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HISTORY 


OF  THE 


TOWN  OF  DANVERS, 


FROM  ITS  EARLY  SETTLEMENT 


TO  THE  YEAR  1848. 


BY   J.   W.  HANSON. 


"In  my    poor    mind  it   is  most  sweet    to  mush 
Upon  the  days  gone  by!" — Charlts  Lamb. 


DANVERS  : 

PUBLISHED    BY   THE    AUTHOR. 
Printed    at    the    Courier    Office. 

1848. 


♦  31^  ]r\p, 


Entered  according  to  An  Act  of  Cong^ress,  in  the  year  1848,  by  J. 
W.  Hanson,  in  the  Clerk's  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Dis- 
trict of  Massachusetts. 


i^r>4o 


'i^f 


PREFACE. 


The  Necessity  of  a  Town  History  has  been  experienc- 
ed for  many  years  by  most  of  the  citizens  of  Danvers. 
It  could  have  been  wished  that  some  one  qualified  for 
the  task,  had  undertaken  it  before  the  decease  of  sev- 
eral, who  carried  much  valuable  information  to  the 
grave  Avith  them.  Much  that  might  have  been  pre- 
served for  Posterity  has  been  suffered  to  sink  into  Obli- 
vion. The  compiler  has  sought  every  known  source  for 
information,  has  spent  about  a  year  and  a  half  in  re- 
searches, during  which  time  he  has  travelled  about  600 
miles  on  foot,  to  different  parts  of  Danvers  and  Salem, 
besides  several  other  journeys, — examined  twenty-thous- 
and pages  of  manuscript, — perused  several  historical 
works,  and  made  many  pilgrimages  to  antiquated  sires 
and  matrons,  and  to  moss  grown  grave-yards,  where  he 
has  exercised  the  vocation  of  Old  Mortality,  and  sought 
information  from  those  tablets  Avhich  the  remorseless  tooth 
of  time  had  nearly  obscured.  He  believes  that  the  ap- 
pearances of  imperfection  in  this  work  could  not  well  be 
avoided,  and  that  nearly  all  is  here  recorded  which  time 
has  spared.  He  confesses  himself  mucl:^  indebted  to 
Hon.  Daniel  P.  King,  John  W.  Proctor,  Esq.,  Fitch 
Poole,  Matthew  Hooper,  Charles  M.  Endicott,  Matthew 
Stickney,  and  to  the  gentlemanly  officers  of  the  State 
Department,  the  Town  Clerk,  Salem  City  Clerk,  Clerk 
of  the  Courts,  Judge  of  Probate,  the  different  Parish 
Clerks,  Clergymen  in  Danvers,  &c.  All  whom  he  has 
consulted  have  seemed  to  vie  with  each  other  in  for- 
warding his  plans,  and  he  takes  tliis  method  of  return- 


"    iv  PREFACE. 


ing  his  sincere  thanks.  To  avoid  disfiguring  the  foUoAv- 
ing  pages,  he  here  gives  general  credit  for  the  items  he 
has  received  and  recorded:  Authentic  Tradition,  Pen- 
sion and  Muster  Rolls,  Probate  Records,  Registry  of 
Deeds,  Court  of  Records,  Salem  Records,  Danvers 
Records,  Church  and  Parish  Records,  different  Socie- 
ty Records,  several  Manuscripts,  Mathers  Magnalia, 
Provincial  Records,  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  Journals  Pro  v. 
Cong.,  Hubbard's  Hist.  N.  E.,  Early  Hist.  N.  E.,  L> 
ham's  Lectures,  Hutchinson's  History  of  Massachu- 
setts, Felt's  Annals,  Barber's  Hist.  Coll.,  King's  Eu- 
logy and  Address,  American  Archives,  Thatcher's 
Essay,  Lincoln's  Journals,  Calef 's  Wonders,  Celebrat- 
ed Trials,  Wadsworth's  Discourse,  files  of  Essex  Ga- 
zette, Salem  Register,  Salem  Observer,  Danvers 
Courier  and  Whig, — and  other  authorities.  The  Com- 
piler has  carefully  abstained  from  recordmg  matter  which 
does  not  strictly  belong  to  the  History  of  the  Town,  and 
he  has  sought,  so  far  as  he  could,  to  compress  the  mat- 
ter into  as  small  space  as  possible.  It  will  be  seen  that 
he  has  followed  the  general  plan  of  Stone's  History  of 
Beverly,  a  well  arranged  work. 

It  is  interesting  in  the  highest  degree,  for  the  man 
of  to-day,  to  gaze  into  the  Past,  and  trace  the  miracle 
of  success  which  almost  every  town  in  the  Old  Bay 
State  presents. 

The  dim  primeval  woods,  dripping  with  dews,  in 
whose  gothic  aisles  strange  mysterious  echoes  travelled, 
— in  whose  solitary  fastnesses,  troops  of  dun  deer,  packs 
of  prowling  wolves,  the  sly  fox,  the  clumsy  bear,  the 
fierce  catamount,  and  the  painted  savage,  glided  like 


PREFACE. 


the  shadows  of  a  dream, — all  have  gone.  The  wonder- 
ful changes  of  two  hundred  years  can  hardly  be  realiz- 
ed. Two  hundred  years  ago,  "where  we  now  sit,  cir- 
cled by  all  that  embellishes  and  exalts  civilized  life,  the 
rank  thistle  nodded  in  the  wind,  and  the  wild  fox  dug 
his  hole  unscared.  Here  lived  and  loved  another  race 
of  beings.  Beneath  the  same  sun  that  rolls  over  us, 
the  Indian  hunter  pursued  the  panting  deer, — gazing  on 
the  same  moon  that  smiles  onus,  the  Indian  lover  wooed 
his  dusky  mate.  Here  they  worship'd,  and  from  many 
a  dark  bosom,  went  up  a  prayer  to  the  great  Spirit. 
Here  too,  they  warred, — the  echoing  whoop,  the  defying 
death-song, — all  were  here,  and  when  the  tiger  strife 
was  over,  here  curled  the  smoke  of  Peace."  Two  hun- 
dred years  have  passed,  and  what  a  change.  "When  the 
morning  sun  arises  from  his  ocean  pillow,  he  does  not 
look  upon  ancient  forest,  silent  river,  nor  upon  some 
sanguinary  Indian  fight.  Strangely  have  the  trees 
been  transformed  into  palace  and  cottage,  by  the  touch 
of  the  magic  wand  of  Industry,  w^hile  each  stream 
moves  the  mingling  din  of  loom  and  belt  and  wheel, 
and  where  the  death  grapple  of  red  men  stained  the 
sod,  hamlet  and  village  are  seen.  The  Avoods  have 
fled,  savage  beasts  and  savage  men  have  passed  away, 
and  hammer,  and  axe,  and  scythe,  and  plane  are  urged 
by  the  disciples  of  Industry.  No  longer  here  the 
"moping  owl  does  to  the  moon  complain," — no  longer 
Silence  rests  upon  the  ancient  realm  of  Nahumkiek, 
but  Religion,  Education,  and  Labor, — a  holy  Trinity — 
have  planted  temples  on  every  hill  and  in  every  vale, 
along   each  winding   stream,    and   around  each   silver 


I    vi  PREFACE. 


lake,  and  to  the  ear  of  Heaven,  ascends  the  ceaseless 
hum  of  Human  Life. 

The  progress  at  first  was  slow.  A  few  adventurous 
men  with  sturdy  arms  and  glittering  axe,  let  in  the 
sunlight  on  the  virgin  sod  ; — with  cautious  steps  they 
threaded  the  echoing  woodpaths,  and  startled  the  wild 
beast  and  timid  bird.  Glad  of  escape  from  religious 
persecution,  they  made  each  day  vocal  with  prayer 
and  praise, — and  yet,  forgetful  of  their  wrongs, — they 
burned  and  hung  poor  quakers  and  baptists  without 
mercy.  They  acted  as  they  knew,  and  whib  the  form 
of  Bigotry  sits  at  our  own  tables,  and  glares  upon  those 
who  differ  from  us,  it  does  not  well  become  us  to  re- 
proach our  ancestry.  If  they  forgot  human  rights,  and 
striped  and  branded  heretics,  they  thought  they  were 
verily  doing  God  service,  and  their  fault  should  not  be 
laid  at  their  door,  Avhile  the  church  and  the  school-house 
stand,  and  the  hardy  morals  which  they  planted  shall 
continue  to  blossom  and  adorn  our  generation.  They 
were  sincere;  they  had  that  sound  core  of  honesty 
which  in  these  days  we  look  for  and  hope  to  find. 

From  the  early  hour  of  the  settlement  of  Danvers, 
change  has  followed  change,  like  wave  pursuing  wave, 
to  the  present  day.  The  foot-journey  out  to  "the  vil- 
lage" from  Salem,  the  laborious  felling  of  the  forest,  the 
planting  of  the  first  crops,  the  contest  with  wild  ani- 
mals, the  occasional  visit  from  an  Indian,  or  a  warlike 
visit  to  an  Indian  settlement,  the  musket-guarded  ser- 
vice of  the  Sabbath,  the  Awful  Delusion  of  1692,  the 
spiritual  struggle  with  Satan's  emissaries,  the  long  dark 
battle   with  forciirn   foes,  the  dawn   of  National   Inde- 


=iS3 


PREFACE.  vii 


pendence  and  prosperity,  and  the  present  noon  of  tri- 
umph— all  these  have  been  here.  In  each  of  these  has 
Danvers  participated. 

To  those  whose  birth  was  cast  here, — those  who  in 
the  long  sunny  days  of  summer  played  here,  who  first 
learned  to  gaze  upon  the  stars  and  watch  the  moon  go 
down  behind  these  hills,  who  can  look  back  upon  a  life 
passed  here,  these  pages  will  be  pleasing  so  far  as 
they  reflect  the  Past. 

''Our  Fathers,  where  are  they  V  "Instead  of  the 
fathers,  are  the  children."  While  therefore  the  chil- 
dren may  know  the  experience  of  the  fathers,  let  them 
profit  thereby, — and,  above  all,  let  them  so  conduct,  as 
that,  when  their  Experience  shall  be  History  to  those 
who  shall  follow  them,  it  may  read  a  profitable  lesson. 


ftl! 


GENERAL   ACCOUNT. 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  Town  of  Danvers,  County  of  Essex,  State  of 
Massachusetts,  is  situated  15  miles  N.  N.  E.  from  Bos- 
ton, 23  miles  E.  S.  E.  from  Lowell,  16  miles  S.  E. 
from  Lawrence,  in  42o  32'  North  Latitude,  and  TOo 
55'  West  Longitude,  and  is  bounded  north  by  Middle- 
ton  and  Topsfield,  east  by  Wenham,  Beverly,  and  Sa- 
lem, south  by  Salem,  Lynnfield  and  Lynn,  and  west  by 
Lynnfield  and  Middle  ton. 

The   general   aspect  of  the   Town  is    rather  level, 
though  it  is  diversified  with  numerous  gentle,  and  pre- 
cipitous elevations.     Lying  near  the  verge  of  the  wild 
domain  of  Ocean,  it  is  fortified  by  many  of  those  rocky 
ramparts  which  the  hand  of  Nature  has  reared  to  repel 
the  wild  encroachments  of  the  Deep.     The  soil  rests  on 
a  foundation   of  Sienite, — is   composed   of  3fo   soluble 
geine,  6fo  insoluble  geine,  and  2i'o  sulphate  of  lime,  and 
is  generally  very  productive,  being  mainly  a  brownish 
loam,  abounding  in  peat,  gravel,  and  clay,  from  which  a 
large  number   of  bricks,  and   all  kinds  of  pottery  are 
made.     There  is  an  exhaustless  supply  of  sienite  from 
which  the  choicest  millstones  are  manufactured,  equal 
to  any  in  the  world,  and  some  fine  specimens  of  quartz 
have  been  found,  of  which  No.  1312  in  the  State    Col- 
lection is  a  sample.     There  are  many  valuable   farms 
yielding  rich  crops  of  hay,  grain  and  vegetables,  and  a 
large  abundance  of  excellent  fruit.     Iron  ore  of  a  fine 
quality  has  been  procured  on  the  estate  of  Hon.  D.  P. 


10  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS. 

King,  and  copper  ore  was  found  at  the    Orchard  Farm 
previous  to  the  death  of  its  original  proprietor. 

The  whole  area  of  Danvers  occupies  about  ITOOO 
acres,  of  which  there  are  about  132  acres  of  fresh  wa- 
ter ponds,  300  acres  of  salt  rivers  and  creeks,  1200 
acres  of  woodland,  1000  acres  of  rocky  waste  land,  up- 
wards of  11,000  acres  of  occupied  and  cultivable  land, 
and  80  miles  of  road.  It  is  8  miles  long  from  North  to 
South,  and  64  miles  wide  from  East  to  West. 

Besides  the  tall  and  graceful  poplar,  the  fir,  the  balm 
of  Gilead,  and  the  elm, — which  combines  in  one  form 
the  pendent  gracefulness  of  the  willow,  the  strength 
of  the  oak,  and  the  aspiring  reach  of  the  pine  and 
hemlock, — the  larch,  and  other  trees  which  adorn  our 
streets  and  rural  residences,  the  native  trees  and 
shrubs  are  the  white  and  pitch  pine,  white  spruce, 
hackmatack,  arbor  vitse,  red  and  white  cedar,  juniper, 
ground  hemlock,  white,  swamp,  scarlet,  red,  black  and 
bear  oak,  chesnut,  beach,  witch  and  beaked  hazel, 
hornbeam,  butternut,  shellbark-hickorj,  mockernut, 
pignut,  black,  yellow  and  white  birch,  common  alder, 
Dutch  and  wax  myrtles,  sweet  fern,  buttonwood  or  syc- 
amore, American  aspen,  swamp  and  other  willows,  white 
and  slippery  elms,  tupelo,  sassafras,  fever-bush,  privet, 
white  and  black  ash,  winter-berry,  button-bush,  bush 
honeysuckle,  elder,  naked  and  sweet  viburnums,  arrow- 
wood,  water  andromeda,  clethra,  swamp  pink,  rhodora, 
kalmia,  whortleberry,  high  and  low  blueberry,  cran- 
berry, alternate  leaved,  red  stemmed,  panicled,  flower- 
ing cornel,  currant,  gooseberry,  spirea,  meadow  sweet, 
hardback,  raspberry,  high  and  low  blackberry,  clematis, 


HISTORY    OF   DAN  VERS.  11 


white  thorn,  chokeberry,  swamp  pyrus,  black  and  choke- 
cherry,  locust,  fox  grape,  Virginian  creeper,  Jersey  tea, 
climbing  staff  tree,  red  and  white  maple,  staghorn,  poi- 
son and  dwarf  sumach,  poison  ivy,  bass-w^ood,  barberry, 
green  brier,  eglantine,  swamp  rose  and  thimbleberry. 
The  cowberry,  a  species  of  cranberry,  is  a  very  uncom- 
mon plant.  According  to  Emerson's  Report  of  the 
Trees  and  Shrubs  of  Massachusetts,  it  is  found  in  but 
one  place  in  the  state,  namely,  in  a  pasture  near  Mr. 
A.  Putnam's,  where  it  was  found  in  1820  by  William 
Oakes,  Esq.  Torrey  however  thinks  it  has  been  found 
on  Monadnock  mountain.  At  all  ever>ts  it  is  very 
rare. 

This  vicinity  offers  pleasant  inducements  to  those 
who  seek  medicine  from  the  vegetable  productions,  or 
instruction  from  the  "Floral  Apostles"  of  Earth,  of 
whom  it  has  been  said : 

"Your  voiceless  lips  are  living  preachers. 

Each  cup  a  pulpit,  every  leaf  a  book. 
Supplying  Fancy  numerous  teachers 

From  loneliest  nook." 

In  different  parts  of  the  town  may  be  found  the  fami 
lies  of  grasses,  mosses,  lichens,  plantains,  cresses,  ferns, 
the  wild  teazel,  (very  rare,)  life  everlasting,  cudweed, 
pennywort,  duckmeat,  thoroughwort,  colored  willow 
herb,  partridge  berry,  water  horehound,  hellebore,  py- 
rola,  strawberry,  johnswort,  brake,  Canadian  cistus,  that 
pretty  recluse  that  so  successfully  eludes  the  eye  of 
the  Botanist  the  tall  Jacob's  ladder,  the  gentle  sister- 
hood of  violets,  yarrow,  crowfoot,  blue  flag,  spotted 
geranium,  Canada  snapdragon,  dwarf  ginseng,  common. 


12  HISTORY    OF   DANVERS.  I 

running  and  Norway  cinquefoil,  blue  houstonia,  "wood- 
wax,— which  at  some  seasons  gilds  many  acres  with 
gold, — cardinal  flower  and  other  species  of  lobelia,  Vir- 
ginia thyme,  side-flowering  skullcap, — once  supposed  to 
cure  the  bite  of  a  mad  dog,  blue  curls,  burr  marigold, 
conedisk  sunflower,  asters,  purple  gerardia,  hawkweed, 
ladies'  tresses,  fringed  gentian,  golden-rod,  waterlilies, 
anemone,  samphire,  strawberry  blite,  speedwell,  bladder- 
wort,  nightshade,  galium,  bugloss,  houndstongue,  sever- 
al species  of  loosestrife,  bindweed,  henbane,  lady's  slip- 
per, pipewort,  millfoil,  calla,  dragon-root,  moth  mullein, 
pimpernel,  bellflower,  arrowhead,  fever  root,  thesium, 
dogbane,  Indian  hemp,  butterfly  weed,  milkweed,  dod 
der,  saltwort,  goosefoot,  sanicle,  angelica,  cicuta,  sarsa- 
parilla,  spikenard,  Virginia  flax,  sundew,  marshrose- 
mary,  Canada  garlic,  star  of  Bethlehem,  Solomon's 
seal,  bellwort,  droecena,  erithromium,  sweet  flag,  bay- 
onet bush,  cucumber  root,  trillium,  Virginia  rhexia, 
golden  saxifrage,  w^ater  pepper,  partridge  bush,  Ameri- 
can senna,  sidesaddle,  motherwort,  hempnettle,  vervain, 
trichostema,  lopseed,  linnea,  cowheat,  figwort,  snapdrag- 
on, painted  cup,  monkeyflower,  snakehead,  hibiscus, 
caducous,  poligalia,  lupine,  trefoil,  lespedesos,  peavine, 
groundnut,  St.  John's  wort,  succory,  prenanthes,  lia- 
tris,  coniza,  elecampane,  groundsel,  eighteen  species 
of  asters,  mayweed,  coreopsis,  orchises,  arethusa,  ad- 
ders tongue,  dragon's  claw,  besides  many  others  too 
common  to  demand  specification. 

S.  P.  Fowler  and  Dr.  George  Osgood  afforded  much 
assistance  in  arranging  the  foregoing  list  of  plants. 


HISTORY  OF  DAN  VERS.  13 

An  occasional  fox  or  a  rattlesnake,  a  few  rabbits  and 
perhaps  a  lynx,  are  all  tliat  remain  where  old  Parson 
Higginson  assures  us  he  saw  ''manye  Ijons,"  and  other 
terrible  monsters. 

There  are  several  fine  sheets  of  water,  and  many 
small  though  beautiful  streams.  Brown's  pond,  named 
for  an  early  grantee,  in  the  southern  portion  of  the 
town  covers  30  acres  ;  Bartholomew's  pond, — one  of 
the  most  charming,  secluded  spots  in  the  State,  named 
also  for  a  grantee,  situated  about  4  of  a  mile  north  of 
Brown's,  contains  5  acres  ;  Cedar  pond,  1\  miles  north- 
west, contains  15  acres.  In  this  pond  Goldthwaite's 
brook  takes  its  rise,  and  running  easterly,  passes 
through  Foster's  millpond,  and  joining  with  Proctor's 
brook  empties  into  the  Mill  pond  in  South  Danvers. 
Humphrey's  pond,  named  for  John  of  that  name,  is 
situated  in  Lynnfield  and  Danvers, — say  about  80  acres 
in  the  latter  place.  Proctor's  brook  rises  in  Gardiner's 
swamp  and  joins  Goldthwaite's.  North  River  runs  from 
the  mill  pond  in  the  south  parish,  and  passing  through 
Salem  empties  into  the  harbor.  Water's  river  rises  near 
the  Newburyport  turnpike,  and  empties  into  Porter's. 
Beaver-dam  brook  takes  its  rise  near  the  17th  milestone 
on  the  Newburyport  turnpike,  and  runs  a  northerly  and 
south-easterly  course  until  it  makes  the  Crane  river, 
which  empties  into  Porter's.  Nichol's  brook  rises  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  town,  and  runs  into  Topsfield. 
Frostfish  brook  rises  near  the  northern  boundary  of 
Danvers,  and  running  south  it  forms  Porter's  river,  the 
channel  of  which  is  the  boundary  between  Beverly  and 
Danvers.      Porter's    river    empties  into  Bass  River. 


14  HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS. 

Ipswich  or  AgaAvam  river  is  the  boundary  between 
Danvers  and  Middleton.  Besides  these  are  many 
smaller  streams  not  of  sufficient  importance  to  require 
notice.  Water  for  culinary  purposes  is  abundant  and 
extremely  good,  and,  as  most  of  the  rock  is  insoluble, 
the  w^ater  is  preserved  pure,  and  entirely  free  from  that 
brackish  taste,  so  noticeable  to  the  stranger  in  most  of 
the  water  found  near  the  sea  coast. 

Among  the  eminences  deserving  of  mention  are  Bald 
Rock,  a  bold  summit  on  the  edge  of  Bartholomew's  val- 
ley,— Shaw's  Rock,  Ship  Rock,  King's,  Prescott's,  Bux- 
ton's, Walden's,  Gardner's,  Mt.  Pleasant  or  Hog,  Up- 
ton's, Cook's,  Endicott's,Hathorne's,  and  Dale's  hills, — 
from  each  of  which  may  be  enjoyed  charming  prospects 
of  the  surrounding  country. 

The  Traveller  from  Boston,  would  be  likely  to  enter 
the  Town  at  its  southern  extremity.  Here  the  soil  is 
generally  very  rocky,  greenstone,  covered  by  sienite, 
and  supports  a  thrifty  growth  of  forest  trees,  principally 
oak  and  pine.  The  sienite  region  extends  from  the  i 
southern  boundary  to  Proctor^s  brook,  in  a  northerly  di- 
rection, and  westward  into  Lynn.  As  he  passes  along 
the  old  Boston  road,  he  skirts  the  margin  of  Brown's 
pond,  a  charming  sheet  of  wtiter,  and,  if  he  will  strike 
across  the  fields  from  thence,  a  little  west  of  north,  he 
will  behold  Bartholomew's  pond,  one  of  the  sweetest  spots 
in  New  Endand.  Situated  as  it  is  in  the  most  uneven 
and  woody  portion  of  the  town,  it  is  entirely  secluded 
by  groves  and  hillS,  without  even  a  road  to  lead  to  the 
spot.  Passing  along  the  same  road  he  will  shortly  en- 
ter the  south  parish,  (a)  the  largest  village  in  the  Town. 


HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS.  15 

Here  he  will  see  business  on  every  hand,  and  the  hairy 
garments  of  slaughtered  animals  which  surround  him, 
will  remind  him  that  the  principal  occupation  of  the  in- 
habitants is  tanning  and  dressing  different  kinds  of 
leather,  or  manufacturing  the  same  into  boots  and  shoes. 
Indeed  if  he  shall  ever  meet  a  man  from  Dan  vers  in 
another  part  of  the  world,  he  may  take  the  fiict  of  his 
nativity  v^s,  priyna  facie  evidence  that  he  at  least  under- 
stands the  nature  of  leather.  The  Old  South  church 
and  Bell  Tavern  having  passed  away,  the  ]Monument 
and  the  Grave  of  Eliza  Wharton  are  the  principal  ob- 
jects of  interest  remaining.  As  he  passes  on  he  leaves 
the  beautiful  Harmony  Grove  in  Salem  on  his  right 
hand,  and  bearing  away  in  a  northeastly  course  about 
two  miles  he  Avill  pass  over  the  ancient  Orchard  Farm, 
on  which  stands  the  Old  Endicott  Pear  Tree,  and  will 
reach  the  enterprising  village — New  Mills,  the  only 
seaport  in  the  Town.  A  mile  further  north  he  arrives 
at  the  Plains,  a  village  noted  for  the  thrift  and  indus- 
try of  its  inhabitants.  Still  further  on  in  the  same  di- 
rection on  the  Topsfield  road  he  passess  through  Put- 
nam ville,  formerly  known  as  Blind  Hole,  from  a  swamp 
still  further  north.  Thence  in  a  western  line,  a  short 
distance  and  crossing  Nichol's  brook  and  reaching  the 
Newburyport  Turnpike,  he  will  follow  it  nearly  south, 
and  passsing  the  finest  farms  and  estates  and  Hum- 
phrey's pond,  he  will  reach  the  South  Beading  road  in 
Lynnfield,  and  then  turning  east,  he  will  pass  the  Poor 
House  and  Rocks  village,  situated  near  Goldthwaite's 
brook,  which  is  at  the  bottom  of  a  valley,  once  the  bed 
of  a  lar^e  lake.     At  the  first  road  intersecting;  the  road 


o" 


16  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


he  is  on,  he  will  direct  his  course  north  and  passing  the 
Collins  House,  where  Gov.  Gage  resided  in  1774,  and 
the  old  Parris  House  where  the  witchcraft  delusion  com- 
menced, he  will  go  through  Tapleyville,  and  then,  a 
short  distance  further  he  will  enter  the  ancient  Salem 
Villao^e,  havinof  travelled  about  seventeen  miles. 

He  will  have  seen  a  fine  variety.  Danvers  is  both 
Citj  and  Country.  The  South  Parish  extends  into  Sa- 
lem and  is  essentially  one  with  Salem,  while  further 
north  the  scenery  presents  so  rural  an  aspect,  that  the 
stranger  can  scarcely  fancy  himself  so  near  the  cities 
and  the  seas.  There  are  rough  sienite  acclivities,  (b) 
from  which  are  fine  views  of  the  seacoast  and  the 
neighboring  towns,  precipitous  glens,  dark  woods,  beauti- 
ful miniature  lakes  reflecting  the  blue  of  heaven,  and 
brightly  glancing  streams  murmuring  along  the  sward 
with  liquid  sounds  of  peace, — broad  savannahs  waving 
with  rustling  grass,  yellow  with  golden  corn,  or  embrown. 
ed  with  the  shadows  of  sturdy  trees,  that  are  wdiite 
with  blossoms,  or  bend  low  with  mellow  fruit,  relieved 
by  billow^y  hills  that  swell  along  the  landscape,  or  dotted 
with  villages  and  solitary  residences  and  farmhouses, 
the  scene  is  beautiful  as  well  as  suggestive  of  Industry 
and  Peace.  Beholding  the  air  of  comfort  and  indepen- 
dence, and  witnessing  the  enterprise  and  business  zeal 
for  which  the  Town  has  become  a  proverb,  and  feeling 
the  bosom  expand  with  the  generous  liberal  spirit  which 
surrounds  the  community  like  an  atmosphere,  the  be- 
holder of  to-day  can  scarcely  realize  that  he  stands 
where  witches  were  tried  and  executed,  and  Bigotry, 
an  ugly  fiend,   once  poisoned  the  air  with  his   breath. 


ft 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  17 


Formerly  distinguished  for  intolerance,  austerity  and 
gloom,  the  Town  is  now  equally  known  for  its  enterprise, 
and  the  spirit  of  liberality  it  breathes  ; — Salem  Village 
has  become  Dan  vers. 

NOTES  TO  CHAPTER  I. 

(a)  Names.  The  South  village  was  origiiiiiliy  call  "Crooksby,'' 
from  I  he  convergence  of  Go'dlhvvaile's  and  Proctor's  broolis,  orginal- 
ly  called  South  and  North  brook,  near  the  Old  South.  Whsn  the 
parish  lines  were  drawn  it  was  called  "the  Middle  Precinct,"  or  South 
Parish,  because  of  its  situation  south  of  the  Village,  between  it 
and  Salem  proper.  The  Village  was  originally  styled  "the  Farmers 
Range,"  and  afterwards  Salem  Village,  to  distinguish  il  from  Salem 
proper.  The  Plains  belonged  to  the  Porter  family,  and  were  com- 
monly called  "Mr.  Porter's  plaine,"  on  account  of  the  even  surface 
which  his  farm  presented.  "New  Mills"  was  called  at  first  "Mr. 
Skelti-n's  neck,"  owing  to  the  peculiar  formation  of  the  land  granted 
to  Mr.  Skelton,  and  the  name  was  changed  to  New  Mills,  from  the 
wheat  mills  belonging  to  Arhcelaus  Putnam  which  were  erected  in 
1754.  The  Indian  name  of  the  neck  was  TVahquack.  Rocks  village 
obtains  its  name  from  the  rocks  around  it,  and  Putnaniville  and  Tap- 
leyville  are  named  from  enterprising  gentlemen  who  bear  the  names 
of  Tapley  and  Putnam. 

(b)  "The  sienite  is  inexhaustible,  and  the  demand  for  it,  manu- 
ufactured  into  millstones  and  prepared  for  building  and  other  purpos- 
es, must  increase  annually.  The  extensive  beds  of  clay — situated  so 
near  navigable  waters  and  flnurishing  towns  and  villages,  is  another 
sure  source  of  wealth  or  at  Isast  a  comfortable  rnaintainance  to  many 
inhabitants.  The  water  powers,  and  last,  though  not  least,  a  pro- 
ductive soil  and  ready  market,  to  reward  the  labors  of  numerous  far- 
mers and  horticulturists,  render  this  one  of  the  most  eligible  situations 
in  the  county.  The  town  is  distinguished  for  the  sobriety,  industry 
and  economy  of  its  inhabitants;  and  has  for  many  years  past  been 
ranked  among  the  most  thriving  and  prosperous  towns  in  the  county." 

Essex  Memorial. 
Errata  to  Chapter  L     On  page  10,  instead  of  1200  acre"  of 
woodhnd,  read  3000,  and  add   50  acres  of  saltmarsh  and  1200  acres 
of  I'resh  meadows. 


18  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


CHAPTER  11. 

SETTLEMENT. 

A  company  that  had  been  engaged  in  a  fishing  enter- 
prise between  England  and  Cape  Ann  about  the  year 
1625,  the  members  of  which  had  witnessed  the  success 
with  which  the  Plymouth  Colony  had  met,  and  the  facili. 
ties  which  were  lying  unimproved  in  the  region  of  Cape 
Ann,  carried  such  tidings  to  the  Old  World  as  inspired 
many  of  the  more  adventurous  among  the  English  Dis- 
senters, with  a  desire  to  estabhsh  a  people  ''whose  God 
should  be  the  Lord"  in  this  portion  of  the  western  wil- 
derness. Rev.  John  White  of  Dorchester,  England, 
made  several  attempts  to  establish  a  colony  in  this 
neighborhood,  wdiich  had  been  thus  favorably  represent- 
ed to  him,  but  it  was  not  until  the  year  1628  that  he 
could  prevail  upon  a  company  to  embark. 

On  the  6th  of  September  in  that  year,  John  Endicott 
set  sail  from  England,  accompanied  by  about  one  hun- 
dred persons,  having  in  his  possession  a  grant,  convey- 
ing all  the  land  lying  between  the  Merrimac  and  Charles 
Rivers,  to  Sir  Hemy  Rowell,  Sir  John  Young,  Thomas 
Southcott,  John  Humphrey,  John  Endicott,  Simon 
Whetcomb,  and  their  heirs  an'd  associates  forever.  The 
bounds  extended  "three  miles  to  the  northward  of  Mer- 
rimac River,  and  three  miles  to  the  southward  of 
Charles  River,  and  in  length  within  the  described 
breadth  from  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  the  South  Sea." 

When  the  company  landed  at  Salem  or  Naurakiek  as 
it  w?«s  then  called,  they  found  a  small  company  already 


HISTORY  OF   DANVERS.  19 

settled  there,  and  nine  houses  which  they  had  erected. 
The  hitter  on  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Endicott's  company, 
immediately  migrated  to  Charlestown,  leaving  Naum- 
kiek  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  E's  company.  This  Indi- 
an name  has  generally  been  supposed  to  belong  exclu- 
sively to  this  portion  of  territory  as  a  proper  name. 
Such  is  not  the  fact ;  Naumkiek  signifies  "a  good  fishing 
place,"  and  was  applied  by  the  Aborigines  to  the  spot 
occupied  by  the  city  of  Lowell,  and  to  other  places 
where  they  found  plenty  of  fish.  When  the  settlers 
first  landed  they  caught  1600  bass  at  a  draught. 

Thus  in  1628  there  were  but  nine  houses  and  one 
hundred  people,  occupying  the  large  territory  called  Sa- 
lem, including  besides  the  present  city  of  that  name,  the 
towns  of  Beverly,  Manchester,  Wenham,  Marblehead, 
Danvers,  and  parts  of  Topsfield  and  Middleton.  This 
entire  spot, — this  "good  fishing  place,"  was  owned  by 
the  Naumkiek' s,  a  branch  of  the  Massachusetts  tribe. 
They  had  a  village  at  Northfields,  and  as  late  as  1725 
were  accustomed  to  visit  the  soil  which  their  fathers  trod 
in  majesty.  Human  remains  and  implements  of  war 
have  been  exhumed  at  Northfields,  at  New  Mills,  and  in 
other  parts  of  the  town.  When  Mr.  Endicott  and  his 
company  landed  there  were  no  Indians  at  Naumkiek, 
though  the  owners  of  the  soil  dwelt  not  far  off.  Of 
those  owners  the  soil  was  purchased,  as  too  much  of 
this  continent  has  been  obtained.  A  deed  was  signed, 
land  was  received,  and  a  miserable  recompense  render- 
ed. Mr.  Endicott  however,  had  been  instructed  to  ob- 
tain the  consent  of  the  red  men  before  occupying  their 
inheritance,  and  he  fulfilled  the  letter  of  the  injunction. 


20  HISTORY  OF  DANVBRS. 

The  deed  is  recorded  in  Felt's  Annals  of  Salem.  Mr. 
Higginson  gives  the  following  description  of  the  Naum- 
kieks. 

"For  their  governors,  they  have  kings,  -which  they 
call  Saggamores,  some  greater  and  some  lesser,  ac- 
cording to  the  number  of  their  subjects.  The  greater 
Saggamores  about  us  cannot  make  above  three  hundred 
men,  and  other  lesse  Sagamores  have  not  above  fifteen 
subjects,  and  others  neere  about  us  but  two.  Their 
subjects,  above  twelve  years  since,  were  swept  aw^ay  by 
a  great  and  grevious  plague,  that  Avas  amongst  them, 
so  that  their  are  verie  few  left  to  inhabite  the  country. 
The  Indians  are  not  able  to  make  use  of  the  one  fourth 
part  of  the  land,  neither  have  they  any  settled  places, 
as  townes  to  dwell  in,  nor  any  ground  as  they  challenge 
for  their  own  possession,  but  change  their  habitation 
from  place  to  place. 

"For  their  statures,  they  are  a  tall  and  strong  lira- 
med  people,  their  colours  are  tawnej^,  they  goe  naked, 
save  onely  they  are  in  part  covered  with  beasts'  skins 
on  one  of  their  shoulders,  and  weare  something  before 
their  privities  ;  their  haire  is  generally  blacke,  and  cut 
before,  like  our  gentele  women,  and  one  locke  longer 
than  the  rest,  much  like  to  our  gentelmen,  w^hich  fash- 
ion, I  thinke,  came  from  hence  into  England. 

"For  their  weapons,  they  have  bowes  and  arrowes, 
some  of  them  headed  witli  bone,  and  some  with  brasse. 
I  have  sent  you  some  of  them  for  an  example. 

"The  men,  for  the  most,  live  idely ;  they  do  nothing 
but  hunt  and  fish.  Their  wives  set  their  corne  and  do 
all  their  other  work.     They  have  little  houshold  stuffe. 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  21 

as  a  kettle  and  some  other  vessels,  like  trayes,  spoones, 
dishes,  and  baskets.  Their  houses  are  very  little  and 
homely,  being  made  with  small  poles,  pricked  into  the 
ground,  and  so  bended  and  fastened  at  the  tops  and 
on  the  sides,  they  are  matted  with  boughs  and  covered 
on  the  roof  with  sedge  and  old  mats  ;  and  for  their  beds 
that  they  take  their  rest  on,  they  have  a  mat. 

"They  doe  generally  professe  to  like  Avell  of  our 
coming  and  planting  here  ;  partly  because  their  is  a- 
bundance  of  ground,  that  they  cannot  possesse  nor 
make  use  of,  and  partly  because  our  being  here  will  bee 
a  meanes  both  of  relief  to  them  when  they  want,  and, 
also,  a  defence  from  their  enemies,  wherewith  (I  say) 
before  this  plantation  began,  they  were  often  indangered. 

"For  their  rehgion,  they  do  worship  two  Gods,  a 
good  and  an  evil  God.  The  good  God  they  call  Tan- 
tum,  and  their  evil  God,  whom  they  fear  will  doe  them 
hurt,  they  call  Squantum. 

"For  their  dealini>;  Avith  us,  we  neither  fear  them  nor 
trust  them,  for  fourtie  of  our  musketeeres  will  drive 
five  hundred  of  them  out  of  the  field.  We  use  them 
kindly  ;  they  will  come  into  our  houses  sometimes  by  half 
a  dozen  or  half  a  score  at  a  time,  when  we  are  at  vict- 
uals, but  will  ask  or  take  nothing  butwhat  we  give  them." 

Mr.  Endicott  procured  materials  for  building  a  house 
of  the  Dorchester  company,  and  immediately  erected  a 
"faire  house."  But  misfortune  attended  his  steps. 
His  w^ife  died  a  year  after  his  arrival,  and  sickness  and 
disease  attended  the  infant  colony.  "Some  had  scarce- 
ly a  place  to  lay  their  heads,  or  food  to  satisfy  the 
cravings  of  hunger.     A  large  proportion  of  them  died 


22  HISTORY    OF   DAXVERS. 

with  the  scurvy  and  other  diseases,  and  while  sickness 
was  making  its  ravages  among  them,  they  were  desti- 
tute of  medical  assistance."  Add  to  these  disasters  the 
constant  fear  of  massacre  from  the  Indians,  and  we 
may  imagine  the  perplexities  and  sorrows  of  the  pilgrim 
strangers.  Indeed,  hardly  had  they  arrived,  when  the 
serenity  of  the  First  Day  was  broken  by  the  fearful  re- 
port, that  the  Indians  'one  thousand  strong  were  coming 
down  from  Saugus  to  massacre  the  few  fainthearted 
wanderers,  (a)  Companies  of  minute  men  were  or" 
ganized  in  different  parts  of  Massachusetts  Bay  settle- 
ments, to  defend  the  lonely  homes  of  the  settlers.  As 
soon  as  tlie  puritans  commenced  their  towns  they  were 
sadly  troubled  also  by  Quakers,  Avho  sought  asylums 
from  oppression,  and  who  vrere  treated  with  worse  rigor 
than  in  the  Old  World.  In  1630  a  great  controversy 
commenced  between  the  people  of  Salem  and  the  Qua- 
kers, Brownists,  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  &c.,  which  lasted 
many  years,  and  in  which  the  minority  were  of  course 
whipped  and  hanged.  Thus,  temporal  and  spiritual 
foes  beset  them  within  and  without ; — ''devils,  wicked 
men  and  salvages"  seemed  determined  to  destroy  the 
colony  by  crushing  its  vernal  germ.  Food  to  sustain 
life  was  procured  until  the  year  1631,  when  a  severe 
fainine  visited  them.  Wheat  w^as  gladly  bought  at  the 
exorbitant  price  of  §3  per  bushel,  and  corn  at  $2. 
The  settlers  were  forced  to  subsist  principally  on  mus- 
cles and  clams,  and  the  great  predominance  of  animal 
over  vegetable  food  produced  the  most  frightful  attacks 
of  the  scurvy.  In  the  midst  of  their  affliction  they 
were  dehghted  by  being  visited  by  such  immense  flocks 

K^  > 


HISTORY    OF   DANVERS.  23 


of  pigeons  as  obscured  the  sun.  The  Keligious  Senti- 
ment of  the  times  easily  detected  a  parallel  between 
their  own  and  the  condition  ot  the  Israelites,  and  a 
strong  faith  pierced  through  present  difficulties  and  be- 
held future  triumphs. 

It  is  difficult  to  ascertain  the  precise  time  when  the 
portion  of  Salem  subsequently  called  Danvers  was  set- 
tled. Between  1630  and  1640  the  work  was  accom- 
plished. Some  of  the  grants  in  Brooksby  or  South 
Danvers  were  doubtless  occupied  first,  and  the  Village, 
and  the  vicinity  of  Amos  King's,  and  different  parts  of 
the  town  subsequently.  In  1633  there  were  families 
living  at  Brooksby,  and  in  1635  John  Humphreys  re- 
ceived a  portion  of  land  in  Danvers  and  Lynn,  togeth- 
er with  "a  pond  with  a  little  Ileland  (c)  containing 
about  two  acres."  The  boundary  line  between  Lynn- 
field  and  Danvers  passes  through  this  island  in  Hum- 
phrey': pond.  Five  years  later,  namely,  Dec.  31, 
1638,"  "Agreed  and  voted,  that  there  should  be  a  Vil- 
lage granted  to  Mr.  Phillips  and  his  company  vppon 
such  conditions  as  the  7  men  appointed  for  the  towne 
affairs  shall  agree  on."  Who  composed  this  company 
is  not  known  but  this  enterprise  was  the  origin  of  Sa- 
lem Village,  or  North  Danvers.  Rev.  John  Phillips 
the  leader  arrived  in  Salem  in  1638,  and  was  admitted 
a  townsman  Jan.  26, 1640.  The  Village  grant  was 
ceded  to  him,  on  conditions  that  he  should  remain  a 
long  time,  but  he  soon  returned  to  Old  England.  He 
appears  to  have  been  a  worthy  man,  whose  expectations 
were  not  realized  in  Massachusetts,  and  whose  discon- 
tent forced  him  away. 


2-4  HISTORY   OF   DAN  VERS. 


Those  grants  hoAvever,  to  Avhicli  reference  has  been 
made,  were  mcipient  steps  to  settlement,  and  houses 
soon  began  to  sprmg  up  in  different  parts  of  the  town, 
both  at  Brooksby  and  the  YiUage,  and  Nov.  28th  1639 
the  Court  passed  the  following  order :  "Whereas,  the 
inhabitants  of  Salem  have  agreed  to  plant  a  Village 
near  the  River  which  runs  to  Ipswich,  it  is  ordered  that 
all  the  lands  near  their  bounds  between  Salem  and  the 
said  River  not  belonging  to  any  other  town  or  person 
by  any  former  grant,  shall  belong  to  the  said  Village." 
The  people  of  Topsfield  afterward  claimed  that  this 
grant  had  reference  to  that  town,  but  the  river  here 
referred  to,  is  manifestly  the  Ipswich  river,  and  the 
phraseology  plainly  designates  Salem  Village.  In 
1672  an  additional  grant  was  made  to  the  Village  of 
the  land  on  the  northerly  side  of  Ipswich  road  to  the 
wooden  bridge,  and  "so,  on  a  west  line."  In  1686 
the  Village  Precinct  declared  by  a  solemn  vote  that 
these  grants  referred  exclusively  to  itself.  The  people 
affirmed  that  they  had  employed  the  described  lands 
for  forty  years,  considered  them  as  theirs,  and  were 
both  ready  and  willing  to  go  forward  and  defend  their 
claim.  It  is  not  possible  to  give  a  systematic  narra- 
tion of  the  town's  settlement,  commencing  with  the 
first  individual,  and  chronicling  each  in  his  turn.  A 
few  of  the  first  settlers,  and  grantees,  so  far  as  they 
can  be  sifted  from  those  in  other  parts  of  Salem,  are 
given  below. 

The  Orchard  Farm  consisting  of  300  acres  was  given 
to  Gov.  John  Endicott  as  the  first  grant,  in  the  year 
1632,  and   on  account   of  Endicott's  services  the   gift 


HISTORY  OP    DAN  VERS.  25 

was  confirmed  by  the  Colonial  Authorities  July  3d., 
1632.  It  was  called  "a  necke  of  land  lyeing  about 
3  myles  from  Salem."  (b)  This  neck  of  land 
was  called  by  the  Indians  Wahquamesehcok,  signifying 
Birch-wood — Porter's  river,  then  called  Wooleston,  was 
its  eastern  boundary,  Crane  river,  then  called  Duck,  its 
Northern,  and  Water's,  then  called  Cowe  house,  its 
Southern  boundary.  The  Indian  name  of  Porter's  was 
Orkhussunt,  of  Crane  was  Conamabsqnooncant,  of 
Waters  was  Soewampenessett.  Of  course  the  land  di- 
verged from  Porter's  river,  following  the  margins  of 
Water's  and  Crane  rivers  until  the  300  acres  were  com- 
pleted. As  there  were  no  roads  in  this  part  of  Salem, 
when  the  stanch  old  Governor  visited  his  Orchard,  he 
was  forced  to  embark  at  Salem,  and  after  passing  up 
Beverly  harbor,  Porter's  and  Water's  river,  land  at 
about  the  spot  where  the  Iron  Works  are  located.  The 
cultivation  of  this  land  was  commenced  in  1633.  Gov. 
E.  enjoyed  several  other  grants  in  different  sections  of 
Naumkeik.  Mill  River  was  in  1639  the  name  of  a 
small  stream  passing  west  of  the  Pear  Tree, 

The  Orchard  Farm  remained  in  the  possession  of  the 
family  until  1828.  It  is  now  principally  owned  by  Ben- 
jamin Porter  Esq.  On  this  farm  is  the  far-famed  local- 
ity, the  Endicott  Pear  Tree,  supposed  to  have  been 
planted  by  Gov.  Endicott  himself.  Concerning  the  age 
of  this  tree  are  conflicting  opinions.  Joselyn  in  1639 
says — "there  is  not  a  single  apple-tree  or  pear-tree  in 
all  the  colonys."  It  must  therefore  have  been  planted 
as  late  as  1640.  The  precise  date  cannot  be  ascer- 
tained, though  there  is  a  tradition  in  the  Endicott  fam- 


26 


HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS. 


ily  that  this  sylvan  relic  was  brought  over  in  1630.     If 
so,  it  must  have  been  planted  elsewhere  first.     It  is  ut- 
terly impossible  that  the  imported  shoot  could  have  been 
preserved  out  of  the  earth  ten  years.      If  Joselyn   was 
correct,  the  tradition  is  not  true.     Another  fact,  is  that 
the  farm  was  not  cultivated  until  1633,  and  that  the 
Gov.  did  not  own  the  land  until  two  years  after  it  is  alleged 
the   tree  was  imported.     Either  the  shoot  was  brought 
over  subsequent  to  1639,  or    Joselyn  did  not  know  of 
its  existence,  and  if  it  was  in  this  country  at  all,  it  must 
have  been  at  the  Governor's  town  residence  until  after 
the  farm  was  cultivated.     At  all  events,  the  tree  bears 
unquestionable  marks  of  age.     The  main  part  has  slight- 
ly decayed,  but  it  has  sent  out  vigorous  suckers,  and 
bears  an  abundance  of  fruit.     It  looks  likely   to  live  a 
century  longer.     The   man  of  the  present  day,   as  he 
stands  beneath  its  shadow,  cannot  repress  the  mingling 
emotions  which  rise  in  his  Soul.     In  its  nestling  boughs 
he  surveys  the  past, — and  beholds  the  light  of  other  days. 

[view    or    THE    ENDICOTT    PEAR    TREE.] 


=1^ 


HISTORY  OF   DANVERS.  27 

Immediately  above  him  was  and  is  another  neck  of 
land  (c.)  now  known  as  New  Mills.  It  was  origi- 
nally granted  to  Rev.  Samuel  Skelton,  the  colleague 
of  Higginson  in  the  pastorship  of  the  first  church  in 
Salem,  for  his  sacrifice  in  leaving  Old  England, — and 
consisted  of  200  acres.  It  is  bounded  on  the  east  by 
Porter's  or  Orkhussunt  river,  on  the  south  by  the 
same  together  with  the  Ponomenneuhcant,  a  small 
stream  which  passes  through  Page's  brick  yard,  and 
empties  into  Porter's  river,  on  the  south  by  the  Dack, 
Conamabsqnooncant,  or  Crane  river,  and  on  the  west, 
hke  Endicott's,  by  the  main  land.  The  neck  thus 
granted,  was  called  by  the  Indians,  Wahquacic,  which 
certainly  expresses  the  note  uttered  by  a  duck,  per- 
fectly, and  suggests  the  thought  that  this  marshy 
neck,  so  nearly  surrounded  by  water,  must  have  been 
a  fine  place  for  ducks.  This  opinion  amounts  almost 
to  a  certainty  ^vhcn  we  remember  that  the  first  settlers 
styled  Crane  river.  Duck  river.  (d.)  This  grant 
was  made  by  the  Colonial  Autliorities,  while  those  that 
follow  were  made  by  the  "7  men"  of  Salem,  or  by  the 
people  in  town  meeting.  Those  grants  are  expressed 
in  plainer  terms  than  most  of  the  rest,  and  indeed  are 
the  principal  guides  in  locating  other  grants.  Mr. 
Skelton  came  over  in  1629. 

Richard  Adams.     5  acres  near  Trask's  Mill,  Brooks- 
by.     (e.)     Uncertain. 

Robert  Adams  1.    g.    1638,    moved    to    Newbury 
1640.     Did  not  settle. 

John   and   Anthony   Buxton  1.  g.    1637.     Brooks- 
by  and  Northfields.     Settled. 


28  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


Edmund  Batter  1.  g.  1637  ;  30  acres  Brooksby. 
Uncertain. 

Ricliard  Bartliolome-vv  1.  g.  1637,  near  Bartholo- 
mew's pond.     Settled. 

Henry  Bartholomew  arrived  Nov.  7,  1635 ;  110 
acres  near  Whipple's  Hill  n.  w.  of  orchard,  d.  Nov. 
22,  1692.     Settled. 

Hugh,  Samuel,  John  and  Christopher  Browne 
came  in  1629,  and  settled  in  the  southern  portion. 

John  Bachellor  1639  1.  g.  20  acres  near  Town- 
send  Bishop.     Settled. 

Rev.  George  Burdett  10  acres  joining  Orchard  on 

n.  w.  1635.     Did  not  settle. 

Townsend  Bishop  g.  1.  1635,  300  acres,  bounded 
E.  by  Orchard,  N.  by  Crane  river  and  Tapley's  Brook, 
S.  by  the  head  of  Water's  river,  and  included  Tapley- 
ville,  Tapley's  brick  yards,  Collins  House,  &c.,  and 
extended  nearly  or  quite  as  far  as  where  the  Essex 
Turnpike  crosses  Tapley's  brook.     Settled. 

Christopher  Berry  received  land  in  1640. 

William  Clarke  200  acres  in  1637,  near  Cedar 
pond.     He  came  in  1629.     Uncertain. 

John  Corwin  in  1668  owned  land  S.  W.  of  Plains. 
Uncertain. 

Robert  Cole  received  300  acres  in  Brooksby,  near 
Proctor's  brook,  in  1630.  The  lot  must  have  in- 
cluded Wilson's  corner  and  most  of  the  land  between 
the  Village,  IpsAvich  and  Reading  Roads.     Settled. 

Giles  Corey  owned  a  portion  of  the  land  owned  bj 
Hon.  D.  P.  King.  The  old  cellar  of  his  house  yet  re. 
mains.     He  was  pressed  to  death  in  1692.     Settled. 


m  1 

i  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  29 

Thomas  Dixy,  1.  g.  1637.     Settled. 

Emanuel  Downing,  (f.)  granted  500  acres  of 
land  in  1G38,  near  Bishop's.  This  large  tract  in- 
cluded the  Plains,  and  all  the  land  between  Beaver 

and  Frostfish  brooks,  as  far  as  the  northern  spur  of 
Putnam's  Hill.  He  had  one  hundred  acres  near 
Brooksby.     Settled  for  a  time. 

Richard  Davenport  came  over  with  Endicott,  and 
received  220  acres  near  Enon,  or  Yv^enham, — probably 
the  northern  portion  of  the  town  E.  of  the  Topsfield 
road.     He  ow^ned  a  few  acres  in  Brooksby.      Settled. 

William   Davis,    land   near   Downing.     Uncertain. 

Thomas  Edwards,  60  acres  in  1637  beyond  Put- 
nam's.    Uncertain. 

John  Endicott.     See  ace. 

Richard  Elliot,  land  in  1630.  Drowned  Feb. 
5,  1662.     Settled. 

George  Emery,  marsh  near  Orchard.      Uncertain. 

William  Flint,  landed  about  1640;  died  April  2, 
1673.     Settled. 

Nathaniel  Felton,  came  in  1633.     Settled. 

Robert  Goodale  480  acres  between  Ipswich  River, 
Reading  road  and  Newburyport  Turnpike.  163-. 
Settled. 

Thomas  Goldthwaite  1.  g.  1634.     Settled. 

Samuel,  Richard,  John  and  Thomas  Gardner  g.  1. 
about  1637-49.     Settled. 

Joshua  Grafton  1649,  part  of  a  meadow  south  of 
Ipswich  river.     Uncertain. 

William  Gingel,  same.     Uncertain. 

William  Hathorne  received  200  acres  in  1636,  N.  W. 


30  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS. 

of  Newhurjport  Turnpike,  between  that  and  Middle- 
ton, — including  Hathorne's  Hill,  provided  he  would 
leave  the  Dorchester  Church,  and  join  that  of  Salem. 
He  was  born  in  1607,  moved  to  Lynn  in  1634,  and  to 
Salem  in  1636.  He  was  a  member  of  Quar.  Court 
in  1639.     Settled. 

Richard  Hutchinson,  a  lot  in  1639.     Settled. 

John  Jackson  part  of  a  meadow  south  of  Ipswich 
River.     Uncertain. 

Lieut.  Francis  Johnson  200  acres  in  1635,  in  the  re- 
gion of  King's  Hill,  and  in  the  Southern  part  of  Brooks- 
by.  He  afterwards  relinquished  this  grant  and  received 
the  same  amount,  ''1  myle  further  nere  Seder  pond," 
N.  E.  from  Humphrey's.     Settled. 

William  King,  1.  g.   1637.     Settled. 

Lawrence  Leech  land  near  Blind  Hole.     Settled. 

Manasseth  Marston  land  near  Reading  bounds.  Un- 
certain. 

Wilham  Nichols   1638,  near  Hathorne's.     Settled. 

William  Osborne  1.  g.  1638.     Settled. 

Robert  Page  1.  g.  1638.     Settled. 

Joseph  Pope  g.  1.  1637.     Settled. 

George  Porter  in  1647  owned  the  Plains,  from 
whom  the  name  ^'Porter's  Plains.     Settled. 

John  PhiUips  and  Company — "Salem  Village.  Set- 
tled. 

John  Putnam  came  from  Buckinghamshire,  England 
in  1629,  with  his  three  sons,  and  owned  a  large  portion 
of  North  Danvers.  He  was  born  in  1583,  and  died 
1662,  aged  79.     He  owned  Wenham  Woods. 

Thomas  Putnam,  eldest  son  of  John,  born  1618, 


HISTORY    OF   DANVERS.  31 

died  1699,  aged  81.     His  patrimony  was  the  land  owned 
by  Jesse  and  Daniel.     7  children. 

Nathaniel  Putnam,  second  son  of  John,  born  1621, 
died  1700,  aged  79.  His  land  was  the  estate  of  Hon. 
Samuel  Putnam.  He  was  a  prominent  man  in  the  Vil- 
lage Church.     7  children. 

John  Putnam,  Jr.,  born  1630,  died  1722,  aged  92. 
He  owned  the  farm  since  belonging  to  Col.  Jethro,  and 
Dr.  Archelaus,  one  of  which  is  owned  by  James  A. 
All  of  this  land  has  remained  in  the  family  since  the 
settlement  of  Salem.  8  children.  (Col.  Perley  Putnam 
kindly  furnished  these  facts.)  All  the  Putnams  set- 
tled. John  was  very  prominent  in  the  councils  of 
Salem. 

Daniel  Ray,  1634,  land  near  Jno.  Putnam.  Uncer- 
tain. 

John  Ruck,  1638,  land  near  Hathorne's.      Settled. 

Col.  Thomas  Reed,  received  in  1630,  300  acres 
N .  W.  from  Salem  proper.  Precise  spot  unknown. 
Settled. 

John  Sibly  1.  near  Village  1638.     Settled. 

John  Symonds,  1.  g.  1637.     Settled. 

Samuel  Smyth,  in  1637,  150  acres  "beyond  the 
farmers."     Uncertain. 

Lawrence  and  Cassandra  Southwick,  1.  g.  1637, 
Brooksby.     See  "Quakers."     Settled. 

Rev.  Samuel  Sharpe,  300  acres  near  Marble  mead- 
ows.    Did  not  settle. 

Hugh  Stacy,  1.  g.  1640.     Settled. 

Elias  Stileman,  land  at  the  head  of  Tapley's  brook. 
Settled. 


32  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS. 

Job  Swinnerton,  1.  g.  16o7.      Settled. 

John  Thorndike,  a  lot  in  1635,  near  Needham's 
corner.     Settled. 

Ralph  Tomkins.,  land  at  head  of  Cowhouse  river, 
1635.     Uncertain. 

Wilham  Trask,  received  about  50  acres  near  the 
head  of  North  Eiver,  where  he  erected  one  of  the  first 
mills  in  Salem.     Settled. 

Philip  Veren,  (Very?)  land  at  the  head  of  Cow- 
house River  in  1637.     Settled. 

Joshua  Yeren  (Very?)  1.  g.  1635.     Settled. 

Robert  Whidden  owned  20  acres  in  1645,  near  Bish- 
op's and  Putnam's.     Settled. 

John  White,  land  near  Smyth's.     Settled. 

Richard  Waters,  land  near  Water's  River  in  1637. 
Settled.  Before  the  erection  of  a  bridge,  the  ferry  was 
known  as  Water's  ferry. 

Bray  Wilkins  landed  at  Lynn  in  1634,  and  removed 
to  Village  soon  after. 

William  Walcott  1.  g.  1637.     Settled. 

Francis  Weston  50  acres  near  Stileman's  in  1633. 
Settled. 

The  Horse  Pasture  formerly  called  the  Great  Pas- 
ture contained  490  acres.  The  westerly  line  begun  at 
the  head  of  North  River,  and  running  N.  W.  on  the 
W.  side  of  Prescott's  Hill  to  the  brook  which  runs  into 
Water's  River,  ended  near  Matthew  Hooper's  farm.  A 
four  rail  fence  enclosed  the  pasture  in  1642. 

The  foregoing  notices  of  individuals  are  purposely 
very  brief,  as  it  was  f jund  impossible  to  enter  at  all  in- 
to their  g  ;nealogy,  and  as  it  was  hoped  that  some   one 


em 
HISTOBY  OF  DAN  VERS.  33 


would  at  some  future  day  collect  the  genealogies  of 
the  principal  fnmilies  in  the  town.  Such  a  work  would 
be  a  valuable  addition  to  the  historic  lore  of  the  Coun- 
try. 

Besides  the  above,  the  Proctors  removed  here  from  Ips- 
wich in  1660,  the  Pooles  from  Cambridge  in  1690,  the 
Fosters  from  Lynn,  the  Suttons  from  Rowley,  the  Jacobs 
in  1700,  the  Needhams,  Prestons,  Cheevers,  Shillabers, 
Doutys,  Holtens,  and  other  prominent  and  respectable 
families  at  different  periods.  The  compiler  had  it  in  his 
original  design,  to  give  genealogical  sketches,- — but  when 
the  reader  reflects,  that  some  of  the  families,  as  for  in- 
stance the  Putnams  actually  number  several  thousand  liv- 
ing, and  also,  that  it  is  impossible  to  decide  on  most  of  the 
names  recorded,  whether  they  lived  within  the  present 
limits  of  Danvers,  or  in  some  other  portion  of  Salem,  be 
feels  that  he  will  be  excused  for  the  small  number  of 
names  presented,  and  the  few  particulars.  Those  who 
read,  can  have  no  conception  of  the  labor  he  has  per- 
formed, in  accomphshing  so  Httle.   (g.) 

So  great  a  scarcity  prevailed  in  1633  that  a  good 
cow  could  not  be  bought  for  less  than  $125,  Avhile  an 
ordinary  female  goat  was  valued  at  ^20.  The  next 
year  prices  were  generally  reduced,  so  that  corn  was 
but  75  cts.  per  bushel,  and  brass  farthings  weresupersed- 
ed  by  musket  bullets.  In  1636  an  important  expedition 
was  directed  against  the  Pequods,  in  which  ninety  men 
under  the  command  of  Mr.  Endicott  were  engaged. 
A  few  Indians  were  killed  and  wounded,  some  corn  and 
several  wigwams  burned,  and  but  two  white  men  were 
lost.     June  1st  1637,  a  very  violent  earthquake  occur- 


34  HISTORY  01^    DANVERS. 

red.  It  passed  from  east  to  west,  and  was  so  univer- 
sally and  seriously  felt,  that  it  became  a  common  say- 
ing :  ^'So  long  after  the  earthquake."  The  winter  of 
1638,  was  very  severe,  there  was  snow  on  the  ground 
from  Nov.  4.  to  March  23d.  The  following  summer 
was  remarkably  dry, — vegetation  suffered  very  much. 
The  winter  of  1642  was  so  cold  that  Salem  harbor  froze 
to  Baker's  Island. 

Corn  was  very  scarce  in  1643,  and  muscles  and  clams 
became  a  substitute.  A  severe  earthquake  March 
oth.  In  Jane  1646  "suddaine  innumerable  armies 
of  catterpiliars"  nearly  swept  the  land.  They  dis- 
iippeared  as  suddenly  as  they  came.  This  insect, 
nbout  an  inch  in  length  destroyed  nearly  all  the  corn, 
wheat  and  barley.  The  following  winter  was  very  mild. 
"No  snow  all  a\  inter  long."  "Not  corn  enough  to  last 
two  months  in  the  whole  countr  ,"  May  10.  1647.  In 
June  the  influenza  prevailed.  In  16^.8  a  copper  mine 
was  discovered  on  the  Orchard  farm.  The  quality  of 
the  ore  was  tested  by  Mr.  Leader,  c  verseer  of  the  Iron 
works  at  Lynn,  and  was  pronounced  good  ;  —  the  vein 
soon  failed.  Nov.  20th.  was  held  as  a  day  of  fasting 
and  prayer,  "on  account  of  sin,  blasting,  milldew, 
drought,  grasshoppers,  caterpillars  and  small  pox  in 
IMassachusetts,  and  war  and  pestilence  in  England." 
Long  hair  was  forbidden  in  1649.  Small  pox  prevail- 
ed the  same  year.  In  1652  a  splendid  comet  appear- 
ed in  the  Constellation  Orion,  and  was  visible  two 
weeks  in  December.  In  the  same  year  a  mint  was  es- 
tablished at  Boston.  The  coins  of  this  date  bore  a  pine 
[I  tree  and  the  word  Massachusetts  on  one  side,  and  N. 


HISTORY  OF    DANVER3.  35 

E.  1652,  and  III,  YI,  or  XII  on  the  reverse.  Oct. 
29.  1653,  a  heavy  earthquake.  1654  corn  was  Ss, 
rye  4s,  and  barley  5s  per  bushel.  A  severe  epi- 
demic in  1655.  In  1660,  the  winter  was  unusually 
severe.  There  were  three  earthquakes  in  1663,  Jan. 
26,  Feb.  5,  and  July.  The  following  year  wheat  was 
blasted,  and  a  comet  was  visible  from  Nov.  17  to  the 
4th  of  the  following  February.  Canker  worms  appear 
ed  in  1666.  In  1668  was  a  remarkable  zodiackal  lisiht, 
or  "sign  in  the  heavens  in  the  form  of  a  spear,  portend- 
ing Indian  massacres."  A  great  drought  in  1670. 
In  1671  the  widow  of  John  Endicott  received  an  annui- 
ty of  <£30,  to  be  continued  during  her  Avidowhood.  A 
petition  was  issued  and  granted  the  same  year  to  form 
a  military  company  at  the  Village.  The  Court  allowed, 
that  all  who  resided  west  of  Ipswich  highway,  might  be 
exercised  by  Lt.  Richard  Leach.  Aug.  29,  1675  was 
a  Adolent  tornado,  and  in  the  year  following,  a  iatal  epi- 
demic prevailed.  On  Thanksgiving  day,  Dec.  4th, 
1676  occurred  a  storm  unparalelled  in  the  experience  of 
the  Colonists.  The  Newtonian  Comet,  which  will  visit 
us  again  in  the  year  2225  appeared  in  1680. 

Great  care  was  taken  in  those  days,  that  the  youth 
should  be  properly  indoctrinated ;  accordingly,  responsi- 
ble persons  were  selected  to  examine  and  instruct  the 
children  of  both  sexes.  In  1682  "Lt.  John  Putnam  is 
desired,  and  is  hereby  empoAvered  to  take  car3  yt  ye 
law  relateing  to  the  Chatechising  of  children  be  duly 
attended  at  the  Village,  and  that  all  the  famylyes  doe 
carefully  and  constantly  attend  the  due  education  of 
their  children  and  youth  according  to  law." 


36  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS. 

Sunday  Feb.  8th,  1685,  an  earthquake,  that  disturb- 
ed public  \Yorship.  The  months  of  June  and  July  1686 
were  very  dry  and  hot,  and  a  painful  drought  troubled 
the  land. 

Daniel  Andrews  was  sent  as  a  Deputy  to  General 
Court  in  the  year  1689.  About  this  date  there  were 
several  of  the  Village  men  slain  in  Indian  engagements, 
though  they  were  killed  away  from  home.  When  the 
settlers  of  Salem  landed,  the  Indians  had  vacated  their 
former  haunts,  and  never  troubled  our  fathers  except  at 
a  distance.  Thus  we  have  no  tales  of  blood,  of  mid- 
night massacre  and  sudden  ambuscade.  April  1st,  1689 
John  Bishop,  and  September  2d,  the  same  year  Nicholas 
Reed  were  killed  by  the  Indians.  In  1690,  Godfrey 
Sheldon,  Daniel  Elliot,  Thomas  Alsob,  Edward  Crocker 
and  George  Ingersoll  were  killed,  most  of  them  at  Casco 
Bay.  Probably  there  were  others, — ^if  so  their  names 
and  deeds  have  alike  perished.  The  Village  Company 
elected  its  officers  this  year  as  follows :  Jonathan  Wal- 
cott.  Captain ;  Nathaniel  Ingersoll,  Lieutenant :  and 
Thomas  Flint,  Ensign. 

As  early  as  the  year  1666  a  desire  prevailed  at  the 
Village  to  become  a  town  by  itself.  Although  "our 
neibors  the  farmers"  were  very  desirous  af  a  sepera- 
tion,  the  people  of  Salem  as  a  whole,  opposed  the  pro- 
ject. Even  some  of  the  Village  prayed  that  they 
might  not  be  compelled  to  "forsake  Salem."  Evi- 
dently, however,  the  people  of  the  Village  wanted  a 
minister  and  a  church  of  their  own,  though  there  seems 
to  have  been  a  disposition  on  the  part  of  the  church  in 
Salem,  to  compel  the  people  of  the  Village  to  cleave  to 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  37 

the  former.  The  establishment  of  the  Village  Parish 
was  not  sufficient  to  pacify  those  "v.ho  desired  to  form  a 
distinct  town.  Some  who  lived  m  Salem,  south  of  the 
village  parish  line,  were  favorable  to  the  petition,  pro- 
vided they  could  be  included.  Accordingly,  they  is- 
sued the  following  petition : 

"ffebuary  the  20—1689. 

We  who  are  heare  vnto  subscribed,  vnderstanding 
there  is  a  motion  of  the  viUige  for  a  Township,  vnto  the 
Towne  of  Salem,  which  motion  we  doe  comply  with, 
provided  we  may  have  an  inlargement,  that  is  to  say 
from  Rum  bridge  (h.)  down  the  Rever  soe  as  the 
Eever  runs  all  the  proprietes  and  the  common  lying  on 
the  north  side  of  the  said  Rever  vntil  we  come  to  Beav- 
erly  bounds  :  Now  in  case  the  town  of  Salem  doe  not 
see  cause  to  grant  our  desiers  we  desier  still  to  remaine 
to  Salem  as  we  are ;  provided  our  just  greauences  may 
be  removed. 

(Signed.)  Joseph  Houlton,  Jr,  Joseph  Hutchinson, 
Job  Swinnerton,  Daniell  Andrew,  Joseph  Putnam, 
Nethanell  Putnam,  John  Putnam,  Beneamen  Porter, 
Israel  Porter,  Thomas  fflint" 

The  following  document  will  show  the  style  of  a  road 
petition. 

*'To  the  Selectmen  of  ye  Towne  of  Salem  the  humble 
petition  of  ye  Inhabitants  of  Salem  and  Salem  Villiage 
whose  names  are  here  vnto  subscribed — 

''Humbly  sheweth  that  your  petitioners  have  had  a  free 
passage  of  A  waye  Between  Thomas  fflints  and  Joseph 
fflints  this  forty  yeares  and  vpwards  Till  now  Lately  de- 


38  HISTORY  OF   DANVEKg. 

prived  of  yt  old  waje  hj  Thomas  fflint  "who  hath  turned 
ye  "waye  into  such  a  heidius  place  yt,  there  is  noe  pas- 
ing  "without  great  danger  to  ourselves  and  our  Crear 
tures  as  yt  some  of  ys  know  by  great  damage  yt  we  have 
Received  in  that  place  :  vnder  pretence  as  we  vnderstand 
that  There  was  noe  waye  laid  out,  Therefore  the  desire 
of  your  petitioners  is  yt  you  would  be  pleased  to  choose 
a  committy  yt  maye  laye  out  ye  old  waye  which  we 
are  deprived  of  or  some  other  conuenient  waye  w'h  is 
ye  best  waye  and  less  danger  and  yt  we  maye  have  ye 
same  liberty  That  there  maiestes  alough  there  subiects 
ye  most  plainest  and  conuenient,  and  not  tp  hill  and 
downe  dale  wh  is  all  at  present  yt  We  have  to  trouble 
you  at  this  tyme,  we  crave  your  favour  to  Rectifie  ye 
above  sd  waye  and  for  soe  doeing  we  shall  for  Ever  Re- 
maine  youer  Servants  to  Command— 

March  ye  15  :  1694^5 

George  Locker,  John  hill,  phillip  Loslll,  samuel  Goold, 
Tho.  Gold,  Zacharie"  Goodale,  sen.  Thos.  Businton, 
Joshua  Buffum,  John  King,  Samuell  Gaskills,  Joseph 
Pope,  Benjamin  Pope,  Zacharie  Goodale,  Jr.  Samuel 
Aborn,  Anthonie  Needham  Sen.  Samuel  Southwick. 

This  way,  was  the  road  from  Reading  Road  across  Wil- 
liam Goodales.  It  has  for  some  years  been  discontinued. 

The  winter  of  1696  was  the  coldest  ever  known  in 
New  England.  In  the  year  1699  there  were  great  num- 
bers of  bears  in  the  woods,  which  destroyed  corn  and  cat- 
tle, and  were  with  great  difficulty  exterminated.  In  1700 
Jan.  30th,  an  earthquake,  Feb.  26th.  another.  May 
2d.  1701  a  remarkable  hailstorm  commenced  and  raged 


I 


it 

HISTORY  OF   DANVERS.  39 


three  days.  The  stones  were  so  large  as  to  kill  many 
cattle.  Baring  the  following  year  an  incurable  malady 
called  the  "fever  and  flux"  raged  in  the  town.  In  1703 
eight  men  were  impressed  from  the  Village  to  man  the 
"Flying  Horse,"  of  Salem. 

In  1711  it  was  voted  that  the  inhabitants  of  Ryall 
side,  with  some  of  the  neighbors  at  the  Village  and  also 
at  Beverly  be  allowed  to  build  a  meeting  house  near 
Horse  Bridge.  (Beverly  Second  Parish.)  The  same 
year  Rev.  Messrs.  Green  and  Prescott  of  the  Village 
and  Middle  Precincts  had  the  privilege  of  commonage 
granted  them, 

The  winter  of  1717  was  remarkable  for  a  dreadful 
snow  storm,  the  particulars  of  which  have  been  given 
by  Cotton  Mather  as  follows  : 

"Boston,  10th  Dec,  1717. 
"An  Horrid"  Sitow.  Sir  : — Tho'  we  gott  so  far  on- 
ward as  the  beginning  of  another  Winter,  yett  we  have 
not  forgott  ye  last,  which  at  the  latter  end  whereof  we 
were  entertained  &  overwhelmed  with  a  Snow,  which 
was  attended  with  some  Things,  which  were  uncom- 
mon enough  to  afford  matter  for  a  letter  from  us. 

On  the  twentieth  of  the  last  February  there  came  on 
a  Snow,  which  being  added  unto  what  had  covered  the 
ground  a  few  days  before,  made  a  thicker  mantle  for  our 
Mother  than  what  was  usual :  And  ye  storm  with  it 
was,  for  the  following  day,  so  violent  as  to  make  all  com- 
munication between  ye  Neighbors  every  where  to  cease. 
People,  for  some  hours,  could  not  pass  from  one  side  of 
a  street  unto  another,  &  }e  poor  Women,  who  happen- 
ed in  this  critical  time  to  fall  into  Travail,  were  putt  in- 


40  HISTORY  OF    DANYERS. 

to  Hardships,  which  anon  produced  many  odd  stories 
for  us.  But  on  ye  Twenty-fourth  day  of  ye  Month, 
comes  Pelion  upon  Ossa  :  Another  Snow  came  on  which 
almost  buried  ye  Memory  of  ye  former,  with  a  Storm 
so  famous  that  Heaven  laid  an  Interdict  on  ye  Religious 
Assemblies  throughout  ye  Country,  on  this  Lord's  day, 
ye  like  whereunto  had  never  been  seen  before.  The 
Indians  near  an  hundred  years  old,  affirm  that  their 
Fathers  never  told  them  of  any  thing  that  equalled  it. 
Vast  numbers  of  Cattel  were  destroyed  in  this  Calami- 
ty. Whereof  some  there  were  of  ye  Stranger  sort, 
were  found  standing  dead  on  their  legs^  as  if  they  had 
been  alive  many  weeks  after,  when  the  Snow  melted  a- 
way.  And  others  had  their  eyes  glazed  over  with  lee 
at  such  a  rate,  that  being  not  far  from  ye  Sea,  their 
mistake  of  their  way  drowned  them  there.  One  gen- 
tleman, on  whose  farms  were  now  lost  above  1100  sheep 
which  with  other  Cattel,  were  interred  (shall  I  say)  or 
Innived,  in  the  Snow,  writes  me  word  that  there  were 
two  Sheep  very  singularly  circumstanced.  For  no  less 
than  eight  and  twenty  days  after  the  Storm,  the  Peo- 
ple pulling  out  the  Ruins  of  above  an  100  sheep  out  of 
a  Snow  Bank,  which  lay  16  foot  high,  drifted  over 
them,  there  was  two  found  alive,  which  had  been  there 
all  this  time,  and  kept  themselves  alive  by  eating  the 
wool  of  their  dead  companions.  AYhen  they  were  taken 
out  they  shed  their  own  Fleeces,  but  soon  gott  into  good 
Case  again.  Sheep  were  not  ye  only  creatures  that 
lived  unaccountably,  for  whole  weeks  without  their 
usual  sustenance,  entirely  buried  in  ye  Snowdrifts. 
The  Swine  had  a  share  with  ye  Sheep  in  strange  sur- 


HISTORY  OF   DAN  VERS.  41 

vivals.  A  man  had  a  couple  of  young  Hoggs,  which 
he  gave  over  for  dead,  But  on  the  twenty-seventh  day 
after  their  Burial,  they  made  their  way  out  of  a  Snow 
bank,  at  the  bottom  of  which  they  had  found  a  little- 
Tansy  to  feed  upon.  The  Poultry  as  unaccountably 
survived  as  these.  Hens  were  found  alive  after  seven 
days  ;  Turkeys  were  found  alive  after  five  and  twenty 
days,  buried  m  ye  Snow,  and  at  a  distance  from  ye 
ground,  and  altogether  destitute  of  any  thing  to  feeil 
them.  The  number  of  creatures  that  kept  a  Rigid 
Fast,  shutt  up  in  Snow  for  diverse  weeks  together,  and 
were  found  alive  after  all,  have  yielded  surprizing  sto- 
ries unto  US- 

The  Wild  Creatures  of  ye  Woods,  m  ye  outgoings  of 
ye  Evening,  made  their  Descent  as  well  as  they  could 
in  this  time  of  scarcity  for  them  towards  ye  Sea-side. 
A  vast  multitude  of  Deer,  for  ye  same  ^cause,  taking 
ye  same  course,  &  ye  Deep' Snow  Spoiling  them  of  their 
only  Defence,  which  is  to  run,  they  became  such  a 
prey  to  these  Devourers,  that  it  is  thought  not  one  in 
twenty  escaped.  But  here  again  occurred  a  Curiosity. 
These  carniverous  Sharpers,  &  especially  the  Foxes, 
would  make  their  Nocturnal  visits  to  the  Pens,  where 
the  people  had  their  sheep  defended  from  them.  The 
poor  Ewes  big  with  young,  were  so  terrified  with  the 
frequent  Approaches  of  ye  Foxes,  &  the  Terror  had 
such  Impression  onihem,  that  most  of  ye  Lambs  brought 
forth  in  the  Spring  following,  wera  of  Monsieur  Rein- 
ard*s  complexion^  when  ye  Dam,  were  either  White  or 
Black.  It  is  remarkable  that  immediately  after  ye  Fall 
of  ye   Snow  an  infinite  multitude  of  Sparrows  made 


II 


42  HISTORY    OF   DANVERS. 

their  Appearance  but  then,  after  a  short  continuance,  all 
disappeared. 

It  is  incredible  how  much  damage  is  done  to  ye  Or- 
chards, For  the  Snow  freezing  to  a  Crust  as  high  as 
the  boughs  of  ye  trees,  anon  Split  ym  to  pieces.  The 
Cattel  also,  walking  on  ye  crusted  Snow  a  dozen  foot 
from  ye  ground,  so  fed  upon  ye  Trees  as  very  much  to 
damnify  them.  The  Ocean  was  in  a  prodigious  Fer- 
ment, and  after  it  was  over,  vast  heaps  of  little  shells 
were  driven  ashore,  where  they  were  never  seen  before. 
Mighty  shoals  of  Porpoises  also  kept  a  play-day  in  the 
disturbed  waves  of  our  Harbours.  The  odd  Accidents 
befalling  many  poor  people,  whose  Cottages  were  totally 
covered  with  ye  Snow  &  not  ye  tops  of  their  chimneys 
to  be  seen,  would  afford  a  Story.  But  there  not  being 
any  Relation  to  Philosophy  in  them,  I  forbear  them. 

And  now  Satis  Terris  Nivis.  And  here  is  enough 
of  my  Winter  Tale.  If  it  serve^to  no  other  purpose, 
yett  it  will  give  me  an  opportunity  to  tell  you  That  nine 
months  ago  I  did  a  thousand  times  wish  myself  with 
you  in  Gresham  College,  which  is  never  so  horribly 
snow'd  upon.  But  instead  of  so  great  a  Satisfaction, 
all  I  can  attain  to  is  the  pleasure  of  talking  with  you  in 
this  Epistalory  way  k  subscribing  myself 
Syr  Yours  with  affection 

that  knows  no  Winter, 

COTTON  MATHER. 

