Deerfield  and  protect  the  convoy.  .  .  .  The  company,  consisting  of 
eighty  men,  arrived  safely  at  Deerfield,  threshed  the  wheat,  placed  it  in 
eighteen  wagons,  and  while  on  their  return  through  South  Deerfield,  as 
they  were  stopping  to    gather  grapes,  which    hung  in   clusters  in  the 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  "  Soldiers  in  King  Philip's  War"  (Bodge,  second  edition),  p.  130. 


504  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

forest  that  lined  the  narrow  road,  they  were  surprised  by  an  ambuscade 
of  Indians  who  poured  upon  them  a  murderous  fire.  Hubbard  states 
that  not  above  seven  or  eight  of  Captain  Lathrop's  company  escaped.* 

Sergt.  Thomas  Smith,  Samuel  Stevens,  John  Hobbs,  and 
Daniel  Button,  of  Newbury,  were  among  the  slain.  John 
Toppan  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder,  but  concealed  himself 
in  the  bed  of  a  brook,  nearly  dry,  by  pulling  grass  and  weeds 
over  his  body,  and  thus  escaped  capture  ;  though  several  times 
the  Indians  are  said  to  have  stepped  over  him.  Henry  Bod- 
well  had  his  left  arm  broken  ;  but  with  his  right  hand  he 
siezed  his  musket,  and,  swinging  it  above  his  head,  forced  his 
way  to  a  place  of  safety,  although  nearly  overpowered  by  the 
Indians.  Several  other  men  from  Newbury  were  probably 
killed  or  seriously  injured  in  this  conflict,  but  their  names  are 
not  known. f 

September  30,  1835,  many  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  the 
state  assembled  at  Deerfield  to  commemorate  this  tragic 
event.  Hon.  Edward  Everett  delivered  an  interesting  and 
eloquent  address,  describing  in  detail  the  memorable  in- 
cidents of  that  disastrous  conflict.  Three  years  later,  a 
monument  was  erected  near  the  centre  of  the  village  of 
Muddy  Brook,  about  thirty  rods,  in  a  southerly  direction, 
from  the  meeting-house  in  that  place,   bearing  the  following 

inscription  :  — 

Erected  August  1838 

ON  THIS  GROUND  CaET  ThOMAS  LaTHROP  AND  EIGHTY  MEN  UNDER 
HIS  COMMAND,  INCLUDING  EIGHTEEN  TEAMSTERS  FROM  DeERFIELD. 
CONVEYING    STORES    FROM    THAT   TOWN   TO    HadLEY,  WERE  AMBUSHED 

BY  ABOUT  700  Indians,  and  the  Captain   and   seventy  six   men 
SLAIN  Sept.  iSth  1675.1 

Capt.  Samuel  Appleton,  of  I^wich,  was  appointed,  Septem- 
ber 24,  1675,  to  take  command  of  a  company  of  one  hundred 
men  to  protect  the  colony  against  the  depredations  of  the 
Indians.  Newbury  was  required  to  furnish  men  and  provi- 
sions for  this  ser\-ice. 

Sept  23,  1675  there  was  prest  againe  Edmund  Young  and  John  Nash 
and  two  days  provisions.§ 

•Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  388. 

t'' Soldiers  in  King  Philip's  War"  (Bodge,  second  edition),  pp.  136-139.         +  ibid.,  p.  140. 

§  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


MILITARY  ORGAXIZATIONS  AND   INDIAN   WARS      505 

Sept  27,  1675  there  was  prest  againe  Isaac  Ilsly,  Joseph  Mooreing 
Joseph  Rlusgrove,  Hugh  Pike  Samuell  Brabrooke  and  ten  days  pro- 
vision.* 

Sept  29,  1675  Capt  John  Wayts  gave  in  a  Receit  that  Richard 
Kents  man  of  Newbury  was  prest  for  the  countryes  service  &  23  horses 
&  sadles  more  was  prest  for  the  countrys  service  by  virtue  of  a  warrant 
from  the  Major  Generall.* 

Capt.  Appleton,  with  the  company  under  his  command, 
was  ordered  to  report  to  Major  John  Pynchon,  commander-in- 
chief  in  the  county  of  Hampshire.  The  Indians  were  gathered 
in  great  numbers  on  the  west  side  of  the  Connecticut  river ; 
and  the  inhabitants  of  Hadley,  Hatfield,  Northampton,  and 
Springfield,  were  in  constant  fear  of  an  attack.  October  5, 
1675,  Major  Pynchon,  with  Capts.  Appleton  and  Sill,  and  a 
force  of  one  hundred  and  ninety  men,  marched  from  Hadley 
to  Springfield,  in  order  to  prevent,  if  possible,  the  threatened 
destruction  of  the  last-named  town.  Upon  their  arrival  at 
Springfield,  they  found  that  the  Indians  had  set  fire  to  more 
than  fifty  dwelling-houses  and  barns,  and  were  then  concealed 
in  the  swamps  and  thickets  of  the  neighborhood.  It  was  im- 
possible to  pursue  and  destroy  them,  and  the  troops  were 
ordered  to  remain  on  guard  for  several  days  near  the  centre 
of  the  town. 

The  inhabitants  of  Newbury  were  greatly  alarmed  by  the 
reports  that  reached  them  of  depredations  committed  by  the 
Indians  during  this  war.  On  the  fifth  day  of  October,  1675, 
an  unsuccessful  attempt  was  made  to  secure  an  appropriation, 
to  be  used  in  fortifying  the  meeting-house. 

It  was  also  voted  wliether  the  Towne  are  willing  to  be  at  the  charg 
to  buy  a  couple  of  field  peices  about  700  or  800  weight  apeice  &  it  past 
on  the  affirmative.* 

Major  Pynchon,  having  resigned  his  position  as  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  military  forces  in  the  county  of  Hampshire, 
Captain  Appleton  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major,  and 
placed  in  charge  of  the  troops  assembled  there.  He  assumed 
command  October  12,  1675,  and  on  that  day  marched  at  the 
head  of  his  tro'jps  from  Springfield  to  Hadley.     A  day  or  two 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


5o6  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

later,  he  crossed  the  Connecticut  ri\-er  to  Hatfiekl,  and  on  the 
nineteenth  day  of  October  defeated  with  great  slaughter  a 
large  number  of  Indians,  who  had  gathered  there  for  the 
purpose  of  capturing  or  burning  the  town. 

When  the  expedition  against  the  Indian  fort  at  Narragan- 
sett  was  decided  upon,  Major  Samuel  Appleton  was  appointed 
to  the  command  of  the  Massachusetts  forces.  The  town  of 
Newbury  was  called  upon  to  furnish  its  proportion  of  the  men 
needed.  December  6,  1675,  the  following  persons  were 
impressed  for  service  in  that  expedition  :  — 

Jonathon  Clarke  Christop  Cole 

Daniel  Somerby  Henry  Poore 

Samuell  Poore  William  Sawyer 

Cornelius  Davis  John  Harvy 

Nicholas  Rawlins  John  Sheepard 

Christop:  Bartlet  Samuel  Lowle 

•^  Daniel  Rolfe  Christop^  Tenison 

Thomas  Rogers  Steven  Sweet 

George  Mooyer  Edward  Ordway 

John  Stratton  Isaac  Ilsly 

Edmund  Browne  John  Wheeler 

Jonathon  Emery  Morgan  Jones.* 

On  the  ninth  day  of  December,  1675,  the  troops  were 
mustered  on  Dedham  plain  ;  and  the  next  day  took  up  their 
line  of  march  for  Rhode  Island,  arriving  at  Smith's  garrison, 
Wickford,  on  the  evening  of  the  twelfth.  After  several  days 
spent  in  scouting  and  skirmishing,  they  marched  on  the 
eighteenth  to  Pettisquamscott,  where  they  met  the  Connect- 
icut forces,  under  the  command  of  Major  Treat. 

.  .  .  they  were  forced  to  bivouac  in  the  open  air  in  a  driving  snow 
storm  during  the  night;  Bull's  Garrison-house  at  that  place  having  been 
burned  by  the  Indians  but  a  few  days  before.  At  day  break  next 
morning  they  took  up  their  march  over  the  rough  country  through  the 
deepening  snow,  each  man  carrying  his  own  arms,  rations,  etc.  In  this 
march  the  Massachusetts  division  led;  Plymouth  held  the  centre  and 
Connecticut  the  rear.  This  army,  the  largest  and  best  organized  that 
had  ever  been  in  the  field  in  the  American  Colonies,  arrived  about  one 
o'clock,  P.M.  at  the  borders  of  the  great  swamp  where  the  Indians  had 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


MILITARY  0RGAXIZA770XS  AXD  IXDIAN  WARS       507 

gathered  in  great  numbers  and  had  built  a  strong  fortification  and  now 
awaited  the  attack.* 

After  a  severe  battle  of  three  hours,  the  fort  was  captured 
and  burned.  Many  of  the  Indians  escaped  into  the  woods, 
but  a  large  number  were  consumed  in  the  flames.  In  Major 
Samuel  Appleton's  division,  four  men  were  killed,  among 
them  Daniel  Rolfe,  of  Newbury,  and  eighteen  men  were 
wounded,  five  of  them  from  Newbury ;  namely,  Isaac  Ilsley, 
William  Standley,  Daniel  Somerby,  Jonathan  Emery,  and 
John  Harvey.f 

The  Indians  were  greatly  disheartened  by  this  disaster,  and 
soon  divided  up  into  small  bands,  making  raids  from  time  to 
time  on  the  defenceless  inhabitants  of  Hadley,  Hatfield,  and 
other  frontier  towns.  January  2,  1676,  Newbury  was  called 
upon  to  furnish  an  additional  number  of  men  to  assist  the 
authorities  of  Massachusetts  in  putting  a  stop  to  these  out- 
rages. The  following  persons  were  evidently  drawn  by  lot 
for  this  service  ;  but  it  is  somewhat  uncertain  whether  they 
were  sent,  with  other  Massachusetts  troops,  to  protect  the 
towns  on  the  Connecticut  river  :  — 

Stephen  Greenleaf  Samuell  Hills 

John  Whittier  Thomas  Stevens 

Henry  Bodwell  William  Randall 

Richard  Bryer  Thomas  Silver 

Thomas  Rawlison  Edward  Young 

James  Mirrick  Joseph  Richardson 
Moses  Little. f 

In  a  skirmish  at  the  "  Upper  Falls  "  of  the  Connecticut 
river,  Capt.  William  Turner,  in  command  of  a  company  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  was  shot  while  attempting  to 
cross  the  Green  river  not  far  from  the  town  of  Hatfield. 
The  grant  of  a  township  of  land,  as  near  as  might  be  to  the 
scene  of  the  "Falls  Fight,"  was  made  to  all  the  officers  and 
soldiers  who  were  engaged  therein.  Among  the  persons  named 
in  the  list  of  claimants  was  John  Chase,  of  Newbury, §  who 
filed  a  certificate  that  he  was  in  the  expedition  with   Capt. 

♦"Soldiers  in  King  Philip's  War"  (Bodge,  second  edition),  pp.  153  and  154. 
t  Ibid.,  p.  156.  tTown  of  Newbury  Records. 

§  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cxiv.,  p.  610  ;  also,  "Soldiers  in  King  Philip's  War"  (second 
edition),  p.  252. 


So8 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


Turner,  and  helped  to  bury  him,  and  that  Samuel  Coleby, 
late  of  Amesbury,  deceased,  was  with  him.* 

King  Philip,  with  a  few  of  his  faithful  followers,  was 
surprised  by  a  scouting  party,  under  the  command  of  Benjamin 
Church,  and  shot  through  the  breast,  August  12,  1676.  He 
was  instantly  killed ;  but  the  war  was  continued  for  several 
months  in  a  desultory  way  by  hostile  Indians  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  Connecticut  river,  and  for  a  year  or  more  by  the 
eastern  tribes,  under  the  command  of  their  skilful  chieftain, 
Mugg,  otherwise  known  as  Mogg  Megone,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Kennebec  and  Penobscot  rivers. 

The  half-tone  print  on  the  opposite  page  is  reproduced 
from  an  engraving  by  Paul  Revere,  published  in  the  second 
edition  of  the  History  of  King  Philip's  War,  by  Thomas, 
son  of  Col.  Benjamin  Church. f 

From  the  books  and  accounts  kept  by  John  Hull,  treasurer 
of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  bay,  it  appears  that  the 
wages  due  the  soldiers  enlisted  during  King  Philip's  war  were 
paid  to  their  families  by  the  authorities  of  the  town  where 
they  resided.  The  amount  so  paid  was  credited  to  the  town 
in  the  colonial  "  rates  "  or  taxes.  Under  the  date  of  August 
24,  1676,  is  the  following  entry  :  — 


Newbury-Towne  Cr.  By  Sundry  Rcepts  viz. 

Jonathan  Emery  pd  as  per  assignment 

Edmund  Browne  . 

Henry  Sparkes 

John  Wilcott    .      . 

Richard  Browne   . 

Edward  Ordway  % 


21.  05.  02 
05.  09.  00 
03.  01.  c8 

03.  12.  GO 

04.  10.  00 
03.  03.  C4 
01.  09.  02 


November  24,  1676,  the  several  amounts  due  the  following 
named  persons  were  credited  to  the  town  of  Newbury :  — 


Samuel  Lowell 03.  00.  00 

George  Moyer 02.  14.  00 

Moses  Little 01.  10.  10 

John  Mitchell 01.  10.  10 

*  "  Soldiers  in  King  Philip's  War"  (Bodge,  second  edition),  p.  249. 

t  A  copy  of  church's   History  containing  the  engraving  by  Paul   Revere  is  in  the  library  of 
the  Essex  Institute,  Saleni,  Mass. 

t"  Soldiers  in  King  Philip's  War"  (Bodge,  second  edition),  p.  371. 


I'l.lJl.lP.     KfliVa   of  Mount.  JIopc.: 


•5^0  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Thomas  Silver oi.  lo.  lo 

Joshua  Richardson oi.  oo.  oo 

Timothy  Noyce oi.  04.  oo 

Peter  Uter 01.  04.  00 

Jeremiah  Davis 01.  04.  00 

Joseph  Little 01.  18.  00 

Joseph  Poore 01.  04.  00 

Robert  Cham 04.  04.  00 

Henry  Lucus  * 04.  04.  co 

Dec  24,  1676  John  Wheeler 04.  04.  00 

Feb  24,  1676-7  Matthew  La  Greve  *        ....  08.  07.  00 

It  is  possible  that  some  of  the  persons  named  in  the  above 
list  were  not  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newbury,  but  were 
enhsted  and  counted  as  a  part  of  its  quota,  and  so  credited  by 
the  treasurer  of  the  colony  in  making  up  his  accounts. 

From  August  5,  1675,  to  January  2,  1676,  sixty-eight  men 
and  forty-six  horses  were  impressed  for  military  service  in 
Newbury, —  an  unusually  large  number,  when  it  is  considered 
that  the  ratable  polls  of  the  town  at  that  time  were  not  over 
one  hundred  and  sixty.  Only  a  few  persons  holding  official 
positions  were  exempt  by  law  from  the  drafts  ordered  by  the 
colonial  authorities ;  but  occasionally  a  petitioner  to  the 
General  Court,  engaged  in  some  useful  and  important  occu- 
pation, was  allowed  to  remain  at  home  and  attend  to  his  daily 
duties  undisturbed.  One  of  the  orders  passed  by  the  General 
Court  October  17,  1676,  is  as  follows:  — 

In  ansi"  to  the  peticon  of  Samuel  Plumer,  ferryman  at  Newbury,  it  is 
ordered  that  himself  &  his  son  Ephraim  be  freed  from  the  presse.f 

Early  in  the  month  of  May,  1677,  ^he  governor  and  council 
of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay  decided  to  send  a  force  of 
two  or  three  hundred  men  to  strengthen  the  garrison  at  Win- 
ter Harbor,  York  Harbor,  and  Wells,  Me.  On  the  twenty- 
second  day  of  June,  Benjamin  Swett  was  appointed  captain, 
and  placed  in  charge  of  the  expedition.  He  landed  at  Black- 
point  garrison  house  July  twenty-eighth  ;  and  the  next  morning, 
with  all  the   troops  under  his  command,  he   made  an  attack 

*  "  Soldiers  in  King  Philip's  War"  (Bodge,  second  edition),  p.  450. 
t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  v.,  p.  127. 


MIIJ lARY  ORGAXIZATIONS  AND  INDIAN  WARS        511 

u[)()n  the  Indians,  who  had  gathered  in  large  numbers  in  that 
vicinity,  but  was  defeated  and  obliged  to  order  a  hasty  retreat. 
"  Having  received  many  wounds,  he  was  at  last  surrounded 
and  overpowered  by  the  foe,  and  fell,  not  far  from  the 
garrison-house,  still  fighting." 

Capt.  Swett  was  a  son  of  John  Swett,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Newbury.  He  came  with  his  father  from  England 
previous  to  1642  ;  and  in  November,  1647,  he  married 
Hester,  daughter  of  Peter  Weare.  From  1655  to  1662,  in 
company  with  his  brother-in-law,  Nathaniel  Weare,  he  carried 
on  the  farm  of  Rev.  John  Woodbridge,  near  "  the  trayneing 
green  "  in  Newbury.  He  removed  to  Hampton  about  the 
year  1663  ;  and  his  family  lived  there  when  he  was  killed  at 
Blackpoint,  July  29,  1677.* 

In  January,  170 1-2,  a  petition,  signed  by 

Joshua  Richardson  Samll  Hill 

Samuel  Poor  Joseph  Richardson 

Thomas  Chace  Caleb  Richardson 

Hugh  Pike  Penuel  Titcomb 

Thomas  Thurlo  Jonathan  Emery 
and  John  Chace 

was  presented  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newbury, 
humbly  praying  that  a  thousand  acres  of  land  might  be 
granted  and  laid  out  to  the  soldiers  who  served  in  the  Indian 
wars  of  1675,  1676,  and  1677.! 

It  will  be  remembered  that  when,  on  December  lo*,  1675,  the  forces 
of  Massachusetts  Colony  were  mustered  on  Dedham  Plain,  to  march 
against  the  Narraganset  fort,  a  proclamation  was  made  to  the  soldiers, 
in  the  name  of  the  Governor,  that,  "  if  they  played  the  man,  took  the 
fort,  and  drove  the  enemy  out  of  the  Narraganset  country,  which  is 
their  great  seat,  they  should  have  a  gratuity  of  land,  besides  their 
wages."  \ 

No  decisive  action  seems  to  have  been  taken  in  regard  to 
the  settlement  of  these  claims  for  many  years ;  although  the 
General  Court  appointed  a  committee  in  1727  to  survey  and 
lay  out  a  tract  of  land,  eight  miles  square,  to  be  granted  the 

•  "  Soldiers  in  King  Philip's  War"  (Bodge,  second  edition),  pp.  43  and  342. 
tTown  of  Newbury  Records.  J  Ibid.,  p.  406. 


512  HISTORY   OF  A'EVVBURY 

officers  and  soldicr.s  who  served  in  the  Narra<(ansett  war, 
and  in  1729  appointed  another  committee  to  examine  and 
decide  upon  the  vaHdity  of  the  claims  presented. 

January  19,  1731,  the  House  of  Representatives  sent 
to  the  governor  and  council  an  earnest  and  eloquent  mes- 
sage, advocating  the  grant  of  a  tract  of  land,  six  miles  square, 
to  every  one  hundred  and  twenty  persons  who  helped  to 
capture  the  fort  and  drive  the  enemy  out  of  the  Narragansett 
country.  This  message  was  favorably  considered  by  both 
branches  of  the  provincial  government,  and  definite  action 
taken  June  9,  1732.  The  classification  and  adjustment  of 
the  claims  of  the  soldiers  was  accomplished  with  great  diffi- 
culty and  labor.  The  grantees  were  divided  into  companies 
or  societies,  according  to  their  residences,  if  alive,  or  according 
to  the  residences  of  their  legal  representatives,  if  dead. 

The  soldiers  interested  in  the  tract  of  land  on  Saco  river, 
subsequently  known  as  township  No.  i,  now  Buxton,  Me., 
"  mett  at  the  House  of  Cap*  Joseph  Hale  in  Newbury  falls 
on  the  first  Day  of  august  on  the  year  Annoque  Domini 
1733-"*  Joseph  Gerrish,  esq.,  was  chosen  moderator;  and  a 
committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  Joseph  Gerrish,  John 
Hobson,  and  John  Gains,  "  to  vew  Som  of  the  unapropreated 
Lands  of  this  Province  in  order  to  Pitch  a  place  for  one 
Township  for  Said  Soldiers."* 

February  11,  1733-4,  plans  were  presented  to  the  General 
Court  for  the  la}'ing  out  of  two  townships  between  the  Saco 
and  Pesumpscot  rivers,  one  of  these  townships  to  be  assigned 
to  the  "  Ipswich  Society,"  so  called,  which  was  made  up  of 
claimants  residing  in  Ipswich,  Newbury,  Rowley,  HaverhilL 
Salisbury,  Amesbury,  Methuen,  Hampton,  Greenland,  and 
Berwick.!  These  plans  were  approved  and  consented  to  by 
Governor  Belcher  February  22,  1733-4. 

The  settlement  of  the  township,  owing  to  its  exposed  and 
defenceless  condition,  was  greatly  delayed  during  the  French 
and  English  wars;  but,  after  the  capture  of  Quebec  in  1759, 
the  population  slowly,  yet  steadily,   increased.     A   meeting- 

*  Proprietors'  Records,  Narragansett  Township  No.  i,  by  Capt.  W.  F.  Goodwin,  p.  91. 
tTlie  names  of  these  claimants  will  be  found  on   pp.  413  to  416,  inclusive,  of  the  second 

edition  of  "  -Soldiers  in  King  Philip's  War  "  (Bodge). 


MILITARY   ORGANIZATIONS   AND   INDIAN    WARS      513 

house  was  erected  in  1761  ;  and,  in  November  of  that  year, 
Rev.  Paul  Coffin,  son  of  Col.  Joseph  Coffin,  of  Newbury,  was 
called  to  the  ministry  there.  He  accepted  the  invitation,  and 
was  ordained  March  16,    1763. 

Mr.,  afterwards  Rev.,  Silas  Moody,  born  in  Newbury  May 
9,  1742,  was  the  first  schoolmaster  employed  by  the  in- 
habitants of  "  Narragansett  Township  No.  i."  He  went 
there  in  company  with  Rev.  Paul  Coffin  August  20,  1761, 
and  soon  after  opened  a  school  for  children,  which  was  well 
patronized  during  the  fall  and  winter  months  of  that  year. 
He  remained  until  April  or  May,  1762,  when  he  returned  to 
Newbury  in  order  to  continue  his  studies  for  the  ministry. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

FKEN'CH     AND    INDIAN     WARS. 

After  the  overthrow  of  the  government  and  the  seizure 
of  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  in  Boston,  April  i8,  1689,  the 
Indians,  instigated  by  the  French  settlers  at  Quebec,  were 
active  in  plundering  houses  and  destroying  property  in  all  the 
frontier  towns  between  the  Saco  and  Penobscot  rivers.  Dur- 
ing the  following  summer,  Sir  William  Phips  was  appointed  by 
King  William  and  Queen  Mary  commander-in-chief  of  all  their 
majesties'  forces  in  New  England.  He  determined  to  put  a 
stop  to  the  depredations,  if  possible  ;  and  on  the  twenty-eighth 
day  of  April,  1690,  he  sailed,  with  a  fleet  of  eight  small 
vessels  and  seven  or  eight  hundred  men,  for  Port  Royal,  now 
Annapolis,  N.S.,  where  he  attacked  and  captured,  "with  little 
or  no  resistance,"  the  fort  that  had  been  erected  there  by  the 
French  government.  He  returned  to  Boston  on  the  thirtieth 
day  of  May,  and  immediately  began  to  make  preparations  for 
the  acquisition  of  Canada. 

Meanwhile  the  Indians  continued  to  be  troublesome  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Newbury,  and  the  following  order  was  issued 
August  7,  1 690  :  - — 

These  are  in  his  majesty's  name  to  require  all  the  soldiers  belonging 
to  this  towne  to  bring  their  arms  and  ammunition  to  ye  meeting  house 
every  saboth  day  and  at  all  other  publick  meetings,  and  also  they  ar 
required  to  carry  their  arms  and  ammunition  with  them  into  meadows 
and  places  where  they  worke,  and  if  any  man  doe  refuse  or  neglect  his 
dewty  as  above  expressed  he  shal  pay  five  sliillings  for  every  such 
neglect. 

Daniel  Pierce  Captain  Jona  ^Iookks  Liau/etuifit 

Tho.mas  Noyes  Captain  Jacob  Toppan  Ensign 

Steph   Greenleaf  C^^^/A?///     Henry   Somerisy  * 

The  exixxlition  under  Sir  William  Phips,  consisting  of  thirty 
or  forty  \-essels,  carr}-ing  about  two  thousand  men,  sailed  from 
Nantasket  on  the  ninth  day  of   August,    1690,   but  did  not 

*Coffin's  History  of  Newljuiy,  p.  154. 


FREXCH  AXD   INDIAN    WARS  515 

arrive  at  Quebec  until  the  fifth  clay  of  October.  Several 
attempts  were  made  to  capture  the  town,  without  success  ;  and, 
tempestuous  weather  having  nearly  disabled  the  vessels  and 
driven  some  of  them  ashore,  it  was  considered  advisable  to 
re-embark  the  troops  and  abandon  the  enterprise.  On  their 
way  back  to  Boston,  they  encountered  head  winds  and  violent 
storms.  Some  vessels  were  blown  off  the  coast,  and  ulti- 
mately arrived  in  the  West  Indies.  One  was  lost  upon  the 
island  of  Anticosti,  and  several  were  never  heard  from. 

Capt.  John  March,  Capt.  Stephen  Greenleaf,*  Lieut. 
James  Smith,*  Ensign  William  Longfellow,*  and  Ensign 
Lawrence  Hart,  of  Newbury,  Capt.  Philip  Nelson,  of  Row- 
ley, and  Capt.  Daniel  King,  of  Salem,  were  among  the  offi- 
cers commissioned  for  service  in  the  expedition  to  Canada, 
under  the  command  of  Sir  William  Phips.f  A  complete  list 
of  the  men  who  enlisted  in  Newbury  cannot  be  given.  The 
muster  roll  of  one  company  in  the  Essex  county  regiment  is 

as  follows  :  — 

Capt.  John  March,  Newbury 

Lt  Stephen  Johnson,  Andover 

Enseigne  Lawrence  Hart. 

John  Vie  (Ivie  ?)  Thomas  Barnard 

John  Browne  Ralph  Blagdon 

John  Davis  John  Poor 

Edward  Bele  (Bailey?)  John  Huse 

Edward  Goodwin  Benjamin  Poor 

Benjamin  Goodrige  Samuel  George 

Henry  Dowe  John  Wallingford 

John  Badger  John  Taylor 

Thomas  Heirs  (Ayers  ?)  George  Everson 

Percival  Chubb  Samuel  Smith 

Samuel  Austin  Henry  Lunt 

Richard  Kent  John  Sweat 

Benjamin  Kimbal  Thomas  Cotton 

Joseph  Gold  Joseph  Andrews 

Ephraim  Hoit  Nathaniel  Crosbey 

John  Prowse  John  Ring.t 

*  "  Twas  Tiiesd.iy  the  iS'li  of  November  [ifxjo]  that  I  heard  of  the  death  of  Capt  Stephen 
Greenleaf,  Lieu'  James  Smith,  and  Ensign  W"i  Longfellow,  Sergt  Increase  Pilsbury,  who  with 
Will  .Mitchell,  Jabez  Musgro,  and  four  more  were  drowned  at  Cape  Britoon  on  Friday  night  the 
last  of  October,"     Diary  of  Samuel  Sewall,  vol.  i.,  p.  335. 

t  Societj'  of  Colonial  Wars'  Year  Book  for  1S98,  pp.  136  and  137. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xxx.,p.  155  ;  Society  of  Colonial  Wars' Year  Book,  iSg8,p.  173. 


5^6 


HISTORY  0J-'  NEWBURY 


In  1739,  a  township  on  the  westerly  side  of  Merrimack 
river,  "and  northerly  of  and  adjoyning  to  Contoocook,"  was 
granted  and  laid  out  to  the  "  Soldiers  in  the  expedition  to 
Canada  Anno  1690  under  the  Command  of  Cap*  John  March, 
Cap*  Stephen  Greenleaf  and  Cap'  Philip  Nelson."  This  town- 
ship now  includes  within  its  limits  Bakerstown,  Stevenstown, 
and  Salisbury,  N.H.  The  first  meeting  of  the  proprietors 
was  held  "February  I2*''  1739  at  the  House  of  M""  Tristram 
Greenleaf  in  Newbury  at  ten  of  the  Clock  before  noon." 
The  following  persons,  inhabitants  of  Newbury  and  Rowley, 
were  granted  and  allowed  a  share  in  the  division  of  this 
township  :  — 
Capt  Stephen  Greenleaf  Deacon  Joshua  Moody  Joseph  Gould 


Joseph  Sage  Jn>' 
Caleb  Moody 
Joseph  Osgood 
Capt  John  Sargeant 
Saml  Smith  Jn^ 
Gideon  Lowel 
Thomas  Huse 
Joseph  Pike 
Stephen  Longfellow 
Capt  Thomas  Hale 
John  March 
Joseph  Davis 
Saml  Silver 
Eleazer  Hudson 
Jonathan  Blaisdell 
David  Bartlet 
Lazarus  Goodwin 
Edward  Emerson 
Percival  Clark 


Elisha  Sweat 
Nathll  Clark 
Samuel  George 
Benja  Hoeg 
Jonathan  Marsh 
Stephen  Chase 
John  Lunt 
James  Brown 
Samuel  Bartlet  y^ 
Jeremiah  Gutteridge 


John  Kent 
John  Thurlo 
Hannah  Bolton 
John  Badger 
Joseph  Ilsley 
Joseph  Short 
Abraham  Titcomb 
Stephen  Longfellow 
Nathaniel  Bernard 
Capt  Thos.  Wallingford 


Rev<i  William  Johnson    W^  Huse 


Henry  Dow 
Robert  Savory 
Dr.  Joseph  Hills 
James  Toppon 
Peter  Ayers 
James  Anderton 
Zachariah  Beal 
Ebenezer  Stuart 


Sami  Sargeant 
Tristram  Greenleaf 
Thomas  Challis 
Danll  Bradley 
Eleazer  Johnson 
John  Littlehale 
Capt  John  Sergent 
Joseph  Holland* 


Early  in  the  summer  of  1691,  a  small  force  under  the  com- 
mand of  Capt.  John  March,  of  Newbury,  and  Capt.  Daniel  King, 
of  Salem,  was  sent  to  look  after  the  Indians,  who  had  become 
troublesome  in  the  vicinity  of  York  and  Wells.  Previous  to 
the  departure  of  these  troops,  the  governor  and  council  of  the 
provisional  government  of  the  colon)-  of  Massachusetts  Bay 
issued  the  followin<r  order  :  — 


*  Massachusetts  Arcliives,  vol.  cxiv.,  pp.   178,  179  ;  Society  of  Colonial  Wars'  Year  Book, 
8,  pp.  174,   175- 


FRENCH  AND   INDIAN    WARS  517 

Instructions  for  Captain  John  March  and  Capt  Uaniel  King  (tlie 
like  for  Capt  King  iS:  Capt  March) 

Whereas  yourselfs  are  commissioned  to  take  the  conduct  of  the  Sol- 
diers now  raised  out  of  the  Militia  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony  for 
their  Majties  service  against  the  French  and  Indian  Enemy,  to  be  dis- 
posed at  yo""  place  of  Generall  Rendevous  into  two  companys  of  equal 
number. 

In  pursuance  of  your  s'l  commissions  you  are  to  take  effectual  care 
that  the  soldiers  under  yo""  conduct  be  kept  under  good  order  and  dis- 
cipline. That  the  worship  of  God  be  daily  attended  among  them  in 
publick  prayer  morning  and  evening  and  reading  of  Gods  holy  word  as 
you  have  opportunity,  and  to  keep  an  holy  rest  on  the  Sabath,  so  far 
as  the  necessity  of  your  service  will  give  leave. 

That  all  disorders,  mutinies  cunsing,  swearing,  drunkenness,  stealing 
and  all  manner  of  Prophaness  and  wickedness  be  suppressed  and  duly 
punished  according  to  the  Rules  and  discipline  of  war. 

Yor  Soldiers  being  mustered  and  furnished  with  Armes  and  amuni- 
tion  fit  for  service  you  are  forthwith  to  advance  in  search  of  the  Enemy 
ffrench  or  Indians,  first  ranging  the  Woods  about  the  ffrontiers  on  the 
north  of  Merrimack  to  clear  off  any  sculking  Parties  of  them  and  then 
march  further  East  in  pursuit  and  prosecution  of  the  sd  Enemy  accord- 
ing as  you  may  receive  Intelligence  of  their  Motions,  or  the  most  likely 
places  where  to  find  them,  and  make  what  spoils  you  can  upon  them : 
also  give  necessary  release  and  succour  as  you  have  opportunity  to  any 
Towns  Plantations  or  persons  of  the  English  that  may  be  endangered 
or  distressed  by  the  Enemy. 

In  all  yo'' marchings  and  encampings  be  sure  to  keep  out  Good  Scouts 
and  watches  that  you  be  not  ambuscaded,  surprised  or  overpowered  by 
the  Enemy. 

If  any  of  yc  Soldiers  happen  to  fall  lame  or  be  disabled  for  Travel 
you  may  apply  to  the  next  garrisons  to  have  them  exchanged.  When 
yor  Company  happen  at  any  time  to  be  joyned  in  any  Expedition,  Let 
there  be  no  contending  for  Superiority  but  let  each  one  be  ambitious 
who  shall  do  the  most  service  for  God,  their  King  and  Country  and  as 
you  have  opportunity  advise  with  Majr  Vaughan,  Majr  Frost  and  other 
Gentlemen  of  the  Provinces  of  the  best  Methods  to  be  taken  to  effect 
the  same  and  let  your  diligence  and  industry  appear  in  action  as  much 
as  may  be. 

You  are  to  advise  the  Governor  from  time  to  time  of  yc  proceedings 
and  what  success  it  shall  please  God  to  give  you 

Past  and  agreed  to  by  the  Governo''  and  Council 

IsA  Addington,  Secry. 

BosTO.N,  June  29th,  i6gi.* 

*  Massachusetts  -Arcliives,  vol.  xxxvii. ,  leaf  67. 


5l8  HISTORY   OF    NEWBURY 

In  October,  169 1,  a  small  band  of  Indians  appeared  in  the 
vicinity  of  Amesbury,  and  soon  after  made  an  attack  upon 
Haverhill,  killing  several  persons  there.  The  inhabitants  of 
Newbury,  Rowley,  and  Ipswich,  were  greatly  alarmed  by  this 
unexpected  display  of  hostility,  and  presented  the  following 
petition  November  6,  1691,  to  the  governor  and  council  :  — 

Whereas  by  reason  of  the  approach  of  the  common  enemy  several  places 
are  in  great  &  present  danger  to  be  daily  weakened  by  their  getting  over 
Merrimack  river  and  destroying  inhabitants,  we  humbly  petition  that  there 
be  thirty  men  kept  upon  the  river  from  such  places  as  we  shall  appoint  in 
the  town  of  Newbury  up  the  river  to  Bradford,  and  also  request  that  other 
towns  in  the  county  keep  a  guard  from  Bradford  to  Andover. 

Saml  Appleton         Henry  Somerby. 
Daniel  Epps  Thomas  Noyes 

Thomas  Wade  Stephen  Greenleaf 

and  many  others.* 

November  22,  1691  granted,  by  the  governor  &  assistants,  as  many 
men  as  needed  not  exceeding  thirty  to  be  selected  out  of  the  towns  by 
the  superior  officers.* 

February  5,  169 1-2,  a  party  of  Indians  attacked  and  burned 
the  town  of  York.  Rev.  Shubael  Dummer,  pastor  of  the 
church  there,  while  in  the  act  of  mounting  a  horse  at  the 
door  of  his  house,  was  shot  and  instantly  killed,  and  his  wife 
and  family  were  taken  prisoners.  He  was  the  son  of  Richard 
Dummer,  and  was  born  in  Newbury,  February  17,  1636. 

The  new  charter,  establishing  the  province  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  was  granted  by  King  William,  October  7,  1691  ;  and  Sir 
William  Phips,  who  was  then  in  England,  was  appointed  go\-- 
ernor.  He  arrived  in  Boston,  May  1 4,  1 692,  bringing  the  charter 
with  him  ;  and  during  the  following  summer  "  he  rebuilt  and 
greatly  strengthened  the  fort  which  Andros  had  erected  at 
Pemaquid,"  now  Bristol,  Me. 

The  Indians  continued  to  harass  and  annoy  the  defenceless 
towns  on  the  eastern  frontier,  and  in  the  month  of  September 
surprised  and  killed  several  persons  at  Berwick,  Exeter,  and 
Dover.     On  the  twenty-third  day  of   October,    1692,   a    small 

*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xxxvii.,  leaf  207. 


FRENCH  AND   INDIAN   WARS  '  519 

number  of  these  hostile  savages  succeeded  in  crossing  the 
Merrimack  river,  and,  following  a  well-trodden  path  through 
the  woods,  appeared  suddenly  in  that  part  of  Rowlc)'  now  in- 
cluded within  the  limits  of  Georgetown,  where  they  made  an 
attack  upon  a  small  and  unprotected  dwelling-house,  killing 
Mr.  Benjamin  Goodrich  (the  owner  of  the  house),  his  wife, 
and  two  children.* 

Capt.  John  March,  of  Newbury,  with  a  company  of  sixty 
men,  was  placed  in  command  of  the  fort  at  Pemaquid  ;  and 
Rev.  John  Pike,  grandson  of  John  Pike,  who  came  from 
England  and  settled  in  Newbury  in  1635,  was  appointed 
chaplain. f  In  the  summer  of  1693,  the  Indians  between  the 
Piscataqua  and  Kennebec  rivers  were  anxious  to  conclude  a 
treaty  of  peace. 

July  7,  1693  His  Excy  acquainted  the  Council  that  he  had  received  a 
Letter  from  Cap"  March,  Commander  of  their  Majt'es  fort  at  Pemequid 
that  Edgeremet  an  Indian  Sachem  had  lately  come  thither  with  a  flag 
of  Truce,  and  proposed  there  might  be  a  Cessation  of  Armes,  and  prom- 
ised to  return  in  a  weeks  time,  with  some  other  Sachems  to  discourse 
that  matter.:}: 

At  a  conference  held  at  Pemaquid  on  the  eleventh  day  of 
August,  articles  of  agreement  were  drawn  up  and  signed 
by  the  Indian  chieftains  assembled  there,  and  by  the  com- 
missioners appointed  by  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay. 
Hostilities  ceased,  and  peace  was  maintained  for  more  than  a 
year. 

In  the  month  of  September,  1695,  Capt.  Pascho  Chubb 
was  appointed  commander  of  the  fort  in  place  of  Capt.  March, 
who  was  relie\'ed  at  his  own  request. § 

October  7,  1695,  a  party  of  Indians  made  an  attack  on  the 
house  of  John  Brown  at  Turkey  Jiill  in  Newbury  and  carried 
away  nine  captives,  all  women  and  children.  ||  On  the 
fifteenth  of  March,  1696-7,  they  burned  nine  houses  in  the 
town  of    Haverhill,   killed   several   persons,  and   took  away   a 

*  Goodridge  Memorial  (Sidney  Perley),  p.  14. 

t  History  of  Bristol,  Bremen,  and  Pemaquid  (Johnston,  1873),  p.  iqi. 
+  Council  Records,  vol.  vi.,  p.  2q3  ;  Province  Laws,  vol.  vii.,  p.  377. 
§  History  of  Bristol,  Bremen,  and  Pemaquid  (Johnston),  p.  199. 
II  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  2SS,  289. 


520  HISTORY  OF  NEIVBUKY 

number  of  prisoners,  among  them  Mrs.  Hannah  Dustin, 
whose  remarkable  escape  from  captivity  has  been  frequently 
described  by  local  historians. 

In  the  summer  of  1697,  Capt.  John  March,  having  been 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  "Major,"  was  placed  in  charge  of  an 
expedition  to  the  coast  of  Maine.  He  sailed  from  Newbury 
in  the  month  of  June  or  July,  with  five  companies  of  militia, 
and  was  afterwards  joined  by  fifty  men  from  Connecticut 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  William  Whiting.  He  arrived 
at  York,  and  sent  out  scouts  to  reconnoitre  the  woods  in  that 
vicinity  ;  but,  finding  no  trace  of  hostile  Indians,  he  re-em- 
barked his  troops  and  sailed  for  Casco  bay,  and  thence  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Damariscotta  river,  where  on  the  ninth  day 
of  September  he  was  fired  upon  by  a  small  party  of  Indians 
lying  in  ambush.  After  a  brief  but  severe  skirmish,  he  suc- 
ceeded in  driving  the  enemy  from  the  field,  with  the  loss  of 
several  men  on  both  sides.*  Returning  to  York  with  his 
troops,  he  sent  to  the  lieutenant  governor  in  Boston  a  letter, 
informing  him  of  his  arrival  there  and  asking  for  further 
instructions. 

Sept.  14,  1697,  His  Honour  the  Lieu*  Gov  laid  before  tlie  Board  a 
letter  which  he  received  by  express  from  Major  March  the  last  night 
from  Yorke,  advising  of  his  return  thither  with  the  Forces  under  his 
command  from  their  expedition  Eastward  with  an  account  of  their 
engagement  with  the  Enemy,  French  and  Indians,  supposed  to  be  two 
hundred  in  number,  and  a  List  of  the  names  of  the  Ofificers  and  Soul- 
diers  Slain  and  wounded  in  the  said  engagement,  supposing  the  loss  of 
the  side  of  the  Enemy  to  be  as  great  (if  not  more)  who  were  beaten  off 
the  ground  &  fled  into  the  Woods,  making  their  escape  in  their  Canoes. 

Upon  reading  whereof  his  Honour  proposed  that  another  expedition 
might  be  forthwith  formed  for  further  prosecution  of  the  Enemy,  and  that 
Colo  Gedney,  Col"  Phillips  and  Capt"  Bytield  be  desired  and  instructed 
forthwith  to  undertake  a  Journey  to  Yorke,  to  visit  the  army,  and  to 
confer  and  consult  with  Major  March  and  other  Commanders  of  the 
wayes  and  methods  for  prosecuting  the  Enemy,  and  to  animate  and 
encourage  the  same,  and  that  the  Government  of  Connecticut  be  written 
to  for  the  continuance  of  their  part  of  these  Forces  for  some  longer 
time.     All  which  was  advised  accordingly.! 

The  term  for  which  the  Connecticut   soldiers  enlisted  ex- 

*  Mather's  "  Magnalia,"  vol.  ii.,  book  vii.,  art.  xxvi.,  p.  637. 

t  Executive  Records  of  the  Council,  vol.  ii.,  p.  497  ;  Province  Laws,  vol.  vii.,  p.  571. 


FRENCH  AND   INDIAN   WARS  52 1 

pired  the  last  of  September ;  and  the  commissioners,  after 
consultation  with  Major  March  and  other  commanders  of  the 
forces  at  York,  considered  it  advisable  to  allow  them  to  re- 
turn home,  and  the  expedition  was  abandoned. 

On  the  eleventh  day  of  September,  a  treaty  of  peace  was 
signed  by  representatives  of  the  P'rench  and  English  govern- 
ments at  Ryswick,  a  village  in  the  Netherlands,  a  few  miles 
from  the  Hague,  in  the  province  of  South  Holland  ;  but  the 
fact  was  not  officially  made  known  in  Boston  until  December 
10,  1697.  By  this  treaty,  a  nominal  peace  between  the 
French  and  English  settlers  in  this  country  was  established, 
and  maintained  for  four  or  five  years. 

Major  John  March  was  probably  in  command  of  the  fort  at 
Casco  bay.  May  4,  1702,  when  another  war,  called  Queen 
Anne's  war,  or  the  war  of  the  Spanish  succession,  was  de- 
clared between  France  and  England.  Col.  Joseph  Dudley, 
who  had  been  appointed  governor  of  the  province  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay,  assumed  the  duties  of  his  office  in  the  month  of 
June  following.  In  order  to  secure  the  friendship  and  good 
wdll  of  the  Indians  on  the  eastern  frontier.  Gov.  Dudley  left 
Boston  on  the  ninth  day  of  June,  1703,  "to  go  to  the  East- 
ward .  .  .  to  speak  with  the  Indian  Sachems  &  to  endeavor 
to  steady  them  in  the  English  Interests."  * 

A  treaty  of  peace  was  concluded  at  Casco  bay.  Presents 
were  distributed,  and  the  conference  closed  with  "dancing, 
singing  and  loud  acclamations  of  joy."  The  Indians  declared 
that  nothing  could  seduce  them  from  their  allegiance  to  the 
crown  of  England  ;  for  "  they  were  as  firm  as  the  mountains, 
and  should  continue  so,  as  long  as  the  sun  and  moon  en- 
dured." In  less  than  six  weeks,  however,  they  attacked  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Wells,  capturing  and  killing  thirty- 
nine  persons  in  all,  mostly  women  and  children.  They  de- 
stroyed the  huts  of  the  fishermen  at  Cape  Porpoise,  and  sur- 
prised the  settlers  about  the  stone  fort  near  the  falls  of  the 
Saco,  killing  eleven  persons  and  capturing  twenty-four. 

July  9,  I  703,  Gov.  Dudley  sent  to  the  council  several  let- 
ters received   "  from   Casco  Bay,  Saco  and  Piscataqua,"  an- 

*  Province  Laws,  vol.  viii.,  pp.  285-2SS. 


522  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

nouncing  the  arrival  of  a  French  ship  at  Mount  Desert,  for 
the  purpose,  evidently,  of  inducing  the  Indians  in  that  neigh- 
borhood to  join  with  the  French  forces  in  making  an  attack 
on  the  English  settlements  between  the  Saco  and  Merrimack 
rivers.  On  the  eighteenth  day  of  August,  the  Penacook 
and  Eastern  Indians,  by  and  with  the  advice  of  the  council, 
were  declared  to  be  "  Rebels  and  Enemys  against  Her  Maj- 
esty Her  Crown  and  Dignity,"  and  all  good  subjects  were 
enjoined  to  treat  them  as  such,  "  and  to  do  and  execute  all 
acts  of  hostility  upon  them." 

At  this  time,  the  French  troops  with  their  Indian  allies 
were  active  in  their  efforts  to  drive  the  English  from  the  ter- 
ritory they  inhabited  east  of  the  Piscataqua  river. 

The  fort  at  Casco,  or  Falmouth,*  was  held  by  Major  March,  with 
thirty-six  men.  He  had  no  thought  of  danger,  when  three  well-known 
chiefs  from  Norridgewock  appeared  with  a  white  Hag,  and  asked  for  an 
interview.  As  they  seemed  to  be  alone  and  unarmed,  he  went  to  meet 
them,  followed  by  two  or  three  soldiers  and  accompanied  by  two  old 
men  named  Phippeny  and  Kent,  inhabitants  of  the  place.  They  had 
hardly  reached  the  spot  when  the  three  chiefs  drew  hatchets  from  under 
a  kind  of  mantle  which  they  wore  and  sprang  upon  them,  while  other 
Indians,  ambushed  near  by,  leaped  up  and  joined  in  the  attack.  The 
two  old  men  were  killed  at  once;  but  March,  who  was  noted  for 
strength  and  agility,  wrenched  a  hatchet  from  one  of  his  assailants,  and 
kept  them  all  at  bay  till  Sergeant  Hook  came  to  his  aid  with  a  file  of 
men  and  drove  them  off. 

They  soon  reappeared,  burned  the  deserted  cabins  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  beset  the  garrison  in  numbers  that  continually  increased,  till 
in  a  few  days  the  entire  force  that  had  been  busied  in  ravaging  the 
scattered  settlements  was  gathered  around  the  place.  It  consisted  of 
about  five  hundred  Indians  of  several  tribes,  and  a  few  Frenchmen 
under  an  officer  named  Beaubassin.  Being  elated  with  past  successes, 
they  laid  siege  to  the  fort,  sheltering  themselves  under  a  steep  bank  by 
the  water-side  and  burrowing  their  way  towards  the  rampart.  March 
could  not  dislodge  them,  and  they  continued  their  approaches  till  the 
third  day,  when  Captain  Southack,  with  the  Massachusetts  armed  ves- 
sel known  as  the  "  Province  Galley,"  sailed  into  the  harbor,  recaptured 
three  small  vessels  that  the  Indians  had  taken  along  the  coast,  and  de- 
stroyed a  great  number  of  their  canoes,  on  which  they  gave  up  their 
enterprise  and  disappeared! 

•Now  Portland,  Me. 

t"  A  Half-century  of  Conflict,"  vol.  i.,  p.  43  ;  also,"  Penhallow's  "Indian  Wars"  (edition, 
1726),  pp.  6,  7. 


FRENCH  AXD    INDIAN    WARS  523 

Soon  after  this  encounter  with  the  IncHans,  Major  John 
March  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Heutenant-colonel ;  and 
at  the  next  session  of  the  General  Court  he  presented  the 
following  petition  :  — 

To  His  Excellency  Joseph  Dudley,  Esqr. 

Captain  Generall  and  Commander  in  chief  of  Her  Majesty's  Province 
of  Massachusetts  Bay  and  the  Honorable  the  Councill,  and  Representa- 
tives in  Generall  Court  Assembled. 

The  Petition  of  John  March  Humbly  sheweth 

That  your  Petitioner,  in  the  time  of  the  late  Peace  with  the  Indians 
was  constituted  the  Commander  of  Her  Majesty's  Fort  at  Casco  Bay, 
and  manager  of  the  Trade  for  the  Publick  with  the  Indians  there,  and 
in  order  to  attend  that  service  forsook  his  own  Habitation  in  Newbury 
and  Removed  his  ffamily  stock  of  Cattle  and  other  Estate  to  the  said 
ffort,  by  which  means,  upon  the  perfidious  Breach  lately  made  by  that 
barbarous  People,  your  Petitioner  was  in  utmost  Hazard  of  Losing  his 
life,  and  by  a  wonderfull  Preservation  Escaped  the  bloody  hands  of  those 
Infidels,  and  did  actually  lose  a  very  Considerable  Part  of  his  Estate,  to 
the  value  of  more  than  Five  Hundred  Pounds,  as  is  set  forth,  in  an 
account  thereof  herewith  Presented,  which  had  not  been  so  Exposed,  if 
your  Petitioner  had  not  Removed  into  th'e  way  of  that  Danger  to  serve 
the  Publick  in  the  said  Post. 

Your  Petitioner  therefore  humbly  Pray's  your  Excellency  and  Honours, 
to  Take  the  Premisses  into  your  consideration  and  Grant  your  Peti- 
tioner such  Compensation  &  allowance  as  in  3'our  Wisdom  shall  be 
Thought  meet  for  one  who  has  sustained  so  great  a  losse  by  means  of 
his  being  Imploied  in  a  public  service,  and  your  Petitioner  will  be 
further  obliged  to  your  service,  and  ever  to  Pray  as  in  Dut)'  bound  &c. 

John  March. 

Boston,  Nov.  loth,  1703.* 

The  account  presented  includes  claims  for  eight  oxen, 
fom'teen  cows,  ten  calves,  thirty-six  swine,  twenty-five  sheep, 
five  acres  of  wheat,  six  acres  of  peas,  fifty  bushels  of  oats, 
and  various  articles  of  furniture  and  clothing.* 

On  the  twentieth  day  of  November,  "  A  Resolve  for  allow- 
ing and  paying  fifty  pounds  out  of  the  Province  Treasury  to 
Lieutenant-Colonel  John  March  in  consideration  of  his  brave 
conduct  and  the  wounds  he  received  in  the  defence  of  the  fort 
at   Casco   Bay  during  the  attack   by  the   French  and  Indian 

•Province  Laws,  voL  viii.,  p.  312  ;  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  lx.\.,  p.  654. 


524  HISTORY  OF  NEIVBUKY 

enemy  "  was  passed  by  the  (jeneral  Court  and  approved  by 
the  governor.* 

In  the  month  of  October,  1704,  Lieut.  Col.  March  pre- 
sented a  petition  for  compensation  for  the  services  of  himself 
and  others  in  repairing  and  rebuilding  the  fort  at  Casco ;  and 
"  A  Resolve  for  jjaying  one  hundred  forty-four  pounds  nine- 
teen shillings  and  tenpence  out  of  the  Province  Treasury  to 
the  several  persons  to  whom  it  is  due,  as  set  forth  in  I.ieu- 
tenant-Colonel  John  March's  account  of  labor  and  disburse- 
ments on  the  fort  at  Casco,"  f  was,  after  some  delay,  consented 
to  by  Gov.  Dudley,  February  28,  1704-5. J 

For  the  encouragement  of  volunteers,  "who  being  com- 
missioned by  his  Excellency,  set  forth  and  maintain  them- 
selves free  from  the  Province  charge,"  the  General  Court 
voted,  December  2,  1703,  that  the  sum  of  "  fforty  Pounds  be 
Allowed,  out  of  the  Treasury  of  this  Province  for  each  Scalp 
of  the  Indian  Enemy^  above  ten  Years  of  age,  which  shall  be 
Taken,  and  brought  in  as  the  law  Directs  "  ;  §  and  efforts  were 
made  to  induce  the  inhabitants  of  New  Hampshire  and  Mas- 
sachusetts to  volunteer  for  service,  under  this  law,  during  the 
winter  months.  Military  officers  were  requested  to  assist  in 
organizing  companies  and  providing  snow-shoes  and  moccasins 
for  the  men  enlisting  for  the  winter  campaign. 

Januarj',  1 703-4  Captain  Winthrop  volunteered  his  services,  but  had 
not  had  sufficient  notice  to  enable  him  to  enlist  volunteers.  Colonel 
John  March  came  in  from  Hampton  to  advise  the  Governor  and  Coun- 
cil that  Lieutenant  Joseph  Swett  had  "  beat  up  for  volunteers  "  at  Hamp- 
ton and  had  tlie  promise  of  thirty  nine  or  forty  men  provided  with  snow 
shoes  and  ready  to  march  with  the  others,  if  supplied  with  provisions.  || 

November  17,  1704,  the  General  Court  passed  an  "order 
for  increasing  to  five  shillings  each,  the  allowance  to  persons 
furnishing  themselves  with  snow  shoes  and  moccasins  "  ;  ^  and 
on  the  twenty-second  day  of  June,  1705,  the  commis.sary 
general   reported  to  the  governor  and   council   the   names  of 

*  Province  Laws,  vol.  viii.,  p.  32.        t  IJiid.,  vol.  viii.,  p.  loS. 

}  "  A  Plan  of  Ca.sco  Fort  as  it  now  stands  [1713]  being  an  oblong  square  of  250  feet  in  length 
and  a  hundred  and  ninety  foot  in  Breadth  —  the  Bastions  not  Included  —  the  Covert  way  to  the 
Block  house  230  ffoot  in  Length,"  is  on  file,  with  other  maps  and  plans,  in  the  Massachusetts 
Archives,  vol.  xxxv. ,  p.  27.     A  reduced  copy  of  the  plan  is  printed  on  the  opposite  page. 

§  Province  Laws,  vol.  viii.,  p.  38.         ||  Ibid.,  vol.  viii.,  p.  31S.         H  Ibid.,  vol.  viii.,  p.  92. 


^ 


526 


HISTORY  OF  XEIVBURY 


twenty-eight  soldiers  in  the  "  Foot  Company  in  Newbury " 
with  a  certificate  from  Hugh  March,  captain  of  the  company, 
that  they  were  "  furnished  with  good  serviceable  snow  shoes 
and  mogginsons."  * 

The  treasurer  of  the  province  was  authorized  to  pay,  "by 
the  Constable  or  Constables  of  the  s''  Town  of  Newbury,  unto 
each  of  the  s'^  Twenty  eight  Souldiers  named  in  the  List 
thereof  transmitted  to  him,  the  sum  of  five  shillings  out  of 
the  Poll  Tax  now  collecting."  * 

For  the  protection  of  towns  on  or  near  the  Merrimack 
river,  block-houses  were  erected,  by  order  of  the  General 
Court,  in  exposed  places  from  Newbury  to  Bradford  and  Bil- 
lerica,  and  men  were  employed  to  garrison  them  for  several 
months  during  the  year.  The  following  named  persons  were 
pnjbably  paid  the  sums  set  against  their  names  for  personal 
service,  or  supplies  furnished,  at  one  or  more  of  these  block- 
houses :  — 

Acct :    of  Allowance    for  p'sonal   Service   at   Newbury  Blockhouses 

in  I  704.1 


Benja  Hill 
Jos:  Scot 
Jno  Smith,  Jr 
Ben.  Savorie 
Antho  :  Crosbie 
Tobi.  Coleman 
Jno  French 
Jno  Gutteridge 
Sam.  Poore,  Jr 
Jno  Swett 
Jo  :  Bayley 


/02.11.05 
06.01.05 
01.00.00 
06.01.05 
02.10.00 
06.01.05 
06.01.05 
06.01.05 
00.18.06 
05.02.10 
06.01.05 


Jn"  Ordway,  Jr 
Jacob  Ivees 
Jno  Barker 
Peter  Cheney 
Benj :  Lowle  Jr. 
Joseph  Lowle 
Wm.  Pilsbury,  Jr 
Tho :  Crocket 
James  Sinkler 
Benj :  Lowle,  Sen^ 


/04.06.05 
00.15.00 
01.00.00 
00.16.05 
02.08.06 
02.16.05 
00.18.06 
02.04.03 
02.18.06 
06.01.05 


^72.16.08 

Acc"t  of  allowance  for  the  subsistence  of  Newbury  men  at  y^  Block- 
houses in  1704.7 


Nicholas  Noyes 

^10.18.06 

Jn"  Barker 

/oo.  12.00 

John  Kelly 

10.18.06 

Benj :  Lowle,  Jr. 

05.02.00 

Sam :  Poore 

00.1 1.01 

Danl  Cheney 

00.09.10 

Jno  Swett 

03.01.08 
03.12.10 
02.1 1. 10 
00.09.00 

Jos  :  Pike 

05.06.08 

Josh  Bayley 
Jno  Ordway 
Jacob  Freez 

43-I3-II 
72.16.08 

^116.10.0.7 

*  Province  Laws,  vol.  viii.,  p.  430. 

t  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  October,  1865,  p.  312. 


FREA'CH  AND    INDIAN    WARS  527 

In  tlic  month  of  January,  1704-5,  "at  which  time  the 
country  appeared  hke  a  frozen  lake,  the  snow  four  feet  deep," 
two  companies,  consisting  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Benjamin  Stevens  and 
Capt.  WilHam  Tyng,  marched  through  the  woods  to  Norridge- 
wock,  but  found,  on  arrival  there,  that  the  Indians  had  de- 
serted the  place,  leaving  a  palisaded  fort,  enclosing  twelve  or 
more  wigwams,  and  a  few  household  utensils  of  little  value. 
The  ofUcers  and  soldiers  engaged  in  this  expedition  appear  to 
have  suffered  extremely  from  the  hardships  and  privations  of 
the  march.  Nathaniel  Rolfe,  of  Newbury,  who  was  wounded 
in  the  arm  on  his  way  home  from  Norridgewock,  applied  to 
the  General  Court  for  a  gratuity  or  pension  to  compensate 
him  for  loss  of  time,  and  reimburse  him  for  money  expended 
for  medical  attendance  and  advice.  With  his  petition  the 
following  bill  and  certificates  were  filed  :  — 

To  Nathaniel  Roff,  visits,  balsams,  Injections,  Emplasters,  unguents 
and  dressing  his  arme  from  ye  i  ith  of  March  to  the  begining  :  of  August 
following  to  the  perfecting  of  the  Cure :  of  a  large  Gun  shot  wound  : 
In  his  arme  with  a  Laceration  of  Narues  and  ffociles  06^6=0 

ft  to  him  speciphyeks  and  medicans  proper  for  him  in  an  actue  and 
daingerous  feuer  which  Ran  14  day  before  a  crisis  which  fever  was 
within  the  time  afore  s^  02^0=0 

Humphrey  Bradstreet. 

Andouer,  Sept.  v^  5"^  1705 

These  may  sertilie  whome  It  may  concern  that  Nathl  Rolf  of  New- 
bery  was  under  my  command  at  noridgewok  In  her  Majesties  service 
and  was  wownded  in  his  arme  as  witnes  my  hand 

Benjamin  Stevens 

I  the  Subscriber  being  then  present  doe  also  attest  to  y^  same  with 
Respect  to  s^  Roffe  Receiving  his  wound  in  thes^i  seruice  to  Neridgwork 
as  witness  my  hand  W.m  Tvng.* 

October  26,  1705,  the  General  Court,  with  the  consent  of 
the  governor  and  council,  passed  an  order  "  For  allowing  and 
paying  twenty  pounds  and  six  shillings  to  Nathaniel  Rolfe  of 
Newbury,  a  soldier  wounded  while  in  the  Queen's  Service, 
under  the  Command  of  Capt.  Benjamin  Stevens  in  the  expe- 
dition to  Norridgewock."  f 

*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  Ixxi.,  pp.  164,  165;   Province  Laws,  vol.  viii.,  p.  524. 
t  Province  Laws,  vol.  viii.,  p.  139. 


528 


HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 


Two  or  three  months  later.  Lieut.  Cc)!.  Thomas  Noyes 
was  ordered  to  report  the  number  of  men  provided 
with  snow-shoes,  in  Newbury,  that  could  be  depended  upon 
to  march  against  the  Indian  enemy  if  needed. 

S"".  By  His  Excellencies  direction  &  Comand  I  requir  you,  on 
sight  hereof  to  call  together  &  have  forthwith  a  strict  muster  of  all 
your  Snow  shoe  men,  appointed  by  Law  :  to  know  how  they  are  fitted 
and  capable  if  called  for,  which  I  must  have  a  speedy  account  of,  and 
shall  wait  for:  That  I  may  know  what  return  to  make  to  His  Ex- 
cellency, as  I  am  enjoyned  to  do  :   I  am  your  Servant 

N.  Saltonstall 

Haverhill,  Jan:  q  1705-6* 

How  many  Newbury  men  were  equipped  with  snow-shoes 
and  prepared  for  a  winter  campaign  is  somewhat  uncertain  ; 
but  among  the  papers  and  manuscripts  of  the  late  Robert 
Adams,  now  in  the  possession  of  the  New  England  Historic 
and  Genealogical  Society,  Boston,  will  be  found  the  following 
undated  memorandum  :  — 


A  list  of  the  names  [ 
shous  &  moggensons  for  [ 
Richard  Brown  Senr 
William  Salmon 
Anthony  Somerby 
Benjamin  Woodbridge 
Abraham  Lunt 
John  Weed 
Henry  Halle 
Thomas  Moody 
Edward  Sergant 
William  no  [  ] 


]  that   are  [ 
]  ties  service. 
Corpll  Smith 
Joshua  ]\Ioody 
Nathaniel  Coffin 
Banajh  [         ] 
Archelaus  Woodm 
Robert  Rogers 
Samuel  Sawyer 
Enoch  Litle 
Corp"  Brown 
Nathan  Merrill 

[  ]t 


]  apointed    to    keep  snow 

James  Coftin 
Edward  Richardson 
John  Woodbridg 
Daniell  Merrill 
an       Corpll  Chess 

Daniel  pilsbury 
Caleb  pilsbury 
John  Sewell 
Abraham  Toppan 
A [         ] ams 


Early  in  the  month  of  December,  1706,  Gov.  Dudley,  con- 
sidering it  advisable  to  send  another  expedition  to  Norridge- 
wock,  wrote  "To  the  Hon.  L*  Col  Hilton  "  as  follows  :  — 

Boston,  December  gtli  1706 

Dear  Sir, 

I  have  determined  to  visit  Noridgwock  the  lot''  of  January  next,  and 
accordingly  am  raising  in  this  Province  two  hundred  men  to  be  Com- 
manded by  Col.  Martch,  if  his   health  will  permit,  whom  alone   I   have 

*  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  vol.  1.,  p.  340.         t  Ibid.,  p.  339. 


FRENCH  AND   INDIAN    WARS  529 

acquainted  besides  yourself  of  my  intention  —  therefore  desire  it  to  be 
secret, —  and  must  expect  forty  men  to  be  commanded  by  some  very 
good  officer  ;  and  if  Col  Martcli  fail  me,  I  must  expect  your  service  to 
command  the  whole  party. 

The  men  must  be  well  fixed,  Cloathed  and  Shod  v/ith  snow  shoes  in 
good  order.  Communicate  this  order  to  the  gentlemen  of  her  majesty's 
council  as  soon  as  may  be.  Attend  them  yourself  to  concert  the  matter, 
that  they  may  provide  victuals  and  blankets  if  need  be.  Our  last  de- 
parture will  be  from  Casco  Bay.  Desire  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Council 
to  keep  it  secret,  lest  the  noise  of  it  get  into  the  woods. 

I  am  yr.  affectionate  uncle, 

J.  Dudley.* 

January  15,1 706-7,  Lieut.  Col.  John  March  having  declined 
to  serve  as  commander  of  the  expedition,  Lieut.  Col.  Win- 
throp  Hilton  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  forces  assembled  at 
Casco,  and  soon  after  began  his  march  to  Norridgewock ;  but, 
owing  to  the  mildness  of  the  season,  the  ice  on  the  river  was 
not  of  sufficient  thickness  to  allow  him  to  proceed  with 
safety,  and,  after  marching  several  days,  he  was  obliged  to 
turn  back.  At  an  interview  with  Gov.  Dudley  in  Boston  on 
the  thirteenth  day  of  February,  he  offered  to  go  to  the  Ken- 
nebec river  with  the  men  under  his  command,  and  make  an 
attempt  to  capture  or  disperse  the  Indians  gathered  there. 

February  19,  1706-7 

His  Excellency  acquainted  the  Council,  that  upon  further  information 
of  the  state  of  the  Enemy  at  Kennebeck  River  &c  he  had  ordered  an 
addition  to  the  forces  under  Col"  Hilton  intended  on  an  expedition 
thither,  and  another  sloop  &  more  Whaleboats  to  attend  them,  the 
Briganteen  Hope,  three  open  Sloops  and  fourteen  Whaleboats  being 
taken  up  &  equipped  on  that  service. f 

"To  Lieut.  Col.  John  March,  in  conjunction  with  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Hilton,"  the  command  of  this  expedition  was 
intrusted.  A  company  of  seventy  or  eighty  men  under  Col. 
March  sailed  from  Newbury,  probabJy,  while  the  rest  of  the 
troops,  under  Col.  Hilton,  sailed  from  Piscataqua,  now  Ports- 
mouth, N.H. 

The  expedition  proceeded  as  far  east  as  the  Kennebec 
river,  where  they  fell  upon  a  party  of  Indians,  and  killed  or 

*  Province  Laws,  vol.  ^iii.,  p.  673  :   Farmer  and  Moore's  Collection,  vol.  i.,  p.  248. 
t  Province  Laws,  vol.  viii.,  p.  675  ;  Executive  Records  of  the  Council,  vol.  iv.,  p.  379. 


53°  1/ 1  STORY  OF  NEWBURY 

seriously  wounded  eighteen  of  them.  After  searching  the 
woods  in  that  neighborhood,  and  finchng  no  traces  of  Indians 
concealed  there,  they  decided  to  return  to  Piscataqua,  where 
they  arrived  on  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  March.  May  6, 
1707,  the  governor  and  council  ordered 

.  .  .  that  the  Souldiers  that  served  under  Col"  March  in  the  Months  of 
February  and  March  past,  on  an  Expedition  to  the  Eastward  other  than 
such  as  are  enlisted  in  the  present  Expedition  to  Nova  Scotia  be  dis- 
charged on  the  day  of  their  return  back  to  Newbury.* 

Meanwhile,  the  General  Court  had  passed  a  resolve  (March 
21,  1706-7)  providing  for  the  raising  of  a  naval  and  land 
force  for  an  expedition  against  the  French  at  Nova  Scotia  and 
for  an  attack  on  the  fort  at  Port  Royal.  On  the  twenty- 
ninth  day  of  March,  Gov.  Dudley  appointed  Lieut.  Col.  John 
March  commander-in-chief  of  the  expedition.  The  land  force 
was  divided  into  two  regiments,  one  under  the  command  of 
Col.  Winthrop  Hilton  and  the  other  under  Col.  Francis  Wain- 
wright.  The  fleet,  in  addition  to  the  "  Deptford "  of  the 
royal  na\y,  carrying  fifty  guns,  and  the  sloop  "  Dove,"  her 
tender,  the  "  Province  Galley,"  carrying  twenty-four  guns, 
and  the  brigantine  "  Hope,"  which  was  to  be  put  in  commis- 
sion as  a  cruiser  along  the  coast,  "  consisted  of  ten  transports, 
comprising  two  ships,  four  brigantines  and  four  sloops,  besides 
forty  whale-boats,  twenty  eight  of  which  were  to  be  impressed 
at  Barnstable  and  twelve  at  Plymouth."! 

Two  of  the  companies  in  the  first  regiment  organized  for 
this  expedition  were  commanded  by  Capt.  James  March  and 
Capt.  Richard  Kent,  of  Newbury.  Other  officers  in  the  same 
regiment  were  James  March,  jr.,  lieutenant,  Hugh  Pike,  en- 
sign, John  March,  jr.,  lieutenant,  and  Benjamin  Smith,  ensign, 
—  all  from  Newbury.  Among  the  vessels  that  comprised  the 
fileet  was  the  sloop  "  Richard  and  Sarah,"  Richard  Carr,  of 
Salisbury,  master  ;  the  sloop  "  Success,"  Stephen  Poor,  of 
Newbury,  master  ;  the  sloop  "  P^ndeavor,"  Gideon  Lowell,  of 
Newbury,  master. 

A  grand  parade  of  the  land  forces  at  Hull,  on  the  nineteenth 

*  Province  Laws,  vol.  viii.,  note,  p.  675.         +  Ibid.,  vol.  viii.,  p.  6S7. 


FRENCH  AND   JNDIAN    WARS  531 

of  April,  was  ordered  by  the  governor  and  council;  and  the 
vessels  eni;ai;ed  for  service  in  the  expedition  were  directed  to 
assemble  at  Nantasket.  The  final  ]-)reparations  for  the  trans- 
})()rtation  of  troops  and  the  shi[)ment  of  arms,  ammunition, 
and  commissary  stores,  were  made  as  speedily  as  possible ; 
and,  everything  being  ready,  the  fleet  sailed  at  sunrise,  on  the 
thirteenth  day  of  May,  for  the  harbor  of  Port  Royal.* 

They  arrived  on  the  twenty-sixth  ;  and,  late  in  the  afternoon. 
Col.  Samuel  Appleton,  with  about  three  hundred  and  twenty 
men,  was  landed  on  the  north  side  of  the  harbor,  and  Col. 
March,  with  the  rest  of  the  forces  numbering  about  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  was  landed  on  the  south  side.  Early 
the  next  day  both  sections  of  the  army  moved  forward.  Col. 
March  and  the  men  under  his  command  were  attacked  by  the 
French  troops  under  Subercase,  the  military  governor  of 
Acadia,  and  were  thrown  into  confusion,  but  soon  rallied, 
and,  "  with  trumpets  sounding,  drums  beating  and  colors  fly- 
ing," made  a  successful  charge  upon  the  enemy,  and  drove 
them  over  a  high,  steep  hill  into  the  fort  that  had  been  re-en- 
forced and  strengthened  for  the  protection  of  the  village  of 
Port  Royal,  now  Annapolis,  N.S.  After  marching  and  skir- 
mishing for  five  days  over  rough  roads  and  through  dense 
forests,  the  rank  and  file  of  the  army  became  discouraged  and 
demoralized.  A  council  of  war  was  held  on  the  thirty-first 
day  of  May,  and  a  majority  of  the  ofBcers,  whose  authority 
was  final,  agreed  "that  the  enemy's  well  disciplined  garrison 
in  a  strong  fort,  was  more  than  a  match  for  our  raw,  undisci- 
plined army  "  ;  f  and  further  attempts  to  capture  or  demol- 
ish the  fort  were  abandoned.  Col.  Appleton  went  to  Boston 
for  orders  ;  and  Col.  March,  with  the  land  and  naval  forces 
under  his  command,  .sailed  for  Casco  bay. 

The  unsatisfactory  result  of  this  expedition  was  exceedingly 
annoying  to  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  and  other  towns  in  the 
province,  and  the  conduct  of  the  of^cers  in  command  was  se- 
verely criticised  and  condemned.  P"or  the  mistakes  and  mis- 
management of  others.  Col.  March  was  held  responsible ;  and 

*  For  roster  of  the  army  and  Heet,  see  Province  Laws,  vol.  viii.,  pp.  690-692. 
t  History  of  Massachusetts  (Hutchinson,  edition,  1795),  p.  152. 


FRENCH  AND  INDIAN    WARS  533 

stroiii;-  efforts  were  made  to  induce  Gov.  Dudley  to  recall 
him  and  appoint  another  commander  in  his  place.  These 
efforts,  however,  were  unsuccessful ;  and  on  the  twentieth  day 
of  June  the  governor  and  council  appointed  Col.  Elisha  Hutch- 
inson, Col.  Penn  Townsend,  and  John  Leverett,  esq.,  com- 
missioners to  supervise  and  direct  the  movements  of  the  land 
and  naval  forces  in  Nova  Scotia. 

Col.  March  was  at  Casco  bay,  with  the  fleet  under  his  com- 
mand, at  that  date ;  and,  when  the  news  of  his  subjection  to 
the  commissioners  was  communicated  to  him,  he  wrote  the 
following  letter  to  Gov.  Dudley,  regretting  that  he  had  not 
been  released  from  service,  but  expressing"  his  willingness  to 
serve  in  a  subordinate  capacity  :  — 

Casco  Bay,  June  zSth,  1707 

May  it  plese  yce  Excelency  yesterday  I  Receued :  yore  Commands: 
of  the  21  Curant :  by  M""  Lowle :  and  god  willing  will  indevor  to  follow 
Them:  and  doe  what  saruis  I  can:  Sir  I  Im'mediately :  Informed;  Capt 
Sovthack  :  and  the  other  maters  what  yore  Commands  :  ware:  who  said 
the  coold  not  goe  to  see  before  that  they  Had  more  provistion :  and 
Capt  Stoolly  soore  *  his  provistion  was  quite  dun:  whare :  upon  I  :  Im- 
mediately ordered  the  Commisarys  :  to  goe  one  bord  Euery  uessell  in  the 
fleet  and  see  :  sartingly  :  what  prouistion  and  stor  :  theare  wass  :  which 
account  I  Have  now  sent  M''  Commisary  generall. 

Sir  I  am  Hartyly  sorry  that  I  haue  offended  yor  Excelency  in  any 
thing:  and  am  sure  it  was  no  way  designed  in  me:  and  have  not  bine 
Justly  delt  with  by  :  those  that  Have  informed  yore  Excelency :  but  sine 
it  is  yore  Excelencys  pleasure  to  dismis  mee  from  those  Commands  you 
were  formerly  plesed  to  put  me  in  :  I  will  patiently  bare  it :  and  doe  you 
what  saruis  lys  in  my  power  :  and  sine  it  is  so  :  woold  haue  bine  glad  if 
you  wovld  haue  bine  plesed  to  haue  Relesed  me  :  for  I  sartingly  know  : 
that  if  theare  be  any  thing  well :  and  Honnorably  dun :  I  shall  haue  no 
share  in  that:  but  if  any  thing  fall  out  other  wise:  that  will  fall  to  my 
share  :  Sir  our  men  are  generall :  cherly  and  brisk  :  and  are  most  of  them 
willing  to  goe  Againe :  I  shall  Induor  To  keep  them  clene  and  In  good 
temper:  According  to  yore  Commands:  Sir  the  Indians  that  Ran  from 
us  :  I  haue  taken  them  all  Againe  :  and  they  doe  so  hartyly  bagg  pardon  : 
for  theair  offenc  that  I  haue  Respited  theair  punnishment  tell  yore  Ex- 
celency's  plesure  is  known  what  I  shall  doe  to  them  :  may  it  plese  yore 
Excelency  Mr  Jefferise  haue  bine  uery  Industerous :  in  doeing  of  mis- 
chef:  As  hee  hath  here  Confesed  :  As  yore  Excelency  and  honnors  will 
see  under  his  owne  hand  :  here  Inclosed:  with  my  most  Humble  duty: 
I  Am  Yore  Excelencys  most  Humble  and  obedient  sarvnt 

John  March  f 

*  Sic,  swore.  t  Province  Laws,  vol.  viii.,  p.  732. 


534  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

The  fleet  sailed  from  Casco  bay  on  or  about  the  twenty- 
seventh  of  July,  and  arrived  at  Passamaquoddy  on  the  thir- 
tieth, where  the  troops  were  engaged  for  a  week  or  more  in  a 
hostile  encounter  with  the  inhabitants  of  that  place,  some  of 
whom  they  made  prisoners.  On  Sunday,  the  tenth  of  August, 
the  ship,  loaded  with  men,  warlike  stores,  and  provisions,  came 
to  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  Port  Royal,  earl}'  in  the  afternoon  ; 
and  the  next  day  the  soldiers  were  landed  more  than  two 
miles  below  the  fort  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and 
marched  to  a  point  less  than  a  mile  above,  where  they  took 
possession  of  some  unoccupied  houses. 

Hutchinson,  in  his  history  of  Massachusetts,  says  that  Col. 
March  at  this  time  was  broken  in  spirit  "  and  his  health  af- 
fected, so  that,  when  the  disposition  was  making  for  landing 
the  army,  he  declared  himself  incapable  of  acting  and  the 
command  was  given  to  Wainwright  the  next  officer."  * 

On  the  thirteenth  day  of  August,  the  troops,  under  the 
command  of  Col.  Francis  Wainwright,  had  a  fierce  battle  with 
the  French  and  Indian  forces,  and  were  driven  back  into 
camp.  On  the  fifteenth,  the  commissioners  ordered  Col.  Wain- 
wright to  burn  or  tear  down  the  houses  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  fort,  cut  the  dykes  protecting  the  marshes,  and  destroy 
the  dams  that  supplied  two  or  three  small  mills  with  water 
power.  The  French  commander,  Subercase,  however,  kept 
up  such  a  severe  and  continuous  cannonading  with  heavy 
guns  and  mortars  that  it  was  found  impossible  to  execute  the 
order  with  any  prospect  of  success.  On  the  twentieth.  Col. 
Wainwright,  protected  by  the  guns  of  the  fleet,  landed  a  })or- 
tion  of  his  troops  on  the  opposite  shore  for  the  purpose  of 
making  an  attack  upon  the  fort.  A  desperate  conflict  ensued  ; 
and  they  were  driven  back  in  confusion,  leaving  a  number  of 
killed  and  wounded  on  the  field.  The  next  day,  the  officers 
and  men  embarked  on  the  vessels  at  anchor  in  the  harbor  ;  and 
on  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  August  they  sailed  for  home. 

Although  Col.  March  was  received  with  insults  and  de- 
rision on  his  arrival  in  Boston,  he  seems  to  have  retained  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  Gov.  Dudley,  who  anncumced,  Sep- 

*  History  of  Massachusetts  (edition,  1795),  vol.  ii.,  p.  153. 


FRENCH  AND   INDIAN   WARS  535 

tember  24,  1 707,  that  lie  had  ordered  him  "  with  his  company 
on  board  the  Briyantcen  Hope  vv"'  a  further  enforcem'  of  men 
to  sa)le  to  Winter  harbour  &  Hkewise  Her  Maj'^^  ship  the 
Province  Galley  to  cruise  along  the  North  Shoar  and  to  visit 
all  the  harbours  from  Saco  to  Casco  Bay,  and  further  East, 
to  intercept  the  Enemy,"  who  had  made  an  attack  on  the 
towns  of  York  and  Wells.*  How  long  he  was  absent  on 
this  expedition  is  uncertain,  but  probably  until  the  middle  of 
October.  From  the  muster-roll  of  the  brigantine  "Hope,"  it 
appears  that  the  wages  of  her  officers  and  crew  were  paid 
from  A}3Til  3  to  October  18,  1707.I 

Another  expedition,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Francis 
Nicholson  sailed,  from  Nantasket,  September  18,  17 10,  to 
renew  the  attack  upon  Port  Royal.  The  troops  landed  in 
good  order,  and  immediately  began  to  throw  up  intrench- 
ments  and  lay  siege  to  the  fortress  that  protected  the  town. 
After  a  few  days'  delay,  Subercase,  the  commander  of  the 
French  forces,  through  timidity  or  collusion,  surrendered  to 
Col.  Nicholson  "all  the  effects  belonging  to  the  King:  as 
guns,  mortars,  bombs,  ball,  powder,  and  all  other  small 
arms. "I  Thursday,  the  sixteenth  day  of  November,  17 10,  was 
appointed  a  day  of  general  thanksgiving  throughout  the  prov- 
inces of  Massachusetts  Bay  and  New  Hampshire,  for  the  impor- 
tant victory  gained  by  Her  Majesty's  forces  in  Nova  Scotia. 

Meanwhile,  the  French  troops,  with  their  Indian  allies,  had 
burned  and  destroyed  much  valuable  property  between  the 
Penobscot  and  Merrimack  rivers.  The  inhabitants  of  many 
of  the  frontier  towns  were  compelled  to  flee  to  block-houses 
for  shelter  and  protection.  Scouting  parties  were  organized 
and  ordered  to  search  the  woods  on  the  northerly  side  of  the 
Merrimack  river.  Several  Newbury  men  were  impressed  for 
that  service  by  order  of  the  governor  and  council. 

These  are  in  Her  majesties  Name  to  requier  you  to  impress  the.ses 
men  under  specified  to  apperr  compleat  in  arms  and  Airiunition  and  all 

*  Province  Laws,  vol.  viii.,  p.  759. 

tCol.  March  was  evidently  obliged,  on  account  of  ill-health,  to  retire  to  private  life  soon 
after  the  close  of  the  year  1707.  In  the  Boston  News  Letter  for  the  week  beginning  July  2S 
and  ending  .-Xugust  4,  1712,  is  the  following  notice  :  "  New  Vork  July  iS,  Last  week  dyed  Col. 
John  March  of  Newbury  at  Woodbrid^e  in  New  Jersey."  (New  Jersey  .'Vrchives,  First  Seri.-s,  vol. 
xi.,  p.  35-) 

{History  of  Massachusetts  (Hutchinson,  edition,  1795),  vol.  ii.,  p.  i65. 


536 


HISTORY  OF  XEIVBURY 


furniture   as  the  law  directs  tit  for  a  march,  at  my  House  on  wensday 
next  at  eight  of  the  clock  in  the  fore  noone  which  will  be  je    14^11  of 
this  Instant  Aprill  170S:   of  this  faile   not   and   make   return    to   me  of 
your  doings  herein,  given  under  my  hand  this  8'li  day  of  Aprill  1708  ; 
To  Ser  William  Titcomb.  Thomas  Noyes,  Capt 

Stephen  greenleafe  tirsius 
James  Ordway  the  Son  of  Jams  ordway 
John  Haskins 
[Endorsed] 

Aprill  y  12th,  1 70S 

pi'Suant  to  the  within  warrant  I  have  imprest  Stephen  Greenleaf  Sen"", 
John  Haskins  &  James  Ordway  the  third  according  to  the  tenner  of  the 
within  warrant  pr  William  Titcomb.* 

In  the  month  of  August  following,  a  company  of  Newbury 
men,  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Caleb  Moody,  was  equipped 
for  service  in  the  woods  between  Amesbury  and  "  Jamaco," 
now  Merrimac. 


A   MUSTER   ROLL  OK   THE   COMPANY   IN    HER   MAJESTIES   SERVICE   UNDER 
THE   COMMAND   OF  CAPTAIN   VIZ. 


Mens  Names 

Quality 

Time  of  En- 
trance on  the 
Service 

Tell  what  Time 
in  the  Service 

Whole  Term 
of  Service 

The  whole  of 
Wages  Due 
to  Each  man. 

MontJis 

Days 

Motiths 

Days 

Ifeeks 

Days 

£ 

d 

Caleb  Moodey 

Lent 

Augst 

Augi^t 

3' 

3 

0 

2 

5 

0 

Joseph  Pike 

Sarjt 

Augst 

Ditto 

31 

3 

0 

7 

0 

Jacob  Tappin 

Sarit 

Aug'^t 

Ditto 

31 

3 

0 

7 

0 

James  Carr 

CorpU 

Ditto 

Ditto 

31 

3 

0 

7 

0 

Abram  Merrill 

Corpll 

Ditto 

Ditto 

31 

3 

0 

7 

0 

James  Broun 

Corpll 

Ditto 

Ditto 

31 

2 

6 

7 

0 

Richard  Bartlett 

CorpU 

Ditto 

Ditto 

31 

3 

0 

7 

0 

Abram  Annis 

Ditto 

Ditto 

3' 

3 

0 

0 

18 

0 

John  Emery 

Ditto 

Ditto 

31 

3 

0 

0 

18 

0 

Isaac  Annis 

Ditto 

Ditto 

31 

3 

0 

0 

18 

0 

John  Swett 

Ditto 

Ditto 

31 

3 

0 

0 

iS 

0 

Jofhua  Baily 

Di-tto 

Ditto 

31 

3 

0 

0 

18 

0 

Danll  Cheny 

Ditto 

Ditto 

31 

3 

0 

0 

iS 

0 

Tho.  Chase 

Ditto 

Ditto 

31 

3 

0 

0 

iS 

0 

Joseph  Hills 

Ditto 

Ditto 

31 

3 

0 

0 

18 

0 

Solomon  Holman 

Ditto 

Ditto 

31 

3 

0 

0 

iS 

0 

Josepli  Richardson 

Serjt 

Ditto 

October 

2 

7 

4 

3 

08 

2 

Henry  March 

Ditto 

Ditto 

2 

7 

4 

2 

5 

5 

Samll  Bartlett 

Ditto 

Augst 

26 

2 

2 

0 

■  3 

8 

Jofeph  LowU 

Ditto 

Ditto 

26 

2 

2 

0 

'3 

8 

Jofeph  Morfs 

Ditto 

Ditto 

26 

2 

2 

0 

13 

S 

Joseph  Kelly 

Ditto 

Novemh 

16 

14 

0 

4 

•M 

0 

Benj  Hills 

Ditto 

Ditto 

16 

14 

0 

4 

4 

0 

John  Cliase 

Ditto 

Ditto 

16 

14 

0 

4 

4 

0 

Jonathan  Hoag 

Ditto 

Ditto 

16 

14 

0 

4 

4 

0 

Daniell  Gale 

Ditto 

Ditto 

lO 

14 

0 

4 

4 

a 

Ambros  Berrie 

Ditto 

Ditto 

16 

14 

0 

4 

4 

0 

Danll  M  orison 

Ditto 

Ditto 

16 

14 

0 

4 

4 

0 

Mofes  Chase 

Ditto 

Ditto 

16 

'4 

0 

4 

4 

0 

Jofeph  Pilsberry 

Clark 

Ditto 

Angst 

31 

3 

0 

I 

7 

0 

To  subsistance  184  weeks  &  6  days  att  3/6  p.  week 32.  7.  o 

Substracted  pd.  in  Majr  Turner  ace"  subsistance  14  men  3  days  at  Lt  Whites  at  Haveill  at  3/6  p 

week       I  10 

31.  b.  o 

The  whole  wages 5q.  17.  7 

9'-  3-  7 

*  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  vol.  1.,  p.  341. 


FRENCH   AND   INDIAN    WARS  537 

Auf.l'ST  }*  I  I'll   1708 

I  and  my  company  marclit  over  to  Amsbery.  And  from  thence  to 
Jemaco.  And  so  wee  marcht  daily  from  Jemaco  to  Amsbury  And 
from  Amsbury  to  Jemaco  «S:  schouted  in  ye  woods  Agust  ye  26th  by 
order  from  Cap'  Turner  I  released  all  my  men  but  ten  but  were 
comanded  to  return  again  on  ye  first  allarm  on  August  ye  29  wee 
were  allarmed  &  marcht  to  Haverill  and  so  marcht  into  ye  woods  after 
ye  enemy,     on  Sept  ye  i^  a  little  before  night  wee  were  dismis 

Caleb  Moody,  Lietii 

Agust  ye  nth  1708 

wee  marcht  over  to  Amsbery  town  and  from  thence  to  Jemaco.  And 
so  wee  marcht  from  Jemaco  to  Amsbery  And  from  Amsbery  to  Jemaco 
and  schouted  in  ye  woods  Agust  i7''i  by  Colo'i  Noyces  order  I  posted 
si.\  men  Att  Garison  two,  att  Hadley's  two,  att  Kimbals  &  two  at 
Quimbes  Agust  ye  27111  by  order  from  Capt  Turner  I  dismis  all  my 
men  but  ten  but  wer  coiiianded  to  return  to  their  post  again  on  ye  first 
Allarm.  on  Agust  ye  29111  wee  were  Allarmed  &  went  to  Haverill  & 
Marcht  after  ye  Enemy  into  ye  woods,  on  Sept  ye  2d  a  little  before  night 
we  were  dismis 

[The  following  letter  is  addressed:  "To  Capt  Thomas  Harvy  or 
Commander  of  the  forces  now  in  Pay  at  Amesbury  For  Her  Majesty's 
Service."] 

Havrill  August  i6tli  1708 
Sir 

I  received  a  Letter  from  His  Excelency  Where  in  he  orders  me  to 
take  the  Cheife  comand  of  the  forces  at  Haverill,  Amesbury  &  Kings 
atowne  &  uppon  Notice  of  ny  towne  opprefsed  I  am  to  march  w'h  the 
forces  to  Releive  them  &  Expect  you  be  in  Readynefs  to  March  at  a 
minutes  Notice  —  I  hope  you  keep  out  a  Good  Scout  and  give  me  ace 
of  any  Occurrent  that  Shall  Happen  His  Excelency  is  fearfull  they 
wijl  fall  on  Portsmouth  If  so  hasten  away  &  I  will  joyne  you  at  grenne 
Land  wtii  the  Troops,  give  me  an  acct  of  the  Number  of  your  men  & 
How  you  are  fitted  for  a  march  If  there  be  occation     I  am 

Your  Humble  Serv* 

Jno  Turner 

[The  following  letter  is  addressed  :  "  To  Leu^  Moody  Comander  of 
the  forces  at  Amesbery  For  Her  Majestys  Service"] 

Havrill,  Aug.  17,  1708. 

I  sent  down  to  Amsbery  yesterday  to  the  Comander  of  the  forces 
there  to  send  me  word  how  he  was  fitted  for  a  march  If  occation  be  &  a 
List  of  his  men  I  received  an  answer  from  Cap'  Harvy  that  you  were 
there  Comander.  Send  me  an  ace'  how  you  are  provvided  &  with  the 
List  well  I  Expect  from  you  forth  with  I  am 
Your  friend  &  Serv' 

Jx  '  Turner. 


538 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


An  Account  of  Billating  ye  Souldiers  att  Amsbery  under  Comand  of 
Caleb  Moody  Lieu<  Beginning  Agust  ye  nth  1708. 


!2th   Capt   Harvies    15   Meals    Att 

foots  5 
13'''  Att  Capt  Harvies  from  Agust 

nth  to  Agust  ye  iQt'i  74  meals 
Att  Leut  foots  41  meals 
Att  Tho  Coalbees  6  meals 
Att  Valintine  Rowls  6  meals 
Att  Deac  Tho  Stephenses  18  meals 
Att  Roger  Stephenses  6  meals 
Att  Wido  Rachel  Serjant  4  meals 
Att  Tho  fergant  8  meals 
Att  Bennoni  Tuckers  6  meals 
Att  Joseph  Brown's  90  meals 
Att  Sam'l  Colebees  120  meals 
Att  Ens  Baglies  8  meals 
Att  Lieut  Barnets  65  meals 
Att  Sergt  Richd  Currier  65  meals 


August  19th  1708. 
To  Capt  Harvis  6  meals 
to  Leiut  ffoots  2  meals 
to  valintine  Rouil  2  meals 
to  Tho.  Colebe  2  meals 
to  Deac  Stephens  6  meals 
to  Rodger  Stephens  4  meals 
to  Wido  Rachel  Serjant  6  meals 
to  Benoni  Tucker  4  meals 
to  Tho.  Serjant  4  meals 
to  Samil  Colebe  20  meals 
to  Ens  Bagli  8  meals 
to  Lieut  Barnet  10  meals 
to  serjt  Rich  Curier  10  meals 


Agust  ye  t7  1708 
Accompt  of  what  powder  and  bullets  Those  Souldiers   Listed  under 
the  command  of  Lieutenant   Calib   Moodey  Received  of  the  Country 
Stock  —  four  pound  of  Powder  &  Ten  pound   Bullets   Divided  among 
Twenty  four  soldiers. 

Agust  ye  26,  1 708. 

Serjt  Joseph  Richardson 
Henry  March 
Moses  Chafs 

Daniell  Morrison  were  lef  at  Ames- 
bery. 


Serjt  Joseph  Pike 
Corp'i  James  Carr. 
Corpii  James  Brown 
Joshua  Baily 
Joseph  Lowl 
Samil  Bartlet 


The  governor  and  council  of  the  pro\-ince  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  at  a  meeting  held  February  26,  1 708-9,  advised  and 
•consented  to  the  payment  of  the  wages  due  Lieut.  Moody  and 
the  men  under  his  command. 

