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THE
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL,
IVIASSACHUSE-n-S,
FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT, IN 1640,
TO THE "S-E.A-1^ I860,
BY GEORGE WINGATE CHASE,
Member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society ; Cor. Mem. of the 'Wisconsin Historical Society ; Author of a Digest of Masonic Law, &c.
Home of my fathers ' * * * * O never may a son of thine, — Where'er his wandering steps incline, — Forget the sky that bent above His boyhood, like a dream of love.
— Whittiee.
HAVERHILL : PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOE.
1861
f1%
>^5
C^
Entebed according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, by
GEORGE WINGATE CHASE,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
STONE 4 HUSE,
BOOK PRINTERS,
21 Central St., Lowell, Mass.
I'REF^CE.
The earnest and frequent demand for a new History of Haverhill^ induced the compiler of tlie following pages to enter upon the task of its preparation, and in February, (12th) 1859, public notice to that effect was given through the columns of the local press. The original design was to include the history of the town from its first settlement, in 1640, to January, 1860, in one octavo volume, of about five hundred pages; but twelve months of almost constant application to the work, revealed such a mass of valuable and interesting material, that a proposition was made to the town, at its annual March meeting, in 1860 —
" To see if the town will make an appropriation toward the publication of a History of the town, and if so, how much, as requested by Geo. W. Chase."
The proposition met with a most hearty approval, as may be seen from the following extract from the town records : —
" It was unanimously voted, That the sum of five hundred dollars be appropriated and paid to Geo. W. Chase toward a publication of a History of this town, said money to be paid at times and in sums at -the discretion of the selectmen ; — provided, that not more than one hundred dollars shall be paid until five hundred pages of the proposed History is prWted ; and 'provided also, that the -price of the book, in good substantial binding, shall not exceed two dollars per copy."
Encouraged by this generous aid, given, as it was, with entire unanimity, the work was pushed forward with all possible despatch ; and, early in the following December, the first pages went to press. Various causes have
rendered the work of printing much more protracted than was eipected^ or could have been foreseen, but it is believed that the value of the book has been increased rather than diminished, through the corrections and numerous additions permitted by the delay.
In the preparation of this History of his native town, the compiler has endeavored to collect his material from the most reliable sources, and, in nearly every case where practicable, has recorded the facts in the exact language in which they were found, or were received. It has been his endeavor that each and every "quotation" introduced may be safely relied upon as literally correct, believing that thereby not only will the reader's interest in no wise be diminished, but the historical value of the work will be greatly increased.
In many instances, particularly during the earlier years of our history, minor incidents and matters are mentioned. This has been done cither to illustrate the manners, customs, &c., of the early inhabitants, or for the purpose of introducing the names of persons in town, rather than for any interest or value in the incidents themselves. The frequent introduction of lists of names, has, in many instances, been intended as an aid to those particularly interested in genealogy, rather than as items of interest to the general reader.
In a work like the present, where so much dependence is of necessity placed upon traditions, — often vague and indistinct, or confused and conflicting, — and abounding in names, dates, and figures, it is hardly possible to avoid errors. It is hoped and believed, however, that the following pages will compare favorably in this respect with other similar works ; — more or less than this could not well b6 expected.
As it was impossible to include within the limits of a single volume all that might be classed as local history, or of local interest ; and as the general history of the town, for the last half a century, is already comparatively well preserved by the local newspapers, as well as by living memories ; less space has been devoted to the latter period than might, perhaps, be considered as its just proportion. A desire to preserve the traditions and incidents fast receding from our sight in the dim twilight
■of the past, must plead onr excuse, if excuse be necessary, for this seeming partiality for matters relating to "ye olden time."
In the preparation of this work, a large amount of valuable and interesting material has been gathered, which could not well be used. This will be carefully preserved, and every opportunity to add to the stock will be as carefully improved. Its ultimate disposal cannot now be indicated with any degree of certainty.
To name the many who have directly or indirectly aided the compiler in his labors, would greatly exceed the space allowed for the present purpose. To one and all of them, we would return our hearty acknowledgments. We cannot, however, forbear to mention, specially, — ^ Hon. James H. Duncan, for his active exertions in securing the above mentioned appropriation by the town in our favor, and for his many other acts of kindness and liberality ; George Johnson, Esq., of Bradford, for his generous donation of fifty dollars for the same purpose; Benjamin Bradley, Esq., of Boston, for his proposal to bind one hundred copies of the book, gratuitously ; A. W. Thayer, Esq., of Northampton, John Bartlett, Esq., of Eoxbury, and Eev. Gr. W. K^lley, of this town, for special favors ; and Mr. Alfred Poor, of this town, (who has for several years devoted his whole time and attention to genealogy) for much valuable assistance.
With the hope that the book, — to the preparation of which so many pleasant hours have been devoted, — will be kindly received, this History i^ HaverhiU is now submitted to the public.
Mount Washington, Haverhill, ) r' w n
Septmnber 1, 1861. j" tr. W. U
LIST OE ILLUSTllATIONS.
TiETV OP Haverhill in 1820 Frontispiece^
Map of Haverhill • 16
Fac-Simile of Indian Deed 46
Eesidence of Charles Corliss GO
First Meeting-House 67
First Plan of the Town 104
Map of Haverhill and Adjacent Toavns 105
Second Meeting-House 177
Plan of Massachusetts Claim vs. N, H 287
" " New Hampshire Claim vs. Mass 292
" " Haverhill and Londonderry 290
Floating Islands 462
Portrait" of Piev, Henry Plummer 606
" " Hon. Bailey Bartlett 618
•' " " Israel Bartlett 620
** •* " Samuel Blodqett 621
" " " James H. Duncan 628
" " Capt. Nehemiah Emerson •. 630
" " Dr. EuFua Longley 636
" " David Marsh, Esq., 638
" ♦' Hon. Leonard White 650
CONTENTS.
Page.
CHAPTER I. Early Voyages — Discovery of Massachusetts 17
CHAPTER II. History op Puritanism — The Pilgrims 23
CHAPTER III. Settlements in Massachusetts, from 1620 to 1640 27
CHAPTER IV. Aboriginal Inhabitants 30
CHAPTER V. Settlement of Haverhill, 1640 35
CHAPTER VI. Prom 1643 to 1649 55
CHAPTER VII. Erom 1650 to 1659 ." 70
CHAPTER VIII. Erom 1660 to 1669 91
CHAPTER IX. From 1670 to 1675 113
CHAPTER X. Indian Troubles— 1675 to 1678 123
CHAPTER XL Erom 1675 to 1688 130
CHAPTER XII. Indian Troubles — 1688 to 1695 148
CHAPTER XIII. Erom 1695 to 1700 179
CHAPTER XIV. Indian Troubles — 1700 to 1710 204
Till
CHAPTER XV. From 1710 to 1722 234
CHAPTER XVI. Indian Troubles— 1713 to 1725 ■. 2G0
CHAPTER XVIL From 1720 TO 1728 265
CHAPTER XVIII. The Boundary Difficulties of 1720 to 1759 286
CHAPTER XIX.
From 1729 to 1741 302
CHAPTER XX.
From 1 742 to 1 765 320
CHAPTER XXI. The French War — 1756 to 1763 340
CHAPTER XXII. The Revolution — 1765 to 1783 362
CHAPTER XXIII. From 1765 to 1790 o • 426
CHAPTER XXIV. From 1790 to 1800 ^^^
CHAPTER XXV. From 1800 to 1815 ^71
CHAPTER XXVI. From 1815 to 1840 ^^^
CHAPTER XXVII.
From 1840 to 1860 ^^3
CHAPTER XXVIII. Manupacturb of Shoes and Hats — Improvements 532
CHAPTER XXIX. Ecclesiastical History ^*'
CHAPTER XXX. Biography and Genealogy "^^
CHAPTER XXXI. Miscellaneous
INTKOIDUOTION.
The town of Haverhill, Esses County, Massacliusetts, is situated on the northerly side of the Merrimack, — the fourth in size, hut perhaj^sthc most beautiful river in New England, — about eighteen miles from its mouth. The principal village is twenty -nine miles from Boston, twenty-two from Salem, fourteen from Xewburyport, eighteen from Lowell, ninfe from Lawrence, and thirty from Portsmouth, Is". H. The town is bounded on the north by Salem, Atkinson, and Plaistow, N. H. ; on the east by Ames- bury ; on the south by the Merrimack river ; and on the west by Methuen. The northern line of the town is also the boundary line between the States of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The township, as originally pur- chased of the Indians, was fourteen miles in length, — six miles from the Little Eiver eastward, and eight miles from the same river westward, — and six miles in breadth. As first laid out by the General Court, in 1G67, it was nearly in the form of a triangle, extending upon the Merrimack about fifteen miles from Holt's Eocks westward, the northerly line running about the same distance due north-west from the above point, and the westerly line running due north and south. As thus laid out, the town included a large portion of the territory now forming the townships of Salem, Atkinson, Hampstead, and Plaistow, N. H., and Methuen, Mass. Since the running of the State line, in 1741, the bounds of the town have been the same as at present.
The township is now about nine miles in length, and three miles in breadth, and contains fifteen thousand two hundred acres, divided nearly as^follows : acres of land annually tilled, excluding orchards tilled, one thousand and eighty-six ; acres of orcharding of all kinds of fruits, three hundred and fifty-one; acres of upland mowing, excluding orcharding mowed, three thousand two hundred and twenty-six ; acres of orcharding mowed, two hundred and eighty-nine ; acres of fresh meadow, five hundred and thirteen ; acres of pasture-land, excluding orcharding pastured, six thousand one hundred and forty-seven ; acres of meadow, exclusive of pasture land inclosed, two thoijsand three hundred and forty-nine ; acres
of unimproved land, forty-three ; acres of land imimprovaWc, thirteen ; acres of land used for roads, five hundred and twenty-eight ; acres of land covered with water, one thousand one hundred and seven.
The soil is, generally, a rich friable loam, easily cultivated, and highly productive. But few towns can show so small a number of acres of unim- provable land, or of land of decidedly inferior equality. Many of the farms arc under a high state of cultivation, and will compare favorably with those of any other town in the Commonwealth. In an agricultural point of view, but few, if any, towns in the State, surpass this, either in regard to its capacity, or the developement of its i-esources.
Besides the Merrimack, which is included in the town, and which forms the entire southern bound of the town, there are three smaller streams, viz : Little Eiver, East Meadow Paver, and Creek Brook. Little River, so called to distinguish it from the " Great Eiver," has its principal source in Plaistow, X. H., enters Haverhill a little east of the Atkinson line, and flows nearly south, to the Merrimack, emptying into the latter at the principal village, and one-fourth of a mile west of the Haverhill bridge. This stream has several tributaries, the principal one of which is known as Fishing Eiver, taking its rise from the north-western extremity of Kenoza Lake, and flowing at first northerly into Plaistow, then gradually bending to the south-west, and entering the Little Eiver about one and a half miles from its mouth. There are several mills upon Little river, the largest of which is the flannel mill, long known as " Hale's Factory," and located on Winter street, about one-fourth of a mile from the mouth of the river. Upon the opposite side of the stream at this place, there was, for nearly two hundred years, a saw-mill, and the stream was most commonly known as " Sawmill Eiver." The last mill of the kind was taken down about twenty years since. About midway between this poinfr and the Merrimack, and near the small island, there was for many years a grist- mill, which also ceased operations about twenty years since. There is also a grist-mill on the stream, near the State line, which has been known these many years as " Clark's mill." A mill has been constantly located at this place for at least one hundred and fifty years.
Fishing River, — so named on account of the large quantities of ale- wives taken from it in former times, — is now used principally to conduct the surplus water of Kenoza Lake to the flannel factory, in the dry season. This privilege was gi-anted to Mr. Ezekiel Hale, jr., in 1835, who there- upon erected a flume at the outlet of the Lake, and deepened the bed of the stream, so that about six feet of water can now be easily drawn, as occasion may require. There was formerly, and for many years, a corn
mill upon ttis stream, situated about half a mile from its mouth. The first mill of the kind at that place, was erected by William Starlin, who subsequently sold it to Thomas Duston, from whom it descended to his son, Timothy Duston.
Jilast Meadoio River takes its rise in Newton, N. H., enters Haverhill about three-fourths of a mile east of Brandy Brow Hill, and flows nearly due south, to the Merrimack, emptying into the latter at " Cottle's Creek," — one mile below the Chain Ferry. There has long been a saw-mill and a grist-mill upon this stream, near the Amesbury line, known as "Peas- lee's Mills." The first mill at this place was erected by Joseph Peasly, in 1693, since which time the privilege has been almost, or quite, constantly in the possession of his descendants. There was formerly a saw-mill, grist- mill, and fulling-mill, about half a mile from the mouth of the stream. These were built by Anthony Chase (great-grandfather of the writer) , — the first in 1757, and the others a few years later, — and continued in operation for many years. There is also a grist-mill about one-fourth of a mile from the- Merrimack, — known as "Johnson's mill," — which was first built by Thomas Johnson, about 1790, or later. There was formerly a fulling-mill about one mile above the mills of Anthony Chase, which was erected by his son, John Chase, who carried on the business for many years.
Creeli Brooh, which runs from Creek Pond nearly due south to the Merrimack, carries two mills. The first, which is located at the outlet of the pond, was long operated as a grist-mill, but has recently been trans- formed into a hat factory. The other, — known these many years as "Bradley's Mill," — is a grist mill, and is located about fifty rods from the Merrimack.
There are four ponds in the town, three of them situated within a mile of the principal village, and within half a mile of each other.
Plug Pond, — formerly called " Ayer's Pond," from the fact that several persons of that name settled near its western end, and owned a large part of the adjoining land, — is the smallest of the four, and is situated about half a mile from the Merrimack, in a north-easterly direction from the village. It covers an area of about seventy acres. At its northern, south- ern, and western extremities, particularly the latter, the bottom is mostly covered with mud, which will perhaps account for its moderate stock of fish, as well as for the greenish and unpleasant appearance of its water during the latter part of the summer. At its southern point a dam, or " plug," has long existed, through which its surplus water is drawn to supply the mills on the brook connecting it with the Merrimack. Upon
Xll
this stream, known as " Mill Brook," there is at the present time a plaster- mill, a grist-mill, a hark-mill, ami a hat factory, with a variety of other machinery attached. Near its mouth is also located a steam saw-mill. The first corn-mill in the town was erected upon this* stream, as was also the first tannery, and fulling-mill. In its passage from the pond to the river, the Avatcr of this brook can be used for mill purposes at least five times, though we believe that four times is the most ever yet required of it.
Hound Pond is situated about one mile north of the Haverhill Bridge, and about half a mile north-westerly from Plug Pond. It covers an area of about eighty acres, and was formerly called "Belknap's Pond," and also " Little's Pond," from persons of that name who lived near it. With the exception of one small cove at its north-western extremity, the shores of this beautiful sheet of water are entirely free from mud, and show its bottom to be a clean gravel. There is not a single living stream, large or small, seeking outlet into the pond, but it is, with the exception of what water may be turned into it from the gently sloping hills surrounding it, entirely supplied by subterranean springs. From this pond, by means of an acqueduct, the central village is mostly supplied with pure, cold, soft water, for domestic purposes. The water in the pond is about one hundred and fifty feet above that of the Merrimack, and is well stocked with pickerel and perch. The natural outlet to the pond was to the south-west into the Little Piver, through which salmon, and other fish, passed up into the "pond, in the appropriate season, to deposit their spawn. The direction of this outlet was long ago artificially changed, — toward the Plug Pond, — so as to secure the surplus water for the mills upon Mill Brook. Within a few years, the Acqucduct Company have purchased the original mill privilege upon the latter stream, and the above outlet has been discontinued.
Great Pond, or, as it has recently been re-named, "Kenoza Lake," is situated about one and a half miles from Haverhill Bridge, in a north- easterly direction, and about one-third of a mile east of Bound Pond. It covers an area of about three hundred acres, and is the largest sheet of water in the town. The water, which in some places is fifty feet in depth, is about one hundred and fifty feet above the bed of the Merrimack, and abounds with the finest pickerel, — hence the new name, "Kenoza," sig- nifying "pickerel." The only outlet from this miniature lake, is the Fishing lliver, already mentioned, through which large numbers of salmon and alcwivcs formerly passed into the pond. White perch, of the finest flavor, once inhabited the waters of this pond, but have now nearly disap-
XlU
peared. The woods "bordering the pond were long the retreat of various kinds of game, and the favorite hunting ground of sportsmen. The heau- tiful point of land near the north-eastern extremity of this pond, has long been a popular place of resort for parties of pleasure. Since 1807, the inhabitants of the town have, by purchase, enjoyed the unrestricted right to occupy the grounds for that purpose.
Creeh Pond is situated in the West Parish, about three miles north- west from the principal village, and covers an area of about two hundred and fifty acres. The shores, which are quite irregular, exhibit some really beautiful scenery, and there are many fine farms in the neighborhood. The waters of the pond are remarkably clear and transparent, and the bottom is for the most part even and sandy. The pond has long been a favorite resort for those who delight to style themselves disciples of Izaak "Walton. The outlet to the pond was formerly one of the most productive of our alewive fisheries, and was one of the last that ceased to be profitable.
There are several prominent hills in the town, but none which can be dignified with the title of mountains. Among them may be named Golden Hill, Silver Hill, Turkey Hill, Brandy Brow Hill, and the Great Hill. The hills are all of gentle ascent, and capable of profitable and easy culti- vation to their summits.
There are no chains of hills in the town, the eminences being, in nearly every case, detached, aff"ording from their summits the view of an unob- structed and complete circle of charming landscape. There are no craggy peaks, or barren ledges, but the view from valley and hill-top can hardly be surpassed for its quiet, unpretending loveliness.
Golden Hill, which rises upward of three hundred and twenty-five feet above the river, is situated about one mile east of Haverhill bridge, and its base is about twenty rods from the Merrimack. The prospect from its brow is extensive and picturesque. The beautiful island, — long known as Clement's Island, — with its fringe of delicately variegated foliage, and its smooth, green carpet ; the quiet, rural villages of Grove- land, and Bradford, with their snow-white cottages, and well cultivated meadows ; and the more extensive village of Haverhill, with its long line of substantial manufactories ; are in full view, and, with their rural environments, combine to form a picture of extraordinary beauty. This hill was originally called "Golding's Hill," from a person of that name who owned, or lived near it.
Silver mil, or " Silver's Hill," — so called from a former owner — is situated about three-fourths of a mile west of Haverhill bridge, and is
XIV
also plainly seen from the central village. It rises gradually from the Merrimack, which flows past its southern base, to the height of about three hundred feet. The view from its summit is exceedingly beautiful. Before us, and almost at our very feet, lies the pleasant village of Haverhill, with its twelve hundred dwelling houses, its one hundred shoe manufactories, and its eleven churches. Its natural situation is uncommonly fine. Built upon a gentle acclivity, the houses rise one above anotlier in such regular order that nearly every one can be counted. The Merrimack, dotted here and there with a variety of craft, from the light and trembling skiff to the heavy gondola, — and the still more imposing and majestic moving ocean craft with their broad white sails, and tall masts overshadowing the water, — and spanned with its bridges, flows calmly at its base, not in one straight, monotonous course, but with a gentle meandering, of which the eye can never tire. Accross the river are seen the smoothly rounded hills, the green and fertile fields, and the pleasant villages of Bradford and Groveland. To the south rises the hills of Andover, with their wooded slopes dotted here and there with neat white farm-houses. A little to the west, the tall spires, just peeping above the hills, point out the where- abouts of the city which sprang into existence almost like Jonah's gourd, — the city of Lawrence. A little further still to the west, and the same signs indicate the spot long ago settled by the hardy sons of Haverhill, — the village of Methuen. In the dim distance beyond, enveloped in its misty blue, can be traced the outline of Mount "Wachusett. Still further toward the west, — as if it were not well the eye should roam too far, — the " Scotland " and "West Meadow" hills shut out the more distant view beyond ; — but not until we have caught sight of the tall peaks of the Grand Monadnock. Sweeping toward the north, we have a view of the thrifty farms of the AVest Parish, with the granite hills of New Hampshire in the background. To the north, the eye rests upon a fine succession of green fields and wooded slopes, marking a section of the town which suffered the most severely from the atrocities of the murderous savages. There the brave and resolute Hannah Bradley was twice taken captive ; there the lion-hearted Hannah Duston was captured, but not conquered, — and there stands her monument; there the heroic Thomas Duston defied the murderous tomahawk to harm the humblest of his little flock. There, too, upon that .gentle slope, the brave Captain Ayer, and his little band, boldly attacked the retreating foe, iipon the memorable 29th of August, 1708. From this summit might have been heard the war whoop, and have been seen the gleaming tomahawk, in nearly every attack made upon the inhabitants of Haverhill by the savages. The
XV
valley of the Little Kiver, (or Indian River, as it was also once called) of -whicli tlie section just mentioned forms a part, is here seen in all its beauty, as it stretches with its charming succession of hill, and* dale, and meadow, from the Merrimack far back among the granite hills of our sister State. This view alone is well worth a visit to the broad summit of "Silver Hill.
Turkey Hill, or, rather, the "Turkey Hills," is the irregular group of hills, near, and north of, the East Parish meeting-house. From the south- eastern brow of the principal hill, a fine view is had of the valley of the Merrimack, for several miles. From the summit of JoVs Hill, which is situated a short distance directly north of the Turkey Hills, a charming view of the East Meadow river and valley is obtained. These meadows were the most valuable, as well as most extensive in the town, and were highly prized by the early settlers.