Feb.  13th,  1718   was  observed  as  a  fast.      Great 

mortahty  had  prevailed  at  the  Village  which  threatened 

at  one  time  to  sweep  away  the  entire  population.     An 

1  effort  was    made  this  year  to  divide  Essex    County. 


HISTORY    OF   DANVERS.  43 


Dec.  11th,  1719  Tvas  remarkable  for  a  great  Aurora 
Borealis  which  was  so  brilliant  as  to  fill  the  country 
with  alarm.     It  "rustled  like  a  silken  banner." 

Tea  began  to  be  used  in  1720.  It  was  customary 
for  each  lady  when  she  went  to  visit  a  friend,  to  take 
her  own  tea-cup,  saucer  and  spoon.  The  cup  was  a 
few  sizes  larger  than  a  thimble.  The  small  pox  began 
to  rage  Sept.  21st,  1721. 

In  1723  the  tide  flowed  back  into  some  places  several 
miles,  forcing  the  people  in  some  instances  to  take  refuge 
in  trees.  The  year  following  vegetation  suffered  so  much 
by  a  drought  that  it  seemed  as  though  a  fire  had  passed 
over  it.  Oct.  29th  1727  was  the  occasion  of  an  earth- 
quake which  made  the  "earth  to  quake  with  a  terrible 
noise  and  shaking."  Severest  ever  before  known  in 
N.  E. 

Earthquakes  occurred  in  1728  on  the  following 
days  :  Jan.  3d,  28th,  29th.,  Feb.  21st,  29th., 
March  17th,  and  19th.  There  were  several  in  Nov. 
of  the  next  year,  in  17o0  there  were  eleven,  and  in 
1731  there  were  seven  more. 

Caterpillars  nearly  destroyed  the  foliage  of  the  for- 
ests in  1735^  They  were  so  numerous  that  carriage 
wheels  where  dyed  green  as  they  crushed  them  in  the 
roads. 

The  project  which  for  sixty  years  had  agitated  the 
people  of  the  Village  and  Middle  precincts  was  not  aban- 
doned,—and  the  desire  could  not  be  quenched.  The  de- 
mand for  a  separation  was  constantly  renewed  until  the 
year  1732,  when  the  following  petition,  which  may  be 
regarded  as  a  curiosity,  was  offered. 


44  HISTORY    OF   DAN  VERS. 


"To  the  enliabitance  of  the  town  of  Salem :  whareas 
Thomas  fflint,  Samuel  nurs  and  nethanil  putnam  was  cho- 
sen at  a  legal  meeting  of  Salem  village  precint,  to  pre- 
far  a  petiton  to  ye  town  of  Salem  that  they  May  Be 
set  of  to  Be  A  Distinct  and  sepperat  town  ship  without 
here,  and  with  our  parte  and  proportion  of  the  anual 
encome  of  ye  town  according  to  the  lines  hereafter 
Mencinod.  In  order  to  there  aplication  to  the  grate 
and  general  court  for  Confarmation  thereof :  the  Bounds 
are  as  followeth  viz :  Beginning  at  Beaverly  Line  nere 
hors  Bridge  at  Boston  Road  and  said  boston  Road  to  be 
ye  bounds  taking  in  Mr.  porter's  neck  and  Mr.  Ende- 
cot's  neck  to  Cow  house  Rever  to  high  watter  mark 
south  of  ye  Brickiles  so  as  to  be  the  line  from  said  his 
watter  marke  to  ye  Lane  Southerly  of  Mr.  therndick 
proctor's  house,  and  said  Lane  to  be  ye  Bounds  to  Bos- 
ton Road  and  said  Boston  Road  to  be  ye  bounds  to  Sa- 
lem Road  that  Ledes  up  by  Mr.  Danil  Marbles  to  Lynn 
end  and  said  Salem  Road  to  Be  ye  bounds  to  Lynn  Line, 
and  said  line  to  Be  ye  Bounds  to  Meddelton  hne :  and 
Meddelton  line  to  Be  ye  Bounds  to  topsfield  line,  and 
topsfield  Line  to  Be  ye  Bounds  to  the  bound  first  men- 
teined. 

"We  humbly  Represent  to  the  town  the  Oause  of  our 
Desier  of  Coming  of  from  ye  town  is  :  for  ye  following 
Reasons :  first,  to  witt  inasmuch  as  a  grate  number  of  us 
live  five  or  six  miles  of  from  ye  town  hous  and  sume  of 
us  consedrably  furthere :  we  Cante  without  grate  difi- 
cnlty  in  Raine  wather  or  Bad  wather  attend  the  town 
mettings :  where  by  frequent  enconveninces  insue  to  us 
upon  it,  &  second  Reason  is  that  we  Leaving  at  the  afore 


HISTORY  OP   DANVERS.  45 


said  Distance  from  the  school  that  we  have  But  Lettle 
more  Benefite  of  it  then  if  it  were  in  an  agasent  town ; 
for  which  Reasons :  and  for  what  furthere  Way  be  said 
we  hope  that  you  will  freely  sect  us  of  to  Be  A  town- 
ship :  And  as  in  Duty  Bound  we  shall  ever  pray. 
'^Salem  Village  March  5th,  1732-3    Thomas  fflint 

Natha'U  putnam 
Samuel  Nurs 
In  the  Middle  Precinct,  July,  1T40,  "It  Being  put 
to  vote  whither  ye  Inhabitants  of  this  parrish  will  come 
off  ye  town  of  Salem  and  Joyn  with  the  Inhabitants  of 
Salem  Village,  Provided  that  they  see  cause  to  take  this 
Middle  parrish  (the  whole  of  it,)  as  it  is  now  Bounded, 
To  Joyn  Together  both  parrishes  and  make  a  Township 
of  our  solve,  seperate  from  ye  Town  of  Salem," — a  com- 
mittee was  drafted  to  treat  with  the  Village  touching  the 
matter.  The  people  of  Salem  raised  a  committee  to 
confer  with  "the  ffarmers,"  and  after  consultation  they 
reported  that  the  Village  people  might  be  pacified  if  the 
town  would  raise  a  sufficient  amount  of  money  "to  main- 
tain two  schools  within  the  bridges,  and  one  at  the  Mid- 
dle Precinct,  that  should  draw  their  proportion  of  the 
School  money,  raise  their  own  committees,  and  control 
their  own  affairs."  The  report  was  accepted,  and  the 
town  raised  X250,  province  bills.  But  the  farmers 
were  not  pacified,  and  the  request  was  renewed  constant- 
ly The  cause  of  these  difficulties  could  not  be  destroyed. 
The  people  of  the  Two  Precincts  desired  to  manage 
their  own  affairs,  and  time  only  multiplied  their  reasons 
and  desires  for  a  seperation. 

In  1740  a  very  fatal   throat  distemper    prevailed. 


1^ 
46  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


The  winter  was  remarkably  tedious.  The  rivers  were 
frozen  in  October,  and  on  April  4th,  the  snow  was  so 
deep,  that  sleighs  passed  over  the  fences.  March  9th. 
1T45  there  was  a  beautiful  lunar  rainbow.  Frost  cut 
down  the  corn  August  18th.  1746. 

It  is  a  matter  of  interest  that  in  the  year  1738,  two 
famihes  named  Putnam,  and  one  named  Dale  migrated 
from  Danvers,  and  were  the  first  settlers  of  Wilton, 
New  Hampshire. 

Thus  .the  principal  events  affecting  that  portion  of 
Old  Salem  subsequently  known  as  Danvers,  previous 
to  its  incorporation  have  been  culled  as  far  as  is  possi- 
ble from  the  Eecords  of  Salem.  Additional  facts  may 
be  found  under  the  head  of  Ecclesiastical.  Their  in- 
completeness may  be  explained  by  the  fact,  that  the 
Village  and  Middle  Precinct's  events  are  so  blended 
with  those  of  Salem  proper,  that  they  cannot  be  distin- 
guished. 

NOTES  TO  CHAPTER  II. 

(A.)  *'About  the  year  1628:  when  those  few  yt  came  over  with 
CoUonel  Indecot  and  begun  to  setle  at  Nahumkeeck,  now  called  Sa- 
lem, and  in  a  manner  all  so  sick  of  iheyr  journey,  that  though  they 
had  both  small  and  great  guns,  and  powder  and  bullets  for  jm,  yet 
had  not  strength  to  manage  ym,  if  suddenly  put  upon  il;  and  tidings 
being  certainly  brought  ym  on  a  lord's  day  morning  yt  a  thousand  In- 
dians from  Saugust,  now  called  Lyn,  were  coming  against  ym  to  cut 
ym  off  they  had  much  adoe  Amongst  ym  all  to  charge  2  or  three  of 
theyre  great  guns  andtraile  ym  to  a  place  of  advantage,  where  the  In- 
dians must  pass  toym  and  there  to  shoot  ym  off;  when  they  heard  by 
theyre  noise  which  they  made  in  the  woods,  yt  the  Indians  drew 
neare,  ye  noise  of  which  great  Artillery,  to  which  the  Indians  were 
never  wonted  before,  did  occasionally  (by  the  good  hand  of  God,) 
strike  such  dread  into  ym,  yt  by  some  lads,  who  lay  at  scouts  in  the 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  47 

woods,  they  were  heard  to  reiterate  that  confused  outcrie,  (O  Hobba- 
mock,)  and  yn  fled  confusedly  back  with  all  speed,  when  none 
pursued  ym." 

Letter  from  Cobbet  to  Increase  Mather. 

(b)  *'1632.  July  3.  There  is  a  necke  of  land  lyeing  aboute  3 
myles  from  Salem  cont.  about  300  acres  of  land  graunted  toCapt. 
Jo.  Endicott  to  enjoy  to  him  and  his  heires  foreuer,  called  in  the  Indean 
touge  Wahquamesehcok,  in  English  Birchwood,  bounded  on  the  South 
side  with  a  ryvere  called  in  the  Indean  tonge  Soewampenessett,  com- 
monly called  the  Covve  house  ryver  bounded  on  the  North  side  with  a 
ryver  called  in  the  Indean  tonge  Conamabsqnooncant,  commonly  called 
the  Ducke  ryver,  bounded  on  the  east  by  a  ryver  leading  vpp  to  the 
2  f('rmer  ryver  s,  which  is  called  in  the  Indean  tonge  Orkhussunt,  oth- 
erwise knowen  by  the  name  of  Wooleston  ryver  bounded  on  the  West 
with  the  maine  land." 

*'The  spot  then  was  the  best  he  could  have  chosen  .  On  a  com 
manding  eminence,  which  overlooked  the  country  for  some  distance 
around,  and  about  one-eighlh  of  a  mile  from  one  of  the  inlets,  he  built 
his  house,  and  commenced  in  earnest  the  cultivation  of  his  farm.  Al- 
though the  ploughshare  has  frequently  passed  over  it,  yet  part  of  the 
cellar  of  this  house  is  plainly  discernible  at  the  present  day.  On  this 
farm  he  lived  in  sort  of  feudal  style,  surrounded  by  his  servants  and 
retainers  ;  the  names  of  some  of  whom  have  been  handed  down  to  us, 
these  were  John  Putnam,  Benj.  Scarlett,  Edw.  Grover  and  Wm.  Poole. 
From  the  testimony  of  Edward  Grover  we  learn,  that  in  1633  "he  did 
helpe  to  cut  and  cleaue  about  seven  thousand  pallisadoes,  and  was  the 
first  that  made  improvements  thereof  by  breaking  up  of  ground  and 
plantinge  of  Indian  come*"  Here  if  tradition  be  correct,  he  introduc- 
ed for  medicinal  purposes,  as  well  as  by  way  of  ornament  to  his  gard- 
en, the  '"'white  weed,"  or  chrysanthemum  leucanthemum  of  the  bot- 
anist, which  has  since  become  so  detrimental  to  the  hay-fields  of  our 
farmers  in  some  parts   of  the  State. 

**The  inlet  before  the  Mansion  House  had  nothing  to  interrupt  it ; 
the  passage  was  open  to  the  bay,  and  at  that  early  period  must  have 
been  delightfully  romantic.  The  shores  on  either  side  thickly  clothed 
with  woods,  whose  dark  images  were  reflected  in  the  still  waiers  bo 
neath  them,  were  picturesque  in  the  extreme.  The  bold  jutting  head- 
lands, on  some  parts  of  the  passage,  lent  a  sublimity  to  the  prospect, 


H% 


48  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS. 

which  was  continually  varying  by  the  winding  and  circuitous  course 
of  the  stream.  The  smoke  from  the  humble  and  solitary  wigwam  of 
the  Indians,  thinly  scattered  along  the  margin  of  the  waters,  with  an 
occasional  gliinps  at  their  tawny  inhabitants,  as  they  stealthily  watched 
the  passing  boat  from  their  leafy  hiding  places,  or  listlessly  reclined 
under  the  shadow  of  some  wide-spreading  oak,  heightened  the  effect 
and  diversified  the  scene."  Extracts  from  a  highly  interesting  and 
valuable  Biography  of  Gov.  Endicott,  written  by  Chas.  M.  Endicott 
a  descendant,  and  just  published,  entirely  for  private  circulation.  The 
Memorist  adds,  that  he  visited  some  remains  of  aboriginal  wigwams 
when  a  boy,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Endecotl  Burial  Ground.  Traces  of 
the  transitory  abiding  places  of  the  departed  Red  Men  are  yet  visible 
ton  the  shores  of  Porter's  River. 

"There  is  another  necke  of  landlyeing  aboute  3  myles  from  Salem 
cont.  aboute  200  acres  graunted  to  Mr.  Sam'l  Skelton  to  enioy  to 
him  and  his  heires  for  euer,  called  by  the  Indians  Wahquack,  bounded 
on  the  South  vpon  a  little  ryver,  called  by  Indians  Conamabsqnoon- 
cant,  vpon  the  North  abutting  on  another  ryver  called  by  the  Indeans 
Ponomenneuhcant,  and  on  the  east  on  the  same  ryver." — Felt. 

(c)  As  the  island  in  ITumphey's  pond  possessed  such  natural  advan- 
tages as  a  place  of  security  in  case  of  engagement  with  the  savages, 
there  is  annexed  as  a  condition  of  its  surrender,  that  the  inhabitants  of 
Salem  and  Saugus  should  have  a  right  to  build  storehouses  thereon  "for 
their  vse  in  tyme  of  neede."  Blockhouses  were  erected  there  inl6- 
76,  and  also  on  "Watch-house  hill"  where  the  1st  Cong.  Church 
stands,  and  perhaps  elsewhere.  The  attacks  of  King  Philip  were 
much  feared,  though  our  ancestors  seem  to  have  been  preserved  from 
the   lightnings   of  his  rage,  which  withered  whatsoever  they  fell  upon. 

(d)  Since  writing  the  foregoing,  I  have  conversed  with  those  who 
remember  when  the  Neck  was  a  fomous  place  for  duck  shooting. 

(e)  The  grants  were  not  all  settled  on.  Some  were  soon  sold  and 
some  occupied.  "Uncertain"  signifies  that  it  is  unknown  whether  the 
individual  settled,  1.  g.  land  granted,  d.  died.  There  are  so  many 
opportunities  for  mistake  in  the  particulars  relating  to  grantees,  &c., 
that  the  Compiler  does  not  flatter  himself  that  he  has  improved  some 
of  them. 

(f)  Emanuel  Downing  owned  the  Proctor  estate,  and  the  Plains. 
His  son  Charles  sold  the  first  to  John  Proctor  who  was    executed    for 


HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS. 


49  fl 


witchcraft,  and  the    Plains    to  George  Porter.     Sir  George    Down- 
ing, for  whom  Downing  Street,  London,  was  named,  was  an  ancestor. 

(g  )  The  following  list  of  the  first  payers  of  rates  in  the  Village 
Parish  for  the  year  1682,  may  shed  some  light  on  the  settlement  of 
the  Town. 


Lieut.  T.  Putnam, 
Richard  Hutchinson, 
Nath'l  Putnam, 
Lieut.  John  Putnam, 
Joseph  Porter 
Henry  Kenny, 
Jonathan  Walcott, 
Israel  Porter, 
John  Buxton, 
Lett  Kellum, 
Joseph  Holten,  Sen., 
Isaac  Goodell's  widow, 
Thomas  Flint, 
Giles  Cory, 
Joseph  PopOj 
Elisha  Cuby, 
William  Nickols, 
Isaac  Cook, 
William  Sibley, 
Joseph  Root, 
John  Giles, 
Andrew  Eliot, 
William  Dodge, 
Joseph  Boys, 
Samuel  Sibly, 
Job  Swinnerton, 
Job  Swinnerton,  jr. 
Peter  Prescott, 
James  Smith, 
John  Burroughs, 
Thomas  Keny, 
William  Way, 
Thomas  Putnam,  jr. 
John  Putnam,  jr. 
Geo.  Flint, 
John  Flint, 
Wm.  Osborn, 
Nath'l  Aires, 
Thomas  Bailey, 
Daniel  Rea, 
Thomas  Cave, 
Peter  Cloys, 


£18  s6  d3 

2    9    6 

9  10 

8 

6    3 

2    5 

3    6 

1  10 

3  15 

1    4 

3    6 

10 

5    2 

4 

8 

3    3 

10 

4    3 

4  16 

4    9 

6    3 

5 

6    6 

3    3 

1  18 

3 

4  10 

14    6 

14    6 

15    6 

1  10 

1  10 

2  14 

2  14 

1    7 

1    7 

3 

1    4 

18 

S 

3 

18    6 

Thomas  Preston,  £,1  s 

Wm.  Buckley,  1 

Benj.  Holten,  1 
Joseph  Woodrow, 
Thomas  Clark, 
John  Nickols  J 
John  Darling, 

Joseph  Holten,  jr.  1 

Edward  Putnam ^  1 

Jonathan  Putnam,  1 
Thoma?  Haile, 

Daniel  Andrew,  5 
Samuel  Brabrook, 
Zaccar  Herrick, 
Nath'l  Felton,  jr. 

Thos.  ffuller,  sen.  8 
Henry  Renols, 

Jeremy  Watts,  1 

Joseph  Hutchinson,  6 

Nath'l  Ingersoll,  3 

Joshua  Rea,  7 

John  Brown,  3 

.Tames  Had  lock,  sen,  1 

James  Had  lock,  jr.  1 
Thomas  Jeford's  farn),     1 

Thomas  Haines,  2 

Jona.  Knight,  1 

John  Kenny,  1 

Aron  Way,  1 

William  Jerland,  2 

Thomas  ffuller,  jr.  2 

Jolm  Sheperd,  1 

Zaccary  Goodellj  2 

John  Gingill,  3 
B.  Wilkens,  (Wilknes,)  2 

>Samuel  Wilkins,  1 

Thomas  Wilkins,  2 

Henry  Wilkins,  1 

Benj.  Wilkins,  1 

Edward  Bishop,  2 

Joseph  Herrick,  3 

Thos.  Rament,  2 


10  do 

4 

1 
15 
13 
10 
10 
12 
17 
16 

7    6 
19    3 
16 
12 

5 

6 

2  a 

5 
12    S 
12 

7 

1 

9 

4 

7 

2 
10 
10 
19 

5 


10 
14 

10  6 
12  6 
16 

16    9 
10 
16 


14 


gq 

=-^ 


Abraham  Walcott, 

£1  s9  d 

Ezekill  Cheever, 

£ 

Peter  Woodbury, 

2    6 

Joseph  Mazary, 

2 

Francis  Nurse, 

18 

Alexander  Osborn, 

2 

Samuel  Nurse, 

1    4 

John  Adams, 

1 

John  Tarball, 

1    4 

William  Rament, 

fl    50  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

6l3d 

2 

2   6 
9  9 
Signed  Daniel  Ray,  A.  D,  1682. 

(h)  ^'Enm  Bridge'^  crossed  Waters  River  at  the  head  of  tide 
water,  on  the  old  Ipswich  road.  The  boundary  here  referred  to,  is 
the  Waters  River. 

Errata.  Page  27th,  line  seventh  from  top,  for  south  read  north. 
Page  31st,  line  fourth  from  top  for  was^  read  comprised.  Page  48th 
line  fourth  from  bottom,  insert  ?ioi  between  has  and  improved. 

CHAPTER  III. 

In  the  year  1751  a  Committee  was  raised  to  examine 
and  report  wlietlier  the  people  of  the  Village  and  Mid- 
dle Precincts  should  take  advantage  of  a  feeling  under- 
stood to  exist  in  Salem,  favorable  to  their  Incorporation 
as  a  to^vn.  After  considering  the  matter,  the  Commit- 
tee reported  as  follows : 

"Whereas,  ye  Village  parish  and  ye  Middle  parish  in 
Salem  have  agTeed  to  come  of  from  ye  town  as  a  seper- 
at-e  Town  by  themselves,  as  appears  by  ye  votes  of 
their  respective  Meetings,  and  Avhereas,  we  ye  subscri- 
bers being  appointed  and  Impowered  for  and  in  behalf 
of  Each  parish  to  Confere  together,  and  make  Report 
att  ye  meeting  of  sd  parishes  Respectively,  relating  to 
said  Affair,  have  meet  together  and  after  due  Consid- 
eration make  Report  as  follows :  (viz.)  That  ye  Town 
meetings  shall  be  one  year  in  one  parish,  and  ye  next 
year  in  ye  other  parish  successively.  That  ye  major 
part  of  ye  selectmen  and  assessors  shall  be  Chosen  one 
year  in  one  parish,  and  ye  next  year  in  ye  other  par- 


HISTORY  OF   DAN  VERS.  51     [ 

ish  successively.     That  each  parish  shall  share  Equally 
in  all  profits  and  Benefits  that    shall  happen   or  acrue. 
July  ye  2d,  1751. 

DANIEL  EPES  Jr.    )  for  the     SAMUEL  FLINT  }  .        , 

MALICHI  FELTON  }  Middle    CORNELIUS  TARBALL  >  y\,    "® 
JOHN  PROCTOR     )  Parish.     JAMES  PRINCE  )  ^  "  ''=^* 

This  Report  was  accepted,  and  the  Authors  were  fur- 
ther instructed  to  "labour"  Arith  the  people  of  Salem, 
a  large  number  of  whom  were  opposed  to  the  secession, 
and,  with  the  General  Court,  to  effect  the  wishes  of  the 
people  of  the  Village  and  Middle  Precincts.  They  were 
at  last  successful  and  in  the  following  year  an  act  was 
passed,  incorporating  the  District  oi  Danvers. 

Although  thus  much  was  gained,  yet  the  pi*ayer  of 
the  petitioners  was  not  fully  met.  The  t^vo  parishes 
were  not  erected  into  a  town,  but  only  into  a  District. 
It  may  be  unnecessary  to  inform  the  reader  that  a  Dis- 
trict had  not  the  privilege  of  sending  representatives, 
while  towns  couid  do  so.  The  King  had  expressly 
char2;ed  the  Governor  to  consent  to  the  matins'  of  no 
new  towns,  unless  the  right  to  send  representatives 
should  be  reserved.  In  other  words  no  more  towns 
should  be  made,  but  whenever  a  portion  of  a  large  town 
wished  to  be  severed,  it  could  be  made  into  a  district, 
and  thus  have  all  the  powers  and  privileges  of  a  town, 
with  the  single  exception  of  the  right  to  send  represen- 
tatives. 

The  Act  of  Incorporation  for  Danvers  District  is 
here  subjoined  : 

"Anno  Regni  Regis  Qeorgii  Secundi  ^c,  Vices- 
simo  Quinto. 

"An  act  for  erecting  the  Village  parish  and  middle    I 


9  f/Kl' 

52  HISTORY  OF   DANVERS. 


Parish  so  called,  in  the  Town  of  Salem  into  a  Distinct 
and    seperate  District  by    the    Name    of    Danvers. 

"Whereas,  the  Town  of  Salem  is  Very  Large  and 
the  Inhabitants  of  the  Village  and  Middle  parishes  so 
called  within  ye  same  (many  of  them  at  Least,)  hve  att 
a  great  Distance  from  that  part  of  Salem  where  the 
Publick  affairs  of  the  To^ti  are  Transacted  and  also 
from  the  Grammer  School  which  is  kept  in  ye  sd  first 
Parish. 

"And  WHEREAS,  most  of  the  Lihabitants  of  the  sd 
first  Parish  are  Either  Merchants,  Traders  or  Mechan- 
icks  &  those  of  ye  sd  Village  and  Middle  parishes  are 
cliiefly  Husbandmen,  by  means  whereof  many  Disputes 
&  Difficultys  have  Arrissen  and  May  hereafter  arise  in 
the  manageing  their  pubhc  Affairs  Together,  &,  Es- 
peacially  touching  ye  Apportioning  the  Publick  Taxes, 
For  preventing  of  wliich  Inconveniences  for  the  future. 

"Be  it  Enacted  by  the  Lieut.  Governour,  Council, 
and  House  of  Representatives,  That  that  part  of  ye 
s'd  Town  of  Salem  which  now  constitutes  the 
village  and  middle  parishes  in  sd  Town  according  to 
their  bomidaries  and  the  Lihabitants  therein,  be  Erected 
into  a  seperate  and  Distinct  District  by  the  Name  of 
Dan  VERS,  and  that  said  Inhabitants  shall  do  the  dutys 
that  are  Required  and  Enjoyed  on  other  Towns,  and 
Enjoy  all  the  Powers,  Privileges  &  Immunities  that 
Towns  in  this  province  by  Law  Enjoy,  except  that  of 
seperately  chuseing  and  sending  one  or  more  Repre- 
sentatives to  Represent  them  att  ye  Genii  Assembly, 
&c." 

Jany  ye  25, 1752," 


m  I 

HISTORY  01?    DAN  VERS.  53 

On  the  twenty-rinth  instant,  an  order  was  issued, 
calling  the  first  meeting  of  the  District  on  the  fourth  of 
the  following  March,  at  the  meeting  house  in  the  [N'orth 
Parish.  It  commenced  thus  :  "  These  may  notify  the 
inhabitants  of  Salem  alious  Danvers,  &c."  The  order 
for  the  meeting  was  signed  by  Jonathan  Kettel,  Jasper 
Needham,  David  Putnam,  Joseph  Osborne,  Jonathan 
Buxton,  Malichi  Fulton,  Samuel  King,  Nathan  Proc- 
tor, David  Gardner,  John  Proctor,  Thomas  Flint,  Cor- 
nelius Tarball,  James  Putnam,  Samuel  Flint,  and 
James  Prince,  and  was  addressed  to  Daniel  Epes,  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace.  The  meeting  was  held  agreeable  to 
the  call,  and  the  following  gentlemen  served  as  the  first 
offic-ers  of  Danvers  :  Daniel  Epes,  Esq.,  Moderator ; 
Daniel  Epes,  Jr.,  Esq.,  Clerk  ;  James  Prince,  Treasu- 
rer ;  Daniel  Epes,  Jr.,  Capt.  Samuel  Flint,  Deacon 
Cornelius  Tarball,  Selectmen ;  Stephen  Putnam,  Sam- 
uel King,  Daniel  Gardner,  Assessors  and  Overseers  of 
the  Poor ;  Constables,  David  Goodale  and  Samuel 
White,  First  Parish ;  Roger  Derby  and  Jonathan 
Twiss,  Second  Parish ;  Tythingmen,  Samuel  Putnam 
and  Archelaus  Putnam,  First  Parish  ;  Samuel  Osborne, 
James  Upton  and  Timothy  Upton,  Second  Parish ; 
Highway  Surveyors,  John  Andrews,  John  Preston, 
Francis  Nurse,  Lieut.  David  Putnam,  Jacob  Goodale, 
George  Gould,  First  Parish ;  Ensign  John  Proctor, 
Andrew  Mansfield,  Jasper  Needham,  Jonathan  Russell, 
James  Gould,  James  Buxton,  John  Southwick,  Second 
Parish  ;  Haywai-ds,  Jonathan  Putnam,  John  Osborne  ; 
Leather  Sealers,  Israel  Cheever,  James  Upton ;  Fence 
Viewers,  Samuel  Holten,  Benjamin  Patnam,  John  Os- 


54  HISTORY    OF   DANVERS. 


borne,  Ebenezer  Marsh  ;  Clerks  of  the  Market,  Jona- 
than Putnam,  David  Goldthwaite.  Daniel  Kea  was 
chosen  to  take  care  that  ye  Lawes  Relateing  to  ye  pres- 
ervation of  Deer  be  observed.  Surveyors  of  Lumber, 
Henry  Putnam,  David  Goldthwaite  ;  to  preserve  Ale- 
wives,  James  Chapman,  Ebenezer  King,  John  Brown, 
Gideon  Foster ;  Hog  Reaves,  "Walter  Smith,  John 
Vinne,  George  Wait,  Jr.,  Israel  Hutchinson,  John 
Cakes,  Ebenezer  Goldthwayte,  Daniel  Marble,  Jr., 
Jonathan  Gsborne,  Jonathan  Trask  ;  Pound  Keepers, 
Hugh  Kelly,  David  Foster,  Ebenezer  Boyce.  It  was 
agreed,  that  all  who  chose  might  work  out  their  taxes 
on  the  roads,  and  those  who  did  not  so  choose,  were  to 
pay  them  in  money.  The  number  of  houses  at  the  time 
was  140,  and  the  population  about  500. 

Gne  year  after  the  erection  of  the  District  of  Dan- 
vers,  the  bounds  between  it  and  Salem  were  run  as  fol- 
lows: 

''from  ye  great  cove  (so  called)  in  the  Northfields, 
to  Trask' s  plain  (so  called,)  viz — Beginning  att  a  stake 
standing  in  the  Lower  part  of  the  Thatch  bank  att  ye 
Northerly  part  or  point  of  Peter's  Neck  (so  called) 
owned  or  claimed  by  Joshua  Orne  Esq.  of  Marblehead 
and  by  the  cove  afforesd  and  from  thence  Running  South 
a  Little  Westerly,  Eighteen  poles  to  a  stake  and  stones 
which  stake  is  about  five  feet  west  of  a  Red  oak  Tree 
on  sd  Grn's  Land,  Thence  on  the  same  course  Fourty 
two  Rods  to  an  other  stake  and  stones,  thence  fourty 
Rods  to  a  small  Gray  oak  Tree  on  ye  North  east  side  of 
a  Hill  in  Anna  Foster's  Land,  Thence  fourty  poles  to  a 
stake  and  stones  in  her  land,  thence  fourty  poles  to  a 


i  HISTOEY    OF   DAN  VERS.  65 


small  Black  oak  Tree  on  a  Hill  in  Samuel  Symond's 
land,  thence  fourty  rods  to  a  stake  and  stones  in  Thomas 
Symond's  land,  thence  thirty  poles  to  a  small  Walnut 
Tree  in  ye  sd  Thomas  Symond's  pasture.  Thence  fifty 
poles  to  a  small  red  oak  Tree  in  Robert  Buffum's  land, 
&  near  ye  stone  wall  by  the  Road,  Thence  fourty  poles 
to  a  stake  &  stones  in  Jonathan  Buffum's  Pasture, 
Thence  fourty  poles  to  a  stake  &  stones  on  Jonathan 
Buffum's  Hill,  The  course  from  ye  first  to  ye  last  men- 
tioned bound,  being  south,  Little  AYesterly,  and  from 
the  stake  Last  mentioned  in  the  same  course  fifty  two 
poles  ending  a  Little  to  the  Eastward  of  Trask's  Grist 
mills  (so  called)  and  from  the  end  of  that  Line  Running 
West  Southerly  to  the  Eastermost  Elm  Tree  on  sd  plain 
and  by  the  Northerly  side  of  the  highway  there  called 
Boston  Road,  Leaving  ye  sd  Grist  Mills  within  ye  sd 
District.  The  severall  Bound  Trees  and  stakes  affore- 
sd  being  marked  with  a  marking  Iron  with  the  Letter 
S.  on  the  East  side,  and  the  Letter  D.  on  the  west  side. 

May  7—1753—" 

In  the  year  following,  when  the  Colonies  proposed  a 
plan  of  union  for  mutual  safety  and  protection,  the  Dis- 
trict voted  against  it  through  its  delegate,  Daniel  Epes. 
The  same  year  the  bounds  were  run  between  Wenham, 
Beverly,  Topsficld,  JMiddleton,  Lynn  and  Danvers. 
February  3d,  1755 — it  was  voted,  that  Daniel  Epes  Jr. 
should  carry  the  renewed  request  of  the  district  to  be- 
come a  town  before  the  General  Court.  Already  the 
Colonies  had  begun  to  be  jealous  of  the  encroachments 
of  the  Crown  of  England,  and  they  wished  to  be  as  far 
represented  and  as  fully  as  possible.     For  this  reason. 


5Q  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS. 

it  was  an  important  object  to  have  many  towns,  and  the 
District,  although  it  seems  to  have  sent  a  delegate  on 
several  occasions,  could  not  send  a  properly  qualified 
representative,  so  long  as  it  remained  a  District.  To 
obtain  this  privilege,  it  persisted  in  its  demands,  and  the 
last  request  was  tendered  the  General  Court  by  Dan- 
iel Epes,  June  8th,  1757.  It  was  granted  the  next 
day,  so  that  the  existence  of  the  Town  of  Danvers  dates 
from  June  9th,  1757.  Gov.  Hutchinson  then  of  the 
Council,  entered  a  formal  protest  against  the  vote,  as 
follows : 

"I  protest  for  the  following  reasons:  First,  Because 
it  is  the  professed  design  of  the  Bill  to  give  the  inhabi- 
tants who  now  join  with  the  town  of  Salem  the  choice 
of  representatives  a  power  of  choosing  by  themselves ; 
and  the  number  of  which  the  house  of  representatives 
may  at  present  consist  being  full  large,  the  increase 
must  have  a  tendency  to  retard  the  proceedings  of  the 
general  court,  and  to  increase  the  burden  which  by  their 
long  session  every  year,  lies  upon  the  people,  and  must 
likewise  give  the  house  an  undue  proportion  to  the  board 
of  the  legislature,  where  many  aSairs  are  determined  by 
a  joint  ballot  of  the  two  houses. 

"Second.  Because  there  being  no  governor  or  heut- 
enant  governor  in  the  province,  it  is  most  agreeable  to 
His  Majesty's  commission  to  the  late  governor  to  the 
message  of  this  board  to  the  house,  at  opening  the  ses- 
sion, and,  in  itself  is  most  reasonable,  that  all  matters  of 
importance  should  be  deferred  until  there  be  a  governor 
or  lieutenant  governor  in  the  chair. 

"Third.     Because  the  Board,  by  passing  this  bill  as  j 


I  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS.  57    ! 

the  second  branch  of  the  legislature  necessarily  bring  it 
before  themselves  as  the  first  branch  for  assent  or  refu- 
sal ;  and  such  members  as  vote  for  the  bill  in  one  ca- 
pacity must  give  their  assent  to  it  m  the  other,  directly 
against  the  royal  instruction  to  the  governor,  when  the 
case  is  no  degree  necessary  to  the  public  interest ;  other- 
wise their  doings  will  be  inconsistent  and  absurd. 

"THOMAS  HUTCHINSON." 

«'CoanciI  Chamber,  June  9,  1757." 

The  tract  of  Country  now  included  in  our  goodly 
town,  w^as  known  by  the  name  of  Danvers  several  years 
before  it  was  incorporated  as  a  District,  even  as  early  as 
the  year  1745.  The  origin  of  the  name  can  only  be  con- 
jectured. As  there  was  formerly  a  noble  family  in  En- 
gland, bearing  the  name  of  Danvers,  it  is  presumed  that 
some  of  the  early  (a.)  inhabitants  of  this  town  came  from 
the  vicinity  of  their  possessions,  and  baptized  the  town  of 
their  adoption  with  a  name  which  should  recall  the  scenes 
of  Fatherland.  It  may  be  interestmg  to  the  reader  to 
know  something  of  this  family,  from  which  we  have  de- 
rived the  name  of  our  town.  The  following  account 
taken  from  the  "Danvers  Whig,"  is  substantially  from 
Burke's  Extinct  Peerage  of  England. 

"The  family  came  originally  from  An  vers,  or  Ant- 
werp in  France.  Although  formerly  possessed  by 
France,  it  now  belona-s  to  Belmum. 

"The  first  person  that  we  learn  of,  as  bearing  the 
name,  is  Roland  D'Anvers,  (b.)  companion  in  arms  of 
William  the  Conqueror. 

"In  the  sixteenth  century,  we  hear  of  Sir  John  Dan- 
vers.    He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Nevil, 


58  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

Lord  Latimer,  and  died,  leaving  three   sons  and  one 
dauditer,  of  whom  we  have  information. 

"Charles  Dan  vers,  the  eldest  son,  joined  the  Earl 
of  Essex  in  his  disloyal  attempt  against  Queen  Elizabeth 
and  the  Court.  Upon  its  failure.  Sir  Charles,  (with 
Essex  and  others,)  was  taken  and  tried  for  high  trea- 
son. They  were  convicted,  and  beheaded  in  the  tower, 
in  the  year  1601.  Sir  Charles  left  one  daughter,  Elea- 
nor Danvers,  who  married  Sir  Peter  Osborne,  Knight, 
afterwards  created  Baronet.  Their  grand-son  bore  the 
name  of  Danvers  Osborn,  aad  was  born  in  1715.  He 
married  in  1740,  Lady  ^lary  Montagu,  daughter  of  the 
Earl  of  Halifax,  and  in  1753,  he  was  appointed  Gover- 
nor of  New  York,  to  succeed  Clinton.  He  came  to  this 
country,  but  died  a  few  days  after  his  arrival.  He  left 
two  sons,  and  among  their  descendants  now  living,  are 
Charles  Danvers  Osborne,  and  Danvers  Henry  Osborne. 
So  it  seems  that  the  name  at  least,  of  Danvers  is  yet 
extant  in  old  Endand. 

"Henry  Danvers,  the  second  son  of  Sir  John,  was 
born  in  Dantsey,  Wiltshire,  in  1573.  He  served  inthe 
Low-country  wars,  under  Maurice,  Count  of  Nassau, 
afterwards  Prince  of  Orange,  and  in  France,  under 
King  Henry  XV.,  by  whom  he  was  knighted.  He  ac- 
companied the  Earl  of  Essex  to  Ireland,  where  he  was 
Lieut.  Gen.  of  Horse,  and  Sergeant  Major  of  the  whole 
army.  In  1603  he  was  created  by  James  I.,  Peer  of 
the  Realm,  with  the  title  of  Baron  of  Dantsey,  In 
1626  he  was  made  by  Charles  L,  Earl  of  Danby,  and 
also  member  of  the  Privy  Council,  and  Knight  of  the 
Garter. 


HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS.  59    [| 

*'Sir  Henry  made  a  valuable  donation  of  a  piece  of 
land  to  the  University  of  Oxford,  for  a  botanic  garden. 
He  also  well  furnished  it  with  plants,  and  enclosed  it 
with  a  splendid  stone  wall,  whicli  alone,  is  said  to  have 
cost  the  noble  benefactor  nodiYlj  five  thousand  pounds. 
An  Alms-house,  and  a  E^ee  school,  were  founded  by 
him,  in  Malmesbury. 

"The  latter  part  of  his  life  Lord  Danvers  spent  in  re- 
tirement, at  Cornbury  Park,  Oxfordshire,  where  he  died 
in  1643.  He  was  buried  in  the  Chancel  of  the  parish 
church  of  Dantsey,  his  native  village,  under  a  noble 
monument  of  white  marble.  Upon  it  are  inscribed  an 
excellent  epitaph,  and  the  following  lines  by  that  good 
man  and  quaint  poet,  George  Herbert,  who  was  a 
neighbor  of  Lord  Danvers. 

LAUS  DEO. 

^^Sacred  mable,  safely  keep 

His  dust,  who  under  thee  must  sleeps 

Until  the  years  again  restore 

Their  dead,  and  time  shall  be  no  more. 

Meane  while,  if  he  (which  all  things  wears) 

Does  ruin  thee,  or  if  thy  tears 

Are  shed  for  him  :  dissolve  thy  frame. 
Thou  art  requited  :  for  his  fame, 
His  vertue,  and  his  worth  shall  be 
Another  monument  to  thee. 

"Lord  Danvers  never  married,  and  therefore  the'Ea- 
rony  of  Dantsey,  and  the  Earldom  of  Danby,  became 
extinct  at  his  Death. 


60 


HISTORY  OF  DANVERS* 


illilll 


Mllillll: 


a 


ARMS  OF  THE  DANVERS  FAMILY.   (c) 

Gules,  a  chevron  between  three  mullets  of  six  pointSj 


or. 


"John  Danvers  was  the  youngest  son  of  the  three, 
and  heir  to  Sir  Henry.  He  was  one  of  the  gentlemen 
of  the  Privy  Chamber  of  Charles  I.,  and  one  of  those 
who  signed  the  warrant  for  his  execution.  He  died  be- 
fore before  the  Restoration. 

"Elizabeth  Danvers,  supposedto  be  the  only  daugh- 
ter of  Sir  John,  married  Thomas  Walmsey,  Esq.,  of 
Stockeld.  They  left  an  only  daughter,  Anne,  who 
married  Sir  Edward  Osborne,  Baronet.  Their  only 
son  and  heir,  Sir  Thomas  Osborne,  was  raised  to  the 
Peerage,  as  Viscount  Latimer,  Earl  of  Danby,  Mar- 
quess of  Carmarthen,  and  Duke  of  Leeds.  The  title 
has  passed  to  his  lineal  descendant,  Francis  Godolphin 
Osborne,  or  Francis  Godolphin  D'Arcy,  as  it  is  some- 
times written,  the  present  Duke  of  Leeds."  (d) 

In  the  year  1754,  Archelaus  Putnam,  then  living 
somewhere  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  ColHns  House, 
went  down  through  the  woods  to  the  place  now  called 
New  Mills,  and  seeing   a  fine   opportunity  there  to 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  61 

estaljlisli  tide  mills,  he  moved  a  small  building)  which  he 
occupied  as  a  cooper's  shop)  to  the  bank  of  Crane  riv- 
er, and  floated  it  down  to  the  desired  spot.  He  then 
moved  it  to  the  site  he  intended  to  occupy,  near  the 
store  of  Messrs.  Warren,  where  he  made  an  addition  to 
it,  and  thus  dwelt  in  the  first  and  only  house  standing  in 
New  ]\Iills.    (e.) 

The  next  year  his  brother  John  (f.)  moved  down, 
and  they  built  a  grist  mill,  which  they  partially  owned. 
This  year,  Archelaus  Putnam  had  a  daughter,  who  was 
the  first  white  child  born  in  Danvers  New  Mills.  She 
died  Nov.  19,  1847,  aged  93  years. 

A  private  highway,  leading  from  the  Plains  across 
Crane  and  AYaters  rivers,  at  each  of  which  places  was 
a  ferry,  was  laid  out  in  the  year  1756.  This  was  con- 
tinued for  a  time,  and  in  1760  a  highway  was  laid  out 
by  the  town,  and  a  bridge  built  by  subscription,  at  an 
expense  of  £285,  4s,  8d.  The  bridge  w^as  carried 
away  by  a  high  tide  in  1770.  The  present  brid^i^e  was 
built  in  the  following  year,  and  was  passable  June  25, 
1771.  The  town  refused  to  pay  for  this  bridge,  and 
the  surveyors  sued,  and  recovered  judgement. 

The  New  Mills  road  caused  a  great  deal  of  dissen- 
sion in  the  town.  The  same  year  that  it  was  laid  out, 
itw^as  voted:  "that  Capt.  Thomas  Flint,  Deacon  Cor- 
nelius Tarball  and  Joseph  Putnam  be  a  committee  to 
Petition  ye  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  ye  Peace  that 
ye  way  Lately  laid  out.  Beginning  at  the  Country  Road 
by  Cornt.  John  Porter's  and  leading  to  ye  New  Mills, 
be  discontinued,  and  another  laid  out  in  ye  room  of  it, 

in  a  more  Convenient  Place  &c." 

s  6  . 


62  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

It  seems  that  this  effort  succeeded,  for  we  find  that 
the  people  of  New  Mills  petitioned  the  next  year  for  a 
higliAvay  of  their  own.     However,  on  April  14,  1760, 
a  committee  was  raised  to  effect  a  private  way,  consist- 
ing of  the  following  persons  :    Samuel  Clarke,  Benjamin 
Sawyer,   Israel  Hutchinson,    Benj.    Porter,  Jeremiah 
Page,  Nath'l  Brown.     The  selectmen  granted  the  road, 
and  described  its  bounds  as  follows  :    "Beginning  at  the 
said  Capt.  Samuel  Endecott's   land  at  the  East  end  of 
the  New  Mill  Privelege  in  Danvers  afforesd  on    the 
northern  side  of  sd  Bridge   and  extending  from  thence 
East  11  Degrees  south  six  poles  and  twenty  links — and 
from  thence  South   Thirty  six   Degrees   East  fourteen 
Poles,  and  from  thence  South  forty  two  degrees  thirty 
nine  mins.    &c."     This  was  protested  against  as  fol- 
lows :    "Voted :  That  the  Town  by  Petition  will  make 
applycation  to  ye  Great  and  Genrll  Court   at  their  next 
session  for   obtaining  any  Proper  relief  or  redress  of  ye 
Injuries  done  &  Designed  to  be  Done  to  ye  town  of  Dan- 
vers by  certain  Proprietors  as  they  call  themselves  and 
some  others  their  abettors  in  their  Late  procureing  the 
selectmen  of  ye  Town  of  Danvers  or  ye  major  Part   of 
them  to  lay  out  a  private  Proprietors  way  as  they  noAv 
call  it  through  Capt  Samuel  Endecott's  land  to  Water's 
river  in  Danvers  aforsd  and  by  ye  sd  Proprietors  so 
called  and  others  Bulding  a  Bridge  over  that  river  to 
come  at  another  way  on  the  Southerly  side  of  said  river 
which  ye  same  proprietors  Pretend  they  have  Lately 
Purchased  upon  certain  Conditions  of  John  Waters  and 
Ebenr  Jacobs  Whereas  they  Imagine  they  can  call  them- 
selves Proprietors  and  Deceitfully  hereafter   cause  the 


HISTORY  OF   DANVERS.  63    f 

Town  to  be  subject  to  the  maintainance  of  Both  Parts 
of  ye  sd  way  and  also  of  the  Bridge  aforsd  which  is 
now  a  Building  all  being  ^Yithin  ye  Bounds  of  ye  sd 
Town." 

A  few  months  after,  this  vote  was  reconsidered  by 
the  town,  but  the  people  of  the  New  Mills  were  unsat- 
isfied. The  question  was  agitated  constantly,  and  mean- 
while, the  road  Avas  used.  Col.  Hutchinson  says  in  his 
private  papers:  "They  were  continually  harrassing  us 
with  petitions  to  the  Court  of  Sessions  and  the  General 
Court  to  have  the  way  discontinued.  After  they  found 
they  could  not  get  it  discontinued,  they  proposed  to 
make  a  toll  bridge ;  w^e  found  that  would  not  by  any 
ways  do,  as  those  people  who  had  assisted  us  in  repair- 
ing the  way,  and  building  the  bridges,  would  be  great 
sufferers  and  it  would  promote  traveUing  that  way,  which 
was  what  the  leaders,  who  were  sellers  of  rum,  tobacco, 
&c.  wished  to  prevent. 

"We  then  applied  to  the  North  Parish  to  be  annexed 
to  them  if  they  were  walling  to  take  us,  with  all  ways  and 
bridges,  but  they  would  not  let  us  go. 

"We  then,  after  contending  in  the  law  more  than  sev- 
en long  years,  and  although  we  had  gained  our  cause  in 
every  case,  being  almost  ruined,  were  under  the  neces- 
sity of  proposing  to  the  General  Court  that  -we  Avould 
take  all  the  ways  and  bridges  on  ourselves." 

This  request  was  granted,  and  a  Highway  District 
was  incorporated  as  follows: 
''Anno  Regni  Regis  Creorgii  Te7'tii  Duodecimo.  1772. 

An  Act  for  the  subjecting  the  Inhabitants  of  a  Part 
of  the  Town  of  Danvers,  called  the  Neck  of  Land  here- 


w, ,  ■= ■ — "S 

0-i  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  f 


after  described,  to  the  Charge  of  maintaining  and  sup- 
porting certain  Bridges  and  Highways. 

"Whereas  unhappy  Divisions  and  Controversies  have 
arisen  in  the  Town  of  Danvers,  in  the  County  of  Essex, 
relative  to  their  Highwaj-s  and  Bridges ;  and  the  Inhab- 
itants of  that  Part  of  the  said  Town  which  is  a  Neck  of 
Land,  making  the  Northerly  or  Northeasterly  Corner  or 
Skirt  of  the  South  Parish  in  said  Town,  have  come  to  a 
final  and  amicable  Compromise  and  Settlement  of  such 
Divisions  and  Controversies  with  their  Brethren  of  the 
other  residing  Part  of  said  Town  touching  said  High- 
ways and  Bridges,  for  the  Ratification  of  which,  and 
making  the  same  Compromise  and  Settlement  valid 
and  binding  in  Law  they  have  mutually  expressed  their 
Desire,  now  for  the  closing  and  putting  an  End  to  all 
such  Divisions  and  Controversies  for  the  future,  and  in 
order  to  accomphsh  the  good  Purposes  of  "Union  and 
Harmony  in  said  Town  : 

"Be  it  enacted  by  the  Governor,  Council,  and  House 
of  Representatives,  That  the  Neck  of  Land,  as  hereaf- 
ter bounded  and  limited,  being  the  Northerly  or  North- 
easterly Corner  or  Skirt  of  the  South  Parish  in  Dan- 
vers, in  the  County  of  Essex,  and  the  Inhabitants  there- 
of, be,  and  the  same  Neck  of  Land  and  Inhabitants 
are,  and  forever  hereafter  shall  be  subject  to  and  charg- 
ed with  with  the  IMaintainance,  Support  and  keeping  in 
Repair  of  the  Bridge  built  over  Waters's  River  (so 
called)  in  said  Danvers,  and  also  of  the  Highway  laid 
out  by  the  Selectmen  of  said  Danvers,  and  confirmed 
by  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  within 
and  for  said  County  from  Porter's  Corner   (there  so  cal- 

^i —  =.=' 


HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS.  65    f 

led)  to  tlie  Easterly  End  of  said  Waters's  Bridge,  for 
the  more  convenient  passing  of  the  Inhabitants  of  said 
Neck  of  Land  to  and  from  the  place  of  public  Worship 
in  the  South' Parish  aforesaid,  and  other  useful  Purpos- 
es ;  and  also  of  all  and  any  other  Highways  and  Bridges 
that  shall  at  any  Time  ever  hereafter,  at  the  special  In- 
stance and  Request  of  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Neck  of 
Land  or  by  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace 
within  and  for  said  County,  be  opened  and  laid  out,  or 
erected  and  built  any  where  within  the  Boundaries  and 
Limits  of  said  Neck  of  Land,  containing  by  Estimation 
three  Hundred  Acres,  bounded  as  folloY>'S,  viz.  Begin- 
ning at  tlie  Bridge  by  John  Verry's  in  Danvers,  com- 
monly called  Crane-River  Bridge,  thence  running  down 
the  Channel  till  it  comes  to  Li'eut.  Thomas  Stevens's 
Land,  about  thirty  Poles  above  the  Mill-Dam  hj  a  cove 
in  the  Mill-Pond,  thence  running  on  a  strait  Line  as  said 
Stevens's  Fence  now  stands  till  it  strikes  Waters's  Riv- 
er, near  the  Bridge,  upon  the  West  Side,  and  across 
said  Waters's  River  to  high  Water  Mark,  thence  down 
said  Waters's  River  to  Frost  Fish  Brook  River  (so  call- 
ed) at  low  Water  Mark,  thence  up  the  Channel  of  said 
River  to  the  Bridge,  called  Frost  Fish  Brook  Bridge  on 
Ipswich  Road,  thence  on  the  Eastern  Side  of  said  Road 
to  Crane  River  Bridge  above  mentioned." 

Full  power  to  transact  all  business  relating  to  their 
affairs  was  given  them. 

More  wheat  mills  were  built  in  1764,  and  a  new  saw- 
mill in  1768.  The  orioiinal  owners  were  Archelaus  Put- 
nam,  John  Buxton,  Sam.  Clark,  John  Pickman  and  Is- 
rael Hutchinson,  jr.     About  the  year  1798,  the  Salem 

m^  li 


Q6  HISTORY    OF   DANVERS. 

Iron  Company  commenced  their  works.  Other  mills  of 
different  kinds  and  different  branches  of  business  have 
flourished  until  the  j^resent  time,— for  particulars  of 
which,  see  "Statistics/' 

This  District  was  preserved  until  the  year  1841,  pay- 
ing and  supporting  its  own  roads,  and  entirely  indepen- 
dent of  the  town.  The  district  paid  from  1809 — 1838, 
$1883,99,  more  than  it  would  have  done,  if  it  had  been 
on  the  same  footing  with  the  rest  of  the  town. 

The  Essex  Bridge  built  in  1788,  was  violently  opposed 
by  the  friends  of  the  New  Mills  Road,  as  it  was  supposed 
that  travel  would  thus  be  diverted  from  the  Neck, — and 
because  of  the  obstacles  it  presented  to  the  Danvers 
shipping,  the  proprietors  of  the  bridge  were  compelled  to 
pay  to  Danvers  £10  annually  for  fifty  years,  as  a  com- 
pensation. April  1st,  1799,  the  town  voted  that  this 
sum  should  be  given  to  the  Highway  District.  Liberty 
Bridge  was  built  over  Frostfish  river  in  1788,  to  draw 
travel  to  this  quarter  from  Beverly,  as  a  matter  of  pub- 
lic advantage,     (g.)     A  new  bridge  was  built  in  1792. 

Perhaps  it  is  impossible  for  us  to  conjecture  the  ap- 
pearance and  condition  of  the  town  at  the  time  of  its 
incorporation.  Although  it  had  been  settled  over  a 
century,  yet  many  of  the  roads  were  mere  paths  through 
the  woods  and  pastures,  with  the  original  obstructions  of 
rock,  grass  and  stump  remaining  in  all  their  glory.  But 
the  desire  of  town  excellence  soon  began  a  reform,  and 
accordingly  a  surveyor  was  directed  ''to  Destroy  and 
Extirpate  all  such  Barberry  Bushesses  as  are  in  ye  high- 
ways &  also  to  cut  and  clear  ye  limbs  of  appletrees,  oak 
trees,  or  other  trees  that  hang  over  ye  highways."  (h.) 


HISTORY    OF   DANYERS.  67 

Nov.  18th,  1755,  the  day  when  Lisbon  was  destroyed, 
a  violent  earthquake  shook  New  England.  Glass  was 
broken,  chimneys  destroyed,  and  great  consternation 
created. 

There  was  no  rain  from  June  to  Sept.  2 2d,  in  the 
year  1762.  The  wells  were  nearly  all  drained^  and 
vegetation  seemed  to  be  scorched, — every  where  burnt 
as  if  with  fire.  Such  is  a  brief  sketch  of  our  town  be- 
fore the  Revolutionary  Period  Perhaps  some  interest- 
ing matters  may  have  been  overlooked  ;  but  in  general 
terms  it  may  be  said,  the  "Annals  of  Salem,"  previous 
to  this  date,  comprise  the  History  of  Dan  vers. 

NOTES  TO  CHAPTER  III. 

(a.)  Among  the  original  Settlers  of  Danvera  the  Osborne  family 
was  conspicuous  as  it  has  been  in  the  subsequent  annals  of  the  town. 
This,  coupled  with  the  fact  recorded  above,  that  the  Osborne  and 
Danvers  family  had  mtermarried,  seems  to  account  for  our  name. 
Doubtless  tlie  Osbornes  suggested  the  name  out  of  love  for  their  cous- 
ins across  the  seas.  Felt,  iiowever,  in  his  Annals,  declares  that  Lieut 
Gov.  Piiipps  suggested  the  name  through  gratitude  to  one  of  his 
patrons. 

(b.)  Roland  D'Anvers,  or  Roland  of  Antwerp,  a  name  given 
Roland  as  a  brave  soldier,  to  distinguish  him  from  other  Rolands  who 
were  with  W'lliam  in  his  bloody  wars.  The  wealth  and  honor  he 
acquired  seems  to  have  been  the  seed,  out  of  which  grew  the  nobil- 
ity of  his  successors.  He  was  probably  knighted  by  King  Wil- 
liam. 

(c)  Tliese  simple  bearings  would  make  an  appropriate  seal  for 
oar  town.  The  Editor  of  the  Courier  has  suggested  a  better.  It 
should  represent  in  the  background  "one  Simon  a  tanner  by  the  sea 
side,"  drawing  hides  from  the  water,  denoting  the  antiquity  of  our 
staple  business.  In  another  part  a  currier's  splitting  machine,  a  bunch 
of  onions,  a  shoe-last,  and  a  bark-mill,— the  whole  surmounted  by  an 
2  ^A 


68  HISTORY    OF   DANVERS. 


earthen   milk-pan.     In  the  foreground  is  seen  a  locomotive  and  full 
train  of  cars,  bearing 

*'A  banner  with  this  strange  device  : 
Excelsior  !" 

(d.)  Danvers  has  never  in  fact,  received  a  name.  Although  in- 
corporated as  the  District  of  Danvers,  yet  in  the  Act  of  Incor- 
poration, It  is  known  as  the  "Town  of ." 

(e.)  Those  who  behold  the  industry  and  business  life  of  to-day, 
will  find  it  difficult  to  realize  that  in  the  year  1754,  the  wife  of  Ar- 
chelaus  Putnam,  in  attempting  to  pass  to  the  mill  from  her  house  at 
the  place  before  mentioned,  became  lost  in  the  dense  thicket,  and 
v>'as  only  able  to  find  her  way  by  following  the  sound  of  her  hus- 
band's voice.  At  that  time  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  the  farmer 
to  see  a  wild  fox  cross  his  path  as  he  went  to  and  from  his  labors 
Fox  Hill  received  its  significant  name  because  of  the  large  number  of 
foxes  which  haunted  its  neighborhood.  Mrs.  Fowler,  remembered  dis- 
nctly,  thai  in  1760  her  father  returned  from  his  mill  one  day,  and 
threw  a  nest  of  young  foxes  into  the  cradle  where  she  sat.  The  road 
through  New  Mills  was  known  by  blazed  trees.  Mr.  Putnam  in- 
tended to  set  his  mill  onlMilking  Point,  supposing  that  as  it  was  nearer 
Salem,  il  would  possess  advantages  over  the  spot  he  subsequently 
chose;  but  when  lie  saw  the  excellent  privileges  of  the  latter  place,  he 
concluded  to  remain.  From  this  time  until  1770  this  house  and  two 
others  were  all  that  stood  between  Crane  River  bridge  and  the  Plains. 
In  1775  there  were  ten  between  the  same  places.  It  is  related  that 
at  this  time  the  poorer  portion  of  the  people  were  accustomed  to 
cross  the  river  and  glean  the  forest  in  the  track  of  the  wealthy  owners 
of  Orchard  firm.  These  owners  were  accustomed  to  chop  their  trees 
off"  from  four  to  six  feet  from  tbe  ground.  Thus  many  choice  logs 
were  left  which  the  neighbors  were  glad  to  remove  from  the  soil. 

(f.)     He  was  killed  in  the  French  war. 

(g.)  Thosi  who  desired  to  pervert  travel  from  Danvers  called 
this  bridge  "Spite  bridge"  a  name  which  is  even  now  occasionally 
heard.  Those  who  built  it,  however,  have  always  called  it  "Liberty 
Bridge." 

(h.)     Some  thirty  years  after  this  vote  was  passed,  that  is   during 
11    Dr.  Wadsworth's  pastorship,  as  the  learned  Dr.    was  one   day  passing 


HISTORY  OF  DAN  VERS.  69 


along  the  road,  he  came  across  a  fellow  named  Goudy,  who  had  the 
reputatiou  of  having  a  dyspeptic  brain.  He  was  ciJtling  barberry 
bushes.  "Goudy,"  said  the  Dr.  "for  what  purpose  do  you  suppose 
barberry  bushes  were  made?"  '•!  dun  know  for  sartain,"  was  the 
reply,  "but  I  rayther  guess  to  whip  ministers  with,  and  make  them 
stick  to  their  texts  !^'  This  Goudy  was  one  day  away  from  home, 
and  a  severe  thunder-storm  commencing,  he  turned  to  go,  saying:  "I 
must  go  home  ;  my  wife  is  bashful  when  it  thunders  !" 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  spirit  of  freedom  that  actuated  the  revolutionary 
sires,  and  spurred  them  onward  in  their  efforts  to  snap 
the  manacles  of  oppression,  vas  exhibited  in  Danvers 
at  a  very  early  period.  The  people  of  this  town  seemed 
to  scent  the  danger  from  afar,  and  while  the  mass  of 
the  colonists  were  unconscious  of  the  progress  of  the 
tide  which  was  slowly  rolling  in  over  their  rights  and 
privileges,  they  beheld  it,  and  prophesying  its  further 
advance,  sounded  the  tocsin  of  alarm.  The  celebrated 
Stamp  Act  passed  in  the  year  1705,  and  became  the 
law  of  the  colonies.  Dr.  Franklin,  then  in  London, 
wrote  a  letter  to  Charles  Thompson,  the  night  after  the 
passage  of  the  act,  in  which  he  said  among  other  things  : 
"The  Sim  of  Liberty  is  set;  tJie  Americaris  must 
liylit  the  lamps  of  industry  mid  economy. "^^  To  which 
Mr.  Thompson  sagaciously  replied  :  "Be  assured  we 
shall  light  torches  quite  of  another  sort  .^"  Kindred 
to  this  spirit,  was  that  of  the  people  of  this  town,  who, 
on  the  twenty-ninth  of  October,  instructed  Thomas  Por- 
ter, their  representative,  as  follows  : 

"Sir.  We  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of 


w 


TO  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

tlie   town  of  Danvers,  in   Town  meeting    assembled, 
the   Twenty  first  of  October,  A.  D.  1765— 

* 'Professing  the  Greatest  Loyalty  to  our  Most  Gracious 
Soverign,  and  our  Sincere  Regard  and  Reverence  for 
the  British  Parliament,  as  the  Most  Powerful!  and  Re- 
spectable Body  of  Men  on  Earth,  yet  being  Deeply  Sen- 
sible of  the  Difficultys  and  Distresses  to  which  that 
August  Assembly's  Late  Exertions  of  their  Power  in 
and  by  the  Stamp  Act,  Must  Necessarily  Expose  us, 
Think  it  Proper  in  the  Present  Critical  Conjuncture  of 
affairs,  to  give  you  the  following  Instructions — 

"Viz :  That  j^ou  Promote  and  readily  Joyn  in  such 
DutifuU  Remonstrances  and  Humble  Petitions  to  the 
King  &  Parliament,  and  other  Decent  Measures,  as 
may  have  a  Tendency  to  Obtain  a  Repeal  of  the  Stamp 
Act,  or  aleviation  of  the  Heavy  Burdens  thereby  Im- 
posed on  the  British  Colonies. 

"And,  in  as  much  as  great  Tumults  Tending  to  the 
Subversion  of  Government  have  Lately  Happened,  & 
Several  Outrages  Comitted  by  some  evil  minded  People 
in  the  Capital  Town  of  this  Province,  you  are  therefore 
Directed  to  Bear  Testimony  against,  and  do  all  in  your 
Power  to  suppress  or  Prevent  all  Riotous  Assemblys, 
and  unlawful!  Acts  of  Violence,  upon  the  Persons  or 
Substances  of  any  of  his  Majesty's  Subjects. 

"And  that  you  do  not  give  3'Our  Assent  to  any  Act 
of  Assembly,  that  shall  Imply  the  willingness  of  }Our 
Constituants  to  submit  to  any  Internal  Taxes  that  are  or 
shall  be  Imposed  on  us.  Otherwise  than  by  the  Great 
and  General  Court  of  this  Province,  according  to  the 
Constitution  of  this  Government. 


HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS.  71 

"And  that  you  be  Careful  not  to  give  3^our  Assent  to 
any  Extravigant  Grants  out  of  the  Publick  Treasure- 
ry,  &c." 

On  the  twenty-third  day  of  the  following  December 
Mr.  Porter  received  instructions  substantially  the  same 
as  the  foregoing.     But  in  addition,  the  people  ask  : 

"Can  it  be  thought  consistant  "v^-ith  the  Dignity  of  the 
Brittish  Crown,  for  the  Parliament  of  Great  Brittain 
to  Divest  us  of  those  Rights  and  Powers,  Those  Emolu- 
ments, Libertys,  &  Privileges  which  have  in  the  most 
absolute,  authentick,  and  Ample  manner,  for  them- 
selves and  their  successors  forever  been  Given,  Grant- 
ed and  Confirmed  to  us  and  our  Heirs  forever,  by  King 
Charles  ye  First  in  the  Fourth  year  of  his  Reign,  and 
again  by  King  William  ye  Third,  and  Queen  Mary,  in 
the  third  year  of  their  Reign  ;  especially,  considering 
what  unutterable  Fateagues  and  Perrills  we  have  under- 
gone, and  the  vast  Treasure  of  Blood  as  well  as  Money 
we  have  expended,  for  the  gaining  and  Maintaining  our 
Possessions,  of  those  Rights,  Libertys,  &  Privileges, 
which  too  we  have  never  forfeited  or  Resigned,  but 
have  now  near  One  Hundred  &  forty  years  been  pos- 
sessed of. 

"Had  the  Inhabitants  of  Great  Brittain  any  Claim, 
or  Pretence  of  Right  to  these  American  Wilds,  when 
our  Fathers  first  adventured  to  Land  here,  or  were  our 
Fathers  Sent  here  by  them,  and  at  their  Charge,  to  ac- 
quire Such  Rights  for  them,  if  not,  but  if  our  Fathers 
thus  at  their  own  proper  Risk  and  Charge,  adventur- 
ed into  this  then  Howling  Wilderness,  why  should  they 
envy  us  the  full  and  quiet  Enjoyment  of  those  Territo- 


72  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS. 


rys,  which  either  by  purchase  or  Conquest,  we  have 
justly  acquired  for  ourselves  and  Children  ?  We  envy 
them  not  in  the  Possession  and  Enjoyment  of  the  Rich 
Patrimony  we  wholly  left  to  and  with  them,  when  we 
Left  the  Brittish  Isle,  and  are  content  with  the  Portion, 
which  by  the  Blessing  of  God,  and  with  the  leave,  and 
under  the  Directions  of  the  King,  of  our  common  Fath- 
er w^e  acquired  for  ourselves  &c.  ^'They  then  set  forth, 
that  as  they  fought  against  France,  and  expected  and 
received  no  advantage  from  England's  victories,  they 
do  not  feel  willing  to  relinquish  any  advantage  the  Col- 
onies have  acquired.     They  then  add  : 

"In  case,  (if  so  wild  a  supposition  may  be  advanc- 
ed,) our  Great  and  General  Court  being  Deeply  Im- 
pressed with  the  Thought  that  the  Province  is  very 
havily  laden  with  Debt,  and  Labours  under  Great  Bur- 
dens in  Regard  of  their  Trade  &  Commerce,  which 
makes  Money  exceeding  scarse  among  us.  Should  Con- 
trive a  Law,  whereby  the  Inhabitants  of  Great  Brit- 
tain,  who  so  much  Abound  in  Riches,  and  Enjoy  so 
flourishing  and  Extensive  a  Trade  and  Commerce, 
should  be  subjected  to  a  Tax  for  our  Easement  and  Re- 
lief, Can  it  Rationally  be  Supposed  that  our  King 
would  approve  of  such  Laws?"  They  then  declare 
that  Taxation  and  Representation  must  go  together, 
and  then  say, — "It  is  not  in  their  Power,"  (the  Par- 
liament) "to  make  the  Easterly  Banks  of  America  con- 
tiguous to  the  AVesterly  Banks  of  Great  Britain,  which 
Banks  have  lain  and  still  ly  one  Thousand  Leagues 
distant  from  Each  Other,  and  till  they  can  do  this,  they 
Cannot,   (as  we  Humbly  Concieve,)  Provide  for  the 


m 

HISTORY  OF   DAXVERS.  73 


Good  Govermuent  of  His  Majisty's  Subjects  in  these 
two  Distant  Regions,  without  ye  Estabhshment  of  a 
Diiferent  Power,  Both  Legeslative  and  Executive  in 
Each."  They  then  urge  Mr.  Porter  to  demand  a  re- 
peal of  tho  stamp  act.  They  say  they  are  wilhng  to 
be  subject  to  the  "Greatest  and  best  of  Kings,"  and  to 
assist  him  always,  but  they  think  men  of  "Envious  and 
Depraved  Minds"  have  advised  him  wrongly.  They 
think  that  their  grievance  is  such,  as  "cannot  but  be  re- 
sented by  every  True  Englishman,  who  has  any  Spark 
of  Generous  Fire  Remaning  in  His  Breast." 

It  should  be  remembered  that  these  instructions 
were  given  in  the  year  1765, — ten  years  before  the 
battle  of  Lexington. 

Samuel  Holten,  the  Representative  for  the  year 
17G8,  was  requested  to  join  a  Convention  to  be  gath- 
ered in  Faneuil  Hall,  Boston,  on  the  twenty-second 
day  of  September,  to  consist  of  delegates  from  the  dif- 
ferent towns  in  the  Commonwealth.  It  was  held  sever- 
al days,  and  the  differences  between  the  Colonies  and 
the  Mother  country  were  fully  canvassed.  Dr.  Hol- 
ten sustained  an  active  part  in  the  deliberations,  and  dis- 
tinguished himself  for  that  zeal  and  strength  which  al- 
ways characterized  him. 

The  attention  of  the  people  continued  awake  to  the 
difficulties  between  the  two  countries,  and  they  constant- 
ly fanned  tlie  flame  of  freedom  with  that  zeal  created 
by  a  love  of  Liberty.  A  continual  observation  of  the 
signs  of  the  times  was  held,  and  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  progress  of  affairs  prevailed  universally.  The 
morning  greeting  and  the  evening  salute  Avere  concluded 


74  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


by  converse  on  the  state  of  public  affairs,  and  all  of 
the  social  gatherings  were  enUvened  or  depressed,  as 
the  matter  communicated  was  cheering  or  saddening. 
Young  and  Old  prayed  that  open  rebellion  and  civil  war 
might  be  averted,  but  demanded  these  rather  than  sla- 
very. 

The  year  1770  was  distinguished  by  the  passage  of 
the  Non-Importation  Agreement  on  the  part  of  the  Mer- 
chants of  Boston.  The  act  of  Parliament  of  1767, 
which  laid  a  tax  on  glass,  paper,  tea  and  several  other 
articles,  was  during  this  year  partially  repealed,  chiefly 
throu£i;h  the  exertions  of  Lord  North.  The  tax  on  tea 
was  allowed  to  remain.  Although  the  partial  repeal  of 
duties  mollified  in  some  measure  the  public  indignation? 
yet  the  Colonists  were  unwilling  to  submit  to  this  sin- 
gle encroachment.  The  Non-importation  agi'oement 
therefore,  passed  by  the  merchants  of  several  towns  in 
the  Commonwealth,  expressed  a  determination  to  im- 
port no  goods  from  Great  Britain,  that  had  passed  un- 
der the  Tariff,  particularly  the  article  of  Tea ;  and 
they  recommended  that  all  who  were  disposed  to  resist 
the  tyranny  of  England,  should  refrain  from  the  use 
of  tea.  On  the  twenty-eighth  of  May,  the  people  of 
this  town  voted  : — "That  this  Town  Highly  approves  of 
the  Spirited  Conduct  of  the  Merchants  of  our  Metropo- 
lis, and  the  other  Maritime  Towns  in  this  Province,  in 
an  agreement  of  Non-Importation,  well  calculated  to 
Restore  our  Invaluable  Rights  and  Liberties.  Voted  : 
that  we  will  not  ourselves,  (to  our  knowledge,)  or  by 
any  person,  for  or  under  us.  Directly  or  Indirectly,  Pur- 
chase of  such  Person  or  Persons,  any  Goods  whatever, 


HISTORY  OF   BANVERS.  75 

and  as  far  as  we  can  effect  it,  will  withdraw  our  con- 
nection from  every  Person  who  shall  Import  Goods  from 
Great  Brittain,  Contrary  to  the  Agreement  of  the  Mer- 
chants aforesaid.  Voted  that  we  will  not  drink  any 
Tea  ourselves,  and  use  our  best  endeavours  to  prevent 
our  Families,  and  those  connected  with  them,  from  the 
use  thereof,  from  this  Date,  until  the  Act  imposing  a 
Duty  on  that  Article  be  repealed,  or  a  general  Importa- 
tion shall  take  place.  Cases  of  Sickness  Excepted." 
To  carry  out  the  public  feeling,  a  Committee  of  twelve 
was  raised,  whose  duty  it  was  to  convey  a  copy  of  the 
above  to  every  family  in  the  town,  to  receive  the  sig- 
natures of  the  people.  The  Committee  was  instructed 
to  write  the  names  of  all  who  refused  to  append  their 
signatures  to  these  articles,  and  publish  them  as  enemies 
to  the  country.  The  resolutions  were  printed  in  the 
Essex  Gazette.  Isaac  Wilson  (see  "Bell  Tavern.") 
seems  to  have  been  the  only  one  who  opposed  the  popu- 
lar enthusiasm. 

Nothing  more  of  note  occurred,  until  June  1772, 
when  Messrs.  Francis  Symonds,  Benja.  Proctor,  Gide- 
on Putnam,  Capt.  Wm.  Shillaber,  Dea.  Amos  Putnam, 
Tarrant  Putnam  Jr,  and  Wm.  Pool,  were  chosen  as  a 
Committee  to  take  into  account  our  civil  liberties. 
They  drew  up  the  following  resolutions,  which  were 
presented  to,  and  adopted  by  the    town,  unanimously. 

''I.  Besolved  that  we  will  use  our  utmost  endeavors 
that  all  Constitutional  Laws  are  strictly  adhered  to,  and 
Faithfully  Executed,  believing  that  next  to  our  Duty  to 
God,  Loyalty  to  our  King,  (in  a  constitutional  way,)  is 
Required,  in  Order  to  the  well-being  of  the  Community. 


76  HISTORY  OF    D  AX  VERS. 

''II.  That  when  Government  becomes  Tyrannical 
and  Oppressive,  we  hold  ourselves  bound  in  Duty  to 
Ourselves  and  Posterity,  to  use  Every  Lawful  Method 
to  Check  the  Same,  least  it  deprive  the  Subject  of  ev- 
ery Privilege  that  is  Valuable. 

''III.     that  it  is  the  Opinion  of  this  Town  that   the 
Rights  of  the   Collonists  in  General,  and  this  Province 
in  Particular,  have  of  late  been  greatly  Infringed  Up- 
on, by  the  Mother  Country,  by -Unconstitutional  Meas- 
ures, which  have  been  adopted  by  the  Ministry,  tend- 
ing wholly  to  Overthrow  our  Civil  Priviledges  ;  Partic- 
ularly in  Assuming  the  Power  of  Legislation  for  the 
Collonists,  in  Raising  a  Revenue  in  the  Colonies  without 
their  Consent,  in   Creatins:  a  Number  of  Officers  un- 
known  to  the  Charter,  and  investing  such  officers  with 
powers  wholly  unconstitutional  and  Destructive  to  the 
Liberties  we  have  a  Right   to  Enjo}^  as  Englishmen,  in 
Rendering  the   Governor  Independent  of  the   General 
Assembly  for  his  support ;  and,  by  Instructions  from  the 
Court  of  Great  Britain,  the  first  Branch  of  our  Legis- 
lature has  so  far  forgot  his  Duty  to  the   Province,  as 
that  he  hath  refused   to  Consent  to  an  Act  imposing  a 
Tax  for  the  Necessary    supjort  of    Government  unless 
Certain  Persons  pointed    out   by   the  Ministry    were 
Exempted  from  paying  their  just  Proportion  of  said 
Taxes ;  and  hath  given  up  the   Chief  Fortress  of  the 
Province  (Castle  William)   into  the  Hands  of  Troops 
over  whom  he  Declared  he  had  no  Control ;  in  Extend- 
ing the  power  of  Courts  of  A^ice  Admiralty  to  such  a 
Degree,  as  Deprives  the  People  of  the   Collonies  (in 
Great  Measure)  of  tlieir  inestimable  Rights  of  Tryals 


HISTORY  OF   DANVERS.  77 

by  Juries,  &  in  that  we  have  reason  to  fear  (from  In- 
formation,) the  Judges  of  the  Superior  Court  &&c 
Rendered  independent  of  the  People  for  their  Lib- 
erties. 

"IIII.  that  an  act  of  Parliament,  intitled  an  Act 
for  the  better  Preservation  of  his  Majesties  dockyards 
&&C.,  (in  consequence  of  which  Commissioners  have 
been  x'\.ppointed  to  enquire  after  the  persons  Concerned 
in  burning  his  Majesties  schooner,  the  Gaspee,  att 
Providence,)  has  Greatly  alarmed  us;  tlio'  we  are  very 
far  from  Pretending  to  justify  the  Act,  yet  we  appre- 
hend such  Methods  very  Extraordinary,  as  the  Consti- 
tution has  Made  Provision  for  the  Punishment  of  such 
Offenders  ; — by  all  which  it  appears  to  us,  tliat  in  Con- 
sequence of  Seme  Unguarded  Conduct  of  Particular 
Persons,  the  Colonies  in  General  and  this  Province  in 
Particular,  are,  for  our  Loyalty,  Constantly  receiving 
the  Punishment  due  to  Rebellion  Only. 

"V.  that  we  will  use  all  Lawful  Endeavours  for  Re- 
covering, Maintaining  and  Preserving  the  invaluable 
Rights  and  Privileges  of  this  People,  and  Stand  Ready 
(if  need  be,)  to  Risque  Our  Lives  k  fortunes  in  De- 
fence of  those  Liberties  which  our  forefathers  Purchased 
at  so  dear  a  Rate. 

"VI.  That  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  do  hereby 
Instruct  their  Representative,  that  he  Use  his  Influence 
in  the  Great  k  General  Court  or  Assembly  of  this  Prov- 
ince, &  in  a  Constitutional  way.  Earnestly  Contend  for 
the  just  Rights  &  Privileges  of  the  People,  that  they  may 
be  handed  down  inviolate  to  the  latest  Posterity,  and 
as  this  Depends  in  a  great  Measure  on  the  steady,  firm, 


& 


^  'if 

78  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS. 

and  united  Endeavors  of  all  the  Provinces  on  the  Con- 
tinent, we  further  Instruct  him  to  use  his  Influence, 
that  a  Strict  Union  and  Correspondence  be  Cultivated 
and  Preserved  betAveen  the  same,  &  that  they  unitedly 
Petition  his  Majesty  &  Parliament  for  the  Redress  of 
our  Public  greivances  :  we  further  Instruct  him  by  no 
means  to  Consent  to  Give  up  any  of  our  Privileges, 
whether  derived  from  Kature,  or  Charter,  which  we 
have  as  just  a  Right  to  Enjoy,  as  any  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  Great  Brittain  :  also,  that  he  use  his  Endeavors 
that  Ample  and  Ilonerable  Sallaries  be  Granted  to  his 
Excellency  the  Governor,  &  to  the  Ilonerable  Judges 
of  the  Superior  Court  &&c.,  adecjuate  to  their  Respec- 
tive Dii>;nities." 