A  muster  Roll  of  the  P^oot  Company  in  Her  Majesty's  pay  under  the 
command  of  Caleb  Moodey  as  Lieutenant  containing  an  acco'  of  wages 
for  their  service  and  subsistance  from  the  i  I'h  of  August  to  the  i6th  of 
Nov  1 708  amounting  in  the  whole  to  the  sum  of  ninety  one  pounds 
three  shillgs  and  seven  pence;  examin'd  by  Mr.  Commissary  General 
■was  presented, —  And 

Advised  and  Consented  That  a  Warrant  be  made  out  thereupon  to  the 


FRENCH  AND   INDIAN    WARS  539 

Treasurer  to  pay  the  above  sum  of  ninety  one  pounds  three  shillings  and 
seven  pence  to  the  s'd  Lieut  Moodey  for  and  on  behalfe  of  himself  and 
Company  Accordingly* 

^[AR  yc  isth  J  708-9 

Wee  y*-"  subscibers  do  hereby  own  &  acknowledg  ye  receipt  of  what 
money  was  alowed  to  us  for  subsistance  of  Souldiers  under  coiiiand  of 
Lt  Moody  from  Agust  ye  iith  1708  til  Octo  ye  2''  folowing  as  wittnefs 
our  hands:  Samuel  Collby,  Orlando  Bagly  j,  Joseph  Brown,  Thomas 
Stevens,  Roger  Stevens,  Richard  Currier,  John  ffoote,  s\o  Thomas 
Sargent,  Thomas  Colbey,  John  Larnard,  Ephraim  Wood,  Bennoni 
Tucker,  Jonathan  hill,  Tho  harvay,  volintan  Rouels  money  payed  to 
philip  Rouil  and  Philip  Rouils  is  paid 

March  y*"  14th  170S-9 

We  ye  subscribers  do  hereby  own  &  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  what 
mony  is  alowed  to  us  in  ye  within  written  Muster  Roll  as  witness  our 
hands.  ''Joshua  Bailey,  Josaph  Kelly,  Joseph  Richardson,  Daniel  Gale, 
Joseph  Lowel,  James  Browne,  John  Swett,  Jacob  Tappin,  Daniel  Mori- 
son,  Henry  March,  beniamen  hills,  Joseph  hills,'^braham  Merril,  Richard 
Bartlett,  Joseph  Pike,  Joseph  Morfs,  Joseph  Pilsberry,  Jonathan  hoeg, 
Abraham  Annis,  Joseph  Chase  to  Hill  fowler,  Samuel  Bartlet,  Stephen 
Emery,  Thomas  Chase  jr,  James  Carr,  Jonathan  Emery,  Isaac  Annis, 
Daniel  Cheny,-  Soloman  Holmans  money  paid  to  Woodman,  Moses 
Chasses  money  paid  to  Ens  Chase,  f 

In  an  attack  made  by  a  party  of  Indians  on  Haverhill,  Au- 
gu.st  29,  1 708,  Joseph  Bartlett,  of  Newbury,  was  taken  prisoner 
and  carried  to  Canada,  where  he  was  held  in  captivity  until 
October  5,  17 12.  After  his  release,  the  General  Court  passed 
the  following"  resolution,  November  8,  171 2  :  — 

Resolved  that  the  sum  of  twenty  pounds  and  fifteen  shillings  be  al- 
lowed and  paid  to  Joseph  Bartlett  in  full  of  his  petition  of  charges  and 
expences  to  obtain  his  liberty  from  the  Indians  being  taken  Prisoner  by 
the  Indians  at  Haverhill  when  in  her  Majesties  service  in  the  year  1708 
&  for  his  support  during  four  years  captivity  &  the  loss  of  his  arms.f 

In  the  month  of  November,  in  1709,  the  provincial  authori- 
ties determined  to  commence  a  vigorous  campaign  against  the 
Indians  on  the  northerly    side  of   the   Merrimack    river,  and 

*  Massachusetts  Archives  (Council  Records) ,  vol.  v.,  p.  31. 

t  The  muster-roll,  letters  and  other  documents  relating  to  the  company  under  the  command 
of  Lieut.  Caleb  Moody  were  copied  by  Rev.  Rufus  Emerj'  from  the  original  papers  now  in  the 
possession  of  descendants  of  the  late  Moses  Moody  Ridgeway,  of  West  Newbury. 

+  Massachusetts  Archives  (Court  Records),  vol.  ix.,  p.  246.  The  prominent  incidents  con- 
nected with  the  long  captivity  of  Mr.  Bartlett  were  published  in  pamphlet  form  in  1807,  and  re- 
printed in  1845  in  tlie  Appendix  to  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  pp.  331-334. 


54°  HISTORY  OF  XEIVBURY 

orders  were  issued  to  Capt.  Thomas  Noyes,  of  Newbury,  to  fur- 
nish six  or  eii;ht  men  for  that  service. 

In  obedience  to  coiriand  from  His  Excelency :  These  are  In  Her 
majesties  Name  to  Requier  you  to  Impress  these  men  under  specified  to 
appear  compleat  in  Armes  &  amunition  and  all  firniture  as  the  law 
directs  with  two  dayes  provition  [  ]  order  them  to  appear  at  the 
House  of  Capt  Edw  [  ]  sargent  His  House  in  Newbury  on  Monday 
bv  twelve  of  the  Clocke  at  noon  which  will  be  ye  28*'!  of  this  Instant  of 
this  fail  not  &  make  return  to  me  of  your  doings  heer  in  given  under  my 
hand  this  25  of  November  i  709  from  your  servant 

Thomas  Noves  Capt 
Stephen  poore  Tristram  x  Coffin  [         ]  greenleafe  Stephen  greenleafe 
malachi  Edwards  Thom  [         ]  Browne  John  Sawyer  Josiah   x  pilsbury 
Timothy  putnam  Zachary  Davis  John  [         ]  us 

To  Benjamin  More,  Ju 

To  Stephen  Webster  , 

or  John   Stickny. 

On  the  back  of  the  warrant  was  the  following  endorse- 
ment :  — 

25,  1709. 
November:  A   Cording   to  the   Within  riten  worant   I    have   imprest 
theis  men  under  named 

Thomas  Brown  Daniell  Greenleafe 

John  Scodes  Stephen  Greenleafe 

Malachi  Edwards  John  Stickney 

Stephen  Webster* 

The  men  who  provided  themselves  with  snow-shoes  and 
moccasins  for  service  in  a  winter  campaign  were  allowed  five 
shillings  each,  under  the  law  of  the  province  enacted  Novem- 
ber 17,  1704.  Col.  Thomas  Noyes,  of  Newbury,  was  allowed 
five  pounds  and  nineteen  shillings  by  the  General  Court, 
June  17,  1 7 10,  in  settlement  for  snow-shoes  and  moccasins 
furnished  seventeen  men  in  his  regiment,  and  ;£a^i  for 
the  service  of  four  hundred  and  twenty  men  pre\-iously 
equipped  and  reported  to  the  provincial  authorities.  The 
regiment  was  composed  of  men  from  Newbury,  Haverhill, 
Salisbury,  Amesbury,  and  other  towns  in  Essex  county. 

In  the  Massachusetts  Archives  is  "a  list  of  the  names  of 
the  men  belonging  to   the   North   Regiment  in  Essex  apoinf' 

*  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Kegisier,  vol.  1.,  pp.  3^3,  344. 


FREXCII  AXD   IXDIAN   WARS 


541 


to  keep  snow-shoes  and  mogginsons  "  ;  *  and  in   this  Hst  are 
the  names  of  many  well-known  Newbury  men. 


Major  Henry  Summeisby  snow 
Richard  Knight 
Stephen  Sayer 
Edmund  greenleaf 
William  Dole 
John  March 
John  pike 
Richard  Dumer 
Geo.  Thurlo 
Collin  Fraizer 
Henry  Short 


shoo  men  are  as  foloeth, 
John  Hale 
Joseph  gerish 
Richard  Jackman 
Richard  Bartlet 
Samuel  Bartlet 
John  Merrill 
John  Kely 
Fran,  demons 
peter  Coffin 
Thomas  Hale.* 


"  My  particular  Company  "f 


Richard  Brown 
William  Salmon,  Jr 
Anthony  Sumerby 
James  Smith 
Joshua  Moody 
Nathaniell  Coffin 
James  Coffin 
Edward  Richardson 
John  Woodbridge 
Benjamin  woodbridge 
Abraham  Lunt 
John  weed 
Henry  Hale 
Thomas  Moody 
Edward  Sergant 
William  Noyes 
I5enayah  Titcomb 
Joseph  greenleafe 
penuell  Titcomb 
Joseph  seuell 
James  Ordway 
Abraham  Rowell 
John  Kent 
Edward  poore 
Jonathan  Woodman 
Cutting  Moody 
Samuel  poore 


James  Freez 
Jacob  Toppan 
Joshua  Bayly 
Isaack  Bayly 
John  Bartlet 
John  Ordway 
Richard  Bartlet 
William  molton 
Thomas  Chess 
Joshua  Browne,  Jr 
Archelause  Woodman 
Robert  Rogers 
Samuel  Sawyer 
Enoch  Litle 
John  Brown 
Nathan  merrill 
Daniel  merrill 
Aquilla  chees 
Daniel  pilsbury 
Caleb  pilsbury 
John  Sewell 
Abraham  Toppan 
Archelaus  Addams 
peter  goodfrey 
Abial  Sumarby 
will! am  Titcomb 
Benjamin  Mors,  Jr. 


Joseph  poore 

*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  Ixxi.,  pp.  495-498;  also,  Society  of  Colonial  Wars'  Year  Book, 
1897,  pp.  ii7-'23. 

t  Probably  commanded  by  Capt.  Thomas  Noyes. 


542 


HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 


The  men  opointed   in  the  room  of  those  that   are  dec!  or   removed 
which  wants  their  alouance  : 


Icobod  woodman 
John  worth 
John  Stickney 

Capt.  Hugh  March  his  Snow 
Liunt  Caleb  moody 
Ensign  moses  Chase 
Joseph  pike 
Tristram  greenleafe 
Joseph  Richardson 
Thomas  Huse 
Joseph  Browne 
John  Emary,  Jr. 
Abell  Huse 
Stephen  Emary 
Abell  merrill 
Richard  Bartlet,  Jr. 
Hananiah  Ordway 


John  Ordway 

Timothy  merrick 

The  end  of  my  Company 

shoo  men 

Thomas  williams 
Daniell  Chayny 
Abraham  merrill  Jr. 
James  Browne 
John  Kelly,  Jr. 
Samuell  sayer 
Daniell  morrison 
Nathaniell  Hill 
Abial  Kelly 
Isaac  Annis 
Ezrah  Rolf 
Daniell  Chase 
Thomas  ffolingsbv. 


Capt.  Noyes  His  Company 
Joseph  Woodbridge 
Joseph  [  ] 

Daniell  thurston 
James  Jackman 
Samuel  moody 
Thomas  Clarke 
Cutting  NoyeSf  Jr 
Moses  Coker 
Richard  Kelly 
John  Calfe 
Jonathan  poore 
James  Knight 
Jonathan  Emary  Jr 
Jo-seph  goodridg  Jr 
Joseph  Mayo 
John  Dole 
mathew  pettingal  Jr 
Joshua  peirce 
Ensi.  Joseph  Knight 
John  Noyes  Jr 
'John  Rolf 
Daniel  Noyes 
John  Dumar 
Henry  Jaquis 


of  snowshoo  men 

Joshua  Boyenton,  Jr. 
John  Smith,  Jr. 
John  pettingall 
moses  stickny 
Stephen  Sweet,  Jr. 
Robart  Adams 
James  Noyes,  Jr. 
Joseph   Downer,  Jr. 
John  Cheyny 
Beniamin  person 
Nathaniell  Adkinson 
-  Nathaniell    Rolf 
Samuell  Toppan 
Joseph  Hale 
Tristram  Li  tie 
Thomas  pike 
Joseph  Noyes 
Joseph  Chayni 
Jonathan  plufnar 
Nathan  wheeler 
-  Henry  Rolf 

Nathaniell  Badger 
Joseph  Knight 


FREXCII  AND   INDIAN    WARS  543 

New  snow  shoo  men  wants  their  alouance 

Thomas  Hale  John  Noyes  Jr 

Richard  Kent  Josiah  Smith 

Anthony  mors  Stephen  Dole 
Abner  Dole 

Newbury  Sept  yP  221I  1712 

A  List  of  the  names  of  the  New  Raisd  forcis  to  be  put  under  Capt. 
Joseph  Eaton. 

Henry  Dresser  Servant  to  Decon  Nathanil  Coffin 
Tristram  Coffin  Son  to  Mr  James  Coffin 
Elias  Titcomb  Son  to  William  Titcomb 
Samuel  Wood  Servant  to  Joshua  Moode 
Thomas  Adkinson  Son  to  John  Adkinson 
Benjamin  Mors  Ju"" 
Thomas  Chase  Jn"" 
James  Brickit 
Ebenezer  Barton 
Mosis  Richardson 
Israel  Adams 
James  Jackman 
John  Pettinggall 
Richard  Hale 

Daniel  Roberson  Servant  to  John  Noyes,  Ju"" 
Lawrance  Hart  Servant  to  Mr  John  Calef 
Ebenezer  Burbank 
William  Herdy 
Jacob  Herdy 

Joseph  Moulton  Servant  to  Cutting  Noyes  Ju^ 
(this  last  named  is  erased) 

Thomas  Noyes  Coll 
To  Capt  Joseph  Eaton.* 

The  treaty  of  peace  concluded  at  Utrecht,  April  11,  171 3, 
closed  the  war  of  the  Spanish  succession  that  had  disturbed 
the  peace  and  quiet  of  Europe  for  eleven  years  ;  but  the 
questions  relating  to  the  bounds  and  limits  of  the  English 
and  French  colonies  in  America  were  left  unsettled,  and 
remained  a  subject  of  dispute  until  Canada,  Acadia,  Cape 
Breton,  and  the  islands  adjacent  thereto  were  ceded  to  Eng- 
land at  the  close  of  the  seven  years'  war,  in  1763. 

The  Indians,  however,  instigated  by  the  governor  of  Que- 
bec and  a  few  missionary  priests  to  whom  they  were  strongly 

*  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  vol.  1.,  pp.  344  and  345. 


544  I/IS  TORY  OF  XEWBURY 

attached,  continued  their  depredations  in  the  \icinit}-  of  Ber- 
wick, Brunswick,  and  Dover.  Scbastien  Ralle,  who  liad 
been  sent  by  the  Society  of  Jesuits  to  the  Indian  settlement 
at  Norridgewock,  was  a  firm  and  active  supporter  of  the 
Indian  sachems  and  the  warhke  {doUc}-  the)-  liad  adopted  in 
self-defence.  In  a  communication  addressed  to  the  governor 
of  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  he  vigorously  asserted 
their  right  to  the  undisturbed  possession  of  the  fields  and 
forests  they  had  inherited  from  their  ancestors,  and  protested 
against  the  efforts  that  were  being  made  to  oppress  and  drive 
them  from  their  homes. 

His  influence  with  the  Indians,  combined  with  his  courage 
and  sagacity,  rendered  him  obnoxious  to  the  authorities  of 
Massachusetts,  and,  in  1721,  the  troops  under  the  command 
of  Col.  Thomas  W'estbrook  attempted  to  seize  him,  but  he 
escaped  into  the  woods.  On  the  eighth  day  of  August,  1724, 
two  hundred  men,  in  four  companies,  under  Capt.  Johnson 
Harmon,  Capt.  Jeremiah  Moulton,  Capt.  [  ]  Bourn  (or 
Brown),  and  Lieut.  [  ]  Bean,  were  ordered  by  Col.  West- 
brook  to  proceed  in  whaleboats  up  the  Kennebec  river  to 
Taconic  falls,  and  thence,  by  forced  marches  through  the 
forest,  endeavor  to  surprise  the  Indians  at  Norridgewock, 
and  burn  or  otherwise  destroy  their  houses  and  wigwams. 
They  proceeded  cautiously,  and  arrived  at  the  little  village. 
"  no  longer  enclosed  with  a  stockade,  but  open  and  unpro- 
tected." In  the  desperate  contest  that  ensued,  Father  Ralle 
was  shot,  on  the  twenty-third  day  of  August,  1724,  and  in- 
stantly killed.  After  the  English  troops  had  departed,  he 
was  buried  by  his  Indian  friends  near  the  place  where  the 
altar  stood  in  the  church  that  was  burned  during  the 
conflict.* 

In  the  New  ICngland  Courant  for  August  24,  1724,  is 
the  following  notice  :  — 

On  Saturday  last  arrived  Capt  Johnson  Harmon  from  his  E.xpedi- 
tion  against  the  Indians  at  Norridgewock,  and  brought  with  him  28 
Scalps,  one  of  which  is  Father  Ralle's  their  Priest.f 

*  Massacluisetts  Historical  Collection,  Second  Series,  vol.  viii.,  pp.  250-257. 
t  New  Kngland  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  vol.  xlvi.,  p.  137. 


FREXCH  AND   INDIAN    WARS  545 

William  Dummer,  of  Newbury,  who  was  acting  governor  of 
the  province  at  that  time,  during  the  absence  of  His  Excel- 
lency Governor  Shute  in  England,  wrote  to  the  lords  of 
trade  in  London  as  follows  :  — 

In  the  Action  at  Norridgewock,  within  this  Province,  wch  was  in 
Augt  last,  our  Forces  destroy'd  a  great  number  of  the  Indians  &  broke 
up  that  Setdement,  among  whome  was  Sebastian  Ralle  a  Jesuit  &  Mis- 
sionary to  that  Tribe,  and  the  great  Incendiary  of  this  War,  who  was 
slain  in  Fight,  making  actual  Resistance  to  the  Forces,  at  the  same  time 
attempting  to  kill  an  English  Captive  in  his  Hand  and  refusing  to  give 
or  take  Quarter,  To  which  Acc^  of  ye  Death  of  the  s^  Ralle  Coll. 
Harman  the  Commander  of  the  Forces  at  Norridgewock  made  solemn 
Oath  before  me  in  Council.* 

Hutchinson,  in  his  History  of  Massachusetts,  gives  sub- 
stantially the  same  account  of  the  killing  of  Father  Ralle. 

Moulton  had  given  orders  not  to  kill  the  Jesuit,  but,  by  his  firing 
from  the  wigwam,  one  of  our  men  being  wounded,  a  lieutenant  Jaques 
stove  open  the  door  and  shot  him  through  the  head.  Jaques  excused 
himself  to  his  commanding  officer,  alleging  that  Ralle  was  loading  his 
gun,  when  he  entered  the  wigwam,  and  declared  that  he  would  neither 
give  nor  take  quarter. f 

The  statement  that  the  missionary  priest  was  killed  by 
Lieut.  Richard  Jaques,  of  Newbury,  is  probably  incorrect.^ 
\\\  the  muster-roll  of  Capt.  Johnson  Harmon's  company,  the 
name  of  Richard  Jaques  appears  as  corporal  and  also  as 
sergeant  from  February  28,  172 1-2,  to  November  20,  I722.§ 
But  there  is  no  evidence  that  he  was  a  lieutenant  in  Capt. 
Moulton's  company  when  the  attack  on  the  village  of  Nor- 
ridgewock was  made  August  23,  1824.  The  Indians,  in 
their  attempt  to  escape,  ran  for  the  river.  Capt.  Moulton, 
with  the  men  under  his  command,  followed  closely,  shooting 
the  fugitives  in  the  water  or  as  they  climbed  the  farther 
bank. 

When  they  returned  to  the  village  they  found  Rale  in  one  of  the 
houses,  firing  upon  some  of  their  comrades  who  had  not  joined  in  the 

*  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  vol.  xlviii.,  p.  187. 

t  History  of  Massachusetts  (edition,  1795),  vol.  ii.,  p.  2S2. 

+  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  194. 

§  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  vol.  xlviii.,  p.  283. 


546  HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 

pursuit.  He  presently  wounded  one  of  them  on  which  a  lieutenant 
named  Benjamin  Jaques  burst  open  the  door  of  the  house,  and.  as  he 
declared,  found  the  priest  loading  his  gun  for  another  shot.  The 
lieutenant  said  further  that  he  called  on  him  to  surrender,  and  that  Rale 
replied  that  he  would  neither  give  quarter  nor  take  it ;  on  which  Jaques 
shot  him  through  the  head.* 

Benjamin  Jaques  was  a  native  of  Harpswell,  Me. ;  and  his 
great-grandson  has  furnished  for  publication  some  facts  in 
relation  to  his  service  in  the  expedition  to  Norridgewock,  and 
a  brief  account  of  the  incidents  that  led  to  the  killing  of 
Father  Ralle.t 

*"  A  Half-century  of  Conflict,"  Parkman,  vol.  i.,  p.  237. 
t  Historical  Magazine,  vol.  viii.,  p.  177. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

LOUISBOURG,    CROWN    POINT,    AND    QUEBEC. 

The  treaty  of  Utrecht,  concluded  in  171 3,  gave  to  England 
Hudson  bay,  Newfoundland,  and  Acadia.  The  island  of  Cape 
Breton,  which  lies  to  the  eastward  of  Acadia,  and  is  separated 
from  it  only  by  the  narrow  strait  of  Canseau,  was  left  to 
France.  This  island,  from  its  position,  commands  the  entrance 
to  the  gulf  and  river  of  St.  Lawrence.  A  fortress  was  erected 
on  the  island  near  a  deep  and  capacious  harbor,  and  a  few 
French  families  were  induced  to  settle  there.  The  place 
was  named  Louisbourg  in  honor  of  Louis  XIV. 

In  time  it  grew  into  a  compact  fishing  town  of  about  four  thousand 
inhabitants,  with  a  strong  garrison  and  a  circuit  of  formidable  ramparts 
and  batteries.  It  became  by  far  the  strongest  fortress  on  the  Atlantic 
coast,  and  so  famous  as  a  resort  of  privateers  that  it  was  known  as  the 
Dunquerque  of  America.* 

The  right  of  Maria  Theresa  to  the  throne  made  vacant  by 
the  death  of  her  father,  Charles  VI.,  emperor  of  Austria,  was 
stoutly  contested  by  the  leading  powers  on  the  continent  of 
Europe.  England  favored  the  claims  of  the  Austrian  prin- 
cess, and  France  vigorously  opposed  them.  The  questions 
involved  in  the  controversy  were  of  momentous  importance, 
and  conflicting  interests  rendered  a  satisfactory  settlement  of 
them  impossible.  Realizing  that  an  appeal  to  arms  could  not 
be  averted,  France,  with  unexpected  zeal  and  promptness,  de- 
clared war  against  England  on  the   fifteenth  day    of    March, 

1743-4- 

During  the  following  summer,  the  fishermen  of  Marblehead 
and  other  towns  along  the  New  England  coast  were  attacked 
and  plundered  by  vessels  of  war  and  privateers  that  found 
shelter  and  protection  in  the  harbor  of  Louisbourg. 

*  "A  Half-century  of  Conflict,'"  Parkman,  vol.  i.,  p.  i8i. 
547 


LOUISIWUKG,  CROWN  POIA'T,  AND  QUEBEC 


549 


A  plan  for  the  capture  of  the  fort  at  that  place  was 
devised  by  William  Shirley,  governor  of  Massachusetts  ;  and 
January  26,  1744-5,  the  plan  was  adopted  by  the  General 
Court,  in  secret  session,  by  a  majority  of  one  vote.  Sir 
William  Pepperell  was  appointed  "  Lieutenant  General  and 
Commander-in-Chief  of  all  the  Forces  by  Sea  and  Land  en- 
listed for  the  Expedition  against  the  French  Settlement  on 
Cape  Breton"  ;  and,  February  7,  1744-5,  Moses  Titcomb,  of 
Newbury,  was  commissioned  major  and  captain  of  the  third 
company  in  the  Fifth  Massachusetts  regiment,  Robert  Hale, 
colonel.* 

The  Muster  Roll  of  the  Company  Inlisted  for  his  Majesties  Service  in 
the  Intended  Expedition  against  Cape  Breton  under  the  Command  of 
Capt  moses  Titcomb  of  Newbury  February  26th  1744.! 


Moses  Titcomb  Captain 

Sam>l  Greenough  Lieut 

Beamsly  Glover  [Glazier?]      " 
Jacob  Titcomb.         Second    " 


Knight 

Stephen  Swett 
Rowland  Stockman 


Sergeant 
Corporal 


SOLDIERS,    APPRENTICES    AND    SERVANTS 


age 

age 

Stephen  Atkinson 

24 

Joseph  Cheney 

39 

Joseph  Knight 

22 

Enoch  Sweett 

23 

Jacob  True 

19 

Martin  Ayers 

24 

John  Horbard 

22 

John  March,  3d 

20 

Benja  Titcomb,  Jun 

20 

Nathli  March 

21 

Nath"  Little 

22 

Joseph  Rowell 

20 

Samli  Lowell 

•9 

William  Perkins 

•9 

Daniel  Plumer 

45 

Thomas  Boardman 

'9 

Joseph  Eaton 

32 

Samll  Todd 

21 

Richd  Hale  Jun 

24 

John  Stanwood 

22 

Philip  March 

•7 

Matthew  Pettengell 

21 

Moses  Hoyte 

28 

David  Duston 

23 

Joseph  Stevens,  Jun 

28 

James  Beverly 

01 

John  Colby 

18 

Benjamin  Prefer 

22 

Richard  Carr 

20 

John  Harris 

19 

Johnson  Lunt  Jun 

19 

Benjamin  Swett 

18 

Oliver  Goodridge 

22 

Josiah  Merrill 

24 

Enoch  Stickney 

22 

Joseph  Hobson 

19 

Daniel  Lunt,  Jun 

21 

John  Couch 

17 

•  Society  of  Colonial  Wars'  Year  Book  for  1S95,  Appendix,  p.  8. 
t  Essex  Institute  Historical  Collections,  vol.  xxxv.,  p.  150. 


55°  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


(/;v 

age 

Ebenezer  Beal 

iS 

Eliphalet  Noyes 

21 

John  Flood 

so 

Giles  Harris 

20 

Andrew  Peirce 

29 

John  Dole  Jun 

36 

Jonathan  Shatswell 

35 

Benjamin  Woodman  Jun 

28 

All  the  officers  and  men  in  Capt.  Moses  Titcomb's  company 
resided  in  Newbury  at  the  date  of  their  enlistment,  except 
James  Beverly,  who  was  from  Haverhill,  and  John  Flood, 
from  Hampton,  N.H. 

The  troops,  embarked  on  ninety  transports  and  sixteen 
armed  vessels,  sailed  from  Nantasket  on  the  twenty-fourth 
day  of  March,  and  arrived  at  Canseau  on  the  fourth  day  of 
April.  They  were  detained  there,  by  head  winds  and  floating 
ice,  until  April  twenty-third,  when  Commodore  Warren,  with 
several  English  ships  of  war,  entered  the  harbor,  having  been 
ordered  to  join  the  expedition  there.  On  the  first  day  of  May, 
the  troops  landed  at  Gabarus  bay,  a  short  distance  from  the 
town  of  Louisbourg.  A  reconnoitring  force,  under  Colonel 
Vaughan,  burned  a  quantity  of  stores  and  buildings,  and  took 
possession  of  the  grand  battery,  which  they  found  abandoned. 
With  great  difficulty  they  dragged  cannon  over  the  swampy 
ground  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  fortress,  and  erected  tem- 
porary batteries  that  enabled  them  to  bombard  the  town  with 
shot  and  shell. 

A  constant  fire  was  kept  from  the  grand  battery  upon  the  town  with 
the  forty  two  pounders.  This  greatly  damaged  the  houses,  but  caused 
so  great  an  expense  of  powder  that  it  was  thought  advisable  to  stop  and 
reserve  it  for  the  fascine  batteries.  Five  of  these  were  erected,  the  last 
the  20th  of  May,  called  Titcomb's  battery,  with  five  forty  two  pounders, 
which  did  as  great  execution  as  any.* 

On  the  side  of  the  Barachois  [a  salt  pond  formed  by  a  projecting 
spit  of  sand],  farthest  from  the  town,  was  a  hillock  on  which  stood  the 
house  of  an  habitant  named  Martissan.  Here,  on  the  20'''  of  May,  a 
fifth  battery  was  planted,  consisting  of  two  of  the  French  forty-two 
pounders  taken  in  the  Grand  Battery,  to  which  three  others  were  after- 
wards added.  Each  of  these  heavy  pieces  was  dragged  to  its  destina- 
tion by  a  team  of  three  hundred  men  over  rough  and  rocky  ground  swept 

*  Hutchinson's  History  of  Massachusetts  (edition,  1795),  vol.  ii.,  p.  374. 


o   "^.  ^  t:?   ^ 


w   ,.5' 


05 


M, 


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/— < 

>— ( 

^ » 

rr^ 

t> 

O 

(— *: 

p: 

^; 

Q 

— 

>-• 

^ 

^, 

>- 

^— 

•vl 

J^ 

O"" 

"'^„ 


-"^ 


,^ 


-'^^ 


o 

-^^ 


552  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

by  the   French   artillery.     This  fifth   battery,  called  the    Northwest,  or 
Titcomb's,  proved  most  destructive  to  the  fortress.* 

After  a  siege  of  forty-nine  days,  articles  of  capitulation  were 
signed,  and  the  town  and  fort  of  Louisbourg  were  surrendered 
to  Sir  William  Pepperell,  commander  of  the  English  forces, 
on  the  seventeenth  day  of  June,  1745. 

Major  Titcomb  remained  on  duty  at  Louisbourg  for  several 
months  after  the  capture  of  the  town,  and  subsequently  was 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  troops  stationed  at  Falmouth 
(now  Portland),  Me.f 

Among  the  soldiers  who  applied  to  the  General  Court  for 
assistance  on  account  of  wounds  received  or  extra  service 
rendered  at  the  siege  of  Louisbourg  was  Thomas  Pike,  of 
Newbury.  He  petitioned,  July  19,  1746,  for  an  allowance, 
stating  "that  on  the  20**^  of  June  1745  he  received  a  commis- 
sion from  Governor  Shirley  to  be  adjutant  in  Choate's  regi- 
ment ;  that  he  was  before  and  after  that  lieutenant,  and  per- 
formed the  duty  of  both."  |  His  petition  was  not  granted  at 
that  date,  but  it  may  have  been  subsequently  accepted  and 
approved. 

July  24,  1746,  Moses  Hoyt,  of  Newbury,  applied  to  the 
General  Court  for  an  allowance,  in  consideration  of  wounds 
received  "in  the  late  Expedition  against  Cape  Breton." 

In  the  House  of  Representees  Read  and  Ordered  that  the  sum  of 
Twelve  Pounds  ten  shillings  be  allowed  the  Petitioner  for  his  present 
relief,  by  the  Commtee  of  War.  In  Council  Read  and  Concured  —  Con- 
sented to  by  the  Governr  § 

January  30,  1746-7,  John  March,  of  Salisbury,  was  allowed 
six  pounds  by  the  General  Court  "  for  his  hardships  and  suf- 
ferings in  the  late  Expedition  against  Cape  Breton."'  || 

*"  A  Half-century  of  Conflict,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  124.  In  the  same  volume,  pp.  112  and  113,  will 
be  found  a  map  showing  the  position  of  theFifth,  or  Col.  Titcomb's,  battery  at  the  siege  of  Louis- 
bourg. The  map  reproduced  on  the  preceding  page  is  from  Richard  Brown's  Historj'  of  the 
Island  of  Cape  Breton,  published  in  London  in  1S69. 

t"Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  464-473. 

t  Journal  of  House  of  Representatives. 

§  Massachusetts  Archives  (Court  Records),  vol.  xvii.,  p.  530.  In  a  petition  to  the  town  of 
Newbury,  September  ig,  1763,  Moses  Hoyt  stated  that  he  «-as  severely  wounded  in  the  attack 
upon  the  Island  battery  at  Louisbourg,  and  had  been  obliged  to  have  his  leg  amputated.  (Town 
of  Newbury  Records.) 

II  Massachusetts  Archives  (Court  Records),  vol.  xvii.,  part  v.,  p.  746. 


LOUISBOURG,  CROWN  POINT,  AND   QUEBEC  553 

April  I,  1747,  Richard  Carr,  of  Newbury,  "a  soldier  in  the 
late  expedition,"  was  granted  five  pounds  by  the  General 
Court  "  in  consideration  of  his  being  wounded  by  the  enemy 
&  disabled  thereby  from  Labour."  * 

March  27,  1747,  Jacob  March,  of  Newbury,  presented  a 
petition  to  the  General  Court  stating  that  "  he  enlisted  in  the 
late  expedition  as  Chirurgeon's  Mate  in  Col.  Willards  Regi- 
ment, but  the  Chief  Chirurgeon  being  dismissed  July  1745, 
the  whole  Business  of  a  Chief  Chirurgeon  was  devolved  upon 
him  for  some  Time  ;  as  also  the  care  of  Brigadier  Waldos 
Regiment  for  a  considerable  Time  :  and  being  allowed  Mates 
Pay  he  prays  a  farther  consideration." 

This  petition  was  referred  to  a  committee  who  reported  on 
the  thirty-first  day  of  March  "  that  the  Committee  on  War 
be  directed  to  allow  the  Petitioner,  on  due  Proof  of  the  Facts 
asserted,  such  sum  as  with  that  already  paid  him  will  make 
his  Wages  equal  to  that  of  a  chief  surgeon  from  July  11, 
1745  to  his  Dismission."  f 

Louisbourg  was  restored  to  France  by  the  treaty  of  peace 
signed,  October  18,  1748,  by  the  plenipotentiaries  of  France, 
England,  and  Holland  at  Aix-la-Chapelle. 

May  22,  1755,  Col.  John  Winslow  sailed  from  Boston 
with  two  thousand  men  to  assist  Lieutenant-colonel  Monckton 
in  an  attack  upon  Beausejour  and  other  dependent  forts  in 
Acadia.  More  than  half  of  the  peninsula  now  called  Nova 
Scotia  was  claimed  by  France,  although  England  had  held 
possession  of  it  for  more  than  forty  years.  The  Acadians 
were  accused  of  disloyalty,  and  suspected  of  instigating  and 
aiding  the  Indians  in  their  efforts  to  harass  and  annoy  the 
English  farmers  and  fishermen  who  had  been  induced  to 
settle  there.  They  were  promised  forgiveness  and  protection 
if  they  would  take  an  oath  of  allegiance  to  his  Majesty 
George  IL,  king  of  England.  They  declined  to  accept  this 
conciliatory  offer ;  and  after  a  brief  delay  they  were  taken 
from  their  homes  —  men  women,  and  children,  to  the  number 

*  Massachusetts  Archives  (Court  Records),  vol.  xvii.,  part  v.,  p.  833. 
t  Ibid.,  vol.  xviii.,  pp.  log,  no. 


554  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

of  six  thousand,  or  more, —  and  distributed  among  the  Eng- 
Hsh  colonies  from  Massachusetts  Bay  to  Georgia. 

The  selectmen,  or  overseers  of  the  poor,  in  the  several 
towns  in  Massachusetts,  were  ordered  to  keep  a  strict  account 
of  the  money  expended  for  the  support  of  these  exiles,  and 
send  a  copy  thereof  to  the  treasurer  of  the  province,  for  pay- 
ment, once  in  six  months.  The  town  of  Newbury  charged 
^49,  \s.  id.  for  maintaining  twenty-three  of  these  expatriated 
Acadians  from  January  fifth  to  June  i,  1756.* 

Affixed  to  a  bill  rendered  January  12,  1757,  by  John 
Brown,  Henry  Rolfe,  and  Cutting  Moody,  overseers  of  the 
poor,  is  the  following  statement :  — 

.  .  .  the  number  of  the  french  in  Newbury  is  twenty-three. 
4  of  which  are  very  old  and  unable  to  work. 

James  Brown 
Peter  Dorsett 
Peter  Dorsettjun 
Amicable  Dorsett 


Francis  Le  Blons: 


Five  men  able  to  labor  and  doo  work  att 
>  all  oppertunity  when  they  have  it  offered 
and  can  find  anything  to  do. 


The  Remaining  14  are  three  women  and  Eleven  Children  Unable  to 
work,  att  Least  to  very  Little  advantage. f 

After  the  incorporation  of  Newburyport,  in  1764,  these 
unfortunate  exiles  were  provided  for  by  the  overseers  of  the 
poor  of  that  town  and  subsequently  supplied  with  money, 
food,  and  clothing  to'  enable  them  to  go  to  friends  and  rela- 
tives in  Canada. 

In  May,  1756,  England  again  declared  war  against  Louis 
XV.,  and  during  the  following  summer  made  an  ineffectual 
attempt  to  capture  the  French  forts  that  had  been  erected,  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  great  lakes,  on  the  boundary  line  between 
the  English  and  French  colonies  in  America.  In  1757,  an 
attack  on  Louisbourg  was  planned  ;  but  for  various  reasons  it 
was  delayed  until  the  following  spring. 

Col.  Jeffrey  Amherst  was  appointed  commander-in-chief  of 
the   expedition.       Under    him  were  three    brigadier-generals, 

*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xxiii.,  p.  13S.        t  Ibid.,  p.  300. 


LOr/S/WrKG,   CKOIVJV  FOINT,  AND    QUEBEC  555 

Whitmore,  Lawrence,  and  Wolfe  :  the  latter  was  afterwards 
mortally  wounded  at  the  capture  of  Quebec.  Eleven  thou- 
sand soldiers  were  sent  from  England  to  Halifax,  in  twenty- 
three  ships  of  the  line,  eighteen  frigates,  and  a  fleet  of  trans- 
ports, under  the  command  of  Admiral  Boscawen,  There 
they  were  joined  by  a  force  of  five  or  eight  hundred  men 
from  the  seacoast  towns  of  New  England. 

Among  the  volunteers  who  served  in  this  expedition  was 
Nathaniel  Knap,  of  Newbury.  He  sailed  from  Portsmouth, 
N.H.,  on  Monday,  the  third  day  of  April,  and  arrived  at 
Halifax  April  lo,  1758,  at  about  nine  o'clock  p.m.  He 
was  occupied  in  cutting  timber  and  building  bridges  and 
block  houses,  until  Admiral  Boscawen,  with  his  fleet  of 
transports,  after  a  long  and  tedious  passage,  came  to  anchor 
in  the  harbor  on  the  ninth  day  of  May.* 

On  Sunday,  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  May,  the  fleet,  with 
all  the  troops  on  board,  sailed  from  Halifax,  and  arrived  at 
Gabarus  bay  on  the  second  of  June.  General  Wolfe,  with 
about  twelve  hundred  men,  made  a  landing  at  Freshwater 
cove,  four  miles  from  the  town  of  Louisbourg,  on  the  morning 
of  June  eighth,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  an  outpost  near 
the  shore,  defended  by  a  regiment  of  French  soldiers,  who, 
after  a  fierce  contest,  abandoned  all  their  cannon  and  fled  into 
the  woods. 

Strong  batteries  were  erected  at  favorable  points  on  the 
low  wooded  hills  in  that  neighborhood,  and  heavy  guns  and 
mortars  soon  opened  fire  on  the  French  ships  and  on  the 
island  battery  that  guarded  the  entrance  to  the  harbor.  After 
a  long  and  desperate  fight,  the  island  guns  were  dismounted 
and  silenced.  The  attack  on  the  fort  was  then  commenced  in 
good  earnest,  and  a  heavy  cannonade  directed  against  the 
town.  The  roar  of  mortars  and  cannons  continued  night  and 
day  for  more  than  a  month  longer.  Breaches  were  made  in 
the  walls  of  the  fort,  and  the  town  itself  was  almost  com- 
pletely destroyed.     July  26,  1758,  the  garrison  surrendered, 

*Sonie  of  the  most  important  events  connected  with  the  movement  of  troops  and  the  surren- 
der of  Louisbourg  were  recorded  by  Nathaniel  Knap  in  a  diary,  published  by  the  Society  of 
Colonial  Wars  in  1895.  A  brief  biographical  sketch  of  Nathaniel  Knap,  with  some  extracts  from 
the  diary,  may  be  found  in  "Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  484-491. 


55*^  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

and  the  officers  and  men  were  sent  to  England,  prisoners  of 
war,  in  British  ships.  Subsequently,  the  merchants  and  other 
inhabitants  of  the  town  were  taken  to  France,  and  all  that 
remained  of  the  fortifications  at  Louisbourg  was  demolished. 

Now  a  few  scattered  dwellings  dot  the  rough  hills,  bristled  with 
stunted  firs,  that  gird  the  quiet  basin ;  while  close  at  hand,  within  the 
precinct  of  the  vanished  fortress,  stand  two  small  farmhouses.  All  else 
is  a  solitude  of  ocean,  rock,  marsh  and  forest.  .  .  . 

Here  stood  Louisbourg  ;  and  not  all  the  efforts  of  its  conquerors,  nor 
all  the  havoc  of  succeeding  times,  have  availed  to  efface  it.  Men  in 
hundreds  toiled  for  months  witli  lever,  spade,  and  gunpowder  in  the 
work  of  destruction,  and  for  more  than  a  century  it  has  served  as  a  stone 
quarry  ;  but  the  remains  of  its  vast  defences  still  tell  their  tale  of  human 
valor  and  human  woe.* 

EXPEDITIONS  TO  CROWN  POINT. 

Although  France  retained  possession  of  Canada  and  Acadia 
by  the  terms  of  the  treaty  concluded  at  Aix-la-Chapelle  in 
1748,  the  boundary  line  of  the  English  colonies  in  America, 
from  the  Ohio  river  to  the  gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  was  left  un- 
settled, and  led  to  a  renewal  of  hostilities  in  1754,  although 
war  was  not  actually  declared  until  1756. 

William  Shirley,  governor  of  the  province  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  sent  an  armed  force  under  the  command  of  Major-general 
John  Winslow,  of  Marshfield,  in  1754,  to  build  a  fort  on 
the  Kennebec  river.  Jacob  March,  of  Newbury,  served  as 
surgeon  of  the  expedition  from  June  third  to  September 
twenty-first.  The  fort  was  completed  on  the  third  day  of 
September,  and  called  Fort  Halifax. f 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1755,  preparations  were  made  for  an 
attack  on  Crown  Point  by  an  armed  force  of  nearly  thirty-five 
hundred  men,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  William  Johnson. 

Moses  Titcomb,  of  Newbury,  who  had  served  with  honor  in 
the  campaign  of  1745  at  Louisbourg,  was  appointed  colonel 
of  an  Essex  county  regiment,  and  ordered  to  march  with  his 
troops  in  the  expedition  to   Lake  George  and  Crown   Point. | 

*"  Montcalm  and  Wolfe,"  Parknian,  vol.  ii.,  p.  53. 
t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xciii.,  p.  107. 

t  See  Massachusetts  Archives  (Muster  Rolls),  vol.  xcv.,  part  i.,  p.  96,  for  the  names  of  the 
officers  of  this  regiment  and  their  terms  of  service. 


LOUISBOUKG,  CROWN  POINT,  AND    QUEBEC  557 

The  regiment  attended  service  in  the  meeting-house  of  the 
Third  parish  in  Newbury  on  the  twenty-second  day  of  May, 
1755,  and  Hstened  to  a  sermon  by  the  Rev.  John  Lowell,  from 
the  text,  "  For  the  Lord  your  God  is  he  that  goeth  with  you, 
to  fight  for  you  against  your  enemies,  to  save  you." 

In  the  battle  that  began  between  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock 
on  the  eighth  day  of  September,  1755,  at  Lake  George,  Col- 
onel Titcomb  had  command  of  the  extreme  right  wing  of 
General  Johnson's  army.  The  French  forces,  defeated,  fled 
into  the  woods,  leaving  their  baggage  and  military  supplies 
unprotected.  At  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  while 
the  battle  was  raging  furiously,  and  the  noise  of  musketry  was 
heard  all  along  the  line.  Colonel  Titcomb  was  shot  and  in- 
stantly killed  by  a  party  of  Indians,  who  were  concealed  in  a 
swamp  about  eighty  rods  distant.* 

General  Johnson,  slightly  wounded,  was  borne  from  the  field 
at  the  beginning  of  the  battle  ;  and  the  attack  on  the  fort  at 
Crown  Point  was,  by  his  order,  abandoned  until  a  more  con- 
venient season. 

Samuel  Blodget,  a  trader  in  Boston  and  a  sutler  in  the  army, 
made  a  plan  of  the  battlefield,  which  was  engraved  by  Thomas 
Johnston,  and  published  by  Richard  Draper  in  175  5-1  The 
plan  is  reproduced  on  the  next  page.  The  position  of  the 
troops  and  other  points  of  interest  are  marked  on  the  plan 
to  correspond  with  the  figures  in  the  following  list :  — • 

6.  Canadians  and  Indians 

7.  P>ench  regulars  attacking 

8.  Road 

9.  Provincials  in  action 

10.  Trees  felled  for  breast  works 

11.  Cannon. 

12.  Cannon  posted   on  an  emi- 

nence. 

13.  Place  where  Dieskau  fell. 
14  and  15.     Canadians 
16    The  man  that  shot  Dieskau. 

•  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  464-473. 

r  Narrative  and  Critical  History  of  America,  vol.  v.,  note,  p.  586.  The  plan  vi'as  reproduced 
in  Bancroft's  History  of  the  United  States  (1^54),  vol.  ix.,  p.  210;  also,  in  the  History  of  Lake 
George  and  Lake  Champlain,  by  B.  C.  Butler  (186S). 


17 

Reserves 

18 

Woods  and  Swamps 

•9 

Morass 

20 

Cannon  defending  the  flank. 

21 

Baggage  wagons 

22, 

23  and  24  Stores  and  Amu- 

nition 

25 

Mortars 

26 

Road  to  the  lake 

27, 

28  and  29  Store  houses 

30 

Mowhawks 

BLODGET'S    MAP    OF    THE    BATTLE    OF    LAKE    GEORGE,   1755. 


LOUISBOUKG,  CROWN  POINT,  AND    QUEBEC 


559 


31 

Gen.  Johnson's  tent 

36 

Col  Ruggles'  re 

32 

Col  Lyman's  regiment 

37 

Col  Titcomb's 

33 

Col  Harris'            " 

38 

Col  Guttridge's 

34 

Col  Cockroft's       " 

39 

Officers 

35 

Col  Williams' 

During  the  summer  of  1755,  additional  troops  were  sent  to 
re-enforce  the  army  in  the  vicinity  of  Lake  George.  One 
company,  composed  of  the  following-named  officers  and  men 
from  Newbury,  served  from  September  8,  1755,  to  January  6, 
1756.* 


Samuel  Gerrish  Jun  Capt. 
Joseph  Little,  Lieut. 

Henry  Chipman,  Ensign 
Daniel  Chismore  Corporal 
Anthony  Morse  Private 
Samuel  Woodman  " 


Jonathan  Martin  Private 
Samuel  Hogg  " 

Benjamin  Winter  " 
Ebenezer  Flood  " 
John  Dole  " 


At  about  the  same  time,  Capt.  Jonathan   Poor  organized  a 
company  that  served  a  little  more  than  two  months  at  Lake 


His   Majesty's   service    under  the 
from    Sept  9,    1755    to    Nov.    17, 


George  and  Crown  Point. 

Muster-Roll  of    the    Company  in 
command  of  Jonathan  Poor  Capt. 

[In   the   Crown    Point   expedition 
•755-]t 

Jonathan  Poor 

David  Hazeltine 

David  Parker 

Isaac  Chandler 

Jno  Peabody 

Samuel  Currier 

Daniel  Jaquish 

Seth  Petty 

Daniel  Dane 

Isaac  Abott 

Richard  Peabody 

Asa  Swan 

Daniel  Blanchard 

Uriah  Abbott 

Sami  Holt 

•Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xciv.,  p.  107.     Other  officers  and  men  belonging  to  this  com- 
pany were  from  Salisbury,  Amesbury,  Rowley,  and  Haverhill, 
t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xciv.,  p.  14. 


Capt 

PRIVATES. 

Lieut 

Josiah  Gutherson 

2nd       i' 

Benjn  Fish 

Serjeant 

Jno  Asten 

" 

George  Davis 

u 

Joseph  Odell 

" 

Andrews  Johnson 

Clerk 

Daniel  Crysey 

Corporal 

Israel  Adams 

Thoms  Russell 

James  Pearson 

" 

John  Cillam 

; 

Thorns  Hovey 

" 

Moses  Haggott 

Drummer 

Sami  Walker 

560 


HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 


Stephen  Carlton 
Joseph  Marbell 
Richard  Kimball 
William  Kimball 
J  no  Presbey 
Asa  Giles 
Tubal  Ayers 
Obediah  lielknap 
Joseph  Webster 
James  Eaton 
Daniel  Coffin 


PRIVATES  {continued ). 

Thorns  Emmery 
Nathan  Merrill 
Ebenezer  Brown 
Enoch  Johnson 
Thoms  Mitchell 
Nathaniel  Mearill 
Enoch  Poor 
Nathan  Austin 
Andrew  Foster 
Joseph  Parker 
Ward  Noves  * 


At  a  conference  of  the  governors  of  Massachusetts,  Con- 
necticut, New  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  Maryland,  held  De- 
cember 12,  1755,  another  expedition  to  Crown  Point  was 
agreed  upon ;  and  the  General  Court  of  the  province  of  Mas- 
sachusetts Bay  voted  to  raise  thirty-five  hundred  men  to  be 
placed  with  other  provincial  troops  under  the  command 
of  Gen.  John  Winslow,  of  Marshfield.  Owing  to  the  capture 
of  the  fort  at  Oswego,  early  in  the  spring  of  1756,  by  the 
French  general,  Montcalm,  the  attack  on  Crown  Point  was 
again  deferred,  and  the  troops  remained  inactive  in  the  vicinity 
of  Lake  Champlain  until  their  term  of  enlistment  expired. 

The  Newbury  men  who  served  in  this  expedition  were  en- 
rolled in  two  companies  and  credited  with  ten  months'  ser- 
vice in  the  regiment  commanded  by  Col.  Jonathan  Bagley, 
who  was  stationed  at  Fort  William  Henry  on  Lake  George, 
and  employed  during  the  summer  of  1756  in  building  three 
sloops  and  several  hundred  whale-boats  for  the  transportation 
of  troops  and  munitions  of  war  to  Ticonderoga.f 

Muster  Roll  of  the  company  in  His  Majesty's  service  under  the  com- 
mand of  Col.  Jonathan  Bagley,  John  Kingsbury  Capt.  at  Crown  Point 
from  Feb.  18  to  Dec.  17  1756. J 


Gedion  Woodwell   ist  Lieut. 
Benj.  Kingsberry.    2d     " 
Timothy  Colby  Ensign 


Joseph  Remick  Clerk 

Joseph  Rose  Serg. 

Humphrey  Atkinson         " 


*Tliis  company  was  partly  composed  of  Newbury  men,  but  their  places  of  residence  are 
not  given  in  the  muster  roll. 

t"  Montcalm  and  Wolfe,"  Parkman,  vol.  i.,  p.  3S8. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives  (Muster  Rolls),  vol.  xcv.,  p.  92;  also,  pp.  199  and  424,  and  vol. 
xciv.,  p.  392,  and  pp.  105,  135,  and  358. 


LAKE  GEORGE,  TICONDEROGA,   AND   CROWN    POINT. 


562 


HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 


James  Carr.                      Serg. 

Richard  Kent 

John  Butler.                     corp. 

Ebenr  Knapp. 

Jonathan  Noice.                 " 

Jona  Lowell 

Isaac  Remick.                    " 

Willm  Mitchell 

William  Coffin.                   " 

Sam'l  Morgaridge 

Wm.  Morgaridge 

PRIVATES. 

Jona  Norton 

Hezek.  Aubin. 

Edwd  Pettingell 

William  Brown. 

Mathew  Pettingell 

Silas  Burbank. 

Jona  Roggers 

Hezek.  Colby. 

Will""  Sampson 

Joshua  Colby 

Joseph  Sampson 

Samuel  Cresse 

Moses  Sweet 

Nicholas  Currier 

Samuel  Sweet. 

John  Downing. 

Joseph  Stockman. 

Joseph  Inglish. 

Ballard  Smith. 

John  Goodrich. 

Jona  Whitmore 

Joseph  Gareland. 

Daniel  Willit. 

Joseph  Godfree. 

Sam  11  Wallingford 

Nath.  Hunt. 

Oliver  Worster. 

Nehemiah  Johnson 

Edwd  Thompson 

Samuel  Candrick. 

George  Mace 

Daniel  Kent 

John  Weed 

The  officers  and  men  named  in  the  above  hst  were  from 
Newbury,  except  Col.  Jonathan  Bagley  and  Ensign  Timothy 
Colby,  who  were  from  Amesbury.  Gideon  Woodwell,  lieu- 
tenant, was  placed  in  charge  of  the  ship-carpenters  at  Fort 
William  Henry.     His  commission  reads  as  follows:  — 

William  Shirley,  Esq,  Captain  General  and  Governor  in  Chief  in  and 
over  his  Majesty's  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay  in  Nev/  England  and 
Vice  Admiral  of  tlie  same,  General  and  Commander  in  Chief  of  his 
Majesty's  Forces  in  North  America. 

To  Gideon  Woodwell,  Gentleman,  Greeting.  His  Majesty's  Service 
requiring  that  a  number  of  Shipwrights  and  others  skilled  in  the  felling 
and  hewing  of  Timber  should  be  forthwith  sent  from  this  Province  for 
the  Building  of  Battoes  &c  for  Transporting  the  Forces  destined  for  the 
Intended  Expedition  against  Crownpoint. 

You  are  hereby  authorized  and  impowered  to  take  upon  you  the 
Direction  of  a  Company  of  Artizans  and  the  Government  over  them  in 
all  Matters  relating  to  the  said  Business  and  you  are  to  follow  all  sucli 
Orders  as  you  shall  receive  from  me  or  any  Person  or  Persons  I  shall 
appoint  to  give  you  Instructions  herein  for  which  this  shall  be  your 
sufficient  Warrant. 


LOUISIWURG,   CROWX  POINT,  AND    QUEBEC 


563 


Given  under  my  hand  and  Seal  at  Arms  at  Boston   the.  twenty  third 
day  of  March  1756  In  the  twenty  ninth  Year  of  his  Majestys  Reign. 
By  his  Excellency's  Command  W.  Shirley 

Thos.  Clarke,  Depty  Secry 

Muster  Roll  of  Capt.  Beniah  Youngs'  Company  on  the  late  Crown 
Point  Expedition  from  Feb.  iS.  1756  to  Decern.  22  following.  In  Col. 
Bagley's  Regm't.* 


Beniah  Young.  Capt. 

Saml.  Greenleaf.  Lieut. 
Stephen  Ilssly.  Ensign. 
Francis  HoUaday.  Serg. 
Stephen  Clark.  " 

Wm.  Stockman  " 

Thomas  Pearsons.  Clerk. 
Dan'l  Sampson.  Corp. 
James  Hayes  " 

Stephen  Haskell  " 

Wyman  Bradbury       " 
Joseph  Adams  Drummer 

PRIVATES. 

Wm.  Hudson  Ballard. 
Abner  Bagley. 
Kiah  Bagley 
Anth.  Bell. 
Wm.  Colewell 
Joseph  Cooker 
Daniel  Curtis 
Wm.  Connor. 
John  Casserday 
Philemon  Casserday 


Rich.  Dole. 
Davd  Downing 
Edmd  Emery 
Thomas  Ford 
Wm.  Ferrick 
Jona  Griffin 
Enoch  Gooding 
Zebediah  Hunt 
John  Harshorn 
Paul  Ilsley. 
Daniel  Knight 
Joseph  Low 
Josiah  Martin 
Barnard  Mace 
Nath'l  Noice 
Ambrose  Nelson 
Thomas  Obrion 
Jos.  Pettingell 
Elisha  Pillsbury 
Benj.  Rogers 
Sumner  Shackford 
Enoch  Wells. 
Benj.  Winter 


Other  men  enrolled  in  this  company  were  from  Rowley, 
Haverhill,  Amesbury,  and  Salisbury. 

There  was  also  one  company  from  Newbury  in  the  regiment 
commanded  by  Col.  Ichabod  Plaisted,  of  Salem,  engaged  in  the 
same  service  from  February  eighteenth  to  December  22,  1756, 
as  follows  :  —  f 


Jonathan  Pearson,  Capt. 
Joshua  Greenleaf,  Lieut 
Benjamin  Brown,  Ensign 


Thomas  Stevens,  Sergt 
Andrew  Rody,  " 

Paul  Cammatt,  " 


•  Massachusetts  Archives  (Muster  Rolls),  vol.  xcv.,  p.  134.        t  Ibid.,  pp.  136-138. 


564  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Joseph  Noyes,  Clerk  Henry  Noyes 

Ezekiel  Mighill,     Private  John  Owens 

ditto  Sergt  George  Pattison 

William  Badger,  Corporal  Jonathan  Rogers 

Tristam  Coffin,  ■'  Samuel  Swett 

Joseph  Creesy,  Drummer  Samuel  Stickney 

James  Tenny 

PRIVATES  Benjamin  Perkins 

Samuel  Burrell  Benjamin  Coffm 

John  Knowlton  John  Dole 

Richard  Brett  Jeremiah  Dalton 

Joseph  Coffin  Nathl  Foster 

Benjamin  Coffin  Daniel  Norton* 

In  addition  to  the  Newbury  men  who  enhsted  in  Col.  Jona- 
than Bagley's  and  Col.  Ichabod  Plaisted's  regiments,  a  large 
number  served  during  the  summer  of  1754  or  winter  of 
1754-5  in  Col.  John  Greenleaf's  regiment.  March  20,  1756, 
Colonel  Greenleaf  reported  "  An  exact  list  of  the  men  who 
have  been  employed  in  his  Majesty's  Service  These  two  years 
Past,"  as  follows  :  —  f 

Col  John  Greenleaf 79  men 

Col  Moses  Titcomb 78  " 

Major  Joseph  Gerrish 24  " 

Capt  John  Northend 25  " 

Capt  Richard  Kent 19  " 

Capt.  Richard  Thirston 17  '• 

Capt  Stephen  Emery 29  " 

Capt  John  Pearson 35  "' 

Capt  Caleb  Gushing 17  " 

Capt  Moses  Sargeant 4C  " 

Capt  James  Smith 25  " 

Capt  William  True  35  " 

Capt  George  Worthen 43  "' 

The  residences  of  the  men  are  not  given  in  the  original  list, 
but  the  following-named  persons  in  Colonel  Greenleaf's  com- 
pany were  evidently  from  Newbury  :  — 

Philip  Coombs  Gershom  Ikirbank 

James  Bayley  Benja  Chandler 

Jona  Boardman  Paul  Currier 

*The  remainder  of  this  company  was  composed  of  men  from  Ipswich,  Salisbury,  and  other 
towns  in  the  vicinity. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xciv. ,  p.  134. 


LOUISBOrRG,  CKOWX  POINT,  AND   QUEBEC 


56; 


Moses  Cross 
Benja  Coffin 
William  Lord 
William  Coffin 
Joseph  Coker 
John  Castro 
-Joseph  Clough 
Joseph  English 
John  Gould 
James  Hill 
Samuel  Long 
Francis  Hodgkins 
John  Hilton 
Isaac  Jillings 
John  Lord 
John  Dole 
David  Coat 
Benja  Sweet 
Friend  Moody 
Moses  Rolf 
Benja  Libra 
Joseph  Cheney 
Abel  Davis 
Hezekiah  Colby 
John  Pike 
Stephen  Haskell 
Sami  Aubin 
Anthony  Stickney 
Joseph  Little 
Benja  Rogers 
Daniel  Tilton 
William  Moody 
Will"!  Noyes 
Nathl  Hunt 
John  Wyatt 
Samel  Walincrford 


Ballard  Smith 
Daniel  Willet 
David  Titcomb 
Elipht  Griffin 
Benja  Moody 
Samel  Holt 
George  Paterson 
Hezikiah  Aubin 
Francis  Whiteher 
Patrick  Phisgard 
Jona  Blake 
Jona  Reynolds    . 
Elimeleek  Weed 
Benja  Simpson 
Saml  Stickney 
Thomas  Sweet 
Stephen  Hunt 
Andrew  Rody 
George  Mace 
Thomas  Eaton 
Sergeant  Weed 
Saml  Blackenburg 
Edwd  Holland 
Richd  Flood 
Jona  Pearson 
Gideon  Woodwell 
Henry  Chipman 
Saml  Morgaridge 
Skipper  Lunt 
Daniel  Tilton 
Stephen  Tilton 
Samel  Moody 
Philip  White 
Joseph  Little 
Andrew  Flood  * 


In  Colonel  Titcomb's  company  all,  or  nearly  all,  the  follow- 
ing-named persons  were  from  Newbury  :  — 


Col"  Moses  Titcomb 
Edmd  Morss 
John  Kingsbury 
Henrv  Titcomb 


Benaiah  Young 
Daniel  Pike 
Abner  Dole  Jun 
Daniel  Kent 


■  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xciv.,  p.  131. 


566 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


Enoch  Pilsbury 
Edmund  Davis 
Sherbon  Sleeper 
John  Satchell 
John  Swett 
William  Swett 
Isaac  Remick 
Joseph  Somerby 
Joseph  Sampson 
John  Knowlton 
James  Buzwell 
Josiah  Martin 
Jona  Bradbury 
Moses  Atkinson 
Morrill  Witcher 
Nathi  Lane 
Nathi  Foster  Jr 
Nicholas  George 
Nathan  Page 
Samuel  Aubin  Jun 
Baker  Coffin 
Sam'l  Carr 
Thomas  Bartlett  3d 
Willm  Weed 
Willm  Harvey 
John  Holiday 
Nathel  Howard 
Eleazer  Hudson 
Joseph  Rogers 
Sam'l  Burrell 
Mathew  Pettingall 
Josiah  Chase 
Jeremiah  Lull 
James  Horton 


Moses  George 
Jona  Moulton 
Seth  Bartlet  Jun 
John  Plat 
Jona  Morrill 
Will'"  Conner 
Andrew  Rodes 
Timothy  Rian 
James  Nickells 
Jeffry  Titcomb 
John  Knowlton 
Stephen  Coffin 
Willm  Morgaridge 
Joseph  Leach 
James  Carr 
Hardy  Lowell 
Willm  Brown 
Obediah  Eaton 
Benjamin  Sampson 
Joshua  Titcomb 
John  Pilsbury 
James  Hayes 
Benja  Rogers 
Jona  Dole  Jun 
Joseph  Garlin 
Robert  Jones 
Thomas  Moulton 
Will'"  Mitchell 
David  Stickney 
James  Hackett 
John  Sweet 
Daniel  Goodin 
Thomas  Ford 
Skipper  Lunt  * 


The  following;  men  from  Newbury  were  enrolled  in    Major 
Joseph  Gerrish's  company  :  — 


Nathl  Adams 
Jona  Martin 
Will'"  Stickney 
Nath'  Gitchell 
Joseph  Walingford 
Sam"  Dutcv 


John  Pike 
Nath"  Adams 
Willni  Stickney 
Jona  Stickney 
Nath"  Heth 
Thomas  Perrin 


*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xciv.,  p.  131. 


LOUISBOURG,   CKOIVN  POINT,  AND    QUEBEC 


567 


Joseph  Spiller 
Charles  Casity 
David  Woodman 
Anthony  Bell 
Nath"  Getchell 
Aaron  Nichols 


James  Smith.  Jun, 
Edmd  Cheney.  Jun 
Joseph  Walingford 
Jona  Martin 
Samli  Hogg 
Benjamin  Winter* 


In    the    company    under   the    command    of  Capt.    Richard 
Kent  were  nineteen  men  from  Newbury,  as  follows  :  — 


Joseph  Ilsley  Jun 
Nathil  Clough 
Nath"  Clough 
Samli  Currier 
Enoch  Wells 
Patrick  Sirvant 
Will"!  Stickney 
Thomas  Knight 
Thos  Ilsley 
Thomas  Greenleaf 


John  Follinsby 
James  Stickney 
Ebenezer  Flood 
David  Knight 
John  Moody 
Will'"  Moody 
Thoms  Noyes 
Richd  Little 
Sam"  Toppan  3''d 


The  following-named  men  in   Capt.  Stephen  Emery's  com- 
pany were  probably  from  Newbury  :  — 


George  Freeze  f 
John  Campbell  f 
John  Cooper y 
Stephen  Rogers  Jun 
Stephen  Bagley  Jun 
George  Freeze  f 
John  Campbell  f 
John  Cooper j 
Stephen  Lowell 
David  Ossillaway 
Anthony  Chase 
Joseph  Lowell 
Barns  Short 


Sam"  Emery 
Alexander  Mills 
Andrew  Downer 
Israel  Gardner 
Daniel  Cheney 
Joseph  Cooper 
Stephen  Richardson 
Thoms  Pike  Jun 
Jacob  Bartlet 
Anthony  Morss 
Sam'i  Woodman 
Daniel  Cheesemore 
Thomas  Folinsby  -j- 


In  the  company  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Caleb  Cush- 
ing  were  seventeen  men,  probably  from  Newbury  and  Salis- 
bury, as  follows  :  — 

*Massacliusetts  Archives,  vol.  xciv.,  p,  132. 

t  In  the  original  list,  the  names  of  George  Freeze,  John  Campbell,  and  John  Cooper  are  re- 
corded twice.     See  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xciv.,  p.  132. 


5  68 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


Sam"  Greeley 
Shubael  Greely 
Henry  Moody 
Daniel  Moody 
Benja  Buswell 
John  Stephens 
Josiah  Hook 
Samll  March 
David  Eaton 


James  Frencli 
Moses  Merrill 
Will"!  Eaton 
Willm  Townsend 
Abell  Davis 
Nathli  Carr 
Abell  Davis.  Jun 
Simon  Williams  * 


In  Capt.  James  Smith's  company  nearly,  if  not  all,  the  fol- 
lowing-named men  were  from  Newbur)' :  — 


Willm  Cooper 
John  Cooper 
James  Goss 
Francis  England 
Wells  Chase 
Hezekiah  Hutchins 
Johnson  Chase 
Benja  Jaques  Jun 
Stephen  Merrill 
Ebenezer  Dow 
Nath"  Plumer 
Nath"  Plumer.  Jun 
Eph'"  Boynton 


John  Chase 

Willm  Harris 

John  Cooper 

James  Smith 

Benja  Pressy 

Thomas  Chase 
/■Solomon  Holeman 
7- Nathan  Bayley 

Nath"  Low 

Amos  Dole 

Docf  Jacob  March 

Capt  Sam"  Gerrish  -)- 


All  persons  between  sixteen  and  sixty  years  of  age,  who 
were  exempt  from  ordinary  military  duty,  were  organized  and 
ordered  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  respond  to  any  call 
for  service  within  the  hmits  of  the  town.  The  following- 
named  persons,  enrolled  in  two  militia  companies,  were  prom- 
inent in  the  commercial,  social,  and  professional  life  of  New- 
bury. 

The  Alarrum  List  of  the  foot  company  in  Newbury  of  which  Joseph 
Cofifin  is  Capt.  1757.  July  13. 


The  Rev.  Mr.  Bass. 
The  Rev.  Jona  Parsons. 
Edmund  March. 
John  Brown. 
Step"  Sewall. 
Will"!  Atkins,  jun. 


Nathan  Hale.  jun. 
Abraham  Titcomb. 
Anthony  Stickney  Lieut. 
Moses  Bradstreet. 
Capt.  Gideon  Woodwell. 
Lieut.  Joshua  Greenleaf. 


*  Massachusetts  Aicliives,  vol.  xciv.,  p.  133. 


t  Ibid.,  p.  134. 


LOr/SBOC^KG,  CKOWN  POINT,  AND    QUEBEC 


569 


Nathan  Brown. 
Capt.  John  Currier. 
Capt.  W'"  Allen. 
Eleazer  Johnson. 
Jona  Filbrook 
Ebenezer  Lowell. 
Dn  Thorns  Moody. 
Benja  Titcomb. 
Saml  Smith. 
Josiah  Woodbridge. 
Mr.  Benja  Woodbridge 
Ebenezr  Little 
Richd  Toppan. 
John  Alent. 
Moses  Pike 
Nicolas  Petting" 
Thomas  Smith  jun 
Robert  Cole 
Willi"  Couch 
Docf  Parker  Clark 
Docf  John  Sprague. 


Doct.  John  Newman 
Doct.  Parker  Noyes 
Isaac  Johnson. 
Capt.  Daniel  Tilton 
Capt.  Jona  Pearson 
Capt.  Nicholas  Tracy. 
Capt.  Daniel  Emery 
Capt.  John  Pearson 
Capt  [— ]   Baren  (?) 
Capt.  Jeremiah  Pearson 
Mr.  Eleazer  Hudson 
Willni  Jenkins. 
Saml'  Emerson. 
Nathaniel  Sawyer. 
Nathan  Prince. 
Capt.  Daniel  Marquand 
Ebenezer  Sergeant 
Ralph  Cross 
John  Wood 
Jonathan  Beck 
Samuel  Harris  * 


The  Larrum  List  of  the  Fifth  Company  of  Militia  in  the  Town  of 
Newbury  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Richard  Greenleaf.  1757. 


John  Kingsbury. 
Theophilus  Bradbury. 
Benaiah  Young. 
Samuel  Greenleaf. 
Joseph  Atkings 
Arcalus  Woodman. 
William  Macheard. 
John  Ordway. 
Dudley  Atkings. 
John  Berry. 
Edmund  Moss. 
Ebenezar  Knap 
Daniel  Farnam. 
Samuel  Somersby. 
Abiall  Somersby. 
Joseph  Titcomb 
Richard  Coffin 
Abell  Merrill. 
Enoch  Titcomb  jun. 

*  Massachusetts  Archives  (Muster 


Joshua  Titcomb 

Phillip  White. 

Sumersby  Moody. 

Enoch  Plumer. 

Henry  Friend. 

Hilton  Woodman 

Nathaniel  Chase 

William  Coffin 

Mahew  Greenleaf. 

Jonathan  Hartshorne 

Bolan  Stocman 

Seth  Bartlett 

John  Brown  (Lame) 

Icabod  Woodman.  (Lame) 

Abnah  Dole.  (Lame) 

Moses  Hoyte  (one  foot.) 

Jonathan  Sampson  (one  eye) 

Alett  Greenlife. 

John  Friend. 

Rolls),  vol.  xcv.,  p.  421. 


57° 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


John  Knight 
Charles  Hodge 
Michael  Dalton 
Jonathan  Dole 
Paul  Shackford. 
Daniel  Coffin 
William  Davenport. 
Benjamin  Greenleaf. 
Richard  Greenough. 
John  Lowell. 
John  Kent. 


Nathanel  Foster 
Enoch  Sawyer. 
Edmund  Sawyer. 
Micajah  Sawyer 
John  Atkinson 
Joseph  Whitmore 
Samuel  Nowell 
John  Britt 
Jonathan  Thomb  (?) 
Joshua  Lunt 
Moses  Sawyer.* 


A   List  of  the  Training  Soldiers  in  the  Second  Company  of  Foot  in 
Newbury  under  the  Command  of  Lieut  Coll  Josh  Gerrish.f 


SERGENTS 

Richard  Dummer 
Jereh  Poor 
Caleb  Burbank 
Moses  Pearson 
Henry  Adams 
John  Thorla 
Saml  Davenport 
Jon"  Swett 
Thomas  Lull 
Henry  Poor 

John  Adams 
Charles  Adams 
Daniel  Adams 
Moses  Adams 
Joseph  Adams 
Lsrael  Adams 
Life  Adams 
Edmund  Adams 
Daniel  Barker 
John  Bailey 
Micjah  Burbank 
Moses  Chaney 
Ezrah  Clough 
Ebenr  Clark 
Benja  Chaney 


Shubeal  Dummer 
William  Dummer 
John  Daly 
John  Danfort 
Oliver  Danfort 
Moses  Daly 
Micjah  Dickerson 
Saml  Danford  Jun 
Joseph  Danford 
John  Frazier 
Enoch  Flood 
Richard  Gutridge 
Enoch  Gutridge 
Josiah  Gutridge 
Joseph  Gerrish 
Enoch  Gerrish 
Jacob  Gerrish 
Saml  Gerrish  Jun 
Moses  Hale 
John  Jackman 
Edward  Longfellow 
Saml  Longfellow 
Moses  Lull 
Joseph  Lesley 
Elkanah  Lunt  Jun 
Jona  Martin 
Parker  Mores 


*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xcv.,  p.  424.  In  addition  to  the  names  printed  above 
"[ ]  Frees,  cripple,  John  Stickney,  lame,  William  Starkey  blind"  were  reported  as  physi- 
cally disqualified  for  military  service. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xcv.,  pp.  427,  428. 


LOUISnOUKG,  CROWN  POINT,  AND    QUEBEC 


571 


Abner  Mores 
John  Noyes 
Saml  Noyes 
John  Noyes  Jun 
Daniel  Parmer 
Moses  Poor 
Jona  Pearson 
Paul  Pearson 
Jereh  Pearson 
Enoch  Pearson 
Solomon  Pearson 
Jos'>  Pearson 
Thomas  Perrin 
Bemsley  Plummer 
Thomas  Pike 
Thomas  Smith 
David  Stickney 
William  Stickney 
Paul  (?)  Stickney 
Moses  Smith 
Joseph  Series 
John  Series  Jun 
David  Spoil:ord 
Benj'"'  Sayer 
Nath'  Tenney 
Oliver  Tenney 
Richard  Tenney 
John  Turner 
Will'"  Turner 
George  Thorla 
Moses  Thorla 
Tristram  Thorla 
John  Thorla  Jun 
John  Urier 
Moses  Woodman 
David  Woodman 
Moses  Wheeler 
Jon^  Wheeler 
Willm  Titcomb 


Will'"  Woodman 
Noyes  Pearson 
Eleazer  Burbank 
Rev.  Mr.  Moses  Parsons 
Mr.  Dummer  Jewett 
John  Bailey 
Saml  Worthen 
Daniel  Noyes 
Robert  Adams 
William  Grant 
George  Thorla 
Joshua  Noyes 
Edmund  Gerrish 
Moses  Gerrish 
Saml  Adams 
John  Danford 
Elkanah  Lunt 
David  Pearson 
David  Pearson,  Jun. 
Jona  Pearson 
Jona  Pearson  Jun 
Joshua  Curriah 
Charles  Casedy 
Joseph  Noyes 
Stephen  Dole 
Saml  Searle 
Benja  Willet 
Timothy  Jackman 
Joseph  Smith 
Willi"  Longfellow 
Neheii  Noyes 
Nathl  Boynton 
Jona  Thorlo 
Abraham  Sayer 
Abraham  Brown 
Israel  Adams 
Saml  H Owsley 
Moses  Wheeler 
Will™  Tenney 


Upon  the  oath  1  have  taken  this  is  a  true  and  Exact  List 

John  Dummer 

Clerk  of  s''  Co/npaiiy 

In  June,  1758,  Gen.  Abercrombie  had  gathered  a  force  of 
fifteen  thousand  men  at  the  head  of  Lake  George ;  and,  in  the 


57: 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


month  of  July  following,  he  made  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to 
capture  the  fort  in  the  possession  of  the  French  troops  at 
Ticonderoga.  Among  the  soldiers  enlisted  for  this  service 
was  a  company  of  one  hundred  men,  under  the  command  of 
Capt.  Joseph  Newhall  of  Newbury. 

Muster  Roll  of  a  Company  of  Foot  in  His  Majestys  Service  under  the 
Command  of  Captain  Joseph  Newhall  in  a  Regiment  raised  by  the 
Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  for  the  Reduction  of  Canada  whereof 
Jonathan  Bagley  Esq  is  Colonel,  viz  :  * 


Joseph  Newhall 
Jonathan  Pearson 
Joseph  Ilsley 
Perley  Pike 
Sommerby  Moody 
Skipper  Eliott 
John  Owens 
Seth  Carver 
Paul  Ilsley 
Daniel  Chizemore 
Enoch  Gerrish 
Enoch  Wells 
Jeremiah  Dalton 


Captain 

Lieut 

(( 

Ensign 
Sergeant 


Corporal 


Drummer 


Newburv 


Bridgewater 
Newbury 

u 

[No  residence 
given.] 


PRIVATES. 


John  Brown 
Kiah  Bailey- 
William  Burrell 
Edmund  Bailey 
Simon  Bailey 
Jacob  Burrell 
Daniel  Brackenbury 
Stephen  Bailey 
James  Bus  well 
Asa  Bass 
Peter  Bradshaw 
Joseph  Bailey 
Ezra  Clough 
Nathaniel  Clough 
Joshua  Currier 
William  Cheeney 
Joseph  Coker 
Benjamin  Carter 

*  Massacliusett 


[No  residence 
given] 


Hahfax 

Boston 

Newbury 

Rowley 

Newbury 

Rowley 

Newbury 

Plymouth 

Archives,  vol. 


Aaron  Davis 
John  Danforth 
John  Doty 
Abijah  Dickinson 
Philemon  Dane 
Joshua  Danforth 
Samuel  Danforth 
Moses  Davis 
Davis  Downing 
Oliver  Dole 
Ebenezer  Flood 
Enoch  Flood 
Ebenezer  Hood  Jun 
John  Goodridge 
Samuel  Gibson 
Josiah  Goodridge 
Leonard  Hermon 
Carr  Huse 

xcvi.,  part  ii.,  pp.  515,  517,  aid  ;iS. 


Newburv 


Rowley 

Ipswich 

Newbury 


[No  res! 


iven] 


LOUISBOURG,  CROWN  POINT,  AND    QUEBEC 


573 


Aquila  Hodgkins 
Ephraim  Hoyt  Jun 

[No  residence 
given] 

Ezekiel  Jewett  Jun 

Boxford 

David  Jaquis 

Newbury 

Stephen  Jackman 

u 

Micah  Leach 

Halifax 

Elkanah  Lunt 

Newbury 

Samuel  Lunt 
Stephen  Lunt 

[No  residence 
givenj 

Reuben  Mace 

" 

Reuben  Mace  Jun 

u 

Jonathan  Martin 

u 

Joseph  Moody 

(1 

John  Moody 

" 

Abner  Mooers 

Rowley 

Ebenezer  Morrison 

Newbury 

James  Nelson 

[No  residence 
given] 

Henry  Noyes 

John  Noyes  * 

•    >: 

Paul  Noyes 

" 

Ambrose  Nelson 

'' 

Nathaniel  Noyes 

- 

Nathaniel  Oben 

" 

Thomas  Perrin 

Rowley 

Thomas  Pike 

(( 

Simon  Page 

Newbury 

Samuel  Plumer 

" 

Samuel  Pulsifer 

Salisbury 

William  Plumer 

Newbury 

Jeremiah  Plumer 

" 

Samuel  Rogers 

Ipswich 

Thomas  Rogers 

Newbury 

Robert  Rogers 

« 

Ebenezer  Rawson 

Middlebury 

Jeremiah  Sachell 

Ipswich 

William  Sampson 

Newbury 

Joseph  Swett  Jun 

ii 

Joseph  Swett 

" 

Benjamin  Sawyer 

Rowley 

Joseph  Swasey 

Newbury 

Moses  Swasey 

Gloucester 

Eliphalet  Sawyer 

Newbury 

Roland  Stockman 

Boxford 

Leonard  Smith 

a 

Isaac  Sturtevant 

Halifax 

John  Searl  Jun 

Rowley 

James  Thompson 

Halifax 

Sargent  Weed 

Newbury 

William  Weed 
Benjamin  Woodman 

[No  residence 

given] 

u 

William  Woodman 

" 

Nathaniel  Willett 

" 

John  Wyatt 

" 

Samuel  Wyatt 

" 

Janes  Woodbury 

u 

Thomas  FoUinsby 

u 

Thomas  Pownall,  governor  of  the  province  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  recommended  in  1758  the  building  of  a  fortification  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Penobscot  river,  in  order  to  prevent  the 
French  naval  forces  from  landing  there  and  sending  out 
scouting  parties  to  plunder  and  destroy  the  sea-coast  towns. 
March  23,  1759,  the  General  Court  authorized  the  voluntary 
enlistment  of  four  hundred  men,  to  be  divided  into  four  com- 
panies and  taken  in  transports  to  the  place  where  the  pro- 
posed fort  was  to  be  erected. 

On  the  first  day  of  May,  one  company,  consisting  of  one 
hundred  men  from  Haverhill,  Bradford,  and   other  towns  in 

*  Mr.  Eugene  Noyes,  of  Amesbury,  Mass.,  has  in  his  possession  a  memorandum  book  in 
which  John  Noyes  recorded  the  date  of  his  enlistment  and  otlier  incidents  connected  with  his 
service  at  Lake  George.  The  company  evidently  came  liome  by  the  way  of  Concord,  arriving  in 
Newbury  November  13,  1758. 


574  HISTORY  OF  XEWBURY 

the  vicinity,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Israel  Herrick, 
sailed  from  Newbury  ;  and  on  the  fourth  day  three  companies, 
enlisted  in  Suffolk  county,  sailed  from-  Boston. 

Joshua  Bailey,  of  Bradford,  was  a  soldier  in  Capt.  Herrick's 
company,  and  carefully  noted  the  following  items  in  his  diary 
of  daily  events  :  — 

Bradford  March  the  Thirty  First  day  in  the  year  One  Thousand 
Seven  Hundred  and  Fifty  Nine.  Then  I,  Joshua  Baily,  voluntarily  en- 
listed in  his  Majesty's  service  for  three  Months  to  go  to  Penobscot  under 
Capt.  Israel  Herrick.  On  April  20th  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
we  marched  to  Newbury  and  arrived  there  about  five  of  the  clock  and 
that  night  we  lodged  aboard  Capt  Bradbury's  [sloop]  and  lay  in  the  har- 
bor of  Newbury  on  Sunday  the  29th,  and  on  Monday  the  30^1  at  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning  we  were  drawn  up  four  deep  and  marched 
through  the  Town  and  up  to  Long  Wharf  and  took  a  lesson  till  6  of  the 
clock  in  the  afternoon  ;  And  on  Tuesday  Gov.  Thomas  Pownal,  com- 
mander in  chief,  arrived  at  Newbury,  the  first  of  May.  A'Dout  3  o'clock 
in  the  p.m.  on  board  went  to  sea.     The  number  of  a  hundred  men.* 

Governor  Pownall  accompanied  the  expedition,  and  probable 
sailed  from  Boston  with  the  men  who  had  been  mustered 
into  the  service  there.  The  fort  was  built  at  a  place  called 
Wassaumkeag  Point,  with  a  block-house  in  the  centre,  sur- 
rounded by  a  deep  ditch  and  a  high  palisade.  It  was  com- 
pleted previous  to  July  7,  1759,  when  the  main  portion  of  the 
expedition  sailed  for  home,  leaving  a  small  force  to  garrison 
the  fort.  In  1775,  Captain  Mowatt,  in  command  of  the 
British  sloop  "  Canceau,"  dismantled  the  fort;  and  in 
1779  the  blockhouses  were  burned  and  the  earthworks  des- 
troyed. 

After  the  capture  of  Louisbourg  in  1758,  Gen.  Jeffrey 
Amherst  was  placed  in  command  of  the  troops  at  Lake 
George.  He  took  possession  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point,  July  27,  1759,  after  Bourlamaque,  the  commander  of 
the  French  forces,  had  abandoned  and  partially  destroyed 
the  fortifications.!  A  large  number  of  Newbury  men  were 
in  active  service  under  General  Amherst  during  the  summer 
of  that  eventful  year. 

*  New  England  Genealogical  and  Historical  Kegister,  vol.  xiv.,  p.  5. 
t  "  Montcalm  and  Wolfe,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  239. 


LOUISBOURG,  CROWN  POINT,  AND    QUEBEC 


575 


Return  of  the  men  enlisted  or  impressed  for  His  Majesty's  service  of 
the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  the  regiment  whereof  Joseph 
Gerrish,  Esqr  is  Colonel,  to  be  put  under  the  immediate  command  of 
His  Excellency  Jeffry  Amherst,  Esqr,  General  and  Commander-in-Chief 
of  His  Majesty's  Forces  in  North  America  for  the  invasion  of  Canada. 


Ebenezer  Flood 
Richard  Hale 
James  Safford,  Jr. 
Ezekiel  Mighill 
Richd  Flanders 
William  Noyes,  Jr. 
Stephen  Jackman 
Thomas  Noyes 
Asa  Herriman 
Ebenezer  Flood,  Jr. 
Joseph  Russel 
Joseph  Pettingell 
Kiah  Bayley 
Sam'  Currier 
Ezra  Hale 
Moses  Hale 
Zechary  Beel 
John  Flood 
William  Samson 
Joseph  Coker 
Ichabod  Colby 
George  Paterson 
Nehemiah  Johnson 
John  Pike 
Nathaniel  Howard 
John  Gold 
John  Lakeman 
Aaron  Davis 
Simon  Page 
Samuel  Dean 
James  Smith 
William  Hazzen 
William  Currier,  3d 
Sam'  Colby 
Make-Peace  Colby 
Aaron  Cheever 
Benjamin  Emery 
Stephen  Noyes,  Jr. 
Stephen  Peirce 


Richrd  Goodwin 
Benjamin  Stickney 
Thomas  Jenkins 
Nathan  Poor 
Joseph  Stanwood 
Henry  Pierce 
Moses  Downing 
Jacob  Morril  — 
David  Jaques 
David  Perkins 
Ezekiel  Hardee 
Moses  Poor 
John  Hutchins 
Stephen  Bayley 
Benja  Pilsbury 
Elias  Cheney 
Gideon  Downer 
Henry  Greenleaf 
Thomas  Pike,  Jr. 
Saml  Lowel 
Saml  Gardner 
Stepn  Richardson 
Saml  Bayley 
Thomas  Williams 
Joseph  Foster 
Parker  Cooper 
Jonathan  Martin 
Saml  Pike 
Saml  Danford,  Jr. 
Sam'  Gerrish,  2d 
William  Turner 
William  Morgaridge 
William  Stockman 
Ebenezr  Morrison 
Benja  Woodman 
John  Morgaridge 
Will'"  Plumer 
James  Buswell 
David  Downing: 


576 


HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 


Elijali  rilsber)' 
Sam'  Carr 
Joseph  Cresey 
Moses  Debeck 
Jacob  Sawyer 
Aquila  Hodgkins 
Caleb  Stickney 
Joseph  Dole 
Abel  Coffin 
Moses  Woodman 
John  Low 
John  Hewes 
John  Carr,  Jr. 
Francis  Brown 
Joshua  Kent 
Richard  Tucker 
Stephen  Clark 
Ruben  Mace 
Solomon  Aubin 
Jonathan  Godfrey 
Enoch  Poor 
Francis  Cresey 


Jarvis  Ring 
Abel  Davis 
Oliver  Osgood 
Theophilus  Ring 
James  French 
Moses  Wadleigh 
Jarvis  Flanders 
Jacob  Thompson 
Philip  Chandler 
Hezekiah  Flanders 
Benjamin  Bagley 
John  Osgood 
Moses  French 
Bradbury  True 
Abel  Bagley 
Josiah  Clough 
Jesse  Turrel 
James  Easman 
Timo  Sanders 
Israel  True 
Nehemiah  Noyes 

Newbury  April  lo,  1759* 


CAPTURE    OF    QUEBEC    AND    CLOSE    OF   THE    SEVEN 
YEARS'  WAR. 

In  the  expedition,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  James  Wolfe,, 
that  sailed  from  Louisbourg  up  the  river  St.  Lawrence  to 
Quebec,  in  the  month  of  June,  1759,  was  a  company  com- 
posed of  the  following-named  officers  and  men  from  New- 
bury :  — 


William  Davenport,  Capt. 

Thomas  Swett,  Lieut. 

Gersham  Burbank,  " 
Jonathan  Merrill,      Ensign. 

Moses  George,  Sergt. 

John  Moody,  " 

Daniel  Pike,  " 

Matthew  Petti ngill,  " 

Joshua  Colby,  Corp. 

Thomas  Ford,  " 

Stephen  Morse,  " 

•Massachusetts  Arcliives,  vol 


Daniel  Poor,  Corp. 

William  Stevens,  Drummer. 

PRIVATES. 

Luke  Sweet. 
Joseph  Woodman. 
Thomas  Barnard. 
John  Brock. 
Pall  Coffin. 
William  Matthews. 
James  Ward. 

xcvii.,  pp.  107,  108. 


GENERAL    JAMES    WOLFE. 


57^  II IS  TORY  OF  NEWBURY 

PRIVATES  {contijiued). 

John  Caswell.  Edmund  Baly,  Jr. 

Daniel  Knight.  John  Stevens. 

Nathaniel  Roby.  Andrew  Hilton. 

Richard  Pierce.  Paul  Person. 

Thomas  Moody.  Nathan  Pabody. 

Stephen  Colby.  Samuel  Wyatt. 

Ezra  Cluff.  William  Cheney. 

Daniel  Pilsbury.  Nathaniel  Brown. 

Joshua  Moss.  William  Clarke. 

Samuel  Huse.  Richard  Sanborn. 

Eleazer  Burbank.  Zebediah  Hunt. 

Enoch  Bagley.  Michael  Short. 

Zachariah  Beel.  Sherborn  Tilton. 

William  Griffin.  Jacob  Burrill. 

Jeremiah  Person.  John  Currier.* 
Enoch  Chase. 

Captain  Davenport's  company  was  in  the  battle  on  the 
plains  of  Abraham,  when  General  Wolfe  was  killed,  on  the 
thirteenth  day  of  September,  and  assisted  in  digging  the 
trenches  near  the  walls  of  the  town,  until  the  white  flag  was 
raised  and  Quebec  surrendered,  September  i8,  1759.! 

News  of  the  great  victory  was  received  everywhere  in  New 
England  with  joy  and  exultation.  In  Newbury,  an  ox  was 
broiled  on  a  huge  gridiron  erected  on  vacant  land,  now 
Market  square,  Newburyport,  at  the  westerly  side  of  the 
Third  parish  meeting-house  ;  and  the  occasion  was  enlivened 
with^music  and  songs  of  triumph  that  continued  late  into  the 
night. 

For  the  re-enforcement  of  the  English  troops  at  Port  Royal 
and  Cape  Breton,  several  regiments  were  enlisted  in  the 
province  of  Massachusetts  Bay  during  the  year  1759.  One 
company  in  Colonel  Frye's  regiment  was  composed  of  the 
following-named  officers  and  men  from  Newbury  and  the  sur- 
rounding towns  :  — 

A  muster  roll  of  the  officers  and  men  in  Capt.  Samuel  Gerrish"s  com- 
pany in  Col.  Frye's  Regiment,  in  service  in  the  Province  of  Nova  Scotia 
after  the  first  of  January  1760. 

*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xcvii.,  pp.  325,  326. 
t"0uld  Newbury,"  pp.  494-497. 


LOUISnOl'RG,   CROWN  POINT,  AND    QUEBEC 


579 


Samuel  Gerrish 

Capt 

Henry  Greenleaf     Serjeant 

Hezikiah  Hutchins      i^t 

Lieut 

John  Goold              Corporal 

Ezra  Putnam                2"c 

i        u 

Thomas  Pike                  " 

Pearly  Pike                      E 

nsign 

John  Lakeman                " 

Richard  Hale               Serjeant 

Jacob  Currier                  " 

Stephen  Clark 

(1 

Nathl  Noyes          Drummer 

PRIVATES 

Solomon  Aubin 

Thos  Jenkins 

Stephn  Bailey 

Nehemh  Johnson 

Sami  Bailey 

Samuel  Lowell 

Ichabod  Colby 

Joseph  Martin 

Sami  Colby 

Ezekiel  Mighill 

Isaac  Chase 

Thomas  Noyes 

Joseph  Coker 

\Vm  Noyes  Jun 

Makepeice  Colby 

Davod  Perkins 

John  Chase 

Moses  Poor 

Parker  Cooper 

Simon  Page 

Elias  Cheney 

Stephen  Pierce 

Aaron  Cheever 

Henry  Pierce 

Moses  Downing 

Enoch  Poor 

Sam'  Dummer 

Samuel  Pike 

Aaron  Davis 

Parker  Pilsbury 

Sami  Danforth  Jun 

Nathan  Poor 

Benjn  Emery 

George  Paterson 

Richd  Flanders 

Steph"  Richardson 

Ebenr  Flood 

Joseph  Russell 

Ebenr  Flood  Jun 

Joseph  Stanwood 

John  Flood 

Willm  Sampson 

Joseph  Foster 

James  S afford 

Jonathan  Godfrey 

Benj"  Stickney 

Sam>  Gerrish 

Abraham  Sweet 

Sam'  Gardner 

James  Smith 

Richd  Goodwin 

William  Turner 

Asa  Harriman 

Enoch  Thurston 

John  Hutchins 

Seth  Woodward 

Ezeki  Hardy 

Thos.  Williams 

Nathl  Howard 

Nathl  Martin 

Step"  Jackman 

Reuben  Locke  * 

David  Jaques 

On  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  April,  1760,  the  second  battle 
between  the  French  and  English  troops  for  the  possession  of 

*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xcviii.,  p.  457.  The  names  of  the  soldiers  after  "  Thos.  Jen- 
kins" are  not  given  in  the  muster  roll  in  the  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xcviii.,  p.  150;  and 
the  names  "  John  Pike,  Serjeant,  Samuel  Currier,  private,  and  Cjideon  Donner,  private,"  are 
added. 