Brandy Brow Hill, — so named from the accidental breaking of a bottle of that traditional liquor upon its summit, — is a hill of moderate elevation in the extreme northern part of the town. Upon the brow of this hill is a large rock, which stands at the corner of four towns, — Haverhill, Plaistow, Amesbury and Newton. The vicinity of this hill was long noted for the abundance and excellence of its pine timber.
Great Hill is the name applied to the highest elevation of laud in the town, and is situated one mile north of Kenoza Lake. This hill, which rises three hundred and thirty-nine feet above the level of the ocean, and is the second highest land in Essex County, is the most prominent of a group of hills, which, as seen from the west and north, appear quite near each other, and were early known as The Great Hills. The view from the summit of this hill is the most extensive and interesting of the many similar views to be obtained in the town. Portions of more than twenty towns in Massachusetts, and nearly or quite as many in New Hampshire, are easily distinguished by the naked eye. To the east stretches the broad Atlantic, whose deep blue waters, dotted with the white wings of com- merce, are plainly seen, from the G-reat Boar's Head to Cape Ann. Near its edge, and partially hidden from our sight by Pipe Stave Hill, in New- bury, are seen the spires, and many of the houses of the city of Newbury- port. To the right, the eye can distinctly trace the outline of Cape Ann, from Castle Neck to Halibut Point. "With the aid of a glass, several villages upon the Cape are made visible. As we sweep around from east to south, nearly all the most prominent hills in "Essex North" can be distinctly seen, and easily identified. To the south and south-west, por- tions of the villages of Groveland, Bradford, Haverhill, North Andover,
XVI
Andover, and Methuen, and the city of Lawrence, can be seen, peeping above the intervening hills. To the south-west, the "Wachusett ; to the west, the Monadnock ; and to the north, the Decrfield mountains, are easily distinguished. To the north-west, the village of Atkinson, with its cele- brated Academy, is spread out in bold relief To the north-east, is seen the top of Powow Hill, in Salisbury — so named from its having been the place selected by the Indians for their great "pow-wows," long before a white man gazed upon the waters of the Merrimack from its summit. Turning again to the south, we notice, almost at our feet, the beautiful Lake Kcnoza, glistening in the sun~iik6 a diamond encompassed by emer- alds. Once viewed, the memory of this lovely landscape scene will never be effaced, —
" the faithful sight Engraves the image, with a beam of light."
I«^
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
CHAPTER I.
EARLY VOYAGES. DISCOVERY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Though the Western Continent bears the name of a later voyager, the honor of its discovery has been generally conceded to Christopher Colum- bus. But, from the evidence published by the Northern Antiquarian Society, at Copenhagen, in 1837, and which seems entitled to confidence, it would appear that the Western World was discovered by the Northmen, several centuries before the time of Columbus.
About the year 986, one Biorne, or Biarne, a Norwegian, in sailing from Iceland to Greenland, lost his reckoning in dense fogs. When the weather became clear, he found himself sailing northeasterly, with low and wooded land on his left. Continuing the same course nine days, he arrived at Greenland, reaching it in an opposite direction from that in which he commenced his voyage.
Fourteen years afterwards, Leif, with a single vessel and thirty-five men, sailed from Greenland in quest of the land discovered by Biorne. He found it and named it Helluland. Proceeding southwardly, he came to a land well wooded and level, which he called Marldand. Thence sail- ing northeasterly two days, he reached an island, where he lauded, built huts, and wintered. Having found grapes in its woods, he named it Vin- land, or Wineland.
On his return to Greenland, Leif gave over his vessel to his brother Thorwald, who sailed in 1003, to explore the new country. He win- tered at Yinland, and the next summer found several uninhabited islands. After another winter, he sailed to the eastward and then to the north, where he was killed by the natives. After passing a third winter at Vinland, his companions returned to Greenland,
In 1007, Thorfiun, with three vessels and a hundred and sixty men,
18 HISTORY OF IIAVKRHILL.
sailed from Greenland to Vinland to found a colony. He touched at Hell- ulaud and ^Marldand, and, steering south, came to a bay extending into the country, with an island at its entrance. Southwesterly from this Island, they entered a river and passed up into a lake upon whose banks wheat and vines grew wild. Here they found natives, of a sallow com- plexion, with large, ill-formed faces, and shaggy hair, who came about them in canoes. Several conflicts with the savages caused Thorfinn to give up his project of colonization and return to Greenland.
There are also accounts of two more voyages to Vinland within the next three or four years, and it is claimed that communication between the two countries was not entirely discontinued before the middle of the fourteenth century.
The name Helluland is supposed to have been given to what is now called Labrador, or to Newfoundland ; MarJdand to Nova Scotia, and Vinland to Khode Island and the southeastern part of Massachusetts.
There are also traditions, with important corroberation, of a voyage in 1170, by Madoc, a Welshman ; of the Yenitian brothers Zeni, in 1390 ; of John Vas Cortereal, a Portugese, in 1463 ; and of Szkolney, a Pole, in 1476.
The existence of this continent may possibly, therefore, have been known to the civilized world before the voyage of Columbus, in 1492 ; but by him conjecture and doubt were converted into certainty, and all illu- sions dispelled. The news of his discovery of a " New "World," and the glowing descriptions of its wealth, awakened the liveliest enthusiasm throughout Europe, and gave a fresh impulse to maratime adventure.
In 1497, John and Scbastin Cabot sailed from England with three hundred men, in two ships, — touched at Iceland, — and, sailing west, came unexpectedly upon the coast of Labrador, or Newfoundland. After sail- ing along the coast as far south as Maine, and perhaps Massachusetts, they returned to England. These discoveries of the Cabots gave to Eng- land her claims to this part of North America ; but, for various reasons, only a few voyages were undertaken by the English for the next half century.
In 1;")24, John Verazzano. a Florentine, in the service of France, sailed along the shore from the 34th to near the 50th degree of north latitude. He entered Hudson's River, sailed up Narragansett Bay, for fifteen days lay at anchor iu the harbor of what is now called Newport, whore his ves- sel was freely visited by the natives ; kept the coast of Maine in sight for fifty leagues, and visited as far north as Nova-Scotia.
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 19
Before the voyage of Verazzano was known in Spain, Stephen Gomez had sailed for the new world. He made the coast of Newfoundland and sailed along the country southwardly, as far as the capes of the Delaware, passing through Long Island Sound.
In 1535, Jaques Cartier sailed up the St. Lawrence, and, in 1540, he built a stockade on the hill at Quebec.
Fifty years after the discovery of America by Columbus, no permanent settlements had been made in New England or to the north. The French had commenced a lucrative fur trade in Canada, and the cod fisheries of Labrador and Newfoundland were already extensive, (in 1577 they em- ployed nearly three hundred and fifty vessels) , but in all New England not a white family was settled — not a white child had been born,
jBut, by the opening of the seventeenth century, the thirst for dis» covery was fully enkindled, and colonization efi'orts were more seriously entertained.
In 1602, Bartholomew Gosnold sailed from Falmouth, in England, with thirty-two men in a small bark, and in forty-nine days made the coast of New Hampshire, or perhaps Maine. The next day, he discovered a " mighty headland," which, from the large quantity of cod-fish caught in the vicinity, he named " Cape Cod." Here he landed and explored the coast to the south. On a "rocky ilet," in the western part of what is now Cuttyhinh he resolved to make a settlement ; and, after three weeks' labor, a cellar was dug and house erected-- ; but scarcity of provisions and troubles with the Indians, induced him to abandon the idea of a setr tlement, and he sailed for England.
Gosnold's favorable descriptions of the country were incentives to further enterprise, and the next year William Brown, with two vessels and forty-two men and boys, made land near the mouth of the Penobscot, and ranging the coast to the southwest, they passed the islands of Casco Bay, the Saco, Kennebunk, York and Piscataqua rivers, sailed by Cape Ann, crossed Massachusetts Bay, and, rounding Cape Cod, came to an- chor in what is now Edgarton or Oldtown harbor.
In 1605, George Weymouth arrived on the coast near Cape Cod, and sail- ing northward about fifty leagues, anchored at Monhegan, or vicinity, where he remained several weeks trading with the natives and exploring the country. Before he left, he- kidnapped five of the natives, whom he hurried into bondage. About the same time, Poutrincourt, a Frenchman,
' The spot where Gosnold erected his house was identified by a party of Antiquarians in 1817. — " N. Am. Review " : V.— 813.
20 HISTORY OF IIATERHILL,
examined the shores of Maine and Massachusetts as far as Cape Cod, "but the unfriendly disposition of the natives discouraged him from further undertaking.
In 1606, Sir John Popham, Sir Ferdinando Georges and others, having procured a grant from King James for two plantations on the Atlantic coast, formed two companies — the London and the Plymouth — and soon after, the London company sent three ships with one hundred and five colonists to the coast of Virginia, where they effected a settlement which they called Jamestown. About the same time, the Plymouth company sent two ships with over one hundred landsmen, under Kaleigh Gilbert and George Popham, but the result was an unfortunate colony at the Sag- adahoc, which continued only until the next year. This checked, for a season, the ardor of the company.
Meanwhile, discoveries had been made, under the auspices of the Dutch, of the Housatonic, Thames and Connecticut Rivers, and upon the Hudson, and a trading house had been established near Albany.
The earliest notice we find of the river ^Merrimack, is through the Sieur De Monts, who wrote from the banks of the St. Lawrence, in 1 604, thus : " The Indians tell us of a beautiful river, far to the south, which they call the Merrimack." Its abundant fisheries, and fertile planting grounds, were the scenes of Indian story, and the theme of Indian praise, at that early date. The next year, the Sieur De Champlain discovered the Mer- rimack. Its position was marked out for him with a coal, upon a board, by some Indians whom he met upon the beach, near the point of land at the west mouth of the Piscataqua river. This was June 16th. The next day, Champlain sailed along the coast to the southward, and discovered the river, as the Indian had laid it down. He named it " Eiviere du Gas." The same Indian gave him to understand that there were six tribes of Indians on the coast, or on the river, under as many chiefs.
The river was called MeiTiraack by the northern Indians ; probably from Merriih (strong), and Anke (a place) — a strong place ; or a place of strong currents. The strong and rapid current which met them at the mouth of the river, as they entered it with their frail canoes from the northward, would naturally be the most prominent thing to excite their attention, and lead them to couple it with the name of the river. The Massachusetts Indians called the river Monomac'k, from Mona, (an island) and Anhe (a place) — the Island Place, or A Place of Islands. By some, the latter name is derived from sturgeon, large quantities of which were taken by the Indians, and also by the early English settlers,
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 2^1
But a new era in the annals of New England begins with the voyage of Captain John Smith, in 1614. With two vessels and forty-nine men and hoys, he sailed from ^London, in March, and in a few weeks arrived at Monhegan. While his men fished. Smith ranged the coast in an open boat making noted discoveries. In this voyage, the coast was explored from Penobscot to Cape Cod, within which bounds, he says: "I have seen, at least, forty several habitations upon the sea coast, and sounded about twenty-five excellent good harbors." He speaks of the coast of Massa- chusetts as " planted with gardens and cornfields, and so well inhabited with a goodly, strong, and well-proportioned people, '•■' =•'■= I can
but approve this a most excellent place, both for health and fertility. And of all the four parts of the world I have yet seen, not inhabited, could I but have means to transport a colony, I would rather live here than any where. =•' =■•' Here are many isles, all planted with corn,
groves, mulberies, salvage gardens' ' and good harbors ; and the sea coast as you pass, shows you cornfields, and great troupes of well proportioned people." Smith acted honorably with the natives, but his companion, Hunt, whom he left behind, copied the vile example of Weymouth, and kidnapping upwards of twenty of the natives, sailed for Malaga, where a part (at least) were sold as slaves. This barbarous act, says Mather, " was the unhappy occasion of the loss of many a man's estate and life, which the barbarians did from thence seek to destroy ; and the English, in consequence of this treachery, were constrained for a time to suspend their trade, and abandon their project of a settlement in New Eng- land."
In 1618, Georges, who was still anxious to settle a colony, sent out a vessel in charge of Capt. Thos. Dermer, and also sent with him one of the natives who had been carried to England, and who had acquired a smatter- ing of the language. After sending his vessel back laden with furs, Dermer embarked in an open pinnance of five tons, taking with him Tis- quantum, or Squanto,f the native above-mentioned, and " searching every harbor, and compassing every capeland," he arrived at what is now called Plymouth. This was his " savage's native country," and near here he held a friendly conference with two native kings| from Pockanokit. From this place Dermer, passing the Dutch settlement at Manhattan, con-
"~- Savage gardens.
t Who subsequently became the friend and interpreter of the Pilgrims.
X Massasoit and his brother Quadequina, who soon after extended a hospitable reception to the Ply- Diunth colonists.
22 HISTORY OP HAVERniLL
tinued on to Virginia. This journey of Dermer preceded the landing of the Pilgrims but little more than a year, and was an important addition to the knowledge of the country.
No colony had as yet been planted upon the territory of Massachusetts, though colonies were established in Canada and Newfoundland, and the Dutch had established trading posts in the " New Netherlands," where they were conducting a lucrative trade in furs. It was left for a religious impulse to accomplish what commercial enterprise had attempted without success. Civilized New England is the child of English Puritanism, and a history of its early settlement involves, at least in part, a history of Puritanism in England.
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 23
CHAPTER II.
HISTORY OF PURITANISM. THE PILGRIMS.
At the time Columbus discovered the New World, nearly ail Christian Europe was under the dominion of the church of Eome. The pope was the recognized head of that church, and the fountain of all power, both spiritual and temporal.
England was Catholic, and for hundreds of years had been the vassal of Eome. When Luther kindled the fires of the Eeformation, the reign- ing monarch of England denounced him as the chief of heretics ; wrote in defence of the seven sacraments ; and was rewarded with the flattering title "Defender of the Faith."
But in twenty years from the day Luther burned the bull of pope Leo before the gates of Wittemberg, his view had spread over a large part of Europe, and Protestantism had assumed its distinctive position. The reformation had gained a foothold ; the assumptions of Pome had been publicly spurned, and a host of determined opponents of the supreme and unlimited authority of the pope had sprung into existence. Even the " Defender of the Faith " had experienced a change, and when Clement VII refused to decree his divorce, the monarch renounced his allegiance to the Roman See, abrogated the authority of the pope in his realm, and assumed the title of " Supreme Head of the Church of England."
But it was only a transfer of the tiara from the Tiber to the Thames ; and, in four years after, an act was passed " abolishing diversity of opinion,"" making the king's form of ortherdox doctrine a standard of be- lief, and punishing all teaching to the contrary, even to forfeiture of goods and burning at the stake. The king could burn as heretics the favorers of Protestantism, and hang as traitors the supporters of the pope.
The accession of Edward YI opened a brighter prospect. The thunder of The Bloody Statutes died away ; prisoners for heresy were set at lib- erty ; fugitives allowed to return ; the Bible in English was placed in every church, and soon The Six Articles were repealed. But soon fol- lowed the requiring of uniformity in public worship, by using the prescribed liturgy. All innovations were prohibited, under severe penal- ties, even to imprisonment for life.
o Known as the " Bloody Statutes," and the " Six Articles,"
24: HISTORY OF llAVElllIILL.
The accession of Mary still further eclipsed the star of Protestantism. Educated a Catholic, and filled with bigotry and pride, she re-established Catholicism with all its pageantry and creed, and let loose the fierce winds of persecution upon the favorers of Protestantism. The fires of Smith- field were kindled, and hundreds perished at the stake, while hundreds more, fortunate enough to escape, found in various places on the Continent an asylum from the violence raging at home.
Happily, the career of Mary was of short duration, and when Elizabeth ascended the throne, in 1558, the kingdom was once more, and pemia- nently, severed from the Papal see. The exiles returned, and those who had hid emerged from their concealment. But the Puritans, as they were now called, were soon satisfied that there was very little hope of a further reformation in religious aiTairs. The Act of Supremacy re(]^uired an oath of renunciation of the authority of any f6reign priest or prelate, and a recognition of the supremacy of the sovereign in all causes, ecclesias- tical and civil ; while the Act of Uniformity forbid the conducting of public worship otherwise than according to the rubric. Two hundred Catholics suffered death, and hundreds were imprisoned, and large num- bers of ministers Avcre punished for Non-covformity. But, instead of destroying, opposition only served to radicate their principles and increase their power. In all classes of society, Puritans were found ; and before the close of this reign, they began to return a majority in the House of Commons.
The accession of AVhitgift to the primacy, in 1583, was a severe blow to the dissentients. In one week, instructions were issued forbidding preaching, catechising and praying in any private family in presence of persons not belonging to it ; and to silence all preachers who had not re- ceived orders from episcopal hands, or who refused or neglected to read the whole service, or to wear the prescribed habit, or subscribe to the queen's supremacy, the " Thirty-nine Articles," and the "Book of Com- mon Prayer." In one year, two hundred and thirty-three ministers were suspended in six counties. A " Court of High Commission " was organ- ized, with power to " visit, reform, redress, order, correct and amend all errors, heresies, schisms, abuses, contempts, ofi^ences, and enormities what- soever." The law of England virtually declared England to be uninhabitable by non-conformists.""'
° Puritanism, ns an element of church politics, dntca from the time when Ilooper refused to be con- secrated in the ecclesiastical vestments, in 1550. In like manner, KorKonformity takes its date from the refusal of Bishop Coverdale and others to subscribe to the Liturgj' and other ceremonies, in 1563. Separatism soon followed, when several deprived ministers broke off from the public churches, audsepar- atcdin private houses.
HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 25
But the High Commission Court did not admit of opposition, except from such as were prepared for ruin. Many such appeared. Some suf- fered death, and many others long imprisonment and ruinous fines. But the seed scattered grew rapidly.
In 1593, there were four religious classes in England: 1. The Catho- lics, who adhered to the Church of Kome ; 2. The members of the English Church ; 3. The Puritans ; and 4. The Separatists, or Independents. Of the third class were the founders of the Massachusetts colony, and to the fourth belonged the settlers of Plymouth.
The Puritans were simply non-conformists. Connected with the national church, they questioned chiefly the propriety of some of her ob- servances. They submitted to her authority as far as they could, and acknowledged her as their Mother in all matters of doctrinal concern ; and, up to the date of their removal to America, they made no open seces- sion from her communion. Had liberty been allowed them, they would probably have continued in the land of their nativity and in the bosom of the Establishment.
The Plymouth colonists were not of the national church. Years before their expatriation, they had renounced her communion and formed churches of their own. Between them and the Massachusetts colonists, however, the differences were in matters of policy, rather than in articles of faith ; and, on their arrival in the New World, apart from the influen- ces of their native land, and under far difi"erent circumstances, a few years intercourse assimilated their views and cemented their union.
Such was the origin of Puritanism and Independency, We now pass to a brief notice of the church of the Pilgi'ims.
The church of the Pilgrims was first organized at Grainsborough, about 159.8, and was afterward formed into two bodies, the junior of which met at the house of William Brewster, in Scrooby, In July, 1604, a procla- mation was issued, commanding the Puritan clergy to conform before the last of November, or to dispose of themselves and families in some other way. In consequence of this edict, and the persecutions which followed it, the Independent churches at Gainsborough and Scrooby resolved to escape. The former was the first to depart, fleeing to Holland. The other tarried a little longer, hoping for a lull in the fierce storm ; but, finally, after many troubles, and two unsuccessful attempts to escape, in August, 1608, they arrived safely in Holland. For a few months, they sojourned at Am- sterdam, when they removed to Leyden, about forty miles distant. Here they lived in comparative peace. Others, from time to time, joined them, until they numbered about two hundred persons.
26 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL.
But ciglit years residence in a land of strangers, satisfied this little band that Holland could not be for them a permanent home ; and after long and anxious consideration, they resolved to remove to America. A grant was finally obtained from the Virginia company, and after many delays and perplexities, one hundred and twenty persons sailed from South- hampton, in two small vessels, — the Speedwell and the Mayflower. The former vessel proving leaky, they were obliged to abandon it, and one hundred and two embarked in the Mayflower. Their destination was to some point near Hudson's Eiver ; but after a stormy passage of sixty -four days, they came in sight of the white sand-banke of Cape Cod, when they tacked to stand to the southward. Becoming "entangled among roaring shoals," they retraced their course, and the next day came to anchor in what is now the roadstead of Provincetown. After a brief exploration of the adjacent country, the voyagers landed and commenced a settlement, which they called New Plymouth. The landing was made on Monday, December 11th, Old Style, upon what has long since been called Fore' fathers' Rock.
HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 27
CHAPTER III.
SETTLEMENTS IN MASSACHUSETTS FROM 1620 TO 1640.
The fame of the " plantation " at Plymouth soon spread through a large portion of England, exciting the deepest interest in the subject of colonization, and emigration soon began in earnest.
In 1623, settlements were made at Cocheco, (Dover, N. H.,) and at Piscataqua, (Portsmouth) ; and there were probably a very few settle- ments in Maine. In 1624, a company from England, called the Dorchester Adventurers, commenced a settlement at Cape Ann, but soon abandoned it and removed to Naumkeag (Salem). The Plymouth colony, now num- bering two hundred and eighty persons, in thirty-two cabins, had already established a trading house at Nantasket, and commenced one at the Ken- ebec. During the succeeding year, a settlement was commenced in Quincy, on the eminence which still bears the name of the founder of the plantation. Mount Wollaston.
From 1620 to 1630, the emigration to New England was inconsiderable, and but few new settlements were made.