Immediately  tliercaftcr,  Dr.  Samuel  Ilolten,  Tarrant 
Putnam,  and  Capt.  Wm.  Shillaber,  were  chosen  a  Com- 
mittee to  correspond  with  the  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence for  Boston  and  other  towns,  on  all  matters 
touching  the  public  affairs.  The  Committee  sent  the 
foregoing  resolutions  to  the  Committee  of  Correspon- 
dence for  Boston.  (This  year  a  difference  arose  in  the 
town  concerning  annual  and  other  public  meetings,  and 
after  appealing  to  General  Court,  it  was  decided  that 
town  meetings  should  for  the  future  be  held  in  the 
North  and  South  Parishes  alternately.  It  was  agitated 
to  build  a  town  house  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  but  the 
motion  did  not  prevail.) 

The  people  continued  watchful,  and  evidently  waited 
for  an  overt  act  on  the  part  of  the  oppressor,  to  appeal 
to  arms.  Even  the  clergy  threw  out  words  significant 
of  meaning,  and  hopeful  for  the  cause  of  freedom.     Mr. 


rKe- 


HISTORY    OF   DAXYERS.  79 

Holt  at  the  Middle  Precinct  was  heard  to  say, — "I  had 
rather  live  on  potatoes  than  submit."  He  procured  a 
musket,  and  performed  drill-service  regularly  in  the 
ranks  of  Capt.  Eppes'  company.  Mr.  Wads^Yorth  of 
the  Tillage  parish  was  very  ardent,  and  when  the  en- 
gagement at  North  River  Bridge  occurred,  he  shoulder- 
ed his  musket,  and  marched  to  Salem. 

Thomas  Ga^re  the  Roval  Governor  of  ^Massachusetts, 
finding  his  situaticn  in  Boston  unpleasant,  removed  to 
Danvers,  where  in  the  "Collins  House"  he  took  up  his 
residence  June  5th,  1774. 

This  house,  formerly  occupied  by  Judge  Collins,  was 
built  by  Robert  Hooper,  known  in  his  day  as  King  Hoop- 
er,— on  account  of  his  wealth,  and  the  state  in  which 
he  lived,  and  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Rev.  P. 
S.  Ten-Broeck,  grandson  of  Gen.  x^braham  Ten-Broeck, 
who  was  distinguished  in  ihe  Revolution.  It  is  one  of 
the  finest  mansions  in  the  State.     See  Kote. 

Gov.  Gage  was  attended  by  two  companies  of  the  64th 
Regiment  Royal  Troops  from  Castle  "William.  They 
arrived  July  21st,  and  during  their  stay,  were  encamp- 
ed in  the  wide  field  in  which  are  Tapley's  brickyards. 
There  are  many  anecdotes  told  of  the  impression  which 
their  presence  produced  on  tLe  peojle.  (a)  Although 
they  seemed  quite  free  in  theii*  intercourse  with  the  citi- 
zens, yet  they  preserved  a  good  degree  of  watchfulness. 
But  the  people  were  jealous  of  their  presence,  and  took 
measures  to  hasten  their  departure.  They  had  not  been 
encamped  in  Danvers  quite  three  months,  when  the 
lively  spirit  of  rebellion  in  the  town  forced  them  to  re- 
main under  arm^  every  night  to  prevent  surprise.  "Part 


•/ts 


80  HISTORY    OF   DANVERS.  f 


of  the  64th  Regiment  encamped  near  the  Governor's, 
we  hear,  were  under  Arms  all  last  Friday  night."  Es- 
sex Gazette,  Aug.  23.  1774.  (b)  At  length  on  the 
fifth  of  September  the  companies  started  in  the  night 
for  Boston,     (c) 

The  restraint  imposed  upon  the  people  of  this  town 
and  vicinity  by  the  presence  of  the  soldiers,  was  re- 
moved by  their  departure,  and  consultations  were  held 
to  determme  on  future  action.  Doctor  Holten  was  in- 
structed September  27th,  1774  as  follows  : 

*'Sir  :  As  we  have  now  chosen  you  to  Represent  us 
in  the  Great  and  General  Court  to  be  holden  in  Salem 
on  Wednesday  the  5th  day  of  October  next  ensuing  : 
We  do  hereby  Instruct  you  that  in  all  your  doings  as  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  you  adhere 
firmly  to  the  Charter  of  this  Province  granted  by  their 
Majesties  King  William  and  Queen  Mary,  and  that  you 
do  no  act  which  can  be  possibly  construed  into  an  Ac- 
knowledgement of  the  Act  of  the  British  Parliament  for 
Altering  the  Government  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  more 
especially  that  you  acknowledge  the  Honorable  Board 
of  Counsellors  Elected  by  the  General  Court  at  their 
session  in  May  last,  as  the  only  rightful  and  constitu- 
tional Council  of  this  Province.  And  as  we  have  Rea- 
son to  believe  that  a  Conscientious  Discharge  of  your 
Duty  will  produce  your  Dissolution  as  an  House  of 
Representatives,  We  do  hereby  impower  aud  Instruct 
you,  to  join  with  the  Members  who  may  be  sent  from 
this  and  the  neighboring  Towns  in  the  Province,  and 
meet  with  them  at  a  time  to  be  agreed  on,  in  a  General 
Provincial   Congress,  to  act  upon  such  matters  as  may 

i  KH9 


m-^- 


niSTOEY  OF   DANYEES.  81 

come  before  3'Ou,  in  such  a  manner  as  shall  appear  to  be 
most  conducive  to  the  true  Interest  of  this  Town  and 
Province,  and  most  likely  to  preserve  the  liberties  of 
all  America." 

The  Government  of  England  -was  virtually  repudiat- 
ed November  21st,  1774,  when  the  ToAvn  voted  to  ad- 
here strictly  to  all  the  Resolves  and  Kecommendations 
of  the  Provincial  Congress. 

At  this  time,  the  Representative  was  chosen  by  each 
of  the  voters  passing  by  the  Moderator,  and  informing 
him  aloud  who  was  his  nominee.  Dr.  Ilolten  was  in  this 
way  unanimously  chosen. 

Thus  the  people  were  ripe  for  a  revolution.  On  the  Ad. 
vent  of  the  year  1775,  a  year  so  filled  with  events  to  this 
Republic,  the  people  of  Danvers  were  prepared  to  embark 
in  the  stormy  struggle  of  war.  Accordingly,  on  the 
ninth  of  January,  it  was  voted  to  comply  with  the  Pro- 
vincial Recommendation,  and  supply  each  man  with  "an 
effective  Fire  Arm,  Bayonet,  Pouch,  Knapsack,  Thirty 
Rounds  of  Cartridges  and  Ball,  and  that  they  be  Dis- 
ciphned  three  times  a  week,  and  oftener  as  opportunity 
may  offer."  It  was  also  determined  that  each  man 
should  receive  one  shilling  for  each  half  day  he  was  in 
service.  Although  there  had  been  no  rupture,  no  en- 
gagement, yet  the  horizon  was  overcast,  and  the  growl- 
ings  of  the  tempest  in  the  distance,  gave  jortentous 
warnings  of  a  coming  storm.  The  people  waited  for 
the  signal,  to  commence  an  effort  for  freedom. 

On  the  nineteenth  inst.  it  was  resolved  to  adhere 
strictly  to  all  the  requisitions  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, and  Capt.  William    Shillaber,    Capt.  Jeremiah 


82 


HISTORY  OP    DAN  VERS. 


n 


Page,  Dr.  Samuel  Holten,  Jonathan  Proctor,  Dr.  Amos 
Putnam,  Capt.  William  Putnam,  Capt.  Benjamin 
Proctor,  Capt.  Samuel  Epes,  and  Capt  Israel  Hutchinson 
were  appointed  to  see  that  the  citizens  of  Dan  vers  were 
obedient.  It  was  also  voted  "that  the  meeting  of  the  In- 
habitants of  this  town  in  parties  at  Houses  of  Entertain- 
ment, for  the  purpose  of  Dancing,  Feasting  &c.,  is  ex- 
pressly against  the  Eighth  Article  of  the  American  Con- 
gress Association.  Therefore  the  Committee  of  Inspect- 
ion are  Particularly  instructed  to  take  care  that  the  said 
eighth  article  in  the  Association  is  strictly  compliedwith." 

The  zeal  of  these  times  may  be  learned  by  the  fact, 
that  March  6th,  1775,  the  third  Alarm-Ust  chose  its  offi 
cers  as  follows :  Capt.  Dea.M^sm^  Putnam;  Lieut. 
Rev.  Benj.  Balch;  Ensign,  jS:«i.  Tarrant  Putnam. 

There  had  been  several  gun  carriages  made  by  Rich- 
ard Skidmore  a  wheel-wright  at  New  Mills,  and  lodged 
at  the  Gardner  Farm,  (d.)  A  report  of  this  fact  had 
reached  Boston,  and  a  detachment  of  soldiers  was  sent  in 
a  transport,  and  ordered  to  land  at  Marblehead,  and 
march  overland  to  Danvers  and  destroy  them.  The 
orders  were  obeyed,  and  the  success  they  met  with  may 
be  seen  in  the  following  extract  from  the  "American 
Archives." 

(Capt.  Samuel  Eppes  and  his  company  of  men 
had  been  for  some  time  previous  in  a  state  of  read- 
iness, and  they  marched  to  repel  these  invaders  at  the 
first  warning.) 

Salem,  Feb.  28th,  1775. 

"Last  Sabbath,  the  26th  inst.,  the  peace  of  the  town 
was  disturbed  by  the  landing  of  a  regiment  of  the  king's 


HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS.  83    f 

troops,   the  particulars   relative  to   winch   are  as   fol- 
lows : 

"A  transport' arrived  at  Marhleliead,  apparently  man- 
ned as  usual.  Between  two  and  three  o'clock,  (as  soon 
as  the  people  had  gone  to  meeting)  the  decks  were  cov- 
ered with  soldiers,  who  having  loaded,  and  fixed  their 
bayonets,  landed  with  great  despatch,  and  instantly 
marched  off.  Some  of  the  inhabitants  suspecting  they 
were  bound  to  jSalem,  to  seize  some  materials  there 
preparing  for  an  artillery,  despatched  several  messen- 
gers to  inform  us  of  it.  These  materials  were  on  the 
north  side  of  the  North  River,  and  to  come  at  them  it 
was  necessary  to  cross  a  bridge,  one  part  of  which  was 
made  to  draw  up  to  let  vessels  pass.  The  inhabitants 
kept  a  look  out  for  the  appearance  of  the  troops.  The 
van  guard  arrived,  and  took  their  route  down  town  as 
far  as  the  Long  Wharf,  perhaps  to  decoy  the  inhabi- 
tants thither,  away  from  the  place  to  which  the  main 
body  Avas  destined.  The  main  body  arrived  soon  after, 
and  halted  a  few  minutes  by  the  Town  House.  It  is 
said  that  inrpiiry  was  immediately  made  by  some  of  the 
officers  for  a  half  brother  of  Col.  Browne  the  Man- 
damus Counsellor.  Be  this  as  it  may,  he  was  seen  whis- 
pering in  the  Colonel's  ear,  iu  the  front  of  the  regiment 
and  when  he  parted  from  the  Cal.  the  regiment  march- 
ed with  a  quick  pace  towards  the  North  Bridge  ;  just 
before  entering  upon  which  the  bridge  was  pulled  up. 
The  regiment  however  pushed  on  till  they  came  to  the 
bridge,  not  observing  (as  it  seemed)  that  it  was  drawn 
up.  The  Col.  exprescied  some  surprise  ;  and  turning 
about,  ordered  an  officer  to  face  his  company  to  a  body 


84  HISTORY  OF  DAXVERS. 

of  men  scanding  on  a  wharf  on  the  other  side  of  the 
draw  bridge  and  to  fire.  One  of  our  townsmen  (who 
had  kept  along  side  of  the  Col.  from  the  time  he 
marched  from  his  own  house)  told  him  he  had  better  not 
fire  ;  that  he  had  no  right  to  fire  without  further  orders 
and  if  you  do  fire  (said  he)  you  will  be  all  dead  men. 
The  company  neither  faced  nor  fired.  The  Colonel  re- 
tired to  the  centre  of  his  regiment,  assembled  his  offi- 
cers and  held  a  consultation  ;  which  being  ended  he  ad- 
vanced a  little,  and  declared  he  would  maintain  his 
ground,  and  go  over  the  bridge  if  it  was  a  month  first. 
The  same  townsman  replied,  he  might  stay  there  as  long 
as  he  pleased  no  one  cared  for  that.  The  half  brother 
before  mentioned,  (it  is  said)  made  towards  the  bridge 
but  seeing  the  draw  bridge  up  said  "it  is  all  over  with 
us." 

"He  has  since  disappeared,  meanwhile  two  large  gon- 
dolas that  lay  aground  (for  it  was  low  water)  were  scut- 
tled, lest  they  should  cross  the  channel  with  them. 
But  whilst  one  gentleman  was  scuttling  his  own  gondo- 
la, a  party  of  about  twenty  soldiers  jumped  into  it,  and 
with  their  bayonets  charged  against  our  unarmed  towns. 
men,  (some  of  whom  they  pricked)  compelled  them  to 
quit  it ;  but  before  this  a  sufficient  hole  was  made  in  the 
bottom.  This  attack  of  the  soldiers,  and  some  other  oc- 
currences occasioned  a  little  bickering,  but  by  the  inter- 
position of  some  of  the  inhabitants,  the  disputes  subsid- 
ed. At  lenii;th  some  2;entleraan  asked  the  Colonel  Avhat 
was  his  design  in  making  this  movement,  and  why  he 
would  cross  the  bridge  ?  He  said,  I  have  orders  to 
cross  it,  and  he  would  cross  it  if  he  lost  his  life  with 


HISTORY  OF   DANVERS.  85 

the  lives  of  all  his  men ;  and  asked,  why  the  king's 
highway  was  obstructed  ?  He  was  told  it  was  not  the 
king's  road,  but  the  property  of  the  inhabitants,  who 
had  a  right  to  do  what  they  pleased  with  it.  Finally 
the  Col.  said  he  must  go  over,  and  if  the  bridge  was  let 
down  so  as  he  might  pass,  he  pledged  his  honor  he 
would  not  march  above  thirty  rods  beyond  it,  and  then 
immediately  return. 

"The  regiment  had  now  been  at  the  bridge  about  an 
hour  and  a  half;  and  everything  being  secured,  the  in- 
habitants directed  that  the  bridge  might  be  let  down. 
The  regiment  immediately  passed  over,  marched  a  few 
rods,  returned,  and  with  great  expedition  went  back  to 
Marblehead,  where  they  went  on  board  the  transport 
without  delay. 

"When  all  the  circumstances  are  considered,  there  can 
remain  no  doubt  that  the  sole  purpose  of  this  manoeuvre 
was  to  steal  away  the  artillery  materials. 

"It  is  regretted  that  an  officer  of  Col.  XesZiVs  ack- 
nowledged worth,  should  be  obliged,  in  obedience  to  his 
orders,  to  come  upon  so  pitiful  an  errand.  Various  reports 
were  spread  abroad  respecting  the  troops ;  the  country 
was  alarmed,  and  one  company  arrived  in  arms  from 
Danvers,  just  as  the  troops  left  the  town.  We  immedi- 
ately despatched  messengers  to  the  neighboring  towns 
to  save  them  the  trouble  of  coming  in  ;  but  the  alarm 
flew  like  lightning  (and  some,  doubtless,  magnified  the 
first  simple  reports)  so  that  great  numbers  were  in  arms, 
and  some  on  their  march,  before  our  messengers  arriv- 
ed." The  alarm  extended  forty  miles,  and  the  Essex 
Gazette  of  that  date,  says  40,000  men  would  have  arriv- 


86  HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS. 

ed  in  a  few  hours.  The  British  nurabered  140,  and  the 
Americans  under  Col.  Pickering  about  50.  ''Many  of 
the  people  were  armed  with  pitchforks,  clubs  and  other 
rude  weapons.  One  man  laid  bare  his  bosom  and  dared 
the  British  soldier,  who  was  threatening  him  with  his 
bayonet,  to  strike.'' 

Col.  Pickering  informed  John  W.  Proctor,  Esq., 
that  he  scuttled  with  his  own  hands,  one  of  the  gondo- 
las referred  to  in  the  above  account. 

This  was  the  first  resistance,  bloodless  indeed,  but  de- 
termined, which  was  made  on  the  part  of  the  people  of 
this  country  to  the  encroachment  of  foreign  aggression. 
In  the  Town  of  Salem,  nearly  two  months  before  the 
battle  of  Lexington,  the  people  of  Danvers  joined  by 
those  of  Salem,  opposed  and  beat  back  the  foe,  and 
established  their  title  to  the  quality  of  determined  brav- 
ery. But  for  the  calmness  and  discretion  of  Leslie  the 
English  Commander,  North  Bridge  w^ould  have  taken 
the  place  of  Lexington,  and  February  26th,  would  have 
been  forever  memorable  in  the  Annals  of  the  Republic. 

The  Nineteenth  of  April  arrived.  The  day  which 
was  to  baptize  the  soil  of  Concord  and  Lexington  had 
dawned.  Its  history  need  not  here  be  related.  It  is 
sufficient  to  say,  that  in  the  night  of  April  18th,  about 
800  soldiers  were  despatched  to  destroy  military  stores 
supposed  to  be  secreted  at  Concord.  The  expedition 
started  in  the  night  with  the  greatest  precaution,  and 
arrived  at  Lexington  at  about  four  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing. The  battle  was  fousrht,  and  the  British  were  driven 
like  frightened  deer,  before  the  defenders  of  freedom. 
A  reinforcement  came  to  their  relief,  and  met  them 


HISTORY  OF   DANVERS.  87 

when  they  "were  half  of  a  mile  beyond  Lexington  meet- 
ing house.  The  English  forces,  amounting  to  about 
1800  men,  commenced  their  retreat. 

The  noAvs  of  the  battle  reached  Danvers  at  about  9 
o'clock  A.  M.,  and  was  communicated  to  the  citizens 
by  the  ringing  of  bells,  and  the  sound-  of  drums.  The 
call  awakes  the  land.  From  every  shop  and  field  and 
bench,  the  hardy  sons  of  Liberty  throng  to  their 
rendezvous,  near  the  Old  South.  With  firm  tread  and 
dauntless  bearing  they  gather  around  the  edifice  where 
they  have  prayed  and  worshipped,  and  when  they  un- 
derstand the  tidings,  each  man  clenches  his  teeth, 
seizes  his  musket,  and  prepares  for  the  march,  (e.) 
The  women  are  there.  And  not  with  entreaty  and 
fear  do  they  gather  around  their  guardians  and  protect- 
ors. They  gird  the  sword,  and  fasten  the  belt.  Pale, 
but  strong  in  faith  and  a  love  of  country,  they  bid  their 
husbands  and  sons  and  fathers  God  speed,  and  return 
to  their  .deserted  homes.  Mr.  Holt,  the  Minister  of 
the  Middle  Precinct,  gave  his  parting  benediction  to 
them,  and  they  started  for  the  field  of  death.  So  gen- 
erally did  the  men  forsake  their  homes  to  attack  the 
invading  foe,  "when  freedom  from  her  mountain  height, 
unfurled  her  standard  in  the  air,"  that  at  the  New 
Mills,  there  were  but  two  men  left  on  the  night  of  the 
Nineteenth.  Frank  Brown  was  confined  to  his  bed  by 
sickness,  and  Jonathan  Sawyer  returned  just  at  night- 
fall from  the  battle  to  bring  news  of  the  living  and  the 
dead.  Before  sunset  of  this  day,  the  wives  and  chil- 
dren of  those  who  had  rushed  from  New  Mills,  to  obey 
the  cry  of  Freedom,    gathered^  in  the  house   now   oc- 


88 


HISTOKY  OF   DANVERS. 


cupied  by  Mrs.  Reed,  and  thus,  passed  the  night. 
Amid  fears  of  approaching  foes, — doubts  of  the  living, 
and  tears  for  the  wounded  and  the  dead, — they  did  not 
discover  the  bright  days  of  Peace  and  Plenty  which 
have  since  visited  their  descendants.  But  they  did  not 
quail.  The  women  were  true.  They  cheerfully  suf- 
fered privation,  and  urged  their  sons  and  brothers  to 
"fight  the  good  fight." 

The  Muster  Rolls  of  the  State,  give  but  four  com- 
panies from  Danvers,  omitting  the  company  of  minute 
men  commanded  by  Foster.  Foster  is  set  down  as  a 
Lieutenant  in  Eppes'  company,  but  he  himself  informs 
us,  that  he  was  placed  in  command  of  a  company  a 
short  time  previous  to  the  battle.  Thus  Danvers  con- 
tributed five  companies,  commanded  by  Jeremiah  Fage^ 
Samuel  Flint,  Samuel  Eppes,  Gideon  Foster  and  Israel 
Hutchinson,  numbering  in  all  above  two  hundred  men 
from  Danvers,  besides  those  from  Salem  and  Beverly. 
Thus  thoy  started  for  the  scene  of  action,  (f.) 
When  the  news  of  the  intention  of  the  British  [reached 
Danvers,  Foster  sent  one  of  his  lieutenants  to  Col.  Pick- 
ering and  obtained  permission  to  start  with  his  minute 
men,  without  waiting  for  the  movement  of  the  regiment. 

They  arrived  at  "West  Cambridge  a  distance  of  six- 
teen miles  in  four  hours.  There  they  met  the  retreat- 
ing British,  and  poured  in  a  most  destructive  fire,  (g) 
Col.  Pickering  (h)  with  his  regiment  came  on  more 
slowly,  Hon.  D.  P.  King  has  thus  described  the  scene  : 

"Our  townsmen  heard  the  roar  of  the  artillery  and 
the  rattle  of  the  musketry,  and  they  panted  to  join  in 
the  deadly  combat.     A  little  west  of  the  meeting-house 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  89 

is  a  hill  around  which  the  road  wound  in  such  manner 
as  to  conceal  the  British.  Many  of  the  men  of  Dan- 
vers  went  into  a  walled  enclosure  and  piled  bundles  of 
shingles  wiiich  were  lying  there,  to  strengthen  their 
breast-work  ;  rumor  had  deceived  them  as  to  the  force 
of  the  enemy  ;  it  was  certainly  their  expectation  here 
to  have  intercepted  their  retreat.  Others  selected 
trees  on  the  side  of  the  hill  from  which  they  might  as- 
sail the  enemy.  But  they  had  little  space  for  preparer 
tion :  they  soon  saw  the  British  in  solid  column  de- 
scending the  hill  on  theii'  right,  and  at  the  same  mo- 
ment discovered  a  large  flank  guard  advancing  on  their 
left.  The  men  in  the  enclosure  made  a  gallant  resis. 
tance,  but  were  overpowered  by  numbers — it  was  here 
that  several  of  those  whom  we  are  proud  to  claim  for 
our  townsmen  were  slain — some  sought  shelter  in  a 
neighboring  house,  and  three  or  four,  after  they  had 
surrendered  themselves  prisoners  of  war,  were  butcher- 
ed with  savage  barbarity. 

'^'Capt.  Foster,  with  some  of  his  men  on  the  side  of 
the  hill,  finding   themselves  nearly  surrounded,  made 
an  effort  to  gain  the  pond — they  passed  along  its  mar- 
gin, and  crossed  the  road  directly  in  front  of  the  Brit- 
ish column.     On  the  north  side  of  the  road,  they  took 
position  behind  a  ditch  wall.     From  this  casual  redoubt 
they  fired  upon  tlie  enemy  as  long  as  any  of  them  were 
within  reach  of  their  muskets.      Some  of  them   fired 
eleven  times,  with  two  bullets  at  each  discharge,  and  it 
cannot  be  doubted  tliat  these  winged  messengers  of  i 
death  performed  their  destined  worl^     (i)     The  bodies  | 
of  the  slain  were  scattered  alons;  the  road — the  British  : 


90  HISTOEY   OF   DANVEKS. 

were  followed  till  they  reached  Charlestown  neck.  Mor- 
tifying and  severe  to  them  were  the  defeat  and  losses 
of  that  day.  Their  killed,  wounded  and  missing 
amounted  to  about  300. — According  to  an  account  pub- 
lished at  the  time,  in  the  form  of  a  handbill,  42  Ameri- 
cans were  killed  and  22  wounded, — "  afterwards  ascer- 
tained to  be  50  killed. 

To  the  English  Soldiery,  this  must  have  been  an  aw- 
ful retreat.  The  weather  was  very  warm,  the  sun 
poured  down  his  fiercest  rays, — the  air  was  dry,  and  a3 
they  hurried  along  their  route,  towards  the  place  of  safe- 
ty miles  away,  death  intercepted  their  progress  at  ev- 
ery step.  An  unseen  foe,  from  behind  enclosures  and 
from  the  midst  of  thickets,  poured  out  a  galling  and 
continuous  fire,  which  ever  and  anon  smote  down  some 
veteran  in  the  midst  of  his  days  and  strength,  while 
from  closed  teeth,  sharp,  hoarse  whispers  were  heard 
Baying,  "Kill  that  officer  /"  Wearied,  wounded,  per- 
ishing with  thirst,  and  diminished  in  numbers,  they 
were  pursued  to  Charlestown. 

The  men  of  Danvers  performed  their  part  faithfully, 
and  informed  the  Country  by  their  heroic  deeds,  that 
Tyranny  would  find  in  them  uncompromising  foes.  But 
the  victory  achieved  by  our  townsmen  was  fraught  with 
sadness.  Seven  of  those  who  left  town  in  the  morning 
and  saw  the  rising  sun,  saw  not  its  setting.  Two  oth- 
ers were  carried  into  captivity,  several  slightly  wounded, 
and  two  severely  so. 

The  names  of  the  slain  were  Samuel  Cook,  aged  33 
years,  Benjamin  Daland  25,  George  Southwick  25, 
(j)     Jotham  Webb  22,   Henry  Jacobs  22,   Ebenezer 


HISTORY   OF  DANVERS.  91 

Goldthwaite  22,  Perley  Putnam  21.  The  bodies  of  tlie 
slain  were  brought  home,  and  were  buried  with  appro- 
priate ceremonies.  Two  companies  from  Salem  per- 
formed escort  duty,  (k)  Nathan  Putnam  was  woun- 
ded in  the  shoulder.  He  and  his  brother  Perley  who 
was  killed  were  relatives  of  Israel  Putnam.  Dennison 
Wallis  was  at  first  taken  prisoner.  The  enemy  were 
80  infuriated  at  the  havoc  made  by  the  patriot  troops , 
that  they  determined  to  kill  all  the  prisoners  they  cap- 
tured. Wallis  saw  this,  and  in  attempting  to  escape  he 
received  twelve  bullets.  He  fell  by  the  side  of  a  wall 
he  was  leaping,  and  was  left  for  dead.  He  recovered, 
and  effected  his  escape.  Joseph  Bell  was  taken  pris- 
oner and  carried  into  Boston,  where  he  was  imprisoned 
two  months  in  an  English  frigate. 

Many  chivalric  deeds  were  performed  by  our  citizens, 
in  winning  this  doubtful  conflict.  Brave  and  fearless 
they  "dared  do  all  that  might  become  men,"  for  their 
country  ;  and  if  the  19th  of  April  1775,  was  a  glori- 
ous day  for  America,  then  was  it  glorious  also  for  Dan- 
vers  who  sacrificed  seven  of  her  bravest  sons  on  the  Al- 
tar of  Liberty,  out  of  the  fifty  who  there  perished,  and 
although  she  was  farther  from  Lexington  than  any  of 
her  sister  towns  who  Avere  represented  at  the  battle,  yet 
she  lost  more  of  her  children  than  any  other  town  ex- 
cept Lexington. 

The  utmost  watchfulness  was  observed  from  the  "Con- 
cord Fight"  onward,  on  account  of  a  fear  of  invasion. 
May  1st.  it  was  "voted  to  keep  a  watch  at  New  Mills,  and 
another  at  the  crotch  in  the  road  near  Mr.  Francis  Sy- 
monds,  and  that  each  watch  consist  of  thirteen  men  ev- 


92  HISTORY    OF   DANVERS. 

ery  night."  So  jealous  were  the  people,  and  so  fearful 
were  they  of  mternal  foes,  that  it  was  voted  to  post  in 
the  newspapers  the  names  of  all  who  refused  to  serve 
in  the  Republican  troops.  About  this  time  military  and 
other  stores  were  carted  to  Watertown,  and  the  town 
voted  to  assist.  All  firing  of  guns  &c.,was  prohibited, 
except  in  actual  alarm  or  engagement.  The  expecta- 
tion of  an  outbreak  was  realized  on  the  memorable  17th. 
of  June,  when  the  battle  of  Bunker's  Hill  was  fought.  A 
regiment  commanded  by  Col.  Timothy  Pickering  on  its 
way  to  the  field  of  battle  passed  through  Danvers  and  hal- 
ted at  the  Bell  Tavern  for  refreshment.  Mrs.  Anna  En- 
dicott,  widow  of  Samuel  who  died  in  August  1809,  dis- 
pleased at  the  delay,  walked  up  to  the  Col.,  and  with 
the  voice  and  manner  of  an  Amazon  said:  "Why  on  earth 
don't  you  march  ?  Don't  you  hear  the  guns  in  Charles- 
town?" 

Capt.  Gideon  Foster's  (l.)  company  was  station- 
ed at  Brighton  then  called  Little  Cambridge.  He  was 
ordered  by  Gen.  Ward,  to  escort  a  load  of  ammunition 
to  Charlestown.  Capt.  Foster  obeyed  and  met  the 
Americans  when  on  their  retreat.  Their  powder  was 
consumed,  and  he  supplied  them  with  ammunition  loose 
in  casks,  for  one  more  grapple  with  death.  Capt.  Foster 
in  his  old  age  revived  the  reminiscence  thus  :  "We  took 
the  ammunition  in  casks,  and  conveyed  it  in  wagons,  and 
delivered  it  freely  with  our  hands  and  our  dijjpers,,  to 
their  horns,  their  pockets  their  hats,  and  whatever  else 
they  had  that  would  hold  it.  I  well  remember  the  black- 
ened appearance  of  those  busy  in  this  work, — not  unlike 
those  engaged  in  the  delivery  of  coal  on  a  hot  summer's 


HISTORY  OF  DAN  VERS.  93 

day.  At  the  same  time  we  were  thus  occupier',  the  en- 
emy's shot  were  constantly  whistling  by  ;  but  we  had  no 
time  to  examine  their  character  or  dimensions.  I  have 
often  thought  what  might  have  been  our  condition,  had 
one  of  these  Jiot  shot  unceremoniously  come  in  contact 
with  our  wagons." 

Captain  Foster's  company  belonged  to  Colonel  Mans- 
field's regiment  which  was  stationed  on  Prospect  Hill. 
Gen.  Putnam  commanded  there.  An  order  was  issued 
calling  all  th^  captains  together.  They  were  told  that 
a  captain  was  wanted  to  engage  in  a  very  arduous  enter- 
terprise,  and  a  volunteer  was  called  for.  When  Foster 
found  no  one  willing  to  offer  services,  he  presented 
himself  and  was  accepted.  Several  soldiers  were  drawn 
from  each  company,  and  properly  armed,  they  repaired 
to  Gen.  Putnam's  quarters  to  receive  instructions.  Af- 
ter reviewing  them,  "  OldPuf^  deprived  them  of  their 
equipments  and  furnishing  them  with  axes,  sent  them  in- 
to a  swamp,  where  they  were  engaged  in  cutting  fascines 
(faggots,)  and  in  bringing  them  in  on  their  backs. 

*'The  men  expected  to  gain  honor  by  their  expo- 
sure to  unknown  dangers :  but  their  greatest  danger 
was  from  the  attack  of  musquitoes  and  their  great- 
est exposure  was  to  the  mirth  of  their  fellow  sold- 
iers." 

The  day  of  the  battle  was  very  sultry.  The  season 
was  far  advanced.  Saturday,  the  17th  of  June,  was 
a  warm,  clear  day.  "Farmers  generally  had  com- 
menced haying— the  new  mown  grass  was  pressed  be- 
tween the  rails  to  form  a  breast-work  on  Bunker  Hill — 
green  peas  were  common  and  plenty  in  the  market ;  all 


94  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


of  which  indicate  that  the  season  was  a  fortnight  earlier 
than  it  is  on  an  average  of  years," 

The  day  passed.  The  battle  was  fought.  A  shout_ 
was  raised,  whose  echoes  have  not  yet  ceased  to  rever 
berate.  The  Americans  lost,- — but  they  won, — the 
British  gained  a  victory,  which  was  worse  than  an  ordi- 
nary defeat.  Undisciplined  Bravery  gave  disciplined 
Tyranny  a  bitter  lesson.  Neither  was  it  a  mere  fight. 
A  principle  was  asserted  and  maintained,  a  principle 
which  shall  not  be  forgotten,  while  the  Monument  on 
Bunker's  Height,  that  "grey  granite  finger  planted  in 
the  heroes'  blood-stained  sod,  and  pointing  aloft  to  the  he- 
roes' home," — shall  endure  ! 

On  the  17th  of  July,  one  month  after  the  battle  of 
Bunker's  Hill,  the  town  w^atch  was  discontinued,  "by 
reason  of  Congress  placing  soldiers  to  guard  the  seaport 
towns."  Dr.  Calef,  of  Ipswich,  during  the  summer 
of  1775,  built  a  ship  at  New  Mills,  and  on  the  fifth  of 
December  of  the  same  year,  the  Mass.  Legislature 
"Ordered,  That  Dummer  Jewett  Esq.  apply  to  Dr. 
Calef  of  I]jswich^  and  require  of  him  such  information 
relative  to  a  (m.)  new  ship  lately  built  by  his  direction 
at  the  New  3fiUs,  as  he  can  confirm  when  called  upon 
on  oath,  and  that  he  be  desired  to  furnish  them  with  a 
copy  of  all  the  papers  relative  to  this  matter,  which  he 
has  received  from  the  person  or  persons  by  whose  order 
said  Vessel  was  purchased  or  built."  This  incident, 
though  trifling  in  itself,  serves  to  show  the  constant  vig- 
ilance of  the  people  and  of  the  embryo  government,  at 
that  period.  Not  the  slightest  incident  was  allowed  to 
pass  by  unnoticed.      Sept.  14th,  Col.  Benedict  Ar- 


HISTORY  OF   DANVERS.  95 

nold,  on  his    way  from  Cambridge  to  Quebec,  encamped 
in  Danvers. 

Jan.  25th,  1776,  tlie  House  received  two  petitions 
from  Nathan  Putnam  and  Dennison  WaUis  of  Danvers. 
Putnam  set  forth  that  in  consequence  of  a  wound  in 
the  shoulder  at  the  battle  of  Lexington,  he  had  not 
been  able  to  work  since  that  time  one  daj  at  his  trade. 
His  petition  was  referred  to  the  appropriate  Commit- 
tee. Wallis  set  forth  that  he  was  taken  prisoner  by 
the  Ministerial  troops  at  Lexington,  was  stripped  by 
them  of  gun,  bayonet,  cartouch  box,  watch  and  fif- 
teen dollars,  for  which  he  prayed  recompense,  as  also 
for  charges  of  sickness,  in  consequence  of  twelve 
wounds  which  he  received.  Eight  pounds,  eleven  shil 
lings  were  paid  Capt.  Epesfor  the  purpose.  February 
6th,  the  House  voted  to  Captain  Epes,  the  following 
sums  for  the  use  of  the  following  individuals  who  had 
lost  guns  &c.  on  the  19th  of  April.  Jonathan  Tarbell 
£2.  lis.  Henry  Jacobs  ^£3.  8s.  Heirs  of  Benjamin 
Daland,  £2.  4s.  Samuel  Cook,  £2.  12s.  Thomas 
Gardner  .£1.  4s.  Nathaniel  Goldthwaite,  £2.  Os.  Feby 
6th  and  Mch  6th,  contributions  were  taken  up  for  the 
army  beseiging  Boston.  The  South  Parish  gave  .£13, 
13,  6,  and  the  North  Parish  £2G,  15,  4,  10  pr.  Shoes, 
82  yds.  check,  2  oz.  thread,  and  1  pr.  of  mooseskin 
breeches. 

The  people  of  the  town  of  Danvers,  as  will  be  seen, 
tihirstcd  ardently  for  an  independent  government,  and 
concurred  in  all  public  acts  calculated  to  produce  that 
result.  On  the  eighteenth  of  June  1776,  it  was  "Voted, 
that  if  the  Honble  Congress  for  the  Safety  of  the  Unit- 


96  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS, 

ed  Colonies,  Declare  them  Independent  of  the  Kingdom 
of  Great  Brittain,  we  the  Inhabitants  of  this  town,  do 
solemnly  Engage  with  our  Lives  and  Fortunes  to  sup- 
port them  in  the  measure. 

"Voted,  that  the  iDown  Clerk  be,  and  he  hereby  is 
directed  Immediately  to  Deliver  an  attested  Copy  of 
the  Proceedings  of  this  Town  Respecting  Independent- 
ry,  to  Maj.  Samuel  Epes,  Representative  of  said  I^own, 
for  his  Instructions  &c.'*  At  the  same  time  a  bounty  of 
X13,  6,  8,  was  given  to  each  man  who  would  enlist  in 
the  service  of  the  colonies.  The  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence  was  unanimously  adopted,  and  copied  at 
length  in  the  Town  Record. 

October  19th  1776,  large  encouragements  were  given 
to  all  who  would  enlist  during  the  war.  Congress 
pledged  to  each  private  soldier  and  non-commissioned 
officer  who  would  thus  enlist,  twenty  dollars,  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  a  suit  of  clothes  annually,  consist- 
ing of  "two  Linen  Hunting  Shirts,  two  Pair  of  Over- 
alls, a  Leathern  or  Woolen  Waistcoat  with  Sleeves,  one 
Pair  of  Breeches,  a  Hat  or  Leathern  Cap,  two  Shirts, 
two  pair  of  Hose,  and  two  pair  of  Shoes."  In  addition 
to  this  the  State  of  Massachusetts  Bay  offered  "one 
Blanket  annually ,- and  Twenty  Shillings  per  Month" 

The  small-pox  raged  extensively  in  the  year  1777, 
and  a  pest  house  was  built.  The  same  year  the  families  of 
all  non-commissioned  officers  absent  in  the  service,  were 
assisted  by  the  Town.  February  9th,  1778,  the  Arti- 
cles of  Confederation  were  unanimously  adopted,  and 
Israel  Hutchinson  the  Representative  was  instructed  to 
advocate   them.     The   Constitution  of  Massachusetts, 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  97 

which  was  proposed  m  1778  was  unanimously  rejected. 
Capt.  Jeremiah  Putnam  enlisted  a  company  this  year 
to  go  to  East  Greenwich,  R.  I. 

April  5th  1779,  Israel  Putnam,  John  Shelden  and 
Benjamin  Proctor,  were  appointed  Committee  to  look 
after  and  supply  the  families  of  continental  soldiers  with 
all  necessary  articles  of  subsistence.  Voted  to  have 
no  state  Constitution  this  year.  July  5th,  "Resolved 
that  this  town  will  do  all  in  their  power  to  reduce  all 
the  Exhorbitant  prices  of  the  necessaries  of  life."  A 
convention  was  held  at  Concord  July  19th.,  to  take  in 
to  consideration  the  extravagant  prices,  and  propose  a 
remedy.  It  passed  several  laws  with  penalties  of  diso- 
bedience, and  the  Town  endorsed  them  all.  Gideon  Put- 
nam was  about  this  time  posted  in  the  "Public 
Newspapers  of  this  state  for  brakeing  one  of  the  resolves 
of  the  Convention  at  Concord,  as  an  enemy  to  his  coun- 
try." His  offence  consisted  in  selling  cheese  at  nine 
shillings  per  pound!  The  extraordinary  prices  of  this 
day  imposed  a  very  painful  burden  on  the  people.  A 
great  scarcity  created  a  high  value,  and  it  was  the  con- 
stant effort  of  the  patriotic  to  reduce  prices.  W.  I. 
Rum  was  valued  at  X 5,  5s,  per  gallon  ;  N.  E.  Rum  X4, 
per  gall.;  Molasses  <£3,  19s  per  gall.;  Coffee  15s  per 
lb.;  Brown  Sugar,  <£50  per  cwt.;  Chocolate,  20s  per 
lb.;  Bohea  Tea,  X5,  6s  per  lb.:  Salt,  X9  per  bushel; 
Indian  Corn,  X4,  10s  per  bushel;  Rye,  £6;  Wheat, 
£d  ;  Beef,  6s  per  lb.;  Mutton,  4s  per  lb.;  Butter,  12s 
per  lb.;  Milk,  2s  6d  per  qt.;  Hay,  40s  per  cwt.;  Iron, 
<£30  per  cwt.  The  unexampled  inflation  of  the  paper 
currency  of  that  day  explains  these  high  prices, — as 


98  HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS. 

one  pound  in  silver  was  equal  to  forty  of  paper.  The 
great  scarcity  of  silver  however,  confined  the  currency 
principally  to  paper,  and  much  of  inconvenience  and 
positive  suffering  were  the  consequence. 

May    19th.    1780,    is   memorable    as    the    Dark 
Day,  which  prevailed  over  the  most  of  the  State,  but 
was  darkest  in   Essex  County.     Between    10  and  11 
o'clock  A.  M.  the  air  began  to  grow  dim,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  the  whole  country  "^as  enveloped  in  the  shades 
of  night.     An  eye  witness  informs  us  that  "Persons 
were  unable  to  read  common  print,  determine  the  time 
by  their  watches,  dine  or  manage  their  domestic  busi- 
ness without  additional  light ;  candles  were  lighted  ;  the 
birds  having  sung  their  evening  songs,  disappeared,  and 
became  silent ;  the  fowls  retired  to  roost ;  the  cocks 
were  crowing  all  around  as  at  break  of  day ;  objects 
could  be  distinguished  at  but  very  little  distance  ;  and  ev- 
erything bore  the  appearance  and  gloom  of  night."    This 
phenomenon  was  undoubtedly  caused  by  a  dense  stratum 
of  clouds,  which,  driven  below  the  ordinary  stratum, 
made  so  dense  a  curtain  that  the  Hght  could  not  trans- 
pierce it. 

At  this  time  there  were  many  men  from  Danvers  ar- 
dently and  constantly  engaged  in  the  army  in  different 
parts  of  the  country.  Major  Caleb  Lowe,  although  he 
was  not  strictly  a  native  of  Danvers,  was  a  resident 
of  this  town,  and  sustained  an  active  part.  In  the 
capacity  of  Captain  he  was  out  in  the  Indian  Wars, 
at  Ticonderoga  &c.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Major  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution,  which 
rank  he  held  under  Washington  on  the  Hudson  River. 


HISTORY  OF   DAN  VERS.  99 

He  was  present  at  the  execution  of  Andre.  His  body 
is  buried  in  South  Danvers.  The  following  letter,  with 
the  original  signature  of  Washington  is  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Major  Lowe's  grandson,  Col.  Caleb  Lowe,  by 
whom  it  was  furnished  : 
"Sir. 

"You  will  be  pleased  to  march  early  tomorrow  morn- 
ing with  all  the  militia  under  your  command  and  pro- 
ceed to  the  landing  at  West  Point.  You  will  send  an 
officer  on  to  this  place,  by  whom  you  will  receive  furth- 
er orders. 

"Colonel  Gouvior  the  bearer  of  this  will  apply  to  yon 
for  an  officer  and  a  small  party  of  Men.  These  you 
will  furnish. 

I  am  sir  with  esteem 
yr  mo  ob'et  Servt. 

GO.  WASHINGTON. 
"Head  Quarters  Robinson's  House,  25th  Sept.  1780, 
1-2  after  7  o'clock  P.M. 
"Major  Low  at  Fishkill." 

During  the  same  year,  .£150,000  were  raised  to  sup- 
ply the  army  with  beef,  and  for  other  revolutionary  pur- 
poses. It  should  be  remembered  that  this  large  amount 
was  reckoned  in  the  continental  currency.  The  State 
Constitution  came  before  the  people  for  their  acceptance 
about  the  same  time,  and  was  objected  to  by  the  people 
of  Danvers.  X1800  silver  money  were  raised  in  De- 
cember, to  procure  soldiers  for  the  army,  and  XI 80 
were  offered  to  every  man  who  would  go  from  Danvers. 
It  was  voted  also,  to  compel  the  Quakers  to  take  their 
proportional  part  in  the  struggle  of  war.     In  the  follow- 


100  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


ingyear  X60,000  were  raised  to  purchase  beef  for  the 
army,  and  it  was  voted  to  obey  with  cheerfulness  all  the 
requisitions  of  the  Legislature  for  money  and  men. 
The  harbor  froze  this  year  as  far  as  Baker's  Island. 
The  winter  was  very  severe.  The  town  declared  by  a 
vote  Jan.  14th  1782,  that  in  any  treaty  which  might 
be  made  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States, 
the  fisheries  should  be  reserved  for  the  use  of  the  Uni- 
ted States.  On  the  twentieth  of  the  following  month, 
several  persons  were  licensed  to  sell  ^'Bohea  and  other 
India  Teas."  At  this  time  there  were  in  Danvers, 
18  "fall  back  chaises,"  and  21  "standing  tops."  Up 
to  this  time  a  constant  correspondence  had  been  kept 
with  Boston,  and  the  utmost  vigilance  had  been  manifest- 
ed on  the  part  of  the  people  of  this  town,  in  the  cause 
of  freedom.  Feb.  10th,  there  was  a  dense  fog  "smell- 
ing like  burnt  leaves."  On  the  9th  of  June  1783, 
the  following  instructions  were  given 

"To  Coll  Israel  Hutchinson, 
"Representative  of  the  Town  of  Danvers.  Sir  :  at 
the  first  attack  made  by  the  British  Troops  on  the 
States  of  America,  you  took  the  part  of  the  Ameri- 
icans  in  the  Field.  Since  that  Time  you  Represented  the 
Town  of  Danvers  to  their  satisfaction,  which  is  evident 
by  the  almost  Unanimous  Vote  at  the  Times  of  your 
Elections.  Ihe  Contest  is  over,  and  a  complete  Revo- 
lution is  happily  Accomplished.  This  Town,  Sir,  con- 
gratulates you  on  so  glorious  a  Period.  Sir, — as  it  is 
Likely  many  Matters  will  be  before  the  Honorable 
House  the  present  year, — This  Town  has  thought  fit  to 
give  you  Instructions  in  some  Particular,  viz :  As  the 


u 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  101 

Independence  depends  solely,  (under  Divine  Provi- 
dence,) in  the  Union  of  these  United  States,  you  are 
to  consider  the  Confederacy  of  these  States  as  Sacred, 
and  in  no  point  to  be  violated.  You  are  strictly  to  ad- 
here to  the  Constitution  of  this  Commonwealth ; — You 
are  to  use  your  endeavour  that  no  Absentee  or  Conspi- 
rator against  the  United  States,  whether  they  have  ta- 
ken up  arms  against  these  States  or  not,  be  admitted  to 
Return,  and  those  persons  that  have  returned,  you  are 
not  to  suffer  such  persons  to  remain  in  this  Comm.on- 
wealth.  You  are  to  give  your  attention,  to  all  such 
further  Instructions  as  you  shall  receive  from  your  Con- 
stituents, from  Time  to  Time.  In  any  matters  that 
shall  turn  up  which  yua  think  militate  against  your 
Constituents,  you  aro  to  apply  for  further  Instruc- 
tions." 

A  few  other  events  that  occurred  previous  to  this 
time,  are  worthy  of  preservation.  In  April  1771  ter 
rible  lightning  killed  a  large  number  of  horses  and  cat-" 
tic  in  Danvers.  In  1772,  snow  fell  at  an  uncommon 
rate.  Mch.  5th,  16  inches  ;  9th,  9  inches  ;  11th, 
8  inches  ;  13th,  7  inches ;  IGth,  4  inches ;  20th,  15 
inches.  The  winter  of  1780  was  very  severe.  For 
forty  days,  thirty  ,one  of  which  were  in  March  there 
was  no  thaw  on  the  South  side  of  any  house.  Teams 
loaded  passed  over  walls  in  every  direction  through  the 
month  of  March.  The  Hessian  Ply  committed  great 
ravages  in  1787. 

The  approach  of  Peace  allayed  most  of  the  evils  that 
had  gathered  over  the  country  during  the  long,  dark, 
revolutionary  struggle.     The  axe  of  Labor  was  lifted ; 


102  HISTORY    OF   D  AX  VERS. 


the  sliining  scythe  once  more  flashed  with  dew ;  the 
ring  of  the  anvil  sounded  from  the  work-shop ;  the  hum 
of  Industry  was  heard  arising  from  city  and  hamlet ; 
valleys  and  hillsides  smiled  with  verdure  ;  school-houses 
were  filled  with  youthful  tenantry,  and  as  the  red  foot- 
steps of  War  were  wiped  away,  "the  smoke  of  peace'? 
curled  around  steeple  and  tree-top,  and  the  wheels  of 
Prosperity  with  an  accelerated  motion,  moved  the  Coun- 
try onward. 

NOTES  TO  CHAPTER  IV. 

(a)  The  conduct  ol  the  royal  troops  is  represented  as  having 
beea  very  exemplary.  Mrs.  Fowler,  related  iho  following  little  inci- 
dent, which  certainly  speaks  niuch  against  the  received  opinion  of  the 
character  of  the  English  soldiery,  Mrs.  Fowler,  a  daughter  of  Arch- 
elaus  Putnam  who  commenced  the  settlement  at  the  New  Mills,  was 
in  the  beginning  of  September  1774,  in  an  orchard  gathering  apples, 
when,  on  looking  up,  she  saw  two  English  officers,  one  of  whom  com- 
menced climbing  over  the  fence.  The  other,  seeing  that  their  pres- 
ence alarmed  her,  said  to  him: — "Wait  till  the  girl  goes  away;  do 
not  frighten  her  by   entering  the  orchard  yet." 

She  also  related  that  Gov.  Gage  used  quite  often  to  converse  with 
her  father"  in  law,  and  that  he  was  ver)-  affable  and  courteous  in  his 
deportment.  She  remembered  hearing  him  say  on  one  occasion,  as  he 
sat  on  a  log  before  the  door:  "We  shall  soon  quell  these  feelings,  and 
govern  all  this," — stretching  out  his  arm,  as  if  to  describe  the  coun- 
try. She  said  also,  that  the  soldiers  were  accustomed  in  their  ram- 
bles about  the  town,  to  call  at  different  houses  for  bread  and  milk, 
and  that  their  appearance  was  always  decorous  and  proper,  adding: 
"The  Governor  was  as  pretty  a  man  in  the  house  as  I  ever  saw." 
Sometimes  however,  the  soldiers  used  to  relieve  the  farmers -of  the 
trouble  of  milking  their  cows — though  they  unfortunately  for  the 
owners,  appropriated  the  milk  to  their  own  use. 

(b)  While  the  drums  were  beating  to  arms,  Aaron  Cheever  rode 
on  horseback  furiously  through  the  camp,  shouting  at  the  lop  of  his 
voice,    "Hurry  to  Boston!  the  devil  is  to  pay!"     Others  refer  similar 


^1 


HISTORY    OF   DANYERS. 


103 


langnage  to  different  iudividualg.     Whoever  the  person   was,  he    was 
well  disguised. 


l-H 

o 

l-H 

O 

o 

l-H 

w 


o 
w 


(c)  "Near  the  encampment  was  a  largo  oak  tree,  nfierwards 
known  as  King  George's  whipping  post.  When  the  frigate  Essex  wag 
bailt  in  Salem,  this  tree  was  felled;  and  on  hewing  the  timber  the  iron 
staple,  to  which  the  soldiers  had  been  confined  for  punishment,  was 
found  irnbedded  m  the  wood.  King  George's  whipping  post  was  con- 
verted into  the  stern  post  of  the  Essex  frigate." 

"The  house  which  Gen., Gage  occupied  was  much  ornamented  and 


104  HISTORY    OF   DANVERS. 


is  still  a  stately  edifice  for  this  part  of  the  country.  In  its  front  were 
heavy  posts  ornamented  with  large  balls  oi  spheres,  which  were 
sheathed  with  lead.  As  a  party  of  our  countrymen  were  going  to 
join  the  patriot  army,  the  tempting  sight  of  the  lead  made  them  for- 
get private  rights  and  they  began  to  strip  the  spheres.  The  owner  of 
the  mansion  was  supposed  to  be  in  the  British  interest — he  came  to 
the  door,  called  them  rebels  and  knaves,  and,  as  was  natural,  used 
strong  and  plain  language.  One  man  pointed  his  musket  towards 
him  and  fired,  and  the  mark  of  the  bullet  still  remains  in  the  door 
by  which  he  was  standing."  Hon,  Mr.  King. 

Although  this  anecdote  is  quite  plausible,  and  interesting  withal, 
yet  it  may  be  apocryphal.  The  proprietor  of  th?  edifice  informs  me, 
that  although  this  explains  the  advent  of  the  bullet,  yet  there  are  no 
means  by  which  its  authenticity  can  be  ascertained. 

(d)  'J'here  are  several  spots  located  by  Tradition  for  these  arms. 
North  fields,  Blind  Hole,  the  Gardner  farm,  and  JNew  Mills  have  been 
designated  by  different  persons.  Probably  they  were  scattered  in 
each  of  tlicse  places  for  safety. 

"iiichard  Skidmore,  the  builder  of  the  carriages,  was  a  man  of 
much  humor  and  many  anecdotes,  and  witty  sayings  are  related  of 
him.  He  was,  fifty  years  ago,  the  jester  at  launchings,  huskings, 
raisings  and  other  merry  meetings.  He  vvus  at  the  siege  of  L<'uis- 
burg  in  the  capacity  of  druinnjer,  and  received  a  shot,  which 
passed  through  the  corner  of  his  cocked  hat,  raising  the  hair  upon  the 
top  of  his  head.  His  conjmander,  upon  viewing  his  narrow  escape, 
remarked  that  if  the  ball  had  suuck  a  litlie  lower  down,  it  would 
have  spoilt  our  conipany's  music.  Skidmore  replied,  tut,  and  if 
it  ha  1  passed  a  little  higher  up,  it  would  not  have  spoiled  my  hat' 
He  served  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  as  a  private,  drummer,  and 
on  board  of  private  armed  vessels.  On  one  of  his  cruises,  a  West 
Indiaman,  laden  with  rum  and  sugar,  was  taken,  and  Skidnure  re- 
ceived for  his  portion  of  the  prize,  a  hogshead  of  rum,  and  a  barre' 
of  sugar,  wliicii  he  brought  Lome,  and  placed  in  the  entry  of  his 
house,  the  rum  was  placed  upon  tup,  and  the  sugar  was  opened,  and 
put  by  its  side.  His  house  being  small,  and  its  entrance  narrow,  it 
became  necessary  in  rolling  in  the  rum,  to  cut  away  the  sides  of  the 
door.  People,  who  loved  old  Jamaica,  often  came  to  partake  of  his 
hospitality.  Many  years  after,  alluding  to  the  respect  shown  him  at 
this  period,  ho  observed  that  as  long  as  the  rum  and  sugar  lasted,  it 


HISTORY  OF  DANVERS.  105 


was  ah,  "how  do  you  do,  ^U.  Skidmore,  how  is  your  family  ?"  but 
after  it  was  all  gone,  it  was,  "how  are  you,  old  Skid,"   aa  usual. 

Mr.  Skidmore  served  his  country  in  her  wars,  both  by  sea  and  land, 
and  in  the  war  with  England  in  1815  he  attached  himself  to  the  com- 
pany of  the  old  alarm-list  soldiers  and  was  .^een  at  its  head  beating 
the  reveille  on  the  same  drum  that  had  called  together  the  sturdy  sous 
of  New  Engiand  before  the  entrenchments  of  Louisburg. 

This  drum  he  was  often  heard  to  say  he  kept  m  hia  garret,  and  ho 
was  accustomed  to  bring  it  down  to  beat  it  when  his  children  were 
very  noisy,  his  wife  scolded  more  than  usual,  or  he  was  troubled 
with  rats  in  his  cellar."     Com.  by  S.  P.  Fowler. 

(e)  When  Pickering's  regiment  halted  at  the  Bell  Tavern  for  re- 
freshment, Elias  Haskett  Derby  Esq.,  who  afterward  became  one  of 
the  wealthiest  men  in  Salem,  and  who  then  was  in  the  ranks,  went 
in  to  see  Mrs.  Southwick,  the  wife  of  Edward,  who  then,  as  well  ns 
since,  lived  in  the  homestead  opposite  the  Monument.  Although  as 
a  quakeress,  Mrs.  S.  could  not  consistently  afford  assistance  to  soldiers, 
yet.  60  deeply  did  she  sympathize  with  the  patriots,  independent  of 
her  quakerism,  that  she  brought  out  a  large  basket  of  provisions,  to 
Mr-  Derby  with  the  following  message:  '•  We  cannot  assist  thee  and 
thy  feUow-soIdiers,  but  as  there  is  a  long  and  painful  march  before 
iheCy  and  as  it  is  not  right  ye  should  suffer, — here  is  a  little  food  /" 

(f)  The  muster  rolls  present  no  proof  that  Gen.  Foster  was  Cap- 
tain at  Lexington.  They  show  but  four  companies, — but  he  was 
present,  and  acted  in  that  capacity.  1  he  explanation  of  the  matter 
liea  in  this:  Mch  3d,  1775,  according  to  the  Essex  Gazette,  it  was 
voted  in  Danvers,  that,  agreeable  to  a  vote  of  the  Provincial  Congress, 
a  quarter  of  the  soldiers  in  the  town  should  be  minute  men.  'j'hese 
minute  men  were  given,  in  part  to  Israel  Hutchinson^  and  in  part  to 
Gideon  Foster.  Foster's  men  are  included  in  other  companies;  why 
^hey  are  not  down  in  a  seperato  list,  under  their  commander  cannot  be 
told. 

(g.)  "The  greatest  slaughter  of  the  British  took  place,  it  is  said, 
while  they  were  on  the  retrograde,  sweating  with  toil  and  blood,  for 
three  or  four  miles  through  the  woody  defiles  in  Lincoln  and  in  the  up- 
per part  of  Lexington,  and  again  when  their  flanking  parties  were 
intercepted  in  Cambridge  by  one  or  two  companies  from  Danvera." 
Extract  from  a  Com.  entitled  i^ Lexington  and  the  19?A  A^ril 
1775" — republished  in  the  Boston  JVens  Letter. 


106  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

(h.)  Had  Col.  Pickering  been  actuated  by  the  same  ardor  that 
distinguished  Gideon  Foster,  it  is  not  probable  that  many  would  have 
remained  of  the  British  to  have  related  the  day's  disaster.  The  re- 
treat whinh  was  in  a  measure  safely  conducted  would  have  been  ef- 
feciually  intercepted,  and  Death  would  have  exulted  over  the  number 
of  his  trophies. 

(i)  Many  years  after  this  sanguinary  day,  Gen.  Foster  recalled 
the  event  thus: 

"I  was  then  26  years  of  age.  About  ten  days  before,  1  had  been 
chosen  to  command  a  company  of  minute-men,  who  were  at  all  times 
to  be  in  readiness  at  a  moment's  warning.  They  were  so  ready. 
They  all  assembled  on  the  very  spot  where  we  are  this  day  assem- 
bled:— they  all  w^ent;  and  in  about  four  hours  from  the  time  of 
meeting,  they  travelled  on  foot  (full  half  the  way  upon  the  run)  six- 
teen miles  ^  and  saluted  the  enemy.  This  they  did  most  effectually, — 
as  the  records  of  that  day  most  clearly  prove.  I  discharged  my 
musket  at  the  enemy  a  number  of  times  (I  think  eleven,)  with  two 
balls  each  time,  and  with  well  directed  aim.  My  comrade  (Mr. 
Cleaves  of  Beverly)  who  was  then  standing  by  my  side,  had  his  fin- 
ger and  ramrod  cut  away  by  a  shot  from  the  enemy. 

Whether  my  shots  took  effect,  *  I  ear-not  say;  but  this  I  can  say, 
if  they  did  not,  it  w^as  not  for  the  want  of  determined  purpose,  in  him 
who  sent  them." 

*  These  remarks  were  made  at  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the 
Danvers  Monument. 

(j.)  In  the  2d  company  of  Soldiers  at  Lexington,  Gideon  Foster 
is  placed  as  2d  Lieut,  in  the  muster  rolls.  He  was  appointed  cap- 
tain of  a  company  of  minute  men  but  a  few  days  before  the  battle, 
and  John  Endicott  was  elected  Lieut,  in  his  place.  Before  the  battle 
Jeremiah  Page's  company  elected  Enocli  Putnam  1st  Lieut.,  William 
Towns,  2d  do.;  and  Joseph  Porter  ensign.  At  the  battle,  however, 
the  ofHcers  were  as  they  stand  on  page  108.  Flint's  company,  after 
the  engagement,  received  Asa  Prince  as  ensign,  in  place  ef  Israel 
Putnam.  The  town  generously  supported  Geo.  Southwick's  family 
after  his  death.  It  is  said  that  the  Danvers  companies  all  followed  the 
worthy  example  of  Foster,  and  went  to  Lexnigton  without  waiting  for 
Pickering's  Regiment.  The  company  to  which  Sylvester  Osborne 
belonged  (he  was  the  youngest  member,)  captured  a  wagon 
near  Medford,  which  was  carrying  supplies  to  the  British.     He,  with 


HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS.  107 

others,  was  detached  to  escort  the  prize  to  a  place  of  safety,  and  they 
heard  the  report  of  the  firearms,  immediately  after  leaving  the  main 
body. 

When  Foster's  men  threw  themselves  behind  tha  enclosure 
from  which  they  fired,  Hutchinson,  whose  experience  in  the  French 
wars  gave  him  knowledge,  warned  them  to  beware  of  the  flank 
guard.  In  their  unacquuintance  with  military  affairs,  they  knew  noth- 
ing of  a  fl.ink-guard,  and  firing  on  the  main  body  as  it  passed,  they 
rushed  out  to  harass  its  rear,  when,  of  course,  they  found  themselves 
between  two  fires,  where  several  fell.  Job  Wilson,  on  examining  his 
pocket  after  the  eng  igement,  found  his  coat  and  a  squares  foot  of  gin- 
gerbread perforated  by  a  bullet. 

(k.)  "With  reversed  arms,  muffled  drums  and  measured  stfps, 
they  led  the  long  procession — on  the  way  they  were  met  by  a  band  of 
soldiers  from  Newburyport,  Salisbury  and  Amesbury  marching  to 
join  the  army  which  was  besieging  Boston — these  formed  in  sin- 
gle ranks  on  each  side  of  the  road  and  the  mournful  procession  passed 
between  them.  After  the  bodies  were  deposited,  three  voUies  were 
fired  over  their  graves,  but  they  could  not  rouse  the  slumberers — no 
!  din  of  resounding  arms,  no  alarms  of  vv.ir,  no  convulsion  of  nature, 
can  disturb  tliem — no.hingbut  the  voice  of  the  arch  angel  and  the 
trump  of  Gud 

"Can  reach  the  peaceful  sleepers  there." 

Hutu  D.  P.  King. 

SOLDIERS    OF   THE  U EVOLUTION. 

(l.)  The  following  I'st  presents  the  soldiers  of  the  Revoluiion 
from  Danver^.  The  first  five  companies  were  in  the  affair  at  Lexing- 
ton. Those  alphabetically  arranged  were  in  the  Revolution  subse- 
quently. 

COMPAxNY    OF  MINUTE-MEN. 

Israel  Hutchinson,  Ca/'tom;  Enoch  YaXn^m^  first  Lieut;  Aaron 
Cheever,  second  Lieut;  Job  Whipple,  Ensign, 

Privates.  Samuel  Goodridge,  Eliphalet  Perley,  Nath'l  Cheever, 
Eben  Andrew,  James  Burley,  Samuel  Chase,  Nath'l  Durton,  Henry 
Dwinnels,  John  Francis,  Wm,  Freetoe,  Nathan  Putnam,  James  Por- 
ter, Tarrant  Putnam,  Thomas  White,  Samuel  Baker,  Samuel  Fair- 
field,Benj.  Porter  3  I.,  Jonathan  Sawyer,  Wm.  Towne,  W.  Warner, 


108  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS. 

Perley  Putnam,  Benj.    Shaw,  Wm.  Batchelder,  Jotham  Webb.     Be- 
sides these,  24  men  from  Beverly  completed  this  company. 

COMPANY  OF   MILITIA. 

Samuel  Eppes,  Captain;  Benj.  Jacobs, ^rsi  Li&nt.  Gideon  Foster, 
{iiQQnoiQ.)  second  Lieut.  Francis  Symonds,   Ensign. 

Privates.  Goo.  Southwick  jr. ,  Sam.  Cook  jr.,  E  ben  Goldthwaite, 
James  Osborn,  Jona.  Tarball,  Benj.  Douty,  Aaron  Osborn,  John  Ep- 
pes,  Andrew  Curtis,  Isaac  Twiss,  Wm.  Taiball,  Abraham  Redding- 
ton,  Israel  Osborn,  Nathan  Upton,  Robt.  Stone  jr.,  Abiel  Mclntyre, 
Richard  Phillips,  Joseph  Whiteman,  John  Wilson  jr.,  Samuel  Small, 
Benj.  Eppes,  Joseph  Eppes,  James  Eppes,  Wm.  Southwick,  John 
Southwick,  Jon.  Curtis,  Job  Wilson,  Robt.  Wilson  3d.,  Isaac  Wil- 
son 3d.,  Joshua  Moulton,  Nath.  Goldthwaite,  Daniel  Moulton,  John 
Reed,  Daniol  Marsh  jr.,  Wm.  Goldthwaite,  Marble  Osborn,  Joseph 
Osborn  3d.,  John  Jacobs,  Thos.  Gardner  jr.,  Sylvesler  Osborn,  Amos 
Kmg,  Jonathan  Nurse,  Jon  >than  Felton,  Jonathan  Proctor,  Tim.  Fel- 
ton,  Asa  Felton,  Eben  Felton,  Thos.  Andrews,  Joseph  Osborn  4th  , 
Daniel  Reed,  Jona.  Southwick,  Thomas  Day,  James  Goldthwaite, 
Joseph  Ingles,  David  Newhall,  Nathl.  Fitts,  Wm.  Frost,  Newhall 
Wilson,  Jonathan  Wilson  3d.,  Bartholomew  Molton,  Habbakuk 
Lynse,  Eben  Molton,  Jona.  Ridney,  John  Collins,  Jacob  Reed,  Abi- 
jah  Reed,  Thos.  Bond,  John  Getchell,  Solomon  Wyman,  Samuel 
Stone,  James  Stone,  Joseph  Twiss,  Stephen  Twiss,  Wm.  Perkins, 
Benj.  Daland  jr.,  Henry  Jacobs  jr. 

COMPANY  OF  MILITIA. 

Jeremiah  Page,  Captain;  Joseph  VoxXqx,  first  Lieut.  Henry  Putnam, 
second  Lieut.  Richard  Skidmore,  Ensign. 

Privates.  Samuel  Stickney,  James  Putnam,  Benj.  Putnam  jr., 
Daniel  Bootman,  David  Bootman,  John  Nichols  jr.,  John  Brown,  Je- 
thro  Putnam,  Jeremiah  Putnam,  Wm.  Fenno,  John  Ward,  Michael 
Webb, Benj.  Kimball,  Benj.  Kent,  Stephen  Putnam,  Joseph  Smith, 
Elisha  Hutchinson,  Benj.  Stickney,  Mathcw  Whipple,  Enoch  Thurs- 
ton, Phillip  Nurse,  Robt.  Endicott,  David  Felton,  Daniel  Verry,  David 
Verry,  Archelaus  Rea  jr.,  James  Goody,  Nathan  Porter,  Sam.  Whit- 
temore,  Nathan  Putnam,  Peter  Putnam,  Samuel  Fowler,  Samuel 
Dutch,  Eben  Jacobs  jr.,  Samuel  Page. 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


109 


COMPANY  OF  MILITIA. 

Samuel  Flint,  Captain.  Daniel  VxxXn^m.  first  Lieut.  Joseph  VxxX- 
xinm,  sec) nd  Li^Mt.     Israel  Putnam,  Ensign. 

Private:.  Asa  Upton,  Abel  Nichols,  Thom;is  Andrew,  Amos 
Tapley,  Wai.  Putnam,  Joseph  Daniels,  Joshua  Douge,  Jonathan 
Sheldon,  Wm,  Goodaie,  Benj.  Russell,  Mathevv  Putnam,  John 
Hutchinson  jr.,  Aaron  Taplpy,  Levi  Preston,  Peter  Putnam,  John 
Preston,  Dnniel  LaUeman,  Israel  Cheever,  Eleazer  Pope  jr.,  Anron 
Gilbert,  Nathaniel  Smith,  Jonathan  Russell,  Daniel  Russell,  Jethro 
Russell,  John  Hutchinson,  Stephen  Russell,  Geo.  Small  jr.,  Nathaniel 
Pope  jr.,  Joseph  Tapley,  S.  Mudge,Wm.  Whittredge,  Josiah  Whit- 
Iredge,  Eben  Mclntyre,  John  Kettel,  Benj.  Nurse,  Eleazer  Goodaie, 
Amos  Buxton  jr.,  Reuben  Barthirk,  James  Burch,  Michael  Cross, 
Israel  Smith. 

It  is  possible  that  some  of  the  members  of  Flint's,  Page's  and 
Eppes's  companies,  may  have  belonged  to  Salem  or  Beverly,  though 
who  they  were  if  any  there  were,  cannot  be  ascertained. 

Those  engaged  in  the  Revolution. 


Ebenezer  Andrew 
Zacliariah  Bray 
Jariies  Buxton 
William  Berry 
Thomas  Bond 
Joseph  Bell 
Gideon  Batchelder 
Benj    Balch 
Prince  Buxton 
Pet(^r  Barker 
Benj.  Barker 
Beni.  Beary 
Daniel  Bell 
.lames    Birch 
Peter  Buxton 
Jonathan  Ciowell 
John    Collyer 
Ezekiel  Cooper 
Asa  Chandler 
Richard  Crispin 
John    Colli!!s 
William  Col  ley 
Enoch  Chenay 
John  Clinton 
Josiah  Cutter 
Patrick  Carroll 


if. 


Titus  Canada 
Joni.  Currier 
Nathim  Dow 
Charles  Derby 
Hepry  Dwiisnclls 
George  Dwinnells 
Amos  Dwinnells 
Ebenezer    Ditle 
Abraham  Dempsey 
William  Dodge 
Nalhiniel  Downs 
Win.   Deadriian 
John  E.   Dale 
Wm.   Danisey 
S;;muel   Deano 
Richard  Elliot 
John   Eppes 
David  Elwell 
Samuel  Eppes 
J  hn  Endicott 
Win.   Fretoe 
John  Francis 
Benj.    Fovvle 
John   Fairfield 
Wm.    Flii.t 
Samuel  Flint 
\0 


James  Gandy 
Asa  Goodaie 
Tiistum  Gtorge 
Samuel  Goodhu3 
Andrew  Gioy 
Wm.  Gilford 
Wm.    Ho;t 
Joseph  Hilburt 
Nathan   Hilburt 
Israel   Hutchinson 
Joriath.in   llovviird 
Uri.ih   Harrf'vviiod 
John  Hanovvood 
Nath'l  Haywood 
J  uiies  Johnson 
John  Josselyn 
Primus  Jucobri 
Benj.   Jacobs 
Benj.  Ki(iibc:ll 
Longlev  K«'liey 
Josiah  K(:iiney 
Eiij.:h  Lewis 
Jo.;a.  Larr.ibee 
James  Larr.ibee 
David  L.irriibee 
Samuel  Le  Count 


^~M 


110  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


Benj.  Loriiig  Edward  Pepor  Tliomns  To! man 

Nath'l  Leeds  Allen  Putnam  Daniel  Towne 

Benj.  Larrabee  Asa  Prince  Asa  Tupley 

Daniel  Mahew  Jeremiah  Page  Joseph  Tuiis 

Hugh  Malachy  Enoch  Putnam  Samuel  Twist 

Samuel  Mamsell  Joseph   Sorter  Eliphalel.  Taylor 

Nath'l  MTnlyre  SunuelPage  Joseph  TU'iss 

Richard  Mayberry  Wm.  Rue  George  Towne 

John  M'Kay  Jr.  Jonathan  Russel  Daniel  Verry 

Roger  Nourse  Strphen  Russel  David  Verry 

Michael  Nurse  Benj.  Reed  Joseph  Verry 

James  Nurse  Caleb  Rea  Wm.  Verry 

Joseph  Nichols  Jacob  Reed  Bela  Verry 

Eli  Nurse  Abijah  Reed  ileiij,  Verry 

Samuel  Nurse  Wn).  Reed  Peter  VVaito 

Caleb  Oakes  Seth  Richardson  Joseph  White 

John  Oaknian  James  Richardson  Joseph  Wyatt 

Sylvester  Osborne  Thomas  Rano  Ihornas  White 

Johnson  Proctor  Samuel  Stone  Blatthevv  Whipple 

Titus  Proctor  Jeremiah   Shelden  Samuel  Whipi'le 

Aaron  Putnam  Daniel   Shelden  Ebenezer  Williams 

Edward  Pepperell  Robert  Stone  Jonathan  Wa  ite 

Benj.  Porter  Benj.  Shaw  Moses  Wood 

John  Porter  John  Symonds  Michael  Webb 

Lsrael  Putnam  Sip  Svmonds  Elijah  Wa«bbura 

Timothy  Putnam  James  Stone  Jonathan  Wood 

Joseph  Pillsbury  Jonath.m  Sefchel  Thotnas  Wines 

Jonathan  Porter  John  Se;chel  David  Whipple 

Joseph  Putnam  Joseph  Shaw  Benj.  Wl.ippio 

Daniel  Putnam  "^lliomas  Symonds  Thos   Whto 

Thomas  Putnum  Th  'mas  Stephens  Benj.  Woodman 

Wm.  Perkins  Amos  Smith  Solomon  Wyman 

Jeremiah  Pulnam  Ephraim  Smith  ]\evvhall  Wilson 

Henry  Putnam  Ebenezer  Sawyer  Peter  Welch 

Eliphalel  Perley  Isriiel  Smith  David  Wiikins 

Nathan  Porter  Francis  Symonds  Samuel  Wyatt 

James  Porter  Wm.  Towne  John  White 

Peter  Porter  David  Truel  Jonathan  Wilson 

Phinehas  Putnam  George  Tu:::ker  Joshua  Wyatt 

Nathan  Putnam  David  Tanner 

Of  these  soldiers  Levi  Preston,  Johnson  Proctor,  Jonathan  Porter 
and  Richard  Elliot  are  yet  Iving  at  advanced  ages.  Mr.  Pioctor  m  hi.s 
prime  stood  six  feet  and  a  half  in   height,  and  now  weighs  about    300 

lbs.     These  relics  of  another  age  are  links  in  a  living  chain    conneci- 

iu"  us  with  the  Past. There  are  five  men  from   Dauvers    en- 
gaged in  the  Mexican  War. 

(M.)     The  ship  which  Dummer  Jewett  was  directed  to  enquire  of 


m 


HISTORY  OF   DAN  VERS.  Ill 

was  a  large  one  of  about  400  tons,  designed  for  the  East  India  trade. 
One  Capt.  Lee  caine  from  England  to  superintend  her  building,  and 
to  command  her  when  finished.  He  died  at  the  Phiins.  The  vessel 
was  launched  in  the  night,  and  it  drifted  to  the  south  side  of  the  river, 
where  it  laid  many  years,  and  ultimately  decayed.  There  havebeon 
at  difterent  tim^s  a  large  number  of  vessels  built  at  New  Mills.  As 
many  as  seven  have  been  on  the  stocks  at  one  time.  During  the 
Revolution,  the  Jupiter,  Harlequin,  Gen.  Greene,  and  many  other 
privateers  and  vessels  of  war,  besides  merchant  vessels,  were  bnilt 
here.  Four  20  gun  ships  were  built  in  the  revolution.  The  anchors 
for  the  celebrated  frigate  Essex  were  made  at  the  Iron  Works  now 
owned  by  Matthew  Hooper. 


CHAPTER  y. 

The  incidents  worthy  of  note  which  have  occured 
since  the  close  of  the  Revohation,  have  been  few.  The 
history  of  a  town  or  country  in  the  Time  of  Peace,  al- 
though full  of  all  that  causes  prosperity  and  happiness, 
does  not  abound  in  prominent  events.  When  the 
storm  of  War  sweeps  over  the  land,  every  wave  is 
gigantic,  while  the  calm  tide  of  prosperity,  though 
freighted  with  abundance,  does  not  attract  particular 
observation. 

Efforts  were  made  in  the  year  1784,  to  remove  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  from  Salem  to  JSTewburyport, 
against  which  the  Town  took  an  active  part.  In  1786 
the  Representative  was  instructed  to  use  his  utmost 
exertions  against  paper  money.  He  was  also  informed 
that  a  "man  in  Danvers  was  taxed  much  more  for  ^100 
value  of  property  than  if  he  was  in  Salem;"  the  people 
declared  this  unjust,  and  urged  him  to  abolish  the  dif- 
ference. 

Col.   Benj.  Tupper  raised  a  company  the  same  year 


"    112  HISTORY  OF   DANVERS. 

in  Beverlj  and  Danvers,  to  suppress  "Shaj's  Rebel- 
lion." 

According  to  some  records,  food  was  so  scarce  in 
Essex  County  in  1789,  that  people  were  obliged  to  eat 
tadpoles  boiled  with  pea  straw.  Q  his,  to  say  the  least, 
is  very  questionable. 

In  the  year  1799,  John  Adams's  admimstration  re- 
ceived the  approbation  of  the  town,  and  the  follov/ing 
address  was  sent  him : 

"To  John  Adams,  President  of  the  United  States. 

"The  subscribers  Inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Danver^ 
in  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts, 

"Being  fully  sensible  of  the  great  advantages  we  De- 
rive From  a  governm.ent  Established  by  the  People  up- 
on the  true  Principles  of  Equal  Liberty,  so  far  as  the 
good  of  Society  will  admit — and  our  entire  sattisfact- 
ion  in  the  administration  of  the  same,  we  had  Just  Rea- 
son to  expect  that  no  forreign  power  would  interfere  in 
our  national  aifairs,  while  we  endeavored  to  support  a 
Just  and  strict  Nutrality,  by  treating  all  the  nations  that 
we  are  Concerned  with  agreeable  to  those  principles. 
Especially  the  French  Republic,  who  we  have  ben  Led 
to  beheve,  and  untill  of  Late  Did  really  suppose,  were 
our  best  Friends;  but  we  Now  sensibly  feel  the  injury 
done  to  our  Country  by  that  Nation,  in  the  treatment 
of  our  people,  &  in  the  spoillations  made  upon  our  Com- 
merce, and  the  Insults  received  by  the  unpresidented 
treatment  to  our  ministers  at  that  republic,  which  Calls 
For  our  highest  Resentment. 

"Please  to  be  assured  that  your  administration  meets 
our  Fullest  approbation,  and  that   we   Consider  it  as  a 


HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS.  113 

Favour  of  Providence  that  you  are  placed  at  tlie  head 
of  our  public  affairs  at  this  important  Day.  Although 
we  wish  for  the  Continuance  of  Peace  Upon  Just  and 
honourable  termes,  yet  we  will  hold  ourselves  ready  to 
encounter  every  Difficulty  that  our  Country  may  call 
us  to, — before  we  will  be  dictated  to  by  any  Nation 
on  earth,  or  give  up  our  soveraignty  and  independence, 
well  knowing  that  it  was  not  without  much  Blood  and 
treasure — our  ancestors  put  us  in  possession  of  the  high- 
est Privelidges  we  injoy  as  a  people." 