580  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Quebec  was  fought  on  the  plains  of  Abraham.  The  English 
troops  were  driven  back  into  the  town.  An  attempt  was 
made  to  carry  the  walls  and  ramparts  by  assault ;  but  the 
opportune  arrival  of  some  English  ships  of  war  led  to  the 
withdrawal  of  the  French  forces,  and  Quebec  was  left  to  its 
fate. 

When  the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  at  Paris,  on  the 
tenth  day  of  February,  1 763,  the  seven  years'  war  ended. 
Canada  was  ceded  to  England  with  other  territorial  posses- 
sions of  France  on  the  North  American  continent. 


CHAPTER    XV. 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


In  1765,  the  Stamp  Act  was  passed  by  Parliament,  and 
stamp  distributors  were  appointed  for  Newbury  and  Newbury- 
port.  They  were  unable  to  enforce  the  law,  and  were  ex- 
posed to  many  indignities  in  their  efforts  to  execute  it.  The 
act  was  repealed,  March  18,  1766,  to  the  great  joy  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Newbury  and  of  other  towns  in  the  province  ;  but 
the  right  to  levy  and  .collect  taxes  was  still  asserted  by  Parlia- 
ment. In  1767,  heavy  duties  were  imposed  upon  paper,  glass, 
tea,  and  other  articles  of  merchandise  imported  into  the  prov- 
ince of  Massachusetts  Bay. 

September  22,  1768,  Joseph  Gerrish,  esq.,  was  chosen  a 
delegate  to  a  convention  to  be  held  in  Faneuil  Hall,  Boston, 
for  the  purpose  of  devising  ways  and  means  to  prevent  the 
collection  of  these  duties,  and  at  the  same  time  to  avoid,  if 
possible,  a  conflict  with  the  legal  representatives  of  the  king. 
In  the  month  of  March,  1770,  a  committee,  consisting  of  six- 
teen persons,  was  chosen  to  obtain  pledges  from  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Newbury  "  not  to  purchase  or  use  any  foreign  tea,  or 
buy,  directly  or  indirectly,  merchandise  of  any  kind  from  any 
merchant  known  to  be  an  importer  of  goods  from  England," 
until  the  obnoxious  revenue  law  was  amended  or  re- 
pealed.* 

December  29,  1772,  another  committee  was  chosen  to  con- 
sider the  deplorable  condition  of  public  affairs,  and  determine 
what  action  should  be  taken  "  to  protect  and  preserve  the 
rights  and  privileges  granted  and  guaranteed  by  the  charter 
of  the  Province."  The  committee  was  composed  of  the  fol- 
lowing-named persons  :  — 

♦Town  of  Newbury  Records  ;  also,  Coffin's  History  of  Newburj',  pp.  236,  237. 
581 


582  HISTORY   OF  XElVnURY 

Capt  Joseph  Hale  Capt  Moses  Little         Majr  Samuel  Gerrish 

Majr  Joshua  Coffin  Samuel  Sawyer  Dea  Benj  Colman 

M""  Dudley  Colman  M""  Simeon  Chase  Capt  Samuel  Moody 

Moses  Noyes  Dr.  Peter  Merrill  Jacob  Gerrish 

Daniel  Chute  Joseph  Coffin  Esq         John- Moody 

Deacon  Richard  Adams 

January  4,  1773,  the  committee  recommended  "that  there 
be  a  Committee  chosen  by  this  Town,  annually,  or  till  we 
shall  obtain  a  Redress  of  our  Grievances,  to  correspond  with 
the  Town  of  Boston  &  with  such  other  towns  as  said  commit- 
tee shall  think  proper  in  order  that  there  may  be  union  and 
co-operation  in  the  assertion  and  maintenance  of  our  rights."  * 

The  committee  also  reported  a  series  of  resolutions  that 
were  adopted  by  the  legal  voters  of  the  town  and  ordered  to 
be  entered  in  full  upon  the  records,  "  there  to  stand  as  a  last- 
ing memorial  of  the  sense  they  have  of  their  invaluable  rights 
and  of  their  determination  to  defend  them  in  every  lawful  way 
as  occasion  may  require."  * 

Capt.  Joseph  Hale,  Major  Samuel  Gerri.sh,  Major  Joshua 
Coffin,  Capt.  Moses  Little,  and  Capt.  Samuel  Moody  were 
elected  members  of  the  committee  of  correspondence,  and 
xordered  to  confer  with  the  provincial  authorities  in  regard  to 
the  duties  imposed  by  the  law  regulating  trade  with  England. 
They  were  also  instructed  to  co-operate  with  the  committees  of 
other  towns  in  an  effort  to  secure  the  repeal  of  the  obnoxious 
law. 

December  22,  1773  voted  that  this  town  will  use  their  utmost  en- 
deavors to  hinder  the  importation  of  tea  in  America,  so  long  as  the  duty 
shall  remain  thereon,  either  by  the  East  India  company,  or  in  any  other 
way  whatever.* 

At  a  meeting  held  January  4,  1774,  Capt.  Joseph  Hale, 
Mr.  Jacob  Gerrish,  Mr.  Dudley  Colman,  Mr.  Joshua  Noyes, 
Mr.  Richard  Adams,  jr.,  Mr.  Edward  Moody,  and  Mr. 
Samuel  Noyes,  who  had  previously  been  appointed  for  that 
purpose,  presented  a  series  of  resolutions,  fourteen  in  number, 
that  were  unanimou.sly  adopted,  with  the  following  patriotic 
appeal  to  the  inhabitants  of  neighboring  towns  :  — 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


REVOLUTIOXARY    IVAK  583 

Beloved  brethren  let  us  stand  fast  in  the  liberty,  wherewith  God  and 
the  British  constitution  in  conjunction  with  our  own,  have  made  us  free, 
that  neither  we,  nor  our  posterity  after  us  (through  any  fault  of  ours)  be 
entangled  with  the  yoke  of  bondage  !  * 

Gen.  Thomas  Gage,  who  superseded  Thomas  Hutchinson 
as  governor  of  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  arrived  in 
Boston  May  13,  1774,  and  entered  at  once  upon  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties.  When  the  General  Court  assembled 
on  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  May,  he  announced  that  in 
consequence  of  the  excitement  and  tumult  prevailing  in 
Boston,  the  session  would  not  be  permitted  to  continue 
after  the  close  of  the  month.  Three  days  later,  fearing 
his  orders  would  be  disregarded,  he  considered  it  advisable 
to  declare  the  General  Court  "adjourned  to  meet  in  Salem  on 
Tuesday  the  seventh  clay  of  June." 

The  representatives,  and  magistrates  reassembled  at  the 
time  and  place  appointed.  Joseph  Gerrish,  esq.,  who  repre- 
sented Newbury,  protested  with  others  against  the  arbitrary 
adjournment  of  the  General  Court.  Delegates  were  elected 
to  the  Continental  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  and  a  repeal  of 
the  obno.xious  laws  enacted  by  Parliament  was  peremptorily 
demanded. 

The  governor,  aroused  and  alarmed  by  these  revolutionary 
proceedings,  issued  a  proclamation  on  the  seventeenth  day  of 
June,  dissolving  the  General  Court.  The  messenger  to  whom 
this  proclamation  was  intrusted  found  it  impossible  to  gain 
admittance  to  the  upper  hall  where  the  representatives  were 
assembled,  and  was  compelled  to  read  it  on  the  stairs  leading 
to  the  representative  chamber. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  in  Newbury  on  the  twenty-third 
day  of  June,  Col.  Joseph  Gerrish,  Dudley  Colman,  Deacon 
Silas  Pearson,  Deacon  Edmund  Bayley,  and  Capt.  Joseph 
Brown  were  added  to  the  committee  of  correspondence ;  and, 
in  answer  to  a  letter  received  from  the  friends  of  American 
liberty  in  Boston,  the  town  "voted  to  discontinue  all  Com- 
merce with  Great  Britain  and  with  all  importers  of  goods 
from  thence,  until  the  Boston  Port  Bill  is  amended  or  re- 
pealed." * 

*To\vn  of  Newburj'  Records. 


£ 

s  d 

7- 

0.0 

46. 

4.2 

10. 

16.4 

9.06.0-)- 

584  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

On  the  ninth  day  of  August,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury 
appropriated  the  sum  of  two  hundred  pounds  "  for  the  pur- 
chase of  provisions  to  be  sent  to  the  suffering  inhabitants  of 
the  town  of  Boston."  * 

October  twenty  sixth,  iMr.  Samuel  Moody,  principal  of  Dum- 

mer  Academy,  collected  and  sent  to  the  inhabitants  of 

Boston  the  sum  of 
The  members  of  the  First  Parish  church   Rev.  John  Tucker, 

minister,  sent  February  6,  1775 
The    members  of    the   Byfield    Parish  church    Rev.   Moses 

Parsons,  minister,  sent 
The  members  of  the  Fifth  Parish  church  Rev.  Oliver  Noble, 

minister,  sent 

At  a  town  meeting  held  September  i,  1774,  to  consider 
the  unhappy  condition  of  public  affairs,  the  following  resolu- 
tion was  unanimously  adopted  :  — 

.  .  .  that  we  are  ready  at  all  times  to  unite  with  our  Brethren,  on 
this  Continent,  in  consulting  upon  such  measures  as  may  be  necessary 
to  be  carried  into  execution  for  recovering  our  inestimable  Rights  & 
Privileges  :  we  do  therefore  heartily  concur  with  the  Town  of  Marble- 
head  in  the  Proposal  which  they  have  made  viz  :  of  having  a  County 
Meeting  &  accordingly  we  have  Chosen  the  Honble  Joseph  Gerrish  Esq, 
Capt  Moses  Little,  Major  Samuel  Gerrish,  Mr  Richard  Adams  Ju^  & 
Capt  Joseph  .Hale  to  be  a  committee  on  the  part  of  this  town  to  meet 
the  several  committees  from  the  other  towns  in  this  county  in  order  to 
agree  upon  such  measures  as  the  exigency  of  our  Publick  affairs  may 
require.* 

The  town  clerk  was  instructed  to  furnish  a  copy  of  this 
resolution  "  for  publication  in  the  Essex  Journal  and  Merri- 
mack Packet."  The  convention  met  at  Ipswich  on  the  sixth 
day  of  September,  and  after  a  brief  discussion  resolved  to 
resist  and  oppose  in  every  lawful  way  the  recent  appoint- 
ment of  councillors  by  the  king,  under  the  provisions  of  "  An 
Act  for  the  better  regulating  the  Government  of  the  Province 
of  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England." 

Writs  for  a  special  meeting  of  the  General  Court  to  be  held 
at  Salem  on  the  fifth  day  of  October  were  issued  by  General 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  New  England  Historical  nnd  Genealogical  Register,  vol.  .\xx.,  p.  ^74. 


REVOLUTIONARY   WAR  5^5 

Gage,  governor  of  the  province ;  and  the  town  of  Newbury, 
having  elected  Hon.  Joseph  Gerrish  representative  on  the 
twenty-second  day  of  September,  instructed  him  "  not  to  be 
quahfied  for  his  seat  in  the  house  by  any  of  the  councillors 
who  have  received  their  commission  by  mandamus  from  his 
Majesty,  but  by  the  Council  chosen  by  the  house  of  represen- 
tatives agreeable  to  the  charter  of  the  province."  *  It  was  also 
considered  advisable,  in  order  to  secure  unanimity  of  action 
in  the  several  towns  of  the  province,  to  appoint  Mr.  Gerrish 
delegate  to  a  Provincial  Congress  to  be  held  in  the  vicinity  of 
Boston,  "  to  consult  and  determine  upon  such  measures  as  will 
promote  the  Peace,  Welfare  and  Prosperity  of  the  Province."  * 

On  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  September,  Governor  Gage, 
irritated  and  annoyed  by  the  spirit  and  temper  of  the  people, 
and  confident  that  further  attempts  at  legislation  would  be 
useless,  countermanded  the  order  issued  for  a  meeting  of  the 
General  Court  at  Salem.  Ninety  representatives,  however, 
assembled  there  October  fifth  ;  and,  after  waiting  in  vain  for 
the  governor  to  appear  and  administer  the  oath  of  office,  they 
proceeded  to  organize  a  Provincial  Congress.  John  Hancock 
was  elected  chairman,  and  Benjamin  Lincoln  clerk.  After 
a  brief  discussion,  they  adjourned  on  the  seventh  to  meet  at 
Concord  October  eleventh.  For  three  days  the  delegates 
were  in  session  at  Concord,  and  then  adjourned  to  meet  in 
Cambridge  on  the  seventeenth. 

Early  in  the  month  of  February,  1775,  the  town  of  New- 
bury was  busily  engaged  in  arming  and  equipping  soldiers  for 
the  approaching  conflict.  All  persons  enlisting  in  the  military 
service  were  required  to  sign  the  following  agreement :  — 

Pursuant  to  the  Resolve  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Bay,  we,  the  subscribers,  do  voluntarily  Inlist  ourselves  as 
minute  men  &  do  covenant  &  Engage  that  we  will  hold  ourselves  in 
Readiness  to  March  at  the  shortest  notice  to  such  Place  or  Places  as  we 
shall  be  ordered  or  directed  by  our  officers  chosen  by  us  agreeable  to 
the  resolve  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  or  such  Superior  Officers,  as  are, 
or  shall  be,  appointed  by  said  Provincial  Congress  &  further  Engage 
that  we  will  pay  due  obedience  to  all  officers  chosen  or  appointed  as 
aforesaid. t 

*  Town  of  Xewbury  Records.         t  Ibid.,  March  14,  1775. 


586 


HISTORY  OF  jVFAVBURY 


When  the  news  of  the  battle  at  Lexington  and  Concord 
reached  Newbury,  the  men  who  had  enUsted  and  signed  this 
agreement  were  hastily  summoned  at  midnight,  Wednesday, 
April  19,  1775,  and  were  soon  on  their  way  to  the  field  of 
action. 

The  names  of  the  officers  and  men  who  served  on  that 
memorable  occasion  are  as  follows  :  — 

The  Roll  of  that  part  of  the  Company  that  marched  from  Newbury 
on  the  nineteenth  day  of  April,  1775,  on  ye  alarm  on  s^i  day  under  ye 
Command  of  Capt.  Jonathan  Poor  of  said  town  of  Newbury,  in  ye  county 
of  Essex  and  Colony  of  ye  Massachusetts  &  in  ye  second  Regiment  of 
Militia  in  said  county  whereof  Samuel  Gerrish,  Esq.  was  Colonel  to  de- 
fend this  Contenant  from  ye  invasions  of  the  ministerial  troops. 

Jonathan  Poor  Capt  Benj  Todd,       Sergeant 

Moses  Ilsley,  First  Lieut  Paul  Plumer  " 

Simeon  Hale,       Second     " 

PRIVATES 


Stephen  Dole 
Henry  Dole 
David  Dole 
Samuel  Gerrish 
John  Hale 
Daniel  Hale,  Jr. 
Anthony  Ilsley 


John  Noyes  (3  days) 

William  Plumer 

Mark  Plumer  (3  days) 

Stephen  Poor 

John  Thirston  (3  days) 

Benj  Thurston 

John  Nichols  (3  days) 


[Mark  Plumer  and  John  Thirston  are  credited  with  sixty  four  miles  of 
travel  and  the  rest  of  the  company  with  eighty  six.  The  officers  and 
men  of  the  company  are  credited  with  six  days  service  except  John 
Noyes,  Mark  Plumer,  John  Thirston  and  John  Nichols  who  served  only 
three  days]* 

A  Muster-roll  of  the  Minute  Company  that  marched  to  Cambridge 
under  the  Command  of  Capt.  Moses  Little,  in  the  alarm,  April  19,  1775 


Moses  Little,      Capt. 

Thomas   Brown 
Benj  Brown 
Joshua  Little 
Moses  Coffin 
Moses  Hoit 
John  Atkinson 
Matthias  Atkinson 


PRIVATES 


Timothy  Pillsbury  Lieut 

Amos  Atkinson 
Nathan  Merrill 
John  Mugridge 
Joseph  Mirick 
Joshua  Merrill 
Jacob  Merrill 
Lem'  Coffin 


*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xiii.,  p.  43. 


RE  VOL  U  TIONA  R  Y    IV A  R 


587 


Edmund  Chase 
Jonathan  Chase 
Moses  Rollins 
Daniel  Goodridge 
Joseph  Carr. 
Benj.  Carr. 
James  Merrill. 
Peter  Ordway. 

[Sixty  miles  of  travel  and  five  days  service.]  * 


Joshua  Pillsbury 
David  Whittemore 
Josiah  Little 
Lemuel  Fowler 
Jacob  Coffin 
Matthias  P.  Sawyer 
Enoch  Merrill 


A  Muster-roll  of  Capt.  Jacob   Gerrish's   company   that  marched  to 
Cambridge  in  the  Alarm,  April  19,  1775. 

Jacob  Gerrish  Captain 
Silas  Adams,  Lieut.  Jedediah  Stickney  Sergeant 

Benjamin  Stickney,  "  Joseph  Danforth  " 

Paul  Moody,  Sergeant  John  Noyes  2d  " 


PRIVATES 


Nathaniel  Adams 
John  Currier 
Jedediah  Currier 
John  Cheney 
Joseph  Choat 
William  Flood 
Oliver  Goodridge 
John  Lunt 
Jacob  Low,  Jr. 
Richard  Martin 
Benj.  Poor. 
Amos  Poor. 
Eliphalet  Poor 
Stephen  Smith 
John  Sawyer 
Abram  Thorla 
Nathaniel  Pearson 


William  Searl 
Nathan  Adams 
Jacob  Hale 
Jacob  Low, 
Enoch  Adams 
John  Turner 
David  Chute 
James  Chute 
Timothy  Dorman 
Daniel  Hale 
Abner  Woodman 
Enoch  Boynton 
Thomas  Smith 
Enoch  Adams,  Jr. 
Amos  Stickney 
Stephen  Lunt 
Stephen  Gerrish 


[Eighty  miles  of  travel  and  si.x  days  service.]  f 

A  Muster  roll  of  the  Company  or  party  of  men  under  the  Command 
of  Gideon  Woodwell,  Capt,  who  marched  from  Newbury  on  ye  alarm  on 
ye  igt'i  of  April  1775  to  Cambridge  &  continued  till  ye  23^1  of  ye  same  & 
set  off  for  Newbury  with  leave. 


Gideon  Woodwell,         Capt               Pall  Gerrish, 

Sergt 

Henry  Somerby,           Sergt               John  Dole, 

Corp' 

•.Massachusetts  .Archives,  vol.  xii.,  p.  i6q.        t  Ibid.,  p. 

104. 

588 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


PRIVATES 


Daniel  Knight 
Andrew  Stickney 
Joseph  Allen 
David  Stickney 
John  Bly 


James  S afford 
Parker  Knight 
Peter  Stanwood 
John  Smith 
William  Hale 


[Eighty-six  miles  of  travel  and  six  days  service.]  * 

A  Minute  roll  of  Capt.  William  Rogers  3^^  Company  under  command 
of  Col.  Samuel  Gerrish  of  Newbury. 


William  Rogers, 

Capt 

Samuel  Pillsbury            Corpi 

Samuel  Carr, 

Lieut 

Ezekiel  Merrill 

Wadleigh  Noyes, 

Sergt 

Nathan  Emery                    " 

Joseph  Newell, 

'• 

Moses  Moody                      " 

Nathaniel  Hills, 

•' 

Daniel  Pillsbury        Drummer 

Joshua  Brown, 

PRIVATES 

Ephraim  Emery             Fifer 

Joseph  Noyes 

Benj  Pettingell 

Joshua  Chase 

Moody  Smith 

John  Chase 

Jonathan  Thurston 

John  Eliot 

William  White 

Thomas  Follansbee 

Francis  Dean 

Nehemiah  Follansb 

ee 

Moses  Chase 

Aaron  Noyes 

Mark  Woodman 

John  Flanders 

Samuel  Sawyer 

Joseph  Goodridge 

John  Merril 

Obadiah  Hill 

Parker  Smith 

Samuel  Hills  - 

Asa  Bayley 

Thomas  Hills 

John  Smith 

Samuel  Jaquish 

Zebulon  Engersol 

Jacob  Merrick 

John  Emery 

Parker  Noves 

Abel  Woodman 

[Forty  miles  of  travel  and  from  three  to  nine  days  service  from 
April  19,  1775.]! 

A  muster  roll  of  the  several  persons  that  marched  from  Newbury  to 
Head  Quarters  at  Cambridge  belonging  to  the  Troop  on  the  twen- 
tieth day  of  April  A.D.  1775  on  ye  alarm  under  the  command  of  John 
Brickett,  Lieu'. 

John  Brickett,  Lieutenant 
Parker  Jaques  Corporal  Abram  Adams.  Trumpeter. 


*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xiii.,  p.  196. 


t  Ibid.,  p.  73. 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR  589 

PRIVATES 

Benjamin  Adams  Stephen  Coffin 

Enoch  Little  Thomas  Thurlow 

Joshua  Hills  William  Greenleaf 

Moses  March  Moses  S.  Moody. 

[The  above  named  persons  are  credited  with  eighty  miles  travel  and 
four  days    service.] 

Eliphn  Hill  Joseph  Knight 

Caleb  Kimball  Thomas  Davis 

Samuel  Dole  Enoch  Huse 

Thomas  Williams  Abel  Merrill 

[The  eight  men  last  mentioned  in  this  roll  were  detained  as  post 
riders  and  received  their  pay  as  such.] 

[Officers  and  men  rode  to  Cambridge  on  horses  furnished  by  them- 
selves.] * 

Muster-roll  of  the  several  Persons  who  marched  from  Newbury  to 
Headquarters  at  Cambridge  on  the  Twentieth  day  of  April,  1775,  under 
the  command  of  Thomas  Noyes,  3d 


Thomas  Noyes  3d 

Capt. 

Abner  Bayley    Er 

Enoch  Long 

Lieut. 

PRIVATES. 

Moses  Brickett 

Joseph  Ames 

Joseph  Goodridge 

Joseph  Brown,  Jr. 

William  Hills 

Thomas  Chase 

Benj  Hills,  Jr. 

Abel  Chase 

Thomas  Huse 

Joseph  Chase,  Jr. 

Enoch  Long,  Jr. 

John  Chase 

John  March 

Parker  Chase 

Moody  Morse 

Daniel  Cheney 

Peter  Rogers 

Winthrop  Colby 

Thomas  Rogers 

Nathan  Chase 

Silas  Rogers 

Enoch  Davis 

John  Rowling,  Jr. 

Robert  Davis 

Barns  Short 

Nathaniel  Emery 

Joshua  Sawyer 

Wm  Foster 

Daniel  Thurston 

[Eighty  miles  of  travel  and  four  days  service.]  f 

On    Friday  afternoon,  April    twenty -first,  the    second   day  after^  the 
Lexington  fight,  the  people  of  Newburyport  held  an  informal  meeting  at 

•Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xi.,  p.  195;  see  also  "  Newbury  in  the  Lexington    Fight,"  by 
Miss  Emily  A.  Getchell,  in  Putnam's  Historical  Magazine,  January,  1895,  PP-  6-15. 
t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xiii.,  p.  19. 


59°  FIJSTORY   OF  NEWBURY 

the  town  house,  and  just  as  the  reverend  Thomas  Gary  was  about  open- 
ing the  meeting  with  prayer  a  Messenger  rushed  up  stairs,  in  breathless 
haste,  crying  out,  "  For  God's  sake,  turn  out !  turn  out !  or  you  will  all  be 
killed  !  The  regulars  are  marching  this  way,  and  will  soon  be  here. 
They  are  now  at  Ipswich,  cutting  and  slashing  all  before  them  ! ''  The 
messenger  proved  to  be  Mr.  Ebenezer  Todd*,  who  stated  that  he  had 
been  sent  from  Rowley,  to  warn  the  people  of  their  impending  destruc- 
tion. 

The  news  spread  like  wildfire,  and  being  generally  credited,  the  con- 
sternation became  almost  universal,  and  as  a  large  part  of  the  militia 
had  marched  to  the  scene  of  action,  early  the  next  morning  after  the 
fight  at  Lexington,  the  terror  and  alarm,  among  the  women  and  children, 
was  proportionably  increased,  especially  as  from  all  quarters  was  heard 
the  cry,  "  The  regulars  are  coming !  They  are  down  to  Oldtown  bridge, 
cutting  and  slashing,  and  killing  all  before  them  !  They'll  soon  be 
here!"  It  is  remarkable  that  the  same  story,  in  substance,  was  simul- 
taneously told  from  Ipswich  to  Coos.  In  every  place  the  report  was 
that  the  regulars  were  but  a  few  miles  behind  them.  In  Newbury,  new- 
town,  it  was  said  they  had  advanced  as  far  as  Artichoke  river,  at  New- 
buryport  they  were  at  Old-town  bridge ;  there  they  were  said  to  be  at 
Ipswich,  while  at  the  latter  place  the  alarm  was  the  same.  Mr.  Eliphalet 
Hale,  of  Exeter,  was  at  the  latter  place,  and  waited  to  ascertain  the 
correctness  of  the  report.  Learning  that  it  was  without  foundation  he 
made  haste  to  undeceive  the  people  by  riding  from  Ipswich  to  Newbury 
in  fifty  minutes.  In  the  meantime  all  sorts  of  ludicrous  things  were 
done  by  men  and  women  to  escape  impending  destruction.  All  sorts  of 
vehicles,  filled  with  all  sorts  of  people,  together  with  hundreds  on  foot, 
were  to  be  seen  moving  with  all  possible  speed  further  north,  somewhere, 
to  escape  the  terrible  regulars.  Their  speed  was  accelerated  by  persons 
who  rode  at  full  speed,  through  the  streets,  crying  "  Flee  for  your  lives  ! 
flee  for  your  lives  !  the  regulars  are  coming  !  " 

Some  crossed  the  river  for  safety.  Some,  in  Salisbury,  went  to 
Hampton  and  spent  the  night  in  houses  vacated  by  their  owners,  who 
had  gone  on  the  same  errand  farther  north.  The  houses  at  Turkey  Hill 
were  filled  with  women  and  children  who  spent  the  night  in  great  trepi- 
dation. One  man  yoked  up  his  oxen  and  taking  his  own  family,  and 
some  of  his  neighbor's  children,  in  his  cart,  drove  off  to  escape  the  reg- 
ulars. Another  having  concealed  all  his  valuable  papers,  under  a  great 
stone,  in  his  field,  fastened  his  doors  and  windows  and,  having  loaded 
his  musket,  resolved  to  sell  his  life  as  dearly  as  possible.  One  woman 
having  concealed  all  her  pewter  and  silver  ware  in  the  well,  filled  a  bag 

*Mr.  Ebenezer  Todd  was  evidently  requested  by  some  one  in  authority  to  carry  the  news  to 
Newbury  ;  and,  although  misinformed  in  regard  to  the  truecondition  of  affairs  at  Ipswich,  he  was, 
nevertheless,  like  Paul  Revere,  a  messenger  sent  to  warn  and  save.  He  was  held  in  high  esteem 
by  his  relatives  and  friends  in  Rowley.  To  one  of  his  kinsmen,  Mr.  William  C.  Todd,  the  city 
of  Newburj'port  is  indebted  for  liberal  gifts  in  aid  of  the  public  library,  reading-room,  and  hos- 
pital. 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR  591 

with  pies  and  other  edibles,  and  set  off  with  it  and  her  family  for  a  safer 
place  but  having  travelled  some  distance  and  deposited  her  bag  to  make 
some  enquiry  she  found  on  her  return  that  there  had  been  "  cutting  and 
slashing "  not,  indeed,  by  the  regulars  among  the  people,  but  by  the 
irregulars  among  her  provisions.  Another  woman,  as  I  am  informed, 
having  run  four  or  tive  miles,  in  great  trepidation,  stopped  on  the  steps 
of  reverend  Mr.  Noble's  meeting  house  to  nurse  her  child  and  found, 
to  her  great  horror,  that  she  had  brought  off  the  cat  and  left  her  child 
at  home.      In  another  instance,  Mr.  [  ]  having  placed  his   family 

on  board  of  a  boat,  to  go  to  Ram  island  for  safety,  was  so  annoyed  with 
the  crying  of  one  of  his  children  that  he  exclaimed,  in  a  great  fright, 
"  Do  throw  that  squalling  brat  overboard  or  we  shall  all  be  discovered." 

Mr.  J L seeing    Mr.    C H ,    a    very    corpulent    man, 

standing  at  his  door  with  his  musket  loaded  inquired  of  him  if  he  was 
not  going.  "  Going?  no,"  said  he.  "  I  am  going  to  stop  and  shoot  the 
devils !  "  Propositions  were  made  by  some  persons  to  destroy  Thorla's 
and  the  river  Parker  .bridges,  while  many  acted  a  more  rational  part  and 
resolutely  refused  to  move  a  step  or  credit  the  whole  of  the  flying  stories 
without  more  evidence.  How,  or  by  whom,  or  with  what  motives,  the 
report  was  first  started  no  one  can  tell.  It  lasted  in  Newbury  and 
Newburyport  but  one  night.* 

Joseph  Gerrish,  esq.,  represented  Newbury  in  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  held  at  Cambridge  two  months  before  the  battle 
at  Concord  and  Lexington.  He  was  subsequently  elected 
representative  to  the  third  Provincial  Congress  held  at 
Watertown  May  31,  1775.  Early  in  the  month  of  June 
following,  the  committee  on  military  affairs  recommended  "  that 
Capt  Moses  Little  of  Newbury  be  appointed  a  Colonel  in  the 
Massachusetts  Army,  he  having  five  hundred  and  nine  men, 
in  eight  Companies,  ready  for  immediate  service,  all  of  them 
armed  with  good  effective  fire  locks,  and  three  hundred  and 
eighty  two  with  good  bayonets  fitted  to  their  fire  locks. 
Seven  companies  in  camp  at  Cambridge  and  one  company  at 
Cape  Ann,"  f 

♦Coffin's  History  of  Newburj',  pp.  245-247.  In  a  pamphlet  published  in  1S14,  now  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  Eugene  Noyes,  of  Amesbury,  entitled  "The  Life  of  Col.  Jonathan  Bumham, 
now  living  in  Salisbury,  Mass.,"  the  author,  referring  to  the  "  Ipswich  fright,"  says,  "The 
British  landed  at  Marshfield  to  steal  cattle  and  left  the  woods  afire  and  the  Newbury  people 
heard  that  Ipswich  was  burnt  and  that  I  and  my  men  were  all  killed,  and  that  the  British  were 
coming  to  burn  Newbury  ;  and  the  people  were  afraid  and  got  boats  to  get  over  the  river  to  run 
into  the  woods,  and  that  news  went  to  Exeter  that  night,  and  very  soon  to  Concord,  that  I  and  my 
officers  were  all  killed." 

There  is  some  doubt  in  regard  to  the  accuracy  of  this  statement ;  but  it  is  certain  that  Jona- 
than Bumham  had  command  of  a  company  that  marched  from  Hampton  Falls  to  Ipswich  April 
20,  1775.     (See  Brown's  History  of  Hampton  Falls,  pp.  217-221.) 

t  Records  Third  Provincial  Congress,  p.  338. 


592  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

To  this  recommendation  the  representatives  assembled  at 
Watertown  unanimously  agreed,  and  Colonel  Little  received 
his  commission  in  season  to  render  efficient  service,  with  a 
portion  of  his  regiment,  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  One 
of  the  companies  under  his  command  was  from  Newbury, 
Jacob  Gerrish,  captain,  and  two  from  Newburyport,  Ezra 
Lunt  and  Benjamin  Perkins,  captains.  The  other  companies 
composing  the  regiment  were  from  neighboring  towns  in 
Essex  county. 

June  26,  1775,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  voted  "to  unite 
with  Newburyport,  Salisbury,  Amesbury,  Bradford  and 
Haverhill  in  placing  obstructions  in  the  Merrimack  river  to 
prevent  ships  of  war  from  entering  the  harbor  and  destroying 
the  town."  * 

Two  days  later,  the  Provincial  Congress  voted  to  raise  ten 
companies,  consisting  of  fifty  men  each,  including  officers, 
for  service  on  the  seacoast  in  the  towns  of  Lynn,  Gloucester, 
Marblehead,  Salem,  Ipswich,  Newbury,  Newburyport,  and 
Salisbury. 

After  the  General  Court  was  dissolved  by  General  Gage, 
June  17,  1774,  it  did  not  meet  again  until  July  19,  1775.  On 
that  day,  representatives  from  nearly  every  town  in  the 
province  assembled  in  the  meeting-house  at  Watertown,  and 
after  consultation  elected  twenty-eight  councillors,  who  were 
authorized  to  approve  or  reject  all  laws  enacted  by  the 
General  Court,  and  also  to  exercise  executive  power  in  the 
absence  of  the  governor  and  deputy  governor. 

Col.  Joseph  Gerrish  was  chosen  by  the  inhabitants  of  New- 
bury to  represent  them  at  the  General  Court  at  Watertown  ;  f 
but  for  some  reason  he  was  unable  to  attend,  and  August  8, 
1775,  Major  Samuel  Moody  was  elected  in  his  place. 

On  the  twenty-first  day  of  August,  the  councillors  and  rep- 
resentatives, by  a  concurrent  vote,  ratified  and  confirmed  the 
transactions  and  resolves  of  the  several  Provincial  congresses, 
and  provided  for  the  election  of  representatives. 

.  .  .  the  towns  of  Newbury  and  Newburyport  shall  have  the  full 
power  and  right  of  Chusing  and  Sending  as  many  persons  to  represent 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records.  t  Ibid.,  July  4,  1775. 


REl'OLUriONARY    WAR  593 

them,  respectively,  in  the  great  and  general  Court  or  [assembly  of]  this 
colony,  as  each  of  the  said  towns  would  have  had  a  right  to  have  chosen 
[and  sent]  to  the  said  general  Court  by  virtue  of  the  act  or  law  entitled 
"An  Act  for  ascertaining  the  number  and  regulating  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives "  in  case  there  had  not  been  any  restrictions  upon  the  said 
towns,  touching  their  rights  and  privileges  of  chusing  and  sending 
persons  to  represent  them,  respectively,  in  the  great  or  general  court  or 
assembly,  contained  or  expressed  in  the  said  act  for  the  constituting  and 
making  that  [part  of  the]  former  town  of  Newbury  now  called  New- 
buryport,  a  distinct  town.* 

September  15  and  16,  1775,  nearly  one  thousand  soldiers 
under  the  command  of  Col.  Benedict  Arnold,  on  their  way 
from  Boston  to  Quebec,  arrived  in  Newbury.  Three  com- 
panies of  riflemen  encamped  on  the  high  land,  on  the  easterly 
side  of  "Trayneing  Green,"  at  the  corner  of  Rolfe's  lane,  now 
Ocean  avenue,  and  the  country  road,  now  High  street ;  and 
the  rest  of  the  troops  were  lodged  in  the  town  house  and  in 
two  unoccupied  rope  walks  in  Newburyport.  On  the  nineteenth 
of  September,  the  whole  force  embarked  on  board  ten  trans- 
ports, and  sailed  for  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebec  river. f 

October  27,  1775,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Deacon  Silas 
Pearson,  Capt.  Stephen  Kent,  Dudley  Colman,  William  Ger- 
rish,  and  Capt.  Joseph  Stanwood,  was  chosen  to  erect  a  battery 
at  Plum  Island  Point,  "  and  also  to  procure  one  or  more  Car- 
riage Guns  &  some  ammunition  to  defend  the  same."  \ 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  held  April  23, 
Mr.  Richard  Adams,  jr.,  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the 
county  convention  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Treadwell, 
innholder,  in  Ipswich,  April  25,  1776,  for  the  discussion  of 
questions  relating  to  the  administration  of  public  affairs.  At 
that  convention,  the  system  of  town  representation,  established 
by  the  charter  of  the  province,  was  severely  criticised,  and  the 
election  of  representatives  to  the  General  Court  according  to 
population  was  earnestly  advocated.  A  memorial,  signed  by 
members  of  the  convention,  was  presented  to  the  councillors 
and  representatives  assembled  at  Watertown,  asking  for  a  re- 

*  Province  Laws,  vol.  v.,  pp.  419,  420. 

t  A  bronze  tablet,  designed  by  Mr.  George  P.  Tilton  of  Newburyport,  marks  the  place  where 
the  troops  encamped.  It  bears  a  suitable  inscription  reproduced  in  the  half-tone  print  on  the 
next  page. 

X  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


594  HISTORY  OF  A'EWBUKY 

vision  of  the  election  laws,  and  the  adoption  of  a  more  equi- 
table system  of  representation.  On  the  second  day  of  May, 
the  petitioners  were  granted  a  hearing  ;  and  John  Lowell,  esq., 
of  Newburyport,  appeared  in  their  behalf  on  the  floor  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  and  earnestly  advocated  the  plan  of 


representation  recommended  in  the  memorial.  Two  days 
later,  the  General  Court  passed  an  act  providing  for  the  elec- 
tion of  three  representatives  from  towns  having  two  hundred 
and  twenty  freeholders,  four  representatives  from  towns  hav- 
ing three  hundred  and  twenty  freeholders,  and  one  additional 
representative  for  every  one  hundred  additional  freeholders, 
"^said  act  to  take  effect  at  the  begining  of  the  next  ses- 
sion." * 

*  I'lovince  Laws,  vol.  v.,  pp.  502  and  542. 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR  595 

On  the  twenty-third  clay  of  May,  Mr.  Richard  Adams,  jr.. 
Col.  Samuel  Gerrish,  Samuel  Greenleaf,  esq.,  Mr.  Stephen 
Little,  and  Capt.  Daniel  Chute  were  elected  by  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Newbury  "  to  attend  the  Great  and  General  Assembly 
to  be  held  at  Watertown  May  29,  1776."  *  They  were  sub- 
sequently chosen  to  represent  the  town  at  the  session  held  in 
Watertown  on  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  August  following. 

On  the  evening  of  July  4,  1776,  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence was  adopted  and  subsequently  signed  by  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Continental  Congress.  A  copy  of  this  patriotic 
proclamation  was  sent  to  Edmund  Sawyer,  clerk  of  the  town 
of  Newbury,  and  was  by  him  recorded  with  the  following 
order  issued  by  the  executive  council  of  the  province  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay  :  — 

In  Council  July  17,  1776.  Ordered,  that  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence be  Printed,  and  a  copy  sent  to  the  Ministers  of  each  Parish  of 
every  denomination  within  this  State  ;  and  that  they  severally  be  re- 
quired to  read  the  same  to  their  respective  congregations  as  soon  as 
divine  service  is  ended,  in  the  afternoon,  on  the  first  Lord's  Day  after 
they  shall  have  received  it ;  and  after  such  Publication  thereof,  to  de- 
liver the  said  Declaration  to  the  Clerks  of  their  several  Towns,  or  Dis- 
tricts, who  are  hereby  required  to  record  the  same  in  their  respective 
Town,  or  District,  Books  there  to  remain  as  a  Perpetual  Memorial 
thereof,  In  the  name  and  by  order  of  the  Council 

R.  Derby,  Jun""  President 
a  true  copy  attest  John  Avery,  Dep.  Secretary  * 

December  9,  1776,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  voted  to 
give  a  bounty  of  ten  pounds  to  every  person,  residing  within 
the  limits  of  the  town,  enlisting  in  the  Continental  army  under 
the  call  of  the  last  General  Court,  and  also  voted  to  raise  by 
taxation  "  such  an  amount  of  money  as  may  be  needed  to  meet 
the  expenses  incurred  on  account  of  the  war."  Doubt  hav- 
ing arisen  in  regard  to  the  legality  of  this  actioti,  a  petition, 
dated  December  23,  1776,  signed  by  Edmund  Bayley  and 
John  Adams,  a  committee  for  the  town  of  Newbury,  was  pre- 
sented to  the  General  Court ;  and  subsequently  an  act  was 
passed  "  enabling  towns  to  raise  mone)'  for   carrying  on   the 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


59^  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

present  war,"  and  providini^^  for  the  collection   of   taxes   that 
have  been  "or  ma)-  hereafter  be  assessed  for  that  purpose."  * 

March  ii,  1776-7,  a  bounty  of  twenty  pounds  was  voted 
to  every  private  soldier  enlisting  for  three  years  or  more  "to 
helj)  make  up  the  quota  called  for  from  the  town  of  Newbury  "  ; 
and  June  30,  1777,  Mr.  Samuel  Noyes  was  chosen  and  in- 
structed to  collect  evidence  against  any  person  or  persons 
suspected  of  disloyalty  or  unfriendliness  to  the  cause  of 
American  independence.! 

December  15,  1777,  a  committee  was  appointed  "to  take 
care  of  and  supply  the  Familys  of  non  commissioned  officers 
&  Private  Soldiers  Ingaged  in  the  Continental  Army  for  three 
years,  or  during  the  present  war  with  Great  Britain,  according 
to  a  late  act  of  the  General  Court"  ;  f  and  February  12,  1777-8, 
the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  voted  to  instruct  their  representa- 
tives "  to  acquiesce  in  and  Comply  with  the  articles  of  con- 
federation as  we  have  received  them  from  the  honorable 
continental  congress."  f 

After  the  surrender  of  General  Burgoyne  at  Saratoga,  Octo- 
ber 17,  1777,  the  men  and  officers  under  his  command  were 
transferred  to  Massachusetts,  and  held  as  prisoners  of  war  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Boston  for  nearly  twelve  months.  Sev- 
eral militia  companies  from  Newbury  assisted  in  guarding 
these  prisoners  at  Winter  Hill  from  November,  1777,  to 
April,  1778.1 

An  article  was  inserted  in  the  warrant  for  a  town  meeting 
in  Newbury  February  9,  1778,  "To  see  if  the  town  will  vote 
a  consideration  for  the  militia  for  the  town  of  Newbury  that 
now  are  or  may  be  guarding  the  Prisoners  taken  by  Major 
General  Gates."  f 

After  some  discussion,  the  town  "  voted  not  to  do  more  for 
the  militia  now  Guarding  the  Prisoners  taken  by  Maj*"  General 
Gates  than  the  General  Court  has  added  to  their  wages."  f 

On  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  March  following,  a  meeting 
was  held  "  To  see  if  the  Town  will  give  a  Bounty  to  the 
militia  of  this  Town  that  are  called  to  Relieve  the  Guards  that 
are  now  doing  Duty  at  Winter  Hill."  f 

*  Province  Laws,  vol.  v.,  p.  719.  t  Town  of  Newbur>'  Records. 


KEl'OLUTIOXARY    ]VAK  597 

The  selectmen  were  authorized,  with  the  advice  and  consent 
of  the  committee  of  correspondence,  to  pay  from  the  town 
treasury  the  amount  necessary  to  secure  the  services  of  the 
men  needed  to  reheve  the  guards  ;  and  it  was  also  "voted  that 
the  wages  of  the  militia  of  this  Town  that  have  been  Guarding 
the  Prisoners  Taken  by  Major  General  Gates,  as  Private  sol- 
diers or  non-commissioned  officers,  from  November  last  to  the 
third  day  of  April  ensuing,  be  made  up  at  six  shillings  a  Day 
with  what  they  Receive  other  ways."  * 

The  depreciated  condition  of  the  currency  and  the  active 
demand  for  food,  clothing,  and  household  supplies  increased 
the  cost  of  living  to  such  an  extent  that  the  General  Court 
passed  "  An  Act  to  prevent  monopoly  and  oppression,"  Jan- 
uary 25,  lyyG-y.  This  act  was  repealed  October  13,  1777; 
but  a  similar  one,  prohibiting  the  purchase,  in  large  quantities, 
of  grain,  live  cattle,  provisions,  or  other  merchandise,  for  the 
purpose  of  forestalling  the  market  or  realizing  a  profit  on  the 
sale  of  the  same,  was  passed  February  8,  1778-9,  and  con- 
tinued in  force  for  several  years. 

During  the  sumrner  of  1779,  a  convention  was  held  at  Con- 
cord to  consider  the  condition  of  public  affairs,  and  to  devise 
ways  and  means  for  preventing  the  sale  or  purchase  of  any 
commodities  necessary  for  the  support  of  life  at  unreasonable 
or  exorbitant  prices. 

August  4,  1779,  the  town  of  Newbury  voted  unanimously 
to  follow  the  recommendations  and  approve  the  resolutions 
made  and  adopted  at  Concord,  July  fourteenth,  relating  to  the 
sale  of  manufactured  goods  and  agricultural  products,  and  the 
same  day  elected  Deacon  Silas  Pearson  and  Capt.  Edmund 
Sawyer  delegates  to  a  second  convention  to  be  held  in  the 
same  place  in  the  month  of  October  following.* 

August  sixteenth,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  meet  dele- 
gates from  Salem,  Marblehead,  and  other  towns  in  Essex 
county,  at  Ipswich,  for  consultation  in  regard  to  the  prices  to 
be  fixed  for  labor,  and  for  the  purpose  of  securing  unanimity 
of  action  in  restricting  the  excessive  charges  of  innholders  for 
food  and  lodging.* 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


59 S  HISTORY   OF  XEVVI^URY 

October  sixth,  the  second  convention  assembled  at  Concord. 
It  continued  in  session  seven  days.  The  price  current  estab- 
hshed  by  the  convention  in  July  was  revised,  and  a  spirited 
address  to  the  people  was  adopted  and  published  in  the  news- 
papers of  the  day. 

November  ii,  1779,  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  voted 
unanimously  "  that  they  approve  of  and  accept  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  late  Convention  held  at  Concord  in  October  regu- 
lating the  prices  of  Merchandise  and  Country  produce."  * 

The  laws  of  trade,  however,  were  more  potent  and  effective 
than  legislation  or  spirited  resolutions.  With  a  currency  con- 
stantly depreciating  in  value,  it  was  found  impossible  to  regu- 
late prices ;  and  the  attempt  was  ultimately  abandoned  as 
impracticable. 

October  10,  1780,  the  town  of  Newbury  voted  to  raise  the 
sum  of  forty  thousand  pounds,  in  Continental  currency,  to 
purchase  twenty-nine  thousand  three  hundred  pounds  of  beef 
for  the  use  of  the  army,  in  compliance  with  a  demand  or 
requisition  made  upon  the  selectmen  by  order  of  the  General 
Court.* 

In  the  month  of  November  following,  active  efforts  were 
made  to  increase  the  army.  The  requisite  number  of  men, 
however,  could  not  be  obtained  by  voluntary  enlistments  ;  and 
the  selectmen  of  Newbury  were  compelled  to  resort  to  a 
draft.  On  the  nineteenth  day  of  December,  at  a  meeting 
called  for  that  purpose,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  appointed 
a  committee  to  hire  men  to  serve  as  soldiers  in  the  Conti- 
nental army,  and  voted  to  delay  the  enforcement  of  the  draft 
for  one  week  in  order  to  give  the  committee  time  to  secure 
the  men  needed. 

Six  months  later,  Newbury  was  again  called  upon  to  con- 
tribute to  the  support  of  the  army,  and  voted  July  5,  1781, 
"  that  the  sum  of  six  hundred  pounds,  hard  money,  be  raised 
for  the  purchase  of  23,259  lbs  weight  of  Beef  for  the  use  of 
the  army  and  that  a  Committee  be  chosen  to  purchase  said 
Beef  in  the  best  manner  it  can  be  obtained."  * 

Although  hostilities  practically  ceased   with   the  surrender 

*To'.vn  of  Ncwburv  Records. 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR  599 

of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown,  October  19,  1 781,  the  preliminary 
articles  of  the  treaty  of  peace  between  England  and  the 
American  colonies  were  not  agreed  upon,  at  Paris,  until 
November  30,  1782,  and  the  United  States  were  not  "ac- 
knowledged to  be  free,  sovereign  and  independent,"  until  the 
formal  treaty  was  signed  at  Versailles,  September  3,  1783. 
Congress,  then  in  session,  issued  a  proclamation,  on  the  thir- 
teenth day  of  October,  disbanding  the  army. 


CHAPTER    XVI.       - 

SOLDIERS    IN    THE    REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

Capt.  Moses  Little,  of  Newbury,  was  appointed  colonel 
in  the  Massachusetts  army  June  15,  1775,  "he  ha\'in«-  five 
hundred  and  nine  men  in  eight  companies  ready  for  immedi- 
ate service."  Two  additional  companies  were  organized  a 
week  or  ten  days  later.  The  captains  in  command  of  the 
several  companies  were  as  follows  :  — 

Capt.  Gideon  Parker  of  Ijiswich 
Capt.  Nathaniel  Warner  of  Gloucester 
Capt.  Abraham  Dodge  of  Ipswich 
Capt.  Joseph  Roby  of  Cape  Ann 
Capt.  Benjamin  Perkins  of  Newburyport 
Capt.  Jacob  Gerrish  of  Newbury 
Capt.  Ezra  Lunt  of  Newburyport 
Capt.  Nathaniel  Wade  of  Ipswich 
Capt.  Timothy  Barnard  of  Amesbury 
Capt.  John  Baker  of  Topsfield 

The  company  commanded  by  Capt.  Parker  was  composed 
of  men  from  Ipswich,  Gloucester,  and  other  towns  in  Essex 
county,  including  John  Hollerday,  Chase  Rogers,  John  Sillo- 
way,  and  Jonathaji  Buswell,  who  were  credited  to  the  town  of 
Newbury.* 

The  officers  and  men  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Perkins 
were  credited  in  the  muster  roll  to  Newbury,f  and  in  the  pay 
roll  to  Newburyport. I  They  were  evidently  inhabitants  of 
the  last-named  town,  and  therefore  are  not  included  in  this 
list  of  Revolutionary  soldiers. 

A  muster  Roll  of  the  company  under  command  of  Capt  Jacob  Ger- 
rish   in  Colo  Moses  Little's  Regiment  from  April  24,  1775,  to  August 

7.  i775-§ 

*  Massachusetts  Archives    Rev.  Rolls),  vol.  Ivi.,  p.  8i.     In  the  muster  roll,  vol.  xv.,  p.  gi 
the  four  men  named  above  were  credited  to  Newburyport. 
t  Massachusetts  Archives  (Rev.  Rolls),  vol.  xv.,  p.  85. 
t  Ibid.,  vol.  Ivi.,  p.  85.  §  Ibid.,  vol.  xv.,  p.  8. 

600 


SOLDIERS  IX    THE   REVOLUTION  A  RY    WAR 


6oi 


Jacob  Gerrish 
Silas  Adams 
Amos  Atkinson 
Nathaniel  Pearson 
Stephen  Lunt 
William  Searl 
Nathl  Adams 
Jacob  Hale 
Wm  Morgaridge 
Eliphalet  Kilburn 
Joseph  Carr 

PRIVATES. 

Enoch  Adams 
Josiah  Adams 
Mark  Anthony 
Edward  [         ] 
John  Burbank 
Benj  Beedie 
Jacob  Chisamore 
John  Currier 
Jedediah  Currier 
William  Currier 
Sami  Place 
Daniel  Adams 
Benj  Poor 
Amos  Poor 
Elipht  Poor 
Joseph  Pearson 
Joseph  Rogers 
Richd  Rolfe 


Captain 

I  St  Lieu' 
2"ci  Lieut 
Serofeant 


Corporal 


Moses  Rollins 
Benj  Carr 
John  Choat 
Eben  Choat 
John  Cheney 
Joseph  Choat 
Jonathan  Cheney 
Enoch  Flood 
William  P'lood 
Jacob  How 
Daniel  Goodridge 
Oliver  Goodridge 
John  Lunt 
Thomas  Lunt 
Jacob  Low 
James  Moody 
Annis  Merrill 
Christopher  Merrill 
Richd  Martin 
Peter  Ordway 
Moses  Pettingale 
Joseph  Lunt 
Stephen  Smith 
Michael  Stockman 
John  Stockman 
John  Sawyer 
Abram  Thorla 
Joshua  Toppan 
John  Toppan 
John  Woodbury 


Capt.  Gerrish's  company  was  composed  of  Newbury  men, 
except  William  Searl,  Jacob  Low,  and  John  Sawyer  from 
Rowley,  and  John  Choat,  Eben  Choat,  and  Samuel  Place 
from  Newburyport. 

The  pay  roll  of  the  company  gives  the  names  of  the  officers 
and  men  substantially  as  printed  above ;  but  the  residences 
in  some  instances  are  slightly  changed,  and  the  following 
names  are  added  :  —  * 

Nathan  Adams     Drummer  &  Fifer  Newbury 

Benjamin  Newman       '•  "       Newburyport 

John  Spring  "  " 

John  Carvanaugh  Soldier  " 

•Massachusetts  Archives  (Rev.  Rolls),  vol.  Ivi.,  part  i.,  p.  86. 


6o2  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

The  officers  and  men  in  Captain  Lunt's  company  were  from 
Newburyport,  except  John  Holoday,  John  Harbut,  Zachariah 
Sawtel,  and  Samuel  Phipps,  who  were  from  Newbury.* 

The  pay  roll  of  the  company  commanded  by  Capt.  Timothy 
Barnard,  of  Amesbury,  gives  the  names  of  the  following  offi- 
cers and  men  from  Newbury  :  —  f 

Thomas  Brown       First  Lieu^  Benjamin  Cotton         Private 

Nicholas  Titcomb        Serjeant  Jacoli  Cooper 

John  Coock,  Corporal  Makepiece  Colby 

John  Brown,  ''  Aaron  Davis 

Isaac  Howard,  Drumer  &  Fifer  Jeremiah  Farnham 

John  Brazier  Private  Nath'l  Godfrey. 

John  Hussey,  Solomon  Obbins,  Daniel  Pike,  and  William 
Ray,  credited  to  Newburyport  in  the  pay  roll,  were  entered 
in  the  muster  roll  as  soldiers,  in  Captain  Barnard's  company, 
from  Newbury. I 

Charles  Casity  was  credited  to  Newbury  in  the  company 
commanded  by  Captain  Baker.  § 

Four  companies  in  Colonel  Little's  regiment  were  armed  and 
equipped  in  season  to  take  part  in  the  battle  at  Bunker  Hill. 
They  lost  during  that  engagement  forty  men,  killed  and 
wounded. 

In  1776,  Colonel  Little  was  in  Major  General  Greene's 
division  of  the  Continental  army,  and  took  part  in  the  battles  at 
Long  Island  and  at  Harlem  Heights.  In  June,  1777,  he  was 
commissioned  brigadier-general,  and  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  forces  to  be  sent  on  an  expedition  to  St.  Johns, 
N.S.  In  a  letter  addressed  to  Hon.  John  Avery,  deputy 
secretary  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  he  wrote  as  follows  : 

.  .  .  the  broken  state  of  my  Health  occasioned  by  the  severe  services 
of  the  last  campaign  &  the  peculiar  Situation  of  my  Family  at  this  Time 
obliges  me  to  decline  this  honorable  appointment.  || 

The  regiment  commanded  by  Col.  Samuel  Gerrish,  of  New- 
bury, in  1775,  was  composed  of  men  from  Newbury,  Rowley, 

*  Massachusetts  Archives  (Rev.  Rolls),  vol.  xv.,  p.  52  ;  also,  vol.  Ivi.,  part  i.,  p.  87. 

t  Ibid.,  vol.  Ivi.,  p.  S9.  +  U^id.,  vol.  xiv.,  p.  15.  §  Ibid.,  vol.  Ivi.,  p.  81. 

II  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  cxcvii.,  p.  176. 


SOLDIERS  IN    THE    REVOLUTIONARY    WAR 


603 


Ipswich,  Gloucester,  and  Wenham  in  Essex  county,  and  from 
Maiden,  Reading,  Woburn,  and  other  towns  in  Middlesex 
county.  The  officers  and  men  who  served  in  Capt.  William 
Rogers'  company,  in  Colonel  Gerrish's  regiment,  from  May 
to  August,  1775,  were  as  follows  :  —  * 

Nehemiah  Follinsbee 
John  Flanders 
Joseph  Goodrige 
Obadiah  Hills 
Samuel  Hills 
Thomas  Hills 
William  Hale     ' 
Samuel  Jaquish 
Isiah  Isley 
Parker  Knight 
Joseph  Knight 
Jonathan  Latherbee 
Aaron  Molton 
Moody  Morse 
Jacob  Merick 
Parker  Noyes 
John  Nichols 
Josiah  Richardson 
Benjamin  Plumer 
Joseph  Perry 
Benjamin  Pettingell 
Thomas  Sargent 
Sollomon  Lattle 
Moses  Smith 
Jonathan  Thurston 
John  Woodbury 
William  White 
Samuel  Write 
Francis  Dean 
John  Bartlett 


William  Rogers 

Captain 

Samuel  Carr 

I  St  Lieut 

John  Noyes 

2nd          14 

Wadleigh  Noyes 

Sargent 

Joseph  Newell 

'^ 

Nathaniel  Hills 

u 

Joshua  Brown 

a 

Samuel  Pilsbury 

Corporal 

Stephen  Morse 

a 

Moses  Moody 

u 

Joseph  Noyes 

" 

Daniel  Pilsbry 

Drummer 

Ephraim  Emery 

Fifer 

PRIVATES 

Joshua  Chase 

Joseph  Chase 

Aquela  Chase 

Samuel  Chase 

John  Chase 

Nathaniel  Chase 

Pearley  Chase 

Thomas  Doyle 

James  Dwinells 

John  Downing 

Stephen  England 

John  Eliot 

Ezekiel  Fellows 

Benjamin  Flanders 

Thomas  Follinsbee 

All  the  men  named  in  the  above  list  were  from  Newbury 
except  Thomas  Doyle  and  Jonathan  Latherbee  from  Water- 
town,  James  Dwinnels  and  Joseph  Perry  from  Bradford,  John 
Downing  from  Newburyport,  Ezekiel  Fellows  from  Salisbury, 
and  Thomas  Sargent  from  Amesbury. 

•Massachusetts  Archives  (Rev.  Rolls),  vol.  xvi.,  p.  9. 


6o4  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

The  colonel  of  the  regiment,  Samuel  Gerrish,  had  served 
as  captain  in  the  provincial  army  in  1759,  and  was  colonel  of 
the  second  regiment  that  marched  from  Essex  county  to 
Cambridge  April  19,  1775.  In  the  month  of  May  following, 
he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  Thirty-eighth  Massachusetts 
regiment,  composed  of  Essex  and  Middlesex  county  men ; 
and  on  the  seventeenth  day  of  June  he  was  ordered  to  join 
the  American  forces  at  Bunker  Hill.  Owing  to  the  un- 
organized condition  of  the  men  under  his  command,  he 
was  unable  to  render  efficient  service  on  the  battlefield, 
although  two  or  three  companies,  led  by  Adjutant  Febiger, 
a  Danish  soldier  of  experience,  fought  valiantl)-  until  the 
conflict  was  over.  Colonel  Gerrish  was  subsecjuently  ac- 
cused of  timidity  and  conduct  unworthy  of  an  officer.  He 
was  found  guilty,  and  dismissed  from  the  service.  The 
regiment  was  placed  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Col. 
Loammi  Baldwin.* 

Col.  James  Frye's  regiment,  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill, 
consisted  of  companies  under  the  command  of 

Capt.  John  Currier  of  Amesbury, 
Capt.  James  Sawyer  of  Haverhill, 
Capt.  Nathaniel  Gage  of  Bradford 
Capt.  Benjamin  Farnum  of  Andover 
Capt.  John  Davis  of  Methuen 
Capt.  Jones  Richardson  of  [  ] 

Capt.  William  H.  Ballard  of  Amesbury. 
Capt.  William  Perley  of  Boxford 
Capt.  Jonathan  Evans  of  Salisbury. 

In  the  pay  roll  of  Captain  Evans'  company,  Peer  Hall 
and  Dennis  Wise,  privates,  are  credited  to  the  town  of  New- 
bury, f 

A  muster  Roll  of  the  Company  commanded  by  Captain  Stephen 
Kent  in  the  Service  of  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Stationed 
in  Newbury  ft  cm  the  Time  of  their  Inlistment  to  the  first  Day  of 
November  i  775.  f 

*  Massachusetts  Archives  (Rev.  Rolls),  vol.  Ivi.,  pp.  256-266. 

t  Ibid.,  vol.  Ivi.,  p.  8. 

X  Ibid.,  vol.  xxxvi.,  p.  133  ;  also,  Essex  Institute  Historical  Collections,  vol.  xxxv.,  p.  162. 


SOLDIERS   IN    THE    REVOLUTIONARY    WAR 


605 


Stephen  Kent 

Captain 

David  Boynton 

Dudley  Colman 

I  St  Lieu' 

Samuel  Pettingell 

Richard  Petti ngell 

2nd     " 

Isaac  Adams 

Daniel  Knight 

Sergeant 

Josiah  Pettingell 

John  Pearson 

u 

Joseph  Allen 

Josiah  Goodrich 

u 

William  Bayley 

Hezikiah  Goodhue 

" 

Richard  Flanders 

Parker  Jaques 

Corporal 

Stephen  Mitchell 

John  Hidden 

" 

Daniel  Knight  Jun 

Ebenezer  Brown 

It 

John  Dole 

Edward  Swazey 

" 

William  Brown 

Samuel  Pearson 

Drummer 

Silas  Dole 

George  Blunt 

Fifer 

Caleb  James 
John  Cheever 

PRIVATES 

David  Stickney 

Joseph  Lunt 

John  Bly 

Enoch  Hale 

Benjamin  Woodwell 

Andrew  Stickney 

Elias  Cook 

James  Safford 

Amos  Stickney 

Moses  Akers 

Benjamin  Jackman  jun. 

Isaac  Tilton 

Benjamin  Maine 

Ebenezer  Moody. 

Cutting  Pettingell  jun. 

Joseph  Poor 

Amos  Morse  (who  died 

John  Sweat 

October  14,  1775). 

The  same  officers  and  men  were  engaged  in  the  same 
service  from  the  first  day  of  November  to  the  ninth  day  of 
December,  1775,  with  the  addition  of  Daniel  Stickney  in 
place  of  Amos  Morse,  deceased.* 

In  the  company  commanded  by  Capt.  Moses  Greenleaf  of 
Newburyport,  in  Col.  Benjamin  Tupper's  regiment,  the  fol- 
lowing named  persons  were  credited  to  the  town  of  Newbury, 
January  25,  1776:  —  f 


Joseph  Hidden. 
Josiah  Hunt. 
John  Smith,  Jun. 
Stephen  Stickney 


John  Stickney. 
Jacob  Lunt. 
Newport  Rudeisland. 
John  Smith. 


Other  men  in  this  company  were  credited  to  Newburyport, 
Haverhill,  Chelsea,  Medford,  and  Rowley. 

The  following  named  officers  and  men  from  Newbury  served 


♦Massachusetts  Archives  (Rev.  Rolls),  vol.  .xxxvi.,  p.  136.        t  Ibid.,  vol.  xi.,  p.  71. 


6o6 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


in  1776  as  a  part  of  Capt.  Robert  Dodge's  company,  in  Col. 
Ebenezer  Francis'  regfiment  :  —  * 


Stephen  Ilsley, 
Pillsbury, 

PRIVATES 

Jonathan  Plummer 
Joshua  Moody 
James  Folinsby 
Richard  Martin 
Jonathan  Carleton 
Moses  Lull 


Lieutenant 
Ensign. 


Issac  Plumer 
Benjamin  Chase 
Zariah  Hazeltine 
John  Emery 
John  Bennett 
Moses  Aeyrs 
James  Poole 
Joshua  Ilsley 
Barker  Chase 


The  rest  of  this  company  was  composed  of  men  from  Ips- 
wich, Rowley,  TopsfielcJ,  and  Wenham. 

Muster  roll  of  Capt.  Ezra  Badlam's  company  in  the  Twenty-sixth 
Regiment  under  the  command  of  Lieut.-Col.  Loammi  Baldwin,  from 
January  to  April,  1776:  —  f 


Ezra  Badlam 
Samuel  Carr 
John  Noyes 
Wadleigh  Noyes 
Stephen  Morse 
Moses  Moody 
Joseph  Noyes 
Joshua  Noyes 
John  Pratt 
Samuel  Chase 
John  Smith 
Charles  Davis 
Ephraim  Emery 
Naptt  Newall 

PRIVATES 

Jonathan  Bayton 
Joseph  Ames 
Enoch  Chase 
Moses  Chase 
John  Chase 


Captain 
Lieutenant 

Ensign 
Seargent 


Corporal 


Pearly  Chase 
Thomas  Chase 
Joseph  Couch 
Aquilla  Chase 
John  Chambers 
Ebenezer  Crow 
William  Davis 
John  Downer 
William  Dodge 
Stephen  England 
Thomas  Follansbee 
Benjamin  Flood 
Levi  Flanders 
Saml  Hills 
Thomas  Hills 
WiUiam  Hale 
Jonathan  Hale 
Nathaniel  Donnels 
Isiah  Ilsley 
Stephen  Michael 
Aaron  Molton 


*  Massachusetts  Archives  (Rev.  Rolls) ,  vol.  xviii.,  p.  156. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  Iviii.,  p.  i,  file  5.  The  residences  of  the  officers  and  men 
composinj;  Capt.  Hadlam's  company  are  not  given  in  the  muster  roll,  but  many  of  them  were 
inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newbury. 


SOLDIERS  IX    THE   REVOLUTIONARY    WAR  607 

John  Malcom  Stephen  Ragler 

John  Murry  Thomas  Rollins 

Obadiah  Morse  Thomas  Ridgway 

Benja  Morse  John  Stokes 

Jacob  Merrick  James  Stanley 

Aaron  Noyes  John  Smith 

Eleazer  Newell  William  White 

Parker  Noyes  Samuel  Write 

Humphree  Nichols  Jacob  Wyatt 

Ezra  Newell  Thomas  Snelling 

Parker  Knight  Lot  Killam 

John  Nichols  John  Downing 

Benjamin  Pettingel  Joseph  Buck 

Samuel  Pratt  Francis  Dean 

Benjamin  Pressey  Joseph  Percy 

Samuel  Pettingal  Stephen  Corporal 

Joseph  Perry  Samuel  Hill 

Cutting  Pettingell  Henry  Williams 

Nathl  Ridgway  Simeon  Finch 

The  pay  roll  of  Capt.  Thomas  Brown's  company  in  Col. 
Aaron  Willard's  regiment  gives  the  officers  and  men  of  that 
company  mileage  from  Newbury  "  to  Charlestown  No.  4 " 
[N.H.]  in  1776,  and  also  credits  them  with  mileage  on  their 
return  "from  Fort  Edward  to  Newbury,"  but  does  not  give 
the  names  of  the  men  or  the  towns  where  they  resided.*  It 
is  not  unlikely,  however,  that  they  came  mainly  from  New- 
bury and  Newburyport.  Wages  were  computed  and  paid 
Captain  Brown,  two  lieutenants,  one  ensign,  four  sergeants, 
six  corporals,  and  fifty-four  soldiers. 

July  II,  1776,  the  General  Court  elected  Edward  Wiggles- 
worth,  of  Newburyport,  "■  Colonel  of  the  Battalion  to  be  raised 
in  the  counties  of  Essex,  York,  and  Cumberland  for  the  Con- 
tinental service."  f 

William  Rogers,  of  Newbur}',  was  appointed  major.  The 
other  officers  were  from  Berwick,  Beverly,  Danvers,  and 
Haverhill. I  July  5,  1777,  Dudley  Colman,  born  in  Newbury 
August  13,  1745,  was  appointed  lieutenant  colonel  of  this 
regiment. 

•Massachusetts  Archives  (Rev.  Rolls),  vol.  xvii.,  p.  159. 

t  Ibid.,  vol.  xi.,  p.  49.  Col.  Edward  Wigglesworth  was  born  in  Ipswich  January  3,  1742, 
and  died  in  Newburyport,  Decembers,  1826.  +  Ibid.,  p.  36. 


6o8 


HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 


In  the  muster  roll  of  Capt.  Daniel  Pillsbury's  company  in 
Col.  Edward  Wigglesworth  regiment,  ten  men  were  credited 
to  Newbury,  as  follows  :  —  * 


Ephrm  Emery 
Stephen  England 
Aaron  Milton 
Stephen  Mitchell 
Jonathan  Martin 


Willm  Murry 
Charles  Canaday 
William  Gudridge 
Jonathan  Taymouth 
Ros;er  Lord. 


Eighteen  men  in  Captain  Pillsbury's  company  whose  names 
are  not  included  in  the  above  list  were  credited  to  Newbury- 
port. 

In  the  company  commanded  January  30,  1777,  by  Capt. 
Joshua  French  of  Salisbury,  in  Colonel  Wigglesworth's  regi- 
ment, the  following  named  officers  and  men  were  from  New- 
bury :  —  I 


Nathaniel  Adams,  Lieutenant 

Silas  Rogers,  Sergeant 

John  Flanders,  " 

Eliphalet  Kimbal,  " 

John  Brown,  Corporal 

Nathaniel  Chase  Drummer 

PRIVATES 

Nehemiah  FoUinsbee 
Benjamin  Woodbury 
Jacob  Pettengill 
Daniel  Bradley  • 
Samuel  Lankester 
Abel  Greenleif 


Jonathan  Thirstain 
Timothy  Sanders 
Moody  Morse 
Abner  Kimball 
Samuel  Jaquish 
James  Barker 
David  Hale 
John  Copp 
Stephen  Thirstain 
Thomas  Bolles 
John  Akiss 
Silas  Rogers 
Joseph  Rogers 


Dudley  Colman,  town  clerk  of  Newbury  from  September 
23»  1773,  to  April  9,  1776,  served  as  lieutenant  from  July 
eleventh  to  December  9,  1775,  in  Capt.  Stephen  Kent's  com- 
pany, raised  for  the  defence  of  the  sea-coast  of  Massachusetts. 
He  was  appointed  major  in  General  Nixon's  brigade  October 
8,  1776;  lieutenant  colonel  in  Col.  Samuel  McCobb's  regi- 
ment, June  10,  1777;  and  lieutenant  colonel  in  Col.  Edward 
Wigglesworth's  regiment,  July  5,  1777.      He  sold  his  house  in 


'Massachusetts  Archives  (Rev.  Rolls),  vol.  xi.,  p.  41. 


+  Ibid.,  vol.  xix.,  p.  55. 


SOLDIERS  IN    THE    REVOLUriONAKY    WAR 


609 


Ncwbui")-  April  29,  1780,  and    removed  to  Boston.      He  died 
in  Brookfield,  N.H.,  November  16,  1797.* 

Capt.  Paul  Moody,  of  Newbury,  and  Capt.  Elias  Davis,  of 
Newburyport,  commanded  companies  in  Col.  Timothy  Picker- 
ing's regiment,  and  were  ordered  to  march  to  Danbury,  Conn., 
in  December,  1776.!  The  officers  and  men  of  the  Newbury 
company  were  as  follows  :  —  % 


Paul  Moody  Captain 

Caleb  Kiml)al      First  Lieut 
John  Atkinson    Second  " 
Joseph  Dan  forth 
Stephen  Adams 
Oliver  Goodridge 
Amos  Poor  3d 
Eliphalet  Poor 
Nathl  Dummer 
Samuel  Adams 
Enoch  Flood 
Israel  Flood 
Richd  Dummer,  Jr. 
Stephen  Lunt 
John  Emery,  Jr. 
Enoch  Huse 
John  Burbank 
Thomas  Thurla 
Richd  Martin 
Joseph  Adams 
Jonathan  Thurston 
Francis  Follansbee 
Willm  Greenleaf 
John  Bartlet,  Jun 
Moses  Sargent  Moody 
Benja  Fellows 
Joseph  Atwood  Jun 
Charles  Walker 
Moody  Hardy 
Nathl  Mitchel 
Joseph  Jennings 
William  Merden 
Stephen  Plumer 
David  Cheney 


192; 


\ 


♦  "Ould  Newbury,"    p 
187 1,  pp.  187-199. 

t  Massachusetts  .Archives  (Rev.  Rolls),  vol.  xxxii.,  p.  2S3. 
+  Essex  Institute  Historical  Collections,  vol.  xxxv.,  p.  230 


Thomas  Davis 
Amos  Dwinell 
Joseph  Rawlings 
David  Rawlings 
Henry  Dwinell 
John  Sawyer 
Ezekiel  Flanders 
William  Plumer 
Isaac  Plumer 
Joseph  Russel 
John  Acors 
Seth  Plumer 
Enoch  Merrill 
Isaac  Currier 
Peter  Ordway 
John  Grayham 
Daniel  Chandler 
Abel  Greenleaf 
Richd  Smith 
Elias  Greenleaf 
Amos  Little 
David  Hidden 
Benja  Jackman 
Moses  Hoyt 
Josiah  Teel 
Enoch  Adams,  Jun 
Josiah  Hunt 
Samuel  Brown 
Frederick  Lewis 
James  Mansfield 
Pero  Hall 
Henry  Greenleaf 
Obed  Hute 
John  Hayes 

New    England    Historical   and  Genealogical  Register,  April, 


6io 


HISTORY   OF  NEWRURY 


A  Pay  Roll  of  Capt  John  Noyes'  company  in  Col.  Samuel  Johnson's 
Regiment  in  the  Massachusetts  Bay  militia  from  ye  time  of  their  enter- 
ing in  the  Service  to  the  time  of  their  discharge  including  Twelve  days 
to  go  home.*     (Aug.  14,  1777,  to  Nov.  15,  1777) 


John  Noyes  Captain 

Samuel  Pillsbury  1st  Lieut 

Stephen  Brown  1^^     " 

Nathaniel  Dummer  Sergent 

Bezaleel  Woodberry  " 

Nathan  Emery  " 

(died  Sept.  19,  1777) 

Amos  Dow,  " 

Moses  Jaques  " 

Joseph  Lunt  Corporal 

Joshua  Toppan  " 

Stephen  Tappan  " 

Thomas  Thurlow  " 

David  Emery  Fifer 

PRIVATES 

John  Akers 
Caleb  Adams 
Enoch  Adams 
Samuel  Adams 
Nathaniel  Atkinson 
Samuel  Beverly 
John  Bayley  (Bagley?) 
Joshua  Bayley  (Bagley?) 
Daniel  Chipman 
Aquilla  Chase 
Benjamin  Chase 
Pearly  Chase 
John  Currier 
Amos  Carlton 
Jonathan  Carlton 
William  Conley 
John  Downing 
Joseph  Dolman 


Timothy  Dorman 
James  Follansbee 
Enoch  Flood 
Samuel  Gould 
Peru  Hall 
Samuel  Jaques 
Richard  Jackman 
Parker  Knight 
Timothy  Lankester 
Stephen  Morrill 
Thomas  Noyes 
William  Nichols 
Nathan  Pettingel 
William  Plummer 
Stephen  Pirkins 
Samuel  Poore 
Eliphalet  Poor 
Benjamin  Pettingell 
Seth  Plummer 
Jonathan  Plummer 
Silas  Pearson 
Michael  Smith 
Thomas  Sweet 
William  Smith 
Abraham  Thurlow 
Moses  Thurlow 
Robert  Thompson 
Charles  Walker 
Joseph  Williams 
John  Woodbury 
Amos  Whitmore 
Nathan  Emery 
Benjamin  Mains 
Samuel  Fowler 


*  Massachusetts  Archives,  vol.  xxi.,  p.  171.  John  Noyes  was  born  in  Newbury  March  18, 
1740,  and  died  May  14,  17S4.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Capt.  Joseph  Ne^hall's  company 
April  4,  175S,  and  was  with  Col.  Jonathan  Bagley  at  Lake  George.  At  the  Lexington  alarm, 
April  19,  1775,  he  was  enrolled  in  Capt.  Jonathan  Poor's  company  in  Col.  Samuel  Gerrish's  regi- 
ment. He  was  second  lieutenant  in  Col.  Samuel  Gerrish's  regiment  at  Bunker  Hill,  and  sub- 
sequently first  lieutenant  in  Lieut.  Col.  Loammi  Baldwin's  regiment.  He  was  commissioned 
early  in  the  month  of  August,  1777,  captain  of  a  company  in  Col.  Samuel  Johnson's  regiment. 


SOLD/EKS  IN    THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR 


6ii 


In  the  detachment  of  soldiers  sent  to  Rhode  Island  in 
1777,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Jonathan  Titcomb,  of  New- 
buryport,  the  following  named  officers  and  men  were  from 
Newbury  :  — * 


Silas  Adams, 

Captain 

Samuel  Jaques 

Jedediah  Currier, 

Serjeant 

Jonathan  Charltons 

David  Adams, 

" 

Robert  Chase 

Enoch  Dole, 

Corporal 

James  Folonsbee 

John  Chase, 

Drummer 

Amos  Hale 

-Enoch  Rolfe, 

Fifer 

Isaac  Plumer 
Stephen  Adams 

PRIVATES 

Chase  Colby 

Joshua  Toppan 

Aquilla  Chase 

Richard  Jackman 

Daniel  Chaney 

Amos  Whitmore 

Amos  Emery 

Moses  Short 

Joshua  Boynton 

Daniel  Adams 

James  Martain 

John  Woodbury 

Richard  Martain 

Parker  Knight 

^  Richard  Rolfe 

William  Plumer 

Amos  Dwinell 

David  Emery 

Benjamin  Fellows 

Other  men  in  Capt.  Silas  Adams'  company  were  from 
Rowley,  Danvers,  and  Middleton. 

In  the  company  commanded  by  Capt.  Moses  Nowell,  of 
Newburyport,  in  Col.  Jonathan  Titcomb's  brigade,  in  Rhode 
Island  in  1777,  Nathaniel  Dummer,  Jonathan  Emerson,  Jo- 
seph Wright,  and  Joseph  Wright,  jr.,  were  from  Newbury. 
The  rest  of  the  company  were  from  Newburyport,  Amesbury, 
and  Salisbury.! 

Men  enlisted  in  Newbury  in  1777,  to  serve  three  years  in  the  Conti- 
nental army  :  —  % 


Prince  Brown 
William  Butman 
Charles  Cassady 
Benjamin  Chase 
Eliphalet  Chase 
Joshua  Chase 
Joshua  Chase,  Junior. 


Joseph  Dowry 
Amos  Dwinnils 
Edward  Deacon 
William  Duggins. 
Benjamin  Flanders 
Benjamin  Fellows 
William  Goodridge 


*  Massachusetts  Archives  (Rev.  Rolls),  vol.  i.,  p.  2j. 
+  Ibid.,  vol.  xxvii.,  pp.  111-134, 


t  Ibid.,  vol.  iii.,  p.  21. 


6l2 


///STORY   OF  NEW/WRY 


Daniel  Goodridge 
John  Graham 
Richard  Goodwin 
Joseph  Hidden,  Jun. 
Isaiah  Hunt 
Samuel  Hills 
Thomas  Hardy 
Jacob  How 
John  Haze 
John  Hutchins. 
Zebulon  Ingorsoll 
Michael  Kingsbury 
Abner  Kimball 
Jacob  Lunt 
Thomas  Lunt 
Moses  Long 
John  Lunt 
Roger  Lord 
Samuel  Lancaster 
^•^John  Lindsey 
Samuel  Lowell 
Richard  Lowell 
Aaron  Moulton 
Stephen  Mitchell 
J^cob  Merrick 
William  Murray 


James  Martin 
James  Mansfield 
William  Mc'Condry 
Jonathan  Martin 
John  Nichols 
Eliphalet  Noyce 
Joseph  Noyce 
Obadiah  Nut 
Cutting  Petingal  Junior 
Chase  Pilsbury 
James  Page 
Newport  Rid  island 
Josiah  Richardson 
Richard  Rolfe 
Samuel  Rameck 
Stephen  Stickney 
John  Smith,  Junior 
John  Smith 
Samll  Stockes 
John  Smith 
John  Smith 
Samuel  Wright 
William  White 
William  Williams 
Jonathan  Wamouth 


Soldiers  enlisted   in    1778   for  six  months'  service  in  Capt.  Richard 
Rogers'  company  in  Col.  Jacob  Gerrish's  regiment  :  —  * 


Stephen  Whitney 
William  Gould 
Aaron  Rollins 
Jonathan  Stickney 
Joseph  Welch 
John  Huff 
Samuel  Bragdon 
Thomas  Rogers 
Benjamin  Burbank 
Jonathan  Stone 
George  Moody 
John  Nason 
Samuel  Smith 


Thomas  Brown 
James  Bartlett 
Ezekiel  Eastman 
Joseph  Hodgdon 
Jeremiah  Lord 
Jonathan  Horsam 
Ephraim  Tibbetts   1 
Samuel  Fitts 
Nathaniel  Ramsdell 
Theodore  Barker 
Daniel  Briant 
Moses  Row 
Landras  Grant 


*  Massachusetts    Archives   (Rev.    Rolls),  vol.    xxii.,  p.    i86.     (Company  stationed  at   Cam- 
bridge ) 


I 


SOLDIERS  IN    THE    REVOLUTIONARY    WAR  613 

Newbury  men  drafted  for  nine  months'  service  in  1778:  —  * 

Caleb  Parsons  Simon  Lull 

William  Reed  Samuel  Beaverly 

David  Marston  Jacob  Friese 

Eliphalet  Canley  Jonathan  Goodwin 

Jacob  Smith  William  Parker 

Jeremiah  Smith  William  Chambers 

Daniel  Gale  Josiah  Maloone 

Nathaniel  Wadleigh  William  Alld 

Enoch  Adams  Philip  Barker 

Isaac  Plummer  James  Sulivan 

In  addition  to  the  men  who  were  mustered  into  the  service 
in  1778,  the  following  persons  were  rejected  for  physical 
disabilities  by  the  muster-master-general  of  the  American 
army  :  —  f 

Sambo  Carlton  Daniel  Minehan 

Theodore  Atkinson  Nathaniel  Davis 

Levi  Hale  Cato  Seward 

Joseph  Leroach  Cesar  Hodgdon 

Thomas  Churchill  Elijah  Kelley 

Oliver  Martin  Robert  Runnells 

Supplementary  list  of  men  sent  as  part  of  the  cjuota  of  the  town  of 
Newbury  in  1778,  but  rejected  for  physical  disability:  —  X 

Samuel  Currier  Joseph  Holins 

Joshua  Bodwell  Patrick  Rowland 

Samuel  Chase  Joseph  Winter 

Jonathan  Cadwell  James  Cavenaugh 

John  Lewis  W^  Connolly 

William  Conlea  James  Vernon 

Daniel  Cochrane  John  May 

Joseph  Conner  Elisha  Lake 

Joseph  Hancock  William  Jordan 

Stephen  England  John  Richards 

Jacob  Annis  Richard  Little 

John  Stone  Joseph  Noyes 

Joseph  Lambert  Silas  Noyes 

Boston  Pickering  W""  Perry 

Juba  Merrill  Pero  Hall 

John  Dimond  John  Remmack 

*  Massachusetts  Archives  (Rev.  Roils),  vol.  xxviii.,  p.  150;  also,  vol.  xxxii.,  p.  329. 
t  Ibid.,  vol.  xxviii.,  p.  179.        %  Ibid.,  vol.  xxviii.,  p.  181. 


6 14  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Ralph  Cross,  one  of  the  selectmen  of  Newburyport,  re- 
ported, February  i6,  1778,  the  names  of  all  the  persons 
enlisted  to  serve  as  a  part  of  the  quota  of  that  town  in  the 
Continental  army  for  the  term  of  three  years.  In  that  list 
were  the  following-named  Newbury  men  :  —  * 

William  Pay  Daniel  Collins 

John  Stickney  John  Knight 

William  Poor  Paul  Coffin 

John  Feilding  Jonathan  Buswell 

r-^"-Makepeace  Colby  James  Delaney 

Thomas  HoUiday  James  Summers 

-    Jonathan  Morrill  William  Williamson 

John  Stonman  Daniel  Price 

John  Arskins  Samuel  Lowell 

Charles  Jarvis  Richard  Lowell 

__;;;fohn  Lindsey  Leonard  Cotton 

Morrill  Whicher  John  Harris. 

Most,  if  not  all,  of  these  men  were  in  the  company  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Moses  Greenleaf  in  Col.  Ebenezer  Francis' 
regiment  in  1777. 

Newbury  men  mustered  into  the  Continental  army  for  nine  months 
by  John  Cushing,  muster-master  (Boxford,  December  8,  1779):  —  f 

Jonathan  Carlton  Parker  Knight 

Nathan  Jaquish  Oliver  Clark  Lunt 

David  Emery  Samuel  Barker 

David  Duston  William  Nichols 

George  Thompson  James  Scott 

Pero  Hall  James  Follansbee 

Enoch  Boynton  Benjamin  Chase 

Oliver  Martyn  John  Bagley 

Amos  Carlton  Charles  Walker 

William  Murray  Elipht  Rollins 

Capt.  Richard  Titcomb's  company,  in  Col.  Nathaniel  Wade's  regi- 
ment, made  up  of  Newbury,  Newburyport,  and  Amesbury  men,  enlisted 
July  3,  discharged  October  10,  1780.  Essex  county  regiment  raised 
to  re-enforce  the  Continental  army  under  Washington,  for  three  months, 
agreeable  to  Resolve  of  General  Court,  June  22,  1780.$ 

*  Massachusetts  Archives  (Rev.  Rolls),  vol.  liii.,  p.  197.        t  Ibid.,  vol.  xxxii.,  p.  282. 
\  Ibid.,  vol.  xxiii.,  p.  142. 


SOLD/ERS   IN    THE    REVOLUTIONARY    WAR 


615 


Richard  Titcomb,         Captain 

Joseph  Lai<e 

Moody  Montgomery,        Lieut 

Jacob  Wyat 

John  Goodhue,                     " 

Caleb  Knight 

Theophilus  Osgood       Serjent 

Nathaniel  Ober 

Joshua  Davis                        " 

Samuel  Nowell 

Joseph  Adams                      " 

Joseph  Stanwood 

Simeon  Noyes                       " 

William  Appleton 

■>William  Morrill                    " 

Elijah  Mayhew 

William  Biscomb        Corporal 

John  Brown 

Jonathan  Merrill                " 

Cesar  Hendricks 

Robert  Hoyt                       " 

George  Sweatt 

Paul  Bradbury                   " 

Joseph  Woodman 

Samuel  Elliott        '    Drummer 

Joseph  Colley 

Abm  Dodge                      Fifer. 

James  Carr 

William  Bartlet 

PRI\'ATES 

Jacob  Davis 

Simeon  Brasier 

William  Davis 

William  Norton 

Jonathan  Pearson 

Bille  Price 

Benjamin  Davis 

Jonathan  Sweatt 

Elias  Cook 

Samuel  Knapp 

Benjamin  Racklift 

Joseph  Wood 

Joseph  Currier 

Matthew  Pettengell 

William  Currier 

Timothy  Curtis 

Nicholas  Moody 

Israel  Colley 

Simeon  Bartlet 

Benjamin  Noyes 

John  Currier 

Stephen  Howard 

Jonathan  Colby .^-vr- 

Samuel  French 

John  Weed 

[                             ] 

Benjamin  Wadly 

John  Titcomb 

Obadiah  Badger 

John  Butler 

Thomas  Bagley 

Thomas  Stanwood 

William.  Tucker. 

John  Coffin 

Joshua  Toppan 

Samuel  Pilsbury 

Philip  Osgood 

Joshua  Pettengell 

Samuel  Sweatt 

Jacob  Hodgkins 

Joseph  Morrill  -yL 

William  Follansbee 

Ephriam  Hoyt 

Stephen  Norton 

Reuben  Eastman 

Thomas  Newman 

Enoch  Collins 

Moses  Harriman 

Benjamin  Morrill  7< 

Nicholas  Currier 

John  True 

David  Bartlet 

Simeon  French 

Eliphalet  Pilsbur)- 

[                              ] 

Nathan  Hatch 

William  Pike 

William  Ceser 

Abel  Jackman 

6l6  HISTORY   OF  NEWBURY 

Jabez  Merrill  Samuel  Hoyt 

Robert  Mansfield  David  Blaisdell 

Stephen  Merrill  Benjamin  Sweatt 

-^Zebulon  Sargent  William  Morrill  /■ 

'/Isaac  Colby  Obadiah  Colby^. 

Jolin  Huse  Ezekiel  Barnard 

Willis  Currier  William  Davis 

Joseph  Morss  Benjamin  Collins 

Gideon  Colby  John  Stevens 

Sergeant  Harvey  Jacob  Currier 

John  Waters  Samuel  Merrill 

Captain  Richard  Titcomb  was  from  Newburyport  ;  but  many 
of  the  officers  and  men  named  in  the  above  list  were  from 
Newbury,  and  a  few  probably  were  from  Newburyport  and 
Amesbury.  Their  places  of  residence  are  not  given  in  the 
muster  roll,  and  it  is  impossible  therefore  to  say  how  many 
should  be  credited  to  each  town.  The  company  was  stationed 
at  West  Point  on  the  Hudson  river  in  September,  1780. 
From  the  diary  of  Joshua  Davis,  who  was  a  sergeant  in  the 
company,  it  appears  that  when  Benedict  Arnold,  in  order  to 
avoid  capture  and  death,  escaped  in  a  barge  to  an  English 
ship  lying  at  anchor  several  miles  away,  he  took  with  him 
several  boatmen  to  aid  him  in  his  flight.  Two  of  these  boat- 
men were  Newbury  men,  John  Brown  and  Samuel  Pilsbury, 
who  enlisted  for  three  months'  service  in  Captain  Titcomb's 
company.* 

A  list  of  the  six  months'  men  raised  to  re-enforce  the  Continental 
army  in  the  year  1780  :  — f 

Benoni  Eaton  Knap.  Benj  Willet 

Richard  Shay  Wm  Plummer 

John  Harris  Seth  Plummer 

James  Cordy  John  Thomson. 

Elipt  Poor  Aaron  Rogers 

Enoch  Dole.  Moses  Rogers. 

W"!  Currier.  Richard  Martin 

John  Burbank  W""  Read 

John  Dow.  Micajah  Lunt 

Isaac  Plummer  Jona"  Martin 

*CoffiD's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  258;  also,  "Revolutionary  Heroes,"  by  Miss  Emily  A. 
Getcbell,  in  Putnam's  Historical  Magazine,  June,  1899. 

t  Massachusetts  Archives  (Rev.   Rolls),  vol.  xxvii.,  p.  7. 


SOLDIERS   IN    THE   REVOLUTIONARY    WAR 


617 


James  Martin 
Jacob  Burrel 
John  Currier 
Moses  Somerby 
John  Lull 
Moses  Read 
John  Thurston 
Prince  Brown 
Jonan.  Bartlit 
Stephen  Davis 
Caff  Downey 
Simeon  Chace 
John  Harvey 


Jon".  Lyfford 
John  Bean 
London  Roger 
Paul  Mcpherson 
John  Archer 
Josiah  Conner 
Lancaster  Rich 
James  Scott 
James  Huntries 
John  Randall 
Sam'l  Randall 
Joseph  Pillsbury 


A  pay  roll  for  the  soldiers  detached  from  the  militia  of  the  town  of 
Newbury  in  the  year  1780  to  serve  in  the  army  of  the  United  States  for 
the  term  of  six  months  :  —  * 


James  Martin               Sergi 

;.                John  Lull. 

Jonathan  Martin       Private               John  Thompson 

Richard  Martin                " 

Seth  Plummer 

William  Beed 

Benjn.  Willet. 

Moses  Reed 

John  Burbank. 

Moses  Somerby. 

Enoch  Dole. 

John  Currier 

Jonathan  Morse. 

William  Currier 

Joseph  Conners 

William  Plummer. 

Micajah  Lunt. 

Isaac  Plummer. 

James  Swett. 

Moses  Rogers. 

Eliphalet  Poor 

Aaron  Rogers. 

John  Been 

Jacob  Burrel. 

Jonathan  Lyford 

John  Thurston. 

London  Rogers 

Simeon  Chase  Jun. 

Isaac  Taylor 

Jonathan  Bartlet 

James  Hantrys 

[Prince?]  Brown. 

John  Randall 

Cuff  Downey. 

Samuel  Randell 

John  Dole. 

Joseph  Pilsbury 

A  duplicate  copy  of  the  above  list  was  filed  by  Ezra  Hale, 
clerk  of  the  town  of  Newbury,  in  the  month  of  September, 
1838,  and  acknowledged  before  William  Woart,  justice  of  the 
peace,  to  be  the  original  list  "  taken  from  papers  on  file  in 
the  clerk's  office."  f 


•Massachusetts  Archives  (Rev.   Rolls),  vol.  iv.,  p.  igg  .         t  Ibid.,  vol.  xlix.,  pp.  38,  39. 


6i8 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


A  descriptive  list  of  the  new  levies  raised  for  six  months,  .  .  .  includ- 
ing all  that  are  apportioned  to  the  several  infantry  regiments  from 
Newbury  in  i  780  :  —  * 


John  Thompson 
Richard  Martin. 
Jona  Martin 
Moses  Reed 
Will-n  Reed 
Micajah  Lunt 
John  Burbank 
Sam'  Randel 
John  Archer 
Josiah  Maloon 
David  Maloon 
Paul  Mc'Pheirson 
Ezekiel  Stearris 
Jonathan  Calley 
Eliphalet  Calley 
Jeremiah  Smith 
Stephen  Smith 
Benjamin  Smith 
Caleb  Tobb 
George  Sanders 
Daniel  Gale 


Sami  Dudley 
Jonath"  Steward 
John  Woodbery 
Sami  Webber 
James  Woodbury 
Nathaniel  Hant 
Eben""  Haynes 
James  Smith 
Oliver  Richards 
Benjn  Woodbury 
Enoch  Foot 
Moses  George 
Benjn  Cotton 
John  Harris 
David  Dorman 
Benoney  Knap 
Richard  Shay 
Moses  Titcomb 
Sami  Colby  -. 
Moses  George,  Jun 
James  Thomas. 