The first vigorous and extensive movement toward the settlement of Massachusetts commenced in 1628, when a patent was obtained for Sir Henry Roswell and others, conveying lands extending from the Atlantic to the AVestern Ocean, and in width from a line running three miles north of the Kiver Merrimack, to a line three miles south of the River Charles. In August, of the same year, John Endicott, one of the patentees, with a company of " fifty or sixty persons," arrived at Naumkeag ; and before winter commenced a new settlement at Mishawam (Charlestown) . The next year, the company was much enlarged ; a royal charter was obtained, creating a corporation under the name of the " Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England ; " and soon after the organization under the charter, six vessels with " eighty women and maids, twenty-six children, three hundred men, with victuals, arms, tools, and necessary ap- parel, one hundred and forty head of cattle, and forty goats," arrived at Salem, at which place they found "half a score of houses, and a fair house newly built for the Governor." One hundred of the colonists im- mediately " planted themselves " at Charlestown.
In 1629, it was determined to transfer the charter to New England. John Winthrop was chosen Governor, and in March, 1630, he sailed for
28 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
Massachusetts -with a fleet of eleven vessels, " filled with passengers of all occupations, skilled in all kinds of faculties needful for the planting of a new colony." During this year, seventeen ships, with about fifteen hun- dred passengers, arrived in the Bay and at Plymouth. Settlements were then established at Wessagussett, ("Weymouth) Nantasket, Mount WoUas- ton, Mattapan, (Dorchester) Salem, Mystic, (Medford) Lynn, Charlestown, Winnissimet, (Chelsea) Noddle's Island, (East Boston) Thompson's Island, Shawmut, (Boston) Watertown, Roxbury and Newtown, within the limits of the Massachusetts colony.
The accessions in 1G31 were but few, but in the two following years they were more numerous. In 1634, the colony contained from three to four thousand inhabitants, distributed in sixteen towns. Boston was the capitol. During this year, settlements were commenced at Saugus, Mar- vill Head, (]\Iarblehead) Agawam, (Ipswich) and Merrimacke."
In 1035, Newbury, Concord, and Dedham were incorporated. Already "the people were straightened for want of room," and parties from Dorchester and Newtown had " planted in Connecticut." In 1636, Eoger Williams laid the foundation of Providence, R. I., and new settlements begun to spring up on every hand. Plantations were made at "Windsor, Hartford, "Weathersfield, and New Haven, in Connecticut ; and at Exeter, and Hampton, in New Hampshire.
Emigrants continued to arrive in large numbers. In three months, in 1638, no less than three thousand settlers arrived in Massachusetts. Plantations were commenced at Salisbury and Rowley, in 1639, though persons had settled in the former place as early as 1037.
In 1640, it is calculated there were in New England over twenty thou- sand persons, or four thousand families.
Before 1643, at which time the four colonies of Massachusetts, Ply- mouth. Connecticut and New Haven, formed a " Confederation of New England Colonies," there were supposed to be a thousand acres of land planted for orchards and gardens, and fifteen thousand other acres under general tillage. The number of neat cattle was estimated at twelve thou- sand, and the number of sheep at three thousand. Acts had been passed incorporating North Chelsea, Salisbury, Springfield, Rowley, Sudbury, Braintree, Woburn. Gloucester, Haverhill, Wenham, and Hull, in addition to those already mentioned. This year four counties were incorporated : Suffolk, Essex, Middlesex, and Old Norfolk, containing in all thirty towns.
The country east of the Piscataqua was still almost without English
' Wood's New England Prospect.
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 29
inhabitants, and the only town then incorporated west of Worcester, (in this State) was Springfield. ■■=
Emigrants continued to arrive in large numbers, until about 1640. The meeting of the Long Parliament, by opening the prospect of a fair field to fight out the battle of freedom at home, put a final stop to the ex- patriation of patriotic Englishmen; and for the next century and a quarter, it is believed that more went hence to England than came hither from England. Nor did anything that can be called an immigration oc- cur again for nearly two hundred years, f
« The following is a list of the towns in Massachusetts which were settled previously to 1640, and also those settled in that year : »
Settled. Settled. Settled.
Barnstable, 1639 Ipswich, 1633 Sudbury 1638
Beverly 1626 Lynn, 1629 Watertown 1630
Boston, 1626 i Marblehead, 1631 Wenham 1639
Braintree 1630 Medford 1630 Weymouth, 1624
Cambridcre 1630 Newburv, 1635 Yarmouth, 1639
Charlestown, 1628 Plymouth 1620
Concord 1635 Rowley, 1639 Haverhill 1640
Dedham 1635 Roxbury 1630 Woburn, 1640
Dorchester 1630 Salem, 1626 Reading 1640
Duxbury 1637 Salisbury 1639 Marshfield 1640
Gloucester, 1639 Scituate, 1633 Manchester, 1640
Hingham 1633 Springfield 1635
Haverhill was the thirtieth town settled within the present limits of the State of Massachusetts and the forty-ninth in New England. It was the thirty-second incorporated town in the State, t Palfrey.
30 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
CHAPTER IV.
ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS.
The native population of New England, at the time of the first English immigration, was probably not far from fifty thousand ; of which number Connecticut and Rhode Island contained perhaps one-half, and ]\Iaine rather more than one-fourth.= -= Of the ]^Iaine Indians, the Etechcmins dwelt furthest towards the east ; the Abenaquis, of whom the Tarratines were a part, hunted on both sides of the Penobscot, and westward as far as the Saco, or, perhaps the Piscataqua. The home of the Penacook or Pawtuckct Indians, was in the valley of the Merrimack, and the contigu- ous region of Massachusetts. The Massachusetts tribe dwelt along the Bay of that name. Then were found the Pokanokets, or AVampanoags, in southeastern Massachusetts, by Buzzard's and Xarragansett Bays ; the Narragansetts, in Rhode Island ; the Pequots, between the Xarragansetts and the river Thames ; and the Mohegans, from the Pequots to the Con- necticut river. In central Massachusetts were the Nipmucks, or Xipnets. Vermont, Western Massachusetts and northern New Hampshire, were almost, if not absolutely, without inhabitants.
These principal tril)es were sub-divided into numerous smaller tribes. Of those upon the Merrimack river, were the Agawams, who occupied from the mouth of the river to Cape Ann ; the Wamesits, at the forks of the Merrimack and Concord rivers, on the west side of the former and both sides of the latter ; The Xashuas, at Nashua ; the Souhegans, on the river of the same name; the Namaoskeags, at Amoskeag; the Pemacooks, or Penacooks, at Concord ; and the Winnequesaukees, at the Wiers, near Lake AVinnepiscogc.
The Penacooks were the most powerful tribe in this whole region. The others were controlled by them for a long time, and paid tribute to them. Passaconnaway, a firm friend to the English, was the chief of the Pena- cooks, and the " Great Sachem of all the tribes that dwelt in the valley of the Merrimack. f He was the most noted powow or sorcerer of all the country, and exerted an almost boundless influence over his people. He lived to a very great age, as GookiuJ saw him at Pawtucket (Lowell) " when he was about one hundred and twenty years old." He died about 1G65. and was succeeded by his son Wannalancet, who remained at the
° Palfrey. t Elliott. J Hist. Praying Indians.
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 31
head of the fast diminishing people until 1677, when he retired to Cana- da. Wannalancet was succeeded by Kancamagus, (known to the English as John Hogkins) son of Xanamocomuck, the eldest son of Passaconna- way. lie was elected Sagamore by the remnant of the tribe who remained at Pennacook after the withdrawal of Wannalancet, and was afterwards joined by many " strange Indians," from other tribes, who had become disaffected with the English. He was an active spirit in the Indian diffi- culties of 1676 to 1691, and one of the most troublesome enemies of the English.
The aboriginal inhabitants of New England held a low place in the scale of humanity. They had no civil government, no religion, no letters, no history, no music, no poetry. The French rightly named them Les Homnes des Bois — " Men Brutes of the Forest." Except a power of en- during hunger and weather, acquired by their hunting habits, they were tender and not long-lived ; and though supple and agile, they always sank under continuous labor. In them, the lymphatic temperament predomi- nated. They scarcely ever wept or smiled. Their slender appetites required small indulgence, though at times a gormandizing rage seemed to possess them. Though no instance is recorded of their offering insult to a female captive, it must be credited wholly to their natural coldness of constitution. Their grave demeanor, which has so often been interpreted as an indication of self-respect, was rather an indication of mere stolid vacuity of emotion and thought. In constitution of body and mind, they were far below the negro race.
They were simple, ignorant, and indolent. The Indian women per- formed all the drudgery of the household, and were also the tillers of the soil ; the lazy, indolent lords and masters deeming it debasing to engage in aught except hunting, fishing, and war.
Their principle article of food was Indian corn, prepared in various ways, — either boiled alone into hominy, or mixed with beans and called succotash, or parched, or broke up into meal and moistened with water, in which case it was named nookik-' They had also fish and game, nuts, roots, berries, and a few cultivated vegetables.
A hoe, made of a clam-shell or a moose's shoulder-blade, was their only tool of husbandry. Their manure was fish, covered over in tlie hill along with the seed. Fish were taken with lines or nets, the cordage of which were made of the fibres of the dogbane, or the sinews of the deer. Hooks were made of sharpened bones of fishes and birds.
® Corrupted into nokik, nocake, nouecake, " Johny-cake," etc.
32 HISTORY OP UAVERUILL.
Their houses, or lolgwams, were of a circular or oval shape, made of bark or mats, laid over a frame-work of branches of trees stuck in the ground in such a manner as to converge at the top, where was an aperture for the escape of the smoke. The better sort had also a lining of mats. For doors, two low openings were left on opposite sides, one or the other of which was closed with bark or mats, according to the direction of the wind.
They were slothful, improvident, deceitful, cruel and revengeful. Pa- rental and filial affection were feeble and transient. They had no formal marriage or funeral ceremonies, or forms of worship; no flocks, herds or poultry. Their shelters, clothing, tools, hunting implements, &c., were of the simplest and rudest kind, and could scarce be called ingenious.
The aborigines of Xew England possessed no code of laws, or any set of customs having the force of legal obligation.
The early French explorers declared that tribes visited by them were without a notion of religion, and there is not wanting testimony of the same kind in relation to the New England tribes. It is certain they had no temples, no public ritual, nothing which can be called social worship, no order of priests, no machinery of religion.
In revenge, they were barbarous and implacable ; they never forgot or forgave injuries. Their wars were massacres.
With the Indian, the social attraction was feeble. The most he knew of companionship and festivity, was when he would meet his fellows by the shores of ponds, and falls of rivers, in the fishing season. Much of his life was passed in the seclusion of his wigwam, and the solitude of the chase. This habit of loneliness and of self-protection, made him inde- pendent and proud. His pride created an aptitude for stoicism, which constituted his point of honor. This was fortitude under suffering. Craft, rather than valor, distinguished him in war. Stealth and swift- ness composed his strategy. He showed no daring and no constancy in the field ; but it was great glory to him to bear the most horrible tortures without complaint or a sigh of anguish.
His brave endurance presented the bright side of his character. He was without tenderness, and but few instances are recorded of his appear- ing capable of gratitude. Cunning and falsehood were eminently his. His word was no security. A treaty could not bind him when he sup- posed it might be broken without danger. Exceptions are to be allowed for in every portraiture of a class of men, as everywhere and at all times there are natures that rise above the moral standard of their place. But
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 33
it remains true of the normal representative of this peculiar race, that his temper was sullen, jealous, intensely vindictive, and ferociously cruel.'-*
They have been called eloquent. Never was a reputation more cheaply earned. Take away their commonplaces of the mountain and the thunder, the sunset and the water-fall, the eagle and the buffalo, the burying of the hatchet, the smoking of the calumet, and the lighting of the council-fire, and the material for their pomp of words is reduced within contemptible dimensions. Their best attempts at reasoning or persuasion have been the simplest statements of facts. Whatever may be thought of the speci- mens of Indian oratory in other parts of North America, — which must be allowed to be mostly of doubtful authenticity, — certain it is there is no recorded harangue of a New England Indian which can assert a claim to praise. Occasions were not wanting, but the gift of impressive speech was not his.
Their manner of expression was vehement and emphatic ; their ideas being few, their language was far from copious. It really consisted of but few words. They had no letters, but few symbols or signatures, no chronicles, and scarce any traditions extending back farther than two or three generations.
Such was the aborigines of New England. Those who have studied only the Indian of romance, will seek in vain for a single specimen of such among the sober realities of life. Like the traditional Yankee, they are only and altogether creations of fancy.
A few years before the settlement of New England by the English, a war broke out among the aborigines of the country, which resulted in the destruction of thousands of the Indians. To the war succeeded a pesti- lence, which spread far and wide, and was exceedingly fatal. It raged, at intervals, for more than two years, and extended from the borders of the Tarratines southward to the Narragansetts. "The people died in heaps ; " whole families and tribes perished ; so that " the living were no wise able to bury the dead," and seven years afterward the bones of the uuburied lay bleaching upon the ground around their former habitations. The nature of this epidemic has never been determined. It has been sup- posed to have been the small pox, or the yellow fever. The Penobscots and the Narragansetts suffered but little from it, nor does it seem to have troubled the few English residents of the country. Richard Vines, who was stopping at Saco when the pestilence was at its height, says that though he and his men " lay in the cabin with these people that died, not
^ ralfrey.
34 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
one of them ever felt their heads to ache so long as they stayed there," Thus, as if by special Providence, were the aborigines weakened and scattered, and New England prepared for the reception of civilized and christian immigrants. Throughout the whole of the region swept by the pestilence, there was scarce a tribe that dare oppose the sturdy settlers ; and it was only when several of the stronger ones combined, that they were able, even temporarily, to obstruct the progress of the settlement.
The only serious conflicts with the natives between the settlement at Plymouth, in 1620, and that of Haverhill, in 1640, was during the troubles with the Pequots, 1G36— 7. But so vigorously was the war prosecuted on the part of the English, that, in a few months, that once formidable nation was nearly exterminated, and the few that remained were divided among the friendly tribes as vassals.
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 35
CHAPTER V.
SETTLEMENT OF HAVERHILL. 1640.
The large immigration into Massachusetts during the years immediately preceding 1638, led to the settlement of many new plantations, as well as the rapid enlargement of those already settled. So great, in fact, was the influx of immigrants, that in many places they could not be accommo- dated. This was particularly the case with Ipswich and Newbury, whither had flocked large numbers of emigrants from the vicinity of Ipswich, Newbury, Haverhill, Lynn, and other towns in the easterly part of Eng- land. By these persons, several new places were settled ; among them, Pentucket, or Haverhill.
The earliest intimation we can find of the settlement of this town, is contained in the following letter- to Gov. Winthrop, from one Giles Fir- man, of Ipswich, under the date of Dec. 26, 1639: —
' ' Much honored and dear Sir :
' But that I thinke it needlesse (God havinge more than ordinarye fitted you for such trials) my letter might tell you with what griefe of spirit I received the news of that sad affliction which is lately happened to your worship, by means of that unfaithful wretch ; I hope God will find a shoulder to helpe you beare so great a burthen. But the little time that is allotted me to write, I must spend in requesting your worships counsel and favour. My father in law Ward.f since his sonnej came over, is varey desirous that wee might sett down together, and so that he might leave us together if God should remove him from hence. Because that cant be accomplished in this town, is verey desirous to get mee to remove with him to a new plantation. After much perswasion used, consideringe my want of accommodations here (the ground the town having given mee ly- ing 5 miles from mee or more) and that the gains of physick will not finde me in bread, but besides apprehendinge that it might bee a way to free him from some temptations, and make him more cheerful and more serviceable to the country or church, have yeelded to him. Herein, as I desire your counsel,so do J humbly request your favor, that you would be pleased to give us the libertye of choosinge a plantation ; wee thinh it will bee at Pentuckett or Quichichchek,% \_Cochichatoich~\ by Shaioshin : so soon as the season will give us leave to goe, we shall inform your worship
» Hntch. Hist.. Coll., 128. t Rev. Nathaniel Ward. t •Tohn Ward. § Andover.
36 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
whicli we desire : And if that, by the court of election, wee cannot gather a company to begine it, wee will let it fall. We desire you will not graunt any of them to any before wee have scene them. If your worship have heard any relation of the places, wee should remainc thankful to you if you would be pleased to counsel us to any of them. Further, I would entreat for advise in this ; The towne gave mee the ground (100 acres) upon this condition, that I should stay in the towne 3 years, or else I could not sell it : Now my father supposes it being my first heritage (my father having none in the land) that it is more than they canne doe to hin- der mee thus, when as others have no business, but range from place to place, on purpose to live upon the countrey. I would entreate your coun- sel whither or noe I canne sell it. Further : I am strongly sett upon to studye divinite, my studyes else must be lost ; for physick is but a meene helpe. In these cases I humbly referre to your worship, as my father, for your counsel, and so in much haste, with my best services presented to your worship, wishinge you a strong support in your affliction, and a good and comfortable issue, I rest your worships in what he canne to his power. GYLES FYEMIN."
Ipswich, 26, 10th, 1639.
Wee humbly entreate your secrecy e in our desires."
Whether the reply of the Governor was favorable or otherwise, we are unable to determine, but it is certain that Fyrmin did not leave Ipswich until fifteen years afterwards.
At the session of the General Court, held at Boston on the 13th of the succeeding May, (May 13, 1640) a petition was received from "Mr. Ward and Newberry men " for permission to begin a new plantation on the Merrimack,! which petition was " committed to the Governor, Deputy Governor, and Mr. Winthrop, Senior, to consider of Patucket and Coijch- awick, and to grant it them, provided they returne answer within three weeks from the 21st present, and that they build there before the next Courte."J
° Gyles Fyrmin (or Firman) was the son of Giles, an apothecary at Sudbury, England. He was horn in 1614, educated at Cambridge, England, and afterwards studied medicine and was admitted to practice previous to his emigration to this country. In 1638, the town of Ipswich granted him one hundred acres of land, on condition that he lived there three years. In December, 1639, he married a daughter of Eev . Nathaniel Ward, of Ipswich, a few days after which he wrote the above letter to Gov. Winthrop. He was made a freeman in the same year. Fyrmin was an elder in the church at Ipswich, where he con- tinned to reside until 1654, when he returned to England. He afterward became eminent as a divine, as well as physician, and after a long and useful life, he died in April, 1697, at the ripe age of eighty-three years.
t This petition is probably now lost, as the most cartful search has failed to give us nny further clue to it.
t Colonial Records, 1— 2ftfl.
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 37
Mr. Ward and his associates selected Pentucket, and commenced a settlement at that place some time previous to the October following their petition. It is probable that they commenced operations immediately on learning the action of the General Court, as they had then barely suffi- cient time to plant for that season, and the fact that before the prescribed time they had commenced a plantation shows that they were by no means dilatory in their movements.
At the next session of the Court, (October 7th. of the same year) a com- mittee was appointed " to view the bounds between Colchester-' and Mr. Ward's plantation.!
We are confident that no white man had settled within the limits of Pentucket previous to the coming of Mr. Ward's associates, as no mention can be found of such settlement in the records of the colony, which are quite full and explicit upon all similar matters relating to that early period of its history. As early as September, 1G30, (within two mouths after the arrival of the Charter of the Colony) it was "ordered that noe person shall plant in any place within the lymitts of this pattent, without leaue from the Gouvernor and Assistants, or the maior part of them ; " and " also that a warrant shall presently be sent to Aggawam, to com- mand \hose that are planted there forthwith to come away." That this was no "dead letter" enactment, may be judged from the fact that seven years afterwards, — and when thousands of immigrants had arrived in the country, and new settlements were increasing with gi-eat rapidity, — an order was given to the constable of Xewberry to apprehend those men who had thus planted themselves at what is now Salisbury, and to tak^ them before the court, at Ipswich, to answer for such violation of law. At the November Court, 1637, leave was granted certain petitioners from New- berry to settle at Winnacunnet, (Hampton) "or upon any other plantation upon the Merrimak, below the first falls, and to have sixe miles square ; " and, in Sept., 1688, liberty was allowed Gyles Firman, and others, upon their petition, "to hegin a plantation at Merrimack."
Winthrop,| under the date of 1643, says: " about this time, two plan- tations began to be settled upon Merrimack, Pentuckett called Hauerill, and Cochichawick called Andover," Under the date of 1638, he says: " One (plantation) was begun at Merrimack," doubtless referring to Salis- bury, which was settled about that time.
Cotton Mather§ makes the date of the settlement of Haverhill 1641, but he, as well as Winthrop, evidently reckons from the time of Eev. John
■^ Salisbury. t Colonial Records, 1 — 303.
X Hist, of New England, 2—121. § Ma^nali.i, 470.
38 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
Ward's coining to Haverhill, which, as wc shall see, was not until some time after the first settlement.
Felts under the date of 1640, says: "Mr. (Nath'l) Ward, with some men of Newbury, is conditionally allowed to form a settlement at Haver- hill, or at Andover. This privilege was improved, and the former place was chosen before October. His chief object in obtaining such a grant was to prepare a residence for his son, who became an estimable minister there." We think that the conditions upon which the petitioners were to be allowed their request, viz: "provided they returne answer within three weeks from the 21st present, and that they build there before the next Courte ; " and the appointing of commissioners at that Court " to view the bounds between Colchester and Mr. Ward's plantation ; with the ab- sence of conflicting records, or even traditions, are sufficient to fix the date of our first settlement as 1640.
The first company of settlers in the wild woods of Pentucket were from Tpsv;ich and Newbury, and were twelve in number. 'I'he following are their names : — , ,, .