May  8th  1803,  a  severe  snowstorm  occurred,  while 
the  trees  were  in  full  blossom.  June  16th,  1806,  was 
a  total  solar  eclipse.  In  1807,  several  of  the  people 
of  Danvers  were  prosecuted  by  the  town  of  Lynn  for 
taking  sea-weed  &c.,  from  the  latter  place,  for  manure. 

In  1808  an  unsuccessful  movement  was  made  to  an- 
nex the  North  Parish  to  Salem.  Before  and  since  that 
time,  similar  attempts  have  been  made,  sometimes  origi- 
nating in  one  part  of  the  town,  and  sometimes  in  anoth- 
er. In  the  year  1810  the  town  remonstrated  against 
removing  the  Supreme  Court  to  Newburyport.  Febru- 
ary 2d  1811,  a  great  snow-storm  commenced  and  lasted 
three  days  ;  it  drifted  fifteen  feet. 

In  1812,  the  war  known  as  the  "Last  War,"  broke 
out.  A  large  majority  of  the  people  of  New  England 
opposed  this  War.  Among  those  opposers  the  people  of 
Danvers  took  a  prominent  stand.  On  the  13th.  of  Ju- 
ly, a  committee  was  chosen  to  report  on  the  "awful  sit- 
uation of  our  Country  in  consequence  of  the  war  de- 
clared against  Great  Britain."  Frederick  Howes,  Jon- 
athan Ingersoll,  Andrew  Nichols  Jr.,  Sylvester  Osborn 


114  HISTORY   OF  DANVERS. 

and  Thomas  Putnam  were  chosen,  and  they  presented 
the  following  Keport,  which  was  adopted  by  the  Town 
with  but  three  dissenting  voices,  and  pubhshed  in  the 
Salem  Gazette. 

"Whereas  the  safety,  prosperity,  and  happiness  of  a 
people  essentially  depend  on  the  Wisdom,  Virtue,  and  Pa- 
triotism of  those  who  manage  their  National  affairs;  and  in 
a  free  elective  Government  these  qualifications  form  the 
only  just  claims  to  Publick  Confidence  and  employment, 
it  is  therefore  at  all  times  no  less  the  duty,  than  the  right 
of  the  citizens,  to  investigate  the  character  and  conduct 
of  their  rulers,  to  subject  the  policy  of  their  measures  to 
public  scrutiny,  and  especially,  in  times  of  great  Danger 
and  distress,  to  assemble  and  consult  together  for  the 
common  good,  and  should  they  be  convinced  that  the 
evils  which  they  feel,  originate  from  the  weakness  or 
corruption  of  their  own  rulers,  they  would  be  guilty  of 
treachery  to  their  country,  if  they  did  not  publicly  de- 
clare their  opinion,  and  make  use  of  all  constitutional 
means  to  effect  a  change  of  rulers,  to  avert  the  dangers 
which  threaten  them,  and  to  remove  or  alleviate  the  ca- 
lamities which  they  endure ;  and  Whereas  the  United 
States,  after  thirt\  years  enjoyment  of  the  blessings  of 
peace  are  suddenly  involved  in  a  War  with  Great  Brit- 
ain, and  have  become  a  party  in  a  contest  unparallelled 
in  its  nature  and  extent,  which  has  proved  fatal  to  the 
liberty  and  independence  of  so  many  once  happy  and 
powerful  nations,  the  people  are  loudly  called  upon  to 
assemble  at  this  alarming  crisis,  and  to  express  their 
opinion  freely,  on  the  conduct  of  their  Government,  on 
the  justice  and  expediency,  the  causes  and  probable 


HISTORY    OF   DANVERS.  115 

consequences  of  the  war,  therefore  Resolved :  that  as  the 
inhabitants  of  this  Town  were  among  the  first  to  expose 
their  lives  and  shed  their  blood  in  defence  of  the  rights 
of  the  country,  against  the  unjust  and  tyrannical  claims 
of  Great  Britain,  and  on  the  memorable  Nineteenth  of 
April,  A.  D.  1775,  suffered  more  severely  (Lexington 
excepted,)  than  any  other  town  in  the  Commonwealth, 
and  animated  by  their  example,  and  by  the  presence  of 
many  who  took  an  active  part  in  that  and  many  other 
scenes  in  our  late  glorious  revolution,  we  will  never  shrink 
from  the  dangers  and  privations  of  a  just  and  necessary 
war — that  we  cherish  our  rights  and  liberties  as  the  most 
precious  inheritance  derived  from  our  ancestors,  and  will 
never  surrender  them  to  any  foreign  or  domestic  tyrant. 

"Resolved,  that  the  conduct  of  the  government  of 
the  United  States  for  several  years  past,  has  in  our  opin- 
ion exhibited  decisive  evidence  of  a  strong  partiality  to 
France,  and  enmity  to  Great  Britain,  a  disposition  to 
palliate  or  conceal  the  aggressions  of  the  one,  and  to 
exaggerate  those  of  the  other:  that  we  consider  the 
whole  train  of  comm.ercial  restrictions  adopted  by  our 
Government,  as  originating  in  a  spirit  of  subserviency 
to  France,  and  hostility  to  Commerce,  and  the  prosperi- 
ty of  the  Commercial  States,  or  at  best  as  visionary 
experiments  and  impotent  attempts  to  coerce  foreign 
Nations :  unjust,  oppressive,  and  ruinous  in  their  ope- 
ration upon  our  own  citizens,  corrupting  to  the  public 
morals,  and  more  destructive  to  the  prosperity  of  the 
Nation  than  all  the  aggressions  of  foreign  powers 
united. 

"Resolved,  that  we  consider  the  war  declared  by 


116  HISTORY   OF  DANVERS. 

Congress  against  Great  Britain  as  unjustifiable,  unnec- 
essary, ruinous  to  the  prosperity,  and  dangerous  to 
the  union,  liberty  and  independence  of  the  United 
States. 

"As  unjustifiable  and  unnecessary,  because  we  be- 
lieve that  all  our  differences  with  G.  Britain  might 
have  been  honorably  adjusted  by  fair  negotiation. 

"As  ruinous  to  our  prosperity,  because  it  will  throw 
millions  of  American  property  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy,  reduce  thousands  of  our  fellow  citizens  from 
affluence  to  poverty,  require  enormous  and  oppressive 
taxes  for  its  support,  while  it  diminishes  the  means  of 
paying  them,  depress  the  spirit  of  honest  industry  and 
laudable  enterprise,  expose  our  sea-coast  to  depreda- 
tions, and  exchange  an  honorable  and  lucrative  com- 
merce, for  a  demoralizing  system  of  privateering. 

"As  dangerous  to  our  Union,  because  as  free  com- 
munities can  be  held  together  only  by  a  visible  and 
solid  interest,  the  commercial  states  may  not  retain  so 
strong  an  attachment  to  a  government  which  subjects 
them  to  such  heavy  burdens,  and  the  most  oppressive 
restrictions,  and  deprives  them  of  all  those  advantages, 
the  prospect  of  which,  induced  them  to  enter  into  the 
federal  compact. 

"As  dangerous  to  our  Liberty  and  Independence, 
because  we  believe  that  the  Influence  of  France  was 
one  cause  of  the  War,  and  we  deprecate  an  alhance 
with  that  perfidious  nation,  which  by  violence  or  intrigue^ 
has  destroyed  every  repubhc  in  Europe,  and  whose 
friendship  is  far  more  terrible  than  her  arms. 

"Kesolved,  that  we  cannot  believe  this  to  be  a  war 


i^ 


i  HISTORY  OF    DANYERS.  117 


intended  for  the  protection  of  our  seamen,  which  ^vill 
throw  thousands  of  them  out  of  employment,  expose 
those  abroad  to  capture  and  imprisonment,  and  many  of 
those  at  home  to  poverty  and  ruin ;  nor  as  a  war  inten- 
ded for  the  defence  of  our  navigation  and  commerce, 
which  will  sweep  our  ships  from  the  ocean,  and  destroy 
the  remnant  of  that  commerce  which  has  escaped  the 
depredations  of  foreign  powers,  and  the  restrictions  of 
our  own  government;  we  view  this  measure  as  a  wan- 
ton sacrafice  of  those  blessings  with  which  Heaven  has 
distinguished  us  beyond  any  other  nation. 

"llesolved,  that  we  consider  the  conduct  of  Con;i,ress    1 

'  oil 


in  refusing  the  right  of  pubHc  debate  on  a  measure  of 
such  importance  as  a  war  with  Great  Britain,  and  a  late 
decision  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  by  which  the 
freedom  of  speech  in  that  body  is  reduced  to  an  empty 
name,  as  furnishing  just  cause  for  alarm,  and  as  a  direct 
attack  upon  principles  essential  to  the  preservation  of 
American  liberty. 

"Resolved,  that  the  refusal  of  the  senate  of  this  com- 
monwealth, (a  large  majority  of  whose  members  were 
elected  by  a  minority  of  the  people,)  to  concur  in  any 
one  of  the  various  modes  proposed  by  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives for  the  choice  of  Electors  of  President  and 
Vice  President,  manifests  an  intention  to  deprive  this 
large  and  powerful  Commonwealth  of  a  voice  in  this 
most  important  election,  and,  if  persisted  in,  must  sooner 
or  later  draw  down  upon  them  the  righteous  indignation 
of  an  injured  people. 

"Resolved,  That  we  highly  approve  the  late  official 
conduct  of  our  Commander  in  Chief,  and  whenever  the 


118  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS. 


cause  of  our  Country  demands  the  services  of  its  citi- 
zen-soldiers, his  orders  we  shall  cheerfully  obey. 

"Resolved,  That  we\Yill  use  our  exertions  to  carry  in- 
to effect  the  measures  recommended  in  the  late  excellent 
Address  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  to  their  Con- 
stituents, that  we  will  cordially  co-operate  with  our  fel- 
low citizens  in  this  county,  or  any  part  of  the  Common- 
wealth, in  all  constitutional  means,  to  obtain  a  speedy 
and  honorable  peace,  and  for  that  purpose  to  elect  into 
office  the  friends  of  peace,  being  fully  convinced  that  a 
change  of  Riders  is  necessary  to  the  Salvation"  op 
THE  Country."  Four  delegates  were  chosen  to  attend 
a  County  Convention  to  consult  upon  the  proper  meas- 
ures for  securing  peace.  Active  efforts  were  made  con- 
tinually by  our  citizens,  until  the  return  of  Peace. 
Several  companies  were  raised  to  resist  any  invasion, 
and  the  utmost  v/atchfulness  prevailed,   (a.) 

June  12th,  1815,  the   town  r-emonstrated  against  a 
proposition  to   annex   a  portion  of  Dan  vers  to  Salem. 
The  amendments  of  the  Constitution  of  the  State,  pro- 
posed in  1820,  were  received  by  Danvers ;  the  vote 
standing  68 — 3., 

In  1822  a  memorial  was  drawn  up  and  presented  to 
Congress  against  a  general  Bankrupt  law.  Oct.  2od, 
1823,  the  Bark,  Chocolate  and  Grist-mills  belonging  to 
Gen.  Foster  were  consumed  by  fire.  For  several  days 
in  April  1825,  the  moon  and  stars  were  visible  at  noon. 
March  Tth,  l8'3G,  the  Town  voted  unanimously  as  fol- 
lows :  To  sustain  a  Rail-road  that  should  go  directly  in- 
to Boston,  avoiding  the  inconvenience  of  any  ferry,  but 
to  give  a  preference  to  Winnissimet  above  East  Bos- 


HISTORY    OF   DANVERS.        "  119 

ton  ferry.  Dec.  19th.  1836  voted,  that  all  dogs  shall 
wear  a  collar,  and  pay  a  tax  of  two  dollars,  and  that  a 
bounty  of  fifty  cents  be  given  for  each  dog  slain  without 
a  collar. 

On  September  22d.  1843,   a  very  destructive  fire 
broke  out  in  the   South   Parish,  which  consumed   the 
Second    Congregational     Church,    the     Essex    Coffee 
House,  and  twelve  other  stores  and  houses,  and  a  large 
number  of  sheds  and   out-buildings,  belonging  to  or  oc- 
cupied by  John  Dodge,  Eben.  Eustis,  Mrs.  Very,  A. 
Lunt,  E.  Woodbury,  F.  Dane,  Jos.  Morrison,  Jonathan 
Dustin,  Southwick  &  Forrin,  Samuel  Southwick,  Enoch 
Poor,  B.  Goodridge,  C.  Lambert  &  Co.,  H.  Morse,  C. 
Lowe,  and  the   Misses  Foster.     The  Unitarian  Church 
and     several   other   buildings   caught    repeatedly,  but 
through  the  untiring  exertions  of  the   citizens  of  Dan- 
vers  and  the  neighboring  towns,   the  flames  were  stay- 
ed, after    destroying  property  to  the  amount  of  $75- 
000,  of  which   $25,000  wore  insured.     The  appear- 
ance of  this   part  of  the   village  was  by  this   disaster 
nearly  ruined.     It  has  recovered  the  shock,  however, 
and  presents  its  former  thriving  appearance.     The  small 
pox  prevailed  considerably  in  the  year  1844,  and  caus- 
ed much  alarm.     There  were  thirty  cases  in  the  Town, 
only  four  of  which  proved  fatal. 

A  Post  Office  was  established  in  South  Danvers  in 
February,  1832,  in  North  Danvers  in  1836,  and  in 
New  Mills  in  January  1845.  June  10th,  the  beauti- 
ful village  at  the  Plains  was  nearly  ruined  by  a 
destructive  fire.  Twelve  houses,  shops,  &c,  with  many 
out-buildings,  valued  at   $80,000,  were  consumed,  and 


120  HISTORY    OF   DANVERS. 


the  choicest  portion  of  the  vilhige  reduced  to  ashes. 
About  $30,000  were  insured.  The  property  was  own- 
ed or  occupied  principally  by  Messrs.  Amos  Brown, 
Alexander  Coffin,  Hayman  &  Rhodes,  W.  L.  Weston, 
E.  F.  Smith,  Francis  Noyes,  Joshua  Sylvester,  Elias 
Putnam,  Thos.  Bowen,  D.  P.  Clough,  Henry  T.  Ropes, 
Village  Bank,  Post  Office,  Samuel  Preston,  D.  S.  Wil- 
kins,  D.  J.  Preston,  and  Messrs.  Howe  &  Dodge. 
Seventeen  engines ,  and  the  labors  of  hundreds  of  zeal- 
ous, active  men,  could  only  in  some  measure  check  the 
flames  which  at  one  moment  seemed  to  threaten  the  en- 
tire village.  It  has  now  in  a  great  measure  recovered 
from  this  adverse  blow,  and  is  hastening  towards  its 
former  beauty. 

The  month  of  November,  1847,  was  unprecedented 
in  the  memory  of  the  "  oldest  inhabitant."  The  weath- 
er had  all  the  bland  genial  warmth  of  the  Indian  Sum- 
mer ;  many  forest  trees  budded  as  in  Spring,  and  gar- 
dens put  forth  the  vegetables,  whose  seeds  were  scatter- 
ed in  the  time  of  harvest.  Windows  were  kept  open, 
and  children  played  freely  in  the  open  air.  This  weath- 
er continued  until  Dec.  16th.  Until  that  time  insects 
filled  the  air,  musquitoes  Avere  common,  caterpillars  ap- 
peared, grass  sprouted  as  in  Spring,  geese  took  a  north- 
erly ffight,  dandelions  were  obtained  for  greens,  and  oth- 
er unseasonable  events  designated  the  winter  as  one  of 
the    most   remarkable  ever  known  in   New  England., 

Dec.  IGth,  1817,  the  town  held  a  meeting,  and  after 
discussing  the  subject  of  the  War  with  Mexico,  passed 
the  following  resolutions,  drafted  by  J.  W.  Proctor,  Esq. 

"  Resolved^  As  our  opinion,  that  the  war  now  pend- 


HISTORY  OF  DANVERS.  121 

ing  between  the  United  States  of  America  and  the 
United  States  of  Mexico,  was  wrong  in  its  origin^ — has 
been  wrong  in  its  jyr ogress^ — and  will  be  altogether 
wrong  in  its  continuance^ — and  that  no  acquisition  of 
glory  to  our  country  by  our  valiant  and  victorious  ar- 
mies, will  counterbalance  in  any  measure  a  warfare  so 
unjust  and  unnatural. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  view  with  fearful  apprehension 
the  disposition  to  acquire  additional  territory  by  con- 
quest, for  any  purpose  whatever,  however  it  may  be  in 
conformity  with  the  usages  of  Nations  ; — and  unless 
this  disposition  in  our  Government  shall  be  seasonably 
restrained,  we  fear  it  will  be  ominous  of  a  dissolution 
of  the  Union. 

"  Resolved,  "While  we  acknowledge  "  all  men  to  be 
born  free  and  equal,"  we  cannot  consistently  with  this 
principle  do  anything  whatever  that  shall  have  a  ten- 
dency to  extend  that  most  disgraceful  feature  of  our  In- 
stitutions,— Domestic  Slavery. 

"  Resolved,  That  Justice  demands  the  immediate 
withdrawal  of  our  armies  from  the  territory  of  the  Re- 
pubhc  of  Mexico. 

"  Resolved,  That  our  Senators  and  Representatives 
in  Congress,  and  our  Senators  and  Representatives  in 
the  State  Legislature,  are  hereby  requested  to  use  all 
lawful  influence  in  their  power  to  bring  this  unrighteous 
war  to  a  speedy  close." 

The  town  is  at  present  steadily  advancing  in  all  that 
elevates  a  community.  In  Religion,  Morals,  Industry, 
Education  and  Health,  the  Town  of  Danvers  will  not 
suflfer  by  comparison  with  any  other  in  our  highly  favor- 


122  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


ed  New  England.     To  the  tokens  of  her  high  pros  peri-  j 

ty  she  can  point  with  the  pride  of  conscious  excellence,  i 

and  say  with  an  ancient :  | 

These  are  my  Jewels.  I 


NOTES  TO  CHAPTER  Y. 

(a  )     When  the  frigate  Constitution  was  driven    into    Marblehead 
harbor  by  English  Vessels,  and  thus  effected  her  escape,  she  was  seen 
by  some  of  the  citizei\3  of  New  Mills.     There  were  one  or  two  alarms, 
but  no  actual  service  performed  on   the  part  of  the  citizens    of  Dan- 
vers.     The  "Ipswich  Fright"  of  course  prevailed  here.     A  company 
of  minute-men,  called  an  Alarm  List,  was  formed  at  New  Mills,  the 
muster  roll  of  which  is  as  follows:  Samuel  Page,  Capt. ;  Thomas  Put- 
nam, Lieut-,    Caleb  Oakes  and  Johci    Endicolt,    Sargts.,    John  Page, 
Cierk;  and  Thomas  Cheever,  Edward  Richardson,  Elooper  Stimpson, 
Stephen  Brown,  Samuel  Pindar,  John  Fowler,  Samuel  Trickey,  Wil- 
liam Francis,  Samuel  Fowler,  Benj    Kent,  iMoses  Black,  Daniel    Put- 
nam, Joseph   Stearns,   Jonas   Warren,   Eben   Dale,    George  Waitt, 
Nath'l  Putnam,  John  W.  Osgood,    Allen    Gould,   Ebene2;er  Jacobs, 
Moses  Waitt,  Andrew    Gould,    William    Trask,    Israel  Hutchinson, 
George  Osgood,  Henry  Brown,    Ebenezer    Berry,    William    Cutler, 
Daniel  Hardy,  Jonathan  Shelden,    Seth  Stetson,    Michael  Saunders, 
Ezra  Batchelder,    Thomas   Symonds,  Richard   Skidmore,    Ephraim 
Smith,  Hercules  Josselyn,  Jeremiah  Page,   Benj.    Wellington,   Moses 
I    Putnam,  Israel  Andrew,  Nath'l  Mayhew,  John  Wheeler,  David  Tarr, 
I    John  Russell,  John  Kenney,  Jacob  Allen,  Daniel  Usher,  Israel  Endi- 
cott  and  James  F.  Putnam     privates.     Capt.     Samuel    Page's    yard 
I     was  the  rendezvous.     Another  company    was  formed  in    the  south- 
'    ern    and    western    portion   of    the   Town.      The     following    are   a 
i    few    of    the     names  :     Capt.,    Gideon    Foster  ;    Lieutenants,   John- 
j    son  Proctor  and  Nathan    Felton  ;    Ensign,  DanielKing  ;  Ord.    Sergt. ^ 
{    John  Upton  ;  Privates,  William  Pool,  Eben  S.  Upton,  Rufus  Wyman, 
Eben  Kmg,  Amos   King,  John  Goldthwaite,     John    Osborn,    Oliver 
Saunders,  Joseph  GritUn,   Stephen  Proctor,  Asa  Bushby,  Asa  Tapley, 
James  Wlson,  Elisha  Wilson,  John  Needham,  Jona.  Osborn,  Amos 
Osborn,  W.  W.  Little,  James  Southwick,  Joseph  Shaw,  George  South- 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  123 

wick,  Sylvester  Osborn,  jr.,  Benj  Stephens,  Benj.  Gile,  Elisha  Gun- 
nison, Eben  Osborn,  Solomon  Mclntire,  William  Sutton,  Samuel  Bux- 
ton, and  about  so  many  more  whose  names  could  not  be  asoertained- 
There  were  two  alarms  when  these  comp.inies  wero  called  out.  One 
was  caused  by  a  boat  laden  with  sea-weed,  passing  by  Hospital  Point, 
where  the  Artillery  was  posted.  The  boat  was  mistaken  for  a  British 
barge,  and  as  it  returned  no  answer  on  being  hailed,  it  was  fired  upon. 
The  alarm  of  course  travelled  into  the  country,  and  th  •  whde  regon 
was  thrown  into  confusion  by  the  tidings  that  the  British  were  about 
landing.  On  the  other  occasion,  Sept.  28ih,  the  Artillery  wae  alarm- 
ed by  some  men  who  were  drawing  a  seine,  and  by  firing,  the  alarm 
spread,  it  is  said,  as  far  as  Coos  County,  New  Hampshire.  On 
bot  h  of  these  occasions,  these  companies  manifested  a  praise- 
worthy alacrity  in  repairing  to  the  spot  of  supposed  danger. — though 
tradition  has  whispered  that  certain  members  were  taken  with  a 
strange  and  uncontrollable  weakness,,  in  these  marches,  and  were 
often  obliged  to  sit  down  beside  stone  walls,  &c.,  until  the  rest  had 
returned  from  their  destination.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  tradi- 
tion, which  so  often  mistakes,  is  incorrect  in  this  instance. 

A  fort  of  turf,  mounted  by  two  iron  four-pounders,  was  built  on 
Hooper's  factoi'y  wharf.  Several  -fine  English  prize  vessels  laid  ia 
Porter's  river,  near  Kent's  shipyard,  duruig  the  war. 

CHAPTER  yi. 

STATISTICS,  &C. 
Representatives  to  the  General  Court  and  Provincial    Congress. 

Darnel  Epes,  Jr.,  1754,  5,  6,  7,  Qd,  7.  Daniel 
Gardner,  1759.  Thomas  Porter,  1760,  1,  2,  3,  5. 
John  Preston,  1764.  Samuel  Holten, /r.,  1768,  9,  | 
70,  1,  2,  3,5,  80,  7.  Wm.  Shillaber,  1775.  Samuel 
Eppes,  1776.  Jeremiah  Hutchinson,  1777,  8,  9,  80, 
1,  2,  3,  5,  6,  8.  Gideon  Putnam,  1784.  Israel 
Hutchinson,  1789,  91,  2,  3,  4,  5,  7,  8.  Caleb  Low, 
1790.  Gideon  Foster,  1796,  9,1800,  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6. 
Samuel  Page,  1800,  3,  4,  5,  6,  8,  9, 10, 11, 12,13, 14. 


124  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS. 


Nathan  Raad,  1804.  Nathan  Felton,  1805,  6,  7,  8,  9, 
10,  11,  12  13,  14,  15,  16,  19,  20,  21.  Squiers 
Shove,  1808,  9.  Dennison  Wallis,  1810,  11,  12, 
13,  19.  Daniel  Putnam,  1811,  17,  19.  James 
Foster,  1812,  13.  Hezekiah  FUnt,  1814,  15.  Syl- 
vester Osborne,  1814,  15,  17.  WilUam  P.  Page, 
1815,  16.  Frederick  Howes,  1816,  17,  18.  John 
Swinnerton,  Jr.,  1816.  Thomas  Putnam,  1817,  19. 
WiUiam  Sutton,  1822,  31.  Ebenezer  Shillaber,  1823, 
32.  John  Page,  1823,  5,  31,  2,  3.  Nathan  Poor,  1823, 

4,  8,  30,  1.  Nathaniel  Putnam,  1823.  John  Endi- 
cott,  1825.  Jonathan  Shove,  1826,  7,  8,  9,  30, 1,  2, 
3.  Rufus  Choate,  1826,  7.  Robert  S.  Daniels,  1828, 
30.  Elias  Putnam,  1829,  SO.  John  Preston,  1831, 
2,  3,  4.     Henry  Cook,  1833,  4.     Andrew  Lunt,  1834, 

5,  6.     Eben  Putnam,  1834,  7.    Jacob  F.  Perry,  1834, 

6,  6.  Daniel  P.  King,  1835,  6,  42.  Allen  Putnam, 
1835,  9,  40.  Joshua  H.  Ward,  1835,  6,  9.  Caleb 
L.  Frost,  1836,  7.  Samuel  P.  Fowler,  1837,  8,  9. 
Lewis  Allen,  1837,  8.  Henry  Poor,  1838,  9.  Abel 
Nichols,  1838.  Fitch  Poole,  1840,  1.  Samuel  Pres- 
ton, 1841,  2.  Frederic  Morrill,  1843.  Joshua  Sil- 
vester, 1843,  7.  Richard  Osborn,1844,  5.  Henry 
Fowler,  1844,  5,  6.     Ehjah  W.  Upton,  1846,  7. 

Previous  to  the  year  1831^  Representatives  served 
the  same  year  they  were  elected.  Since  that  time  they 
have  served  the  year  following.  Those  marked  1847, 
were  really  chosen  for  1848. 

TOWN"    CLERKS. 

Daniel  Eppes  jr.,  1752,  3.     James  Prince,  1754,5, 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  125    f 

6,  8,  9,  60.  Benj.  Prescott  jr.,  175T,  61.  Gideon 
Putnam,  1762,  72,  89  after  Augasfc.     Thomas  Porter, 

1763,  7.  Archelaus  Dale,  1761,  5,  6.  Samuel  Hol- 
ten  jr.,  1768,9,  70,1,3,4,5.  Stephen  Needham, 
1776,  7  after  August,  1778,  9,  80,  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6. 
Samuel  Flint,  1777  after  August.  Jonathan  Sawyer, 
1787  until  Dec.  James  Porter,  1787,  8,  9  until  August, 
1790  until  Nov.  Samuel  Page,  1790  after  Nov.  Gid- 
eon Foster,  1791,  2,  3,  4.  Joseph  Osborne  jr.,  1795, 
6,  7,  8,  9,  1800.  Nathan  Felton  from  1801  to  1828. 
Benj.  Jacobs,  1829, 30, 1,  2,  3,  4,  Joseph  Shed  1835 
to . 

MODERATORS    OP   ANNUAL   MEETINGS. 

Daniel  Eppes  Jr.,  1752,  3,  5,  6,  7,  9,  60,  5, 
6,  7.  Thomus  Flint,  1754.  Samuel  Flint,  1758. 
Thomas  Porter,  1761,  2,    3,  72.      Malachi   Felton, 

1764.  Samuel  Holten,  1768,  81,  4,  6,  7,  9,  90, 
6  to  1812  inclusive.  Gideon  Putnam,  1769,  79, 
83,  5,  93,  4,  5.  Archelaus  Dale,  1770,  3,  6. 
Wm.  Shillaber,  1771,  4,  5,  7,  8,88,91,2.  Amos 
Putnam,  1780,  2.  Jonathan  Ingersoll,  1813.  Samu- 
el Page,  1814.  Andrew  Nichols,  1815,  16,  17.  Jo- 
seph Shed,  1818.  George  Osgood,  1819,  21,  5,  35. 
Thomas  Putnam,  1820.  Nathan  Poor,  1822,  3,  4. 
Robt.  S.  Daniels,  1826.  Elias  Putnam,  1827,  9,  31. 
Lewis  Allen,  1828  46.  John  W.  Proctor,  1830,  2,  4, 
6,  8,  40.  John  Preston,  1833,  7.  Samuel  P.  Fowler 
1839,  43,  Abel  Nichols  1841.  Daniel  P.  King, 
1842.  ,  Jonathan  Shove,  1844.  Moses  Black  jr. 
1845, 7. 

g.  ^i  *?:? 


126 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


TAXES. 


The  following  is  a  list  of  the  taxes  paid  each  year, 
so  far  as  the  books  present  them. 

PROVINCE,   TOWN   AND   COUNTY. 


Year. 

£. 

s. 

d. 

Year. 

<£. 

s. 

d. 

1752 

248 

13 

8 

1767 

631 

4 

6 

53 

256 

2 

4 

68 

314 

7 

8 

64 

287 

13 

0 

69 

587 

13 

9 

65 

345 

8 

3 

70 

581 

17 

1 

56 

709 

14 

10 

71 

735 

19 

8 

5T 

879 

14 

72 

503 

13 

3 

58 

862 

0 

4 

73 

461 

0 

4 

59 

1115 

2 

4 

74 

374 

3 

4 

60 

947 

13 

11 

75 

405 

0 

IT 
1 

61 

762 

10 

8 

76 

337 

1 

2 

62 

77 

462 

4 

8 

63 

723 

7 

1 

78 

2,089 

10 

5 

64 

772 

0 

10 

79 

6,863 

12 

6 

65 

733 

14 

7 

80 

855,446 

19 

4 

6Q 

620 

1 

1 

81 

4,560 

6 

9 

Silver. 

Year. 

Town. 

Highway. 

State. 

1782 

£1,460 

83 

^1,000 

1,468 

19 

2 

84 

700 

£250 

1,082 

15 

6 

85 

700 

86 

1,017  16 

7 

1,222 

10 

1 

87 

800 

88 

1,200 

639 

18 

7 

89 

750 

90 

750 

120 

91 

640  19 

5 

92 

628  18 

4 

93 

728  15 

8 

140 

94 

745  19 

0 

1 

50 

HISTORY  OF  DAN  VERS. 


127 


Year. 

Town.      Highway. 

State. 

95 

^2,911  68     ^200 

96 

2,859  48     833  33 

97 

2,899  44     833  33 

Year. 

Town. 

Highway. 

1798 

$3,034  24 

$1,000 

1799 

2,968  64 

1,000 

1800 

2,909  25 

1,000 

1801 

8,191  98 

1,000 

1802 

4,214  39 

1,000 

1803 

5,211  80 

1,000 

1804 

5,144  16 

1,250 

1805 

4,212  59 

1,250 

1806 

8,751  62 

1,250 

1807 

4,307  10 

1808 

4,244  38 

1,500 

1809 

5,225  OS 

1,500 

1810 

5.2S5  05 

1,400 

1811 

5,350  64 

1,500 

1812 

5,230  06 

1,500 

1813 

4,806  60 

1,200 

1814 

5,303  47 

800 

1815 

5,240  10 

1,000 

1816 

5,203  60 

1,000 

1817 

5,158  24 

1,500 

1818 

4,686  03 

1,000 

1819 

5,061  52 

1,000 

1820 

5,144  39 

1,250 

1821 

5,113  95   ' 

1,250 

1822 

5.270  79 

1,250 

1823 

5,169  93 

1,250 

1824 

5,107  09 

1.250 

1825 

5,777  66 

1,250 

1826 

5,724  73 

1,250 

1827 

6,163  43 

1,250 

182S 

6,129  25 

1,250 

1829 

6,072  95 

1,250 

1830 

8,363  49 

900 

1831 

6,340  91 

1,200 

1832 

7,722  86 

1,250 

128  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


Year. 

Town. 

Highway. 

1833 

$8,739  63 

$1,250 

1834 

8,748  15 

1,250 

1835 

9,35S  24 

1,250 

1836 

9,599  77 

1,250 

1837 

11,122  13 

1,250 

1838 

9,682  77 

1,200 

1839 

9.960  99 

1,250 

1840 

11,832  74 

1,500 

1841 

10,461  98 

1,500 

1842 

11,415  15 

1,500 

1843 

11,393  18 

],500 

1844 

12,964  85 

1,500 

1845 

17,246  56 

1,500 

1846 

20,612  64 

1,500 

The  taxes  on  tliis  amount  were  generally  drawn  from 
men  in  the  condition  in  which  Agar  prayed  to  be :  neith- 
er poor  nor  rich. 

MANUFACTURES. 

Danvers  is  both  a  manufacturing  and  an  agricultural 
town.  The  valuation  of  1845,  taken  by  authority  of 
the  State,  is  thought  to  be  underrated.  It  is  certainly 
below  the  actual  condition  of  the  town,  but  is  as  near 
as  can  at  present  be  estimated. 

There  is  one  Rolling,  Slitting  and  Nail  Mill,  which 
employs  11  hands,  and  works  over  1000  tons  of  iron  an" 
nually,  valued  at  $80,000.  Capital  invested,  $9,000. 
— A  furnace  which  manufactures  50  tons  of  castings 
annually,  producing  $4000,  and  employing  5  hands. 
Capital,  $1000. — An  Axe  Manufactory  which  turns  off 
2500  axes  every  year,  valued  at  $3000;  Capital  $300 
and  3  men  employed. — 7  Saddle,  Harness  and  Trunk 
Manufactories  employing  13  men,  producing  articles 
valued  at  $8,200,  on  a  Capital  of  $3,650. — 2  manufac- 


HISTORY  OF   DANVERS.  129 


tories  of  Soap  and  Candles,  employing  6  men,  produc- 
ing 624,000  lbs.  of  soap,  36,000  lbs.  of  candles,  valu- 
ed at  $20,500,  on  a  capital  of  $25,580.-2  Cabinet 
factories  employing  3  men  producing  wares  valued  at 
$3,000  on  a  Capital  of  $1,050.— 4  Tin  Ware  Manu- 
factories employing  11  men  producing  wares  valued  at 
$17,000,  on  a  Capital  of  $7,500.-1  Glue  factory, 
employing  8  men,  realizing  $25,000,  on  a  Capital  of 
$12,000. — 61  Tanneries  which  annually  finish  553,760 
hides  valued  at  $638,708.  There  is  a  Capital  of  $414,- 
600  invested,  and  268  Men  employed.  The  Tanneries 
of  Danvers  cover  a  good  portion  of  the  Town,  and  the 
state  of  the  Leather  market  determines  the  degree  of 
prosperity  which  the  Town  enjoys.  There  are  three 
Morocco  Factories  which  dress  100,000  skins  valued  at 
$40,000.  There  are  40  hands  employed,  on  a  Capi- 
tal of  $35,000. 

As  Danvers  occupies  important  ground  in  the  useful 
business  of  tanning,  if  limits  allowed,  an  interesting  his- 
tory of  the  enterprise  might  be  given.  The  father  of 
the  business,  was  Edward  Southwick,  a  Quaker,  and 
paternal  grandfather  of  P.  R.  Southwick,  Esq.,  of  Bos- 
ton, known  as  an  enterprising  and  accomplished  mer- 
chant. He  was  married  in  the  year  1739,  and  it  is' 
probable  that  it  was  about  that  date,  that  he,  as  was 
customary,  "set  up"  in  business.  It  is  related  that  he 
commenced  by  using  half  hogsheads  for  vats.  After  a 
while  as  his  business  increased,  he  succeeded  in  getting 
a  gondola,  which  he  used,  until,  after  a  few  years  he 
sank  three  or  four  vats.  He  lived  in  the  old  mansion 
opposite  the  monument,  now  occupied  by  one  of  his   de- 


130  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS. 

scendants.  This  venerable  edifice  was  among  the  first 
to  adopt  the  comparatively  modern  square  panes  of 
glass,  in  the  place  of  the  diamond  leaded  pane.  From 
this  circumstance  it  was  known  for  many  years  as  the 
Glass  House.     He  died  in  the  year  1791. 

A  large   number  of  the  houses  have  a  small  out- 
building attached,  in  which  boots  and  shoes  are  made. 
Thus  it  is  difficult  to  ascertain  the  amount  of  Capital 
invested,  but  it  is  known  that  about  1,586  men,  and 
980  women  are  constantly  employed  in  this  important 
business,  who  annually  produce  1,150,300  pairs  of  boots 
and  shoes  valued  at  $671,450. — 60  Men  are  engaged 
in  Brick-making  who  manufacture  4,100,000  each  year, 
valued  at   $24,600. — 31  Men  prepare  stone  for  build- 
ing, amounting  to  $8,850. — 1  Pump  and  block  maker 
manufactures   $500  worth  yearly. — 1,200  bushels   of 
Shoo  Pegs,  and  40,000  Lasts  valued  at  $8000,   are 
made  each  year.     5  men  are  employed  in  making  lasts, 
and  a  capital  of  $2,000  is  invested. — 6  men  and  a 
Capital  of  $1000,  produce    $4000  worth  of  Earthen 
Ware.      At  one  time  this  was  the  principal  business  in 
town.     Table  Ware  of  "Danvers  China"  brought  a  high 
price  during  the  last  war.     A  large  number  of  our  citi- 
zens might  then  have  been  seen  working  like  the  laborer 
mentioned  in  Ecclesiasticus  38:  29,  30. — 3000   Hides 
are  prepared  for  Pickers  valued  at  $8,000,  on  a  Capi- 
tal of  $2,000.-37,000  Shoe  boxes  valued  at  $14,500 
are    made,  which  employ   10   Men  and  a  Capital  of 
$3000.-15000  lights  of  sashes  &c.,  valued  at   $750, 
are  made  by  2  men  on  a  capital  of  $300. — The  Dan- 
vers Carpet  Factory  at  Tapleyville  owned  by   Messrs. 


HISTORY    OF   DANVERS.  131 

Tapley,  is  about  182  ft  long  by  30  wide,  operated  by 
an  engine  of  25  horse  power,  has  about  30  looms  in  op- 
eration, employing  60  hands,  who  work  up  100,000 
lbs.  of  wool  and  weave  about  60,000  yards  of  carpet- 
ing annually.  There  are  stockings  and  some  other  arti- 
cles manufactured  in  the  toAvn.  The  stocking  factory 
is  situated  in  a  place  which  rejoices  in  the  euphonious 
title  of  the  "Devil's  Dishful."  The  name  originated, 
according  to  a  popular  story  teller,  in  this  way :  A 
husking  party  had  assembled,  and  while  the  people 
were  at  their  labors  in  the  barn,  some  young  rogues 
who  were  uninvited,  dug  a  passage  through  the  wall  of 
the  house,  into  the  oven,  and  abstracted  the  savory 
contents,  which  they  conveyed  to  an  old  ruined  build- 
ing, where  they  intended  to  rejoice  in  their  ill-gotten 
gains.  While  they  revelled,  an  old  negro  who  had  for- 
merly dwelt  in  the  dilapidated  mansion,  who  had  been 
obliged  to  visit  foreign  parts  for  some  deed  of  roguery, 
but  who  had  returned  and  sought  a  night's  lodging  in 
the  cellar,  hearing  the  noise,  ascended  through  a  trap- 
door, and  seeing  the  food,  began  to  eat.  His  pres- 
ence, of  course,  alarmed  the  young  revellei's,  and  they 
left  the  house  precipitately,  and  immediately  encoun- 
tered the  husking  party,  to  whom  they  related  their 
adventure,  (omitting  the  account  of  the  theft,)  and 
from  whom  they  received  the  mysterious  story  of  the 
abstracted  pudding  and  beans.  Strengthened  by  num- 
bers, all  repaired  to  the  old  hut,  where  they  saw  this 
strange  being  at  his  meal,  and  to  their  excited  imagin- 
ations he  had  horns,  hoofs,  and  a  brimstone  breath. 
Fear  soon  drove  them  to  their  homes,  and  when  they 


132  HISTOEY    OF   DANVERS. 

returned  tlie  next  day,  only  a  '^dishful  of  pumpkin  pie 
was  left  on  the  table  by  the  greedy  Devil."  Thus  the 
name  ! — The  "Danvers  Bleaching  Compan}^,"  with  a 
capital  of  $100,000,  have  a  large  establishment  of 
stone,  and  are  about  erecting  others,  for  the  purpose 
of  bleaching.  Their  facilities  are  uncommon,  from  the 
remarkable  purity  of  the  water  at  their  command. 

AGRICULTURE,  &C. 

In  Danvers  there  are  98  sheep  worth  186  dolls,  yield- 
ing 257  lbs.  of  wool  at  87  dolls. — There  are  564  horses 
worth  32,095  dolls,  1,321  neat  cattle  worth  30,435  dolls, 
1,003  swine  valued  at  12,341  dolls. — Common  vegetable 
productions  are  raised  with  ease  in  great  abundance. 
Each  year  reahzes  about  13,929  bushels  of  Indian  corn  at 
8,357  dolls. ;  1315  bushels  of  rye  at  735  dolls  ;  344 
bushels  of  barley  at  223  dolls.  ;  1353  bush,  of  oats  at 
502  dolls.  ;  31,095  bushels  of  potatoes  at  9,328  dolls  ; 
120,000  bushels  of  onions  at  50,000  dolls.;  other  escu- 
lents 2,160  bushels  at  700  dolls. ;  3,097  tons  hay  at  32, 
470  dolls. — Probably  no  town  in  the  w  )rld  raises  as  ma- 
ny onions  as  Danvers. — There  is  a  great  variety  of  rich 
fruit  produced  consisting  of  apples,  plums,  etc.,  amount- 
ing in  full  to  50,000  bushels,  valued  at  18,177  dolls. 
Besides  these,  Danvers  produces  52,550  lbs.  of  butter  ; 
1,450  lbs.  of  cheese;  3,500  lbs.  of  honey  ;  200  tons 
of  squashes  ;  150,000  dolls,  worth  of  beef  and  pork  for 
market;  47,452  galls,  of  milk;  3,726  cords  of  fire 
wood,  valued  at  15,400  dolls.,  &c.,  &c. 

At  all  agricultural  fairs,  cattle  shows,  etc.,  Danvers 
is  usually  represented,  and  premiums  on  domestic  arti- 


HISTORY  OF  DANVERS.  133 

cles,  agricultural  products  and  live  stock,  prove  the  ex- 
cellence of  our  soil  and  the  industry  of  our  people. 

The  Osborne  Cow,  belonged  to  Mr.  Philip  Os- 
borne, and  produced  20  qts.  of  milk  weighing  58  lbs., 
daily.  Her  milk  was  sold  at  4  cts.  per  quart,  which 
reahzed  five  dollars  and  sixty  cents  weekly.  To  test 
its  real  excellence,  the  owner  saved  the  milk  one  week 
and  it  made  18  1-2  lbs.  of  nice  butter. 

The  Oakes  Cow,  belonging  to  Caleb  Oakes,  was  a 
very  remarkable  animal.  She  was  of  middling  size,  but 
on  evidence  satisfactory  to  the  Massachusetts  Agricul- 
tural Society,  she  produced  from  April  5th  to  Sept. 
25th,  484  lbs.  of  butter,  being  about  20  pounds  each 
week. 

The  Nourse  Cow  produced  nearly  the  same  amount 
and  the  Pond  Cow  gave  14  qts  of  milk  daily,  for  ten 
consecutive  months. 

BANKS. 

Village  Bank.  Incorporated  1836.  Capital  120- 
000  dollars.  Discount  days  Mondays  and  Thursdays. 
First  President,  Hon.  Elias  Putnam.  Officers  :  Pres- 
dent,  Moses  Putnam  ;  Cashier,  W.  L.  Weston  ;  Direc- 
tors, Moses  Putnam,  Moses  Black,  Joshua  Silvester, 
Daniel  Richards,  John  Wright  (Topsfield,)  x\aron 
Putnam,  Joseph  S.  Black. 

Danvers  Bank.  Inc.,  1825.  Capital  150,000  dol- 
lars. Discount  days  Tuesdays  and  Fridays.  First 
President,  William  Sutton.  Officers  :  President,  Eben. 
Shillaber ;  George  A.  Osborne,  Cashier ;  Directors, 
Eben.  Shillaber,    Caleb  L.  Frost,  Eben    Sutton,   Jo- 


134  HISTORY  OF   DANVERS. 

seph  Shaw,  Robert  S.  Daniels,  David  Daniels,    Asa 
Sawyer. 

Warren  Bmik.  Inc.,  1831.  Capital  120,000  dol- 
lars. Discount  days  Mondays  and  Thursdays.  First 
President,  Jonathan  Shove.  Officers  :  President,  Eli- 
jah W.  Upton  ;  Cashier,  Francis  Baker  ;  Directors, 
E.  W.  Upton,  Kendal  Osborne,  Henry  Poor,  Oliver 
Saunders,  Sylvester  Osborne,  jr.,  Lewis  Allen,  Gilbert 
Tapley,  Franklin  Osborne,  Benjamin  Wheeler,  Chas. 
Lambert,  George  Osborne,  Benj.  Porter. 

Danvers  Mutual  Fire  hisiirance  Cortipany,  Insti- 
tuted 1829.  First  President,  Ebenezer  Shillaber. 
Officers:  President,  Henry  Cook;  Geo.  A.  Osborne, 
Secretary.  Amount  at  risk,  700,000  00.  Directors, 
Henry  Cook,  Robert  S.  Daniels,  Benjamin  Wheeler, 
Eben  S.  Upton,  Dr.  Joseph  Osgood,  Dr.  George  Os- 
borne, Lewis  Allen,  Henry  Poor,  John  Whitney. 

COMMERCE. 

The  facilities  for  navigation  presented  by  Crane, 
Waters'  and  Porter's  Rivers,  have  been  improved,  and 
the  New  Mills  Village  has  been  and  is  a  place  of  a 
good  degree  of  business  importance.  During  the  past 
year  there  have  been  127  arrivals  at  this  port ; — 106 
schooners  and  21  sloops.  These  brought  37  cargoes 
of  wood  and  bark  ;  35  of  flour  and  corn  ;  15  of  lum- 
ber ;  9  of  lime  ;  2  of  salt ;  1  of  molasses,  and  1  of 
coal.  Bricks  and  onions  have  been  exported.  Be- 
sides these  there  have  been  30  arrivals  at  the  Iron 
Factory  of  coal,  wood,  lumber,  etc. 


HISTORY  OF   DAN  VERS.  135    ft 


FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

The  very  effective  Fire  Department  of  Danvers  com- 
menced Aug.  25tli,  1800,  when  two  engines  were  pur- 
chased, one  of  which  was  placed  at  the  Bell  Tavern 
and  the  other  at  New  Mills.  Two  more  were  added  in 
the  year  1821.  At  present  there  are  eight  excellent 
engines,  two  sail  cars,  eleven  hook  and  ladder  stations, 
and  twenty -five  reservoirs,  located  in  appropriate  places. 
These  engines  have  rendered  faithful  service  not  only 
in  Danvers  but  in  several  of  the  neighboring  towns. 
During  the  past  year  the  town  has  expended  2.591 
dolls.  16  cts.  on  the  department. 

ASSOCIATIONS    &C. 

Free  Masons,  Jordan  Lodge  ;  50  members ;  Insti- 
tuted in  1808. 

Female  Benevolent  Society,  This  Institution  accom- 
plishes much  good  among  the  poor  of  our  vicinity. 
There  is  a  laughable  anecdote  related  of  it.  When 
Rev.  Geo.  Cowles  was  settled  with  the  2d  Cong.  Soci- 
ety, he  desired  to  see  the  records  of  this  Benevolent 
Association.  The  Secretary,  on  examining  the  books, 
found  the  following  entry  in  several  instances  :  ^'The 
Society  met,  and  as  no  one  attended,  it  adjourned!^'* 

Danvers  Mechanic  Institute,  Inc.  1811 ;  140  mem- 
bers ;  a  Library  of  1800  volumes. 

Rechabites,  Howard  Tent  No.  87  ;  53  members  ; 
Instituted  March,  1845. 

Sons  of  Temperance,  Monumental  Division  No. 
5 ;  Instituted  Aug.  1845. 


136  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS. 

Odd  Fellotvs.     Holten    Lodge  No.  104 ;    41  mem- 
bers ;  Instituted  Jan.,  1846. 

Daughters  of  Bechah.  Samaritan  Tent  No.  22 ; 
19  members  ;  Instituted  May,  1847. 

Besides  tbese,  are  various  societies  auxiliary  to 
the  churches ;  ^Anti-Slavery,  Temperance,  Literary, 
&c. 

POOR  HOUSE. 

The  unfortunate  poor  have  always  been  regarded 
with  tenderness  by  our  citizens,  and  they  have  receiv- 
ed comfortable  accommodations.  Previous  to  the  year 
1808,  a  building  was  owned  by  the  town  for  the  above 
laudable  purpose.  In  that  year  a  farm  and  buildings 
were  purchased  of  Nathaniel  Nurse  for  7,000  dollars, 
for  the  use  of  the  poor,  and  the  old  alms-house  was 
sold  in  the  year  following.  In  the  year  1844  a  splend- 
id establishment  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  12,750 
dolls.  69  cts.  Besides  the  Poor  House  and  Hospital, 
there  are  100  acres  of  woodland,  100  acres  of  tillage, 
meadow  and  pasture,  a  lot  of  salt  marsh  in  Saugus, 
and  stock,  implements,  hay,  etc.  enough  belonging  to 
the  establishment  to  render  its  value  about  24,000 
dollars.  The  average  number  of  inmates  for  the  year 
1846,  was  58  ;  these  were  supported  at  an  expense 
of  3,458  dolls.  During  the  year  there  were  four 
deaths.  For  convenience,  cleanliness,  order  and  archi- 
tectural beauty,  there  are  but  few  buildings  in  the  Town 
or  County  that  can  be  said  to  surpass  it. 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  137 

TEMPERANCE. 

In  the  year  1812  the  first  Temperance  Society  in  the 
world,  probably, — certainly  the  first  in  America, — was 
formed.  It  was  called  the  Massachusetts  Society  for  the 
Suppression  of  Intemperance.  It  consisted  of  about 
125  members,  of  whom  Joseph  Torrey,  Samuel  Hol- 
TEN  and  Benjamin  Wadsworth,  vyere  from  this  town. 
The  first  public  society  for  the  suppression  of  intemper- 
ance in  this  town,  was  the  Danvers  Moral  Society, 
formed  in  February  1814,  when  it  was  by  no  means 
a  popular  act  for  a  man  to  announce  himself  a  temper- 
ance man.  Art.  12,  of  the  Constitution  sets  forth  the 
objects  of  the  Society  :  *'  The  members  of  this  Society 
being  fully  convinced  that  the  daily  use  of  ardent  spir- 
its is  unnecessary  and  prejudicial  to  health,  do  agree  to 
exert  their  influence  against,"  etc.  This  Society  num- 
bered the  most  respectable  and  influential  citizens  of 
the  toAvn.  The  first  Board  of  Officers  was  the  follow- 
ing :  Hon.  Samuel  Holten,  President ;  E,ev.  Benjamin 
Wadsworth  and  Rev.  Samuel  Walker,  Vice  Presidents  ; 
Dr.  Joseph  Torrey,  Rec.  Sec. ;  Dr.  Andrew  Nichols, 
Cor.  Sec. ;  Fitch  Pool,  Treasurer  ;  Eleazer  Putnam, 
Samuel  Page,  John  Endicott,  Sylvester  Osborne,  Jas. 
Osborne,  James  Brown,  William  Sutton,  Nathan  Fel- 
ton.  Counsellors.  For  several  years  it  was  customary 
to  have  a  yearly  lecture.  In  May  1833,  the  word 
^°  daily"  was  stricken  from  the  article  above  quoted. 

The  first  public  action  on  the  part  of  the  Town  was 
had  March  30th,  1818,  when  the  thanks  of  the  Town 
were  presented  to  the    Selectmen  for  their  zeal  in  en- 

12 


138  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS.  f 


deaYoring  to  preYent  a  portion  of  the  people  from  wast- 
ing "  health,  time  and  estate  in  drinking";  and  they 
were  earnestly  requested  to  continue  their  efforts.     It 
was  customary  at  this   time  to  post  the  names  of  all 
common  drunkards  in  conspicuous  places.     May  7th, 
1827,  a  committee  of  nine  was  raised  to  prosecute  all  li- 
censed persons  who  infringed  the  laws^  and  all^unlicensed 
persons     who    sold   ardent    spirits.        Dr.    Ebenezer 
Hunt   this   year   delivered  the  first  public  address  in 
Danvers  advocating  total  abstinence.     lie  received  the 
thanks  of  the  Society  for  his  "  ingenious  and  independ- 
ent" address.     In  June  1831,  the   Overseers  of  the 
Poor  were  instructed  to  furnish  no  more  alcohol  to  the 
Paupers,  unless  prescribed  by  a  ph^^sician.     Danvers 
was  among  the  first  towns  in  the   Commonwealth  to  re- 
fuse to  grant  licenses,  which  it  did  March  4th,  1833  ; 
accordingly  no  intemperance  has  been  manufactured  by 
law  for  fifteen  years.     The  following  year  a  committee 
was  chosen  to  correspond  with  other  towns  in  relation  to 
granting  Ucenses,  m  order  to  gain  information  on  which 
to  ground  judicious  action.     April   4th,   1836,  eight 
hundred  females,   "  our  wives,  mothers,  daughters  and 
sisters,"  petitioned  the  legal  voters  to  "  act  as  well  as 
to  tJiinJc'^  against  intemperance.     April  3d,  1837,  John 
W.   Proctor,  Esq.,  presented   several    very  excellent 
Resolutions  in  behalf  of  Temperance,  and   paid  inci- 
dentally a  handsome  rebuke  to  the   authorities  of  Sa- 
lem, by  requesting  them,  if  they  insisted  upon  legaliz- 
ing the  rum  traffic,  not  to  locate  their  dram  shops  on 
the  immediate  borders  of  Danvers.     This  request  was 
!j  very    appropriate,    when  we    remember   that    Salem 

yi_„ M 


HISTORY    OF   DANVERS.  139 

has  always  been  a  source  of  drunkenness  to  Danvers. 
The  Resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted.  From  that 
time  onward  sober  influences  have  been  increasing. 
The  people  are  constantly  on  the  watch  to  guard  against 
this  fruitful  source  of  crime  and  misery.  The  different 
Societies  organized  to  effect  the  eradication  of  intem- 
perance, ma}'-  be  seen  in  the  chapter  of  Statistics. 

The  following  bill  in  the  possession  of  John  Page, 
Esq.,  will  show  us  the  advance  made  in  Sobriety  and 
Temperance  by  our  people. 

Dr.     Coll.  Page  fowerman  Grand  Jury 

Nom  6     To  15  Deners  at  2s 

For  1  *Duball  Bole  Grog  4s 

For       Duballs  punch  IGs 

To  15  Deners  at  23 

To  1  Glass  Brandy  3d,  to  9  Boles 

Grog 
To     3  Glass  Brandy  Is  to  1  Boles 
Gyo'I  Is 

o 

To  2  Duballs  Boles  punch 

To  1  mug  flip  Is 

To  8  Boles  punch  6s 

To  5  Boles  punch  203 

To  2  mugs  flip  2s 

To  15  Deners  at  2s 

To  6  Shetes  Peaper 

£7     9t9 
Eecd  the  Above  Salem  Nov.  9.  1786 

Jona  Webb 
*double.  (tl7?) 

Curious  Town  documents  might  be  quoted,  showing 
I    that  our   Selectmen  were  not  always  the  sober,  grave 


£1 

10 

0 

0 

4 

0 

0 

16 

0 

1 

10 

0 

0 

9 

3 

0 

1 

0 

0 

8 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

6 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

2 

0 

1 

10 

0 

0 

0 

6 

140  HISTORY    OF   DAN  VERS. 

fathers  they  are  in  modern  times.  Their  bills  for  grog 
were  usually  larger  than  those  for  more  solid  comforts. 
At  the  place  where  Tapley's  Brook  crosses  the  South 
Reading  Road,  there  was  formerly  a  public  house,  and 
credible  tradition  relates,  that  the  boundaries  between 
Salem  and  Danvers  which  are  described  by  that  road 
were  settled  upon  an  occasion  when  the  Selectmen  of 
the  two  towns  assembled  in  the  aforesaid  public 
house,  and  "  perambulated  the  bounds"  by  getting 
essentially  drunk  together. — Those  days  of  folly  have 
passed,  however,  and  Danvers  now  stands  in  the  front 
rank  of  the  Advocates  of  this  great  Reform. 

SLAVERY. 

In  common  with  other  portions  of  New  England, 
there  were  Slaves  in  this  town  until  the  abolition  of  Sla- 
very in  Massachusetts.  In  1755  there  were  nine  male 
and  sixteen  female  slaves  in  the  District  of  Danvers.  The 
anti-slavery  spirit  has  always  prevailed  very  extensively 
in  the  town,  and  while  the  Slave  here  finds  some  of  his 
warmest  friends,  the  accursed  Institution  which  is  built 
of  human  bones,  and  cemented  with  human  blood,  finds 
here  uncompromising  foes.  As  early  as  the  year  1819 
when  the  Missouri  question  was  agitated,  a  letter  was 
addressed  by  the  citizens  to  Hon.  Nath'l  Silsbee  on  this 
important  subject,  of  which  the  following  is  the  sub- 
stance. They  assure  Mr.  Silsbee  of  the  gratification 
they  experience  in  finding  him,  and  most  of  the  delega- 
tion from  Mass.  opposed  to  the  extension  of  Slavery  ; 
they  say  further,  to  be  silent  under  the  existing  circum- 
stances would  be  criminal ;  they  fear  that  the   evil  of 


HISTORY  OP    DANVERS.  141 

Slavery  may  become  perpetual ;  they  earnestly  hope 
that  every  practicable  exertion  -will  be  made,  to  hasten 
^he  time,  when  tlie  republic  shall  \^dtncss  the  complete 
emancipation  of  the  African  ;  they  affirm  that  Congress 
has  power  to  act  on  the  question  of  Slavery,  and  trust 
they  "possess  the  ivill  and  inclination  to  act  rightly,'' 
which  views  they  endorse  by  quotations  from  the  Consti- 
tution ;  they  add: 

"May  we  not,  Sir,  be  permitted  to  indulge  the  hope, 
that  the  cause  of  humanity  will  ultimately  prevail  ;  that 
ere  long  this  infernal  traffic  in  human  flesh,  will  be 
completely  and  entirely  abolished  ?  With  the  highest 
satisfaction,  we  have  witnessed  the  eflforts  that  have  been 
made  and  are  now  making  in  the  European  world,  to 
effect  this  most  desirable  of  all  objects.  And  shall  the 
United  States,  emphatically  a  land  of  boasted  liberty 
and  equal  rights,  be  backward  in  a  cause  so  noble,  and 
so  good?  In  a  cause  that  most  forcibly  appeals  for  aid, 
to  every  principle  of  Patriotism,  of  Humanity,  and  of 
Religion.  Forbid  it  Heaven !  Forbid  it  Justice !" 
They  ask  Mr.  S.  to  excuse  the  warmth  of  their  language, 
saying:  "on  subjects  of  this  kind,  it  is  not  easy  at  all 
times  to  keep  within  the  due  bounds  of  moderation." 
Signed,  Edward  Southwick,  William  Sutton,  Thomas 
Putnam,  Andrew  Nichols,  John  W.  Proctor.  To  this 
address,  Mr.  S.  returned  a  suitable  reply. 

Since  that  time  the  people  of  all  classes  have  arrayed 

themselves  on  the  side  of  freedom,  and  have  sent  out  a 

constant  and  powerful  influence  for  the  wronged  and 

oppressed  Negro.      Among  the  churches  which  have 

1  spoken  officially  may  be  mentioned  the  Methodist,  the 


142  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS. 


•I 


Third  Congregational,  and  the  First  and  Second  Univer- 
salist.  A  thorough  organic  opposition  prevails,  ex  cath- 
edra. 

It  will  perhaps  amuse  the  antiquarian,  to  see  the  fol- 
lowing documents  which  reveal  to  us  the  past  state  of  af- 
fairs in  our  own  town.  Tlie  first  is  from  John  Page 
Esq.,  and  the  second  from  Warren  M.  Jacobs. 

''Danvers  April  19th,  1766. 
"Rec'd  of  Mr.  Jeremiah  Page  Fifty  Eight  pound, 
thirteen  shillings  &  four  pence  lawfull  monev  and  a  Ne- 
gro-woman called  Dinah,  which  is  in  full  for  a  Negro 
woman  called  Combo,  and  a  Negro  girl  called  Cate,  and 
a  Negro  child  called  Deliverance  or  Dill,  which  I  now 
Sell  and  Deliver  to  je  said  Jeremiah  Page. 

"Witness     (    Jona.  Bancroft  John  Taplej 
I    Ezek  Marsh" 

"Dill"  is  now  living  in  Salem. 

"Recieved  of  Mr.  Ebenezer  Jacobs  of  Danvers  the 
sum  of  Fourtj  five  Pounds  six  shillings  and  Eight  pence 
Lawfull  Monj,  which  is  in  full,  Satisfaction  for  a  Negro 
Boy  Named  Primus,  which  I  have  this  Day  sold  to  the 
s'd  Jacobs. 

X.45,  6,  8d  Daniel  Epes  Jun. 

"Danvers  Aprill  ye  30th,  1754" 

Primus  was  a  brave  soldier  in  the  Revolution. 

The  following  extract  from  Cutler's  Life  of  Putnam 
will  show  us  the  New  England  method  of  punishing  re- 
fractory slaves, — a  method  more  marked  with  severity 
than  justice.     It  occurred  in  Danvers,  before  Israel 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


143  n 


Putnam  removed  to  Comiecticut.      It  should   be  pre- 
mised that  CuDGE  belonged  to  a  neighbor  of  Putnam's. 

"  By  some  means,  his  mistress  had  grievously  of- 
fended the  negro.  He  became  so  enraged,  that  he 
swore  he  would  take  her  life  ;  and  neither  soothing 
words,  nor  threats,  had  any  effect  to  pacify  him.  The 
family  was  thrown  into  the  greatest  alarm,  knowing 
that  his  temper  was  of  that  ungovernable  savage  char- 
acter that  nothinsT  would  restrain  him  from  indulcrins: 
it.  In  this  state  of  things,  his  master  devised  a  plan 
for  the  permanent  relief  of  his  family.  Having  made 
his  arrangements,  he  went  out  into  the  field  with  his 
hoe  in  his  hand,  and  said — 

"Cudge,  you  have  had  rather  hot  work  getting  in  the 
potatoes." 

"Yes,  massa,  hot  enough.'' 

"Well,  I  am  going  to  give  you  a  play-day.  I  have 
sold  fifty  bushels,  to  be  delivered  on  board  a  vessel  at 
the  wharf  in  Salem,  and  if  you  would  like  it,  you  may 
go  in  with  the  load." 

"Oh!  yes,  massa;  like  it  very  well." 

"You  may  have  the  whole  day,  Cudge.  So  you 
can  take  your  fiddle  with  you,  and  play  a  jig  for  the 
sailors,  and  so  get  a  few  coppers  for  yourself." 

"Cudge  was  highly  pleased  with  the  proposal,  and 
started  off  in  great  glee. 

"Having  unloaded  his  potatoes,  the  sailors,  who  had 
been  let  into  the  secret  and  received  their  instructions 
beforehand,  called  upon  Cudge  to  bring  out  his  fiddle 
and  play  them  a  jig,  that  they  might  have  one  merry 
dance  before  going  to  sea. 


144  HISTORY  OF   DANVERS. 

"The  negro  showed  his  teeth,  and  his  fiddle  too ;  and 
presently  the  deck  of  the  brig  was  as  merry  as  a  coun- 
try ball-room  at  Thanksgiving.  Meanwhile,  the  dancers 
were  not  niggardly  in  "joaying  the  piper."  The  cop- 
pers fell  on  this  side  and  that,  and  Cudge  was  some- 
what disconcerted  in  his  measure,  by  the  necessity  of 
breaking  off  and  running  after  them,  to  prevent  them 
from  going  out  at  the  scuppers.  Presently,  one  of  the 
sailors  said — 

"Cudge,  your  fiddle  is  getting  dry ;  you  must  go 
below  and  rosin  your  hoiv^  This  was  another  phrase 
for  "wetting  his  whistle,"  or  taking  a  dram. 

"Cudge  took  the  hint  with  alacrity,  and  adjourned 
with  two  or  three  of  the  party  to  the  forecastle.  Here, 
with  drinking,  fiddling,  singing  and  dancing,  two  or 
three  hours  passed  away,  and  Cudge  had  almost  filled 
his  pockets  with  coppers.  At  length,  starting  up,  as 
from  a  dream,  he  exclaimed : 

"Yah  !  I  must  go  up,  and  see  how  the  cattle  stand." 

"He  went  up  ;  but,  to  his  utter  amazement,  there 
was  neither  cattle  nor  cart  to  be  seen  ;  no,  nor  houses, 
nor  wharf.  The  brig  was  many  miles  out  at  sea,  and 
Cudge  w^as  bound  to  a  southern  clime,  where  slaves 
could  be  more  easily  managed  than  on  the  hardy  soil 
of  New  England.  He  went  to  the  same  market  with 
his  potatoes,  and  was  sold  for  the  same  account." 

SCHOOLS. 

The  excellent  Common  Schools  of  Dan  vers  had  a  very 
humble  origin.  They  are  not  as  old  as  those  of  other 
towns,  from  the  fact  that  the  people  of  this  vicinity  were 
compelled  at  first  to  support  those  of  Salem,  and  were  thus 


f[     '  HISTORY  OF   DANVERS.  145 


disqualified  from  sustaining  schools  for  themselves.  In 
March  1711  the  Village  Parish  voted  unanimously  to 
have  a  '-Scolle  master."  Evidently  the  "Scolle  master" 
was  abroad  when  the  Clerk  recorded  the  vote.  In  the 
year  1713  widow  Katharine  Daland  received  five  pounds 
for  teaching,  and  seven  pounds  in  addition  were  raised  to 
devote  to  instructing  youth.  From  that  time  onward, 
the  Schools  have  increased  in  number  and  excellence. 
In  1734  the  Village  Parish,  raised  X37,  6,  6,  and  the 
Middle  Precinct  raised  X47,  4,  11  for  the  support  of 
schools. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  a  Manuscript  owned 
by  Hon.  D.  P.  King:  ''A  Record  of  what  ye  School 
Committee  did  in  Respect  of  Schooling  ye  Youth  in  the 
Third  parrish  in  Salem  In  ye  year  1736,  by  Samil 
King  Junr.  Chosen  Cleark. 

"Decemr  ye  27th,  at  a  meeting  of  ye  Comt.  1'-' 
we  have  agreed  to  Errect  Four  Schools  in  ye  Parrish : 
2'^  agreed  yt  Collo.  Daniel  Epes  Mr.  Abel  Gardner 
Wm  Osborn,  Robart  Wilson  &  John  Waters  Junr,  or 
ye  Major  part  of  ym,  to  Errect  a  School  in  yt  quarter 
of  ye  Parish  &  Capt  Sam'l  Endicott  Mr  Thorndick 
Procter  John  Felton  and  Daniel  Marbell  or  ye  Major 
part  of  ym  to  Errect  a  School  in  yt  quarter  of  ye  Par- 
rish and  Mr  Ezekiel  Goldthwait  Mr  Ezekel  Marsh  Pe- 
ter Twist  Junr.  &  Saml  King  Junr.  or  ye  Major  part  of 
ym  to  Errect  two  Schools  yt  may  Best  sute  That  part 
of  ye  Parrish." 

Stephen  Osborn,  Malachi  Felton,  Zach.  King,  Eze. 
kiel  Marsh  and  Jonathan  Moulton  were  male  teachers 
this  year,  and  ten  female  teachers  were  employed  in  the 


146  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

Middle  Precinct  during  the  Summer  of  1737.  The 
males  received  c£  2  monthly  wages,  and  the  females  six- 
pence each  week. 

At  a  meeting  in  the  Middle  Precinct,  on  the  seven- 
teenth of  March,  1739,  it  was  voted,  ^'that  ye  Parish 
Comittee  be  Desired  to  talk  with  a  man  to  keep  a  school 
in  this  parish  for  Learning  Lattin,  Writing,  Cyphering 
and  Reading.-'  A  Schoolhouse  was  built  in  1748  "7 
feet  between  Joynts,  and  18  feet  one  Avay,  and  22  feet 
the  other  way,  by  ye  road  between  Ensign  John  Proc- 
tor's and  Mr.  Daniel  Marble's,  by  or  near  ye  Great 
Rock  in  ye  Road."  ''It  being  put  to  a  vote  (in  1756) 
whether  the  son  of  Mr.  Fuller  of  Middleton  could  go 
to  school  in  this  parish  from  this  time  to  next  Com- 
mencement it  passed  in  the  Negative." 

In  1765,  it  was  voted  to  build  a  schoolhouse  on  the 
land  belonging  to  the  Middle  Parish.  This  year  a 
school  was  kept  six  months  in  each  parish.  Ten  were 
kept  in  1777  three  months  each.  The  town  was  com- 
plained of  in  1783  for  neglecting  to  sustain  a  proper 
number  of  schools.  Great  efforts  were  made  in  1793 
to  establish  regular  district  schools.  They  remained 
under  the  general  supervision  until  1809,  when  the 
town  was  divided  into  nine  districts.  Subsequently, 
the  seventh,  first,  eleventh,  second,  and  sixth  districts 
were  divided,  which  made  fourteen  school  districts,  the 
present  number. 

The  following  is  the  summary  account  for  the  year 
1846 : 


t-      --.  ■-  ' :  ■.: 

HISTORY  OF  DANVETIS 

147 

o 

5^ 

o 

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o 

1 

> 

^^ 

o^  , 

o 

o 
-*> 

p: 

o 

3 

2-S 
^  o 

3 
o 

o 

o 

2  CD 

CO 

M 

to 

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o  ■ 

'  5* 

"    P 

o 

o 

o'  — 

1 

121 

145 

266 

$3 

^^798 

$ 

§8U«: 

2 

98 

107 

205 

615 

615 

o 

22 

13 

105 

60 

165 

4 

25 

29 

54 

162 

40 

202 

5 

60 

49 

109 

327 

827 

f? 

64 

45 

109 

327 

327 

7 

30 

29 

59 

177 

20 

197 

8 

55 

37 

92 

276 

276 

9 

19 

18 

37 

111 

60 

171 

10 

38 

30 

68 

204 

20 

224 

11 

136 

130 

266 

798 

798 

12 

74 

m 

142 

426 

426 

13 

80 

84 

164 

492 

492 

.  14 

48 

36 

84 

252 

252 

870 

820 

1690 

5070 

200 

5280 

About  900  of  these  studied  Geographj,  Writing, 
Arithmetic  and  English  Grammar,  and  all  pursued 
Reading  and  Orthography.  The  other  studies  are  as 
follows :  Logic  1,  Rhetoric  2,  Geometry  2,  Political 
Economy  2,  Latin  3,  Geology  3,  Bookkeeping  28, 
Astronomy  30,  Physiology  45,  Algebra  50,  Philoso- 
phy 88,  Composition  195,  History  320. 

STREETS,    &C. 

The  old  Ipswich  highway  was  the  first  road  laid  out 
in  Danvers,  about  the  year  1630.  About  the  same 
time,  roads  were  made,  branching  from  the  highway 


\     148  HISTORY  OP  DANVERS. 


to  the  village,  to  that  part  where  Amos  King  now 
lives,  a  road  through  the  ancient  Brooksbj,  and  others 
after  these  as  necessity  demanded.  The  jSfewburjport 
Turnpike  was  incorporated  about  1802  and  the  Essex 
Turnpke  about  1809.     The  streets  are  as  follows  : 

Foster,  Mill,  Main,  Central,  Lowell,  Wallis,  Grove, 
Holten,  Washington,  Sewall,  Summer,  Spring,  Frank- 
lin, Chesnut,  Elm,  Andover,  Liberty,  Walnut,  Pier- 
pont,  in  the  south  parish ;  and  Water,  High,  Purchase, 
Maple,  Locust,  Cedcir,  Willow,  Ash,  Sylvan,  Poplar, 
Cherry,  Yillage,  Pine  and  Collins,  in  the  north  parish. 
Besides  these  streets,  convenient  roads  lead  to  all  parts 
of  the  country,  and  the  Essex  Rail  Koa(i^from  Salem 
to  Lawrence,  renders  access  to  the  different  quarters 
of  New  England  feasible,  while  the  convenient  chan- 
nel of  Porter's  R-iver,  opens  a  communication  with  the 
sea,  which  lies  but  two  miles  away. 

COLLEGE    GRADUATES. 

Citizens  of  Danvers,  who  have  received  a  Collegi- 
ate education,  with  the  name  of  the  Institution  at 
which  they  graduated, — the  time  of  taking  their  de- 
gree,— subsequent  occupation^  or  profession, — present 
place  of  residence,  &c.  &c..  including  all  those  known 
to  have  resided  in  town  one  year  or  more. 

FURNISHED  BY  J.  W.   PROCTOR. 

James  Bayley,  Harv.,  1669,  clerg.,  Danvers. 
Geo.  Burrows,  Harv.,  1670,  clerg.,  Danvers. 
Samuel  Parris,  Harv.,  1675,  clerg.,  Danvers. 
Joseph  Green,  Harv.,  1695,  clerg.,  Danvers. 
John  Tufts,  Harv.,  1708,  farmer,  Danvers. 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  149 


Benjamin  Prescott,  Harv.,  1709,  clerg.  Dan  vers. 

Peter  Clark,  Harv.,  1712,  clerg.  Danvers. 

Daniel  Putnam,  Harv.  1717,  farmer,  Danvers. 

James  Putnam,  Harv.,  1746,  farmer,  Danvers. 

Nathan  Holt,  Harv.,  1757,  clerg.  Danvers. 

Daniel  Eppes,  Harv.,  1758,  teacher,  Danvers. 

Timothy  Pickering,  Harv.,  1763,  Judge  C.  C.  P., 
Danvers. 

Tarrant  Putnam,  Harv.,  1763,  gent.,  Danvers. 

Archelaus  Putnam,  Harv.,  1768,  phys.,  Danvers. 

Benjamin  Wads  worth,  Harv.,  1769,  clerg.,  Danvers. 

David  Daniels,  Harv.,  1776,  merch.,  Danvers. 

Nathan  Read,  1781,  Harv.  merch.,  Belfast* 

Samuel  Putnam,  Harv.,  1787  couns.  at  law,  Boston. 

Samuel  Mead,  Harv.,  1787,  clerg.,  Amesbury. 

Israel  Andrew,  Harv.,  1789,  teacher,  Danvers. 

Nathaniel  Storrs,  Dart.,  1796,  teacher,  Boston. 

R.  H.  French,  Hirv.,  1793,  couns.  at  law,  Salem. 

Parker  Cleveland,  Harv.,  1790,  profess,  at  Bruns- 
wick. 

Jeremiah  Chaplain,  Brown,  1799,  clerg.,  Waterville. 

Samuel  Walker,  Dart.,  1802,  clerg.,  Danvers. 

William  P.  Page,  Harv,  1809,  clerg.,  N.  Y. 

Israel  W.  Putnam,  Dart.,  1809,  clerg.,  Middlcbor- 
ough. 

Daniel  Poor,  Dart.,  1811,  clerg.,  Miss,  at  Ceylon. 

Frederic  Howes,  Harv.,  1811,  couns.  at  law,  Salem. 

Andrew  Bigelow,  Harv.,  1813,  clerg.,  Boston. 

John  Walsh,  Harv.,  1814,  couns.  at  law,  Boston. 

JohnW.  Proctor,  Harv. ,1816,  couns.  at  law,  Danvers. 

George  Osborne,  Harv.,  1818,  phys.,  Danvers. 
a  13 


MS 


150  HISTORY    OF   DANVERS. 


Ebenezer  Poor,  Dart.,  1818,  clerg.,  Ohio. 

Milton  P.  Braman,  Harv.  1819,  clerg.,  Danvers. 

Rufus  Choate,  Dart.,  1819,  couns.  at  law,  Boston. 

William  Oakes,  Harv.,  1820,  couns.  at  law,  Ipswich. 

George  Cowles,  Yale,  1823,  clerg.,  Danvers. 

John  Marsh,  Harv.,  1823,  phjs.,  California. 

Daniel  P.  King,  Harv.,  1823,  gent.,  Danvers. 

Harrison  (x.  Park,  Brown,  1824,  clerg.,  Danvers. 

Joseph  Osgood,  Harv.,  1824,  phjs,,  Danvers. 

Allen  Putnam,  Harv.,  1825,  clerg.,  Dorchester. 

John  B.  Richardson,  Dart.,  1828,  clerg.,  Lawrence. 

Joshua  H.Ward,  Harv.,  1829,  couns.  at  law,  Salem. 

Charles  C.  Sewall,  Bowd.,  1829,  clerg.,  Medfield. 

Samuel  P.  C.  King,  Am.,  1831,  farmer,  Danvers, 

Joseph  W.  Eaton,  Harv.,  1832,  clerg.,  Danvers. 

Thomas  P.  Field,  Am.  1834,  clerg.,  Danvers. 

Richard  Tolman,  Am.,  1839,  clerg.,  Danvers. 

Ezekiel  Marsh,  Yale,  1839,  clerg.,  Connecticut. 

William  D.  Northend,  Bowd.,  1843,  couns.  at  law, 
Danvers. 

Alfred  A.  Abbott,  Yale,  1843,  couns.  at  law,  Dan- 
vers. 

Augustus  E.  Daniels,  Harv.,  1846,  gent,   Diinvers. 

COUNSELLORS  AT  LAW. 

Although  Danvers  has  given  support  to  but  few  mem- 
bers of  the  Bar,  yet  most  of  those  gentlemen  of  the 
Legal  profession  who  have  resided  here  have  been  dis- 
tinguished. Frederick  Howes,  Ralph  H.  French  and 
Joshua  H.  Ward  now  of  Salem,  were  at  one  time  resi- 
dents of  Danvers,  and  were  highly  esteemed.     Rufus 


HISTORY    OF   DANVERS.  151 

Clioate  the  distinguished  head  of  the  Suffolk  Bar,  com- 
menced his  legal  career  in  Danvers.  Frederic  Morrill, 
is  at  present  in  Maryland,  and  John  Walsh  is  in  Bos- 
ton. The  present  resident  lawyers  are  John  W.  Proc- 
ter, Alfred  A.  Abbott  and  Wm.  D.  Northend.  Mr. 
Proctor  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  John  of  that  name, 
who  was  executed  for  witchcraft,  and  probably  no  one 
of  the  present  generation  has  taken  so  active  a  part  in 
the  affairs  of  the  town,  he  having  served  on  the  Board 
of  School  Committee  about  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and 
constantly  linked  his  name  with  the  History  of  Danvers. 
Besides  these,  the  following  gentlemen  have  taken  a  tem- 
porary residence  in  this  town.  George  Lamson,  John 
Walsh,  Benjamin  Tucker,  Benj.  L.  OHver,  Edward  Lan- 
der Jr.,  &c. 

PHYSICIANS. 