Return  of  Newbury  men  raised  agreeable  to  resolve  of  December  2, 
1780:  — t 


Samuel  Currier 
Joshua  Bodwell 
Samuel  Chase 
Jon"  Cadwell 
John  Lewis 
William  Contee 
Daniel  Cochrain 
Joseph  Conner 
Joseph  Hancock 
Stephen  England 
Jacob  Annis 
John  Stone 
Joseph  Lambert 
Boston  Pickering 
Juba  Merrill 
John  Dimond 


Joseph  Holmes 
Patrick  Rowland 
Joseph  Winter 
James  Cavinaugh 
William  Connolly 
James  Vernon 
John  May 
Elisha  Lake 
William  Youlan 
John  Richards 
Richard  Little 
Joseph  Noyes 
Silas  Noyes 
Wm  Perry 
Pero  Hall 
John  Rimmack 


•Massachusetts  Archives  (Rev.  Rolls),  vol.  xxv.,  p.  219.         t  Ibid.,  vol.  xxviii.,  p.  181. 


SOLDIERS   /A'    THE   REVOLUTIONARY    WAR 


619 


Soldiers  re-enlisted  in  1781    who  had  previously  served  in   the   Con- 
tinental army  for  several  years  :  —  * 


Aaron  Mellen 
Stephen  Mitchell 
James  Pendon 
Daniel  Goodrich 
John  Stockman 
Oliver  Lunt 
Benjamin  Murray 
William  White 


Eliph'  Noyes,  ^ergt 

Samuel  Stocker,    Drummer 
Roger  Lord, 
Thomas  Emerson 
William  Poor 
Pomp  Jackson 
Robert  Creaton 
John  Tucker, 


Sergt 
Corp. 


Sergt 


A  full  and  complete  list  of  the  men  credited  to  the  town  of 
Newbury  for  military  service  from  1775  to  1785,  arranged 
in  alphabetical  order,  will  be  found  in  "  The  Soldiers  and 
Sailors  of  the  Revolutionary  War,"  a  work  compiled  and 
published  by  order  of  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


*  Massachusetts  Archives  (Rev.  Rolls),  vol.  xxix.,  folio  gg. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

THE  EMBARGO  AND  THE  WAR  OF  l8l2. 

On  the  twenty-second  day  of  December,  1807,  the  Senate 
and  House  of  Representatives,  in  Congress  assembled,  passed 
an  act  laying  an  embargo  on  all  vessels  belonging  to  citizens 
of  the  United  States,  and  forbidding,  under  heavy  penalties, 
their  clearance  or  departure  for  any  foreign  port.  Friends  of 
the  embargo  asserted  that  it  was  enacted  for  the  purpose  of 
protecting  American  merchant  ships  and  sailors  from  seizure 
or  capture  on  the  high  seas,  and  compelling  France  and 
England,  who  were  then  at  war  with  each  other,  to  repeal 
certain  restrictions  that  had  been  imposed  upon  American 
commerce. 

Although  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  were  at  that  date 
largely  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  yet  ship-building  was 
a  flourishing  industry  within  the  limits  of  the  town ;  and 
many  prominent  citizens  were  associated  with  the  merchants 
of  Newburyport  in  the  development  of  trade  with  the  West 
Indies  and  the  continent  of  Europe.  All  business  of  a 
commercial  character  was  necessarily  suspended.  The  rope- 
walks  were  deserted,  sail-makers  were  idle ;  while  shipwrights 
and  sailors  could  find  but  little  employment. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  August  22,  1808,  resolutions  were 
adopted  condemning  the  embargo  act  and  demanding  its 
repeal.  The  selectmen  were  instructed  to  prepare  a  petition, 
to  be  sent  to  the  president  of  the  United  States,  remonstrat- 
ing against  the  further  continuance  of  a  policy  that  threatened 
to  absolutely  destroy  all  foreign  trade,  and  asking  that  ship 
merchants  and  captains  might,  at  least,  have  free  and  unin- 
terrupted commerce  with  the  inhabitants  of  Spain,  Portugal, 
and  their  dependencies.* 

The  subject  was    again   brought    to    the  attention  of    the 

*To\vn  of  Newbury  Records. 
620 


rJJK    EMKAKGO   AM)    THE    WAR    OF  1812  621 

legal  \-()ters  of  the  town  January  23,  1809;  and  a  memorial 
was  prepared,  requesting  the  General  Court  to  exert  its  influ- 
ence to  secure  a  change  in  the  policy  of  the  national  govern- 
ment.* 

March  i,  1809,  the  embargo  act  was  repealed  by  Congress  ; 
but  all  trade  and  intercourse  with  France  and  England  was 
strictly  prohibited.  The  law,  however,  could  not  be  enforced, 
and  led  to  many  perplexing  and  irritating  complications,  that 
finally  resulted  in  a  declaration  of  war  against  Great  Britain 
on  the  nineteenth  day  of  June,  1812. 

Spirited  resolutions,  opposing  the  war,  were  unanimously 
adopted  by  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury  on  the  twenty-ninth 
day  of  June.  These  resolutions  were  subsequently  printed, 
and  sent  to  every  town  in  the  county  of  Essex.*  On  the 
fourteenth  day  of  July,  "  Mr.  Richard  Pike,  Cap'  Thomas 
Carter,  Cap'  Abraham  Wheelwright,  Silas  Little,  Esq.,  Eben"" 
March  Esq.  and  M""  Daniel  Emery  "  were  chosen  delegates  to 
a  convention  to  be  held  at  Ipswich  on  the  twenty-first  day  of 
July  "to  consult  upon  the  present  alarming  condition  of  the 
country."  * 

Privateers  were  fitted  out  in  Boston,  Salem,  Newburyport, 
and  other  towns  along  the  seacoast,  to  prey  upon  English 
commerce.  In  the  summer  of  181 3,  English  cruisers  pursued 
and  captured  several  small  American  vessels  in  the  vicinity 
of  Cape  Ann  and  the  Isles  of  Shoals. 

An  observatory  was  erected  on  March's  hill,  in  Newbury, 
near  the  head  of  South,  now  Bromfield,  street,  Newburyport, 
from  the  top  of  which  the  movements  of  vessels  approaching 
the  mouth  of  the  Merrimack  river  could  be  distinctly  seen. 
Alarm  posts  were  established  on  Plum  island,  and  two  gun- 
boats were  stationed  in  the  harbor  of  Newburyport  from  the 
middle  of  October  until  the  following  spring. f 

An  English  frigate,  or  "razee,"  called  the  "Majestic," 
carrying  fifty-four  guns,  captured  a  schooner  at  the  Isles  of 
Shoals  on  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  November,  181 3.  A  report 
that  she  had  landed  a  company  of  soldiers  at  Plum  island 
for  the  purpose  of    seizing  and    destro}'ing  the  sloop-of-war 

*Town  of  Newbury  Records.  t  A/t/e,  p.  4S4,  note. 


62  2  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

"Wasp,"  then  lying  at  anchor  in  the  Merrimack  river,  was 
widely  circulated,  but  proved  to  have  no  foundation  in 
fact.* 

January  31,  18 14,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Hon.  Eben- 
ezer  March,  Capt.  Ebenezer  Wheelwright,  Mr.  Robert 
Dodge,  Mr.  Richard  Pike,  and  Mr.  Paul  Thurlo,  was  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  a  petition,  or  memorial,  requesting  the 
General  Court  to  use  its  influence  and  to  co-operate  in  pro- 
curing relief  from  the  restrictive  laws  enacted  by  Congress. 
This  memorial,  or  petition,  was  published  in  the  Newbury- 
port  Herald  February  4,  18 14,  signed  by  the  selectmen,  the 
moderator  of  the  meeting  at  which  it  was  adopted,  and  the 
town  clerk.  It  began  with  an  eloquent  appeal  to  the  friends 
of  liberty  and  free  trade. 

THE    VOICE    OF    FREEMEN!!! 
Citizens  of  Massachusetts,  Inhabitants  of  Maine. 

The  guardians  of  your  liberty  are  now  at  their  posts.  Let  them 
know  what  aid  they  may  expect  from  you  in  making  a  firm  stand  against 
the  encroachments  on  your  constitution  by  the  late  infamous  Embargo 
Law. 

Arouse  !  and  in  the  respectful  and  decided  language  of  freemen,  call 
upon  your  Legislators  to  vindicate  your  rights,  or  be  contented  dis- 
gracefully to  shrink  from  your  duty  and  starve ;  follow  the  examples 
set  before  you  by  Deerfield,  Amherst  and  New  Bedford, —  and  this  day 
by  Newbury,  the  largest  Agricultural  Town  in  the  County  of  Essex  — 
Let  Town  Meetings  be  called  without  delay  throughout  the  State  and 
show  your  Legislators  that  they  will  receive  a  firm  support  in  every 
energetic  measure  which  they  in  their  wisdom  think  proper  to  adopt  at 
this  momentous  crisis,  when  life,  liberty  and  property  are  all  at  stake. 

Be  not  deluded  by  the  prospect  of  peace.  The  friends  of  War  are 
not  yet  glutted,  thousands  of  lives,  millions  of  property,  and  the  sov- 
ereignty of  every  State  (unless  the  Arm  of  Tyranny  be  arrested)  yet 
remain  to  be  sacrificed  to  their  fury  and  ambition. 

It  condemned  the  war  with  Great  Britain  as  "  wicked, 
wanton  and  unjust,  commenced  in  consequence  of  wrongs, 
which,  whether  real  or  pretended,  bear  no  comparison  to 
those    which    we    were    at    the    same    time    suffering    from 

*Ne\vbiiryport  Herald  and   Country  Gazette. 


THE   EMBARGO   AND    THE    WAR    OF  1812  623 

France."  It  criticised  the  policy  and  denounced  the 
methods  by  which  "  the  resources  of  the  nation  have  been 
dissipated  and  wasted  in  expeditions  planned  without  wisdom 
and  conducted  without  courage  or  skill,  and  the  energies  of 
the  government  prostituted  in  burning  and  ravaging  villages 
and  oppressing  and  destroying  unoffending  men."  In  conclu- 
sion, the  General  Court  was  urged  "  to  adopt  measures 
to  protect  and  defend  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  people 
and  secure  the  repeal  of  the  iniquitous  laws  restricting  the 
freedom  of  trade  and  commerce." 


We  call  on  our  State  Legislature  to  protect  us  in  the  enjoyment  of 
those  priviledge.s  to  assert  which  our  fathers  died ;  and  to  defend  which 
we  profess  ourselves  ready  to  resist  unto  blood.  We  pray  your 
honourable  body  to  adopt  measures,  immediately,  to  secure  to  us  espe- 
cially our  undoubted  right  of  trade  within  our  State. 

We  are  ourselves  ready  to  aid  you  in  securing  it  to  us,  to  the  utmost 
of  our  power  "-peaceably  if  we  CTin,  forcibly  if  we  must"  and  we  pledge 
to  you  the  sacrifice  of  our  Lives  and  Property  in  support  of  whatever 
measures  the  dignity  and  liberties  of  this  free,  sovereign  and  indepen- 
dent State  may  seem  to  your  wisdom  to  demand. 

Silas  Lit-fle,  Moderator.      Ezra  Hale,  Tou/n  Clerk. 


Joseph  Newell 
Daniel  Emery 
Moses  S.  Moody 
Jacob  Perley 


^  Selectmen. 


Newbury,  January  31,  1814. 


At  that  date,  the  sloop-of-war  "Wasp,"  built  in  Newbury, 
was  being  fitted  for  sea  in  Newburyport.  Almost  every 
writer  of  prominence  describing  the  naval  battles  of  that 
period,  assumes  that  she  was  built  by  the  ship-carpenters  of 
Portsmouth,  and  that  her  crew  was  composed  of  able-bodied 
seamen  from  that  port ;  but  the  following  advertisement, 
printed  in  the  Newburyport  Herald  and  Country  Gazette, 
September  24,  1813,  and  republished  at  frequent  intervals 
during  the  next  two  or  three  months,  proves  that  a  large 
proportion  of  the  officers  and  men  sailed  in  the  ship  from 
Newburyport :  — 


62  4  HISTORY  OF  A'EWBURY 

To  Men  of  Patriotism  and  Promoters  of  a  A^avy. 

i-^^^  Sloop  j.;:^^^- 

f^'^^^^  OF  War  /S^^I^- 

All  able  bodied  Seamen  who  are  desirous  of 
entering  into  the  Navy  of  the  United  States  may 
now  have  an  opportunity  by  repairing  to  the 
Rendezvous  which  is  now  open  at  Mr  Samuel 
Wheeler's,  Union  Hall,  for  the  U.  S.  Ship  of 
War,  called  the  Wasp,  now  laying  in  Newbury- 
port,  Johnston  Blakely,  Esq.,  Commander.  All 
able  bodied  seamen  will  receive  two  months  pay 
in  advance. 

September  24,  1813. 

On  the  sixteenth  day  of  November  following,  the  Newbury- 
port  Herald  announced  that  the  "Wasp"  was  being  rapidly 
fitted  for  sea,  and  that  a  considerable  part  of  her  crew  had 
been  secured.  She  sailed  for  Portsmouth  F"ebruary  22,  18 14, 
and  arrived  there  the  same  day.  After  taking  on  board 
heavy  guns,  ammunition,  and  other  supplies,  she  left  that  port, 
in  the  month  of  May  following,  to  cruise  on  the  English 
coast.* 

During  her  brief  but  brilliant  career,  the  "  Wasp  "  captured 
thirteen  vessels,  destroying  twelve  of  them  and  sending  one 
into  port.  On  the  ninth  day  of  October,  18 14,  in  latitude 
18°  35'  N.,  longitude  30°  10'  W.,  she  spoke  the  Swedish 
brig  "  Adonis,"  and  took  from  that  vessel  "  Lieut.  McKnight 
and  Mr.  Lyman,'  a  master  mate,  both  late  of  the  Essex,  on 
their  way  to  England  from  Brazil."  She  was  never  heard 
from  after  that  date,  and  is  supposed  to  have  sunk  at  night 
with  all  her  crew,  during  a  severe  engagement  with  an  Eng- 
lish frigate,  in  the  month  of  November  following. 

She  was  as  good  a  ship,  as  well  manned,  and  as  ably  commanded 
as  any  vessel  in  our  little  navy ;  and  it  may  be  doubted  if  there  was  at 
that  time  any  foreign  sloop  of  war  of  her  size  and  strength  that  could 
have  stood  against  her  in  fair  fight. f 

The  defenceless  condition  of  the  seacoast,  exposed  to 
assaults    and    attacks    from    heavily  armed   sliips   Hying    the 

*  Ante,  p.  488.  t  "  Naval  War  of  1S12,"  by  Theodore  Roosevelt,  p.  332. 


THE   EMBARGO   AND    THE    WAR    OF  1812 


625 


English  flag,  alarmed  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury,  and  led  to 
the  appointment  of  a  committee,  September  12,  18 14,  to 
make  suitable  provision  for  the  defence  of  the  town,  and  to 
apply  to  the  governor  of  the  commonwealth  for  the  money, 
arms,  and  ammunition  needed  for  that  purpose.* 

On  the  sixteenth  day  of  September  following,  the  governor 
ordered  "  that  the  several  companies  and  regiments  in  the 
towns  of  Salem,  Marblehead,  Beverly,  Gloucester,  Newbury, 
Newburyport,  Amesbury  and  Salisbury  be  assembled  for  the 
purpose  of  Instruction,  in  military  tactics,  two  days  in  each 
w^eek,  until  further  orders."  Detachments  from  these  com- 
panies were  stationed  in  Newbury,  for  the  protection  of  the  in- 
habitants, until  the  middle  of  October  and  perhaps  longer. 
The  names  of  the  officers  and  men,  on  file  in  the  archives  of 
the  adjutant-general's  office,  are  as  follows  :  — 

LT  COL  EBENEZER    HALE'S    REGIMENT 
Second  BRIGADE  Second  DIVISION 

Service  at  Newbury  between  Sept  30  &  Oct  41814 
Captain  Lan'caster'^   Company 


Thomas  Lancaster 

Captain 

Michael  Cressey 

John  Remick 

Lieut 

Joseph  Coffin 

John  Morrill 

Ensign 

John  Coffin  2d 

Jacob  Morrill 

Sergt 

Jonas  Dick 

Oliver  Hall 

" 

Paul  Emery 

Saul  Woodman 

u 

Abner  Kinston 

Eliphalet  Hall 

(( 

Tappen  Kinston 

Timothy  Gordon 

Corpl 

John  Kent 

Ja"s  Whittimore  [Miltmore  ?]     " 

Saul  Sand  [Land  ?] 

John  Miltimore 

" 

Thos  Merrill  3d 

Enoch  Merrill 

Musician 

Edmond  Nichols 

Chas  Flanders 

" 

Henry  Page 
John  Pellion 

privates 

David  Reed 

Richard  Adams 

Joseph  Stiles 

John  0  W  Brown 

Edward  Tappen 

Solomon  Babb 

Amos  Wood 

Daniel  F  Coleman 

Nicholas  B  Webb 

'  Newbury  Town  Records. 


626 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


Captain  Ordways  Company 


Peter  Ordway 

Captain 

Amos  Chase 

Geo  Little 

Lieut 

Josiah  Chase 

Nathi  Ordway 

Ensign 

Noah  Jackman 

Stephen  R  Fox 

Sergt 

Sam'l  Jackman 

John  Ordward  [Ordway 

■J 

Mathias  Jackman  3''^ 

Eliphalet  Rendol 

(i 

Enoch  Morrill 

Jacob  Chase 

u 

Wm  Moulton 

John  Brewster 

Corpl 

Wm  Merrill  3rd 

John  England 

" 

James  Ordway 

Henry  Chase 

u 

Benj  Ordway  2^ 

Moses  Low 

u 

Richard  Ordway 

Eben  Poor 

Musician 

David  Parsons 

John  Poor 

(( 

Sam'l  Parsons 
Sam'l  Poor 

PRIVATES 

Thos  Poor 

Israel  Bardet 

.Wm  Rogers 

Charles  Bartlet 

.   Thos  S  Pendergast 

Isaac  Bartlet 

Rufus  Severance 

Wm  Bartlet 

Wm  Stevens 

James  Burrill 

David  Wickes 

Anthony  Burrill 

Henry  Chapman 

David  Bartlet 

Captain  Allens   Company 


Samuel  Allen 

Captain 

Amos  Pillsbury 

James  Carry 

Lieut 

Dan'l  Pillsbury 

Asa  Chamberlin 

Ensign 

John  Pillsbury 

Benj  Lunt 

Sergt 

Nath'i  Pearson 

Enoch  Jaques 

" 

Ezekiel  Rogers 

Elias  Hunt 

" 

Oliver  Rogers 

Henry  C  Jaques 

(( 

Joseph  Rogers 
Gideon  Rogers 

privates 

Theodore  Rogers 

Nath'i  Babb 

James  Rogers 

David  Clifford 

Stephen  Sargent 

John  Carlton 

Sam'l  s afford 

John  D  Farley 

Wm  Sargent 

Silas  Floyd 

John  Titcomb 

Joseph  Hoyt 

Dan'l  Rand 

Wade  Ilsey 

John  Gould 

Charles  Jaques 

Geo  Berry  2d 

Dan'l  A  Lunt 

John  Robertson 

John  Noyes 

Joseph  Battice 

THE  EMBARGO  AND    THE    WAR    OF  1S12 


627 


Danl  C  Haysen 

John  Thompson 

Richard  Page 

Benj  T  Tenney  y^ 

Moses  Bartlett 

Geo  Campbell  ist 

Captain  Merrills 

Company 

Sam'l  Merrill 

Captain 

John  Hills 

Josiah  Titcomb 

Lieut 

Chas  Hills 

John  Northend 

Ensign 

Joseph  N  Jackman 

Stephen  Adams 

Setgt 

David  Jewet 

Greenlief  [?]  Tilton 

(1 

Isaiah  Jewet 

Chas  Dennett 

(( 

Robert  Jewet 

Gorhani  P  Tenny 

(1 

David  Lord 

Obadiah  Hill 

Corpl 

Wm  Moody 

Sam'l  Scribner 

" 

Adams  McMaster 

Dan'l  Noyes 

t 

Dan'l  Nelson 
Joshua  Noyes 

PRIVATES 

Abel  Pearson 

Giles  Adams 

Henry  Pearson 

Patrick  Burrill 

Moses  Pike 

Abner  M.  Cheany 

Eliphalet  Poor 

Jonathan  Cheany 

Enoch  Poor 

James  Dow 

David  Poor 

Joshua  Dummer 

Benj  Poor 

Sam'l  Dummer 

Chas  Ramsey 

Oliver  Davis 

John  A  Roberts 

Richard  Davis 

Danl  Rogers 

John  Davis  2^ 

Aaron  Shute 

Jedediah  Dole 

John  Thurlow 

Enoch  Dole 

Saml  Thurlow 

Jacob  Dole 

Parker  G  Thurlow 

Enoch  Floyd 

Stephen  Woodman 

Frederic  Gray 

Captain  Emerys 

Company 

Eliphalet  Emery 

Captain 

Wm  Bartlet 

Benj  Stan  wood 

Lieut 

Abner  Baily 

•Nicholas  Emery 

Ensign 

James  Baily 

Cornelius  C  Felton 

Sergt 

John  Chase 

Nicholas  Durgen 

" 

James  Davis 

Henry  Mowatt 

(( 

Saul  Davis 

Stephen  M  Emery 

(( 

Ebenezer  Farrington 
Moses  Morss 

PRIVATES 

Joseph  Morss 

James  Bartlet 

Saul  Morss 

Moses  Burnham 

Charles  Merrill 

628 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


Thos  Rogers 
Ja's  Ridgvvay 
Saul  Sawyer 
Abner  Greenleaf 
Thos  Noyes 
Robert  Howell 


Chas  Moody 
Isaac  Tewksberry 
Aaron  Tibbits  > 
Saul  Atwood 
Sam'l  Gould 
Nath'l  Plummer 


Captain  Woodwells  Company 


John  Woodwell 

Captain 

Danl  Goodwin 

Enoch  Hall 

Ensign 

Josiah  Goodwin 

David  Pearson 

Sergt 

Nathl  Goodwin 

Michel  Stevens 

u 

Thos  Goodwin 
Major  Goodwin 

privates 

Saul  Goodwin 

Benj  Atkinson 

Benj  W  Hall 

David  Ayers 

Wm  Hall 

Thomas  Bayley 

Jas  Janvrin 

Saul  Coffin 

Richard  Jackman 

John  P  Clark 

Joseph  Morse 

Wm  Coker 

Nathl  Pettengill 

Moses  Chase  3d 

Moses  Stevens 

Wm  Collins 

Jas  Thurlow 

Enos  Floyd 

Gideon  Woodwell 

Mark  Griffin 

Dan'i  Willis 

Jacob  Greenleaf 

Cuttin  Pettengill  3d 

Amos  Goodwin 

Enoch  Pierce  2d 

James  Thurlow 

Captain  Heaths  Company 


Richard  Heath 

Captain 

Saml  Bailey  3d 

John  Osgood 

Lieut 

Elias  Bootman 

Saml  Tenney 

Ensign 

Tappan  Bailey 

Benj  Brown 

Sergt 

Moody  Brickett 

Geo  Gordon 

" 

Geo  Burrows 

Danl  Moulton 

(( 

Danl  C  Baily 

Wm  Noyes 

K 

Thomas  Chase 

Moses  Brown 

Musician 

Danl  Chase 

Benj  Caldwell 

<t 

Henry  Clark 

Thos  H  Chase 

(( 

Enoch  Dole 
Greenleaf  Dole 

PRIVATES 

Danl  Downer 

Gideon  Baker 

Jacob  Emery 

Danl  Bailey 

Jonathan  Eaton 

THE   EMBARGO   AND    THE    WAR    OF  1S12 


629 


John  Follansbee 
Parker  Greenough 
Enoch  Follansbee 
David  Goodrich 
Dudley  Heath 
Eliphalet  Hills 
Edmun  Hills 
Ephraim  B  Home 
Wm  Ilsey 
Moses  Jaques 
Moody  Jaques 
Wm  McKinstey 
Stephen  M  Litde 
John  Little 
Abiel  Lovejoy 
John  Ladd 
John  Marshall 
Laban  Merrill 


Amos  Morss 
Enoch  Noyes 
Wni  Ordway 
Abner  Rogers 
David  Richardson 
John  Richardson  Jr 
David  Rogers 
John  Sawyer 
Edward  Sealy 
Sewell  Short 
Dan'l  'Silloway 
James  Smith 
Sami  W  Smith 
Caleb  Smith 
Jedediah  Sanders 
Benaiah  Titcomb 
Edmund  North 
Benj  Wadleigh 


Captain  Smiths   Company 


Daniel  Smith 

Captain 

Joseph  Kent 

Stephen  Plummer 

Lieut 

Benj  Leigh 

Stephen  Little 

Ensign 

Joshua  Mace 

Aaron  Rogers 

Sergt 

Peter  Noyes 

Michael  Little 

(( 

John  Noyes 

\Vm  Brown 

(( 

Moses  Pettengill 
David  Pettengill 

PRIVATES 

VVm  Plummer 

John  Adams 

Joseph  Plummer 

Joseph  Magowan 

\Vm  Plummer  Jr 

Enoch  Dole 

David  Plummer 

Joseph  Adams  3d 

Insley  Page 

Eli  Adams 

John  Robbins 

Hanson  H  Adams 

Moses  Rolf 

Richard  Bartlet 

Richard  Smith 

John  Buswell 

Henry  Short 

Jesper  Blake 

Charles  Stickney 

James  Bray 

Lemuel  Smith  3d 

Moses  Floyd 

Moses  Knight 

Joseph  Knight 

Benj  Hewiston 

Silas  Knight 

Paul  Isley 

Wm  Knight 

Nathan  Taylor 

John  Knight 

W'"  Sweet 

James  Knight 

Sam''  Russell 

630  HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 

Sam'i  Lunt  Joseph  Goodwin 

Richard  Leighton  Richard  Lunt 

Benj  Halmer  [Holmes?]  Eben  Adams 

Jas  McThos  Isaiah  Plummer 

On  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  December,  18 14,  a  treaty  of 
peace  was  conckided  at  Ghent,  by  duly  accredited  agents  and 
representatives  of  England  and  the  United  States.  A  mes- 
senger, with  a  copy  of  this  treaty,  sailed  a  few  days  later  for 
New  York.  He  arrived  early  in  the  month  of  February, 
181 5;  and  on  the  eighteenth  day  of  that  month  President 
Madison  issued  a  proclamation  announcing  the  termination  of 
hostilities  and  the  return  of  peace. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

WAR    OF    THE    REBELLION. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  War  of  the  RebelHon  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  town  of  Newbury  were  earnest  and  active  in  their 
efforts  to  sustain  the  government,  and  with  great  unanimity 
voted  to  uphold  and  defend  to  the  best  of  their  abihty  the 
constitution  and  laws  of  the  United  States. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  April  30,  1861,  resolutions  were 
adopted  denouncing  the  men  "  who  have  succeeded  in  plung- 
ing a  portion  of  our  country  into  open  rebellion  and  civil  war," 
and  pledging  financial  aid  and  support  to  those  who  voluntarily 
enlisted  in  the  military  service  from  Newbury.  Three  hun- 
dred dollars  was  appropriated  for  the  equipment  of  a  company 
of  riflemen,  already  organized,  but  not  fully  equipped  for  active 
service ;  and  the  treasurer  of  the  town  was  authorized  to  hire 
the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars  "  for  contingent  war  ex- 
penses." The  families  of  soldiers  were  supplied  with  the  com- 
forts and  necessaries  of  life  by  a  committee  appointed  for  that 
purpose ;  and  "  a  committee  of  vigilance,  correspondence,  and 
safety"  was  chosen  to  take  such  action  as  might  be  deemed 
expedient  in  regard  to  persons  residing  within  the  limits  of 
the  town  "  who  are  inimical  to  the  government  of  the  United 
States."  * 

July  30,  1862,  the  town  voted  to  pay  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  to  volunteers  enlisting  within  one  week  from  that  date  ; 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  to  those  enlisting  within 
two  weeks ;  and  one  hundred  dollars  to  those  enlisting  after 
the  middle  of  August.  It  soon  became  necessary,  however, 
to  offer  a  more  liberal  bounty,  in  order  to  fill  the  quota  of 
Newbury  under  the  President's  call  for  three  hundred  thou- 
sand men ;  and  August  sixteenth  the  selectmen  were  au- 
thorized to  pay  "  to  every  person  hereafter  mustered  into  the 

•Town  of  Newbury  Records,  April  30,  1861. 
631 


632 


HISTORY   OF  XEIVBUKY 


scrx'ice  of  the  United  States  from   Newbury"  the  sum  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

Subsequently  the  amount  was  reduced  or  increased  accord- 
ing to  circumstances,  and  private  subscriptions  were  relied 
upon  to  make  good  the  deficit  in  case  the  appropriations  of 
the  town  were  unavailable  or  inadequate.  March  5,  1866,  the 
town  voted  "  to  reimburse  those  who  advanced  money  for 
the  purpose  of  filling  the  town's  quotas  and  furnishing  men 
for  the  late  war." 


SOLDIERS    IN    THE    WAR    OF    THE    REBELLION.* 


Name. 
Henry  H.  Foster 

Nathan  Longfellow 
Nathan  N.  Withington 
George  H.  Northend 

Richard  Wiihington 

Paul  A.  Perkins  .  . 
Joseph  Perkins  .  . 
Benjamin  P.  Rogers 
John  H.Willis  .  . 
William  C.  Haynes 
George  E.  Carleton 
Leander  S.  Falls 
James  Fee  .... 
Micajah  Rogers,  Jr. 

Vamum  Rogers   .     . 
Daniel  E.  Rogers 
Joseph  H.  Pearson  . 

Elijah  P.  Rogers 
Joseph  Floyd  .  .  . 
Ezekiel  Osbom  .  . 
William  H.  G.  Rogers 
Mighill  A.  Rogers  . 
George  M.  Kimball 
John  Carr  .... 


Samuel  S.  Jellison   . 
Benjamin  W,  Jellison 
William  E.  Northend 
Albert  Rogers      .     . 
Benjamin  F.  .Stephens 


Enlisted  or 

jiinstered. 

Apr.  24,  1S61. 


Term. 

3  ys. 


Rank.  End  0/ Service. 

Sergeant.     Promoted   to   Captain    Feb.   6, 


May  25, 

1S61. 

3     " 

" 

Disch.  May  28,  1864. 

Dec.  12, 

1861. 

3     " 

Private. 

Disch.  Dec.  4,  1865. 

July  5.  ' 

S61. 

3     " 

" 

Killed  in  action,  June  16,  1864, 
at  Petersburg,  Va. 

May  lo, 

1S61. 

3     " 

Corporal,   and   disch.    Aug.   3, 

1864. 

I\Iay  lo, 

1861. 

3     " 

Sergeant. 

Disch.  Sept.  18,  1863. 

Aug.  II, 

1862. 

3     " 

Private. 

"       June  19,  1S65. 

July  21, 

1 861. 

3     " 

" 

"        July  II,  1865. 

July  21, 

1861. 

3     " 

" 

"        Nov.  I,  1861. 

July  28, 

1861. 

3     " 

" 

Aug.  3,  1864. 

July  28, 

1S61. 

3     " 

" 

"        Jan.  14,  1863. 

Aug.  28, 

1861. 

3      " 

Sergeant. 

"       Oct.  23,  1862. 

Aug.  28, 

1861. 

3     " 

Private. 

Mar.  23,  1863. 

Aug.  28, 

1861. 

3     " 

Died  Oct.  15,  1862,  at  Alex- 
andria, Va. 

Aug.  28, 

1861. 

3     " 

" 

Dec.  16, 

1861. 

3     " 

— 

Disch.  Sept.  2,  1862. 

July  28, 

1S61. 

3     " 

Private. 

Died  Sept.  18,  1862,  at  Antietam, 
Md.,  of  wounds. 

Aug.  21 

1861. 

— 

Captain. 

Disch   June  15,  1865. 

July  28, 

1861. 

3      " 

Private. 

Dec.  4,  1861. 

July  28, 

1861. 

3      " 

Corporal. 

"       Oct.  20,  1861,  and  died. 

July  28, 

1861. 

3      " 

Private. 

"        Jan.  17,  1S62. 

Sept.  10 

1S61. 

3     " 

" 

"        July  30,  1865. 

Aug.  28, 

1861. 

3     " 

" 

— 

3      " 

— 

No  State  record  of  muster  or 
discharge. 

July  28, 

1861. 

3     " 

Private. 

Killed   at   Glendale,  Va  ,   June 

30,  1862. 

July  28, 

1S61. 

3     " 

Promoted  to  2d  Lieut.  June  i, 
1865.     Disch.  June  30,  1865. 

July  28, 

1861. 

3     " 

" 

Tran.sferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps,  Sept.  26,  1863. 

July  28, 

1S61. 

3     " 

'Iransfeired  to  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps. 

July  28, 

1861. 

3       " 

— 

Kill  d  at  Glendale,  Va.,  June 
30,  1862. 

jwn  of  N 

cwbur 

y  relati 

ig  to  the  service  of  soUlieis  in   the   Rebellion. 

IVA/?    OF   THE   REBELLION 


633 


Namb. 
Joseph  C.  Willard 

Timothy  Conway 
John  Morgan  .     . 
Thomas  Williams 
Joseph  Young 
William  H.  Barry 
John  Brennan 
Barney  Robbins 
William  Edwards 
Thomas  Brady 
George  H.  Shaw 
John  C.  Foss  .     . 


Simeon  P.  Rogers 
Thomas  P.  Lunt  . 


James  H.  Pickering 
Joseph  Gould  .     . 
Isaiah  Rogers 
Woodbridge  A.  Rogers 


Eben  Rogers  .  .  . 
George  P.  Goodwin 
Nathaniel  M.  Ilsley 
Walter  G.  Peckham 
Charles  C.  Day  .  . 
Charles  C.  Cole  .  . 
Ira  H  Allen  .  .  . 
Richard  W.  Swan  . 
Henry  P.  Griffith  . 
Joseph  W.  Lunt  .     . 

Jacob  G.  Clarkson    . 

Amos  M.  Little  .  . 
George  Russell     .     . 

Charles  H.  Pray  .     . 


Enlisted  or 

ttiHstcred. 

Aug.  28,  1862. 

July  26,  1862. 
Dec.  4,  1862. 
Dec.  5,  1862. 
Dec.  5,  1862. 
Dec.  5,  1862. 
Dec.  5,  1862. 
Dec.  6,  1862. 
Dec.  6,  1862. 
Dec.  5,  1862. 
Dec.  9,  1862. 
Sept.  22,  1861. 

Aug.  5,  1862. 
Aug.  4,  1862. 


Tertii . 


Aug.  4,  1S62.  3 

Aug.  7,  1862.  3 

Aug.  7,  1862.  3 

Aug.  7,  1862.  3 


Aug.  II,  1862.      3 


Seth  Young Aug.  11,  18 


Charles  Caldwell 


Feb.  15,  1865.       3  mos. 


Ezra  Hale Sept.  24,  1S62.  9 

Lewis  H.  Hale     ....  Sept.  24,  1862.  9 

George  E.  Young     .     .     .  Sept.  24,  1862.  9 

Moses  Young Sept.  24,  1862.  9 

Harrison  W.  Dearborn      .  Sept.  24,  1862.  9 

Eben  H.  Dearborn  .     .     .  Sept.  24,  1S62.  9 

Eben  Bray,  Jr Sept.  24,  1862.  9 

Francis  M .  Pillsbury    .     .  Sept.  24,  1862.  9 


Charles  Little 
James  N.  Frost   . 


Sept.  24,  1862.     9 
Sept.  24,  1862.     9 


Rank. 

Unassigned 

recruit. 


End  0/  Service . 


Aug.  7, 

1862. 

3     " 

Sergeant 

Aug.  9, 

1862. 

3     " 

Private. 

Aug.  16, 

1862. 

3     " 

" 

Aug.  17 

1862. 

3     " 

Sergeant 

Aug.  17, 

1862. 

3     " 

Private. 

1862. 

3      " 

— 

Aug.  9, 

1862. 

3      " 

Private. 

1862. 

3      " 

— 

1862. 

3     " 

— 

Aug.  9, 

1862. 

3     " 

— 

Aug.  9, 

1862. 

3     " 

Private. 

Aug.  22 

1S62. 

3     " 

" 

June  27 

1861. 

3     " 

" 

Private.       Corporal,   and   disch.   Oct.    13, 


Transferred  Aug. 6,  i863,V.R.C. 
Killed  May  2,  1863,  at  Chancel- 

lorsville,  Va. 
Disch.  Jan.  4,  1864,  to  re-enlist. 

"       Mar.  3,  1863. 

"       Dec.  15,  1864. 
Made  Sergeant  and  disch.  June 

II,  1865. 
Disch.  June  11,  1865. 

"       July  7,  1865. 

"       June  9,  1865. 

"        June  g,  1865. 
Transferred  to  Invalid  Corps. 


Corporal. 


L'nassigned 

recruit. 
Private. 


Musician. 
Sergeant. 
Private. 


Corporal. 


Private. 


Disch.  Mar.  10,  1863. 

Disch.     No  date. 

Died  Nov.  3,  1862. 

Died  Mar.  30,  1863,  at  New- 
bury port. 

Died  Jan.  19,  1863  at  Falmouth, 
Va. 

Disch.  Junes,  1865. 

Disch.  and  re-enlisted  in  unat- 
tached Co.  H.A.,  Oct  ,  1863. 

Disch.  June  29,  1865.  Served 
as  private  orderly  to  Gen. 
Ransom. 

Disch.  June  29,  1865.  Senfed 
as  private  orderly  to  Gen. 
Meade. 

Disch.  Aug.  29,  1865. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  and  disch. 

Sept.  3,  1863. 
Disch.  Sept.  3,  1863. 
"       Sept.  3,  1863. 
"       Sept.  3,  1863. 
Died  in  service  at  Baton  Rouge, 

La.,  June  8,  1863. 
Disch.  Sept  3,  1863. 
Disch.  June  17,  1865. 
Promoted  to   Sergeant  July  2, 

1863,   and   disch.   Sept.    3, 

1863. 
Disch.  May  5,  1863. 
Promoted     to     Corporal,     and 

disch.  Sept.   3,  1863. 


634 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


Eiilisted  or 

Name. 

mustered. 

Te 

rm.          Rank. 

Etid  of  Service. 

Whitfield  Frost    .     . 

.     Sept.  24,  1S62. 

g  mos.     Private. 

Disch.  .Sept.  3,  1863. 

Edward  L.  Rogers  . 

.     Sept.  24,  1S62. 

9 

" 

"       Sept.  3,  1863. 

Gorham  P.  Rogers  . 

.     Sept.  24,  1862. 

9 

"        Musician. 

Sept.  3,  1863. 

Lewis  B.  Rogers 

.     Sept.  24,  1862. 

9 

"         Sergeant. 

"       Dec.  20,  1862. 

Philip  Rogers      .     . 

.     Sept.  24,  1862. 

9 

"         Private. 

"       Dec.  9,  1862. 

Melvin  B.  Rogers    . 

.     Sept.  24,  1862. 

9 

"              " 

"       Sept.  3.  1863. 

Enoch  S.  Rogers 

.     Sept.  24,  1862, 

9 

"        Sergeant. 

"       Sept.  3,  1863. 

Christopher  Rogers 

.     Sept.  24,  1862. 

9 

"        Private. 

"       Sept.  3,  1863. 

Philip  L.  Rogers 

.     Sept.  24,  1862. 

9 

"        Musician. 

"       Sept.  3,  1863. 

William  T.  Sanborn 

.     Sept.  24,  1862. 

9 

"         Wagoner. 

"       Sept.  3,  1863. 

Andrew  F.  Smith 

.     .     Sept.  24,  1862. 

9 

"        Private. 

"       Dec,  i!;62. 

Charles  H  .  Prince    . 

.     Sept.  24,  1862. 

9 

"              " 

Re-enlisted  June  12,  1863. 

Hiram  R.  Pillsbury 

.     Sept.  24,  1862. 

9 

"        Musician. 

Disch.  Sept.  3,  1863. 

Leonard  Pillsbury    . 

.     Sept.  24,  1862. 

9 

"         Private. 

"       Sept.  3,  1863. 

Lorenzo  B.  Blaisdell 

.     .     Sept.  24,  1S62. 

9 

" 

"        June  30,  1865. 

Benjamin  S.  Bailey  . 

.     Sept.  24,  1862. 

9 

"              " 

"        June  17,  1865. 

Henry  Bailey  .     .     . 

.     Sept.  24,  1862, 

9 

"              " 

Sept.  3,  1863. 

Phineas  B.  Gould    . 

.     Sept.  24,  1862. 

9 

"              " 

"       June  30,  1865. 

Walter  Noyes       .     . 

.     .     Sept.  24,  1862. 

9 

Died  Jan.  24,  1863,  on  passage 
to  New  Orleans. 

Nathaniel  Noyes 

.     Sept.  24,  1862. 

9 

" 

Died  in  service  at  Baton  Rouge, 
May  10.  1S63. 

Benjamin  F.  Noyes     . 

1862. 

9 

"        Captain. 

Disch.  Sept.  3,  1863. 

Isaac  F.  Penton  .     . 

1862. 

9 

"               — 

— 

Mighill  A.  Rogers   . 

.     Nov.  6,  1862. 

9 

"         Private. 

Disch.  Sept.  3,  1863. 

John  W.  Kelley  .     . 

.     .     Nov.  II,  1862 

9 

" 

Deserted  Nov.  14,  1862,  at  Wen- 
ham. 

Isaac  F.  Porter    .     . 

.     Sept.  16,  1862. 

9 

"        Corporal. 

Disch.  Sept.  3,  1863. 

Hiram  Kelley  Poore 

.     Sept.  19,  1862. 

9 

"         Private. 

"       June  30,  1865. 

Francis  A.  Wiley 

.     Sept.  iq,  1862. 

9 

"              " 

"       Aug.  24,  1863. 

Charles  W.  Rundlett 

.     Sept.  ig,  1862. 

9 

"         Corporal. 

"       Aug.  24,  1863. 

John  Parsons  .     .     . 

.     Sept.  19,  1S62. 

9 

"        Private. 

Died  in  service  May  12,  1863,  at 
Baton  Rouge,  La. 

John  H.  Parsons      . 

.     Sept.  ig,  1862. 

9 

"               " 

Disch.  Aug.  24,  1863. 

Lyman  Floyd      .     . 

.     Sept.  ig,  1862. 

9 

" 

Disch.  from  service  and  died  at 
Baton  Rouge  May  2g,  1863. 

Charles  E.  Tenney  . 

.     Sept.  19,  1862. 

9 

"        Wagoner. 

Disch.  Aug.  24,  1S63. 

John  G.  Tenney 

.     Sept.  iq,  1862. 

9 

"         Private. 

"        Aug.  24,  1S63. 

William  T.  Bailey   . 

.     Sept.  19,  1862. 

9 

"              " 

"        June  30.  1865. 

James  V.  Greeley     . 

.     July  23,  1864. 

100  days.    Sergeant. 

"       Nov.  30,  1864. 

Justin  N.  Adams 

.'  July  23,  1864. 

100 

"        Private. 

"       Nov.  30,  1864. 

John  A.  Bean      .     . 

.     July  23,  1864. 

100 

"              " 

"       Nov.  30,  J864. 

Thomas  Noyes    .     . 

.     July  23,  1864. 

100 

" 

"       Nov.  30,  1864. 

Charles  E.  Rogers  . 

.     Aug.  5,  1864. 

100 

"         Corporal. 

"       Nov.  12,  1864. 

George  W.  Pearson 

.     Aug.  5,  1864 

100 

"         Private. 

"       Nov.  12,  1864. 

Elijah  Pearson     .     . 

.     Aug.  5,  1864 

100 

" 

"       Nov.  12,  1864. 

Orin  T.  Pearson  .     . 

.     Aug.  5,  1864 

100 

"              " 

"        Nov.  12,  1864. 

Leonard  Pillsbury    .     . 

.     Aug.  5,  1S64 

too 

"               " 

"       Nov.  12,  1864. 

Asa  Rogers,  Jr.   .     . 

.     Aug.  5,  1864 

100 

"              " 

"         Nov.  12,  1864. 

Charles  H.  Woodman 

.     Aug.  5,  1864 

100 

"               " 

"       Nov.  12,  1864. 

William  Woodman  . 

.     Aug.  5,  1S64 

100 

"               " 

"       Nov.  12,  1864. 

Daniel  D.  Bailey      . 

.     Nov.  13,  1864. 

1  yr.               — 

"       June  30,  1865. 

Albert  M.  Currier    . 

.     Nov.  13,  1864. 

'          Private. 

"       June  30,  1865. 

John  B.  Edmonds    . 

.     Nov.  13,  1864. 

< 

"       June  30,  1865. 

William  H.  Gould    . 

.     Nov.  13,  1864. 

'               " 

"       June  30,  1865. 

Thomas  R.  Larkin  . 

.     Nov.  13,  1864. 

'               " 

"       June  30,  1865. 

William  F.  Larkin   . 

.     Nov.  13,  1864. 

" 

"       June  30,  1865. 

Charles  A.  Newton 

.     Nov.  13,  1864. 

'               " 

"       June  30,  1865. 

Moses  T.  Pearson    . 

.     Nov.  13,  1864. 

'               " 

"       June  30,  1865. 

James  Howe   .     .     . 

.     Nov,  13,  1864. 

'                 — 

"       June  30,  1865. 

James  H.  Johnson  . 

.     May  3,  1864. 

go  c 

ays.    Private. 

"       Aug.  5,  1864. 

;f^/v'  of  the  rebellion 


635 


Enlisted  or 

Name. 

inusiered. 

Term. 

Rank. 

E}id  of  Service. 

Joseph  Knight     .     . 

.     .     May  3,  1864. 

90  days. 

Private. 

Disch.Aug.  5,  1864. 

John  Douglass    . 

.     Apr.  5,  1864. 

sys. 

" 

Deserted  Apr.,  1864. 

George  E.  Noyes 

.     .     Feb.  27,  1864. 

3     " 

Corporal. 

Disch.  June  15,  1865. 

Stephen  W.  Goodrich 

.     .     Mar.  28,  1864. 

3     " 

— 

"       Aug.  16,  1865. 

Jewett  Rogers,  Jr.  . 

.    Jan.  2,  1864. 

3     " 

— 

Sept.  3,  1865. 

Charles  W.  Sargent 

.     .     Oct.  20,  1863. 

3     " 

— 

"       Sept.  18,  1865. 

Eben  P.  Davis     .     . 

.     .  •  Aug.  20,  1864. 

I  yr. 

Sergeant. 

"        June  16,  1865. 

Greene  Adams 

.     .     Aug.  23,  1864. 

I    " 

Private. 

"       June  17,  1865. 

Samuel  R.  Bailey     . 

.     .     Aug.  19,  1864. 

I    " 

" 

"       June  17,  1S65. 

Joseph  P.  Bassett    . 

.     .     Aug.  22,  1S64. 

I    " 

Died  Jan.  17,  1865,  at  Fort 
Williams  Hospital,  Va. 

Silas  F.  Bean 

.     .     Aug.  20,  1864. 

I    " 

" 

Disch.  June  17,  1S65. 

John  N.  Bray      .     . 

.     Aug.  18,  1864. 

I    " 

" 

"       June  17,  1865. 

John  D.  Floyd    .     . 

.    Aug.  20,  1864. 

I    " 

" 

"       June  17,  1865. 

John  M.  Horsch 

.    Aug.  20,  1864. 

I   " 

" 

"       June  17,  1865. 

Charles  B.  Rogers  . 

.    Aug.  20,  1864. 

I    " 

— 

"       June  17,  1865. 

George  Cammett 

.     Feb.  22,  1862. 

3yrs. 

Artificer. 

Feb.  24,  1865. 

Daniel  E.  Rogers     . 

.     Apr.  22,  1863. 

3     " 

Corporal. 

"       Oct.  20,  1865. 

Ira  Rogers      .     .     . 

.     Apr.  22,  1863. 

3     " 

" 

"       Oct.  20,  1865. 

David  Kent     .     .     . 

.     Apr.  22,  1863. 

3     " 

Private. 

"       Oct.  20,  1865. 

Jacob  Kent     .     .     . 

.    Oct.  10,  1863. 

3     " 

" 

"       Oct.  20,  1865. 

William  H.  Kent     . 

.     Oct.  10,  1863. 

3     " 

" 

"       Oct.  20,  1865. 

Charles  Roberts  .     . 

.     Feb.  14,  1865. 

3     " 

" 

"       July  20,  1865. 

Dudley  Ward  .     .     . 

.     Mar.  31,  1864. 

3     " 

" 

Deserted  May  24,  1864. 

William  A.  Dudley 

.     Feb.  14,  1865. 

3     " 

" 

Disch.  Aug.  I,  1865. 

Gilbert  Tye     .     .     . 

.     Feb.  14,  1865. 

3     " 

" 

"      July  20,  1865. 

Robert  R.  Minchin 

.     Mar.  14,  1865. 

3     " 

Unassignec 
recruit. 

Died  Apr.  12,  1865. 

Alvin  S.  Warren 

.     Apr.  g,  1864. 

3     " 

Unassignec 
recruit. 

Transferred  May  17,  1864,  to 
Navy. 

George  H.  Minchin 

.     Jan.  18,  1864. 

3     " 

Private. 

Disch.  June  29,  1865. 

Jonathan  Linfield    . 

.     May  25,  1861. 

3     " 

" 

Deserted  July  25,  1863. 

Joseph  Steele      .     . 

.     May  25,  1861. 

3     " 

" 

Disch.  May  28,  1864. 

Patrick  Kelly       .     . 

.     Aug.  21,  1863. 

3     " 

" 

Deserted  July  3,  1865. 

Reuben  Beard     .     . 

.    Aug.  18,  1863. 

3     " 

" 

Died  May  22,  1865. 

Richard  Rowe     .     . 

.     Aug.  25,  1863. 

3     " 

" 

Died  Oct.  15,  1864,  at  Salisbury, 
N.C. 

Edward  W.  Bartlett 

.    Aug.  13,  1862. 

3     " 

" 

Disch.  Dec.  21,  1863,  to  re-enlist. 

John  H.  Brown  .     . 

.    Apr.  I,  1864. 

3     " 

" 

Killed  May  24,  1864,  at  Dods- 
ville  Farm,  Va. 

Lawrence  M.  Masury 

.    Aug.  28,  1S61. 

3     " 

Musician. 

Disch.  June  12,  1S62. 

Thomas  B.  Robbins 

.     .     Aug.  28,  1861. 

3     " 

Private. 

Never  left  the  State. 

George  W.  Gibson  . 

.     .     Feb.  13,  1865. 

3     " 

" 

Disch.  June  30,  1865. 

John  Davis      .     .     . 

.    Apr.  8,  1864. 

3      " 

" 

"      June  30,  1S65. 

Abram  A.  Dow    .     . 

.     .     Dec.  10,  1861. 

3     " 

Made  Corporal  and  transferred 
May  9,  1865,  to  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps. 

Sidney  M.  Smith 

.     Apr.  14,  1864. 

3     " 

" 

Died  Aug.  26,  1864. 

August  Koss  .     .     . 

.     .     Feb.  17,  1865. 

3     " 

" 

End  of  service  May  6,  1865. 

Adam  Simpson    .     . 

.     .     Aug.  28,  1862. 

3     " 

Unassigned                             — 

recruit. 

George  W.  Carleton 

.     .     Sept.  20,  1861. 

3     " 

— 

Disch.  July  21,  1862. 

Isaac  Walker  .     . 

.     .     Apr.  2,  1864. 

3     " 

— 

Deserted  July  i6,  1864. 

Thomas  Lane      .     . 

.     .     Mar.  31,  1864. 

3     " 

Private. 

Transferred  Apr.  i,  1865,  to 
Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

James  Dunlap     .     . 

.     .     June  21,  1864. 

3     " 

Lieutenant. 

Killed  July  30,  1864. 

John  D.  Butler    .     . 

.     .     Mar.  4,  1864. 

3     " 

Private. 

Disch.  July  30,  1865. 

Horace  S.  Woodman 

.     .     Mar.  4,  1864. 

3     " 

" 

"       July  30.  1865. 

Timothy  W.  Rogers 

.     .    Apr.  2,  1864. 

3     " 

" 

"       July  30,  1865. 

Hugh  M.  Osborn     . 

.     .     July  28,  1864. 

— 

— 

"       Nov.  21,  1865. 

636 


HISTORY  OF  NEWBURY 


Enlisted  or 

Name. 

mustered. 

Term . 

Rank. 

End  of  Service. 

Elisha  Bean,  Jr.      .     . 

.     Feb.  25,  1864. 

3  ys. 

Private. 

Dirch.  Aug.  16,  1865 

Stephen  Ilsley      .     .     . 

1862. 

I  yr. 

.— 

— 

George  D.  Knight   .     . 

1862. 

1    " 

— 

— 

In  addition  to  the  above  list  the  following-named  persons 
resided  in,  or  were  credited  to,  Newbury  in  the  record  of  the 
Massachusetts  volunteers,  published  by  the  State  in  1870  :  — 


Enlisted  or 

Namk. 

mustered. 

End  of  Service. 

Benjamin  S.  Bailey 

■     Aug.  19, 

1864 

Disch.  June  17,  1865. 

Charles  L.  Cole  .     . 

.     Sept.  3, 

1862 

Died  March  7,  1864  at  New  York. 

Maurice  Cronin  .     . 

.     Aug.  II, 

1864 

Disch.  July  29,  1865. 

John  Devine  .     .     . 

.     April  4, 

1864 

Deserted  ."^pril  23,  1864. 

William  P.  Pearsons 

.     Nov.  13, 

1864 

Disch.  June  30,  1865. 

John  Richards     .     . 

.     Feb.  20, 

1864 

Died  July  30,  1865. 

Richard  Rowe     .     . 

■     Aug.  25, 

1863 

Died  Oct.  15,  1S64,  at  Salisbury,  N.C 

Frank  Smith  .     .     . 

.     April  2, 

1864 

Transferred  to  navy  May  17,  1864. 

William  Tyler     .     .     . 

.     Feb.  17, 

1865 

Disch.  May  15,  1S65. 

William  L.  Veltmar     . 

■     Oct.  IS, 

1861 

Disch.  Aug.  7,  1862. 

Aaron  Warhurst     .     . 

.     July  22, 

1861 

Disch.  Dec.  22,  1863. 

Other  men  from  Newbury  probably  enlisted  and  were 
credited  in  other  towns  in  the  State,  but  their  names  have 
not  been  ascertained. 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX 


TOWN    CLERKS. 

John  Woodbridge,  appointed  previous  to  November  30,  1636,  served 
probably  until  November  19,  1638.* 

Edward  Rawson,  appointed  November  19,  1638,  served  until  May 
18,  1647.1 

Anthony  Somerby,  appointed  May  18,  1647,  served  until  March, 
1686;  died  July  31,  1686. 

Henry  Short,  elected  March  20,  1685-6,  was  re-elected  annually  until 
his  death,  October  23,  1706.  Joseph  Woodbridge  was  chosen,  October 
21,  1706,  "to  enter  ye  acts  and  transfer  them  to  the  town  dark  to  be 
recorded." 

Richard  Brown,  jr.,  elected  October  30,  1 706,  resigned  early  in  the 
month  of  October,  171 1,  and  removed  to  Reading,  Mass. 

*Ante,  p.  47.  John  Woodbridge  married,  in  1639,  Mercy,  daughter  of  Thomas  Dudley, 
governor  of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay.  It  is  uncertain  when  he  resigned  his  office  as 
clerk  of  the  town  of  Newbury;  but  the  report  of  a  meeting  in  the  town  records,  dated  September 
21,  1638,  is  in  his  handwriting. 

t  Edward  Rawson  represented  Newbury  in  the  General  Court  at  nearly  every  session  from 
163S  to  1650.  He  was  elected  secretary  of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay  May  22,  1650.  The 
last  record  in  the  handwriting  of  Edward  Rawson  as  clerk  of  the  town  of  Newbury  is  dated  May 
17,  1647.  His  successor  was  evidently  Anthony  Somerby,  who  signed  as  clerk.  May  18,  1647,  on 
the  114th  page  of  the  records  ;  and  John  Lowell,  who  is  said  to  have  served  for  a  few  months  about 
that  date,  was  probably  only  a  recorder  of  births,  deaths,  and  marriages. 

December  10,  1641,  the  General  Court  "  ordered  that  in  every  town  one  shalbee  appointed  to 
grant  sufncns  &  attachments  in  all  civill  actions  .  .  .  for  Neweberry  Mr  Lowle  ...  to  bee  called 
clarks  of  the  writtes.  These  are  chosen  for  a  yeare  &  till  new  be  chosen  in  their  roames."  (Mas- 
sachusetts Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  pp.  344,  345.) 

June  14,  1642,  "  the  clarks  of  the  writts"  were  ordered  "  to  take  especially  care  to  record  all 
births  &  deaths  of  persons  in  their  to\vnes;  ...  &  for  time  past  it  is  ordered  they  shall  do  their 
utmost  indeavf  to  find  out  in  their  severall  townes  who  hath  bene  borne  &  who  hath  died,  since 
the  first  founding  of  their  townes  &  to  record  the  same  as  aforesaid."  (Massachusetts  Colony 
Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  15.) 

Mr.  John  Lowell  died  June  2g,  1647.  The  General  Court  appointed,  October  27,  1647, 
"  Anthony  Sumersby  to  be  clarke  of  the  writs  at  Newburj'  &  to  record  births,  deaths  &  marriages 
in  the  place  of  John  Lowle  deceased."      (Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  19S.) 

Mr.  Somerby  held  the  office  of  clerk  in  Newbury  until  his  successor  was  chosen  in  March, 
1685-6.  He  died  July  31,  1686.  It  was  not  until  February  17,  1692-3,  that  town  clerks  were 
ordered  by  the  General  Court  to  register  births,  deaths,  and  marriages.  (Province  Laws,  vol. 
i,,  p.  104.) 

639 


640  APPENDIX 

Nathaniel  Coffin,  elected  October  9,  171  i,  retained  the  office  until  his 
death,  February  20.  1748-9. 

Joseph  Coffin,  elected  March  14,  1748-9,  retained  the  office  until  his 
death,  September  12,  1773. 

Dudley  Colman,  elected  September  23,  1773,  resigned  in  1776,  and 
enlisted  in  the  Revolutionary  army. 

Edmund  Sawyer,  elected  April  9,  1776,  served  until  1786,  when  he 
was  elected  treasurer  of  the  town  of  Newbury. 

John  Atkinson,  elected  March  14,  1786,  was  re-elected  annually  until 
1807. 

Ezra  Hale,  elected  April  6,  1807,  resigned  in  March,  1844. 

Stuart  Chase,  elected  March  12,  1844,  retained  the  office  until  his 
death,  January  17,  1850,  when  the  selectmen  appointed  Luther  Dame 
cleric^;*?  tempore. 

Joshua  Coffin,  elected  March  12,  1850,  served  until  February  13, 
1857,  when,  owing  to  the  impairment  of  his  intellectual  faculties,  he  was 
unable  to  attend  to  the  duties  of  the  office,  and  the  selectmen  appointed 
William  Little  clerk  pro  tempore* 

William   Little,  elected  March  2,  1857,  was  re-elected  annually  until 

1884. 

Frank  L.  Ferguson,  elected  March  4,  1884,  was  re-elected  annually 
until  1 89 1. 

John  C.  Rolfe,  elected  March  3,  1891,  has  been  re-elected  annually 
since  that  date. 

*  Joshua  Coffin  was  born  October  12,  1792,  and  died  June  24,  1864.  He  published  in  1845  his 
interesting  and  valuable  work,  entitled  "  A  Sketch  of  the  Histor)'  of  Newbury,  Newburyport,  and 
West  Newbury,"  that  is  still  read  and  appreciated  by  students  and  writers  who  desire  to  know 
the  more  important  facts  connected  with  the  early  settlement  of  these  towns.  A  photograph  of 
Joshua  Coffin,  taken  a  few  years  before  his  death,  is  reproduced  in  the  half-tone  print  on  the 
opposite  page. 


JOSHUA    CC)FFIN. 


I 


II. 

OATH    OF   ALLEGIANCE    TO    THE    KING. 

The  early  settlers  of  Newbury,  who  were  detained  in  the 
river  Thames,  by  order  of  the  king's  privy  council,  February 
14,  1633-4,  were  compelled  to  take  the  following  oath,  or  one 
substantially  like  it :  — * 

I  Doe  sweare  before  the  Almighty  and  ever  living  God,  that  I  will 
beare  all  faithfull  allegiance  to  my  true  and  undoubted  Soveraigne  Lord 
King  Charles,  who  is  LawfuU  King  of  this  Island  and  all  other  his  do- 
minions both  by  sea  and  land  by  the  Law  of  God  and  man  and  by  law- 
full  succession,  and  that  I  will  most  constantly  and  cheerefuUy  even  to 
the  utmost  hazard  of  my  life  and  fortune  oppose  all  seditions,  rebellions, 
conspiracies,  covenants,  and  treasons  whatsoever  against  his  maties 
Crowne  and  dignity  or  person,  raysed  or  sett  up  under  what  pretence  of 
religion  or  colour  soever,  and  if  it  shall  come  veyled  under  pretence  of 
religion  I  hould  it  most  abominable  before  God  &  man.  And  this  oath 
I  take  voluntary,  under  the  faith  of  a  good  Christian  and  loyall  subject, 
wt'iout  any  equivocation  or  mentall  reservation  whatsoever,  from  wch  I 
hould  no  power  on  earth  can  absolve  me  in  any  parte. f 

*  Ante,  p.  28. 

t Thomas  Lechford's  Note-book,  p.  105.  "The  oath  proposed  in  England  whereon  the 
Lords  Say  &  Seale  &  Brooke  were  imprisioued  at  Yorke  when  the  King  went  against  the  Scotts 
wtli  an  army.     Anno  1639.'' 


642 


III. 

KENT'S    ISLAND. 

Richard'  Kent,  sr.,  malster,  and  his  son,  or  cousin,  Richard '' 
Kent,  jr.,  came  to  New  England  in  the  ship  "  Mary  and 
John,"  Robert  Sayres,  master.  They  arriv^ed  in  Boston  in 
May,  1634,  and  went  with  Rev.  Thomas  Parker  and  others  to 
Ipswich,  where  they  remained  until  the  spring  of  1635,  when 
they  removed  to  Newbury.*  Stephen,  brother,  and  James, 
(possibly)  brother  of  Richard  Kent,  sr.,  came  to  Newbury 
about  the  same  time. 

"  A  ffarme  lott  of  one  hundred  acres  of  upland  and  meadow 
on  an  Island"  was  granted  Richard^  Kent,  jr.,  February  7, 
1646-7.1 

October  10,  1674,  he  conveyed  to  his  nephew  John^  Kent, 
of  Newbury,  and  after  him  to  Richard, ^  son  of  the  said 
John  Kent,  eightscore  acres  of  upland  and  meadow  lying  west 
of  Little  river,  which  had  been  in  the  possession  of  John 
Kent  for  some  years. | 

Richard^  Kent,  jr.,  died,  without  issue,  November  25,  1689. 
John^  Kent  died  January  30,  171 7-8. 

The  following  paragraph  relating  to  Kent's  island  is  taken 
from  his  will,  dated  March  11,  171 2-3,  and  proved  Febru- 
ary II,  171 7-8  :  — 

To  my  son  Richard  Kent  I  Doe  confirm  ye  Gift  of  my  uncle  Richard 
Kent  Late  of  Newbury  aforesaid  Deed  of  eight  score  acres  of  land  upon 
said  Island  Given  by  my  said  Uncle  To  my  said  Son,  so  as  yt  he  my 
said  son  &  his  heirs  &  assigns  may  enjoy  ye  same  without  ye  Lawful  Let 
of  any  Person  from,  by  or  under  me  that  may  Lay  Claim  thereunto 
or  to  any  Part  thereof,  and  together  with  the  said  half  of  sd  Island  given 
Him  as  aforesaid  I  do  give  unto  him,  my  said  Son,  the  other  halfe  of 
said  Island  Both  Meadow  &  upland  and  the  appurtenances  thereunto 
Belonging  with  all  my  Housing  &  buildings  thereon  &  orchards,  And  all 
my  Common  Priviledges  and  Rights  in  all  the  Common  Lands  or  General 

*•  Au/e,  p.  2S.  iAnie,p.6s.  t  Ipswich  Deeds,  book  iv.,  p.  5S. 

643 


644  APPENDIX 

Pasture  wherein  I   have  any  right  or  Interest   within  ye  Township   of 
Newbury  aforesaid,  &c.* 

Richard,^  son  of  John,^  son  of  James'  Kent,  was  born  in 
1673  probably.  He  married  Sarah  Greenleaf  in  1709.  He 
was  subsequently  appointed  colonel  of  the  second  regiment  in 
the  county  of  Essex. 

Col.  Richard^  Kent  was  engaged  in  commercial  enterprises, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned  and  occupied  a  dwelling- 
house  *'  near  or  adjacent  to  the  lower  ferry  place  on  Merri- 
mack river."  t  He  died  May  8,  1740,  and  was  buried  in  the 
Old  Hill  burying-ground.  In  his  will,  dated  May  sixth  and 
proved  May  26,  1 740,  he  gave  his  farm  in  Newbury,  "  known 
by  the  name  of  Kent's  island,"  to  his  son  Richard'*  during  his 
lifetime,  and  then  to  the  eldest  son  of  the  said  Richard,-*  "  and 
so  to  descend  from  one  Generation  to  another,  to  the  eldest 
surviving  male  Heir,  a  continual!  Entail  forever  as  long  as  the 
world  endures."  % 

Richard,-*  son  of  Col.  Richard^  Kent,  was  born  in  171 5. 
He  married  Anne  Hale,  of  Byfield  parish,  in  1740,  by  whom 
he  had  three  sons  :  Joseph^  and  Stephen,^  twins,  born  May  20, 
1 741  ;  and  Moses,5  born  in  1752  (.?)  §  He  died  May  8,  1760, 
and  was  buried  in  the  graveyard  "near  the  trayneing  green." 

After  his  death,  both  Joseph^  and  Stephen^  claimed  posses- 
sion of  Kent's  island  under  the  will  of  their  grandfather.  Col. 
Richard^  Kent.  In  1770,  Stephen^  Kent  brought  a  suit  in 
the  Supreme  Court  for  the  purpose  of  restraining  his  brother 
Josephs  from  the  use  or  occupancy  of  the  house  and  land  ; 
but  the  jury,  after  hearing  the  testimony  of  several  witnesses, 
returned  a  verdict  for  the  defendant.  || 

The  island  remained  in  the  joint  occupation  and  ownership 
of  the  two  brothers  for  ten  or  fifteen  years  after  the  termina- 
tion of  the  lawsuit.  An  attempt  was  then  made  to  secure  an 
equitable  division  of  the  property. 

March   i,   1784,  the    General    Court    passed  "An  act  for 

*  Essex  (Probate)  Records,  book  cccxii.,  p.  i88. 

t  "Ould  Newbury,"  p.  155.  X  Essex  (Probate)  Records,  book  cccxxi.,  leaf  354. 

§  After  the  death  of  Richard*  Kent,  his  widow  married  Joshua  Greenleaf.  She  died  July  15, 
«794- 

II  Suffolk  County  Court  Files  (Essex),  vol.  dcccxiii.,  No.  31861. 


APPENDIX  645 

apportioning  and  establishing  the  Possessions  of  the  Heirs  at 
Law  of  Richard  Kent,  son  of  Richard  Kent,  late  of  Newbury, 
deceased,  to  a  certain  Island  called  Kent's  Island  in  Newbury 
aforesaid."  * 

The  facts  relating  to  the  entailing  of  the  property  by  Col, 
Richard^  Kent,  and  the  birth  of  his  grandsons,  Stephen^  and 
Josephs  Kent,  are  stated  in  the  preamble,  which  closes  as 
follows  :  "  And  by  reason  of  some  singular  and  extraordinary 
circumstances  attending  the  birth  of  the  said  Stephen  and 
Joseph,  it  remains  wholly  uncertain  which  is  the  eldest  son, 
although  a  suit  at  law,  and  the  verdict  of  two  juries,  have  been 
had  to  determine  the  question." 

The  first  section  of  the  act  provides  that  the  justices  of  the 
Supreme  Judicial  Court  may,  "  upon  application  of  the  said 
Joseph  Stephen  and  Moses,"  set  off  and  assign  one-third  part 
of  the  island  to  Stephens  Kent,  one-third  part  to  Joseph^ 
Kent,  and  one-third  part  to  Moses^  Kent,  a  younger  brother ; 
but  they  were  not  called  upon  at  that  time  to  exert  the 
power  and  authority  conferred  upon  them  by  the  General 
Court,  and  the  island  remained  undivided  for  more  than 
twenty    years. 

Josephs  Kent  died  July  19,  1802,  and  his  brother  Stephen^ 
died  in  1827.  Paul,^  son  of  Josephs  Kent,  by  deed  f  and 
inheritance,  became  owner  of  one-half  the  island. 

The  question  of  title  was  again  brought  to  the  attention  of 
the  courts.  In  1803  "^^^  1804.  the  depositions  of  Hannah 
Peabody,  midwife,  Mary  Reed,  Mercy  Danforth,  and  Joseph 
Jaques  were  received,  and  subsequently  recorded  in  the  reg- 
istry of  deeds. J 

April  22,  1809,  one-half  of  Kent's  island  was  set  off  and 
assigned  to  PauP  and  one-half  to  Stephens  Kent,  "  by  order 
of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  of  Massachusetts."  § 

Joshua^  Noyes  Kent,  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  Kent,  and 
grandson  of  Capt.  Stephens  Kent,  was  born  in  Amesbury 
September  9,  18 16.     He  married,  November  24,  1845,  Sarah 

*  Special  Statutes  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  vol.  i.,  p.  64. 
t  Essex  Deeds,  book  clxvi.,  leaf  104. 

+  Ibid.,  book  clxxii.,  leaves  220  and  271  ;   book  clxxv.,  leaves  41  and  144. 
§  Ibid.,  book  clxxxvi.,  leaf  206. 


64(J  APPENDIX 

N.  Uummer  of  Rowley.  He  acquired  by  purchase  and  in- 
heritance the  whole  of  Kent's  island.*  Joshua  N.  Kent  died 
November  19,  1880.  Administration  was  granted  on  the 
estate  of  Joshua  N.  Kent,  January  3,  1881.  The  island  is 
now  owned  by  his  sons,  Otis  L.,  Leonard  N.,  Albert  Sydney, 
and  Edward  Kent. 

*  Essex  Deeds,  book  dcccliv.,  leaf  237. 


\ 


IV. 

RICHARD    DUMMER. 

The  General  Court  of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay 
appointed  a  committee,  May  6,  1635,  "to  sett  out  a  fferme  for 
M""  Dumer  aboute  the  falls  of  Neweberry,  not  exceeding  the 
quantity  of  500  acres."  *  At  or  before  that  date,  Richard 
Dummer  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Court  of  Assistants, 
but  he  did  not  take  his  seat  until  June  2,,  1635. 

He  was  born  in  the  parish  of  Bishopstoke,  England,  in 
1598,  and  came  to  Boston  in  the  ship  "Whale,"  Capt. 
Graves,  master,  arriving  there  May  24,  1632.!  He  was  made 
a  freeman  November  6,  1632.  At  that  date  he  was  probably 
living  in  Roxbury.  He  built  a  water-mill  in  that  town  as 
early  as  16334 

The  tax  on  his  real  estate  in  Roxbury  and  Saugus  was  re- 
duced by  order  of  the  General  Court,  March  4,  163 3-4. § 
The  same  day,  the  raising  of  a  fund  to  be  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  a  movable  fort,  for  the  defence  of  the  colony,  was 
authorized,  and  Mr.  Dummer  contributed  thirty  pounds.  || 

September  4,  1634,  Richard  Dummer,  Nicholas  Easton,  and 
several  other  freemen,  residing  in  different  towns  in  the 
colony,  "  were  chosen  ouerseers  of  the  powder  &  shott  &  all 
other  amunicon  in  the  seuall  plantacons  where  they  lyve."  *\\ 

[March  4,  1634-5]  Ordered  that  Mr  Rich  :  Dumer  &  John  Johnson 
shall  builde  a  sufficient  Cart  bridge  over  Muddy  Riv  before  the  nexte 
Gen'all  Court  &  that  Boston,  Rocksbury,  Dorchesf,  Newe  Towne  & 
Waterton  shall  equally  contribute  to  it.** 

The  same  day  that  Newbury  was  allowed  to  be  a  planta- 
tion. May  6,  1635,  a  farm  of  five  hundred  acres  was  granted 
Mr.  Dummer  at  the  falls  in   Newbury  ;  and,  on  the  eighth 

*  Ante.  p.  31. 

tNew  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  vol.  xliv,,  pp.  249,  250. 

I  Winthrop's  History  (edition,  1853),  vol.  i.,  p.  138. 

§  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  113.  II  Ibid.,  p.  114. 

IF  Ibid.,  p.  125.  **  Ibid.,  p.  141. 

647 


648  APPEXDIX 

day  of  July  following,  Mr.  Dummer  and  Mr.  Bartholemewe 
were  authorized  "  to  sett  out  a  convenient  quantity  of  land 
within  the  bound.s  of  Newbury,  for  the  keeping  of  the  sheepe 
and  cattell  that  came  over  in  the  Dutch  shipps  this  year." 
Liberty  was  also  given  "  M""  Dumer  &  M""  Spencer  to  build 
a  my  11  &  a  weire  att  the  falls  of  Newberry."  * 

Richard  Dummer  was  a  member  of  the  governor's  council, 
or  Court  of  Assistants,  and  attended  the  meetings  that  were 
held  in  June,  July,  August,  September,  and  November  of 
that  year,  and  in  March,  April,  June,  September,  and  Decem- 
ber,  1636. 

[May  25,  1636]  Mr  Dumer  is  chosen  Treasurer  for  this  yeare  next 
ensueing  &  till  a  newe  be  chosen. f 

He  served,  as  treasurer  of  the  colony  until  May  17,  1637, 
when  Richard  Bellingham  was  elected  to  that  office  by  the 
General  Court,  and  "  The  late  Treasurer,  M""  Dumer,  was 
ordered  to  receive  all  the  last  rates,  of  w'^^  hee  hath  received 
part."  % 

[June  6,  1637]  The  account  of  the  late  Treasurer,  M""  Richrd  Dumer 
was  accepted  &  apprved,  there  resting  dew  to  Mr  Dumer  23^^  2siis,  hee 
not  haveing  alowed  the  50^  wch  hee  pfnised.§ 

November  20,  1637,  more  than  sixty  followers  of  Mrs. 
Anne  Hutchinson  and  Rev.  John  Wheelwright  were  con- 
demned for  holding  erroneous  religious  opinions,  and  were 
ordered  to  deliver  up  to  officers  appointed  by  the  General 
Court  "  All  such  guns,  pistols,  swords,  powder,  shot  &  match 
as  they  shalbee  owners  of,  or  have  in  their  custody." 

The  names  of  the  Neweberry  men  to  bee  disarmed  are  M""  Dumer, 
Mr  Eason,  and  Mr  Spencer:  [their  guns,  pistols  &c]  to  bee  delivered  to 
the  cunstable  of  the  to\vne.|| 

It  was,  ordered,  that  if  any  that  are  to  be  disarmed  acknowledge 
their  sinn  in  subscribing  the  seditious  libell  or  do  not  justify  it,  but 
acknowledge  it  evill  to  two  magistrates,  they  shalbee  thereby  freed  from 
delivering  in  their  arms  according  to  the  former  order.  || 

Soon  after  the  adoption  of  these  orders  by  the  General 
Court,  Richard  Dummer  and  John  Spencer  went  to  England, 

*  Ante,  pp.  33  and  3S. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  175.  +  Ibid.,  p.  iq6.  §  Ibid.,  p.  204. 

II  Ibid.,  p.  312. 


APPENDIX  649 

and  Nicholas  Easton  found  it  advisable  to  remove  to  Rhode 
Island,  where  he  settled,  and  was  afterwards  elected  governor 
of  that  colony. 

Richard  Dummcr  returned  to  New  England  in  the  ship 
"  Bevis,"  Robert  Batten,  master,  sailing  from  Southampton  in 
the  month  of  May,  1638.  His  brother  Stephen  and  his 
brother's  wife,  Alice,  with  six  children,  were  passengers  in  the 
same  vessel.* 

On  the  sixth  day  of  August  following,  the  selectmen  of 
Newbury  agreed  "  that  in  case  M""  [Richard]  Dummcr  doe 
make  his  mill  fitt  to  grynd  corne,  .  .  .  there  shall  not  another 
mill  be  erected  w"nn  the  said  Toune  "  ;  f  and  it  was  also  agreed 
that  the  bounds  and  limits  of  the  land  previously  granted  him 
should  be  fixed  and  determined  by  a  board  of  arbitrators. 

[August  16,  163S]  Itt  was  agreed  that  Mr  Woodman  shall  goe  into 
the  bay  the  second  day  of  the  week  to  enforme  the  arbitrators  chosen 
by  the  Towne  &  M^  DuiTier  to  putt  an  end  to  the  differences  concerning 
the  necke  betweene  M""  Dumer  &  the  towne.J 

October  6,  1638,  Mr.  Dummer  purchased  a  dwelling-house 
of  Thomas  Hale,  with  land  on  both  sides  of  Merrimack  ridge, 
where  he  lived  for  several  years.§ 

May  22,  1639,  the  General  Court  passed  the  following 
vote  :  — 

The  io£'  wch  Mr  Rich'd  Dumer  was  to  pay  is  remitted  to  Mr  Ezechi : 
Rogers  &  his  company  [at  Rowley]. || 

September  7,  1640,  Thomas  Mayhewe,  of  Watertown,  sold 
Richard  Dummer,  of  Newbury,  a  farm  in  Watertown,  contain- 
ing five  hundred  acres,  formerly  owned  by  Simon  Bradstreet.^ 
Several  years  later,  the  title  to  this  property  was  contested 
and  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  General  Court.** 

*  Ante,  p.  38.  The  statement  that  Richard  Dummer  returned  "  bringing  his  wife  and  family" 
is  incorrect.  He  brought  Stephen  Dummer,  wife,  and  family  with  him.  In  the  note  at  the 
bottom  of  p.  38,  the  age  of  Stephen  Dummer  should  be  thirtj'-nine,  probably,  instead  of  twenty- 
nine,  and  the  age  of  Thomas  Dummer,  the  last  name  in  the  list,  should  be  two  years  instead  of 
twenty-seven. 

^  Ante,  pp.  3$,  39.  X  Town  of  Newbury  Records.  §"  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  315. 

II  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  256.  ^Suffolk  Deeds,  vol.  i.,  p.  13. 

**The  questions  in  dispute  were  evidently  settled  before  the  day  appointed  for  the  hearing 
arrived.  October  24,  1659,  tlie  inhabitants  of  Watertown  "voted,  at  a  publike  toune  meeting, 
that  the  five  hundred  acres  of  land  once  the  land  of  Mr  Oldam,  but  now  lajd  to  Mr  Dumer,  in 


6S0  APPENDIX 

Mr.  Dummer  contributed  one  hundred  pounds  to  the  fund 
raised,  in  1640,  to  make  up  the  loss  that  Gov.  Winthrop 
had  sustained  by  the  appointment  and  subsequent  mismanage- 
ment of  an  unfaithful  bailiff.  In  1644,  Richard  Dummer  was 
appointed  "  one  of  the  associate  judges  of  the  Ipswich  Court  "  ;  * 
and  March  20,  1645-6,  as  agent  for  Mr.  John  Spencer,  he  sold 
to  John  Bond  "the  howse  &  howse  lott  of  M"^  John  Spencer 
sittuate  in  Newbury  with  a  planting  lott  of  three  acres  &  a 
half  on  great  neck  over  the  great  River  for  &  in  consideration 
of  fourteen  pounds."  f  Thirty  years  later,  he  became  involved 
in  a  lawsuit  with  the  town  of  Newbury  in  regard  to  the 
bounds  and  limits  of  a  portion  of  the  land  that  he  claimed  to 
own  in  the  vicinity  of  Newbury  Falls.  The  details  of  the  con- 
troversy are  unknown  ;  but  Mr.  Dummer  was  evidently  annoyed 
by  threats  of  prosecution,  and  sent  the  following  communica- 
tion to  the  selectmen  :  — 

Sept.  15,  1675  To  the  prudentiall  men  of  Newbury. 

I  do  by  this  writing  signify  to  you  that  you  shall  not  need  to  sue  for 
any  of  that  Land  I  have  fenced  at  Rowley  Mill  that  is  in  question  or 
difference.  I  shall  for  peace  sake  rather  yeild  it  to  the  Towne  and  use 
some  other  means  to  recover  my  right  which  is  about  twenty  acres  more 
than  is  fenced  in  Richard  Dumer  Senrf 

Two  years  later,  John  Knight,  sr.,  and  Tristram  Coffin 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  attend  the  court  at  Ipswich, 
and  defend  the  town  of  Newbury  against  the  suit  brought  by 
Mr.  Dummer. f 

[March  12,  1677-8]  Nicholas  Noyes,  Richard  Knight  &  Tristram 
Coffin  were  chosen  to  go  to  Mr  Dumer  to  treat  with  him  about  the 
Difference  between  the  Towne  and  hee,  and  to  make  him  a  tender  of 
the  land  and  of  the  court  charges. f 

The  committee  reported  April  10,  1678,  that  the  claim  had 
been  settled,  "  he  [Mr.  Dummer]  having  recovered  judgment 
at  the  Ipswich  Court  in  September  last  for  twenty  five  acres 
of  land."  f 

the  bounds  of  Watertoune,  do  remajne  his,  the  sajd  Mr  Dufiiers,  wthout  any  of  the  tounes  opposi- 
tion.    Wittnessed  by  me  in  ye  name  of  the  toune.  Ephraim  Child." 

"  The  Court  accepts  of  this  returne  of  the  toune  of  Watertoune  as  that  wch  putts  an  end  to  ye 
controursy  mentioned  in  this  petition,  and  confirnies  the  land  accordingly  to  iMr  Richard  Dumer." 
(Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  i.,  p.  408.) 

•  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  65.  t  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 


APPENDIX  65 1 

Richard  Dummcr  had  one  son,  Shubael,  born  February  17, 
1 93 5-6,  l)y  his  first  wife  Mary.  Mrs.  Dummer  died  soon 
after  that  date,*  and  by  his  second  wife,  Frances,  widow  of 
Rev.  Jonathan  Burr,  of  Dorchester,  whom  he  married  in  1644, 
he  had  three  sons,  Jeremiah,  Richard,  and  William,  and  one 
dau[(hter,  Hannah.  He  died  December  14,  1679,  and  was 
buried  in  the  graveyard  near  the  "  trayneing  green  "  in  New- 
bury. A  low  moss-covered  stone,  bearing  the  following  in- 
scription, marks  his  last  resting-place  :  — 

Richard  Dumer,  Esq. 
DIED  December  y^  14TH 

1679,  ^N  "^S    88  YEAR 

Near  it,  another  stone  is  inscribed  as  follows  :  — 
Mrs  Frances  Dumer  died 

IN  THE  70TH  year  of  HER 

age  being  the  19TH  day  of 
November  1682. 

Stephen  Dummer  was  made  a  freeman  May  22,  1639,  and 
returned  to  England  previous  to  1648.  In  a  letter  dated 
May  10,  1648,  he  wrote  to  Henry  Short,  of  Newbury,  "If 
you  can  sell  my  farme  at  the  Birchen  Meadows  do  for  what  it 
is  worth."  f  March  5,  1650,  Henry  Short  sold  the  farm  of 
three  hundred  acres,  more  or  less,  for  twenty-one  pounds  to 
Thomas  Brcwne  and  George  Little. 

Laid  out  to  Thomas  Brown  &  George  Little  in  the  behalfe  of  Mi^ 
Stephen  Duiiier  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  upland  at  Turke)'  Hill 
joyning  to  M""  Stephen  Duiriers  meadow  called  by  the  name  of  Birchen 
Meadow  &c  f 

[May  30,  1650]  In  an.sw  to  the  peticdh  of  Henry  Short,  of  New- 
bury, the  Court  doth  order  that  tlie  peticoher  shall  have  liberty,  and  is 

•  Rev.  John  Eliot's  record  of  cliurch  members  in  Roxbury  lias  the  following  notice  of  Mary 
Dummer,  wife  of  Richard  Dummer  :  "  she  was  a  Godly  woman  but  by  the  seduction  of  some  of 
her  acquaintances  she  was  led  away  into  the  new  opinions  in  Mrs.  Hutchinsons  time  &  her  hus- 
band removing  to  Newbury  she  there  openly  declaired  herselfe  &  did  also  (together  with  others 
endeavours)  seduce  her  husband  &  p'swaded  him  to  return  to  Boston;  when  she  being  young 
with  child  &  ill  ;  Mr.  Clark  (one  of  the  same  opinions)  unskillfully  gave  her  a  vomit,  wch  did  in 
such  maner  torture  &  torment  her  wth  the  rising  of  the  mothr  &  other  vyolences  of  nature  yt  she 
dyed  in  a  most  uncomfortable  maiier.  But  we  believe  God  tooke  her  away  in  mercy  fro  worse 
evil  wcl'  she  was  falling  into  &  we  doubt  not  hut  she  is  gone  to  heaven."  (Lives  of  Isaac  Heath, 
John  Bowles,  and  Rev.  John  Eliot,  by  J.  Wingate  Thornton,  p.  172.) 

t  Town  of  Newbury  (Proprietors)  Records,  vol.  i  ,  p.  18. 


652  APPENDIX 

hereby  impowered,  to  sue  any  person  for  any  rents  or  arrears  dew  to  Mr 
Stephen  Dommer,  now  in  England,  and  vpon  receipt  thereof  to  acquitt 
and  discharge  the  same.* 

Jeremiah,  son  of  Richard  and  Frances  Diimmer,  was  born 
September  14,  1645.  He  was  apprenticed,  when  quite  young, 
to  John  Mull,  silversmith,  in  Boston.  He  died  there.  May 
24,  1 718,  leaving  two  sons:  Jeremiah,  who  graduated  at 
Harvard  college  in  1699,  and  was  afterwards  agent  of  the 
province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  England ;  and  William, 
born  in  Boston  in  1677,  and  appointed  deputy  governor  of  the 
province  in  17 16. 

William  Dummer  died  October  10,  1761,  and  was  buried 
in  the  Granary  burying-ground  on  Tremont  street,  Boston. f 
The  following  obituary  notice  was  published  in  a  Boston 
newspaper,  October  26,  1761  :  — 

Departed  this  life  the  Hon.  William  Dummer,  Esq.  in  the  84th  year 
of  his  age  ;  and  on  the  i6th  his  funeral  was  attended  with  every  mark  of 
respect  due  to  so  eminent  a  person.  Scarce  any  one  ever  passed 
through  this  life  with  a  more  unspotted  character,  or  performed  its 
various  duties  with  more  universal  esteem.  In  the  gayest  scenes  of 
youth  he  was  preserved  from  destructive  paths  of  vice :  and,  in  maturer 
age,  was  a  shining  example  of  the  most  amiable  virtues.  In  the 
begining  of  the  reign  of  George  I.  he  was  appointed  our  Lieut. 
Governor.  Upon  the  return  of  Col.  Shute  to  Great  Britain  the  chief 
command  of  the  Province  devolved  upon  him.  In  this  station  he 
appeared  with  distinguished  taste. 

The  wise,  incorrupt  and  successful  administration  of  Mr  Dummer 
will  always  be  remembered  with  honor  and  considered  as  a  pattern 
worthy  of  the  imitation  of  all  future  Governors.  Uninfluenced  by 
party  prejudices,  superior  to  all  mercenary  attachments,  he  discovered 
no  passion  in  his  public  character,  but  love  to  his  country  and  fidelity  to 
his  Royal  Master.  Having  filled  the  Chair  with  dignity  and  usefulness 
for  several  years ;  when  a  successor  was  appointed  he  retired  to  enjoy 
the  unenvied  satisfactions  of  a  private  life ;  with  the  approbation  of  a 
good  conscience,  and  the  applause  of  his  country.  J 

•Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  i.,  p.  lo. 

t  For  additional  facts  relating  to  the  Dummer  family  see  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  313-325- 

X  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  vol.  ix.,  pp.  174,  175. 


V. 
CART  CREEK. 

The  farm  of  four  hundred  acres  granted  Dr.  John  Clarke 
by  the  town  of  Newbury,  previous  to  1647,  was  bounded  in 
part  by  Cart  creek,  a  small  tributary  of  the  river  Parker.* 

In  165  I,  the  farm  was  sold  to  Richard  Thorlay,  who  built, 
three  years  later,  the  first  bridge  over  "  the  great  river."  f 

Edmund  Goodridge  and  John  Noyes,  jr..  Were  granted 
liberty,  June  22,  1708,  to  set  up  a  saw-mill  on  Cart  creek. J 

February  28,  1807,  John  Noyes,  Caleb  Titcomb,  Isaiah 
Rogers,  Josiah  Adams,  Stephen  Adams,  John  Longfellow, 
Simon  Thurla,  Enoch  Little,  and  Simeon  Titcomb,  "  proprie- 
tors of  the  greater  part  of  a  tract  of  salt  marsh,  situate  on 
Cart-Creek,  in  Newbury,"  were  incorporated  by  the  General 
Court,  and  granted  liberty  "  to  erect  and  make  a  Dike,  and 
Dam,  of  sufficient  heighth  and  width,  across  said  Cart-Creek, 
in,  or  near  the  same  place  where  a  Dike  or  Dam,  was  formerly 
made,  so  far  as  a  Dike,  or  Dam,  may  be  found  necessary ; 
and  to  erect  and  keep  in  repair,  such  a  Fence,  as  the  said 
proprietors  may,  at  a  legal  meeting,  agree  to  have,  where  a 
Fence  may  be  found  necessary."  § 

The  persons  named  in  the  act  of  incorporation  evidently 
hoped  to  convert  the  salt  marsh  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cart 
creek  into  pasture  or  tillage  land  by  the  erection  of  a  dyke  or 
dam  to  keep  out  the  salt  water.  For  some  reason  unknown 
the  work  was  delayed  for  several  years  ;  but,  after  mature  de- 
liberation, a  dam  with  a  tide-water  gate  was  constructed,  and 
is  still  maintained. 

*  Anie,\).  b-j.  t  "  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  204.  tAnie,p.2bi. 

§  Special  Statutes  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  Acts  of  1S06,  chap.  c. 


653 


VI. 

FIRST    PARISH    MEETING-HOUSE. 

The  following  notice  was  published  in  the  Salem  Gazette, 
May  29,  1806  :  — 

Nevvburvport,  May  6. 
"  There  is  a  time  to  build  7ip,  and  a  time  to  pull  downy —  Solomon. 

On  the  last  Sabbath  a  valedictory  Sermon  was  delivered  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  PoPKiN,  to  a  crowded  assembly  at  the  old-town  Meeting  House 
(Newbury)  that  society  being  about  to  pull  down  the  house  and  erect  a 
new  one  in  the  same  place.  This  ancient  fabric  has  stood  One  Hundred 
and  Seven  Ki?(2;-j-,  probably  the  oldest  meeting  house  in  New  England. 
This  was  the  original  society  from  which  emanated  all  the  others  in 
Newbury  and  Newburyport,  now  ten  in  number.  There  have  been  six 
mini.sters  settled  over  this  society,  previously  to  their  present  one, 
viz: — *  Mr  Noyes,  Mr  Woodbridge,  Mr.  Richardson,  Mr.  Toppan, 
Dr.  Tucker  and  Mr  Moore.  Mr.  Toppan  and  Dr.  Tucker  administered 
more  than  half  a  century. —  The  occasion  excited  the  liveliest  sensations 
in  the  breasts  of  those  aged  and  venerable  parishioners  who  have  as- 
sembled here  from  their  earliest  childhood,  for  religious  worship ;  and 
whose  fathers  before  them  enjoyed  the  same  happy  privilege  in  the  same 
place  from  the  first  settlement  of  the  country.f 

*  In  the  newspaper  paragraph  quoted  above,  the  number  of  ministers  is  not  correctly  stated. 
The  following-named  persons  were  ordained  pastors  or  assistant  pastors  of  the  First  parish  in 
Newbury  from  1635  to  i8q6: 

Rev.  Thomas  Parker  was  pastor  from  1635  to  the  day  of  his  death,  April  24,  1677.  Rev. 
James  Noyes  was  assistant  pastor  from  1635  to  the  day  of  his  death,  October  22,  1656.  Rev.  John 
Woodbridge  was  assistant  pastor  from  1663  to  1672.  Rev.  John  Richardson  was  assistant  pastor 
from  1673  until  1677,  and  afterwards  pastor  until  his  death,  April  27,  1696.  Rev.  Christopher 
Toppan  was  pastor  from  i6g6  to  1747.  Rev.  John  Tucker  w-as  assistant  pastor  from  1745  to  1747, 
and  pastor  from  that  date  until  his  death,  March  22,  1792.  Rev.  Abraham  Moor  was  pastor  from 
1796  until  his  death,  June  24,  iSoi.  Rev.  John  S.  Popkin  was  installed  pastor  September 
ig,  1804. 

tThe  first  meeting-house  in  Newbury'  was  probably  erected  in  1635,  at  or  near  "  that  parcell 
of  land  called  the  greene,"  in  the  vicinity  of  Parker  river.  The  second  was  built  in  1647  "  upon  a 
knowle  of  upland  by  Abraham  Toppan's  barne,"  two  or  three  miles  in  a  northerly  direction  from 
the  first  house  of  worship.  Subsequently,  meeting-houses  were  erected  in  i66i,in  1700,  and  in 
1S06,  at  or  near  the  same  site.  The  new  house,  to  which  reference  is  made  in  the  newspaper  para- 
graph quoted  above,  was  destroyed  by  lire  in  186S;  and  the  land  upon  which  it  stood  now  forms  a 
part  of  the  First  parish  burying-ground.  The  present  house  of  worship,  erected  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  street,  was  dedicated  March  4,  1869. 