William White< John Eobinson, - Abraham Tylers-'
Samuel Gile, Christopher Hussey. Daniel Ladd, ^^
James Davis,. John Williams, Joseph Merrier'
Henry Palmer, Eichard Littlehale, - ^ Job Clement.«^
The last four were from Ipswich. 7 • t^^- ^ \yy' rJ'
It has been generally supposed that the Rev. John Ward was the per- son who petitioned to the General Court in the spring of 1640, and that he accompanied the first band of settlers to Pentucket. But we are confi- dent that neither supposition is correct. The historian of Ipswich, in the passage already quoted, and the editor of our Colonial Eecordsf both say that the Ward alluded to in the Court Records, was Nathaniel, (the father of John Ward,) who was, it seems, very anxious to find some good place for his son to settle in the ministr}-.
Tliat John Ward did not settle in Haverhill as early as 1 640 is evident from the fact that he preached at Agamenticus (now York, Me.) in the early part of 1641, and perhaps later. Winthrop, (Hist. 2, p. 34) under date of Feb. 29, 1641, says:
" Mr. Peters and Mr. Dalton, with one of Acomenticus, went from Pis- cataquack, loith Mr. John Ward, who was to be entertained there for their minister ; and though it be but six miles, yet they lost their way, and wandered two days and one night, without food or fire, in the snow and wet. But God heard their prayers, wherein they earnestly pressed him
o Hist. Ipswich, 18:H. t Dr. Shnrtlctr.
HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 39
for the honor of his great name, and when they were even quite spent, he brought them to the sea-side, near the place where they were to go, blessed forever be his name."
After diligent search, we have been unable to find the name of any other John Ward to whom the incident could refer ; and, to strengthen us in our supposition, no writer except Mirick (in his History of the town) places the date of Mr. Ward's coming to Haverhill earlier than sometime in the year 1641. Mather (Mag. 2, 470) says of him : " The first notice of him that occurs to me, being in the year 1639, when he came over into these parts of America; and settled therein the year 1641, in a town also called HaA'eril." Farmer (N, E. Geneo.) gives the date of Mr. Ward's settlement in Haverhill as 1645. He evidently, however, mistakes Mr. Ward's settlement as mifiister, for his first settlement in the town. Felt, (Hist. Ips.) under date of 1641, says: — "Kev. John Ward, Mr. John Favor, and Hugh Sherratt went from Ipswich to Haverhill ; " and Allen, (Am. Biog. and Hist. Diet., p. 571) says " he preached for some time at Agamenticus, but in 1641 was settled at Haverhill, then a new plantation."
We have directed our attention to the history of the church at York, Me., but without receiving any additional light upon the point. Green- leaf (Eccl. Hist. Maine) informs us that " the first preacher at York of whom any account is preserved, was one Burdett, who came hither from Exeter." And, in another place, he says, "no record can be found at this day of the first gathering and embodying of the church in this town, nor the proceedings of the church under the two first ministers. It is presumed, however, that it was organized in the year 1673. In that year, the Eev. Shubal Dummer was ordained at York ; and as the uniform prac- tice had been to gather and organize a church before settling a minister, it is highly probable that the church is to be dated from that year."
The first mention made of Mr. Ward, in the Town Eecords of Haver- hill, is a note at the bottom of the page, under the year 1643, stating that on the 29th of Sept., 1642, he had "sixteen acres of land laid out to him for a home-lot, with all the accommodations thereunto belonging."
Aside from the almost certain fact that Mr. Ward preached at York as late as 1641, and the weight of written authority that his settlement in Haverhill was in that year, much stress, we think, may be placed on the strong improbability of a person in his circumstances and position accom- panying a small pioneer company of persons to break ground for a new settlement. Such labor was, at least, not usual for a " minister." It
40 HISTORY OP IIAVKRUILL.
would seem more reasonable that he should have waited until the settle- ment had been made, before he took up his residence among them ; and such, we believe was the fact. It is probable he came to the new planta- tion about the full of 1G41. So pleased were the settlers with their good fortune in securing his settlement among them, that they named the place " Haverhill," that being the name of his birth-place, in England.
John Waku, the master-spirit of this hardy band of pioneers, was a son of Kev. Nathaniel Ward,'-' and a grandson of Eev. John Ward, a worthy and distinguished minister of Haverhill, England. He was born in Haverhill, Essex Co., England, Nov. 5, 1G06. He received the degree of A. B. in 162G, and that of A. M. in 1630, at the University of Cam- bridge, England. He came to this country in 1639.
Matherf speaks of him as " learned, ingenious, and religious. He was a person of quick apprehension, a clear understanding, a strong memory, a facetious conversation, an exact grammarian, an expert physician, and, which was the top of all, a thorough divine ; but, which rarely happens, these endowments of his mind were accompanied with a most healthy, hardy, and agile constitution of body, which enabled him to make nothing of walking on foot a journey as long as thirty miles together. Such was the blessing of God upon his religious education, that he was not only re- strained from the vices of immorality in all his younger days, but also inclined unto all virtuous actions. Of young persons, he would himself give this advice : Whatever you do, be sure to maintain shame in them ; for if that be once gone, there is no hope that they'll ever come to good. Accordingly, our Ward was always ashamed of doing any ill thing. He was of a modest and 'bashful disposition, and very sparing of speaking, especially before strangers, or such as he thought his betters. He was wonderfully temperate in meat, in drink, in sleep, and he was always ex- pressed, I had almost said, affected, a peculiar sobriety of apparal. He was a son most exemplarily dutiful unto his parents ; and having paid some considerable debts of his father, he would afterwards humbly ob-
o Rev. Nnthrtuicl Ward, a son of Rev. John Ward, was born in 1570, and educated at the University of Cambridge. Ue was, for some time, pastor of a church at Standon, in Hertfordshire, but being driven out of England for liis non-confonnity, he emigrated to New England in 163i, and settled as pastor ol the church at Ipswich, then called Agawani. He was bred a l.iwyer, and, in 1638, was appointed by the General Court to draw up a code of laws for New England. Though a pious man, he was very eccentric in his conduct. He soon left his charge at Ipswich, was without employment for some time, and returned to England in lt)47. He was afterwards a settled minister at Shetlicld. He died in 1053. He wrote several books of humor, and some learned treatises, hut none have come down to us but the one entitled " The Simple C'obler of Jgatvavi," which he wrote at Ipswich, and which has passed through many editions, t Magnalia.
HISTORY OP HAYERHILh. 41
serve and confess, that God had abundantly recompensed this his dutiful- uess.
" Though he had great offers of rich matches in England, yet he chose to marry a meaner person, •■whom exemplary piety had recommended. He lived with her for more than forty years, in such an happy harmony, that when she died he professed that in all this time, he never had received one displeasing word or look from her. Although she would so faithfullj'' tell him of everything that might seem amendable in him, that he would compare her to an accusing conscience, yet she ever pleased him wonder- fully ; and she would often put upon him the duties of secret fasts, and when she met with any thing in rcLidiug that she counted singularly agreeable, she would still impart it unto him. For which cause, when he lost this his mate, he caused these words to be fairly written on his table- board. —
In Lugeuda Compare, Vit;c Spacinm Compleat Orliii;;:
And there is this memorable passage to be added. While she was a maid there was ensured unto her, the revenue of a parsonage worth two hundred pounds per annum, in case that she mai-ried a minister. And all this had been given to our Ward, in case he had conformed unto the doubtful mat- ters of the Church of England ; but he left all the allurements and enjoyments of England, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God in a Avilderness.
■" Although he would say, there is no place for fishing like the sea, and the more hearers a minister has, the more hope there is that some of them will be catched in the nets of the Gospel ; nevertheless, through his humility and reservation, it came to pass, that as he chose to begin his ministry in Old England at a very small place, thus when he came to New England he chose to settle with a new plantation, where he could expect none but small circumstances all his days. He did not love to appear upon the public stage himself, and there appeared few there, whom he did not prefer above himself : but when he was there, every one might see how conscientiously he sought the edification of the souls of the plainest auditors, before the ostentation of his own abilities. And from the like diffidence it was, that he would never manage any ecclesiastical affairs in his church, without previous and prudent consultations with the best advi- sors that he knew : he would say he had rather always follov/ advice though sometimes the advice might mislead him, than ever act without advice, though he might happen to do well by no advice but his own."
c Alice Edmunds, by whom he had two children, Elizabeth and Mary. His wife died March 24, 1680. .
42 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
Pleasant, indeed, is it to be able to point to so amiable and exemplary an individual as one of the founders of our town, and the spiritual and tem- poral adviser and master-spirit of its early settlers. Mr. AVard died December 27, 1693.
Of the previous history of the associates of Mr. Ward in his arduous enterprise, we have been able to glean but few particulars, — which may be found in another place. For the present, suffice it to say, that their descendcnts have ever been, and yet are, among our best and most prom- inent citizens.
At the succeeding October court, ' ' Mr. Edward Woodman, Mr. Paine, and Mr. Nelson, were appointed to view the bounds between Colchester (Salisbury) and Mr. Ward's plantation,"- from which it would seem that the work of settling had been begun in earnest. The first house was erected near the old burying ground, j and for some time the principal settlements were made in that vicinity, though land was cleared and broken, and houses built in other parts of the town. It was nearly two years, however, before a house was erected as far from the centre as Little Eiver, about which time one was built near where Winter Street now crosses that stream.
The Indian name of the region included within the present bounds of the town, was Pentuchett, and it was at one time the home of quite a numerous tribe of that name, who were under the jurisdiction of Passa- connaway, chief of the Pennacooks. Their principal village is supposed to have been on the banks of Little Eiver, not far from its mouth ; and the second house on Merrimack street, east from Emerson street, stands upon their ancient burial ground. AVhen the cellar of the above house was excavated, a number of Indian skeletons were dug up, in a very good state of preservation..! Heads of arrows, stone mortars, and other Indian relics, have frequently been found in that vicinity, thus confirming the tradition of a settlement thereabouts.
We have now no means of knowing how many of the aboriginees still lived here at the time of Mr. Ward's settlement, but circumstantial evi- dence indicates that they were few in number. In but few of the early accounts of the native inhabitants is any mention made of any tribe or tribes at this place ; and where mentioned, it is as a remnant — the last few — of a once vigorous tribe. On the other hand, the wording of the deed,
o Colonial Records— 1. t N^ow called Pen tucket Cemetery.
tOne of the workmen npon the occasion drank a bumper of punch to the memory of the original inhabitants, /row one of the skulls thus l/)-oiiffhl to light !
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 43
and the small sum paid for the large extent of territory, strongly favor the conclusion that but two families of the natives then remained." It is probable that the terrible pestilence of IGlo, in its desolating march from the Kennebec to the Narragansett, included the Pentuckets among its vic- tims, and left only a few to await the approach of civilization. The rude marks upon this deed, are the only memorial we have left of the aboriginal inhabitants of Pentucket. They have faded away. As leaves before the chilling frosts, so have they fallen and withered before the breath of civil- ization, and silently sunk into the graves of their fathers.
Soon after the settlement of the place, it was named Haverhill, in compliment to Mr. Ward, who was born, as we have mentioned, in Haver- hill, Essex County, England.
At the session of the General Court, in the succeeding June, (1641) " Mr. John Woodbridge, Matthew Bayse, John Crosse and George Giddings, they four, or any three of them, are appointed to set out the bounds of Salisbury and Pentucket, alias Haverhill ; they are to determine the bounds which Mr. Ward and his company are to enjoy as a towne or vil- lage, if they have six houses tip by the next General Courte in the 8th month," [October.] We must not suppose from this, that six houses had not as yet been erected, because, as we have seen, twelve persons (and probably most of them men of families) had already been here a year, and had, within that time, received considerable accession to their numbers. It would be strange indeed if they had not, by that time at least, double the required number of houses erected. We should interpret the act of the General Court as specifying the smallest number of dwellings that should be reckoned as a town or village, rather than as declaring that so
» To shoTv that Havevhtll was not' psculidr in this respect, we may refer tu Newbury and Ipswich, once without dowljt the home of a large tribe of Indians.
Newbury was settled la the spring of 1633, but the first intimation of any Indians, eitlicr by record or tradition, is in IGii, wlien a parcel of land was allotted to one "John Indian." The next mention is in 1330, when "Great Tom, Indian," sold to the selectmen of Newbury "all his right, title, and interest in all the woods, commons and lands in Newbury, together with his three acres of planting land as it is fenced in one entire fence in Newbury, lying near Indian Hill." Thei-e is no other notice of either of these Indians. The next intimation of any Indi.ans in that town, is in 1661, when the family of " Old Will" is referred to, which was in 1G63 the only Indian family in the town, and consisted of himself, wife, and three daugiiters.
From a report made to the General Court in 1676, it appears there were then, " at and about Ipswich, eight men and seventeen wonien and children, Indians, and at Dunstable, Wonolancet's company of about sixty persons."
Coffin, in his valuable History of Xcwhuri/, sa.js: — " However large the population of this region might once have been, it is certain that from various causes the race had become nearly extinct, when the white population had determined to occupy the territory, thus providentially vacated ; and it was with the " knowledge, licence and good liking" of the few that remained, that the first settlers took possession of this then howling wilderness."
44 HISTORY OF nAVERIIILL.
many as six houses had not as yet been erected in this new plantation/"^ At the time the town was first settled, it was covered with the thick, and in many places almost impenetrable woods of the primitive forests, except- ing the lowlands, or meadows. There were no pleasant fields, nor gardens, nor public roads, nor cleared plats. Except where the timber had been destroyed, or its growth prevented, by frequent fires, the groves were thick and lofty. The Indians so often burned the country, to take deer and other wild game, that in many parts of it there was but little small timber. The meadows had been partially cleared by the Indians long before the arrival of the white settlers, and were covered with a heavy growth of grass, which grew remarkably thick and high. The Indians were accus- tomed to set this grass on fire each autumn, so that they might the more easily kill the deer which came to feed upon the young grass the succeeding spring. On account of the grass, these lands were prized very highly by the first settlers, as from them they procured hay for their flocks and herds. In the early settlement of this, and other New England towns, these meadow lands were divided into small lots and distributed among the set- tlers. In many cases the " meadow lot " was several miles distant from the house of the owner, and as roads and other conveniences of travel and transportation had not as yet been introdaced, we can easily imagine that "haying" was then a much moi*e laborious and expensive matter than now. After being cut and cured, the dried grass was piled in stacks on the meadows, and left until winter, when it was hauled home on sleds, by oxen.
The forests were filled with the various kinds of birds and small ani- mals peculiar to New England. The worst enemy, of the beast kind, to the infant settlement, was the wolf. These gave a great deal of trouble, and at one time had become so bold and troublesome, that a large plat of ground was enclosed near the common, and used as a pasture for the sheep. Shepherds were appointed to watch over them, and at night they were closely folded, as a still greater security. Even after the town had become ([uite extensively settled, these voracious prowlers did much and frequent damage by their depredations, and the town at various times offered liberal bounties for their destruction.
Though only twelve persons composed the first party of settlers in the town, their numbers were soon increased by the arrival of others. Of those who arrived in 10 10 and IGll, we arc able to give the names of only
° A newspaper story writer (18^52) says, that in the autumn of IMl there were only six houses in he town. We presiinio his statement is founded np m thi abnvp mentioned vote of the General Conrt,
HISTORY OF IIATEIiniLL. 45
Job Clements (sou of Eobert), Jolin Favor, and Hugh SheiTatt, though we are confident that several others came as early as the spring of 1G41.
The winter of 1641-2 was unusually severe. Boston harbor was frozen over so deeply that it was passable for horses, carts, and oxen for six weeks.
The first recorded birth in the town was that of John Eobinson, (son of John) who survived but three weeks. The second birth was also a son of the same, in 1 642, who lived but one week. The third child born, was Deborah, daughter of Tristani Cofiin. in 1G42, who lived only six weeks. =•' The simple record of these early deaths in that little community, consid- ered in connection with the exceeding severity of the preceding winter, and the known cares, anxiety and labor that always attend a first settle- ment, even under the most favorable circumstances, clearly and most touchingly tells of denials, exposures, and life-destroying hardships.
Hardly had the little company commenced life in their new home, when intelligence was received bj^ the Governor, from Connecticut, (September, 1642) that "the Indians all over the country had combined themselves to cut off the English."!
The time appointed for the massacre, was soon after the harvest. The Indians were to divide themselves into small parties, and visit the houses of the principal men for the professed purpose of trading, while others concealed themselves in the vicinity. At a given signal, those in the houses were to fall upon the owners, slay them, and seize upon their weap- ons, while the concealed party were to rush in and assist in completing the bloody work.
Upon the reception of this intelligence, it was thought advisable, by the Governor and Council, to disarm all the Indians within our jurisdiction. A warrant was accordingly sent to Ipswich, Eowley and Xewbury, '• to dis- arm Pasaconnaway, who lived by Merrimack." The next day forty armed men were sent for that purpose, although it was the Sabbath, and a heavy rain was falling. On account of the rain, they could not reach his wig-
""■ The following gives the number i.!" births ami deaths in the town each year, from 1641 to 1061, so far as given in the town records :
BIKTHS.
|
1 in 1641 |
Sin |
164S |
10 ii |
1655 |
|
2 " 1042 |
0 •• |
L04i) |
ff '• |
1650 |
|
1 " 104;! |
7 " |
1050 |
12 " |
1657 |
|
1 " 1644 |
11 " |
1651 |
11 ' |
1658 |
|
;$ " 1645 |
10 " |
1652 |
8 ' |
1659 |
|
6 " 1046 |
10 ' |
165:^ |
11 ' |
1600 |
|
5 " 1647 |
10 ' |
1654 |
n ' |
lOGl |
|
t Winthrop, 2- |
-7S-87 |
DEATHS.
|
1 in 1041 |
1 in 1051 |
2 in 1058 |
|
2 '• 1642 |
2 " 1052 |
4 " 1G5<» |
|
1 " 1646 |
1 " 105:1 |
,S " 1000 |
|
1 " 1047 |
0 " 1054 |
1 " 1001 |
|
1 " 1648 |
5 " 1057 |
8 " 1602 |
|
2 " 1050 |
46 HISTORY OF irAVERHILL.
warn, but came to his son's, and took him and his squaw and child prisoners. On their return, they led the son with a line, for fear of his escape. He, however, eluded their vigilance and escaped into the woods.
Upon learning of this unwarrantable proceeding, the Governor and Council immediately sent a friendly messenger in search of Passaconna- way, to inform him that the capture of his son and his family was without their orders, and also to tell him the reasons why they had disanned the Indians in their jurisdiction. The woman and child were also sent back. The mission proved successful, and in a few days the chief sent his oldest son to deliver up his guns to the English.
No massacre of the kind was, however, perpetrated ; but it was after- ward ascertained that such a plot had existed, headed by the chief of the Narragan setts.
Though the town was settled and houses erected in 1640, it was not until more than two years afterward that a title to the land was purchased of the Indian owners. As it was usual for the Massachusetts settlers to buy the land they wished to occupy, we are left in doubt as to the reason why the Haverhill men did not sooner make such a purchase. The most reasonable solution we can give is, that when the white settlers first came to Pentucket there were no Indians living here ; and that afterward one or two families, descendants, perhaps, of the original owners, straying back to their old hunting and fishing grounds, and finding them in possession of the " pale faces," had laid claim to the land ; or else that the number of Indians living here was so small that they were not considered worth noticing at all, until the startling intelligence of the intended massacre suggested the purchase as a security against molestation from the Indians near them. At any rate, the fact that the purchase was made within the next month after the above-mentioned information first reached the Colony, would seem to indicate some such a condition of things. The following is a correct copy of the original deed, ■' of which we also give a perfect fac- similie.
•• Know all men by these presents, that wee Passaquo and SaggaHew with ye consent of Passaconnawaj^ : have sold unto ye inhabitants of Pen- tuckett all ye lands wee have in Pentuckett ; that is eyght myles in length from ye little Eivver in Pentuckett AVestward: Six myles in length from ye aforesaid Riwer northward : And six myles in length from ye foresaid
OThe original document was for a, long time in the possession of the descendants of William White, one of the witnesses to the deed, but at the suggestion of the writer, it has recently been presented to the Town of Haverhill, by E. A. Porter, Esq., administrator of the estate of the late Charles White, Esq . As it was originally given to " the inhabitants of Pentuckett," it seems appropriate and proper that it ehould b? in the possessim of the Town, and wo are pleased to annotinc'e that it hns bcfu s.i disposed of.
OF HAVERHILL, MASS
FACSIMILE OF THE INDIAN DEED OF THE TOWNSHIP ^p HAVERHILL MASS
1
As ^^^ (^'^^-^^uxS ^j^^A
€
^
i
i
i.s
?^
Ki
£i.~
HISTORY OP HAYERHILL.
47
Eivver Eastward, with ye Ileand and ye rivver that ye ilcand stand in as far in length as ye land lyes by as formerly expressed : that is, fourteen myles in length : And wee ye said Passaquo and SaggaHew with ye con- sent of Passaconnaway, have sold imto ye said inhabitants all ye right that wee or any of us have in ye said ground and Ileand and Eivver : And wee warrant it against all or any other Indeans whatsoever unto ye said Inhabitants of Pentuckett, and to their heires and assignes forever Dated ye fifteenth day of november Ann Dom 1642.
Witnes our hands and scales to this bargayne of sale ye day and year above written (in ye presents of us,) wee ye said Passaquo & SaggaHew have received in hand, for & in consideration of ye same three pounds & ten shillin<i;s.
John WcitlI Robert Clements
Tristram Coffin Hugh Sherratt
William White
ye signe of (1)
o
Thomas Davis
Passa'^uo
ye marke of (A how and arrow.) Passaquo.
ye marke of
(A how and arrow.)
Saggahcw.
[seal.]
Saggahew.
[seal.]