Previous  to  the  incorporation  of  Danvers  as  a  town, 
the  physicians  who  practised  here  were  mostly  from  Sa- 
lem. Probably  Jonathan  Prince  who  lived  on  Inger- 
soll  Hill,  was  the  first  resident  physician.  He  was  fath- 
er of  Capt.  Asa  Prince,  and  great  grandfather  of  Rev, 
John  Prince,  now  of  Danvers.  He  was  a  pupil  of  Dr. 
Toothaker  of  Billerica,  and  preceptor  of  Drs.  Amos 
Putnam  and  Samuel  Holten.  See  the  biography  of 
the  latter.  Amos  Putnam  was  a  Surgeon  in  the 
French  War,  at  the  close  of  which,  and  for  half  of  a 
century  after,  he  practised  medicine  in  his  native  town. 
He  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  A  Dr.  Chickering 
from  Andover  resided  here  about  a  year,  commencing 
in  1793.    Parker  Cleveland  father  of  the  Professor 


152  HISTORY   OP   DANVERS. 

of  that  name  was  here  from  1796  to  1798.  Joseph 
Osgood  commenced  practice  m  1773,  and  remained 
12  years,  "when  he  removed  into  Salem,  retaining  how- 
ever a  large  practice  in  South  Danvers  until  his  death, 
which  was  in  1809  or  10.  A  Dr.  Nutting  was  here 
from  1791  to  '99,  and  a  David  Hildreth  about  the 
same  time.  Joseph  Torrey  succeeded  Dr.  Cleveland, 
and  remained  from  1800  to  1820.  He  now  resides  in 
Beverly.  Archelaus  Putstam  was  a  distinguished 
physician  who  flourished  75  years  since.  He  gradua- 
ted in  1763.  A  Dr.  Bowers  lived  here  about  two 
years  about  the  year  1800.  He  conducted  a  small  pox 
Hospital.  James  Putnam  a  son  of  Amos,  practised 
30  years  previous  to  1812.  A  Dr.  Carleton  settled 
at  New  Mills  about  1823.  Besides  these  there  have 
been  Drs.  Clapp,  Gilley,  Little,  Peabody,  Gould, 
Porter,  (now  of  Wenham,)  Bush,  Patten,  and  per- 
haps others.  Edward  Southwick  practised  two  years 
in  partnership  with  Andrew  Nichols,  when  he  removed 
to  Vassalboro'  Maine,  and  devoted  the  remainder  of 
his  life  to  manufacturing  and  mercantile  pursuits. 

The  resident  physicians  are  George  Osgood,  who 
settled  in  1807 ;  Joseph  Shed  1807 ;  Andrew  Nich- 
ols 1808;  Joseph  Osgood  1827  ;  Ebenezer  Hunt 
1823;  David  A.  Grosvenor  1839;  S.  A.  Lord 
1847. 

Dr.  Nichols  has  published  ^'An  Address  before  Jor- 
dan Lodge,  Dec.  25,  1811;"  ^'Address  before  the 
Danvers  Society  for  suppressing  Intemperance,  April 
27,  1819;"  An  Agricultural  Address  1820;  "The 
Spirit  of  Freemasonry  a  Poem,  1831 ;"  and  the  annual 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  153 


J 


address  before  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society  in 
1836.  Dr.  Hunt  published  an  address  delivered  before 
the  Danvers  Society  for  suppressing  Intemperance 
April  25th,  182T.  He  has  in  his  possession  a  set  of 
the  once  renowned  "Metallic  Tractors,"  which  were 
supposed  to  possess  such  marvellous  virtues  in  extracting 
pain.  They  were  purchased  at  New  Mills  by  a  general 
subscription,  headed  by  Israel  Hutchinson,  some  sixty 
years  ago. 

WRECK   OF    THE    GLIDE. 

May   21st,  1829,  the  ship  Glide,  300  tons,  Henry 
Archer,  Master,  sailed  from  Salem  for  Fijii  Islands, 
for  a  cargo  of  bich-de-lamar,  turtle  shell  and  sandal 
wood.     She  had  twenty-two  hands  all  told,  and  on  her  [ 
passage  out,  took  in  others  to  make  her  complement  fifty. 
William  Endicott,  Henry  Fowler  and  Leonard  Poole 
were  from  Danvers.     Sept.  ITth,  118  days   from  Sa- 
lem, the  ship  touched  at  New  Zealand,  from  thence  to 
the  Tongataboo  Islands,  and  from  thence  to  the  Fijii 
Islands,  were  it  arrived  Oct.  9th.     After    five  months 
a  cargo  was  secured,  which  w^as  carried  to  the  East  In- 
dies, and  sent  home.     The  ship  returned  to  the  Islands, 
obtained  a  part  of  a  cargo,  during  which  time  two  men 
were  slain  by  the  natives,  and  March  22d.  1831,  in  a 
dreadful  gale  the  vessel  was  wrecked,  and  the   cargo 
lost.     All  hands  reached  the  shore  in  safety,    except 
Henry  Fowler,  who  had  an  arm  broken.     Here,  among 
these  ferocious   cannibals,  they  sviffered  a  variety  of 
hardships,  and  incurred  many  risks   of  limb   and  life. 
■>  Fowler  was  much  honored  by  these  grim  savages,  and 


154  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

thej  tattoed  bim,  to  manifest  their  regard  for  him.  Af- 
ter a  variety  of  adventures  the  crew  by  different  means 
arrived  home  in  the  year  1832,  except  Mr.  Fowler,  who 
reached  home  Aug.  9,  1833,  after  an  absence  of  4 
years  and  2  months.  Their  adventures  have  been  par- 
tially recorded  in  a  work  styled  the  "  Wreck  of  the 
G-lide.^*     Famished  hy  Henry  Fowler, 

ACQUEDUCT. 

The  Salem  and  Danvers  Aqueduct  Company  was  in- 
corporated March  9th,  1797,  with  a  capital  of  $60,000. 
It  supplies  water  from  original  fountains  near  Brown's 
Pond.  The  shares  in  this  company  are  four  dollars  for 
each  family  of  three  members,  and  fifty  cents  for  each 
additional  member,  annually.  This  acqueduct  is  of  far 
more  value  to  Salem  than  to  Danvers,  which  is  blessed 
with  wells  of  excellent  water.  Three  conductors  lead 
through  the  South  Parish,  and  supply  that  village  and 
Salem  with  pure  water.        J' 

MILITARY. 

There  have  always  been  liberal  efforts  made  to  sus- 
tain the  military  in  this  town.  The  Danvers  Light  In- 
fantry is  a  company  of  soldiers  yet  in  existence,  un- 
der command  of  Asa  W.  Sawyer  ;  and  in  former  years 
there  was  a  fine  Artillery  Company.  Though  there  is 
some  lack  of  military  organization,  yet  the  people  have 
shown  in  times  past  that  if  there  should  be  a  call  upon 
them,  they  v/ould  be  first  and  foremost  in  a  struggle  for 
freedom. 

POPULATION. 

In  the  year  1640  there  were  about  100  people  in 


HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS. 


155 


; 


that  part  of  Salem  now  called  Dan  vers.  The  popula- 
tion in  1752,  was  500  ;  in  1783, 1921;  in  1800,  2643; 
in  1810,  3127;  in  1820,  3646;  in  1830,  4228;  in  1840, 
5020. 

The  following  table  gives  the  number  of  inhabitants, 
with  their  ages,  for  the  year  1840. 


Years. 

Males. 

Females. 

Total. 

0  and  5 

389 

363 

752 

5  "      10 

268 

249 

517 

10   "   15 

242 

237 

479 

15   "   20 

262 

224 

486 

20   "   30 

509 

487 

996 

30   "   40 

358 

382 

740 

40   "   50 

213 

200 

413 

50   "   60 

119 

148 

267 

60  ''      70 

81 

125 

206 

70   "   80 

47 

80 

127 

80  ''      90 

11 

21 

32 

90  "     100 

2 

2 

4 

Over  100 

1 

1 

2502 


2518 


5020 


There  were  no  colored  persons  residing  within  the  lim- 
its of  the  town  in  1840.  There  were  13  pensioners, 
3  deaf  mutes,  1  blind  person,  2  idiots,  and  not  one 
over  20  years  of  age  who  could  neither  read  nor  write. 
Since  1840  the  children  between  4  and  16  years  of  age 
have  increased  from  1250,  to  1700.  Taking  this  in- 
crease as  a  datum  for  estimating  the  entire  population 
of  the  town,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  it  would  num- 
ber at  least  6,500,  for  the  year  1847. 


)^K= 


'  ==^  s« 


156  HISTORY  OF   DANVERS. 


(/ 


BIRTHS   AND     MARRIAGE S^    &C. 

Births,         1844,  159,     1845,  194,     1846,  20  8. 


Marriages, 

a 

51, 

U 

50, 

a 

61. 

Deaths, 

C( 

86, 

a 

89, 

u 

97. 

NEWSPAPERS, 

The  Firefly  barely  sparkled  on  the  night  of  March 
9th,  1844,  since  which  time  it  has    "  rayed  out  dark- 
ness."    It  was  about  the  size  of  two  leaves  of  Web- 
ster's Spelling  Book. 

The  Banvers  Eagle  was  a  very  spirited  sheet,  con- 
ducted by  Samuel  T.  Damon,  and  pubhshed  from  Aug. 
28th,  1844,  to  April  16th,  1845. 

Tlie  Banvers  Whig  was  published  during  the  Elec- 
tion campaign  of  1844. 

The  Banvers    Courier^  a  well  conducted  paper,  edi- 
!  ted  by  George  R.  Carlton,  was  established  March   15th 

1845,  at  %1  50  per  annum. 

t 

GRAVEYARDS. 

Probably  no  town  in  Massachusetts  possesses  so  many 
graveyards  as  Dan  vers.  In  former  days,  it  was  the 
custom  for  each  family,  or  at  the  most,  for  two  or  three 
families,  to  have  a  little  spot  in  which  to  deposite  the 
departed.  Thus  these  cities  of  the  dead  were  multi- 
plied constantly  until  in  all,  the  number  has  swelled  to 
about  one  hundred.  But  there  are  several  places  be- 
sides these, — public  burial  grounds  which  seem  worthy 
of  remembrance. 

The    Endicott    G-raveyard,    is    situated   near    the 
former  residence  of  the  Governor.     This  is  a  very  old 


m 

■«>£» 


HISTORY  OF  DANVERS.  157 


spot,  and  contains  the  last  remains  of  many  of  the  des- 
cendants of  Gov.  John  Endicott.  There  are  now  but 
seventeen  headstones  standing,  although  there  are  many 
who  rest  with  no  stone  to  indicate  name  or  character. 
Descendants  of  the  Gov.  according  to  the  gravestones, 
as  far  back  as  the  third  Generation  repose  in  this  vener- 
able spot.  The  oldest  date  is  1723.  Doubtless  there 
are  many  who  were  buried  here  previous^,  but  who 
they  were,  we  seek  in  vain  to  discover.  The  yard  is 
surrounded  by  a  five  railed  fence. 

The  Wadstvorth  Buryiyig  Crround  is  located  near 
the  ancient  Salem  Village.  It  includes  somewhat  more 
than  one  acre  of  land,  and  is  prettily  embellished  with  a 
number  of  trees,  the  growth  of  a  recent  day.  Many  of 
the  stones  are  so  old  and  moss-grown,  and  in  some  cases 
so  gnawed  by  the  tooth  of  Time,  as  to  render  the  in- 
scriptions totally  illegible.  A  great  multitude  of  graves 
are  not  designated,  except  by  mounds  of  turf.  Among 
others  there  is  a  stone  above  the  remains  of  Elizabeth 
Parris,  the  wife  of  Rev.  Samuel  ParriSj  dated  A.  D. 
1696,  bearing  the  following  inscription  : 

"Elizabeth  Parris,  Aged  about  48  years.  Deed.  July 
14,  1696. 

Sleep  precious  Dust,  no  Stranger  now  to  Rest, 
Tliou  hnst  thy  longed  within  Abraham's  Brest, 
Farewell  Best  Wife,  Choice  Mother,  Neighbor,  Friend  ; 
We'll  weep  the  less  for  hopes  of  thee  i'  the  end.     s.  p." 

The  oldest  inscription  reads  : 

''  Here  Lyes  ye  Body  of  Elizabeth,  ye  "Wife  of  Jon- 
athan Putnam,  aged  about  22  years.  Deceased  ye 
8th  of  August,  1682." 


158  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS. 

The  following  curious  epitaph  is  on  the  tombstone  of 
Dr.  Archelaus  Putnam,  who  was  buried  in  the  year 
1800: 

"  Depart  my  fiiends,dry  upyoni  tears. 
Here  I  must  lie  till  Christ  appears. 
For  Death's  a  debt  to  Nature  due. — 
I've  paid  the  debt  and  so  must  you." 

The  Old  South  Burying  Cfroimd  is  on  Pool's  Hill, 
in  the  village  of  South  Danvers,  near  the  Salem  line, 
and  is  the  oldest  in  that  village.  It  contains  a  very 
large  number  of  graves.  Most  of  those  who  have  died 
in  that  portion  of  Danvers  have  been  consigned  to  this 
Golgotha.     The  oldest  stone  bears  the  following  legend  : 

"  Here  Lyes  interred  ye  Body  of  Mr.  Thomas  Pier- 
pont,  M.  A.,  second  son  of  ye  Rev.  Mr.  Jonathan  Pier- 
pont  late  of  Reading." 

It  bears  date  of  1755,  but  the  remainder  of  the  in- 
scription is  illegible.  Rev.  Nathan  Holt  and  Rev. 
Samuel  Walker  lie  here,  both  pastors  of  the  Second 
Congregational  Church,  the  one  buried  in  1792  and  the 
other  in  1826.  In  1787,  Miss  Sally  Cook  was  deposit- 
ed here,  and  the  following  record  speaks  from  her 
monument : 

*'  Death  thou  hast  conquered  me, 

I  by  thy  dart  am  slain  ; 
But  Christ  shall  conquer  thee^ 

And  I  shall  rise  again." 

Another  singular  epitaph  reads  thus  :  "  What  epi- 
taph is  wanted,  when  affection  has  enshrined  the  mem- 
ory V"  Besides  these  and  many  others  worthy  of  men- 
tion, may  be  found  the  graves  of  Eliza  Wharton  and 
Dennison  WaUis,  mentioned  in   another   place.     The 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  159 

land  was  originally  given  by  Lydia  Trask  to  the  South 
Parish. 

The  Plains  G-raveyard  is  situated  on  the  edge  of 
the  Plains  village,  and  is  surrounded  with  a  white  mor- 
tared wall.  It  is  pleasantly  adorned  with  trees.  It 
contains  a  large  number  of  the  graves  of  those  who 
have  laid  aside  the  load  of  Life  in  its  vicinity.  The 
names  recorded  indicate  that  they  Avere  once  the  friends 
of  those  who  now  remain  in  the  Village  and  its  envi- 
rons. There  are  several  old  graves  unmarked  by  any 
stone  ;  the  stones  are  dated  from  IT 88  to  the  present 
time.  Among  other  persons  once  distinguished  in  the 
town  the  stony  lips  of  the  monumental  marble  utter 
the  following  inscription  : 

''Sacred  to  the  Memory  of  John  Josselyn,  who  died 
Sept.  18,  1815,  Aged  81.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the 
American  Revolution  and  emphatically  an  Honest 
Man." 

There  is  also  a  beautiful  marble  monument  here, 
about  8  feet  in  height,  erected  by  Benj.  Porter,  Esq., 
above  the  remains  of  his  ancestors  and  relatives. 

G-ardners  Hill  was  the  name  of  a  place  of  burial 
once  situated  a  little  westerly  of  Grove  Street.  The 
remains  of  about  150  persons  were  removed  from 
thence  to  Harmony  Grove,  when  the  latter  was  estab- 
lished in  1810.  The  oldest  grave-stone  in  Dan  vers  is 
standing  in  Harmony  Grove  to  which  place  it  was  re- 
moved from  Gardner's  Hill.     It  bears  the  followins:  in- 

scription : 

1669 

R.  B. 


160  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

It  is  probably  the  grave-stone  of  Robert  Buffum  of 
Danvers. 

Taijleyville  Burying  Crround,  is  a  small  yard  near 
the  village  from  which  it  derives  its  name.  The  oldest 
tombstone  is  erected  above  the  remains  of  Mrs.  Lydia 
Kettell  daughter  of  Hon  S.  Holten,  and  bears  the  date 
of  1789.  The  remains  of  Hon.  Judge  Holten  are  de- 
posited here,  whose  gravestone  is  inscribed  thus : 
"Erected  to  the  memory  of  the  Hon.  Samuel  Holten 
who  died  Jan.  2d,  1816  aged  78  years.  He  sustained 
various  offices  of  trust  under  the  State  Government 
and  that  of  tlie  Union,  with  ability  and  integrity,  to 
the  almost  unanimous  acceptance  of  his  constituents." 
Among  other  very  beautiful  and  expressive  epitaphs, 
the  following  is  rarely  equalled,  for  the  calm  trust  and 
confidence  it  breathes.  The  grave  is  that  of  a  child; 
the  motto  is : 

'•Our  Father's  care 
This  little  dnstshall  keep." 

Monumental  Cemetery,  in  South  Danvers,  was  laid 
out  in  1833.  It  is  divided  into  122  lots,  32  feet  by 
16,  with  regular  avenues,  and  is  owned  by  proprietors. 
It  is  a  beautiful  and  commodious  Cemetery.  The  old- 
est stone  bears  the  date  of  1805.  There  are  many 
very  beautiful  tomb  stones  inscribed  with  sentiments 
expressive  of  hope,  love,  and  trust.  "  Her  sun  has 
gone  down  while  it  was  yet  day,"  is  the  affecting  in- 
scription above  the  ashes  of  a  young  woman.  Perhaps, 
however,  simplicity  and  sentiment  are  not  often  so  well 
exhibited,  as  in  the  epitaph  of    Benjamin   Gile.    "  I 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  161 

taught  little  children  to  read,"  is  the  message  he  left 
upon  his  tombstone. 

Harmony  G-rove.  This  beautiful  City  of  the  Dead 
(though  it  lies  in  Salem,  is  partially  owned  by  our  cii> 
izens,)  has  one  of  its  entrances  from  Danvers,  and  was 
originally  granted  to  the  city  of  Salem  by  this  town. 
There  are  monuments  here  of  every  style,  from  the 
plainest  slab  to  the  choicest  specimen  of  art. 

Walnut  Grove  Cemetery.  May  1st  1843  a  call  was 
issued  signed  by  Henry  Fowler,  asking  a  meeting  of 
those  citizens  of  North  Danvers  in  favor  of  laying  out 
a  cemetery.  A  meeting  was  held,  an  association  was 
formed  for  the  purpose,  and  twelve  acres  of  land  were 
purchased  of  Hon.  Samuel  Putnam.  The  grounds  have 
been  arranged  with  a  refined  taste,  and  Walnut  Grove 
Cemetery  was  incorporated  in  October  1843.  June 
23d  1844,  it  v^as  consecrated  by  an  address  from  Rev. 
Dr.  Brazer  of  Salem,  and  prayers  by  Revs.  S.  C.  Bulke- 
ly  and  J.  W.  Eaton  of  Danvers,  and  hymns  by  Drs. 
Nichols,  Barstow  and  Elint. 

It  is  a  beautiful  retreat  adorned  with  those  rural 
and  artificial  attractions  which  the  genius  of  a  better 
age,  and  more  pleasant  views  of  Death  have  thrown 
around  the  Home  of  the  Departed.  Tlie  owners  have,  in 
addition  to  the  Walnut,  Beech  and  other  trees  and  shrubs 
of  native  growth,  planted  a  great  variety  of  exotic 
flowers  and  shrubbery,  and  thus  rendered  the  grave  as 
it  should  be  esteemed,  "the  very  gate  of  Heaven."  In 
former  days  the  graveyard  w^as  selected  for  its  barren- 
ness and  sterility.  It  was  usually  a  wild  waste  of  land 
I J:* . 1^ 


I— —     ~~       — ^=-p 

162  HISTORY    OF   DAN  VERS* 


on  wliicli  no  fljwer  bloomod,  no  gi'ean  ti'eo  cast  its  grate- 
ful shade,     xit  the   most  "the   rank   thistle   nodded   in 
the  wind,"  and  the  lizard  or  snake,  glided  among  nettles 
and  poisonous  weeds.     The  voices  of  birds  were  un- 
heard.    Solitude  was  there,  brooding  over  a  cheerless 
desert.     Here  all  this  has  passed  away.     The  dark 
walnut  and  evergreen  stands  as  sentinels  around  the 
spot,  side  by  side  with   the  oak   and  beech.      Sweet 
scented  shrubbery  invites  the  visitor,  and  the  pretty 
band  of  the  flowers  throw  out  their  graceful  arras  and 
bid  him  welcome.     When  Death  leads  one  of  our  num- 
ber to  this  spot,  he  can  look  forward  with  bright  antic- 
ipation   to  the    Heautiful  Land  of    which  this  is  the 
threshold,  and  can  lay  his  head  upon  the  cool  moist 
mould  without  a   murmur,  feeling  that  he   shall  sleep 
with  the  beauties  of  Nature  around  him,  and  that  while 
the  woods  shall  chaunt  their  solemn  anthems  over  him, 
and  the  birds  join  with  their  plaintive  lays,  the  feet  of 
kindred  and  friends  will  often  press  the  sod  above  him, 
and  their  tears  mingle  with  the  kindly  dews  that  fixll 
upon  his  grave. 

There  is  a  fine    grave-yard   of   modern  date  near 
Rocks  village,  opposite  Smith's  Tavern  in  Salem. 

THE   MONUMENT 

In  memory  of  one-seventh  of  those  who  fell  at  Lex- 
ington, stands  near  the  site  of  the  Bell  Tavern  in 
South  Danvers. 
i       It  is  built  of  hewn  sienite,  surrounded  by  an  iron 
!   railing.     It  is  22  feet  high,  and  7  feet  broad  at  the 


_  t/Ka--- 


r.'. : *  ^«» 


HISTORY  OF   DANVERS.  163 


base,  and  cost  $1,000.     The  inscription  is  on  Italian 
marble  as  folloA\s: 

"Battle  of  Lexington  April  19th,  1775.  Samuel 
Cook  aged  33  years;  Benj.  Daland  25  ;  George  South- 
wick  25  ;  Jotham  Webb  22  ;  Henry  J  acobs  22  ;  Eb 
enr.  Goldthwaite  22 ;  Perly  Putnam  21 ;  Citizens  of 
Danvers  fell  on  that  day. 

Dulce  et  decorum  est  pro  patria  mori. 

reverse 

Erected  by  Citizens  of  Danvers  on  the  60th 
Anniversary  1835." 

The  following  is  a  summary  account  of  the  celebra- 
tion, with  the  names  of  the  committee  of  arrangements^ 
building  committee,  &c.     By  Hon.  D.  P.  King. 

"On  Monday,  April  20,  1835,  the  6 Ofch  anniversary 
of  the  battle  of  Lexington  was  celebrated  at  Danvers, 
by  the  laying  of  the  Corner  Stone  of  a  monument  in 
memory  of  the  seven  citizens  of  the  town,  who  were 
slain  in  that  battle.  At  10  o'clock,  a  procession  of  rev- 
olutionary patriots,  and  citizens  of  Danvers  and  vicini- 
ty, was  formed  in  the  square  fronting  the  Old  South 
Meeting  House,  under  the  direction  of  the  marshals  of 
the  day — escorted  by  the  Danvers  Light  Infantry,  un- 
der Capt.  WilUam  Sutton,  and  the  Danvers  Artillery, 
Capt.  A.  Pratt,  with  a  full  band  of  music — and  pro- 
ceeded through  Main  street  to  the  burial  ground,  where 
lie  the  remains  of  several  of  the  slain ; — three  volleys 
of  musketry  were  fired  over  their  graves : — the  proces- 
sion then  countermarched  to  the  Eagle  Corner,  where 


164  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

the  monument  is  to  be  erected.  The  order  of  services 
was  then  announced  by  John  W.  Proctor,  Esq.  Rev. 
Mr.  Sewall  offered  prayers — Gen.  Foster,  with  the  sur- 
viving officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Revolution,  proceed- 
ed to  place  the  Corner  Stone,  in  which  was  deposited  a 
box,  containing  the  memorials  of  the  times,  &c.  Gen. 
Foster  then  addressed  his  fellow  citizens.  After  the 
Corner  Stone  was  laid,  the  tune  of  Auld  Lang  Syne 
was  performed  by  the  Band,  and  the  procession  march- 
ed, under  a  salute  of  24  guns  from  the  artillery,  and  the 
ringing  of  the  bells,  to  the  Old  South  Church — where, 
sixty  years  before,  religious  services  were  held  at  the 
interment  of  four  of  the  young  men  who  were  slain  at 
Lexington.  This  spacious  Church  was  crowded  in  ev- 
ery part,  and  hundreds  were  unable  to  gain  admittance. 
The  following  was  the  order  of  services; — 1.  100th 
Psalm — tune,  Denmark.  2.  Hymn,  by  R.  S.  Daniels. 
8.  Prayer,  by  Rev.  Geo.  Cowles.  4.  Hymn,  by  F. 
Pool,  jun.  5.  Address,  byD.  P.  King,. Esq.  6.  Pat- 
riotic Ode,  by  Jona.  Shove.  7.  Concluding  Prayer,  by 
Rev.  J.  M.  Austin.  At  the  close  of  the  services  at 
the  church,  J.  W.  Proctor,  Esq.  presented  and  read  to 
the  audience  the  original,  honorable  discharge  of  J.  B. 
Winchester,  Esq.  from  the  revolutionary  army,  (having 
served  six  years  and  four  months,  till  the  close  of  the 
war,)  bearing  the  original  signature  o^  "  Cfeorge  Wash- 
ington.^^ Mr.  Winchester  entered  the  continental  ar- 
my at  the  age  of  14 ;  and  when  discharged,  he  was  only 
21  years  of  age.  Nineteen  survivors  of  the  Lexington 
fight  and  of  the  revolutionary  army,  (who  occupied  a  num 
ber  of  the  pews  in  front  of  the  pulpit,)  greatly  height- 


I  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS.  165 

!  ened  the  interest  of  the  occasion  by  their  appearance. 
i  After  the  services  at  the  church,  a  procession  was  form. 
i  ed,  and  escorted  by  the  Danvers  Light  Infantry  to  the 
!  Essex  Coftee  House,  where  about  two  hundred,  includ- 
I  ing  the  above  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  revolution, 
I  partook  of  a  collation,  prepared  by  Mr.  Benja.    Good- 
ridge.     At  the  close  of  the  collation,  several  patriotic 
sentiments  and  toasts  were  given  by  the  revolutionary 
patriots  and  the  company  present, 

''The  occasion  will  long  be  remembered, — as  calcula- 
ted to  deepen  our  feelings  of  veneration  for  the  events 
commemorated — for  the  exercise  of  generous  feelings  in 
the  discharge  of  an  honor  due  to  the  glorious  dead, — and 
the  ceremonies  of  the  day  will  remind  us  of  our  obli- 
gations to  those  Avho  spilled  their  blood  in  the  first  offer 
ing  at  the  shrine  of  Liberty. 

"•  Committee  of  Arrangements — Jona.  Shove,  chair- 
man; Robert  S.  Daniels,  Geo.  Osborne,  Caleb  Lowe, 
Fitch  Pool,  jun.,  Henry  Po)r,  Nathan  Lakeman,  Josh- 
ua n.  Ward. 

'^Building  Committee — Eben  Sutton,  Augustus  K. 
Osborne,  Daniel  P.  King,  Eben  Shillaber,  John  Whit" 
ney. 

'i Projector  of  tlte  3Ionument — JohnL'pton. 

^^Architect — Asher  Benjamin.  ( 

^^ Marshals — Col.  Caleb  Lowe,  chief  marshal;  Al- 
fred Putnam,  Eben  Sutton,  Hiram  Preston,  Benj. 
Wheeler,  AYm.  D.  Joplin,  Ricliard  Osborne,  Samuel  P. 

jj  Fowler,  Jona.  King,  Elijah  W.  Upton. 

ji       ''There  were  twenty-nine  individuals, — survivors  of 

m —  —  tm 


166  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

the  Lexington  fight  and  of  the  revolutiona  ry  army,  in 
vited  to  attend  this  celebration, — nineteen  of  whom 
were  present.  The  following  are  those  from  Danvers : 
Gideon  Foster,  Sylvester  Osborne,  Johnson  Proctor, 
Levi  Preston,  Asa  Tapley,  Roger  Nourse,  Joseph  Shaw, 
John  Joscelyn,  Ephraim  Smith,  Jonathan  Porter,  Joseph 
Tufts,  William  Flint." 

THE   BELL   TAVERN 

was  once  a  famous  "hostelrie"  situated  on  the  great 
thoroughfare  from  the  East  and  North  to  Boston.  "Long 
before  their  separation  from  the  mother  country,  the 
colonists  in  their  various  wanderings,  sought  this  place 
for  shelter  and  refreshment ;  and  right  glad  was  the  jolly 
host  to  fulfil  the  promise  of  his  signboard,  ''Entertainment 
for  man  and  beast."  Nor  to  the  wayfarer  alone  was  its 
promise  extended.  This  was  the  common  centre  of  re- 
sort for  the  villagers  to  learn  the  news  of  passing  events 
and  every  traveller  was  expected  to  furnish  his  quota. 
It  was  the  village  Exchange,  where  prices  and  every 
day  gossip  were  discussed,  and  the  public  affairs  of  the 
colonies  and  the  mother  country  settled.  He  re  too,  on 
Sundays,  the  more  remote  villagers  dismounted  from 
their  beasts  at  the  old  horse-block,  and  walked  to  the 
meeting-house,  again  to  return  after  the  two  hours  ser- 
mon and  partake  in  a  snug  corner,  of  a  dinner  from  their 
well  filled  saddlebags.  This  was  also  the  place,  where 
the  people  of  that  and  later  times  met,  to  celebrate  public 
events.  The  loyal  neighbors  here  collected  to  mourn 
tie  demise  of  the  good  Queen  Anne  and  rejoice  in  the 
accession  of  the  first  George.     His  departure  and  the 


i 

233 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  167 

rise  of  bis  son  George  II,  were  here  commemorated 
over  the  same  bowl  of  punch.  George  III,  was  also 
welcomed  with  a  zeal  that  was  only  equalled  by  that 
with  which  they  drank  confusion  to  his  ministers.  The 
odious  Stamp  Act  and  all  Parliament  taxes  on  the  colo- 
nies were  patriotically  denounced.  Tea  was  proscribed 
and  its  sale  forbidden,  under  penalty  of  a  ride  on  a  rail 
and  the  brand  of  torjism.  One  conviction  only  took 
place,  and  the  unlucky  wight  obtained  a  reprieve  from 
his  sentence,  by  furnishing  the  villagers  with  a  bucket 
of  punch.  His  neighbors  kindly  gave  him  a  share  of 
the  beverage,  obliging  him  to  repeat  over  his  cup  three 
times,  the  following  elegant  couplet: — 

I,  Isaac  AYilson,  a  tory  I  be ; 
I,  Isaac  Wison,  I  sells  tea, 

"But  our  ancestors,  however  willing  from  patriotic  con- 
siderations to  deny  themselves  this  luxury,  found  great 
difficulty  in  preventing  the  gentler  sex  from  partaking 
of  the  forbidden  fruit.  They  found  means  to  procure 
and  opportunities  to  prepare  their  favorite  nectar,  in 
spite  of  all  the  vigilance  of  the  men.  They  would 
evade  every  searching  operation,  get  up  quiltings  and 
other  parties,  where  it  was  not  expected  men  would  be 
present,  and  sip  their  stolen  waters  in  secret. 

"It  was  well  known  at  the  tap-room  of  the  Bell  Tavern 
that  these  proceedings  were  going  on,  and  it  w^as  strong- 
ly suspected  that  a  certain  emormous  coffee  pot,  a  few 
sizes  smaller  than  a  common  light-house,  had  some  agen- 
cy in  the  business,  as  it  was  seen  migrating  from  place 
to  place  where  the  good  dames  held  their  meetings. 


m- 


168  HISTORY  OF   DANVERS. 

One  evening  a  large  party  assembled  at  the  house  of 
one  of  their  number;  taking  advantage  of  the  well 
known  habits  of  the  maste^  of  the  house,  who  was  never 
known  to  quit  his  seat  at  the  ample  fire-place  of  the  inn 
until  all  his  companions  had  departed,  they  resolved  to 
enjoy  their  usual  feast  in  security.  The  great  coffee 
pot,  in  which  the  tea  had  been  previously  put  was  brought 
forward,  the  water  added,  and  the  whole  left  to  simmer  on 
the  hearth.  The  savory  mess  was  now  poured  out,  with 
many  a  sly  joke  at  the  expense  of  the  men  in  general 
and  a  compliment  to  Isaac  in  particular.  Many  were 
the  enconiums  on  the  superiority  of  the  tea,  which  ev- 
ery one  declared  was  the  best  she  had  ever  drank.  It 
was  finally  tliouglit  that  its  strength  and  flavor  were  ow- 
ing to  its  having  been  ])oiled  and  steeped  longer  than 
usual.  Its  extraordinary  richness  was  almost  intoxica- 
ting ;  tongues  were  loosened,  and  mirth  and  hilarity  pre- 
vailed. Their  wits  ran  out  and  so  did  the  tea.  More 
water  was  added  to  the  leaves,  and  a  weaker  decoction 
was  drawn,  until  again  the  vessel  A\as  empty.  A  third 
time  the  water  was  poured  in  and  the  tea  ran  out.  The 
time  had  now  nearly  arrived  wdien  hy  possibility  the  good 
man  of  the  house  might  be  expected  home,  and  it  was  [i 
time  to  put  the  coffee  grounds  into  the  coffee  pot,  but 
first  a  place  of  burial  must  be  made  in  the  tan  back  log 
for  the  remains  of  the  tea.  The  lid  was  removed,  and 
by  a  dexterous  jerk  the  contents,  consisting  not  only  of 
tea  leaves  but  a  huge  overgrown  toad,  speckled  and  bloat- 
ed, lay  sprawling  before  them  on  the  hearth !  A  simul- 
taneous scream  from  twenty  female  voices,  accompanied 
by  the  heaving  of  as  many  stomachs,  announced   the 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  169 

appalling  discovery,  and  sufficiently  explained  the  cause 
of  the  peculiar  richness  of  their  beverage.  It  is  said 
that  the  discovery  accomplished  the  effects  that  are  said 
to  have  been  produced  by  Chambers's  medicine  on  anoth 
er  class  of  drinkers,  and  that  for  some  time  after,  tea 
was  less  in  demand  than  it  was  ever  before  known  in 
the  village. 

"Here  congregated  the  village  politicians  and  other 
loafers  of  the  Middle  Precinct.  How  they  watched  the 
glowing  embers  where  the  loggerheads  were  heating,  as 
they  consulted  over  the  public  welfare,  and  with  what 
pertinacity  did  they  adhere  to  their  arguments  and  their 
mugs  of  flip!  What  floods  of  ale  and  oceans  of  punch 
there  flowed  to  enliven  the  wits  of  the  jolly  roysters  on 
Election  da^^s.  With  what  zest  did  they  sail  up  and 
down  the  merry  dance  in  the  South  room,  to  the  music 
of  Cc^sar's  fiddle,  and  with  what  gusto  would  he  grin  a 
ghastly  smile  as  he  deposited  the  shower  of  silver 
pieces  in  his  capacious  mouth."     Fitch  Poole. 

Francis  Symonds,  at  one  time  the  jolly  host,  sported 
a  wooden  bell  for  his  sign,  and  informed  the  people  of 
his  good  cheer  by  the  following  strain  : 

"Fr.incis  Symonds  Makes  and  Sella 
The  best  of  Chocolate,  also  Shells. 
I'll  toll  you  in  if  you  have  netd, 
And  feed  you  well,  and  bid  you  speed.*' 

Here  was  a  printing  office,  in  which  Amos  Pope's  Al- 
mananacs,  a  Price  current  for  Wenham,  and  certain 
other  documents  were  printed.  I  have  also  seen  a  work 
entitled  "An  account  of  the  captivity  and  sufferings  of 
Elizabeth  Hanson  wife  of  John  Hanson,  who  was  taken 


ITO 


HISTORY  OF  DANVERS. 


prisoner  by  the  Indians,"  wliicli  account  was  published 
at  the  Bell  Tavern  in  1780.  Mr.  Russell  the  printer 
afterwards  removed  to  Boston. 


'*'■''  ^^.^ii'l??!^' 


mi 


Eh 
O 

O 


K 


I  NOTE    TO  PAGE  146. 

I       The  first  Schoolmaster  at  the  New  jMills  was   Caleb 
j  Clark  who  kept  his  school  in  the  house  of  farmer  Porter,  ! 


mHt* ■ 


HISTORY    OF   DAXVERS.  171 

which  stood  a  few  years  since,  where  Mr.  WilHam  Al- 
ley's house  now  stands.  This  ph\ce  afforded  but  poor 
accomodations  for  a  school.  The  benches  for  writing, 
were  nothing  more  than  a  board  placed  upon  two  flour 
barrels.  The  writing  books  were  a  single  sheet  of  pa- 
per, bought  from  time  to  time,  as  was  needed. 

''Mr.  Clark  was  a  teacher  of  some  repute  for  those 
days,  although  ho  was  not  considered  a  great  discipli- 
narian.    He  was  in  the  habit  of  whittling  a  shingle  in 
school,  and  for  small  offences,  compelling  the  disobedi- 
ent to  pile  the  whittlings  in   the  middle  of  the   room  ; 
when  this  was  accomplished,  he  would  kick  them  over, 
to  be  picked  up  again.     He  would  sometimes  require 
them  to  watch  a  wire,  suspended  in  the  room,  and  in- 
fo nn  him  when  a  fly  aliLi;]ited  on  it.     For  greater  of- 
fences, he  would  sometimes   attempt  to  frighten  them 
into  obedience,  by  putting  his  shoulder  under  the  man- 
tel piece,  and  threaten  to  throw  the   house  down  upon 
them.     It   is   said   of  this  Avorthy    pedagogue,    when 
deeply  engaged  in  a  mathematical  problem,  that   he 
became  so  absorbed  in  the  work  as  to  be  wholly  uncon- 
scious  of  any  thing  transpiring  around    him,  and  the 
boys  taking  advantage  of  this  habit  would  creep  out  of 
school  and  skate  and  slide  by  the  hour  together."    Far- 
nished  by  S.  P.  Foiuler. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

BIOGRAPHIES. 

John  Endicott'  or  Endecott,    the  first  governor  of  i 
Massachusetts,  was  born  in  Dorchester,    Dorsetshire,  ■: 


'    172  HISTORY   OF   DAN  VERS. 


England,  in  the  year  1588,  and  was  from  his  youth  a 
firm  dissenter.  He  imbibed  a  desire  for  religious  liber- 
ty very  early,  and  when  the  project  of  colonizing  the 
New  World  was  started,  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  assist 
the  enterprise,  which  he  did  with  great  ardor.  His 
first  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Gower,  he  married 
in  England.  In  June  1628,  he  embarked  at  Wey- 
mouth for  America,  in  the  ship  Abigail.  He  arrived 
at  Salem  Nov.  6th,  and  April  19th,  1629  he  was  ap- 
pointed Governor.  His  wife  died  in  the  course  of  a 
year  after  his  arrival,  and  he  married  Elizabeth  Gibson, 
in  1630.  He  led  a  company  of  ninety  men  against 
the  Pequots  in  1636.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Cor. 
poration  of  Harvard  University  in  1642,  and  in  1614 
he  was  elected  governor  of  Massachusetts,  which  office 
he  held  about  fifteen  years. 

He  was  a  rigid  disciplinarian,  a  man  of  strong  feel- 
ings and  passions,  warm  in  his  friendships,  and  severe 
wherever  his  indignation  alighted.  He  was  true  to  his  % 
impulses.  When  he  thought  the  red  cross  in  England's 
banner  savored  of  idolatry,  he  unhesitatingly  cut  it  out, 
though  he  knew  he  should  thereby  incur  the  charge 
of  treason.  He  was  admonished,  and  suspended  from 
his  office  one  year  for  the  act.  He  became  a  convert 
to  the  "  doctrine  of  veils,"  and  strenuously  endeavored 
to  clothe  the  fair  faces  of  the  puritan  maidens  and  mat- 
rons in  a  manner  that  should  hide  them  from  the  rude 
gaze  of  men.  He  labored  constantly  to  bring  all  into 
a  harmony  with  himself,  and  sought  to  carry  out  his 
own  ideas  of  worship,  government,  and  manners. 
Four  quakers  were  executed  during  his  administration. 


til 


HISTORY  OP    DANVERS.  173 

He  was  well  qualified  for  the  rough  times  in  which  he 
lived.  He  was  not  ahyays  as  meek  as  he  should  have 
been,  for,  although  a  puritan  and  a  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
yet,  on  one  occasion  he  struck  "goodman  Dexter,"  and 
though  he  acknowledged  his  error  in  striking  one  in  Ids 
condition^  he  added :  *'if  he  were  a  fit  man  for  me  to 
deal  with  at  blows,  I  would  not  complain !" 

'•In  his  private  and  public  relations  he  was  a  man  of 
unshaken  integrity.  'For  my  Country  and  my  God,' 
was  the  motto  inscribed  upon  his  motives,  purposes  and 
deeds."  He  died  March  15th,  1665,  aged  T7  years. 
He  may  be  styled  the  Founder  of  Salem. 

Daniel  Ep^KS^  ''the  greatest  Schoolmaster  in  New 
England,"  the  founder  of  the  Eppes  School  in  Salem, 
and  the  man  for  whom  the  celebrated  Eppes  Sweeting 
is  named,  was  born  October  28th,  1641.  He  commen- 
ced a  grammar  school  in  Salem,  in  the  year  1671,  and 
besides  teaching  he  occasionally  preached.  April  7th, 
1677.  "Voted  by  ye  towne  y^  Mr.  Daniell  Epps  is 
called  to  bee  a  grammar  schoole  master  for  y^  towne, 
soe  long  as  hee  shall  continue  and  performe  y^  said 
place  in  y^  towne,  prouided  hee  may  haue  w^  shall  bee 
anually  allowed  him,  not  by  a  towne  rate,  butt  in  some 
other  suteable  way.'''' 

June  28th.  The  selectmen  "agreed  with  Mr.  Eppes 
to  teach  all  such  scholars,  as  shall  be  sent  to  him  from 
persons  in  town  in  y^  English,  Latin  and  Greek  tongue 
soe  as  to  fit  them  for  y^  Yniuersity,  if  desired  and  they 
are  capable;  alsoe,  to  teach  them  good  manners  and 
instruct  them  in  y^  principles  of  Christian  Religion." 


m 


^'  174  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  S 


*'He  is  to  receive  for  each  scholar  20  |  a  year,  and  if 
this  is  not  enough  to  make  £60,  the  selectmen  will 
make  up  this  sura  ;  or,  if  more  than  enough,  to  have  it 
and  the  price  of  tuition  for  scholars  out  of  town  and  a 
right  to  commonage,  and  be  free  from  all  taxes,  train- 
ings, watchings  and  wardings. 

"Feb.  ITth,  1678,  Mr  Eppes  had  received  from  his 
scholars,  towards  a  half  year's  salary  £17  19  10. 
The  balance  he  was  to  have  from  rent  of  certain  com- 
mons, of  Baker's  and  Misery  Islands,  as  the  proportion 
from  the  town."     Felt. 

lie  held  many  town  and  county  offices,  was  a  com- 
missioner of  Excise,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  of  the 
Court  of  General  Sessions,  and  Representative  to  the 
General  Court.  He  was  much  distinguished  and  reve- 
renced in  all  parts  of  Salem.  He  occupied  the  Derb}^ 
Farm,  where  he  died  in  the  year  1722,  aged  81  years. 

George  Burrouglis^  whose  history  is  so  intimately 
connected  with  the  Tragedy  of  1692,  Vr^as  probably  a  son 
of  Jeremiah  Burroughs,  and  was  born  in  Scituate  a- 
bout  the  year  1643.  He  graduated  at  Harv.  college  in 
1670;  and  settled  at  Falmouth  or  Portland,  Me.,  in  1676. 
He  removed  to  Danvers  in  Nov.  1680,  and  in  1683  re- 
turned to  Falmouth  at  which  place  he  held  200  acres 
of  land,  170  of  which  he  relinquished  at  the  request 
of  his  people.  In  1690,  when  Falmouth  was  destroyed 
he  returned  to  Danvers.  He  again  removed  to  Port- 
land from  which  place  he  was  torn,  and  executed  Aug. 
19th  1692,  on  Gallows  Hill,  Salem.  He  seems  to  have 
been  an  unambitious,  kind-hearted,  amiable   man,  and 


3  5S» 


HISTORY  OP  DAN  VERS.  ITo*^  "* 


to  have  merited  a  better  fate.  Bentley  supposes  him  to 
have  been  about  80  years  of  age,  while  he  could  have 
been  no  more  than  50.  As  will  be  seen  from  the  account 
of  witchcraft,  he  was  remarkable  in  an  astonishing  de- 
gree for  his  bodily  powers.  The  names  of  his  first  two 
wives  are  unknown.  His  third  was  a  daughter  of  Thom- 
as Ruck.  His  children  were  George  who  lived  in  Ips- 
wich ;  Jeremiah  who  was  insane  ;  Rebecca  who  married 
a  Tolman,  of  Boston  ;  Hannah  who  married  a  Fox,  of 
Boston ;  Elizabeth  who  married  Peter,  an  ancestor  of 
Isaiah  Thomas  L.  L.  D.  of  Worcester.  Some  of  his 
descendants  lived  in  Newburyport.  Willis  in  his  histo- 
ry of  Portland  says  of  him  :  "There  has  nothing  sur- 
vived Mr.  Burroughs,  either  in  his  living  or  dying,  that 
casts  any  reproach  upon  his  character,  and,  although 
he  died  a  victim  of  a  fanatacism,  as  wicked  and  as 
stupid  as  any  which  has  been  countenanced  in  civilized 
society,  and  w^hich  for  a  time  prejudiced  his  memory, 
yet  his  character  stands  redeemed  in  a  more  enlight 
ened  age  from  any  blemish."     Sec  witchcraft. 

Samuel  P arris  son  of  Thomas  Parris  of  London, 
was  born  in  London  in  1658.  He  was  a  member  of 
Harvard  College,  but  left  without  graduating,  and  en- 
tered the  mercantile  profession.  When  about  36  years 
of  age  he  entered  the  ministry,  and  was  settled  as  pas- 
tor of  the  Village  Church  in  1689.  In  1691  he  ob- 
tained a  lot  of  land  and  parsonage  buildings  from  the 
parish.  He  desired  that  this  estate  should  be  given  him 
in  fee  simple,  and  the  refusal  of  a  portion  of  the  people 
to  consent,  created  the  germ   of  the  evil   that   subse- 

II  ,! 


176  HISTORY  OF   DANVERS. 


quentlj  sprouted  out  into  the  most  baneful  results.  He 
was  an  avaricious,  arbitrary,  officious  man,  and  offend- 
ed those  he  would  have  controlled.  He  left  his  charge 
in  1696,  and  removed  from  the  town  in  the  year  fol- 
lowing. He  lived  in  Concord  in  1704,  in  Dunstable 
in  1711  and  died  in  Sudbury.  The  course  he  took  in 
the  Great  Delusion,  in  being  chief  witness  against  ac- 
cused persons,  in  whipping  his  daughter  and  servant  in- 
to confessions  of  guilt,  when  they  afterwards  declared 
their  innocence,  and  in  holding  wide  the  sluice  ways 
through  which  so  much  evil  flowed  upon  the  people, 
must  render  his  character  forever  odious,  notwithstand- 
ing; the  extenuatino;   circumstances  of   his   condition. 

Thomas  Nelson  was  born  in  Norwich,  England,  in 
June  1661.  His  life  was  replete  v/ith  adventure.  He 
was  a  soldier  under  King  WiUiam,  and  was  in  the  army 
which  foug;ht  a^-ainst  James  II  in  Ireland.  He  was 
with  Sir  Cloudesly  Shovel  in  the  celebrated  siege  of 
I  Barcelona,  and  was  in  the  Canadian  expedition  in  this 
country  in  1711,  at  about  which  year  he  settled  in  Dan 
vers.  During  all  this  time  he  was  never  wounded. 
His  numerous  hardships  did  not  deprive  him  of  health 
and  strength ;  he  was  upright,  in  the  possession  of  his 
faculties,  with  the  exception  of  the  sight  of  one  eye,  and 
so  strong  as  to  be  a  match  for  any  of  his  neighbors  even 
to  the  day  of  his  death,  which  was  in  November  1771, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  113  years.  He  walked  from 
his  home  to  Salem  but  a  few  days  before  his  death,  a 
distance  of  three  miles. 


&■*- 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  177 

Joseph  Crreen  was  born  Nov.  5tli,  1675  and  gradu- 
ated at  Harvard  in  1695.  He  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Mr.  Gerrish  of  Wenham.  He  be- 
came pastor  of  the  Village  Church  in  1697,  and  during 
his  ministry  he  instituted  the  Half  Way  Covenant,  and 
baptized  106  adults  and  528  children,  and  met  with 
much  success.  He  died  Nov.  26th,  1715,  aged  40 
years.  He  healed  the  breaches  made  by  Mr  Parris  and 
was  much  lamented.  The  Church  record  declares 
him:  "the  choicest  flower  and  goodliest  tree  in  the  gard- 
en of  our  God."  His  remains  are  in  the  Village  Bur- 
rial  Ground,  and  a  Latin  inscription  partially  effaced  is 
above  him.  Several  attempts  at  decyphering  produce 
the  following : 

Sub  Hoc  Cesp         * 
Requiescam  in  Spe  Beate  Be         * 

Reliquice  Reverend  D.  Josephus  Green  A.  M. 
Hujusce  Ecclesiae    *         *         *         *     Spacuin 
Pastoris     *         *         *         * 

Tarn  Gravitate  Doctrina 
Q,ui  Dec  *        * 

Calecdo        *        *        *         Dom  BIDCCXV 
Implo         *         »         *         Q,uadragesimum. 

Benjamin  Preseott  was  born  Sept.  16th  1687.  He 
graduated  at  Harvard  University  in  1709,  married  a 
daughter  of  John  Higginson,  and  was  settled  as  minis- 
ter of  the  second  parish  in  1712,  He  published  in  17- 
68  "A  free  and  calm  consideration  of  the  unhappy  mis- 
understanding and  debates  between  Great  Britain  and 
the  American  Colonies."  He  left  his  charge  in  the  year 
1752  and  died  about  the  year  1770.  He  was  a  man 
of  talent,'  an  excellent   pastor,  and  during   the   forty 


^1    1T8  HISTORY  OF   DANVERS. 


years  he  ministered  to  the  second  parish  he  was  faithful 
in  his  caUing.  He  published  among  other  pamphlets  a 
"Letter  to  the  First  Church  in  Salem  in  1735,"  and  a 
"Right  Hand  of  Fellowship"  delivered  at  the  Ordina- 
tion of  Key.  J.  Sparhawk. 


Peter  Qlarke  was  born  in  Watertown  in  the  year 
1692,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  the  year 
1712.  He  married  Deborah  Hobart  of  Braintree. 
In  the  year  1758  he  published  a  "Summer  morning 
conversation  between  a  minister  and  a  neighbor,"  in  re- 
ply to  something  written  by  Dr.  Charles  Chauncy. 
Considerable  of  a  controversy  grew  out  of  the  matter 
between  Dr.  Chauncy  and  Mr.  Clark.  He  settled  as 
minister  of  the  First  parish  June  5th,  1717,  and  died 
June  lOthj  1768,  with  his  harness  on,  after  a  ministry 
in  one  parish  of  fifty-one  years.  His  remains  lie  in  the 
old  Village  graveyard.  There  is  an  anecdote  related 
of  him  which  is  somewhat  amusing.  One  summer  there 
had  been  a  severe  drought,  and  the  ministers  of  the 
vicinity  had  made  the  matter  a  subject  of  public  prayer. 
Mr.  Clarke  had  delayed  petitioning  in  reference  to  it, 
until  some  of  his  people  began  to  complain.  At  length 
he  prayed  on  the  subject,  and  before  he  had  finished  his 
services  there  came  a  copious  shower.  "Ah  !"  said  an 
old  negro  belonging  to  the  minister,  "I  knew  when  Mas- 
sa  Clark  took  hold,  that  something  would  have  to  come." 
In  the  record  of  his  funeral,  it  is  said  that  the  "church 
walked  before,  assisted  by  12  hears^  He  admitted 
in  his  ministry  of  51  years,  309  persons  into  his 
church,  and  baptized  46  adults,  and  1226  children. 


eJtt>» 


HISTORY  OF    DAXVERS.  179 

He  continued  to  preach  after  his  bodily  powers  were 
unable  to  sustain  him,  and  was  often  obhged  to  sit  down 
for  rest  in  the  course  of  pubUc  services.  It  is  related 
of  him  that  on  these  occasions  his  deacons  would  hasten 
to  the  pulpit  to  ascertain  the  matter,  for  which  officious- 
ness  he  would  reprimand  them,  as  it  implied  a  distrust 
of  his  ability. 

"He  wrote  several  works ;  one  in  defence  of  original 
sin,  and  another  in  favor  of  infant  baptism,  453  pp, 
12mo.  He  held  a  controversy  with  Dr.  Gill  and  Dr. 
Chauncy.  He  delivered  the  Dudleian  lecture  in  1763, 
Artillery  sermon  in  1739,  a  sermon'  entitled  Witness 
of  the  Spirit  in  1744,  Charge  at  tlie  ordination  of  T. 
Huntington,  &c. 

Israel  Putnam.  General  Putnam,  or  as  he  was  fa- 
miharly  called  by  the  soldiers,  (who  idolized  him,)  "  Old 
Puf  was  born  in  Danvers,  in  the  house  now  occupied 
by  Daniel  Putnam,  January  7th,  1718.  He  was  de- 
scended from  the  original  settlers  of  the  town.  John 
Putnam  or,  as  the  name  was  then  called,  Puttenham, 
was  a  native  of  Buckinghamshire,  England,  and  remov- 
ed to  Danvers  in  the  year  1634.  He  had  three  sons, 
Thomas,  Nathaniel  and  John.  John  had  a  son  named 
Thomas,  Thomas  had  a  son  named  Joseph,  who  was  the 
father  of  Israel.  Israel  was  the  eleventh  child,  and  was 
baptized  in  the  Village  Church  the  second  day  of  Feb- 
ruary. His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Por- 
ter. His  boyhood  was  distinguished  for  daring  intrep- 
idity. 

There  is  a  story  related  of  his  youth  so  admirably    > 


180  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS. 

characteristic,  that  it  may  be  related  here.  "VYhen  he 
Kved  in  the  house  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Daniel  Putnam, 
he  was  on  one  occasion  sent  to  a  neighboring  pasture  to 
drive  a  bull  down  to  the  house.  When  he  entered  the 
field  the  bull  ferociously  attacked  him.  He  returned 
home,  and  mounting  a  pair  of  spurs,  sought  his  furi- 
ous enemy.  Soon  after  re-entering  the  pasture  he  suc- 
ceeded in  drawing  his  attention,  and  the  bull  gave  him 
chase.  He  directed  his  flight  around  a  large  tree,  pur- 
sued by  his  foe.  Putnam  gained  in  his  flight  on  his 
enemy,  and  seizing  the  bull  by  the  tail,  he  sprung 
on  his  back.  Fairly  mounted  *'he  plunged  the  row- 
el in  his  steed."  The  animal  rushed  frantically  into  a 
bog  near  at  hand,  where  he  stuck  fast.  The  hero  dis- 
mounted, and  sought  his  home.  When  asked  concern- 
ing the  bull,  he  said  the  last  he  saw  of  him  he  w^as  in 
the  meadow.  The  bull  was  found  lodged  fast  in  the 
meadow,  groaning  in  anguish,  with  liis  sides  lacerated 
by  the  punishment  of  Putnam's  spurs. 

He  was  early  distinguished  for  strength  and  forti- 
tude, and  was  desirous  of  accomplishing  the  labor  of  a 
man  while  yet  a  boy.  In  athletic  exercises  and  sports, 
and  in  arduous  labor,  he  laid  the  foundation  of  that 
vigor  and  power  of  endurance  which  distinguished  his 
after  years. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he  married  Hannah  Pope 
of  Salem,  and  removed  to  Pomfret  Conn.  It  was  in 
this  place  that  his  famous  adventure  with  the  she-wolf 
occurred,  and  although  it  is  well  known,  it  may  be  in- 
teresting to  the  reader  to  find  it  here. 

It  seems  that  Putnam  and  his  neighbors  were  much 


X'd 


HISTORY  OF   DAN  VERS.  181 

troubled  bj  the  depredations  Avhich  a  cimning  old  wolf 
committed  on  their  flocks,  killing  and  wounding  seventy 
sheep  and  goats  belonging  to  Putnam  alone.  At  length 
the  farmers  assembled,  and  determined  on  the  destruc- 
tion of  their  enemy. 

"Fortunately  her  track  was  easily  recognised,  a  por- 
tion of  one  of  her  feet  having  been  lost  by  an  acciden- 
tal intimacy  with  a  trap.  Her  pursuers  were  thus  en- 
abled to  trace  her  course  to  Connecticut  R-iver,  and 
thence  back  again  to  Pomfret,  when  she  took  refuge  in 
a  cavern,  near  the  residence  of  Putnam.  The  place 
was  selected  with  great  judgement  to  withtsand  a  siege; 
and  very  few  persons  beside  himself  could  have  been  per- 
suaded to  reconnoitre  the  position  of  its  inmate.  It  is 
entered  by  an  aperture  about  two  feet  square,  on  the 
side  of  a  huge  ledge  of  rock.  The  pathway  descends 
fifteen  feet  obliquely  from  the  entrance,  then  pursues  a 
horizontal  direction  for  ten  feet,  and  thence  ascends  grad- 
ually about  fifteen  feet  to  its  extremity;  being  in  no 
part  wider  than  three  feet,  nor  high  enough  to  permit  a 
man  to  stand  upright.  The  access  to  the  interior  is  ren- 
dered very  difficult  in  winter  by  the  accummulation  of 
ice  and  snow. 

"No  time  was  lost  by  the  confederates  in  devising  va- 
rious methods  of  attack.  A  competent  force  of  dogs 
was  collected,  with  such  munitions  as  were  suited  to 
this  novel  mode  of  warfare.  But  the  hounds  that  en- 
tered the  cave  retired  in  great  disgust,  and  could  not  be 
prevailed  upon  to  repeat  the  experiment ;  the  smoke  of 
blazing  straw  was  ineffectual ;  and  the  fumes  of  burn- 
ing brimstone  which  were  expected  to  prove  quite  irre- 


182  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS. 

sistible,  wasted  their  sweetness  in  vain.  This  system  of 
annoyance  was  continued  through  the  day,  until  a  late 
hour  in  the  evening,  when  Putnam,  weary  of  the  unsuc- 
cessful efforts,  endeavored  to  persuade  his  negro  ser- 
vant to  go  into  the  cave  ;  a  proposition  which  was  de- 
clined ;  and  his  master,  after  somewhat  unreasonably 
reproaching'  him  with  cowardice,  resolved,  against  the 
earnest  remonstrance  of  his  neighbors,  to  undertake  the 
enterprise  himself. 

"He  first  procured  some  birch  bark,  to  light  his  way 
and  intimidate  the  wolf  by  its  flame  ;  then  threw  aside 
his  coat  and  vest,  and,  causing  a  rope  to  be  secured  to 
his  legs,  by  which  he  might  be  drawn  out  at  a  con- 
certed signal,  set  fire  to  his  torch,  and  groped  his 
way  into  the  cavern.  At  the  extremity  he  saw  the 
wolf,  who  welcomed  her  unexpected  visitor  with  an 
ominous  growl.  His  examination  being  now  completed 
he  gave  the  appointed  signal ;  and  his  companions,  sup- 
posing from  the  sounds  within,  that  the  case  must  be  an 
urgent  one,  drew  him  out  so  precipitately,  that  his  clothes 
were  torn  to  rags,  and  his  body  sorely  lacerated. 

He  now  provided  himself  with  a  musket,  and  bearing 
it  in  one  hand,  and  a  lighted  torch  in  the  other,  pro- 
ceeded a  second  time  upon  his  perilous  adventure,  till 
he  drew  near  the  wolf.  Just  as  she  was  on  the  point  of 
springing,  he  took  deliberate  aim  and  fired  ;  then,  stun- 
ned by  the  explosion,  and  almost  suffocated  hj  the 
smoke,  he  was  again  drawn  out  as  before. 

"After  a  brief  interval,  he  entered  the  cavern  for 

the  third  time,  applied  his  torch  to  the  wolf,  to  satisfy 

11  himself  that  her  repose  was  not  affected,  and  seizing  he  r 


<t»«= 


HISTORY    OF    DAXVERS.  183 

by  the  ears,  was  drawn  forth  with  his  prize  to  the  infi- 
nite satisfaction  of  the  party." 

Universally  known  for  a  brave  man,  he  Tvas  comman- 
der of  a  company  in  the  French  War.  He  distinguish- 
ed himself  in  feats  of  the  utmost  hardihood.  On  one 
occasion  he  went  in  company  with  Lieut.  Robert  Durkee 
to  reconnoitre  the  position  of  the  enemy  near  Ticonde- 
roga.  The  scouts,  not  being  aware  of  the  French  cus- 
tom of  placing  their  fires  in  the  middle,  and  screening 
their  sentinels  in  the  darkness,  were  extremely  incau- 
tious, and  suddenly  found  themselves  in  the  midst  of  the 
enemy's  camp,  and  were  fired  upon. 

"They  immediately  began  a  retreat.  Putnam  led 
the  way  and  in  a  few  minutes  fell  head  foremost  into  a 
clay-pit,  followed  by  Durkee  who  had  kept  closely  at  his 
heels. 

*' Supposing  his  companion  in  the  pit  to  be  one  of  his 
pursuers,  Putnam  had  raised  his  arm  to  stab  him,  when 
he  recognised  Durkee's  voice.  Eoth  then  rushed  from 
their  retreat  in  the  midst  of  a  shower  of  bullets,  and 
threw  themselves  behind  a  log,  where  they  spent  the 
remainder  of  the  night.  The  next  morning,  Putnam, 
on  examining  his  blanket,  found  it  sorely  rent  by  four- 
teen bullet  holes." 

In  the  year  1757  he  was  appointed  Major,  in  1759 
Lieut.-CoL,  and  in  1775  he  held  the  rank  of  Bri2;.  and 
Major  Gen. 

When  the  news  of  the  Battle  of  Lexington  reached 
him,  he  was  ploughing,  and  seizing  his  coat  from  a  tree 
where  it  hung,  he  turned  his  horses  loose,  and  leaving 
the  plough  in  the  furrow,  he  rushed  to  battle.     He  held 


184  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS. 

the  rank  of  Major  General  at  the  Battle  of  Bunker's 
hill,  and  displayed  almost  unexampled  heroism.  He  or- 
dered his  men  to  hold  fire  until  they  could  see  the  white 
of  the  eyes  of  the  men  in  the  advancing  columns. 
When  they  fired,  they  accomplished  the  most  astonish- 
ing execution.     The  poet  has  said  of  him — 

"There  strides  bold  Putnam  and  from  all  the  plains 
Calls  the  tired  host,  the  tard}' rear  sustains, 
And  mid  the  whizzing  deaths  that  fill  the  air, 
Waves  back  his  sword  and  dares  the  following  war." 

"In  the  winter  of  1777-78,  Gen.  Putnam,  who  had 
been  stationed  at  Reading,  in  Connecticut,  was  attacked 
by  Gov.  Tryon,  -with  one  thousand  five  hundred  men. 
Putnam  was  then  on  a  visit  to  his  outpost,  with  a  force 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  and  two  field  pieces, 
without  horses  or  drag  ropes.  He  placed  his  cannon  on 
the  high  ground  near  the  meeting-house,  and  continued 
to  pour  in  upon  the  advancing  foe,  until  the  enemy's 
horse  appeared  upon  a  charge. 

"He  now  hastily  ordered  his  men  to  retreat  to  a 
neighboring  swamp,  inaccessible  to  horse,  while  he  put 
spurs  to  his  steed*  and  plunged  down  nearly  a  hundred 
stone  steps,  which  had  been  laid  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  worshippers  of  the  sanctuary.  On  the  arrival 
of  the  dragoons  at  the  brow  of  the  hill  they  paused, 
thinking  it  too  dangerous  to  follow  the  steps  of  the  ad- 
venturous hero.  Before  any  could  go  round  the  hill 
and  descend,  he  escaped."  He  was  at  the  conquest  of 
Canada  and  at  the  capture  of  Havana. 

His  wife  died  in  1764,  leaving  him  ten  children, 
and  he  married  Widow  Gardner  of  Gardner's  Island. 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  185 

In  the  year  1779,  lie  had  an  attack  of  paralysis  Tvhich 
disabled  him  from  further  service.  He  settled  in 
Booklyn,  Conn.,  where  an  inflammation  destroyed  his 
life,  May  19th,  1790,  aged  72  years.  "  His  name  is 
carved  high  and  indelibly  in  the  temple  of  Fame,  -with 
that  of  Washington,  Warren,  Stark,  Allen,  Prescott 
and  Lafayette." 

Asa  Prince  son  of  Dr.  Jonathan,  ■\^'as  at  Lexington, 
at  Bunker  Hill,  at  Lake  George,  and  sustained  himself 
with  courage  and  devotion  to  his  country,  through  most 
of  the  revolution.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Cap- 
tain, and  manifested  the  traits  which  distinguish  the 
Patriot  and  the  Man.  On  the  day  of  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill,  in  attempting  to  cross  the  Neck  which  was 
swept  by  cannon  from  a  British  frigate  in  Charles  River^ 
he  dislocated  his  ancle  and,  seating  himself  on  the 
ground,  he  thrust  the  bone  back  into  the  socket,  and 
renewed  his  flight. 

Jeremiah  Page  was  born  in  the  year  1722.  and  on 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution  he  took  a  very  act- 
ive part.  He  commanded  a  company  of  men  at  Lex- 
ington, and  did  good  service  on  that  important  day. 
After  a  life  of  usefulness,  during  which  he  sustained  a 
prominent  position  in  the  aftairs  of  this  town,  he  de- 
parted this  mortal  existence  June  8th,  1806,  aged  84 
years.     His  body  lies  in  the  Plains  Burial  Ground. 

Israel  Iliitclmison  was  born  in  Danvers  in  the  year 
1727.     At  an  early  age  ho  manifested  in  an  uncom- 

c  16 


186  HISTOllY    OF   DANYEIIS. 


mon  dc!2;ree  tlie  coura^-e  which  seems  to  have  been  the 
bh'thiiglit  of  the  people  of  his  time.     In  the  year  1T57 
he  joined  a  scouting  partj^  under  Capt.  Israel  Herrick, 
and  penetrated  the  country  now  included  in  the  State  of 
Maine.     During  the  following  year  he  was  appointed 
Lieut,  in  Capt.  Andrew  Fuller's  Company,  and  fought 
at  Lake  George  and  Ticonderoga.     In  the  year  1769, 
he  commanded   a  company  of  provincial  troops,  and 
was  with  Wolfe  when  he  scaled  the   heights  of  Abra- 
ham, and   routed  the   French  under  Montcalm.     Be- 
fore hostihties  commenced  between  North  America  and 
Great  Britain,  he  w^as   Captain  of  a  company  of  sixty 
minute   men,  and   when  the  news  of  the  memorable 
battle  of   Lexington,   reached   Dan  vers,  he   instantly 
hastened  to  the  scene    of  action,  and  meeting  the  ene- 
my on  their  retreat,  he  engaged  them.     His  bravery 
and  military  skill  Avere  rewarded  by  a  Lieut.    Colonel's 
commission  in  Col.  Mansfield's  regiment,   and  soon  af- 
ter he  Avas  made  Colonel,  wdiich  commission  he  held  till 
the  end  of  the  term  for  which  his  men  had   ena;a2:ed. 
During  the  same  year  he   enlisted  8-]2  men.     He  was 
at  the  siege  of  Boston,  and  on  the  evacuation  of  that 
city  b}^  the   British,  he  occupied  Fort  Hill.     He  re- 
mained there,  and  on  Dorchester  Heights  until    Octo- 
ber, when  he  was  sent  to  New  York,  but  as  the  small 
pox  was  in  his  vessel,  Washington  would  not  suffer  his 
men  to  land.     He    afterwards   commanded   Fort  Lee, 
and  Fort  Washington.     He  crossed  the  Delaware  Avith 
Washington,  in  his  retreat  through  New  Jersey,  and 
received  for  his  services  the  approbation  of  the  Father 
of  his  Country.     On  his  return  to  his  family  he  Avas 


tm 


HISTORY  OF  DANVERS.  187 

chosen  to   serve  as   Legislator,  which  office,  together 
Avith  that   of  Councillor,  he  filled   twenty-one   years. 
He  died  March   IGbh,  1811,  aged   81  years,   leaving 
lo  children,  118   grand   children,  and  7  of  the  fourth 
generation.     He    was  a   hrave  soldier  and   an  ardent 
lover  of  his  country.     He  had   several  conversations 
with  Grov.  GaoiQ  during;  his  residence    in   the   Collins, 
House,  and  exhibited  to  the  Royal  Governor  that  firm, 
inflexible  love  of  liberty  and  determination  to  resist  en- 
croachment which  he  afterwards   displayed  on  the  tent- 
ed field.     His  descendants  now  are  numerous,  and  are 
scattered  over  the  country  in  stations  of  usefulness. 


Enoch  Pdtnani  was  born  February  18th,  1732.  He 
was  another  of  those  brave  and  fearless  men,  who,  in 
the  Revolution,  opposed  Tyranny  and  oppression.  He 
was  First  Lieut,  in  Hutchinson's  company  of  Minute- 
men,  and  in  that  capacity  went  to  Lexington.  He  after- 
wards did  good  service  in  the  Revolution,  and  rose  to 
the  rank  of  Colonel.  He  was  a  man  respected  and 
beloved. 


Jeremiah  Putnam  was  born  in  Danvers  in  the  year 
1736.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  and  held 
tlie  rank  of  Captain.  H3  was  a  useful  citizen,  and  dis- 
charged faithuilly  the  trusts  reposed  in  him.  His  grave 
is  in  the  Plains  burial  ground,  and  the  stone  bears  the 
following  lines  : 

"Li  Memory  of  Capt.  Jeremiah  Putnam  who  died 


188  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS. 

Sept.  16, 1799,  Aged  63  years.     An  Officer  under  the 
Immortal  Washinsiton. 

This  modest  stone,  what  few  vain  mortals  can, 
May  truly  say:  Here  lies  an  Honest  Man." 

Samuel  Flint  was  one  of  the  bravest  of  those  who- 
answered  their  Country's  call  in  the  hour  of  her  peril. 
He  was  born  in  Danvers  in  17 — ■.  He  took  a  very  ac- 
tive part  in  the  affray  at  Lexington.  An  officer  once 
asked  him  where  he  should  find  him  on  a  certain  occa- 
sion. His  reply  was  worthy  the  proudest  days  of  Spar- 
ta: "Where  the  enemy  is,  there  will  you  meet  me!" 
A  report  returned  to  Danvers  on  the  evening  of  the  bat- 
tle of  Lexington  that  Capt.  Flint  was  slain,  but  he  soon 
returned  to  dissipate  the  rumor.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  army  constantly,  doing  good  service,  having  been 
eia;ht  months  in  the  lea^-ue  of  Boston.  He  was  drafted 
with  three  other  captains  to  go  to  New  York.  They 
had  but  twenty-four  hoars  to  prepare,  and  they  met  at 
Leach's  tavern,  where  they  chose  Flint,  captain,  and 
Herrick  of  Beverly,  1st,  Lieut.  He  was  killed  at  the 
head  of  his  company,  at  Stillwater,  Oct.  7th,  1777,  and 
was  the  only  officer  from  Danvers  slain  in  the  Revolu- 
tion. 

[Abridged  fro7n  Dr.  Wadsioorth.'] 

"  Samuel  ITolten  was  born  in  Danvers,  June  9th, 
1738.  His  ancestors^  rank  among  the  early  set- 
tlers. His  father,  having  no  other  son,  early  intended 
to  give  him  a  collegiate  education.  He  was  accord- 
ingly, at  eight  years  of  age,   placed    in  the  family  of 


& 


HISTOllY  OF    DAN  VERS.  189    I 

^    I 

Rev.  Mr.  Clark ;  but  at  twelve  ho  was  visited  with  a  j 
daagerous    inJispositiori,    which   greatly   enfeebled  his    j 
constitution  and  impaired   his  hearin-i; — -a  serious  mis- 
foi't}uie  that  attended   him   through   life.     Unable  to 
pursue  his  classical  studies,  he  relinf[uished  the  favor- 
ite o])ject. 

"Health  beino;  at  lenoith  in  some  measure  restored, 
he  turned  his  attention  teethe  healing  art.  So  intense 
was  his  application,  that  before  he  had  arrived  at  the 
age  of  eighteen,  the  physician,  under  whose  direction 
he  studie  I,  pronounced  him  well  qualifiad  for  the  prac- 
tice both  of  physic  and  surgery.  In  his  nineteenth 
year,  he  commenced  an  accejjtable  practitioner  in 
Gloucester  ;  but  in  less  than  two  years  after,  at  the  so- 
licitation of  his  father  and  friends,  he  returned  to  the 
place  of  his  nativity,  where  with  growing  reputation  he 
continued  to  practise  in  bis  profession,  as  his  public  en- 
gagements would  admit,  sixteen  years. 

"He  had  not  reached  the  a2;e  of  thivtv  when  the  town 
of  Danvers  testified  thoii'  high  sense  of  his  abihties,  by 
electing  him  tlieir  Representative  in  the  General 
Cjurt,  and  constituting  him  their  Ajent  in  an  unhap- 
py dispute  depending  between  said  town  and  some  of 
its  inhabitants.  The  cause  he  managed  with  so  much 
skill  and  address  as  to  obtain  at  lengbh  a  final  se.tle- 
ment  by  an  act  of  the  leglslatu;"e,  whic!i  met  tlio  unan- 
imous approbation  of  all  parties.  From  tint  time  we 
may  date  the  united  voice  of  the  town  in  his  favor. 

"  In  1768,  being  the  first  yearDoc'or  Holten  held  a 
seat  in  the  General  Court,  he  signalized  himself  as 
a  son  of  liberty.     A  decided  part  he  took  in  behalf  of 


190  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

his  country,  and  became  a  very  active  and  influential 
character  through  the  ensuing  revokition.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Provincial  Convention,  which  was  in 
session  when  the  British  troops  first  Landed  in  Boston  ; 
and  a  member  of  the  committee  of  the  convention  in 
tlie  County  of  Essex.  Highly  electrified  by  the  spirit 
of  the  times,  few  men  were  more  zealous  ly  engaged 
in  the  common  cause,  or  mo/e  constantly  employed  on 
important  services  preliminary  to  the  freedom  and  sov- 
ereignty of  our  country. 

''  At  the  momentous  crisis  which  "  tried  men's 
souls,"  Doctor  Holten  ranks  among  those  venerable 
patriots,  who  courageously  stepped  forward  at  their 
country's  call,  and  risked  their  lives  and  fortimes  to 
save  its  sinking  liberties.  Pubhc  exigencies  being  very 
pressing,  about  this  time,  he  relinquished  his  medical 
profession  entirely  and  all  private  business,  and  be- 
came wholly  devoted  to  the  service  of  his  country.  He 
was  chosen  first  Major  of  the  first  Regiment  in  Essex, 
though  he  had  never  before  been  in  the  military  line. 
A  seat  he  held  as  a  Representative  from  Danvers 
in  the  provincial  congress  at  Watertown,  and  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  committee  of  safety.  When  the 
provisional  government  of  Massachusetts  was  organized, 
he  was  constituted  one  of  the  executive  council. 

"In  1776,  he  took  his  seat  as  one  of  the  judges  of 
the  court  of  common  pleas  for  his  native  county,  and 
performed  the  duties  of  that  office  about  thirty-two 
years,  presiding  half  that  time.  He  was  justice  of  the 
court  of  general  sessions  of  the  peace  thirty-five  years 
and  chief  justice  of  the  same  fifteen.     A  commission 


m  "=-=■  — : 

HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  191 


he    held   as  justice   of  the  peace  and  quorum  nearly 
forty  years. 

"In  1777,  Judge  Holten  was  one  of  the  delegates 
from  Massachusetts,  who  assisted  in   framing  the    Con- 
federation of  the  United  States  at  York  Town.     The 
ensuing  year  he  was  for  the  first  time  chosen  a  delegate 
in  the  American   Congress,  and  annexed  his  ratifying 
signature  to  that  Constitution  of  government.    His  name 
was  likewise  affixed  to  a  cession  of  a  part  of  the  territo- 
ry of  Massachusetts  to  congress.     Repeated  elections 
occasioned  so  Ions;  a  continuance  in  the  southern  climate 
as  very  sensibly  to  affect  his  constitution.     He  was  one 
of  the   delesiates  in  consrress  at  that  critical  time  when 
the   legislature  of  Massachusetts  vested  in  any  two  of 
them  unlimited  power,  pledging  themselves  to  ratify 
whatever  they  should  accede  to  or  transact.     And  so 
high  did  he  stand  in  the  esteem  of  that  august  body, 
that    they   elected    him  President    of    Congress, 
and  thus  promoted  him  to  the  first  seat  of  honor  in  his 
country. 

"He  was  chosen  one  of  the  Convention  which  formed 
our  State  Constitution,  adopted  in  1780 ;  but  being  in 
congress,  he  was  necessarily  prevented  attending  that 
service.  At  that  dark  period  in  the  revolution,  when 
public  credit  had  nearly  failed,  and  there  was  reason  to 
fear  the  army  would  quit  the  field  and  return  home,  he 
was  one  of  the  committee  which  planned  the  new  emis- 
sion paper  currency,  as  the  last  expedient  and  only  hope 
of  saving  the  country ;  and  which  happily  proved  suc- 
cessful, by  reviving  its  sinking  credit.  In  1781  he  was 
elected  in  the  county  of  Essex  as  a  Senator;  and  when 
?.^  <^^ 


«'AV» 


192  HISTORY  OP    DANYERS.  fj 

the  State  Cfovernment  was  organized,  he  was  adYanced 
by  the  geiioral  court  to  the  executive  council.  To  these 
stations  he  was  re-elected  several  succeeding  years. 
For  more  than  a  year  Doctor  llolten  was  the  only  medi- 
cal character  in  congress ;  and  to  him  was  committed 
the  charge  of  the  medical  department  in  the  army. 

"In  1783  the  great  object  o? Peace  and  Independence 
was  obtained.  Bat  new  difficulties  arose  on  disbanding 
the  army.  He  held  a  seat  in  congress  at  that  time,  and 
was  present  when  the  house  where  they  w^ere  in  session 
was  surrounded  with  armed  soldiers,  imperiously  de- 
manding compensation  foi*  their  services  before  they  re- 
tired to  their  respective  homes.  He  and  several  other 
members,  with  their  lives  in  their  hands,  ventured  among 
them,  attempting  by  reason  and  argument  to  pacify  their 
minds  and  quell  the  tumult.  But  so  violent  and  outrage- 
ous were  they,  that  with  bayonets  pointed  at  their 
breasts  for  several  hours,  they  loaded  them  with  execra- 
tions and  threatened  to  immediately  sacrifice  them,  un- 
less tliey  would  grant  their  re(|uest.  At  length  howev- 
er they  were  prevailed  with  to  desist  and  rest  the  issue. 