654 


VII. 

SECOND   PARISH    CHURCH. 

In  the  Salem  Garjcttc,  the  following  advertisement  was  pub- 
lished, June  3,  1803  :  — 

M""  Gardner's  Address  before  the  Massachusetts  Charitable  Fire  So- 
ciety ;  for  sale 

by  CuSHiNG  &  Appleton — also 

Rev.  Mr.  Tomb's  Fast  Sermon,  delivered  in  the  second  Church  in  New 
bury  —  Text,  "  Thou  shalt  not  revile  the  gods  nor  curse  the  ruler  of  thy 

people."- ^(^W     The  preacher  in  this  sermon  endeavours  to  show 

that  this  country  is  in  danger  of  destruction  from  the  spirit  of  reviling 
and  invective  against  our.  rulers,  which  prevails.* 

*  Rev.  Samuel  Totnb  was  pastor  of  the  Second  church  in   Newbury  from  1798  until   1805   (see 
ante,  p.  361). 


^55 


VIII. 

SCHOOLS  AND  SCHOOLMASTERS. 

The  following  items,  taken  from  the  records  of  the  select- 
men of  Newbury,  relating  to  the  care  and  management  of 
schools,  give  some  details  not  printed  in  chapter  vii.,  pp.  395- 
412,  of  this  book  :  — 

Nov.     30,    1723  paid  Mr  John  Woodbridge  for  gramar  skool  ^45.0.0 

Dec.              1729  paid  IVIr  James  Chandler  for  the  school      .  30.0.0 

paid  Mr  John  Rogers  for  the  school.     .     .  15.6.0 

1730  paid  Mr.  John  Woodbridge 33-7-10 

Ambrose    Berry  is  credited  with  the  pay- 
ment of 28.4.7 

"  to  Mr  John  Greenleaf  ye  34  for  school  " 

John  Carr  is  credited  with  the  payment  of  34-5-4 

"  to  Mr  Ezekiel  Hale  for  ye  school  " 

1 73 1  Ambrose  Berry  is  credited  with  the  pay- 

ment of 28.8.9 

"  to  Mr  Stephen  Sewall  for  the  school 
which  is  the  3^  parishs  part  of  the 
money  paid." 

1732  paid    Benjamin    Davis  for  the  use  of  his 

house  for  a  schoole i.io.o 

^-—^1733  "paid  Mr  Joshua  Bayley  for  y*  use  of  ye 

schools  in  ye  second  parish "  .     .     .     .  21.0.0 

1734  "paid  Mr  Nathaniel  Morrill  for  keeping 

school " 20.0.0 

1735  P^id  Mr  Moses  Hale  for  keeping  schoole  .  20.0.0 

1736  paid  Mr.  John  Noyes  ditto 10. 0.0 

Charles  Chase,  constable,  is  credited  with 

the  payment  of 1 0.0.0 

and    Isaac    Knight,    constable,  is  credited 

with  the  payment  of  the  same  amount 

"to   Mr.  John   Noyes  for    keeping  ye 

grammer  schoole  " 

I  737  William  Brown,  constable,  is  credited  with 

the  payment  of 20.0.0 

"  to  Mr  Beni  Greenleaf  for  ye  use  of 
ye  schoole  " 

656 


APPENDIX  657 

March    2,  1  742-3  bills  for  repairing  the  school  house  were 

paid 
Jan.       12,  174^-4  paid  Mr  Benja  Toppan  in  full  for  keeping 

ye  Town  School ^20.0.0 

Feb.     15,  1743-4  paid   Mr.    Nathan   Hale    for  keeping   ye 

Town  School  in  part 20.0.0 

f  ^  Feb.  1744-5  paid^Il^noch  Bailey  for  keeping  school  20.0.0 

ditto  ditto    .     .     .  1 0.0.0 

March  10,  1745-6  paid  Mr.    Joshua  Moody   for  keeping  ye 

Town  School 40.0.0 

X.  paid  Mr.  Enoch  Baley  in  full  for  keeping 

Town  Skool  for  the  year  1 744    .     .     .  20.0.0 

March        1 746-7  paid     Mr.    Joshua     Moody    for    keeping 

school 20.0.0 

Feb.     I,  1749-50  paid     Mr.    Joshua    Moody    for    keeping 

school 40.0.0 

1 75 1  paid  Mr  Moses  Hale  for  keeping  the  town 

school 20.0.0 

1753  paid   Mr.  Joseph   Parsons  for  ye  Towne 

School 1 1. 13. 4 

paid  M""  John  Noyes  ditto 20.0.0 

I754^paid   Mr  Joseph  Parsons   for  keeping  ye 

Town  School 

"l^    paid  Abel  Merrill  ditto 13.6.8 

1756  paid  Micajah  Sawyers  order  for  a  quarters 

schooling     .      .  1 2.1 0.0 

1757  ditto  ditto  .     .     .  12.10.0 
Feb.     24,  1757-8  By  cash  paid  for  Mr,  Gushing  ye  school 

master 5-I5-2 


IX. 

WOOD  WELL'S    SHir-VARD. 

1762-1853. 

The  ship-yard  at  the  foot  of  Muzzey's  lane,  n(j\v  Marlboro 
street,  Nevvburyport,  was  probably  first  used  for  ship-building 
purposes  in  1762.  Early  in  the  spring  of  that  year  Capt. 
Gideon  Woodwell,  who  had  served  with  credit  in  the  ex- 
pedition to  Crown  Point  in  1756,  bought  a  small  lot  of 
land  in  Newbury  from  the  estate  of  Robert  Mitchell,  with  a 
dwelling-house  and  barn  thereon,  between  the  road  or  way, 
now  Water  street,  Newburyport,  and  the  Merrimack  river.* 
He  built  there,  previous  to  the  close  of  the  year  1773,  a  large 
number  of  fishing  and  coasting  vessels. f 

During  the  Revolutionary  war,  the  yard  was  unoccupied. 
From  1783  to  1790,  Capt.  Woodwell,  in  company  with  his 
son  John  Woodwell  and  Mr.  Enoch  Hale,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Woodwell  &  Hale,J  built  ten  vessels  there.  After  the 
death  of  Capt.  Woodwell,  August  24,  1790,  the  yard  was 
again  unoccupied  for  several  years. 

John  Woodwell,  with  his  sons  John,  David,  and  Gideon, § 
grandsons  of  Capt.  Gideon  Woodwell,  re-established  the  busi- 
ness at  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century.  It  was  con- 
tinued by  the  sons  for  thirty  years  after  the  death  of  their 
father  in  1822.  From  the  year  1800  to  1853,  John  Wood- 
well  and  sons  built  nearly  one  hundred  vessels,  varying  in 
size  from  fifty  to  three  hundred  tons  register. 

*  Essex  Deeds,  book  cxiii.,  leaf  i6o. 

t  The  statement  printed  on  page  263  of  the  History  of  Newburyport  by  Mrs.  E.  Vale  Smith, 
that  Capt.  Woodwell  built  fifty-two  vessels,  or  more  than  live  every  year,  from  1763  to  1773,  is 
probably  incorrect. 

J  John  Woodwell,  son  of  Capt.  Gideon  Woodwell,  was  born  in  1752.  He  died  February  12, 
1822.  Enoch  Hale,  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Pettingell)  Hale,  was  born  December  10,  1757. 
He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Capt.  Gideon  Woodwell.     He  died  November  10,  1825. 

§Gideon,  son  of  John  Woodwell,  was  born  in  Newbury  December  15,  1790.  He  was  a 
skilful  and  industrious  mechanic.  He  drew  the  plans  and  made  the  models  for  most  of  the 
vessels  built  by  the  Woodwell  brothers. 

658 


X. 


MILITARY   ORGANIZATIONS    DURING   THE    FRENCH    AND 
INDIAN    WARS. 

The  names  printed  in  the  following  lists  were  copied  from 
manuscript  papers  formerly  in  the  possession  of  Robert 
Adams,  of  Newbury,  who  died  August  2,  1855.  They  were 
published  in  the  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical 
Register,  July,  1896. 


The  names  [  ]  Soldiers  under 

Left  Tristram  Cofen 
Ins  Jacob  taping 
Sargt  Browne 
Sargt  J  no  Emery 
Sargt  jno  Webster 
Sargt  Joseph  Littel 

Joshuah  Morce  [Drummer] 
Jno  Stickney  " 

Benj  Morce  (?)  " 

Corprall  Woodman 
Benj  Lowle 
Daniell  Merell  -  - 
Jno  Ba(         )t 

Abraham  Merell,  Ju 

*  Abil  Merell  Sn 
Abil  Merell 
Abial  Long 
Abill  plisbury 
Augustan  Stedman 
Andrew  Godfrey 

*  Abraham  Merell  Ju^    ^— ^ 
Abil  Huse 

Abiall  Somarby 
Andrew  Stickny 
Abraham  Annis 


ye  command  of  Capt  Tho.  Noyes. 
Aquilah  Ches 

*  Aquilah  Annis 
*(  )  Miller 

*  (  )  (     )opping 
Benj  poure 

Benj  Morce  Snr 
Benj  Morce  Ju^ 
Benj  Sanboune 
Charls  Annis 
Cornelious  Davis- 
Calv(     )  richardsorn 
Cyprian  Whiple 

*  Ephrim  davis 
Elisha  tredwell 
Edmond  Grenleaf 
Daniell  Ma[     ]way 
Daniell  Chase 
Daniell  Merell 
Edward  Woodman 
Ephrim  Davis 
Edward  poure 

*  Elisha  tredwell 
Edmong  Grenlef 
Edward  Woodman  Jui" 
Gedeon  Lowle 

*  Mr  Hugh  March 
Hannaniah  Ordwav 


•These  names  were  probably  intended  to  be  erased. 
659 


66o 


APPENDIX 


*  Henry  Bradley 
Ha(     )  Adams 
Hugh  March  Ju"" 
Harcules  Woodman 
Hucker  Osgood 
Mr  Jno  Sewall 
Jno  Mitchell 


Jn"  Davis 

*  Hercules  Adams 

*Jno  Sawyer 

Jno  Worth 

James  Ordway  Sn"" 

James  [  ]  Ju"" 

Jn"  ord[         ] 


Upon    the  back  of  the  original    is    the    following  indorse- 
ment :  — 

[  ]  training  Day  ye  26  day  of  F  [     ]  1688 

Abraham  [  ] 

Corpl  Lowle,  Sen. 
Corpl  Woodman,  Sen. 
Se  [         ]  men  att  Jno  Brownes  hous  f 


[ 


Sar.  Aquila  Chase 
peter  Cofen 
timothy  Mirrick 
Nathaniel  Noyes 
Aberham  tappen 
Samuel  bartlit 


]  men  that  went  to  Amsbry 

John  devis  1  daniel  osilow 


James  ordway 
thorn  as  wales 
John  Aiers 
John  Worth 
bat  Molten  f 


Benjamin  Chese 
Nathan  Merril 
Benjamin  long 
Zacharia  devis 


A  list  of  the  names  of  the  men  put  under  the  comand  of    Ser.  James 
Jackman  ye  15th  of  July  1707  Thomas  Noyes  L.  Coll. 


Ser  James  Jackman 
William  Salmon 
Richard  Pettingale 
Jonathon  Moores 
Cutting  Pettingale 
Jonathan  Ilesley 
Tho  Pettingale 


Nathaniell  Rolfe 
Hilkiah  Boynton 
Moses  Cocker 
Anthony  Somerby 
John  Noyes  3d 
John  Kingsbury 
Amos  Pilsbury 


John  Haskins 
John  Smith 
Joseph  Ilesley  Jun 
Sanuel  Hasletine 
John  Sewall 
Abraham  Toppan 
James  Wit  [     ]  X 


*  These  names  were  probably  intended  to  be  erased. 

t  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  vol.  1.,  pp.  338,  339. 

X  Ibid.,  p.  341. 


XI. 
REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

John  Brown  and  Samuel  Pilsbury  were  boatmen  in  the 
barge  that  conveyed  Benedict  Arnold  to  the  sloop-of-war 
"Vulture"  after  the  discovery  of  the  plot  to  deliver  West 
Point  to  the  English  forces.* 

Mrs.  Mercy  Warren,  in  her  History  of  the  American  Revo- 
lution, published  in  1805,  describes  the  incident  as  follows  :  — 

Arnold  took  a  barge  and  under  a  flag  he  passed  Verplank's  Point 
and  soon  found  himself  safe  beneath  the  guns  of  the  Vulture,  sloop  of 
war.  Before  he  took  leave  of  the  bargemen  he  made  them  very  gener- 
ous offers  if  they  would  act  as  dishonorably  as  he  had  done ;  he  prom- 
ised them  higher  and  better  wages  if  they  would  desert  their  country 
and  enlist  in  the  service  of  Britain,  but  they  spurned  the  offer  and  were 
permitted  to  return. f 

*  A>!te,  pp.  614-616. 

t  History  of  the  American  Revolution  (Warren),  vol.  ii.,  p.  269. 


661 


XII. 

PHYSICIANS   IN   NEWBURY   FROM   THE    FIRST    SETTLEMENT 

OF   THE   TOWN    IN    1635   TO   THE   INCORPORATION 

OF   NEWBURYPORT   IN    1764. 

Dr.  John  Clarke  probably  came  to  Newbury  in  1637. 
He  was  granted  a  farm  of  four  hundred  acres  at  the  mouth 
of  Cart  creek  January  23,  1637-8.*  At  a  town  meeting  held 
September  28,  1638,  "It  was  granted  that  M""  Clarke  in  re- 
spect of  his  calling  should  be  freed  and  exempted  from  all 
public  rates  either  for  the  country  or  the  towne  so  long  as  he 
shall  remayne  with  us  and  exercise  his  calling  among  us."  * 

He  was  appointed  June  6,  1639,  associate  magistrate  of  the 
county  court  at  Ipswich,f  and  elected  deputy  from  Newbury 
to  the  General  Court  held  September  4,  1639.  He  served  in 
the  place  of  Edward  Rawson  at  the  session  held  September  27, 
1642,  and  was  again  chosen  to  represent  Newbury  in  the 
General  Court  beginning  May  10,  1643. 

Dr.  Clarke  probably  removed  to  Ipswich  in  1647,  ^^^^ 
soon  after  bought  a  dwelling-house  and  land  in  Boston.  He 
sold  his  farm  in  Newbury  to  Matthew  Chaff ey,  of  Boston,  who 
conveyed  it  the  same  day  to  Richard  Thorlay,  of  Newbury. | 
Dr.  Clarke  died  in  Boston  in  the  month  of  November,  1664. 

*  Ante,  p.  67. 

t  Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  261. 
-  +y4«/?,  p.  67.  Dr.  Clarke,  soon  after  his  removal  to  Boston,  invented  a  stove  "  for 
the  saving  of  firewood  &  warming  of  how^es"  His  right  to  the  control  of  the  new  invention  was 
provided  for  by  the  following  orders  of  the  General  Court:  "  [October  19,  1652]  Itt  is  orderd  by 
this  Courte,  that  no  person  shall  for  the  space  of  three  years  next  ensuing,  make  vse  of  Mr  John 
Clarks  invention  for  saving  of  fire  wood  and  warming  of  roomes  with  little  cost  and  charges,  by 
which  meanes  great  benefitt  is  like  to  be  to  the  countrie,  especially  to  theise  populous  places;  and 
if  any  family  or  other  person  doe,  by  the  consent  and  direction  of  the  sajd  Mr  John  Clarke,  or 
wthout,  improove  or  vse  the  sajd  experiment,  they  shall  pay  tenn  shillings  to  the  sajd  Mr  Clarke, 
for  which  the  sajd  Mr.  Clarke  may  sue  or  jmplead  any  person  before  any  commissioner  for  the 
same,  as  thecawse  shall  require."     (Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  i.,  p.  104.) 

"  [May  14,  1656]  This  Court  having  made  an  order  in  the  eighth  month,  1652,  wherein  Mr 
John  Clarke  was  to  haue  tenn  shillings  of  euery  family  that  should  make  vse  of  his  inventjon  for 
saving  of  firewood  iK:  warming  of  bowses,  which  sajd  order  was  only  for  the  terme  of  three  yeares, 
wch  is  now  expired  vppon  a  mocon  made  to  this  Court  in  his  behalfe,  this  Court  judgeth  it  meete 
to  confirme  the  sajd  order  for  the  terme  of  his  life."  (Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv., 
part  i. ,  p.  260.) 

662 


DR.   JOHN    CLARKE. 


664  APPENDIX 

Dr.  William  Snelling  was  the  youngest  son  of  Thomas 
Snelling  of  Chaddlewood,  Devonshire,  England.  He  married, 
July  5,  1648,  Margaret  (or,  Margery),  daughter  of  Giles 
Stagge,  of  South wark.*  His  son  William  was  born  in  New- 
bury, June  24,  1649.  His  daughter  Anne  was  born  in  New- 
bury, March  5,  165  1-2.     She  probably  died  young. 

Doctor  Snelling  was  fined  by  the  county  court  at  Salem, 
March  30,  1652,  for  indiscreet  words  spoken  in  jest.f  He 
removed  to  Boston  two  years  later,  and  there,  probably, 
another  daughter,  Ann,  was  born.  May  7,  1654.  He  pur- 
chased a  dwelling-house,  with  a  garden  and  orchard,  in 
Boston,  October   13,    1654. 

Dr.  Peter  Toppan  was  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Susanna 
(Goodale)  Toppan.  He  was  born  in  England  in  1634,  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  Newbury  in  1637.  He  married 
Jane,  daughter  of  Mr.  Christopher  Batt,  April  3,  1661,  and 
died  November  10,  1707.  His  son.  Rev.  Christopher  Top- 
pan,  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  first  church  in  Newbury, 
September  9,  1696.:!: 

Dr.  Henry  Greenland  was  a  physician  in  Newbury  from 
1662  to  1666.  He  sold  his  house  and  land,  January  12, 
1665-6,  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Ordway's  lane,  now 
Market  street,  and  the  way  by  the  river,  now  Merrimack 
street,  Newburyport,  and  probably  removed  to  Portsmouth, 
N.H.,  soon  after. § 

Dr.  John  Dole  was  the  son  of  Richard  Dole,  of  New- 
bury. He  was  born  August  10,  1648,  and  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Capt.  William  Gerrish,  October  23,  1676.  He 
occupied  a  dwelling-house  on  the  westerly  side  of  Market 
square,  near  the  corner  of  Greenleaf's  lane,  now  State  street, 
Newburyport.il      He  died  in  1694.^ 

*The  record  is  much  worn  and  nearly  ineligible.  So  far  as  it  can  be  deciphered,  it  reads  as 
follows:  — 

"  July  5  Anno  1648  was  maryed  at  D  .  .  .  William  ye  fourth  son  of  Thorn  .  .  .  Snelling 
esquire  &  Johan  his  wife  dwell  .  .  .  at  Chaddlewood  in  Plympton  Mary  (?)  in  .  .  .  and  Margerety 
the  eldest  daughter  of  Gyles  Stagge,  gent  (i  Anne  his  wife  dwelling  .  .  .  Southwark  in  Barnaby 
street  at  .  .  .  sign  of  St  .  .  .  Christopher." 

^  Ante,  p.  122.        XAnie,  p.  333.       %A>ite,  pp.  140-144.         ||  Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  121,  144. 

U"  January  10,  1694-5  Dr  Doel  of  Newbury  died  a  little  while  ago,  one  of  my  school- 
fellows, as  was  also  Brother  Gerrish:  heard  not  certainly  of  said  Doel's  deatli  till  Mr.  Emery 
told  it  me  Jan.  15  in  the  street."     (Samuel  Sewall's  Diary,  vol.  i.,  p.  397.) 


APPE.VDLX  665 

Dr.  Humphrey  Bradstreet  was  born  in  Ipswich,  January 
6,  1669-70.  He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Joshua  Pierce, 
of  Newbury.*  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Humphrey  and  Sarah 
Bradstreet,  was  born  December  19,  1692.  Doctor  Bradstreet 
died  in  Newbury  May  11,  171 7.  His  widow  married  Capt, 
Edward^Sargent  June  9,  17 19. 

Dr.  Joshua  Bailey  was  born  in  1685,  probably  in  Kil- 
lingworth,  Conn.  He  came  to  Newbury  in  1707,  but  re- 
mained only  a  few  years,  removing  to  Haverhill,  where  he 
practised  medicine  and  surgery  during  the  rest  of  his  life. 
He  died  February  7,  1752.! 

Dr.  Matthew  Adams,  son  of  Abraham  and  Mary  (Pettin- 
gell)  Adams,  was  born  in  Newbury,  May  25,  1686.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Knight,  April  4,  1707.  He  practised  medicine 
from  1726  until  his  death,  Nov.  24,  1755.$ 

Dr.  Joseph  Hills,  son  of  Joseph  and  Priscilla  (Chase)  Hills, 
was  born  in  Newbury,  October  15,  1707.  He  married  Han- 
nah Brett,  September  10,  1730.  He  was  a  physician  in 
Newbury  until  his  death,   September  22,    1745. 

Dr.  Nathan  Hale,  son  of  Thomas  Hale,  was  born  in  New- 
bury, June  2,  1691.  He  married  Elizabeth  Kent,  August 
27,  171 3.  He  lived  in  that  part  of  Newbury  which  was 
incorporated  as  a  separate  town,  by  the  name  of  Newbury- 
port,  in  1764.     He  died  May  9,  1767. 

Dr.  Enoch  Sawyer,  son  of  Stephen  Sawyer,  was  born  in 
Newbury,  June  22,  1694.  He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Jonathan  Pierpont,  of  Reading,  previous  to  1722.  He 
was  a  physician  in  Newbury  for  more  than  fifty  years.  He 
died  November  15,  1771. 

Dr.  Eleazer  Peirce,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Lydia  Peirce,  was 
born  May  19,  171 1.  He  married  Eunice,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Christopher  Toppan.  He  owned  and  occupied  a  dwelling- 
house  on  what  is  now  Water  street,  near  the  foot  of  Marl- 
borough street,  Newburyport.     He  died  August  31,  1764. 

*"  Ou!d  Newbury,"  p.  124. 

tThe  Essex  Antiquarian,  vol.  v.,  p.  124.  X  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  20. 


^ 


666  APPENDIX 

Dr.  John  Sprague  graduated  at  Harvard  college  in  1730, 
and  came  to  Newbury  a  few  years  later.  "  Mary  daugh- 
ter of  John  Sprague  &  Ruth,  his  wife,  was  born  March  30, 
1738."  *  He  married,  for  his  second  wife,  Prudence  Titcomb, 
May  19,  1754.*  He  lived  in  that  part  of  Newbury  which 
was  set  off  and  incorporated  as  a  separate  town  in  1764.! 
His  will,  dated  March  17,  1781,  was  proved  April  26,  1784. 

Dr.  John  Newman  was  admitted  to  the  church  in 
Hampton,  N.H.,  December  7,  1740.  He  married  May  21, 
1 741,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Col.  Joshua  Wingate.  Three 
children  were  born  to  Dr.  John  and  Elizabeth  Newman  in 
Hampton,  namely  :  Elizabeth,  born  November  19,  1741  ;  John, 
born  July  23,  1743;  Jane,  born  January  20,  1744-5.  Doctor 
Newman  probably  removed  to  Newbury  -with  his  family  in 
1746.  Two  children  were  born  after  that  date,  in  Newbury, 
namely:  Wingate,  February  10,  1746-7;  and  Payne  (?), 
September  5,  1749.*  He  died  in  Newburyport,  February 
18,  1806. 

Dr.  Parker  Clark,  son  of  Thomas  Clark,  was  born  in  New- 
bury, July  22,  1718.  He  was  a  physician  in  Andover,  Mass., 
from  1 741  to  1750,  when  he  returned  to  Newbury.  He  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Ipswich,  where  he  died  September  19, 
1798. 

Dr.  Jacob  March,  son  of  Samuel  and  Ann  (Toppan)  (Rolfe  .'') 
March,  was  born  January  20,  1722.  He  was  a  surgeon  in 
the  expedition  to  Cape  Breton  in  I745.:|:  His  intention  of 
marriage  to   Ruth   Bradshaw,  of   Charlestovvn,  was    published 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t "  Newburyport  April  ye  ist  1766.  This  Agreement  made  by  &  between  Doctor  John 
Sprague  of  Newburyport  Physitian  &  Stephen  Emerey  of  Newbury,  Witnesseth  that  the  said 
Doctor  John  Sprague  Teach  &  Instruct  Eliphalet  Emery  son  of  said  Stephen  By  the  best  way 
&  means  he  may  or  can,  in  the  art,  trad  &  Calling  of  Physic  &  Surgery  The  said  Eliphalet  to 
have  the  benefits  of  his  Instruction  so  long  as  he  see  cause  not  exceeding  four  years  for  sed 
Doctor  to  be  obliged  and  the  said  Stephen  Emery  in  consideration  of  said  Doctor  Sprague's 
Instructing  his  son  Eliplialet  as  aforesaid  Do  Engage  &  Bind  himself  to  pay  said  Doctor  John 
Sprague  Thirty  Three  pounds,  six  shillings  &  eight  pence.  Thirteen  pounds  six  shillings  & 
eight  pence  to  be  paid  in  hand  at  the  time  of  said  Eliphalet  first  going  to  be  instructed,  & 
six  pounds  Thirteen  shillings  &  four  pence  yearly  afterwards  untill  the  whole  sum  of  33-6-S  is 
fully  paid. 

"  In  witness  whereof  the  Parties  have  Intercliangeably  set  their  hands  the  year  and  day  above 
written.  Stephen  Emery." 

XAtite,  p.  553. 


I 


APPEXDIX  667 

April  25,  1747.     "  Samuel,  son  of  Dr.  Jacob  and  Ruth  March 
was  born  Dec.  10,  1753.  "  * 

Doctor  March  subsequently  enlisted  as  sur^^eon  in  one  of 
the  regiments  under  the  command  of  Gen.  John  Winslow  for 
the  expulsion  of  the  Acadians  from  Nova  Scotia,  and  was 
killed  in  a  skirmish  with  the  Indians,  September  2,  I755.t 

Dr.  Enoch  Sawyer,  son  of  Dr.  Enoch  and  Sarah  (Pierpont) 
Sawyer,  was  born  in  Newbury,  April  19,  1723.  He  married 
Hannah  Moody  March  30,  1758.  He  died  September  7, 
1805. 

Dr.  Micajah  Sawyer,  son  of  Dr.  Enoch  Sawyer,  was 
born  in  Newbury,  July  15,  1737.  He  graduated  at  Harvard 
college  in  1756,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
that  part  of  Ne^vbury  which  was  set  off  and  made  a  separate 
town  in  1764.     He  died  in  Newburyport,  September  29,  18 15. 

Dr.  Charles  CofBn,  son  of  Col.  Joseph  Coffin,  born 
August  17,  1 74 1.  He  married  July  i,  1773,  Hephzibah, 
daughter  of  John  Carnes,  of  Boston.  He  was  a  physician  in 
Newbury  and  Newburyport.     He  died  April  30,  1821. 

Dr.  Eliphalet  Emery,  son  of  Stephen  Emery,  was  born 
in  Newbury,  July  16  (.''),  1748.  He  was  educated  for  a 
physician,  and  probably  practised  his  profession  for  a  year  or 
two  in  Newbury.  He  died  October  18,  1773,  in  the  twenty- 
sixth  year  of  his  age. 

Dr.  Moses  Sawyer,  son  of  Moses  and  Hannah  Sawyer, 
was  born  in  Newbury,  November  23,  1756.  He  married  July 
25,  1781,  Hannah,  daughter  of  Col.  Moses  Little.  He  died 
in  Newbury,  August  5,  1799.  His  son,  Matthias  Plant  Saw- 
yer, of  Boston,  gave  $5,000  in  1857  to  the  pubUc  library  of 
the  city  of  Newburyport. 

In  addition  to  the  physicians  named  above,  the  following 
persons,  born  in  Newbury,  removed  to  other  towns,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  there  :  — 

Dr.  Edmund    Toppan,  son    of  Rev.    Christopher  Toppan, 

♦Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register  (1^79),  p.  392. 


668  APPENDIX 

born  December  7,  1701.     He  was  a  physician  in  Hampton, 
N.H.,  and  died  there,  November  28,  1739. 

Dr.  Bezaleel  Toppan,  son  of  Rev.  Christopher  Toppan, 
born  March  7,  1705.  For  more  than  thirty  years  a  physician 
in  Salem,  where  he  died  in  1762. 

Dr.  Nathaniel  Coffin,  son  of  John  and  Judith  (Greenleaf) 
Coffin,  born  September  7,  17 16.  He  married  March  i, 
1739,  Patience,  daughter  of  John  Hale,  and  removed  to  Fal- 
mouth, now  Portland,  Me.,  where  he  died,  January  12,  1766. 

Dr.  Anthony  Emery,  son  of  John  and  Hannah  (Morse) 
Emery,  was  born  in  Newbury,  September  5,  171 3.  He 
graduated  at  Harvard  college  in  1736,  and  was  for  nearly 
two  years  physician  at  Chelmsford,  Mass.  He  married  Abi- 
gail Leavitt,  May  10,  1738,  and  removed  to  Hampton,  N.H. 
He  was  surgeon  in  the  Massachusetts  train  of  artillery  at 
Louisbourg  in  1744,  and  also  in  the  Crown  Point  expedition 
of   1755.     He  died  at  Hampton,  August  19,  1781. 

Dr.  Eliphalet  Hale,  son  of  Dr.  Nathan  Hale,  was  born  in 
Newbury,  July  29,  17 14.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Dr.  George  and  Joanna  (Pepperell)  Jackson,  of  Kittery, 
Me.  He  was  a  physician  in  Falmouth,  now  Portland,  Me., 
and  afterwards  in  Exeter,  N.H.  He  died  in  Exeter  previous 
to  July  23,  1766. 

Dr.  William  Hale,  son  of  Rev.  Moses  Hale,  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Byfield  parish,  was  born  in  Newbury  in  1727. 
He  married  Martha  Johnson,  November  6,  1753,  and  re- 
moved to  Rowley,  Mass.,  soon  after  that  date.  He  died  in 
Rowley,  February  26,  1784. 

Dr.  Ebenezer  Noyes,  son  of  Daniel  and  Abigail  (Toppan) 
Noyes,  was  born  January  6,  1738-9.  His  intention  of  mar- 
riage to  Hannah  Chase,  of  Newbury,  was  published  Novem- 
ber 3,  1764.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Dover,  N.H., 
where  he  died,  August  11,  1767. 

Dr.  Barnard  Tucker,  "  son  of  Rev.  John  Tucker,  D.D.  & 
Sarah  his  wife,"  was  born  April  2,  1760.  He  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  in   1779.     He  was  for  many  years  a  physi- 


APPENDIX 


669 


cian  in  Wenham,  Mass,     He  died  in  Newbury  port,  January 
24,  1832. 

Dr.  Charles  Cofftn,  son  of  Joshua  Coffin,  born  in  New- 
bury, September  4,  1765,  married  Dorcas  Parker,  Septem- 
ber 29,  1 80 1.  He  was  a  teacher  and  physician  in  Ports- 
mouth, N.  H.,  and  afterwards  at  Beaufort,  S.C.,  where  he  died 
in  September,  1820. 


XIII. 

"PIERCE   HOUSE  AT  THE  U-PER  END  OF  CHANDLER'S  LANE." 

Daniel  Pierce,  sr.,  ■came  to  Newbury  in  1638.  He 
owned  the  Spencer  farm  of  three  hundred  acres  when  he 
died,  November  27,  1677,  and  also  a  malt-house  near  the 
Merrimack  river,  at  the  northerly  end  of  Chandler's  lane, 
now  Federal  street,  Newburyport.  The  inventory  of  his 
estate,  filed  March  26,  1678,  mentions  the  following  items  of 
interest : — 

Wearing  apparrell,  books  and  Armes  ;^40.  .  .  .  About  forty  head 
of  neat  cattle,  oxen  and  cowes  ^94  .  .  .  one  hundred  and  sixty  sheep 
young  and  old  ^40.  .  .  eighteen  small  swine  ^5  iqs  .  .  .  An  Anvil, 
vice,  shop  tools,  vi^ith  iron  potts  kettles  brass  and  pewter,  two  old  fur- 
naces, fire  shovel,  tongs  &c  £7.0.  .  .  .  Negroes  ^60.  ...  A  malt  house 
with  about  twenty  acres  of  upland  &  three  and  thirty  acres  of  meadow 
&  furniture  to  the  malt  house  ^255.* 

Two  or  three  years  after  the  death  of  Daniel  Pierce,  sr.,  his 
son  Daniel  Pierce,  jr.,  to  whom  he  gave  "all  his  houseing, 
lands,  goods  &  chattells,"  erected  a  dwelling-house  on  land 
near  the  malt-house.  Among  the  miscellaneous  items  re- 
corded by  Samuel  Sewall  in  his  Commonplace  Book  is  the 
following  statement :  — 

Satterday  May  7,  1681  there  was  a  Hurrican  at  Newbury  which  blew 
down  Richard  Bartletts  Barn,  uncover'd  Capt  Pierce's  new  house  at  the 
uper  end  of  Chandler's  Lane,  blew  down  the  Chimneys. f 

Capt.  Daniel  Pierce,  jr.,  was  appointed  colonel  of  the 
second  Essex  county  regiment  soon  after  the  organization 
of  the  provincial  government  under  the  new  charter  in  1692. 

[March  14,  1698-9]  Granted  Col.  Daniel  Pierce  land  between  Mer- 
rimack River  &  the  highway  by  said   River  against  his  malt   house  to 

*  Essex  Deeds  (Ipswich  Series),  book  iv,  p.  158. 

t  Massachusetts  Historical  Society's  Collections,  Fifth  Series,  vol.  vi.,  p.  17  *  (preceding  the 
diary). 

670 


\ 


APPENDIX  671 

sett  a  dwelling  house  on  :  of 

I 


sett  a  dwelling  house  on  :  of  sixty  foote  in  breadth  &  the  fflats  against 
it  to  low  water  mark.* 

[March  21,  1703-4]  Granted  Coll  Daniel  Fearce  Esq.  liberty  to 
sett  up  a  smiths  shop  uppon  the  Bank  between  his  house  &  the  house 
of  Dr.  Humphrey  Bradstreet.f 


Col.  Daniel  Pierce  died  April  22,  1704.  In  his  will,  dated 
August  12,  1 70 1,  and  proved  May  8,  1704,  he  gave  to  his  son 
Joshua  Fierce  "  my  now  dwelling  house  with  the  malt  house 
and  outhousings  "  ;  to  his  son  Thomas  Pierce,  "that  dwell- 
ing house  which  I  built  for  him  Situate  and  being  upon  that 
my  land  that  the  malt  house  do  stand  upon  "  ;  and  to  his 
grandson  John  Wainwright,  "  my  dwelling  house  standing  on 
the  north  corner  of  that  land  my  malt  house  stands  on."  :j: 

*  Town  of  Newbury  Records. 

t  Town  of  Newbury  Records.     Doctor  Bradstreet  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Joshua  Pierce. 
The  location  of  his  house  is  shown  on  the  map,  p.  iig,  "  Quid  Newbury." 
X  "Ould  Newbury,"  pp.  35  and  124. 


XIV. 

THE    SEWALL   HOUSE,  NEAR   "TRAYNEING    GREEN." 

Mr.  Henry  Sewall,  jr.,  after  his  return  to  Newbury  from 
England,  purchased,  November  7,  1660,  a  dwelling-house 
with  about  four  acres  of  land,  on  the  northerly  corner  of 
Noyes'  lane,  now  Parker  street,  and  the  country  road,  now 
High  street.*  He  subsequently  built,  on  a  part  of  the  land, 
a  new  house,  which  he  gave  by  his  will,  dated  August  17, 
1678,  to  his  wife,  Jane  (Dummer)  Sewall,  and,  after  her  de- 
cease, to  his  son,  Samuel  Sewall. f 

Cofifin,  in  his  history  of  Newbury,  page  398,  says  that 
Henry  Sewall,  jr.,  "resided  in  Parker  street  (formerly 
South  street)  on  the  North  side,  a  few  rods  N.  W.  from 
Mr.  Silas  Noyes's  house."  The  house  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  Silas  Noyes  was  built  by  Rev.  James  Noyes  in  1646, 
probably,  and  is  still  standing.  There  is  some  doubt,  how- 
ever, in  regard  to  the  location  of  the  house  built  previous  to 
1678  by  Henry  Sewall,  jr.  Recent  investigation  indicates 
that  it  was  erected  at  or  near  the  corner  of  Parker  and  High 
streets,  about  twenty  rods  in  a  southeasterly  direction  from 
the  Noyes  house.  Although  the  fact  has  not  been  estab- 
lished beyond  a  reasonable  doubt,  it  is  probable  that  the 
words  "northwesterly  end"  used  in  describing  the  Sewall 
house  on  page  249  of  "  Ould  Newbury  "  are  incorrect,  and 
should  read  "southeasterly  end."  A  photographic  view  of 
the  house  now  standing  near  the  corner  of  the  above-named 
streets  is  reproduced  in  the   half-tone  print  on  the  next  page. 

March  7,  1683-4,  Henry  Sewall  conveyed  to  his  son 
Stephen  a  lot  of  land  "  bounded  on  y^  north  with  y*^  land  of 
Tristram  Cofifin,  on  y*^  west  with  y^  land  of   Richard  Brown, 

*  Ipswich  Deed,s,  book  ii.,  p.  i6  (28)  ;  "Ould  Newburj-,"  p.  249. 
t  "  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  252. 

672 


V^^i- ;•■■''' 


674  APPEXDIX 

on  y"-"  south  with  y'^  land  of  Henry  Sewall,  on  y''  east  with 
y*^  highwaye."  *  The  next  day  Stephen  Sewall,  of  Salem, 
conveyed  to  Richard  Brown,  of  Newbury,  the  above-described 
land  "  on  the  way  to  the  meeting  house,"  between  the  land  of 
Tristram  Coffin  on  the  north  and  the  land  of  Henry  Sewall 
on  the  south. f 

Samuel  Sewall,  of  Boston,  after  the  death  of  his  mother, 
Jane  (Dummer)  Sewall,  sold,  June  22,  1704,  about  one  and 
one-quarter  acres  of  upland  to  Richard  Brown,  of  Newbury, 
"  bounded  &  abutted  as  follows  viz :  eastwardly  By  the 
highway  Leading  to  y^  meeting  house,  southwardly  by  Mr. 
Noyes  Land,  westerly  and  northerly  by  Land  now^  In  y^  pos- 
session and  Right  of  Richard  Browaie  together  with  the 
Dwelling  house.  Barn,  orchard  and  fence  or  fences  Being 
upon  or  Belonging  to  said  upland  together  with  all  priviledges 
and  appurtenances  y""  unto  Belonging."! 

This  land  and  the  adjoining  lot,  purchased  of  Stephen 
Sewall  in  1684,  remained  in  the  possession  of  Richard  Brown 
for  many  years.  November  2,  1770,  John  Brown,  one  of  his 
descendants,  sold  the  property  to  John  Stickney.§  June  i, 
1784,  Stephen  Atwood,  of  Provincetown,  by  levy  on  execu- 
tion against  John  Stickney,  became  owner  of  the  land  and 
buildings.  II  He  conveyed  the  house,  barn,  and  about  ten 
acres  of  land  to  Paul  Lunt,  November  26,  1788.^ 

Paul  Lunt  died  November  26,  1824,  having  devised  all 
his  real  estate-  to  his  wife  Hannah.  She  died  previous  to 
1851  ;  and  May  30,  1853,  her  daughters,  Dorcas  and  Edna, 
conveyed  their  interest  in  about  an  acre  of  land,  with  the 
buildings  thereon,  on  the  corner  of  Parker  and  High  streets, 
to  Daniel  A.  Lunt.** 

*  Essex  Deeds,  book  vi,,  leaf  iii  (68g) .  This  lot  of  land  was  probably  devised  by  the  will 
of  Henry  Sewall  to  his  son  Stephen  (see  "  Ould  Newbury,"  p.  252),  but  the  above-described 
deed  was  signed  six  years  before  the  will  was  probated. 

t  Essex  Deeds,  book  viii.,  leaf  48  (116).        X  Ibid.,  book  xv.,  leaf  266. 

§  Ibid.,  book  cxxvii.,  leaf  245.         II  Ibid.,  book  cxlii.,  leaf  228. 

H  Ibid.,  book  cxlix.,  leaf  143.        **  Ibid.,  book  dxxiii.,  le.if  23. 


t 

XIV. 

DEPUTIES  TO  THE  GENERAL  COURT. 

March  4,  1634-5,  the  General  Court,  having  assembled  at 
Newe  Towne  (Cambridge),  passed  the  following  vote  :  — 

Vpon  a  certilicatt  of  5  commissioners  chosen  by  the  Court  to  consider 
of  the  election  of  the  deputyes  of  Ipswich,  it  did  appeare  to  the  Court 
that  two  of  them  viz  :  M""  Easton  &  Henry  Shorte,  were  vnduly  chosen, 
whoe  were  forthwith  dismissed;  soe  M''  John  Spencer  onely  stands  le- 
gally elected  in  the  opinion  of  the  Court."* 

Mr.  Spencer  also  served  as  deputy  from  Ipswich  for  the 
session  beginning  May  6,  1635.  During  the  following  summer 
he  removed  to  Newbury,  and  was  granted  a  house  lot  of  four 
acres  on  the  northerly  side  of  Ouascacunquen  river,  "  alsoe  a 
farme  lotte  of  four  hundred  acres  of  upland  &  meadow  "  near 
the  Merrimack  river.  He  represented  the  inhabitants  of  New- 
bury in  the  General  Court  that  met  at  Newe  Towne  (Cam- 
bridge) September  2,  1635,  and  March  3,  1635-6,  and  also 
served  at  the  session  held  in  Boston  May  25,  1636. 

No  town  having  less  than  ten  freemen  could  send  a  deputy 
to  the  General  Court.  A  town  with  more  than  ten  and  less 
than  twenty  freemen  was  entitled  to  one  deputy  ;  with  twenty 
to  forty  freemen,  two  deputies ;  over  forty  freemen,  "  to 
three  deputies, 'if  they  will,  but  not  above."  f 

The  names  of  the  deputies  or  representatives  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court  from  Newbury,  from  the  first  settlement  of  the 
town  in  1635  to  the  beginning  of  the  twentieth  century,  are 
as  follows  :  — 

Sessions  beginning  Deputies. 

Sept.  2,  1635 Mr.  John  Spencer 

March  3,  1635-6 Mr.  John  Spencer 

May  25,  1636 Mr.  John  Spencer 

Sept.  8,  1636  .   Mr.  John  Spencer  and  Mr.  [Edward]  Woodman 

•  Massachusetts  Colony  Record.s,  vol.  i.,  p.  135.        t  Ibid.,  p.  178. 
67  s 


676  APPENDIX 

Sessions  beginning  Deputies. 

Dec.  7,  1636 Mr.  John  Spencer 

April  18,  1637    .     .     .      Mr  Edwd  Woodman  and  Mr  John  Woodbridge 

May  17,  1637 Edward  Woodman  and  John  Woodbridge 

Sept.  26,  1637 Edwd  Woodman  and  John  Woodbridge 

Nov.  2,  1637 Leift  Woodman  and  Mr  John  Woodbridge 

March  12,  1637-8 Mr.  John  Woodbridge 

May  2,  1638 Mr.  John  Woodbridge  and  Mr  Edwd  Rawson 

Sept.  6,  1638 Edwd  Rawson 

March  13,  1638-9*      .     .     .      Edward  Rawson  and  Edward  Woodman 

May  22,  1639 Edward  Raw.son  and  Edward  Woodman 

Sept.  4,  1639 Mr  Edwd  Rawson  and  Mr  John  Clarke 

May  13,  1640 Mr  John  Woodbridge 

Oct.  7,  1640 Mr  Richrd  Dumer  and  Mr  John  Woodbridge 

June  2,  1 641       Mr  John  Woodbridge 

Oct.  7,  1641 Mr.  John  Woodbridge 

May  18,  1642!        John  Saunders  and  Edward  Rawson 

Sept.  8,  1642 Edward  Rawson 

May  10,  1643 John  Clarke  and  Edward  Woodman 

March  7,  1643-4 John  Lowell  and  Hen:  Short 

May  29,  1644 Edward  Rawson 

May  14,  1645  \  .     .  Mr  [Richard?]  Dumer  and  Mr  Edward  Rawson 

May  6,  i646§ Mr.  Edwd  Rawson 

May  26,  1647      . Mr  Dumer  and  Mrs  Rawson 

May  10,  1648  II Edwd  Rawson 

May  2,  1649       Edward  Rawson 

May  22,  1650 Left  W™  Gerrish 

May  7,  1 65 1 Capt  William  Gerrish 

May  27,  1652 Capt  Wm  Gerrish 

May  [8,  165311 Capt  W™  Gerrish 

*"  March  13,  1638-9  It  was  ordered  that  no  towns  should  send  more  than  two  deputies  to  the 
Geuerall  Court."     (Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.,  p.  250.) 

t  "  May  20,  1642  The  Court  left  it  to  the  liberty  of  the  townes  to  send  but  a  deputy  a  peace,  if 
they  please,  to  the  next  session  of  this  court.''     (Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  3.) 

X  "  Mr  Rich:   Dumer'"  was  deputy  from  Salisbury,  May  29,  1644,  and  May  6,  1646. 

§"  April  8,  1646  Edward  Rawson  was  chosen  &  appointed  to  serve  at  y«  next  generall 
Courte  as  Deputy  for  ye  Towne  of  Newbery  &  there  to  stay  &  consumatye  affairs  of  ye  country." 
(Town  of  Newbury  Records.) 

II  In  1647,  the  General  Court  passed  an  act  reducing  the  number  of  deputies  to  one  from  each 
town;  but,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  will  of  the  people,  this  act  was  suspended  until  the  next  ses- 
sion of  the  court.  (Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  209,  217.)  March,  1647-8,  the  court 
ordered  "  That  most  of  the  freemen  desiring  their  forrar  libriy  of  sending  one  or  two  deputies  to  ye 
Genrall  Corts  from  time  to  time,  the  former  wonted  liberty  is  continued  &  ye  former  act  in  sus- 
pence  is  repealed."    (Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.,  p.  231.) 

"  April  12,  1648,  Mr  Edward  Rawson  was  chosen  &  appointed  to  serve  Deputy  at  the  nexte 
courte  of  election  for  the  towne  &  to  stay  &  consumate  the  affayres  of  the  Country  according  to 
order."     (Town  of  Newbury  Records.) 

HAugust  30,  1653,  the  General  Court  ordered  that  deputies  should  be  paid  £is,  £20,  or  £30 
per  annum,  according  to  the  length  of  the  session.     Towns  having  less  than  thirty  freemen  were 


APPENDIX  677 

Sessions.  !>e<^iii>iiiig  Deputies. 

May  3,  1654 Mr.  John  Saunders 

May  23,  1655 William  Titcombe 

May  14,  1656     .     .  Wm  Titcombe 

May  6,  1657 Lieu' John  Pike 

May  [9,  1658 Lieut  John  Pike 

May  II,  1659 Mr  Edward  Woodman 

May  30,  1660 Mr  Ed*  Woodman 

Dec.  19,  1660 Mr  Nicho:  Noyes 

May  22,  1661 Mr  Henry  Seawall 

May  7,  1662 Mr  Henry  Seawall 

May  27,  1663 Mr  Henry  Seawall 

May  18,  1664 Mr  Edw  Woodman 

Aug.  3,  1664 (No  deputy  reported) 

May  3,  1665  * (No  deputy  reported) 

not  compelled  to  send  deputies  to  the  General  Court,  but  any  town  sending  a  deputy  was  required 
to  raise  by  taxation  the  sum  necessary  to  pay  his  expenses.  (Massachusetts  Colony  Records, 
vol.  iv.,  part  i.) 

"  October  17,  1654.  No  man,  although  a  ffreeman  shalbe  accepted  as  a  deputie  of  the  Genii 
Court,  that  is  unsound  in  judgment  conceminge  the  mayne  poynts  of  the  Xstian  religion  as  they 
have  bin  held  forth  &  acknowledged  by  the  generalitie  of  the  P'testant  orthodox  writers,  or  that 
is  scandalous  in  his  conversation  or  that  is  unfaythfull  to  this  government."  (Massachusetts 
Colony  Records,  vol.  iii.,  p.  357.) 

October  18,  1654,  the  General  Court  ordered  the  constables  of  every  town  in  the  colony  to  re- 
port the  name  or  names  of  the  deputies  chosen,  and  their  term  of  service,  whether  for  one  session 
or  for  the  whole  year.  All  persons  so  chosen,  who  were  absent  from  the  General  Court,  when  it 
was  in  session,  without  just  cause,  were  subject  to  a  fine  of  twenty  shillings  a  day  for  every  such 
default.     (Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  i.,  p.  203.) 

In  order  to  promote  and  facilitate  the  consideration  of  important  public  questions,  the  General 
Court  declared,  November  2,  1654, 

"  Whereas  it  is  judged  most  comly,  convenient,  &  conduceable  to  the  dispatch  of  publicke  ser- 
vice, that  the  Deputyes  of  ye  Genii  Court  should  dyett  together,  especially  at  dynner,  it  is  there- 
fore ordered,  that  the  Deputyes  of  the  Genii  Court,  the  next  ensuing  yeare,  viz  1655  shall  all  be 
pvided  for  at  the  Shipp  Taveme,  at  Boston,  in  respect  of  dynner,  &  yt  they  shall  all  accordingly 
dyne  together  &  that  Lieut  Phillips,  the  keeper  of  the  sd  taverne,  shalbe  payd  for  ye  same  by  the 
Treasurer  for  the  tyme  being,  by  discounting  the  same  in  the  custome  of  wyne  payable  by  the  sd 
Lieut  Phillips  &  that  the  Treasurer  shalbe  repayd  by  the  seuall  townes  &c  &c."  (Massachusetts 
Colony  Records,  vol.  iii.,  p.  352.) 

November  12,  1654,  an  agreement  was  made  with  Lieut.  Phillips  to  furnish  the  members  of  the 
next  General  Court  with  breakfast,  dinner,  and  supper,  with  wine  and  beer  between  meals,  with 
fire  and  beds,  for  three  shillings  per  day, —  "  A  cup  of  wine  to  each  man  at  dinner,  and  at  supper, 
and  no  more," —  with  the  further  proviso  that  beer  should  be  furnished  between  meals  to  those 
members  only  who  ' '  partake  of  breakfast,  dinner  and  supper  at  the  taverne  and  pay  for  the  same." 
(Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iii.,  p.  353.) 

*  March  6,  1664-5,  Mr.  Edward  Woodman  was  chosen  deputy  to  the  General  Court  for  the 
first  session.     (Town  of  Newbury  Records.) 

"  May  3,  1665  There  appearing  no  deputy  at  this  Court  from  the  toune  of  Newbury,  wch 
this  Court  cannot  but  take  notice  of  &  declare  against  &  therefore  doe  here  by  impose  the  fine  of 
tenn  pounds  vpon  the  freemen  of  the  said  toune,  to  be  payd  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  Country,  for 
such  there  neglect."    (Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  ii.,  p.  149.) 

At  this  session  of  the  General  Court,  Col.  Richard  Nicolls,  Sir  Robert  Carr,  George  Cart- 
wright,  esq.,  and  Samuel  Maverick,  esq.,  commissioners  appointed  by  the  king,  urged  the  removal 
of  certain  restrictions  imposed  upon  Churchmen  and  Quakers ;  and  questions  of  importance 
relating  to  the  territorial  limits  of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay  were  discussed. 

"  July  28,  1665  Mr.  Joseph  Hill  was  chosen  to  serve  the  towne  as  Deputy  for  this  next 
session  of  ye  general  Court."     (Town  of  Newbury  Records.) 


678  APPENDIX 

Sessions  beginning  Deputies. 

May  23,  1666 Mr  Henry  Seawall 

Sept.  II,  1666 Mr  Henry  Seawall 

May  15,  1667* Mr  Joseph  Hills 

April  29,  1668 Mr  Henry  Seawall 

May  19,  1669      ...  Mr  Joseph  Hills 

May  II,  1670  t Mr  Ed^  Woodman  and  Mr  Henry  Sewall 

May  31,  167 1  t Mr  Jno  Richards  and  Mr  Tho.  Clark 

May  15,  1672 Mr  Jno  Richards  and  Lieu'  Tho.  Clarke 

May  7,  1673        Mr.  Jno  Richards 

Sept.  16,  1673 Mr  Jno  Richards  and  Mr.  Rich:  Dole 

Dec.  ID,  1673  § Capt  William  Gerrish 

May  27,  1674  II Left  Archelaus  Woodman 

Oct.  7,  1674        Left  Archelaus  Woodman 

May  12,  1675 Left  Archelaus  Woodman 

July  9,  1675  ^ Left  Archelaus  Woodman 

"  October  11,  1665  The  toune  of  Newbery  being  fined  for  not  sending  a  deputy  y*-*  last  Court 
of  Election,  the  summe  of  ten  pounds,  this  Court  doeth  order  that  the  Secretary  give  warrant  to 
the  marshall  speedily  to  levy  the  same,  &  to  make  retunie  thereof  to  the  country  Treasurer." 
(Massachusetts  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  ii.,  p.  284.) 

"  October  20,  1665  Mr  Joseph  Hill  chosen  to  serve  the  rest  of  this  Court  &  until  the  next 
Court  of  Elections."  (Town  of  Newbury  Records.)  At  the  same  meeting  "  Capt  Gerrish,  Mr 
Woodman,  Mr  Hills,  Mr  Sewall  &  Lieft  Pike  were  chosen  to  consult  &  draw  up  a  petition  to 
excuse  the  town  about  the  neglect  of  a  Deputy  at  Courte,  and  three  of  the  selectmen  to  signe  it, 
they  or  the  major  part  of  them  by  the  desire  &  appointm't  in  behalfe  of  the  town."  (Town  of 
Newbury  Records.) 

"  May  18,  1666  Capt  Gerrish  &  Mr  Hills  was  chosen  to  go  to  the  Generall  Court  to  get  of  the 
ten  pound  fine."     (Town  of  Newbury  Records.) 

October  16,  1666,  the  fine  was  remitted  by  the  General  Court.  (Massachusetts  Colony 
Records,  vol.  iv.,  part  ii.,  p.  323.) 

*"  [May  15,  1667]  It  bemg  of  great  concernment  to  the  publick  weale  of  this  jurisdiction  that 
all  such  as  are  members  of  the  Generall  Court  doe  constantly  attend  their  respective  trusts  in  the 
said  Court  it  is  ordered  by  this  Court  and  the  authority  thereof,  that  henceforth  it  shall  not  be 
lawful!  for  any  member  of  the  Generall  Court  to  absent  himself  from  the  Court  wthout  licence  of 
both  houses  first  had  &  obteyned,  on  penalty  of  twenty  shillings  a  day,  and  for  the  first  fower 
dayes  of  the  Court  of  Election,  the  penalty  to  be  as  in  the  printed  law  :  and  that  there  may  be  a 
due  observance  hereof,  the  secretary  &  clarke  of  the  deputies  shall,  in  their  respective  places, 
enter  in  their  day  books  all  defaults  made  by  any  of  the  members  of  either  house  &  before  the 
rising  of  the  Court  present  the  same  to  the  whole  Court."  (Massachusetts  Colony  Records, 
vol.  iv.,  part  ii.,  p.  333.) 

t  Mr.  [Joseph]  Hills  was  chosen  deputy,  March  7,  1669-70.  He  was  probably  unable  to 
serve.  September  ig,  1670,  Mr.  Henry  Sewall  was  chosen  deputy  for  the  rest  of  the  year.  (Town 
of  Newbury  Records.) 

t  Mr.  [Edward]  Woodman  and  William  Titcomb  were  elected  deputies,  March  6,  1670-1. 
They  probably  declined  to  serve  ;  and  June  6,  1671,  Mr.  John  Richards  and  Lieut.  Thomas  Clark,  of 
Boston,  were  chosen  deputies  for  the  remainder  of  the  year.     (Town  of  Newbury  Records.) 

§  At  a  meeting  of  the  freemen  held  in  Newbury,  December  2,  1673,  Capt.  William  Gerrish 
was  chosen  deputy.  "  It  was  also  voted  that  if  the  Honrl  Gcner"  Courte  do  judge  that  Mr  John 
Richards  according  to  his  former  clioice  shall  legally  sit  in  this  session  of  the  GenL-r"  court,  the 
Towne  desires  he  might."     (Town  of  Newbury  Records.) 

II  March  2,  1673-4,  at  a  general  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newburj'  it  was  voted  to  elect 
only  one  deputy  this  year,  and  Lieut.  [Archelaus]  Woodman  was  chosen. 

H  At  a  general  meeting  of  the  freemen  of  Newbury  held  July  7,  1675,  Capt.  [William?]  Gerrish 
•was  chosen  to  serve  as  deputy  with  Archelaus  Woodman. 


I 


APPENDIX  679 

Sessions  l>eg/iining  Deputies. 

May  3,  1676        Mr.  Sam'  Plumer 

Aug.  9,  1676       .     .    M""  Samuel  Plumer  and  Ensi:   Stephen  Greenleafe 

May  24,  1677 Mr  Caleb  Moody 

May  9,  1 678        Mr  Caleb  Moody 

Oct.  2,  1678* (No  deputy  reported) 

May  28,  1678 Mr  Nicholas  Noyse 

Oct.  15,  1679! (No  deputy  reported) 

Feb.  4,  1679-80 Mr  Richd  Bartlet 

May  19,  1680 Mr  Nicholas  Noyse 

Jan.  4,  1680-81  ....     Mr  Nicholas  Noyse  and  Mr  Richard  Bartlet 

May  II,  1681 Mr  Richard  Bartlett 

May  24,  1682 Capt  Dani :   Pearse 

May  16,  1683 Capt  Daniel  Pearce 

Nov.  7,  1683 Capt  Dani:   Pearse 

May  7,  1684$ Mr  Richard  Bartlet 

•.Special  session  of  the  General  Court,  at  which  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  King  Charles  II. 
was  submitted  and  signed  by  the  deputies.  The  names  of  tliese  deputies  are  not  given  in  the 
Massachusetts  Colony  Records;  but  Nicholas  Noyes  was  chosen  by  the  town  of  Newbury,  Sep- 
tember 19,  1678,  "  to  serve  at  the  next  session  of  the  Court  until  it  be  ended." 

tThe  names  of  the  deputies  at  this  session  of  the  General  Court  are  not  given  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts Colony  Records;  but  Richard  Bartlet,  sr.,  was  chosen  by  the  freemen  of  Newbury, 
September  19,  1679,  to  attend  the  court  "until  it  be  ended." 

t  A  decree  was  entered,  June  21,  1684,  in  the  High  Court  of  Chancery  in  England,  annulling 
the  charter  of  the  colony.  This  decree  was  confirmed  October  23,  1684.  (Palfrey's  History  of 
New  England,  vol.  iii.,  p.  394.)  In  the  short  time  that  elapsed  between  the  abrogation  of  the 
charter  and  the  death  of  King  Charles  II.,  no  change  was  made  in  the  government  of  the  colony. 
When  James  II.  became  king  of  England,  he  issued  a  proclamation,  February  6,  16S4-5,  directing 
all  persons  in  authority  in  the  colonies  to  continue  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties  until  further 
orders. 

The  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  assembled  May  27,  16S5,  and  prepared  an  address  to  the 
king,  asking  for  justice  and  leniency.  Disheartened  and  despondent,  the  inhabitants  of  many 
towns  in  the  colony  declined  to  elect  deputies ;  but  Newbury  sent  Richard  Bartlett,  with 
instructions  to  remain  until  the  session  was  ended. 

Official  notice  of  the  abrogation  of  the  charter  and  the  organization  of  a  provisional  govern- 
ment, consisting  of  a  president,  deputy  president,  and  sixteen  councillors,  to  manage  and  direct 
public  affairs  in  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  and  Massachusetts,  was  communicated  to  the  General 
Court,  May  14,  16S6. 

Joseph  Dudley  was  appointed  president,  Edward  Randolph,  Robert  Mason,  and  others 
were  members  of  the  council  ;  but  no  mention  was  made  of  a  representative  assembly  or  House 
of  Deputies. 

Protesting  against  tliese  arbitrary  proceedings,  the  General  Court  considered  it  advisable  to 
surrender  its  political  rights  and  privileges  without  a  contest,  and  quietly  submit  to  the  organiza- 
tion ot  a  new  government.  May  20,  1686,  a  committee  was  appointed  by  the  deputies  and 
magistrates  to  receive  from  Edward  Rawson,  secretary,  the  records  and  papers  relating  to  the 
charter  and  to  the  negotiations  with  the  king  and  Parliament  that  preceded  and  followed  its 
repeal,  and  retain  possession  of  them  until  otherwise  ordered.  This  done,  "  the  whole  Court  met 
at  the  Governor's  house,"  and  voted  to  adjourn  "until  the  second  Wednesday  in  the  month  of 
October  next,  at  eight  o'clock  in  ye  morning."     It  did  not  reassemble. 

December  20,  1686,  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  having  been  appointed  "  Governor  in  chief  in  and 
over  the  territory  and  dominion  of  New  England,"'  arrived  in  Boston  and  assumed  control  of 
public  affairs.  His  administration  lasted  two  years  and  four  months.  During  that  time  the  laws 
enacted  by  tlie  governor,  with  the  consent  of  his  council,  were  sent  to  England  to  be  approved  by 
the  king. 

No  sessions  of  the  General  Court  were  held  until  after  the  revolution  which  resulted  in  the 


68  o  APPENDIX 

Sessions  beg^innim^  Deputies. 

May  27,  1685 Richfl  Bartlett 

May  13,  1686      ...     Mr  Rich''  Bartlett  and  Left  Stephen  Greenleafe 

June  8,  1692 Capt  Daniel  Pierce  and  Cap'  Thomas  Noyes 

May  31,  1693 Capt  Thomas  Noyes 

Nov.  8,  1693 ...     Capt  Thomas  Noyes 

May  30,  1694     .       Capt  Thomas  Noyes*  and  Capt  Stephen  Greenlef  f 

May  29,  1695 Lieu'  Tristram  Coffin 

May  27,  1696 Capt  Thomas  Noyes 

May  26,  1697 Major  Daniel  Davison 

May  25,  1698      .     .      Major  Daniel  Davison  and  Major  Thomas  Noyes 

May  31,  1699 Major  Thomas  Noyes 

May  29,  1700 Lieut  Tristram  Coffin 

May  28,  I  701      .     .       Major  Daniel  Davison  and  Lieut  Tristram  Coffin 

May  27,  1702  X Lieut  Tristram  Coffin 

March  10,  1702-3 Capt  Stephen  Greenlef 

May  26,  I  703  § Capt  Stephen  Greenleaf 

May  31,  1704 Deacon  Cutting  Noyes 

May  30,  1705 Capt  Henry  Somerby 

May  29,  I  706 Capt  Henry  Somerby 

May  28,  1707 Col.  Thomas  Noyes 

May  26,  1708 Capt  Stephen  Greenleaf 

May  25,  1 709  II Deacon  Cutting  Noyes 

May  31,1710 Deacon  Cutting  Noyes 

May  30,  171  I Deacon  Cutting  Noyes 

May  28,  1712 Deacon  Cutting  Noyes 

May  27,  1713IT Capt  Thomas  Hale 

May  26,  1 7 14 Capt  Thomas  Hale  (First  Session) 

Oct.  20,  I  714 Col  Henry  Somerby  (Second  Session) 

May  25,  I  71  5 Deacon  William  Moody 

overthrow  of  Governor  Andres,  April  20,  1689.  A  provisional  government  was  then  organized, 
and  Simon  Bradstreet  was  elected  governor,  May  24,  1689. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  day  of  September  following,  the  town  of  Newbury  elected  "  Lieut 
Greenleaf"  representative  "to  the  next  session  of  the  convention  of  ye  Governor,  Council  & 
Representatives."  May  19,  1690,  "  Lieut  Stephen  Greenleaf"  was  chosen  deputy,  to  serve  at 
the  first  session  of  the  General  Court;  and  March  10,  1690-1,  Mr.  Joseph  Pike  was  chosen 
deputy  "  for  ye  year  ensuing." 

A  new  charter  was  granted  by  the  king,  October  7,  1691 ;  and  Sir  William  Phips  was 
appointed,  May  14,  1692,  "  Governor  in  chief  of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New 
England."     The  first  session  of  the  General  Court  under  the  new  charter  was  held  June  8,  1692. 

*  For  the  whole  year.  t  For  the  first  session. 

X  Major  Thomas  Noyes  was  chosen  representative,  but  declined  to  serve  ;  and  Lieut. 
Tristram  Coffin  was  chosen  in  his  place. 

§Capt.  Greenleaf  was  chosen  representative.  May  5,  1703.  On  that  day  the  town  of  Newbury 
"  voted  yt  Capt  Greenleaf  shall  have  twelve  pence  pr  day  more  than  y^  three  shillings  p'r  day  that 
ye  Law  allows  him  for  so  many  days  as  he  shall  be  in  sd  service." 

II  May  g,  1709,  the  town  of  Newbury  "  voted  that  he  should  have  4*  per  diem  for  his  services." 

U  May  13,  1713,  the  town  voted  to  pay  Capt.  Hale  four  shillings  a  day  for  his  services,  "  one 
shilling  more  than  yf  Law  alloweth." 


APPENDIX 


68i 


Sessions  beginning  Deputies. 

May  30,  1 716  .  .  Col  Henry  Somerby  and  Deacon  William  Moody 
May  29,  171 7  .  .  .  Col  Henry  Somerby  and  Major  James  Noyes 
May  28,  1 71 8      .     .     .     .     Col  Henry  Somerby  and  Cap'  Richard  Kent 

May  27,  1 719 Capt  Richard  Kent  and  Nathaniel  Coffin 

May  25,  1720* Col  Henry  Somerby  and  Nathaniel  Coffin 

July  13,  1720      ....     Col  Henry  Somerby  and  Capt  Thomas  Hale 

May  31,  1721 Nathaniel  Coffin 

Aug.  23,  1 72 1 Deacon  William  Moody 

May  30,  1722 Deacon  William  Moody 

May  29,  1723 Capt  Henry  Rolfe  and  Mr  Joseph  Gerrish 

May  27,  1724 Richard  Kent,  Esq. 

May  26,  1725 Capt  Henry  Rolfe 

May  25,  1726  .     Lieut  Col  Richard  Kent  and  Major  Joseph  Gerrish 

May  31,  1727 Capt  Henry  Rolfe     '1 

Nov.  22,  1727 Capt  Henry  Rolfe   ^ 

May  29,  1728 Major  Joseph  Gerrish 

May  28,  I  729 Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq. 

May  27,  1730     ....     Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq.  and  Henry  Rolfe,  Esq.   -7 
Feb.  10,  1 730-1       .     .     .     Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq.  and  Henry  Rolfe,  Esq.   J 

May  26,  1731  t Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq. 

May  31,  1732 Lieut  Col  Joseph  Gerrish 

May  30,  1733 Mr  Cutting  Moody 

May  29,  1734 Henry  Rolfe  Esq.  and  Col.  Richard  Kent 

May  28,  1735 Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq. 

May  26,  1736  ....  Charles  Pierce,  Esq.  and  Henry  Rolfe,  Esq. 
May  25,  1737  ....  Henry  Rolfe,  Esq.  and  Mr  Cutting  Moody 
May  31,  1738      ....     Charles  Pierce,  Esq.  and  Henry  Rolfe,  Esq."! 

May  30,  1739 Henry  Rolfe,  Esq.    \ 

May  28,  1740 Henry  Rolfe,  Esq.  ^ 

May  26,  1 741  X Col  Joseph  Gerrish 

Julys,  1741    •     . 


May  26, 
May  25, 
May  30, 
May  29, 
May  28, 
May  27, 
May  25, 


.     .     .    Col  Joseph  Gerrish  and  Mr  Benjamin  Greenleaf 
742 Col  Joseph  Gerrish 

743  ....       Col  Joseph  Gerrish  and  Henry  Rolfe,  Esq.^ 

744  ....       Col  Joseph  Gerrish  and  Henry  Rolfe,  Esq. 

745 Col  Joseph  Gerrish 

746 Col  Joseph  Gerrish 

747 Col  Joseph  Gerrish 

748  ....     Col  Moses  Titcomb  and  Col  Joseph  Gerrish 


•The  General  Court  was  dissolved  after  a  session  of  five  days.  June  23,  1720,  Natlianiel 
Coffin  resigned  his  office  as  representative,  and  Capt.  Thomas  Hale  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 
The  second  session  was  held  July  13,  1720. 

t  May  10,  1731,  the  town  of  Newbury  voted  to  allow  Joseph  Gerrish,  esq.,  twenty  pounds,  in 
addition  to  the  sum  received  from  the  treasurer  of  the  province,  for  his  extraordinary  expenses 
incurred  as  representatives  to  the  General  Court  during  Gov.  Burnet's  administration. 

tThe  General  Court  met  May  twenty-sixth;  but  it  was  prorogued  the  next  day  by  Gov. 
Belcher,  who  was  dissatisfied  with  the  election  of  councillors  favorable  to  the  Land  Bank  scheme. 


682 


APPEXDJX 


Sessions  beginning 


Deputies. 


May  31, 

May  30, 
May  29, 
May  27, 
May  30, 
May  29, 
May  28, 
Oct.  22, 
May  26, 
May  25, 
May  31, 
May  30, 
May  28, 
May  27, 
May  26, 
May  25, 
Dec.  21, 
May  30, 
May  29, 
May  28, 
May  27, 
May  25, 
May  31, 
May  30, 
May  29, 
May  27, 
May  26, 
May  25, 


749 Mr  Benjamin  Greenleaf 

750 Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq. 

751 Mr  Richard  Kent,  junior 

752* Capt  Richard  Kent 

753  .     .    Major  Joseph  Gerrish  and  Mr  Benjamin  Greenleaf 

754  .     .    Major  Joseph  Gerrish  and  M""  Benjamin  Greenleaf 

755 Mr  Thomas  Barnard 

755 Capt  Stephen  Emery 

756 Major  Joseph  Gerrish 

757  .     .       Major  Joseph  Gerrish  and  Mychael  Dalton,  Esq 

758 Joseph  Gerrish,  Jun.  Esq 

759 Joseph  Gerrish,  Jun.  Esq 

760 Joseph  Gerrish,  Jun.  Esq 

761  .  .  Joseph  Gerrish,  Jun.  Esq.  and  John  Brown,  Esq 

762  .  .  Joseph  Gerrish,  Jun.  Esq.  and  John  Brown,  Esq 

763  .  Joseph  Gerrish,  Jun.  Esq.  and  Capt  Moses  Little 
763  t  •  •  •  Joseph  Gerrish,  Jun.  Esq.  and  Capt  Moses  Little 
764*  .           .  Joseph  Gerrish,  Jun.  Esq.  and  Capt  Moses  Little 

765 Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq. 

766 Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq. 

767 Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq. 

768 Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq. 

769 Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq. 

770  X Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq. 

771 Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq. 

772 Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq. 

773 .    Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq. 

774  § Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq. 


Oct.  5,  1774  II Col  Joseph  Gerrish 


*  Held  at  Concord  on  account  of  the  prevalence  of  small-pox  in  Boston. 

t  Second  session  of  the  General  Court.  February  4,  1764,  Governor  Bernard  signed  an  act 
incorporating  the  town  of  Newburyport,  passed  January  24,  1764. 

t  For  political  reasons  the  members  of  the  General  Court  were  notified  by  Lieut.  Gov. 
Hutchinson  to  meet  in  Harvard  college  at  Cambridge.  At  the  first  session,  the  question  of 
the  legality  of  assembling  the  legislature  at  any  other  place  than  in  the  town  house  in  Boston  was 
discussed;  and  the  representatives  resolved  that,  so  long  as  the  assembly  was  constrained  to  re- 
main at  Cambridge,  it  was  "  by  no  means  expedient  to  proceed  to  business."  This  resolution  they 
reaffirmed  at  the  second  session,  held  two  months  later.  At  the  third  session,  which  assembled 
September  twenty-sixth,  the  General  Court  proceeded,  under  protest,  to  enact  a  few  important 
laws,  and  adjourned  November  20,  1770. 

§The  General  Court  met  in  Boston  May  twenty-fifth.  Three  days  later  General  Gage,  then 
governor  of  the  province,  adjourned  the  court  to  meet  in  Salem,  June  seventh.  When  the  mem- 
bers reassembled  in  Salem,  they  passed  some  resolutions  that  were  considered  revolutionary,  and 
June  seventeenth  the  governor  issued  a  proclamation  dissolving  the  General  Court.  This  proc- 
lamation was  read  by  the  secretary  upon  the  stairs  leading  to  the  representatives'  chamber, 
which  was  locked  against  him. 

II  A  week  before  the  lime  fixed  for  the  meeting  of  the  General  Court  at  Salem,  Gov.  Gage, 
deeming  it  impracticable,  owing  10  the  tumult  and  excitement  prevailing  in  Boston  and  elsewhere. 


APPENDIX  683 

Sessions  beginning  Deputies. 

July  19,  1775  * Col  Joseph  Gerrish 

Sept.  20,  1775 Major  Samuel  Moody 

May  29,  I776t    Mr  Richard  Adams  Junior,  Col  Samuel  Gerrish,  Samuel 

Greenleaf,    Esq.,    M^   Stephen    Little,    Cap'    Daniel 

Chute 
May  28,  1777  X  .     .     .     Col  Moses  Little  and  Mr  Richard  Adams  junior 

May  27,  1778  § Col  Moses  Little 

May  26,  I779§ Col  Moses  Little  and  Col  Jacob  Gerrish 

May  31,  1780  II Col  Moses  Little  and  Col  Jacob  Gerrish 

Oct.  25,  1780      ....     Enoch  Sawyer,  Esq.  and  Moses  Little,  Esq. 

May  30,  1 781 Moses  Little,  Esq.  and  Col  Jacob  Gerrisli 

May  29,  1782 Col  Samuel  Moody 

May  28,  1783 Col  Samuel  Moody 

May  26,  1784     .     .     .     Ebenezer  March,  Esq.  and  Mr.  Joshua  Ordway 

May  25,  1785 Col  Samuel  Moody 

May  31,  1786 Samuel  Moody  Esq 

May  30,  1787 Lieut  Nathaniel  Emery 

May  28,  17S8      .     .     .  Ebenezer  March,  Esq.  and  Enoch  Sawyer,  Esq. 

May  27,  1789 Ebenezer  March,  Esq. 

May  26,  1790 Lieut  Nathaniel  Emery 

May  25,  1 791 Lieut  Nathaniel  Emery 

May  30,  1792 Lieut  Nathaniel  Emery  and  Mr  Silas  Little 

May  29,  1 793 • Mr.  Josiah  Little 

May  28,  1794 Col  Josiah  Little 

May  27,  179s Lieut  Nathaniel  Emery 

May  25,  1796 Col.  Josiah  Little 

May  31,  1797 Col.  Josiah  Little 

May  30,  1798 Josiah  Little,  Esq 

May  29,  1799 Josiah  Little,  Esq 

May  28,  1800 Josiah  Little,  Esq 

May  27,  1 80 1 Josiah  Little,  Esq.  and  Mr  Joseph  Newell 

to  allow  the  representatives  to  assemble  for  legislatives  business,  issued  a  proclamation  excusing 
them  from  attending  at  the  time  and  place  named  in  the  summons.  Ninety  representatives,  how- 
ever, met  in  Salem,  and  organized  by  the  choice  of  John  Hancock,  chairman.  October  seventh 
they  resolved  themselves  into  a  Provincial  Congress,  and  adjourned  to  meet  at  Concord  the  fol- 
lowing Tuesday. 

*  July  4,  1775,  the  town  of  Newbury  elected  Col.  Joseph  Gerrish  representative  to  the  General 
Court  to  be  held  in  the  meeting-house  at  Watertown,  July  nineteenth.  This  and  subsequent 
sessions  of  the  General  Court  were  held  at  Watertown  until  October  g,  1776. 

t  At  the  preceding  session  of  the  General  Court,  an  act  providmg  for  a  more  equal  represen- 
tation of  the  inhabitants  of  the  colony  was  passed  at  the  urgent  solicitation  of  John  Lowell,  esq., 
of  Newburyport,  and  others,  members  of  a  committee  appointed  at  a  county  convention  held  at 
Ipswich,  April  25,  1776. 

t  Tills  session  of  the  court  was  held  at  Boston  ;  but  the  sixth  and  last  session  for  the  legislative 
year  was  held  at  tlie  meeting-house  in  Roxbury,  April  i,  177S. 

§This  session  was  held  at  the  old  State  House  in  Boston. 

II  The  second  session  of  this  court  was  dissolved  by  proclamation,  October  23,  17S0,  two  days 
before  the  assembling  of  the  "  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  "  under  the  constitution. 


684  APPENDIX 

Sessions  beginning  Deputies. 

May  26,  1802 Josiah  Little,  Esq.  and  Mr  Joseph  Newell 

May  25,  1803 Josiah  Little,  Esq. 

May  30,  1804 Josiah  Little,  Esq. 

May  29,  1805 Josiah  Little,  Esq. 

May  28,  i8o()     Josiah  Little,  Esq.  Joseph  Newell,  Enoch  Sawyer,  Esq. 
Capt.  Ebenezer  Stocker 

May  27,  1807 Josiah  Little,  Esq. 

May  25,  1808      Josiah  Little,  Esq.  Silas  Little,  Esq.  John  Osgood  Rich- 
ard Pike 
May  31,  1809     Josiah   Little,  Esq.  Silas  Little,  Esq.  John  Osgood,  Esq. 

Capt  David  Little 
May  30,  181  o     Josiah  Little,  Esq.  Silas  Little,  Esq.  John  Osgood,  Esq. 

Capt  David  Little  Stephen  Hooper,  Esq. 
May  29,  181 1      Josiah  Little,  Esq.  Silas  Little,  Esq.  John  Osgood,  Esq. 

Capt  David  Little  Stephen  Hooper,  Esq  Daniel  Hale, 

Esq. 
May  27  181 2       Josiah  Little,  Esq.  Silas  Little,  Esq.  John  Osgood,  Esq. 

Capt  David  Little  Stephen  Hooper,  Esq  Daniel  Hale, 

Esq. 
May  26  18 1 3     Josiah  Little,  Esq.  John  Osgood,  Esq.  Silas  Little,  Esq. 

Capt  Oliver  Pilsbury  Mr.  Daniel  Emery  Majr  Ebenezer 

Hale 
May  25  1S14.     Josiah  Little,  Esq.  John  Osgood,  Esq.  Silas  Little,  Esq. 

Majr  Oliver  Pilsbury  Mr.  Daniel  Emery  Col.  Ebenezer 

Hale 
May  31  1 81 5      Silas  Little,  Esq.  John  Osgood,  Esq.  Lieut  Moses  Dole, 

Jun.    Mr.    Daniel    Emery    Col    Ebenezer    Hale     M"" 

Thomas  Hills 
May  29  1 816     Silas  Little,  Esq.  Capt  Thomas  Carter  Mr  Thomas  Hills 

Josiah  Little,  Esq.  Mr.   Daniel  Emery  John  Osgood, 

Esq. 
May  28,  1817      ....      Josiah  Little,  Esq.  and  Daniel  Emery,  Esq. 

May  27,  1818 Silas  Little,  Esq.  and  Daniel  Emery,  Esq. 

May  26,  1819 Silas  Little,  Esq.  and  Moses  Little,  Esq. 

May  31,  1820 Josiah  Little,  Esq. 

May  30,  1 82 1 Silas  Little,  Esq. 

May  29,  1822 Josiah  Little,  Esq. 

May  28,  1823 Moses  Little,  Esq. 

May  26,  1824 Moses  Little,  Esq. 

May  25,  1825 Moses  Little,  Esq.  and  Col  Daniel  Adams 

May  31,  1826 Moses  Little,  Esq.  and  Col  Daniel  Adams 

May  30,  1827      Moses  Little,  Esq.,  Col.  Daniel  Adams,  and  Col.  Ebenezer 

Hale 
May  28,  1828 Moses  Little,  Esq.,  and  Silas  Little,  Esq. 


APPENDIX  685 

Sessions  beginning  Deputies, 

May  27,  1829     Moses  Little,  Esq.,  Silas  Little,  Esq.,  and  Silas  Moody, 
Esq. 

May  26,  1830* Moses  Little,  Esq. 

May  25,  1831      Moses  Little,    Esq.,    Capt    Joseph    Gerrish,    and    Silas 

Moody,  Esq. 
Jan.  4,  1832         .     .       Moses  Pettingell,  Esq.,  and  Cap«  Joseph  Gerrish 
Jan.  2,  1833         .   Moses    Pettingell,  Esq.,   Capt  Joseph    Gerrish,    Silas 

Moody,  Esq.,  Mr.  John  Northend. 

Jan.  I,  1834         Moses  Little,  Esq. 

Jan.  7,  1835         .  John  Merrill,  Daniel  Adams,  3d,  William  Currier,  Jun., 

Putnam  Perley. 
Jan.  6,  1836         .   Moses  Little,  Esq.,  Silas  Moody,  Esq.,  Daniel  Adams, 

3d,  William  Currier,  Jun. 

Jan.  4,  1837         Daniel  Noyes  and  Moses  Little 

Jan.  3,  1838         Jacob  Atkinson  and  Benjamin  W.  Hale 

Jan.  2,  1839         .  Jacob  Atkinson,  Daniel  Noyes,  and  Benjamin  W.  Hale 

Jan.  I,  1840         Daniel  Noyes 

Jan.  6,  1 841         Silas  Moody  and  Oliver  Hale 

Jan.  5,  1842         Stephen  Ilsley  and  Joshua  L.  Newhall 

Jan.  4,  1843         (No  representative  chosen) 

Jan.  3,  1844         Jacob  Atkinson  and  Thomas  Huse 

Jan.  I,  1845         Josiah  Little  and  Enoch  Hale 

Jan.  7,  1846         (No  representative  chosen) 

Jan.  6,  1847         (No  representative  chosen) 

Jan.  5,  1848         Enoch  Hale  and  Andrew  W.  Miltimore 

Jan.  3,  1849         Jacob  Atkinson  and  Dennis  Condry 

Jan.  2,  1850         Jacob  Atkinson  and  Enoch  Hale 

Jan.  1,  185 1         Caleb  Gushing 

Jan.  7,  1852         Francis  V.  Noyes 

Jan.  5,  1853         Andrew  W.  Miltimore 

Jan.  4,  1854        (No  representative  chosen) 

Jan.  3,  1855         Herman  D.  Rogers 

Jan.  2,  1856         Joseph  Lunt 

Jan.  7,  1857  t William  W.  Perkins 

Jan.  6,  1858         Benjamin  Edwards,  Jr.,  of  West  Newbury 

Jan.  5,  1859        Gorharn  P,  Sargent,  of  Newbury 

Jan.  4,  i860         Moses  T.  Whittier,  of  Rowley 

Jan.  2,  1 86 1         Calvin  Rogers,  of  West  Newbury 

*  May  II,  1830,  the  town  of  Newbury  voted  to  favor  the  proposed  amendment  to  the  State 
Constitution,  reducing  the  number  of  representatives  to  the  General  Court  and  providing  for  only 
one  regular  session  each  year. 

t  In  1857,  the  Constitution  of  the  State  was  amended,  and  representatives  to  the  General  Court 
were  after  that  date  elected  from  districts  consisting  of  one  or  more  towns.  The  seventeenth 
Essex  representative  district  was  composed  of  the  towns  of  Newbury,  West  Newbury,  and 
Rowley. 


686  APPENDIX 

Sessions  beginning  Deputies. 

Jan.  I,  1862         Nathan  Adams,  of  Newbury 

Jan.  7,  1S63         Amos  Bishop,  of  Rowley 

Jan.  6,  1864         Eben  P.  Stanwood,  of  West  Newbury 

Jan.  4,  1865         William  M.  Rogers,  of  Newbury 

Jan.  3,  1866         Edward  H.  Potter,  of  Rowley 

Jan.  2,  1867*  Eben  F.  Stone,  Rufus  Adams,  and  Geo.  W.  Woodwell, 

of  Newburyport. 
Jan.  I,  1868     Geo.   W.  Jackman,  Jr.,  Geo.  W.  Woodwell,  and    Rufus 

Adams,  of  Newburyport. 
Jan.  6,  1869     David  T.  Woodwell  and  Horace  Choate,  of  Newburyport, 

and  Joseph  N.  Rolfe,  of  Newbury. 
Jan.  5,  1870     David   T*.  Woodwell,  Horace    Choate,    and    Geo.    J.    L. 

Colby,  of  Newburyport. 
Jan.  4,  1871      Nathaniel  Pierce,  Moses  H.  Fowler,  and  Geo.  J.  L.  Colby, 

of  Newburyport. 
Jan.  3,  1872     Robert  Couch,  Geo.  W.   Clark,  and  Benjamin  C.  Currier, 

of  Newburyport. 
Jan.  7,  1874     Benj.   C.    Currier,    Joseph    B.   Morss,    and    Elbridge    G. 

Kelley,  of  Newburyport. 
Jan.  6,  1875     Benj.  C.  Currier  and  Michael  Atkinson,  of  Newburyport, 

and  Daniel  D.  Bailey,  of  NewJDury^ 
Jan.  5,  1876     Caleb  B.  Huse  and  Michael  Atkinson,  of  Newburyport, 

and  Daniel  D.  Bailey,  of  Newbury. 
Jan.  3,  1877  I  .  Eben  F.  Stone  and  Caleb  B.  Huse,  of  Newburyport 
Jan.  2,  1878  .  .  Eben  F.  Stone  and  John  W.  Ricker,  of  Newburyport 
Jan.  I,  1879  •  Benj.  F.  Atkinson  and  Samson  Levy,  of  Newburyport 
Jan.  7,  1880  .  .  .  Eben  F.  Stone  and  Amos  Coffin,  of  Newburyport 
Jan.  5,  1 88 1  .  .  Amos  Coffin  and  Edward  P.  Shaw,  of  Newburyport 
Jan.  4,  1882  .  John  P.  Coombs  and  Edward  P.  Shaw,  of  Newburyport 
Jan.  3,  1883  John  P.  Coombs  and  Thomas  C.  Simpson,  of  Newburyport 
Jan.  2,  1884  .  Henry  M.  Cross  and  Geo.  P.  Bishop,  of  Newburyport_ 
Jan.  7,  1885  .  Henry  M.  Cross  and  Willard  J.  Hale,  of  Newburyport 
Jan.  6,  1886  X  Edward  A.  Moseley  and  Daniel  M.  Felch,  of  Newburyport 
Jan.  5,  1887  Edward  A.  Moseley  and  Daniel  M.  Felch,  of  Newburyport 
Jan.  4,  1888     Edward  I^.  Shaw,  of  Newburyport,  and  Luther  Dame,  of 

Newbury. 
Jan.  2,  1889     Edward  P.  Shaw,  of  Newburyport,  and  Luther  Dame,  of 

Newbury. 

*  In  1866,  the  representative  districts  were  revised.  After  that  date,  Newbury  and  Newbury- 
port, composing  the  sixth  Essex  district,  elected  three  representatives  annually  until  November, 
1876,  when  the  districts  were  again  revised. 

t  According  to  the  revision  of  1876,  the  sixteenth  Essex  district,  consisting  of  Newbury  and 
Newburyport,  was  entitled  to  only  two  representatives. 

t  For  ten  years  after  the  revision  of  1886,  Newbury  and  Newburyport  were  in  the  eighth 
Essex  representative  district. 


APPENDIX  687 

Sessions  hei^inning  Deputies. 

Jan.  I,  1890  Arthur  C.  Richardson,  of  Newburyport,  and  Luther  Dame, 
of  Newbury. 

Jan.  7,  1 89 1  Arthur  C.  Richardson  and  Nathan  N.  Withington,  of 
Newburyport. 

Jan.  6,  1S92     Arthur  C.  Richardson  and  Eben  S.  Dole,  of  Newburyport 

Jan.  4,  1893     .     .   Oliver  B.  Merrill  and  Eben  S.  Dole,  of  Newburyport 

Jan.  3,  1894     .   Edward  A.  Hale  and  Oliver  B.  Merrill,  of  Newburyport 

Jan.  2,  1895     .       Edward  A.  Hale  and  Caleb  B.  Huse,  of  Newburyport 

Jan.  I,  1896  Charles  O.  Bailey,  of  Newbury,  and  Caleb  B.  Huse,  of 
Newburyport. 

Jan.  6,  1897*  Charles  O.  Bailey,  of  Newbury,  and  Charles  F.  Mills,  of 
Newburyport. 

Jan.  5,  1898  Warren  Boynton,  of  Ipswich,  and  Charles  P.  Mills,  of 
Newburyport. 

Jan.  4,  1899  Francis  D.  Henderson,  of  Rowley,  and  Charles  P.  Mills, 
of  Newburyport. 

Jan.  3,  1900  Francis  D.  Henderson,  of  Rowley,  and  Charles  P.  Mills,  of 
Newburyport. 

Jan.  2,  1 90 1  John  A.  Brown,  of  Ipswich,  and  Moody  Kimball,  of  New- 
buryport. 

Jan.  I,  1902  George  A.  Schofield,  of  Ipswich,  and  Moody  Kimball,  of 
Newburyport. 

Jan.  7,  1903  Moody  Kimball,  of  Newburyport,  and  George  A.  Scho- 
field, of  Ipswich. 

*  After  the  revision  of  1896,  Newbury  was  in  the  twenty-second  Essex  district,  with  Ipswich, 
Rowley,  and  wards  one,  two,  three,  four,  and  five,  Newburyport. 


ERRATA. 

Page'159.     "MILL  AT  PINE   ISLAND"  should   read   "MILL   NEAR 
THE  NEW  ROAD  TO  PINE  ISLAND." 

Page  366.     "  Miss    Harriet    Newell  "  should  read  "  Miss    Harriet    Atwood, 
afterward  Mrs.  Harriet  Newell." 


INDEX. 


INDEX 


A  BBOTT,  GYLES,  S4.  93- 
•'»■    Corp.  Isaac,  559. 

Corp.   Uriah,  559. 

William  L.,  277. 
Abercrombie,    General,    571. 
Abraham,   Plains  of,  578,  580. 

Battle    of,   578. 
Absence  from  Town  Meeting,  49, 

50. 
Academy,  Dummer.  365,  368. 
Acadia,  531.  543,  547,  548,  553,  556. 
Acadians,  The,  553.  554,  667. 
Acomenticus,  Mount,  17,  24.  25. 
Acres,   Henry,   182. 

John,  608-610. 

Moses,  60s. 
Act  of  Legislature,  386. 
Adams,    Goodman,    417. 

Abraham,     102,     117,    118,    139, 
181,  203,  208,  665. 

Abram,  588. 

Archelaus,  541. 

Benjamin,   589. 

Caleb,   610. 

Charles,    570. 

Daniel,  223,   305,    570,   601,   611, 
684,  68s. 

David,  611. 

Eben,   630. 

Edmund,  570. 

Eli,  629. 

Enoch,  587,  601,  609,  610,  613. 

George,  410. 

George  W.,  29s. 

Giles,  627. 

Greene,  635. 

Ha ,  660. 

Miss    Hannah,    365. 

Hanson  H.,  629. 

Henry,  570. 

Hercules,  660. 

Isaac,    181,   410,    605. 

Israel,  543,  559,  570,  571. 

Jacob,    181,    503. 

John,  387,  388,  570,  595,  629. 

Joseph.  381,   563,  570,  609,  615, 
629. 

Josiah,   601,   653. 

Justin   N.,   634. 

Life,  S/O. 

Mrs.  Lizzie  M.,  295. 


Adams,    continued. 
Mrs.  Mary,  665. 
Dr.    Matthew,    665. 
Moses,   125,  288,  570. 
Nathan,  587,  601,  686. 
Nathaniel,  566,  587,  601,  608. 
Paul,   391,  392. 
Philip  D.,  297. 
Richard,  28,   290,   582,   584,   593, 

595,   62s,   683. 
Robert,    94,    loi,    110-112,    123, 
141,   163,   181,    417,    528,    542, 

571,  659. 
Rufus.  686. 
Samuel,  571,  609,  610. 
Mrs.  Sarah,  665. 
Silas,  587,  601,  611. 
Stephen,     284,     609,     611,     627, 

653- 
Addington,   Isaac,  517. 
Address,    359. 