On the side of it the following is written : — •' Entered and recorded in ye County Records for Norfolk (lib. 2d, pa. 209) yc 29th day of April 1671 As attest The. Bradbury Eecorder.
Eecorded ye first of April 1681 among ye records of Lands for Essex at Ipswich : As attest Eobcrt Lord Eecorder."
On the outside it is endorsed, " The purchase from the Indians by Ha- verhill men, Recorded."
In 1680, the deed was copied into the Town Eccords, and the following testimony, taken by Nathaniel Saltonstall, is written on the succeeding page.
" The Eev. Teacher of ye church & towne of Haverhill, Mr. John Ward ; & William White and Tho. Davis do testifie that Haverhill towne- ship or lands then by ye Indians called Pentuckett, was purchased of ye Indians as is mentioned in ye deed in this paper contained, which is en- tered upon record and that wee were then inhabitants at Haverhill and
48 UlSTOliy OF HAVERHILL.
present with ye Indians Passacjiuo and Saggabew (who were ye apparent owners of ye land & so accounted) did signe and coufirme ye same ; and that then, wee, (with others now dead) did signe onr names to ye deed, which land wee have ever since enjoyed peaceably without any Indian molestation from the grantors or their heirs. Taken upon February ye 4rth 1680 before Nath. Saltonstall. Assist."
" Lieut. Brown and Lieut. Ladd both affirm upon oath that what is entered in the records for Haverhill as the deed of purchase from the In- dians of Haverhill Township or lands, of which the deed above written is a true copy, was, and is a true copy, extract, or transcript of the original deed given by the Indians. Taken upon oath, February the 4th, 1680. Before me, Nath'l Saltonstall. Assist."
The following brief biographical notices of the witnesses to this import- ant instrument, will doubtless be read with interest.
Of John IVard we have already given an extended notice, and will only add, that he married Alice Edmunds, in 1646, by whom he had two chil- dren, Elizabeth and Mary (•■■). His wife died March 24, 1680.
Eobert Ch'msrd came from England, in the early part of 1642, landing at Salisbury, from whence he came to Haverhill sometime in the fol- lowing summer, with his wife and four children — John, Lydia, Eobert and-Sarah. Job, his sou, came as early as 1640-1, doubtless to "spye out the land." His youngest daughter, Mary, remained in England (in the city of Coventry, in Warwickshire) imtil about 1652, Avhen she also came over to Haverhill, and was soon after married by her father to John Osgood, of Andover, Mass.
liobert, senior, was the first Dei)uty of the town to the Oeneral Court, and until 1654 ; was associate Judge; County Commissioner ; " appointed and empowered by the General Court to give the oath of fidelity to the in- habitants of Haverhill ; " appointed to set oiT the public lands, fix their limits, &c. He was a man of rare integrity, and superior talent, as may readily be judged from the responsible stations he was repeatedly called to fill. He died on the spot where he first settled, in 1658, aged about
° Elizalifth, bom April 1, 1047, and died April 19, 1714; Mary born June 24, 1649, died Oct. 11, 108,1. Ulizabcth married Natluinicl Saltonstall, Dec. 2S, 1003, and had five children :, — fturdon, born March 27, 1060, died in 1724. Elizabeth, born September 17, 1068. Richard, born April 25, 1072, died April 22, 1714. Nathaniel, bom September 5, 1074. John, born August 14, 1076, died October 2, lOSl.
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
a
49
68 (■■'). He owned, when he died, the first grist-mill built in town. His son Eobert, whom Mirick confounds with Eobert sen., was a cooper by trade, and the first one in town. In 1652 he married Elizabeth Fane, by whom he had eleven children. He held several town offices, was a large landholder, and lived near where the " Exchange Building" is now situ- ated. We have not ascertained the time of his death, but he was living in 1684. His wife died in 1715.
Job was a tanner (probably the first in town), and married Margaret Dummer — the first marriage in town.
John, was a farmer, and married Sarah Osgood.
The Clements for a long time occupied a prominent position in the town and county, and their descendants have ever been considered as among our best citizens. Several generations of them have lived on the place now owned by Jessee Clement (in the North Parish) , who is a lineal descend- ant from Eobert sen.
Tristram Goffyn was born in 1609, in Brixham parish, town of Ply- mouth, in Devonshire, England. He was the son of Peter and Joanna Coffyn. Tristram married Dionis Stevens, and in 1642, after the death of his father, he came to New England, bringing with him his mother, f his two sisters, Eunice and Mary, his wife, and five children (Peter, Tris- tram, Elizabeth, James, and John).
o " The inventory of Mr. Robert Clements, his goods and estates in \ew England, excepting some small debts which cannot yet be accompted, he died ye 29th of Sept., 1658.
£ s. d.
Iny his wearing apparel! 16 18 00
It (") his purse, money, silver, seal and
ring 1 07 00
It by one bill owing him 55 00 00
It one paver of Steers 3 06 08
It twenty bush.41 of rie 10 00 00
It one cuw and 30 lbs of rie 5 00 00
It one bill 8 15 00
It one bill 12 15 00
It one bill 56 00 00
It one bill 5 00 00
It one bill 06 06 00
It one bill 14-00 00
It one bill 02 03 06
It one bill 04 00 00
It one bill 07 12 00
It one engMgement of rent for land 05 00 00
It 4 cows, 2 steers, one heifer 22 00 00
It 3 mares, 1 philli, 1 hoss, 1 colt 69 00 00
It 3 cows 10 00 00
It in swine, calves and sheep, 10 15 00
It in bedding 25 13 00
It a psU (t) of cotton wooU it cotton
varne, sheeps wooll, canvers &
fethers 03 01 00
It on carpett, warmg pan, & cotton cloth. 01 10 00
t Who died in Boston in 16G1, aged 77. Rev. John Wilson preached her funeral sermon, and "em- balmed her memory." — Sewall.
7
£ B. d.
It his dwelling honsei accommodations.. 55 00 00
It 8 loads of hay & a psU linen cloth 05 00 00
It his grist mill 30 00 00
It one payer of oxen 12 00 00
It a psll of boards & two stocks of bees. .02 13 00 It wooden vessels and earthen vessels &
one spade 01 16 00
It cotton and linen yarn 02 10 00
It one debt 3 tr 03 00 00
It one debt of 10 tr 10 00 00
It in wheat it Indian com 02 10 00
It for chests, Tunnes & cards Potts &
kettles 4 17 00
It several things, viz., fier shovel & tongs
Andyrons spitt. plough 05 17 16
It chayns & such like Iron things
It in books fowling piece, table cloth and
napkins 03 18 00
These goods were apprized by us whose names are under written.
Teist. Coffyn, Willi White.
'■' Item, t ParceL
50 HISTORY OF IIATERIIILL.
He came to New England early in the Spring of 1642, in the same ship with Eobert Clements, and landed at Salisliury, from whence he came to Haverhill sometime during the following summer. He seems to have set- tled near Mr. Clements, and tradition has it that he was the first person who plowed land in Haverhill.
JNIirick says, that " in the following year he removed to the Eocks, where, in 1645, he was liscenced to keep an ' ordinary,' or tavern — hence the name ' Coffin's Ordinary.' " If, by the " Eocks," he means the place then called by that name, and afterward designated as "Holt's Eocks," (just below the bridge at Eock's Village) he is evidently mistaken in the locality. Mr. Coffyn was licensed "to keep an ordinary a^ Netoherry" and also to " keep a ferry on Ncwbery side over ^Merrimack, when the interest of Gleorge Carr shall be determined, and that George Carr shall have liberty to keepe his boate going on Salisbery side."
The place where Mr. CoflFyn settled was in Newbury, opposite what has since been called Carr's Island — so called from the above-named George Carr. Mirick gives the date of the license as 1645, and Coffin (Hist. Newbury) 1644"; but we cannot find it in the Colonial Eecords of either year. Coffyn was first licensed on the 26th of May, 1647, and, as we have above mentioned, to keep an ordinary "at Newberryf." He probably removed there about that time.
Although Mr. Coffyn was the person licensed, it seems that 3frs. C. did sometimes " help, aid, and assist," as we find that in 1645, she was "pre- sented" for " selling beere at 3d a quarte," contrary to the law in such case made and provided, which required four bushels of malt to the hogs- head, and that it should be sold at 2d per quai-t.j j\lrs. Coffyn made it " appear to the Court " that sJie put in six bushels into a hogshead, where- upon the Court acquitted her !
" He also gives the same under the date of Decemlier 26, 1G47.
t It would seem, however, that there was a place in the easterly part of this town, known as Coffin's Ordinary, about 1652. In that year, a second division of upland was made, in which James Davis re- ceived forty acres, one piece of which was bounded as follows : " By James Davis sen. on the west ; the great river on the south ; on the north side a swamp ; on the east a brook ; the other part bounded by a red oak at Colfrn's ordinary runninj? up that brook to a lilack oak, James Davis sen. on the east ; tlie great river on the south.
J Some of the regulations concemin<f taverns, or ordinaries, are worth preservinj;; and as matters of curiosity and illustrations of the manners and customs of " ye olden time," we give some of them.
In 1631, it was ordered by the General Court, " that noe pson that keepes an ordinary shall take abQvc vj d a meale for a pson, and not above J d fir an ale quarte of beare, out of meale tjine, under the penalty of x s for eury offence, cither of dyet or beare. Likewise, that victulars, or keeps of .^n ordi- nary, shall not siiffVr any tobacco to be taken into their houses, under the penalty of vs for eury offence, to be payde by the victular, and xij d by the party that takes it."
Tobacco was evidently far from bcinq; the popular weed of these more modern times. Even its pri-
HISTORY OF HAVEllHILL. 51
Mary, daughter of Tristram, married Nathaniel Starbuck, at Nantucket, and all accounts agree in representing her as an extraordinary woman. In the language of John Eichardson, an early writer, " the Islanders esteemed her as a Judge among them, for little of moment was done with- out her." It was her custom to attend their town meetings, where she took an active part in the debates, usually commencing her address with " my husband thinks " so and so ; but Eichardsou says, that " she so far exceeded him in soundness of judgment, clearness of understanding, and an elegant way of expressing herself, and that not in an affected strain, but very natural to her, that it tended to lessen the qualifications of her husband." In 1701 she became a Quakeress,'' took the spiritual concerns of the whole Island under her special superintendance, was speaker in their religious meetings, wrote the quarterly epistles, and was distinguished in every relation in life. Eespecting her domestic economy, the same author observes : " the order of the house was such in all the parts thereof as I had not seen the like before ; the large and bright-rubbed room was set with suitable seats or chairs, [for a meeting] so that I did not see any thing wanting according to place, but something to stand on, for I was not free to set my feet upon the fine cane chair, lest I should break it." Mary died in 1717. She had six children. The descendants of Tristram
vatc use was ' ' regulated," as will appear from the folloiving : " further, it is ordered, that noe pson shall take tobacco publiquely, under the penalty of ij s vj d, nor privately, in bis oinie howse, or in the howse of another, before strangers, and that two or more shall not take it together, any where, under the aforesaid penalty for eiiry offence." In 1637, "upon many sad complaints that much drunkeness, wast of the good creatures of God, mispenee of preaious time, and other disorders have frequently ftillen out in the inns, and common victualing houses," the Court ordered that " it shall not bee lawfuU for any persoue that shall keepe any such inne, or common victualling house, to sell or have in their houses any wine, nor strong waters, nor any beare, or other drink other than such as may and shall be souled for Id the quarte at the most." The Court also ordered that no beei- should be brewed by any innholders or victualers, but only by lisenced brewers, and that even they should not " sell nor utter any beare, or other drinke, of any stroilger size than such as may and shall be afforded at the rate of 8shs the barrell.
It does not appaar, however, that these " JIaine Laws " put a stop to the use of either tobacco or " strong water : " and the Court the next year relaxed the severity of the last named regulation, so as to allow innkeepers and victuallers to brew their own beer. Two years after, they repealed the " orders about re- straint of beer," and permitted it to be sold at 2d a quarts which was the rule when Mrs. Coffyn was called to account in 1645.
* Since writing the above, we have found the following interesting paragraph in a Boston Paper, (Sep- tember, 1859) : •' Narcissa B. Coffin of Nantucket, a well known minister of the Society of Friends, was in Beverly for a short time on the 22d ult. She had just returned from Vermont and Upper New York, where she had been engaged in visiting prisons, houses of bad repute, and almshouses, preaching the Gospel to the inmates, sometimes with great hopefulness, many of the outcasts of society seeming glad to hear of a Saviour. Mrs. Coffin is a granddaughter of Joseph Hoag, niece of Lindley Mui-ray Hoag, and daughter of Hannah Butrey, all of them well known and highly i-espected ministers in the Society of Friends. Joseph Hoag had a large family, aU of whom, both sons and daughters, with their companions (except two) were preachers. Mrs. C. is the wife of Dr. Alex. G. Coffin, a worthy Fritnd, and a lineal descendant of Tristram Coffm, one of the first settlers of Nantucket, who moved thither from Haverhill about two hundred years ago.
62 HISTOEY OP HAVERHILL.
Coffin are very numerous ; among them was the distinguished Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin ; - more than twelve thousand of that name were supposed to he in the United States thirty years ago.
Hugh Sherratt came from Ipswich, in 164:1, with Mr. Ward and John Favor. In 1650 a house lot was granted him " over the little river," from which we presume that he settled in that part of the town. As he was to leave open a highway, " both by that and the great river," it would seem that the location must have been in the vicinity of the westerly side of what is now Washington Square, near the site of the " South Church." At the time this lot was granted him, he, with several others, had laid down his lot in the (Pond) plain.
From the fact that his name frequently appears in the Court records as defendant in actions for debt, we judge that he must have been one of those whose talent for accumulating property was not large. In 1662, he was permitted to keep an ordinary, and to sell " strong water and wine at retail." From this we should infer that he was a man of sobriety and respectability, as in those days only such persons were permitted to occupy so responsible a position. But his hard luck seems to have followed him through life. In 1677, then in his ninety-ninth, year (his little remain- ing property having been illegally taken from him,) the poor old man was compelled to ask relief from the town. Then, as now, willing and prompt to support its poor and needy, the town agreed with Peter Brewer to keep him for five shillings per week, one half of which was to be paid in bread- stuff, and the other in meat. Upon a motion " to know who would lend corn, or meat, to the town, for the support of Hugh Sherratt ; and they to be paid by the next town rates ; several engaged as foUoweth ; Kobert Emerson, bacon ; Joseph Emerson, beef, 6 lb. ; Daniel Ela, beef, 12 lb. ; Samuel Grile, beef, 6 lb ; Henry Kingsbury, Indian, 1 ; John Page Jr, 1 Ind. and meat 2 lb ; Thomas Eaton, 1 8 lb meat or com ; Eobert Ford Jr, 1-2 Ind ; Bartholomew Heath, pork 4 lb; Thomas Davis, pork 4 lb, but- ter 1 lb ; Michael Emerson, pork 4 lb ; Thomas Whittier, turnips 1 ; Kobert Ayer, pork 6 lb ; Daniel Hendrick, meat 2 lb ; Peter Ayer 3 lb meat or corn; Thomas Ayer Jr, 1 lb meat."
Considering that the town had now been settled nearly forty years, the very small amounts specified in this loan excite our surprise. We can hardly imagine that the time should ever have been when the loan of a single pound of beef, or butter would have been deemed a notable thing, and worthy of a place in the records of a town. Yet it was so.
o Admiral Coffin lately established a school at Nantucket, for the chiUlrcn there who are descendants from his anccstcr Tristram. The building was calculated for six hundred, but eight hundred young CoflBns presented themselves! — Boston Paladium, July, 1829.
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 53
: The town was not however, long called to bear the burden of supporting the aged patriarch. The next year he reached the uncommon age of one hundred years, and, ere its close, was laid to rest. He died September 6th, 1678, aged 100 years.
William White, whose name is attached to the deed, was one of the pioneer band of settlers in the town, and came here from Newbury. He was born in 1610, and came to New England in 1635, settling at Ipswich. He subsequently went to Newbury, and finally settled in this town, being as we have seen, one of the first company of settlers. He died September 28, 1690, aged 80. His widow soon after removed to Ipswich, where she died in 1693. Mr. White settled on the farm now owned by Mr. James D. White, and we find that he owned a farm in Newbury in 1650. Soon after the church was gathered, he became a member, and was one of its firmest pillars ; he had the honor of the town very much at heart, and was esteemed by its citizens, and was frequently entrusted with its most im- portant business. His descendants are exceedingly numerous, and are scattered in almost every direction over the United States. In his will, which is dated 2d January, 1683, he says : "I give to the Eev. Mr. Ward, my Teacher, in Haverhill, 10s. in silver; I give to the church of Haver- hill, of which I am a member, the linen cloth which is on the communion table, and one of the pewter dishes which was mine, which was used at the sacrament, and to be kept for that use only so long as it may serve with decency for the common good of that society. My will is, that the girl which was given to me by the girl's mother to breed up, if my wife will keep her untill John White [his son] marry, let her keep it, otherwise John White to put her out to sum one who will bring her up in good nurtour ; if afterward she live with John till she is 1 8 years of age, or day of marriage, the said White is to cloth her well, and to give her five pounds. I give to Edward Brumidge a cloth jacket, and britches, and a shurt, all of mine own wearing." The amount of his property taken after his decease, was £508, 10s. *
o This WiUiam White had one son, John, who m. Hannah French at Sakm. on Aug. 25, 1662 and d. Jan. 1, 1663-9, aged 29 leaving one son, John, b. March 8, 1664, m. Lydia Oilman, da'r of Hon. John Gil- man of Exeter, Oct. 24, 1637, and had manj- sons and da'rs, " whose descendants are exceedingly numer- ous." He d. 1727. Said John and Lydia had sons William, Samutl, JVicholas. Timothy, (gradn. Harv. Col. 1720) James and John, and da'rs Mary (pa. to James Ayer of Hav'U 1710) Hannah (m. to Rev. Samnel Phillips of Anilover 1712) i'/teafecf/i, (m. Rev. Amos Maine of Rochester) Abigail, (ni. to Moses Hazcn 1728) was mother of Gen. Moses Hazen, — Lydia, (m. to Nath'l Peaslee, Esq.,) and Joanna. The last named William T(7u'<e m. Sarah Phillips, sister of sd. Samuel Phillips, June 12, 1716, and had sons William, (merchant in Boston) iSaniwe/, (Esq'r in Hav'll) John, (of Methuen, d. 1800 seg 80) Timothy (bookseller in Boston) Phillips, (of Southampton, N. H., Judge of Prob.,— Mem- ber of Congress) and da'rs Mary (m. Rev. John Chandler, BiUerica) and Sarah (m. Col. Wm. Thomp-
54 HISTORY OP HAVERHILL.
Thomas Davis, whose mark is affixed to the deed was a sawyer, from Marlborough, England, and, wc believe, a brother of James, one of the first company of settlers. He married in England, before emigrating to America. He came to Newbury in 1641, and settled in Haverhill early in the spring of lG-i2. He died July 27, 1683.- His wife died April 7, 1668. He had one son (Joseph) who died September 15, 1671. f
son of Billerica). Samuel White, (bro. of the Wm. who m. Sarah Phillips) m. Ruth Phillips, another sister of Rev. Samuel Phillips, and was fathei of Jofin White, Harvard College, 1751, and gr'd father of Hon. Leonard White— R. C, 1787.
<» Coiiiu and Mu-ick, speak of the descendants of Thomas Davis as very numerous, but we think they must be mistaken. The only child of his mentioned in the Town Records, is Joseph, who died in 1671. The niunerous descendants referred to, are, we think, rather those of James, brother of Thomas ; and of John, an early settler in Newbury. John died in 1G75. He had seven children, and his descendants are '• very numerous," as are also those of James. As early as 1720, there were no less than nineteen fami- lies of that name in town.
t Joseph, son of Thomas, was doubtless a wild boy, if we may judge from one of his capers. Under the date of 1052, the Portsmouth Court Record thus refers to him: "Whereas it doth appear that Joseph Davis of Haverhill was presented for putting on women's apparel and going from house to house in the night time, with a female, and whereas the said parties being removed from Haverhill into this jurisdic- tion, and being apprehended and brought into the Court at Strawberry Bank ; the said Joseph Davis is judged to pay a fine of eight shillings, and also to make public acknowledgement of his fault on a lecture day, before the next Court, in default of which he shall forfiet forty shillings more." We may charitably presume that the unpleasant termination of his nocturnal adventure suspended his pursuit of pleasure in that direction, at least.
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 55
CHAPTEE VI.
FROM 1643 TO 1G49.
MiRiCK, in his history, says, " the first lawful town-meeting was holden this year " (1643). He doubtless based his decision upon the fact that no record is preserved of any previous meeting of the inhabitants, but from the fact that allusions are made to things done by them previous to that time, we think it is correct to say that meetings were held as early as the first year of the settlement. They were not, it is true, technically speak- ing, ^ow?? -meetings, — ^because the plantation was not incorporated until 1645, — but were meetings of the inhabitants of the 'plantation, at which was transacted all business relating to the plantation, as such. The fact that a. note to the minutes of the first meeting recorded, mentions the lay- ing out of land to Mr. John Ward, fourteen months previously, seems to us conclusive, that the settlers held regular meetings from the first. While the inhabitants were few, there was but little general business necessary to be done by them, and that little could be so easily remembered, it was hardly necessary to make a record of it. But as the settlers multiplied, and their affairs became more complicated, they wisely made provision for a regular record to be kept of all their doings in their collective capacity. About this time, also, the G-eneral Court passed a law requiring a record of births, marriages, and deaths to be regularly kept in each town ; and at the May tei'm of the Court, (1643) the colony was divided into four coun- ties, Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, and Norfolk. Haverhill was assigned to Norfolk, which was composed of Salisbury, Hampton, Haverhill, Exeter, Dover and Strawberry Bank, (Portsmouth).- At the same Court, a tract of land containing six hundred acres was granted to Mr. Nathaniel Ward, father of John Ward, " near Pentuckett, or as near as conveniently may be." The Court also granted to Haverhill "a parcel of meadow -land about six score acres more or less, west of Haverhill about six miles."