"In  1T87  he  was  part  of  the  time  a  representative  in 
the  general  court,  and  the  other  part  a  member  in  con- 
gress. The  next  year,  when  the  Federal  Constitution 
was  submitted  to  the  people,  he  was  one  of  the  delegates 
in  the  convention  of  this  State,  which  adopted  that  ex- 
cellent plan  of  republican  government.  In  1793  and 
the  ensuing  year,  Judge  Holten,  by  the  suffrages  of  the 
district,  including  the  counties  of  Essex,  Suffolk,  and 
Middlesex,  was  delegated  a  representative  to  congress. 
Twice  he    was  appointed  an  elector  of  president  and 


HISTORY    OF   DANVERS.  193 

vice-president.  He  and  several  other  gentlemen  were 
incorporated  into  'Hhe  Massachusetts  Medical  Society," 
of  which  he  was  a  counsellor,  and  a  vice-president ;  and 
likewise  into  an  ^'Agricultural  Society-"  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Humane  Society ;  and  was  admitted  an 
honorable  member  of  the  Bristol  Medical  Society. 

"In  1811,  whe^the  court  of  sessions  was  organized 
on  a  neiv  plan^  he  was  appointed  chief  justice.  He 
served  in  the  offices  of  selectman,  town  clerk,  assessor, 
and  committee  of  safety.  Twenty-four  years  he  was 
town  treasurer  ;  and  treasurer  of  the  parish  about  half 
a  century,  for  which  last  service  he  wished  and  received 
no  other  compensation  than  their  united  approbation. 
Possessing  a  happy  talent  at  healing  breaches  and  s  et 
tling  private  diifermices,  he  was  frequently  employed  as 
an  Arhritator  in  difficult  cases,  and  occasionally  attend- 
ed ecclesiastical  councils. 

"Having  been  elected  eight  years  as  a  representative 
in  the  general  court,  five  in  the  senate,  twelve  in  the 
council,  five  in  congress  as  a  representative  under  the 
confederation,  and  two  under  the  federal  constitution, 
in  1796  bein^;  in  low  health  he  declined  standinsi;  a  can- 
didate  for  a  re-election  to  congress.  But  September 
the  first,  the  same  }ear,  he  received  a  commission  as 
Judge  of  Probate  for  the  county  of  Essex,  which  he 
accepted,  and  resigned  his  seat  at  the  council  board. 
The  arduous  duties  of  that  office  he  continued  to  perform 
to  general  satisfaction,  till  admonished  by  the  infirmities 
of  age  of  the  expediency  of  relinquishing  all  public  bus- 
iness. Having  nearly  completed  nineteeen  years,  on 
May  10th,  1815,  he  in  due  form  resigned  the  office,  and 


e3P» 


194  HISTOrtY  OF  D AXrEUS.  f 

spent  his  few  remaining  months  in  contemplative  retire- 
ment. He  died  Jan.  2d,  1816,  in  the  TSth  year  of  his 
a2;e. 

"Should  tlie  secret  journals  of  Con'^ross  in  revolu- 
tionary times  be  published,  his  character  Avill  be  more 
fully  developed ;  ])ut,  enrolled  in  the  archives  of  x\mcr- 
ica,  his  name  will  be  handed  down  to  posterity  with  the 
celebrated  names  of  his  contemporary  patriots,  crowned 
with  immortal  honors." 

The  following  letter  from  his  Excellency  Caleb 
Strong,  the  Honorable  Samuel  Holten  received  upon  his 
resignation  of  the  olTice  of  Judge  of  Probate  : 

BosTOX,  May  10,  181o. 

Dear  Sir  : — I  have  just  received  your  letter  of  the 
5th  instant,  in  which,  from  and  after  this  day,  you  resign 
the  ollice  of  Judge  of  Probate  for  the  county  of  Essex. 
The  resignation,  having  been  communicated  to  the 
Council,  was,  by  their  advice,  accepted. 

By  your  long  and  faithful  services  in  various  and  im- 
portant stations,  as  well  legislative  as  judicial,  of  which 
on  many  occasions  I  have  myself  been  a  witness,  you 
are  entitled  to  the  grateful  respect  of  your  fellow  citi- 
zens ;  and  I  am  happy  to  express  to  you  their  acknowl- 
edgements. I  have  no  doubt  that  the  review  of  your 
public  Ufe  will  alford  you  mach  satistaction,  and  hope 
that  the  evening  of  your  days  sy'iW  be  tranquil  and  happy. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  sincere  esteem  and  respect, 
your  most  obedient  servant, 

CALEB  STROXG. 
Hon.  Judge  Holten. 


■■m 


HISTORY  OF    DAXVERS.  195 

Sarah  Gloijd.  This  account  of  an  eccentric  woman 
is  abridged  from  a  very  interesting  biography  written  by 
Dr.  A.  Nichols, 

HISTORY    OF  SARAH  GLOYD. 

Died,  on  Monday  night,  the  10th  March,' 1845,  in  the 
Alms  House,  Danvers,  Sarah  Gloyd,  aged  nearly  98. 

"About  the  year  1747 — on  the  bank  of  Beaver-dam 
brook  in  Salem  Village,  near  the  gate  or  entrance  of 
the  avenue  to  the   Lawrence  Farm^  stood  the  humble 

cottage  of Gloyd — and  there  it  had  stood  for  half 

a  century,  and  there  it  stood  for  more  than  half  a  centu- 
ry longer;  no  vestige  of  the  ancient  appearance  re- 
mains :  but  in  memory's  glass  I  see  it  yet. 

"An  old  dilapidated  one  story  building  about  IG  feet 
square  leaning  against  a  gravelly  knoll,  with  two  small 
leaded  sashed  diamond  glass  windows — one  in  the  south- 
ern front,  and  another  opposite  in  the  back  side.  The 
west  end  was  occupied  by  a  chimney  and  fire  place  suffi- 
ciently large  to  accomodate  the  whole  family  in  its  corn- 
ers. Opposite  the  chimney  in  the  east  end  Avas  the  door 
with  a  wooden  latch,  (string  always  pulled  in)  and  seve- 
ral curious  substitutes  for  bolts  and  locks  dangling  about 
it.  In  this  room  was  a  bed,  trundle  bed,  two  or  three 
wheels  for  spinning  linen,  tow  and  wool,  some  old  bask- 
ets containing  wool,  tow  and  cards,  pails,  pots  and  ket- 
tles, warming  pan,  frying  pan  and  all  the  &c's  of  house 
keeping.  In  irregular  festoons  around  the  walls  were 
spider  webs,  the  wardrobes  of  the  inmates  and  nume- 
rous bundles  of  medicinal  herbs  promiscuously  assorted 


196  HISTORY    OF   DANVERS.  * 

therewith,  an  old  chest  of  drawers,  a  table  and  several 
chairs,  blocks  and  benches. 

"Here  in  the  month  of  March,  year  1747,  in  the 
evening,  sat  a  middle  aged  woman  the  wife  of  Gloyd, 
a  daughter  of  Dame  Cloyce,  (the  school  mistress  of  the 
parish,  to  whom  we,  the  descendants  of  the  early  settlers, 
may  be  more  indebted  for  the  constitution  of  our  minds, 
for  ideas,  for  even  theological  notions  handed  down  to 
us  from  our  ancestors  than  we  can  be  aware  of,)  with  an 
only  daughter  about  8  years  old,  busily  emploj-ed  in 
carding  wool  or  other  domestic  manufacture,  little 
dreaming  of  the  sorrowful  intelligence  which  a  messen- 
ger on  horseback  was  bearing  at  full  speed  from  Middle- 
ton  Tavern  to  their  humble  residence. 

"Gloyd,  a  jolly,  laughing,  ca"e-despising  improvident 
man,  went  in  the  morning  of  that  day,  to  said  town, 
with  several  others,  to  chop  wood.  Having  finished 
their  day's  work,  they  started  for  home,  agreeing  that 
the  one  of  the  company  who  should  reach  the  tavern 
first  should  be  treated  by  the  others. 

"The  nearest  way  was  over  Middleton  pond,  but  the 
thaws  of  spring  had  already  rendered  the  ice  an  unsafe 
bridge.  Gloyd  however  intent  on  a  draui  at  free  cost, 
or  what  was  probably  more  seducing,  the  prospective 
joy  of  the  winner  of  a  game,  ran  over  the  pond,  fell  in 
and  was  drowned.     The  others  escaped. 

"The  news  reached  the  new  made  widow,  who  ex- 
claimed, "0  dear,  dear,  he  had  a  ten  j^ound  note  in  Ms 
pocket.'''^ 

"The  lone  widow  and  daughter,  naturally  timid,  and 
rendered  daily  more  so,  by  their  lonely  situation,  lived  on 


HISTORY  OJ?   DANVERS.  197"  I 

alone  in  the  cottage  above  described,  till  after  a  few  days 
or  weeks  the  subject  of  this  obituary  was  added  to  their 
number. 

"Sarah  was  doubtless  made  a  baby  of  as  long  as  pos- 
sible, and  then  taught  to  read  the  bible,  spin  and  sew  as 
Hannah  had  been  before  her. 

"They  subsisted  I  have  said  partly  on  charity,  but 
when  the  children  had  become  old  enough  to  earn  their 
own  living  and  the  mother  still  a  well  and  able  bodied 
woman,  the  neighbors  began  to  feel  that  their  donations 
were  no  longer  needed  and  consequently  withheld  them 
altogether,  or  bestowed  them  more  sparingly. 

"The  effect  this  had  on  the  family  elicited  strongly 
one  distinguishing  trait  in  their  character.  One  of 
their  number  must  feign  sickness.  And  very  soon  Sa- 
rah was  reported  sick.  When  visited  by  any  one  she 
was  always  found  in  bed,  her  head  bound  up  with  band- 
ages and  her  whole  frame  agitated  by  tremors  or  tortu- 
red with  pains. 

"The  door  was  always  kept  fastened  by  so  many  con- 
trivances that  it  took  several  minutes  to  open  it  to  admit 
an  errand  boy  or  visitor.  Knock  at  the  door  and  a  shrill 
voice  from  within  would  inquire,  "who's  there?" — this 
answered — "what  do  you  want "  followed. 

"If  the  applicant  for  entrance  and  his  or  her  errand 
were  deemed  admissible,  the  fastening  would  begin  to 
rattle,  and  after  a  while  the  door  would  open. 

"Daring  Sarah's  pretended  sickness,  which  lasted 
many  years,  it  often  took  so  long  to  get  in,  that  a  strong 
suspicion  arose  in  the  minds  of  the  neighbors,  that  while 


0    198  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

they  were   waiting,  Sarah  left  her  work,  undressed  and 
got  into  bed. 

"From  one  of  the  great  perils  of  women  she  was  ef- 
fectually protected.  No  one,  I  believe,  ever  heard  her 
complain  of  being  insulted  by  an  offer  of  love,  either 
with  honorable  or  dishonorable  intentions.  Indeed,  so 
highly  was  she  charged  with  repulsive  power,  that  to 
have  approached  her  within  kissing  distance,  would  have 
been  impossible.  Her  sister  Hannah  used  to  say,  "the 
men  seemed  to  her  like  people  of  another  nation."  The 
soldiers  were  a  source  of  trouble  to  them  at  Fall  muster. 

"About  the  commencement  of  the  present  century, 
Hannah  died,  and  by  the  interference  of  the  neighbors 
was  torn  from  the  embraces  of  Sarah,  and  laid  to  sleep 
by  the  side  of  her  parents. 

"Sarah  lived  on  awhile  alone,  but  her  ill  health,  real 
or  pretended,  her  utter  loneliness,  and  the  wayward  fan- 
cies which  possessed  her — excited  the  compassion  of  all 
around  her.     What  could  be  done  with  her  or  for  her  ? 
Against  being  supported  by  the  town  she  had  the  most 
inveterate  prejudices,  and  the  good  neighbors    really 
feared  that  such  a  disposition  of  her,  would  kill  her    at 
once.     At  length  the  late  Capt.  Benjamin  Putnam,  out 
of  the  abundant  benevolence  of  his  heart,  offered  to 
take  her  under  his  protection,  if  the  neighbors  would 
take  down  her  house  and  re-build  it  of  smaller  dimen- 
sions, by  the  side  of  his  own.     Ho  happening  to  be  a 
favorite  with  her  the  offer  was  accepted.     The  removal 
ws  accomplished  by  the  voluntary    labors  of  her  old 
neighbors,  who  transformed  themselves  from  farmers  in 
to  carpenters  and  masons  for  the  occasion.     In  this  new 


HISTORY  OF    D  AX  VERS.  199 

location,  about  a  mile  from  the  place  of  her  birth,  she 
lived  five  or  six  years  in  her  usual  style,  chiefly  in  chari- 
ty. Here,  as  every  ^Yhcre  and  at  all  times  during  her 
long  life,  she  was  afflicted  with  anomalous  complaints 
which  unfitted  her  for  much  labor.  Once  she  had  the 
misfortune  to  swallow  a  rose  bug,  which  being  in  prolific 
circumstances,  filled  her  whole  body  with  its  progeny  ! 
and  it  took  her  at  least  one  year,  to  rid  herself  of  these 
ugly  intruders.  On  another  occasion,  she  had  the  mis- 
fortune to  get  frozen  on  a  cold  winter  night,  and  the  frost 
did  not  get  out  of  her  till  past  the  middle  of  the  follow- 
ing summer!  This  last  misfortune,  occurred  however, 
after  she  had  become  an  inmate  of  the  Alms  house, 
whither,  having  become  so  troublesome  and  dependant 
on  her  generous  protector's  family,  as  to  cause  them  to 
feel  that  they  had  assumed  a  burden  greater  than  their 
duty  required,  she  was  carried  by  force  about  the 
year  1806." 

EXTRACTED  FROM  MR.  KING'S  EULOGY. 

"  Gideon  Foster  was  born  in  the  house  which  formerly 
stood  on  the  corner  of  Lowell  and  Foster  streets,  Feb- 
ruary 21th,  A.  D.  1749.  His  father,  Gideon  Foster, 
was  a  native  of  Boxford ;  his  mother,  Lydia  Goldth- 
wait,  of  this  town.  His  early  opportunities  of  acquir- 
ing an  education  were  few,  but  he  diligently  unproved 
them.  He  WTote  a  handsome  hand,  was  a  correct 
draughtsman  and  an  accurate  and  skilful  surveyor. 
For  several  short  periods  he  w^as  employed  in  school 
keeping,  but  the  more  pressing  necessities  of  those 
days,  and  the  moderate  means  of  the  people  afibrded 


J  e/Jivs 

ft    200  HISTORY  OF   DANVEHS. 


hut  little  time  for  literary  improvements.  He  was  a 
man  of  more  tlian  common  in2;ennitv  as  well  as  intelli- 
gence.  As  a  mechanic,  he  had  much  sldll ;  the  ma- 
chinery of  his  mills  was  of  his  own  planning  and  con- 
struction, and  many  practical  mechanics  and  manufac- 
turers have  derived  iniportant  advantages  from  his 
su2:2:estiong. 

"Gen.  Foster  was  honored  and  trusted  by  his  fellow 
citizens,  and  in  turn  discharged  all  the  important  munic- 
ipal offices  of  the  town.  For  four  years  he  was  town 
clerk  ;  he  was  long  an  active  magistrate  of  the  County, 
and  for  nine  years  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature. 

*'In  the  militia  of  the  Commonwealth  he  rendered 
good  service,  and  he  considered  the  volunteer  military 
the  safest  and  best  means  of  our  national  defence.  In 
1792,  Capt.  Foster  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Colo- 
nel ;  in  1796,  he  was  chosen  Brigadier  General ;  in 
1801,  he  was  elected  Major  General  by  the  Legisla- 
ture ;  in  the  House  receiving  every  vote,  and  in  the 
Senate  there  beins;  but  one  dissentino;  voice. 

"When  our  country  was  threatened  with  invasion 
during  the  last  war,  he  was  chosen  commander  of  a 
company  of  exempts  ;  the  worth}^  veteran  never  lost  his 
military  ardor,  but  to  the  last,  the  sound  of  the  drum 
and  trumpet  was  music  to  his  ear ;  indeed  for  almost  a 
whole  century,  there  has  been  no  day  when  the  sword 
of  the  old  soldier  would  not  have  been  drawn  and  a  vig- 
orous blow  struck  for  the  defence  of  his  country's 
rights ;  nurtured  in  that  school  of  patriotism  which 
taught  that  opposition  to  tyrants  is  obedience  to  God, 
and  which  inculcated   love  of  country  next  to  love  of 


HISTORY  OP  DANVERS.  201 


heaven,  his  strong  indignation  was  roused  by  any 
wrong  done  "her  or  danger  threatened.  Liberty  and 
love  of  country  were  his  early  and  abiding  passions. 
His  country's  free  institutions,  good  order,  good  laws 
and  good  rulers  were  the  objects  of  his  strongest  affec- 
tions ;  he  not  only  loved  them  but  he  did  what  he  was 
able,  according  to  his  judgment  and  understanding,  to 
maintain  and  perpetuate  them.  No  distance  of  place, 
no  severity  of  the  Aveather,  no  bodily  infirmity,  from 
the  adoption  of  the  constitution  till  the  day  of  his  death, 
more  than  sixty  years,  detained  him  from  depositing 
his  ballot  for  State  Officers. 

''General  Foster,  through  his  long  life,  was  a  man  of 
great  energy,  enterprise  and  industry.  Two  disastrous 
fires  had  robbed  him  of  wealth,  but  on  his  little  farm, 
with  a  Roman  independence  and  more  than  Roman  vir- 
tue, his  own  hands  to  the  last,  ministered  to  his  neces- 
sities. 

"The  threatenings  of  the  enemy  to  destroy  the  mili- 
tary stores  of  the  Colony,  caused  the  provincial  Con- 
gress to  order  a  draft  of  minute  men — men  ready  at  a 
minute's  warning  to  titke  the  field  and  face  the  enemy. 
Of  one  of  the  companies  drafted  here,  Gideon  Foster 
was  chosen  commander ;  he  was  then  twenty-six  years 
of  age. 

"On  the  19th  of  April,  the  day  ever  memorable  for 
tlie  battle  of  Lexington,  Capt.  Foster  marched  with  his 
company  sixteen  miles  in  four  hours,  to  West  Cam- 
bridge, where  they  met  the  retreating  Britons.  His 
prowess,  coolness  and  intrepidity  on  that  day,  won  for 
him  high  honor  and  imperishable  fame. 


•uUsa 


'202  IIISTOKY    OF    DANYERS.  f 

*'For  more  than  eieht  montlis  he  commanded  a  com- 
pany  iti  Col.  jMansfield's  Regiment,  in  tlie  army  en- 
camped about  Boston.  lie  was  actively  engaged  on 
the  17th  of  June,  the  day  of  the  battle  of  ]i>unker's 
liill,  and  ever  while  in  the  service,  deserved  and  bore 
the  character  of  a  brav^e  officer  and  a  good  soldier. 

"  General  Foster's  mind  ahvays  vigorous,  retained 
much  of  its  strength  till  within  a  few  days  of  his  de- 
cease. His  confinement  was  short,  and  it  was  not  un- 
til the  fatal  hour  that  immediate  danger  was  apprehen- 
ded.    He  died  on  Saturday,  Nov.  1st.  184-5. 

"  On  all  occasions  his  townsmen  and  neighbors  ronn- 
ifested  deep  respect  for  his  character  and  services. 
When  it  was  known  that  he  was  no  more,  the  bells  were 
tolled,  business  was  suspended  and  a  gloom  pervaded 
the  commiinlty ;  there  was  a  voluntary  and  general 
mourning ;  the  flag  of  our  country  Avas  floating  at  half 
mast,  a  mournful  token  that  one  loved  and  honored  had 
passed  away ;  on  one  flag  stafif,  wrapped  among  the 
stripes  and  the  stars,  was  the  pennon  of  the  Foster  Fire 
Company  with  the  name  of  Gen.  Foster  blazoned  upon 
it ;  so  are  mingled  with  the  fame  of  our  country's  revo- 
lutionary glory,  the  name  and  exploits  of  the  old  sol- 
dier. 

*'  The  last  commissioned  ofTicer  of  the  Revolution, 
certainly  of  the  early  part  of  the  Revolution,  is  dead, 
the  veteran  soldier,  the  last  connecting  link  is  broken — 
the  comrade  of  Warren  and  Prescott  and  Stark,  the 
man  who  held  on^icial  intercourse  with  Ward  and  Put- 
nam and  Washington,  has  now  gone  to  join  the  mighty 
host  of  the  worthy  dead. 

m —. - -^ ~-^^^ 


f-if'  T-  — ■ —  rj^ 

1  IlISTOaY  OF    DAj>rVii]U3.  203 


«'The  bugle's  wild  and  warlike  bl;ist 

Shiill  innstor  them  no  more  ; 
An  army  now  might  tlmndsr  past. 

And  they  noi  heed  its  roar. 

The  starry  flag,  'neath  which  th?y  fought, 

In  nriany  a  bloody  day, 
Frotn  tlieir  o!d  grav?s  ghal!  rouse  them  not, 

For  they  have  passed  away." 

TIio  funeral  p^^occs3ion  wa3  after  the  following  order  : 

ESCORT, 

Consisting  of  the   Salem  Arti'Iery,   the  Danvers    Light  Infantry  the 
Salem  Li;;ht  Infantry,  and  the  liVnn  Rifle  Corps,  (ihc  latter  bear- 
ing a  banner  presenled  by  the   hands  of  Gen.  Foster  to  the 
company  in  1S3G.     Tbis  banner  was  shrouded  in  crppe. 
The  escort  was  a  dclanhiDcnt   fro'n  Gen.  Sn'ton's 
hrigide,  and   was  under  the  immediate  com- 
niond  of  Col.  Andrews.) 
Hearse,  flan l:ed  by  a  mi'itary  guard, 
Family   of  the   deceased,    in    Caningos, 
Rrig.    Gen.  Sutton  and   Staff,  and  Military  Officers  in  oniform,  in 

Carri;igeg, 

Comm'ltee  of  Arrangements, 

Oiliciating    and  other    Cler;,y, 

(y'vil  OiFicers  of  the  town, 

Danvors  Mecfianic  Institute, 

Fire  Dep^Ument, 

"G".n,  FosCe?""  Engine  Co.  No.  7,  in  dark  dress  with  badg.':'5, 

"Voluote.  f''  FnginoCo.  No.  S,  with  badges  ami  in  firemen's  uiiiforiri, 

Citizens  of  the  neigiiboring  towns, 

CiiizoD!?  of  Danvcr.i. 

The  following  uocnmcnt  from  Gen.  Foster's  own  hand, 
presents  the  coni|)any  vrhich  marched  to  Lexington  nn- 
der   liis  command.     Some   of  the    soldiers  were  from 


:i3iA» 


204:  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS. 

Eppes's  company,   and  the  rest  were  other  volunteers. 
T  he  former  are  marked  thus  :^ 

"Danvers,  August  19th,  1837. 

"FiTcn  Pool,  Jr. 

"Dear  Sir  :  It  is  with  pleasure  that  I  communicate  to 
you  (agreeable  to  your  wish)  the  following  list  of  minute 
men,  who  voluntarily  enlisted  from  Capt.  Samuel 
Eppes's  company,  on  the  27th  February,  1775.  There 
is  not  one  of  the  above  named  now  alive,  except  mj^self, 
whom  God  has  permitted  to  continue  to  the  age  of  eighty 
eight  years. 

>"GiDE0N  Foster. 

LISl'  OF  MINUTE   MEN. 

"Samuel  Cook,  jr.,*  William''  Rice, 
George  Southwick,  jr.,*      Joseph  Bell, 

Henry  Jacobs,  jr.,*  John  Setchell,* 

John  Collins,*  Jonathan   Newhall, 

Benjamin  Eppes,*  Stephen  Twiss,*. 

Samuel  Webber,  Stephen  Small,* 

James  Stone,*  Uriah    Harwood, 

Solomon  Wyman,*  Jacob  Reed, 

Robert  Stone,*  Abel  Macldntire,* 

Isaac   Twiss,*  James  Goldthwait,* 

Samuel  Reeves,  John  Eppes,  jr.* 

Thomas  Gardner,  jr.,*  John  Necdham, 

Joseph  Twiss,*  Gideon  Foster,* 
Jonathan  Harwood, 

Probably  Gen.  Foster's  memory  could  not  recall  his 
entire  company.  Dennison  Wallis,  Ebenezer  Gold- 
thwaite  and  perhaps  others,  should  be  added. 

m iU 


HISTORY    OF   DANVELB.  205    j 

Benjamin  Foster,  B.  B.  a  brother  of  Gideon,  was 
born  at  the  same  place,  June  12ui,  1T50.  He  gradu- 
ated at  Yale  College  in  1774,  and  after  completing  his 
theological  studies  under  the  supervision  of  Dr.  Still- 
man,  he  commenced  the  Avork  of  the  ministry,  and  was 
ordained  in  Leicester,  Oct.  23d.  1776.  In  January 
1781  he  was  settled  as  pastor  of  th.e  first  Baptist  Soci- 
ety, lie  remained  but  two  years,  hovrever,  when  ho 
removed  to  Nowburyport,  and  soon  after  to  New  York, 
where,  in  the  year  1798  lie  died  a  victim  of  the  yellow 
fever  which  then  prevailed.  lie  vras  devoted  to  liis 
flock  to  the  last,  and  fell  a  martyr  to  his  faithfulness. 
He  was  a  learned  man,  and  a  good  minister.  He 
published  "The  Divine  Hight  of  ImmcrGion,"  in  answer 
to  a  Mr.  Fish,  and  defended  "Piimitive  Daptism,"  in  a 
letter  to  John  Cleveland,  and  also  published  a  treatise 
on  tJie  70  weeks  of  Daniel. 

Benjardiii  Wachioorth.  B.  D.,  was  born  in  Milton, 
July  20  Ji ,  17o0,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  University 
in  17i^>9,  and  died  Jan.  18th,  1826,  after  having  been  set- 
tled in  Danvcrs  53  years.  Ho  published  seven  or  eight 
sermons  on  di^erent  topics,  and  long  occupied  a  distin- 
guished position  in  the  town  and  among  his  clerical 
brethren.  During  his  ministry  he  baptized  68  adults 
and  810  children,  and  admitted  260  members  into  the 
cliurch.  When  he  died  there  were  but  two  female 
members  of  the  church  who  belonged  at  his  settlement, 
and  no  males.  He  was  a  pious  man,  frugal,  prudent 
and  successful. 

His  published  works  are,  a  sermon  on  the  death  of 

'-  m 


206  HISTORY  OF   DANVERS. 

Hon.  Samuel  Holten ;  a  sermon  on  the  death  of  Dr. 
Cutler  of  Hamilton  ;  Thanksgiving  Sermon  Feby.  19th 
1795  ;  Eulogy  on  Washington  Feb.  22d,  1800  ;  Dedi- 
cation Sermon  Nov.  20th,  1806  ;  a  Sermon  before  the 
Bible  Soc.  of  Salem  and  vicinity  April  19th,  1815  ; 
Disc,  before  the  Soc.  for  suppressing  Intemperance  ; 
achargeatthe  ordination  of  S.  Gile ;  right  hani  of 
fellowship  addressed  to  D.  Story,  &c. 

UUza  Wharton.  The  grave  of  Eliza  Wharton  is 
one  of  the  most  interesting  localities  to  be  found  in  the 
Commonwealth.  It  is  in  South  Danvers.  Althoui:i;h 
this  unfortunate  woman  is  as  generally  known  in  this 
country  as  any  other  who  ever  lived,  as  JEliza  Whar- 
ton the  coquette,  but  very  few  know  her  real  history  and 
true  character.  The  catch  penny  volume  of  letters 
which  pretends  to  give  her  history,  has  but  the  figments 
of  the  imagination  of  its  authoress  to  recommend  it. 

Elizabeth  Whitman  came  from  a  very  respectable  fam- 
ily in  Connecticut,  where  her  father  was  a  clergyman. 
She  was  born  in  the  year  1751.  She  was  possessed  of 
an  ardent  poetical  temperament,  an  inordinate  love  of 
praise,  and  was  gifted  with  the  natural  endowments  of 
beauty,  and  perfect  grace,  while  she  was  accomplish- 
ed with  those  refinements  which  education  can  be- 
stow. She  was  lovely  beyond  words.  Eut  her  natu- 
ral amiabilities  were  warped  and  perverted  by  reading 
great  numbers  of  romances,  to  the  exclusion  of  almost 
all  other  reading.  She  formed  her  ideas  of  Man,  by 
the  exaggerated  standards  she  saw  in  the  books  to  which 
she  resorted,  and  thus,  when  she  looked  around  her,  she 


HISTOllY  OF    DANVERS.  207 

saw  no  one  who  realized   her  ideal.     Superior,  as   she 
unquestionably  was  to  those  of  her  sex  who  surrounded 
her,  she  was  eagerly  sought  after  by  those  whose  affec- 
tions she  won,  but  like  the  candle's  blaze  which  draws 
the  moth,  she  consumed  those  who   approached.     In  a 
word,  she  was  a  confirmed  coquette.  Among  a  multitude 
of  offers,  eligible  and  desirable,    she  found  none  that 
seemed  to  answer  her  high  expectations,  and  thus,  she 
wore  her  youth  away,  *' until  disappointed  and  past  her 
bloom,"  (as  a  contemporary  account  observes,)  ^'she 
gave  way  to  criminal  indulgence,  and  the  consequence 
becoming  visible,  she  eloped  from  her  friends,  and  ter- 
minated her  career,"     Iler  "criminal  indulgence"  con- 
sisted in  forming  one  of  those  improper  connections   to 
which  romantic  minds  are  so  prone.     She  became  inti- 
mate with  a  lawyer  who  was  formerly  her  lover,  and 
whose  heart  already  belonged  to  another;  and  in  defi- 
ance of  the  laws  of  God  and  Man,  the  usages  of  Soci- 
ety and  the  dictates  of  a  sound  judgement,  she  sacri- 
ficed her  virtue  and  her  reputation.     Her   paramour 
equally  guilty  with  herself  afterwards  became  Hon. 
Judge  Pierpont  Edwards,  if  we  may  believe  Tradition. 
She  was  brought  in  June  1788  to  the  Bell   Tavern, 
in  a  chaise  driven  by  a  young  man  who  immediately 
drove  away  and  never  returned.     She  affirmed  that  she 
was  married,  and  even  laid  a  letter  professedly  written 
by  her  husband,  but  in  reality  written  by  herself,  on  her 
table,  in  order  to  pro.luce  the  impression  that  she  was 
married.     She  wrote  E.   Walker  on  the  door,  and  one 
day,  while  she  was  looking  out  of  the  window,  a  man 
passing,  stopped  to   read  the  name,  and  when  he  went 


ike  ell'i 

208  His"^0'isr  OF  danvers. 


a  way  without  caHiiig,  slie  was  hoard  to  say,  '^•'I  am  un- 
done !"  Probably  there  was  some  concei'fced  plan  that  he 
should  pas3  through  the  town  and  should  fmd  her  by 
the  name  v,"hich  vv-as  written  on  the  door,  and  would  at- 
tend her  in  her  misfortune,  if  ho  could  do  so  without 
compromising  his  reputation. 

Her  appearance  of  gentility  and  gracefulness  was 
such,  that  as  she  passed  along  the  street,  old  and  j^oung 
turned  to  look  after  the  "beautiful  strange  lady."     ''•  At 
the  Y/indow  of  the  south   chamber  she  used  to  sit,  and 
while  away  the  heavy  hours  at  her  needle  or  guitar." 
She  was  an  object  of  intense  curiosity  to  the  people  of 
the  village.     As  her  critical   hour    drew  rapidly  nigh, 
she  so  enlisted  the  sympathy  of  a   neighboring  lady  in 
her  behalf,  that  she  consented  one  evening    for    her 
to   take   up  her  abode  with  the  family  the  next  day. 
That  night  she  was  delivered  of  a  still  born  child,  and 
died  in  two  weeks  of  a  puerperal  fever.  Those  who  per- 
formed the  last  oinces  due  mortality  speak  of  the  won- 
derful symmetry  of  her  person,  and  the  extraordinary 
length  and  beauty  of  her  hair. 

The  following  letter  and  poem  not  only  proclaim  her 
as  a  woman  of  refined  and  delicate  mind,  but  they  also 
show  us  the  sure  results  of  vice.  These  were  found 
among  her  elTects  after  her  decease,  and  were  published 
in  the  Massachusetts  Sentinel,  Sept.  20,  1788.  The 
letter  vvas  in  cyphers. 

L  ETTER. 
'•  Must  I  die  alone  ?     Shall  I  never  see   you   more  ?     I  know  that 
you  wiii   come,  but  you  vill  come  too  lata.     This  Is,  I  fear,  my  last 
ability.     Tears  fall  so,  I  laiow  not  how  to  write.     Why  did  you  leave 


s5J5 
HISTORY    OF   DANYERS.  209 


me  in  so  much  distress  ?  But  I  will  not  reproach  you.  All  that  was 
dear  1  left  for  you  ;  but  do  not  regret  it.  May  God  forgive  in  both 
what  was  amiss.  When  I  go  from  hence,  I  will  leave  you  some  way 
to  find  me  ;  if  I  die,  will  you  come  and  drop  a  tear  over  my  grave?" 

The  Poem  is  a  pastoral,  and  exhibits  much  true  feel- 
ing and  artistic  merit. 

■'  DISAPPOINTMENT. 

*'\Vith  fond  impatience  all  the  tedious  day 

I  sighed,  and  wished  the  lingering  hours  away  ; 

For  when  bright  Ilesper  led  the  starry  train, 

My  Shepherd  swore  to  meet  me  on  the  plain  ; 

With  eager  haste  to  that  dear  spot  I  flew, 

And  hngered  long  and  then  the  tears  withdrew  ; 

Alone,  abandoned  to  love's  tentlerest  woes, 

Down  my  pule  cheeks  the  tide  of  sorrow  flows  ; 

Dead  to  all  joy  that  fortune  can  bestow. 

In  vain  far  me  her  useless  bounties  flow  ; 

Take  back  each  envied  gift  ye  power  divinp, 
And  only  let  me  call  Fidelio  mine. 
Ah,  wretch  !  what  anguish  yet  thy  soul  must  prove, 
For  thou  can'st  hope  to  lose  thy  care  in  love  ; 
And  when  Fidelio  meets  thy  tearf.al  eye, 
Pale  fear  and  cold  despair  his  presence  fly; 
With  pensive  steps  I  sought  thy  walks  again. 
And  ki&sed  thy  token  on  the  verdant  plain  ; 
With  fondest  hope  through  many  a  blissful  hour, 

We  gave  our  souls  to  fancy's  pleasing  power  ; 
Lost  in  the  magic  of  that  sweet  employ, 
To  build  gay  scenes,  and  fa:>hion  future  joy, 
We  saw  mild  Peace  over  fair  Canaan  rise, 
And  shower  her  pleasures  from  benignant  skies  ; 
On  airy  hills  our  happy  mansion  rose. 
Built  but  for  joy,  no  room  for  future  woes  ; 
Round  the  calm  solitude  with  ceaseless  song, 

•i^  H'  i}  if.  if.  it 

Sweet  as  the  sleep  of  innocence  the  day, 
By  transports  measured,  lightly  danced  away  ; 
18 


210  HISTORY  OF   DANVEES.  1] 


I 


To  lovo,  to  bliss,  the  iiniou'd  soul  was  given, 

But  all  !  too  liappy,  asked  no  biighier  heaven. 

And  must  the  hours  in  ceaseless  anguish  roll  ? 

Will  no  soft  sunshine  cheer  my  clouded  soul? 

Can  this  dear  earth  no  transient  joy  supply  ? 

Is  it  my  doom  to  hope,  despair  and  die  ? 

Oh  !  come  once  mors,  with  soft  endearments  come. 

Burst  tht;  cold  prison  ofthe   sullen  tonih  ; 

Thro'  iavor'd  walks  thy  chosen  maid  attend, 

Where  well-kiiovvn  sh;iucs  their  pleasing  branches  bend  ; 

Shed  the  soft  poison  ofihy  speaking  eye, 

And  look  those  raptures  lifeless  words  deny  ; 

Stiil  he,  tho'  late,  reheard  what  ne'er  could  tire, 

But.  told  each  eve,  fresh  pleasures  would  inspire  ; 

Still  hope  those  scenes  which  love  and  fancy  drew; 

But  drawn  a  thousand  times,  were  ever  new, 

Can  fancy  paint,  can  words  express; 

Can  aughl  on  earth  my  woes  redress; 

E'en  thy  soft  smiles  can  ceaseless  prove 

Thy  truth,  thy  tenderness  and  love; 

Once  th.iu  couldsi  every  bliss  inspire. 

Transporting  joy,  and  giy  desire; 

Now  co'id  Despair  her  banner  rears, 

And  pleasure  flios  when  she  appears; 

Fond  hope  within  my  bosom  di^s, 
And  agony  her  place  supplies: 
O,  thou!  for  whose  dear  sake  I  bear, 
A  doom  so  dreadful,  so  severe, 
May  h)ppy  fates  thy  footsteps   guide. 
And  o'er  ihy  pejceful  home  preside 

Nitr  let  E a's  early  toaib 

Infect  thee  with  its  baleful  gloom." 

Tlio  novelty  of  her  situation,  and  her  attractive  beau- 
ty and  manners  during  her  short  sojourn  in  Danvers. 
caused  the  entire  village  and  many  from  the  neighbor- 
in<x  towns  to  attend   her  funeral.     A  few  weeks  after 


niSTOr.Y  OF  DAXYERS.  211 


her  burial  an  unknown  hand  erected  a  grave-stone  with 
the  following  eloquent  inscription  : 

"  This  humhlo  stone  in  memory  of  Elizaleth  Wiiit- 
jMA:t,  is  inscribed  by  her  weeping  friends,  to  whom  she 
endeared  herself  by  uncommon  tenderness  and  affection. 
Endowed  widi  superior  genius  and  acquirements,  she 
was  still  more  endeared  by  humility  and  benevolence. 
Let  candor  throw  a  veil  over  her  frailties,  for  a'reat  was 
her  charity  to  others.  She  sustained  the  last  painful 
scene  far  from  every  filend,  and  exhibited  an  example 
of  calm  resignation.  Ilcr  departure  was  on  the  25th  of 
July,  A.  D.  1788,  in  the  37th  year  of  her  age,  and 
the  tears  of  strangers  watered  her  grave." 

Her  grave  is  a  Mecca  for  all  who  love  the  romantic. 
Already  the  foot-stone  has  been  demolished  and  the 
bead-stone  partially  carried  away,  piecemeal,  by  acquis- 
iiiive  pilgrims.  The  writer  of  this  sketch  once  visited 
this  spot,  a  cold  morning  in  December,  after  a  night 
of  snow,  and  though  tlio  roads  were  but  sh'ghtly 
travelled,  yet  there  was  a  path  to  the  grave  of  Eli- 
za Wharton. 

Althougli  there  has  been  a  romantic  moonlight  thrown 
around  the  name  and  fate  of  the  wicked  and  unfortu. 
natc,  yet  brilliant  and  amiable  coquette,  when  Ave  look 
at  her  conduct  coldly,  and  scrutinize  it  as  wo  do  ord> 
nary  derelictions  from  the  path  of  duty, — especially 
when  wo  remember  that  our  heroine  was  no  inexperi. 
enced,  unsophisticated  maiden,  but  a  woman  of  tlic  so- 
ber autumnal  ago  of  thirty-s()ven — we  shall  find  matter 
for  condemnation.     Still   let  us  employ  the  charitable 

m^ jiu 


212  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS. 

reflection  that  age  is  not  exempt  from  error,  and  that 
experience  does  not  always  give  wisdom. 

Note. — To  Matthew  Stickney,  Esq.,  an  industrious 
and  talented  Antiquarian,  (whose  rare  collection  of 
coins,  medals,  pamphlets  and  other  antiquities,  is  indeed 
valuable,)  I  am  indebted  for  the  discovery  of  the  fore- 
going poem,  and  also  for  other  facts  wdiich  his  research- 
es obtained. 

Samuel  Pagehom  Aug.  1st,  1753,  was  one,  amongst 
the  many  patriotic  sons  of  Danvers,  who  cheerfully  offer- 
ed his  services  to  his  country,  at  the  breaking  out  of 
the  revolution. 

On  the  19th  of  April  1775,  when  at  work  with  his 
father.  Col.  Jeremiah  Page,  the  news  came,  that  the 
British  troops  had  left  Boston,  and  were  on  their  march 
to  Concord.  He,  and  his  father,  (who  commanded  a 
company  of  militia,)  immediately  left  their  work,  and 
proceeded  to  West  Cambridge,  where  they  united  with 
the  minute  men  from  the  north  part  of  the  town,  under 
the  command  of  Col.  Hutchinson.  Page  and  his  com- 
rades were  inclosed  in  a  yard,  with  bunches  of  shingles 
placed  around  it  for  abreast  work.  Here  they  discharge 
ed  two  volleys  of  musketry  at  the  main  body  of  the 
British,  then  on  their  retreat.  So  unexpected  and  fa- 
tal was  this  assault  upon  the  enemy's  retreating  columns, 
that  it  brought  them  to  a  halt.  In  loading  their  guns 
for  another  fire.  Page  broke  his  ramrod,  a  wooden  one, 
and  turning  round,  asked  Perley  Putnam  to  lend  him 
his,  but  at  that  instant,  a  shot  from  the  enemy's  flank 


ffi-?^ 


>  ".If  » 

rft,  >-■      ,  ■  —      .  '      .  -  .  .     ,         ■■ — —  ^^f 

HISTOKY  OP    DAXVERS.  213 


guard  laid  Puinam  dead  at  his  feet.  Their  attention  was 
now  immediately  directed  to  a  large  body  of  men,  rap. 
idly  approacliing  toward  tliem,  when  Col.  Hutchinson 
remarked,  "they  are  our  ovv'n  men,"  but  Aaron 
Cheever  (father  of  Capt.  Thomas  Cheever)  said,  ''no 
tliey  are  regulars,  don't  you  see  their  red  coats  ?"  A 
firo  from  them  soon  revealed  their  true  character.  They 
immediately  returned  the  enemy's  discharge,  but  their 
I  superior  force  soon  compelled  them  to  make  a  hasty  re- 
treat. Capt.  Page  made  good  his  escape,  by  running 
through  an  orchard,  bringing  a  row  of  apple  trees  be- 
tween him  and  the  enem;/ ,  thus  protecting  himself  from 
their  shot.  Page  joined  the  army  under  Gen.  Wash- 
ington at  Cambridge,  with  a  captain's  commission,  and 
was  with  him  at  the  crossing  of  the  Delaware,  and  at 
the  battles  of  Y\liite  Plains,  and  Monmouth.  During 
the  severe  winter  of  1777,  he  was  at  Valley  Forge, 
and  shared  the  sufferings,  to  wliich  the  American  Army 
were  at  that  time  exposed.  He  was  frequently  heard 
to  say,  Wiicn  speaking  of  the  battle  of  Monmouth, 
fought  June  28th  1778,  that  it  was  the  most  fatiguing 
day  he  ever  experienced.  The  heat  was  excessive,  and 
his  thirst  during  the  engagement,  was  almost  insupport- 
able. The  British  in  consecpience  of  wearing  thick 
heavy  uniforms  and  ecpiipments  strapped  about  them^ 
suTered  more  severely  than  the  Americans,  who  fought 
in  their  shirt  sleeves.  Capt.  Page  himself  on  that  day, 
vroro  a  linen  coat,  now  in  the  possession  of  the  family. 
ile  was  aho  with  Gen.  Wayne  at  the  storming  of 
Stoncy  Point.  Ho  was  in  the  advance,  and  Wayne 
having  determined  to  carry  the  place  at  the  point  of  the 


eJT^ 


214  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS.  [ 

bayonet  alone,  Capfc.  Page  received  orders  from  the  Gen- 
eral, to  take  the  flmts  from  the  muskets  of  his  companj^ 
After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  engaged  in  commer- 
cial pursuits.  In  the  war  of  1812,  he  commanded  a 
company  formed  at  the  New-Mills,  called  in  those  days, 
the  alarm  list.  That  Capt.  Page  enjoyed  a  large  share 
of  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens,  may  be  inferred 
from  the  fact,  that  he  held  many  public  offices,  and  re- 
presented the  town  many  years  in  the  General  Court. 
His  private  character  was  distinguished  for  benevolence, 
integrity  and  moral  worth.  He  died  suddenly,  Septem- 
ber 2d,  1814,  aged  61  years,  and  was  interred  in  the 
burial  ground  at  the  Plains,  with  the  following  inscrip- 
tion on  his  tomb  stone. 

A  Soldier,  Patriot,  Christian, 
His  virtues  embalm  his  memory. 
Children's  children  shall  rise  up, 
and  call  him  blessed. 

Furnished  hy  S.  P.  Fowler. 

Bennison  Wallis.  This  gentleman  was  born  in  Ips- 
wich, in  1756,  but  in  early  life  came  to  Danvers,  and 
was  one  of  those  from  this  town  who  went  co  meet  the 
British  troops  at  Lexington.  He  was  then  but  nineteen 
years  of  age,  and  was  wounded  as  described  in  the  ac- 
count of  that  battle  in  another  part  of  this  work.  He 
afterwards  went  out  in  a  privateer  and  assisted  in  the 
capture  of  a  British  transport,  having  on  board  a  part 
of  the  celebrated  Highland  regiment.  His  subsequent 
life  was  devoted  to   business  pursuits,  in  which  he  was 


HISTORY  OF   DANVERS.  215 

successful  ill  the  accumulation  of  a  handsome  estate. 
For  several  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature, 
and  was  generally  esteemed  by  his  fellow  citizens  as  an 
enterprising  and  useful  member  of  society.  The  follow- 
ing Epitaph,  understood  to  be  from  the  pen  of  Hon. 
Rufus  Choate,  who  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Wallis's  death 
was  in  the  practice  of  law  in  this  town,  is  a  brief  but 
just  expression  of  the  prominent  traits  of  his  character. 

ERECTED 

To  the  jNIemory  of 
DENNISON  AYALLIS, 

Who  died   August  16,  1825,  Aged  69. 

A  Citizen 

Enterprising,  Industrious,  Benevolent, 

Honest  and  Patriotic, 

A  Friend  kind  and  obliging 

A  man  not  without  his  frailties, 

And  who  is  without  them  ? 

But  in  the  main.  Honorable,  Wise 

and  Virtuous. 

Although  without  children,  Mr.  Wallis  always  felt  a 
lively  interest  in  the  education  of  the  young,  and  he  has 
left  a  noble  monument  to  his  memory  in  the  endowment 
of  a  School  in  District  No.  1,  where  he  lived.  This 
fund  has  been  carefully  cherished  by  the  District  and 
the  Trustees  who  have  successively  had  charge  of  it, 
and  its  income  has  always  been  faithfully  applied  to  the 
objects  designed  by  the  liberal  donor.  This  fund  was 
originally  $2,250,  but  has  since  been  increased  to 
$2,800.     By  this  judicious  and  benevolent  application 


■m 


)     216  FJSTOrvY  OF    DANVERS. 

of  a  portion  of  his  estate,  Mr.  Wallis  lias  ranked  his 
name  among  the  benefactors  of  mankind,  and  the  Wal- 
lis School  ^vill  long  remain,  we  trust,  to  scatter  its 
blessings  on  successive  generations  of  the  young,  as 
well  as  to  confer  honor  on  the  memory  of  its  Founder. 

Comrdunicated  hy  Fitch  Poole. 

3Ioses  Porter  was  born  in  Panvors  in  the  year 
1757.  He  was  an  apprentice  at  the  age  of  eighteen  on 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution,  and  immediately 
joined  the  artillery  company  of  Captain  Trevctt.  As  a 
private  ariilleryman  he  was  in  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill  and  manifested  uncommon  bravery  for  his  years 
and  experience.  Svv^ett,  in  his  account  of  Bunker  Hill 
Battle  sdijs:  " Captain  Trevott  was  deserted  by  his  men. 
His  lieutenants,  Swasoy  and  Gardner  stood  by  him,  with 
but  seven  others,  one  of  whom  vras  Moses  Porter,  already 
a  promising  artillerist."  He  was  in  the  army  which  under 
Washington  beleaguered  Boston,  and  through  the  whole 
Revolution.  He  was  in  the  Battle  of  Brandywinejand  was 
wounded  in  an  engagement  v/ith  the  British  fleet  on  the 
Delaware  river,  below  Phlkidelphia. 

At  the  close  of  iho  war  he  was  Captain  of  Artillery 
by  brevet,  and  was  the  only  officer  who  vras  retained  on 
the  Peace  Establishment. 

He  was  on  the  western  frontier  for  many  years,  and 
was  in  the  noted  engagement  on  August  20th,  1791, 
when  Gen.  Wayne,  with  nine  hundied  men  routed  two 
thousand  Indians,  and  laid  waste  their  entire  country. 
From  this  time  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  last  war 
he  was  constantly  in  the  service  of  his  Country,  and 
'kg,. , |?3 


HISTORY  OF   DAN  VERS.  217 

among  other  duties  he  superintended  the  line  of  surveys 
for  fortifications  &c.,  along  the  coasts  of  Maine  and 
Massachusetts. 

In  the  late  war  he  served  on  the  lines,  was  at  the  taking 
of  Fort  George,  and  commanded  at  Niagara,  where  he 
held  the  rank  of  Brig.  Gen.  He  accomplished  in  the 
winter  of  1813  a  march  from  Niagara  to  New  Orleans 
in  five  months,  throudi  what  was  then  a  trackless  wih 
derness.  He  commanded  the  line  of  military  posts  from 
Michilmacinac,  Lake  Huron  to  Natchitoches  on  the  bor- 
ders of  the  then  Spanish  Provinces.  He  accompanied 
Wilkisson  in  his  unsuccessful  expedition  against  Montre- 
al in  1814,  and  was  stationed  at  Norfolk  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  This  post  was  at  that  time  one  of  the  most 
important  in  the  country,  and  was  seriously  menaced 
by  the  British,  but  he  was  so  skilfully  entrenched  that 
they  forebore  all  attack. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  he  still  remained  in  the  ser- 
vice, and  died  in  Cambridge  in  April  1822,  in  command 
of  the  district  he  "so  bravely  defended  in  1TT5."  His 
body  is  interred  in  N.  Danvers.  He  was  longer  in  the 
American  Service  than  any  other  officer  of  his  grade 
and  in  the  words  of  Swett,  "maintained  an  uniform  and 
distinguished  reputation  as  one  of  the  first  artillery 
officers  in  the  service."  Ho  was  a  thorough  "soldier, 
and  of  course  a  high  disciplinarian,  and  though  distin- 
guished for  the  inflexibility  of  the  soldier,  he  was  polish- 
ed with  the  urbanity  of  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school. 

Sylvester  Osborne  was  born  in  Danvers,  in  the  year 
1759.     A  youth  of  but  sixteen  years  of  age  he  rushed 


218  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS. 

to  tlio  affi-aj  at  Lexington,  and  afterwards  served  in  the 
^Yar  of  the  Itovolution,  a  short  time.  He  -was  after 
the  Revolution,  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major,  and  died 
Oct.  2d,  1815.  He  was  selectman  and  representative, 
and  was  distinguished  for  his  peaceable  life,  and  the 
lidolitj  with  which  he  attended  to  his  ovrn  pursuits. 

Amos  Pope  vrai  a  quiet  unobtrusive,  but  intellectual 
man,  and  deserving  of  honorable  mention.  He  was  an 
excellent  mathematician.  He  prepared  an  Almanac 
for  the  year  1793,  and  according  to  tradition  several 
others,  which  he  arranged  in  the  solitude  of  an  attic, 
without  the  consolation  of  a  fire.  Ho,  of  course,  made 
his  own  calculations,  which  were  accurate.  These  works 
were  printed  at  the  Bell  Tavern. 

Nathaniel  BotvcutcJi,  L.  L.  D.^F.  11.  S'.,  was  born 
in  Salem,  but  as  he  removed  to  Danvors  in  his  infancy, 
and  passed  a  portion  of  his  childhood  here,  he  seems  to 
belong  here.  Ho  was  a  fourth  son,  and  was  born 
March  26 ih,  ITTo.  His  paternal  ancestors  had  been 
ship-masters  for  several  generations,  but  his  father  re- 
tired  from  that  occupation,  and  became  a  cooper.  He 
began  to  manifest  those  remarka.blo  faculties  which  af- 
terwards distinguished  hiin  above  every  man  in  his  pro- 
fession, at  an  early  ago,  and  although  he  vras  obliged  to 
forego  school  privileges  at  the  age  of  ten  years,  yet  he 
seems  then  only  to  have  began  to  learn.  He  acquired 
the  Latin  and  French  languages  for  the  sake  of  transla, 
ting  Nevrton's  Piincipia  and  La  Place's  Mcchaniquo 
,  Celeste,  and  arrived  at  a  height  of  Mathematical  great- 
ly _____ e^,; 


1^ 


HISTORY  OP    DAXVERS. 


219"? 


ness  far  above  liis  contemporaries.  His  work  on  prac- 
tical navigation  is  the  best  in  the  world,  and  is  used 
universally  by  American  sailors.  Difficult  Problems, 
and  the  abstruse  windina;3  of  Mathematics  were  his  pas- 


time, and  those  calculations  which  were  inscrutable  to 
other  men  were  sport  to  him.*  He  died  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  vara  of  his  dav,  March  IGth,  1838,  a?!;cd 
sixty-Uve  years.     The  above  is  an  accurate  view  of  the 

*TIii.s  is  not  the  place  r>r  an  extended  notice  of  one  known  so  well 
but  it  is  a  fact  ihat  cannot  bo  loo  long  dwelt  upon,  that  Dr.  Bowditch 


220  HISTORY  OF    DANYERS. 


house  in  which  he  obtained  the  rudiments  of  his  great- 
ness,— where  he  first  took  note  of  the  silver  Regent  of 
Night  and  her  starry  flock,  and  commenced  cultivating 
an  acquaintance  with  those  heavenly  hosts  which  he  af- 
terwards knew  so  well,  and  to  which  he  seemed  so 
strangely  allied. 

Nathan  Read.  To  Hon.  Nathan  Read,  belongs 
much  credit,  for  the  great  encouragement  he  gave  to 
manufactures  and  the  arts.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to 
test  the  efficiency  of  steam  applied  to  Navigation,  which 
he  did  soon  after  the  astonishing  developments  of  Fitch, 
Fulton  and  Livingston,  in  the  commencement  of  the 
Nineteenth  Century.  Fitch  was  doubtless  the  first  man 
who  ever  applied  steam  to  locomotion.  Fulton  and 
Livingston  in  the  year  1806,  began  to  experiment,  and 
in  the  following  year  they  launched  their  first  boat,  the 
Clermont,  which  performed  a  passage  from  Noav  York 
to  Albany,  at  the  rate  of  5  miles  per  hour.  Read  saw 
that  steam  might  be  applied  to  navigation  and  actually 
projected  experiments  at  least  ten  years  before  this,  but 
a*lack  of  means  prevented  him  from  proving  his  pro- 
phetic opinions.  The  following  will  serve  to  rank  Read 
among  the  venerable  apostles  of  Science  and  Industry, 
of  whom  our  country  is  justly  proud. 

^'Memorandum.     Li  the  summer  of  1788  I  went  to 
assist  Mr  Nathan  Read  in  keeping   his   apothecaries 

was  not  a  mere  Theorist.  He  was  a  practical  man,  and  tested  his 
conclusions  by  facts.  He  navigated  Salem  Harbor  in  a  small  pleas- 
are  boat  for  the  purposG  of  experiment,  and  rendered  his  conclusions 
susceptible  of  demonstration. 


HISTORY  OF    17ANVERS.  221 


m 


shop.  The  following  whiter  and  in  the  summer  of  1789, 
he  was  much  engaged  on  Mechanical  and  Philosophical 
subjects,  particularly  in  the  construction  of  a  steam-en- 
gine, whose  power  might  be  advantageously  applied  to 
the  propelling  of  boats  and  carriages,  and  in  order  to 
ascertain  by  experiment  the  effect  that  float  wheels 
would  have  upon  the  boat,  I  very  well  remember  that 
he  had  a  light  boat  built  by  a  Mr.  Peirce,  to  which  Avas 
attached  a  pair  of  float  wheels  to  be  moved  by  hand. 
The  experiment  was  tried  in  Porter's  River  in  Dan- 
vers.  I  was  not  a  witness  to  it,  but  was  told  that  it 
succeeded  to  his  fullest  expectations.  The  boat  was 
afterwards  brought  back  and  remained  for  some  time 
in  the  back  part  of  the  shop.  Why  the  steam  w^as  not 
applied,  I  then  did  not  make  enquiry  ;  and  soon  after 
leaving  his  shop  for  othar  pursuits,  I  made  no  further 
enquiries  about  it.  But  have  understood  it  was  for  the 
want  of  a  sufficient  capital  to  put  it  in  operation," 

WM.   SHEPARD  GRAY." 

"Salem,  Dec.  1816. 

"I  recollect  the  above  facts  stated  by  Mr.  Gray  and 
remember  to  have  seen  Mr.  Read  row  about  the  river 
in  the  boat ;  but  could  not  ascertain  the  time  when  the 
boat  was  made  and  used." 

''JOHN  PRINCE,  L.  L.  D. 

These  facts  serve  to  show  that  Danvers  would  have 
given  birth  to  the  steamboat  had  Mr.  Read  been  bless- 
ed with  a  little  more  worldly  wealth.  lie  now  resides 
in  Belfast  Me.  in  a  green  old  age. 

19 


e/«v» 


i1    222  HISTORY  OF   DANVERS.  f 

Hon.  Ellas  Putnam.,  waa  born  in  Danvers,  June 
7tb  1789.  He  manifested  quite  early  in  life  those 
traits  of  character  which  afterwards  rendered  him  one 
of  the  most  distinguished  and  useful  men  of  North  Dan- 
vers. He  invented  several  machines  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  Shoes,  and  by  his  skill  and  indefatigable  indus- 
try and  perseverance,  he  advanced  that  business  which 
constitutes  the  basis  of  the  Prosperity  of  Danvers.  He 
was  President  of  the  Village  Bank  from  its  formation 
until  the  day  of  his  death.  He  held  many  important 
town  offices,  and  served  his  fellow-citizens  in  the  capaci- 
ty of  Legislator  during  the  years  1829 — 80.  He  was 
also  a  member  of  the  State  Senate.  He  possessed  in 
an  uncommon  degree  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow-citizens,  and  his  death  was  felt  by  them  to  be  a 
public  loss.  He  died  July  8th,  1817,  aged  56  years. 
The  Directors  of  the  Village  Bank,  on  receiving  news 
of  his  death,  passed  unanimous  resolutions  expressive 
of  regret  and  sympathy,  as  did  the  Walnut  Grove  Cem- 
etery Corporation,  both  of  which  enterprises  he  befriend- 
ed and  aided,  manifesting  in  this  the  public  spirit  which 
always  distinguished  him. 


CHAPTER  VIIL 

ECCLESIASTICAL. 
I.    NORTH    PARISH. 

"The  ffarmers,"  or  people  of  "Salem  Village  Pre- 
cinct" and  vicinity,  had  long  felt  the  inconvenience  of 
observing  public  worship  in  Salem  proper.  From  time 
to  time,  commencing  as  early  as  A.  D.  IGGG,  petitions 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS,  223 

.    I 

were  presented  to  effect  a  separation  between  these  and 
Salem,  and  the  estabUshment  of  a  parish  at  or  near  Sa- 
lem village.  In  1G70,  the  power  to  form  a  church  was 
prayed  for  bj  Thomas  Small,  Lott  Kellum,  (Kilham,) 
John  Smith,  John  Buxton,  John  Wilkins,  Jonathan 
Knight,  Phihp  Knight,  Thomas  Flint,  Hutchin- 
son, John  Hutchinson,  Richard  Hutchinson,  Job  Swin- 
nerton,  Robert  Goodalo,  Nathaniel  Putnam,  Thomas 
Fuller,  John  Putnam,  Bray  Wilkins,  John  Gingill,  Na- 
thaniel Ingersoll  and  Thomas  Putnam.  The  petition- 
ers say  that  they  shall  become  worse  than  the  heathen 
around  them  unless  they  can  have  a  church. 

The  town  voted,  March  22d,  16T1-2,  that  '-all  ffar- 
mersthat  now  are,  or  hereafter  shall  be  wilUng  to  joyne 
together  for  providing  a  minister  among  themselves, 
whose  habitations  are  above  Ipswich  Highway,  the 
horse  bridsie  to  the  wooden  bridoie  at  the  hither  end  of 
Mr.  Endecott's  plaine,  and  from  thence  on  a  west  line, 
shall  have  liberty  to  have  a  minister  by  themselves,  and 
when  they  shall  provide  and  pay  him  in  a  maintainance 
that  then,  they  shall  be  discharged  from  their  part  of 
Salem  minister's  maintainance,  &c."  On  the  8th  of 
the  following  October  an  order  was  issued  from  General 
Court, in  answer  to  the  petition  of  Richard  Hutchinson, 
Thomas  Fuller  and  others,  establishing  the  Salem  A^il- 
lage  Parish.     The  bounds  are  thus  described  : 

"  A^illage  Line  :  1.  From  the  wooden  bridge  (a) 
upon  the  hither  end  of  Mr.  Endecott's  plaine,  upon  a 
strait  line  over  the  swampy  and  miry  land,  leaving 
John  Felton's  hedge  in  the  swamp  within  our  bounds,  to 
a  small  ash  tree  marked  E.  &  AY.  side   at  the  farther 


224  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS. 

part  of  said  s\YaiBpy  land.  2.  The  next  bound  Tree 
marked  on  the  East  and  West  side  is  a  small  young 
walnut  Tree  upon  the  rising  ground  about  20  or  30 
R^ds  distant  from  the  ash  bofFor  m3ntioned,  and  from 
thence  forward  on  a  strai^i>ht  Line  are  several  Trees 
marked  for  bounds  all  the  way  through  Nathaniel  Put- 
nam and  Anthony  Needham's  Lands,  leaving  Anthony 
Needham's  House  about  forty  Rods  within  our  bounds, 
to  a  white  oak  tree  marked  neer  ye  Highway  that  goes 
to  widow  Popes.  3.  From  thence  on  a  strait  Line  to 
a  small  walnut  Tree,  marked,  standing  near  that  Avhich 
is  now  the  millpond.  4.  From  thence  over  the  millpond 
to  a  drie  stump  standing  at  the  corner  of  widow  Pope's 
Cow  Pen,  leaving  her  house  and  the  sawmill  within  the 
ffarmer's  range.  5.  From  thence,  a  Black  or  Red  oak 
Tree  we  have  marked,  standing  on  the  top  of  ye  Hill 
by  the  Highway  side  near  Berry  pond." 

JOSEPPI  GARDNER, 
JOHN  PICKERING, 
BARTHOLOMEW  GEDNEY. 
22d  March  16T1-2." 

There  were  some  of  the  farmers  who  desired  to'contin- 
I  ue  to  worship  at  the  first  church  in  Salem,  but  thougli 
they  petitioned  against  the  request,  the  village  parish 
was  at  this  time  established.  The  money  to-  defray  all 
charges,  was  raised  by  levying  a  half  penny  tax  on  each 
acre  of  uncultivated  land  within  the  parish,  and  a  penny 
on  each  cultivated  acre.  It  was  voted  to  build  a  house 
^'34  foot  in  length,  28  foot  broad,  and  16  foot  between 
joyntes,"  '^and  that  tlie  5  part  of  the  rate  for  building  of 


i^!?«<=rjz.-; 


HISTORY    OF   DANVERS.  225 


the  meeting  house  and  finishing  the  same,  shall  be  paid 
in  money,  or  butter  at  5d  per  pound."      A   portion  of 
the  town  of  Salem  did  not  view  this  project   favorably, 
and  petitioned  the    Court  against  it — unsuccessfully. 
The  services  of  Rev.  James  Bayley  were  procured    as 
the  first  minister  of  the   parish,   Oct.  28,   1671 — 2. 
For  the  year  1671 — 2  he  received  £47  and  forty  cords 
of  wood.     In  the  year  following  a  parsonage  was  erect- 
ed "28  foot  in  length,  13  foot  between  joynts,   20  foot 
in  breadth  ;  and  a  leentoo  of  11  foot  at  the  end  of   the 
house."     The  building  Committee  consisted    of  Nath'l 
Patnam,  John  Putnam,  Joseph  Hutchinson,  Henry  Ken- 
ny, John  Buxton,  Nath'l  Ingersoll  and  Robert  Prince. 
Mr.  Bayley  remained  at  a  salary  of  about  £bO  until 
the  year  1679.     He  was  born  in  Newbury  Sept.  12th, 
1650,  and  graduated  at   Cambridge  in  1669.      Nov. 
25th  1680   Rev.  George  Burroughs  was  invited  to  set- 
tle, and  it   was  voted  that  he  should  receive    "for  his 
raentenance   amongst  us  for  the  year  ensewing,  sixty  | 
pounds  In  and  as  mony,  one  third  part  in  mony  cartain, 
the  other  two  thirds  in  provision  at  mony  prise    as  fol- 
loweth  :    Rye,  and  Barly,  and   malt,  at  three  shillings 
per  bushell  :    Indian  corn  at  two  shillings  a   bushell, 
beaf  at  three  half  pence  a   pound,  and  pork  at  two 
pence  a  pound  :  Butter  at  six  pence  a  pound  &c."     In 
February  1680  it  was  voted  to  build  a  house  for  the 
ministry  "42  foot  long,  20  foot  broad,  13  foot  wide,  four 
chimleis,  no  gable  ends."     A  violent  dispute  raged   at 
this  time  between  two  portions  of  the  parish,  which   re- 
sulted in  the  removal  of  Mr.  Burroughs  in  1682.    He 
removed  to  Falmouth,   whence  he  was  driven  by  Indi- 

^-  — 


226  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS. 

ans  to  Wells,  Maine,  where  he  resided  until  1692  when 
he  was  accused  of  witchcraft^  and  was  executed  on 
"Gallows  Hill,"  Salem.     See  Biography. 

In  1683  Rev.  Deodat  Lawson  was  called  as  minister. 
He  accepted  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Salem  Vil- 
lage in  the  year  following.  At  this  time  the  house  was 
lathed,  plastered  and  "daubed".  Two  end  galleries 
were  added  and  a  "canapee"  was  placed  over  the  pul- 
pit. In  1685  it  was  voted  that  Mr.  Lawson  should 
have  the  "strangers  money."  (b)  In  the  month  of 
June  this  year  a  committee  was  chosen  to  "seat  the 
house,  having  respect  1st  to  age,  2d  to  office,  od  to 
rates." 

Joseph  Hutchinson  who  gave  the  land  whereon  the 
parsonage  was  placed,  having  enclosed  the  same  within 
a  fence  and  claimed  it  as  his  own,  a  committee  was  chos- 
en to  act  in  the  matter  as  they  thought  proper.  In 
February  1687  a  committee  was  raised  to  examine  the 
book  of  records,  and  "coppie  out  any  enterics  that  are 
therein  which  they  conceive  have  been  greevous  to  any 
of  us  in  time  past,  or  that  may  be  unprofitable  to  us  in 
time  to  come  &c."  Accordingly  several  votes  were 
"coppied"  out  and  annulled ;  among  others  one  to 
build  a  ministry  house  daring  Mr.  Bayleys  residence. 
Doubtless  this  vote  relates  to  the  Ions;  and  serious  trou- 
bles  which  raged  for  several  years  about  this  time.  It 
is  probable,  that  in  the  heat  of  debate  and  controversy, 
many  injudicious  expressions  were  uttered  and  record- 
ed. This  act  destroyed  them,  and  they  no  longer  re- 
buked their  authors. 

A  large  portion  of  the  people  opposed  Mr.  Lawson's 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  227 

labors,  and  were  unwilling  that  he  should  be  ordained. 
At  length  a  council  was  called  to  settle  the  differences, 
consisting  of  Messrs.  Bartholomew  Gednej,  John  Hath- 
orne,  Wm.  Brown  Jr.,  John  Higginson  and  Nicholas 
Nojes,  who  recommended  the  parish  to  preserve  the 
old  book  of  records,  and  to  repeal  such  votes  as  were  of- 
fensive to  any  one,  and  thus,  have  a  harmonious  ordina- 
tion. The  breach  was  impassable  however,  and  in 
1688,  Mr.  Lawson  removed  to  Scituate  and  took  charge 
of  the  South  Society  in  that  place. 

The  following  is  extracted  from  the  Church  Record  : 

"Nov.  30,  1688,  Nathaniel  Sheldon,  well  on  mon- 
day,  sick  tuesday,  distracted  thursday,  and  so  continued 
till  friday  he  died." 

"Dec.  20th,  Sam.  Wilkins  a  very  naughty  man,  and 
died  hopelessly." 

In  June  1689,  Rev.  Samuel  Parris  was  invited  to 
Salem  Village  and  he  accepted  the  call.  His  salary 
was  to  be  £j'<}^^  one  third  money  and  two  thirds  provis- 
ion,— the  parish  to  give  more  if  "God  blessed  them, 
and  he  to  abate  if  they  were  not  favored."  Nov.  lOth, 
a  church  was  embodied,  comprising  besides  those  in 
the  neighborhood,  the  following  persons  from  the  Ist 
Church :  Bray  Wilkins  and  wife,  John  Patnam  and 
wife,  Nathaniel  Ingersoll,  Ezekiel  Cheever,  Peter  Pres- 
cott,  John  Putnam  Jr.  and  wife,  Deliverance  Wolcott, 
Jonathan  Putnam  and  wife,  Sarah  Putnam,  Nathaniel 
Putnam,  Joshua  Ray  and  wife,  Thomas  Putnam,  Ed- 
ward Patnam,  Peter  Cloyce,  Benjamin  Patnam  and 
wife,  Henry  Wilkins,  and  Benjamin  Wilkins  and  wife. 
The  vote  inviting  Mr.  Parris  is  recorded  thus  :     "that 


228  HISTORY    OF   DANVERS. 


we  will  give  to  Mr.  Parice  our  menestrye  hotise  and 
farme,  and  too  akers  of  land  next  ajoyning  to  the  house  : 
and  that  Mr.  Parice  take  ofice  upon  him  amongst  vs, 
and  Live  and  dye  in  the  work  of  the  menestrye  amongst 
vs.'*  The  1st  Parish  in  Salem  was  not  willing  to  lose 
the  benefits  accruing  to  it  from  the  people  of  the  vil- 
lage, and  accordingly  we  find  that  it  compelled  them 
not  only  to  defray  their  own  parish  charges,  but  to  as- 
sist in  supporting  its  minister.  In  the  year  1690,  the 
village  asked  instructions  of  the  General  Court,  to  know 
if  they  must  support  their  own  parish,  and  assist  the 
first  parish  also.  The  petitioners  were  John  Putnam 
Thomas  ffaller,  ffrancis  Nurs,  Daniel  Andrew,  and, 
Thomas  Putnam.  This  petition  they  renewed  in  1692, 
to  the  selectmen  of  Salem,  asking  the  privilege  of  reg- 
ulating their  parish  alone,  ''or  elce  cleer  vs  from  all 
town  charges,  and  then  we  will  maintaine  all  our  own 
poor :  and  Highways :  and  paye  our  county  rates  with 
the  town  of  Salem." 

The  following  extract  from  the  Church  Books  in 
the  writing  of  Mr.  Parris  will  show  us  that  the  condi- 
tion of  the  minister  in  ancient  times  was  not  always  as 
enviable  as  we  are  apt  to  suppose. 

"8,  Oct.  1691.  Being  my  Lecture  day,  after  pub- 
lic service  was  ended,  I  was  so  bare  of  firewood,  that  I 
was  forced  publicly  to  desire  the  Lihabitants  to  take 
care  that  I  might  be  provided  for,  telling  them  had  it 
not  been  for  Mr.  Corwin  (who  had  brought  wood,  being 
here  at  my  house,)  I  should  hardly  have  any  to  burn." 

June  28th,  1691,Nath'lLagersoll  was  chosen  first  dea- 
con.    Aug.  3d,  1691  the  parish  ask  the  Generi^l  Court 


HISTORY  OF  DANVERS.  229 


to  issue  an  order  ''compelling  the  severall  fameleyes 
wliicli  line  ajacent  to  vs,  and  are  constant  comers  to 
our  meating  house  to  be  sum  wave  helpful  to  vs  to  main- 
taine  our  minister  &c."  In  1G92  the  great  witchcraft 
excitement  broke  out,  and  made  dreadful  havoc  in  the 
church.  Mr.  Parris  took  so  active  a  part  in  that  awful 
tragedy,  and  rendered  himself  so  obnoxious  to  the  people 
that  in  1693  it  was  proposed  to  make  void  his  salary, 
(c.)  The  feelings  of  opposition  increased  against  him, 
until  Jane  30th,  1696,  when  he  was  obliged  to  leave  his 
charge.  During  the  heat  of  the  excitement  of  16- 
92,  Mr.  Lawson  the  former  minister  preached  a  sermon 
at  Salem  Village,  applicable  to  its  singular  difficulties, 
which  was  published,  entitled  "Christ's  fidelity  the  only 
shield  against  Satan's  malignity."  Mr.  Parris  resided 
in  the  Village  about  a  year  after  he  left  his  charge. 
See  Biography. 

After  Mr.  Piirrls  left,  unsuccessful  attempts  were 
made  to  settle  Rev.  Mr.  Pemberton  and  Mr.  Bayley, 
the  former  minister.  Nov.  5th,  1696  was  observed  as 
a  "day  of  humiliation  to  seek  direction  of  the  All-wise 
God  consarninci;  a  minister,  and  wee  desire  that  the 
reverend  Mr.  Haile,  Mr.  Noice,  Mr.  Gerrish  and  Mr. 
Pairpoint,  to  be  helpfull,  <fec."  Mr  Emerson  preached 
the  last  Sunday  in  October,  and  fruitless  efforts  were 
made  to  procure  the  services  of  Rev.  Simon  "Broad- 
streat"  for^halfe  a  year."  Simon  Bradstreet,  grand- 
son of  Gov.  Bradstreet,  was  born  Nov.  16th,  1669. 
He  preached  at  Medford  and  Charlestown,  and  died 
Dec.  31st,  174—.  In  February  1697  Rev.  Nath'l 
Rogers  was  invited.     Nathaniel  Rogers  a  descendant  'j 


i    230  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


of  the  martyr  John,  was  born  in  Ipswich  Feb.  22d,  16- 
70,  settled  at  Portsmouth  in  1699  and  died  there  Oct. 
3d,  1723.  A  suit  was  this  year  instituted  against  Mr. 
Parris  to  obUge  him  to  surrender  the  house  and  lands 
he  occupied,  belonging  to  the  parish.  Mr.  Parris  com- 
menced a  counter-suit  These  were  finally  settled,  and 
Mr.  Parris  moved  from  the  town. 

In  August,  1697,  the  invitation  to  Mr.  Rogers  was 
renewed.  Oct.  5th  was  observed  as  a  day  of  fasting 
and  prayer.  During  this  month,  Mr.  Hale  preached 
one  or  two  Sundays.  In  December,  Mr.  Joseph  Green 
was  invited,  and  the  next,  month  he  accepted.  His  sal- 
ary was  to  be  X60  per  annum.  At  his  installation,  the 
churches  in  Salem,  Beverly,  Wenham,  Reading  and 
Roxbury  were  represented.  The  half-way  Covenant 
was  instituted  during  his  ministry. 

In  the  year  1700,  a  movement  was  made  to  build  a 
meeting-house  "48  foot  long,  42  foot  wide  and  20  foot 
between  joynts  ;"  tobe  "lathed  and  plastered  upon  the 
planks  with  Limb  and  haire  ;  to  be  built  as  far  as  pos- 
sible by  men  of  the  village  ;  to  be  completed  within 
two  years,  and  to  be  "sett  vpon  Watch  House  hill,  be- 
fore Deacon  Ingersoll's  door,"  This  house  was  finished 
at  a  cost  of  .£330  old  tenor,  X47  new  tenor,  equal  to 
$156.66  !  The  old  house  was  sold.  Watch  house  hill 
is  the  swell  of  land  occupied  by  the  First  Cong.  Church. 

As  there  were  some  who  wished  to  leave  the  parish 

and  join  the  Second  Church  in  Beverly,  it   was  voted 

in  1711  "that  when  those  that  petition  shall  have  built 

a  meeting  house  and  settled  a  minister  amongst  them, 

y  and  maintaine  an  authordox  minister  amongst  them.  To 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  231* 


witt :  Capt.  Thomas  Rajment,  and  Mr.  Joseph  herick, 
Jonathan  Rayment  and  William  Porter,  that  is,  all  his 
land  that  Ijeth  to  the  Estward  side  of  frostfish  river, 
that  then  we  dismiss  them  from  any  further  charge  to 
the  ministry  among  vs,  in  the  Village." 

On  the  2oth,  of  October  1715,  Mr  Green  departed 
this  life  miiversally  regretted  and  esteemed. 

In  August  of  the  following  year  Rev.  Peter  Clark 
was  invited  to  settle  at  a  salary  of  £60,  with  a  present 
of  X90.  He  accepted,  commenced  his  labors  in  Janu- 
ary and  was  ordained  June  5th,  1717.  The  churches 
in  Beverly,  Wenham,  Reading  and  Topsfield  were 
present. 

The  neighbors  at  Wills  Hill  set  forth  in  a  petition 
to  the  Village,  that  they  lived  too  far  to  attend  worship 
there,  and  asked  leave  to  join  with  those  of  Topsfield, 
Boxford,  and  Andover  in  building  a  meeting  house  on 
"a  track  of  ground  beginning  at  the  hornbeam  tree  at 
Ipswich  river  which  is  Boxford  bound,"  and  so  on  up 
the  west  side  of  the  river  to  Reading  line,  up  Reading 
line  to  Andover  line,  up  Andover  line  to  Boxford  line, 
and  back  to  the  hornbeam  tree.  It  was  replied  to  them 
that  their  prayer  should  be  granted,  when  they  should 
build  a  house  and  settle  an  '^authordox"  minister.  In 
1724  a  bell  was  procured  by  ''superscription,"  and 
hung  by  Capt.  Thomas  Flint. 

The  people  at  Will's  Hill  proposed  that  their  boun- 
dary line  should  cross  the  upland  from  CromwelFs  Rock, 
(d)  but  the  village  voted  that  Cromwell's  brook  should 
be  the  boundary.  In  1727  the  rates  at  Will's  hill  were 
abated,  and  in  1728  the  lands  at  Will's   Hill  were   all 


w 


/     232  HISTORY  OF   DANVERS. 


absolved  from  taxes.  It  was  voted  to  build  a  new  par- 
sonage in  Jan.  1734  "23  ft  long,  18  ft  broad  and  15  ft 
stud."  At  this  time  choir  singing  was  unknown.  Psalms 
were  read  line  bj  line  in  response  to  the  pastor,  bj  the 
deacon. 

In  the  year  1740  Rev.  George  Whitefield  then  in  the 
zenith  of  his  greatness,  preached  in  Salem  in  the  pres- 
ence of  Mr.  Clarke.  He  says  in  his  journal  "I  preach- 
ed to  about  2000.  Mr.  C k,  a  good  minister  seem- 
ed almost  in  heaven." 

Many  people  had  been  in  the  habit  of  consulting  for- 
tune tellers,  and  the  prevalence  of  this  superstitious 
custom  led  the  church  in  1746  to  vote,  "that  for  Chris- 
tians to  consult  reputed  witches  or  fortune  tellers,  this 
church  firmly  believe  on  the  testimony  of  the  word  of 
God,  is  highly  impious  and  scandalous,  being  a  violation 
of  the  Christian  covenant,  rendering  the  persons  guilty 
of  it  subject  to  the  just  censure  of  the  church.  Voted, 
that  the  Pastor,  in  the  name  of  the  Church,  publicly  tes- 
tify their  abhorrence  of  this  practice,  warning  all  under 
their  watch  and  care  to  guard  against  it."  March  11th 
1749  a  contribution  of  X13,  8  shil.,  was  collected  to 
ransom  the  daughter  of  David  Woodwell  of  Hopkinton, 
from  Indian  captivity. 