Historical,   310. 
Adelphi  Street,  387. 
Admiral,  The,  548. 
Admiral   of   New   England,    16. 
Admiral   Vernon,   Sign   of,  473. 
""Adonis"    (Swedish  brig),  624. 
Advertisements,     273,     473,     489, 

491,  492. 
Africans,  257. 
Agawam  (Ipswich),  Mass.,  18,  19, 

23,  24,  29,  183,  185,  311. 
Aix-la-chapelle,   553,   556. 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  ig6. 
Alcott,  Rev.   William  P.,  381. 
Ale,  y2. 

Alent,  John,  569. 
Alexander,  Giles,  '^'73. 
Alexandria,  Va.,  632. 
Alewives.  283.  284. 
Allds.  William,  613. 
Allegiance,   Oath  of,   26.   28,    172. 

177,  179,   182,  642,  679. 
Allen,  Ira  H.,  6?3. 

John,    loi,    192,   478.    . 

Joseph,   588,   605. 

Samuel,   106,   197,  467,  626 

Thomas.  81. 

Walter.  55.  84,  89.  93. 

Capt.  William,  569. 
Allen  Street,  333. 


692 


INDEX 


Allcrton    Point,    24. 

Alley,  Rev.  Henry  G.,  388. 

Almshouse,  244,  298,  299. 

Alphabet,    407. 

Alter,  Mrs.  John.  410. 

Ambrose,  Alice^  148,   149. 

America,  13,  18,  22,  35,  'j'].  80, 
154,  196,  298,  311.  370.  408, 
467,  472,  497,  543,  554,  556, 
582. 

American   Army,  613. 

American   Colonies,   599. 

American   Forces,  604. 

American    Liberty,    583. 

American   Merchant   Ship,  620. 

"American   Preceptor,"   408. 

American  Vessels,  485,  621. 

Ames,  Joseph,  589,  606. 

Amesbury,  Mass.,  200,  239,  244, 
251,  255,  279,  298,  339,  389, 
421,  439,  441,  442,  460,  462, 
463.  497,  508,  512,  518,  536- 
538,  540,  559,  562,  563,  573, 
591,  592,  600,  602-604,  611, 
614,  616,  62s,  64s,  660. 
Settlement  of.  439. 

Amesbury    Ferry,   241,     276,    298, 
373,  422,  439-441,  462,  464. 
Landing,  428,  440. 

Amesbury  Highway,  424. 

Amesbury  Mill,  421. 

Amherst,  Mass.,  622. 

Amherst,  Jeffrey,  554,  574,  575- 

Amherst   College  368. 

Ammunition,  62,  TJ.  78,  225,  226, 
357,  485,  488,  500,  514,  517, 
531,  5.35,  540,  593,  624,  625, 
647. 

Amoskeag,  24. 

Amoskeag  Indians,   182. 

Amsterdam,  Holland,  143. 

Anabaptists,  383. 

Anderton,  James,  516. 

Andover,  Mass.,  70.  73-75,  121, 
124,  152,  153,  162,  163,  167, 
168,  316,  416,  417,  432,  480, 
481.  497,  502,  515,  518,  527, 
604,  6<56. 

Andover   Theological     Seminary, 

379- 
Andrews,    Rev.   John.   344,   345. 
Joseph,   515. 
Samuel,   161. 
Andros,     Sir    Edmund,    19s,    196, 

200,    202,    203,    207,    420,    443, 

444.    447.    453.    466,    467,    478, 

498,  514,  679.  680. 
Angier,  Rev.  Luther  H.,  362. 
"Angoan,"  17. 
Ann,  Cape.   14,   17.   18,  20-22,    24, 

25,  Z^-2>Z- 


Ann    Street,   303. 

"Ann"    (sloop),  481. 

Annapolis,    N.    S.,    14,    514,    531, 

532. 
Anne's  War,  Queen,  521. 
Annis.    Abraham,    283,    536,    539, 

659. 
Aquilah,  659. 
Charles,   103,  206,  059. 
Curmac,   180. 
Isaac,  536,  539,   542. 
Jacob,  013,   618. 
Joseph,  370,  372. 
Anniversary    Celebrations,   309. 
Anthony,  John,  28. 

Mark^    601. 
Anticosti,   Island   of,    515. 
Antietam,   Md.,   632. 
Antigua.  481,  482. 
Anvil,    670. 

"Apocalyptica."   192,  264. 
Apothecary,  486. 

Appleton,     John,     177,     243,    445. 
502. 
Samuel,   246,   502,   504-507,    518, 

531. 
William,   6iS- 
Apprentices,  283.  549. 
Archelaus  Hill.  83,  228.  308. 
Archer,  John,  617,  6i5. 
Ardway.   James,   178. 
Arithmetic,  408,  409. 

Taught,  396,  400,  403. 
Arms.  514,  517,  531,  535,  540,  625, 

670. 
Armstrong,  John  Warren,  298. 
Army,  Colonial,  506. 
Army    of    the     Revolution     Dis- 
banded, 599. 
Arnold,   Col.   Benedict,    593,    594, 
616,  661. 
Richard,    202. 
Arnold's  March,  593,  594. 
Arskins,   John,   614. 
Artichoke  River,  82.  83,  114,  115, 
13T,    134,    136,    159,    209,    213, 
226,    2Z7,    238,    240,    241,    300, 
301,    307,    308,    .347,    351,    354. 
403,    405,    422,    423,    425,    428, 
492,  590. 
Bridge.   241,   423. 
Commons,    137. 
Artillery,  668. 
"Ascutney"         (United        States 

steamship).  492. 
Ash   Street.  228. 
"Ashburton"   (ship).  491. 
Ashland    Street.     373,     390,     409, 

429,  430,  486,  491. 
Ashley.  Edward,  480. 
Asleb'e,   Lt.  John.  481. 


INDEX 


693 


Aslett,  John,  75. 

Asp,  or  Aspen,  Swamp,  90,  139. 

Assessors,  227,  403. 

Assistants,   Court    of.    21,    33-36, 

40,  68. 
Astcn,  John,   559. 
Atkins,  Captain,  y]},- 

Dudley.  569. 

John,    204. 

Joseph,  244,  272,  376,  482,  569. 

William.   266,  376,   S68. 
Atkinson,   Mr.,  424. 

Amos,  586,  601. 

Benjamin,  628. 

Benjamin  F.,  686. 

Humphrey,  560. 

Jacob,   685. 

John,    119,    140,    176,    177,    180, 
430.   543,  570,  586,  609,  640. 

John  M.,  391. 

Matthias,    586. 

Michael,  686. 

Moses,   409,    566. 

Moses    L.,  391- 

Nathaniel,   542.   610. 

Stephen,   549. 

Theodore,  613. 

Thomas,  543. 
Atkinson  Fund  School,  411. 
Atlantic    Ocean,    13,    18,    22,    83, 

161,  199,  239,  308. 
Attorneys,  313. 
Atwood.   Miss   Harriet.   366,   688. 

Joseph,  609. 

Saul.   628. 

Stephen.  674. 
Atwood   Street,   303. 
Aubin,  Hezekiah,  562,  565. 

Nathaniel.   573.  615   (?). 

Philip,  293. 

Samuel,    565.    566. 

Solomon,   576,   579,  602. 
Auburn    Street,  309. 
Auctions,  270,  294. 
Austin,   Ann,    144. 

Nathan,  560. 

Samuel,  515. 
Austria,    485,    547. 
Avery,   Mrs.    Elizabeth,   324,  325. 

John,  32,  33,  595,  602. 

Joseph.  32.  2,Z- 
"Avery  His  Fall,"  zi- 
Avery's  Rock,  2,},. 
Ayers,  David,  628. 

John,  2n2,  660. 

Martin,   549. 

Moses,  6o(5. 

Nathaniel,    180. 

Obadiah,    171. 

Peter,   516. 

Samuel,  207. 


Ayers,  continued. 
Thomas,    515. 
Tubal,   560. 
Zachariah,  206. 

BABB,   NATHANIEL,  626. 
Solomon,  625. 
Bacheler,    Rev.    Stephen,    44.    45, 

67,  QQ- 
Badger,   Edw.,  216. 

Giles,    55,  84,  88,   90,  93 

James,   217. 

John,  102  112,  116,  118,  159, 
176,  180,  186,  200,  202,  203, 
206,  208,  515,   516. 

Nathaniel,  55,  84,  88,  94,  159, 
542. 

Obadiah,   615. 

Richard,    54,   84,  88,   90,  94. 

Corp.    William,    564. 
Badlam,  Capt.  Ezra,  606. 
Bagley,  Ensign,  538. 

Abel,   576. 

Abner,    563. 

Benjamin,    576. 

Enoch,    578. 

John,  610,  614. 

Col.  Jonathan,  560,  562-564. 
572,  610. 

Joshua,  610. 

Orlando,  539. 

Stephen,  567. 

Thomas,    615. 
Bags,  217,  225,  586. 

Mail,  465,  466,  472. 
Bailey  (Bayley),  Mr.,  397,  399. 

Abner,  589,  627. 

Asa,   s,   88, 

Benjamin   S.,   634.  636. 

Charles  O.,  687. 

Daniel,    628. 

Daniel  C,  628. 

Daniel  D.,  634,  686. 

Edmund,    237,     572,     .^78,     583, 

595. 

Edward,  515. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth,  254. 

Enoch,  657. 

Henry,  634. 

Isaac,    179,   205.  355,   541- 

Capt.  Jacob,  171. 

James,  102,  564,  627. 

John,  93.  102,  no,  in,  \i'],  118, 
141,  163,  169,  178,  179,  205, 
209,  526,  570,  571,  610. 

Jonathan,  243. 

Joseph,   III,   112,   177,    179,  205, 

347, 2,^2.  400,  572. 

Joshua,  179,  237,  254,  370,  461, 
526,  5.36,  538,  539,  541,  574, 
610,  656,  665. 


694 


IXDEX 


Bailey,  continued. 

Kiah,   563.    57^,    575- 

Nathan,    568. 

Samuel,  575,  579,  628. 

Samuel    R.,  635. 

Simon,    572. 

Stephen,  572,  575,  579. 

Tappan,    628. 

Thomas,    628. 

William,  605. 

William  T.,  634. 
Baker,  Gideon,  628. 

John,  48,  62,  63,    132,  413,  600, 
602. 
Bakerstown,  N.  H.,  516. 
Balch,    Rev.    William,   379. 
Baldwin,  Col.   Loammi,  604,  606, 

610. 
Ballard.  William,  28,  75. 

Capt.  William  H.,  604. 

William   Hudson,  563. 
Balls,  488,  535. 
Band  of  Music,  309. 
Band  of  Newbury,  494. 
Banishment,   43,    144-147. 
Banners,   309. 

Baptism,  148.  314,  331,  340,  yjz. 
Burachois.  The,  550,  551. 
Barbadoes,  254,  265,  481. 
Barberry   Swamp,   416. 
Barbour,  Rev.  Isaac  R.,  366,  368. 
Barefoot,  Capt.  Waiter,  140,  142, 

143,  149. 
Baren,   Captain,  569. 
Barp-e,  661. 
Barker,    Daniel,    570. 

Rev.  Davis,  388. 

James,  608. 

John,  526. 

Philip,  613. 

Richard,  416. 

Samuel,  614. 

Theodore,  612. 

Thomas,  230. 
Bark.s,  424,  486,  491,  492. 
Barley,   113. 
Barnard,  Lieutenant,  538. 

Ezekiel,  616. 

Thomas.  146,  339,  357,  358,  515, 
576,  682. 

Capt.  Timothy,  600,  602. 
Barns,    128    298,     314.     3.55,     356, 
395,    425,    430,    505,    654.    6q8. 
670.  674. 
Barnstable,  Mass.,  81,  530. 
Barr,  William,  55. 
Barrel  Staves,  126. 
Barrett,   Robert,  483. 

Samuel,  289. 
Barry,   William   H.,  633. 
Bartholomew,   Mr.,    ■i}),  648. 


Bartlett,   Charles,  393. 

Christopher,  60,  84,  92,  93,   100, 

117,  163,  180,  421,  422,  441, 
506,  626. 

David,  S16,  615,  626. 

Edward    W..   635. 

Enos,  218,  237. 

Isaac,  626. 

Israel,  626. 

Jacob,    567. 

James,  612,  627. 

John,  28,  41,  54,  84,  88,  93,  94, 

99,  101-103,   107,   109-111,   115, 

118,  121,  15s,  163,  178-180,  183, 
203,  225,  331,  347,  370,  zi^ 
424,  425,  541,  603,  609,  659. 

Jonathan,  617. 

Joseph,  491,  539. 

Joseph  W.,  129. 

Miss  Lydia,  yjZ- 

Moses,   627. 

Nathaniel,  372. 

Richard,    54.   61,   84,   88,    92-95, 

100,  103,  108,  no,  117,  118, 
141,  163,  178-180,  205,  209, 
210,  293,  320,  331,  347,  352, 
353,  358,  372,  390,  400,  425, 
477,  536,  539,  541,  542,  629, 
670,  679,  680. 

Samuel,      102.     117,     118,      155, 
178,    181,    205,    347,    350,    352, 

370,  yi^,  -iiz,  424.  425,  516, 

536,  538,  539,  541,  660. 
Rev.  Samuel  Colcord,  310. 
Seth,  125,  566,  569. 
Simeon,  615. 
Thomas,     125,     179,     206.     372, 

374.  404,  483,  566. 
Miss    Tirza,    390. 
William,  100,  274,  275,  280,  293, 
294,  61S.  626,  627. 
Bartlett's     Cove,    155,     226,     424, 

^63,  483,  486. 
Bartlett  Springs,  302. 
Barton,  Ebenezer,  543. 
Bason,  331. 

For  church,   318. 
Bass,   Asa,  ^yz. 
Rev.  Edward,  341,  374-377.  384, 
568. 
Bass,  23,  25,  281,  283,  284. 
Bassett,  Joseph  P.,  635. 
Baton  Rouge,  La.,  633,  634. 
Batt,    Christopher,    68,    99,     435, 
664. 
Jane,  664. 

Nicholas,  32.  53,  54,  56,  84,  88, 
102,  132,  163,  176. 
Batten,  Capt.  Robert,  649. 
Batter,  Edmond,  177. 
Battery,  593. 


INDEX 


69  s 


Battice,  Joseph,  626. 

Battle    on    Plains     of     Abraham, 

S78. 
Battoes,   562. 
Bay,  The,  649. 
Bayley's   Lane.  237. 
Bayonets,  591. 
Bayton,    606. 
Beal,  Lieutenant,  544. 

Mrs.,  274. 

Ebenezer,  550. 

Edward,    515. 

Zachariah,  516,  575,  578. 
Bean,  Mrs.,  273. 

Elisha.  343,  636. 

John,  617. 

John  A.,  634. 

Silas  F.,  635. 
Beard,   Reuben,  635. 

Beaubossin,  ,  522. 

Beauford,  S.  C,  669. 
Beausejour,    553. 
Beaver  Brook,  198. 
Beck,  Jonathan,  569. 
Beckman,  Rev.   Garret,  394. 
Bedsteads,    294. 
Beed,  William,  617. 
Beedie,   Benjamin,  601. 

Robert,  181. 
Beef,  598. 
Beehives,  80,  81. 
Beer,  72,  73,   123,  447,  677. 
Bees,  80,  81. 

Belcher,  Gov.  Jonathan,  197,  219, 
681. 

Rev.  Samuel,  351-355.  369.  402. 
Belfry,  ziZ- 

Belknap,  Obadiah,  560. 
Bell,   Anthony,    q63,   567. 
Belleville,  287,  288,  306,  392,  484, 

491,  492. 
Belleville  Cemetery,  228. 
Belleville  Church,  240,  386,  393. 
Belleville  Parish,  240,  304. 
Bellin,    Sieur,    548. 
Bellingham,    Gov.     Richard,     "j},, 

175- 
William,  60. 
Bells,  124,  235,  249,  250,  279,  313, 

314,  341,    342,    364,    366,    368, 

Zl^<  373,  378. 
of  Byfield  Church,  366,  368. 
First   Parish.   235. 
of  Meeting   House,  315,  334. 
of  Queen   Anne's   Chapel,   ^H'^'i 

373- 
for  School,  334. 
Third    Parish,    235. 
Ringing  the,  331,  22,1,  342. 
Tolling  the,  342. 
Benches  in  the   Meeting  House, 

315. 


Bennett,  John,  606. 

Bernard,  Gov.  Francis,  267,  682 

Nathaniel,  516. 
Berry,   Colonel,  248. 

Ambrose,  250,  536,  656. 

George,  626. 

John,  569. 

William,  84,  94,    100,   154. 
Berwick,   Me.,  512,  518,  544,  607. 
Beverages,   366. 
Beverly,  Mass.,  153,  18.S.  476,  502, 

503,  607,  625. 
Beverly,  James,  549,  550. 

Samuel,  610,  613. 
"Bevis"   (ship),  38,  68,  649. 
Bewell,  Mr.,  338. 
Bible,  341,  366,  Z1Z,  393,  407- 

Reading  of  the,  341. 
Bideauboch,  548. 
Billerica,  Mass.,  526. 
Bills  of  Credit,  218,  219. 
Bingham,   Caleb,  408. 
Binney,   Amos,   488. 
Birchen  Meadow,  64,  65,  227,  307, 

651. 
Births,  58,  59.   193,  639,  645. 

First,  in  Newbury,   193. 
Biscomb,    Corp.    William,   615. 
Biscuit,  209. 
Bishop,   Amos,   686. 

George  P.,  686. 

John,  94,  158,  163,  164,  258. 
Bishop  of  London,  370.  376. 
Bishopstoke   Parish,    Hampshire, 

England,  191,  647. 
Black  Ash  Swamp,  139. 
Blackbirds,   T24-126. 
Blackpoint,   Z\\. 
Blackpoint  Garrison,  ^\o. 
Black  Rocks,  199. 
Blackenburg,  Samuel,  565. 
Blacksmiths,  390. 

Shop,  671. 
Blagdon,   Ralph,  515. 
Blaisdell,  David,  616. 

Jonathan,    516. 

Lorenzo  B.,  634. 
Blake,  Jesper,  629. 

Jonathan,  565. 
Blakeley,     Capt.    Johnston,     488, 

624. 
Blanchard,    Corp.    Daniel,    559. 
Blankets,  293. 
Bleachery,    302. 
Blindness,  324. 

Blockhouses,  525,  526,  555,  574. 
Blodget.   Samuel,  557,   558. 
Bloomfield,  John,   171. 

Thomas,  55,  84,  88,  90,  loi,  114, 
141,  171. 
Blue  Anchor  Tavern,  142,  442. 
Blunt,  Edmund  M.,  486,  487. 


696 


INDEX 


Blunt,  continued. 

George.  605. 
Bly,  John,  588,  605. 
Boar's   Head,  24,  25. 
Boardman,  Captain,  279. 
Jonathan    564. 
Nathaniel,  411. 
Offin,  286,  293,  429,  430. 
Thomas,  549. 
Boardman's   Lane,  430. 
Boardman  Street,  390,  429. 
Boards,   127,    167,  315,  355. 
Boatmen,  661. 

Boats,  91,  127,  224,  260^  261,  272. 
418,    432,    433,    435-437,     445- 
446,  449,  450,  454-458,  460,  462, 
464,  478,  591. 
Hay,  482. 
Packet,  470,  472. 
Bodwell,    Henry,     181,    503,    504, 
507. 
Joshua,  613,  618. 
Bodwell's  Creek,  198. 
Bodwell's  Falls,  198. 
Boggy  Meadow  Creek,  199. 
Boilers,  Salt,  297. 
Bolles,  Thomas,  608. 
Bolton.   Hannah,  516. 

William,   131,   137,   179,  206. 
Bombardment,  550. 
Bombs,    535. 
Bond,    John,    55,    84,    88,    92,    93, 

163,  164,  169,  254,  650. 
Bond,  445. 

Books,    144,    148,    165,    356,    40/ , 
408,  670. 
on  Church  Music,  356. 
Common  Prayer,   148. 
School,  407,  408. 
Booksellers,  472,  473,  486. 
Booth,    Robert,    171. 
Bootman,   Elias,  628. 
Borman's  Brook,  199. 
Boscawen,  Admiral,  555. 
Boston,  Mass.,  23,  24,  28,  29,  32, 
34,  35,  40,  41,  44,  46,  67,  77-79, 
96,  107,  108,  140,  144.  147,  148, 
151,  152,    154,    ibo,    169,    172- 
177,  187.  189,  191,  192,  195,  197, 
201,  202,  208,  2og,  224,  235,  240, 
241,  248,  252.  264,  265,  271-276, 
280,282,  290,  294-298,  311,  313, 
314,  316,  319,  Z2\,  ZZZ,  334,  344, 

348, 358. 364, 371, 2>n,  383, 398. 

407,  408,  413,  419,  43 1,  435,  444, 
447.  453.  465.  467-470,  47-2-474, 
476-481,  483-486,  488,  489,  491, 
493,  4q6,  498,  502,  514,  515,  517, 
518,  520,  521,  523,  528,  529,  531, 
534.  553,  557,  563,  572,  574,  581- 
585,  593,  596,  609,  621,  643,  647, 


Boston,    Mass.,    continued. 

651,  652,  662,  664,  667,  674,  675, 
677-679,  682,  683. 

Donations  to  Poor  of,  584. 
Boston  Port  Bill,  583. 
Boston  Harbor,  207. 
Boston  &  Mame  Railroad  Com- 
pany, 274,  275. 
Boston    &    Maine    Railroad    Sta- 
tion,  Byfield,  394. 
Boston   Public   Library.  313,  324, 

471. 
"Boston  Weekly  Post  Boy,"  471. 
"Bound  House,"  42,  43,  45. 
Boundary  Line  of  English   Colo- 
nies, 556. 
Boundary     Lines     of    Massachu- 
setts.  161,  170,   197-200. 

Established,   170,   197-200. 
Boundary     Lines     of     Newbury, 

39,   167,   168. 
Bounties.   124,  596-598,  631. 

for   Killing  Wild  Animals,   124. 

to   Soldiers,  596-598,  631. 
Bourlamaque,  General,  574. 
Bourn,  Captain,  544. 
Boutwell,  Gov.  George  S.,  307. 
Bowdoin,   Hon.  James,  289. 
Bowdoin  College,  392. 
Bowers,   Rev.   William  W.,  394. 
Bowles,  John,  651. 
Boxford,    Mass.,     185,     198,    368. 

573.  604.  614. 
Boynton,    Caleb,    103. 

David.  60s. 

Eben  Moody,  359. 

Enoch,   587,   614. 

Ephraim,   568. 

Rev.  F.  H..  381. 

Hilkiah,  660. 

Joseph,  218,  449. 

Joshua,  181,  203,  542,  611. 

Nathaniel,   571. 

Warren,    687. 
Boys,    Disorderly,    etc..   338,   339, 

369. 

on  Sabbath  Days,  356. 
Boyse,  Matthew,  70. 

Nathaniel.   416. 
Brabrooke.   Samuel,   505. 
Brackenbury,    Daniel,   572. 
Bradbury,  Captain.  574. 

Mr.,  163. 

John.  218. 

Jonathan.  566. 

Paul,  615. 

Theophilus,   569. 

William.  446.  456. 

Corp.    Wyman.    563. 
Bradford.    Mass..    125,     134,     153- 
185.  198,  209,  212.  213.  230,  239, 


LXDEX 


697 


Bradford,  Mass.,  continued. 

274,  300,  301,  352,  Z7Z,  379.  404, 
422,  42,^,  428,  497,  518,  526,  573, 
574,  592,  603,  604. 

Bounds  of,  240. 
Bradford,  Moses,  568. 

Peter,  57-2. 

Gov.  William.   19. 
Bradford    Road.     156,     213,     236, 
261,  270.  308.  354,  362,  364,  369, 
Zn^  421-425.  428,  441,  460. 
Brading.  James.   iSo. 
Bradley.  Daniel,  S16,  608. 

Henry,   660. 
Brads,  298. 

Manufacture  of,  298. 
Bradshaw,  Ruth,  666. 
Bradstreet,   Dorothy,   665. 

Dudley,  417,  502. 

Dr.    Humphrey,    334.    448,    527, 
665,  671. 

Moses,  184. 

Mrs.   Sarah.  448,  665,  671. 

Gov.  Simon.  41,  44,  68.  151,  163, 
189,  319,  493,  494.  498.  649. 
Brady.   Doctor,   340. 

Thomas,  633. 
Bragdon,   Samuel,  612. 
Brass.  407,  670. 
Brattle.  Thomas,  177,  yjl- 
Bray.  Eben,  633. 

James,  629. 

John  N.,  63s. 

Richard  S.,  irg. 
Brazier,  John,  602. 

Simon,  615. 
Brazil,  624. 
Bread,  340. 
"Brenda"    (ship),   491. 
Brennan.  John.  d^^^. 
Brett.  Hannah,  665. 

John,  285.  570. 

Richard,    £64. 
Brewster.  John.   626. 
Briant.  Daniel,  612. 
Brick  Yards,  139. 
Brickett.  James,  543. 

Lt.  John.  588. 

Moody.  628. 

Moses.  589. 

Nathaniel.  180. 
Bricks.  226. 

Bridger,  John.  228.  370,  372. 
Bridges,    138.    139,   240,    241,    258. 
261,  276-281,  298-300,  304,  420, 
422.  423,  440,  446,  456,  555,  647, 
653- 

over  Artichoke  River,  422,  456. 
Deer  Island.  299. 

Essex-Merrimack.       298,      430, 
442,  464,  486.  488. 

over  Falls  River,   121,  416. 


Bridges,  continued. 

Ferry,  436,  437. 

Four  Rock,  415. 

John   Hull's,  417. 

Merrimack,   462. 

over   Merrimack    River,   458. 

Mill,  421,  424. 

Old-Town,  590. 

Parker  River,  419. 

over  Parker  River,  431,  434. 

Plum  Island,  304. 

Stone,  428. 

Swing,  444. 

Mr.  Woodman's,  417. 
Bridgewater,  Mass.,  572. 
Bridles,   503. 

Brigantine.  478,  480,  481,  529,  530. 
Briggs,  Elisha,  486,  488,  491,  492. 
Briggs'   Shipyard,   492. 
Brighton,   Mass.,  294. 
Brigs,  485.  487-491,  624. 
Brine,   297. 
Bristol,   Eng.,   14. 

Me.,  S18. 

Mass.,  470. 
Britain,   661. 
British   Ships,  556. 
British   Soldiers,   591. 
Broad  Arrow  Mark,  129. 
Brock,  John,  576. 
Brocklebank.  Samuel,  230,  502. 
Brockway,  Charles  J.,  302. 
Bromfield  Street,    245,    266,    307, 

310,  387,  426,  492,  621. 
Bronson,  Rev.  Philo,  393. 
Brooke.  Lord,  642. 
Brookfield,  N.  H.,  6og. 
Brookline,  Mass..  295. 
Brooks,  Rev.   Charles,  368. 
Brown,   Captain,  484,  544. 

Sergeant,  659. 

Widow,  89. 

Abraham,   571. 

Benjamin,  388,  563,  586,  628. 

Ebenezer,   560,  605. 

Edmund,  506,  508. 

Francis,  108,  in.  112,  118,  168, 
176,  179,  205,  209,  213,  227, 
238,  417,  576. 

George,  28,  53,  54,  84,  93. 

Is<^.ac,  178,  248. 

Jacob,  277. 

Jacob  F.,  295. 

James,  41,  48,  53,  55,  62-64,  79. 
84.  89,  93.  94,  99,  103,  104, 
129,  176,  204,  237,  516,  528, 
536,  538.  539.  542,  554- 

John,  206.  228,  229,  233,  236, 
300,  336,  341,  343,  379,  427, 
515.  519.  541.  554,  568,  569, 
572,  602,  608,  615,  616,  660, 
661,  674,  682. 


698 


IXDEX 


Brown,  continued. 
John  A.,  687. 
John  H.,  635. 
John  O.  W.,  625. 
Joseph,   102,   311,  393,   538,   539, 

542,  583,  C89. 
Joshua,   116,   118,   176,   181,  206, 

207,  347,  350,    352,    353,    370, 
Z'/'2,  374,  541,  588,  603. 

Mary,  193. 

Moses,  270,  293,  489,  628. 

Nathan,  569. 

Nathaniel,  578. 

Prince,  611,  617. 

Widow  Rebecca,  206. 

Richard,  28,  38,  47,  48,  51,  53, 
54,  56-58,  66,  67,  84,  93,  99, 
115,   116,   118,    131,    i8r,    206, 

208,  241,    330,    335,    402,    508, 
528,  541,  639,  672,  674. 

Robert,  391,  392. 

Robert  L.,  392. 

Samuel,  360,  609. 

Miss   Sarah,  311. 

Stephen,  300,  610. 

Thomas,  z^^  54,  65,  84,  88,  89, 
100,  141,  163,  180,  228,  372, 
426.  540,  586,  602,  607,  612, 
651. 

Rev.   Thomas   G.,  388. 

i'ristram,  2>7'^- 

William,  444,  562,  566,  605,  629, 
656. 
Brown's    Gardens,  424,  426. 
Brown  High  School,  270. 
Brown's  Springs,   428. 
Brunswick,   Me.,  392,  544. 
Bryer,  Richard,  503,  507. 
Buccaneers,  478. 
Buck,  Rev.  Amasa,  387. 

Joseph,  607. 
Buckets,  .-285-287,  297. 
Building  Yards,  475,  479-481,  489. 
Bulkley,  Peter,  444. 
Bull,  Sign  of  the,  478. 
Bull's  Garrison,  506. 
Bullets,  62,  171,  225,  538. 
Bulls,  zz,  297. 
Bunker   Hill,   604,   610. 

Battle     f,  592,  602,  604. 
Burbank,  Benjamin,  612. 

Caleb,  570. 

Ebenezer,  543. 

Eleazer,  571.  578. 

Gershom,  564,  576. 

John,  601,  609,  616-618. 

Micajah,  570. 
Burgoyne,   General,  596. 
Burlington,  N.  J.,  470. 
Burnet.  Gov.  William.  233,  681. 
Burnham,  Col.  Jonathan,  591. 

Moses,  627. 


Burning  the  Woods,  131. 
Burr,  Rev.  Jonathan,  651. 
Burrill,  Anthony,  626. 

Jacob,  572,  578,  617. 

James,    180,  626.  • 

Patrick,  627.. 

Samuel,  564,  566. 

William,   572. 
Burroughs,    George^   430,   628. 
Burying     Grounds,    39,     59,     128, 
227,  231,  313.  314,  340,  347,  356, 
379.  391,  392,  644. 

Byfield,  231. 

First,  39,  59. 

at    First    Parish,   410. 

Old,  456. 

Old   Hill,  644. 

Quaker,  390. 

Sawyer's    Hill,     227,    347,    356, 

369- 
Busbee,   Nicholas,  49. 
Buswell,  Hon.  Barker,  145. 

Benjamin,   568. 

Isaac,  419. 

James,  566,  572,  575. 

John,  629. 

Jonathan,  600,  614. 

Lt.  William,  446. 
Butler,  John,  562,  615. 

John  D.,  635. 

Rev.  O.  S.,  394. 
Butman,  William,  611. 
Butter,  331. 

Button,  Daniel,  503,  504. 
Buttons,  123. 
Buxton,  Me.,  512. 
Buzzard's  Bay,  13. 
Byfield.  Mass.,  274,  275,  293,  295, 
298,  299,  308,  364,  365,  381,  405, 
406. 
Byfield,    Nathaniel,   230,   364,   366, 

520. 

Byfield  Parish,  64,    229-231,    233, 
240.  257,  274,  275,  294,  299,  362, 
394,  406,  415,  644,  668. 
Burying  Ground,  231. 
Church,  365,  584. 
"History  of,"  369. 
Records  of,  364. 
Meeting  House,  240,  367,  368. 
Parsonage.  428. 
Byfield,   Factory  at,  295. 
Byfield       Methodist       Episcopal 

Church,  393. 
Byfield  Woollen  Company,  295. 

CALASH,  271,  272. 
Caldwell,   Benjamin,  628. 
Charles,   633. 
Davis  S.,  410. 
Jonathan,  61.?.  618. 
Calef,  John,  427.  542,  543. 


INDEX 


699 


"Calisto"    (brig),  489. 
Calley.  Eliphalet,  613,  618. 

Jonathan,  618. 
Calves,  523. 

Cambridge,  Mass.,  23,  29,  34,  40, 
41.  151,  192,  289,  313,  413,  493, 
585,  587-589,  591,  604,  612,  675, 
682. 
Cambridge   (servant),   256. 
Cammett,  George,  635. 

Serg.  Paul,  563. 
Campbell,   Duncan,  468. 

George,  627. 

John,  468,  469,  567. 
Canada,  17,  447,  514-516,  439,  543, 
554..  556,  574.  580. 

Invasion  of,  575. 

Reduction    of,    572. 
Canadians.  557. 
Canady,  Charles,  608. 
Canal,  297. 
Canary  Islands,  13. 
"Canceau"  (British  sloop),  574. 
Candrick,  Samuel,  562. 
Cannon,  279,  550,  555,  557. 
Canoes,  127,  217,  261,  520,  522. 
Canseau,  550. 

Strait  of,  547. 
Canso,  Cape,  548. 
Canso,    Great   Island  of,  548. 
Canso,  Gulf  of,  548. 
Canso,  Port  of,  548. 
Cape  Ann,  91,  591,  600,  621. 
Cape  Breton,    515,    543,    547-549, 
552,  578. 

Expedition  to,  666. 

Map   of,  548. 
Cape  Cod,  13,  17,  18,  281. 
Capital   Punishment,   146I 
Captivity   by     Indians,    229,     518, 

519,  521,  539. 
Carding   Machines,   294. 
Carlisle,  Earl  of,  26. 
Carlton,  Amos,  610,  614. 

George  E.,  632. 

George  W.,  635. 

John,  626. 

Jonathan.  606,  610,  614. 

Sambo,  613. 

Stephen,  560. 
Carnes,  Hepzibah,  667. 

John,  667. 
Carpenters,  32,  338,  476. 
Carr,  Benjamin,  587,  5oi. 

George,  23.  71,  254,  418-420, 
435-437,  440-442,  446-448,  475- 

James,  139,  179,  204,  246,  420, 
443-448,  455.  536,  538,  539, 
562,  s66,  615. 

John,  236,  576,  632,  656. 

Joseph,  587,  601. 


Carr,  continued. 

Nathaniel,  568. 

Richard,  246,  331,  441,  447,  448, 
452,  455,  475,  530,  549,  553- 

Robert,  42.  97,  142,  173,  677. 

Samuel,  566,  576,  588,  603,  60O. 

William,  446. 
Carr's  Ferry,  414,   419,    434,    438, 

484. 
Carr's  Island,  83,  308,    419,    434, 

435-  437-439,  475,  483. 

Carnages,   271,   273-275,  458,   463. 

Carry,   Lt.   James,  626. 

Cart  Creek,  67,  261,  653,  662. 

Cart   Place,  259. 

Cart  River,  67. 

Cart  Way,  416. 

Carter,   Benjamin,  572. 
Joseph,  54,  84. 
Nathaniel,   154. 
Capt.  Thomas,  621,  684. 

Carteret,  Gov.  Philip,  171. 

Carts,  T46,  271,  27s,  330,  421. 

Cartwright,  George,  42,  97,  142, 
173,  677. 

Carver,   Seth,  572. 

Cary,  Rev.  Thomas,  344,  378,  590. 

Casco,  522,  524,  529. 

Casco  Bay,  145,  161,  172,  182,  450, 
520-523,  529,  531,  533-535- 

Casks,   119,  225. 

Cassiday,    Charles,   567,   571,  602, 
611. 
John,  563. 
Philemon,  563. 

Castle  Island,  35.  36,  207. 
Fort  on,  35. 

Castle  Tavern,  312,  325.  326. 

Castro,  John,  565. 

Caswell,  John,  578. 

Cat,   Wild,    125. 

Cate,  Hon.  George  W.,  200. 

Cate    (servant),   256. 

Catechism,  2,t,j,  407. 

Cattle,  2>2,  22,^  52-56,  113,  129,  131- 
137,  166,  167,  217,  222,  223,  272, 
418,  419,  423,  435-437,  439,  45i, 
452,  458,  460,  523,  591,  597,  648, 
670. 
Raising,  262. 

Cavalry,  497. 

Cavenaugh,  James,  613,  618. 
John,  601. 

Ceaser  (Indian),  254. 

Cedar  Timber,  13. 

Celebration  of  Surrender  of 
Quebec,  235. 

Celebrations,   Anniversary,  309. 

Cemeteries,  227,  235,  265,  302, 
310,  ^44,  651,  65^.  See  Bury- 
ing Grounds. 


JOO 


INDEX 


Cemeteries,  continued. 

Oak  Hill.  302,  310. 
Centre   Street,  427. 
Ceser,  William,  615. 
Chaddlewood,    Devonshire,    Eng- 
land, 664. 
Uhaffey,   Matthew,  67,  419,  662. 
Chain  Bridge,  277. 
Chains,  331. 

Chair,   Passenger,  271,  272^  472. 
Chaise,  271,  272. 
Challis,  Thomas,  516. 
Cham,   Robert,  510. 
Chamberlin.   Asa,  626. 
Chambers,   John,  606.  » 

William,  613. 
Champlain,  Samuel  de,   14. 
Champlain,  Lake,  560,  561. 
Chancellorsville,  Va.,  633. 
Chandler,   Benjamin,  564. 

Daniel,  609. 

Serg.  Isaac,  559. 

James,  656. 

Philip,  £76. 

William,  94.    loi,   107,   no,   123, 
163,  176,  180,  203,  225. 
Chandler's  Lane,  91,  234,  242,  2.(i2, 

336,  384,  40s,  480,  482,  670. 
Chapels,    ZiyZTi,    2,77,    385,    393, 
394- 

Queen  Anne's,  27'^'2>72- 
Chaplains,  170,  371,  519,  594. 
Chaplin,  Henry  P.,  295. 
Chapman,   Henry,   626. 

Capt.   Jonathan,  485. 
"Charity"    (ship),   20. 
Charles,  Prince  of  Wales,  17. 
Charles,  King,  642. 
Charles  L  King,  26,  172,  328. 
Charles  II,     King,     42,     97,     142, 
146,  171-175,  177,  19s,  328,  329, 
497.  679. 
Charles  YI,  547. 
Charles  River.  19,  22,  24. 
Charles    Street,   303. 
Charleston,  S.  C,  380. 
Charlestown,    Mass.,    2^,    24,    40. 
96,  272,  321,  366,  378,  476,  493, 
666. 

No.  4,  N.  H.,  607. 
Charltons,  Jonathan,  611. 
Charters,   26,   42,   61,   95,  96,    119, 
195,  196,  209,  246,  252,  498,  499, 
518,  670.  679,  680. 

Annulled,  498. 
Chase,  Corporal,  528. 

Abel,  589. 

Amos,  626. 

Anthony,  567. 

Aquilla,  91,  93,  116,  120,  121, 
163.  181,  206,  214.  216,  541, 
603,  606,  610,  611,  659,  660. 


Chase,  continued. 

Barker,  606. 

Benjamin,  606,  610,  611,  614, 
660. 

Charles,  656. 

Daniel,  181,  542,  628,  659. 

David,  462. 

Edmund,  587. 

Eliphalet,  611. 

Enoch,  578,  606. 

Hannah.  668. 

Henry,  626. 

Isaac,  579. 

Jacob,  272,  626. 

John,  117,  181,  206,  228.  347, 
507,  511,  536,  568,  579,  588, 
589,  603,  606,  611,  627. 

Johnson,   568. 

Jonathan,  587. 

Joseph,  539,  589,  603. 

Joshua,  588,  603,  611. 

Josiah,  566,  626. 

Moses,  206,  283,  352,  536,  538, 
539,  542,  588,  606,  628. 

Nathan,  589. 

Nathaniel,  569,  603,  608. 

Parker,  589. 

Perley,  603.  606,  610. 

Priscilla,  665. 

Robert,   611. 

Samuel,  603,  606,  613.  618. 

Simeon,  582,  617. 

Stephen,  516. 

Stuart,  306,  640. 

Thomas,  117,  181,  206,  228,  236, 
2?,7,  503,    511,    536,    539,    541, 
^  543.  568,  589,  606,  628. 

Thomas   H.,   628. 

Wells,  568. 
Chase   Street,  364. 
Chater,  John,  93,   100. 
Cheese,  483. 

Cheesemore,     Daniel,     559,     567, 
572. 

Jacob,  601. 
Cheever,  Aaron,  575,  579. 

John,  605. 
Chelmsford,  Mass.,  668. 
Chelsea,   Mass.,  272,  60s. 
Chelsea  Bridge,  275. 
Cheney,  Abner  M.,  627. 

Benjamin,  S70 

Daniel,  102,  117,  163.  164,  181. 
204,  207,  526,  536,  539,  542, 
567,   589,  611. 

David,  609. 

Edmund,  567. 

Elias,  575.  579- 

John,  41,  50,  55,  84,  88,  99,  no, 
114,  141,  163,  169.  229,  230, 
418,  420,  542.  587,  601. 

Jonathan,  601.  627. 


INDEX 


701 


Cheney,  continued. 

Joseph,  88,  542,  549,  565. 

Moses,  570. 

Nathaniel,    178,    182. 

Peter,  no,    in,    158,    178.    182, 
204.  213,  258,  317,  526. 

William,   572,   si"^. 
Chickcring,  John,  305. 
Child,   Ephraim,  650. 

Rev.  James  H.,  369. 
Chily.   David,   181. 
Chimneys,  670. 
Chipman,   Daniel,  610. 

Henry,  559.  565. 
Chipman     Silver     Mining     Coin- 

l)any,  307. 
Chiriirgeon,  67,  419,  553- 
Choate,   Benjamin,  601. 

Horace,  686. 

John,  243,  601. 

Joseph,  587,  601. 

True,  238. 
Choate's    Regiment,  552. 
Chorus,  310. 

Christ  Church,  Boston,  265. 
Christmas,   251.   - 
Chubb.   Capt.   Pascha,  519. 

Percival,  515. 
Church,   Col.   Benjamin,   508. 

Thomas,  508. 
Church  and  Slavery,  257. 
Church  Conditions^  343. 
Church      Conference      at       Cam- 
bridge, 313. 
Church   of    England,    15,   26,   228, 

371,  376,  384- 
Church     Government,     165,     316, 

361. 
Church  Membership,  314. 
Church  Music,  Book  on,  356. 
Church  Street,  381,  428. 
Church    Troubles,    316,    318-322, 

357.  358. 
Church  Wardens,  2n^-yi^,  385. 
Churches,  92.  97,  98,  loi,  102,  117, 

161,  177. 313,  z^(i,  655. 

First  in  Newbury,  36,  61,  313. 
Fellowship  and  Discipline  of, 

313- 

at  Andover,  Mass.,  316. 

in  Newbury,  165,  166. 

First  in   New   England.   15. 

in   Salisbury,    165. 
Churchill.  Thomas,  613. 
Churchmen,  677. 
Chute,   Daniel,   582,   595,  683. 

David,   587. 

James,  587. 
Cider,   218. 

Citizens'  Electric  Street  Railway, 
276. 


City  Hall,  310. 
Civil  Engineers,  161,  379. 
Clapboard  Island,    161. 
Clapboards,  2,']2- 
Clark.  Rev.  C.  F..  381. 

Ebenezer,  570. 

George  W.,  686. 

Henry,  426.  628. 

John,  54,  67,  68,  79,  84,  85,  88, 
93,  99,  100.  160,  332,  348-350, 
401,  419,  651,  653,  662,  663, 
676. 

John  P.,  628. 

Jonas,    161. 

Jonathan,  204,  506. 

Nathaniel,  loi,  no,  112,  117, 
nS,  176,  19s,  196,  203,  205, 
207,  210,  212,  213,  216,  225, 
258.  2^7,  318.  330.  ZZZ.  400, 
417,  422.  427,  444,  478,  482, 
498,  499,  516. 

Dr.    Parker,    569. 

Percival,  516. 

Dr.  Peter,  666. 

Samuel,  198. 

Stephen,  563,  576,  579. 

Thomas,  160,  322,  542,  563,  666, 
678. 

William,  28,  578. 
(  larkson.  Jacob  G.,  633. 
Cleveland,   Dr.   Nehemiah,  274. 

William   N.,  294. 

William  N.  &  Co.,  294. 
Clement,  Fawn,  217,  481. 

Francis,  541. 

Job,  IS4- 

John,   143. 

Joseph,   243. 
Clement's   Inn,   313. 
Clergy,   149. 

Clergymen,    311,   316,   329,   330. 
Clerks,   Church,  393. 
Clerks  of  Courts,  202. 
Clerks  of  the  Market,    in,     119, 

120. 
Clerks,  Town,  46,  47,  64,  95.  183, 

316.  395,  402.  425,  608,  639. 
Clerks  of  the  Writs,  58,  104,  639. 
Clifford,   David,  626. 
Clipper  Ships,  491,  492. 
Clock,  378. 
Cloth.  258. 
Clothier,  258. 
Clothing  for    Poor  School    Chil 

dren,  406. 
Clough.  Ezra,  570.  572,  578. 

Joseph,  565. 

Josiah,   S76. 

Nathaniel,  567.  572. 
Coaches,  271,  272,  275. 

Stage,  273. 


702 


INDEX 


Coal  Road,  548. 

Coasf  Trade,  478,  480.  491. 

Coat,  David,  565. 

Coccrey,  Thomas,  435. 

Cocheco   (Dover),   N.   H.,  24. 

Cochickewick   (Andover),   Mass., 

70.  7.3-75. 
Cochrane,  Daniel,  613,  618. 

Miss  Mary,  344. 
Cockraft,  Colonel,  559. 
Cod,  Cape,   13,   17,   18,  24,  25,  45, 

281. 
Coddington,  Milton,  ']2f 
Codfish,   17. 
Codman,  John,  275. 
Coffin,   Lieutenant,   402. 
Mr.,  437,  439. 
Abel,  576. 
Amos,  686. 
Baker,  566. 

Benjamin,  484,  564,  565. 
Dr.   Charles,  667,  669. 
Daniel,  560,  570. 
David,  293. 
Mrs.  Dorcas,  669. 
Rev.   Enoch,   170. 
Mrs.   Hephzibah,  667. 
Jacob,  484,  485,  587. 
James,   181,  207,  528,  541,  543. 
John,  228,  424,  615,  625,  668. 
John   B.,   489. 
Joseph,  217,  309,  489,  513,  564, 

568,  582,  625,  640,  667. 
Joshua,  343,  582,  640,  641,  669, 

672. 
Mrs.  Judith.  668. 
Lemuel,  586. 
Moses,  484,  586. 
Nathaniel,    158,     170,    205,    218, 
219,  236,    248,    334,    401,    424, 
528,  541,  543,  640,  668,  681. 
Mrs.   Patience,  668. 
Paul,  513.  576,  614. 
Peter,   146,   169,  217,  541,  660. 
Richard,  569L 
Saul,  628. 

Stephen,  484,   566,   589. 
Tristram.   71,   ^2,  94,     loi,    102, 
106,     108,     110-112,     114,     115, 
117,  118,    121,     123,    146,    156, 
163,   176,   180,     194,    209,    210, 
212,  237,  240,    334,    351,    398, 
400,  402,  418,    419,    422,    425, 
436,  479,    497,    540,    543,    564, 
6.=;o,  659,  672,  674,  680. 
William,  2TJ,  562,  565,  569. 
Coffin's   Lane,  484,  489. 
Coffin's  Shipyard,  489. 
Cog-gin,   Rev.  William  S.,  368. 
Coggshall,  Rev.  Samuel  W.,  393. 
Cohasset,  24. 


Coker,  Sergeant,  203. 
Benjamin,    180,    203. 
Hathorn,  390,  391. 
Joseph,    116,   177,   180,  563,  565, 

572,  575.  579- 

Moses,  542,  660. 

Robert,  28,   54,  84,  88,   109-111, 
X15,  141,  169,  180,  220,  422. 

Samuel,  286,   390. 

Mrs.  Tirzah,  390. 

William,  628. 
Coker  Field,  390. 
Colby,  Chase,  611. 

George   J.  L.,  686. 

Gideon.  616. 

Hezekiah.  286,  562,  565. 

Ichabod.  575,  579. 

Isaac,  616. 

John,  S4Q.-- 

Jonathan,  615. 

Joseph   Lunt,  287. 

Joshua,  562,  576. 

Makepeace,  575,  579,  602,  614. 

Obadiah,  616. 

Samuel,  508,  538,  539,  575,  570, 
618. 

Stephen.  578. 

Thomas,  537,  539. 

Ens.  Timothy,  560,  562, 

Winthrop,  589. 
Colchester  (Salisbury),  Mass.,  68, 

434.  439- 
Cold  Brook,  198. 
Cole,  Benjamin,  285. 

Charles  C,  633. 

Charles  \,.,  636. 

Christonher,  506. 

Robert,  28,  569. 
Coleman,  Anna,   148. 

Benjamin,  257,  365,  366.  582. 

Daniel   F.,   625. 

Dudley,  582,   583,   593.  605,  607, 
608,  640. 

Thomas.  32,   2>7>,  4i.   49.   54,  64, 
84,  80,  99,   170,  213. 

Tobi,  207.  526. 
Colewell,  William,  563. 
Collectors  of  Taxes,   113. 
Colleges,   151-154,    310,    324-    344, 
368.  379,  382,  392,  400,  402. 

Amherst,  368. 

Bowdoin,  392. 

Dartmouth,  310. 

Harvard,  151,  161,  191,  192,  2)7>Z^ 
344,  379,  382,  652,  666-668,  682. 
Collcy,   Lsrael,  615. 

Joseph,  615. 
Collins,  Benjamin,  616. 

Daniel,  614. 

Enoch,  615. 

fTezekiah,  390. 


INDEX 


703 


Collins,   continued. 

Joseph,  286. 

Richard,  390. 

William,  628. 
Colony    of    Massachusetts    Bay, 

19- 

Colors,  531. 
King's.  35. 
"Columbian   Orator,"  408. 
Columbus,   Christopher,   13. 
Combs,  266. 

Commandments,  The,  340. 
Commerce,  90,  264,  462,  467,  485, 

620,  621. 
Commercial  Affairs,  475. 
Commercial  Wharf,  309. 
Commissioners     to     End     Small 

Causes,  44,  60,  79,  93,  103-106. 
Committee  of  Safety,  207,  208. 
Committee     of     Vigilance,     etc., 

631. 
Common    Land,    53,    54,    56,    64, 

84,  85.  92-95,  113.  126-129,  132- 

139,  210,  213-21=;,  223,  347,  354, 

401,  415,  418,  420,  449,  472. 
Common   Pasture,   293,   300,   304, 

305. 
Communion,  340,  342. 
Cup,  375. 
Service,  ZTZ^  375. 
Table,  340,  342,  359. 
Companies,   Military,  O2. 
Conant.  Roger,  21,  22. 
Concord,  Mass.,  40.  493,  585,  586, 

591,  597.  598.  682,  683. 
Js.   H.,   168,   170,  573,  591. 

Settlement  of,  170. 
"Concord"  (ship).  13. 
Concord   River.    198. 
Condry,  Dennis.  685. 
Congress,  499,  599,  620-622. 
Conley,   William,   610,   613,   618. 
Connecticut.    465,    466,    500,    503, 

506,  520.  560. 
Connecticut,   Colony  of,   215. 
Connecticut   River,   171,   172,    182, 

500,  505-508. 
Conner,  Joseph,  613,  617.  618. 

Josiah,   617. 
Connolly,    William.   613,   618. 
Connor,  William,  563,  566. 
Constables,    40,    47,    48,     52,    62, 

106,  109-113,  120,  121,  131,  146, 

153.  201.  202.  208,  217,  250-252, 

399,  526. 
Constitution    of     Massachusetts, 

288-290. 
Contee.  William,  618. 
Continental   Army,    172,   274,  595, 

596,  598,  602,  614,  t)i6.  619. 
Continental    Congress,    474,    583, 

595- 


Contoocook,  516. 
Contoocook   River,    170. 
Contributions.   Church,  314. 
Controversy   in    Church,   316-320. 
Conventions,    289,    290,    296,    581, 
593,  597,  598,  621. 

County,  593. 

Relative  to   Importations  from 
England,   296. 

State,  for  forming  Constitution, 
289,  290. 
Conveyances,  271. 
Conway,   Timothy.   fi2i2>- 
Cook,    Charles,   286. 

Elias,  489,  605,  615. 

Elisha,  283. 

John,  602. 

Samuel,   238. 

Thomas,   489. 
Coolidge,  Rev.  Charles  H.,  364. 
Coombs,  John.  293. 

John  P.,  686. 

Philip.  287.  288.  564. 

William,  275,  293. 
Cooper,   Jacob,   602. 

John,  100,  567,  568. 

Joseph,   567. 

Parker,    575,    579. 

Robert,   163. 

William,   568. 
Coos,  N.  H.,  590. 
Coos  Country,  171. 
Copp,  John,  608. 
Copyright,   Infringement  of,   366. 
Corazo.  478. 
Cordage,  264. 
Cordy,  James,  616. 
Cormorant  Rocks,  551. 
Corn,  18.  39,  56,  95,  II3,   132-134, 
137,  138,  156,  159,  166,  167,  201, 
259,  260,  262,  398,  483,  649. 

Indian,  201. 

Mills,  156,   158,  258,  298. 
Cornbury.    Lord,    470. 
Corney,   John,   2>7Z- 
Cornwallis,  General,  S99- 
Corporal,    Stephen,   607. 
Correspondence.    Committee     of, 

583. 
Corwin,   Capt.   George,  502. 

Capt.  John,  502. 

Hon.    Jonathan,    24O. 
Cottle,   Edmund.   376. 

Ezra,  426,   470,  480. 

Joseph,    376. 

Mrs.  Mary,  479. 

William,    too,    163.   479. 
Cottle's  Lane,  245,  266,  267,  426, 

492. 
Cotton,  Benjamin,  602,  618. 

Leonard,  614. 

Thomas,   515. 


704 


INDEX 


Cotton,  continued. 

William.   169. 
Cotton   Cloth,  294. 
Cotton   Goods,  302. 
Cotton   Wool.   217,   483. 
Cotton  Yarn,  295. 
Couch.  John.  549. 
Joseph,   606. 
Rev.  Paul.  381. 
Robert,  686. 
William,  569. 
Council    for    New     England,      18, 

20,  22,  26,  31. 
Counties,   Division  of  Colony  in- 
to, 74. 
Country   Road,  90,  238.  333,  373. 
375-  390.  414.  418,  419,  427-430, 
437,  438,  672. 
County   Convention,  593. 
"Courier"    (ship),   491. 
Court  House,  241-243,  335. 
Courts,  23,  27,  40.   41.  79.  80,  95, 
173,  242,  245-248,  252,253,  262, 
282,  292,  315,  318,  319,  331.  341, 
342,  364,  370,  373,  389,  390,  396, 
413,  416-418,  423.  431,  433.  435- 

437,  439-443-  448-451,  453-455- 
457-460.  462,  463,  476,  495,  498. 
Cow    Commons,    132,    134-137. 
Cow  House^  S7- 
Cows,  56,  127,   132,   134.   135,  203- 

207,  214,  523,  670. 
Cradock.   Matthew,   26.   27. 
Crane,    Dorothy.    75. 

Richard,  7<^.  76. 
Crane   Neck"  Hill.  83,  228,  308. 
Crane  Pond,  83,  30S. 
Craw,  John,  207. 
Creaton.   Robert,  6ig. 
Creesy,  Daniel,  559. 

Francis,  576. 

Joseph.  .564,  576. 

Michael,  625. 

Samuel,  562. 
Crier,   Town,   217. 
Crimes,   34,  38.  43,  45.  46.  79,  80, 
T06,  120-124,  140,  142,  144,  147, 
186.  201,  246,  247,  252,  253,  284, 
320,  331,  389,  416. 
Criminals,   173,   247,  284,  416. 
Crocker,    Elizabeth,    265. 

John,  264,  265,  376. 

Mrs.   Mary,  265. 
Crocket,   Thomas.  526. 
Cromlom.  Gyles,  90,  163,  339. 

Crompton,  ,  253. 

Cromwell,  John,  171. 

Oliver.   172. 

Richard,    172. 

Thomas.   44.   40.   55.   57.  84.  89. 


Cronin,    Maurice,   636. 
Crosby,   Anthony,   526.       * 

Nathaniel,  515. 
Cross,   Henry  M.^  686. 

John,  44,  70,  435,  436. 

Moses,  565. 

Ralph,   434,  482,  569.  614. 

Stephen,    292. 

Thomas,  286. 

William,  488. 
Cross,    Defacing,    in    Ensign,    34, 

35- 
Cross  on  the   Flag,  497,  498. 
Cross  Street,  89,  90. 
Crow,  Ebenezer.  606. 
Crow   Bars,   248. 
Crown   Point,   235,    547,   556.   557, 
559-563,  574- 

Battle  of,  235. 

Expedition  to,  658.  668. 
Crows,  124-126. 
Cruisers,   530,  621. 

English.    621. 
Cullers   of  Fish,   119. 
Cullers  of  Staves,   no.  119. 
Cumberland  County,  607. 
Cummings.   Witter.   376,   383. 
Cummings   &  Harris,  483. 
Cup,   Silver.  37s. 
Curate,    375. 

Curfew,  The,  249.  250.  334. 
Currency,  597,  598. 
Curricles,  271. 
Currier,  Albert  M.,  634. 

Benjamin  C,  686. 

Humphrey,  442. 

Isaac,  609. 

Jacob.  579.  616. 

Jedediah.  587,  601,  611. 

John,    306,    4IO,    491,    569-    579, 
587,  601,  604,  610,  615,  617. 

Joseph.  61S. 

Joshua,  571,  572. 

Nicholas,  562,  615. 

Paul,   564. 

Serg.  Richard,  538.  539. 

Samuel,  559.  567.   575,  579,  613, 
618. 

William,  491,  492,  575,  601,  615- 
617,  68^. 

Willis,  616. 
Currier's  Shipyard,  491. 
Curtis.   Daniel.   563. 

Timothy.   615. 
Curzon   Mill   Road.  423. 
Gushing,   Mr.,  657. 

Caleb,    264,    310,    339,    410,    411, 
56/1,   567,  68s. 

John.  614. 

Capt.  John  N.,  491. 


INDEX 


705 


Gushing  &  Appleton,  655. 
Cushm«in,    Captain,  484. 

R(.)bfirt,  20,  21. 
Custom  House,  491. 
Customs,  182. 
Cutler,   William,   277. 
Cutshamoche,  Sagamore,  74. 
Cutting,   John,    54,  64,  84-86,  89- 

91,  94.   142,   143,  438. 
Cutts,  John,   IS3,   194. 

Richard,  153. 
Cuttyhunk,   13. 

D  ALTON,  N.  H.,  172. 
Dalton,  Jcretniah,  564,  572. 

Michael,     243,     266,     286,    376, 
436,  464,   570,   682. 

Samuel,    106. 

Tristram,  154,  172. 
Daly,  John,  570. 

Moses,  570. 
Dam,  653. 

Damariscotta   River,  520. 
Damask,  359. 
Dame,  Rev.  Charles,  362. 

Luther,  409,  640,  686,  687. 
Dame,  School,  401. 
Damford,  William,   181. 
Damrell  &  Upham,  384. 
Dana.    Rev.    Daniel,  345. 
Dana's,     Mr.,     Meeting     House, 

274. 
Danbury,  Conn.,  609. 
Dancing,  521. 
Dane,   Corp.   Daniel,  559. 

Philemon,   572. 
Danford,  William.  203. 
Danforth,  John,   570-572. 

Joseph,   570,   587,  609. 

Joshua,  572. 

Mercy,  645. 

Oliver,  570. 

Samuel,  570,  572,  575,  579. 

Thomas,     141,     169,     189,    283, 
322. 
Daniel,  323. 
Danish  Soldiers,  604. 
Danvers,  Mass.,  607.  611. 
Dartmouth,  England,   15. 
Dartmouth   College,  310. 
Daspe  Harbour,  548. 
Dauphin,  Port,  548. 
Davenport,  Anthony,  223,  299. 

Samuel,  570. 

Capt.  William,  570,  576,  578. 
David,  216. 
Davis.  Aaron.  572,  575.  579,  602. 

Abel,  565,  568,  576. 

Ambrose,  2,'](i. 

Benjamin,  615,  656. 

Charles,  606. 


Davis,  continued. 
Cornelius,  179,  209,  506,  659. 
Eben  P.,  635. 
Edmund,   566. 
Capt.  Elias,  609. 
Enoch,  589. 

Ephraim,   180,  206,  659. 
George,  559. 
Jacob,  615. 
James,  71,  181,  627. 
Jeremiah,   179,  206,  510. 
John,  16,  81,  loi,  179,  206,  207, 

481,  515,  604,  627,  635,  660. 
Joseph,  516. 

Joshua,  615. 

Diary  of,  616. 
Moses,  572.  '  ; 

Nathaniel,  613. 
Oliver,  627. 
Richard,  627. 
Robert,  589. 
Saul,  627. 
Stephen,  617. 
Thomas,  54,    84,    94,    100,    589, 

609. 
William,  606,  61S,  616. 
Zachariah,    180,    206,    503,   540, 

660. 
Davison,    Daniel,    189,    196,    207, 

215,  217,  282,  445,  449-452,  477, 

482,  680. 
Nicholas,  372. 

Day,  Lharles  C.  633. 
Deacon,  Edward,  611. 
Deacons,  314,  332,  335,  365,  368. 

Seats,  359. 
Dean,  Francis,  588,  603,  607. 

Samuel,  575. 

Thomas,  177. 
Dearborn,  Eben  H.,  633. 

Harrison  W.,  633. 
Deaths,  58,  60,  122,  225,  235,  260, 
632,  633,  635,  639. 

in  War,  632,  633,  635. 
Debeck,  Moses,  576. 
"Decatur"  (steamboat),  491. 
Declaration     of     Independence, 

595- 
Dedham,    Mass.,    148,    321,    493, 

506,  511. 
Deeds,  182-185,  201. 

Indian,  182-185. 
Deekcr,  John.  181. 
Deer,   119,  120. 

Informers  of,  119,  120. 
Deer  Island,  25,  83,  227,  277,  302, 
463.  464- 
Bridge,  299,  463. 
Deer  Jump,  Alethuen,  198. 
Deerfield,  Mass.,  503,  504,  622. 
Deerskin,  218. 


7o6 


INDEX 


Defences,  625. 
Dclane,  Philip,  229. 
Delaney,  James,  614. 
Demond,  Rev.  Elijah,  381. 
Dennett,  Charles,  627. 
Dennison,    Daniel,   68,    184,    189, 

319,  493,  494,  496,  497,  502. 
Deptford,  England,  167. 
"Deptford"  (vessel  of  the  royal 

navy),  530. 
Deputies,  61,  163,  173,  675. 

House  of,  68. 
Derby,  R.,  595- 
Dernier     Resort     Fire     Society, 

286. 
Derry,  N.  H.,  344- 
Devine,  John,  636. 
Devonshire,   England,  81. 
Devyes,  England,  32. 
Diary  of  Joshua  Davis,  616. 
Diarv    of   Judge    Samuel    Sewall, 

191. 
Dick,  Jonas,  625. 
Dickinson,  Abijah,  572. 

Micajah,  570. 
Dieskau,  General,  557,  558. 
Dieskau's  Path,  561. 
Dikes,  534,  653. 
Dimond,  John,  613,  618. 
Dinner,  Anniversary,  310. 
Diocese,  The,  371. 
Dip  Net,  284. 
Disarmament,  648. 
Disarmed,  493. 

Diseases,  Contagious,  224,  225. 
Disfranchisement,  43. 
Dismal  Ditch,  139. 
Disorderly  Proceedings,  355. 
Distilleries,  262. 
Distilling  Liquors,  264. 
District  Schools,  410-412. 
Ditson,  Hugh,  248. 
Docking  Entail,  390. 
Docks,  475,  482. 
Doctor's     Commons,     312,     325, 

326. 
Dodge.  Abraham,  600,  615. 

Robert,  287,  606,  622. 

William,  606. 
Dodsville  Farm,  Va.,  635. 
Dole,  Abner.  543,  565,  569. 

Amos.   568. 

Daniel,  297. 

David,  284.  586. 

Eben  S.,  687. 

Edward,  410. 

Enoch,  611,  616,  617,  627-629. 

Rev.  George,  362. 

Grccnleaf,  628. 

Henry,  207,  586. 

Jacob,  627. 


Dole,   continued. 

Miss  Jane,  298. 

Jedediah,  627. 

John,  103,  205,  341,  343,  454, 
455,  542,  550,  559,  564,  565, 
587,  605,  617,  664. 

Jonathan,  427,  566,  570. 

Joseph,   180,  477,  576. 

Mary,  454,  664. 

Lt.  Moses,  684. 

Oliver,  572. 

Richard,  59,  91,  94,  100-102, 
no,  114,  116,  118,  128,  142, 
154,  163,  185,  203,  204,  210, 
212.  222,  258,  330,  422,  434, 
482,  563,  664,  678. 

Samuel,  589. 

Silas,  605. 

Stephen,  543,  571,  586. 

William,  59,  433,  434,  541. 
Dolman,  Joseph,  610. 
Donations,  406,  584,  650. 

to  Poor  of  Boston,  584. 

to  School  Fund,  406. 
Donnels,  Nathaniel,  606. 
Dorchester,  Eng.,  20. 

Mass.,   23,  24,  40,   'JT,  81,  493, 
647,  651. 
Dorchester  Company,  21,  22. 
Dorman,  David,  618. 

Timothy,  587,  610. 
Dorsett,   Amicable,   554. 

Peter,   554. 
Doty.  John,  572. 
Dougherty,  Rev.  M.  A.,  381. 
Douglass.  John,  635. 
"Dove"  (sloop),  481,  482,  530. 
Dover.  N.  H.,  42,   106,   142,  143, 
148.    149.    161,     iCkj.    274,    2'&l. 
4.'^i.  437,  518,  544-  058. 
Dow,  Abram  A.,  635. 

Amos,  610. 

Ebenezer,  568. 

Henry,  515,  516. 

James,  627. 

John,  616. 

Thomas,  55,  84.  88,  90. 
Downame,  John.  325. 
Downer,  Andrew,  228,   238,  567. 

Daniel,  628. 

Gideon,  575.  579. 

John,  94,  606. 

Joseph,  181,  203,  238,  542. 
Downer's  Lane,  236. 
Downey,  Cuff,  617. 
Downing.  Mr.,  34. 

David,  563,  575. 

Davis,  572. 

John,  238.  562,  603.  607,  610. 

Moses. '57s";  579- 
Dowry,  Joseph,  611. 


\ 


INDEX 


707 


Doyle,  Thomas,  603. 
Dracut,  Mass.,  198,  483. 
Draft,  598. 
Drag  Net,  283. 
Dragoons,  Mounted,  497. 
Drake,  Abraham,  143. 
Draper,  Richard,  557. 
Draw  Bridge,  279. 
"Dreadnaught"  (ship),  492. 
Dresser,  Henry,  543. 
Drowned,  ZZ>  380,  515. 
Drums,  313,  531. 
Drunkards,  114. 
Drunkenness,  517. 
Dudley,    Joseph,    189,    202,    444, 
521,    523,    524,    52S-530,    533, 
534.  679. 
IMercy,  316,  639. 
Samuel,  618. 

Gov.  Thomas,  ZZ^  4i>  3^6,  639. 
William  A.,  635. 
Duggins,  William,  611. 
Dummer,  Alice,  649. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth,  229. 
Mrs.  Frances,  651,  652. 
Hannah,  651. 
Jane,  191,  672,  674. 
Jeremiah,  334,  651,  652. 
John,  229,  230,  542,  571. 
Joseph  N.,  233,  369. 
Joshua,  627. 
Mrs.  Mary,  651. 
Nathaniel,  294,  609-611. 
Richard,   31-33,  36,  38,  39,   41-43, 
45,  54,  59,  64,  69,  77,  79,  80, 
84,  103,  105,  108,  110-112,  117, 
118,    156,    157,    166,    180,   194, 
195,    203,    208-210,    229,    233, 
294,   317,   320,  445,   497,   518, 
541,  570,  609,  647-652,  676. 
Samuel,  579,  627. 
Sarah  N.,  645,  646. 
Shubael,    =;8.    59,    loi,    518,    570, 

651. 
Stephen.   t^2,   54.   64,   65,   84,   92, 

99.  649,  651,  652. 
Thomas,  649. 

William,  170,  232,  233,  248,  365, 
428,  545.  570,  651,  652. 
Dummer     Academy,     233,     240, 

363.  368,  584. 
Dummer  Farm,  233,  365. 
Dunlap,  James,  635. 
"Dunqucrque  of  America."  547. 
Dunster,  Henry,   152. 
Durant.  Alfred,  294. 

Rev.  Henry,  294,  368. 
Durgen,  Nicholas,  627. 
Dustin,  Mrs.  Hannah,  519. 
Duston.  David,  549,  614. 
Dutch  Ships,  32,  33,  648. 


Dutey,  Samuel,  566. 
Dutton,  Rev.  Horace,  362. 

Stephen,  489. 
Dwinnell,  Amos,  609,  611. 

Henry,  609. 

James,  603. 

C  ALES,  JOHN,  80,  81,  98. 

^     Samuel,  81. 

Ears  cut  ofif,  145. 

Earthquakes,   250. 

East  Bay,  561. 

East    Boston,    Mass.,    167,    474, 

491- 
East  Creek,  561. 
East  Haverhill,  Mass.,  279,  462. 
East  India  Company,  582. 
East  India  Trade,  486. 
East  Salisbury,  Mass.,  281. 
Easter  Sunday,  15. 
Easterbrook.  Rev.  R.  D.,  388. 
Eastern   Continent,   366. 
Eastern  Indians,  522. 
Eastern  Port,  469,  473. 
Eastern  Railroad,  274,  275,  474. 
Eastern     Stage     Company,    274, 

474- 
Eastman,  Ezekiel,  612. 

James,  576. 

Reuben,  615. 
Easton,  John,  118. 

Nicholas,  28,  29,  43,  44,  69,  77, 
99,  154,  647-649,  675. 

William,  44,  49. 
Easton's  River,  70. 
Eaton,  David,  568. 

James,  560. 

Jonathan,  628. 

Joseph,  543,  549, 

Obadiah,  566. 

Thomas,  565. 

William,  568. 
Edgell,  Rev.  John  Q.  A.,  381. 
Edgeremet  (Indian),  519. 
Edmonds,  John  B.,  634. 
Edward,  Fort,  561,  607. 
Edwards,   Benjamin,  685. 

]\Ialichi,  540. 

William,    ^2)7>- 
Elbow  Lane,  427. 
Elders,  383. 

Seats,  359. 
Elder's  Plain,  230. 
Elections,  40,  41,  96. 
Electric  Railroads,  275. 
Elizabeth   (servant),  256. 
Elizabeth,  Cape,  Maine.  13. 
"Elizabeth"   (sloop),  482. 
Elizabeth's  Isle,  24. 
Elliot,  Ephraim,  277. 

John,  588,  603,  651. 


7o8 


INDEX 


iilliot,  continued. 

Samuel,  615. 

Skipper,  572. 
Elnesley,  William,  84,  88. 
Elsee,   Captain,  481. 
Embargo,  620,  621. 
Emerson,   Bulkley,   286,   472-474. 

Edward,  516. 

John,  397-399- 

Jonathan,  611. 

Joseph,  474. 

Samuel,  472,  569. 

Thomas,  619. 
Emery,  Mr.,  664. 

Mrs.  Abigail,  668. 

Amos,  611. 

Anthony,  32,  668. 

Benjamin.  575,  579. 

Daniel,  569,  621,  623,  684. 

David,  610,  611,  614. 

Edmund,  563. 

Eliphalet.   627,  666,  667. 

Ephraim,  588,  603,  606,  608. 

Mrs.  Hannah,  668. 

Jacob,  628. 

John,  ^2,  39,  55,  59.  84,  8S,  88, 
90,  94.  100,  110-112,  114-118, 
123,  131,  140,  149-151,  158, 
159,    163,    164,    168,    179,   205, 

206,  208-210,  212,  213,  223, 
272,  313,  347,  349,  352,  354, 
389,  417,  422-425,  462,  495, 
496,  536,  542,  588,  606,  609, 
659,  668. 

Jonathan.     59,     116.     179,    204, 

207,  506-508.  511,  539.  542. 
Nathan,  588,  610. 
Nathaniel,  291,  589,  683. 
Nicholas,  627. 

Paul,  625. 

Rev.  Rufus,  359,  .539. 
Samuel,  567. 

Stephen,     156,    205,    347,    352, 
354,   424,   425,   539,    542,   564, 
567,  666,  667,  682. 
Stephen  M.,  627. 
Thomas,  238.  560. 
Emery's,  Sergeant,  Mill,  423. 
Emigrants,  68,  75. 
Emigration,  38,  42-44,  146,  168. 
Emperor  of  Austria,  547. 
"End  of  the  Town,"  115. 
"Endeavor"   (brigantine),  480. 
"Endeavor"   (sloop),  530. 
Endicott,  John,  22,  30,  31,  33-36, 

49,  146,  147.  493.  497- 
Engine  Companies,  285,  287,  288. 
Engine  House,  285,  287. 
England,  13-15,  18,  20,  21,  23,  26, 
-21,  2,Z-  34-  38.  65.  TJ,  95-  96,  98, 
140,    143,    144.    147,    148,    172, 
173.    175.    176.    178,    179,    191. 


England,  continued. 

194.  207,  233,  235,  246,  281, 
296,  311,  316,  371,  376,  407, 
435,  436,  470.  472,  475,  484, 
498,    Sii,    518,    519.    521,    543, 

545.  547,  553-556,  580-582,  599, 
620,    621,    624,    630,    642,    648, 

651,  652,  664,  672,  079. 
England,  Francis,  568. 
John,  626. 

Stephen,  603,  606,  608,  613,  618. 
England,  Church  of,  384. 
English,  Joseph,  562,  565. 

Samuel,  185. 
English,    182,   517,  521,  522.  544, 

553,  558. 
English  Army,  235. 
English  Coast,  488,  624. 
English  Colonies,  543,  554,  556. 
English  Commerce,  621. 
English  Cruiser,  621. 
English  Flag,  625. 
English  Forces,  661. 
English  Frigates,  488,  621,  624. 
English   Government,  521. 
English  Grammar,  408,  409. 
English  T-anguage,  408. 
English  Nation,  497. 
English   Plantation,  497. 
English  Troops,  578-580. 
English  Wars,  512. 
Englishmen,   293,   294. 
Enon   (Wenhani),  Mass.,  74. 
Ensign,  The,  34,  35. 
Entertaining  Quakers,  389. 
Epes,  Major,  252. 
Episcopal  Church,  371,  375. 

First,  in  Newbury,  428. 
Episcopalians,  383. 
Epps,  Daniel,  518. 
"Erie"  (steamship),  492. 
"Essex"  (vessel),  624. 
Essex  County,  19,    74,    107.    1.S2, 

184,   202,    233,    242,    243,    245- 

249,    266,    275,    277,    292,    7,22, 

37:^,    444,    445,    45.3.    475.    48O, 

494,    495,    497,    502,    503,    515, 

540,    592.    597,    600.    603.    604. 

607,  614,  621,  622^  644. 
Essex     County    Regiment,    556, 

670. 
Essex    Institute,    473,    474,    486, 

S08. 
Essex    Journal    and    Merrimack 

Packet,  273. 
Essex-Merrimack     Bridge,     241, 

277,    298,    430,    442,    464,    486, 

488. 
Essex  Street,  243. 
Etymology,  408. 
Europe,  467,  485,  543,  547,  620. 
Evangelists,   381,   387. 


INDEX 


709 


Evans,  Benjamin  G.,  119. 
Capt.  Jonathan,  604. 
Rev.  Samuel,  362. 
Evening  School,  409. 
Everenden,  Walter,  TJ. 
Everett,  Hon.  Edward.  310,  504. 
Everson,  George,  515. 
Ewing,  C.  A.  E.,  295. 
Hugh,  295. 
Hugh  U.,  295. 
Hugh  U.  it  Co.,  29s. 
Execution    of    King    Charles    I., 

172. 
Execution  for  Piracy,  468. 
Exeter,  N.  H.,  42,  161,  518,  590, 

S9I,  668. 
"Exiles,"  "The,"  146. 
Expeditions,    172,   371,   432,  447, 
514-S16,  520.  527-530,  535,  549, 
552,    554.    556,    s6o,    562,    563, 
574. 
to  Canada,  447,  515,  516. 
against  Cape  Breton,  549,  552, 

554,  666. 
to  Crown  Point,  556,  560,  562, 

563,  658. 
to  Lake  George,  172,  556. 
to  Coast  of  Maine,  520. 
to  Norridgewock,  527-529. 
to  Nova  Scotia,  530,  535. 
to  Penobscot  River,  574. 
against   Port   Royal,  371. 
against  Quebec,  514. 
Explorers     of     New     England, 

Early,  13. 
Exports,  13,  119. 


CACTORIES,  293-295. 

r     at  Byfield,  293-295. 

Woollen,  293,  294. 

Failures,  295. 

Fairbanks,  Richard,  78,  465. 

Fairfield,  Conn.,  467. 

Falls,   Leander   S.,  632. 

Falls,   The.   of   Newbury,   64.   83. 

115,    182,    227,    229,    230,    308, 

647,  648. 
"Falls  Fight."  507. 
Falls  Parish,  403. 
Falls  River,  64,  121.  230,  258,  294, 

416.  417,  428. 
Bridge  over,  416. 
Falls  of  Saco  River,  521. 
Falls   Village,  428. 
Falmouth,  Eng.,  13. 

(Portland),    Me.,  472,   522,  525, 

552.  668. 
Va.,  633. 
"Falmouth"  (ship),  482. 
Faneuil  Hall,  581. 


Faning,  William,  206. 

Farley,  John  D.,  626. 

Farm,  Town,  299. 

Farmers,  266,  267,  303,  364. 

Farming,  262. 

Farms,  64-68,  81,  82,  88,  92-94, 
116,  123,  132,  139,  212,  215, 
230,  2Z2,,  234,  299,  316,  417, 
419,  426.  427,  439,  651,  653, 
662,  670,  675. 
The,  227,  404,  415. 
District,  271. 

Farnham,  Capt.  Benjamin,  604. 
Daniel,  238,  243,  266,  342,  569. 
Jeremiah,  602. 

Farrington,  Ebenezer,  627. 

Fast  Day,  502. 

Fatherland   Farm,  233,  364,  366, 
368. 

Fay,  Henry,  91,  94. 

Fear,  Cape,  15. 

Febiger,  Adjutant,  604. 

Federal  Constitution,  499. 

Federal  Street,  91,  234,  242,  245, 
249,    262,    274.    302,    303,    381, 

427,  429,  480,  482,  670. 
Fee,  James,  632. 

Felch,  Daniel  M.,  686. 
Fellows,  Benjamin,  609,  611. 

Ezekiel,  603. 
Felton,  Cornelius  C,  627. 
Female  Seminary,  392. 
Fence  Rails,  127. 
Fence  Viewers,  114,  115,  135. 
Fences,  53,  133,  134. 
Ferguson,  Frank  L.,  640. 
Ferrick,  William,  563. 
Ferries,   71,    72,   82,   83,   89,    121, 
166,    198,    199,    24&,    272,    279, 
280,    298,    299,    2)7 Z'    418,    420, 
424.  431-437.  439-464,  468,  644- 

Amesbury,  298.    299,    422,    428, 

4.39-441- 
at  Bartlett's  Cove,  463. 
at  Carr's  Island,  414,  419,  434, 

439- 
Goodwin's,  421. 
Hook's,  442. 
Lower,  454.  456-458. 

Landing  Place,  427. 
March's,  44.2. 
over    Merrimack    River,    438, 

441. 
Old-Town,  4or.  404. 
over  Parker  River,  431-434. 
at  Savage's  Rock,  462. 
Ferry  Boats,  272. 
Ferry    Landings,    419,    421,    427, 

428.  437. 
Ferry  Lot,  54. 
Ferry  Rates,  435,  459. 


7IO 


INDEX 


Ferry  Road,  393,  424. 

Ferry,  Way  to,  418. 

Ferrymen,  253.  272,  431,  432,435, 
437,  442,  448,  453,  455,  459, 
463,  468,  510. 

Fidelity,  Oath  of,  178. 

Field,  John,  325. 

Fielding,  John,  614. 

Fifield,  William,   120. 

Fifth  Church,  375. 

Fifth    Parish,   237-240,   266,   267, 
304,  360,  384,  385. 
Boundaries  of,  240,  266,  267. 
Church,  384,  385,  584- 
Map  of,  239. 

Filbrook,  Jonathan,  569. 

Finch,  Simeon,  607. 

Fines,  41,  53,  79,  80,  95,  120-124, 
127,  141,  142,  144^  146,  162, 
216,  217,  253,  283,  331,  396, 
414,  664,  678. 

Fire  Arms,  78. 

Fire  Department,  288. 

Fire  Engines,  266,  285-288. 

Fire-Locks,  591. 

Firemen,  285-288. 

Fire  Plugs,  302. 

Fires,  17,  129,  131,  145,  259,  262, 
285.  287,  294,  345,  346,  367, 
386,  393- 

Firewards,  287. 

Firman,  John,  181. 

First  Church,  283,  335,  339,  345, 
347.  352,  664. 

First  Church  in  Newburyport, 
339,  344- 

First  Church  in  West  Newbury, 
339,  361. 

First  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  387. 

First  Meeting  House  in  New- 
bury. 654. 

First    Parish,    129,    227-229,   233- 
235,    239,    241-243,    246,    249, 
269-271,    291,    314,    334,    336, 
ZZl,    339-    341,    343,    3^9,    283, 
403-406,  408,  410,  428. 
Boundaries  of,  227. 
Burying  Ground,  410. 
Church,  382,  410,  584. 
Map  of,  239. 
Meeting  House,  241,  249,  269, 

271,  345,  346,_  404,  654. 
Town  House  in,  270. 

First  Parish  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  for  New- 
bury    and     West     Newbury, 

393. 
First  Parish,  Newburyport,  345. 
First     Presbyterian     Church     in 

Newbury,  378,  381. 
in  Newburyport,  345,  384. 


First   Religious   Society   in   New- 
bury, 309. 

in  Newburyport,  378. 
Fish,  Benjamin,  559. 
Fish,   17,  20,  21,  23,  25,  30,   167, 
183,  193,  281-284,  462,  492. 

Cullers  of,  119. 

Curing,   167. 
Fish  Street,  89,  90,  243,  265-267, 

404.  406,  429. 
Fish  Wardens,  284. 
Fish  Ways,  284. 
Fisher,  Mary,  144. 
Fisheries,  547. 
Fishermen,  281,  521. 
Fishing,    182,   262,   281,   284,   492, 

547- 
Fiske,  Rev.  Daniel  T.,  386. 
Fitts,  Jo:,  89. 

Richard,  54,  84,  88,  90,  141,  163. 

Samuel,  612. 
Fitz,  Mark,  292. 
Flag,  English,  625. 
Flagon,  153. 
Flags,  279,  309,  313,  333,  479,  497- 

of  Truce,  519,  522,  578. 
Flanders,  Benjamin,  603,  611. 

Charles,  625. 

Ezekiel,  609. 

Hezekiah,  576. 

Jarvis,  576. 

John,  588,  603,  608. 

Levi,  606. 

Philip,   199. 

Richard,  575,  579,  605. 
Flanders'.    Philip,   Barn,   199. 
Flat  Island,  548. 
Fleet,  Mr.,  471,  472. 
Flints,  225. 

Floating  Bridge,  436-438. 
Flood,  Andrew,  565. 

Benjamin,  606. 

Ebenezer,     559,    567,    572,     575, 

579- 

Enoch,  570,  572,  601,  609,  610. 

Israel,  609. 

John,  550,  575,  579- 

Philip,  204. 

Richard,  565. 

William,  587,  601. 
Flour,  478. 
Flowers,  80. 
Floyd,  Enoch,  627. 

Enos,  628. 

John  D.,  635. 

Joseph,  632. 

Lyman,  634. 

Michael,  119. 

Moses,  629. 

Silas,  626. 
Floyd's  Lane,  139,  333- 
Follansbee,  Enoch,  629. 


INDEX 


711 


Follansbee,  continued. 

Francis,  609. 

James.  606.  610,  611,  614. 

John,  286,  567,  629. 

Nehemiah,  588,  603,  608. 

Thomas,     180,    372,    542,    567, 
573.  588,  603,  606. 

William,  615. 
Folsom,  Rev.  Omar  W.,  346. 
Foot,  Lieutenant,  537. 

Enoch,  618. 

John,  539. 
Forbes,  Mrs.  A.  B.,  368. 
Ford,  Thomas,  563,  566,  576. 
Foreign  Ports,  480. 
Foreign  Trade,  485,  489. 
Forest,  126,  131. 
Forked  Harbor,  548. 
Fort     Williams     Hospital,     Va., 

635. 
Forth,  River,  25. 
Fortifications,  207,  209,  547,  550, 

573.  574- 

Fortress  on  Cape  Breton,  S47j; 

Fortress  at  Louisbourg,  Cape 
Breton,  550. 

Forts,  IS,  35,  36,  57,  207,  432,  465, 
500,  506,  507,  sii,  514,  Si«, 
519,  521-525,  527,  530-532, 
534,    535,    553-557,    S6o,    561, 

574,  607,  635,  647. 

at  Casco  Bay,  521-525. 

Plan  of,  524,  525. 
on  Castle  Island,  207. 
Edward,  607. 
James,  465. 
Indian,   at    Narragansett,    506, 

511- 
Movable,  647. 
at  Oswego,  560. 
Palisaded,  527. 
at  Pemaquid,  518.  519. 
at    Port    Royal,    514,    530-532, 

534,  535- 
Stone,     near     Falls     of     Saco 
River,  521. 
Foss,  John  C,  633. 
Foster,  Andrew,  560. 
Rev.  Davis,  381. 
Henry  H.,  632. 
Rev.  John,  388. 
Joseph.  185,  575.  579- 
Nathaniel,  564.  566,  570. 
William,  237,  589. 
Fountain,  George,  142. 
Four  Rock  Bridge,  139,  157,  258, 

415- 
Fourth  Church,  339,  357. 
Fourth  Parish,  228,  236,  237,  239, 
241,    270,    301.    379,    386,    400, 
492. 
Boundaries  of,  228,  236,^37. 


Fourth  Parish,  continued. 

Church,  379,  393- 

Map  of,  239. 

Meeting   House,   241,  380. 

Town  House  in,  270. 
Fowler,  Mr.,  242. 

Hill,    539- 

Lemuel,  587. 

Moses  H.,  686. 

Philip,  28,  99. 

Samuel,  390,  610. 
Fox,  Stephen  R.,  626. 
Fox  Island,  548. 
Fox    Point,    Dorchester,    Mass., 

81. 
France,    172,    173,   235,   329,   521, 
547.    553,    555,    556,    580,    620, 
621,  623. 
Francis,  Col.  Ebenezer,  606,  614. 
Franklin,  Benjamin,  378,  472. 

William,  28,  55,  80,  84,  93- 
Frazier,  Collin,  205,  229,  541. 

John,  570. 

Moses,  292. 
Free  School,  405. 
Freeholders,    64,    84,    92-94,    97, 

127,  128,  133,  135-138,  422. 
Freeman,  Robert,  254. 
Freemen,  40,  41,  46,  47,  49,  53, 
55-57,  64,  81.  84.  95-98,  loi- 
103,  109,  137,  IS4,  171,  173, 
175-178,  210,  497,  647,  651, 
675,  676,  678,  679. 

List  of,  98. 
Freeze,  ,  570. 

Elizabeth,  484. 

George,  567. 

Isaac,  484. 

Jacob,  526,  613. 

James,  181,  541. 
French,  Calvin,  543. 

Elias,  388. 

James,  568,  576. 

John,  526. 

Joseph,  456. 

Capt.  Joshua,  608. 

Moses,  576. 

Samuel,  615. 

Simeon,  615. 

Rev.  William,  393. 
French,  450,  478,   5i4,   5^7,   520- 
523,    530,    534.    535.    547,    549, 
554,  555.  557,  558.  560. 
French  and  Indian  War,  545. 
French   Colonies'   Forts,  554. 
French  Forces,  580. 
French  Government,  514,  521. 
French  Language,  392. 
French  Navy,  573. 
Frencli   Neutrals,  553.  554. 
French  Privateers,  485. 


712 


INDEX 


French    Troops,    531,    572,    574, 

579- 
French  Vessels,  19. 
French  War,  171,  512,  514. 
Frenchmen,  297,  522. 
Freshet,  279. 

Freshwater  Cove,  551,  555. 
Friend,  Henry,  285,  569. 

John,  569. 
"Friend's     Adventure"     (sloop), 

482. 
Friends     Meeting     House,     241, 

391.  39-2- 
Friends  Monthly  Meeting,  389. 
Friends  Quarterly  Meeting,  389. 
Friends,  Society  of,  389,  391. 
Frigates,  555,  621,  624. 

English,  621,  624. 
Fright,  The  Ipswich,  589,  591. 
Frog  Pond,  82,  83,  90,  115,  139, 

140,  23s,  260,  308,  403,  409. 
Fronsac,  Passage  of,  548. 
Frost,  Major,  517. 

James  N.,  633. 

Winfield,  634. 
Frothingham,   Andrew,  293. 

Stephen,  281. 
Fruit  Dish,  153. 
Frye,   Colonel,  578. 

Col.  James,  604. 

John,  54,  75,  84,  90,  9Z. 
Fuddocks,  217. 
Fuller,  Ens.  John,  502. 
Fulling  Mills,  157,  258. 
Fundy,  Bay  of,  14. 
Furbush,  William,  169. 
Furnaces,  670. 
Furniture,  294. 
Furs,  13,  17,  20. 

pABAROUS    BAY,   548,   5S0, 
^^      551,   555- 
Gage,  General,  682. 

Governor,    585,    592. 

Capt.  Nathaniel.  604. 

Gen.  Thomas,  583. 
Gaines,   Jqhn,   512. 
Gale,   Daniel,  539,  613,  618. 
Gallashan,  Abraham,  286. 
Galleries,  352,  360,  374,  375. 

in   Meeting  Houses,    314,    317, 
318,  331,  335,  339- 
Gaol,   24s,   247,   248. 
Gardner,  Mr.,  655. 

Israel,  567. 

Capt.  Joseph,  502. 

Robert,  142,  143. 

Samuel,  575,  579- 
Garland,  Joseph,  562,  566. 
Garrison  at  Cape   Breton,  547. 
Gary,  Alice,   149. 
Gateman,  225. 


Gates,  Major-General,  596,  597. 
Gates,  22s,  261,  275,  418,  423,  424. 

Turnpike,  275. 
Gay,  Rev.  Joshua  S.,  368. 
Gazetteer,   366. 
Gedney,  Colonel,  520. 
Bartholomew,   246. 
General  Court,  23,  27,  29,  30,  ■^y 
36,  38-46,  51,  52,  56-58,  60-62, 
66,  68-81,  86,  87,  91,  96-98,  loi, 
103,  106-108,  116,  121,  124,  127, 
140,  143-148,  150-154.  157.  160- 
165,  167,  169,  170,  172-178,  182, 
183,  185,  188,  189,  209,  216-218, 
220,  222,  223,  227,  231,  233,  234, 
236-238,  240,  245,  246,  251,  257, 
259,  266,  267,  270-272,  274-277, 
279,  280.  282-285,  287-289,  291- 
293.  300-307,  318,  320-322,  336, 
348-350,  353.  357,  360,  364,  366, 
368-370,  zn^  379,  380,  383,  384, 
396-398,  410,  411,  413,  416,  418, 
419,  427,  431-434.  440,  441,  447, 
448,  452,  453,  460,  465,  466,  468, 
475-477,  479,  493-497,  499-502, 
510-512,  523,  524,  526,  527,  530, 
539,  540,  549,  552,  553,  560,  573, 
583-585.  592-598.  607,  614,  619, 
621-623,  639,  644,  64s,  647-649, 
653,  662,  675-683,  685. 
at  Salem,  583-585. 
Geography,  366. 
George,  Amos,  277. 
James,  255. 
Moses,  566,  576,  6i5. 
Nicholas,   566. 
Samuel,  515,  516. 
George,  Lake,  172,  556,  557,  559- 
561,  571,  573.  574.  610. 
Battle  of,  557.  SS8. 
Plan  of,  558. 
George  I.,  King,  652. 
George  II..  King,  553. 
Georgetown,     Mass.,     231,     274, 

295,  307.  308,  412,  519. 
Georgetown,   Rowley   &  Ipswich 

Railroad  Company,  275. 
Georgia,    554. 
Gerrish,  Captain,  319,  330. 
Mr.,  471,  472. 
Benjamin,  286. 
Edmund,  571. 
Enoch,  570,  572. 
Jacob,    301,    30s.   570,    582,   587, 

592,  600,  601,  612.  683. 
Mrs.  Jane,  229. 
John,  212. 

Joseph,   102,   218,  236,  243,  244, 
248,    429,    512,    541,    564,    566, 
570,    575.     581.     583-585,    591, 
592,  681-683,  685. 
Mary,  664. 