Under these circumstances, Richard Littlehale was chosen "clerk of the Writs," and " town Recorder,"! and commenced a regular record of the births, marriages and deaths, in the town, and also the proceedings of the
* The Courts were hoUlen alternately at Salisbury and Hampton.
t He continued in office till 1661:. The Cjurt of Writs was a small Court established in town to try such causes tis did not exceed forty shillinors. It was soraetimss called the Court for " small causes : " and frequently the Clerk of tb» AVrits and Town Recorder were filled by one person.
66 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
inhabitants at their regular meetings. The date of the first meeting thus recorded, is November 6, 1643, and the first vote passed was to prevent an unnecessary destruction of timber.
The following is a correct copy of the vote: — " Voted that no man shall fall or cause to be fallen any timber upon the Coraon but what he shall make use of within nine months next after it is fallen or other- wise it is and shall be forfieted." At the same meeting they voted, "that there shall bee three hundred acres laid out for houselotts and no more ; and that he that was worth two hundred pounds should have twenty acres to his houselott, and none to exceed that number ; and so every one under that sum, to have acres proportionable for his houselott, to gether with meadow, and Common, and planting ground, proportionably." This land was laid out east of Little River, where the village stands, and was called an " accommodation grant."
An important movement of this year (1643) was the " Confederation of the New England Colonies." The original movement toward a confeder- ation proceeded from the western colonies, and the first proposal came from Connecticut. At first Massachusetts was indifi'erent to the measure, but at the General Court in May, commissioners presented themselves at Bos- ton from each of the three colonies, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven, and the Governor, with two magistrates and three deputies, were authorized to treat on the part of Massachusetts.'-' At first the commis- sion encountered some difficulties, but " after two or three meetings they lovingly accorded," and agreed upon the terms of what, for important purposes, was for many years a Federal Government of the New England Colonies.
The year 1643 is also memorable from a great earthquake, which hap- pened on Sunday, March 5th. " It came with a rumbling noise, but through the Lord's mercy it did no harm."t It was also a year of want and hunger. "Corn," says Winthrop, "was very scarce all over the country, and many families in most towns had none to eat by the end of April, but were forced to live of clams, muscles, dr^'^-fish, and so forth, but the merchants had great success in the sale of their pipe staves and fish." The Trial, of Boston, "made a good voyage, which encouraged the merchants, jyid made wine, sugar and cotton very plentiful and cheap in the country. Our supplies from England failing much, men began to look about them, and fell to a manufacture of cotton, whereof we had store from Barbadoes, and of hemp and flax, wherein Eowley to their great commendation exceeded all other towns. "+
o Winthrop, 2—99. t Winthrop, 2— 93. t Winthrop— 2 : 94. 95i
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 57
On the fifth of July " there arose a sudden gust at northwest so violent for an hour as it blew down multitudes of trees. It lifted up their meet- ing house at Newbury, the people being in it. It darkened the air with dust, yet through God's great mercy it did no hurt, but only killed one Indian with the fall of a tree. It was straight (narrow) between Linne (Lynn) and Hampton."- There was little rain this winter, and no snow till the third of march, the wind continuing west and northwest near six weeks."!
At a Town-meeting, holden the 6th of the following February, it was voted, "that all landholders shall pay all publique rates according to their number of acres that they hold to their houselotts ; and if any man shall buy one acre of meadow, one acre and halfe of planting ground, or one acre of commonage to his houselott, he shall pay proportionably for every acre or commonage with the houselott."
The former historian of the town, in referring to the above vote, says : " It will be perceived that the landholders only paid the public taxes, and that each man was rated according to the number of acres in his " house- lot," and not according to the property he possessed." We wonder that he should have been so careless in his statements. A reference to the vote of the November preceding will show that the number of acres of each house-lot depended entirely upon the number of pounds the settler was worth. In other words, a man was granted land, and paid taxes, accord- ing to the amount of property he possessed.
At the meeting of February 27th, it was " voted that Job Clement should have a parcell of ground, not exceeding one quarter of an acre at the Mill Brooke, being bounded forth by the Free-men to sett him up a tann-Jioiise and tann-fatts upon, to him and his heirs forever."
The Mill Brook referred to, is the small stream running from the outlet of Plug Pond to the Eiver, and which has retained the same name to the present time. We have been unable to find any particular mention of a mill upon it at that early period, but its being thus called renders it quite certain that a mill (doubtless a corn-mill) had already been erected upon it. It is worthy of note, that from that time to the present, the stream has been occupied for the same purpose.
Job Clement, was a brother of Kobert, one of the witnesses to the deed, and was the first tanner in town. His tannery was erected near the mouth of the brook. As we mentioned in regard to a mill, so may we say in regard to a tannery, that one has constantly existed upon the stream from that time to the present.
o Winthrop— 2 : 124. t Winthrop— 2 : 155;
8
58 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
September 19th, " two churches were appointed to be gathered, the one at Haverhill, the other at Andover (both upon Merrimack river) . They had given notice thereof to the magistrates and ministers of the neighbor- ing churches, as is the manner with them in New England. The meeting of the Assembly was to be at that time at Kowley, (the forementioned planta- tions, being then but newly erected, were not capable to entertain them that were like to be gathered together on that occasion) . But when they assembled most of those who were to join together in church fellowship at that time, re- fused to make the confession of their faith and repentance, because, as was said, they declared it openly before in other Churches, upon their admis- sion into them. Whereupon the messengers of the Churches not being satisfied, the assembly brake, before they had accomplished what they in- tended. But in October, 1645, messengers of Churches met together again, on the same account, when such satisfaction was given, that Mr. John Ward was ordained pastor of the Church in Haverhill, on the North side of the said Merrimack, and Mr. John Woodbridge was ordained pastor of the Church at Andover, on the south side of the same.''-
The first marriage in town was that of Job Clement and Margaret Dum- mer, who were married on the 25th December. The second marriage was that of G-eorge Corlis and Joanna Davis, on the 26th of Oct., 1645.f
Among cotemporary matters of interest at this period, we may mention the following : On the 5th of June, two ministers' sons, students in Har- vard College — James Ward, son of Nathaniel Ward, (and brother of John Ward of Haverhill) and a son of Kev. Thomas Welde of Eoxbury, — being found guilty of robbing two dwelling houses in the night time of eleven pounds in money, and thirty shillings worth of gunpowder, " were ordered by the governors of the college to be there whipped, which was performed by the President himself." This was the first punishment of the kind within the walls of old Harvard.
In those days fish were commonly made use of by farmers in the vi- cinity of rivers and fishing places, as manure for the corn, (a practice copied from the Indians) , and from the following extracts, it would seem that"doggs" were not only very numerous, but troublesome. The Ips- wich records contain the following :
o Hubbard, 41G : Wintbrop, 1G7.
t During tbe twenty years succeeding tbe first marriage, (that is from lOM to 1064), there were thirty, seven marriages in town, viz :— 1 in 1644, 1 in 1645, 2 in 1646, 2 in 1647, 2 in 1648, 2 in ]6J0, 2 in 1652 1 in 1655, 2 in 1656, 1 in 1657, 2 in 1659, 1 in 1660, ,3 in 1061, 5 in 1662, 10 in 1663.
It is probable the above includes also those inhabitants of the town who were married out of the town.
HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 59
" May 11. It is ordered that all doggs for the space of three weeks after the publishing hereof, shall have one legg tyed up, and if such a dogg shall break loose, and be found doing any harm, the owner of the dogg shall pay damages ; if a man refuse to tye up his dogg's legg, and hee be found scraping up fish in a corn field, the owner thereof shall pay twelve pence damages, beside whatever damage the dogg doth. But if any fish their house lotts and receive damage by doggs, the owners of those house lotts shall bear the damage themselves,"
The following is from the Exeter records :
"May 19, 1644. It is agreed that all dogs shall be clog'd and side- lined in ye day, and tied up in ye night, and if any dogs shall be found trespassing in the lots, they that shall find them shall showt them."
Wolves were also troublesome about this time, as we find in the records of Exeter, Hampton, and Newbury, large bounties were offered for every wolf killed.'-'
" The winter of 1644-5 was very mild, and no snow lay, so as ploughs might go most part of the winter, but on February sixteenth there fell so great a snow in several days as the ways were unpassable for three weeks, so as the court of assistants held not." f
Jan. 13, 1645, the town "Voted, That every inhabitant that will, may make upon the common for every acre of house-lott which he hath, one hundred of pipe-staves and no more ; provided he fall no timber for the same within two full miles of the houselots."
The penalty for a violation of the above vote was five shillings.
At the town meeting of March 14, 1645, it was voted, " that every in- habitant may keep for every acre that he hath to his house lott, either an horisc beast, ox, or cow, wth a foale or calfis, wth a year old, a two year old, and a three year old, until they shall be of the age of three years and an halfe, upon the commons appointed by the greater part of the freemen and no more."
What was then called the commons, were such lands as were not granted to any individual.
'•^ So serious had the matter become, that in June, 1645, the General Court declared that : " Whereas, great losse and damage doth hefal this commonwealth by reason of wolves, which doe destroy so great numbers of our catle, notwithstanding provision hathe formerly beene made by this court for suppressing of them, and wee find little hath binn donne yt way for ye better incouraging of any to sett about a work of so great concernment, itt is therefore ordered, yt any person, either English or Indian, yt shall kill any wolf or wolves within tenue miles of any plantation in this jurisdiction, shall have for evry wolfe by him or them so killed, tenne shillings, to be paid out of the treasury of ye county." — Col. Rec. 3: 17.
t Winthrop 2 : 210.
60
HISTORY OF HAYERHILL.
There were in town this landholders, viz : — John AVard, Eobert Clement, Job Clement, John Clement, Joseph Merrie, Abraham Tylor, Hugh Sherratt, Henry Savage, Christopher Hussey,-' Daniel Hendrick,'-' John AVilliams,--'
year, as near as can be ascertained, thirty-two
Rich^d Littlehale,'' AVilliam Butler, John Ayer, sen., John Ayer, jun., Joseph Peasley,"-' William "White,- John Eobinson," Henry Palmer,'* Thomas Davis, ■•* George Corliss, Nathaniel Wier,'"'
James ¥iske, Thomas Hale,*^ James Davis, sen.''* James Davis, jun.," John Eaton, ■Bartholomew Heath,'' Tristram Coffyn, Daniel Ladd, Samuel Gile,-' John Davis. =■■'
Those names which have a =■•= attached to them were from Newbury.
George Corliss came from England to Newbury about the year 1639, being at the time about twenty-two years of age. He is believed to be the first one of the name who came to this country, and the ancestor of most if not all of that name in New England. He married Joanna Davis, Oct, 26, 1645, by whom he had one son and seven daughters."
Corliss was an enterprising and industrious man, and well qualified to take a prominent part in the settlement of a new town. He settled in the West Parish, on the farm of the late Ephraim Corliss, — now owned by his son Charles, who is of the seventh generation from the original grantee, — and at his death was possessed of a large landed property. He owned most of the land on both sides of the old " Spicket Path," as it was then called, for a distance of more than three miles,
John Rohinson was a blacksmith, and came with the first settlers in 1640. In 1657 he bought a house-lot in Exeter, and soon after removed to that place.
The plantation of Haverhill was this year incorporated into a town, being the twenty-third town settled in the colony.
The first church was gathered in the summer of this year ; it consisted of fourteen members, eight males and six females ; and Mr. John Ward was ordained their pastor. Johnson, an early writer, says : — " The Town of Haverhill was built much about this time, lying higher up than Salis- bury upon the fair and large Eiver of Merrimack : the people are wholly bent to improve their labor in tilling the earth and keeping of cattel.
° John, the son, married Mary Milford, Dec. 17, 1684, by whom he had four sons and two daughters. His son John was the father of thirteen children.
•^ o
, ^.=,^i
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 61
whose yearly increase encourages them to spend their days in those remote parts. The constant penetrating further into this "Wilderness hath caused the wild and uncouth woods to be filled with frequented wayes, and the large rivers to be overlaid with Bridges passeable both for horse and foot ; this Town is of a large extent, supposed to be ten miles in length, there being an overweaning desire in most men after Meadow land, which hath caused many towns to grasp more into their hands than they could after- ward possibly hold ; the people are labourers in gaining the goods of this life, yet they are not unmindful also of the chiefend of their coming hither, namely, to be made partakers of the blessed Ordinances of Christ, that their souls might be refreshed by the continual income of hi§ rich grace, to which end they gathered into a church-body and called to office the reverend Mr. Ward, son to the former named Mr. Ward, of Ipswich.
With mind resolved run out thy race at length,
Young Ward, begin, -whereas thy father left,
Left hath he not, but breaths for further strength,
Nor thou, nor he, are yet of hope bereft ;
Fruit of thy labours thou shal see so much.
The righteous shall hear of it, and rejoyce
When Babel falls bj' Christ's almighty touch.
All's folks shall praise him with a cheerful voice.
They prosper shall that Zion's building mend,
Then Ward cease not with toyle the stones to lay.
For great is he thee to this work assigned.
Whose pleasure is, heavens Ciowu shall be thy pay."*
At this early day, the houses of the settlers were all ou or near the present site of the village, while their meadow, and upland (or ploughing land) lots, were located in various parts of the town. Each man received a number of acres in the village for a " house lot." The size of this, as we have seen, was dependent on the amount of property he possessed. In addition to the house-lot, each man received a portion of meadow, and planting land, the number of acres being regulated by the size of the house lot. The meadow and planting lands were often several miles dis- tant from the house lot. In course of time, as the country became more ' thickly settled, and the land cleared up, many of the settlers removed from the village to their planting land. A natural desire to have all their land as nearly in one body as possible, led to the frequent buying, selling and exchanging of lots, and in course of time, the lots, or fca-ms, of the settlers, became more compact ; and, as their wealth increased, their num- ber of acres also increased. «
° This church was the 26th gathered in the colonv.
62 HISTORY OF IIAYERUILL
As a specimen of the manner in which the land was first distributed, we copy the following from the records of the town : —
1659 "Daniel Ladd's'-^ accommodations. Six acres of accommoda- ations: Four acres to his house lot ; more or lessf : Eobert Clement's bounding on the east, and Henry Savage on the west. Five acres in the plain : AVilliam "White on the east and John Williams on the north. Nine acres up the great river, Thomas Ayers on the cast and George Browne on the west. Four acres of meadow in the east meadow, more or less ; Joseph Peasly on the south, and George Browne the north. One acre and a half of meadow in the pond meadow ; James Davis sen on the south, and Eobert Clement jun on the north. One acre of meadow at Hawkes meadow ; John Davis on the south, and Thomas AVhittier on the north."
"Daniel Ladd's 2d division, containing 27 acres of upland, be it more or less ; with sixteen acres of ox-common and a half, bounded by George Corley and John Hutchins on the west; by a black oak, a white oak, a red oak, and a walnut on the south ; by a walnut and a white oak on the east, by two white oaks and an ash on the north. Three acres of meadow lying on Spicket Eiver, bounded by Thomas Davis on the south, and Eob- ert Clements on the north : and one spot of meadow at Primrose swamp, and another spot at the east meadow, at the head of the meadow that was John Davis's adjoining to his own. For the land that was taken off Daniel Ladd's 3d division, we added a piece on the north side of the highway round the meadow that was Goodman Hale's bounded by the high- way and Merrie's Creek. Third division of meadow containing 3 acres, be it more or less, bounded by John Page on the south, a pine on the east, his own uplands on the west, and uplands on the north of the said meadow, lying in mistake meadow."
Daniel Ladd doubtless found farming quite a different thing from what most farmers of the present day find it. His house lot was in the village ; his planting ground in two places, — a part of it " in the plain " from one to two miles east of the village, and the other part " up the gi'cat river,'' at least as far, on the west of the village — while his meadow lands were in seven lots, and as many distinct meadows. East meadow was in the easterly part of the town, three miles from his home lot, while Spicket
° Daniel Ladd, m. Ann . Children: Mary, b. Feb. 14 1646; Samuel, b. Nov. 1, 1649; Nath'l
b. Mar. 10, lor.i, d. (of wounds) Aug. 11, '91 ; Ezekiel, b. Sept. IC, 1654 ; Sarah, b. Nov. 4, 1657. He died July 27, '93. She died Feb. 10, '94.
t The "more or less " refers to the rule adopted by the town of making up in quantity what might be lacking in the quality of any lot.
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 63
meadow was at least eight miles in the opposite direction. Pond meadow was two miles northeast ; Hawkes' meadow some three miles west ; Prim- rose swamp two miles northwest ; and mistake meadow somewhere in the westerly part of the town.
When we reflect that in those days "highways" were at best hut prim- itive cart paths, through the woods, with stumps still standing, hills ungraded, and streams unbridged ; and that the land was new, rough, and worked only by great labor, we may have a faint idea of some of the hard- ships of our first settlers. Had they not been men of iron nerve, tireless muscle, and indomitable energy and perseverance, our now beautiful town, with its unsurpassed mosaic of cultivated fields, green hills, smiling lakes, its majestic river, and murmuring streams, would still be but a waste and howling wilderness, the home of wild beasts, and the hunting gi'ound of the miserable aboriginee.
At a town meeting on the 13th of January, 1646, it was voted that the inhabitants should have liberty to make one hundred pipe staves, on the common, for every acre which his house-lot contained ; and " that they should fall no timber within two miles of any of the house lotts." If a person felled a tree within the prescribed limits, he was to pay five shil- lings, which was to be appropriated for the benefit of the town ; or, if he felled any more than was required to make his proportion of staves, he was to pay the same sum.
It is pleasant to observe the great respect, and even veneration, in which our fathers held their minister, or as they more frequently called him, their Teacher. It not only speaks well for the Christian virtues of the man, but for the sturdy moral character of his people. An early manifes- tation of their regard for Mr. Ward is found in the following vote of October 29, 1646: —
" Voted by all the freeholders then present at a lawful town meeting, that Mr Ward our Teacher's land shall be rate free for his ministry dur- ing his life, if he continue minister to the plantation, provided he use it himself, but if he sell, let, or set any of it to hire, it shall pay rates pro- portionable with our own : And that forty pounds p. an. shall be paid him by the remainder of the 300 acres'- for his ministry,"
At this meeting the first selectmen were chosen ; they were Thomas Hale, Henry Palmer, Thomas Davis, James Davis and William White.
In looking over the records of this early date, we find that Goodman was a common appellation among the men, excepting when they addressed
* That is, the three hundred acres previously laid out for house lots.
64 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
their minister, magistrate, or a militia officer above the grade of Lieuten- ant ; to such they applied the title of Mister. Goodivife, or Goody, were terms applied to women, excepting when addressing the wives of those above mentioned, whom they called iMadam. Mrs. was placed before names of both married and unmarried women, when it was written, — which was not so frequent as at present.
Hugh Sherratt was this year licensed by the General Court *' to draw wyne by retaill at Haverhill, paying tenn shillings p ann rent therefore to ye countrye." •'
In order to avoid all cause of complaint on account of unequal rates of taxation in the several towns, the General Court, at the November session of this year (1646), adopted the following schedule of rates : —
" Cowes of four year ould and upward, 5£ ; heifers and steers betwixt 3 and 4 year old, 4£ ; heifers and steers betwixt 2 and 3 year ould, fifty shillings ; and between 1 and 2 year old 30s ; oxen 4 year old and up- ward, 6£; horses and mares 4 year old and upward, 7£ ; 3 year ould 5£ ; betwixt 2 and 3 year ould, 3£ ; yearlins 2£ : sheope above a year ould, 20s ; asses above a year ould, 2£."
Houses, lands, and all other visible estate, real or personal, was to be valued according to what they were worth in the several places where they were, proportionable to the above prices for cattle, &c. Hay and corn growing were not to be rated. Towns were required to choose one of their freemen, who, with the selectmen, should yearly make a true valuation of all such ratable property in their several limits. This was the origin of ♦' assessors " as town officers, f
Attending town meetings was evidently considered by our ancestors as a duty each voter owed to the community in which he lived, and for the neglect of which he deserved punishment. They even considered tardi- ness in attending as meriting rebuke, as we find by the record of February 13, 1647, that John Ayer, sen., and James Fiske were fined " for not at- tending the town meeting in season."
oCol. Rec. 3—109.
t Choosing Selectmen is of earlier date. In 1636 tlie General Court enacted, that "everj' particular township should h:ive power over its own aiiairs, and to settle mulcts upon any offender, upon any public order, not exceeding twenty shillings, and liberty to choose prudential men, not exceeding seven, to order the affairs of the town."
These men were at first called "the seven men," then "towne's men," then "towne's men select," and finally " select men." Says the Rev. Richird Brown, in his diary, " they were chosen from quarter to quarter by papers to discharge the business of the town, in taking in, or refusing any to come, into town, as also to disjwse of lands and lots, to make lawful orders, to impose fines on the breakers of orders, and also to levy and distrain them, and were fully empowered of themselves to do what the town had power for to do. The reason whereof was, the town judged it inconvenient and burdensome to be all called to- gether on every occasion."
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL, 65
From the following entry in tlie records of tlie General Court, May, 1647, it appears that the justices, or commissioners, of the Court of the Writs, or courts to try " small causes," were chosen by the several towns, subject to the approval of the General Court :
" The town of Haverell having chosen Robert Clements, Henry Palmer, and Thorn: Hale to end small causes, they are alowed."