In  the  year  1768  Mr.  Clark's  health  deserted  him, 
and  he  was  compelled  to  forego  the  labors  of  the  pulpit. 
It  therefore  became  necessary  to  procure  some  other 
person  during  his  inability,  to  labor  in  his  stead.  The 
additional  burden  which  this  course  imposed,  led  the 
people  of  the  Village  to  fall  back  upon  the  terms  origi- 
nally agreed   upon  between    the  parties.      Although 


HISTORY  OF   DAN  VERS.  233 

these  terms  were  £60  per  annum,  yet  owing  to  the  de- 
preciation of  the  currency,  the  parish  had  given  for  18 
years,  £90.  As  Mr.  Clark  was  unable  to  perform  his 
duties,  the  parish  fell  back  upon  £60.  This  caused  a 
difference  between  minister  and  people,  which  not  only 
ran  high  here,  but  caused  an  article  to  appear  in  a 
newspaper  published  in  Boston,  accusing  the  people  of 
the  parish,  of  faithlessness  and  cruelty  to  their  tried  ser- 
vant. A  committee  was  chosen  to  defend  the  parish, 
which  they  did  in  the  same  paper.  After  setting  forth 
the  merits  of  the  case,  and  affirming  that  Mr.  Clark 
has  received  for  many  years  £30  more  than  the  orig- 
inal contract,  and  that  he  has  the  best  estate  in  the 
parish,  they  close  thus:  "They  think  therefore,  that 
far  from  remorse  at  their  conduct,  those  passages, 
(which  the  author  of  the  aforesaid  piece  has  with  res- 
pect to  them,  cited  for  a  very  ditlerent  purpose,)  they 
may  with  humble  confidence  apply  to  themselves,  viz  : 
'the  liberal  soul  shall  be  made  fat,'  and  watered  with 
"the  blessing  from  above,"  and  with  "the  dew  of  heav- 
en." And  now  to  have  done,  would  only  recommend 
to  his  consideration  the  following :  'The  lip  of  truth 
shall  be  established  forever,  but  a  lying  tongue  is  but 
for  a  moment.' 

Mr.  Clark  died  in  1768,  after  ministering  to  the 
parish  fifty-two  years.  After  his  death  llcv.  Amos 
Sawyer  was  invited  to  be  liis  successor,  but  he  declined, 
alleging  as  a  reason,  that  the  parish  was  divided.  A 
council  was  called  to  consider  the  differences,  consisting 
of  Rev.  Messrs.  Chipman.  Diraond,  Barnard,  Smith, 
Holt,  Sherman,  Stone,  and  eight    lay  delegates.     Mr. 


234  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

Sawyer  died  Sept.  Slst,  1769,  before  the  Council  con- 
vened, and  thus  the  differences  ceased. 

June  4th,  1770,  was  observed  as  a  day  of  fasting. 

March  14th,  1771,  "Voted  that  in  case  any  Person 
that  dont  belong  to  the  Parish  should  want  to  use  the 
Burying  cloths,  the  keeper  is  to  let  them  goe,  they 
paying  h  im  one  shilling  four  pence  for  the  use  of  the 
Great  €loth,  and  eight  pence  for  the  use  of  the  Small 
Cloth  &c."  This  year  Eev.  Joseph  Currier  was  invi- 
ted, who  declined,  because  the  parish  was  in  a  condi- 
tion resembhng  that   mentioned  in  1st  Cor.  i.  2.  (e.) 

There  was  a  great  deal  of  difficulty  in  settling  a 
minister;  differences  increased  and  multiplied,  and  it 
seemed  as  though  union  was  never  to  be  hoped    for. 

At  length  Kev.  Benjamin  Wadsworth  was  called,  on 
the  17th  of  September,  1772.  He  accepted  Nov.  5th, 
and  was  ordained  December  23d.  Introductory  Prayer 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Holt  of  the  south  parish  ;  Sermon  by  Bev. 
Mr.  Bobbins  of  ^lilton ;  Charge  and  Prayer  by  Bev. 
Mr.  Morrill  of  Wilmington  ;  Bight  Hand  of  Fellowship, 
by  Bev.  Mi*.  Smith  of  Middleton,  and  Concluding 
Prayer  by  Bev.  Mr.  Swain  of  Wenham.  Watts's 
Hymns  were  used  on  this  occasion,  and  Nov.  3d,  1775, 
the  church  agreed  to  try  them  for  8  Sabbaths. 

The  ordination  was  a  scene  of  great  joy.  All  the 
houses  in  the  parish  were  thrown  open, — different  kinds 
of  liquor  flowed  in  every  direction,  feasting  and  mirth 
prevailed,  and  on  the  authority  of  Hon.  Judge  Holten, 
one  man  wore  out  a  new  pair  of  boots  in  dancing  on  the 
sanded  floors.     Although  mid-winter,  yet   during   the 


k 


HISTORY  OF   DANVERS.  235 


ordination  services,  tlie   church  windows  were  opened, 
and  the  air  was  mild  and  genial. 

This  parish,  warmly  zealous  in  the  war,  expressed  a 
willingness  to  tax  property  to  any  amount  to  raise  funds. 
Mr.  Wadsworth  desired  to  hear  his  part  of  the  town's 
expenses.  He  engaged  to  receive  his  salary  for  the 
year  1780  and  so  long  as  the  war  should  continue,  in 
produce  at  the  following  prices  :  Wool  a  9  s,  Flax  a 
5  s,  Rye  a  30  s,  Indian  Corn  a  25  s.  Oak  Wood  a  X  5, 
Beef  a  Is,  6d,  and  Pork  a  2  s. 

In  1783  it  was  proposed  and  voted  by  the  parish  to  set 
off  the  North  Parish,  and  incorporate  it  as  a  separate 
town,  but  as  the  rest  of  the  town  thought  differently,  it 
was  not  accomplished. 

April  11th,  1785,  it  was  voted  "to  build  a  new  meet- 
ing house  where  the  old  one  stands,  60  feet  in  length, 
46  feet  in  width,  28  feet  stud,  a  steeple  14  feet  square 
at  one  end,  a  porch  at  the  other  12  feet  square ;  58 
pews  on  tho  platform,  5  seats  for  men  and  5  for 
women."  Some  desired  a  brick  house,  and  others  a 
wooden  one,  but  when  it  was  ascertained  that  the  cost  of 
a  brick  house  was  X864,  while  one  could  be  erected  of 
Wood  for  X350,  it  was  decided  to  build  a  house  of 
wood. 

In  1788,  rates  were  abated  of  Samuel  Cheever, 
Jer.  Hutchinson,  James  Smith,  John  Swinnerton, 
Henry  Putnam,  Nath'l  Webb,  William  Gifford,  Ben- 
jamin Gifford  and  Mrs.  Eunice  Hutchinson,  because 
they  entertained  religious  sentiments  differing  from 
those  professed  by  the  church. — A  porch  was  added 
to  the  meeting  house  in  1708, 12  feet  by  8.     In  1800 


m 


236  HISTORY  OF  danvers. 

the  parsonage  was  sold  to  Hon.  Samuel  Ilolten  for  §18,' 
25.  In  1802  the  body  of  the  meetmg  house  was  paint- 
ed stone  color,  and  the  weather  boards  white.  A  new 
bell  was  purchased,  weighing  G74:  lbs., — at  a  cost 
of  $360. 

''  Sept.  24th,  1805,  before  the  dawning  of  the  day, 
the  meeting  house  was  discovered  to  be  on  fire  and  was 
burnt  to  the  ground  in  a  short  time.  It  was  supposed 
to  be  set  on  fire  bj  some  incendiary,  and  a  man  b}^  the 
name  of  Ilolten  Goodale  was  arrested  the  same  evening, 
and  after  examination  the  next  day  was  committed  to 
prison.  But  having  his  trial  at  the  next  session  of  the 
Supreme  Judicial  Court  that  was  holden  at  Salem,  he 
appeared  to  be  an  insane  person,  and  was  therefore 
sentenced  to  receive  no  punishment  but  that  of  confine- 
ment as  a  lunatick." 

Notwithstanding  this  discouraging  loss,  the  energy 
of  the  parish  was  not  destroyed  ;  a  new  house  of  brick 
was  immediately  projected  and  finished.  It  was  66  feet 
long,  bG  feet  wide  and  28  feet  high,  with  a  steeple,  or 
tower,  16  feet  4  inches  square,  on  the  end  towards  the 
road  leading  from  Andover  to  Salem.  The  whole  cost 
was  §11,300,00. 

The  following  persons  were  severed  from  the  South, 
and  vrere  annexed  to  the  Nortli  Parish  in  1806  :  Sam- 
uel Page,  John  and  Moses  Endicott,  Nathaniel  Put- 
nam. Samuel  Fowler  Jr.,  Caleb  Oakes,  William  Pindar, 
Jaspar  Needham,  John  Gardner  Jr.,  and  Amos  Fhnt. 

The  long  and  arduous  labors  of  Benjamin  Wads  worth, 
D.  D.,  were  closed  by  death  in  the  year  1826.  As  he 
was  unable  to  fill  his  pulpit.   Rev.   Thomas    M.    Smith 


li 


HISTORY    OF   DAN  VERS.  237 

preached  6  months  m  1825.  Mr.  Waclsworth  had  been 
pastor  of  one  flock  for  more  than  half  a  century,  and  died, 
full  of  years  and  honor.  He  left  a  legacy  of  $150,00 
to  the  parish.  Rev.  INIilton  Palmer  Braman,  the  pres- 
ent minister,  succeeded  him.  He  was  born  in  Rowley, 
August  6,  1799,  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1819,  and 
was  ordained  on  the  second  Wednesday  in  April,  1826, 
at  a  salary  of  $700,00.  The  services  were  per- 
formed by  Messrs.  Putnam,  Braman,  Briggs,  Walker, 
Boardman  and  Perry.  The  half-way  scheme  was  abol- 
ished on  his  settlement.  In  the  year  1833  the  parson- 
age owned  by  the  society  at  present,  w^as  given  to  it, 
mainly  by  Mrs.  Mehitabel  Oakes  and  daughters.  From 
Jan.  30, 1835,  all  new  members  of  the  church  were  re- 
quired to  abstain  from  ardent  spirits,  except  as  medicine. 
The  old  parish  was  abolished  in  the  year  1838,  and  incor- 
porated anew  under  the  name  of  the  First  Religious  So- 
ciety in  Danvers.  A  very  large  and  convenient  house 
of  worship  83  feet  by  6Q,  was  finished  and  dedicated 
November  21st,  1839. 

In  the  year  1810  Mr.  Braman's  health  declined,  and 
he  asked  a  dismission  from  his  societ3^  He  was  ur 
gently  requested  to  remain,  and  the  society  supplied  his 
pulpit  until  his  health  returned.  In  the  year  1813  Mr. 
Braman  felt  compelled  to  renew  his  request,  and  a  coun. 
cil  of  clergymen  was  called  to  decide  whether  it  should 
be  granted.  The  council  recommended  that  the  society 
should  consider  its  minister's  health,  and  release  him  as 
much  as  possible  from  labor.  The  advice  was  followed, 
and  the  connection  preserved,  until  January  1815,  when 
the  request  was  renewed  and  granted.  But  an  eccle- 
5 . ^ 


238  HISTORY    OF   DANVERS. 


siastlcal  council  recommended  tlie  continuance  of  the  re 
lation,  and  it  is  still  preserved.  The  society  is  now  in 
a  flourishing  condition,  having  a  church  of  175  mem_ 
bers,  a  sundaj  school  of  180  scholars,  with  a  library  of 
425  volumes. 

Mr.  Braman  has  distinguished  himself  by  holding  a 
public  oral  discussion  with  Rev.  Thomas  Y\"hittemore, 
and  by  preaching  an  Election  and  publishing  several 
other  sermons,  which  evince  uncommon  research  and  ex- 
cellent ability. 


II.     SOUTH  PARISH. 

The  second  parish,  or  Middle  Precinct,  was  formed 
like  the  Village  parish,  for  convenience.  The  popula- 
tion of  the  town  had  increased,  the  original  Church  at 
Salem  was  large,  and  the  distance  for  many  of  the  peo- 
ple in  that  part  noY^^  known  as  South  Danvers,  was  too 
great  to  travel.  Accordingly,  the  Middle  Precinct  was 
established,     (f) 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  Petitioners  for  a  lot 
of  land  on  which  to  erect  a  Meeting  House  in  the 
South  Parish  at  the  Annual  March  Meeting  1709-10. 

Samuel  Marble,  John  ISI"urse,  Abraham  Pierce, 
James  HouUon,  Samuel  Catlcr,  Ebenezer  Cutler,  Sam- 
uel King,  Samuel  Stone,  James  Gould,  William  King, 
Stephen  Sir.all,  Ezekiel  Marsh,  Benjamin  Very,  Ezeki- 
el  Goldthwaite,  Nath'i  Waters,  John  Jacobs,  Richard 
Waters,  Samuel  Cook,  David  Foster,  Nathaniel  Felton, 
John  AYaters,  Israel  Shaw,  Jacob  Read,  John  Trask, 
Nathaniel  Tompkins,  William    Osborne   jr.,  John   0.    I 

i»'- —  ,    .     —    .   —       -  ~^7^ 


HISTORY  OF    D  AN  VERS .  239 

Waldin,  Antliony  H.  Neeclham,  John  Marsh,  Benjamin 
Marsh,  Samuel  Stacey  sen.,  Samuel  Stacey,  William 
Osborne,  John  W.  Burton,  Benjamin  C.  Proctor,  Elias 
Trask,  John  Giles,  John  Gardner,  George  Jacobs,  John 
Felton,  Robert  Y\^ilson,  Eben.  Foster,  Jonathan  King, 
Skelton  Felton,  Henry  Cook,  Joseph  Douty,  Thorndike 
Proctor,  Samuel  Goldthwait,  Samuel  Goldthwait  jr., 
John  King,  John  King  jr.,  Samuel  Endicott,  Nathani- 
el Felton. 

The  first  record  on  the  parish  books  is  as  follows:  "A 
Genii  meeting  of  ye  Inhabitants  of  ye  Middle  Precinct 
of  Salem,  This  28  of  November  1710  :  Voted  John 
Gardner  Chosen  Clerk.  Voted  that  there  be  a  conven- 
ient Meeting  Hous  Bult  for  ye  Publick  AYorship  of 
God  with  all  convenient  speed,  in  this  Middle  Precinct, 
and  that  it  be  Erected  on  ye  place  of  ground  granted 
by  the  Town  for  that  End."  On  the  80th  of  the  same 
month  it  w^as  ''  agreed  that  ye  Building  be  48  feat 
long,  and  35  wid,  and  24  feat  stud  so  as  to  have  two 
Galaris.  Agreed  that  Mr.  Samuel  Cutler,  Mr.  Robert 
Willson,  Mr.  Jno.  Waters,  Be  Undertakers  for  ye 
Workmanship  of  ye  hous,  and  are  to  haue  23  9d  per 
day  for  so  many  days  as  they  work  from  this  present 
time  till  ye  10  day  of  March  next,  and  then  os  per 
day  so  long  as  ye  Comit}^  sees  Good."  The  dimen- 
sions were  afterwards  changed ;  it  was  decided  that 
the  house  should  be  51  feet  long  and  38  foet  broad,  and 
"that  ye  4  Beams  be  soported  with  Eyern  bars  Got  and 
maid  ready  and  sutible  at  je  w^orks."  A  day  of  fast- 
ing was  held  in  October  ITll  because  God  had  guided 
the  people,  and  especially  because  they  vrere  about  to 


m 

240  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS. 


call  a  minister.     The  house  was  finished   during  this 
month,  (g.) 

The  following  persons  contributed  towards  building 
the  house :  James  Houlton,  John  Houlton,  Wm.  King, 
Alexander  Prince,  Samuel  Goldthwaite  Jr.,  Daniel 
Foster,  John  Nurse,  Joseph  Dowty,  Nathaniel  Houl- 
ton,  John  King  Jr.,  Widow  Cutler,  John  Trask,  Sam- 
uel Gardner,  John  Jacobs,  Ezek  Marsh,  Nathaniel  Fol- 
som,  Joseph  Flint,  Mr.  Green,  Abel  Gardner,  Thorn- 
dike  Proctor,  Richard  Waters,  Samuel  Endicott,  Na  th'l 
Folsom's  son,  Samuel  Marble,  Samuel  Folsom,  Benja- 
min Proctor,  Jonathan  Stone,  Benjamin  Nurse,  Samuel 
Stone's  son,  S.  Cook,  B.  Yevy,  Stephen  Small,  Jacob 
Read,  Wm.  Osborn,  John  II pulton,  Jonathan  Marsh, 
Samuel  Felton,  Daniel  Epes,  John  Felton,  James  Houl- 
ton,  Ml*.  Ketchin,  Ezekiel  Marsh,  Abraham  Pierce, 
George  Jacobs,  and  Samuel  Marvel. 

Rev.  Benjamin  Prescott  was  settled  as  first  pastor  of 
the  church  and  parish  in  February  1712,  with  a  salary 
of  £80,  and  the  "strangers  money."  The  warrant  for 
the  collection  of  parish  rates  for  the  year  17 20^,  com- 
mands John  Tarball,  Collector,  to  collect  the  amounts 
due  the  parish,  and  on  the  failure  of  the  people  to  pay, 
he  is  to  "distrain  the  goods  or  chatties  of  the  person  or 
persons  soe  refusing,  for  ye  payment  of  ye  same,  and 
for  want  of  goods  or  chatties,  whereon  to  make  distress, 
you  are  to  seize  the  body  or  bodyes  of  the  person  or  per- 
sons so  refusing,  and  are  then  to  commit  to  ye  common 
gaoll  in  Salem,  untill  he  or  they  pay  or  satisfie  the  sum  or 
sums  that  they  are  Rated  or  assessed." 

In  consideration  of  repeated  deaths  and  extraordina- 


Sfce  e/fi? 


HISTORY  OF  DANVERS.  241 


ry  charges  in  Mr.  Prescott's  family,  his  salary  was  in- 
creased c£20,  in  the  year  1723.  From  this  time  on- 
ward it  remained  the  same,  excepting  what  money  was 
raised  hy  quarterly  voluntary  contributions,  until  17^5, 
when  his  salary  was  increased  to  c£150,  and  in  1737-8 
it  became  £200.  In  1740  it  was  vo^ed  to  give  ^Ir. 
Prescott  25  cords  of  wood  in  addition  to  £150,  old  ten- 
or, which  was  to  bo  his  salary  from  that  date.  In  1743 
it  was  voted  to  give  Mr.  Prescott  £270,  for  his  salary. 
There  was  a  source  of  difficulty  which  sprung  up  be- 
tAveen  the  two  parishes  in  the  year  1743.  Capt.  Sam- 
uel Endecott,  John  Porter,  Benja.  Porter,  John  Eudi- 
cott,  and  James  Prince,  of  the  village,  endeavored  to  en- 
croach upon  the  rights  of  the  Middle  Precinct,  by  inclu- 
ding within  the  village  bounds  some  of  those  who  belonged 
in  the  other  parish.  Daniel  Epes,  Jr.,  Daniel  G  ardner 
and  John  Proctor,  Jr.,  were  appointed  to  go  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court  and  oppose  the  motion,  which  was  done 
successfully.  The  same  year  Mr.  Prescott's  salary 
was  increased  to  £300,  and  in  1747  £100  were  added, 
and  in  1749  it  was  swelled  to  £620.  At  this  time, 
differences  arose  between  Mr.  Prescott  and  his  peo- 
ple, and  in  1750  he  laid  a  complaint  before  the  As- 
sessors of  Salem,  and  the  parish  raised  £20  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  conducting  the  matter.  It  was  settled 
at  last  as  follows :  The  parish  agreed  to  give  Mr. 
Prescott  £350,  for  the  year  1752,  if  he  would  give 
them  a  discharge  and  no  longer  minister  to  them  in 
"holy  things," — besides  a  present  of  £6\j  13s.  4d. 
He  engaged,  on  receiving- £80,  value,  good  currenc}^, 
for  the  years    1749-50-51,  to   leave    the  pulpit  three  j 

iXc  -      =~ -  -  .      -  ,  ,  .  ■     ■  ■  \ -::r-^=rr:=:^;/iiS 


242  HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS. 

months,  and  if,  in  that  time,  a  minister  was  selected 
he  would  relinquish  his  claim, — if  otherwise,  he  should 
remain. 

Rev.  xiaron  Putnam  was  unanimously  invited  to  take 
the  charge  of  the  parish  in  July,  1754,  but  the  difficul- 
ties which  prevailed,  forced  him  to  decline.  An  Eccle- 
siastical Council  decided  that  the  parish  ought  to  give 
Mr.  Prescott  465 X  to  settle  the  pecuniary  matters  at 
Issue  between  them,  besides  paying  the  expenses  of  the 
Council  which  were  118^.  14s.  Id.  Rev.  Josiah 
Stearns  was  invited  in  Sept.  1757,  and  was  offered  £80 
and  the  parsonage  lands  as  his  salary  ;  he  desired  more, 
and  the  parish  did  not  come  up  to  his  demand.  Mr. 
Prescott  left  in  1757. 

Rev.  Nathan  Holt  was  invited  to  settle  in  Auo;ust  17- 
58,  and  he  accepted  at  a  salary  of  X80.  In  June  1763 
it  was  voted  that  ^' there  be  two  seats  on  the  easterly  side 
of  ye  broad  ally  for  a  number  of  persons'to  assist  the  dea- 
con in  tuning  ye  psalm."  This  is  probably  the  first  depar- 
ture from  the  old  Congregational  method  of  singing.  Mr. 
Holt's  salary  was  increased  to  X 100  in  1764.  The  differ- 
ences between  the  parishes  were  settled  in  1764,  by  a 
mutual  agreement  to  abide  by  the  bounds  established 
n  1700. 

"On  the  Petition  of  Capt.  Israel  Hutchinson,  Benja- 
min Porter  ye  3d,  and  others  Inha  of  sd  South  Parish 
in  Danvers,  praying  that  they  may  be  set  off  to  the 
North  Parish  in  said  Danvers,  where  they  say  they  hava 
a  great  Desire  to  be  joyned  :  Therefore  Voted,  that  we 
cant  consent  that  ye  above  said  Petitioners  should  be 
sett  off  for  the  Following  Reasons  (viz.)  because  we 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  243 

think  yt  ye  North  Parish  is  as  able,  if  not  abler,  to 
I  maintain  their  minister  -without  said  petitioner's  assist- 
ance, as  we  are  in  ye  South  Parish  with  sd  Petitioners 
assistance,  Because  we  have  a  Considerable  Number 
of  the  People  called  Quakers,  some  Churchmen  and 
some  Baptists  &c.'^  In  1771,  voted  to  widen  the 
house (i)  15  feet.  In  1774,  a  steeple  was  built  at  the 
west  end  of  the  house. 

This  parish  was  very  zealous  in  sustaining  the  Rev- 
olutionary War,  constantly  furnishing  men  and  money. 
In  the  year  1777,  £1200  were  raised  for  that  purpose, 
and  in  1778  about  X400,  while  in  the  year  1779  above 
£8000,  were  advanced. 

In  1780,  a  suit  of  clothes  was  given  to  Mr.  Holt. 
The  front  seat  in  the  women's  gallery  was  given  to  the 
singers  in  May,  1784.  In  1790,  three  pews  were 
added  to  the  house,  and  a  part  of  the  meeting  house 
land  was  let  to  the  ''Proprietors  of  the  duck  manufac- 
ture." The  Artillery  Company  had  leave  in  Sept.  1791 
to  erect  a  gunhouse  on  land  belonging  to  the  meeting 
house.  Mr.  Holt  died  Aug.  2d,  1792,  and  the  parish  vo- 
ted to  continue  his  salary  to  the  end  of  the  year  for  the 
benefit  of  his  family,  besides  assuming  the  expenses 
of  his  sickness  and  death.  Mr.  Holt  pubhshed  a  Right 
Hand  of  Fellowship  address,  delivered  at  the  ordina- 
tion of  Rev.  I.  Willard.  In  March,  1793,  the  house 
was  thoroughly  repaired.  Rev.  Samuel  Mead  was 
pastor  from  1794  to  1803.  The  records  of  this  time 
are  lost,  and  but  little  is  now  known  of  the  history 
of  this  period. 

In  the  year  1805,  Rev.  Samuel  Walker  was    set- 


244  HISTORY  OF   DANVERS. 

tied  as  minister.  He  continued  to  labor  assiduously 
for  a  period  of  21  years,  and  died  July  7th,  1826, 
after  a  painful  illness  of  three  months.  Rev.  Brown 
Eaierson,  of  Salem,  preached  his  funeral  sermon,  and 
the  parish  erected  a  stone  above  his  remains.  He 
was  40  years  of  age,  and  was  highly  respected  and 
beloved  for  his  virtues.  He  published  two  Fast  Day 
Discourses  and  perhaps  others.  A  reward  of  twenty 
dollars  was  offered  October  9th,  1813,  fo^^  the  detec- 
tion of  a  person  who  had  "sacrcligiously  and  repeat- 
edly robbed  this  house  of  God  of  the  tongue  of  its 
bell."  In  1814,  a  new  bell  was  purchased  and 
erected  at  an  expense  of  $675.00.  In  1819,  the 
land  in  the  rear  of  the  meeting  house  was  leased  to 
the  proprietors  of  a  chapel,  and  sundry  persons  were 
empoAvered  to  erect  horse  sheds  around  the  house. 
An  additional  act  of  incorporation  was  passed  by  the 
Legislature,  declaring  that  no  person  could  be  a  vo- 
ter in  the  Society  affairs  unless  he  owned  one  half 
a  floor,  or  a  whole  gallery  pew.  The  Church  was 
repaired   in  1824,  at  an  expense    of  $400.00. 

It  was  voted  in  July,  1827,  to  exclude  all  wines 
and  spirituous  liquors  from  the  Councils  and  ordina- 
tion services.  Rev.  George  Cowles  was  settled  as 
pastor  of  the  Society  on  September  12th,  of  the 
same  year,  and  in  the  year  following  the  Legislature 
passed  an  act  dissolving  the  old  parish,  and  erecting 
a  proprietory  in  its  place.  Mr.  Cowles  was  born  in 
New  Hartford,  Conn.,  March  11th,  1798,  graduated 
at  Yale  in  1821,  and  at  Andover  in  1824.  The 
bell  cracked  in  April  1829.     The  parish   commanded 


£^1= 

m 


HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS.  245 

the  school  committee  to  remove  school  house  No.  11 
from  the  spot  it  occupied  in  September  1830.  The 
school  committee  objected,  and  the  following  year  the 
society  oflered  a  small  piece  of  land  in  another  place  for 
a  trifling  consideration,  and  threatened  to  proceed  ac- 
cording to  law,  if  its  request  was  not  complied  with ; — 
the  house  was  removed. 

In  the  year  1835  it  was  voted  to  build  a  new  church, 
and  the  appropriate  measures  were  taken  to  effect  that 
object.  The  Unitarian  Society  offered  the  Second 
Congregational  Society  the  use  of  its  house  during  the 
time  it  was  destitute,  but  the  latter  worshipped  in  a 
hall  during  the  period  its  house  was  building.  The 
"  Old  South  "  was  taken  down  in  1836,  according  to 
the  following 

MEMORANDUM. 

"The  original  house  of  worship,  built  in  1711,  for 
the  South  Society  in  Danvers,  (or  what  was  then  called 
Salem  Middle  Precinct,)  having  stood  125  years,  was 
in  the  Autumn  of  1836,  taken  down  and  removed  ;  its 
location  w^as  on  the  ground  now  enclosed  as  the  front 
yard  of  the  new  meeting  house."  (j.) 

In  September  1836,  Mr.  Cowles  was  dismissed  agree- 
able to  his  own  request.  He  perished  in  the  "wreck  of 
the  Home." 

Rev.  Harrison  G.  Park  was  invited  as  his  successor, 
Dec.  5th  of  the  same  year.  The  new  Church  was  fin- 
ished at  a  cost  of  §12,000,00,  and  dedicated  February 
Istj  1837.     Mr.  Park  was  installed  the  same  day.     In 


21  '■■' 


2-16  HISTORY    OF   DANVERS. 


October  of  tlie  year  following,  he  dissolved  the  ministe-  \ 
rial  relation.  1 

Rev.   Thomas  P.  Field  received  a  unanimous  invita-  i 
tion  to  take  the  pastoral  charge,  in  June  1840,  and  took  j 
up  his  residence  in  the  October  following.     The  church- 
was  sold  to  the  Methodist    Society  in  1843  for  $2500, 
and  a  new  church  was  commenced.     When   partly  fin- 
ished it  was  consumed  in  the  destructive  fire  of  Septem- 
ber 22d,  1843.  The  loss  of  property  was  about  $7000,- 
00,  of  which  $5000,00  were   insured.      The    society 
persevered  in  erecting  a  house  on  the  same  site,  which 
was  finished,  and  dedicated  August  10th,  1844,  at  a  cost 
of  $13,000,00.     This   splendid  temple  is  an  ornament 
to  the  town.     The  society  is  large  and  flourishing,  and 
there  is  a  church  attached  of   206  members,  a  Sunday 
school   with    175    scholars,    and   a  library  of  660  vol- 
umes. 

III.     FIRST  BAPTIST  SOCIETY. 

In  November  of  the  year  1781,  a  portion  of  the  peo. 
pie  of  Danvers,  who  believed  that  the  principles  main. 
tained"by  the  people  called  anti-pedo-baptists  were  most 
agreeable  to  the  Holy  Scriptures,"  drew  up  a  constitu- 
tion setting  forth  the  foundation  of  a  future  society. 
They  pledged  themselves  to  abide  by  no  parish  lines 
made  by  mian,  and  affirmed  that  no  man  ought  to  be 
compelled  to  pay  money  to  support  preaching,  unless 
he  thought  proper.  At  the  first  meeting,  held  on  the 
26th  of  November,  Capt.  Gideon  Foster  was  chosen 
Moderator.     The  meetings  to  consider  plans  of  future 


HISTORY    OF   DAXVERS.  247 

operation  ,were  generally  held  at  the  dwellin^^  house  of 
Aaron  Cheever. 

At  length  a  meeting  house  was  completed  at  Now 
Mills,  in  the  year  1783,  and  in  January  of  the  year 
following.  Rev.  Benjamin  Foster  was  invited  to  preach 
for  the  Society  six  months,  which  invitation  he  accept- 
ed. In  February,  the  pews  were  sold  at  pubUc  vendue, 
by  xlaron  Cheever  ;  they  brought  about  $2,000.  In  De- 
cember of  the  same  year  Mr.  Foster  was  engaged  to 
supply  the  pulpit  until  May  1785.  He  remained  but  two 
years,  and  the  Society  did  not  have  constant  preaching 
for  nine  years.  In  March  1789,  the  Committee  was 
instructed  to  procure  preaching  once  each  month.  In 
the  following  year  the  Society  listened  to  preaching 
one  third  of  the  time,  and  in  the  year  1791  the  servic- 
es of  Rov.  Ml'.  Crossman  were  secured  for  one  fourth 
of  the  time.  The  next  year  a  preacher  was  employed 
one  half  of  the  time. 

In  1793,  Rev.  Thomas  Green  was  engaged  as  pastor 
of  the  Society,  and  was  to  have  all  that  could  be  raised 
for  that  year,  which  proved  to  be  £79,  Is.  Mr.  Green 
remained  about  three  years,  when  he  removed  to  North 
Yarmouth,  Me.  July  16th  1793,  a  church  was  or- 
ganized. 

From  the  year  179G  until  the  the  year  1802  differ- 
ent preachers  ministered,  none  of  w^hom  remained  long. 
At  length  in  the  year  1802,  Rev.  Jeremiah  Chaphn 
was  obtained  as  spiritual  teacher.  He  remained,  break- 
ing the  bread  of  life  to  the  people,  until  May  1818, 
when  he  received  an  appointment  in  the  Maine  Literary 
and  Theological  Institution,  located  at  Waterville.     He 


248  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS. 

was  a  native  of  Rowley,  and  a  graduate  of  R.  I.  Col- 
lege. He  served  his  people  faithfully  for  a  term  of 
sixteen  years,  and  at  his  departure,  a  very  complimen- 
tary addres  was  tendered  him,  and  his  loss  was  much  re- 
gretted,    (k.) 

In  July  1818,  Rev.  James  A.  Boswell  succeeded  Mr. 
Chaplin.  He  was  ordained  on  the  ninth  of  June  1819, 
Dr.  Benjamin  Wadsworth  and  Rev.  Samuel  Walker  as- 
sisting in  the  services.  In  the  course  of  the  same  year, 
seventy-five  persons  were  incorporated  as  the  First  Bap- 
tist Society.  Mr.  Boswell  resigned  his  charge  in  the 
year  1820,  and  in  January  of  the  following  year  Rev. 
Arthur  Drinkwater  accepted  an  invitation  to  settle  over 
the  Society.  In  the  year  1821.  Mr.  Israel  Hutchin- 
son resii>;ned  the  office  of  clerk  vrhich  he  had  held  for 
30  years.  On  the  7th  day  of  December  1821  Mr. 
Drinkwater  was  ordained.  Dr.  Yfadsworth  and  Rev. 
Mr.  A7alker  assisting  in  the  Installation  services.  In 
the  year  182G,  the  Legislature  empowered  the  Society 
to  raise  its  funds  by  taxing  pews,  and  in  the  year  1828, 
the  meeting  house  having  become  old  and  inconveni- 
ent, it  was  sold  to  Messrs  Benjamin  Kent,  Arthur  Drink- 
water, Samuel  Fowler,  Daniel  Hardy,  and  Edward 
Richardson,  for  $400.  It  was  removed  from  the  site 
it  had  so  long  occupied,  to  Danvers  Plains,  where  it  is 
now  used  as  a  currier's  shop,  by  Mr.  John  A.  Leroyd. 

Mr.  Drinkwater  sundered  his  connection  with  the 
society  in  June  1829,  carrying  warm  testimonials  with 
him.  During  the  last  year  of  his  stay,  a  church  was 
erected  on  the  old  spot,  at  an  expense  of  about  $5000. 
It  was    dedicated   in  the  Spring  of   1829.      In   May 


HISTORY  OF  DANVERS.  249    f| 


1830,  Rev,  James  Barnaby  of  Amesbuiy,  took  pasto- 
ral charge  of  the  church  and  society,  and  remamed 
UQcil  1832,  when  Rev.  John  H.  Holrojd  removed  to 
Danvers  and  became  their  pastor.  He  dissolved  his 
connection  in  the  year  1837,  and  the  Spring  following 
Rev.  E.  W.  Dickenson  was  elected  as  his  successor. 
He  resigned  his  charge  in  one  year,  and  in  1841  Rev. 
J.  II.  Avery  accepted  a  call.  In  tlio  year  1842, 
Hercules  H.  Josselyn  ceased  to  be  clerk,  he  having 
faithfully  discharged  the  duties  of  that  office,  for  a  peri- 
od of  twenty  years.  JMr.  Avery  severed  his  relation 
with  his  flock  in  the  spring  of  1843,  imd  in  July  of  the 
same  year,  Rev.  Joseph  Y\^.  Eaton  was  settled.  Mr. 
Eaton  is  the  present  incumbent.  Connected  with  the 
society  is  a  church  of  120  members,  and  a  Sunday 
School  of  90  scholars. 

Note.  On  the  morning  of  Sept.  6th  1847,  the 
Baptist  Church  was  discovered  to  be  on  fire,  and  in 
spite  of  the  most  active  exertions  it  was  entirely  con- 
sumed, together  with  a  dwelling  house  owned  by  Aaron 
Eveleth.  With  the  church,  a  vestry  was  destroyed,  to- 
gether with  most  of  a  S.  S.  Library,  and  as  there  was 
no  insurance,  it  was  a  total  loss.  A  house  is  already 
projected,  and  the  Society,  it  is  hoped,  will  speedily 
recover  its  former  prosperity.  The  Church  and  Soci- 
ety w^orship  at  present  in  Citizens'  Hall. 

IV.     FIRST  UNIVERSALIST  SOCIETY. 

Organized  April  22d,  1815,  under  the  title  of  "First 
Universal  Society."  It  then  consisted  of  nineteen 
members  from  Danvers,  and  four  from  Wenham,  who  de- 


250  HISTORY    OF   DANVERS. 


clarcd  themselves  in  their  Constitution,  dissatisfied  with 
"those  systems  of  Divinity  which  have  for  their  funda- 
mental article,  the  eternal  misery  of  the  greatest  part 
of  mankind."  Its  first  meetings  were  held  in  the  school 
house  hi  District  No.  3,  where  Rev.  Hosea  Ballon  per- 
formed a  third  service,  during  a  few  summer  seasons. 
Different  ministers  in  the  order,  held  meetings  from  that 
time  onward,  among  others,  Hon.  Charles  Hudson, 
Rev's  Walter  Balfour,  Lemuel  Willis  and  others.  The 
business  meetings  of  the  society  were  held  in  the  school 
house  in  District  No.  3.  In  1830  it  consisted  of  87  mem- 
bers from  Danvers,  Beverly,  Middlcton  and  Wenham. 
During  this  year,  it  began  to  hold  religious  meetings  in 
the  "Old  Baptist  Meeting  House"  at  New  Mills,  where  it 
continued  until  1833,  when  it  moved  into  a  new  house 
which  it  now  occupies,  built  for  its  use,  and  dedicated 
June  28,  1833,  at  an  expense  of  $3,100,00.  The 
Dedication  services  were  as  follows :  Introductory 
Prayer  by  Rev.  Benjamin  Whittemore ;  Dedicatory 
Prayer  by  Rev.  Hosea  Ballon  ;  Sermon  by  Rev.  Hosea 
Ballon  2d.  ;  Address  to  the  Society  by  Rev.  Lemuel 
Willis ;  Concluding  Prayer  by  Rev.  Sebastian  Stree- 
ter. 

Rev.  F.  A.  Ilodsdon  occupied  the  pulpit  from  April 
1831  to  July  1832,  Rev.  Daniel  D.  Smith  in  1833,  and 
in  1831  Rev.  WiUiam  H.  Knapp  became  the  pastor  of 
the  society,  which  at  that  time  consisted  of  101  mem- 
bers. 

Rev.  Samuel  Brimblecom  took  charge  of  the  society 
in  Dec.  1836,  and  accomplished  a  faithful  work  during 
his  stay.     He  was  succeeded  in   1810,  by  Rev.  Asher 


»*3 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  251 


A.  Davis,  who  became  very  popular  in  his  society,  but 
his  health  soon  failed,  and  he  was  obliged  to  suspend  his 
labors.  The  society  furnished  him  with  the  means  to 
visit  the  West  Indies  in  pursuit  of  health,  and  his  pulpit 
was  gratuitously  supplied  by  the  neighboring  societies 
for  six  months.  During  his  residence,  a  Church  of  GO 
members  was  formed.  In  the  winter  of  1842  the  pul- 
pit was  filled  by  Rev.  D.  P.  Livermore,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1813  Rev.  S.  C.  Bulkley  was  settled.  He 
was  succeeded  in  June,  IS-l'o,  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Hanson. 
1'he  society  now  numbers  about  100  families  and  the 
audience  numbers  about  200  average.  It  has  a  Sun- 
day School  of  1-iO  members,  formed  in  1831,  and  a  li- 
brarv  of  600  volumes. 

Note.  The  1st  Universalist  Society  passed  a  vote 
of  sympathy  with  the  1st  Baptist  Society,  in  consequence 
of  the  loss  of  its  House  by  fire,  and  offered  the  Universal- 
ist Church  to  the  sufferers  for  purposes  of  worship. 

V.    FIRST  UNITARIAN  CHURCH. 

Organized  January  1st,  1825,  "•  for  the  purpose  of 
having  a  place  in  the  South  part  of  Danvers  where  an 
opportunity  could  be  had  of  hearing  sentiments  more 
liberal  and  congenial  with  the  true  spirit  of  Christianity 
than  is  now  afforded."  It  numbered  at  its  commence- 
ment 33  members.  A  fine  chapel  was  erected  and  ded- 
icated July  26th,  1826.  The  services  of  this  occasion 
were  :  Introductory  Prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Upham  of  Sa- 
lem, Reading  of  Scriptures  by  Rev.  Mr.  Colman  of  Sa- 
lem ;  Prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  Abbott  of  Beverly  ;  Sermon 

i-  -  _ —  -IB 


m m 

252  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

by  liev.  Mr.  Brazer  of  Salem  ;  Concluding  Prayer  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Bartlett  of  Marbleliead.  In  April,  1827,  a 
church  was  formed  of  71  memberSj  and  on  the  11th  inst. 
Rev.  Charles  C.  Sewall  ^Yas  installed  as  the  first  pastor. 
It  was  an  occasion  long  to  be  remembered  by  the  So- 
ciety. Besides  the  lay  delegates,  there  were  no  less 
than  21  clergvmen  present,  viz  :  Messrs.  Greenwood, 
Pierpoint  and  Gannett  of  Boston  ;  Flint,  Upham,  Prince 
and  Brazer  of  Salem  ;  White  and  Lamson  of  Dedham ; 
Porter  of  Roxbury,  Abbott  of  Beverly,  Harris  of  Dor- 
chester, Bartlett  of  Marblehead,  Green  of  Lynn,  Ran- 
dall of  Sangus,  Pierce  of  Reading,  Walker  of  Charles- 
town,  Sanger  of  Dover,  Flagg  of  Roxbury,  Ripley  of 
Waltham,  and  Stetson  of  Medford.  The  services  were 
performed  by  Messrs.  Bartlett,  Green,  Lamson,  White, 
Flint,  Upham  and  Brazer.  Mr.  Sewall  was  born  in 
Marblehead  May  10,  1802.  In  the  year  1829  a  sweet- 
toned  bell  was  placed  on  the  church.  It  has  a  fine  or- 
gan presented  by  l^lessrs.  Sutton.  Mr.  Sewall  remained, 
faithfully  discharging  his  arduous  duties,  and  charming 
his  friends  by  the  benevolence  and  evangelical  zeal 
which  always  distinguished  his  career,  until  the  Summer 
of  1811,  when  he  resigned  his  charge.  His  loss  was 
deeply  felt,  and  it  was  not  until  February  1843  that 
Rev.  Andrew  Bigelow,  D.  D.  was  installed  as  his  suc- 
cessor. The  services  were  as  follows :  Prayer  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Thayer  of  Beverly ;  Reading  of  Scriptures  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Waite  of  Gloucester ;  Sermon  by  Rev.  Mr, 
Lothrop  of  Boston  ;  Prayer  by  Be  v.  Dr.  Flint  of  Sa- 
lem; Charge  by  Rev.  Mr.  Bartlett  of  Marblehead; 
Right  Hand  of  Fellowship  by  Rev.  Mr.  Ellis  of  Charles- 


\  —~- — ^ —      '        -=-~'m 

HISTORY  OF    UANVERS.  253    f 

town  ;  Address  to  the   Society  by  Rev.  Mr.  Barrett  of 
Boston ;  Concluding  Prayer  by  the  late  pastor. 

Against  the  expressed  regrets  of  his  society,  Dr. 
Bigelow  resigned  his  charge  in  the  spring  of  1845,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Frank  P.  Appleton,  who  was 
settled  January  11th,  1816.  The  ordaining  services 
were  :  Prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson  ;  Selection  of 
Scriptures  by  Rev.  Mr.  Allen  ;  Sermon  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Hall ;  Prayer  by  Dr.  Flint ;  Charge  by  Dr.  Gannet ; 
I  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship  by  Rev.  Mr.  Withington  ; 
Address  to  the  society  by  Rev.  Mr.  Sargent ;  Conclu- 
ding Prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Bartlett.  The  Communion 
is  free.  The  Sunday  School  numbers  TO  scholars  and 
owns  450  books,  (l.) 

VI.     FIRST  METHODIST  SOCIETY. 

In  July  1830,  Amos  Walton  established  a  prayer 
meeting  and  Sunday  school  in  Harmony  Yillage,  in 
connection  with  the  South  Street  ]Mcthodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Lynn.  In  the  year  1833  a  class  was  or- 
ganized, which  met  for  a  while  in  Goodridge's  Hall, 
and  subsequently  in  Armory  Hall.  In  July  1839,  Mr. 
Walton  commenced  preaching  in  Armory  Hall, — the 
society  at  this  time  numbering  23  persons.  In  1810 
he  was  appointed  by  the  Conference  at  Lowell,  as  min- 
ister for  Danvers,  and  in  October  of  the  same  year,  a 
Chapel  was  purchased  of  the  2d  Congregationalist  So- 
ciety. 

In  1842  Rev.  Daniel  Webb  was   appointed  to  locate 

at  Danvers.     In  1843  Dr.  H.  G.  Barras  became  min- 

j    ister  of  the  Societv.     Rev.  Amos   Binney   succeeded 
m . " 


i " ^ " ■ -^ "11 

254  HISTORY  OF   DANVERS.  I 

him  in  the  following  year.  Rev.  Reuben  Ransom  was 
his  successor,  and  in  1845  Rev.  I.  G.  P.  Colljer  was 
stationed  over  the  society.  These  gentlemen  are  all  of 
the  New  England  Conference.  During  the  administra- 
tion of  Mr.  Colljer,  a  beautiful  Vestry  was  added  to  the 
basement  of  the  Church,  at  an  expense  of  e^750,00. 
The  Church  consists  of  100  members,  and  there  is  a 
Sunday  School  attached  with  about  60  scholars,  and  a 
library  of  100  volumes.  The  society  now  occupies  its 
second  house  which  was  purchased  in  1843.  Within  a 
short  time  Mr.  Collyer  has  been  succeeded  by  Rev.  Z. 
A.  Mudge. 

VIL     SECOND  UNIVERSALIST  SOCIETY. 

In  January  1832,  there  was  a  paper  drawn  up  in  the 
South  parish,  setting  forth,  that  there  was  a  large  num- 
ber of  persons  belonging  to  the  parish,  and  in  its  vicin- 
ity, "who  are  believers  in  God's  impartial  love  and 
goodness  towards  all  mankind,  who  are  under  the  ne- 
cessity of  travelling  a  great  distance  to  attend  public 
worship,  or  go  to  meeting  where  they  cannot  be  satis- 
fied." This  paper  called  upon  all  who  were  willing  to 
embark  in  the  enterprise  of  erecting  a  Universalis t 
Meeting  House  in  the  South  Parish,  to  agree  to  take  a 
certain  number  of  shares  in  the  said  house.  People  in 
Danvers,  Salem,  and  Lynnfield,  subscribed  a  sufficient 
sum  to  build. 

On  the  26th  day  of  the  following  March  a  society  was 
formed,  consisting  of  47  members.  The  first  regular 
meeting  was  held  on  the  6th  day  of  the  next  month. 
During  the  year  1832  a   beautiful  temple  was  erected 


fi  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  255 


at  a  cost  of  $4000,00.  On  the  lOtli  of  the  January 
following,  it  was  publicly  dedicated  to  the  worship  of 
God,  as  follows :  Introductory  Prayer  by  Rev.  L.  Wil- 
lis of  Salem ;  Reading  of  Scriptures  by  Rqv.  T.  Whit- 
temore  of  Cambridgeport ;  Dedicatory  Prayer  by  Rev. 
S.  Cobb  of  Maiden  ;  Sermon  by  Rev.  John  Moore  of 
Lebanon,  N.  H. ;  Concluding  Prayer  by  Rev.  L.  S. 
Everett  of  Charlestown. 

Rev.  John  Moore  of  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  accepted  an 
invitation  to  take  pastoral  charge  of  the  Society  in  Feb- 
ruary 1833,  and  he  was  installed  on  the  4th  day  of  the 
following  April.  Sermon  by  Rev.  T.  Jones,  and  the 
other  services  by  Rev.  Messrs.  J.  C.  Waldo,  L.  S.  Ev- 
erett, B.  B.  Murray,  and  L.  Willis.  Mr.  Moore  re- 
signed his  charge  in  January  1834,  and  Rev.  T.  B. 
Thayer  of  Lowell  was  iavifced  as  his  successor,  which 
call  he  declined.  Then  Rev.  J.  M.  Austin  was  invited, 
and  installed  April  29th,  1835.  The  Installation  Ser- 
mon was  pronounced  by  Rev.  S.  Cobb  of  Maiden,  and 
the  proper  services  were  performed  by  Rev.  Messrs. 
L.  Willis,  I.  Brown,  J.  C.  Waldo,    and  W.  H.  Knapp. 

In  1842  the  Society  consisted  of  b6  members.  In 
1843  galleries  wore  added  to  the  house  at  an  expense 
of  about  §400,00.  In  August  1844,  after  a  faithful 
ministry  of  about  ten  years,  Mr.  Austin  resigned  his 
charge.  Several  very  complimentary  resolutions  were 
passed,  and  his  loss  was  universally  regretted. 

The  next  (and  present)  pastor  was  Rev.  John  Prince, 
who  was  installed  January  loth,  1845.  Sermon  by 
Rev.  T.  B.  Thayer,  and  the  other  services  by  Rev. 
Messrs,  J.  Nichols,  D.K.  Lee,  A.  Peck,  S.  C.  Bulkley, 


256  HISTORY  OF   DANVERS.  ■ 


J.  G.  Adams  and  W.  G.  Cambridge.  Mr.  Prince  is  au- 
I  thor  of  a  poetical  volume  entitled  "  Rural  Lays  and 
Sketches,"  and  also  of  a  Theological  Work,  called 
"Lectures  on  the  Bible."  The  church  numbers  60 
members,  and  there  is  a  Sunday  School  of  about  100 
children,  and  a  library  of  500  volumes. 

VIII.     THE  COMEOUTERS. 

This  religious  party  commenced  its  existence  about 
the  year  18-10.  From  a  very  interesting  sketch  by  Mr. 
William  Endicott  the  following  extracts  are  made :  "A 
portion  of  the  people  of  the  country  saw  that  the  influ- 
ences of  the  Slave  system  w^ere  vroven  into  the  texture 
of  society.  It  was  believed  that  the  politics  of  the 
State,  the  Eeligion  of  the  Church,  and  even  the  social 
circle,  '^^ere  contaminated  by  this  enormous  evil.  It 
was  considered  by  a  portion  of  the  Abolitionists,  (in  or- 
der to  produce  the  destruction  of  Slavery,)  necessary 
to  purge  the  Church  first,  as  it  was  ascertained  that  the 
Church  sustained  an  intimate  relation  to  Slavery.  Ac- 
cordingly, agreeable  to  the  sacred  precept :  "  Come  out 
of  her  my  people,  and  be  not  partakers  of  her  sins," 
they  felt  it  their  duty  to  withdraw  all  connection  from 
those  religious  bodies,  which  did  not  sever  themselves 
from  the  sin  of  supporting  Shivery.  As  this  passage  of 
Scripture  was  made  their  watchword,  they  were  soon 
designated  by  its  leading  words  :  Comeouters. 

"  Though  they  diflfer  in  many  points,  their  bond  of 
union  lies  in  this  :  Tlie  Immediate  Abolition  of  Amer- 
ican Slavery.  As  they  spared  no  sect  in  their  exam- 
inations and  reproofs,  they  soon  became  obnoxious,  and 


■zJ^^ 


^K»' 


HISTORY  OP    DAN  VERS.  257 


the  churches  were  closed  upon  them  ;  but  they  contin- 
ued to  assemble  as  they  had  opportunity.  Each  theo- 
logical doctrine, — each  mode  of  ecclesiastical  action  was 
commented  upon  with  unrestrained  freedom.  Some 
were  so  daring  as  to  enter  churches,  and  speak  during 
religious  services.  In  some  instances^^  they  were  visited 
by  the  law." 

The  Comeouters  in  Danvers  number  about  40,  and 
are  distinguished  for  their  bold  opposition  to  their  ideas 
of  wrong,  and  for  being  faithful  adherents  to  the  Truth, 
as  they  understand  it. 

IX.    SECOND  BAPTIST  SOCIETY. 

Previous  to  the  legal  incorporation  of  this  Society,  it 
was  temporarily  organized,  and  held  meetings  in  Armory 
Hall,  South  Danvers.  Its  first  meeting  was  February 
22d,  1843,  and  on  December  5th  of  the  same  year. 
Rev.  Phineas  Stowe  was  settled  as  Pastor  of  the  Soci- 
ety, and  remained  as  such  until  May  9,  1845.  In  the 
Spring  of  1843,  a  neat  Chapel  was  erected,  65  by  32 
ffc.5  and  publicly  dedicated  June  15th,  1843 ;  Rev. 
Messrs.  Banvard,  Anderson  and  Carlton  assisting  in 
the  services.  In  August,  1844,  the  Society  was  incor- 
porated, consisting  at  that  time  of  31  members.  Rev. 
John  G.  Richardson  took  pastoral  charge  of  the  Society 
January  25th,  1846.  Mr.  Richardson  has  resigned  his 
charge,  and  removed  to  Lawrence. 

A  church  was  orga,nized  at  the  commencement,  con- 
sisting of  27  members,  which  number  has  since  been  in- 
creased to  52.  A  Sunday  School  is  attached  to  the  So- 
ciety, having  36  children,  and  a  library  of  200  volumes. 

22 


258  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

X.     THIRD  CONGREGATIONAL  SOCIETY. 

Organized  in  March,  1844.     The  first  meetings  were 
held  in  the  School  House,   in  District  No.    13,  where 
Rev.  Loren  Thayer  preached  from  August  1844,  until 
the    completion   of  the    Church,  which  was  dedicated 
January  22d,  1845.     Introductory  Prayer  by  Rev.  A. 
McLoud ;  Reading  of  Scriptures  by  Rev.  G.  T.  Dole  ; 
Sermon  by  Rev.  Loren  Thayer ;  Dedicatory  Prayer  by 
Rev.   Alexander  J.   Sessions  ;  Concluding   Prayer  by 
Rev.  Thomas  P.  Fields.     This  church  is  the  most  ele- 
gant in  ^STorth  Danvers.     It  is   large  and  commodious, 
purely  white,  surmounted  by  a  lofty  spire,  with  a  clear- 
toned  bell.     The  Society   was  incorporated   in  March, 
1845,  and  in  May  of  the  same  year,  Rev.  F.  A.  Bar- 
ton declined  a  unanimous  invitation  to  take  the  pastoral 
charge.     Rev.  Richard  Tolman  was  installed  pastor, 
September  17th,  1845.     The  order  of  exercises  was  as 
follows :   Sermon   by  Rev.   E.    N.    Kirk ;    Ordaining 
Prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.   John  Codman ;  Charge  by  Rev. 
L.    Withington ;  Right  hand    of  Fellowship  by  Rev. 
Thomas  P.   Fields  ;  Address  to  the    Society  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Pickett.     There  are  about  one  hundred  male  mem- 
j  bers  of  the  Society.     Connected  therewith,  is  a  Church 
numbering  45  members,  and  a  Sunday  School  of  50 
children,  with  a  library  of  233  volumes.     Mr.  Tolman 
has  published  a  Sermon  against   the  Mexican  War,  de- 
livered July  4th,  1847. 


XT.     WESLEYAN  SOCIETY. 

This  Society  was  formed  in  the  year  1846,  and  in  the 
ii   summer  of  that  year,  it  held  a  series  of  meetings  in  the    | 


fet^ 


HISTORY  OF  DANVERS.  259    jj 

Pine  Woods,  near  Walnut  Grove.  A  neat  house,  called 
the  Weslejan  Chapel,  was  publicly  dedicated,  Dec.  30th 
18-i7,  in  the  following  Order:  Prayer  by  Eev.  R. 
Tolman  ;  Sermon  and  Dedicatory  Prayer  by  Rev.  Dan- 
iel Hardy.  The  Pastor  is  Rev.  Edward  A.  Stock- 
man. 

XII.     QUAKCRS. 

This  peaceful  sect  numbers  about  thirty  families  in 
this  town,  whose  members  are  distinguished  for  their 
pious  principle,  and  purity  of  speech  and  life.  They 
date  their  existence  in  this  vicinity  from  an  early  period, 
and  can  look  into  an  eventful  history.  Up  and  down 
the  very  streets  where  now  the  charity  and  freedom 
of  a  better  day  spread  a  broad  shield  above  them,  their 
ancestors  were  scourged,  and  driven  out  of  the  colony, 
into  dark  retreats,  or  incarcerated  in  gloomy  cells, 
by  those  who,  though  they  were  expatriated  by  perse- 
cution, had  not  themselves  a  religion  which  breathed 
through  them,  forbearance  and  love.  The  ballad  of 
Cassandra  Southwick,  herself  an  ancestress  of  those 
who  now  bear  that  name^  by  the  Quaker  Poet,  John  G. 
Whittier,  reveals  not  only  the  fiendish  spirit  which  spur- 
red the  fanatic  on  in  his  persecuting'  career  against  the 
peaceful  Quaker,  but  it  also  shows  the  heroic  fortitude 
with  which  all  such  unmerited  assaults  were  received. 
As  the  scenes  narrated  occurred  in  our  midst,  and  as 
the  name  of  the  female  martyr  is  still  borne  by  some  of 
our  citizens,  it  may  be  interesting;  to  find  it  here.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  Lawrence  and  Cassandra  South- 
wick, who   were   banished   to  the  East  end  of  Long 


260  HISTORY   OF   DANVBRS. 

Island,  where  they  both  died  about  the  year  1660,  "with- 
in three  days  of  each  other.  The  youthful  heroine  was 
imprisoned,  and  not  being  able  to  pay  the  jail  fees,  an 
effort  was  made  to  sell  her  into  slavery.  The  poem  ex- 
plains the  success  with  which  the  stern  Endicott  and 
Rawson  met. 

THE  BALLAD  OF  CASSANDRA  SOUTHWICR. 

To  the  God  of  all  sure  mercies  let  my  blessing  rise  to-day, 
From  the  scoffer  and  the  cruel  he  hath  plucked  the  spoil  away, — 
Yea,  He  who  cooled  the  furnace  around  the  fiilhful  three. 
And  tamed  the  Clialdean  lions,  hath  set  his  liandniaid  free  ! 

Last  nii^'ht  I  saw  the  sunset  melt  through  my  prison  bars. 
Last  night  across  my  damp  earth-floor  fell  the  pale  gleam  of  stars; 
In  the  coldness  and  the  darkness  all  through  the  long  night  time, 
Bly  grated  casement  whitened  with  Autumn's  early  rime. 

Alone,  in  that  dark  sorrow,  hour  after  hour  crept  by; 
Star  after  star  looked  palely  in  and  sank  adown  the  sky; 
No  sound  amid  night's  silliness,  save  that  which  seemed  to  be 
The  dull  and  heavy  beating  of  the  pulses  vf  the  sea; 

A!'  night  1  sat  nnsleeping,  for  I  knew  lint  on  the  morrow 
The  ruler  and  the  cruel  priest  would  mock  me  in  my  sorrow. 
Dragged  to  their  place  of  market,  and  bargained  for  and  sold. 
Like  a  lamb  before  the  shambles,  like  a  heifer  from  the  fold  ! 

Oh,  the  we.ikn.'ssof  the  flesh  was  there — the  shrinking  and  the  shame; 
And  the  low  voice  of  the  Tempter  like  whispers  to  mo  came  : 
"Why  sit'st  thou  thus  forlornly!''  the  wicked  murmur  said, 
"Damp  walls  thy  bovver  of  beauty,  cold  earth  thy  maiden  bed  ?" 

"Where  be  the  smiling  faces    and  voices  soft  and  sweet, 
Seen  m  thy  father's  dwelling,  heard  in  tlie  pleasant  street? 
Whero  be  the  youths,  whose  glances   the  summer  Sabbath  through 
Turned  tenderly  and  timidly  unto  thy  fither's  pew  ? 


;  HISTORY    OF    DANVERS.  261 


:    '-Why  sii'st  thou  here,  Cassandra  ? — Bethink  thee  with  what  mirih 
I   Thy  happ\'  s:hoohiintes  gather  around  the  warm  bright  hearth; 
'    How  the  crimson  shadows  tremble,  on  foreheads  white  and  fair, 
On  eyes  of  merry  girlhood,  half  hid  in  golden  hair. 

I  Not  for  thee  the  hearth-fire  brightens,  not  for  thee  kind  words  are 

j  spoken, 

:  Not  for  tliee  the  nuts  of  Wcnharn  woods  by  laughing  boys  are  broken, 

;  No  first-fruits  of  the  orch.ird  within  thy  lap  are  laid. 

j  For  thee  no  flowers  of  Autumn  the  youthful  hunters  braiJ. 

! 
'*0h  !  weak,  deluded  maiden  ! — by  crazy  fancies  led, 

With  wild  and  raving  railers  an  evil  path  to  tread; 

'    To  leave  a  whole.^ome  worship,  and  teaching  pure  and  sound; 

'    And  mate  with  maniac  women,  loose-haired  and  sackcloh-bound. 

"Mad  scoffers  of  the  priesthood,  who  mock  at  things  divine, 
Who  rail  against  the  pulpit,  and  holy   bread  and  wine  ; 
Sore  from  their  c  irt-tail  scourgings,  and  from  the  pillory  lame, 
'    Rejoicing  in  their  wretchedness,  and  glorying  in  their  shame. 

;    "And  v^'hat  a  fite  awaits  thee  ? — a  sadly  toiling  slave, 

Dragging  the  slowly  lengthening  ch.iin  of  bondage  lo  the  grave  ! 
Thi'ik  of  thy  woman's  nature,  subdued  in  hopeless  thrall, 

:    The  easy  prey  of  any,  the  scoff  and  scorn  of  ail  I" 

Oh  ! — ever  as  the  Tempter  spoke,  and  feeble  Nature's  fears 
I    Wrung  drop  by  drop  the  scaldmg  flow  of  unavailing  tears, 
I    I  wrestled  down  the  evil  thoughts,  and  strove  in  silent  prayer, 
j    To  feel,  oh.  Helper  of  the  weak  ! — that  thou  indeed  werl  there  ! 

I  thoagfit  of  P.inl  and  Silas,  within  Philippi's  cell, 
^     And  how  from  Peter's  sleeping  limbs  the  prison  shackles  ftjll, 

Till  i  seemed  to  hear  the  trailing  of  an  angel's   robe  of  white, 
;    And  to  feel  a  blessed  presence  invisible  to  sight. 

{    Bless  the  Lord  for  all  His  merc'es  ! — for  the  peace  and  love  I  felt, 
i    Like  dew  of  Hermon's  holy  hill,  upon  my  spirit  melt  ; 

When,  "Get  behind  me,  Satan  !"  was  the  language  of  my  heart,  j 

And  I  felt  the  Evil  Tempter  with  all  his  doubts  depart.  \\ 

SJfe M^ 


262 


HISTORY  OF   DANVERS. 


Slow  broke  the  gray  cold  morning  ;  again  the  sunshine  fell, 
Flecked  with  the  shade  of  bar  and  grr.te  within  tny  lonely  cell  ; 
The  hoar  frost  melted  on  the  wall,  and  upward  from  the  street 
Came  careless  laugh  and  idle  word,  and  tiead  of  passing  feet. 

At  length  the  heavy  bolts  fell  back,  my  door  was  open  cast. 
And  slowly  at  the  sheriff's  side,  up  the  long  street  I  passed  ; 
I  heard  the  murmur  round  me,  and  felt,  but  dared  not  see, 
How,  from  every  door  and  window,  the  people  gazed  on  me. 

^■^nd  doubt  and  fear  fell  on  me,  shame  burned  upon  my  cheek, 
Swam  earth  and  sky  around  me,  my  trembling  limbs  grew  weak  : 
'•Oh,  Lord  !  support  thy  handmaid  ;  and  from  her  soul  cast  out 
The  fear  of  m.an,  which  brings  a  snare — the  weakness  and  the  doubt." 

Then  the  dreary  shadows  scattered  like  a  cloud  in  morning's  breeze 
And  a  low  deep  voice  within  me  seemed  whispering  words  like  these; 
"Though  (by  earth  be  as  the  iron,  and  thy  heaven  a  brazen  wall, 
Trust  still  His  loving  kindness  whose  power  is  over  all. 

We  paused  at  length,  where  at  my  feet  the  sunlit  waters  broke 
On  glaring  reach  of  sihining  beach,  and  shingly  wail  of  rock  ; 
The  merchant-ships  lay  idly  there,  in  hard  clear  bn'^^  on  h  gh, 
1'racing  with  rope  and  .slender  spar  their  net-work  on  tiiesky. 

And  there  were  ancient  citizens,  cloak-wrr.pped  and  grave  and  cold, 
And  grinj  and  stout  sea-captains  with  faces  bronzed  and  old, 
And  (in  his  horse,  with  Ilawson,  his  cruel  clerk  at  h:ind, 
Sit  dark  and  hiugiity  Endicolt,  the  ruler  of  the  land. 

And  poisoning  with  his  evil  words  the  ruler's  ready  ear, 
1  he  priest  le med  o'er  his  saddle,  with  laugh  and  scoff  and  jeer  ; 
It  stirred  my  soul,  and  from  my  lips  the  seal  of  silence  broke, 
As  if  throiigh  woman's  weakness  a  warning  spirit  spoke. 

I  cried,  "The  Lord  rebuke  thee,  thou  sniiter  of  the  meek. 
Thou  roliber  of  ilie  righteous,  thou  trampler  of  the  weak  ! 
Co  light  the  dark,  cold  hearth-stones— go  turn  the  prison  look 
Of  the  poor  hearts  ihou  hast  hunted,  thou  wolf  amid  the  flock  !" 

Dark  lowered  the  brows  of  Endicott,  and  with  a  deeper  red 
O'er  K.-wson's  vvine-jiiipurpled  cheek  the  flush  of  anger  spread  ; 


ik» 


HISTORY  OF   r>ANVERS.  263 


"Good  people,"  quoth  the  white-lipped  priest,    "heed  not  her  words 

60  wild, 
Her  Master  speaks  within  her — the  Devil  owns  his  child  I" 

But  gray  heads  shook,  and  young  brows  knit,  the  while  the  sheriff  read 
That  law  the  wicked  rulers  against  the  poor  have  made, 
Who  to  their  house  of  llimmon  and  idol  priesthood  bring 
No  bended  knee  of  worship,  nor  gainful  offering. 

Then  to  the  stout  s'^a-c.iptains  the  sheriff  turning  said  : 
Which  of  ye,  worthy  seamen  will  take  this  Quaker  maid? 
In  the  Isle  of  fiir  Barbadoes,  or  on  Virgmia's  shore. 
You  may  hold  her  at  a  higher  price  than  Indian  girl  or  Moor." 

Grim  and  silent  stood  the  captains  ;  and  when  again  he  cried, 
"Sp'ak  out,  my  worthy  seamen  !" — no  voice  or  sign  replied  ; 
But  I  felt  a  hard  hand  press  my  own,  and  kind  words  met  my  ear  : 
"God  bless  thee,  and  preserve  thee,  my  gentle  girl  and  dear !" 

A  weight  seemed  lifted  from  my  heart, — a  pitying  friend  wasni'^h, 
I  felt  it  in  his  hard,  rough  hand,  and  saw  it  in  his  eye  ; 
And  when  again  the  sheriffspoke,  that  voice,  ao  kind  to  me. 
Growled  back  its  stormy  answer  like  the  roaring  of  the  sea  . 

"Pile  my  ship  with  bars  of  s'lver — pack  with  coins  of  Spanish  gold. 
From  keel-piece  up  to  deck-plank,  the  roomage  of  her  hold, 
By  the  living  God  who  made  me  ! — I  would  sooner  in  your  bay 
Sink  ^hip  and  crew  and  cargo,  thon  bear  this  child  away  '" 

"  Well  answered,  worthy  captain,  shame  on  their  cruel  laws  1" 
Ran  through  the  crowd  in  inurniurs  loud  the  people's  just  applause. 
"Like  the  herdsman  of  "^I'ekoji,  in  Israel  of  old. 
Shall  we  see  the  poor  and  righteous  again  for  silver  sold?" 

1  looked  on  haughty  Endicott  ;  with  weapon  hilf  way  drawn. 
Swept  round  the  throng  his  lion  glare  of  bitter  hate  and  scorn  ; 
Fiercely  he  drew  his  bridle  rein,  and  turned  in  silence  buck. 
And  siieering  priest  and  baffled  clerk  rode  murmuring  m  his  track. 

Hard  after  them  the  sh'M-ifflooked,  in  bitterness  of  soul  ! 

Thrice  smote  h  s  siafTnpon  the  ground,  and  crushed  his  parchment  roll. 


J^ 


'264  HISTORY  OF  DAN  VERS. 

"  Good  friends,"    he  said,    "  since   both  h;ive  fled,  the  ruler  and  the 

priest. 
Judge  ye,  if  from  their  further  work  I  be  not  well  released," 

Loud  was  the  cheer  which  full  and  clear,  swept   round  the  silent  bay, 
As,  with  kind  words  and  kinder  looks,   he  bnde  me  go  my  way  ; 
For  He  who  turns  the  courses  of  the  streamlet  of  the  glen, 
And  the  river  of  great  w.iters,  had  turned  iha  hearts  of  men. 

Oh,  at  that  hour  the  very  earth  seemed  ch:inged  beneath  my  eye, 
A  holier  wonder  round  me  rose  the  blue  walls  of  the  &ky, 
A  lovelier  light  on  rock  and  hill,  and  stream  and  woodland  lay, 
And  softer  lapsed  on  sunnier  sands  the  waters  of  the  bay. 

Thanksgiving  to  the  Lord  of  life  ! — to  Him  all  praises  be. 
Who  from  the  hands  of  evil  tobu  hath  set  his  handmaid  free  ; 
All  praise  to  Him  before  whose  power  the  mighty  are  afraid. 
Who  takes  the  erafty  in  the  suaro,  which  for  the  poor  is  laid. 

Sing,  oh,  my  soul,  rejoicingly,  on  evening's  twilight  calm 
Uplift  the  loud  thanUsgivi..g— pour  foith  the  grateful  psalm  ; 
Let  all  dear  hearts  with  me  rejoice,  as  did  the  saints  of  old, 
When  of  the  Lord's  good  angel  the  rescued  Peter  told. 

And  weep  and  howl,  ye  evil  priests  and  mighty  men  of  wrong, 
The  Lord  shall  smite  the  proud  and  lay  His  hand  i^pon  the  strong. 
Wo  to  the  wicked  rulers  in  His  avenging  hour  ! 
Wo  to  the  wolves  who  seek  the  flucks  to  raven  and  devour  : 

But  let  the  humble  ones  arise. — the  poor  in  heart  be  glad, 
And  let  the  mourning  ones  again  with  robes  of  praise  be  clad. 
For  He  who  cooled  the  furnace,  and  sniootheil  the  stormy  wave. 
And  tamed  the  Chaldean  lio;is,  is  mighty  .still  to  save  I 

Note. — In  these  Ecclesiastical  sketches  there  is  ne- 
cessarily imperfection.  The  North  and  South  Parishes 
have  both  lost  a  book  of  records,  and  those  that  remain 
are  not  full  in  particulars.  Could  the  room  have  been 
afforded,  an  interesting  volume  might  have  been  com- 
piled, comprising  nothing  but  the  History  of  the  Village 
Church. 


m 


HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS. 


265 


NOTES  TO    CHAPTER    VIIL 


(a.)  The  wooden  bridge  here  referred  to,  crosses  Waters'  river 
at  the  head  of  tide-water;  the  other  bounds  with  the  exception  of 
"Widow  Pope's  cowpen"  Mil!  be  recognised. 

(b.)  There  was  formerly  a  box  at  the  door  of  each  church,  into 
which  strangers  were  accustomed  to  drop  some  contribution  whenever 
tljey  attended  church  in  a  strange   place. 

Rev.  Mr.  Bacon  gives  a  description  of  the  mode  of  worship  among 
the  pilgrims:  "Every  Sabbath  they  came  together  at  the  beat  of  drum 
about  9  o'clock  or  before.  The  pastor  began  with  solemn  prayer, 
continuing  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  The  teacher  then  read  and 
expounded  a  chapter.  Then  a  psalm  was  sang,  the  hnes  being  given 
out  by  the  ruling  elder.  After  that  the  pastor,  delivered  his  sermon, 
not  written  out  in  full,  but  from  notes  enlaiged  upon  in  speaking.  In 
this  church  at  an  early  period  it  was  customary  for  the  congregation 
to  rise  while  the  preacher  read  his  text  After  the  sermon,  the  teach- 
er concluded  with  a  prayer  and  a  blessing.  The  Lord's  Supper  once 
each  month. 

In  the  afternoon  the  assembly  met  at  two  o'clock.  Prayer,  psalm, 
prayer,  sermon,  prayer,  hymn,  prayer.  Then  baptism  if  necessary, 
and  exhortation  to  pfircnis  and  church.  Then  contribution — deacon 
rising  and  saying:  "Brethren  of  the  congregation,  now  there  is  time 
left  for  contribution;  therefore  as  God  has  prospered  you,  so  offer  free- 
ly." First  magistrates,  principal  gentlemen,  then  elders,  then  the 
congreiiation  generally  came  up  to  the  deacon's  seat,  by  one  way 
and  returned  by  another.  Each  contributed  something.  After  this^ 
admission.or  church  discipline  was  attended  tO;  then  psalm,  prayer 
and  blessing." 

The  following  extract  from  a  work  written  by  Thomas  Maule  and 
published  in  1692,  reveals  a  practice  of  our  ancestors,  which  was  cer- 
tainly unique,  and  doubtless  effectual. 

"In  ihe  church  of  Salem,  tiie  women  in  times  of  service,  have 
their  faces  covered  with  a  vail,  which  practice  did  not  many  years  con- 
tinue, and  when  this  practice  was  laid  aside,  they  had  fur  the  more 
order  in  their  church  to  keep  people  from  sleeping,  a  man  that  wholy 
tended  wiih  a  short  clubbed  stick,  having  at  one  end  a  knop,  at  the 
other  a  fox-tail,  with  which  he  would  stroke  the  women's  faces,  that 


266  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

were  drowsy  to  sleep,  and  witli  the  other   end  would    knock  unruly 
dogs  and  men  that  were  asleep." 

(c.)     The  long  nnd  serious  troubles  which  raged  from  this  time  be- 
t  A'een  pastor  and  people  need  but  to  be  mentioned.     They  were  often 
characterized  by  rage  and  spiteful  malice,  and  resulted  in  the  discharge 
of  Mr.  Parris,  and  almost  in  the  ruin  of  his  church.     Tliese  troubles 
hastened  the  tragedy  of  '92      The  parish  refused  to  levy  rates  for  two 
years,  the  church  was  out  of  repair,  and  the  parish  would    not    repair 
it, — the  church  and  the  parish  did  not  act  in  harmony,  and  the  church 
itself  was  divided.    In  the  year  1695  there  were  105  persons  in  favor 
of  Mr.  Parris  and  84  who  opposed  him .     These  probably  comprised  all 
the  men  and  women  in  the  parish,  and  it  is  enough  to  say  that   their 
quarrel  was  conelucted  as  bittorly  as  theological  quarrels  usually  are. 
John  Tarbell,  Peter  Cloyce  and  Samuel  Nurse  stood  constantly  aloof 
from  the  wild  excitement,  and  led  off  a  number   of  more  timid  spirits 
*n  opposition  to  Parris  and  his  plans.     They  offered  complaints  against 
jheir  minister,  and  did  not  hesitate  to  absent  themselves  from  the  com- 
munion, and   pronounce   their  disapprobntion  of  the  Church.     They    | 
were  in  turn  comploined  of,  but  they  managed  their   case  with  singu- 
lar adroitness,  and  succeeded  in  ousiing  their  Spiritual  Guide.     Par-    I 
ris  sought  to  bring    the  three  mutinous  spirits  before  the  church,  and    | 
thus  place  them  in  the  capacity  of  culprits, — while  they  sought  to  place    | 
him  at  the  bar.     They  effected    their  ends  in    his  dimissal.     To  their   j 
charges  Mr.  Parris   replied  in  "Meditations  for    Peace,"  read    Nov.    '. 
26th  1694.     It  is  impossible  to  follow  this  vvrangle  through.     The  fol-  ! 
ly  and  wickedness  of  Parris  were  at  last  revealed   to  the    majority  of  j 
the  church,  and  he  was  driven  away  in  disgrace  from    the  town.     A  | 
Council  was  called  April  3d    1695,  of  which   Increase    Mather   was  ! 
n)oderat<;'r,  which  recommended  tjie  Dissenters  to  accept  the  ackowl-   I 
edgements  made  by  Mr.  P.  and  let  the  matter  rest  thus.     May  3d  16-  , 
95,  a  paper  was  signed  by  sixteen  young  men,  fifty-two  householders^    I 
and  eighteen  church  members,    con)prizing   the    entire   opposition   to   i 
Parris,  asking  another  hearing, — a  different  decision.      They  wanted   j 
Parris  to  leave.     This  call  was  replied  to  by  theCouncil,  who  reeom-   | 
mended  that   the  connection  should    be  dissolved.     Mr.  P.  replied  to 
this  classical  letter  as  he  derisively  termed  it,  and  procured  the  names 
of  fifty-two  church  members,  and  fifty  three  householders  who  desired 
him  to  remain.     Thus  there  were  one  hundred  and  five    persons   de- 

m  s 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


267  il 


termined  to  retain  Mr.  Parris,  and  eighty-six  who  were  equally  de- 
termined to  be  rid  of  him.  May  20ih  1695;  ihe  entire  village  was  in 
a  ptorm  of  excitement. 

In  this  stage  of  affiiirs  Mr.  Parris  received  a  call  from  Suffield,  but  as 
the  church  voted  almost  unanimously  for  hi(n  to  remain,  he  declined  the 
invitition.  Mr.  Parris's  friends  seem  to  have  been  as  firmly  attached 
to  hitn  as  his  enemies  were  opposed  to  him.  In  1696,  Mr.  Parris  ex- 
pressed a  desire  to  leave  the  village,  if  he  was  satisfied  that  he  stood 
in  the  way  of  its  interests,  anrl  accordingly  he  accepted  of  severa) 
offers  from  the  parish,  and  withdrew  from  iis  charge.  He  remained 
until  he  received  his  arrorus  when  he  left  the  town. 

(d.)  Cromwell's  rock  was  near  the  Reading  boundary,  and  Crom- 
well's brook  was  the  name  of  a  small  stream  which  crosses  Reading 
road  and  empties  into  Ipswich  river. 

(e.)     "For  it  haih  been  declared  unto  me  of  yon,  my  brethren,  by 
them  which  are  of  the  house  of  Chloe,  that  there  are  contentions  among 
you." 
From  1681  to  1332  there  were  seventeen  deacons  of  the  First  Churchj 
thirteen  of  whom  bore  the  name  of  Putnam. 

(f.)  It  was  defined  by  General  Court  as  beginning  '«at  the  t^reatj 
Cove  in  Norih  field,  running  directly  to  Trask's  Crist  Mill  inclusive- 
thence  ?,traight  to  the  milestone  on  the  road  fiom  Salem  meetincr 
house  to  Lynn  by  Lyndsey's,  and  then  along  the  Line  between  Salem 
and  Lynn  northward  til!  it  come  to  Salem  Village  line,  thenco  to 
Frostfish  river,  thence  by  salt  water  to  the  great  cove  first  men- 
tioned." 