INDEX 


713 


Gerrish,  continued. 

Mayo,  288. 

Moses,  108,  III,  118,  180,  196, 
203,  208,  217,  2S4,  399,  401, 
571. 

Serg.    Paul,   587. 

Richard,  252,  253. 

Samuel,  300,  481,  S59,  S68,  570, 
578,  579.  582,  584.  586,  588, 
59:;.  602-604.  610,  683. 

Stephen,   587. 

William,  60,  69,  93,  94,  100,  104- 

106,   no.    III,     137,    158,    163, 

164,    176,    177,    183,    220,    494, 

495.  502,  593,  664,  676,  678. 

Gerrish's   Farm,  230. 

Gerrish    Pasture,    129,     130,     139, 

307- 
Getchell,    Miss    Emily     A.,     589, 
616. 

Nathaniel,   566,   567. 
Ghent.  630. 
Gibson,  George  W.,  635. 

Samuel,  S72. 
Gideon,  Jacob,   286. 
Gifts,  667. 
Gigs,   271. 
Gilbert,  John,  103. 

Capt.  Rawleigh,  15. 
Gile,   Rev.   Thomas   W.,  393. 
Giles,  Asa,  560. 
Gillet,  Matthew,  28. 

Gilshenon,  ,  297. 

Gittings,   Geofge,  70. 
Gladding,  John,  182. 
Gladding's  Spring,  156. 
Glass,  224,  330,  355,  581. 

Duty  on,  581. 

of  Meeting  House,  315. 

Tax  on,  296. 

Window,  s^y. 
Glazier,  Beamsley,  549. 
Gleason,   Rev.   George  L.,  369. 
Glebe  Lands,  255. 
Glen  Mills,  IS7.  258. 
Glendale,  Va.,  632. 
Globe  Steam  Mills,  303. 
Gloucester,    Mass.,    20,    74,    152- 
154.  185,    194,    476,    573,    592, 
600,  603,  625. 
Glover.  Beamsley,  549. 

Habbackuk,    177. 
Goats,  s6,  435- 
Godfrey,  Andrew,  180,  659. 

John,  28. 

Jonathan,  576,  579. 

Joseph.  562. 

Mrs.   Mary,  193. 

Nathaniel,  602. 

Peter,  59,  115,  141,  180,  206, 
429,  S41. 


Goff,  Widow,  88,  90. 

John,  54,  84,  93,  99- 
Goffe,  Col.  William,  172,  173. 
Goldsmith,   191,  265. 
Goldwire,  George,  142. 
Gondolas,  482. 
Goodaie,  Susanna,  664. 
Goodhue,  Hezekiah,  605. 

Lt.   John,   61 5- 
Goodin,  Daniel,  566. 
Gooding,   Enoch,  563. 
Goodridge,   Colonel,  559. 

Benjamin,    116,     181,    205,    515, 

519. 

Daniel,   587,  601,  612,  619. 

David,  629. 

Edmund,   261,  653. 

Enoch,  570. 

Jeremiah    141,   181    516. 

John,  526,  562,  572. 

Joseph,    112,    116-118,    181,    203, 
542.   588,  589,  603. 

Josiah,  570,  572,  605. 

Oliver,  549,   587,  601,   609. 

Philip,    229. 

Richard,  570. 

Stephen   W.,   635. 

William,  608,  611. 
Goods,  Lost,  217. 
Goodwin,   Major,  628. 

Amos,  628. 

Daniel,  628. 

George  P.,  633. 

Edward,   439,   515. 

Jonathan,  613. 

Joseph,  630. 

Josiah,  628. 

Lazarus,  516. 

Nathaniel,  628. 

Richard,  442,  575,  579,  612. 

Samuel,  287,  288. 

Saul,  628. 

Thomas,  628. 

William,  306. 
Goodwin's    Ferry,  421. 
Gookin,  Daniel,  189. 
Gordon,  George,  628. 

Timothy,   625. 

Rev.  William,  388. 
Gorges,    Sir    Ferdinando,    15,    18, 
19,  178. 

Capt.  Robert,  27. 
Gosnold,  Capt.  Bartholomew,  13. 
Goss,  James,  568. 
Gould,  John,  565.  575,  579,  626. 

Joseph,  515,  516,  633. 

Phineas  B.,  634. 

Samuel,  610,  628. 

William,  612. 

William    H.,   634. 
Gove,   Edward,  392. 


714 


INDEX 


Government    of    New     England, 

95-97- 

Government,  Provisional,  498. 

Governors,  23,  26,  40,  41,  68,  70,  74, 
75,  77,  80,  85,  95,  96,  146.  147, 
160,  171,  173,  174,  176,  188,  194, 
I95>  I97»  200,  201,  208,  209,  233, 
234,  247,  267,  307,  310,  369,  371, 
385,  420,  443,  445-447,  453,  405, 
466,  468,  469,  475,  478,  479,  498, 
499,  502,  511,  512,  516,  518,  519, 
521,  524.  530,  531,  534,  535,  538, 
543-545,  549,  552,  556,  560,  583, 
585,  592,  625,  639,  648,  649,  652, 
679-682. 

Governor-General,  26. 

Gowing,   Henry  A.,  295. 

Graham,  John,  364,  609,  612. 

Grain,  53,  201,  26s,  597- 
Price   of,   201. 

Grammar,    English,  409. 

Grammar  School,  ZZ'^,  365,  396, 
401-403,  405,  406.^ 

Granary  Burying  Ground,  Bos- 
ton, 652. 

Grand  Jury,   150. 

Granger,  John,  180. 
Lanslet,  141. 

Grant,   Landras,  612. 
William,   571. 

Grantham,  William,  323. 

Grants,  15,  18,  19,  22,  30,  31,  36, 
48,  64-70,  74-76,  83.  85.  88,  89, 
91-93,  114,  158,  159,  167-172, 
194,  196,  212,  213,  354,  395,  401, 
415,  416,  418-420,  439,  456,  482, 
512,  643,  647,  651,  653,  662,  670, 
671,  675. 

Grapes,  503. 

Grave  Digging,  331. 

Gravel  Hill,  415. 

Graves,  Captain,  647. 

Gravestone    Inscription,   391. 

Gravestones,  60,  231,  360,  651. 

Gray,   Frederic,  627. 

Great  Bay,  24. 

Great  Britain,  172,  173,  219.  296, 
329,  583,  596,  621,  622,  652. 

Great  Creek.  69. 

Great  Hill,  si,  83,  308. 

Great  Island,    195. 

Great  Pasture,  225,  267. 

Great  Pine  Island  River,  240, 
241. 

Great  River,  65,  69,  91,  92,  145, 
222,  650,  653. 

"Great   Rock,"   393. 

Great  Street,  66. 

Great  Tom,   183. 

Greek.  324. 

Greeley,  James  V.,  634. 
Samuel,  568. 


Greeley,  continued. 

Shubaei,  568. 
Green,  Bartholomew,   192. 
Henry,    143. 
Thomas,  205. 
Green,  The,  59,  654. 
Green  Island,  548,  551. 
Green    River,    507. 
Greene,  Major-General,  602. 
Greene's  Harbor^  24. 
Greenfield,  Samuel,  44. 
Greenland,  N.   H.,  385,  512. 
Greenland,   Dr.   Henry,   140,    142- 
144,  151,  664. 
Mary,   144. 
Greenleaf,   Ensign,   iii.   117,   118, 
330. 
Mr..  79,  88,  94. 
Abel,  293,  608,  609. 
Abner,  628. 
Alett,  569. 
Mrs.  Anne,  644. 
Benjamin,   293,   296,     ^70,     656, 

681,  682. 
Daniel,  540. 
Elias,  609. 

Edmund,  55,  62,  63,  71,  76,  84, 
87,  99,  254,  262,  672,  359,  493, 
494,  541,  659. 
Ens.  Edward,  493. 
Henry,  575,  579,  609. 
Jacob,  628. 

John,  206,  245,  293,   564,  656. 
Joseph,  457,  458,  •54i- 
Joshua,  S63,  568,  644. 
Judith,  668. 
Mahew,   569. 
Capt.  Moses,  605,  614. 
Capt.  Richard,  569. 
Samuel,  205,  286,   563,  569,  595, 

683. 
Sarah,   644. 

Stephen,  93,    103,   106,   1 10,   112, 
128,    146,    155,    163,    179,    182, 
196,    20S,    208,    210.    212,    214, 
215,    247,    248,    422,    424,    429, 
482,    496,    498,    499,    501,    503, 
507,    514-516,    518,    536,    540, 
679,  680. 
Thomas,  567. 
Tristram,  354,  516,  542. 
William,  589,  609. 
Greenleaf's    Lane,    241.,    242,    270, 

336,  403,  427,  442,  664. 
Greenough,   Parker.  629. 
Richard,   S70. 
Samuel,   549. 
Grey-Hound,  The,  323. 
Gridiron,  578. 
GriiYin,  Eben,  391. 
Eliphalet,  565. 
Jonathan,  563. 


INDEX 


715 


Griffin,  continued. 

Mark,  628. 

William,  578. 
Griffith.   Henry   P.,  6zz. 
Grist  Mills,  38,  39,   156,   157,  258- 
262,  294,  415. 

at  Little   River,  415. 
Grove,  Matliew,  503. 
Guard,  62,  225,  252,  493. 
Guides,  soi. 
Guile,  John,  182. 

Samuel,  55,  71,  84,  93,   100. 
Gunboats,  484.  492,  621. 
Gunners'   Creek,   199. 
Gunpowder.  75-78. 
Guns,  43,  485.  486,  48S,  530,  534, 

535,  593,  624,  648. 
Guppy,  Samuel,  298. 
Guppy   &  Armstrong,  294,  298. 
Gutterson,  Josiah,   559. 
Guyon,  Island  a,  548. 
Gwynn,  Anthony,  yj^- 

UABITS  OF  INDIANS,  182. 
**      Hackett.   James.   £66. 
Hackney  Coach,  271. 
Hadlev,  Mass.,  503-505,  507. 
Hadley.   Rev.  Willis  A.,  387. 
Hadley's  Garrison,  537. 
Haggott.  Moses,  559. 
Hague,  The,  172,  521. 
Hale,  Amos,  611. 

Anne,  644. 

Benjamin,  274. 

Benjamin  W.,  685. 

Daniel,   586,   587,   684. 

David,  60S. 

Ebenezer,   625.   684. 

Edward  A.,  687. 

Eliphalet,  590,  668. 

Mrs.    Elizabeth,   658.   665,  668. 

Enoch.  306,  60s,  658,  685. 

Ezekiel.  356,  461,  656. 

Ezra,  575,  617,  623,  d^,^,  640. 

Henry.  528.  541. 

Jacob,  274,  491,  587,  601. 

John,  116,  118.  180,  182.  194, 
203,  205,  214,  318,  541,  586, 
668. 

Jonathan,  606. 

Joseph.   170.  274,  512,  542,   582, 

584. 
Levi,   613. 
Lewis  H.,  633. 
Mrs.  Martha.  668. 
Mrs.  Mary  J.,  491. 
Moses,  229,   230.  269,   358,  360, 

364,  570,  575,  6.=;6,  657,  668. 
Moses   Emery,  294. 
Nathan.  243,  244,  285,  568,  657, 

665.  668. 
Oliver,  685. 


Hale,  continued. 

Miss  Patience,   665. 
Richard.  543,   549.   575,   579- 
Col.   Robert,  549. 
Samuel,    171,  658. 
Sarah,    186. 
Lt.  Simeon,  586. 
Thomas,  52,  53,   55,  84,  89,  98, 
99,  loi,  no,  III,  115-118,  128, 
132,    141,    176,     179-181,    204, 
209,    213,    214,    299,    354,    356, 
421,    428,    433,    516,    541,    543, 
649,  665,  680,  681. 
Willard  J..   686. 
William,  588,  603,  606,  668. 
Halifax,  Mass.,  572,  573. 

N.  S.,  555. 
Halifax,   Fort,'  556. 
Halifax,   Earl  of.  Tavern,  273. 
Hall,  Benjamin  W.,  628. 
Eliphalet,  625. 
Ens.  Enoch,  628. 
John,  94. 
Oliver,  625. 
Pero.    604.    609,    610,    613,    614, 

618. 
William,    628. 
Halmer,   Benjamin,  630. 
Hamilton,   Andrew,  467,  468. 
Hampshire  County,  505. 
Hampstead,  N.  H.,  172. 
Hampton,     N.     H.,    42,    78,    91, 
106,  120,  121,  124,  143,  145,  148, 
149,  152,  161-163,  167,  168,  282, 

315,  m,  389,  419,  431,  434-437, 
439,  441,  493,  511,  512.  534,  550, 
590,  666,  668. 
Hampton    Falls,   N.    H.,   42,    197, 

385,  591. 
Hancock,  John,  585,  683. 

Joseph,  613,  618. 
Hanging,  Execution  by,  46. 
Hanover   Street,   Z2,Z>  359,   .362. 
Hant,   Nathaniel,  61S. 
Harbard,  John,   549,  602. 
Harbor  of  Cape  Breton,  547. 
Hardy,   Ezekiel,  575,  579. 

George.   i8r,  205. 

Jacob,   543- 

Moody,  609. 

Thoma.s,  612. 

William.   543. 
Harlem  Heights,  Ba*:tle  at,  602. 
Harmon,  Colonel,  543. 

Capt.  Johnson,  544.  545. 
Harper,  William,  436. 
Harpswell,  Me.,  S46. 
Harriman,   Asa,   575,   579. 

Moses,  615. 
Harris,    Colonel,   559. 

Benjamin,  256,  376,  483. 

Giles,  550. 


t 


7i6 


INDEX 


Harris,  continued. 

Rev.  Henry,  371. 

Jolin,  265,  S49.  614.  616,  618. 

Samuel,  569. 

Thomas,  503. 

William,  568. 
Hart,  Benjamin,  473. 

Mr.  L.,  20s. 

Lawrence,  515,  543. 
Hartford,  Conn.,  467. 
Hartshorn,  John,   563. 

Jonathan,  569. 
Harvard,  Rev.  John,  151. 
Harvard    College,    151,    161,    191, 
192,    ZZZs    344,    379,    382,    652, 
666-668,  682. 
Harvard   Hall,   153,   154. 
Harvey,  Sergeant,  616. 

John,  506,  507,  617. 

Capt.   Thomas,   537-539. 

William,  £66. 
Haskell,   George  W.,  34'^. 

Rev.  S.  B.,  387. 

Dea.  Solomon,  291. 

Stephen,  563,  565. 
Haskins,  John,  536,  660. 
Hatch,  Nathan,  615. 
Hatchets,  522. 

Hatfield,  Mass.,  503,  505-507. 
Hathorne,  John,  246,  444. 

William,   175,   319. 
Haverhill,   Eng.,  71. 

Mass.,  70,  71,  106,  152-154,  162, 
163,  167,  168,  198,  277,  279, 
280,  2nz,  379,  461,  462,  497, 
500,  512,  518,  519,  528,  536, 
537,  539,  540,  550,  559,  563, 
573,  592,  604,  605,  607.  665. 
Haverhill,   Mass.,  Indian  Attacks 

on,  S18,  519. 
Haverhill,   Mass.,  Indian  Massa- 
cre at,  5t8,  519. 
Havre  de  Grace,   14. 
Hawkins,  Thomas,  478. 
Hay,  53,  419,  424. 
Hay  Boats,  482. 
Hay   Scales,   265. 
Hayes,  James,  563,   566. 

John,  609,  612. 
Hayne,  Hon.  Robert  T.,  366. 
Haynes,  Ebenezer,  618. 

Jonathan,    171. 

William  C,  632. 
Hayward,  John.  466. 
Haywards,   109,   132. 
Hazeltine,   Lt.   David,    559. 

Samuel,  660. 

Zachariah,  606. 
Hazen,   Daniel  C,  62']. 

William,   575. 
Heard.  George  W.,  297. 

John,   169. 


Heath,  Dudley,  629. 

Isaac,  651. 

Nathaniel,   566. 

Capt.   Richard,  628. 
Hebrew,  324. 
"Hector"  (ship),  35. 
Hedges,  131,  137,  283. 
Heifer  Common,  132. 
Heifers,  32,  134. 
Heirs,  Thomas,  515. 
Hemp,  370. 

Henderson,  Francis  D.,  687. 
Hendricks,   Abigail,    189. 

Cesar,  615. 

John,  189,  204. 
Herbert,  Rev.  Charles  D.,  362. 
Herds,  112,  131.  132,  135- 137. 
Herdsmen,   131,    134-137. 
Heresy,  38,  43,  165,  389,  493,  648, 

651. 
Hermon,   Leonard.   572. 
Hern,  Mr.,  253. 
Heron  Islands,  548. 
Herrick,  Capt.  Israel,  574. 

John,    180. 
Hewiston,   Benjamin,  629. 
Hidden,   David,  6og. 

John,   60s. 

Joseph,  605,  612. 
Hides,    154. 
High  School,  271,  410. 

Building,  271. 
High     Street,     90,    134.   238,    240, 
243,  267.  302,  303.  306,  308,  310, 

333, 7>i2>,  375, 381,  ?;i(i,  390-392, 

404.  405,  414.  418-420,  424,  426, 
428,  429,  437,  593,  672,  674. 

Highfield,  233. 

"Highflyer"   (ship),  492. 

Highway       Commission,      State, 

.   415- 
Highway   Districts,   427. 
Highway  Taxes,  286. 
Highways,  40.   112,  121,   123,   124, 

128.  129,  139,  212,  213,  279,  413- 

430,  438,  439.  449,  450,  454,  456, 

460,  46s,  480. 
Surveyors  of,    47,    48,    109-112, 

413.  414,  427. 
Hill    (Hills),   Benjamin,   236,   526, 

536,  539.  589- 
Charles,  627. 
Ebenezer.   181. 
Edmund,   629. 
Eliphalet,  589,  629. 
Mrs.  Hannah.  665. 
James,    565. 
John,  627. 
Jonathan,  539. 
Joseph,   102.    105.  403,   516.  536, 

539,  665.  677,  678. 
Joshua,  589. 


INDEX 


717 


Hill,  continued. 

Nathaniel,  54-^.  588,  603. 

Ohadiah,  588,  603.  627. 

Philip   K.,  410. 

Mrs.  Priscilla,  665. 

Samuel,  204,   507,  SH.  588,  603, 
606,  607,  612. 

Thomas,  588,  603,  606,  684. 

Vallentine,    169. 

William.   589. 
Hill  Street,  89,  90. 
Hills,  228,  260,  262. 
Hilton,  Andrew.  578. 

John,  565- 

William.  88,  93.  100,  254. 

Col.   Winthrop,   5^8-530. 
Hincks,  John,  202,  444. 
Hingham,     Mas.s.,    39-41,   78,   81, 

493-  ,^   , 

Historical      Society       of      '  Ould 

Newbury,"  310. 
Hitchcock,  Rev.  Albert  W.,  387. 
Hoag,  Benjamin,  516. 

John,  181,  389. 

Jonathan,   536,    539- 
Hoar,  Dr.  Leonard.  322. 
Hobbs,  John,  503,  504. 
Hobson,  John,  512. 

Joseph,  549. 
Hodgdon,  Cesar,  613. 

Joseph,  612. 
Hodge,  Charles,  238,  570. 

Michael,  293,  481,  482. 

Stephen,  esq.,  300. 
Hodgkins,  Aquilla,  573,  576. 

Francis,  286,  565. 

Jacob,  615. 
Hogg,  Samuel,  559,  567. 
Hogreeves,  119. 
Hogs,  119,  203-207,  435. 
Hogsheads,  119. 

Holbrook,  Rev.  Daniel,  336,  337. 
Holinsbee,  Thomas,  206. 
Holladay,  Serg.  Francis,  563. 

John,  566,  600,  602. 

Thomas,  614. 
Holland.  75.  77.  521,  553- 
Holland.  Edward.  565. 

Joseph.  516. 
"Hollander"   (bark),  492. 
Hollingsworth,  Richard.  475. 
Hollis     Professor     of     Divinity, 

379. 
Holman,  Solomon,  536,  539,  568. 
Holmes,  Alice,  184. 

Benjamin,  630. 

Joseph.  613.  618. 
Holt,  Ebenezer,  572. 

Miss  Elizabeth.  59. 
Nicholas,  32,  41.  48-50.   53.  54. 
59,  62,  63,  75.  84.  99,  158,  413- 


Holt,  continued. 

Samuel,  559,  565- 
Holt's  Point,  Nicholas,  158. 
Holt's  Rocks,  127,  199,  277,  279, 
-^83,  459-462. 

Bridge  at,  463. 
Holton,  Rev.  Charles  S.,  346.     , 
Hoods,  122,  123. 
Hook,  Sergeant,  522. 

Humphrey,  442,  462,  463. 

Josiah,  568. 
Hook's  Ferry,  279,  442. 
Hook's  Point,  222. 
Hooper,  Stephen,  406,  425.  684. 
Hooper's  Mill,  240. 
"Hope"    (brigantine),     529.     530, 

535- 
Hopkins,  Mrs.  Louisa  P.,  310. 
Hopkinsianism,  365. 
Horn,  471. 
Horn  Books,  407. 
Home,   Ephraim   B.,  629. 

Perley  L.,  233. 
Home  Ponds,  24. 
Horsam,  Jonathan.  612. 
Horsch,  John  M.,  635. 
Horse,  Troop  of,  196,  197. 
Horseback,  271,  340. 
Horsemen,  279,  502. 
Horses,  32.  33,  52,  53,   113,   127, 
131,  i33-'^37<  203-207,  217,  222, 

223,  246.  248,  271-274,  277,  340, 
421,  423,  431,  432,  434,  435, 
447-449.  451-453.  458-461,  463, 
466,  469,  471,  481,  482,  495- 
505,  518,  589- 

Horton,  James,  566. 

Rev.  Jotham,  388. 

Obadiah,  286. 
Horton's  Wharf,  484. 
Hospital,  Inoculating,  291-293. 

Newburyport,  590. 
House  of   Correction,  248. 
House  Lots,  170. 
Household  Furniture,  294. 
Houses,  39,  42,  56,  91,  127,  134, 
142,  154,  166.  167,  203-207,  214, 

224,  226-228.  237,  23^.  243-245, 
248,  256,  259.  262,  270,  273,  274, 
288.  292.  293,  298.  299.  307,  309, 
330,  331,  333.  350-353-  393,  403, 
419,  425-429.  438,  442,  451,  457, 
459,  460.  463,  465.  472,  479,  483, 
485,  486.  489,  505,  510,  512.  519, 
534,  536,  540,  544.  550,  556.  649, 
658.  660,  662.  664.  665.  670-674. 

Ministers'.  330.  331. 
Hovey.  Thomas,  559. 
How,  Farnum.  287. 

Jacob,  601,  612. 

James,  634. 


7i8 


INDEX 


Howard,  Horatio  M.,  295. 

Isaac,  602. 

Nathaniel,  566,  575,  579. 

Roger  S.,  305. 

Stephen,  615. 
Howell,  Robert,  628. 
Howlett,  Ensign,  416. 

Thomas,  160. 
Hovvsley.   Samuel,  571. 
Hoyt,  Ephraim,  515,  573,  615. 

Joseph,  626. 

Moses,  549,  552,  569,  586,  609. 

Robert,  615. 

Samuel,  616. 
Hoyt's  Lane,  354. 
Hubbard.  Rev.  Ebenezer,  361. 

Richard,  478. 

Rev.  William,  21,  182,  504. 
Hudson,  Eleazer,  516,  566,  569. 

Capt.  James,  296. 
Hudson  Bay,  547. 
Hudson  River,  15,  196,  500,  561, 

616. 
Huff,  John,  612. 
Huggins,  John.   181. 
Hull,  Mass.,  530. 
Hull,  Hannah,  191. 

John,    163,    164,    189,    191,   417, 
508,  652. 
Hull's  Bridge.  John,  417. 
Hull's  Plain,  John,  417. 
Humphrey,   Mr.,  372. 

John,  30,  31.  39. 
Hunsley's  Hill,  83,  308. 
Hunt,  Elias,  626. 

Isaiah,  612. 

Josiah,  605,  609. 

Nathaniel,  286,  562,  565. 

Stephen,  565. 

Zebediah,   563,  578. 
Hunter.  William,  372. 
Hunting,  182. 
"Huntress"  (ship),  491. 
Huntries,  James,  617. 
Hurricane,  670. 
Husbandman,  32. 
Husbandry,  167. 

Huse,  Abel,  59,  84,  89,  100,  141, 
176,  180,  205,  206,  354.  542. 
6S9. 

Caleb  B.,  686,  687. 

Carr,  572. 

Enoch,  589,  609. 

John,  424.  515,   576,  616. 

Samuel,  578. 

Thomas,  516,  542.  589,  685. 

William,  205,  372,  516. 
Hussey,  Christopher,  44,  45,  47, 
53,  67.  71,  99,  146,  436. 

John,  602. 

Mary,  44. 


Hutchins,  Hezekiah,  568,  579. 

John,  55,  84,  88,  123,  163,  575, 
579,  612. 
Hutchinson.  Colonel,  283. 

Governor,  583,  682. 

Mrs.  Anne,  38,  493,  648,  651. 

Serg.  Edward,  501. 

Col.  Elisha,  533. 

Thomas,   534,  545,  583. 
Hute,  Obed,  609. 
Huts,  521. 
Hymns,  Dr.  Watts',  340. 

I  CE,  279,  446. 

1      Ilsley,  Anthony,  586. 

Elisha,  102,  118,  171,  181,  204. 

Isaac,  179,  204,  505-507. 

Isaiah,  288,  603,  606. 

John,  178. 

Jonathan,  660. 

Joseph,  59,  60,  112,  116,  118, 
178,  181,  202,  207,  213,  214, 
516,  567,  572,  660. 

Joshua.  606. 

Lt.  Moses,  586. 

Nathaniel  M.,  dzZ- 

Paul,  60,  563,  572,  629. 

Stephen,  261,  262,  287,  288, 
563,  606,  636,  685. 

Thomas,  567. 

Wade,  626. 

William,  54,  93^   103,   109,   no, 
I15-117,    163,    178,    179,    182, 
217,  ZZ7-  338,  629. 
Ilsley  Hill,  83,  228,  308. 
Immigrants,  \A^. 
Importations,  296,  407,  581. 

Duties  on,  581. 

Tax  on,  296. 
Impressed  Soldiers.  536,  540. 
Ince,  Jonathan,  161. 
Incendiary  Fires,  386. 
Independence,     Declaration     of, 

595- 
Indian  Attacks,  57,  229,  519,  521, 

539- 

on  Brown  Family,  519. 

on  Goodridge  Family,  519. 

on  Haverhill.  539. 

at  Turkey  Hill,  229. 

on  Wells.  Me.,  521. 
Indian  Captives,  539. 
Indian  Church  at  Norridgewock, 

544- 
Indian  Corn,  331. 
Indian  Deeds,  182-185. 
Indian   Field.  184. 
Indian  Hill,  83.  183,  184.  228,308. 
Indian   JNIassacres,  521,  539. 
Indian  Fort  at   Narragansett,  432, 

506. 


INDEX 


719 


Indian  River,  240,  241,  260,  261, 
404,  462. 
Bridge,  240. 

Indian  Settlement  at  Norridge- 
wock,  S44- 

Indian  Wars,  493,  511,  514. 

Indians,  13-17,  20,  24,  25,  43,  46, 
n,  78,  124,  146,  160,  178,  182- 
18s,  202,  209,  229,  253.  254,  432, 
450,  493,  499-501,  503-508,  511, 
514,  516-524.  527-530,  533-535, 
539,  543-545.  553,  557,  578,  667. 
Attacks   by,  57,  229,   519,  521, 

53Q- 

on  Brown  Family,  519. 

on  Goodridge   Family,  519. 

on  Haverhill,  539. 

at  Turkey  Hill,  229. 

on  Wells,  Me.,  521. 

Eastern,  522. 

Job,  184. 

John,  183. 

Kate,  184. 

Mary,  184. 

Narragansett,  502. 

Pennacook,  500,  522. 

Penobscot,  202. 

Pequot,  499,  500. 

Settlements  of,   182,   183. 

Slaves,  253,  254. 

Old  William,  184. 
Informers  of  Deer,  119,  120. 
Ingersoll,  Zebulon,  588,  612. 
Inhabitants,  Admission  of,  49. 
Innholders,  "72,  273,  2,12,,  466,  593, 

597- 
Innkeepers,  442. 
Inoculation    for     Smallpox,     291- 

293- 

Inoculation  Hospital,  291-293. 

Inscriptions,  124,  504,  651. 
on      Monument      at      Muddy 
Brook,  504. 

Installations,  361,  362,  366,  368, 
369.  382,  384-387. 

Interpreters,  501. 

Invention  of  Stove.  662. 

Inventor,  298. 

Inventory  of  Estate  of  Daniel 
Pierce,  670. 

Ipswich,  Mass.,  18,  21,  23,  25,  29- 
31,  .33.  34.  39-41.  44.  61,  67,  68, 
70,  74,  -]■],  78,  80,  81,  83,  104, 
120,  121,  124,  140,  148,  151-153. 
157,  160,  165,  173,  176,  177,  182- 
184,  191,  220,  222,  246,  247,  273- 
276,  296,  297,  308,  311,  318,  320, 
331,  341.  352,  355,  393,  396,  413. 
416-418.  420,  423,  433,  435,  436, 
443.  449,  453,  468,  470,  472,  476, 
479,  493-495.  500,  502,  504,  512, 


Ipswich,  Mass.,  continued, 

518,  564,  573,  584,  590-593,  597, 
600,  603,  606,  607,  621,  643,  650, 
662,  665,  666,  675.  683,  687. 

Ipswich  Fright,  The,  589,  591. 

Ipswich  Latin  School,  396. 

Ipswich  River,  220,  252,  253,  308. 

"Ipswich  Society,"  512. 

Ireland,  30,  172,  173,  329. 

Irish,  30. 

Iron  Head,  548. 

Iron  Pipe,  303. 

Islands,   166. 

Isles  of  Shoals,  142. 

Italian  Language,  392. 

Italy,  485. 

Ivees,  Jacob,  526. 

Ivie,  John,  515. 

TACK,  KING'S,  479. 
*-'     Jackman,  Abel.  615. 
Benjamin,  605,  6og. 
David,  299. 
Elias,  299,  488. 
George  W.,  411,  492,  686. 
James,     93,     103,     116-118,     141, 

176,    i8r,    182,    203,    542,    543, 

660. 
John,  570. 
Joseph,  299. 
Joseph  N.,  627. 
Mathias,  626. 
Noah,  626. 
Reuben,  343. 
Richard,  181,  203,  433,  541,  610, 

611,  628. 
Samuel,  626. 
Stephen,  217,  491,  492,  573,  575, 

579. 

Timothy,  571. 
Jackson,  Dr.  George,  668. 

Mrs.  Joanna,  668. 

Jonathan,    154. 

Pomp,  619. 

Ihomas,  447. 
Jacob,  Sergeant,  160. 
"Jacob  Jones"    (ship),  489. 
Jail,  245,  247-249. 
Jail  Keeper,  248. 
Jailer's  House,  248. 
Jamaco   (in  Amesbury),  536,  537. 
James,  Caleb,  605. 

Gen.  Charles  T.,  302. 
James  (Indian),  24,  254. 
James,  Sagamore,  24. 
James,  Fort,  465. 
"James"  (ship),  32,  56. 
James  Steam  Mill,  302,  303. 
James  Steam  Mill  Company,  302. 
James,  Dukc  of  York,  171. 
James  I.,  King,  IS,  161. 


720 


INDEX 


James  II.,  King,  200,  207,  679. 
Jansen,  Jochen,  143. 
Janvrin,  James,  628. 
Jaqiies,  Ensign,  335. 

Benjamin,  546,  568. 

Charles,  626. 

Daniel,  226,  350,  559. 

David,  573.  575,  579- 

Enoch,  626. 

Henry,  93,  loi,  102,  110-112, 
117,'  118,  138,  139.  150,  155, 
171,  180,  209,  222,  223,  260, 
330,  422,  477,  542. 

Henry  C,  626. 

Joseph,  343.  64s. 

Moody,  629. 

Moses,  610,  629. 

Nathan,  614. 

Parker,  588,  605. 

Richard,  181,  307,  545. 

Samuel,  588,  603,  608,  610,  611. 

Stephen.  139,   181,  204,  214,  260, 

zzz.  334.  424- 

Jarvis,  Charles,  614. 

Jays,  125,  126. 

Jefiferson     Street,     419,   437,    438, 

484,  489. 
Jeffries,  Mr.,  43,  533- 
Jellison,  Benjamin  W.,  632. 

Samuel  S.,  632. 
Jenkins,  Thomas,  575,  579. 

William,  376,  569. 
Jennings,  Joseph,  6og. 
Jesuits,   Society  of,  544,  545. 
Jewett,  David,  627. 

Dummer,  571. 

Ezekiel,  573- 

Isai.ah,  627. 

Robert,  627. 

Thomas,  230. 
Jillings,  Isaac,  565. 
Job  Indian,   184. 
Jo:  (Indian),  89. 
Joel    (negro),   256. 
John,  Sagamore,  24. 
John  (servant),  256. 
John,  Augustus,  503. 
"John  R.  Skiddy"  (ship),  491. 
Johnson,  Andrews,  559. 

Edw^ard,  i6t,  165,  169. 

Eleazer.  516.  569. 

Enoch,  s6o. 

Lt.  Francis,  502. 

Isaac.  286,  569. 

James  H.',  634. 

John.  647. 

Martha.  668. 

Nehemiah,  562,  575,  579. 

Nicholas,  293. 

Col.  Samuel,  610. 

Stephen,  siS- 


Johnson,  continued. 

Thomas,  479,  482. 

William,  237,  286,  339,  379,  480, 
482,  516,  S56-.S59. 
Johnson's   Corner.  300. 
Johnston,  Thomas,  557. 
■'Jonathan"  (ship),  395. 
Jones.  Ezekiel,  392. 

Morgan,  506. 

Robert,  566. 
Joppa,  288.  492. 
Jordan,   William.  613. 
"Joshua  Bates"  (ship),  491. 
Judges,  172.  246,  364,  437,  650. 
Jurden,  Stephen,  28. 
Justices    of    the    Peace,  61,  338, 
444,  445,  499,  617. 

KATE,  INDIAN,  184. 
Keeler,     Rev.     Seneca    M., 

381. 
Kegs.  283. 
Kelly.  Abial,  542. 
Abiel,  460. 
Abihail,  198. 
Elbridge  G.,  686. 
Elijah,  613. 

John,   54.  84,   93,    102,    116,    180, 
204,    317,    459.    460,    462,    526, 
541,  S42. 
John  W.,  634. 
Jonathan,  460. 
Joseph,  536,  539. 
Patrick,  635. 

Richard,  214,  254.  255,  335,  542. 
Kelly's  Ferry,  460. 
Keniston,  Abner,  306. 
Kennebec   River,   15.   19,   25,   161, 
182,    508,    519,    529,    544,    556, 

593,  594. 

Kent,  ,  522. 

Albert  Sydney,  646. 

Mrs.  Anne,  644. 

Daniel.  562,  565. 

David,  635. 

Edward,  646. 

Elizabeth,  665. 

Jacob.  63s.  645. 

James.  loi,  176,  643,  644. 

John,  60,  100,  loi,  112,  118,  119. 

176,    177,    181,    198,    203.    206. 

214,    317.    419,    426.    477,    478. 

516.    541,    570.    62s,    643,    644. 
John  N.,  119.  271. 
Joseph.  629,  644,  645. 
Joshua.  576. 
Joshua  Noyes,  645,  646. 
Leonard  N.,  646. 
Mrs.  Mary,  645. 
Moses,  644,  64s. 
Otis  L..  646. 


INDEX 


721 


Kent,   continued. 
Paul,  64s. 

Richard.   28.  47,   48.   51,   52.   54, 
55.   62.  65-67,   84,   89.   99,    lOI, 
104,    109,    no,    155,    158,    163, 
176,    203.    218,    220,    244,    248. 
395,    420,    426,    438,    457.    495. 
505.    515.    530.    543.    562.    504. 
567,  643-645,  681,  682. 
Mrs.  Sarah  N..  645,  646. 
Stephen.  54,  57,  84.  87,  90.  99. 
109,    120.    171,    284,    593,    604, 
605.  608.  643-645. 
William  H..  635. 
Kent's    Island,    65,  83,   292,   293, 

308.  420,  643-646. 
Kent's  Lane,  426. 
Kent    Street,    214,    215.    281,    426. 

475- 
Kentucky,  81. 
Ketches,  480.  486,  487. 
Keteltas,  Abraham,  486. 
Kettles.  670. 
Key,  355. 
Keyes,   Widow,  94. 

S'olomon.  loi.  163.  496.- 
Kilburn,  Eliphalet,  601. 
Killam.  John,  559. 

Lot.  607. 
Killed  by  Falling.  384. 
Killingworth,  Conn.,  665. 
Kily,  David.  207. 
Kimball,  Abner,  608,  612. 

Benjamin,  515. 

Caleb.  589,  609. 

Eliphalet.  608. 

George  M.,  632. 

Moody.  6S7. 

Richard,  560. 

Rev.  True.  360. 

William.  s6o. 
Kimball's  Garrison,  537. 
Kine.  132. 
King.  CaDt.  Daniel.  515-517. 

William.  482. 
King's  Chapel.  371,  2,77- 
King    Street.    245,   "249,   273.    274, 

381,  427,  429.  473. 
King,  The,  08,  177,   178. 
Kingsbury.  Lt.  Benjamin.  560. 

John,  206.  560,  565.  569,  660. 

Michael,  612. 
Kingston,  N.  Y.,  196. 
Kingstown.  N.  H..  537. 
Kinsman.  Rev.  A.   B.,  388. 
Kinston.  Abner.  625. 

Toppen,  62.5. 
Kirby.  Rev.  John.  379,  380. 
Kittel.  Joseph.  349. 
Kittery.  Me..  143.  668. 
Kittery  Point,  143. 


Knapp,  Benoni,  618. 

Benoni  Eaton.  616. 

Ebenezer,  562,  569. 

Nathaniel.  "286,  293,  555. 

Samuel,  615. 
Knapsack,  2S6. 
Knees,  217. 
Knight,  ,   549- 

Mr.,  424. 

Widow,  139.  204. 

Benjamin.   286. 

Caleb.  615. 

Daniel,  563.  578,  588,  605. 

David,  567. 

George  D.,  636. 

Isaac,  656. 

Jacob.  343. 

James,   265,   542,  629. 

James  B.,  260. 

John,  2,2,  38.  48,  52.  53,  55-57, 
^Z,  67,  71,  84,  88,  89,  94,  100- 
102,  no,  III,  IIS.  116,  118, 
132,  137,  141,  168.  176,  181, 
204,  223,  415,  418,  421,  422, 
570,  614,  629,  650. 

Joseph,  103,  112,  116,  118,  179, 
185,  204,  208,  261,  339,  429, 
499.  542,  549,  589,  603,  629, 
635- 

Moses.  629. 

Parker,  588,  603,  607,  610.  6ix, 
614. 

Richard,  32,  47-49.  51.  53.  55, 
62,  66,  67,  79,  84-86.  88,  92,  93, 
99,  100,  114,  117,  122,  126, 
132,  155,  158,  176,  181,  220, 
•223,  415,  416,  418,  422,  495, 
541,  650. 

Miss   Sarah,  665. 

Silas.  629. 

Thomas,   567. 

William.  629. 
Knights,  420.  443,  444. 
Knowlton.    Ebenezer.    156. 

John.  564,  566. 
Koss,  August,  635. 

T    A  BLOND.  PETER,  252,  253. 
*-      Laborers.  32. 
La  Boulaye  Road,  548. 
Labrador.  548. 

Entrance  of,  548. 
Lace.  123. 

Laconia  Company,  19, 
Ladd,  John.  629. 
Ladders.  285. 
La  Greve,  Matthew,  510. 
Lake.  Elisha.  613.  618. 

Joseph.  615. 
Lakeman.  John.  575.  579. 
Lambert,  Joseph,  613.  618. 


722 


INDEX 


Lanil)crt,  continued. 

\X.    Thomas,  497. 
Lambton,   Rev.  Jolin,  371,  y]2. 
Lamprele  River,  24. 
Lancaster.    Samuel.   608,   612. 

Capt.   Thomas,  625. 

Timothy,  610. 
Land,  Saul,  625. 
Lanrl  Bank,  681. 

Landing  Places,  214,  215,  262, 
26.3,  308,  427-4^9,  440,  441, 
454.  4S8. 

Ferry,  441. 
Amesbury  Ferry,  4-8.  440. 
Lower  Ferry,  427. 
March's  Ferry,  454. 

at  Pine  Lsland  Creek,  262,  263. 

Public,   214,  215. 
Lane,   Nathaniel,  566. 

Thomas,  635. 
Langford,   Eng.,   -^2. 
Larkin,  Abraham.  260. 

Thomas   R.,  634. 

William   F.,  634. 
Larnard,  John,  539. 
Laselle,  Rev.  Nathaniel,  362. 
Latherbee,  Jonathan,  603. 
Lathrop,  Capt.  Thomas,   502-504. 
Latin,  324,  403. 
Latin  Grammar,  408. 
Latin  Scholars,  401,  405. 
Latin  Schools,  124,  396,  400. 
Lattle.   Solomon,  603. 
Launchings.   475,    485,    488,    491, 

492. 
Law  Suits,  143,  341.  342.  390.  645, 

650. 
Lawrence,  Mass.,  2S3. 
Lawrence,  General.  555. 
Laws,  56,  95,  96,  98,  144,  149,  162, 
175,   176,   182.     195,    207,    216, 
217,    223,    225,-  281-284,    291, 
292,  411.  413,  432,  468. 
Lawyers.   364,  435. 
Leach,  Joseph,  566. 

Micah,  S73- 

Lt.  Richard,  502. 
Lead,  309. 
Leather,   154-156,   264. 

Dressers,   154-156. 

Sealers   of,   m. 

Searchers,   109. 

Tanning  of,  264.  424. 
Leavitt,  Abigail,  668. 
Le  Blong,  Francis,  554. 
Le   Breton,   Peter,  293. 
Lechford,   Thomas,   81,   313.   4.35. 

642. 
Lecture  Days,  124,  315.  331.  za, 

342,  364,  402.  433. 
Lectures,  226.  364.  402,  433. 


Lectures,  continued. 

Preached,  337. 
Lees,  John,  294. 
Leeward   Islands,  481. 
Legacy,  365. 
Leghorn    Roads,   490. 
Leigh,   Benjamin,  629. 

Hall  J.,  139. 
Lcighton,  Richard,  630. 
Leroach,  Joseph,  613. 
Lesley,  Joseph,  570. 
Lesser  Antilles,  481. 
Letters,   145,    195,    324,    325,    430, 
465-469,  472,  473,  520,  521,  533, 
537.  602. 
Leverett,  John,  496,  501,  533. 
Levinston,  Mr.,  30. 
Levy,  Solomon,  686. 
Lewis,   Frederick.  609. 

John,  613.  618. 

Rev.  Moses  B.,  387. 

Robert,  88. 
Lewis  &  Mattox,  55. 
Lexington,  Mass.,  586. 
Lexington  Alarm.  610. 
Lexinsrton,    Battle    of,    586,    589, 

591- 
Leyden,   Holland,  18. 
Liberty  of  Petition,  162. 
Liberty  Street,  427. 
Libra.  Benjamin,  565. 
Libraries,  151,  154. 
Light  Keeper's  House,  307. 
Lighthouses.  224,  240. 

on  Plum  Island  Point,  240. 
Lightning,  378,  386. 
Limbach.  548. 
Lime,  264. 

Kilns,  264,  424. 
Lime   Street,  405. 
Lincoln.  l>enjamin.  585. 
Lindsey,  John,  612,  614. 
Linfield,  Jonathan,  635. 
Liquor.  366. 
Little,  Sergeant,  205. 

Amos.  609. 

Amos  M.,  633. 

Charles.  633. 

Capt.  David.  287,  288,  684. 

Ebenezer,  569. 

Enoch,  528,  541.  589.  653. 

George,  65.  93,  in.  155.  163. 
169.  171,  203.  626,  651. 

Airs.  George,  410. 

Hannah,  667. 

Jacob.  287. 

John.  629. 

Joseph.  1 12.  118.  140,  179,  200, 
202,  350,  451,  510,  559,  565, 
6t;9. 

Joshua,  430,  586. 


INDEX 


723 


Little,  continued. 

Josiah,  223.  293,  301,  306,  392, 
430,  587.  683-685. 

Michael,  629. 

Moses,  137,  172,  182,  203,  208, 
237,  256,  292,  301,  305,  360, 
507,  508,  582.  584.  586,  591, 
592,  600,  602,  667,  682-685. 

Nathaniel,  549. 

Richard,  567,  613,  618. 

Silas,  301,  621,  623,  683-685. 

Stephen,  595.  629,  683. 

Stephen  M.,  629. 

Tristram,  542. 

William,  129.  640. 
Little  Boar's  Head.  14. 
Little  Field,  90,  426. 
Little    Harbor,    19. 
Little  Hill,  83,  159.  3o8,  4i5- 
Little's   Meadow,  300. 
Little  Pine  Island  River,  240,  241. 
Little  Pond,  227. 
Little   River.  65,  83,  '92,   139,   157, 
240,  241.  258-260,  264,  308,  415, 
420,  643. 
Littlehale,  John,  516. 

Richard,  28,  54,  71,    84,    88,    90, 
94. 
LittLton,  N.  H.,  172. 
Loans,  218,  296. 
Lob's  Pound,  139. 
Locke,   Reuben.  579. 
Lombard.  Rev.  B.  F.,  388. 
London,  Eng.,  17,  23,   26,  36,    38, 
45.  96,   147,  i6s,  Ti72,  196.  207, 
265,  281.    282.    286,    312,    313, 
323.    325.   326,    370,    373,    376, 
^78,  385,  467,  484,  545- 
Londonderry,  N.  H.,  344. 
Long,  Abel,  180. 

Abial,  659. 

Abiel,  206,  372. 

Benjamin,  660. 

Lt.  Enoch,  589. 

Moses,  612. 

Robert,  94,  iii,  112,  116-118, 
182,  205,  209,  210. 

Samuel,  565. 

Shubael.   180. 
Long  Hill.  83,  129,  230.  308. 
Long  Island.  561. 

Battle  at,  602. 
Long  Island  Sound,  500. 
Long  Wharf,  574. 
Longfellow.  Mr.,  203. 

Edward,  570. 

Henry  Wadsworth.  233. 

John,  653. 

Joseph,  119. 

Nathan.  632. 

Samuel.  570. 

Stephen. '231,  516. 


Longfellow,  continued. 

William,  118,   179,  233,  515,  571. 
Longfellow's  Farm,  230. 
Lord,  David,  627. 

Jeremiah,   612. 

John.  565. 

Robert,   ISO. 

Roger.  608,  612,  619. 

^VilIiam,  565. 
Lord's  Day,  251-253,  314,  382. 

Observance  of,  251-253. 
Lord's  Prayer,  407. 
Lord's  Supper,  The,  148,  314. 
Lords  of  Trade,  545- 
Lost  Property,  217. 
Lot  Layers,  48,  49,    114,    156,   210, 

212,  214,  21S,  417,  421. 
Lots  of  Land,  88. 
Lottery,  277. 
Louis  XIV.,  S47. 
Louis  XV.,  554. 

Louisbourg,     Cape    Breton,    235, 
547.  548.  550-556,  574.  576,  668. 

Capture  of,  235. 

Map  of  Siege  of,  551. 
Lovejoy,  Abiel,  629. 
Lovelace,  Gov.  Francis,  465. 
Low,  Jacob,  587,  601. 

John,  576. 

Joseph,  563. 

Moses,  626. 

Nathaniel,  568. 
Low  Street,  82,  418,  429. 
Lowell,  Mass.,  283.  294. 
Lowell.   Corporal,  660. 

Mr..  S33- 

Benjamin,  102,  118,  156,  177, 
1 78,  180,  2c6,  317,  318,  347, 
526,  659. 

Ebenezer.  569. 

Gideon,  516.  530,  659. 

Hardy.  566. 

John,  55,  58,  60,  79,  8r,  85,  86, 

88-90.    92,      93,       100.       104.      12/, 

154,    158,    235,    338,    3.19,    341, 

377,    378,    557,    570,    594-    639, 

676.  683. 
Jonathan.  562. 

Joseph.   526.   536.   5.38,   539.   567- 
Percival.  55,  84.  89.  90,  176.  180, 

203,  220.  318. 
Richard,  45,   141.   176.   180.  612, 

614. 
Samuel.  176,  506,  508,  549,  575, 

579.  612,  614. 
Stephen.  567. 
Thomas.   180. 
Lowell's  Brook.  422,  428. 
Lower     Commons,    1.33-135,    213, 

423. 
Lower  Ferry.  449,  454.  J56-458. 
Landing  Place,  427,  644. 


724 


IXDI-.X 


Lower   Green,   ^2,  36,   n,  39,   57, 

418. 
Loyalists,   596. 

Lucas,  Henry,   i8r,  372,  :s'?2,>  5io. 
Lucy  (negro),  255,  256. 
Lull.  Jeremiah,  566. 

John,  617. 

Moses,  S/O,  606. 

Simon,  613. 

Thomas,  570. 
Lumber,  224,  270,  330,  480,  483. 
Lunt,  Mr.,  203. 

Abraham.    528,   541. 

Benjamin,  626. 

Cutting,  159. 

Daniel,    103,    153,    180,   294,   299, 
317,  410,  411,  499,  549- 

Daniel  A.,  626,  674. 

Dorcas,  674. 

Edna,  674. 

Elkanah,  570,  571,  573- 

Ezra,    273,    274,    592.    600,    602. 

Hon.  George,  310. 

Mrs.   Hannah,  674. 

Henry,  28,  53,  55,  84,  88,  89,  99, 
118,    120,    163,    206,    250,    342, 

515- 

Jacob,  612. 

Capt.  Jeremiah,  491. 

John,    102,    317,    339,    4S7>    516, 
587,  601,  605,  612. 

Johnson,  S49- 

Joseph,    IS9,   218,  264,   470,  601, 
605.  610,  68s. 

Joseph  W.,  633. 

Joshua,  570. 

Lois,   159. 

Micajah,  306,  489,  490,  616-618. 

Nathan,  159. 

Nathaniel,  159,  261,  262. 

Nicholas,   160. 

Olivier,  610. 

Oliver   Clark,   614. 

Paul,  292,  674. 

Richard,   630. 

Samuel,  573. 

Skipper,  370,  372,  565,  566,  630. 

Stephen,  573,  587,  601,  609. 

Thomas  P.,  633. 
Lusher,  Eleazer,   169. 
Lyford,  Jonathan,  617. 
Lyman,  ,   624. 

Colonel,  559. 
Lyme,  Conn.,  340,  382. 
Lynn,   Mass.,   23,  45,  74,   78,   148, 

152,   153,  493,  502,  592. 
Lyon,  Miss  Mary,  366. 

MACE,  R.^RNARD,  563. 
Gt^orge,  562,  565. 
Joshua,  629. 


Mace,  cuiiliniied. 

Reuben,  573.  576. 
Macheard,   William,  569. 
Machinery,  293-295,  298,  309. 
Mackay,   Donald,  491. 
Macy,  Thomas,  68,  100,   145,   146. 
Madison,   President,  630. 
Magistrates,  60,   106.  662. 
Magowan,  Joseph,  629. 
Mail  Bags,  465,  466,  472. 
Mails,  470,  472-474. 
Main   River,  67. 
Main  Street,  473. 
Maine,  13-15,  17,  42,  389.  474,  520, 

622,  679. 
Maine,   Benjamin,  605,  610. 
Maior,   George,   180. 
"Majestic"     (English    frigate    or 

"raze"),  621. 
Malabouach  River,  54c5. 
Malcom,  John,  607. 
Maiden.   Mass.,  603. 
Malford,   Eng..  32. 
A'laloon,  David.  618. 

Josiah,    613.    618. 
Malt,    123,   137.  398. 

Houses,  262,  264,  670,  671. 
Mill,  159,  258. 
Maltsters,  95,  643. 
Manatopchick   River,   548. 
Manning,  John.  160. 
Mansfield,  James,  600.  ot2. 

Robert,  616. 
Mantle,  522. 

Manufacturers.   294-298. 
Manufacturing,  302. 
Maps,  14,  17,  24,  25,  236,  239,  240, 
308,  379,  470,  548.  561. 
of  Champlain,  14. 
of  Island  of  Cape  Breton,  548. 
of  English  Provinces  in  North 

America,  470. 
of    Lake   George.  Ticonderoga 

and  Crown  Point,  561. 
of     Newbury,     1795,      showing 

Parish   Lines,  239,   240. 
of  "Ould   Newbury,"   etc.,  308. 
of  Capt.  John  Smith,   17,  25. 
of  West  Parish,  236,  379. 
of  William  Wood,   1634,  24,  25 
Maple     Street,    West     Newbury. 

380. 
Marbell,  Joseph,  560. 
Marble,  264. 
Marble    Harbor,  24. 
Marblehead,    Mass.,   33,    153,   271, 
^73,  470,  476,  502,  547,  584.  592, 
.S97.  625. 
"Marblehead"      (United      States 

gunboat),  492. 
March,  Cornet,  204. 


INDEX 


725 


March,  continued. 
Ann.  666. 

E.,   2A0. 

Ebenezer,  289.  290.  292,  406,  621, 

622,  683. 
Edmund,  s68. 

George,   103,  loS,   iii,  118,  139 
181.    196,    210.    214,    350,    399, 
417.  420,  459.  479- 
Henry.  536.  338.  539- 
Hugh,  64,  93.  no.  III.  122,  171, 
176,  180,  181,  205,  206.  223,  353. 
354.  369,  403,  442,  526,  542,  659, 
660. 
Jacob,  553,  556,  568,  666,  667. 
James,  205.  530. 
John.  ICO.  129,  196,  205,  242,  243, 
246,  336.  441-448,  450-454,  456, 
450,    480.    481.     515-517.     5^9- 
524,  528-531.  533-535.  541,  549, 
552,  589. 
Rev.  John  C,  386. 
Joseph,  217. 
Moses,  589. 
Nathaniel,  549. 
Philip.  549. 
Mrs.  Ruth,  666.  667. 
Samuel  s68.  666.  667. 
March's   Bridge,   George,   139. 
March's  Farm,  Capt.  John,  234. 
March's  Ferry.  442.  453.  456. 

Landing  Place.  454. 
March's  Hill,  621. 
Mares.  135. 
Maria  Theresa,  547. 
Mariana,  18. 
Mariners,  90,  91,  265. 

Master,  265. 
Mark,  Queen's  Broad  Arrow,  for 

Trees,  370. 
Market,  597. 
Clerk  of  the,  in,  119,  120. 
Place.  144. 
Market  Square.  189.  234,  249,  336, 
377.  378.  427.  429,  430,  660. 
Newburyport,  578. 
Market  Street.  90.  142.    262.    281, 

375,  404,  428.  429,  482,  664. 
Marks,  129,  138,  370. 
Sheep,  138. 
Timber,  129. 
Trees.  370. 
Marlborough.   Eng..  32. 
Marlborough  Street,  242.  243,  265, 
287.  307.  387,     428,     482,    658, 
665. 
"Marmadin"  (ship),  142. 
Marquand.   Capt.    Daniel.   569. 
Marriages,  58,  60,  61,  106,  108,  256, 

374- 
Slaves'.  256. 
Marsh.  Jonathan.  286,  292,  516. 


Marshall,  Edmund,  41,  99,  180. 

John,  629. 

Peter,  206. 
Marshes,   220-222. 
Marshfield,   Mass.,  350,   556,   560, 

591- 
Marston,   Benjamin,  248. 

David,  613. 
Martin,  Rev.  George  A.,  381. 

James,  611,  612,  617. 

Jonathan,  559,  566,  567,  570,  573, 
575.  608,  612,  616-618. 

Joseph,  S79. 

Josiah.  563,  566. 

Nathaniel,  579. 

Oliver,   613,   614. 

Richard,  587,  6oi-,  606,  609,  616- 
618. 

Robert,  611. 

Martinan,  ,  550. 

Martyn's  Vineyard  Sound,  478. 

Marvin,  Thomas,  12^. 

Mary  Indian,   184. 

Mary,  Queen,   196,  245,    467,    468, 

514. 
"Mary  and  John"  (ship),    28,    31, 

311,  316,  643. 
"Mary  L.  Gushing"  (ship),  491. 
Maryland,  560. 
Masconomo,    Sagamore   of  Aga- 

wam,  185. 
Mason,  Capt.  John,  18,  19,  22,  31, 

160,  178.  194.  196,  200,  467, 
Soo. 

Robert.  194-197,  202,    444,   679. 
Mason,  Isle,  ig. 
Mcssachusetts,  42,  58,  74,  145,  160, 

161,  170,    194,    197,    216.    274, 

284.  307,  364.  371.  374.  383,  411, 
468,  491,  499,  506,  507,  522, 
524,  534,  540,  544,  554,  560, 
596,  602,  608,  622,  668,  679. 

"Masachusetts"   (ship),  485. 

Massachusetts  Bay,  14,  24,  ;i3.  35, 
36,  42,  151,  160,  161,  194,  199, 

554- 

Massachusetts  Bay  Colony,  22, 
23,  26,  36,  42,  56.  143,  172-179, 
184,  207,  215,  251.  313.  316.  436, 
447.  465.  466.  493.  497.  500,  508, 
510,  511.  516.  517.  604,  639.  647. 
Limits  of,  677. 

Massachusetts  Bay  Militia,  610. 

Massachusetts  Bay  Province,  61, 
119,  191,  196,  209,  218,  219, 
233,  245,  246,  252,  253,  256, 
271.  282,  296.  383,  466-468, 
479.  499.  518,  519.  521,  523, 
535.  538.  544.  5. 56,  "^eo,  562, 
573,  578.  581.  583.  584.  595, 
652.  680. 
Charter  of.  479,  518. 


726 


IXDEX 


Massachusetts      Cliaritable      Fire 

Society,  655. 
Massachusetts  Company.  26,  2^. 
Masachusetts  Gazette,  2T2I- 
Massachusetts.  State  of,  288. 
Constitution  of.  288-290. 

Adoption  of.  288,  290. 
Massachusetts    Volunteers,     632- 

636. 
Massiloway.  Daniel,  180,  206,  659. 
Mast  Fleets.  470. 
Master  Mariners,  265,  2)72>,  482. 
Masts.  218. 

Masury,   Lawrence   M.,  635. 
Match.  43.  62,  648. 
A-Tathematics,   i6t. 
Mattacomen,  Sagamore,  24. 
Matthews,  Hugh.  205. 
William,  576. 

Mattox,  ,  55,  93. 

Maverick,    Samuel,    42,    97,    142, 

166,  167,  173,  677. 
May,  John,  613,  618. 
"Mayflower"    (ship),    18. 
May  hew,   Elijah,  615. 

Thomas,  649. 
Mayo,  Joseph,  204,  542. 
McCobb,  Col.  Samuel.  608. 
McCondry.  William.  012. 
McElroy.  Rev.  Elbridge  P.,  381. 
McKinstey,  William,  629. 
Mc Knight.  Lieutenant,  624. 
McLeod,  Norman.  310. 
McMaster,  Adams,  627. 
McPherson,  Paul,  617.  618. 
McThomas,  James,  630. 
Meade,  General,  (y^Z- 

Rev.  Samuel,  344. 
Mechanics,  266,  267. 
Medford.  Mass.,  2Z,    24.    40,    475, 

486,  60s. 
Meeting  House  Fortified.  505. 
Meeting  House  Hill,  379. 
Meeting  House     Lane,     40,     385, 

303- 
Meeting  House  Pond,.  241. 
Meeting  Houses,  39,  59,  61-63,  82, 

86,  112,  113,  124,  164,  167.  226- 

229,  231,  234,  235,  237,  240,  241, 

247,  249,  269,  274,  309,  315,  317, 

318.  331, 3.33-335.  z?>i^  338,  340- 

344,  347,  349-355,  357,  359,  362, 
366-370.  377-380,  384-389,  392, 
394-396,  401,  403-405,  427,  464, 
492.  514-  557,  578,  591,  654,  655, 
674.  683. 

Breaking  into,  331. 

Burned,  345,  346. 

Byfield.  364. 

East  Salisbury,  281. 

First,  39,  61-63,  313,  314- 


Meeting  Houses,  continued. 

Fourtii  Parish,  492. 

Presbyterian,  486. 

Quaker.  391,  392. 

Rocky   Hill,  464. 

Second,  314,  315. 

Second  Parish,  363. 
Meetings,  514. 

Religious,  62. 

Selectmen's,  50. 

Town.  49,  50,  296. 
Meghechewanck  River,  24. 
Mellen,  Aaron,  619. 
Menanaquid  River,  24. 
Menut.  George  A.,  393. 
Mercer,  Mr.,  447. 
Mercer,  32. 
Merchandise.  217,  265,  271. 

Lost  and  Found,  217. 

Tax  on,  296. 
Merchant  Ships,  491,  492. 
Merchant  Vessels,  488. 
Merchants,  14,  19,  20,  25,  196,  266. 
267,  296,  303,  467,  476,  481,  483. 

489. 
Merden,  William,  609. 
Merrill,   Abel.    177,    181,   205,   236. 

542.  569,  589,  657,  659. 
Abraham.  89,  lor,   112,   116-118. 

179,  205,  213,  347,  349-353,  3~o, 

372,  422,  459,  536.  539,  542,  659. 
Annis.  601. 
Charles,   627. 
Christopher,  601. 
Daniel,    103,    116,    177,    181,  205, 

208,   528,  541,  659. 
Enoch,  587,  609,  625. 
Ezekiel,  588. 
Henry,  304. 
Rev.   Horatio.  362. 
Jabez,  616. 
Jacob.  430,  478,  586. 
James,  587. 
John,  54,  84,    85,    89,    no.     141, 

205,  220,  305,  zi^^  421,  541, 

588,  68s. 
Rev.  John  M..  388. 
Jonathan.   485,   576,   615. 
Joshua,  586. 
Josiah,  S49. 
Juba,  613,  618. 
Laban,  629. 
Moses,  568. 
Nathan.  560,  586,  660. 
Nathaniel,  93,  177,  180,  485.  528, 

541,  560. 
Rev.  Nathaniel  J.,  388. 
Oliver  B.,  687. 
Orlando   B..  287,  391,  485,  486, 

488,  491. 
Dr.  Peter,  582. 


INDEX 


727 


Merrill,  continued. 
Samuel,  616,  627. 
Stephen,  568,  616. 
Thomas,  489,  62s. 
William,  626. 
Merrill's   I.ane,  236. 
Merrimac.   Mass.,  536. 
Merrimack,  23,  45,  68,  69,  500,  517. 
Merrimack  Bar.  222. 
Merrimack  Bridge,  270,  462. 
Merrimack  Court,  418,    430,    437, 

438,  483,  491- 

Merrimack    Ridge.   65-67,   649. 

Merrimack  River,  14,  18-20,  22-25, 

29,  30.  42,  43,  66,  68,  70-72,  75, 

82,  83,  90,  91,    114,    125,    126, 

129.  157,  159-161.  165-167,  170, 

172,   178,   182,    183,    18s,    193, 

194,  200,  212-215,  220,  224,  227, 

234,  237-240,  246,  262,  267,  268, 

277-281,  283,  300,  301,  304,  306, 

308,  314,  395-  414,  418,  421,  423, 

424.  426,  427,  429,  430,  434-439, 

44T-443,  446-453.  455-464.  477. 

479,  480,  482,  484.  489,  500,  516, 

518.  519.  522,  526,  535,  539.  592, 

504,  621,  622.  644,  658,  670,  675. 

Map  of,  198.  199. 

Merrimack  Street,  89,  90,  142,  238, 

390,   418,  428-430.  6O4. 
Merrimackport.   462.  463. 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  387. 
Incorporated,  388. 
in  Byfield,  303. 
Methuen,  Mass.,    198.295,  512,604. 
Michaux  Island,  548. 
Middle  Ferry,  464. 
Middle  Shipyard.  481. 
Middle  Street.  427. 
Middle  Town,  116. 
Middlebury,  Mass.,  573. 
Middlesex  County,  Eng.,  313. 
Mass.,  74,  97,  502,  603,  604. 
N.  J.,  171. 
Middleton,  Mass.,  611. 
Midwife,  645- 
Mighill,  Ezekiel,  564,  575,  579. 

John.  181. 
Milford  Haven,  Eng..  14,  548. 
Military,  549. 
Military    Company    of    Newbury, 

493-496.  498. 
Military  Officers,  S7- 
Military  Organizations,  493,   659. 
During  the  French  and  Indian 
Wars.  659. 
Military  Tactics,  625. 
Militia,   62.   91.   97,    173.   209,   225, 
503,  568,  569,  596,  610. 
First,  62. 


Militia,  continued. 

Reorganization  of,  499. 
Mill  Bridge,  139,  241,  421,  424. 
Mill  Dams,  238,  284. 
Mill  Lot,  94. 
Mill  Owners,  284. 
Mill  Privilege,  294,  295. 
Mill  River,  135,  139,  140,  156. 
Mill  Stone,  262. 
Mill.  The,  417,  425. 
Miller,  ,  6^9. 

Mr.,  55,  84. 
Millikcn,  Capt.  Moses  J.,  2,^2,- 
Mills.  Alexander,  567. 

Charles   P.,  687. 
Mills,   38,    139.    15.5-159.    168,   213, 
226.  240,  258-262,  irg4,  29S,  302, 
415.   421.   423.    425,    428,    534. 
647-650,  6S3,  688. 

Amesbury,   421. 

at  Artichoke  River,  159. 

at  Cart  Creek,  653. 

Corn,  298. 

Curzon,  423. 

Sergeant  Emery's,  423. 

Grist,  at  Little  River,  415. 

of  Stephen  Hooper,  425. 

James  Steam,  302. 

of  Dea.  Samuel  Moody,  428. 

at  Pine  Island,  688. 

Saw,  653. 

Wait's,  298. 

Water,  647. 
Miltimore.  Andrew  W.,  411.  685. 

James,  386,  492,  625. 

John,   625. 
Milton,  Mass..  77. 
Milton,  Aaron,  608. 
Milward,  Thomas,  35,  90,  91,  100, 

122. 
ATinchin,  Daniel,  613. 

George  H.,  635. 

Robert  R.,  635. 
Mineral  Deposits.  307. 
Mines,  Silver,  307,  309. 
Mingo,  Robert,  204,  229. 
Mining  Company,   309. 
Ministers,   61,    171,   226,  227,   272, 
314,    338.    349,    370,    373-    374, 
376,  406,  499. 

Maintenance  of,  314. 
Ministry  House.  351-356. 
Ministry  Land,  214. 
Ministry  Rate,  229. 
Mint,  Master  of  the.  191. 
Minute  Men,  585. 
Mi  ray.  Lake  of,  548. 
IMirrick,  Jacob,  588,  603,  607,  612. 

James.   iiS,   176,  331,  342,  507- 

John,  347. 


728 


INDEX 


Mirrick.   coniinued. 

Joseph,  i8o,  i86,  586. 

Timothy,  542,  660. 
Missionary,  54s. 
Mississippi  River,  81. 
Mitchell,  Andrew,  170. 

George.  108. 

John,  181,  206,  508,  6&0. 

Nathaniel,  609. 

Robert,  658. 

Stephen,  Cx)5,  606,  608,  &12. 

Thomas,  360. 

William,  94.  181,  515,  562,  566. 
Mitchell's  Falls,  198. 
Moccasins,  524,  526,  528,  540,  541. 
Moderators,  208,  332,  359,  512. 
Mogg  Mcgone,  508. 
Moggaridge,  Mr.,  429. 

Eleanor,  492. 

John,  485,  575,  586. 

Mary.  238,  256. 

Mary  W.,  492. 

Samuel,  255.  256,  482,  483,  562, 

565. 

Stephen.  483. 

William.  562.  566.  575,  601. 
Moggaridge   Building   Yard,  485. 
Moggaridge   Point,  437,  484,  485, 

488,  489- 
Moggaridge  Shipyard,  486,  491. 
Mohawks,  557.  5S8. 
Moll,  Hermon,  470. 
Monckton,  Lt. -Colonel,  553. 
Money,  185,  217,  218. 

Lost,  217,  218. 
Monhegan,    Island    of,    Me.,    15, 

17,  19. 
Monopoly,  597,  598. 
Montcalm,  General,  560. 
Montgomery,  General,  594. 

Lt.  Moody,  615. 
Monts,  Sieur  de,  14.' 
Monument  at  Muddy  Brook,  504. 
Moody.  Goodman,   115. 

Sergeant,  118. 

Benjamin,  267,  2"] 2,  505. 

Caleb,  59.  95,  loi,  107,  108,  no, 
112,  118,  155,  180,  194,  203, 
210,  219,  225,  24s,  262,  318, 
331.  353.  354,  422.  445.  461, 
477.  516.  536-539,  542,  679. 

Charles,  628. 

Cutting,  541,  554,  681. 

Daniel,   182.  568. 

Ebenezer,  605. 

Edward,  S«2. 

Enoch,  299. 

Friend.  565. 

George,  612. 

Henry,  568. 

James.  601. 

John,  204,  218,  567,  573,  576,  582. 


Moody,  continued. 
Joseph,  573. 
Joshua,   153,  244,  i22,  403.  429, 

516,  528.  541.  543,  C>c6.  657. 
Mrs.  Mehitable.  231. 
Moses,  238,  277,  588,  606. 
Moses  Sargent,  589,  609,  623. 
Nicholas,  615. 

Paul,  291,  293,  294,  587,  609. 
Samuel,   loi,   no,   ni^   163,  233, 
253.    2s6,    406,    417,    428,    430, 
462,    542,    565,    582,    584,    592, 
683. 
Miss  Sarah,  391. 
Silas.  513,  685. 
Somerby,  285,  569,  572. 
Thomas,  264.  450,  453-456,  528, 

541,  569,  578. 
William,   28,   48,    53.   55,   63,  67, 
84.  93,  99,   103.   109.  n8,   163, 
182,    203.    229,    231,    294,    349, 
427,  565,  567,  627,  680,  681. 
Moody's  Farm,  230. 
Moody's  Lane.   n5,  238.  240,  264, 

386,  390,  437-  483- 
Moody's  Mill,  240. 
Moore,  Rev.  Abraham,  344,  654. 
Benjamin,  116,  540. 
Dea.  John,  344. 
Jonathan,  118. 
Mrs,  Mary,  344. 
Matthew,  171. 
Samuel,   163,   171. 
Moores,  Abner,  571,  573. 

Edmund,   89,   93,    118,    180,    181, 

203,  225,  415,  503. 
Edward,  no.  117,  118. 
George,  506,  508. 
Jonathan,     125,     181,    203,    498, 

514.  660. 
Joseph.  458. 
Mark.  125. 
Parker,  570. 
Samuel,  123. 
Morgan,  John,  633. 
Moring,  Joseph.   180,  204.  505. 
Mnrrice,  Sir  William,  175. 
Morrill.  Benjamin,  615. 
Daniel,  n6,  n8. 
Enoch,  626. 
Isaac,  4s6. 
"Jacob,  575.  625. 
John,  456,  625. 
Jonathan.  566.  614. 
Joseph,  615. 
Natlianiel.  656. 
Stephen.  610. 
William,  615,  616. 
Morris,  E\an.  216. 
Morrison,    Daniel,    536,    538,    539, 
542. 
Ebenezer,  573,  575. 


INDEX 


729 


Morrison,  continued. 

Miss  Ina  B.,  295. 

Leonard,  295. 

Leonard  A.,  295. 

William  H.,  295. 
Morss,  Abel,  356. 

Amos,  60s,  629. 

Anthony,  32,  53,  55,  84,  89,  99, 
III,  115,  120,  122,  141,  163,  180, 

■  186,  205,  315,  331,  543.  559, 
567. 

Benjamin,  102,  103,  112.  115, 
118,  131,  178,  181,  200,  202, 
206-208,  227,  242,  243,  249, 
342,  401,  541,  543,  607,  659. 

Daniel,  356. 

Edmund.  107,  565,  569. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth,  186-189. 

Hannah,  668. 

Rev.  Jedediah,  366. 

Jonathan,  102,  617. 

Joseph,  103,  182,  zy/,  429,  536, 
5^9,  616,  627,  628. 

Joseph  B.,  686. 

Joshua,  112,  116.  204,  578,  659. 

Moody,  589,  603,  608. 

Moses,  627. 

Obadiah,  607. 

Robert,  94,  164. 

Saul,  627. 

Stephen,  576,  603,  606. 

William,  32,   S3,  55,  56,  84,  89, 
91,     94,     99,     118,     141,     180, 
186-189,  283,  356. 
Morse's  Corner,  139. 
Mortars,  534,  535,  555,  557- 
Mortgages,  218. 
Moseley,  Edward  A.,  686. 
Moses.  Rev.  Vincent.  364. 
"Moses    and    Aaron,"    etc.,    324, 

326-329. 
Mossom.  Rev.  David,  2>TZ- 
Moulton,  Aaron,  603,  606,  612. 

Bat,  660. 

Daniel,  628. 

Rev.  Horace.  388. 

Capt.  Jeremiah,  544,  S45- 

John,  44,  49.  66,  100,  436. 

Jonathan,  463,  566. 

Joseph,  272,  293,  543. 

Thomas,  44,  49,  99,  566. 

William,  204,  541. 
Mount  Desert,  25,  522. 
Mount  Hope,  509. 
Mowatt,  Captain,  574. 

Henry,  627. 
Muddy  Brook  Bridge,  503. 

Battle  of,  503,  S04. 
Monument  to  commemorate, 
504. 
Muddy  Brook,  Village  of,  504. 

Monument  at,  504. 


Muddy  River,  24,  647. 

Mudgett,  Thomas,  478. 
Muffit,  William,  206. 
Mugg   (Indian),  508. 
Mulberry  Trees,  18. 
Murders,  4s.  46.  80. 
Murray,  Benjamin,  619. 

John,  607. 

William,  608,  612,  614. 
Music,  310,  578. 

Church,   Book  on,  356. 
Musicians,  310. 
Musgro,  Jabez,  515. 
Musgrove,   Joseph,   50s. 
Musketaqua  River.  24. 
Muslcets,  62.  IT,  78,   171,  499,  504. 
Musselwhite,  John,  32,  84,  89,  99, 

150,  163. 
Muster  Roll,  536. 
Muzzey,  Abraham,  28. 

John,  28. 

Joseph,  loi,  176,  182,  428. 
Muzzey's  Lane,  242,  20s,  482,  486, 

658. 
Mycall,  John,  270,  407,  486. 
Mystic  (Medford),  Mass.,  22,. 
Mystic  Pond,  24. 
Mystic  River,  500,  501. 

"MADAB"    (schooner),   309. 

A^      Nahant  Point,  24. 
Nails,   298,  315. 

Cut,  298. 

Manufacture  of,  298. 
Namekeke    River,    196. 
Nantasket,  24.  514,  531,  535,  550. 
Nantucket,  Mass.,  145,  146. 
Nantucket    Athenaeum,    145. 
Napoleon,   485. 
Naponsett  River,  24. 
Narragansett,   506,   sn,  512. 

Indian   Fort  at,  432,  5x1,  512. 
Narragansett  Bay,  24,  25. 
Narragansett  Indians,  502. 
Narragansett  River,  24. 
Narragansett   Township,   No.    i, 

483,    512,    513. 
Narragansett  War,  512. 
Nash.  John,  504. 
Nason,  John,  612. 
"Nature  of  Saving  Conversion," 

486. 
Naumkeag    (Salem),    Mass.,    22, 

24,   194. 
Naumkeag  River,    18,    19,  31. 
Navigation,   280. 

Act.    178. 
Naval   Officer,  478,  479. 
"Navigator,"     "The     Practical," 

486. 
Navy.   370,  624. 

Her  Majesty's,  370. 


730 


JXDEX 


Neale,  Thomas,  Esq.,  467,  468. 
Neat   Herd,   132. 
Neck,  The,  69,  91,  92,   m,   115. 
116,    135,    145,    158,   222,   395, 
418,  434,  649. 
Great,  2)'^. 
Negro  Seats,  360. 
Negro  Servants,  254,  255. 
Negroes,  253-255,  483,  670. 
Nelson,  Ambrose,   563,  573. 
Daniel,  627. 
Francis,  230. 
James,    573. 
Philip,   157,   168,  444.  445.   502, 

515.   516. 
Thomas,   156,  157. 
"Neptune"  Fire  Engine,  288. 
Netherlands,   521. 
Nets,  283,  284. 
Dip,    284. 
Drag,    283. 
New    Bedford,    Mass.,   622. 
New    Bridge,    241. 
New    England,    15-21,   23-26,   28, 
30-32,  36,  38,   56,  81,  95,  96, 
g8,    144,    146,    148,    165,    173- 
174,    176,    179,    182,    185,    191, 
193-196,    200,    202,    207,    219, 
276,   281,  316,   356,   358.   366, 
395,    420,    443,    445.    465-467, 
470,  478,   483,  484,   498,   514, 
547,   555,    561,  562,    578,   584, 
643,  649,  654,  679,  680. 
New    England   Conference,   387, 

393. 
New    England    Historic    Genea- 
logical Society,  528. 
New   England,   History   of,  366. 
"New   England  Judged,"    151. 
New  England  Primer,  407,  408. 
New   England's   Prospect,  23,  25. 
New     Hampshire,     22,    42,    142, 
149,    161,    170,    172,    175,    194, 
196-200,    389,    467,    468,    474, 
524,   535,   679. 
New  Haven,  500. 
"New    Heaven    upon    the    New 

Earth,"    191,    192. 
New  Jersey,   171. 
New  Lane,  333,  427. 
"New    Lights,"   378. 
New  London,  Conn.,  470. 
New  Orleans,  La.,  634. 
New  Plymouth,   20,  24. 
New  Plymouth  Bay,  24. 
New    Pond,    Ki?. 
"New    Schemers,"    378. 
New  Street,  89,  90. 
New  Town   (Cambridge),  Mass., 
23,  24,  29,  34,  40,  41,  151,  493- 
647.  675. 


New  Town  (Newburyport), 
Mass.,  85,  86,  89.  91,  95,  115, 
116,  121,  126,  135,  154,  214,  314, 
401,  404,   418,  419,  439. 

New  York,  465,  468,  470,  472, 
478,  560,  561. 

New  York,  N.  Y.,  171,  196,  298, 
309,  407,  630,  636. 

New  York  Historical  Society, 
485. 

New  York  Province,  146. 

Newbury,  Berkshire,  Eng..  191, 
?>2-2„  32s,  326. 
Mass.,  17,  23,  24,  27,  28,  30,  31, 
33-36,  38-47.  51-53,  57-65,67- 
76,  78-83,  85-88,  90-95,  98. 
101-109,  113,  114,  119-125, 
128,  129,  131,  133,  138.  .140, 
142,  145,  148-159,  162-173, 
175-179,  182-186,  188,  189, 
191,     193-197,     199-209,     212, 

213,  215-225,  227-2^1,  234- 
236,  240,  242-262,  264-277, 
279,  280,  282-285,  287-317, 
319-326,      328-341,      343,      345, 

347-350,  352-354,  357,  359- 
361,  364,  365,  369-379,  381- 
399,  401-403,  406-414,  416- 
463,  468-481,  483-486,  488, 
489,  492-508,  510-516.  518- 
520,  523,  526-530,  535,  536, 
539-541,  543,  545,  549,  550, 
552-557,  559,  560,  562-570, 
572-574,  576,  578,  581,  583- 
598,  600-611,  613,  614.  616- 
623,  625,  631,  632,  636,  639, 
640,  642-645,  647-651,  653- 
656,  658,  659.  662.  664-670, 
672,  674-681,  683,  685-687. 
Vt.,  172. 

Newbury,  Walter,  444. 

Newbury,  Part  of,  annexed  to 
Newburyport,  303. 

Newbury  in  1654,  165. 

Newbury   in    1660,    166. 

Newbury,  Boundaries  of,  240. 

Newbury,  Map  of  "Ould,"  etc., 
308. 

Newbury,  Map  of,  showing  Par- 
ish Lines,  1795,  234,  240. 

Newbury  Falls,  66,  183,  184,  231, 
233,  364.  40s.  512,  647,  648, 
650. 

Newbury  Marshes,  221,  223. 

Newbury  Neck,  2']'j. 

Newbury  River.   184,  432. 

Newbury  Spring  Bleachery 
Company,  302. 

Newburyport,  Mass.,  82,  90,  91, 
133,  134,  142,  172,  189,  214, 
215,  223,  22S,  234,   235,   238- 


IXDEX 


731 


Newburyport,  continued. 

240,  243,  245,  247,  249,  250, 
262,  2(35-270,  273-276,  280- 
282,  286,  288,  290,  292-294, 
296,  298-300,  302-310,  2)2>i, 
336,  339,  341,  34-^-  344,  345, 
354,  3(56,  368,  371,  ZIZ,  375, 
m,  378,  381,  384-388,  390- 
394,  404,  405,  407-411,  418- 
420,  4^3,  424,  426-430,  437, 
442,  443,  458,  463,  464,  473- 
475,  480,  482-484,  486-492, 
554,  578.  S8i,  589-594,  ^00- 
603,  605,  607-609,  611,  614, 
616,  620,  621,  623-625,  633, 
654,  658,  662,  664-667,  669, 
670,  682,  683,  686,  687. 

Boundaries  of,  267,  268. 

Incorporation  of,  266. 

Part  of  Newbury  annexed  to, 

303- 

Newburyport      Academy,      269, 

270. 
Newburyport  Herald  and  Coun- 
try  Gazette,  274. 
Newburyport      Turnpike,      270, 

306,  308. 
Newburyport    Turnpike    Corpo- 
ration, 275. 
Newburyport     Woollen     Manu- 
factory, 240,  293,  294,  298. 
Newcastle,  N.  H.,  385. 
Newell,  Eleazer,  607. 

Ezra,  607. 

Mrs.  Harriet,  366,  688. 

Joseph,  277,  588,  603,  623,  683, 
684. 

Naptt,  606. 
Newfoundland,  13,   15,  547- 
Newhall,  Capt.  Joseph,  572,  610. 

Joshua  L.,  685. 
Newman,  Benjamin,  601. 

Elizabeth,  666. 

John,  28.  569,  666. 

Payne,  666. 

Robert,  28. 

Thomas,  28.  615. 

Wingate,  666. 
Newspapers,  224,  265,  471-473. 
Newton,  N.  H..  255. 
Newton,  Charles  A.,  634. 
Nichols,  Aaron,  567. 

Edmund,  625. 

Humphrey.  607. 

James,  566. 

John,  586,  603.  607,  612. 

William,  610,  614. 
Nicholson,     Francis,     371,     444, 

535- 
Nicolls,    Col.    Richard,    97,    ^73, 


Niganiche  Bay,  548. 
Niganiche  island,  548. 
Nisbett,   William,  206,  216. 
Nixon,   General,  608. 
Noble,  John,  473. 

Rev.  Oliver^  385,  584,  591. 
Noble  Street,  240,  385,  393. 
Noddle's  Island,   166. 
Norfolk  County,  74,  494. 
Norfolk  Street,  428,  429. 
Norridgewock,     Me.,    522,     527- 
529,   544-546. 

Battle  at,  545. 
North,   Edmund,  629. 
North     America,     18,    467,    5(2, 
575,   580. 

Map    of    English    Possessions 
in,  470. 
North  Atkinson  Street,  391,429. 
North  Cape,  548. 
North   Carolina,  380. 
North   Street,  238,   304,  492. 
Northampton,   Mass.,  505. 
Northend,   Ezekiel,   276. 

George  H.,  632. 

John,  564,  627,  685. 

William   E.,  632. 
Norton,  Daniel,  564. 

Jonathan,  562. 

Joshua,  286,  427. 

Stephen,  615. 

William,  615. 
"Norumbega,"   17. 
Notary   Public,  47. 
Nova    Scotia,    14,    371,   53°,   53.^. 

535,  553-  578,  667. 
Nowell,  Increase,  152. 

John,  286. 

Moses,  286,  611. 

Samuel,  285,  286,  570,  615. 
Noyes,   Captain,  542. 

Deacon,  348. 

Mr.,  389. 

Aaron.  588,  607. 

Mrs.  Abigail,  668. 

Mrs.  Anne,  311. 

Benjamin,  615. 

Benjamin   F.,  634. 

Calvin.  299. 

Cutting,  102,  112,  116,  118,  179. 
185,  200,  202,  203,  210,  254, 
499,  542,  543,  680. 

Daniel,  306,  542,  571,  627.  668, 
685. 

Rev.   Daniel   B..  362. 

Dr.   Ebenezer,  668. 

Eliphalet.  285.  550,  612.  619. 

Enoch,  266.  629. 

Eugene,  573,  591. 

Rev.   F.  B..  381. 

Francis  V.,  294,  685. 


732  INDEX 


OAK  FRAME,  384. 
Oak    Hill     Cem( 


Noycs,  continued. 

George  E.,  635.  ^^     Oak    Hill     Cemetery,     270, 

Mrs.  Hannah,  668.  302,  310,  491. 

Henry,  564,  573.  Oak  Trees,  18,  307,  311. 

Isaac,  343.  Oakland    Street,    238,    266,    300, 

James,  28,  36,  55,  84-86,  88,  92,  492. 

99,    124,    150,    156,    165,    182,  Oat  Meal,  159. 

196,    220,   242,   264,   311,   312,  Oat  Meal  Mill,  159,  258. 

316,   324,   326,   328,   HT,   424,  Oath    of    Allegiance,     172,     177, 

428,    542,    543,    654,    672,    674,  179,  642,  679. 

681.  Oath  of  Fideliti^,  178. 

John,    102,    117,    182,    204,    208,  Oaths,  60,  124. 

218,   261,   571,   573,    586,    587,  Oats,  201,  466,  523. 

603,    606,   610,   626,   629,   653,  Obbens,   Solomon,  602. 

656,  657,  660.  Oben,   Nathaniel,  573. 

Corp.  Jonathan,  562.  ^Ober,    Nathaniel,   615. 

Joseph,   loi,   150,  542,  564,571,  '"Oberlin"   (bark),  491. 

588,  603,  606,  612.  613,  618.  O'Brien,  Thomas,  563. 

Joshua.  571,   582,  006,  627.  Ocean    Avenue,    214,    276,    426, 

Josiah  P.,  388.  492,  593- 

Luther,  271,  410.  Ocracoke  Bar,  380. 

Moses,  343,  582.  Ode,  310. 

Na.,  53.  Odell,   Joseph,   559. 

Nathan,  339.  Odiorne,  Jothan,  199. 

Nathaniel,    344,    563,    573,    579,  Officers,  Town,  46,   109,  no. 

634,  660.  Ohio,  81. 

Nehemiah,  571,  576.  "Ohio"  (steamboat),  491. 

Nicholas,  28,  41,  50,  54,  84.  88,  Ohio  River,  556. 

89,   91,   92,    99,    104-106,    109,  Old    Ferry   Landing   Place,   280. 

111,  112,    117,    118,    122,    163,  Old   Hill    Burying   Ground,  235, 
164,    176,    191,    194,   3ii>   ZZ'^^  265,  644. 

395>   397.   399'  4i5>  4^6,   420,  Old  South  Church,  384. 

495,  526,  650,  677,  679.  Old     Town,     115,    116,    135,    136, 

Parker,  569,  588,  603,  607.  139,  IS7,  214,  404,  418. 

Paul,   573-  Bridge.   225,  590. 

Peter,  629.  Ferry.  83.  277.  401,  404. 

Prudence,    172.  Landing,   277. 

Samuel,  291,  343,  571,  582,  596.  Hill,   I93- 

Mrs.  Sarah,  311.  Meeting  House,  654. 

Silas,  613.  618,  672.  River,  432,  433. 

Simeon,  615.  Old   Will,    184. 

Stephen,  575.  Old  Will  Indian,  184. 

Thomas,     102,     106,     108,     in,  Oldam,   Mr.,  649. 

112,  118,  139,  180,  185,  196,  "Olive"  (brig),  489.  490. 
203,  205,  207-210,  212-215,  Oliver,  Mrs.,  55,  84.  88. 
236,   258.   333,    ■J?4,   348-   350,  Francis  J.,  297. 

354,   401,   422,   424-   451.   452,  John,  45.  99,   TOO. 

459,   497,    514,   518,    528,   536,  "Ontario"   (steamship),  492. 

537,    540,    541-    '^43,    567.   575,  Orchard  House,   Blackwall,  484. 

579,    589,    610,    628,   634,   659,  Ordinances,  56. 

660,  680.  Ordinaries,   40,    71,   ']2.    137,   442, 

Timothy,   103,  204,  510.  443- 

Wadleigh.  588,  603,  606.  First,  40. 

Walter,   634.  Ordinations.   352,    356,   358,    364, 

Ward.   560.  3(15,     .368,     369,    277-2,79-    381, 

William,     180.    203,     214,    311,  385.  386,  402,  513. 

402,   477,   541,   565,    575,   579,  Ordway.   Benjamin,  626. 

628.  Edward,  205,  331,  503,  506.  508. 

Noyes  House.  672.  Francis.  94. 

Noyes'  Lane.  Capt.,  401.  672.  Hananiah,  354,  542.  659. 

Nullification,   366.  James.    loi.    in.    112.    115-118. 

Nut,   Obadiah,'  612.  141,    163,    178,    179,    206.   209, 


INDEX 


733 


Ordwa}',   James,   continued. 

210,   2t)2,   417,    53b,   541,   626, 
660. 
John,    125,    179,   206,   214,    227, 
347,   349,  350,   352,   353,   370, 
424,  482,   526,   541,   542,   569, 
626,  660. 
Joshua,  430,  683. 
Nathaniel,  626. 
Peter,  587,  601,  609,  62O. 
Richard.  626. 
Capt.    Stephen,  238. 
William,  629. 
Ordway's  Lane,  90,  142,  262,  375, 

4-27.  664. 
Organ  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  ZIT- 
Orthography,  408. 
Osborn,  Ezekiel,  632. 

PI  ugh  M.,  "635. 
Osgood,   Christopher,  28. 
Hucker,  660. 
John,  44,  55,  69,  75,  84,  93,99, 

416,  417,  576,  628,  684. 
Joseph,  516. 
Oliver,   576. 
Philip,  615. 
Samuel,  238. 
Theophilus,  615. 
Timothy,  238. 
Osillovvay,  Daniel,  2)1^^  567,  660. 
Oswego,  560. 
Otherman,    Rev.    Bartholomew, 

387. 
Ouiak  River,  548. 
Overseers  of  the  Poor.  299,  554. 
Overseers  of    Powder    and   Shot, 

647. 
Overseers  of  Society  of  Friends, 

392. 
Owens,  John,  564.  572. 
Ox  Common,  95,  132. 
Ox  Pasture  Hill,  83.  308. 
Ox  Roasted,  235. 
Oxen.   132.  134,   135,  203-207,  277. 

330,  523,  578,  670. 

PACANOKROK,    SAGA- 
MORE, 24. 
Pacific  Ocean,  -22. 
Packet  Boats,  470,  472. 
Page,  Henry,  625. 

Insley,   629. 

James.  612. 

Nathan.  566. 

Richard.  627. 

Simon.  573.  575.  579. 
Painting.  392. 
Paintings.  310.  409. 

Oil.  409. 
Palisade,   574. 
Palmer,  Captain,  36. 


Palmer,  continued. 
Daniel,  571. 

Henry,  54,  71,  84,  89,  93. 
Richard,    84. 
William,  44,  49,   54,  89. 
Paper,  296,  581. 
Duly  on,  581. 
Tax  on,  296. 
Paper  Money,  218. 
Parades,  197,  209,  530. 
Army,  530. 

of  Governor  Belcher,  197. 
Paris,  France,  378,  580,  599. 
Parish,   Rev.   Elijah,  365,  366. 
Parishes,  226,  351,  357. 
Records   of,  336. 
Taxes  of,  290,  291,  341. 
Parker,  Miss  Anne,  311. 
Dorcas,  669. 
Lt.   David,  559. 
Capt.   Gideon,  600. 
John,   141. 
Joseph,  75,  560. 
Moses,   185. 
Nathan,  75,   180. 
Rev.   Robert,  311. 
Rev.  Thomas.  28-30,  36,  41,  55, 
66,  84,  8s,  87,  88,  91,  99,  loi, 
112,    149,    150,    165,    176,    191, 
193,  220,   311,   316,  317,   3ip- 
321,    Z22,-Z2S,    328,    329,    402, 
433,  494.  643,  654. 
William,  613. 
Rev.  William  W.,  362. 
Parker   River,   27,   28,   30-32,   36, 
57,  58,  64,  82,  83,  85,  126,  134, 
154,    156,    157,    159.    183.    193, 
224,    229,    231,    233.    239-241, 
250,  275,   276,   283.   284,   308, 
311,    314,    395,    413-415,    418, 
419,    428,    432-434,    437,    653, 
654- 
Bridge,  240,  275,  308.  419,  431, 

434- 
Ferry  over.  431,  434. 
Parker   Street,  90,   124,   672,  674. 
Parliament,  42.  148.  161,  171.296, 

.S8i,  583. 
Parsonage,  361.  364.  366. 
of   Byfield   Parish,  428. 
House,  356. 
Parsons,    ^lass..    301,    361,    380, 
386. 
Incorporation  of,  301.  380.386. 
Parsons,    Caleb.   613. 
David,  626. 
Eben,  233,  364,  366. 
Gorham,  294. 
John.  634. 