At the same court John Osgood (Andover) and Thom: Hale were ap- pointed to "lay out the way from Audiver to Haverell; and James Davis, jun., and Antho: Staniell from Haverhill to Excetter. " They also appointed " a committee to view ye ryver, and make returne to ye Courte of ye necessity and charge of a bridge."
The river above referred to was doubtless the Merrimack. Though the committee were instructed to report to the next session of the Court, we cannot find that they did so, or that any report was ever made upon the matter. A bridge was not built at Haverhill until nearly a century and a half afterward.-'
The inhabitants this year petitioned the General Court for a tract of land to enlarge the town. The following is the answer of the Court, which was holden at Boston, 27th October : — "In answer to the petition of Haverhill, ye Courte concieving such vast grants to be greatly prejudicial to ye publick good, and little if at all advantageous to particular townships, apprehending 4 miles square, or such a proportion, will accommodate a sufficient tract of land ; in such a case thinke meete a Committee be chosen to view the place and returne their apprehensions to ye next General Courte, to which end, with the petitioners consent, they have nominated Mr. Dummer, Mr. Carlton. John Osgood, and Ensign Howlet, or any two of them, provided Ensign Howlet be one to do it."f
At the same court it was ordered that every township in the jurisdic- tion numbering " fifty householders, shall then forthwith appoint one within their towne to teach all such children as shall resort to him to write and reade, whose wages shall be paid either by ye parents or masters of such children, or by ye inhabitants in general, by way of supply, as ye . major part of those that order ye prudentials of ye towne shall appoint ; provided those yt send their children be not oppressed by paying much more yn they can have ym taught for in other towns ; and it is further ordered, yt where any towne shall increase to ye number of 100 families or householders, they shall set up a grammar school, ye mr thereof being
° 1794.
t Richard Dummer, of Newbnrj"; Edward Carleton, of Rowley; John Osgood, of Andover: and Ensign Howlet, of Ipswich.
9
66 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
able to instruct youth so farr as they may be fitted for ye university, pro- vided, yt if any towne neglect ye performance hereof above one yeare, yt every such towne shall pay 5£ to ye next schooll till they shall perform this order."
This order of the General Court was the beginning of our now world- renowned system of common schools. Haverhill did not at that time con- tain the specified number of householders, and was consequently exempt from the requirement. We do not find that a school was commenced here until fourteen years afterward, and for many years subsequent to that time a teacher was not regularly employed, according to law.
At the same court town marks were assigned to each town, for marking cattle, &c. That of Haverhill was the letter H, which was to be put upon the near quarter.
The following order was also passed: "Ye court being informed that the soldiers of Haverhill are destitute of any officer to exercise them, it is therefore ordered by this court, that all ye inhabitants, who have a right to vote in ye election of officers, to meet and choose some meet person for the place of Sergeant to exercise them."
This is the first notice we find of a military company in this town, though a company, or *' train band," was doubtless organized soon after the first settlement of the town, — the laws of the Colony requiring such a company in every town. As early as 1631, such companies were obliged to train every Saturday. Not only were the able-bodied men required to take part in this duty and exercise, but, by a law of 1645, all youth from ten to sixteen years of age, were ordered to be "instructed upon ye usual training days, in yc exercise of armes, as small guns, halfe pikes, bowes and arrowes, &c." Soldiers were obliged to furnish their own arms, for which they were allowed to exchange produce in lieu of money. If any under thirty years of age were destitute of means to purchase, they could be bound to service to earn and pay for the same The constant danger of attacks and surprises from the Indians, compelled the Colony to adopt these vigorous measures, and provide every possible means for their defence. Every town had its train-band, and its arrangements and signals for alarms, rendevous, and organization in case of sudden attack ; watches and scouts, were almost constantly employed ; and so imminent was the danger, that the inhabitants never ventured to church without their arms. The men were the last to enter the church, and the first to come out after service, and always occupied seats nearest the door or aisles, that they might the more readily repulse an attack. This was the origin of the present almost universal New England custom of allowing the wives and daughters that part of the
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 67
pew farthest from the entrance, and their remaining after service until the fathers and sons have first retired. The custom is, however, slowly becoming obsolete.
At this early period there was no bell in town to call the people together, and, as a substitute, the town voted that " Richard Littlehale should beat the drum on the Lord's day morning and evening, and on lecture days, for which, and also for writing public orders, he is to have 30 shillings ; he is also to beat the drum for town meetings."
This year the settlement began to extend northward. Grants of land were made to Henry Palmer and others, in the plain north of the Pond- meadow. A few houses had been built near the spot where Stevens' fac- tory now stands ; and Gleorge Corliss had erected a log house on his farm farther west.
Thomas Whittier, of Newbury, came into town about this time, 'and brought a swarm of bees, which were probably the first in the place. They were willed to him by Henry Eolfe, of Newbury, who calls them "his best- swarm of bees." At that time they were no mean legacy, and their arri- val was doubtless the " town talk."
Job Clement was this year (January 30, 1647) made a freeman at the Ipswich Court, and sworn constable for Haverhill. He seems to have been the first constable in the town.
Up to this time the town had no house for public worship. Tradition says that on pleasant -Sabbaths they assembled beneath the branches of a large tree that stood near the burial ground, and at other times they doubt- less assembled in private houses. The population had now become so numerous that it was decided to build a house for worship, and at the March meeting, 1(348, it was " voted that the Meeting House shall stand on the lower knowle at the lower end of the Mill Lot."
What was then called the Mill Lot, was the ground now occupied by Pentucket and Linwood cemeteries. The house was erected and finished in the following autumn. It was twenty-six feet in length, twenty feet r^-j — V wide, and one story in height. It had neither gallery nor cupola. It stood facing the river, upon the slight elevation or knoll, about midway between the south and the north bounds of Pen- tucket Cemetery. It was underpinned with rough stones, and several persons now living can remember of seeing the ruins of the foundation. Mr. Eobert Willis informs us, that, in his early years, he could distinctly trace the size and position of the building by these foundation stones.
68
HISTORY OF nAVERHILL.
At the September Court, 1647, the town was presented for not having a ferry, and at the next March term it was " enjoyned to provide a boat for the couvcuience of passengers " within a reasonable time, " under a penalty of -iOs and fees." The town immediately appointed Thomas Hale to keep the ferry. The price for feiTying was fixed at " one penny for a passenger, two pence for cattel under two years old, and four pence for such as were over that age." The ferry was established at the place still called the " old ferry-way," a little east of the foot of Kent Street. The inhabitants had from the first passed over the river at this place, but no regular ferryman was appointed until this year.
At the town meeting March 3d, 1648, it was " voted that all men shall have liberty to fell, or to let stand, any tree or trees which standeth at the end of his lot, next the street or gxeat river: and if any man shall fell any such tree unto whom it doth not belong, he shall pay for every tree five shillings, to be paid unto him at the end of whose lot it did grow."
What is now Water Street, was the first highway laid out. It was laid out on the bank of the river, and the lots were bounded on the south by the highway. The above vote allowed the owners of lots to fell any trees that stood at the end of their lots ; i. e., any trees in this highway opposite to their lots. Some years subsequently, the owners of these lots were permitted, during the pleasure of the town, to make use of the river as a fence to the end of their several lots. In the original grants, these lots were bounded •' on the highway and the great river," or to the river, " the highway excepted." We find no grants of land on the south side of this street until long after this time, and therefore believe that our ancestors did not intend it should be built upon. Robert Clement was this year chosen Deputy to the General Court at Boston, and was the first one sent from the town.
From the records of Jan. 7, 1649, we learn that there had been com- plaint made by some that had had land out in the plain (between the village and chain ferry), that it was " not fit for improvement." The town therefore gave them liberty to "lay it down," and take up in some other place.
At the meeting of February 18, " Thomas Hale was chosen Constable by the Freemen." This is the first constable mentioned in the town records, though, as we have seen. Job Clement was sworn into that office in 1647, at the Ipswich Court. Hale was probably the first one chosen by the town.
At the meeting of April 16, "it was acknowledged by John Eobinson that Daniel Lad had bought six acres of accommodations of him, which
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 69
the town granted liim. Approved on hj the Selectmen." From this vote we learn, that at that time a settler could not sell the land which the town had granted him, without its consent.
The town was this year ordered by the General Court to erect a watch- house, a pound, and stocks, immediately. We can find no vote in the Town Eecords relating to the stocks, or whipping post ; but that such means of punishment were erected, and often made use of, is a fact, as persons now living can testify. They stood at the east end of the old meeting house on the common, about ten rods north of the present south- ern entrance to the park, on the easterly side. The whipping post is de- scribed to us as being from twelve to fifteen inches in diameter, and set in the ground at an angle of about forty-five degrees. Upon the upper side of this post the culj)rit was tied, and the lashes applied with a " cat," of stout leather thongs. Mrs. Stebbins, now 82 years old, distinctly remem- bers witnessing the whipping of a man who broke into the store of Mr. Duncan, about the year 1784. His groans and cries made a deep im- pression upon her mind. She thinks it must have been about the last case of public whipping in the town. Moses Wingate, Esq., now 91 years old, but hale and lively, remembers the whipping of a man, by Sheriff David Bradley. After it was over, the culprit coolly offered to "take as many more for a half-pint of rum." We do not learn that the offer was accepted.
The stocks stood near the whipping post, the latter forming one end of the former.
This year, that part of Eowley called Merrimack, was settled by John and Robert Haseltine, and William Wild. It was incorporated by the name of Bradford, in 1673. What is now Boxford, was then called "Rowley village. ";•■'
An effort was made this year to induce Job Clement to remove to New- bury. The town of Newbury granted him a freehold " conditionally yt he live with us heere in Newbury exercising his trade four years, or as long as he shall live within that tearme, and also let the shoemakers of this town have the first proffer on the forsaking of his leather, making him as good pay as others." Job concluded to stay in Haverhill, notwith- standing the liberal offer.
• A few years since Bradford was divided, the easterly portion taking tlie name of Grovelaud.
70 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
CHAPTER VII.
1650 TO 1659.
The year 1650, the tenth after the first blow had been struck in the wilds of Pentucket, found the settlers well established in their new home. Their numbers had increased more than five-fold, and included men of character, wealth, and influence. They had their cattle, and horses, their meadows and cultivated fields, their mills and mechanics, their houses, their church, their minister, their town organization, and, in brief, were now fairly settled and pi'osperous.
About this time two orchards were planted, one by John Clement, and the other by Stephen Kent. As near as can be ascertained, the former was situated a little north of the Cemetery, probably under the shelter of the adjacent hill ; and the latter near the house where the late Samuel W. Ayer lived.
The necessity of definite bounds between the town and its neighbor, Salisbury, induced the inhabitants to prefer a request to the General Court, at Boston, to that efiect, and the Court appointed a commission for the settlement of the same.'-'
At the same sessiou, Henry Palmer, Thomas Davis, and Job Clements, were appointed to " end small causes" in the town, and at the next ses- sion (May 22) Robert Clements was appointed and empowered to give the oath of fidelity in the town. Both these appointments were made at the request of the town.f A petition was also presented to the Court by the inhabitants, for " the graunt of an iland lying in the Rieur Meri- macke agaynst some parte of theire towne, coutayning about 20 or 30 acors." In answer to the petition, the Court ordered " that theire request be graunted for the sajd iland, vnless Mr Ward or any other shall make any cleare title from this Court, to appear vnto this Court within three years, to the sayd iland."
Among the votes of the town this year is one requiring that the name of every freeholder should be kept in the town's book, and that he be compelled to attend town meetings, when lawfully warned: — " and having lawful warning he is to come within half an hour after the meeting is begun, and continue till sunset if the meeting hold so long, under the penalty of halfe a bushel of Indian corn or the value of it."
o Col. Eec., 3,— 196— t, 6, 19. t Ibid.
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 71
Considerable land was this year granted to individuals west of Little Eiver, on the Merrimack ; and Hugh Sherratt, Bartholomew Heath, James Fiske, and John Chenarie, had liberty to lay down their land in the plain, " and have it laid out over Little Kiver, westward." We are unable to account for the frequent taking up and laying down of land about this time, except upon the ground of mere fancy, or notion ; as, about the same time that the above named persons made the change referred to, Joseph Peasley had leave to lay down his land over Little Eiver, and take up in the plain, and Samuel Gild also made choice of land at that place.
John Hoitt, a brick maker, removed from Ipswich to Haverhill some time during this year, the town granting him three fourths of an acre of land, and the "clay pitts," on condition that he become an inhabitant of the town. The clay pits alluded to, are situated in the West Parish, near the late Ephraim Corliss's, and are still known by that name. It would seem that the pits were already dug, and perhaps bricks made, when Hoitt came, but by whom cannot now be ascertained. Many of the bricks used in building the first houses in Massachusetts, were brought from Holland, and we need not wonder that the town should consider the settle- ment of a brick-maker worth a strong effort.
In one of the land grants of this year we find mention of a " wigwam" in the town. It is also mentioned in 1660 and 1685. ' These are the only mentions or hints of the Indians, or of anything belonging to or done by them, that we can find in the early records of the town, save an " Indian wire " in Fishing Eiver (1664) and the "Indian Bridge" over Spicket Eiver.''* The wigwam wa§ an old and dilapidated affair, as in one of the places stated, it is spoken of as the " old wigwam that is, or toas,'' in or near a certain swamp. It was located in the west part of the town, " at the lower end of the far west meadow."
The first mention we find of an ox-common, is in a vote of January 13, of this year, which declares that " the ox-common already appointed shall for the present be continued." About this time a dispute arose between the inhabitants of Haverhill and Salisbury, in relation to the bounds between the two towns. The latter (which then included what is now Amesbury) claimed more land than the former were willing to allow ; and, at a meeting in December, 1650, a committee was chosen to meet a similar committee on the part of Salisbury, and endeavor to agree upon the matter in dispute. The following is the vote: — "Voted, That Thomas Hale, John Clement, and John Davis, should meet with Salisbury men to
" There is an allusion in the records of the General Court, of 1662, to " Old Wills planting ground," which must have been near the mouth of Spicket River, and on the east side of it. Old Will was probably one of the Wameset Indians, whose principal settlement was then near the mouth of the Concord River.
72
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
consult ■with them concerning the bounds between them and us : and the town doth hereby give them power to agree with them if they can, and to lay out the bounds between us."
This year there were forty-three freemen in town, nineteen of whom had taken the oath of fidelity. The following table contains the names found in the recorc^s of 1650 and previously, with the year in which the name first appears : and also the valuation of each man's property, according to the vote of November 6, 1643. Neither the date or valuation should, however, be considered as more than an approximation to the truth : —
|
1641 John Favor," |
1646 Thomas Davis, |
100 |
|
|
" John Eobinson, |
" Thomas Davis, |
100 |
|
|
1642 John Ward.f |
£ 80 |
" James Fisk, |
|
|
" Tristram Coffin, |
•' William Butler, |
||
|
" Hugh Sherratt, |
50 |
" Bartholomew Heath. |
140 |
|
" William White, |
50 |
1647 Samuel Gile, |
40 |
|
" Thomas Davis, |
1648 Thomas Linforth, |
||
|
" John Williams, |
80 |
" John Eaton,. |
80 |
|
1643 Abraham Tyler, |
60 |
" Thomas Whittier, |
80 |
|
" Eichard Littlehale, |
40 |
1649 George Goldwin |
|
|
1644 Henry Savage, |
" Goodman Moice & 3 Sons, |
||
|
'« Job Clement, |
" Abraham ilorrill, |
||
|
1645 Christopher Hussie, |
" Christopher Lawson, |
||
|
" Daniel Hendrick, |
120 |
" Eichard Ormsby, |
70 |
|
" Henry Palmer, |
60 |
" Wm. Hoklridge, |
|
|
" George Corliss, |
1650 Eobert Ayer, |
40 |
|
|
1646 Thomas Hale, |
" John Ayer jun,^ . " Thomas Ayer, yn\ " John Chenarie^'^^^t' '-^ |
80 |
|
|
" James Davis, |
200 |
||
|
'« John Ayer, |
160 |
»>Ai'A' |
|
|
" Daniel Lad, |
£ 40 |
" George Browne, |
80 |
|
" Joseph Peasley, |
" John Hoit, |
||
|
" John Davis, |
" Goodman Hale. |
The following table contains the valuation of those to whom house lots were laid out at various times, but whose names do not appear previous to 1650: —
|
I, Eobert Clement, Sen, |
£ 50 |
Thomas Eaton, |
£40 |
|
* John Clement, |
35 |
Edward Clarke, |
40 |
|
-'Matthias Button, |
60 |
Eobert Swan, |
30 |
|
Steven Kent, |
200 |
John Haseltine, |
40 |
|
James Davis Jr, |
130 |
John Johnson, |
90 |
|
Peter Ayer, |
60 |
John Carleton, |
90 |
|
Eichard Singletary, |
60 |
Joseph Johnson, |
50 |
|
John Huckins, |
480 |
John Page jun, |
40 |
o Nnraes asainst which no amount is placed, are those of persons for whom we can find no record of a house lot being laid out. Some of them, if not all, probably purchased the right of others to lands.
t We do not know whether these pounds were the English pounds sterling (sixteen ounces of silver) or the pound of Troy weight, (sixty-two shillings) but presume they were the latter. If so, each pound was equivalent to S<i.33.
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 73
Among the early settlers, were four brothers by the name of Ayer, John, Eobert, Thomas, and Peter. The former settled near the house of the late Capt. John Ayer, 2d, who was the sixth generation who lived on the same spot. The latter settled in the northwesterly part of the town, in the West Parish. Their descendants are very numerous, and are scattered throughout nearly every State in the Union. In 1700, it was supposed that nearly one third of the inhabitants of the town were of that name. They were mostly farmers. =•■=
At a meeting of the town January 1, 1651, "It was agreed upon that such as have land in the plain or below the plain, butting upon the great river, should have liberty to make use of the bank next the river for a fence for the space of four years : and also such as have land over the little river, west, shall have the same liberty so far as Thomas Hale's lot.
The plain here alluded to, was the one east of the village. Under date of January 12, 1651, we find the following: — " It was this day ordered that the ox-common which was formerly an ox-common, shall be for the use of them who live upon the east side of the mill brook, and for as many as will join with them."
" Ordered that they that live upon the west side of the mill brook, shall have liberty to have an ox-common westward for them, and as many as will join with them, which common is to be laid out in a convenient place, as shall be judged meet by the major part of the town.
That the town were anxious to have their numbers increased may be judged from the following vote of the same year: — "It was this day agreed that James Pecker should be an inhabitant with us, and that he shall have a four acre lot with accommodations proportionable to it, which lot is to be bought of Bartholomew Heath for eight pounds. James Pecker doth promise to come and be an inhabitant with us by June 1653." We
** The following notes, taken from the Essex County Records and papers, will doubtless be of interest to the many persons of that name in the town: — 1656. John Ayer, or Eyer, of Haverhill, made a will March 12, 1656-7, He died March 31, 1657, and his will was proved October 6th of the same year. His children were John, Nathaniel, Hannah, Eebeca, Mary, Eobert, Thomas, Obadiah and Peter. He left a wife, named Hannah. 1668. Mary Ayers, aged 34; and Samuel Ayers, aged 45. 1671. Inventory taken of the estate of Benjamin Ayeo-s. 1672. John Ayer, late of Ipswich, was now of Quaboag. (There was a John Ayres in Ipswich as early as 164S.) 1679. John Ayer, or Eyer, late of Haverhill, now of Ipswich. Had a wife Mary. 1693. Samuel Ayers, aged 43 years, 1704. Jonathan Ayer, aged 65 years. 1711 . Eobert Ayres, of Haverhill, aged 86 years.
In 1754, Major Ebenezer Ayer, of Haverhill, married Hannah, widow of James Scammon, of Saco, Me;, where he continued to reside. He had several children. — Vide Hist. Saco and Biddeford, p. 268.
For the names of many others of this numerous family, see the Appendix to this volume.
10
74 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
presume that Pecker accepted the town's oflPer, as he came here soon after and continued to reside here until his death, in 1696.-'
At the May session of tlie General Court, on petition of the inhabitants of Haverhill, a new committee was appointed to lay out the bounds of the town. Joseph Jewett was chairman of the committee. At a meeting of May 30th, the town voted " that Mr Clement, Jno Davis, Tho "VVhittier, and John Robinson shall go with Joseph Jewett about the laying out of the bounds of the plantation."
It seems that the town committees chosen the previous year, had been unable to agree upon the bounds, and the commissioners appointed by the Greneral Court at that time had done nothing ; therefore, that body ap- pointed a new committee, who attended to the duty, and reported at the next October Court. Their report was approved.
The only clue we have to the bounds thus confirmed, is contained in the following record of the General Court : — " This Courte haveinge for- merly grauntcd fowcr miles square for the boundes of Haverill, or such a ti*act of land, and did appoynt Joseph Jewett, John Haseltine, Robert Haseltine, and William Wilder, or any two of them, to lay out theire said boundes, which Joseph Jewett and William Wilder haveinge done accord- inge to the Courtes graunt, this Court (at the request of the inhabitants of Haverill) doth confirme theire said boundes, as they are now layd out by the persons above mentioned."!
We regret that a more definite account of this first laying out of our town cannot now be found. It will be seen, however, (unless we empha- sise the phrase " or such a tract of land" ) that it allowed a much less area than was covered by the Indian deed ; and we wonder that the inhab- itants should so readily request the General Court to confirm the bounds reported.