(G.)     The   following    peisous   were    dismissed  in  1713  from  the 
First  Church  in  Salem,  to  f.irm  a    Church  in    the    Middle  Precinct  : 
Samuel,  Abel  and  John  Gardner,  Sam'l  Goldtbwaite,  Samuel  Goldth- 
waite,    2d,    Eliezer    Gyles,   Alex.    Shafliin,   Mary    Tomkins,   Eliz. 
To/iikins,    Susannah  Daniels,    Sarah    Gardner,    Eliz.  Gardner,  Elis. 
Gyles,   Abraham  Pierce,    John  Foster,    David   Foster,   Jno.  Felton, 
I     William  King,  Richard  Waters,  Hannah  Small,   Eliz.  Very,   Martha 
j     Adams,  Isabel  Pierce,  Hannah  Felion,  Deborah  Goold,    Robert  Peas, 
I     Hannah  King,  Eliz.  King,  Judalh  Rlclntire,  Elis.  Nurse,  Sarah  Rob- 
inson, Hannah  Southwick,  Sarah  Waters,  Elis.  Waters,   Eliz.  Cook, 

Ml ,       J 


268  HISTORY  or  danvers. 

Hannah  Foster,  Abigail  French,   Elis.    Goldthwaite,   Hannah  Gold, 
thwaite,  Jemima  Very. 

(h.)  a  very  curious  letter,  purporting  to  have  been  received  by  a 
resident  of  Ipswich,  from  Lawrence  Connnt,  a  member  of  the  Ordain- 
ing Council  from  Boston,  pretends  to  give  an  account  of  this  ordina- 
tion. This  letter  was  a  hoax,  cunningly  devised  by  Fitch  Poole  Esq., 
and  created  no  small  slir  on  its  appearance  in  1836,  among  antiquari- 
rians.  Some  slight  anachronisms  were  detected  b^;  Di.  Alex.  Young 
of  Boston;  which  proved  the  author  to  be  a  modern. 

(i.)  The  Old  South  was  at  ihistime  widened  by  sawing  it  length- 
wise, spreading  it,  and  filling  the  intervening  space.  Subsequently  it 
was  lengthened  by  sawing  it  crosswise. 

(J.)  The  following  "Lament  of  the  Bats  inhabiting  the  Old 
South,"  is  w'orthy  of  preservation,  not  only  on  account  of  the  rem- 
iniscences it  calls  up,  but  also  on  account  of  its  literary  excellence. 
Some  verses  are  quite  equal  to  those  of  tha  author  Mr.  Poole  imi- 
tated. 

Aald  time-worn  housie  I     Thee  we  mourn 
Where  ev'ry  son  of  us  was  born, 
Thou  soon  must  fill,  in  fragments  torn, 

And  gae  to  ruin  ; 
And  we  must  gang  and  stray  forlorn, 

Or  seek  a  new  one. 

We  meurn  thy  wa's,  we  mourn  thy  tovv'r. 
Thy  crannies  dark,  where  niony  an  hour 
Our  bairns  hae  slunk  from  sunlight  glovv'r, 

To  gae  a  sleep  in  ; 
Far  better  than  in  sylvan  bovver 

Their  slumbers  keepin'. 

We  mourn  thy  neuks,  wi'  grief  an'  pain, 
For  while  around  ihy  ancient  vane, 
In  spite  alike  of  win'  and  rain. 
We  blithsame  flevp; 
'Tis  there  our  weary  banes  ha'  lain, 
All  hid  from  view. 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


269 


'A 


We  mourn  thy  roof  vvi'  tearfu'  eyes, 
Thy  gude  old  beams  that  lofty  rise, 
Thy  chandeliers,  in  ancient  guise. 

Thy  towerin'  steeple; 
We  mourn  thy  bell  in  heartfelt  sighs, 

But  not  thy  people. 

The  wee  bit  bell,  when  ye  were  young, 
On  Stacy's  barn  where  first  'twas  hung, 
In  merry  peals  was  often  rung, 

Till  on  the  tower 
The  younkers  thrice  took  off  the  tongue 

In  midnight  hour. 

They  got  thee  then  a  bigger  bell, 
And  sure  we  know  they  rang  it  well. 
Disturbing  us  as  weel's  thenisel. 

By  sic  a  racket. 
Till  at  a  fire  they  rang  pell  mell, 

And  then  did  crack  it. 

We  ken  the  times  o'  gude  Queen  Anne, 
When  Frescolt  here,  gjde  pious   man. 
Did  in  thy  auld  oak  pulpil  stan'. 

The  people  teachin';' 
And  Parson  Holt  we  used  to  scan 

When  he  was  preachin'. 

Anither  light  in  auld  lang  syne 
At  thy  auld  altar  then  did  shine, 
Wi'  graceful  mien  and   language  fine, 

A  friend  indeed, 
A  gude  old-fashioned  sleek  Divine 

Was  Parson  Mead. 

We  ken  the  time  in  Georgie^s  reign, 
When  Danvers'  sons,  in  battle  slain. 
So  nobly  fell  wiihout  a  stain. 

At  Concord  fight; 
Alang  thy  aisles  were  ghastly  lain. 
An  awfu'  sight  ! 
23 


270  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

We  ken  the  times  of  ghaists  and  witehes, 
When  grannies  saw  them  eross  the  ditches 
In  cock'd  up  hats  and  leathern  breeches, 

An'  a'  sic  daffin; 
To  see  them  now  preserved  in  niches, 

Ye'd  dee  a  laughing. 

Town  IMeetings  then  sae  grave  and  trig, 
Wi'  Moderator  fat  and  big, 
Wi'  einpty  skull  beneath  a  wig, 

A  winsome  swell, 
Here  chose  the  power  to  rule  the  pig, 

And  they  themsel'. 

And  then  we  saw,  in  times  of  yore, 
(We  trow  it  was  in  '74,) 
They  rais'd  ye're  rpire  and  lofty  tower. 

And  weathercock; 
Here  Whitredge  fell  and  rose  na  more 
From  sic  a  shock. 

Come  brither  bats,  an'  drap  a  tear, 
Your  ancient  housie  douce  and  dear 
Can  scarce  survive  the  passing  year. 

But  proudly  fall  ! 
Your  home,  alas  !  be  murk  an'  drear. 

An'  ruin'd  all  ! 

(k.)  Mr.  Chaplin  was  one  of  those  men  of  true  modesty  and  real 
worth  so  often  unappreciated  in  tliis  world.  Although  a  man  of  un- 
common learning  and  talents,  he  could  not  obtain  a  support  ia  Dan- 
vers.  and  undoubtedly  came  near  suffering  hunger  and  cold  oftcner 
than  any  man  ought.  He  remained  as  pastor  for  whatever  his  Society 
would  give  him,  and  was  too  meek  and  quiet  to  complain.  Some 
tiujes  he  was  seen  carrying  a  mass  of  wet  frozen  tan,  for  fuel,  or  pa- 
tiently catching  hisdinner  from  Liberty  Bridge.  At  length,  when  his 
brethren  founded  the  college  in  Waterville,  and  wished  a  president, 
they  surveyed  the  denon.ination,  and  could  find  no  man  qualified  as 
was— Jeremiah  Chaplin. 


HISTORY  OF   DANVERS. 


271*  '1 


(l.)  Although  the  Unitarian  Church  was  incorporated  under  the 
name  of  the  First  Uni'arian  Church,  yet  ^h•.  Sewall  informs  me  that 
he  always  held  a  seat  in  the  Councils  of  the  Congregationalists  of  the 
Stale,  as  a  delegate  from  the  Third  Congreguional  Society  rn  Dan- 
vers,  and  his  claim  was  never  questioned.  The  aames  of  ihe  Socie- 
ties however  are  given  in  this  work  as  incorporated. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


/ 


u< 


•Salem  Witchcraft"  is  a  phrase  familiar  to  the 
ears  of  all  classes  in  this  country ;  a  marvel  to  the  ig- 
norant, and  an  inexplicable  enigma  to  the  learned. 
The  prefix  Salem  would  indicate  that  this  extraordinary 
delusion  had  its  origin  in  that  city,  wiiich  is  not  true. 
There  were  many  hundreds  of  cases  that  occurred 
in  Europe,  (a.)  as  well  as  in  our  own  country,  before 
the  outbreak  at  Salem  Village.  The  first  public 
trial  in  the  Colonies,  was  in  Springfield,  Massachusetts, 
fortj'-seven  years  before  t'ae  cases  occurred  in  Danvers, 
or  as  it  was  then  called  Salem  Village, — where  several 
persons  were  accused  of  witchcraft,  and  acquitted.  A 
few  years  afterward  there  were  three  persons  executed 
in  Connecticut,  and  from  that  time  onward  to  the  year 
1692,  there  were  many  persons  tried,  some  of  Avhom 
were  executed,  in  Charlesbnvn,  Springfield,  Dorchester, 
Cambridge,  Boston,  New  Haven,  and  Portsmouth. 

In  the  year  1692  that  strange  infatuation  took  posses- 
sion of  the  minds  of  the  people  of  Salem  Village. 
And  it  does  not  appear  very  wonderful  to  the  philosophic 
mind,  that  at  this  time,  and  among  the  peculiar  people 
who  were  the  early  settlers  of  this  country,  this   delu- 


is 


272  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS. 


sion  should  prevail.  The  remembrance  of  the  dark  and 
sombre  views  of  God  and  Man  and  Nature,  >Yhich  then 
universally  obtained,  and  of  the  belief  that  there  was 
constantly  an  open  or  a  secret  communication  between 
the  Human  Soul  and  the  Unseen  Powers  of  Evil,  un- 
ravels the  mystery,  and  solves  the  dark  problem.  As 
a  result  of  these  views^  it  was  universally  believed  by 
the  learned  and  ignorant,  that  there  were  certain  per- 
sons called  witches,  who  had  "made  an  actual,  deliber- 
ate and  formal  compact  with  Satan,  by  which  compact 
it  was  agreed  that  she  should  become  his  faithful  sub- 
ject, and  do  what  she  could  in  promoting  his  cause. 
Thus  a  witch  was  considered  a  person  who  had  trans- 
ferred allegiance  and  worship  from  God  to  the  Devil. 
She  had  the  power  of  afflicting,  distressing,  and  rending 
whomsoever  she  w^ould.  She  could  cause  them  to  pine 
away,  and  to  sufPar  almost  every  description  of  pain  and 
distress.  Indeed  an  almost  indefinite  amount  of  super- 
natural ability,  and  a  great  freedom  and  varietj^  of 
methods  for  its  exercise  were  supposed  to  result  from  the 
diabolical  compact.  Those  upon  whom  she  thus  exer- 
cised her  malignant  and  mysterious  energies,  w^ere  said 
to  be  bewitched."  C.  W.  Uj^ham.  Persons  of  eith- 
er sex  were  supposed  capable  of  this  infernal  conduct. 
In  the  month  of  February  1692,  Elizabeth  Parris, 
the  daughter  of  Samuel  Parris,  and  Abigail  Williams 
his  niece,  the  one  aged  nine,  and  the  other  twelve 
years,  began  to  alarm  the  household  by  the  most  aston- 
ishing conduct.  "They  would  creep  into  holes  and  un- 
der benches  and  chairs,  put  themselves  into  odd  pos- 
tures, make  antic  gestures  and  uncouth  visages,  and 


HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS.  273 


utter  loud  outcries,  and  ridiculous,  incoherent,  and  un- 
intelligible expressions,  and  that  too  in  all  places,  ex- 
cept in  the  church."  The  family  sought  in  vain  to  ex- 
plain the  matter,  and  at  length  Dr.  Griggs,  the  physi- 
cian ^Yho  was  consulted,  declared  he  could  do  nothing  for 
them,  and  pronounced  them  bewitched.  On  this  hint, 
Mary  Sibly,  made  experiments  to  discover  the 
witches,     (b.) 

Soon  after,  Ann  Putnam  began  to  be  similarly  affect- 
ed with  Abi^iail  Williams,  and  the  attention  of  the  whole 
community  became  riveted  to  these  persons,  and  they 
vainly  sought  the  cause  of  their  afflictions.  At  length 
Superstition,  unattended  by  becoming  Modesty  and  Hu- 
mility, crei)t  in,  and  whispered  that  Satan  and  his  minis- 
ters, angry  with  the  Puritans  for  their  piety  and  faith- 
fulness, were  rallying  in  all  their  strength  to  work  evil 
and  misery  among  the  ill-fated  exiles. 

No  sooner  did  this  idea  take  possession  of  the  people, 
than  a  frenzied  rage  seemed  to  actuate  them.  The  chil- 
dren were  commanded  to  declare  who  their  tormentors 
were,  and  Mr.  Parris  compelled  Elizabeth,  to  an  accu- 
sation. Fear  drove  them  to  charge  the  cause  upon  some 
one,  in  order  to  divert  attention  from  themselves.  The 
first  accusation  was  against  Tituba,  an  Indian  woman, 
who  was  a  servant  in  the  family  of  ]\Ir.  Parris.  She 
had  formerly  been  a  slave  in  New  Spain,  and  when  ar- 
rested and  searched,  the  marks  on  ber  body  produced 
by  the  sting  of  the  Spaniard's  whip,  were  said  to  be 
made  by  the  Devil.  When  she  was  confronted  with  her 
accusers,  they  cried  out  that  she  pinched  and  bit  them, 
and  they  fell  down  in  spasms.     When  accused,  she  con- 


H    274  HISTORY  OF   DANVERS. 

fcssed  that  she  was  a  witch,  and  although  this  may  seem 
surprising,  yet  when  we  read  the  history  of  those  times, 
and  learn  how  those  arrested  were  tortured  to  oblige 
them  to  confess,  and  on  the  other  hand,  how  those  who 
confessed  were  suffered  to  live,  while  those  who  assert- 
ed their  innocence  were  executed,  the  marvel  will  vanish. 

During  the  month  of  March  following,  Martha  Cory 
and  Hebecca  Nurse  were  also  complained  of,  and  wlien 
they  approached  the  presence  of  their  accusers,  they 
cried  out  upon  them  for  pinching,  biting  and  torturing 
them.  The  accused  denied  all,  but  were  sent  to  pris- 
on, (c.)  together  with  Dorothy  a  little  child  of  Sa- 
rah Good,  aged  only  six  years,  who  was  said  to  be  a 
witch,  and  by  her  apparition  to  bite  the  girls ! 

The  next  Sunday  after  this  imprisonment,  Mr.  Par- 
ris  took  for  his  text  ''Have  not  I  chosen  you  tAvelve, 
and  one  of  you  is  a  devil?"  Sarah  Cloyce,  feeling  that 
Rebecca  Nurse,  her  sister,  was  alluded  to  in  the  ser- 
mon, left  the  church  in  indignation,  and  was  immedi- 
ately complained  of,  and  imprisoned. 

The  following  record  stands  in  the  Village  church 
book:  ''May  1692,  Dan.  Wilkins  bewitched  to  death, 
29,  daughter  to  Ann  Douglass  by  witchcraft  I  doubt 
not."  S.  V. 

At  this  time  the  terrible  Storm  arose  to  its  height,  and 
tlie  clergy,  (d.)  who  ought  to  have  stilled  the  tempest, 
were  presiding  demons,  seeming  to  rejoice  in  the  moral 
war  of  elements.  Rev.  Messrs.  Mather  of  Boston, 
(e.)  Noyes  of  Salem,  and  Pan  is  of  Salem  Village, 
were  constantly  busy,  instigating  prosecution,  and  spur- 
ring on  their  fellow  citizens  to  the  work  of  death.     Peo-   j| 

m ^-^ -_.=========^^ 


HISTOEY  OF  DANVERS.  275 

pie  dared  not  sympathise  with  the  accused  lest  they 
should  be  ranked  with  them,  and  thus,  actuated  by  a 
desire  of  self-preservation,  all  men  became  accusers, 
and  joined  in  the  fierce  uproar.  In  all  the  trials,  lead- 
ing questions  were  put  by  the  clergy  and  magistrates, 
and  a  shameful  ingenuity  sought  to   entrap  and  ruin. 

Elizabeth,  Abigail  and  Ann  were  carried  to  Andover, 
were  they  accused  Mary  Osgood,  Mary  Tiler,  Abigail 
Barker,  Hannah  Tiler,  Sarah  Wilson  and  Deborah 
Dane. 

AYhen  Tituba  confessed,  she  implicated  Sarah  Osborn 
a  demented  person,  and  Sarah  Good,  Dorothy's  moth- 
er, a  poor  bed-ridden  woman,  who  were  immediately 
also  accused  by  the  afflicted  girls,  and  subjected  to  a 
rigorous  imprisonment.  Tituba  afterwards  declared 
that  Mr.  Parris  whipped  her  until  he  forced  a  confes- 
sion from  her  1  Yv^hen  the  accused  were  brought  before 
tliese  girls,  they  cried  out  with  apparent  pain  at  every 
movement.  They  eitlier  bit  or  trampled  upon,  or  tortur- 
ed them  they  said,  at  every  motion  they  made,  however 
distant  the}^  were  from  them.  It  appears  by  the  rec- 
ords of  these  examinations,  that  the  ministers  were  in- 
variably present,  opening  the  meetings  with  prayer,  and 
throwing;  the  weidit  of  their  tremendous  influence  in 

o  o 

favor  of  the  panic,  thus  fanning  the  flame  of  fanata- 
cism.  No  man  conduced  more  to  this  horrible  state 
of  things  than  Cotton  Mather,  concerning  whom,  if  he 
was  deluded,  there  cannot  be  too  much  pity,  and  if  ma- 
licious, scarcely  too  much  reprehension. 

After  being  imprisoned    several   months,  the   trials 
j    came  on  in  the  early  part  of  June.     None  of  those  liv- 

g, ^^^^i 


n  276 


HISTORY  OF  DANVERS. 


VIEW  OF  A  PORTION    OF    THE    OLD    PARRIS    HOUSE, 

wWMWJ 


is 


B||  ;il||i'ililM;ii:ii;n;li:i!lll!n^  '         ■;■■-:": 


HISTORY    OF   DANVERS.  277 


ing  wltliin  the  present  limits  of  Danvers  were  tried  un- 
til the  30 di  inst.j  when  Sarah  Good  and  Rebecca  Nurse 
with  several  from  other  towns  were  arraigned.  Thej 
were  all  convicted  except  Rebecca  Nurse,  who  being  a 
pious  member  of  the  church  and  much  esteemed,  was 
rendered  not  guilty  by  the  jury.  "Immediately  upon 
hearini2;  it,  the  mali^inant  and  fiendlike  accusers  uttered 
a  loud  outcry  in  open  Court !  The  judges  were  over- 
come by  the  general  clamor,  and  intimidated  from  the 
faithful  discharge  of  their  sacred  duty.  Theyexpresed 
their  dissatisfaction  with  the  verdict.  One  of  the  judges 
declared  his  disapprobation  with  great  vehemence ; 
another  said  she  should  be  indicted  anew,  and  the  Chief 
Justice  intimated  to  the  Jury,  that  they  had  overlooked 
one  important  piece  of  evidence.  It  was  this :  during 
the  trial,  a  woman  named  Ilobbs,  who  had  confessed 
herself  a  witch,  was  brought  into  Court,  and  as  she  en- 
tered, the  prisoner  turned  towards  her  and  said :  "WhatI 
do  you  bring  her  ?  She  is  one  of  us."  The  Jury  were 
thus  prevailed  upon  to  go  out  again  :  they  soon  returned 
pronouncing  the  poor  old  woman  "Guilty."  Mrs. 
Hobbs  afterwards  declared  that  she  only  meant  to  ask 
if  Rebecca  Nurse,  who  was  respected  for  her  goodness, 
had  also  become  a  prisoner.  The  governor  wished  to 
grant  her  a  reprieve,  but  was  driven  by  the  popular  ex- 
citement to  refuse.  On  the  communion  before  the  day 
of  execution,  she  was  brought  into  the  church  in  chains, 
and  solemnly  delivered  over  to  endless  burnings.  Thus 
she  went  to  her  death. 

Sarah  Good  was  of  an  unsound  mind,  and  Mr.  Noyes 
who  was  nearly  as  prominent  as   Mather   and  Parris, 


278  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS* 


urged  lier  to  confess,  saying,  "You  are  a  -^'itch,  you 
know  you  are  a  witch !"  The  poor  old  creature,  driv- 
en to  rage  by  the  persecutions  of  her  enemies,  paused 
on  the  brink  of  Eternity,  and  turning  upon  him  said : 
"You  are  a  liar  !  I  am  no  more  a  witch  than  you  are 
a  wizzard,  and  if  you  take  away  my  life,  God  will  ^give 
you  blood  to  drink !"     (f.) 

Ehzabeth  Proctor  was  accused,  and  when  she  went 
to  her  trial,  John  Proctor  her  husband  attended  her, 
and  for  this  dutiful  conduct,  he  was  supposed  to  have 
sympathy  with  her  evil  doings,  and  was  accused,  arrest- 
ed, and  incarcerated.  His  sympathy  for  his  partner, 
and  the  testimony  of  Elizabeth  Hubbard,  wxre  the  princi- 
pal testimonies  against  him.  "The  Deposition  of  Eliz- 
abeth Hubbard  agged  about  IT  yeares,  who  testifieth 
and  saith,  that  I  neur  saw  the  Apperishtion  of  Jno. 
Proctor  sen.  before  the  day  of  his  examination,  which 
was  the  11th  Aprill  1692,  butsence  that,  the  Aperishtion 
of  Jno.  Proctor  sen.  has  most  grieuiously  afilected  me  a 
great  many  times  by  pinching  pricking,  and  beating  me, 
choaking  me  almost  to  death,  urging  me  vehemently  to 
write  in  his  book. 

mark 

ELIZ.  O  HUBBARD. 

It  was  also  alleged  that  in  prayer  Mr.  Proctor  said 
holloioed  instead  of  halloived  be  thy  name  !  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Proctor  were  found  guilty,  and  while  in  prison  he 
wrote  the  following  letter : 

Salem  Prison,  July  23,  1692. 
Mr.  Mather,  Mr.  Allen,  Mr.  Moody,  Mr.  Willard  and  Mr.  Daily. 

Eeverend  Gentlemen, 

The  innocency  of    our  case,  with  the  enmity  of  our 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS.  279 


accusers,  and  our  judges  and  jury,  •whom  nothing  but 
our  innocent  blood  will  serve,  having  condemned  us  al- 
ready before  our  trials,  being  so  much  incensed  and  en- 
raged against  us  by  the  Devil,  makes  us  bold  to  implore 
your  favorable  assistance  of  this  our  humble  petition  to 
his  excellency,  that  if  it  be  possible,  our  innocent  blood 
may  be  spared,  which  will  undoubtedly  otherwise  be 
shed  ;  if  the  Lord  doth  not  mercifully  step  in  ;  the  mag- 
istrates, ministers,  juries,  and  all  the  people  in  general 
being  so  much  enraged  and  incensed  against  us  by  the 
delusions  of  the  Devil,  which  we  can  term  no  other,  by 
reason  we  know  in  our  own  consciences  we  are  all  inno- 
cent persons.  Here  are  five  persons  who  have  lately 
confessed  themselves  to  be  witches,  and  do  accuse  some 
of  vs  of  being  along  with  them,  at  a  sacrament  since 
vre  were  committed  into  close  prison,  which  we  know  to 
be  Ues.  Two  of  the  five  are  (Carrier's  Sons,)  young 
men  who  would  not  confess  any  thing  till  they  tied 
them  neck  and  heels,  till  the  blood  was  ready  to  come 
out  of  their  noses  ;  and  it  is  credibly  believed  and  re- 
ported, this  Avas  the  occasion  of  making  them  confess 
what  they  never  did,  by  reason,  they  said,  one  had  been 
a  witch  a  month,  and  another  five  weeks,  and  that  their 
mother  made  them  so,  who  has  been  confined  here  this 
nine  weeks.  My  son  William  Proctor,  when  he  was 
examined,  because  he  would  not  confess  that  he  was 
guilty  when  he  was  innocent,  they  tied  him  neck  and 
heels,  till  the  blood  gushed  out  at  his  nose,  and  would 
have  kept  him  so  t\Yenty-four  hours,  if  one,  more  mer- 
ciful than  the  rest,  had  not  taken  pity  on  him,  and 
caused  him  to  be  unbound. 
^^ 


280  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS. 


These  actions  are  very  like  the  Popish  cruelties. 
Thej  have  already  undone  vs  in  our  estates,  and  that 
will  not  serve  their  turns  without  our  innocent  blood. 
If  it  cannot  be  granted  that  we  have  our  trials  at  Bos- 
ton, we  humbl}^  beg  that  you  would  endeavor  to  have 
these  magistrates  changed,  and  others  in  their  room  ; 
begging  also  and  beseeching  you,  that  you  would  be 
pleased  to  be  here,  if  not  all,  some  of  you,  at  our  trials, 
hoping  thereby  you  may  be  the  means  of  saving  the 
shedding  of  our  innocent  blood.  Desiring  your  prayers 
to  the  Lord  in  our  behalf,  we  rest  your  poor  afflicted 
servants, 

JOHN   PROCTOR  and  others. 

During  his  imprisonment  his  property  was  attached, 
and  his  eleven  children  were  robbed  of  all,  even  to  the 
food  which  was  in  process  of  preparation  for  dinner,  by 
the  sheriff.  He  was  denied  the  time  he  asked  to  pre- 
pare for  death  unless  he  would  plead  guilty. 

Martha  Cory  was  also  accused  and  sentenced  to 
death.  Giles  Cory  her  husband,  aged  eighty  years, 
seeing  how  others  fared,  and  knowing  that  the  trials 
were  utter  mockeries,  refused  to  plead,  and  was  ex- 
communicated, and  then  pressed  to  death,  the  legal 
penalty  of  remaining  silent.  It  is  the  only  case  re- 
corded in  the  annals  of  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Cory  had 
been  a  member  of  the  church  but  a  short  time.  While 
his  aged  body  was  bein^  crushed,  and  when  in  the  ago- 
ny of  expiring  nature  his  tongue  obtruded  from  his 
mouth,  a  monster  crowded  down  his  throat  with  a  ruth- 
less thrust  of  his  cane.     Mrs.  Cory  was  also  excommu- 


HISTORY  OF    DAN  VERS. 


281 


nicated  from  tlie  church  and  consigned  by  her  persecu- 
tors to  unending  ruin. 

John  Willard  was  another  inhabitant  of  Salem  Vil- 
lage Yfho  suffered.  He  at  first  joined  the  cry  against 
the  witches,  but  seeing  himself  in  error,  he  spoke  in 
their  behalf.  This  was  the  signal  for  his  accusation. 
Upon  being  accused  he  fled,  but  was  seized,  tried  and 
convicted. 

Perhaps  the  most  interesting  case  in  this  town,  was 
that  of  Rev.  George  Burroughs.  Although  not  a  resi- 
dent of  the  town  at  the  time  of  his  accusation,  yet  he 
had  been  pastor  of  the  church  of  Salem  Village  about 
the  year  1680.  He  had  disagreed  with  the  parish,  and 
although  he  had  some  warm  friends  here,  he  had  many 
bitter  enemies.  The  careful  reader  of  the  history  of 
those  early  times,  when  he  sees  the  bitterness  with 
which  this  man,  then  living  at  Falmouth,  Maine,  was 
sought  out  and  driven  to  his  death,  cannot  repress  the 
conviction  that  the  parish  differences  and  the  disputes 
they  engendered  were  the  causes  of  his  destruction.  A 
few  of  the  particulars  of  this  trial  are  given,  in  order  to 
show  what  evidence  was  necessary  to  convict  a  man  of  the 
crime  of  witchcraft.     The  indictment  reads  as  follows  : 

"Essex  ss.  The  jurors  for  our  sovereign  Lord  and 
Lady,  the  King  and  Queen,  present,  that  George  Bur- 
roughs, late  of  Falmouth,  in  the  province  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay,  clerk,  the  ninth  day  of  Ma5^,  in  the  fourth 
year  of  the  reign  of  our  sovereign  Lord  and  Lady, 
WilHam  and  Mary,  by  the  grace  of  God  of  England, 
Scotland,  France  and  L'eland,  King  and   Queen,  de- 

9  24 


^t '-■— '        ■  .  — r        ■■■■■        -  .,  ■      "■  'iir: otjr> 


282  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS. 

fenders  of  the  Faith,  &c.,  did  certain  detestable  arts, 
called  witchcrafts  and  sorceries,  wickedly  and  feloni- 
ously hath  used,  practised  and  exercised,  at  and  within 
the  town  of  Salem,  in  the  county  of  Essex  aforesaid, 
in,  upon  and  against  one  Mary  Walcott,  of  Salem  Vil- 
lage, in  the  county  of  Essex,  singlewoman  ;  by  which 
said  wicked  arts,  the  said  Mary  Walcott,  the  ninth  day 
of  May,  in  the  fourth  year  above  said,  and  divers  other 
days  and  times,  as  well  before  as  after,  was  and  is  tor- 
tured, afPilcted,  pined,  consumed,  wasted  and  torment- 
ed, against  the  peace  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  and  Lady, 
the  King  and  Queen,  and  against  the  form  of  the  stat- 
ute in  that  case  made  and  provided."  Margaret  Jacobs, 
Eliezar  Keysar,  Hannah  Harris,  Samuel  Webber,  Si- 
mon Willard,  Susannah  Sheldon.  Ann  Putnam,  and  oth- 
ers, were  arrayed  against  him. 

Eliezar  Keysar  deposed,  that  he  saw  Mr.  Bur- 
roughs one  day,  that  Burroughs  fixed  his  eye  steadily 
upon  him,  and  that  being  in  his  own  house  that  even- 
ing, and  sitting  without  a  light,  ''I  did  see  very  strange 
things  appear  in  the  chimney,  I  suppose  a  dozen 
of  them,  Avhieh  seemed  to  be  something  like  jelly,  that 
used  to  be  in  the  water,  and  quivered  with  a  strange  mo- 
tion, and  then  quickly  disappeared.  Soon  after  which, 
I  did  see  a  light  up  in  the  chimney,  about  the  bigness 
of  my  hand,  something  above  the  bar,  which  quivered 
and  shaked,  and  seemed  to  have  a  motion  upward  ;  up- 
on which  I  called  the  maid  ;  and  she,  looking  up  the 
ciiimney,  saw  the  same  ;  and  my  wife  looking  up, 
could  not  see  anything.  So  I  did  and  do  conclude  it 
was  some  diabolical  operation." 


rta 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


283   ^ 


•52 


Samuel  Webber,  aged  36  years,  testified  that  Bur- 
roughs put  his  fingers  m  the  bung  of  a  barrel  of  molas- 
ses, and  hfted  it  up,  and  carried  it  clear  around  him, 
Simon  Willard  affirmed  that  he  sa^Y  Mr.  Burroughs  at 
Casco  Bay,  put  his  forefinger  into  the  muzzle  of  a  gun, 
with  a  barrel  seven  feet  long,  and  hold  it  out  at  arm's 
lens-th  ;  Avhile  he  could  not  with  both  hands  hold  the 
gun  sufficiently  steady  to  take  sight,  (g.)  As  Mr. 
Burroughs  was  a  "puny  man,"  this  wonderful  feat  of 
strength  was  thought  to  be  conclusive  proof  of  his 
guilt.  When  we  read  this  we  can  almost  believe  the 
account  we  have  seen,  that  the  man  who  first  manufac- 
tured two  tubs,  by  sawing  a  barrel  through  the  middle, 
was  thouoi;ht  to  have  deaUn2:s  with  the  Devil.  Cotton 
Mather,  with  all  his  wisdom,  in  his  Magnalia,  mentions 
the  uncommon  strength  of  Mr.  Burroughs  seriously,  as 
convincing  proof  that  he  was  a  wizzard. 

Mr.  Burroughs  made  one  fatal  admission  during  his 
trial.  One  of  the  judges  warily  asked  him  what  caus- 
ed those  who  accused  him  to  fall  into  fits  when  brought 
into  his  presence.  "I  suppose  it  is  the  Devil,"  was  his 
answer.  "How  comes  the  Devil  then,"  said  the  Chief 
Justice,  "to  be  so  loath  to  have  any  testimony  borne 
against  you?"  This  answer,  so  miexpected,  confused 
him  so  much^  as  to  satisfy  his  accusers  of  his  guilt. 

"Sarah  AVilson  confesst  yt  ye  night  before  Mr.  Bur- 
roughs was  executed,  yt  yr  was  a  great  meeting  of  ye 
witches  nigh  Sargt  Chandlers  ;  yt  Mr.  Burroughs  was 
yr,  &c." — "The  deposition  of  Sarah  Viber,  who  testi- 
fieth  and  saith  that  on  the  9Lh  day  of  May,  1692,  as  I 
was  a  going  to  Salem  Village,  I  saw  the  Apperiihtion  of 


^ 

iM 


5M 


284 


HISTORY  OF   DANVERS. 


a  little  man  like  a  minister  with  a  black  coat  on,  and 
he  pinched  me  by  the  arme,  and  bid  me  goe  along  with 
him  ;  but  I  told  him  I  would  not, — but  when  I  came  to 
the  village,  I  saw  theire,  Mr.  George  Burroughs  which 
I  neuer  saw  before,  and  then  I  knew  chat  it  was  his 
Apperishtion  which  I  had  seen  in  the  morning  ;  and  he 
tortured  me  severall  times  while  he  was  in  examination, 
also  during  the  time  of  his  examination,  I  saw  Mr. 
George  Burroughs,  in  his  Apparance  most  greuously 
torment  and  afilect,  Mary  Walcott,  mercy  luis,  Elisa- 
beth Hubburt,  Ann  Putnam  and  Abigail  Williams,  by 
pinching,  twisting,  and  almost  choaking  her  to  death  ; 
also  severall  times  sence  Mr.  George  Burroughs  or  his 
Apperance  has  most  greuiously  tormented  me  with  va- 
riety of  tortors,  and  I  believe  in  my  heart  that  Mr. 
George  Burroughs  is  a  dreadful  wizzard  &c." 

Ann  Putnam  also  said,  the  "Apperishtion"  of  Mr. 
Burroughs  appeared  to  her,  with  an  appearance  of  two 
women  by  his  side  in  winding  sheets,  who  "turned 
their  faces  towards  Mr.  Burroughs,  and  looked  very  red 
and  angry,  and  told  him  that  he  had  been  a  cruell  man 
to  them,"  and  that  they  should  goe  to  heaven,  while 
he  should  be  cast  down  to  hell.  When  "he  was  gon, 
the  two  Avomen  turned  their  faces  towards  me,  and  look- 
ed as  pail  as  a  white  wall,  and  tould  me  that  they  were 
Mr.  Burrough's  two  first  wives,  and  that  he  had  rnur- 
thered  them :  and  one  tould  me  that  she  was  his  first 
wife,  and  he  stabbed  her  under  the  left  arme,  and  put 
a  peace  of  sealing  wax  on  the  wound  and  she  pulled 
aside  the  winding  sheat,  and  showed  me  the  place." 

This  array  of  evidence  was  conclusive,  and  Mr.  Bur- 


'esiiS 


-m 

«£■<» 


HISTORY  OF  DAN  VERS. 


285 


m 


roughs  was  sentenced  to  die.  (h.)  The  night  before 
his  execution,  Margaret  Jacobs  entered  his  cell  and  im- 
plored his  pardon  for  the  part  she  had  taken  against 
him.  He  forgave  her,  and  they  wept  and  prayed  to- 
gether. She  afterwards,  in  her  recantation,  declared 
''they  told  me  if  I  would  not  confess,  I  should  be  put 
down  into  the  dungeon^  and  would  he  hanged;  but  if 
I  would  confess,  I  should  have  my  life,  the  which  did 
so  affright  me,  with  my  own  vile  wicked  heart,  to  save 
my  life,  made  mo  make  the  like  confession  I  did,  which 
confession,  may  it  please  the  honored  Court,  is  altogeth- 
er false  and  untrue.  The  very  first  night  after  I  had 
made  confession,  I  was  in  such  horror  of  conscience, 
that  I  could  not  sleep  for  fear  the  Devil  should  carry  me 
away,  for  telling  such  horrid  lies.  *  *  What  I  said, 
was  altogether  false  against  my  grandfather,  and  Mr. 
Burrough,  which  I  did  to  save  my  life,  and  to  have  my 
liberty  &c." 

Mr.  Burroughs  was  executed  on  Gallows  Hill,  in  Sa- 
lem. He  was  carried  to  the  gallows  clothed  in  rags. 
While  on  the  ladder  he  addressed  the  crowd  with  so 
much  of  feeling,  that  many  wept,  and  seeing  the  im- 
pression he  made  upon  the  observers,  Cotton  Mather, — 
one  who  ought  to  have  sought  to  save, — an  ambassador 
of  the  Savior  of  Men,  rode  around  on  horse-back,  and 
spurred  the  people  onward  to  the  work  of  death,  telling 
them  that  Satan  had  power  to  appear  as  an  Angel  of 
Light;  and  an  innocent  man,  with  prayer  on  his  lips, 
was  sacrificed,     (i.) 

A  final  check  was  placed  on  the  awftd  delusion   by 
the  accusation  of  Mrs.  Hale,  wife  of  the  minister  in 


•.ki=^ 


f — ~ — ' —  ^ 

286  HISTORY  OF  DANVERS. 


Beverly,  whose  character  was  so  pure,  that  her  impeach- 
ment was  the  signal  for  those  enquiries  which  resulted 
in  a  discovery  of  the  fatal  errors  into  which  the  commu- 
nity had  fallen. 

The  General  Court  afterwards  endeavored  to  atone 
for  its  errors  by  appropriating  about  £50,  to  heal 
the  broken  hearts  Burroughs  left  behind,  and  the  Jury 
who  presented  most  of  the  persons  executed  both  here 
and  elsewhere,  made  the  following  declaration  :  "We 
do  therefore  signify,  to  all  and  in  general,  our  deep 
sense  of,  and  sorrow  for,  our  errors  in  acting  on  such 
evidence ;  we  pray  that  we  may  be  considered  candidly 
and  aright  by  the  liveing  sufferers,  as  being  then  un- 
der the  power  of  a  strong  and  general  delusion,  utterly 
unacquainted  with,  and  not  experienced  in  matters  of 
that  nature."  Signed,  Thomas  Fisk,  WiUiam  Fisk, 
John  Bachelor,  Thos.  Fisk  Jun.,  John  Dane,  Joseph 
Evelith,  Thomas  Pearly  Sen.,  John  Peabody,  Thomas 
Perkins,  Samuel  Sayer,  Andrew  Eliot,  H.  Herrick, 
Sen. 

Mr.  Parris  made  a  public  confession,  and  on  Febru- 
ary 14th,  1703,  the  sentence  of  excommunication 
against  Giles  and  Martha  Cory  was  formally  revoked, 
and  the  Church  books  of  1705  have  a  tribute  of  repent- 
ance from  Ann  Putnam,  who  seems  to  have  been  sincere. 
It  was  said  and  believed  that  Satan  gathered  his  com- 
pany in  a  large  field  (j.)  in  Salem  Village,  where 
they  held  their  midnight  riots.  As  often  as  he  ob- 
tained new  followers,  he  gave  them  the  seal  of  his  cov- 
enant by  baptizing  them  in  Newbury  Falls.  He  is  de- 
scribed  as  appearing  well  dressed  in  a  suit  of  black, 


=^M/5 


HISTORY    OP   DANVERS. 


287 


and  as  looking  like  an  ordinary  minister.  Probably 
his  hoof  was  disguised  by  a  boot,  his  horns  by  a  hat, 
and  his  tail  snugly  concealed  in  a  proper  place. 

The  principal  accusers  in  Salem  Village,  were  John 
Buxton,  Elizabeth  Parris,  Mrs.  Pope,  Mrs.  Putnam,  good 
wife  Bibber,  good  wife  Goodall,  Abigail  "Williams,  Ann 
Putnam,  Margaret  Jacobs,  Mary  Walcotfc,  Mercy  Lewis, 
''Dr.  Griggs's  maid,"  Tituba,  Edward  Putnam,  Mrs. 
Raymond,  Samuel  Parris,  Jona.  Walcott  andNath'l  In- 
gersoll.  Those  who  were  executed  were  Sarah  Good,  wbo 
left  a  child  six  years  old  ;  Giles  and  Martha  Cory,  who  be- 
queathed property  to  William  Cheeves  of  Beverly,  and 
who  left  two  children  :  Elizabeth  and  Martha  ;  Bebec- 
ca  Nurse,  who  left  a  husband  and  eight  children  :  John, 
Rebecca,  Sarah,  Samuel,  Francis,  Mary,  Elizabeth  and 
Benjamin  ;  John  Proctor,  (l.)  who  left  a  wife  and 
twelve  children :  John,  Benjamin,  Elizabeth,  Martha 
Mary,  William,  Joseph,  Samuel,  Thomas,  Sarah  and  Ab- 
igail. Thorndike  was  born  in  a  few  weeks  after  his  fath- 
er's death.  George  Jacobs,  (m.)  who  left  a  wife  and 
three  children:  George,  Ann  and  Margaret;  John 
Willard,  who  left  a  wife  ;  and  Rev.  George  Burroughs, 
who  left  a  family.  One  poor  dog  was  hanged,  because 
it  was  thought  he  entertained  the  devil  in  his  body. 
Elizabeth  Proctor  was  sentenced  to  death,  but  she 
proving  to  be  enciente,  was  allowed  to  live,  and  before 
her  child  was  born,  the  delusion  vanished.  She  was 
accused  of  killing  ten,  and  laming  many  others. 

The  following  persons  were  arrested  and  tiied  for 
witchcraft :  Tituba,  an  Indian  woman,  Sarah  Osborn, 
Dorothy  Good,  Sarah  Cloyce,  Mary  Warren,  Avho  after- 


288  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

wards  became  a  complainant,  Edward  and  Sarah  Bish- 
op, Benjamm  and  William,  sons  of  John  Proctor,  Mar- 
garet Jacobs,  who  was  also  a  complainant,  Sarah  Proc- 
tor, Mary  Witheridge,  Rebecca  Jacobs,  Margaret's 
mother,  Mary,  a  negro  servant  of  Nathaniel  Putnam, 
Daniel  Andrew,  a  bricklayer,  George  Jacobs  Jr.,  and 
Sarah  Buckley,  Mary  Witheredge's  mother.  John, 
Tituba's  husband  and  Mary  Sibly  made  a  superstitious 
experiment  to  discover  the  witches,  and  many  of  the 
citizens  joined  with  the  accusers  against  their  supposed 
enemies.  The  examinations  were  mostly  conducted  at 
the  house  of  Nathaniel  Putnam,  (n.)  The  Judges 
were  Hathorne,  Corwin  and  Sewall.     (o.) 

It  is  highly  probable  that  these  girls  commenced  their 
ruinous  course  for  amusement,  but  that,  frightened  by 
the  wild  flame  which  increased  so  terribly,  they  dared 
not  tell  the  truth.  Afterwards,  if  any  person  was  at 
enmity  with  another,  an  accusation  of  Witchcraft  was 
sure  revenge.  Added  to  this,  the  excitement  produced 
a  sort  of  mania,  which  presented  to  a  superstitious  peo- 
ple, a  bewitched  person  in  every  lunatic  or  epileptic,  and 
a  witch  or  wizzard  in  every  bed-ridden  unfortunate,  or 
person  endowed  with  uncommon  strength  or  ability,  (p.) 

But  the  delusion  lasted  only  a  few  months.  The 
people's  eyes  were  opened,  and  the  storm  which  rose  in 
the  Village,  and  drove  Mr.  Parris  from  his  charge, 
and  the  blast  of  indignation  and  horror  Avhich  scathed 
Cotton  Mather,  and  others  who  fanned  the  flame  with 
him,  and  which  to  this  day  envelopes  these  actors,  tes- 
tifies to  those  of  a  later  generation,  that  if  the  people 
of  this  neighborhood  were  for  a  short  time  under  a  de- 


td 


HISTORY  OP   DAN  VERS. 


289 


luslon,  produced  in  part  by  their  religious  vie-ws,  (q.) 
and  in  part  by  those  from  whom  they  expected  bet- 
ter things,  that  their  native  good  sense  soon  resumed  its 
ascendancy,  and  wept  over  former  errors,  while  it  trans- 
mitted a  lesson  of  wisdom  to  the  remotest  posterity. 

In  arranging  this  sketch  of  Wicchcraft,  S,  P.  Eowler 
afforded  much  aid,  by  loaning  valuable  manuscript  vol- 
umes, &c. 


NOTES    TO  CHAPTER    IX. 


(a.)  In  •^Celebrated  Tnalsy^'  the  reader  may  find  many  interest- 
ing cases  recorded. 

(b.)  She  made  a  cake  of  the  urine  of  the  afflicted  person,  and  gave 
to  those  whom  she  suspected.  She  was  afterwards  pubhcly  reprimand- 
ed by  the  Church,  and  expressed  her  repentance.  The  following 
church  record  is  in  Mr.  Parris's  hand  writing. 

"It  is  altogether  undenyable  that  our  Great  and  Blessed  God,  for 
wise  and  holy  ends,  hath  suffered  many  persons  in  several  families  of 
this  little  Village  to  be  grievously  vexed  and  tortured  in  body,  and  to 
be  deeply  tempted  to  the  endangering  of  the  destruction  of  their  souls 
and  all  these  amazing  feats,  (well  known  to  many  of  us,)  to  be  done 
by  Witchcraft  and  diabolical  operations. 

*»It  IS  well  known  that  vvhen  these  calamities  first  began,  which  was 
in  my  own  family,  the  affliction  was  several  weeks  before  such  hellish 
operations  as  Witchcraft  was  suspected;  Nay  it  never  broke  forth  to 
any  considerable  light.,  untiil  Diabolical  means  was  used,  by  the  mak- 
ing of  a  cake  by  my  Indian  man,  who  h:'.d  his  directions  from  this  our 
sister  Mary  Sibly.  Since  which  Appiiitions  have  been  plenty,  and 
exceeding  much  niischiefhath  followed.  But  by  this  means  (it  seems) 
the  Devil  hath  been  raised  amongst  us,  and  his  Rage  is  vehement  and 
terrible,  and  when  he  shall  be  silenced,  the  Lord  only  knows." 

The  church  received  Mary  Sibley's  profec^sion  of  repentance  and 
retained  her  in  the  Communion. 


290  HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 

(c.)    The  following  curious  bill,  kindly  loaned  rac  by  Mr.  Felt,  the 
SuUnn  Annalist,  shows  vvhbt  treatment  the  supposed  vviiches  received. 

John  Arnold  keeper  of  Boston  Prison 

1691-2  May  9  To  chains  for  Saroh  Good  and  Sarah  Osborn  £0  14    0 

"   14     "  keeping  LeA'is  Hutchins  8  wks  at  2-6         10    0 

1C92     April  5     "2  blankets  for  Sarah  Good's  child  0  10    0 

May  23     "  shackles  for  10  prisoners  2    0    0 

'•     29     "  1  pr  of  irons  for  Mary  Cox  0   7    0 

Sarah  Good  vf  Salem  Village 

from  7th  March  to  June  1,  12  wks  2-6  1  10     0 

Rebecca  Nurse  of  same  place 

from  12lh  of  Apl  7  wks     at  2-6  0  17  10 

Geo.  Jacob  6  weeks  &,  4  days  from 

May  12Lh  0  16    4 

John  Proctor  &  wife  Elizth  from 

April  12th  to  1st  of  June  at  5-  1  15  0 

Susanna  Martin  of  Amsbury 

from  May  2d  to  1st  of  June  4  wks  2  days  0  10    0 

Bridget  Bishop  alias  Oliver  of  Salem 

fr  12th  May  20  days  at  2-6  a  week  0  7     0 

Alice  Parker  of  Salem  from  12th  of  May 

to  1st  of  June  20  days  2  6  07     0 

Geo  Burroughs  7  weeks  from  9th  May  0  17    6 

Samuel  Passanauton  an  Indian  8  wks  4  dys 

from  Apl  28 ih         2-6  115 

Roger  Toothaker  *  of  Salem  ViHnge 

&  John  Willard  of  same  each  fr  May  18th 

5  wks  &  5  dy3  18     0 

Sarah  Osborn  fr  March  7  to  May  10,  when 

she  died— being  9  wks  &  2  dys  13     0 

*0f  BlUerica. 

(d.)  Thomas  Wiikins,  John  Tarbell  and  Samuel  Nurse  were  the 
only  members  of  the  church  who  opposed  the  progress  of  the  great 
storm.  They  did  not  fall  into  the  popular  panic,  and  did  not  cease  from 
exerting  themselves  until  they  had  ousted  its  cause  from  the  parish. 
They  were  excommunicated  however,  and  were  out  of  the  church 
until  Feb  5,  1699,  when  thoy  and  their  wives  were  re-admitted  to  the 
communion.     Capt.  Joseph  Putnam,  Israel's  father,  kept  a  horse   in 

m.= ==:^\ 


ft^«l  ] 


ZT^fii 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


291 


»2 


constant  readiness  several  weeks,  with  the  expectation  that  he  would 
be  accused  on  account  of  his  opposition  to  the  Great  Delusion. 

To  exhibit  the  feelings  of  the  clergy  it  is  recorded  that  Cotton  Math- 
er called  Martha  Carrier  a  "rampant  bag,  the  Queen  of  Hell  !"  Noyes 
of  Salem  said  when  he  saw  several  hanging  on  Gallows  Hill, — *'Hovv 
sad  it  is  to  see  eight  firebrands  of  hell  h.^nging  there."  Mr.  Parris 
seems  to  have  been  not  quite  so  malignant  as  these  and  some  others; 
he  seems  to  hsve  been  desirous  of  using  this  excitement  to  promote 
a  religious  awakening  in  his  parish. 

(e,)  During  I  he  prevalence  of  the  excitement,  a  daughter  of  a  man 
named  Shafflin  aged  about  eighteen,  who  lived  on  the  spot  at  present  oc- 
cupied by  Mr.  Amos  King,  "cried  out"  upon  a  very  respectable  neigh- 
bor. Her  father  thinking  the  evil  spirit  which  possessed  her  was  one 
that  might  be  exorcised  in  a  peculiar  manner  took  her  into  a  room 
where  her  cries  would  not  disturb  others,  and  trounced  her  soundly, 
until  she  confessed  that  a  desire  of  appearing  as  conspicuous ,  as  Ann 
Putnam  and  Abigail  Williams,  actuated  her  in  her  course.  Had  Mr. 
Parris  and  others,  whipped  their  children  fur  accusing  instead  o^ 
whipping  them  to  oblige  them  to  accuse,  this  groat  blot  upon  Human 
Nature  might  have  been  prevented. 

(f.)  "At  the  trial  of  Sarah  Good,  one  of  the  afflicted  girls  fell  into 
a  fit,  and  after  coming  out  of  it,  she  cried  out  against  the  prisoner  for 
stabbing  her  in  the  breast  while  in  court,  and  actually  prociuced  a 
piece  of  the  blade  of  the  knife  which  she  said  was  used  and  broken 
in  doing  it.  Upon  this,  a  young  man  was  called  to  prove  the  imposi- 
tion. He  produced  a  hnft  and  part  of  the  blade,  which  the  court, 
having  viewed  and  compared,  found  to  bo  the  same;  and  the  young 
man  affirmed,  that  yesterday  ho  happened  to  break  that  knifo  and 
that  he  cast  away  the  upper  part  in  the  presence  of  the  person  who 
now  produced  it.  The  girl  was  cautioned  by  the  court  not  to  tell  any 
more  lies,  but  was  still  employed  to  give  evidence  against  the  prison- 
ers whose  lives  were  in  her  hands." 

(g.)  This  gun  is  said  to  be  deposited  in  the  Museum  in  Fryeburg 
Academy,  Maine. 

(h.)  There  were  five  persons  wlio  declared  that  Burroughs  afflicted 
them;  eight  confessed  witches,  who  said  he  was  a  leader  of  them  at 
their  infernal  sacraments;  and  others,  who  testified  to  his  remarkable 


I!    292  HISTORY   OF   DANVERS. 


strength.     When  vv8  remember  the  excited  state  of  the  pubhc  mind, 
conviction  is  no  matter  of  surprise. 

(i.)  He  seems  to  have  siid  hut  little  in  his  own  behalf.  When 
accused  of  great  sirength,  he  said  there  was  an  Indian  present  who 
could  do  as  much:  *-AhI"  said  one,  ''the  Devil  is  black  like  an  Indi- 
an r* 

(j.)  If  the  veracious  pen  of  history  might  be  allowed  to  glide  for 
a  moment  into  the  apocryphal  regions  of  fancy,  it  would  suggest  the 
broad  level  field  owned  by  Judge  Putnam,  as  the  veritable  spot. 
But  alas  !  we  can  only  conjecture  where  these  toothless  Ciittysarlis 
pursued  poor  benighted  Tarn  0^  Shante7-s,  and  made  night  hideous 
with  their  ghastly  orgies.  Tradition,  usually  so  explicit  and  fecund, 
here  confesses  her  ignorance. 

(k.)  Poor  Tituba  was  imprisoned,  and  W'hen  slie  was  found  inno- 
cent, her  sapient  accusers  did  not  hang  her, — they  only  mildly  sold 
her  into  hopeless  Slavery  to  pay  her  jail  fees!  By  this  and  similar  cases 
we  are  reminded  of  the  old  method  of  discovering  witches  :  By 
throwingthem  into  deep  water,  and,  if  they  floated,  executingthem 
as  guilty ;  while  if  they  were  innocent  they  sunk,  and  were  07ihj 
drowned! 

(l.)  John  W.  Proctor  Esq. ,  a  descendant  of  John,  hns  humorously 
observed,  that  he  can  trace  his  ancestry  to  as  elevated  a  position  as 
most  of  his  fellow  citizens  ! 

(m.)  Geo.  Jacobs  lived  on  the  Jacobs  farm  near  the  Iron  Factory, 
He  was  hung  on  a  branch  of  one  of  his  own  oaks,  which  stood  until 
within  a  few  years,  when  it  was  sold  to  Samuel  Fowler  Esq.,  and  con- 
verted into  a  Mill  Shaft.  Jacobs  was  buried  on  his  own  land,  and  the 
gravestone  is  yet  visible  near  the  Iron  Factory. 

(N.)  A  negro  aged  100  years,  who  recently  died  nearthe  Plains, 
attributed  the  troubles  of  1G92,  to  the  loss  of  the  Church  book.  He 
said  it  was  stolen  by  Apollyon. 

(o.)  In  the  year  1711  the  King  issued  an  edict  in  which  all  "Con- 
victions, Judgments  and  Attainders"  were  '-'reversed"  and  declared 
"Null  and  Void  to  all  Intents  as  if  such  had  never  been  given."  An 
edict  that  afforded  rather  more  consolation  to  the  living  than  reparation 
to  the  unfortunate  dead.     Soon  after   Rev.  Jost-ph   Green  was  or-   fj 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


293-  n 


darned  over  the  First  Church,  he  made  efforts  to  revoke  the  sentence 
of  excommunication  against  Martha  Cory,  and  others  who  opposed 
the  delusion,  and  who  were  accused.  May  4th  1707,  the  followin<» 
Church  action  was  had.  "Whereas  this  cliurch  passed  a  vote  Sept. 
11,  1G92  for  the  excommunication  of  Martha  Cory  and  that  sentence 
was  passed,  was  pronounced  against  her  Sept.  14,  by  JMr.  Sam,  Par- 
ris,  formerly  pistor  of  this  church,  she  being  before  her  excommui. 
cation  condemned  and  aftervvarj  executed  for  supposed  witchcraft, 
and  there  being  a  record  of  this  in  our  church  boolc  page  12.  We 
being  irioved  hereunto,  do  freely  consent  and  heartily  desire  that  the 
same  sentence  may  be  revoked,  and  that  it  may  stand  no  longer 
against  her,  for  we  are  through  God's  mercy  to  us  convinced,  that  vve 
were  at  that  dark  day  under  the  power  of  those  errors  which  then 
prevailed  in  the  land,  and  we  are  sensible  that  we  had  not  sufficient 
grounds  to  think  her  guilty  of  that  crime  for  which  She  was  condemn- 
ed and  executed  (f-c.  There  was  a  maj'r  part  voted, — &  6  or  7  dis- 
sented. J.  Gr.  pr." 

This  act  was  of  course  all  the  Church  could  perform  to  atone  for  the 
evil  it  had  done.  Such  J^unli^ht  could  not  however  warm  the  bones  of 
the  slam.  Ann  Putnam  made  a  public  confession  which  is  recorded  on 
the  Ciiurch  books  in  which  she  says  :  '■!  desire  to  be  humbled  before 
God  for  that  sad  and  humbling  providence  that  befel  my  father's  fam- 
ily in  the  year  about  92-3, 1  then  being  in  my  childhood,  should  by 
such  a  providence  of  God  be  mad  an  instrument  for  the  accusing  of 
several  persons  of  a  grevious  crime,  whereby  their  lives  were  taken 
away  from  them,  when  I  have  just  ground  and  good  reason  to  believe 
they  were  innocent  persons,  and  that  it  was  a  great  delusion  of  Sa- 
tan (f-c, 

"Though  what  was  said  or  done  by  me  I  can  truly  and  uprightly 
say  before  God  &  Man  I  did  it  not  out  of  any  anger,  malice  or  ill  will 
to  any  persons  for  I  had  no  such  thing;  against  one  of  them;  but  what  I 
did  was  ignorant,  being  deluded  by  Satan  &c. 

ANNE  PUTNAM." 

She  asked  forgiveness  of  all  whom  she  had  offended. 

Increase  IMather,  President  of  Harvard  College,  Jlarch  lOtli, 
came  out  to  the  Village,  and  stopped  at  Nathaniel  Ingersoll's,  and 
this  wise  and  reverend  scholar  gravely  relates  the  wonder*  he  saw, 
one  of  the  principal  of  which  was,  that  a  crazy  girl,    named  Abigail 

25 


m 


294 


HISTORY  OF    DANVERS. 


William  ,  called  out  in  church  :  "Look  where  Goodwife  Clojce  sits 
on  the  beam  suckling  her  yellow  bird  betwixt  her  fingers  !"  Another 
expression  which  showed  that  she  was  terribly  afflicted  was  the  follow- 
ing ;    ^^It  is  a  long  text  l"^ 

"Mch  31st,  when  there  was  a  fast  at  the  village,  Abigail  William 
said  that  the  witches  had  a  sacrament  in  the  village,  and  that  they 
had  red  bread  and  red  drink. 

Mercy  Lewis  saw  in  her  fit,  a  white  man,  and  was  with  him  in  a 
glorious  place,  which  had  no  candles  nor  sun,  yet  was  full  of  light 
and  brightness;  where  was  a  great  multitude  in  white  glittering 
robes,  and  they  sung  the  song  in  the  fifth  of  Rev.,  the  ninth  verse, 
and  the  one  hundred  tenth  Psalm,  and  the  one  hundred  forty-ninth 
Psalrn;  and  she  said  to  Iierself,  "How   long  shall    I  stay  here?"  &c. 

(p.)  That  the  reader  may  see  the  manner  in  which  these  cases 
were  conducted,  let  him  consult  "Wonders  of  the  Invisible  World," 
by  Calef, — Thachers  Essay,  Mather's  Magnalia  and  other  works. 

(q  )  A  literal  rendering  of  the  Old  Testament  Scriptures,  a  pas- 
sage of  which  says:  Thou  shalt  not  suffer  a  witch  to  live," — was  one 
active  cause  of  trouble  then,  as  it  is  of  much  error  and  delusion  at 
present. 


ERRATA. 

Page  27.  for  (c.)  read  (b.) 

Page  33,  7th  line   from    the  top,  for  iZow/ey  read  Ipswich. 

Page  43,  7th  line  from  the  bottom,  for  where  read  rvere. 

Page  45,  3d  line  from  the  top,  for    IVay   read  7nai/. 

Page  56,  14th    line  from  the  top,  insert  ?/?,   after  Salem. 

Pago  105,    15th    line    from    the  top,  foi  7vife,  read  mother. 

On  page  106,  in  speaking  of  the  ardor  of  Gen.  Foster,  it  was  not 
intended  to  impesrh  the  military  character  of  Col.  Pickering.  While 
the  former  wa.>3  all  ardor,  the  latter  combined  a  commendable  pru- 
dence wiih  undoubted  valor, 

Page  109,  for  Gandy,    read    Gondy. 

Page  123.  3d  line  from  the  top,   for  50,    read  as. 

Page  123,  5th  line  from  the  bottom,    for  Jeremiah  read  Israel. 

Page  135,  in  Fire  Department,  ioi'  past  ijear,   read  year  1846. 

Page  162,  for  stands,  rend  stand. 

On  page  258,  7th  line  from  the  bottom,  read  62  memlers,  and  a 
Sunday  School  of  140,  &c." 

Note  (h.)     page  268,    refers   to   page  240. 

Page  280.  2d  line  from  the  bottom,  read  "it"  between  crowded 
and  down. 


1 


^ 


1^*3 


APPENDIX. 


295 


APPENDIX. 

Waters,  North,  Crane  and  Porter's  rivers  empty  into 
Bass  or  Beverly  river,  instead  of  the  harbor,  as  stated  in 
Chap.  I. 

Archelaus  Putnam,  (see  page  60,)  lived  nearer  Bachel- 
dor's  corner,  than  the  Collins  house.  He  moved  his  house 
on  the  ice,  instead  of  floating   it,  as  stated  above. 

The  name  of  Dr.  George  Osborne  was  unaccountably 
omitted  from  the  list  of  physicians.  He  removed  to  Dan  vers 
in  the  year  1S30. 

The  several  ponds  in  Danvers,  from  the  beauty  of  their 
situation  and  appearance,  merit  a  particular  description. 
And  the  writer  cannot  dismiss  his  agreeable  labors  with- 
out speaking  of  Bartholomew's  pond.  It  is  said  on  page  13, 
that  this  is  one  of  the  most  "charming,  secluded  spots  in 
the  State."  The  water  of  this  miniature  lake  is  of  a 
delicate  sea-green  color,  and  is  of  remarkable  softness  and 
transparency.  On  several  sides  huge  sienite  bluffs  rise  a 
hundred  feet  in  height,  and  frown  above,  while  the  beautiful 
lake  answers  the  caresses  of  the  Sun  and  Breeze  by  con- 
stant smiles.  The  calm,  quiet  serenity  of  the  water,  con- 
trasts charmingly  with  the  sterner  grandeur  of  cliffs,  and 
sombre  forest  trees,  and  had  we  some  native  Scott  or 
Wordsworth,  this  romantic  place  would  shine  in  immortal 
verse,  where  many  a  less  lovely  place  now  stands.  The 
water  of  Bartholomew's  Pond  percolates  through  a  bed  of 
peculiar  gravel,  to  the  distance  of  half  a  mile,  where  it 
enters  Brown's  Pond,  which  in  its  turn  supplies  the  foun- 
tains of  the  Salem  and  Danvers  Acqueduct.  The  large 
bleacheries  now  in  process  of  erection,  have  been  placed 
in  the  positions  they  occupy,  on  account  of  the  purity  of 
the  water.     Bartholomew's  Pond  has  no  visible  outlet. 

Ship  Rock  has  recently  been  purchased  by  the  Essex 
Natural  History  Society,  and  fitted  with  ladders,  &c.  for 
the  pleasure  of   visitors.     It  is  a  remarkable  locahty,  and 


m 


~!a^ 


296 


APPENDIX. 


is  said  to  be  the  largest  boulder  standing  above  the  earth 
in  New  England.  It  is  forty  feet  in  length,  thirty  feet  in 
breadth,  and  about  twenty  feet  thick,  and  presents  an  ap- 
pearance closely  resembling  the  hull  of  a  ship.  From 
its  top,  the  best  view  of  Danvers  may  be  had,  that  can 
be  procured  at  any  one  place.  In  one  charming  land- 
scape, the  wide  extent  of  the  town  spreads  before  the  eye, 
together  with  Salem  and  Beverly,  and  to  be  appreciated 
and  admired,  needs  but  to  be  seen.  Indeed,  the  entire 
southern  portion  of  the  town,  and  especially  the  immedi- 
ate neighborhood  of  the  pond  and  rock  referred  to,  is 
wilder  and  more  like  primitive  Nature,  than  we  often  find 
in  our  Slate.  A  very  uneven  surface,  and  a  great  profu- 
sion of  very  large  boulders  give  additional  vigor  to  the 
scenery.  A  native  poet  might  here  find  appropriate 
places  for  thought,  and  might  people  these  solitudes  with 
beings,  who  would  have  as  romantic  a  home  as  in  more 
celebrated,  but  not  more  beautiful  retreats.  Meanwhile, 
let  those  inclined  to  observ^e  Nature  in  her  various  moods, 
resort  to  this  region,  and  rejoice  in  its  poetic  combinations, 

There  are  many  choice  landscapes  and  sea-views  in 
different  parts  of  Danvers.  From  the  house  of  Joseph 
Adams,  Esq.,  a  very  superior  view  may  be  enjoyed  ; 
twenty-two  steeples  are  in  the  field  of  vision. 

It  is  said  on  page  31,  that  the  spot  which  Col.  Thomas 
Reed  owned,  is  unknown.  It  has  since  been  ascertained, 
that  his  land  was  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  Proctor 
lands,  and  included  the  West  estate,  Buxton's  hill,  and 
that  vicinity. 

Mrs.  Fowler,  first  spoken  of  on  p.  61,  was  Sarah,  a 
daughter  of  Dea.  Archelaus  Putnam,  and  was  born  Sep- 
tember 14th,  1755,  and  died  Nov.  19ih",  1847,  aged  92 
years  and  2  months.  She  had  5  children,  27  grand  chil- 
dren, and  60  great  grand  children. 

Jotham  Webb,  one  of  the  young  men  from  this  town, 
who  was  slain  in  the  battle  of  Lexington,  was  a  brick- 
maker,  and  was  preparing  his  yard  for  the  making  of 
bricks,  on  the  morning  of  the  19ih  of  April.  This  yard 
was  situated  at  the  New  Mills,  near  what  is  now  known 
as  the  old  Joshua  Kent  house,  where  the  currier's  shop 
H    of  S.  F.  Reed   now  stands.      He  was  married  but  a  few 


APPENDIX. 


297 


days  previous  to  the  battle,  and  lived  in  the  house  now 
owned  by  Mr.  A.  A.  Edgerton.  Upon  receiving  the  news 
of  the  march  of  the  British  to  Concord,  he  left  his  work, 
returned  to  his  house,  and  put  on  his  wedding  suit,  remark- 
ing to  his  young  wife,  who  expostulated  with  him:  "If  I  die, 
I  will  die  in  my  best  clothes."  He  joined  the  company 
of  minute  men  under  Col.  Hutchinson,  and  was  with  him 
in  the  engagement,  and  he  received  a  shot  through  his 
body,  at  the  first  fire  of  the  enemy.  He,  with  the  other 
dead  from  this  town,  was  brought  home  in  a  horse  cart; 
and  it  is  said  that  the  grief  of  the  young  widow  upon 
seeing  the  bloody  corpse  of  her  husband,  was  excessive 
and  heart-rending. 

Milan  Murphy,  a  colored  man,  was  also  in  the  Revolu- 
tion, as  a  servant  of  one  of  the  Putnams. 

George  Peabody,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born  in  Danvers, 
about  the  year  1797,  in  the  house  formerly  occupied  by  a 
quaker  named  Purington,  situated  on  the  old  Boston 
Road.  He  passed  a  few  years  of  his  youth  with  Capt. 
Sylvester  Proctor,  and  after  leaving  him,  he  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits  in  Georgetown,  Mass.  and  Baltimore, 
Md.,  and  at  length,  in  1836,  he  removed  to  London,  where 
he  is  now  a  celebrated  Factor  and  Merchant.  He  is  lib- 
eral and  upright,  a  man  of  large  influence  in  the  mercan- 
tile  world,  and  generally  esteemed. 

Since  the  Valuation  of  1845,  as  recorded  in  the  "Sta- 
tistics," many  branches  of  business  have  increased. 
Among  other  things,  it  may  be  said,  that  there  are  now  6 
morocco  factories,  which  annually  dress  250,000  skins, 
valued  at  8100,000.  100  hands  are  emploved,  on  a  cap- 
ital of  $75,000,  During  the  year  1847,  there  were  152 
arrivals  at  the  Port  of  Danvers,  40  of  which  were  of  lum- 
ber. 


298 


INDEX. 


IN  DEX. 


SUBJECT. 

Acqueduct, 

Act  of  Incorporation  District  of  Danvers, 

Agriculture,  -  -  - 

Alarms,  -  -  -  - 

Alarm  List,  _  -  - 

Anecdote  of  Anna   Endicott, 

Anecdote  of  Franklin, 

Anecdote  of  Goudy, 

Anecdote  of  Mr.  Holt, 

Animals,         _  .  -  - 

Appearance  of  Danvers  in  1757, 

Appendix,  .  -  .  . 

Approbation  of  Adams's  ad'm. 

Appropriations  for  War, 

Area  of  Danvers, 

Armorial  bearings, 

Arnold's  Quebec  Expedition, 

Articles  of  Confederation, 

Aspect  of  the  Town, 

Attempts  to  divide  do. 

Bankrupt  Law, 

Banks,  .  -  - 

Bell  Tavern, 

Biography  of  Bowditch  Nath'l, 

"         of  Burroughs  Geo., 

"         of  Clarke  Peter, 

"         of  Endicott  John, 

"         of  Eppes  Daniel, 

"         of  Flint  Samuel, 

"         of  Foster  Benj., 

"         of  Foster  Gideon, 

"         of  Gloyd   Sarah, 

"         of  Green  Joseph, 


PAGE. 


= ■■■■  ■■  . 'jng 

INDEX. 

299 

Biography  of  Hoi  ten  Samuel, 

188 

"         of  Hutchinson  Israel, 

185 

1 

"         of  Nelson  Thomas, 

-    176 

"         of  Osborne  Sylvester, 

217 

"         of  Page  Jeremiah 

-   185 

"         of  Page  Samuel, 

212 

"         of  Parris  Samuel, 

-  175 

( 

"         of  Peabody  George, 

297 

"         of  Pope  iVmos, 

-       218 

"         of  Porter  Moses, 

.    216 

•'          of  Prescott  Benj., 

177 

. 

"         of  Prince  Asa, 

185 

"         of  Putnam  Elias, 

-   222 

"         of  Putnam  Enoch, 

187 

"         of  Putnam  Israel, 

.     179 

"         of  Putnan  Jeremiah, 

187 

"         of  Read  Nathan, 

-    220 

"         of  Wadsworth  Benj., 

205 

"         of  Wallis  Dennison, 

-    214 

"         of  Webb  Jotham,      - 

296 

"         of  Wharton  Eliza, 

-    206 

Births,               -             -             - 

156 

Blockhouses, 

-      48 

Boundaries  &c.., 

-    9,  54,  55,  267 

Bridges,        -           - 
Bunker  Hill  Battle,        - 

.      61,  66,  68 

92 

Caleb  Lowe  &  Washington, 

-       98 

Carriages, 

100 

" 

Cassandra  Southwick,  ballad, 

-    260 

C.  C.  Pleas,     - 

111 

I 

Cessation  of  New  Mills  Dist., 

-       66 

Character  of  the  People, 

17 

' 

Coins  of  Mass., 

.      34 

College  Graduates, 

148 

Collins    House, 

-  79,  103,  104 

Comets  &c.,     -             -             - 

34,  35,  43,  46,  118 

Commerce, 

-     134 

Committee  of  Vigilance, 

78 

Commonacfo, 

-      39 

1    Conduct  of  Royal  Troops, 

-  79,  102 
*-            -      22 

1 

1|   Controversy, 

m 

1 

300 


INDEX. 


Counsellors  at  Tiaw, 
Culture  of  Youth, 

Danvers,  commencement  of 

Danvers  Family,    - 

Dark  Day,         -  -  - 

Daughters  of  Rechab, 

Deaths,  -  -  - 

Devil's  Dishful,      - 

District,  New  Mills, 

District  of  Danvers, 

Earthquakes,    -  -  33, 

Ecclesiastical,  1st  Parish,   - 
2d       do. 
'  1st  Baptist, 

'  1st  Universalist, 

'  Unitarian, 

'  Methodist, 

'  2d  Univ'ersalist, 

'  Comeouters, 

'  2d   Baptist, 

'  3d  Congregational 

'  Wesley  an, 

'  Quakers, 

Effort  for  a  town, 
Effort  to  divide  Essex  Co., 
Endicott  Pear  Tree, 
English  Prize  Vessels, 
Errata,       -  -  - 

Escape  of  the  Constitution. 
Faneiul  Hall  Convention, 
Fast  Day,         -  -  - 

Female  Benevolent  Society, 
Fire  Department, 
Fires,         -  -  - 

First  child  born  at  New   Mills, 
First  officers  of  Danvers, 
First  Rate  payers  in  Village  Paris 
First  school  teacher  at  New  Mills, 
Fish,  -  -  - 

J   Flying  Horse, 


. 

. 

150 

- 

- 

35 

. 

. 

56 

. 

57 

,  67 

.. 

. 

98 

. 

. 

136 

. 

. 

156 

. 

. 

131 

. 

. 

66 

- 

- 

50 

M,  35,  36, 

38,  43 

,  67 

222 

265, 

^266 

-   238 

267, 

268 

. 

. 

246 

- 

249 

. 

. 

251 

. 

253 

. 

. 

254 

- 

256 
257 

258 

- 

-  ■ 

258 
259 

36, 

43,50 

,  55 

-  • 

42 

- 

- 

25 
123 

- 

17 

,  50 
122 

- 

. 

73 

„ 

-  3J 

.,  42 

. 

- 

135 
135 

- 

- 

119 
61 

.     . 

. 

53 

5h,  - 

49 

• 

170 

. 

19 

.     . 

. 

39 

m-^ 

— — — .9 

INDEX. 

301 ' 

Fort,    -             -             -             . 

123 

Free  Masons,          -             -             . 

-     135 

Gage's  Removal, 

79 

Gage's  Soldiers,     -             -             - 

79,  80,  102,  103 

General  Description, 

14 

Grantees,   -             -             -             - 

27,  48 

Grant  from  Legislature, 

47 

Grant  of  Natimkeik, 

-      18 

Graveyards,        -             -             - 

156 

1    Highways,                -        •     . 

61,  62 

Highway  Troubles, 

61 

Hills, 

14 

Horse  Pasture, 

-      32 

Houses,                 -             .             - 

54 

Hutchinson's  Prjiost, 

56 

Incorporation  of  Danvers, 

-    56 

Incorporation    of  New  Mill  Dist.,     - 

63 

Indian 'Expedition, 

33 

Indians,  (Naumkeik.) 

-    19 

Insects,                 -                  -                  , 

34,  43,  101 

Instructions  to  Dr.  Holten, 

-     80 

Instructions  to  Rep.  in  1783, 

100 

Instructions  relative  to  Stamp  Act, 

.     69 

Insurance  Company,    - 

134 

Iron  Factory, 

65 

King  George's  Whipping  Post, 

100 

Lament  of  the  Bats, 

-     268 

Latitude  and  Longitude,     - 

9 

Lexington  Battle, 

86,  105,  106,  107 

Long  Hair,         ... 

34 

Lynn  vs.  Danvers, 

113 

Manufactures,     - 

128 

Marriages,     -               - 

156 

jMechanic  Institute, 

135 

Men  slain  by  Indians, 

36 

Men  slain  and  wounded  at  Lcxingion, 

90 

Military, 

35,  36,  97, 154 

Mill  River, 

25 

Mills, 

65 

las'— ^^ ■ — — 

< 

"^               -  ■'  ■■ 

9 

§K3 

302                                               INDEX. 

Moderators  of  Annual  Meetings, 

• 

125 

Monument, 

, 

0- 

, 

162 

Mortality, 

• 

. 

42 

Nahumkiek — extent  of 

, 

^ 

• 

19 

Name  Danvers,  origin,  &c. 

, 

57 

,  67 

Names  Indian  and  Ancient, 

17, 

19,  25,  47 

,48 

Natural  Divisions, 

• 

.    10,  IS 

M7 

Newspapers, 

. 

. 

. 

156 

Non  Importation  Agreement,  Town 

Action, 

74 

North  Bridge  Affair, 

. 

.  • 

82, 

104 

Odd  Fellows, 

. 

136 

Orchard  Farm,     . 

, 

, 

24,  47 

Ore, 

, 

c 

),  34 

Origin  of  Salem, 

. 

. 

• 

IS 

Physicians, 

^ 

^ 

151 

Plants,  &c.. 

, 

, 

^ 

13 

Ponds, 

J 

^ 

16 

Poor  House, 

. 

. 

134 

Population, 

J 

19,  54, 

159 

Post  Offices, 

. 

^ 

, 

131 

Preface, 

, 

3 

Preparation  for  War, 

, 

, 

• 

81 

Prices  in  1779, 

. 

. 

97 

Quakers, 

^ 

. 

. 

22 

Quaker's  Apology, 

, 

, 

105 

Quakers  obliged  to  support 

Rev., 

. 

. 

99 

Railroad, 

• 

118 

Rebuke  of  Late  War, 

9 

. 

. 

113 

Rebuke  of  Mexican  War, 

, 

120 

Rechabites, 

^ 

. 

. 

135 

Remarkable  Cows, 

. 

. 

133 

Remarkable  Weather,    34, 

35,  36, 

38,  39,  43,  46, 

67, 

100, 

101,  113 

120 

Representatives, 

, 

, 

^ 

123 

Repudiation  of  England, 

, 

, 

81 

Resolutions  on  Liberty, 

• 

^ 

. 

75 

Richard  Skidmore, 

. 

• 

104 

Road  Peliiion, 

^ 

. 

. 

37 

Rum  Bridge, 

• 

• 

50 

Ryall  Side, 

'- n.» \ \ 

• 

• 

• 

39^ 

>£JJU 

INDEX. 


303 


Salem  Village  Dispute,            _   . 

• 

24 

Salem  Village  Grant, 

23 

Scarcity,                   .                 .        21, 

22, 

33,  34 

,35,  112 

Schools, 

144,  170 

Settlement  of  Danvers, 

• 

.       23 

Settlement  of  Naumkiek, 

18 

Settlement  of  New  Mills, 

, 

60,68 

Shay's  Rebellion, 

111 

Ship  built  by  Dr.  Calef, 

• 

94,  110 

Ships  of  Revolution, 

111 

Size  of  Danvers, 

, 

.      10 

Skelton's  Neck, 

27,48 

Slavery, 

. 

140 

Small  Pox, 

, 

34 

,  96, 119 

Soil, 

, 

9,  17 

Soldiers  of  Lexington,            .     102, 

105, 

106, 

107,  204 

Soldiers  of  the  Revolution, 

, 

109 

Sons  of  Temperance, 

, 

.       135 

Southvvick,  Edward, 

• 

129 

Stamp  Act, 

. 

69 

Streams, 

, 

13 

Streets  &c., 

, 

.       147 

Survivors  of  Revolution, 

. 

110 

Tanning,  origin  of            -              *;- 

. 

129 

Taxes,     - 

-     126 

Tax  on  Dogs, 

. 

119 

Tea, 

43 

,  75, 

100,  167 

Temperance,  sketch  of,     - 

137 

Town  Clerks, 

• 

.     124 

Town  of  Wihon, 

«i 

-      46 

Town  Watch, 

m 

91 

Trees, 

- 

-       10 

Vote  against  dancing, 

^ 

82 

Vote  recommending  Independence, 

• 

95,  96 

White  Weed, 

. 

47 

Witchcraft,    - 

m 

271 

Wreck  of  the  Glide, 

- 

.      153 

Zeal  of  Ministers, 

m 

78 

m 


^^ 


304 


INDEX, 


PLATES. 


Arms  of  the  Danvers  Family, 
Bell  Tavern  and  Monument, 
Bowditch  House, 
Collins  House, 
Endicott  Pear  Tree, 
Parris  House, 


60 
170 
219 
103 

L>6 
270 


S-9 


s^V^ 


LIBRARY  OF  CONGRESS 


p 

1 

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