Jonathan,     286,    340,    382,     384, 
568. 


734  INDEX 

Parsons,   continued.  Pearson,  continued. 

Joseph,  657.  Joseph,  601. 

Rev.  Aloses,  2^7,  364,  365,  571,          Joseph  H.,  632. 

584.  Josh,   571. 

Samuel,  626.  Moses,  570. 

Theophiliis.  233,  293,  294,  304.  Moses  T.,  634. 

Parsons',     Rev.      Mr.,      Meet.ng  Nathaniel,  587,  601,  626. 

House,  274.  Noyes,  571. 

Pascataquak,   19,  45.  Orin  T.,  634. 

Passaconaway  (Indian),  24,  500,          Paul,  571,  578. 

501.  Samuel,  605. 

Passamaquoddy,  534.  Silas,   259,   260,    583,   593,    597, 

Passaquo  (Indian),  71.  610. 

Pastors,  283,  311,   336,  339,  344.          Solomon,  571. 

345,   361,   362,   3^4,   365,  3<j8,           Thomas,  563. 

433,  518.  William  P..  636. 

First,  311.  Pearson's   Mills,   240. 

Pasturage,  129,  133,  137.  Pearson's  Mills  Village,  271. 

Pastures,  53,  54,  56,  132,  134,  138,       Peas,  523. 

139,    213,    214,    222,    293.  300,       Pease,  Capt.  Samuel,  479. 

304,  305,  307,  351,  354.  Pease,   113,   120,   121,  201. 

Common,  293,  300,  304,  305.  Peasley,   Joseph,   55,   84,   89,   93, 

Gerrish,   307.  251. 

Patents,  298.  Peckham,  Walter  G.,  633. 

Paterson,   George,  564,  565,  575,       Pecoit,  75. 

579.  Pecoits.  499. 

Patten,  Robert,  280.  "Peggy"    (ship),   481. 

Patridge,   Colonel,  481.  Peirce   (Pierce),  Mr.,  21,  479. 

Paul's  Chain,  312,  325,  320.  Andrews,  550. 

Paul's  Churchyard,  323.  Benjamin,   665. 

Paupers,  215,  216.  Charles,  243,  264,  429,  681. 

Pavvtucket  Falls,  170,  198.  Daniel,  61,  88,  94,  99,  loi,  106, 

Paxton,    Edmund,   312,   323,  325,               108,    110-112,    118,    138.    140, 

326.  163,    171,    176,    180,    185.    194, 

Pay,   William,   614.  195,   203,   205,   207,   209,   210, 

Peabody,  Hannah,  645.  212,   214,   215,   220,   249.  258, 

Serg.  John.  559.  262,   331,   333.   334.    348,   350, 

Nathan,  578.  397,   400,   401,   421,   422,   425, 

Corp.  Richard,  559.  496-499,    SH,    579,    580,    670, 

Peabody     Manufacturing     Com-  671. 

pany,  303.  Dr.  Eleazer,- 665. 

Peace,  Treaty  of,  630.  Enoch.   628. 

Pearson, ,  272.  Mrs.   Eunice,  665. 

Abel,  627.  George,    182. 

Benjamin,   116,  204,  542.  Henry,  575,  579. 

Daniel,  88.  Joshua.  171,  542,  665.  671. 

David,   571,  628.  Mrs.   Lydia.  665. 

Eben,   301.  Nathan,  343. 

Elijah,  634.  Nathaniel.   686. 

Enoch,   571.  Richard.  578. 

George   W.,  634.  Sarah,   665.  671. 

Henry,   627.  Stephen,   575,  579. 

Isaac  Green,  486.  Thomas,  671. 

James,  559.  Peirce's  Farm.  427. 

Jeremiah,    259.    406,     569,  571.       Pclham.  N.  H.,  483. 

578.              '                   '^  Pellion,   John.   625. 

John,    156,    157,    168.    204.  238,       Pemaquid     (Bristol),    Me.,    518, 

242.   258.   292,   498,    564,  569,              519. 

605.  Pemberton,  John,  49.  55-  84,  88, 

Jonathan,    563,    565,    569.  571,              00.  93,  94.  109. 

572,  615.  Pembroke,  Mass.,  486. 


INDEX 


735 


Pen,   134. 

Pcndergast,  Thomas  S.,  626. 

Pendon,  James,  619. 

Penmanship,  407. 

Pennacook    (Concord),    N.    H., 

24,  168-170. 
Pennacook  Indians,  182,  500,  522. 
Pennsylvania,   560. 
Penobscot  Bay,  15. 
Penobscot  Indians,  202. 
Penobscot     River,     14,     17.     500, 

508,  514,  535,  573,  574. 
Pension,  527. 
Penton,   Isaac   F.,  634. 
Pentucket     (Haverhill),     Mass., 

24,  25,  70,  74,  500. 
Pentucket   Indians,  182. 
Pentucket  Pond,  83. 
Pentucket  River,  308. 
People's     Methodist     Episcopal 

Church,  388. 
Pepperell.  Joanna,  668. 

Sir  William,  549,  552. 
Pequot,  75,  76. 
Pequot   Indians,  499,  500. 
Pequot  War,  494. 
Percy.  Joseph,  607. 
Periwigs,  358. 

Perkins,  Benjamin,  288.  564.  592, 
600. 

David,  575,  579. 

Edward,  &  Co.,  482. 

Jacob,  298. 

Mrs.  Jane,  298. 

John,  Jr.,  30. 

Joseph,  632. 

Miss  Lydia,  315. 

Matthew,  298. 

Paul  A.,  632. 

Stephen,  610. 

William,  549. 

William  W.,  685. 
Perley,  Jacob.  623. 

Putnam,  685. 

Caot.   William,  604. 
Perrin,  Thomas,  566.  571.  573. 
Perry,  .  467. 

John,   122. 

Joseph,  603,  607. 

William,  613.  618. 
Person.  Benjamin.  542. 
Perth  Amboy  (Whitehead),  N.  J., 

171,  470. 
Perth     Amboy     &     Wondbridge 

Railroad,    171. 
Pest   House.   224.  225. 
Pesumpscot    River.   512. 
Peter  (mulatto),  256. 
Peter  (negro),  256. 
Peters,  Mr.,  J-,. 


Petersburg,   Va.,  632. 
Peterson,  Willet,  360. 
Petitions,  194,  200,  220,  227,  300, 
301,    303-300,    349,     350,     S53, 
360,   369,   371,   379,   398,   419, 
420,   424,   429,   431,  432,   439- 
441,   443,   444,   446,  447,   450, 
452,    458-461,    463,    466,    468, 
476,  477,  5-^3.  527,  622,  623. 
Liberty   of,   162. 
Pettingell,     Benjamin,     588,     603, 
607,  610. 
Cutting,  388,  605,  607,  612,  628, 

660. 
David,  629. 
Edward,   562. 
Miss    Elizabeth,'  658. 
Jacob,  608. 

John,  103,  27s,  542,  543. 
Joseph,  563,  575. 
Joshua,  615. 
Josiah,   605. 
Miss   Mary,  665. 
Matthew,    116,    179,    204,    542, 

549,  562,  566,  570,  615. 
Moses,  223,  306,  601,  629,  685. 
Nathan,  610. 
Nathaniel,  628. 
Nicholas,  569. 
Richard,  93,  115,  117,  118,  180, 

240,  415,  416,  605,  660. 
Samuel,  180,  204,  384,  605,  607. 
Thomas,  660, 
Pettisquamscott,  506. 
Petty,   Seth,   559. 
Pews,  314,  317,  318,  331,  334- 335, 
341,   356,   359,   360,   368,   373- 
375,  384- 
Pewter,   670. 
"Phenix"   (ship).  371. 
Philadelphia,    Pa.,   407,   470,   472, 

583. 
Philip,  King,  508,  509. 
Philip's     War,      King,     178,    432, 
502. 
History  of.   508. 
Phillips,    Colonel,   520. 
Lieutenant,  677. 
John.  68. 
Philosophical   Apparatus,    154. 

Phippeny,  ,  522. 

Phipps,  Samuel.  602. 

Phips.     Sir     William,     209,     514. 

515,  680. 
Phisgard,   Patrick,  565. 
Physicians,  67,  140,  142,  256.  291. 

293.  662. 
Pickard.  John,  276. 
Pickering.   Boston.  613,   618. 
James  H.,  633. 


736  INDEX 

Pickering,   continued.  Pilsbury,   continued. 

Col.   'iimoihy,  bog.  Jushua,  485,  587. 

"Pickering"        (United       States  Josiah,  429,  486,  540. 

brig),   485.  Leonard,  634. 

Pickett,   William,  491.  AJoses,   102,   in,   116,   128,  139, 

Pidgeon,   Benjamin,  286.  140,  178,  202. 

Pierpont,   Rev.  Jonathan,  665.  Capt.  Oliver,  684. 

Sarah,  665,  667.  Parker,  579. 

Pike,  Lieutenant,  395.  Samuel,  588,  603,  610,  615,  6i6, 

Benjamin,   286.  661. 

Caleb,   388.  Lt.  Timothy,  586. 

Daniel,  5O5.  576,  602.  William,     loi,     no,     in,     115, 

Elias,  457.  116,  118,  x8i,  182,  207,  526. 

Rev.  Ezra  B.,  362.  Pilsbury's    Lane,    272),   390,    409, 

PI  ugh,    180,  206,  427,  505,  511,  430,  486,  491. 

530.  Pine  Island,  261,  688. 

John,  32,  48-50,  53,  54,  62.  63,  Pine  Island  Creek,  261,  262. 

66,  84,  88,  89,   104,   105,   109,  Pine  Island  Mills,  240. 

no,    141,    158,    169,    171,   214,  Pine  Swamp,  67,  138. 

418,   495,  502,   519,   541,    565,  Pine   i'rees,  18. 

566,  575,  579,  677,  678.  Pingry,   Abigail,   189. 

Joseph,  108,  III,  112,  IIS,  118.  Moses,  189. 

128,    129,    149,    153,    181,    185,  Pink,   143. 

194,   204,   208,    210,   212,    22-/.  Pinnace,  2i2>- 

228,   261,   272,   283,   349,   398.  Pipestave   Hill,  83,   226-228.  308, 

399,   422,   496,   499,   516,    526,  350-355,  359.  360,  369.  370. 

536,  538,  539,  542,  680.  Pipestaves,   126,  127,  167. 

Joshua  M.,  459.  Piracy,  478. 

Moses,  569,  627.  Piscataqua  (Portsmouth),  N.  H., 

Nicholas,  275,  280,  408.  42,  434,  447,  467,  468,  470,  521, 

Perley,   572,   579.  529,  S30. 

Richard,  287,  288,  621,  622,684.  Piscataqua  Harbor.  31. 

Robert.  41.    'Q.  68.  99.  loi,  102,  Piscataqua  Post,  469. 

106,  154,  162-165,  178,  446.  Piscataqua   River,    ly,   24,   25,   43, 

Samuel.  575,  579.  45,  142,  143,  160.  1S2.  19&,  519, 

Thomas,    427,    542,    552,     567,  522. 

571,  573,  575,  579-  Pistols,  43.  648. 

Timothy,  238.  Pitch,  370. 

William,   615.  Pits,  Captain,  481. 

Pile.  William,  146.  Place,  Samuel,  601. 

Pilgrims,  14,  18.  "Plain    Dealing    or    News    from 

Pilsbury,   Ensign,  666.  New  England,"  313. 

Mr.,  424.               •  Plain,  John   Hull's,  417. 

Abel,   117.   181,  206,  659.  Plains,   139,   1.S9. 

Amos,   626,  660.  Plains,  The.  225,  423.  429. 

Benjamin,   575.  Plaisted,  Col.  Ichabod.  563,  564. 

Caleb,   181,  528,  541.  Roger,  169. 

Chase.  612.  Plank.   127.   128. 

Daniel.  528,  541.  578,  588,  603.  Plant,  Mrs.  Lydia,  255,  373. 

608,   626.  Rev.    Matthias.    250.    255.    265, 

Elijah,  576.  272,  208.  27?>-?,77,  47i- 

Eliphalet.  615.             ,  Plant  Place,  299. 

Elisha.  563.  Planters.  95. 

Elizabeth.   238.  Plat,  John,  566. 

Enoch.   566.  Platts'  Tavern.   253. 

Francis  M..  633.  Pleasant   Street.  309. 

Hiram  R.,  634.  Plum    Island.    14.    17-19,    25,   83, 

Increase,   i8t,  515.  125,    133.    134.    193,    199,   218, 

Job.  102,  128.  177,  iSi.  206.  220,    222-224,    240.    276,   297, 

John,  566.  626.  307.  308.  315.  621. 

Joseph.  430.  486.  536.  530.  617.  Division  of,  222. 


INDEX 


737 


Plum  Island  Bridge,  304,  305. 
Plum  Island  Point,  240,  593. 
Plum  Island  River,  83,  220,  222, 

241,  308. 
Plum   Island   River   Bridge,  276. 
Plum  Island  Turnpike,  214,  306. 
Plum       Island      Turnpike      and 

Bridge   Corporation,  276. 
Plumer,    Bemsley,   571. 
Benjamin,   181,  4,^4,  603. 
Daniel,  305,  306,  549. 
David,  629. 
Enoch,  285,  391,  569. 
Ephraim,  179,  204,  432,  510. 
Francis,  40,  50,  53,  54,  71,  84, 
88,  89,  98,  114,  115.  163,  164. 
Isaac,   606,   609,   611,   613,  616, 

617. 
Isaiah,  630. 
Jeremiah,  573. 
John,  503. 
Jonathan,    261,    433,    470,    542, 

606,   610. 
Joseph,  93,   102,   115,    118,    128, 
141,  163,  164,  181,  Z04,  205,  629. 
Mark,  586. 
Miss  Matilda.  410. 
Nathaniel,  568,  628. 
Paul,  586. 

Samuel,   89,  93,    100,    102,    105, 
107,    108,    no.    III,    115-118, 
128,    163,    181,   204,   225,   258, 
399,  432,  433,  51G,  573,  679. 
Seth.  609,  610,  616,  617. 
Stephen,  609,  629. 
Sylvanus,   118,   180,  205. 
William,  573,  575,  586,  609-611, 
616,  617,  629. 
Plummer  Street,  418. 
Plymouth,  Eng.,   18. 
Mass.,   14,  18,  20,  21,  216.  506, 
530,  572. 
Plymouth    Colony,    19,    20,    215, 

500. 
Plymouth,  Council  of.  42. 
Plymouth,  Old,  24. 
Poems,    146,    147. 
Police   Station.  281. 
Pond,   New,   124. 
Pond  Street,  90,  309. 
Ponds,   303. 
Poole,  James.  606. 
Poor,  Widow,  204. 
Alfred,   119. 
Amos.  587.  601.  609. 
Benjamin,    515.    587.    601.    627, 

659- 
Daniel.  108,  576. 
David,  627. 
Eben,  626. 
Edward,   179,  206,  541,  659. 


Poor,  continued. 

Eliphalet,    587,    601,    609,    610, 

616,   617,   627. 
Enoch,  560,  576,  579,  627. 
Henry,   181,  204,  506,  570 
Hiram   Kelley,  634. 
Jeremiah,  570. 

John,   54,   84,   87,   89,    100,    102, 

no.    III,    118,    141,    163,    168, 

169,    179,    181,   204,   238,   317, 

430,  485,  515-  626. 

Jonathan,    244,    255,    433,    542, 

559,   586,  610. 
Joseph,  180,  204,  206,  484,  503, 

510,  541,  605. 
Micajah,   393. 
Moses,  571,  575,  579. 
Nathan,   575,    579. 
Samuel,  102,  116,  118,  141,  163, 
179,   206,   484.   506,    511,    526, 
541,  610,  626. 
Stephen,   530,   540,  586. 
Thomas,  626. 
William,  614,  619. 
Poor,    The,    113,    214,    244,    245, 
299.  318. 
Church,  Support  of,  314. 
Establishment,  299. 
Overseers  of,  299. 
Poore's  Lane,  386,  418,    430,    437, 

483,  491. 
Pope,  The,  319. 
Popham,  Sir  Francis,  17. 

Capt.  George,   15,  17. 
Popham's  Settlement,  15. 
Popkin,      Rev.     John     Snelling, 

344,  345,  654. 
Population,  288. 
Porch  of  House,  330. 

Meeting  House,  318,  335,  341. 
Pork,  331. 

Porpoise,  Cape,  521. 
Port  Royal,  N.  S.,  371,  5I4-  53°- 
532,  ,534,  535,  .578. 
Expedition   against,   371. 
Portenove,  548. 
Porter,  Isaac  F.,  634. 

John,  306.  491. 
Portland,  Me.,  472,  522,  552,  668. 
Portsmouth,  N.  H,.  42,  106,  142, 
143.    153.    161,    194,    195,    198, 
228,    252,    272-274.    280,    282, 
370,   434,    437,    448,    463,   468- 
470.    472-474.    484-    488.    529, 
537.  555.  623.  624.  66a.  669. 
Portugal,  620. 
Posts,  467-470.  472.  473- 
Eastern,  469.  473. 
Piscataqua.  469. 
Western.  470. 
Post  Bay.  470. 


738 


INDEX 


Post   Office,  466-469,  472. 

Post   Riders.  453,  466,  469,  471- 

473- 
Post,  Single  Horse,  473. 
Post  Stage,  473. 
Postage,  465,  466,  468,  472. 
Postal  Service,  465,  468,  472. 
Postmaster  General,  467,  468. 
Postmasters,  468-474. 
Postmen,  465,  466,  471. 
Potomac  River,   15. 
Pots,  670. 

Potter,  Edward  H.,  686. 
Pound,  Thomas,  478. 
Pounds,    112,   113,   121,    131,    132, 

136,  214. 
Powder,   43,   62,   75-78,    171,   225, 
226,  499,  535,  538,  647,  648. 

House,  225,  226. 

Mill,   TJ. 
Powell,  Caleb,  186. 
Pownall,     Gov.     Thomas,     573, 

574- 
Powow  River,  199,  280,  298,  421, 

439-442,  463,  464- 
Pratt,  John,  606. 

Samuel,   607. 
Pray,  Charles  H.,  633. 
Prayers,  407. 
Preach  Lectures,  402. 
Preachers,  393. 
Preaching,  226,  251,  332. 

Forbidden,    Certain,    162. 
Prefer,  Benjamin,  549. 
Presbey,  Jno.,  560. 
Presbyterian     Meeting     House, 

486. 
Presbyterian  Society,  366. 
Presbyterianism,    29,    313,    361, 

366. 
Prebytery,   165.  383. 

of  Boston,  383. 
President,  620. 
Presly,   Nathan,  217. 
Pressey,   Benjamin,   568,  607. 
Preston,   Edward,   149. 

George,    149. 
Price,   Bille,  615. 

Daniel,  614. 

Lt.  John.  502. 

Cornet   Walter,  502. 
Prices,  201. 

Established.  597,  598. 
Priests,  543,  544. 
Primus  (negro),  256. 
Prince.  Charles  H.,  634. 

James.  275,  281. 

Nathan.   569. 
Pring,   Martin,   14. 
Prisoners,  248,  556,  5p6,  597. 

of  War,  556.  596.  597- 


Prisons,   142,   144,  146,  245,  247- 

249,  429. 
Privateers,  485,  547. 

French,   547. 
Privy    Council,    26-28,    178,    194, 

197,  246,  247. 
Processions,  279,  309. 
Proclamations,  630,  679,  682.  683. 

at  End  of  i8i2-'i5  War,  630. 
Professor  of  Mental  and  Moral 

Philosophy    392. 
Professors,  379. 
"Prophecy    of    Samuel    Sewall," 

191. 
Proprietors  of  Common  Lands, 

92. 
Records  of,  64. 
Prospect  Hill,  83,  308. 
Protector,  The,  172. 
Proverb,    122. 

"Province   Galley"    (armed  ves- 
sel), 522,  530,  535. 
Provincetown,  Mass.,  18,  674. 
Provincial   Army,  604. 
Provincial  Charter,  196. 
Provincial    Congress,    585,    591, 

592,  682,  683. 
at  Salem,  682.  683. 
Provisional      Government,      1689, 

207,  208,  498. 
Prowse,  John,  515. 
Psalms,  314. 
Tate's    &   Brady's   Version    of 

the,  340. 
Tuning  the,  337. 
Public  Houses,  71,  "72,  114. 
Public     Library,     Newburyport, 

590,  667. 
Matthias   Plant  Sawyer's   Gift 

to,  667. 
Public  Worshio,  290. 
Publishment     of    Intentions    of 

Marriage,  61. 
Pulpits,    317,    334,    335,    Zil,    34i, 

359,  362,  384. 
Pulsifer,   Samuel,  573. 
Pumping  Station,  303. 
Punch   Bowl,   Silver.  483. 
Punishments,  35,   38,  43.   46,   79, 

80.  95.   120-124,   142,   144-146, 

148.    315.    389. 
Purchase  Street,  303,  387. 
Puritans,  20. 
Putnam,  Lt.  Ezra,  579. 
Lt.  Thomas.  502. 
Timothy.   540. 
Putnam's   Pond.   561. 
Pynchon.  John,   189,  505. 

UAKER       BURYI NG 
GROUND,  390.  392. 


Q 


INDEX 


739 


Quaker  Meeting  House,  391. 
Quaker  Meetings,  389,  390. 
Quakers.    144-151,   252,   383,   389, 

390,   677. 
Quamscooke,  24. 
Quartermaster-General,    172. 
Quascacunquen     River,     24,     25, 

30,  31,  64,  83,   156,   182,  258, 

311,  347,  432,  675. 
Quebec,  235,    514,    515,    543,    547, 

555.  576,  578,  580,  593.  594- 
Capture  of,  512,  S76. 
Surrender  of,  578. 
Queen    Anne's    Chapel,   228,   250, 

255,  265,  272,  355,  369,  371-375, 

yj-j.  384,  428. 
Queen  Street,  404,  428,  429,  482. 
Quimbe's  Garrison^  537. 
Quo  Warranto,   178,  194. 

RACKLIFT,  BENJAMIN,  615. 
Radman.  Rev.  William,  388. 
Rafts,  127,  484. 
Ragles,  Stephen,  607. 
Rahway,  N.  J.,  171. 
Railroads,  274,  27s,  308. 

Street,  275. 
Ralle.    Sebastien,   544-546. 
Ram    Island,    308,    434,    437,    438, 

591- 
Ramsdell,   Nathaniel,  612. 
Ramse}'.  Charles,  (nj. 
Rand,   Daniel,  626. 
Randall,  Eliphalet,  626. 
John,  617. 
Rev.  Phineas,  344. 
Samuel,  617,  618. 
William,  94,  180,  507. 
Randolph,   Edward,   194,  202,  444, 

679. 
Ranson,  General,  633. 
Rapier,  217. 
Rattlesnakes,  2Z. 
Rawlins,   Davis,  609. 
Ja.,  53- 
Joseph,  609. 
Nicholas,  179,  204,  506. 
Rawlinson.  Thomas,  507. 
Rawson,  Ebenezer,  573. 

Edward,    38,    44,    46-48,    52-54, 
56,   57.  60,   62.   63.   65.   67,   ^z, 
75,  76,  78,  79,   84-86,   88,  92-94. 
99,  loi,  103,  132.  141,  173.  177. 
_i87.    188,    220,    322,    399,    419, 
439.  639.  662,  676,  679. 
Ray,  William    602. 
"Razee."  621. 
Reading,     Mass..     152,    402.    447, 

603,  639. 
Rendmg.  409. 
Books.  407. 


Reading,   continued. 

School,   406. 

Taught,  396,  400. 
Rebellion,  War  ot  the,  631,  632. 
Records,  46,  58,  64,  202,  336. 

Parish,  336. 

Town,  46,  58,  336,  402. 
Rectors,  341,  370,  zi^.,  i7Z,  376. 
Red  Head,  548. 
Reed,   David,  625. 

Mary,  645. 

Moses,  617..  618. 

William,  613,  616,  618. 
■'Reformation  John,"  387. 
Register,  47. 

Registration  of  Vessels,  480. 
Religion,  493,  677., 
Religious  Controversy,  494,  496. 
Religious   Excitement,  338. 
Religious    Services,    15,    170,   251, 
314,  iZZ-  557- 

First,  in  New  England,  15. 

of  Regiment  before  Departure 
for  Lake  George,  557. 
Religious  Worship,  587. 

in  Camp,  517. 
Remick,  Isaac,  562,  566. 

John,  613,  618,  625. 

Joseph,  286,  485,  560. 

Samuel,  612. 
Remington,  John,  99,  493. 
Removal    from    Parker    River   to 

Merrimack  River,  82. 
Representative  Districts,  685-687. 
Representatives,  208,  639. 

to  General  Court,  639. 
"Republic"'  (ship),  491. 
Resignations,  368,  369. 
Resolutions,   582-584,  620,  621,  631. 
Reuben  (negro),  255. 
Revenue,  201. 

Revere,   Paul,  508,  509.  590. 
Revolution  of  1689,  202.,  478,  679. 
Revolutionary  Army,  640. 
Revolutionary  War,  172,  253,  274, 
291,    297,'  36s.    ziZ,    406^   474, 
484,  581,  658,  661. 
Reynolds,  Jonathan,  565. 
Rhode    Island,    44,    154,    374,   470, 

506,  611,  649. 
Rhode-Island,  Newport.  605,  612. 
Rian,  Timothy,  566. 
Rich,   Lancaster,  617. 
"Richard     and     Sarah"     (sloop), 

5.30. 
Richards.  Humphrey,  338,  342. 

John,  613,  618,  636,  378. 

Oliver,  618. 

William,  285. 
Richardson,     Sergeant,     116,  ri8, 
203. 


740 


INDEX 


Richardson,  coutiiiucd. 
Amos,  324. 
Arthur  C,  687. 
Benjainin,  181. 
Caleb.  205,  331,  503.  511. 
Calvin,  659. 
David,   620. 
Edward.  94,   no,    115,   118,   141, 

163,  169,  ]8o,  181,  528,  541. 
John,  103,  108,  180,  324,  330-333, 

347,  348,  400,  401,  629,  654. 
Capt.  Jones,  604. 
Joseph,    180.   205,  347,   503,   507, 

511,  536,  538.  539,  542- 
Joshua,  178,  181,  203,    331,    510, 

Sri- 

Josiah.  603.  612. 

Mrs.  Mary.  324. 

Moses,  S43. 

Stephen,  567,  575,  579. 

William,  163. 
Ricker,  John  W.,  686. 
Ricks,  222. 
Ridgway,  James,  628. 

Moses  Moody,  S39- 

Nathaniel,  607. 

Thomas,  607. 
Riflemen.  631. 
Ri<?-aud  Harbor.  548. 
Ring,  Jarvis,  456,  457,  576. 

John.  515. 

Robert,  2S1. 

Theophilus.  576. 
Ring,  Gold,  218. 
Ring's    Island,   83,   281,   308,   443, 

446. 
Ringed  Swine,  133,  134. 
Rishworth,  Edward.  143,  171. 
Risley,  Rev.  J.  E..  .388. 
River  Lots,  214,  215. 
Rivers,  166. 

Roads,  82,  83,  ISS,  156,  271,  275, 
281,  298-300,  308,  373,  392, 
413-415.  418.  419.  423.  424, 
427,    441,    446,    450,    454,    459, 

531- 
Robbins,  Barney,  633. 

John,  629. 

Thomas  B.,  635. 
Roberson,  Daniel,  543. 
Robert   (negro),  254. 
Roberts.  Charles,  635. 

John  A.,  627. 

Joseph.  410. 

Robert,  24s. 
Robertson,  John,  626. 
Robin  (negro),  255. 
Robin's  Pound.  139. 
Robinson,  John,  71. 
Roby,  Capt.  Joseph.  600. 

Nathaniel,  578. 


Rochfort,  Point,  551. 
Rock's  Bridge,  277-279,  462. 
Rock's  Village,  279,  462. 
Rocky  Hill  Meetmg  House,  464. 
Rodes,  Andrew,  566. 
Rody,  Andrew,  563,  565. 
Roger,   London,  617. 
Rogers,  Aaron,  616,  617,  629. 

Abiel,  240. 

Abner,  629. 

Albert,  632. 

Asa,  634. 

Benjamin,  563.   565,  566. 

Benjamin  P.,  632. 

Calvin,  685. 

Charles  B.,  635. 

Charles  E.,  634. 

Chase,  600. 

Christopher,  634. 

Daniel,  3.38.  627. 

Daniel   E.,  632,  635. 

David,  629. 

Eben,  633. 

Edward  L.,  634. 

Elijah  P..  632. 

Enoch  S.,  634. 

Ezekiel,  68,  69,  74,  626,  649. 

Gideon,  626. 

Gorham  P.,  634. 

Hermon  D.,  685. 

Ira,  635. 

Isaac,  372. 

Isaiah,  633,  653. 

James,  626. 

Jewett,  63s. 

John.  238,  656. 

Jonathan,  562.  564. 

Joseph,  566.  601,  608^  626. 

Lewis  B.,  634. 

Melvin  B.,  634. 

Micajah,  632. 

Mighill,  A.,  632,  634. 

Moses.  616,  617. 

Rev.  N.,  338. 

Oliver,  626. 

Peter,  240,  589. 

Philip,  634. 
.     Philip  L...  634. 

Capt.  Richard,  612. 

Robert,   94,    169,   372,   390,   528, 
541,  S73- 

Samuel.  573. 

Silas,   589,  608. 

Simon  P..  633. 

Stephen,  567. 

Theodore,  626. 

Thomas,  180,  206,  286,  506,  573, 
589,  612,  62S. 

Timothy  W.,  635. 

N^-irntim,  632. 

William,  343,  588,  603,  607,  626. 


/jVJ)EX 


741 


Rogers,  continued. 
William  H.  G.,  632. 
William  M.,  686. 
Woodbridge  A.,  633. 
Rogers'  Mill  Dam,  John,  238. 
Roife,  Ann,  666. 
Benjamin,  94,  102,  no,  in,  115, 
118,  182,    204,    261,    262,    318, 
426. 
Darnel,  503,  506,  507. 
Enoch,  611. 
Ezra,  542. 

Henry,  55,  84,  89,  129,  170,  218, 
21Q,    236,    243,    244,    248,    254, 
256,    264,    338,    457,    542,    554. 
681. 
Jacob,  286. 

John,    100,  142,  150.  163,  180,  542. 
John  C,  640. 
Joseph,  286. 
Joseph  N.,  686. 
Mary,   142. 
Moses,  sbs,  629. 
Nathaniel,  527,  542.  660. 
Richard,  601,  611,  612. 
Rolfe's  Lane,  276,  426,  492,  593. 
Rolinson,   Robert,   181. 
Rollins,  Aaron,  612. 
Eliphalet,  614. 
John,  287. 
Moses,  587,  601. 
Thomas,  607. 
Romsey,  Eng.,  32. 
Rope  Making,  264. 
Rope  Walks,  264.  593,  620. 
Rose,  Captain,  484. 
Serg.  Joseph,  560. 
Rose  (negro),  256. 
Roswell,  Sir  Henry,  22. 
Round  Island,  548. 
Rowe,  Moses,  612. 

Richard.  635,  636. 
Rowell,  Abraham,  541. 
Joseph,  286,  549. 
Philip.  539. 
Thomas,  248. 
Valentine.   537,  539. 
Rowland,    Patrick,  613,   618. 
Rovvleson,  Joseph,  206. 
Rowley,  Mass.,  32,  60,  68,  69,  74. 
75.  78.  82,  83,  95,  148,  152,  153, 
156,    157,    167,    168,    18s,    196, 
218,    220,    222,    223,    229-231, 
^^3'    239,    240,    258,    259,    275, 
276,    300,    307,    308,    352,    364, 
373^    393.    412,    413,    416,    419, 
421,    476,    493,    494,    497,    498, 
500,    502,    512,    515,    516,    518, 
519,    559.    563,    572,    573,    590, 
601,    602,    605,   606.    611,    646, 
649,  650,  668,  685-687. 


Rowley,   continued. 

Boundaries   of,   240. 
Rowley   River,  83.  230,  231,  240, 

308. 
Rowley  Village,  421. 
Rowling,  John,  589. 
Roxbury,    Mass.,    22,    24,    36,    40, 
77,  148,  152,  321,  493-  647,  651, 
683. 
Royal  Society  of  London,  378. 
Ruggles,  Colonel,  559. 
Rules  and  Regulations,   137,  224, 

284,  287,  291. 
Rum,  478,  483. 

Runiford   (Concord),  N.  H.,   170. 
Rundlett,  Charles  W.,  634. 
Runnells,  Robert,  613. 
Rushworth,   Edward,   143,   171. 
Russ,  John,  75,  84,  85,  431,  432. 
Russell,  George,  633. 

James.  189. 

Joseph,  575,  579,  609. 

Samuel,  629. 

Thomas,  559. 
Rye,  113,  201. 
Rye  Plain,  230. 

Bridge,  229,   230. 
Ryswick,  Holland,  521. 

•CABBATH,    117,    120,    121,  314, 
•^     331,    2,37-32,9,    342,    3S6,    51?, 
654- 

Breaches,  252. 

in  Camp,  517. 

Days,  404,  433. 

Observance,  251-253. 
Sabbath  Day  Point,  561. 
Sabino,  Me.,  Peninsula  of,  15. 
Sack,  72. 

Saco,  Me.,  448,  535. 
Saco  River,  25,  168,  170,  182,  512. 
514,  522. 

Falls,  521. 
Sacrament  Day,  402. 
Sadler,  Anthony,  68,  100. 
Sadies,  503,  505. 
Safety,   Committee  of,  207,  208. 
Saffo'rd,  James,  575,  579,  588,  605. 

Samuel,  626. 
Sagadahoc   River,   15,   19. 
Sage,  Joseph,  516. 
Saggattew  (Indian),  71. 
Sail   Makers,  620. 
Sailors,  620. 

"Salamander"   (ship),  476. 
Salaries    of    Ministers,    316,    317, 

372. 
Salaries     of     School     Teachers, 

396-403,   407,   656. 
Salem,  Mass.,  22-24,  34.  39-41.  61, 
74,    78.   80,    147,    150-152,    154. 


742 


INDEX 


Salem,  Mass.,  continued. 

176,    177,    186,    194,    241.  246- 

248,     262,     271-273,    315,  z-]},, 

389,    399.    413,    433.    436,  448, 

454,    459,    468,    470-477.  479, 

486,    493,    495-    50^.    508,  5j6, 

563,  583,    585,    592.    597,  621, 
625,  664,  668,  674.  682,  683. 
N.  Y.,  361. 

Salisbury,  Eng.,  2>->  2>Z-  68. 

Mass.,   23,   68,    70.    78,   83,  106, 

121,    145,    146,    148.    149,  152, 

153,  161-163,  165-168,  197,  218, 

239,    244,    251,    277,    280,  281, 

308,    339,    7,12,,    388,    389,  393, 

418,    419,    431,    434-439,  441, 

443-450,      452-458,      463.  464, 
476-478,  483,  493,  497,  512,  530, 

540,    552,    559,    563,    564,  567, 

573,     590-592,     603,    604,  608, 
611,  625,  676. 
N.  C,  63s,  636. 
N.  H.,  516. 

Salisbury  Conference,  387. 

Salisbury  Ferry,  199. 

Salisbury    New    Town,    389,  421, 

.439- 
Salisbury  Point,  464. 
Salisbury,  Settlement  of,  439. 
Salmon,  William,  528.  541,  660. 
Salmon,  23,  25,  167,  281-283,  462. 
Salmon  River,  548. 
Salt,  18,  21,  296,  297. 

Works,  296,  297. 
Salt  Hay.  222. 

Saltonstall,  •  Nathaniel,    106,    189, 
497,  528. 

Sir  Richard,  ZZ^  41,  80. 
Saltpetre,  75-77. 
Sampson.   Benjamin,  566. 

Corp.  Daniel,  563. 

Jonathan,  569. 

Joseph,  562,   566. 

William,  562,  573,  575.  579. 
"Samuel     and     Hannah"     (ship), 

271. 
Sanborn,  Benjamin,  659. 

Rev.  Francis  W.,  346. 

Richard,  578. 

William,  120. 

William  T.,  634. 
"Sancta  Maria"  (ship;.  143. 
Sand,  Saul.  625. 
Sand  Hills,  222. 
Sanders,  George,  618. 

Jedediah,  629. 

John,  68,  92,  99,   100,   104,   109, 
220,  436.  676,  677. 

Timothy,  576,  608. 

William,  44. 
Sandown,  N.  H.,  393. 


Sandy  Beach,  222,  239,  276. 
Sandy  Street,  429. 
Sarah   (Indian),   185. 
Saratoga,  N.  Y.,  596. 
Sargent,  Captain,  481. 

Charles  W.,  635. 

Ebenezer,  569. 

Edward,  246.  247,  283,  334,  353, 
447-457,  528.  540,  541,  665. 

Gorham  P.,  685. 

Capt.  John,  516. 

Capt.   Moses,  564. 

Widow  Rachel,  537. 

Capt.  Robert,  463. 

Samuel,  516. 

Mrs.  Sarah,  448,  665. 

Stephen,  626. 

Thomas,  537,  539,  603. 

William,  44,  626. 

Zebulon,  616. 
Sargent's  Creek,  463. 
Sargent's   Ferry,  456-458. 
Sargent's  Tavern,  Edward,  283. 
Sarum,  Eng.,  32. 
Sassafras,   13,   14. 
Satchell,  Jeremiah,  573. 

John,  566. 
Saugus,  Mass.,  23,  40,  41,  45,  493, 

647. 
Savage,  Amanda  R.,  295. 

Mrs.  Mary,  265. 

Mrs.  Mehitable,  265. 

Thomas,   177,  189,  265. 
Savage's  Rock,  129,  462,  463. 
Savages,   548. 
Savory,  Benjamin,  526. 

Robert,  £i6. 

Thomas,  28. 
Saw  Mills,  157,  167,  259,  262,  653. 

at  Cart  Creek,  261. 
Sawtel,  Zachariah,  602. 
Sawyer,  Abraham,  571. 

Benjamin,  zyi,  424,  571,  573. 

Daniel,  390,  391. 

David,  392. 

Edmund,  486,  570,  595,  597,  640. 

Elijah.  391. 

Eliphalet,  573. 

Enoch,  256,  277,  287.  289,  290, 
390,  406,  570,  665,  667,  683, 
684. 

Mrs.  Hannah,  256,  667. 

Humphrey,  390. 

Jacob,  576. 

Capt.  James,  604. 

John,  116,  206,  540,  587,  601, 
609,  629,  660. 

Toshua,   589. 

Matthias  Plant,  587.  667. 

Micajah,  275,  386^,  570,  657,  667. 

Moses,  570.  667. 


INDEX 


743 


Sawyer,  continued. 
Nathaniel,    569. 

Samuel,   103,  179,  20O.  352,  353, 
Zl^,    389,    390,    5-^8,    541,    542, 
582,  s88. 
Mrs.  Sarah,  391,  665,  667. 
Saul,  628. 
Stephen,  206,  238,  347,  390,  391, 

429,  541.  66s. 
William,  94,   in,   115,   117,   118, 
141,    163,    180,    206,    389,    503, 
S06. 
Sawyer     Burying     Ground,     355, 

356,  391- 
Sawyer  Family,  391. 
Sawyer's    Hill,   83,   227,   228,    308, 
332,  347.  369. 
Burying  Ground,  355,  356. 
Say.  Lord,  642. 
Sayrcs,  Robert.  28,  643. 
Scales.  80,  265. 

Hay,  26s. 
Scarfs,  122,  123. 
Scatari  Island,  548. 
Schofield,  Arthur,  293. 
George  A.,  687. 
John,  293. 
Schofield  Brothers,  294. 
School,  Atkinson  Fund,  411. 
School  Books,  407,  40S. 
School  Committee,  406. 

First,  395. 
School  Dame,  401. 
School  Districts,  410-412. 
No.  2,  410. 
Gift  to,  409. 
School,  Evening,  409. 
School.    Grammar,   365,   396,   401- 

403.  405,  406. 
School,  High,  410. 

School,  Ipswich  Latin,  124,  396. 

School,     Latin,     Newbury     Pre- 
sented for  want  of,  396. 

School,  Private.  392. 

School  Street,  .384. 

School  Tax,  395.- 

School    Teachers,    316,    392,    395- 
307,  401,  406,  408.  409. 
Salary  of,  396,  397,  407. 

School,  Writing,  401,  403,  406. 

Schoolhouses,  241,   266,   33s,  zyj, 
36.S.   yJZ^   387.   395,   401,   403. 

404,  406,  408-411. 
First,  395. 

Schoolmasters,      124,      155,      191, 

395-400,  403-405,  407,  408,  433, 

499.  513-  656. 
Schools,    124,    151.   214,   241,   266, 

Zi2,    348,    349.    366.    395-399, 

401,  411,  412,  513,  656. 


Schools,  continued.        ' 
Free.  214,  395,  405. 
Gifts  to,  406,  409. 
Grammar,  z?>^- 
Schooler,  William.  45. 
Schooners,  485-488.  621. 
Scipio  (negro),  256. 
Scituatc,  Mass.,  24. 
Scodes,  John,  540. 
Scotchmen,  19,  30. 
Scotland,  29. 
Scots,  The,  642. 
Scott,  James.  614,  617. 

Joseph,  526. 
Scouts,  517,  520,  537. 
Scribner,   Samuel,  627. 
Scrivener,  466.     - 
Scullard,    Samuel,   44,   49,   55,   84, 

89,  90,  94,  158. 
Sea   Pike   Islands,   548. 
Seabrook,  N.  H.,  42. 
Seabrook    Monthly    Meeting    of 

Friends,  392. 
Seal,  Silver.  218. 
Scale,  Lord,  642. 
Sealy,  Edward,  629. 
Seamen,  90. 
Searl,  John,  571,  573. 
Joseph,  57. 
Rev.  Moses  E.,  36S. 
Samuel,  571. 
William,  587,  601. 
Seating  the  Meeting  House,  315, 

317,  352. 
Seats  in  the  Meeting  House,  113, 
314,    317,    318,    .331,    335,    338, 
342,  355.  356,  360. 
Negro,   360. 
Second  Church  in  Newbury,  283, 
3.^6,  339.  347,  357,  359,  361. 
in     West     Newbury,     339,    357, 
381. 
Second  Parish,    226-229,    234-240, 
269,    301,    3.36,    351,    354.    360, 
369,  379.  386,  403,  404,  406. 
Boundaries   of,    227,    228,    234, 

237- 
Church.  655. 
Map  of,  239. 

Meeting    House,    227,    22,7,    240, 
269,  270.  363. 
Secretary  of  the  Colony,  173,  177, 

179.  322,  5 1 7,  639. 
Sedition,  43. 
Seers,  Thomas,  loi. 
Seine.  283. 

Selectmen.  36,  46,  48,  50,  93, 
109-112,  IIS,  117.  119.  128, 
129,  131-135,  15s,  168,  200-202, 
208,    209,    2t6,    219,    224-226, 


744 


INDEX 


Selectmen,  continued. 

244,    24s,    247,    249.    252,    253, 
264,  266,    271.    286,    287,    315, 

s'^y,  318.  330.  331,  334,  339, 

342,     34Q,    396-400.     406,    417, 
424,    42s,    427..    428,    432.    439, 
441,  450,  451,  454,  458-461,  554- 
Rules  of  the,  112.  113. 

Seminaries,  Female,  392. 

Seminary,  Young  Ladies',  366. 

Sentinels,  57,  62,  63. 

Sermons,   235,   311,   314,  339,   344, 
358,    365,    366,    373.    378,    382, 
492,  654,  655. 
First,   311. 

to    Company    of    Colonel    Tit- 
comb,  235. 

Servants,  549. 

Settlement,  First,  30S.  311. 

Settlement,  Legal.  216. 

Settlements,    30,    31,    36.    42,    44, 
68-70.  75,  82,  86.  114.  168-172, 

439- 
New,  168-172. 
of  Amesbury,  439. 
at  Newbury,  Vt.,  172. 
at  New  Town,  82. 
at  Parker  River,  36. 
at        Pennacook        (Concord), 

N.  H.,  169. 
of  Salisbury,  439. 
at  Woodbridge,  N.  J.,  171. 
Settlers  of  New  England,  Early, 

13,  23. 
"Seven  Men,"  47,  51,  64. 
Severance.  Rufus,  626. 
Sevvall,  Mr.,  421. 

Henry.    32,    41,    54,    64,    67,    80, 

84.    93-95.    99,    loi,    120,    180, 

183.    184,    191.    194,    205,    672, 

674,  677.  678. 

Jane.  191.  672,  674.' 

John,  9^.  103,  118.  139,  179,  205, 

285.  286.  528.  54T,  660. 
Joseph,  407,  S41. 
Samuel,    58,    189-192,    227,    252, 
253.    264,    271.    282.    333,    358, 
389,  407,  498,  670,  672.  674. 
Stephen,  405,  568,  656,  672,  674. 
Sewall  House,  672,  673. 
Sewall.  Samuel.  Diary  of.  389. 
Seward,   Cate,  613. 
Sextons,  331,  342,  343. 
Seymour.  Rev.  Richard,  15. 
Shackford,  Paul,  570. 

Sumner.   ^63. 
Shad.  283.  284. 
Shallops.  90.  475. 
Shaplcigh.  Mr..  282. 
Shatswell.  Jonathan,  550. 
Shattuck,  Samuel,  147. 


Shaw,  Edward  P.,  686. 

George  H.,  633. 
Shay,  Richard,  616,  618. 
Sheep,  32.  33,  51.  56.  113,  127,  134, 

137-1.39.  I.S3.  203-207,  217,  223, 

424.  523,  648,  670. 
Sheffield,  Lord,  20. 
She])herd.  John,  506. 
Shepherds,  56,  138. 
Sherburne,  H.,  199. 
Sheriffs,  129,  248,  370. 
Sherman,  John,  161. 
Shingles.  226. 
Ship   Builders,    479-482,    485,    486, 

488. 
.Ship  Building.  264,  475,    480,   484, 

486.  488-492.  620,  655. 
Ship  Carpenters,  475,  562,  623. 
Ship  ATasters,  90,    173,    468,    47S- 

48;.  488.  491,  530. 
Ship  Ta\ern,  Boston,  677. 
Ship  Timber,  217. 
Ship  of  War,  486.  550.  580. 
Ships,  128,  143,  173,  252,  471,  475- 

477.  479,  480,  482-489,  451,  492, 

498,  522,  530,  555,  556,  620,  623. 
Dutch,  32,  33,  648. 
English,  616. 
Shipwrecks,  32. 
Shipwrights,  67,  255,  390.  435,  479, 

562,  620. 
Shipyards,  482-486,  488,  489,  491, 

402. 
John  B.  Coffin's,  489. 
Woodwell's,  658. 
Shirley,   Gov.  William.    383.    549, 

552,  556,  562,  563- 
Shoals,  Isles  of,  14,  17,  24.  25,  196, 

621. 
Shoemakers,  32. 
Sholy.  Mary,  45.  46. 
Shone  Creek.  561. 
Short,    Anthonv     55,    84,    85.    88, 

141,   176,  418. 
Barns,   567,  589- 
Henry,  28,  29,    47,  48.  50,  52,  53, 

55.  62.  64-67.  79.  84.  86,  92,  99, 

103.  104.  109,  III.  112,  117,  132, 
1,38.  139.  155,  156.  158,  176.  179, 
200,  202,  203,  2X0,  212,  214,  220, 

259.  334,  351,  396,  397.  415.  416, 
418.  420,  422.  425.  459.  479,  495, 
497,  541,629,  639,  651,  675.  676. 

John,  259.     , 

Joseph,  516. 

Michael,  578. 

Moses,  343,  61 T. 

Nicholas,  341,  343. 

Sewell,  629. 
Shot,  43,  77'  499,  647,  648. 
Shot  and  Shell,  550. 


INDEX 


745 


Shove,  Seth,  400,  404. 
Shovels,  670. 
Shute,  Colonel,  652. 
Aaron,  627. 
Gov.  Samnel,  2ZZ,  545- 
Sign  of  the  Earl  of  Halifax,  2-]2,. 
Sill,  Captain,  505. 
Sillovvay,   Daniel,  629. 

John,   600. 
Silver,  Samuel.  516. 
Thomas,  55,  84,  85,  89,  176,  180, 
181,  507.  5}o. 
Silver,  309,  j75^  483. 
Silver  Mines,  307,  309. 
Silver  Ore,  307. 
Silversmith,  652. 
"Simple    Cobbler    of   Agawam," 

"The,"  70. 
Simpson,  Adam,  635. 
Benjamin,  565. 
Thomas  C.,  686. 
Singers,  340,  341. 
Singing,  521. 
Singing  Book,  356. 
Singing  Seats,  360. 
Singletary,  Richard,  49,  68,  99. 
Sinkler,  James,  526. 
Sirvant.   Patrick,  567. 
Slade,  Rev.  William,  381. 
Slavery,  257,  365. 
Slaves,  253-257,  365,  483. 

Holders  of,  253. 
Sleeper,  Sherborn,  566. 
SInop  Island,  561. 
Sloops,    475,    478-482,    486,    487, 
529.    530,    560,    574^    621-624, 
661. 
of  War.  621-624,  661. 
"Wasp."  621-624. 
Smallpox,  224,  225,  291-293,  682. 
Smith,   Corporal,  205,  528. 
Sister,  317. 
Andrew  R,  634. 
Ballard,  562,  565. 
Benjamin,  198.  356,  530,  618. 
Calvin.   620. 
Capt.  Danieh  629. 
Frank,   636. 
Jacob,  613. 

James,    102,    116,    138-140,    179, 
417.   515.    54T,   564.   567,    568, 
575.  579.  618,  629. 
Jeremiah,  613,  618. 
John,    16-18.    20,    25,    102,    116, 
171.    182.    229.    526,   542,    588, 
605-607.  612,  660. 
Joseph,  571. 
Josiah,  543. 
Lemuel.  620. 
Leonard,  286,  573. 
Michael,  610. 


Smith,  continued. 
JVIoody,  588. 
Moses,  571,  603. 
Parker,  588. 
Richard,  286,  609,  629. 
Robert  A,,  129. 
Samuel,  515,  516,  569,  612. 
Samuel  W.,  629. 
Sidney  M.,  635. 
Stephen,  587.  601,  618. 
Thomas,    54,    84,    90,    99,    163, 

376,  503,  504,  569,  571,  587- 
Rev.  Willard,  388, 
William,  275,  456,  610. 
Rev.  William  B.  T.,  364. 
Smith's       Garrison,       Wickford, 

R.  L,  S06. 
Smith's   Isles,   17,   19. 
Snelling,  Anne,  664. 
Mrs.  Margaret,  664. 
Thomas,  607,  664. 
Dr.  William,  94,  122,  664. 
Snow,  470,  527. 
Snow  Shoes,  469,  470,  524,  526, 

528,  529,  540.  541. 
Snow  Storms.  469. 
Society  of  Friends.  389.  391,   392. 

in  West  Newbury,  392. 
Society  of  Jesuits.  544. 
Society   for   the   Propagation   of 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts, 
371,  372,  385- 
Soldiers,  210,  225,  432.  453,  464. 
S03-505,     553.     555.     558-560, 
572,  585,  625,  631,  632. 
Agreement  by,  585. 
in  Expedition  to  Cape  Breton, 

S40-. 

Families  of,  Aided,  631. 

Impressed,  503-505, 

of  the  Revolution,  600. 
Solomon,   654. 
Somerby,   Abel,  318,  421, 

Abial,  541,   560,  659. 

Abiel,  loi,  176,  219,  226.  264, 
482. 

Anthony.  '-,■},.  5.1.  58.  84.  88.  90, 
92-95.  100.  108.  109,  III.  117, 
ri8,  134,  141.  155,  156.  176, 
180,  183,  249,  311,  395,  396, 
419,  422.  495.  528,  541,  639, 
660. 

Daniel.  506.  507, 

Henry,  84,  loo,  137.  180,  205, 
214.  215.  223.  227,  2-17.  334. 
340.  354.  J28.  A^2.  /181.  514, 
5 1 8.  54  T.  587.  680.  681. 

Joseph.  566. 

Moses.  617. 

Samuel.  569. 
.Sounding  Board,  350,  384. 


746 


IXDEX 


South  Ba}%  561. 

South    Carolina,   366. 

South  Deerfield,  503. 

South  Holland,  521. 

South    Street,    89,    90,    124,    306, 

307,  387,  424,  621,  672. 
South  Way,  238. 
Southack,  Captain,  522,  533. 
Southampton,    Eng.,   32,    38,    56, 

311,  649. 
Southwark,  Eng.,  664. 
Spain,  620. 
Spanish  Bay,  548. 
Spanish  Indian  Boy,  254. 
Spanish  Succession,  War  of  the, 

521,  543- 
Sparkes,  Henry,  508. 
Spaulding,   Rev.  Newell  S.,  388. 
Spelling,  408. 
Spencer,  Mr.,  415. 

John,  28,  29,  34,  36,  38,  41,  42, 

54,   57,   65-67,   82-84,   99.    114, 

184,    220,    294,   493,    648,   650, 

675.  t^(>. 

William,  28. 
Spencer  Farm.  670. 
Spiller,  Joseph.  567. 
SpoflFord.   David,  571. 
Spofford  Street,  298. 
Spoons,  Tea,  Silver,  483. 
Spott  Pond,  24. 
Sprague,  Dr.  John,  509. 

Miss  Mary,  666. 

Mrs.  Prudence,  666. 

Mrs.   Ruth.  666. 
Spring,  John.  601. 

Rev.  Samuel,   594. 
Spring   Lane,   424. 
Springfield,    Mass.,    505. 
Springs.    154-156.   418. 
Square   Island,   561. 
Stnh'e.  247. 
Staff,    119,   285. 
Stage  Coaches,  273.  473,  474. 
Stages,   272-274.  472-474. 
Stagge,  Giles,  664. 

Miss  Margaret,  664. 
Stairs.  360. 

in  Meeting  House,  318. 
Stamp  Act,   581. 
Standish,   Capt.   Mvles,   19,  21. 
Standley,  James,  607. 

William,  507. 
St.  Anne.  548. 
Stanwond.   T-t.   Beniamin,  627. 

Eben   P..  686. 

John.   549. 

Tosenh,  202.   575.  579,  593.  615. 

■ppter,   5^f^- 

Thomas.   615. 
Starkey,  William,  570. 


State    Constitution,   253,  685. 
State  House,  290,  683. 
State    Street,    82,    90,    242,    243, 
265,   266,   270,   275,   302,  303. 
309,   336,   366,  404,  427,   429, 
443,  664. 
Stationer,  472. 
Stavers,  Bartholomew,  ZTi^  472. 

John,  2,"/ 2,  2"/^. 
Stavers'  Tavern,  John,  472. 
Staves,   119,   126,   127,   129. 

Cullers  of,  no,  119. 
St.   Croix  River,   14. 
Stealing,  517. 
Steam  Drills,  309. 
Steamboats,  491,  492. 
Steamers,  491,  492. 
Stearns,  Ezekiel,  618. 
Steaston,    Eng.,  75. 
Stedman,  Augustan,  659. 
Steele,  Joseph,  635. 
Steeples,   364,   368,   2>72>,   375,   378, 

384. 
St.  Esprit  Island,  548. 
Stevens  (Stephens),  Deacon,  4G3. 

Widow,  54,  84,  88. 

Miss  Anne,  311. 

Capt.    Benjamin,    527. 

Benjamin    F.,   632. 

Capt.  Jeremiah,  456. 

John,  55,  75,  84,  88,  93,  100. 
117,  121,  178,  181,  418,  568, 
578.    616. 

Joseph,   549. 

Michel,   628. 

Moses,  628. 

Nicholas,  311. 

Roger,   537,   538. 

Samuel,   503,   504. 

Thomas.  462,  463,  507,  537, 
538,  563. 

William,  89,  lOO,  576,  626. 
Stevenstown,   N.    H.,   516. 
Stewart,  Charles,  203. 

Duncan,    116,    118,   203. 

Ebenezer,   516. 

James,  205. 

Jonathan,   618. 
"St.  George"  (ship),  491. 
St.    George.   Island   of,   Me.,    15. 
Stickney,     Amos,    94,    138,    178, 
587,  605. 

Andrew,   588,   605,   659. 

Anthony,  565.  568. 

Benjamin.    288,    575,    579,    587- 

Caleb,   576. 

Charles,  629. 

Danielj   605. 

David.  566.  571.   588,  605. 

Enoch.   549. 

James.  567. 


INDEX 


747 


Stickney,  continued. 

Jedediah,  587. 

John,    205,   286,   480,    540,    542, 
■  570,  605,   614,   659,   674. 

Jonathan,  566,  612. 

Moses,  542. 

Paul,  571. 

Samuel,   564,  565. 

Stephen,  605,  612. 

Thomas,   178. 

William,   566,   567,   571. 
Stiles,  Joseph,  625. 
Still  House,  262,  264. 
St.  Johns,  N.  S.,  602. 
St.  Lawrence,  Cape,  548. 
St.  Lawrence,  Gulf  of,  547,  556. 
St.   Lawrence   River,   547,   576. 
St.  Lawrence  Road.  548. 
St.   Mary,  Port,  548. 
Stock    Raising,   33,    131. 
Stocker,  Ebenezer,  287,  298,  684. 

Samuel,    619. 
Stockman,  John,  601,  619. 

Joseph,  562. 

Michael,  601. 

Rowland,    549,    569,    573. 

William,  563,  575. 
Stocks,  79.  112,  122. 
Stokes,  John,  607. 

Samuel,  612. 
Stone,  Eben  F.,  686, 

John,  286,  613,  618. 

Jonathan.  612. 

Rev.   William  R..  388. 
Stone.   330. 
Stone   Bridge.  428. 
Stonington,   Conn.,  324,  470. 
Stonman,  John,  614. 
Stony  Brook.  138,  139. 
Stoolly,  Captain,  533. 
Storey    Avenue,    134,    354.     421, 

423,  428. 
Storms.     2,2>'    343,    373.    375-    385. 

SLS- 
Stnnehtnn,  Capt.  Israel,  500. 

Williaru,   202,  322,  444. 
Stoves.  360.  367.  662. 
St.    Paul.  Island.   548. 
"St.    Patrick"    (ship),    492. 
St.  Paul's  Church.  265,  341,  373- 
7^77.  483- 

Churchyard.  265. 

Vcstrvmcn    of,   265. 

Wardens  of,  26^. 
St.   Peter's    Island.    548. 
Strangers.     112,     113,     140,     215, 
216.  373, 

Entertaining,  140,  216. 
Stratton,     Capt.      Bartholomew, 
476. 

John,   t6o,   506. 


Strawberry    Bank    (Portsmouth), 

N.    H.,    24,   431. 
Street   Railways,  275. 
Streets,  126,  428. 
Strong    Water,    72,    73,    262. 
Sludman,  Augustine,    181. 
Sturgeon,   22,,    167,   281,   282. 
Slurlevant,    Isaac,    573. 
Subercase,    Governor,    531,    534, 

535- 
Sucatabot,  Sagamore,  24. 
"Success"    (sloop),   530. 
Sudbury,   Mass.,   173, 
Suffolk    County,    74,    502,    574. 
Sugar,    217,   478,   483. 
Sugar   Ball   Plain,   170. 
Sugar  Loaf  Hill,  503.' 
Sugar   Spoon,   153. 
Suit  at   Law,  341,  342,  390. 
Sulkies,  271. 
Sullivan,  James,  613. 
Summers,  James,  614. 
Sunday,   251,   252,   333,  364. 
Sunday  School,  362. 
Sunderland.  Rev.  La  Roy,  388. 
Surgeons,     140,     553,     556,     666, 

668. 
Army,   553,    556. 
Surveyor   of  Arms,  493. 
Surveyor-General    of    Woods     in 

America,  370. 
Surveyors    of    Highways,   47,   48, 

109-112.  413.  414,  427. 
Sutler,   Army,   557. 
Swain,  John,   146. 

Richard,   44,    146. 
Swan,   Corp.  Asa,  559. 

Richard  W.,  633. 
Swan's   Ferry,   198. 
"Swan  Song  of  Parson  Avery," 

Swasey,    Ebenezer,   286. 

Edward,  605. 

Joseph,   463,    464,    573. 

Moses,  573. 

Samuel,  427. 
Swearing.  517. 

Swedish   Brig  "Adonis,"  624. 
Sweeping    the    Meeting    House, 

315- 
Swett   (Sweat,  Sweet),  Abraham, 

579- 
Benjamin,    100,     143.     163.     164, 

169,    285,   316,   495,   Sio,   511, 

549.   565.   616. 
Elisha,   516. 
Enoch,  549. 
George.  615. 
i\Irs.    Hester,    511. 
Jacob.  288. 
James.  617. 


748 


INDEX 


Swett,  continued. 
John,   55.  84,  85,  88,   109,    116, 
118,    178,    181,   206,   218,  460, 
461,   511,   515,   526,   536,   539, 
566,  605. 
Jonathan,   570. 

Joseph.  123.  163,  524,  573,  615. 
Luke,  576. 
Moses,  562. 
Samuel,   562,  564,  615. 
Stephen,  93,  in,  141,  142,  163, 

176.    181,  506.  542,  549. 
Tliomas,  28,  565,  576,  610. 
William,  566,  629. 
Swett's      Ferry,     241.     277,     356, 

459-462. 
Swme,  29,  131-134.  137.  223.  523, 

670. 
Swing   Bridge,  444. 
Swords,  43,  217,  500,  648. 
Symonds,  Samuel,  319,  437. 

-TABLET      AT      TRAINLNG 
i     GREEN.  593,  594. 
Taconic  Falls,  544. 
Tailors,  32,  33. 
"Talisman"   (bark),  492. 
Tanners,  32,   154-156. 
Tannett,    Thomas,    376. 
Tanning,   154,   155,  264,  424. 
Tar,  370. 

Tarleton,  Rev.  James,  362. 
Tarpaulin    Cove,   478. 
Tarratine  Indians,  182. 
Tate,  Mr.,  340. 
Tate's  &  Brady's  Version  of  the 

Psalms,  340. 
Taverns,   142,  242,  272,  273,  283, 
442,  677. 

Blue  Anchor,  442. 

of  Capt.  Edward  Sargent,  283. 

of  John   Stavers.'  472. 
Tavern   Keepers,  72,  445. 
Taxes,  36,  40,  51,  6t,  62,  69,  97, 
112,    113,    158,    171,   201,   207, 
227-229,  353,  508,  526,  596. 

on    Carriages,  372. 

Collectors    of,    113. 

on   Liquors.   73. 

List  of  Newbury (1688), 203- 207. 

Parish.    290.   291,   341. 

Parliament.  296. 

School.  395. 
Taylor.  Isaac,  617. 

John,   515. 

Nathan.   629. 

Walter.   180. 
Tavmouth,  Jonathan.  608. 
Tea.   296.   581,   582. 

Duty  on.  296. 

Tax  on,  581,  582. 


Teachers,  311,  669. 

First,  311. 
Teel,  Josiah,  609. 
Temperance,  366,  367. 
Temple,   Capt.  Robert.   198. 
"Temple  Measured,"  "The,"  312, 

313- 
Teneriffe,  Island  of,  488. 
Tenison,  Christopher,  506. 
Tcnney.  Benjamin  T.,  627. 

Charles    E.,   634. 

Rev.   Francis   V.,  368. 

Gorham    P.,    627. 

James,  564. 

John   G.,   634. 

Nathaniel,  571. 

Oliver,  571. 

Richard,   571. 

Samuel,    628. 

William,   571. 
Tents,  310. 
Tewksberry,    Henry,    178. 

Isaac,  628. 
Text  Books,  408. 
Texts,  339,  365,  557,  655. 
Thacher,  Anthony,  32,  33. 

Rev.    Hezekiah,   393. 
Thacher's   Island,  33. 
"Thacher's    Woe,"    33. 
Thames    River.   26,   28,    167,  642. 
Thanksgiving   Day,    535. 
"The    Newbury"    (raft    of    tim- 
ber). 484. 
Theology.  365. 
Third   Church,  339. 
Third   Parish.   219,  233-235,  237- 
240.    243.    249.    250,    267,    301, 
336,    360,    377,    378.    403-406, 
428. 

Boundaries  of.  234.  267. 

Church.  219.  383. 

Clerk.  377,  378. 

Map  of.  239. 

Meeting   House,   240,   578. 
Thomas,    Colonel,    252,   253. 

Mr..  93.  366. 

James.  618. 

William.  84,  92.  122,   142,  282. 
Thomas  &  Whipple.  366. 
Thomb.  Jonathan.  570. 
Thompson.   David.   19. 

Edward.  226.   227.  332.   562. 

George,  614. 

Jacob,  576. 

James.  573. 

John.  616-618.   627. 

Robert.  610. 
"Three   Roads."  90. 
Three  Turk's   Heads,   18. 
Thurlow,  Mr..  216. 

Abraham.  587,  601.  610. 


INDEX 


749 


Thmiow,   continued. 

Francis,  102,  180,  204,  230. 

George,   125,  541,  571. 

James,   628. 

John,  182,  204,  516,  570,  571, 
627. 

Jonathan,   182,  207,  S7i. 

Joseph  L.,  388. 

Moses,  571,  610. 

Parker  G.,  627. 

Paul,  622. 

Richard,  67,  93,  141,  163,  207, 
276,  416,  419,  421,  653,  662. 

Samuel,  627. 

Simon,  653. 

Thomas,  182,  204,  230,  420, 
511,  589,  609,  610. 

Tristram,   571. 

Zaccheus  P.,  410. 
Thurlovv's  Bridge,  225,  240,  277, 

432. 
Thurlow's"  Farm,  230,  427. 
Thurlow's  JNlill,  240. 
Thurston,    Benjamin,  586. 

Daniel,  54,  84,  87,  89,  163,  164, 
176,  181,  204,  318,  433,  542, 
589. 

Enoch,  579. 

John,  586,  617. 

Rev.  John  R.,  345,  346. 

Jonathan.    588,    603,    608,    609. 

Capt.  Richard,  564. 

Stephen,  608. 
VTibbets,  Aaron,  628. 

Ephraim,  612. 
Ticonderoga,  560,  561,  572,  574. 
Tide  Gate.  653. 
Tide  Mill,  260. 
Tillotson,  John,  93,  94,  163. 
Tilton.  Albert.  343. 

Daniel,  565,  569. 

George   P.,   593. 

Greenleaf,   627. 

Isaac,  605. 

Peter,   189. 

Sherborn,  578. 

Stephen,    565. 
Timber,    38,    112,    126-129,    I37. 
166.  217,  223. 

Exportation   of,  484. 

Ship,  217. 
Titcomb,   Lieutenant.  481. 

Abraham,  338,  516,  568. 

Miss  Ann.  390. 

Benaiah.  116.  118,  180,  477, 
481.  541,  629. 

Benjamin,   549.   569. 

Caleb.   653. 

David.  565. 

Elias,  543. 


Titcomb,  continued. 
Enoch,  569. 
Henry,  565. 
Jacob,  540- 
Jeffry,   566. 
John,  229,  615,  626. 
Jonathan,  285,  611. 
Joseph,  286,  427,  482,  569. 
Joshua,  566,  569. 
Josiah,  627. 

Moses,  217,  235,  549,  550,  552, 
556,   557,   559,    564,   565,   618, 
681. 
Nicholas,  602. 
Pennel,   118,    178,   181,  20S,  206, 

260,  370,  477,  511,  541. 
Prudence,  666. 
Richard,   286,   614-616. 
Samuel,  265. 
Simeon,  653. 
Thomas,  180,  204. 
William,  54.  84,  88,  91-93,  104, 
105,    109-111,    114,    141,    155, 
158,    163,    169,    183,   205,   215, 
218-220,    223,    244,    319,    320, 
390,  429,   451,  477,   536,   541, 
543,  571.  677,  678. 
Titcomb's   Battery,   550-552. 
Tithingmen,   114,   116-119,  356. 
Titus.  Rev.  Anson,  265. 
Tobb,  Caleb,  618. 
Todd,    Serg.    Benjamin,   586. 
Ebenezer,   590. 
John,    184. 
Moses,  427. 
Samuel,   549. 
William    C,   590. 
Toll  Bridges,  277,  279. 
Toll    House,   270. 
Tolls.  Turnpike,  275. 
Toltwood,  Henry,  207. 
Tom.  Great,  183. 
Tomb.  Rev.  Samuel.  361,  655. 
Tompkins,  Mary,  148,  149. 
Tompson.  Edward,  348-350,  399. 
Tongs,  483.  670. 

Silver.  483. 
Tongues  Bored,  145. 
Tools,  670. 

Toppan    (Tappan).    Ensign,    205, 
215. 
Sergeant.  it8. 
Abigail.  668. 

Abraham.  48.  49,  54,  6$,  66,  84, 
86.  87,  89.  90,  99,  109,  no, 
114,  115,  141,  169,  171,  183, 
241,  254.  314,  .'^95,  429,  528, 
541.  654.  660,  664. 
Ann.  666. 
Benjamin.  657. 


75° 


INDEX 


Toppan,   continued. 

Jlezalcel,  tjo,  66S. 

Rev.  Christopher,  170,  283, 
ZZ2,  ziZ,  ZZ^-ZZ9,  343,  350, 
382,  401,  402,  654,  664,  665, 
667,  668. 

Rev.    David,   379. 

Dr.  Edmund,  667. 

Edward,   238,  ZiZ^  625. 

Eunice,  665. 

Jacob,  103,  116,  118,  139,  178, 
179,  207,  21*4,  227,  286,  497, 
514.  536,   539,   541,  659- 

James,  516. 

John,   179,   503,  S04,  601. 

Joshua,   601,   610,    611,    615. 

Michael,  286. 

Peter,  1 16,  127,  128,  141,  170, 
181,   203,    247,   318,   Z2,2>,   664. 

Richard,  569. 

Samuel,  170,  542,  567. 

Mrs.  Susanna,  664. 
Toppan's  Lane,  22,7,  238. 
Toppan  Street,  429. 
Topsfield,    Mass.,    153,   274,    275, 

497,  600,  606. 
"Torrent"   Fire   Engine,  288. 
Torrey,  Rev.  David  C,  369. 

William,   141,   187,    188. 
Toulouse,   Port,   548. 
Tower  Hill.  Methuen,   198. 
Town  Clerks.  183,  316,  359,  395, 
402.  425,  481,  639. 

of   Salisbury,   446. 
Town   Creek,   199. 
Town    Crier,   217. 
Town   Farms.  299. 
Town  Hall,  465. 
Town    House,    55.    223,    241-243, 
265.    266,    269-271,    309,    404, 
590.  593-. 
Town    Landing,   485. 
Town  Meetings,   120,  269,  296. 

Where  Held,  269. 
Town  Officers,  109,  no. 
Town  Records,  336,  402. 
Town   School,   406. 
Town   Treasurer,    640. 
Towns,  Right  to  Organize.  95. 
Townsend,  Captain,  407. 

James   L.,  402. 

Cnl.    Pcnn.    =^33. 

Williani,   .^68.^' 
Township   No.    i,   512. 
Tracv.  Rev.  Fred  P..  388. 

Capt.    Nicholas.   569. 

Patrick.    154,   266. 
Trade.   620. 

Lords  of,  545. 
Training   Days,   433. 
Training  Field,  260. 


Training  Green,  124,  154,  156, 
314,  316,  346,  409,  414,  415, 
426,  428,  511,  593,  594,  644, 
651,   672. 

Training  Place,  129. 

Trainings,   625. 

Tramblade  Island,  548. 

Transports,    530,    550,    555,    593, 

594- 
Traske,  Captain,  30,  31. 
Travelling,  271. 
Travers,    Henry,   28,   55,   84,   88, 

90. 
Treadmill,  297. 
Treadwell,   Mr.,   593. 

Elisha,  659. 
Treasurer    of    Colony,    41,    508, 

648. 
Treasurer,   Town,   640. 
Treat,  Major,  506. 
Treaties  of  Peace,  519,  521,  543, 
547.  553,  580,  599,  630. 

of  Utrecht,  547. 
Trees,    126-130,  370. 

Marked,  370. 
Trefren,  Rev.  John  L.,  394. 
Tremont   Street,   Boston,  652. 
Troop  of  Horse,  196,  495. 
Troop  of  Horesmen,  279. 
Troops,   450,   453. 
Trotter,   William,   94. 
Trotter's    Bridge,    138-140,   241. 
Truce,   578. 
Truck   House,   25. 
Trucks,  272. 
True,  Bradbury,  576. 

Israel,   576. 

Jacob,  549- 

John,  6ts. 

Capt.  William,  564. 
Trumpets,    531. 
Tuck,   Robert,  44. 
Tucker,  Mr.,  204. 

Dr.    Barnard,   668. 

Benoni,    537,    539. 

John,    181,    339.    340,    343.   344, 
382.    584,    619,    654.   668. 

Mary,   186. 

Richard,    =;76. 

Mrs.    Sarah,  668. 

William,   615. 
Tufts  College,   265. 
Tufts,    Rev'^  John,    283,   355-357, 
379. 

Samuel.  292. 
Tupner,  Col.  Benjamin,  605. 
Turkey  Hill.  64.  65.  83.   193,  228, 
220,   308.   302,   424.   519,   590, 
651. 
Turner.  Cantain,  30,  31,  39. 

John.   536.   $T.,l,   571.   587. 


INDEX 


751 


Turner,  coniinucd. 

William,    507,    508,    571,    575, 
579- 
Turnpikes,  270,  275.  276,  280,  303 
306. 

Newburyport,  270,  306. 

Plum    Island,  306. 
Turrel,  Jesse,  576. 
Turrets,  334,  341,  357. 
Turvill,    Thomas,    154,    155,   318. 
Twisse,   Dr.   William,   iqi,    193. 
Tye,  Gilbert,  635. 
Tyler,   William,   636. 
Tyng,   Dudley   A.,   270,  406. 

Jonathan,  444. 

Capt.   William,   527. 

T  JNION  HALL.  624. 
^      Union   Street,  429. 
United  States.  224.  204,  484,  488. 
492,  599,  617.  620,  624,  630-632. 
Senate,  366. 
University.   396. 
Upham,  Miss,  392. 

Prof.  Thomas  C,  392. 
Upper    Commons,    133-137,    209, 

210,  212,  260,  423. 
Upper  Falls,  258. 

in  Connecticut  River,  507. 
Upper  Parish,  279.  428. 
Upper  Woods,  168,  209,  211,  215, 

.  347.  422. 
Urier,  John,  571. 
Usher,  John,  201,  202,  207,  444, 

467. 
Uter,   Peter,  510. 
Utrecht.  5-n.  547. 
Treaty  of,  547. 

WACCINATION,  291,  292. 
y       Vane,   Sir   Henry  41. 
Vats,   Saltwater,  297. 
Vaughn,    Colonel,    550. 

Major,  517. 
Veltmar,   William    L..   636. 
\^erderone   Lsland,  548. 
Vernon,  James.  613,  618. 
Verplank's   Point.   661. 
Versailles,   599. 
Vessels,   108.    128,    142.   2=54,   265, 

zy?,,    380.    475-480,    483-486, 

488.  489,   498,   514,   5 1 5,   522, 
533.  550,  621,  658. 
Vestries.   271,   362,   388,   392. 
of  Fourth  Parish  Church.  392. 
in     Pearsons'      Mills      Village. 
271. 
Vestrvmen.   265.   376.   385.   483. 

of  Queen  Anne's  Chapel,  265. 
Victualler,    y2. 


Vie,  John,   515. 
Vintners.  45.  72. 
Violet   (slave),  365. 
Virginia,    13,   467,   472. 

North,    IS,    17. 

South,   15. 
Virginia  Fleet,  470. 
"Visions      and      Prophecies      of 
Daniel  Expounded."  2,22,,  324. 
Voyage  of  a  Pirate,  478. 
"Vulture"  (sloop-of-war),  661. 

WADE,    NATHANIEL,    600, 
"''      614. 

Thomas,  518. 
Wadlcigh,    P)enjamin,   015,  629. 

Moses,  576. 

Nathaniel,  (i\2,. 
Wainvvright,     Francis.    449,     530, 

534- 

John.   671. 
Wait's  Mill.  298. 
Wakefield,   Mass.,  274. 
Wakenekl,  William,  45. 
Waldo's   Regiment,   553. 
Waldron,  Richard,  148,  149,  169. 
Wales,   Thomas,   660. 
Wales,  Prince  of,  17. 
Walker,  Charles,  609,  610,  614. 

Isaac,   635. 

Samuel,  559. 
Walker's   Creek,   199. 
Wallet,  217. 
Wallingford,  John,  515. 

Joseph,  566,  567. 

Samuel.   562,   565. 

Capt.  Thomas,  516. 
Walnut  Hill  Cemetery,  379. 
Walnut  Trees,  18. 
Walton,   Rev.   Amos,  388. 
Wamoneset  Indians,   182. 
Wamouth,   Jonathan,  612. 
War  against  England  declared  by 

France.   1744,  547. 
War.    Pequot,  499. 
War.    King   Philip's.   502. 

History  of,  508. 
War,  Seven  Years',  576. 
War  of  the  Rebellion,  631,  632. 
War   of   the    Spanish    Succession, 

52T.  .543. 
War  of  1812.  620. 
Ward.  Mr.,  34,  70,  74. 

Dudley,  635. 

James.   576. 

Rev.  James  W.,  2)'q2. 

Rev.  John,  71. 

Rev.    Nathaniel,   70. 
Wardell.  Jonathan,   271. 
\Vardcns.     Church,     265,    y/^-il^, 
385.  A^?>. 


752 


INDEX 


Wardens,    Church,   continued. 

of  Queen  Anne's  Chapel,  265. 
Wardwell,   Eliakim,   124,  315. 

L.ydia.  124,  315,  389. 
Wardwell,  Lydia,  Punishment  of, 

315- • 
Warehouse,  47s. 
Warehouse   Point,  443. 
Warhurst,  Aaron,  636. 
Warner,  Capt.   Nathaniel,  600. 
Warning  Out  of  Town,  216. 
Warrant  for  Execution    of    King 

Charles  I.,  172. 
Warrant  for  Town  Meeting,  287. 
Warren,  Commodore,  550. 
Alvin  S.,  63s. 
Mrs.   Mercy,  661. 
Wars,  Indian,  403. 
Washington,     George,    463,    464, 

614. 
Washington's    Barge,   463. 
Washington  Street,  390,  391. 
"Wasp"    (United   States  sloop  of 

war),  484,  488,  4S9,  621-624. 
Wassaumkeag  Point.  574. 
Wastcoat  Islands,  548. 
Watch,   493,   517. 
Watch  Plouse,  247,  397. 
Watch,   Military,  57- 
Watching,  468. 
Water  Line  Model,  485. 
Water  Mill,  158. 
Water  Power,  293,  295,  298. 
Water  Side   Parish,  235. 
Water    Street,   91,   215,   262,   427- 

429,  658,  665. 
Water  Supply.  302. 
Water  Wheels,  297. 
Water  Works,  302. 
Waters,   John,  616. 
Watertown.  Mass.,  23,  24,  40,  161, 

311,  493,  591-593,  595,  603,  647, 

649,  650,  683. 
Watts,  Doctor,  340. 

Mr.,  471. 
Watts'  Cellar,  82,  83,  90,  95.  281, 

308,  47s,  481,  482. 
Way  to  Andover,  417. 
Way  to  the  Falls  River,  416. 
Way  to  the  Ferry,  418. 
Way    from     Meeting    House    to 

Mill,  III. 
Way  to  the  Mill,  415. 
Way  Wardens,   109- 112.  208,  414, 

427. 
Wayts,  Capt.  John,  505. 
Wealth,  271. 
Weare,  Miss  Hester,  51  t. 

Nathaniel,    55,    84,   93.    94,    100, 

169,  316,  ^ii. 
Peter.  £11. 


VV^eather  Code,  364. 
Weathercocks,  341. 
Weaver,  Josiah,  372. 
Weavers,  32. 
Webb,  Nathaniel,  323. 

Nicholas  B.,  625. 
Webber,   Samuel,  618. 
Webster,  Sergeant,  205. 
Hon.  Daniel,  366. 
Elizabeth,  124,  315. 
Israel,  115,  142,  177.  179. 
John,  93,  99,   loi,   no,   III,  115, 
116,    118,    127,    128,    137,    180, 
204,  318,  463,  464,  495,  496,  659. 
Joseph,  560. 
Rev.    Josiah,    361. 
Nathan,  171. 
Nicholas,  401,  402. 
Stephen,  540. 
Webster's  Cove,  199. 
Weddings,  61,  373. 
Wedgwood,  Jonathan.   178. 
Weed,  Elimeleck,  565. 
John,  256,  405,  528,  541,  562,  615. 
Mrs.  Sarah,  256. 
Sargeant,  565,  573. 
William,  238,  566,  573. 
Weights    and    Measures,    79,    80, 

III,  120,  121. 
Weirs,  38,  283.  648. 
Welch,  Joseph,  612. 
Wells,  Me.,  510,  516,  521,  535. 

Indian  Attack  on,  521. 
Wells,  Arnold,  275. 
Enoch,  563,  567. 
John,  loi,  102,  178. 
Thomas.  103,   178. 
Wenham,  Mass.,  74,  148,  152,  153, 

344,  603,  606,  634.  669. 
Wentworthj   Gov.   Benning,   198. 
Wessacucon,  30,  31. 
West,  John,  445. 

Thomas,  178. 
West  End,  401. 
West's  Harbor,  24. 
West  India  Islands,  264,  462,  469. 
West  Indies,  13,  119,  254,  470,  478, 

481,  482,  515,  620. 
West  Indies,  Newbury,  267. 
West  Meeting  House,  347,  351. 
West  Newbury,  Mass..    134,    223, 
266,  278,  279,  300-304,  308,  339, 
357,  359,  361,  362,  371,  379-381. 
391,  392.  412.  424,  425,  4-'8,  4O2, 
539.  68s.  686. 
Incorporation  of,  300,  302. 
West  Parish,    225,    229,    236,    332, 

353,  616,  661. 
West    Precinct    in    Newbur)'-,    369, 

370. 
Westbrook,   Col.   Thomas.   544. 


INDEX 


753 


Western  Continent,  36£). 
Western   Post,  470. 
Weymouth,     Mass.,     39-41,     78, 
493- 

Capt.  George,  15. 
"Whale"  (ship),  642. 
Whalcboats,    529,    530,    544,    560. 
Whale  Fishing,   17. 
Whalley,  Col.  Edward,  172,  173. 
Wharton,    Edward,    145,    146. 

Richard,   202. 
Wharves,  222,,  456,  458,  462,  475, 

482,  486,  488. 
Wheat,    113,    201,    209,    260,   331, 

503,  523. 

Wheat    Street,   228. 
Wheeler,  Benjamin,  203. 

Daniel,  93. 

David,   91,  95,    120,    121. 

Henry,  477,  478. 

John.  28,  93.  163,  503,  506,  510. 

Jonathan,   180,  571. 

Joseph,    179,    205. 

Moses,    571. 

Nathan,  180,  203,  229,  542. 

Samuel,   624. 
Wheelwright,      Abraham,      288, 
298,  621. 

Ebenezer,    293,    298,    303,    304, 
306,  622. 

Rev.  John,  '^^.  43.  493,  648. 
Whicher,  IMorrill,  566,  614. 
Whipple,   Cyprian,  659. 

John.  449,   502. 
Whit    Street,    236. 
White,   Lieutenant,  536. 

Mrs.,  205. 

George,  204. 

Rev.  John,  20. 

Capt.  Paul,   102,   176,  254,  262, 
475.  482. 

Philip,    565.    569. 

William.  28.  54,  71,  84,  93,  588, 
603.  607.   612,  619. 
White  Point,  551. 
Whitefield.     Rev.      George,     235. 

378.  381. 
Whitehall.  Eng.,  26.  147,  194. 
Whitehead.   N.   J.,   171. 
WHiileher,   Francis.   565. 
Whiting.    Capt.   William,   520. 
W^hitmore.  General,  555. 

Amos,  610,  611. 

David.  286,  373,  587. 

Ebenezer.  287. 

Jonathan.    286,   562. 

Joseph,  570. 
Whitney.  Stephen.  612. 
Whittemore.   David,   587. 

James.  625. 
Whittier.   Francis,   !:6;. 


Whittier,  cotitinued. 

James  A.  C,  295. 

Jolm,   503,    507. 

John  G.,  33,  146,  191. 

Moses  T.,  685. 
Whittier  &   Ewing,  295 
Whiltingham,   Ens.  John,  493. 
Wickes,   David,  626. 
Wickford,  R.  I.,  506. 
Wicom,  Lt,  Daniel,  498. 

John,  204. 

Wig,  358. 

Wiggin,   Captain,   163. 

Thomas,   142. 
Wigglesworth,  Mr.,  252. 

Edward,  293,  607,  608. 
Wigwams,  527,  544,  545. 
Wilcott,  John,   141,  508. 
Wildcat,   125. 
Wildes,   Solomon,  294. 
Wiley,   Francis  A.,  634. 
Wilkins,   Richard,    192. 
Wilks,   Francis,  219. 
Will,   Old,    184. 
Will  of  John  Kent.  643. 
Will    of    Samuel    Morggaridge, 

483- 
Willard,  Col.  Aaron,  607. 

Joseph  C,  633. 

Simon,   161. 
Willard's   Regiment,  553. 
Willet,   Benjamin.    571,    616,    617. 

Daniel,  562,  565. 

Francis,    180,  204,  573. 
William,     King,     196,     245,    467, 

468,  S14,  518. 
William  III.,  King,  207,  480. 
William,  Prince  of  Orange,  207. 
William  Henry,  Fort,  560-562. 
Williams,    Colonel,   559. 

Alfred  S.,  295. 
.     Rev.   Gilbert  T.,  361. 

Henry,  447,  607. 

John,  71. 

Joseph.  610. 

Richard,  372. 

Samuel,   295. 

Simon,  568. 

Thomas.  542.  575,  579,  589,  633- 

William.   612. 
Williamson,  William.  614. 
Willis.    Daniel,   628. 

John  H.,  632. 
Wills.  John,  305. 
W'ills.  375.  300.  483.  643,  671. 
Wiltshire.   Eng.,   30.   311. 
W^indmill   Lane,   359. 
Windmills,   260,  264.  297. 
Wine.   72.    73,   340,   342,   443,   447, 
488,   677. 

Casks,  119. 


754 


INDEX 


Wingate,  Mrs.   Elizabeth,  666. 

Joshua,  2^"],  666. 

Rev.   Payiie,  339. 
"Winicowett  House,"  46. 
Winnacunnett  (Hampton),  N.  H., 

.  4-'-45,  434- 
Winnipiseogee,   Lake,    161. 
Winnisimcl   (Chelsea),  Mass.,  27, 

272,  471. 
Winsley,  Mr.,   163. 
Winslow,   Edward,  19-21. 
John,  553,  556,  560,  667. 
Winter,  Benjamin,  559,  563,  567. 

Joseph,  613,  618. 
Winter  Harbor,  510,  535. 
Winter    Hill,   596. 
Winter  Street,  390. 
Winthrop,   Captain,  524. 

John,  23,  25,  29,  31,  39,  41,  42, 
44,    70,    72,.    74,    76,    166,   465, 
493,   500,  650. 
Hon.  Robert  C,  310. 
Waite,  202. 
Wise,   Dennis,   604. 
Wit — ,   James,    660. 
Witchcraft,   186,    189. 
Witcher.   Morrill,  566,  614. 
Withington,  Mrs.  Caroline,  410. 
Rev.  Leonard,  345,  410. 
Mrs.  Nathan,  410. 
Nathan    N.,   632,   687. 
Richard,  632. 
Woart,  William,  617. 
Woburn,  Mass.,  603. 
Wolcott,  John,  163,  164,  169,  180, 

276,   318. 
Wolfe,    Gen.    James,    555,    576- 

578. 
Wollaston,   Mount,  24. 
Wolves,   124,   125. 
Wonasquam,  24. 
"Wonder    Working    Providence* 

of  Zion's   Savior,"    165. 
Wood,  Albert,  491. 
Amos,  625. 
Ephrairn,  539. 
John,  281,  491,  569. 
Joseph,  615. 
Samuel,    543. 
William,   23,   281. 
Wood,    126,    127,    131,    137,    419, 
424. 
Lots,  213. 
Woodbridge,    N.    J.,  16S,  171,  535. 

Settlement  of.  171. 
Woodbridge,  Benjamin,  75,  176, 
T03.  223,  260.  326,  455,  457, 
528,  541,  560. 
John,  28,  47,  48,  51-56,  61-63,  65- 
67.  70,  74,  75.  79.  84,  85."  106- 
108,  132,  171,  176,  182,  186,  194, 


Woodbridge,  continued. 

195,  203,  209,  210,  316-319,  321, 
322,  348.  403,  444,  493,  511,  528, 
541,  639,  654,  656,  676. 

Joseph,  203,  401,  422,  542,  639. 

Josiah,  569. 

Miss  Mary,  479. 

Mrs.  Mercy,  316,  639. 

Thomas,  180,  243,  z^c    266,  318, 
376. 
Woodbridge's  Island,  239,  241. 
Woodbury,  Benjamin,  608,  618. 

Bezaleel,  610. 

James,  573,  618. 

John,  601,  603,  610,  611,  618. 
Woodland  Street,    238,    240,    386, 

390,  418,  430,  437. 
Woodman, ,  539. 

Corporal,  659,  660. 

Mr.,  649,  315. 

Abel,   588. 

Abner.  587. 

Archelaus,  41,  53,  54,  84,  88, 
90,  92,  99,  104-105,  109,  no, 
114,  117,  118,  120,  137,  141,  181, 
205,  220,  223,  421,  422,  424,  496, 
498,  528,  541,  569,  060,  678. 

Benjamin,  550,  573,  575. 

Charles  H.,  634. 

David,  567,  571. 

Edward,  38,  45,  47,  48,  51-54,  56, 
57,  60,  62,  63.  66,  67,  69,  73,  79, 
81,  S4-86,  88,  90,  92-95,  103- 
105,  107,  115,  117,  120,  132,  1G3, 
167-170,  180,  205,  206,  220,  317- 
321,  395,  415,  417,  420,  431,  435, 
493,  501,  675-678. 

Rev.  Henry  A.,  362. 

Hercules,  32. 

Hilton,   569. 

Horace  S.,  635. 

Ichabod,  542,  569. 

Jonathan,  178,  180,  235,  318,  475, 
476.  541- 

Joseph,  576,  615. 

Joshua,  58,  59,   180,  229. 

Mark,  588. 

Moses,  571,  576. 

Nathaniel,  160. 

Samuel,  301,  559,  567. 

Saul,  625. 

Stephen,  627. 

William.  571,  573,  634. 
Woodman's  Bridge,   158,  417. 
Woodman's  Lane,  215,  380,  475. 
Woodpeckers,  125,  126. 
Woods,  Rev.  Leonard,  379. 
Woods,  139,  140. 

Surveyor  of  the,  370. 
Woodward,  Seth,  579. 
Woodwell,   Benjamin,  605. 


INDEX 


755 


Woodwell,  continued. 

David,  658. 

David  T.,  6S6. 

George  W.,  686. 

Gideon,  28s.  286,  482,  560,  562, 
565,  568.  587,  628,  658. 

John,  628.  6s8. 
Woodwell  &  Hale,  658. 
Woodwell's  Shipyard,  658. 
Woollen  Factory  at  Byfield,   293, 

294. 
Woollen  Goods,  258,  293,  294. 
Woolworth,  Richard,  180. 
Worcester,  Rev.  Mr.,  165. 

Oliver,  562. 
Worhnm,  William,  180,  204. 
Workhouse,  245. 
Worship,  Public,  290. 
Worth,   John.   185,  206,   356.   542, 
660. 

Lionel,  115,  141,  419,  439. 

Richard,  171. 
Worthen,  Capt.  Geor^te,  564. 

Samuel,  571. 
Wrecks,  19,  2>Z,  380. 
Wright,  Rev.  Henry  C,  362. 

John,  93. 

Joseph,  611. 

Rev.  Richard.  387. 

Samuel,  603,  607^  612. 
Writing,  409. 

Writing  School,  401,  403,  406. 
Writing  Taught,  396,  400,  403. 


Writs,  201. 

Clerks  of  the,  58,  104. 

Quo  Warranto,  27. 
Wyatt,  Jacob,  607,  615. 

John,  565,  573- 

Samuel,  573,  578. 

VARN,  COTTON,  295. 
*      Yoked  Swine,  133. 
York,  Me.,  143,  233,  271,  516,  518, 
520,  521,  535. 

Burning  of,  518. 

Indian  Attack  on,  518. 
York  County,  Me.,  31,  607. 
York  Harbor,  510. 
Yorkshire,  Eng.,  68. 
Yorktown,  N.  Y.,  599. 
Youlan,    William,   61S. 
Young,   Benaiah,  563,  565,  569. 

Edmund,  504. 

Edward,  507. 

George  E.,  633. 

Hiram,  343. 

Jeremiah   C,  343. 

Joseph,  633. 

Moses,  343,  633. 

Seth,  633. 
"Young  Lady's  Accidence,"  408. 
Younglove,  Samuel,   181. 

ZEBULUN,  477. 
Zidon,  477.