It was voted this year by the town, " that all the meadows shall be laid out by the 12th of June next, to each man his proportion according to his house lot." At the same meeting it was " Ordered that Hugh SheiTatt, Theophilus Satchwell,Bart Heath, James Fiske, and Daniel Ladd, shall view the upland that is fit to plough, by the last of March or the tenth of April
' The only children of his recorded, are Mary, b. Sept. 5, 1652 ; Susanna, b. Dec. 17, 1054 ; A Daugl^- ter, b. Jan. 25, 1604, and d. Feb. 10, 1664. Some of their descendants are still to be found in the town, though their number is small.
One John Pecker kept tavern in this town for many years, and was succeeded at his death, in 1757, by his widow. About 1760, the sanle tavern was kept by Matthew Soley for a short time, when it fell into the hands of Jeremiah P( ••kcr. Rartholomew Teckcr, a native of Haverhill, was one of Washington's "Life Guards." "Pecker's Hill," and " Pecker Street," will long perpetuate this name in the town.
t Col. Rcc, .3—246.
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 75
next, and that they bring in their intelligence to the town by that time." It was also ordered " that all the undivided land, after all the meadows and second division of plough land is laid out, shall remain to the same inhabitants the proprietors of the three hundred and six acres, to every one according to honest and true meaning, all commons remaining in general to them."
This last vote, it will be seen, plainly and unequivocally declares who were the proprietors of the common or undivided lands in the town, " ac- cording to honest and true meaning." They were the original purchasers, or grantees, of the township. Years afterward, when the number of in- habitants had greatly increased, the question of proprietorship in the undivided lands became a troublesome one, and for a long period was a prominent " apple of discord" in the town. Frequent disputes occurred between the " commonors " and the " non-commonors," which sometimes ' led to bloody noses and shaded eyes. The commoners held meetings by themselves for many years, and there are three large . books of about two hundred and sixty pages each, nearly filled with their proceedings.
In the fall of this year, George Brown and Daniel Hendrick were ap- pointed to lay out the highway between this town and Salisbury ; and Theophilus Shatswell was appointed to join the men from Kowley, and lay out a road between that town and this. This road was approved of by the Court at Ipswich, in 1686,
Up to this time, the town Were destitute of a saw mill, and were com- pelled to hew all" the boards and planks used for building ; unless, as is quite probable, these were brought from Newbury. In either case, the expense and inconvenience was very great, and attention was early directed to the establishment of a saw mill in this town, where both timber and water-power were abundant.
The following votes fully reveal how important this matter was consid- ered by the inhabitants, and how anxious they were to have a mill of the kind erected: Dec. 1, 1651. " Voted and agreed upon by the inhabitants, that there should be a saw-mill set up by Isaac Cousins, and such others of this town as shall join with him : The town and they agreeing upon terms, viz. : That they shall not make use of any timber within three miles of the meeting house : Item. That all timber without the compass of three miles from the meeting house should be free for the use of the sawmill : they paying the twelfth hundred to the use of the town in general. Item. That the town for their use shall have boards and planks at three shillings per hundred for such pay as is merchantable. The town also reserving to themselves a liberty to make use of what timber they stand in need of, though it be without the three miles compass from the Meeting House,"
76 HISTOEY OF HATEKHILL.
Dec. 15, 1651. " Granted by the major part of the inhabitants, that Isaac Cousins shall have a sixth part of a saw mill or mills : and that Mr. Clement," Job Clement, Stephen Kent, William White, and Theophi- los Satchwell shall join with him, together with any others that they shall agree with, Provided that Mr. Coffin f have liberty to have a sixth part of it, if he come to be an inhabitant in this town. This mill is to be set up upon the river, called Thomas Hale's river : "J " They are to make use of no timber that is within three miles of the meeting house ; except it be pines or hemlock : They are to pay to the use of the town every twelfth hundred : The inhabitants are to have what boards and planks they stand in need of, for their use for building and flooring at three shillings per hundred, in merchantable pay : This mill is to be set up by April fifty and three : They have liberty also if they see fit, to set up a second mill by April, fifty and four : If they set them not up by these times above mentioned, then this grant is to be disannulled : They have liberty to make use of any timber that is without the three miles compass from the meeting house : Also the town hath liberty to make use of any timber that is without the three miles compass for building or feuceing, or what else soever : The proprietors have power, if they see cause, to remove one or both of these mills up, or down the river."
Dec. 16, 1651. " Voted and Granted by the inhabitants that there shall no saw mill be setup whilst these forementioned sawmills are going."
At the same meeting a committee was chosen to lay out ground for the use of the saw mill, "for a Pen," which was to be " returned to the town when the saw mills are done." " A six acre house lot, with all accommo- dations proportionable," was granted to the above mentioned Isaac Cousins, " provided he live in the town five years following his trade of a Smith.''
Cousins did not, however, fulfil the conditions of the grant, and in 1653, the town voted to give the land to John Webster, upon similar con- ditions. Cousins was the first blacksmith in the town.
About this time the road now known as Mill Street was laid out ; and for more than a century it was " the great road " which led into the village.
The second division of plough-land was laid out on the 7 th of June, 1652. The proportion was four acres to one acre of house lot. This division commenced at the head of Pond Meadow, and extended north, east, and west. Forty-one persons received a share in the division. The lot-layers who laid it out, received the sum of two pence an acre for their services, or ten shillings each. Not a very extravagant sum, surely.
« Robert Clement. f Peter Coffin, of Exeter. t Little River.
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
77
Following are the names of those who received a share in this division : " The lots or draughts for the second division of plough-land, with the number of each man's accommodation : —
|
Acres. |
Acre< |
|||
|
1 — John Davis, |
6 |
22- |
— Daniel Hendrick, |
|
|
2 — James Fiske, |
4 |
23- |
—Thomas Davis, |
8 |
|
'3 — Matthias Button, |
6 |
24- |
-Eichard Ormsbie, |
5 |
|
4 — Bartholomew Heath, |
25- |
-Eobert Ayer, |
5 |
|
|
5 — Abraham Tyler, |
4 |
26- |
-Henry Savage, |
4 |
|
6 — John Ayer, sen.. |
8 |
27- |
—George Browne, |
10 |
|
7 — Henry Palmer, |
9 |
28- |
—William Holdridge, |
5 |
|
8 — Edward Clarke, |
4 |
29- |
-Mr John Ward, |
8 |
|
9 — ^Kobert Clement, |
6 |
30- |
—George Corlis, |
7 |
|
10 — Hugh Sherratt, |
12 |
31- |
-Theophilus Satchwell, |
6- |
|
11 — John Woodin, |
4 |
32- |
-John Williams, |
8 |
|
12 — Thomas Perry, |
5 |
33- |
-John Chenarie, |
4 |
|
13— Thomas Whittier, |
7i 34- |
-James Pecker, |
4 |
|
|
14 — Stephen Kent, |
22i |
35- |
-Thomas Ayers, |
9 |
|
15 — Joseph Peasley, |
12 |
36- |
—Samuel Gild, |
10 |
|
16 — John Ayer, jun., |
8 |
37- |
—Daniel Ladd, |
6 |
|
17 — Thomas Linforth, |
6 |
38- |
-James Davis, jun.. |
10 |
|
1 8 — Eichard Littlehale, |
4 |
39- |
-Job Clement, |
0 |
|
19 — Isaac Cousins, |
Si |
40- |
-John Clement, |
8 |
|
20— AVilliam White, |
7 |
41- |
-James Davis, sen., |
10 |
|
21 — John Eaton, |
10 |
In the above division each man had " his proportion either in the quality or quantity of his lot, according to the discretion of the lot layers."
At the September meeting of the same year, the town voted Mr. Ward, their " Teacher," a salary of fifty pounds. This sum, though a mere pit- tance, when compared with modern salaries, was really a very liberal salary for those times, and shows the strong attachment of the inhabitants to their pastor, and their readiness to give him an adequate support.
The following liberal vote was also passed at the same meeting : —
" Voted that if any one or more shall be disenabled from paying his pro- portion, that then the rest of the inhabitants shall pay it for him or them to Mr. Ward." The town evidently intended that fifty pounds should mean fifty pounds.
AVhether the town had become dissatisfied with the drum or the drummer, does not appear, but it seems that instead of having Eichard Littlehale
78 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
beat his drum to call the people together, it was voted " that Abraham Tyler shall blow Ids horn in the most convenient place every lord's day about half an hour before the meeting begins, and also on lecture days ; for which he is to have one peck of corn of every family for the year ensuing."
The tooting of Abraham's horn did not, however, come up to their ex- pectations, for the next year the town fell back upon first principles, and ordered Edward Clark to beat the drum on the " Lord's days and lecture days." Perhaps the tone of Abraham's horn was not sufi&ciently musical, or, more likely. Abraham was not a skilful player upon that ancient in- strument. But as to whichever it might have been, we are left entirely free to conjecture, as the records maintain the most dignified silence upon the subject.
The (xeneral Court this year changed the time for town elections from November to March of each year, and the latter month has, with the ex- ception of a single period, continued to be the month of the annual town meetings down to the present time.
The County Court at Hampton, this year, fined Stephen Kent, of Haver- hill, £10 " for suffering five Indeans to be druncke in his house, and one of them wounded." He was also to pay for the cure of the wounded Indian. Stephen evidently considered the penalty too severe, and declined to pay it ; and the town petitioned the General Court upon the subject. The Court thereupon ordered " that Stephen Kent within one month shall pay the said tenne pounds to the selectmen of Hauerill, who shall there- with satisfy for the cure of the Indean." Even this did not satisfy Stephen, and he petitioned to have his fine reduced, but the Court was inexorable. Doubtless Stephen was careful afterward not to have any drunken " red skins " about his pi*emises.
Among the list of donations this year to Harvard College is £4 7s from this town.
A prison was this year built at Ipswich. It was the second in the colony.
A mint was about the same time established at Boston, for coining sil- ver ; the pieces had the word Massachusetts, with a pine tree on one side, and the letters N. E. 1652, and III, VI, or XII, denoting the number of pence, on the other. The same date,(lG52) was continued upon all the coin struck for thirty years afterward. Massachusetts was the only colony that ever presumed to coin metal into money. A very large sum was coined, and the mint-master made a large fortune out of the commission allowed him for coining.
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 79
At a town meeting July 4, 1653, it was voted that " John Webster should enjoy that six acres of accommodation which was formerly granted unto Isaac Cousins, and is now returned into the Town's hands ; provided, that the said John Webster live here five years from the last of March next, following the trade of a blacksmith in doing the town's work, when they have occasion." Mr. Webster was the second blacksmith in town; he followed the trade, however, but four years, when he returned to New- bury. His brother, Stephen, a tailor, came into town soon after, from Newbury ; and is probably the ancestor of the AVebsters in this place. He was born in Ipswich, and moved with his mother, who married John Emery, sen., to Newbury. He had three brothers and four sisters. His brothers, John and Israel, remained in Newbury, and Nathan settled in Bradford. His mother, Mary, was a sister of Theophilus Shatswell ; John, his father, died in Ipswich, about 164r2.=-= The descendants of Stephen are very numerous ; they are found in almost every city and village in the Union.
This year, the second division of meadow land was ordered to be laid out. There were forty-eight lots drawn. The names are the same as those given under date of 1652, except the following: — John Webster, Isaac Cousins, John Wooddin,
The Island just below the village was also divided about the same time. The number of persons who drew lots in the division, was forty-five. The names, and the bounds of each man's lot, are given in the Commoners' book of Records, under date of 1727, which speaks of the plan as begun in 1653, and finished in the above year.
A third division of upland, or ploughland, was also ordered to be laid out ; it was situated west and north of west meadow, in the West Parish.
The wife of John Hutchins of this town was presented to the Court this year, for wearing a silk hood ; but, " upon testimony of her being brought up above the ordinary way was discharged." The wife of Joseph Swett was also presented at the same time and for the same ofi'ence, and was fined 10s. f
It was a general custom of the inhabitants at this early period, to turn their flocks together into one pasture ; and we find that James George was, in 1652, appointed herdsman of the town, His salary was twelve shillings and six pence per week, to be paid in Indian corn and butter. He was
* Coffin, Hist. Newbury.
t Among the laws passed by the General Court in 1650, was one against " intolerable excess and brav- ery in dress." No person whose estate did not exceed £200 was permitted to wear any gold or silver lace or buttons, great boots, silk hoods, ribbons or scarfs, under a penalty of ten shillings. Swett was not, it seems, worth the £200; and his wife could not, therefore, be allowed the extravagance of a silk hood.
80 HISTORY OF nAVERHILL.
" to keep ye beard faithfully as a heard ought to be kept ; if any be left on the Sabbath when ye towne worship, they who keepe are to goe ye next day, doing their best indeavore to find them." He was not permitted to turn his flock into the pasture on the Sabbath, until the " second beat- ing of ye drum."
A lot of land not exceeding, four-score acres, was the same year granted to the proprietors of the saw-mill, so long as they kept it in use.
It was voted that hereafter the selectmen should "give in their account what they have received, and what they have disbursed." The voters evidently wished to know where their money went, in which laudable curi- osity they have a very few imitators at the present day.
Among the note-worthy incidents of this year, may be mentioned the case of Robert Pike, of Salisbury. The Court had prohibited Joseph Peasley and Thomas Macy, of Salisbury, from exhorting the people on the Sabbath, in the absence of a minister. Pike declared that " such persons as did act in making that law, did break their oath to the country, for it is against the liberty of the country, both civil and ecclesiatical." For expressing himself in this manner, he was disfranchised by the General Court, and heavily fined. At the next May Court, a "petition was pre- sented from a large number of the inhabitants of Hampton, Salisbury, Newbury, Haverhill, and Andover, praying that Pike's sentence might be revoked.'-'
The Court was highly indignant that " so many persons should combine together to present such an unjust and unreasonable request," and ap- pointed a commission to call the petitioners together " and require a reason of their very unjust request." At the next November Court, orders were issued to summon sixteen of the petitioners to give bonds in the sum of ten pounds each to appear and answer for their offence before the County Court. None of the Haverhill signers were however included in the order. They had achioioledged their offence. Three years afterward. Pike " hum- bly desired the Court, his fine being paid, to release him from the other part of his sentence," which it was pleased to do. The whole case is an
° The following arc the names of the Haverhill signers, as copied from the original petition in the State Archives : —
Haverill. Kichard Littlehale Robbert Eres
James Davis " John Ileth George Corlis
Joseph Peasly Jol) Clenionts Bartholomew Heth
Tristram Coffin Abraham Tylar Edw. Clarke
rfctc- Coflin John Williams James Davis Jr
John Davis John Williams Thcophilus Sachwell
John Eaton Thomas Davis Tho: Whittier
Thomas Katon Joh: Eyerea Tho: Dow
"■ Robert Clements James tiiske Joseph Davis
Thomas Belfore Dan: Hendrick Peter Ayre
John Webstar Stephen Kent Samuel Gild
•^ George Brown Richard Singltnry Robbert Swan
Epbraim Pavig Henry Pnhner
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL. 81
instructive one, and throws much light on the public religious opinions of the times.
At a town meeting, held February 9, 1654, liberty was granted to Stephen Kent to place a wear in Little River, to catch alewives, or any other fish, if he would sell to the inhabitans of the town " what alewives they stood in need of." This is the first notice we have of these fisheries, which were afterward carried on to a considerable extent.
At the May session of the General Court, a new petition was received from Haverhill, touching the bounds between that town and Salisbury, as a "great mistake" was made in the previous running of the line. The Court, after hearing both parties, appointed a committee to look into the matter thoroughly. At the next Court the committee made their return, which, as a matter of curiosity as well as interest, we copy entire : — " September: 23: 1G54.
In obedense to the generall cortes order we haue vewed the line con- cluded by Salesberry and Hauerill to deuid the land betwene them : and we find that as it is expressed in the petission there was a gret mistake in the first Ruing of the line this we find accnolaged by both partes : for he that carred the compas at the first from the plase concluded one from mcremack Reuer a but one mile and a quarter tow a stompe of a pipestave tree : he said he had Rine nor west : which moued the men chose by Hauerill to yeld vnto Sallsberry one point more : but we haue gone nor west from the place one merremack Reuer formerly concluded one : and we find that nor west Cometh a boue a quarter of a mile in going a mile a quarter nerrer to hauerell then the line first Rune so we find that nor west as according to the true vnderstanding of ther first agreement doth yeld vnto Salsberre : and if the liae nor west and by west shold stand a gret part of the med- dowes lyiag one that quarter : wold be cut of from hauerrell to ther gret preludes and the not cnoing of that mistak mad them yeld one point more we thinke if the plesuer of the Cort bee so : that it may bee well for this honerred cort to order that a nor west line may part the land be twext them (onely this) if any of the meddowes laid out to any of Hauerrell shall be cut of from Hauerrell : by this line, that those meddows shall
Remane to hauerrell (or those men to home it is laid : fore euer
youers in all diitefoll obedense further we thinke meeete that Hen: Short
Silsbury shall haue liberty ouer Joseph Jowett
hauerill commons if the swamp , John Stevens
stop the way the sd way to be forty Rod broade
11
82 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
The Deputyes accept, of the Eetume of those Comissionsrs appoynted to lay out the bounds herein exprest and desire the Consent of the honord magists herevnto.
Consented to by ye magists. Edw: Rawson Secret. 24 Octob. 54."
It seems, however, that even this did not permanently settle the vexed dispute. Both parties again became dissatisfied, and the matter continued to trouble the General Court until 1667, when the Court finally disposed of it as follows : —
" As a final issue of all differences between the two towns of Haverhill and Salisbury Newtown,-- in reference to their bounds, the Court having heard what all parties could say therein, judge meet to confirm the line which was run by the committee and the agi*eement of both towns, begin- ning at a tree near Holt's Rocks, near Merrimack river's side, and running up on the N W line, as they apprehended, to Brandy Brow, and from thence to Darby Hill, and so to a Avhite pine about a mile further, marked H. S. and this is to be the dividing line between them."
On the 31st of May, 1654, Thomas Dow died. He was the first adult that had died in the town since its settlement. Thirteen children had died previously, but no grown person.f
Some additions were made to the ox-common this year, and the whole was ordered to be fenced. The town also voted " that all those that will join in the fencing of it, shall have a proportion in it according to the fence they make and maintain, provided that none shall keep more than four oxen in it." Thirty-four persons assisted to build the fence, and were entitled to keep ninety-two oxen within the enclosure. It was then voted that " the cattel that shall goe in the ox-common this day gi-anted, shall be only oxen, steers, and horses, and no other cattel."
This ox-common was located on the south side of Kenoza I^ake, and a part of it is still known by that name. Several other ox-commons were subsequently laid out in different parts of the town, but they were much smaller than the first. Some of them were only a few acres in extent being laid out for a single person, while others were intended for several persons. The one above mentioned, however, was the most extensive ox- common ever laid out in the town.
At the December meeting of the town, a parcel of land, not exceeding four-score acres, was laid out to the saw-mill owners "to plant and im-
° Salisbury Xewtown (now Amesbury) was settled in 1012, liy order of the freemen of Salisbury, that " there shall thirty families remove to the west of Pow-wow Iliver, to form a settlement." It was called Salisbury Xe.w Trnvn until some time after it was set ofTas a separate town, in lt3r)4.
t Previous to March 30, 1003, there were forty-seven deaths in town, forty of which were children.
HISTORY OP HAVERHILL. 83
prove, so long as the sawmill shall go." The lot was on the west side of saw-mill river. The next June, eight acres were laid out on the further side of Fishing Kiver, " toward the sawmill," from which, and one or two other allusions, we conclude there was also a saw-mill on that stream at that time, or one about to be erected.
In February, 1656, the town voted to cancel all grants and privileges, if the present saw-mill or some other, did not cut boards enough for the town by the next midsummer. But it seems that the saw-mill was not to be hurried, and the town in 1658 lost all their patience, and declared all former grants and privileges forfeited. At the same time Thomas Davis, (who was one of the principal owners of the old mill) John Hutchins, and Daniel Hendricks, were granted the privileges formerly allowed to the old saw-mill, if they put up a mill .and supplied the town within twelve months. But even this did not prove sufficiently stimulating to those in- terested, j^o mill was erected, and the next year the town declared the privilege forfeited.
Among the acts of the G-eneral Court this year, IGo-i, was one providing that ministers should be respectably maintained in the several towns ; and in case the latter neglected to do it, the county courts were empowered ajid directed to cause a regular tax to be assessed on the oifending towns, for that purpose.
A law was passed at the November Court, prohibiting all persons, ex- cept those specially lisenced, from selling " any Indian or Indians, either wine or strong liquors of any sort," under a penalty of 20s per pint, and in that proportion for all quantities, more or less. Henry Palmer of this town, and Roger Shaw of Hampton, were the only ones thus lisenced in the County of Norfolk.
During the year 1655, some repairs were made on the meeting-house, as it appears by a town vote of March 3d, that " Thomas Davis shall have three pounds allowed him by the towne, for to ground-pin and dawb it j provided that Thomas Davis provide the stones and clay for the underpin- ings ; the town being at their own expense to bring ye clay into place for ye plastering of ye walls up to the beams." Lime mortar had not yet come into common use. It was not until more than fifty years afterward that limestone was discovered in the Colony. It was first found in New- bury, in 1697, by ensign James Noyes, and occasioned a great excitement. For nearly a century after its discovery, large quantities were annually made in that town for export as well as for home use. Prior to that time, what little lime was used was manufactured from oyster and clam-shells
In 1648, Thomas Hale was appointed fen-yman, probably for that year
84 HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
only ; and it does not appear that any was afterward appointed ; for, at the September term, KJa"), " Ye Court being informed yt